31.07.2026 10:16

Fire service in Gironde commemorates two colleagues killed in Mérignac

Mérignac - 31.07.2026: The fire service in Gironde observed a minute of silence for two emergency responders who died on July 21 while fighting a major vegetation fire near Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport. The tribute was for Anthony Berthôme and Wilfried Schmitter, two professional firefighters with the SDIS 33 fire and rescue service.The two 34-year-olds were assigned to the Saint-Médard-en-Jalles fire station. According to the information confirmed so far, their fire engine entered an area of the blaze where the flames spread rapidly during the operation. Neither man could be saved. The fire broke out on the afternoon of July 21 in the immediate vicinity of the airport.The minute of silence followed several public and internal tributes. In the days after the tragedy, colleagues and local residents gathered in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles. Fire services from other French departments expressed their condolences to the families, SDIS 33 personnel and the deceased men's colleagues.Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had proposed a national memorial service for the families after the tragedy. During a visit to Gironde, he met with relatives and firefighters. According to the information available at the time, the planned tribute is to be visible both in Gironde and at prefectures and fire stations across the country. No date has yet been announced for the ceremony.The fire near Mérignac occurred during a period of exceptionally high wildfire risk in southwestern France. In Gironde, numerous emergency responders, soldiers and security authorities were working to contain fires and...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 10:01

Gironde: Police Protect Evacuated Homes from Burglars

Bordeaux - 31 July 2026: In the evacuated towns of Gironde, police officers and gendarmes are now patrolling against a threat that does not involve flames: burglars could take advantage of residents' absence. According to a report by France 3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine, a special police unit has been deployed to protect vacant homes in the cleared areas and quickly identify suspected perpetrators.The Bordeaux public prosecutor's office announced on Thursday, 30 July, according to the report, that further investigations had been opened. These concern suspected deliberate arson and burglaries in the evacuation zones. It was initially unknown how many people had specifically been accused or arrested in...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 07:45

BTS Forgo Grammy Submission in Protest

New York - 31 July 2026: BTS will not submit their comeback album "ARIRANG" or its songs for the 2027 Grammy Awards. The seven members - RM, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, Jung Kook and Jin - released corresponding statements through their Instagram accounts on 29 July. Their music, they said, should be heard and loved for its artistic merit, not categorized by region or language.The decision strikes at the most important US music award at a sensitive point. In mid-June, the Recording Academy announced five additional Grammy categories, including an award for Best Asian Pop Music Performance. The prize is intended for performers of pop...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 07:31

Tour de France Femmes 2026 starts in Lausanne: Switzerland sets the pace

Lausanne - 31.07.2026: On Saturday, 1 August 2026, the Tour de France Femmes begins on the shores of Lake Geneva. Lausanne hosts the first of nine race days, offering the peloton a route with no gentle introduction: 138 kilometres, two climbs before returning to the lake and a final ramp shortly before the finish in the city centre.The opening in Switzerland is the second Grand Départ of the modern Tour de France Femmes to be held outside France. After Rotterdam in 2024, organiser ASO moves the start to a country whose road profile is likely to shape the race early on. The first two stages run through Switzerland before the race crosses into France on Monday, 3 August, from Geneva to Poligny.The first stage starts and finishes in Lausanne. The route initially heads towards Lake Neuchâtel. On the way back, riders face climbs of 3.5 kilometres at an average gradient of 6.1 percent and 3.7 kilometres at 4.5 percent. After passing the Olympic Museum, there is a 2.3-kilometre ascent averaging...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 07:16

France’s strong Tour axis: Four riders, four roles

Lausanne - 31/07/2026: When the peloton sets off from Lausanne for the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift on 1 August, French cycling will bring an unusually broad range of rider profiles to the start. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot lines up as defending champion, Cédrine Kerbaol as an attacking overall classification rider, and Maëva Squiban as a stage hunter. Célia Géry will ride the French Grand Tour for the first time with FDJ United-SUEZ.The benchmark comes from the summer of 2025. French riders won four stages then, while Ferrand-Prévot also took the overall classification. The Visma-Lease a Bike rider secured the Yellow Jersey with two solo victories in the mountains. That success changed expectations for a country whose Tour hopes had previously often focused on breakaways and isolated day wins.Kerbaol represents the second French strand. The 25-year-old of EF Education-Oatly combines climbing ability with a willingness to take risks on descents and experience in battling for seconds over several days. In May, she won the third stage of the Vuelta Femenina after...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 07:01

Russian Attack Hits Poland, Making Europe’s Air Defense a Bottleneck Issue

Kyiv - 31 July 2026: A Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine killed at least ten civilians and injured more than 50 people overnight into Thursday. At the same time, according to Poland, a Russian cruise missile crossed the country's western border and struck a rural area in the Lublin Voivodeship. No injuries or property damage were reported there. For Europe, however, the significance of the incident lies in the border violation: NATO aircraft took off, and the alliance activated ground-based defense systems.Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described it as a very serious incident, but also said there was no reason to believe Poland...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 07:01

The war over Hormuz spreads to new theaters

Washington - 31 July 2026: Within a few days, the war between the United States and Iran has once again taken on a regional scope extending far beyond the Strait of Hormuz. According to U.S. Central Command, American forces struck dozens of Revolutionary Guard targets, including command centers and facilities for missiles, drones, coastal surveillance and air defense. The strikes followed an Iranian missile attack on a U.S. base in Jordan. In Kuwait, an worker was killed, according to official accounts, when an Iranian strike hit a building belonging to a Chinese company. Jordan's air defenses intercepted five missiles fired from Iran.The immediate military balance...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 07:00

Fire at Roma camp near Nantes: Around 200 people evacuated

Nantes - 31 July 2026: Around 200 people were evacuated on Friday morning after a fire at a Roma camp in the greater Nantes area. Emergency services brought residents from the affected area to safety. No information was initially available on injuries or the extent of the damage.According to the Loire-Atlantique prefecture, the fire started within the site. The authority described the cause of the fire as "endogenous". This initially means only that the fire originated within the camp itself. It does not indicate what specific trigger was behind it. The published information did not state whether a technical investigation had already begun or which...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 06:46

U2P calls for tourism campaign for Gironde after wildfires

Bordeaux - 31 July 2026: The French association of small businesses and self-employed workers, U2P, is calling for a national promotional campaign in support of Gironde once the current wildfires are under control. The association is appealing to the minister responsible for tourism to encourage French people to take holidays in the department. The campaign is intended to support the local economy in August, which has been hit by evacuations, access restrictions and cancelled stays.The call explicitly concerns the period after the immediate danger has passed. U2P is not demanding that tourists return to threatened areas, but rather a communications initiative once safety authorities allow...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 06:30

Saint-Denis Gives France’s Divers a Permanent Olympic Base

Saint-Denis - 31 July 2026: France's divers are beginning the European Championships at a venue that has long ceased to be an unfamiliar competition pool for them. Since September 2025, the national squad based at INSEP has travelled twice a week to the Centre Aquatique Olympique Métropole du Grand Paris in Saint-Denis. The facility built for Paris 2024 offers training conditions that had not previously been permanently available to athletes in France.The progress is measured less by the size of the hall than by its equipment. The complete diving facility, including a 10-metre platform, makes it possible to regularly repeat technical sequences under conditions comparable with international competition. In diving, take-off, rotation and entry must mesh precisely within seconds. Reliable training slots at a competition-ready facility are therefore more than a matter of comfort: they provide the basis for systematic technical work.Before the centre opened, elite French sport had to rely on less suitable infrastructure. The swimming federation has now firmly incorporated Saint-Denis into its high-performance programme. In France's high-performance...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 06:16

August 2026: Higher savings interest rates, school allowance and stricter rules for marketing calls

Paris - 31 July 2026: August brings several changes for households and businesses in France. On 1 August, the interest rate on the state-regulated Livret A savings account will rise from 1.5 to 1.7 percent. The Livret de développement durable et solidaire, or LDDS, will also earn interest at 1.7 percent in future. The income-dependent Livret d'épargne populaire (LEP) will remain at 2.5 percent. The rates apply for the second half of the year.In raising the rate for the Livret A, the Ministry of the Economy is following a recommendation by the Banque de France. The calculation takes into account average inflation excluding tobacco over...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 06:01

After the Le Porge fire: Residents consider legal action against emergency command

Le Porge - 31 July 2026: Anger is growing in Le Porge, amid charred pine trees and the ruins of destroyed homes. Residents of the severely affected municipality in the Gironde department have formed a collective. They want to investigate whether sufficient resources were deployed to protect their homes during the battle against the major fire. Based on the information known so far, a lawsuit is being prepared but has not yet been filed.The trigger is the impression among many of those affected that Le Porge was defended too late or with insufficient resources compared with the Cap Ferret peninsula. Some residents report that emergency...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 05:46

Volunteer Firefighters Bear the Operational Burden of Fires in Gironde

Bordeaux - 31 July 2026: The severe wildfires in Gironde have once again brought the work of volunteer firefighters into focus. They work side by side with professional firefighters, civil protection personnel and other emergency services. The major operation that has been underway for days in southwestern France requires substantial staffing reserves, particularly for tackling smoldering hotspots, evacuations and protecting residential areas at risk.Volunteer firefighters are not untrained helpers. They are part of France's fire and rescue services, receive operational training and, depending on their qualifications, perform the same operational duties as other personnel: firefighting, technical assistance, emergency medical services and public protection. Their work is a voluntary public commitment associated with expense allowances, but it is not regular professional employment.Nationwide, volunteers make up nearly 80 percent of firefighting personnel. According to the French civil protection authority, around 256,000 firefighters work in fire and rescue services, including volunteers, professional firefighters and military units. Voluntary service therefore forms the staffing backbone of the French model, especially outside major cities and during prolonged major emergencies.The volunteers come from a wide range of professions. They include employees, self-employed people, apprentices and students, who must organize time alongside their daily lives for callouts, standby duty, exercises and further training. During a prolonged wildfire, this can mean leaving the workplace or using vacation days. Employers can enable leave for operations and training through agreements with civil protection authorities.In Gironde, the fire and rescue service had...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 04:00

Volunteers secure water supplies in the Gironde fire zone

Bordeaux - 30 July 2026: In fighting the wildfires in the Gironde, volunteers are taking on a demanding task: they deliver firefighting water to fire service vehicles in the operational areas. Farmers, businesses and other helpers are providing tanks, trailers and suitable vehicles for this purpose. The water comes from sources including lakes, private swimming pools, forestry reserves and hydrants.The additional supply reduces the distance fire engines need to travel to fixed water collection points. This allows emergency crews to remain longer in their assigned sectors and refill their tanks more quickly. Particularly across extensive fire areas, such a supply chain is of considerable practical...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 03:45

Foundation calls for donations after wildfires in Gironde and Landes

Bordeaux - 31 July 2026: Following the severe wildfires in the departments of Gironde and Landes, the French heritage foundation, Fondation du patrimoine, has called for donations for the damaged forests. It aims to raise a total of two million euros. The funds are intended to support projects that restore affected areas, protect them and make them more resilient to future fires.The appeal is part of a nationwide emergency fundraising campaign that the foundation had already launched in July. It is aimed at individuals, companies and municipalities. Unlike immediate disaster relief, the initiative addresses the long-term consequences of the fires: it is intended to fund...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 03:31

Wildfire near Biscarrosse under control: 3,600 hectares destroyed

Biscarrosse - 31 July 2026: According to the authorities, the wildfire near Biscarrosse in the Landes department is under control. Since the afternoon of 23 July, the fire had spread between Biscarrosse and neighbouring municipalities. Around 3,600 hectares of forest and vegetation were destroyed. Emergency crews continue to monitor the fire area and extinguish hotspots from which new fires could emerge.The fire triggered extensive evacuations. In Biscarrosse, Parentis-en-Born and endangered parts of Sanguinet, around 30,000 residents and holidaymakers had to temporarily leave their accommodation as a precaution. Residential neighbourhoods, campsites, holiday accommodation and a care facility were affected. The authorities allowed people to return gradually and only to areas that had previously been classified as safe by firefighters and police.As early as 26 July, the prefecture had authorised returns to several secured areas of Biscarrosse. Two days later, however, monitoring and efforts to fight isolated fire sites that had reignited were still ongoing. High temperatures increased the risk of new fires. On 28 July, the fire service recorded 40 callouts,...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 03:16

Nine Dead in Mass Entry into Ceuta – Spain Mobilizes Military

Ceuta - 31/07/2026: At least nine people died on Thursday during a mass entry of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta. The Spanish government delegation in Ceuta confirmed the recovery of nine bodies but provided no further details about the circumstances of the deaths. Reports said that thousands of people entered the city at the El Tarajal border crossing; many attempted to bypass the breakwaters by swimming.The central government in Madrid subsequently requested army units to support the Guardia Civil. The soldiers are intended to contribute to public safety and relieve the border forces. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska were due to meet in Ceuta on 31 July with the president of the autonomous city, Juan Jesús Vivas, as well as representatives of the police, civil protection and aid organizations.Authorities initially did not provide a reliable total number of people who had entered since the latest escalation began. Vivas had already stated on 29 July that more than 1,500 adults and minors had...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 03:00

Gironde: 84,000 evacuees allowed to return home

Bordeaux - 30 July 2026: After days of evacuations, 84,000 people in nine municipalities in Gironde are allowed to return to their apartments and homes. Authorities granted clearance on Thursday after the situation had stabilized in several previously threatened areas. However, this does not mean the all-clear has been given: the fire has not yet been fully extinguished, and firefighters and security forces continue to monitor the affected areas closely.The authorization to return applies exclusively to zones deemed sufficiently safe by the responsible authorities. Residents are urged to follow local instructions. Smoke, smoldering hotspots, damaged infrastructure, or temporary road closures may continue to disrupt daily...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 02:45

Iraq Denies Approving U.S.-Saudi Strikes

Baghdad - 31/07/2026: The Iraqi government has denied approving the U.S.-Saudi strikes of July 29. It thereby contradicts U.S. President Donald Trump, who, according to Franceinfo, described the operation as coordinated with Baghdad. Independently confirmed information on the targets, the course of events and possible casualties was initially unavailable.The contradiction concerns a politically sensitive distinction: Prior notification, operational coordination and explicit approval of a military operation are not equivalent either diplomatically or under international law. According to the account available, Baghdad rejects the claim that it gave its consent. It was not explained whether there had been contacts with U.S. or Saudi authorities before the...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 02:30

Claude Onesta on Paris 2024: Performance as a Shared Mission

Paris - 31 July 2026: Claude Onesta speaks about Paris 2024, and his choice of words still sounds like that of a coach before a major match: for him, the Olympic and Paralympic Games were not an ordinary project, but a mission. In the fourth episode of the Franceinfo series "Le Monde d'Elodie", the former French national handball coach describes how the hope of successful home Games became a long-term strategy for elite sport. The occasion for the interview is his book "Performer: la méthode", published in the spring.Onesta knew the pressure of major tournaments from the court. From 2001 to 2016, he led France's...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 02:16

Donations for the Fontainebleau Forest surpass one million euros

Fontainebleau - 31.07.2026: Just over two weeks after the fires in the Fontainebleau Forest, the fundraising campaign organized by the Fondation du Patrimoine has surpassed the one-million-euro mark. The collection is thus approaching its initial target of two million euros. The money is intended for urgent safety work, the restoration of damaged areas and better protection against future fires.According to the state forestry agency Office national des forêts, around 2,000 hectares were affected by the fires. This corresponds to just under one tenth of the forest massif, which covers more than 22,000 hectares southeast of Paris. Four biological protection reserves as well as areas with...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 00:46

Ceuta Crisis Leads to Diplomatic Dispute Between Spain and Italy

Ceuta - 30 July 2026: The arrival of numerous migrants in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta on Thursday triggered a diplomatic dispute between Madrid and Rome. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares summoned Italian Ambassador Giuseppe Buccino Grimaldi. The move followed statements by the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which is considering restrictions on Schengen travel with Spain due to recent irregular entries across the Moroccan border.Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called for action against Spain, citing security risks posed by uncontrolled migration. Following consultations with Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, Meloni said Rome was prepared to take extraordinary measures to protect its borders. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini also demanded tougher steps. However, Italy cannot unilaterally enforce Spain's exclusion from the Schengen Area.The Schengen Borders Code allows member states to introduce temporary controls at their internal borders in the event of a serious threat to public order or internal security. This is subject to EU legal requirements; the measure must be justified to the European Commission and be proportionate....

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 00:30

Wildfire near Brignoles under control – more than 600 people evacuated

Brignoles - 30 July 2026: A new vegetation fire in the Var department is under control, but it continues to keep emergency services busy. The fire broke out on Wednesday, 29 July, southeast of Brignoles and affected around 130 hectares, according to Franceinfo. More than 600 people were evacuated from endangered areas as a precaution.Authorities ordered the evacuations because the flames were spreading through an area of woodland and scattered development. The exact point where the fire started and its cause were initially unknown. Even after being contained, the operation is not considered over: embers in the affected areas could flare up again. Firefighters and...

Aktuell Read 31.07.2026 00:16

Federation of Self-Employed Workers Calls for Full Reimbursement of Reduced Working Hours After Fire in Gironde

Bordeaux - 30 July 2026: Jean-Guilhem Darré, general delegate of the federation of self-employed workers and micro-enterprises, has called for full state reimbursement of reduced working-hour costs due to the major fire in Gironde. He justified the move by citing the exceptional situation facing businesses whose operations have been affected by evacuations, access restrictions or disruptions to transport routes.The demand does not concern reduced working hours for the self-employed individuals themselves, but rather the wage costs of their employed staff. Self-employed people without employees are generally unable to receive reduced working-hour benefits for their own work. For small businesses with staff, however, full reimbursement of...

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