30.07.2026 00:31

Former RT France Head Xenia Fedorova Faces Expulsion

Paris - July 30, 2026: According to information from Franceinfo, an expulsion order has been issued against Xenia Fedorova, the former head of the Russian state broadcaster RT France. Since the broadcaster ceased operations, the Russian national has worked as a commentator for several French media outlets, including the television channel CNews and the radio station Europe 1. The measure therefore concerns a media figure who remains publicly visible and whose appearances in France have sparked political controversy.Fedorova headed RT France from 2017 to 2022. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Union banned the broadcaster's distribution. On July 23, 2026, the French Foreign Ministry publicly accused Fedorova of continuing to align herself with Kremlin narratives. The ministry thus placed her media activities within the broader debate over Russian influence and disinformation in France.The French National Assembly had already addressed the case on June 2, 2026. Members of Parliament questioned the government about the granting and renewal of Fedorova's ten-year residence permit in 2024, as well as the legal options for revoking it. During the debate, the government was urged to consider expelling the former RT France head.Under French immigration law, an expulsion differs from an ordinary order to leave the country. According to the state information platform Service-Public, it may be ordered if a foreign national's presence is deemed a serious threat to public order or to the fundamental interests of the state. Those concerned must generally be...

Aktuell Read 30.07.2026 00:15

After the wildfires, the first evacuees return to Gironde

Bordeaux - 29.07.2026: After days of uncertainty, a cautious return to normality is underway in parts of Gironde. The major wildfire in the department was considered provisionally stabilized on Wednesday. For many people who had to leave their houses, apartments and holiday accommodation, this meant permission to return. Others are still waiting in one of the department's 15 reception and accommodation centers or are staying with relatives and friends.The return is subject to clear safety requirements. Emergency services are checking the affected areas because smoldering hot spots and strengthening winds can quickly change the situation. Authorities in Var also warned against returning independently to evacuation...

Aktuell Read 30.07.2026 00:00

Arcom takes action against around 30 pornographic sites without effective age verification

Paris - 29 July 2026: France's audiovisual and digital communications regulator, Arcom, is taking action against around 30 pornographic online services because they are alleged not to have implemented adequate age verification for users in France. Franceinfo reported this on Wednesday evening. The sites concerned are said to distribute pornographic content without reliably preventing access by minors.The obligation to implement effective age verification has applied since 11 January 2025. It is based on the law of 21 May 2024 on securing and regulating the digital space, known as the SREN law. Making pornographic content accessible to minors had already been a criminal offence. However, the...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 23:46

Wildfire near Brignoles: Three residential neighborhoods evacuated

Brignoles - 29 July 2026: A vegetation fire broke out on Wednesday in Brignoles, in the southern French department of Var. According to Franceinfo, the fire had already covered around five hectares by the evening. Three residential neighborhoods were reportedly evacuated as a precaution. Firefighters and emergency services deployed substantial resources as the flames spread near inhabited areas.It was not yet known late on Wednesday evening how many people had to leave their homes. There was also initially no reliable information on possible injuries, damage to buildings or the cause of the fire. A detailed situation assessment from the Var prefecture was also still pending at the time of publication. The figures cited so far are based on the Franceinfo report.The new fire comes at an already tense time for central Var. Since 21 July, a major wildfire in the Gros Bessillon area has kept emergency services occupied. According to a prefecture statement issued on 28 July, that fire was still ongoing at that time. Rekindled fire hotspots had made...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 23:31

Lecornu demands concrete climate adaptation steps by October

Paris - 29.07.2026: French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has tasked Environment Minister Monique Barbut with presenting concrete climate change adaptation measures by early October. According to Franceinfo, the aim is to accelerate implementation of the third National Climate Change Adaptation Plan. The assignment follows the severe heatwave at the beginning of the month, which has increased political pressure on the government.The third national adaptation plan, known as PNACC-3, was published on 10 March 2025. It is intended to prepare the state, local authorities, businesses and infrastructure operators for a significantly warmer climate. It is based on the national reference trajectory, TRACC. This assumes warming in metropolitan France of around two degrees by 2030, 2.7 degrees by 2050 and four degrees by 2100 compared with the pre-industrial period.The programme includes 52 measures and more than 200 individual short-, medium- and long-term actions. They cover health, water supply, flood and wildfire protection, buildings, transport routes, energy facilities, agriculture and coastal regions, among other areas. Unlike reducing greenhouse gas emissions, climate adaptation aims...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 23:16

Free psychological support for France’s firefighters

Paris - 29 July 2026: In view of the exceptionally heavy strain caused by forest and vegetation fires, the Mutuelle nationale des sapeurs-pompiers de France and insurer Matmut are introducing a free psychological support service for firefighters across France. The program is initially planned for three months. Depending on how the fire situation develops and the demands placed on emergency personnel, it may be extended.The service is aimed at firefighters who are psychologically affected by deployments, long standby periods or exposure to severe emergency situations. Support is intended to be available free of charge to those concerned and to make access to professional assistance easier....

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 23:00

Repeated heatwaves increasingly take a toll on mental health

Paris - 29/07/2026: Recurring heatwaves trigger pronounced anxiety in some people about the next weather warning. A report broadcast by Franceinfo on Wednesday describes affected individuals who continuously check forecasts, avoid going outdoors and largely withdraw during hot periods. The description "traumatized by the heat" is a journalistic characterization, not a medical diagnosis.These reactions come against the backdrop of an exceptionally hot early summer in France. Santé publique France had reported a heavy burden on the healthcare system during the heatwave from 16 June to 2 July 2026. According to the agency, heat-related SOS Médecins callouts reached a peak of 698 cases on 25 June;...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 22:46

Volunteer Firefighters Support Wildfire Response in Gironde

Bordeaux - 29 July 2026: Since 22 July, firefighters in Gironde have been battling severe wildfires. Volunteer personnel play a central role, leaving their workplaces or interrupting their holidays when called out. Many of them work as employees, educators or students in their daily lives. According to Franceinfo, more than 120 firefighters have been injured in the operations so far.On 28 July, the situation in the department had stabilised according to the latest information. However, the danger had not been fully contained: smaller fire hotspots and areas that reignited repeatedly had to be fought. The Gendarmerie also provided extensive support for the operation. More than...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 22:15

Former Fighter Pilot Charged Over Alleged Contacts with China

Paris - 29/07/2026: A former French fighter pilot has been formally charged in Paris and placed under judicial supervision. Investigating judges suspect him of cooperating with a foreign power in intelligence matters and disclosing national defense secrets. According to sources close to the case, the alleged contacts involve China.The proceedings were triggered by a report from the Ministry of the Armed Forces to the judiciary. The ministry invoked Article 40 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure. The provision requires public officials to inform prosecutors if they become aware of a possible criminal offense in the course of their work. The Paris Public Prosecutor's Office...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 22:00

After Wildfire, Holidaymakers Return to Biscarrosse Only Hesitantly

Biscarrosse - 29 July 2026: Following the severe wildfire, the first holidaymakers are returning to Biscarrosse. However, the seaside resort in the Landes department is still far from normal holiday operations. Several neighborhoods remain inaccessible due to ongoing operations. For campsites, hotels, restaurants, retailers and seasonal workers, the disruption comes during an economically crucial phase of the summer holidays.The Landes prefecture authorized the gradual return of residents to Biscarrosse, Parentis-en-Born and Sanguinet on 27 July. Although the fire is no longer spreading, firefighters and security forces are monitoring the burned areas. After high temperatures on 28 July, emergency crews had to fight numerous smaller flare-ups. Some previously evacuated areas therefore remained closed.In Biscarrosse, this still affects the neighborhoods of Navarrosse, En Chon, Mayotte, Goubern, Le Bosque, Millas, En Bergoin, Caillaou, En Belliard and En Bonnet, among others. Access there is prohibited because work is continuing on hotspots and fire perimeters. The restrictions are severely complicating holiday operations: accommodation providers, shops and service providers are partly inaccessible or must adjust their...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 21:46

SNCF suspends TGV services south of Bordeaux until Sunday

Bordeaux - 29 July 2026: SNCF is suspending TGV services south of Bordeaux until Sunday, August 2. The reason is the severe wildfires in the Gironde and Landes departments. They are affecting a key transport corridor in southwestern France; according to regional authorities, both road and rail links have been impacted.High-speed trains arriving from Paris will mostly terminate in Bordeaux. The suspension primarily affects services to Dax, Bayonne, Hendaye, Pau and Tarbes. SNCF had already planned individual exceptions for the route via Agen to Toulouse on July 28. Services on the remaining lines south of Bordeaux have been halted due to official safety requirements.Transport Minister...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 21:30

Farmers secure the water supply during forest fires in Gironde

Saint-Jean-d'Illac - 29 July 2026: During the severe forest fires in Gironde, farmers are supporting emergency crews with water transport and heavy equipment. Tractors with water tanks, pick-ups with trailers and tanker trucks are bringing firefighting water to operational sectors near Saint-Jean-d'Illac, Audenge and Marcheprime. This relieves the fire service, whose fire engines would otherwise have to travel long distances to water collection points in the extensive fire zones.However, the helpers are not taking part in firefighting operations independently. They deliver water to designated handover points or provide equipment whenever incident command requests it. This allows fire engines to be refilled more quickly and remain...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 21:16

After Severe Burns: Firefighter Frederic Maggiani Returned to Active Duty

Bordeaux - 29 July 2026: As thousands of emergency personnel battle the severe forest fires in Gironde, firefighter Frederic Maggiani recalls the operation that fundamentally changed his life more than two decades ago. In 2004, he himself faced mortal danger during a forest fire. At the time, he believed he was going to die, Maggiani told France Televisions.The fire left him with burns to 37 percent of his body; several fingers had to be amputated. A long period of medical treatment and personal reorientation followed. Nevertheless, Maggiani decided to continue in his profession after recovering. His account conveys the risks firefighters face when combating major vegetation fires.His story is especially relevant because of the situation in southwestern France. In Gironde, numerous emergency personnel have been operating under difficult conditions for days. According to the department, an operations command center was set up at a school in Marcheprime on 24 July. The authorities describe the situation as an exceptional strain on emergency services and other personnel involved.The Nouvelle-Aquitaine region has also reported severe fires, particularly around the Cap-Ferret peninsula and near Biscarrosse in the neighboring department of Landes. Firefighters, forest-fire response services, security forces, state authorities, municipalities and volunteers are working together there. The regional administration advised people to avoid travel to affected parts of Gironde and Landes until 31 July wherever possible.On 24 July, the French Interior Ministry described the fire in Gironde as the largest of the current season...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 21:01

Mitch Winehouse Must Pay High Costs After Losing Lawsuit

London - 29/07/2026: The dispute over clothing, shoes and personal memorabilia belonging to Amy Winehouse has had costly repercussions for her father. Following the failed High Court case in London, Mitch Winehouse must cover the legal costs of the two defendants, Naomi Parry and Catriona Gourlay. According to British media reports, the claim totals nearly one million pounds, equivalent to well over one million euros.As the representative of his daughter's estate, Winehouse argued that Parry and Gourlay had sold the singer's belongings at auctions in the United States without sufficient authorization. The case concerned 141 items, including clothing and accessories. Naomi Parry worked for years...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 20:46

Caracal Helicopter Detects Hotspots in Gironde Forest Fire

Saumos - 29 July 2026: In the Gironde forest fires, incident command is relying on a Caracal helicopter from the French armed forces at night. While firefighting aircraft such as Canadairs and Dash planes cannot operate after dark, the airborne thermal imaging camera is intended to make remaining hot spots and newly developing fire sources visible. The information is passed on to firefighters on the ground.A team from France Televisions accompanied the overnight operation from Tuesday, 28 July, to Wednesday, 29 July. According to the broadcaster, wind and high temperatures were encouraging fires to flare up again in forest areas already affected. The helicopter is...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 20:32

Wildfires in Gironde: More than 300 animals evacuated from shelter

Mérignac - 29 July 2026: More than 300 dogs, cats and other animals have been evacuated from the SPA Bordeaux and Sud-Ouest shelter in Mérignac because of the wildfires in Gironde. The relocation became necessary after the fire situation in the Bordeaux area worsened and protective orders were issued for several areas. The animal shelter was located in an area affected by evacuations west of the metropolitan area.According to the animal welfare organization, all animals in its care were moved to safe locations as a precaution. Foster families and other facilities helped provide accommodation. This was intended to prevent the animals from being endangered by smoke, heat or a rapid expansion of restricted areas. Animals requiring special medical care had to be cared for and transported separately.The shelter's operations are severely restricted. The 25 employees have been on reduced working hours since the weekend of July 25 and 26. For the facility, this affects not only daily care but also the intake of stray animals and adoptions. In Gironde, the...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 19:47

Arcom temporarily does not award local DTT frequency for the Paris region

Paris - 29 July 2026: French media regulator Arcom has concluded the allocation procedure for a local, free-to-air DTT television channel in the Paris region without selecting either of the two applicants. Neither Juher Group with its Street & Style project nor Le Média with Le Média TV Île de France will receive the advertised terrestrial transmission capacity. The plan was for a full-day HD slot in the regional Multi 7 multiplex.Only these two applications had been admitted to the procedure. Arcom confirmed their formal admissibility on 22 April 2026. On 24 June, representatives of both companies presented their concepts at public hearings at the regulator's headquarters in Paris. The non-selection now announced concludes the procedure without the available capacity being allocated to a new provider.The current announcement does not provide a more detailed explanation for the rejection of the two projects. However, when allocating terrestrial broadcasting capacity, Arcom does not assess the programming concept alone. Its criteria also include the public interest, the diversity of social and cultural currents,...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 19:31

New Vegetation Fires in the Var: Major Response Near Brignoles and Vidauban

Brignoles - 29 July 2026: New vegetation fires broke out on Wednesday near Brignoles and Vidauban in the southern French department of Var. Initial reports indicated that the fire near Brignoles affected around five hectares. Firefighters and civil protection deployed a large contingent of ground crews, while firefighting aircraft and helicopters were also brought in. Their aim was to contain the fire outbreaks as quickly as possible and prevent the flames from spreading to further areas.The new fires broke out just as the situation at another incident site had begun to ease. According to the authorities, the major fire that had been raging since 21...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 19:17

Carlos Applies for Release from Prison on Medical Grounds

Paris - 29 July 2026: The lawyer for Venezuelan terrorist Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, known as Carlos, has applied for his release from prison on medical grounds. According to Franceinfo and ICI Isère, the Grenoble-based defense attorney wrote to the presiding judge of the sentence enforcement court in Paris responsible for terrorism cases. He asked for a hearing to be scheduled promptly.The letter does not yet entail any decision on release. First, the court must determine under which procedure the application is to be handled and which medical documents are relevant. No details were initially published regarding a specific diagnosis, the requested form of release from...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 19:00

BBC documentary: Ten women make allegations against Jared Leto

Paris - 29 July 2026: A BBC documentary makes serious allegations against US actor and musician Jared Leto. In the film "Jared Leto: Hollywood's Dark Secret", ten women describe encounters with the Oscar-winning actor and frontman of the band Thirty Seconds to Mars. According to the BBC, nine of them are speaking publicly for the first time.Four women accuse Leto of sexual assault or of attempting to pressure them into sexual acts when, according to their accounts, they were still minors. The alleged incidents are said to have taken place between 2002 and 2016. One person affected states that she was 17 years old at...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 18:46

After Major Fire in Gironde: Five Million FFP2 Masks Delivered to Pharmacies

Bordeaux - 29 July 2026: Due to the major fire in Gironde, France has delivered five million FFP2 respirator masks to pharmacies. Health Minister Stephanie Rist announced the distribution on Wednesday. It is part of the health crisis response to smoke, which can spread far beyond the immediate fire area depending on wind and weather conditions.The move follows increasing air pollution from particles released by the forest fire. The national forecasting platform Prev'Air warned on Wednesday of a possible breach of the PM10 alert threshold in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. This threshold is set at an average daily concentration of 80 micrograms per cubic metre. PM10 refers to...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 18:30

Lyon Maps Out Cooler Routes Through the City During Heatwaves

Lyon - 29 July 2026: On hot days, in densely built-up cities, the choice of street can often determine how strenuous even a short walk becomes. Lyon therefore offers an interactive map that directs pedestrians along routes through shaded, green and less heat-exposed areas. Franceinfo reported on Wednesday on such digital tools for adapting everyday urban life to high temperatures.According to the city, the map lists more than 700 freely accessible, relatively cool locations. These include shaded parks and gardens, drinking fountains, museums, historic passageways and public buildings with cooled rooms. They serve as stopover points where people can interrupt their journeys, drink water or temporarily escape direct sunlight.The recommended routes link several of these locations. Unlike conventional route planners, the service is therefore not based exclusively on the shortest or fastest connection. It highlights detours through green spaces, along shaded streets or to sheltered places to rest. According to the city, the routes were developed jointly with the Collectif des Associations du Rhône Pour l'Accessibilité. This is intended, where...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 18:19

Claude Onesta: What Defeats Reveal About Performance

Paris - 29.07.2026: Claude Onesta speaks about defeats without the protective mantle of his winning biography. In the third part of a discussion series on Franceinfo, the former coach of the French national handball team says that only over time did he understand that failure is normal. This statement comes from a man whose career is usually told through medals, winning streaks and major finals.Onesta led Les Bleus in 384 matches from 2001 to 2016. The French Handball Federation records eleven medals for those years, including eight titles. Two Olympic gold medals as well as successes at World and European Championships made his team the...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 18:02

Volunteer Fire Brigades Survey Their Available Reserves Nationwide

France - 29 July 2026: Following severe wildfires in several regions, attention is turning to the staffing reserves of France's civil protection system. The Syndicat des sapeurs-pompiers volontaires de France has announced a nationwide survey of qualifications and availability. The organization representing volunteer firefighters warns that services are increasingly reaching their capacity limits during prolonged fires and other major emergencies.The survey is intended to identify what specialist knowledge active and former volunteers have, how quickly they could be mobilized and under what conditions they would be willing to take part in reinforcement deployments. According to the association, the information is intended to help determine local...

Aktuell Read