07.07.2026 18:05

Prince Harry and Elton John lose case against publisher of the Daily Mail

London - 07.07.2026: The High Court in London has dismissed the lawsuit by Prince Harry and six other celebrities against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday, in full. In his written judgment Mr Justice Nicklin concluded that the claimants had not sufficiently demonstrated that the disputed reports were based on illegal investigations.The group action covered allegations spanning more than three decades. In addition to Prince Harry, claimants included, among others, Sir Elton John, his husband David Furnish, actresses Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, human rights activist Baroness Doreen Lawrence and former MP Sir Simon Hughes. They accused ANL, among other things, of systematic eavesdropping, unlawful queries of personal data and deception in obtaining sensitive information, and sought damages in the millions.The judge found that for several contested publications there were plausible legal means of procurement or that the evidence was too vague to establish beyond doubt an unlawful origin of the information. The burden of presentation and proof lay with the claimants; blanket assertions and circumstantial evidence were not sufficient to prove unlawful methods. Thus the claim failed already on the hurdle of substantiation.For Prince Harry the ruling represents a clear defeat in his broader campaign against practices of the British tabloid press. In other cases against rival publishers he had previously achieved partial successes in which unlawful methods such as phone hacking were found. However, the case now decided against ANL...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 17:44

Macron in Damascus: Support for President Ahmed al‑Charaa after Double Attack

Damascus - 07.07.2026: Emmanuel Macron reiterated his support for President Ahmed al‑Charaa during a visit to the Syrian capital — hours after two explosions were reported near the hotel of the French delegation. According to Syrian authorities, at least 18 people were injured. Who was behind the attacks remained unclear; the Interior Ministry launched investigations and spoke of improvised explosive devices in a central commercial district near the Four Seasons. The Élysée said the visit would continue. Security circles stressed that the situation in the city center was under control. At a joint press conference, Macron emphasized that the attacks should not derail the political...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 17:24

Appeals Verdict Against Marine Le Pen: Three Years in Prison, One Year with Electronic Ankle Bracelet – Legally Still Eligible to Run in 2027

Paris - 07.07.2026: The Paris Court of Appeal on Tuesday convicted Marine Le Pen in the proceedings concerning assistants of the European Parliament allegedly used for party purposes to an overall prison sentence of three years. Two years of the sentence are suspended on probation, one year is to be served immediately under electronic monitoring. The court thus reduced the sanction compared with the first-instance decision and at the same time specified the duration of the political collateral consequences.Central is the question of eligibility to stand for election: The judges pronounced a disqualification from office totaling 45 months, 30 of which are suspended on probation....

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 17:04

After crash near Nancy: prosecutors open proceedings for negligent homicide

Tomblaine - 07.07.2026: On 28 June 2026 a civilian light aircraft crashed a few minutes after takeoff from Aérodrome Nancy-Essey in Tomblaine (Meurthe-et-Moselle). Eleven people, including, according to preliminary reports, the pilot and several people involved in parachuting activities, were killed. The prefecture confirmed the number of victims and immediately coordinated rescue and security measures on site. The crash site is in close proximity to residential houses and was cordoned off over a wide area.The public prosecutor's office has opened an information judiciaire against unknown parties for negligent homicide. The department of the Parquet de Paris responsible for mass-accident cases took over the proceedings; three investigating judges were appointed. The aim is to clarify the causes of the accident fully and to determine possible responsibilities. The judiciary emphasizes that this is an investigation and that no criminal conclusions have yet been drawn.Technical investigators from the Gendarmerie of Air Transport (SRGTA) secured traces at the wreck, and identity checks and the analysis of witness statements were begun in parallel. The BEA...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 16:46

Isabelle Adjani and Galia Salimo on the Jury: ‘Drag Race France’ Starts Its Fourth Season

Paris - 07.07.2026: The French edition of the international format returns with prominent reinforcements. Isabelle Adjani, an icon of French cinema, and Galia Salimo, for years an influential stage artist and a pioneer of trans visibility, will appear as guest judges in the new season of Drag Race France. Their involvement is being read in cultural circles as a signal that brings the artistic range of drag more to the forefront.The fourth season starts on July 8, 2026 on France 2 and digitally on france.tv. The basic principle remains unchanged: ten drag performers compete in sewing and costume challenges, elaborate make-up, lip syncs and stage performances. What is new above all is the mix at the judging table: Nicky Doll returns as host, Daphné Bürki and Kiddy Smile remain regular judges, and guest judges will join for individual episodes — including Adjani and Salimo. This combination of continuity and star power is meant both to anchor the format and to open it up to a broader audience.Adjani stands for cinematic...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 16:27

The Black Pearl of Nonza: Where Dark Pebbles Meet the Turquoise of Cap Corse

Nonza - 07.07.2026: Below the village of Nonza, perched on a rocky spur, a broad band of dark gray to black pebbles lies along the Ligurian Sea. From the ruins of the Genoese watchtower and the village church the view drops steeply to the sharply defined shore, where the almost black rock stands in strong contrast to the turquoise-blue water. The photogenic sight has made the cove the "Black Pearl" of Cap Corse and a staple in many Corsica guidebooks.The origin of the coloration has two causes: geologically, the northern tip of Corsica naturally yields dark rocks such as serpentinite and slate, which weather into...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 16:06

SNCF cancels Intercités again on POLT line due to extreme heat until Thursday

Paris - 07.07.2026: The French national railway SNCF cancelled several Intercités services on Tuesday on the Paris–Orléans–Limoges–Toulouse (POLT) line. The company cites the ongoing high temperatures and the increased risk of technical failures, especially in older carriages and air-conditioning systems. The measure aims to avoid breakdowns in service and to prevent emergency interventions when trains stop in the heat. Affected passengers had to rebook at short notice in some cases; the SNCF points to refund and exchange options.According to company sources and media reports the restrictions initially apply to Tuesday, 7 July, and depending on the weather may extend to Wednesday, 8 July, and Thursday,...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 15:46

Heatwave Worsens Detention Conditions: Paris Bar Association Demands Immediate Protection for Inmates

Paris - 07.07.2026: The Paris Bar Association warned in a letter circulated on Tuesday about acute health dangers in French prisons. According to the Barreau de Paris, temperatures of over 40 °C have regularly been recorded in overcrowded cells since the start of the heatwave, in some cases up to 50 °C. Such conditions are incompatible with human dignity and require immediate action from the authorities.The warning comes against a prison system that was already under pressure even without extreme weather. France has recorded high occupancy rates for months, leading to cramped cells, improvised sleeping places on mattresses and limited access to showers and yards....

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 15:45

Bercy cuts 2026 growth forecast to 0.7 percent

Paris - 07.07.2026: The French Ministry of Finance has lowered its forecast for real gross domestic product in 2026 from 0.9 to 0.7 percent. Finance Minister Roland Lescure announced the adjustment on Tuesday at the start of a meeting of the Comité d'alerte des finances publiques. The revision comes as part of the regular semiannual update of budget assumptions presented to parliamentarians as guidance for the ongoing budget process.Lescure cited a less dynamic start to the year as the main reason. Early indicators and preliminary first-quarter data fell short of expectations. In addition, uncertainties in the international environment are weighing on export prospects and investment....

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 15:26

Court of Appeal confirms guilty verdict against Marine Le Pen in EU assistants case

Paris - 07.07.2026: The appeals chamber of the Paris court has confirmed the guilty verdict against Marine Le Pen in the affair over allegedly wrongly charged assistants paid through the European Parliament and at the same time recalibrated certain elements of the punishment. According to the court, the question of guilt remained, while parts of the sentence — including probation components and the period of ineligibility — were reduced compared with the first instance. The former leader of the Rassemblement National (RN) had already been convicted in the first instance because staff were alleged to have been listed as parliamentary assistants in Brussels while they mainly carried out party tasks in France.Le Pen's lawyer said after the announcement that he was 'partly satisfied' and pointed out that the written reasoning would be examined intensively before a possible step to the Court of Cassation would be decided. The defense continues to consider in particular the extent of the parliamentary activity of the affected staff and questions of jurisdiction between the French...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 15:24

After Jubillar revelation, Toulouse appeals court sets swift measures in motion

Toulouse - 07.07.2026: The appeals chamber in Toulouse is responding with accelerated steps to new statements by Cédric Jubillar. In a statement, the chamber said it had appointed a judge responsible for examining and ordering all necessary measures to establish the truth. The background is a letter in which Jubillar is said to have admitted responsibility for the disappearance of his wife Delphine. According to consistent media reports, the judicial authorities were initially informed of the content not by the defense but by the press.The appointed magistrate is likely to clarify soon whether and in what form the statement will be formally recorded. Legal experts...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 15:05

Political reactions after Marine Le Pen’s conviction confirmed on appeal

Paris - 07.07.2026: The appeals chamber in Paris on Tuesday confirmed the conviction of Marine Le Pen in the proceedings concerning the employment of assistants in the European Parliament, triggering a new political confrontation. According to court sources, the decision includes criminal sanctions as well as a temporary restriction on eligibility to stand for election, which, depending on further legal developments, may be partly suspended on probation.Clear reactions came immediately from the left opposition. Representatives of the Parti socialiste and La France Insoumise felt their criticism of the former practice of the Front National or the Rassemblement National confirmed. They demanded that the legal consequences...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 14:46

Paris Alphonse‑Baudin daycare case: Court acquits accused activity leader

Paris - 07.07.2026: The criminal court in Paris has acquitted a former activity leader of the municipal Maternelle Alphonse‑Baudin in the 11th arrondissement of the charge of sexual assaults on several children. According to the court, there was serious doubt about the criminal classification of the presented facts. The man was suspended from duty after the allegations became known. No prison sentence was imposed.The proceedings focused on testimony from parents and caregivers, educational and psychological assessments, and the reconstruction of contacts during the afternoon care. At the hearing on May 26, the public prosecutor's office had requested three years' imprisonment, part of it under electronic monitoring. The chamber did not follow the request and justified the acquittal with the high burden of proof in criminal law: without sufficient certainty about the course of events and the legal characterization of the acts, a conviction is not possible.The decision caused palpable tension in front of the Palais de Justice and around the school. Representatives of parents' initiatives expressed disappointment and demanded reliable structures that better protect children in care situations. Legal observers reminded that an acquittal affirms the presumption of innocence and does not replace a moral judgment. At the same time, they emphasized the particular difficulty of such proceedings, in which conflicting testimony situations and sensitive statements by children require a careful weighing of evidence.According to the investigation files, the allegations brought to trial are said to have occurred between the...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 14:24

Macron’s Visit to Damascus: Paris Probes Reconstruction and Security Cooperation

Damascus - 07.07.2026: Emmanuel Macron arrived in Damascus on July 6 for a two-day official visit, accompanied by a delegation of leading French business representatives and government officials. The visit is considered a diplomatic turning point: it is the first trip by a head of state of a Western European power since the political change in Syria at the end of 2024 and is internationally seen as a signal of a readjustment of relations with the region.Economic prospects and security cooperation are on the agenda. Paris wants to position French companies in reconstruction and economic opening projects, while at the same time demanding firm commitments...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 14:06

Appeals Ruling in the Assistants Case: Cour d’appel Clarifies Sanctions Against Marine Le Pen

Paris - 07.07.2026: The Cour d'appel de Paris on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, issued its decision in the appeal proceedings against Marine Le Pen, the Rassemblement National (RN) and former officials of the Front national. The case concerns allegations that EU funds were improperly used for parliamentary assistants. At its core are staff who were paid from budgets of the European Parliament but, according to investigators, are said to have performed predominantly party-related tasks.According to court sources, the chamber confirmed parts of the first-instance convictions while adjusting the framework of sanctions. The court found the evidence sufficient in several respects to establish criminal liability and...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 13:44

Appeal verdict on FN parliamentary assistants: Paris court confirms convictions, some sentences reduced

Paris - 07.07.2026: Die Cour d'appel de Paris hat am Dienstag im Berufungsverfahren zur Affäre um parlamentarische Assistenten des früheren Front national (heute Rassemblement national, RN) die meisten erstinstanzlichen Schuldsprüche bestätigt und mehrere Strafen reduziert. Im Kern sah das Gericht den Missbrauch von EU‑Mitteln weiterhin als erwiesen an: Assistenten seien formal für Europaabgeordnete tätig gewesen, hätten tatsächlich jedoch überwiegend Parteiarbeit für den FN verrichtet.The proceedings concern payments from the European Parliament's budget in substantial amounts, which the judiciary considered to have been used for improper purposes. In the first instance, in March 2025, several leading figures were given prison and monetary sentences as well as time-limited disqualification penalties (inéligibilité). The appeals chamber has now confirmed convictions against eleven defendants, including prominent RN representatives. Marine Le Pen was also found guilty; parts of her sentence were milder compared with the first-instance judgment. For other defendants such as Bruno Gollnisch and Louis Aliot, prison sentences were largely suspended and fines were adjusted.Politically significant are the imposed disqualification penalties: they can determine whether...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 13:24

Paris: Government announces additional savings of 3 billion euros

Paris - 07.07.2026: The French government plans to save an additional 3 billion euros, thereby easing the state budget and social security in the short term. This was announced by the Minister for Public Finances, David Amiel, on Tuesday ahead of a meeting of the Public Finances Alert Committee. The additional consolidation requirement is "largely related to support measures taken since April," Amiel said, referring to tax relief and aid packages that burden the budget. He initially did not name concrete proposals; the meeting was intended to set the course, with detailed decisions to follow in the coming weeks.The announcement is part of the government's efforts to limit the deficit in the current fiscal year and sharpen the financial framework for 2026. After special expenditures related to the pandemic and energy crises, Paris is under pressure to smooth expenditure paths and stabilize the debt ratio. Media point to already outlined savings targets in the double-digit billions over several years; the now-stated 3 billion euros are considered an addition to already...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 13:06

Explosions in Damascus during Macron visit – President unharmed, talks with Ahmad al-Chareh continue

Damascus - 07.07.2026: In the Syrian capital Damascus, several explosions near the Four Seasons hotel shook the city center on the morning of July 7. The French president Emmanuel Macron had been staying there during his official visit. According to consistent agency reports, he was already on his way to the presidential palace at the time of the detonations. He remained unharmed. Authorities and international news agencies reported that several people were injured in the incidents; preliminary estimates speak of around 18 injured. Syrian officials referred to multiple explosive devices. Reliable information on perpetrators or motive was not initially available. Reporters described smoke and a...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 12:45

Breakaways shape Stage 4 of the 2026 Tour de France – Grégoire in promising group

Foix - 07.07.2026: A large breakaway group was dictating the action around mid-race on the 181.9-kilometre fourth stage of the 2026 Tour de France from Carcassonne to Foix. The gap to the peloton was about three minutes at the time of the report — enough to challenge the favourites' teams' calculations, but not a free pass to the finish. The rolling profile, peppered with several classified climbs, favors attacking riders and promises a tactically open stage conclusion. The route, set by organiser A.S.O., runs over the Col de Bedos, the Col du Paradis, the Col de Coudons and the Col de Montségur, among others. The...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 12:24

Appeals verdict against Marine Le Pen: One year of electronic monitoring, 45 months of ineligibility with partial suspension

Paris - 07.07.2026: An appeals court in Paris on 7 July 2026 convicted Marine Le Pen in proceedings over the alleged abusive use of EU funds for parliamentary assistants of the then Front National/Rassemblement National and imposed an overall prison sentence of three years. Two years of the sentence were suspended, and one year is to be served under electronic monitoring. The court also ordered 45 months of ineligibility to run for office, of which 30 months are suspended.The verdict differs in several respects from the decision of the first instance. On 31 March 2025 Le Pen was sentenced for embezzlement of public funds to...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 12:06

Explosions Near Macron’s Lodgings in Damascus: President Continues Visit, Élysée Confirms He Is Unharmed

Damascus - 07.07.2026: In the Syrian capital, two explosions occurred on Tuesday morning in the immediate vicinity of the Four Seasons Hotel where France's President Emmanuel Macron was staying during his state visit. According to consistent agency reports and statements from Syrian authorities, several people were injured. The extent of the damage in the affected downtown area remained unclear at first; security forces cordoned off streets and diverted traffic across a wide area.The Élysée Palace said Macron was unharmed. His appointments would continue "as planned." Accordingly, the president met the same day with Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Charaa for political talks. According to French government...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 11:44

Argentine fans protest the appointment of François Letexier for Argentina–Egypt

Atlanta - 07.07.2026: The appointment of the Frenchman François Letexier as referee for the World Cup round-of-16 match between Argentina and Egypt has provoked noticeable opposition in Argentina. FIFA confirmed the assignment over the weekend, and the Fédération Française de Football (FFF) published the appointment with reference to the official lists from the tournament organizers. The match is scheduled for Tuesday in Atlanta.In Argentine fan forums and social networks, numerous supporters criticize the choice of a French official. This is justified by the strained sporting rivalry between the two national teams in recent years as well as debates over individual decisions in international matches. Several sports websites picked up the reactions and spoke of growing skepticism in the Argentine public. Calls for a last-minute replacement circulated more widely online on Monday and Tuesday.The appointment names assistants Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni alongside Letexier. In tournaments of this scale, FIFA's referees committee makes assignments based on sporting and organizational criteria. Specialist media note that Letexier has already officiated several matches this...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 11:24

Explosions near Macron’s hotel in Damascus – President continues visit

Damascus - 07.07.2026: In the Syrian capital Damascus there were several explosions on Tuesday morning near the Four Seasons Hotel where France's president Emmanuel Macron has been staying during his official visit. According to the Syrian Interior Ministry, at least 18 people were injured. French and international agencies report consistently that Macron remained uninjured and is continuing his schedule. Plumes of smoke, cordons and numerous emergency personnel were visible in footage from local media. Official information about the type of explosive devices or their triggering mechanism is not yet available.The Élysée stated that the president did not personally perceive the detonations and is continuing the...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 11:06

Racist Attack on Mbappé: Affair Involving Paraguayan Senator Sparks Diplomatic Reactions

Paris - 07.07.2026: After the round of 16 match France–Paraguay on July 4, 2026, an openly racist online attack by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla on Kylian Mbappé sparked a political affair. The politician posted several derogatory expressions on the platform X that were directed at the captain of the French national team. Within hours, the incident escalated from a sport-related controversy to a diplomatically charged debate.Mbappé reacted immediately and called Amarilla "a despicable woman, unworthy of her office". In France there was widespread solidarity: President Emmanuel Macron, members of the government and the Fédération Française de Football (FFF) condemned the statements and offered support to...

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