29.07.2026 17:45

EU Sends Black Hawk Helicopters to Wildfires in France

Bordeaux - 29 July 2026: The European Union has mobilized heavy Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia to support French emergency services in combating the large-scale wildfires in the Bordeaux area. France activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism on 24 July. The additional aircraft are primarily intended to enable targeted water drops as firefighters battle the blaze in Gironde on several fronts.According to the European Commission, the coordinated assistance now includes seven aircraft and four helicopters from the Czech Republic, Croatia, Germany, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden and Turkey. Some of the aircraft are part of the joint European rescEU reserve, which is intended to supplement national capacities during the wildfire season.In addition to the Czech and Slovak Black Hawks, two Croatian Canadair firefighting aircraft and two Portuguese Air Tractor aircraft have been announced. Other countries have provided capacities on the ground or in the air. The different types of aircraft and helicopters perform different tasks: which aircraft can be deployed depends, among other factors, on the terrain, available water collection points, smoke conditions and the course of the fire front.According to the Commission, the European emergency response coordination center is in direct contact with the French authorities and continuously assesses what support is needed. A Commission liaison officer in Bordeaux is assisting coordination between the French incident command and foreign units. Operational command remains with the responsible authorities in France; the European forces are integrated into their operational...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 17:31

Lodeve: Where France’s rare carpet-making art lives on

Lodeve - 29.07.2026: At the state-run Savonnerie carpet manufactory in Lodeve, works are produced that will later furnish ministries, embassies and other public buildings in France. A report broadcast on Wednesday by France 2's midday news offers an insight into the workshop in the Herault department. There, specialized weavers make large-format velvet carpets by hand.The workshop is the only branch outside Paris of the long-established Savonnerie manufactory. It was set up in Lodeve in the 1960s; the town dates its establishment there to 1966. This gave a historic technique whose roots go back more than four centuries a permanent home in southern France. Another part...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 17:16

Government seeks to shift healthcare costs to supplementary insurance

Paris - 29 July 2026: The French government is preparing a further shift of healthcare spending from statutory health insurance to private supplementary insurance. On 24 July, Health Minister Stephanie Rist submitted four draft decrees to the relevant bodies of the Assurance Maladie for consultation. Dental treatment, medical transport, certain medical aids and medicines with low or moderate therapeutic benefit are affected.The mechanism is clear, but the financial burden on insured persons has not yet been conclusively quantified. If the reimbursement share of the statutory fund declines, the so-called Ticket modérateur grows: the portion that supplementary insurers cover in full or in part, depending on...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 16:32

Major Fire in Gironde Becomes a Lesson in Extreme Risks

Bordeaux - 29 July 2026: The major fire in Gironde, which has affected extensive forest areas in the west of the department since 22 July, remains stabilized, according to the prefecture. According to the latest situation report, around 42,000 hectares have been affected by the fire. After a quiet night, authorities described the situation on 28 July as under control, but not yet over.Climate researcher Francoise Vimeux sees the fires as a lesson in the interaction of several weather extremes. Heavy rainfall at the beginning of the year had initially encouraged plant growth. Exceptionally hot and dry periods then caused the vegetation and undergrowth to dry out. This created a large amount of highly flammable material in the affected areas, encouraging the spread of forest and wildland fires.Vimeux lamented a gap between scientific knowledge about such developments and practical adaptation to growing dangers. Her analysis does not concern the specific cause of the fire, but rather the conditions under which fires rapidly gain intensity and spread in ways that are...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 16:15

LFI MP Le Coq calls for supplementary budget for wildfire protection

Paris - 29 July 2026: LFI MP Aurélien Le Coq is calling for a supplementary budget for French wildfire firefighting. In an interview with Franceinfo, he also demanded an extraordinary session of the National Assembly. Following the recent major fires, Parliament must discuss additional spending on firefighting aircraft, civil protection and prevention.Le Coq accused the government of misrepresenting the operational readiness of air support. He cited a report by the newspaper Le Canard enchaîné, according to which a military Airbus A400M transport aircraft could have been available for firefighting operations sooner. This account has not yet been independently confirmed.The timeline published by the government is more nuanced. On 17 July, the Interior and Defence Ministries concluded an agreement with Airbus to equip an A400M with a drop system on a trial basis. Since 25 July, according to the government, the aircraft has released firefighting agents to support ground forces. The aircraft was therefore deployed in a real crisis situation, though explicitly as part of a trial.The A400M is a military...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 16:00

Seveso Sites Near the Gironde Wildfire Remain Under Observation

Bordeaux - 29 July 2026: Industrial facilities with Seveso status in the Gironde area affected by the major fire remain under close observation. Lionel Matias, president of the regional UIMM metal industry association, said on Wednesday that no incident had been recorded at any site in the department since the fire began. The companies concerned had strengthened their safety precautions; according to him, the situation at the facilities was under control.The wildfire has been raging since 22 July in western Gironde, particularly around Saumos, Le Porge, Sainte-Hélène and Marcheprime. The Departmental Council most recently reported that roads and cycle paths remained closed, along with extensive...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 15:46

French Firing Exercise in the English Channel Sparks British Controversy

Cap Gris-Nez - 29 July 2026: A French naval firing exercise in the English Channel has sparked a political controversy in the United Kingdom. Conservative MP Chris Philp was being interviewed by the BBC on board a civilian boat on Tuesday, 28 July, about irregular migrant crossings when the French patrol vessel Flamant fired shots nearby.Philp, the opposition Conservatives' home affairs spokesman, interpreted the incident as a possible attempt to hinder his reporting on small-boat crossings. According to BBC reporter Michael Keohan, 17 shots were heard. The British boat was reportedly around three nautical miles off the French coast and about 300 metres from the...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 15:30

New Zealand Spearfisher Survives Shark Attack off Fiji

Fiji - 29 July 2026: A dive off the Fijian islands ended with serious injuries to the lower right leg for New Zealand spearfisher Henry Gibbs. From the hospital, the fisherman and social media creator published images of his treatment. He wrote that he had kept his leg, could move his foot, and was on the road to recovery.According to his account, the attack occurred on Saturday, 18 July, during his first dive in Fiji. Gibbs was in the water spearfishing when a shark bit him in the right calf. His footage and descriptions subsequently spread on social media and were picked up by international...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 15:16

Farmers Support Firefighters During Wildfires in Gironde

Bordeaux - 29 July 2026: Hundreds of farmers are supporting the fire service during the severe wildfires in Gironde. Using tractors, water trailers and other machinery, they are transporting firefighting water and equipment to deployment sites west of Bordeaux. Some are travelling long distances to do so. The assistance is coordinated with the relevant authorities to ensure that the additional vehicles facilitate rather than hinder operations.The fires had spread since 22 July around the Arcachon Basin and across several municipalities west of the Bordeaux metropolitan area. The fire service, civil protection, the DFCI forest fire prevention service, the Gendarmerie and municipal services have been deployed...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 15:04

Xenia Fedorova Reportedly Subject to French Expulsion Order

Paris - 29.07.2026: According to French media reports, an expulsion order has been issued against Xenia Fedorova, the former head of the Russian broadcaster RT France and now a media commentator. The decision is said to prepare for her removal from France. No public confirmation from the Interior Ministry had been available by Wednesday's editorial deadline. The date of notification, the specific grounds and possible legal remedies also remained unknown.According to the reports, Fedorova holds a residence permit renewed in 2024 and valid for ten years. Such a permit generally protects against a short-term loss of residency rights, but does not rule out expulsion in every case. French authorities may order it under strict legal conditions, for example if they consider her to pose a serious and current threat to public order or the fundamental interests of the state. Those affected can challenge such an order in court.The reported move follows a period of growing political and diplomatic criticism of Fedorova's public appearances. On July 23, the French Foreign Ministry...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 14:46

Heatwave brings temperatures of up to 42 degrees to France

Paris - 29/07/2026: France is experiencing the peak of another exceptional heat spell on Wednesday. The national weather service Météo-France expects local temperatures of 40 to 42 degrees Celsius in the southwest and around Lyon. Particularly high readings are forecast for the Toulouse region, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and areas as far north as Poitou. Temperatures could also rise to 38 degrees in Paris and Tours, and to 37 degrees in Grenoble.Large parts of the country, as well as Corsica, are affected. On Thursday, July 30, the heat is expected to ease significantly in the west, but persist in the east and especially in the southeast. The weather...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 14:30

Biscarrosse hopes for the return of holidaymakers after the forest fire

Biscarrosse - 29 July 2026: Following the severe forest fire in the Biscarrosse area, hotels, campsites, restaurants and leisure providers are hoping for the swift return of summer visitors. According to a report by Franceinfo, the first holidaymakers are arriving in the region again after evacuations were lifted for secured areas. For businesses, the aim is to salvage at least part of the particularly important August trade after numerous cancelled stays.The fire broke out on 23 July at around 3:45 p.m. on Departmental Road 652 in Biscarrosse. Due to its rapid spread, more than 23,000 people from Biscarrosse and Parentis-en-Born were evacuated as a precaution,...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 14:15

Kavinsky Found Dead in Paris Apartment at Age 50

Paris - 29 July 2026: French musician and DJ Kavinsky has died. The artist, whose real name was Vincent Belorgey, was found unresponsive in his Paris apartment on the evening of Tuesday, 28 July. He was 50 years old. The public prosecutor's office confirmed the death on Wednesday and opened an investigation to determine the cause of death.According to judicial authorities, emergency services found no indications of suspicious circumstances at the scene. However, this initial finding does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the medical cause. The public prosecutor's office initially provided no further details about the circumstances of the death, possible findings or the events leading up to the discovery.Kavinsky became internationally known through the track "Nightcall," released in 2010. A year later, the song shaped the opening scene of the film "Drive," in which Ryan Gosling drives through Los Angeles at night. The combination of subdued vocals, heavy synthesizers and melancholic coolness became Kavinsky's trademark. The film's success brought the musician an audience far beyond the French electronic music scene.Belorgey belonged to the generation of French producers whose music gained worldwide reach from the 1990s and 2000s under the term French Touch. According to his label, he taught himself to play the piano. He initially released several EPs and also performed in the orbit of Daft Punk in the late 2000s. His debut album, "OutRun," was released in 2013. The Kavinsky persona he developed moved between...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 14:02

France issues expulsion order against Xenia Fedorova

Paris - 29 July 2026: The French Interior Ministry has issued an expulsion order against Russian media commentator Xenia Fedorova. Franceinfo reported this on Wednesday, citing the ministry. Fedorova previously headed the broadcaster RT France and now regularly appears in media outlets owned by businessman Vincent Bolloré. Details of the legal grounds, possible enforcement and legal remedies were not initially disclosed.The decision was preceded by a political controversy. The French Foreign Ministry had repeatedly accused Fedorova of spreading Kremlin positions in the French media sphere. At a press conference on 23 July, a Quai d'Orsay spokesperson said that the authorities were monitoring her situation and...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 13:01

Franceinfo Seeks Views on Volunteering with Fire Services and Civil Protection

Paris - 29 July 2026: As thousands of firefighters battle vegetation fires in several regions of France, Franceinfo is looking for people who now want to get involved themselves. The broadcaster is asking for accounts from citizens considering joining the volunteer fire service or taking up a role in civil protection. It is asking about their motivations, expectations and unanswered questions.The appeal is explicitly aimed at people who do not currently belong to a fire service or civil protection organization. Franceinfo wants to find out whether the strain on emergency personnel, now clearly visible, is prompting a desire to take responsibility themselves. The focus is...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 12:46

Using Bulldozers and Centaure Vehicles Against the Forest Fire in Gironde

Bordeaux - 29.07.2026: In the burned pine forests west of Bordeaux, bulldozers are making their way along routes that only a few days earlier had been threatened by smoke and flames. The exceptionally large forest fire in Gironde has triggered an operation in which firefighters, the military and security forces must simultaneously protect homes, secure access routes and prevent the fire from spreading again.According to the French Ministry of Defence, around 1,500 service members have been deployed in Gironde since 25.07.2026. They are supporting approximately 2,500 firefighters and 1,200 internal security personnel. Their tasks range from assisting evacuations and protecting evacuated residential areas to providing logistical support for units on the fire lines. This is intended to allow firefighters to focus more closely on directly fighting the flames.Particularly visible is the deployment of ten Centaure vehicles from the Gendarmerie nationale. The armored multipurpose vehicles are designed for difficult terrain and can remove obstacles. In Gironde, they are intended to facilitate access to cut-off areas and ensure the mobility of emergency...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 12:32

Dolphins in the Gulf of Lion: Encounters on the Open Sea

Gulf of Lion - 29/07/2026: Off the French Mediterranean coast, excursionists observed dolphins moving through the waves and at times approaching a boat. Footage from the trip, reported by Franceinfo, shows the animals on the open sea. Such encounters are regularly reported in the Gulf of Lion. However, individual sightings do not allow conclusions to be drawn as to whether the number of dolphins living there is actually increasing.The Gulf of Lion extends from the coast of Occitanie toward Catalonia. The maritime area is home to various marine mammals and is also intensively used by people. Cargo ships, fishing vessels, recreational boating and tourist excursions share the waters with the animals. Those who spot dolphins from a boat therefore experience more than an impressive natural spectacle: the observation takes place in an area whose ecological conditions are also shaped by traffic, noise and waste.To record the distribution of the animals more precisely, scientific teams systematically collect observation data. In the dB Lion project, sightings of large marine animals are documented...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 12:16

At least 18 dead after powerful earthquake on Japan’s Kyushu island

Kumamoto - 29 July 2026: At least 18 people have died following the powerful earthquake in the southern Japanese Kumamoto Prefecture. Authorities and emergency services continued searching collapsed buildings and the rubble of a shopping center for possible survivors on Wednesday. The quake shook large parts of Kyushu island on Tuesday, causing considerable damage to homes, transport routes and public facilities.The Japan Meteorological Agency put the magnitude of the main earthquake at 7.1. The highest level, 7, was recorded on Japan's seismic intensity scale in the town of Hikawa and the city of Uki. Unlike magnitude, this scale measures the strength of shaking at a...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 12:01

Fibre Excellence Plant in Tarascon to Be Liquidated – Saint-Gaudens Hopes for a Buyer

Tarascon - 29 July 2026: For the employees of Fibre Excellence in Tarascon, months of uncertainty have turned into bitter certainty. The Toulouse Commercial Court has ordered the judicial liquidation of the pulp mill in the Bouches-du-Rhone department. Around 270 jobs are affected by the decision. The site has already been idle since April.The court thus separated the future of the two major plants of the troubled paper and pulp group. While Tarascon is to be closed, the plant in Saint-Gaudens, in the Haute-Garonne department, was granted a temporary reprieve until the end of August. There, a non-binding letter of intent from an as-yet unnamed...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 11:45

After Return Authorization, Fear of New Wildfires Lingers Around Bordeaux

Mérignac - 29.07.2026: Residents of Mérignac, Eysines and Le Haillan near Bordeaux have been allowed to return to previously evacuated residential areas since Tuesday. However, the return is proceeding cautiously. According to Franceinfo, many families have decided to stay with relatives or in temporary accommodation for the time being because they consider further evacuations possible. The reason is the re-emergence of fire hotspots in Gironde.The three municipalities are located west and northwest of Bordeaux and had been evacuated as a precaution because of their proximity to the wildfires. In Mérignac and Eysines, the areas affected were mainly those outside the ring road. Authorities had ordered...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 11:31

New heatwave reaches its peak in western France

Paris - 29 July 2026: France is experiencing its fourth period of very high temperatures since the start of summer. According to Météo-France, the new heatwave will initially reach its peak in the west of the country on Wednesday. Temperatures of up to 38 degrees are expected in Paris and Tours, while isolated highs of 40 degrees are possible in the southwest. Temperatures in Lyon and Grenoble could also rise to 36 degrees.The heat began on Tuesday, 28 July, and is expected to shift further east on Thursday, 30 July. Météo-France expects high temperatures for the rest of the week, although the level of strain...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 11:16

Five dead newborns in Orange: Mother in police custody

Orange - 29 July 2026: Following the discovery of the remains of five newborns in an apartment in the southern French city of Orange, the mother of the family has been taken into police custody. According to a preliminary assessment by a forensic expert, the bones and the body in an advanced state of decomposition found at the scene belong to a total of five infants. The public prosecutor's office in Carpentras is investigating on suspicion of killing a minor under the age of 15.The remains were discovered on Monday, 27 July, in the apartment of a couple in the historic center of the city in the Vaucluse department. According to information released so far, the woman's partner found the remains and alerted the authorities. The woman had previously been taken to hospital after giving birth. The child born over the weekend is alive, according to the judiciary.The investigation is being led by a division of the French National Police focused on organized and specialized crime. The selected criminal charge...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 11:01

Climate researcher Vimeux criticizes France’s slow adaptation to wildfire risks

Paris - 29 July 2026: Climate researcher Françoise Vimeux believes France is adapting too slowly to the growing threat of forest and vegetation fires. Research has long warned of the consequences of global warming, she told Franceinfo. High temperatures, lack of rainfall and dry vegetation encourage the outbreak and spread of fires. Vimeux primarily calls for forests to be managed in a more resilient way.Her criticism comes at a time of heightened fire danger during the summer. The Ministry for Ecological Transition assumes that climate change will intensify the risk, extend it further north and west, and make it persist for longer parts of the...

Aktuell Read 29.07.2026 10:47

Eleven People Face Criminal Proceedings After Wildfires in Gironde

Bordeaux - 29 July 2026: Eleven people are facing criminal proceedings following the severe wildfires in Gironde. Two suspects were placed in pretrial detention on suspicion of arson. Nine others were brought before the courts after allegedly smoking in or near at-risk forest areas, lighting a barbecue, or using fireworks.The cases concern different individual incidents. Based on the information known so far, the public prosecutor's office does not accuse all suspects of being responsible for the large-scale fires. Rather, the investigations concern actions that could have sparked further fires during an exceptionally tense danger situation or made the work of emergency services even more difficult....

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