12.07.2026 09:45

When Fear Remains: Survivors of Sexual Violence Fear Becoming Perpetrators Themselves

Paris - 12 July 2026: It is a fear that is difficult to voice and weighs all the more heavily for that reason. People who experienced sexual violence in childhood describe in a recent Franceinfo report their concern that they may one day violate boundaries themselves. The focus is not on a specific act, but on agonizing suspicion directed at oneself - and the question of whether what was experienced must determine the rest of one's life.Those affected report shame, self-doubt and damaged self-esteem. Some avoid closeness; others fundamentally question their future parenthood or relationships. Specialists in psychiatry and psychology describe this fear of repetition as particularly distressing. It can distort a person's view of their own actions and prevent them from building trust in themselves and others.The report also refers to findings by the independent CIIVISE commission, which since 2020 has collected testimonies from people who experienced incest or other sexual violence as children. The commission has repeatedly made clear that the consequences do not disappear when the immediate violence ends. They extend into health, relationships, education and work - and require reliable, long-term support.According to the CIIVISE, an estimated 160,000 children in France become victims of sexual violence each year. The figure describes a social problem of far-reaching significance, behind which lie individual life stories. The commission stresses that protection must not consist solely of criminal prosecution: serious listening, safe points of contact and access to specialized psychotherapeutic...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 09:30

Giant’s Causeway relies on visitor education to combat overtourism

Bushmills - 12 July 2026: The Giant's Causeway on the Northern Irish coast is stepping up its protection against the effects of mass tourism. According to Franceinfo, those responsible want to involve visitors more closely in preserving the natural monument. The focus is on information provided on site, intended to encourage considerate behaviour around the sensitive basalt columns.The Giant's Causeway is located near Bushmills in County Antrim and is one of Northern Ireland's best-known natural attractions. The area comprises more than 40,000 basalt columns, which formed around 60 million years ago. The National Trust manages the site, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site,...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 09:16

Assessment Begins After Major Wildfire in Andalusia

Los Gallardos - 12/07/2026: Following the severe wildfire in eastern Andalusia, an assessment of the damage has begun in the affected municipalities of the province of Almeria. The fire broke out on Thursday, 09/07/2026, near Los Gallardos and spread rapidly amid extreme drought and strong winds. Large areas of scrubland, agricultural land and scattered homes were affected.According to the Andalusian emergency command, twelve fatalities have so far been confirmed. The victims were reportedly found in the municipality of Bedar. The number of people still missing has been reported differently in recent days; Spanish media most recently reported that the search continues for more than twenty...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 09:00

Man in custody on suspicion of rape and unlawful confinement in Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence - 12.07.2026: Outside a student residence in Aix-en-Provence, a 21-year-old student is said to have become the victim of a serious violent crime during the night leading into Friday. A man was arrested and, according to consistent French media reports, is in police custody. The investigation against him concerns suspicions of abduction, unlawful confinement and rape. For the young woman, protecting her privacy is now the main priority.According to the information known so far, the student is said to have been outside her accommodation because of the nighttime heat. There, she was allegedly forced at knifepoint to go with the suspect. Investigators are examining the further course of the night. Details that could allow conclusions to be drawn about the victim, her whereabouts or her personal circumstances are not being released.According to the reports, the arrest took place shortly after the crime. Police secured evidence and are questioning possible witnesses. It was initially not officially disclosed whether there is video footage, DNA evidence or digital leads. There was also...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 08:45

Parcoursup: 126,652 applicants still waiting for a place in higher education

Paris - 12 July 2026: Following the conclusion of the main admissions phase on the French higher education platform Parcoursup, 126,652 applicants have not yet received an offer for the 2026/27 academic year. The official data published on Saturday also qualify the widespread portrayal that these are exclusively secondary-school graduates: the figures also include students changing courses and candidates attending school outside France.A total of 908,974 people had confirmed at least one preference on Parcoursup. Of these, 745,602 received at least one admission offer. Another 36,720 candidates left the platform before receiving an offer. This leaves 126,652 applicants without an offer. The figure therefore describes the situation at the end of the main phase, rather than the final number of those without prospects for the autumn.Among the 660,399 final-year secondary-school students, 576,749 received at least one offer. Among 206,038 students changing courses, the number was 152,351, while 16,502 of the 42,537 applicants attending school abroad received an offer. The official statistics explicitly distinguish between these groups because their routes of...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 08:30

Defense Ministry Seeks Civilian Specialists

Paris - 12 July 2026: The French Ministry of Armed Forces and Veterans is concluding on Sunday its first nationwide digital campaign promoting civilian employment exclusively. Built around the idea of serving without a uniform, the campaign is intended to give greater visibility to a group of personnel that is central to the operation of the armed forces and the ministry, but is far less present in public perception than military careers.According to the ministry, nearly 64,000 civilian employees work alongside more than 200,000 service members. They therefore account for around one quarter of the total workforce. The figure of more than 3,500 vacancies does...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 08:22

Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Musee d’Orsay: Paris Slows Down Due to the Heatwave

Paris is once again experiencing an intense heatwave, affecting both residents' daily lives and the stay of the millions of tourists who travel to the French capital during the summer months. The exceptionally high temperatures are forcing several famous attractions to adapt their operations in order to protect visitors and staff as effectively as possible. The Eiffel Tower is particularly affected. As the vast steel structure heats up considerably in the sun, certain areas of the landmark are temporarily closed during the hottest hours of the day. Those in charge recommend scheduling visits for the early morning or evening whenever possible. Queues outdoors also require...

Artikel des Tages Read 12.07.2026 08:16

42 municipalities in Finistere close natural areas due to extreme wildfire risk

The prefecture of the Finistere department has adopted far-reaching protective measures in light of the ongoing drought and exceptionally high wildfire risk. Until and including July 15, 2026, the natural areas of 42 particularly vulnerable municipalities will remain closed to the public. The aim of the order is to reduce the risk of new fires as much as possible and ease the burden on emergency services. The closure affects all woods, forests, heathland and reforestation areas. In addition, the ban on access applies to a 200-metre-wide protective zone around these areas. The rule covers all forms of travel. Walkers, cyclists, riders and drivers of motor...

Artikel des Tages Read 12.07.2026 08:15

The Italian Ice Cream That Came from America

Paris - 12.07.2026: It emerges from the machine in soft spirals, melts faster than any good resolution, and bears a French name that promises culinary origins: glace a l'italienne. Yet this so-called Italian ice cream is, historically speaking, not a child of Italian gelato culture. Its prehistory lies in the United States of the 1930s, where the especially airy frozen mixture became known as soft serve.That such a misunderstanding could endure so charmingly has to do with its form. The delicate, freshly dispensed ice cream spiral recalls Italian cafes, summer evenings, and the theatrical elegance of a pastry display. Technically, however, it differs from fully...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 08:01

32 suspects arrested over arson in 22 departments

Paris - 12 July 2026: Since the beginning of summer, 32 people have been arrested in France on suspicion of having caused fires. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced this on Saturday, 11 July. The investigations extend across 22 departments. Around one third of the suspects are minors. The figure is therefore slightly higher than the initially reported number of around 30 arrests.The arrests come amid a period of numerous vegetation and forest fires that have particularly affected the south and southeast of the country. According to the Gendarmerie, several departments have been affected since 1 July, including Herault, Aude, Var, Gard, Drome, Vaucluse and the Pyrenees-Orientales. Interior Minister Nunez visited Ille-sur-Tet in the Pyrenees-Orientales on 6 July after a fire there engulfed around 4,900 hectares of vegetation.The police and Gendarmerie figures do not definitively distinguish between deliberate arson, negligent conduct and individual sequences of events. An arrest is also not a conviction. In every case, prosecutors must determine whether a fire was set intentionally, whether safety regulations were disregarded or...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 07:45

EU packaging law: Water bottle multipacks remain permitted from August 2026

Paris - 12 July 2026: Water bottles may continue to be sold in multipacks in France and the other EU member states after 12 August 2026. A contrary claim by Virginie Joron, an MEP for the Rassemblement National, is based on a confusion between the general application date of the new EU Packaging Regulation and individual market bans that take effect later.In a social media post, Joron said that Brussels would force consumers to carry water bottles individually from 12 August 2026. The occasion is Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste. It entered into force on 11 February 2025 and is generally applicable...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 07:01

Les Bleus Face Spain: A National Holiday Under the Sign of the World Cup

Paris - 12/07/2026: France begins Sunday with a rare certainty and a major prospect: the national team will face Spain in the World Cup semi-final. The match will kick off on Tuesday, 14 July, at 9 p.m. Paris time in Dallas. The fact that it falls on France's national holiday gives an already major sports story a political and cultural resonance that the French press is relishing. The path to the semi-finals came via a 2-0 victory over Morocco on Thursday. Kylian Mbappé opened the match with a fine goal, while Ousmane Dembélé sealed the result. Didier Deschamps's team thus overcame an opponent whose supporters...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 07:01

The Third Heatwave Becomes a Stress Test for France

Paris - 12 July 2026: This Sunday, France is not simply experiencing a hot holiday weekend, but the latest peak of a summer that is already challenging the country politically, in terms of public health and economically. The year's third heatwave continues after the historic June heatwave had barely subsided. Météo-France still expects very high daytime temperatures and tropical nights; the heat is gradually shifting towards the centre and east of the country. Over the weekend, the national temperature indicator, which combines daytime and nighttime readings, is expected to stand at 27 to 28 degrees. That remains below June's peak of 30 degrees, but once again means a lack of nighttime relief for millions of people. Across large parts of the west, the Paris Basin, Centre-Val de Loire and the southwest, expected maximum temperatures recently ranged between 36 and 39 degrees. More than 40 degrees are possible locally. The Lot department was placed under red alert from Sunday midday. The prefecture in Cahors banned outdoor sporting events and work in agriculture and forestry between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Access to particularly vulnerable forest areas is also being restricted. Such decisions give the debate a new dimension: the heatwave is no longer merely a feature of the weather map, but is directly affecting work, leisure, transport and local administration. In Versailles, the Half Ironman scheduled for Sunday was cancelled; at the same time, heavy holiday traffic coincided with the heat....

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 05:44

France dissolves France Tiers-Lieux and refers to regular programmes

Paris - 11 July 2026: The French government has confirmed the dissolution of France Tiers-Lieux, the national structure supporting so-called third places. The association, organised as a Groupement d'intérêt public, ceased operations following a resolution by its General Assembly on 29 June. However, the Ministry for Territorial Planning and Decentralisation assures that state support for these places will continue through other structures and general funding programmes.France Tiers-Lieux was initially established in 2022 for three years and was subsequently extended by one year. The organisation pooled knowledge, coordinated networks, supported projects and conducted surveys on the sector's development. Its dissolution therefore does not necessarily mean the...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 05:40

Cancelled National Day fireworks put pyrotechnics industry under pressure

France - 12/07/2026: While preparations for National Day would normally be in full swing, launch sites are remaining empty in many places these days. Municipalities in several parts of France have cancelled or postponed their fireworks displays for 13 and 14 July. The reasons are the persistent heat, parched vegetation and concerns about vegetation fires.For companies in the pyrotechnics industry, this series of cancellations comes at a particularly sensitive time. National Day has traditionally been the most important date on their calendar. Contracts cover everything from materials and technical planning to specialist staff on site. When a fireworks display is cancelled at short notice, services...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 05:20

Victor Wembanyama commits long-term to the San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio - 11 July 2026: Basketball star Victor Wembanyama has signed a long-term contract extension with the San Antonio Spurs. The NBA franchise confirmed a multi-year extension with the French international on Friday, July 10. According to the NBA, the agreement runs through the 2031/32 season. Wembanyama told his supporters that he wanted to remain in San Antonio.The Spurs initially did not disclose any financial details. However, the Associated Press reports that the extension is for five years and could be worth more than $250 million if a player option in the final year is exercised. That would make it the most lucrative contract in franchise history. The exact contract structure was not fully publicly explained by either the club or the player.After his rookie contract, Wembanyama had the opportunity to agree to an even larger maximum contract. According to AP, he opted for a model intended to give the club additional financial flexibility in assembling its roster. The decision is significant for San Antonio because the Spurs want...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 05:02

Young Man Dies After Stabbing in Northern Paris

Paris - 11 July 2026: A young man died on Friday evening after a stabbing on Boulevard Ornano in the 18th arrondissement. According to the information known so far, the attack was preceded by an altercation between two people. Emergency services were called but were unable to save the victim. The investigation is under way at full speed.The incident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. in the densely built-up neighbourhood in the north of the capital. Initial findings indicate that the young man was stabbed several times. There is currently no confirmed information about the exact sequence of events, the cause of the dispute or possible connections between those involved.The age of the victim is not reported consistently in the initial accounts: he is said to have been either 20 or 21 years old. His identity was initially not made public. This reflects the caution required at such an early stage of the investigation. For relatives and friends, this begins a period in which many questions remain unanswered.The public prosecutor's office...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 05:01

Linda Noskova wins Wimbledon after dramatic all-Czech final

London - 11 July 2026: Linda Noskova has won the Wimbledon women's singles title, celebrating her first Grand Slam success. The 21-year-old Czech defeated her compatriot Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in the final on Centre Court. It was the first Wimbledon women's final in which two players from the Czech Republic faced each other.Noskova clearly controlled the first set. With powerful groundstrokes and a steady serve, she took away Muchova's rhythm early and won the set 6-2. In the second set, she was already leading 5-2 and had five match points. Muchova, however, saved all of them, fought her way back and forced a...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 05:01

The Wildfire in Andalusia Shows Europe’s New Summer Reality

Los Gallardos - 12 July 2026: In southern Spain's Andalusia region, firefighters continued on Sunday to battle the consequences of a wildfire that has claimed at least twelve lives near Los Gallardos in the province of Almeria. Other people were reported missing and several were injured. Most of the victims are believed to be foreign nationals. For Spain, it is one of the deadliest fires of this summer; for Europe, it is another reminder that climate risks no longer appear as a distant scenario, but as an acute stress test for administration, infrastructure and society.The fire broke out on Thursday evening in a dry, mountainous...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 05:01

Hormuz once again becomes the flashpoint of an open conflict

Dubai - 12 July 2026: Overnight into Sunday, the Strait of Hormuz once again shifted from being a symbol of a vulnerable global economy to the scene of direct military confrontation. According to US accounts, American forces struck Iranian targets after a container ship sailing under the Cypriot flag was hit in the strait. The vessel caught fire, its crew abandoned it, and one civilian crew member was initially reported missing. Tehran, for its part, said the waterway would remain closed until further notice. This places not only shipping in the Gulf under pressure, but also the already fragile political architecture intended to contain a...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 05:00

Le Pen Again Claims Presidential Candidacy – Bardella Remains Number Two

Paris - 12 July 2026: Marine Le Pen has confirmed her candidacy for the 2027 presidential election following the ruling by the Paris Court of Appeal, thereby redefining the division of roles within the Rassemblement National. Jordan Bardella, the party president and until recently being positioned as a possible replacement candidate, is now once again behind the chair of the RN parliamentary group. For the time being, his prospects lie more in the office of prime minister than at the Elysee Palace.The trigger was the July 7 decision in the case concerning the employment of European Parliament assistants by the former Front National. The Court...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 04:41

Russian Missile Attack Injures Eleven People in Kyiv

Kyiv - 11 July 2026: Eleven people were injured in a Russian attack involving missiles and drones on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, according to Ukrainian authorities and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Those injured reportedly include a child. The attacks took place during the night and early morning. Emergency services were deployed in several parts of the city.According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia used a total of twelve missiles as well as more than 120 drones and decoys in the attack. The missiles reportedly included six ballistic Iskander-M or S-400 missiles, four Kh-59 or Kh-69 cruise missiles, and two anti-radar missiles. The information could not initially be independently verified in all details.Damage to buildings and other civilian infrastructure was reported in Kyiv. Footage released by Ukrainian authorities showed emergency personnel amid smoke, rubble and damaged facades. On Saturday morning, authorities were still assessing the extent of the damage in the affected districts. Complete information on possible additional victims or the severity of the injuries was not initially available.Reports from Kyiv said...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 04:40

At 75, Liliane Veluire Is Still Racing Down the BMX Track

Mably - 11 July 2026: When Liliane Veluire stands at the start gate, it is not her year of birth that matters, but the first explosive pedal stroke. The 75-year-old from the Roannais region still competes in BMX races, in a field of rivals up to six decades younger. Her appearance on the sports programme Stade 2 has put the spotlight on an athlete who is an indispensable part of the French BMX scene.Veluire races in the colours of Union BMX du Roannais and has known the track in Mably, north of Roanne, for decades. She has been involved in BMX for 37 years. A...

Aktuell Read 12.07.2026 04:21

Damask Rose Remains an Important Cultural Asset and Economic Factor in Syria

Al-Mrah - 11 July 2026: A recent report puts Syria's Damask rose in the spotlight. In the village of Al-Mrah in the rural outskirts of Damascus, its cultivation is far more than gardening: the flower provides raw materials for fragrance products, dried teas, foods and handcrafted goods. At the same time, it represents knowledge passed down within families and the village community.Harvesting usually begins during the flowering season in May. Families head to the fields early in the morning and pick the blossoms by hand. Later, the rosebuds are sorted and prepared for drying. Some are used for tea, while petals are stored for distillation....

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