07.07.2026 10:46

Perinatal mortality in France 2024 over 11 per 1,000 births

Paris - 07.07.2026: In France, mortality in the perinatal period rose again in 2024. According to calculations by the Direction de la recherche, des études, de l'évaluation et des statistiques (DREES), it was more than 11 deaths per 1,000 births nationwide. The analysis published on Tuesday is part of a report on the health of newborns and infants and is based on official birth and health statistics as well as the SNDS mother-child database. Stillbirths and deaths within the first seven days of life are recorded.Within France there is a clear gradient. In metropolitan France DREES calculated a rate of 10.8 per 1,000 births, while higher values were recorded in the overseas departments and regions. The agency points out that methodological aspects – such as improved recording, different definitions and the ongoing expansion of the data base – can affect comparisons over time. The increase nevertheless fits into a trend that experts have been observing for several years.The report names social and territorial inequalities as central influencing factors. In poorer municipalities perinatal mortality is clearly above the national average. According to DREES, this is contributed to, among other things, by unequal access to early and continuous prenatal care, differences in the density of maternity and perinatal centers, and social burdens. The agency recommends specifically expanding preventive services in disadvantaged areas, shortening routes to midwife and specialist care, and strengthening coordination between community medicine and hospitals.Demographic and medical factors also play...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 10:26

Murder of Mehdi Kessaci: Four more suspects in Marseille remanded in custody

Marseille - 07.07.2026: In the investigation into the murder of Mehdi Kessaci, four further suspects have been arrested and remanded in pre-trial detention. According to judicial sources, they were brought before an investigative judge on charges of murder and attempted murder as part of an organized gang and were subsequently committed to custody. The raids took place in early July in the greater Marseille area as part of coordinated measures by police and the judiciary.The 22-year-old Mehdi Kessaci was shot dead in Marseille on 13 November 2025. The case attracted nationwide attention because his brother, activist Amine Kessaci, has publicly campaigned against drug-related violence for...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 10:05

Major blaze in the Pyrénées-Orientales: evacuations, over 4,600 hectares affected – air support reinforced

Pyrénées-Orientales - 07.07.2026: In the Aspres near Trévillach the forest and scrub fires have continued since the beginning of July. According to the prefecture, the flames most recently affected around 4,600 hectares of vegetation; at peak times several villages were evacuated and up to 10,000 people were temporarily cut off from access to their homes. Authorities are calling on people to strictly observe road closures and not to circumvent return bans.The operational situation remains volatile. The fire is moving through steep, hard-to-reach terrain where gusts and downdrafts can quickly change its direction. Firefighters are focusing on protecting residential areas, agricultural land and specific infrastructure. According...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 09:46

Explosions Near Hotel in Damascus During Macron Visit – President Unharmed

Damascus - 07.07.2026: During the official visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to the Syrian capital, several improvised explosive devices detonated in the morning near the hotel where he had previously stayed. According to consistent statements from the Élysée and Syrian security circles, Macron was in the presidential palace at the time of the detonations for talks with Syria's head of state Ahmed al-Charaa. The French presidency stated that the president was unharmed; his schedule will be reviewed in close coordination with security services.Syrian authorities reported at least 18 injured, including civilians and members of the security forces. Several emergency vehicles and bomb disposal teams secured the area around the affected downtown hotel. Images from the vicinity showed shattered windows and damaged facades. No one formally claimed responsibility at first. Investigators are examining whether the detonations were triggered in a coordinated manner and whether they were related in space or time to the high-level visit. Independent confirmation of the details was not initially available.Macron's meeting with al-Charaa in the presidential...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 09:25

Macron in Damascus: France tests the waters of Syria’s reconstruction

Damascus - 07.07.2026: Emmanuel Macron arrived in Damascus on July 6 for an official visit — the first trip by a leading Western head of state to Syria since the change of power in 2024. France accompanied the mission with a delegation of business representatives to explore possibilities for participation in the reconstruction and to consolidate political channels of communication. According to the Élysée, Paris wants to "support actors who contribute to the construction of a new Syria." Macron met the acting president Ahmad al-Charaa for talks on security issues, humanitarian access and economic cooperation. The visit to the Umayyad Mosque was symbolically powerful; in parallel, working meetings with Syrian government bodies on infrastructure, energy supply and urban rehabilitation took place. The presence of French companies signals cautious interest — still without binding commitments. The security situation remained fragile. On the morning of July 7 authorities reported explosions near the Four Seasons, where parts of the delegation were accommodated. According to official statements there were injured; Macron was unharmed. The...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 09:14

Controversial Bill: France Debates Expanded Protection for Police Shootings

A bill in the French National Assembly is causing fierce controversy. While the government and conservative deputies want to give police forces more legal certainty in operations, human rights organizations, lawyers and parts of the opposition warn of a profound change to rule-of-law principles. At the center of the debate is the question whether police officers and gendarmes should in future benefit from a statutory presumption that the use of their firearms was lawful. A new legal approach The bill introduced by the conservative deputy Éric Pauget (Les Républicains) will be debated in the National Assembly on 7 July. Originally, the draft provided for an...

Artikel des Tages Read 07.07.2026 09:08

When Even the Sky Gives Up

There are images that burn indelibly into a nation's memory. In France the evening of July 14 is undoubtedly one of them. While elsewhere national holidays are observed with endless speeches, brass bands and stiff military ceremonies, France let the sky speak. Colour, thunder, light and wonder – for a few minutes the Republic seemed to hover above the rooftops. Now the sky stays dark. Not out of thrift. Not out of ideological asceticism. Not even out of security fanaticism. But because nature has now taken over directing duties. One needs to let that sentence sink in slowly. The country's largest public celebration foregoes its...

Artikel des Tages Read 07.07.2026 09:05

Appeals Ruling in EU Assistants Affair: What’s at Stake for Marine Le Pen’s 2027 Election Chances

Paris - 07.07.2026: The appeals decision in the case against Marine Le Pen brings the intersection of criminal law and electoral law to the center of French politics. The Paris Court of Appeal is hearing the EU assistants affair, in which the former leader of the Rassemblement National is accused of using European Parliament funds for internal party purposes. She was convicted at first instance; now on the table is, in particular, a multi-year ineligibility (Inéligibilité), i.e. disqualification from holding public office.In the appeal proceedings, the prosecution sought confirmation and a stiffening of the judgment, as well as up to five years of ineligibility. Legally...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 08:53

Wildfire Risk: More Municipalities Cancel Fireworks for the National Day

The French National Day on 14 July is traditionally one of the highlights of the summer. Fireworks, concerts, folk festivals and dance events attract thousands of visitors across the country. But this year the colorful spectacle will not take place in several municipalities. The reason is not budget cuts or organizational problems, but the unusually high risk of wildfires. Persistent drought, high temperatures and dried-out soils are creating a tense situation in numerous regions. As a precaution, several municipalities have therefore decided to cancel their planned fireworks. Affected places include, among others, Clisson and Gétigné in the Département Loire-Atlantique as well as Bressuire, Montaigu, Commequiers...

Artikel des Tages Read 07.07.2026 08:44

Appeals Verdict in EU Assistants Affair: Sensitive Day for Marine Le Pen and the RN

Paris - 07.07.2026: The Paris criminal chamber will announce the appeals verdict on Tuesday in the affair over allegedly misused European Parliament funds by the former Front National, today Rassemblement National (RN). At its core the case concerns the employment of assistants between 2004 and 2016: investigators and the prosecution allege that salaries from Brussels budgets were used to finance party-political activities in France. In the first instance in 2025 several defendants, including Marine Le Pen, were convicted. She denies the allegations and appealed.Politically, today’s date is explosive. If the appellate court confirms significant convictions and imposes ineligibility, it would directly affect the presidential strategy for 2027. Legally, however, the road would not necessarily end there: a cassation appeal is possible, which is limited to legal questions and can take months. The question of when any potential ineligibility would take effect also depends on service, further appeals and the exact wording of the decision.Within the RN the pressure for a clear division of roles is growing. Party leader Jordan Bardella...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 08:37

Savon, Pastis & Co.: New label to protect Marseille craftsmanship

Marseille, like few other French cities, stands for traditional products with a high degree of recognizability. The famous Marseille soap, aromatic pastis, crisp navettes, artfully made santons, or hand-painted ceramics have been part of the Mediterranean metropolis' cultural heritage for generations. Yet these very classics have been struggling for years with a problem: increasingly, products bear the name "Marseille" even though they were neither manufactured there nor produced according to the traditional methods. With the new quality seal "Fabriqué à Marseille", the city is now sending a clear signal for authenticity and regional craftsmanship. The label recognizes only products that are actually manufactured within the...

Artikel des Tages Read 07.07.2026 08:24

Jeanbrun defends temporary reintroduction of energy-inefficient rental apartments with renovation obligations

Paris - 07.07.2026: The Minister for Urban Affairs and Housing, Vincent Jeanbrun, on Tuesday defended the central provision of the bill "Relance et décentralisation du logement": the temporary return of energy-inefficient apartments of classes F and G to the rental market — on the condition that owners comply with binding renovation schedules. The measure is to be debated in the Senate on the same day in first reading. The government argues with acute shortages in many cities and an unused housing stock at the same time. Jeanbrun sketched the approach as a pragmatic exchange: time-limited rental in return for verifiable obligations for insulation, the replacement...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 08:22

France between flames, heatwave and political tension: These issues shape July 7

France is experiencing a news day in which natural forces, politics, justice and elite sport equally claim public attention. While devastating wildfires continue to rage in the south of the country and a new heatwave is hitting large parts of France, attention is also directed to the Tour de France, the Football World Cup and several domestic political and judicial developments with far-reaching consequences. The French media portray a country that must increasingly confront the challenges of an unusually hot summer, without other political and social issues receding into the background. Wildfires in the south remain the dominant issue At the center of coverage are still the severe wildfires in the Pyrénées-Orientales. For days, hundreds of firefighters have been battling the flames, which repeatedly spread due to extreme dryness, strong winds and high temperatures. Several thousand hectares of vegetation have already been destroyed, numerous roads had to be closed and some villages were evacuated as a precaution. The media report not only on the rescue forces' operations but increasingly raise fundamental questions. There is growing discussion about whether France needs to fundamentally rethink its strategy for combating large fires. Experts point out that the fire season is no longer limited to midsummer and that the risk has now spread to regions that were previously hardly affected. The economic consequences are also coming more into focus. Damage to agricultural land, forests and tourist infrastructure could have long-term effects on entire regions....

Artikel des Tages Read 07.07.2026 08:13

Tour de France 2026: Wildfires Force Stage Without Spectators

The devastating wildfires in the eastern Pyrenees fundamentally changed the third stage of the 2026 Tour de France. For the first time since the years of the coronavirus pandemic, a section of the world's most famous cycling race was held virtually without spectators. The long-established publicity caravan also had to stop its activities on French soil entirely — an extraordinary measure that underlined the seriousness of the situation. Despite the dramatic situation, authorities together with the organizers decided to run the stage from Granollers in Spain to Les Angles in France. However, a strict safety concept applied. The final 40 kilometres of the route between...

Artikel des Tages Read 07.07.2026 08:04

Village in Tarn hopes for clarification in Delphine Jubillar case after first publicly known confessions

Cagnac-les-Mines - 07.07.2026: In a letter made public on July 6, 2026, Cédric Jubillar, according to multiple media reports, for the first time admitted his responsibility for the disappearance of his wife Delphine. The document, addressed to one of his lawyers, was published by La Dépêche du Midi and has since been picked up by several national newsrooms. Official investigation files or a full transcript of the letter are not available to the public. In the town of Cagnac-les-Mines in the Tarn department, where the couple lived, the news brought tangible relief—and hope for an end to years of uncertainty. Neighbors and local officials told...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 08:04

Can the confessions of Cédric Jubillar mitigate his sentence in the appeal trial?

The case of Cédric Jubillar has been one of France's most sensational criminal cases for years. Now a surprising twist is causing renewed debate. After Jubillar was sentenced to 30 years in prison at first instance, he made a confession shortly before the appeal trial. The question immediately arose whether this step could improve his chances in court. A late confession does not automatically lead to a reduced sentence under French criminal law. Judges consider the overall picture. What matters is whether the statements appear credible, complete and verifiable. A mere admission is not enough to fundamentally call an already rendered verdict into question. Nonetheless, a confession opens up room for maneuver. Someone who accepts responsibility for their act often comes across differently than a defendant who denies any guilt until the end. A credible admission of guilt can give the impression that insight and personal confrontation with the act have begun. If genuine remorse and sympathy for the bereaved are added, these aspects also factor into the overall assessment...

Artikel des Tages Read 07.07.2026 07:50

Pyrénées-Orientales: 700 firefighters continue to fight the major wildfire

The devastating forest fire in the Pyrénées-Orientales continues to keep France on edge. Even on Tuesday morning the situation remains tense. Around 700 firefighters, together with about 200 emergency vehicles, water-dropping aircraft and helicopters, are on continuous duty. Despite the massive deployment of forces, the fire is still not considered "contained". For the command, this means: the spread of the flames has so far not been fully brought under control. The fire broke out on Saturday evening near Trévillach. Since then the flames have been consuming the dry forests and scrubland of the Aspres massif west of Perpignan. Around 4,600 hectares have now fallen victim to the blaze. The region is one of the particularly dry areas of southern France, and those conditions turned the landscape into an ideal breeding ground for the fire. Adding to this was the tramontane, that strong downslope wind which regularly causes difficult weather conditions in the Pyrénées-Orientales. Combined with high temperatures and parched vegetation, the fire developed within a few hours into one of...

Artikel des Tages Read 07.07.2026 07:46

Husband admits killing Delphine Jubillar – family lawyer warns of ‘manipulation’

Cagnac-les-Mines - 07.07.2026: Cédric Jubillar has, according to his defenders, admitted in a written statement that he killed his wife Delphine on the night of December 15 to 16, 2020. The statement, released on Monday by lawyers and French media, marks a new chapter in one of France's most closely watched criminal cases since the disappearance of the nurse from the Tarn department. According to his lawyers, Jubillar has made "admissions of responsibility" and signaled his willingness to cooperate with the justice system, notably by indicating a possible location for the mortal remains. Until now the case had been characterised by his denials, shifting accounts...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 07:44

Climate policy as a vote of no confidence: French government survives first climate no-confidence motion in parliament

The French National Assembly overwhelmingly rejected a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's government. The Greens' initiative, who accused the government of failures in handling the heatwave at the end of June, received only 132 votes and thus fell far short of the 289 votes required to topple the government. Politically the result had been expected. Nevertheless, the vote marks a remarkable moment in French parliamentary history: for the first time, climate policy and crisis management during an extreme heatwave were at the center of a no-confidence motion. Allegation of inadequate preparation for the climate crisis The motion was brought by 58 MPs from...

Artikel des Tages Read 07.07.2026 07:33

‘I’ve never seen anything so apocalyptic’ – Fire inferno shakes the Pyrénées-Orientales

The massive wildfires in southern France have triggered a disaster in the Pyrénées-Orientales that leaves even experienced firefighters speechless. A commander describes the situation in stark terms: 'I've never seen anything so apocalyptic.' What is currently unfolding in the region, according to many helpers, surpasses everything they have encountered in their careers. Within hours the flames devoured dry vegetation and turned vast areas into a glowing front of fire. Extreme heat, parched soils and the strong Tramontane created ideal conditions, so the fire spread with alarming speed. The wind carried embers over long distances and ignited new outbreaks. For the emergency services this became an...

Artikel des Tages Read 07.07.2026 07:24

Unrest grows in Hénin-Beaumont ahead of verdict against Marine Le Pen

Hénin-Beaumont - 07.07.2026: In Hénin-Beaumont, the political stronghold Marine Le Pen has cultivated for years in the Pas-de-Calais, eyes are fixed on the Paris appeals court. There, judges will decide whether to confirm or overturn a ruling that sentenced Le Pen to several years of ineligibility over the affair involving allegedly improperly billed assistant positions in the European Parliament. A confirmation would directly affect her presidential ambitions for 2027 — a scenario causing palpable unease in her northern French heartland.In cafés and community halls, supporters report uncertainty and anger, but also sober precaution. Many point to the close relationship Le Pen has built over nearly...

Aktuell Read 07.07.2026 07:24

France’s Army Trains for Emergencies – “We train to be prepared”

"On s'entraîne pour se préparer, c'est indispensable" – with this maxim the French army encapsulates its strategic shift. For decades, foreign deployments to combat terrorism were at the center of military training. Today the focus has returned to territorial and alliance defence. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, increasing hybrid threats and growing tensions between the great powers have fundamentally changed Europe's security environment. France is responding with a comprehensive modernization of its armed forces and significantly more intensive training for high-intensity conflict. Return to traditional territorial defence Since the end of the Cold War, the French armed forces have concentrated primarily on expeditionary operations. Whether in the Balkans, in Afghanistan or in the Sahel zone – the army was geared towards asymmetric conflicts against non-state opponents. Small, highly mobile units, air support and special forces shaped the operational profile. These priorities have fundamentally changed within a few years. With the war in Ukraine, the possibility of a conventional war between technologically highly equipped states has returned to the centre...

Artikel des Tages Read 07.07.2026 07:13

Crisis in the Prince’s Palace: Former Confidants Level Serious Accusations Against Albert II’s Circle

Three years after their dismissal, the affair surrounding the Monegasque Prince's Palace is intensifying once again. Two former senior confidants of Prince Albert II accuse his former circle of having systematically persecuted, discredited and intimidated them. Their statements lend new urgency to an affair that has been shaking the principality since 2023 and raises questions about transparency, power structures and governance within the sovereign's inner circle. At the center of the recent developments are Claude Palmero, who for more than two decades served as the prince's asset manager, and Didier Linotte, who was also among the long-time confidants of the head of state. Both describe...

Artikel des Tages Read 07.07.2026 07:05

Fraud reports rise in France as heatwave drives air conditioner purchases

Paris - 07.07.2026: In France, reports of fraud related to the purchase of portable air conditioners have increased since the country experienced another heatwave in early July. Consumers report fake online shops, so-called flash deals and devices that, on delivery, do not match the advertised specifications or do not arrive at all. The strong demand, triggered by persistently high temperatures, creates an environment in which criminals lure buyers with supposed bargains, consumer protection groups say.Typical scams include orders not being delivered after prepayment, the shipment of inferior or damaged goods, and drastic price markups by unofficial resellers on classified ad platforms. Observers also report overcrowded...

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