12.08.2026 22:45

Solar Eclipse Almost Completely Darkens Biarritz

Biarritz - 12 August 2026: Over Biarritz, the Sun almost completely disappeared behind the Moon on Wednesday evening. At the maximum at 8:26 p.m., 99.5 percent of the solar disc was covered. The Basque Atlantic coast thus offered one of the most impressive sights in France, although the location lay just outside the zone where a total solar eclipse was visible.According to astronomical calculations, the celestial spectacle began in Biarritz at 7:31 p.m. The Moon then moved further and further in front of the low-hanging Sun. At its peak, only a narrow, extraordinarily bright rim remained visible. Because the end of the eclipse coincided with sunset, observers needed the clearest possible view over the western horizon.France lay outside the narrow zone of totality. The Moon's umbra crossed the North Atlantic, Iceland and northern Spain as far as the Balearic Islands. There, the Sun was temporarily completely obscured. From Biarritz, the eclipse remained partial in astronomical terms, even if the difference from totality appeared slight given the high degree of coverage.The darkening was also clearly noticeable in other parts of France. According to published calculations, around 92 percent of the solar disc was covered in Paris, about 90 percent in Lille and nearly 98 percent in Toulouse. The country's highest values were recorded in the southwest near the Pyrenees. How well the phenomenon could be observed depended on local cloud cover and an unobstructed horizon.Météo-France had expected mostly favorable viewing conditions...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 22:30

Kounta wins European silver over 400 metres

Birmingham - 12 August 2026: Muhammad Abdallah Kounta secured the silver medal in the European Athletics Championships 400 metres for France in Birmingham. The 31-year-old finished second in the final behind Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith. Jonas Phijffers of the Netherlands came third. It is the French delegation's third medal at these European Championships.Kounta held his own against Europe's competition in a highly competitive race. The French sprinter had established himself as a medal contender over the course of the season with several fast performances. On 10 July 2026, he improved his personal best to 44.57 seconds. In Birmingham, he now confirmed his position among Europe's best...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 22:15

Total Solar Eclipse Over Spain, Partially Visible in France

Paris - 12 August 2026: A total solar eclipse had large parts of Europe looking to the sky on Wednesday evening. Over northern Spain, the Moon moved completely in front of the Sun within a narrow corridor; in France, the astronomical event could be observed as a partial eclipse. Iceland, Greenland and a small part of Portugal were also within the path of totality.In Spain, millions of people gathered in cities and smaller towns along the calculated path, according to the Associated Press news agency. Total coverage occurred close to sunset. For a short time, the sky darkened while the Sun's outer atmosphere became visible...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 22:00

How Cuers Is Preparing Its Public Spaces for Heat

Cuers - 12 August 2026: In the southern French town of Cuers, adapting to extreme summer heat has long been part of municipal planning. Sails provide shade on playgrounds, while misting systems offer temporary cooling in heavily used areas. A schoolyard is being redesigned following the model of a green oasis. The municipality in the Var department aims to prevent paved, sun-exposed areas from becoming barely usable during heatwaves.The projects are part of a strategy that Cuers launched as early as 2022. It is supported by the CAUE Var architecture, urban planning and environmental advisory body. The municipality is testing practical interventions which, according to the advisory body, can also be transferred to other towns in the department. The focus is not on spectacular individual projects, but on changes to places used by many people every day.Particular attention is being paid to schools. Children spend breaks and supervised time outdoors there even during hot periods. The municipal administration runs six schools in its area, including the Jean Moulin and Jean...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 20:30

Cyberattack on Bloctel: Three Million Phone Numbers Leaked

Paris - 12.08.2026: The French protection service Bloctel has become the target of a cyberattack. According to the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Protection and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF), around three million phone numbers were leaked. This is particularly frustrating for those affected: they had used the service to protect themselves from unwanted marketing calls.The authority stated that the attackers had obtained neither names and addresses nor email addresses or other associated personal information linked to the stolen numbers. Based on current knowledge, no complete user data sets were disclosed. However, phone numbers can also be misused on their own, for example for mass marketing calls, fraudulent contact attempts or messages that feign a personal connection.It was initially not publicly explained how the access was technically gained, when it was discovered or whether the numbers have already been shared or used. There is also no confirmed information on the identity of those responsible. The DGCCRF refers to a cybercriminal. The authority initially provided no further details on possible investigations.Bloctel had for years...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 20:16

Drought in France: More Than 40,000 People Affected by Water Supply Disruptions

Paris - 12 August 2026: More than 40,000 people in France are already affected by disruptions to drinking water supplies, according to Environment Minister Monique Barbut. On Wednesday, the minister called on prefects to order necessary usage restrictions more swiftly and to monitor compliance more intensively. In many areas, the consequences of the drought are now extending directly to the population's basic water supply.The Environment Ministry describes the situation as an unusually early and severe summer drought. According to its latest figures, water-use restrictions are in effect in 97 departments, 41 of which are at the highest crisis level. A total of 201 prefectural orders...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 20:00

Drought puts vegetable farms on the outskirts of Paris under strain

Paris - 12.08.2026: Repeated heatwaves and persistent drought are putting economic pressure on vegetable farms on the outskirts of Paris. A producer from the region estimates her revenue loss this summer at 50 percent. Her crops have been significantly weakened by the extreme conditions, she told Franceinfo. Cutting sales prices is nevertheless not an option: the farm would no longer be able to cover its operating costs.The situation highlights the tight economic calculations faced by small vegetable farms producing fresh goods for regional markets and direct sales. At high temperatures, plants need more water, while parched soils absorb and retain moisture less effectively. If yields...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 19:45

Sheep Farmer in Ariege Drives Away Brown Bear at Close Range

Ariege - 12 August 2026: A sheep farmer in the southern French department of Ariege encountered a brown bear at very close range in a pasture. According to a report by Franceinfo, the animal stopped around three metres in front of him. The farmer managed to drive the bear away and was unharmed. No injured sheep or damage to the flock was initially reported.The incident occurred during the summer grazing season, when numerous herds graze on the high mountain pastures of the Pyrenees. There, the presence of bears poses significant practical challenges for farms. Sheep must be closely supervised, brought together at night and, depending...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 19:31

Eclipse 2026: The figure of 35 million free protective glasses from 1999 is misleading

Paris - 12 August 2026: The partial solar eclipse has revived the discussion about state preparedness and the availability of suitable protective glasses. It is claimed that during the total solar eclipse of 11 August 1999, France distributed a total of 35 million pairs of glasses free of charge to the public. This presentation conflates the total number of protective glasses available on the market with the pairs that were actually distributed free of charge.What is documented is an exceptionally broad state prevention campaign in 1999. The Directorate General of Health issued warnings and coordinated the distribution of approved glasses. Later assessments by Santé publique...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 19:15

High-security unit in Réau aims to cut prisoners off from criminal networks

Réau - 12 August 2026: A particularly secure detention unit is due to begin operations shortly at the Sud-Francilien prison center in Réau, in the Seine-et-Marne department. According to Franceinfo, it is intended for around 20 prisoners alleged to have links to organized crime, particularly drug trafficking. They are to be prevented from continuing to direct their networks outside the prison.The new wing is part of the so-called organized crime prevention units. It is structurally separated from the rest of the prison. Reinforced doors, tightly controlled movements and a stricter security regime are intended to prevent instructions, information or prohibited items from leaving the cells. Phone calls can be monitored in real time, and visits generally take place behind a partition.For family members, this model entails significant restrictions. Physical contact during visits is generally excluded. However, the law provides exceptions for minor children and exceptional family situations. There are no family units in these sections where prisoners can spend time with close relatives without constant supervision. Confidential discussions with defense...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 19:01

17-Year-Old Found Dead After Treatment in Marseille

Marseille - 12 August 2026: A 17-year-old was found dead in Marseille after being treated in an emergency department the previous day due to nitrous oxide use. As the prefecture announced on Wednesday, the teenager had left the hospital because he said he felt well. The cause of his death was initially unknown.The prefecture explicitly warned against jumping to conclusions. Based on the information available so far, no direct link can be established between the minor's death and the use of nitrous oxide. The authorities initially provided no further details about the location where he was found, the course of his medical treatment, or any...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 18:45

Sheep Farmer in Ariege Reports Encounter with Brown Bear

Arreou - 12 August 2026: A sheep farmer from Ariege says he encountered a brown bear on the Arreou mountain pasture. The incident occurred on 7 August 2026. The animal reportedly approached his flock and then attacked his female dog. She fell over a rocky ledge and, according to Franceinfo, survived with serious injuries.The farmer described a sudden confrontation in the immediate vicinity of his sheep to the broadcaster. According to the information available so far, no people were injured. The report contains no further details about the dog's condition. It is also not yet known whether the authorities have been able to identify the...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 18:30

Los Angeles Lakers Reportedly to Be Sold for $12.5 Billion

Los Angeles - 12 August 2026: According to consistent reports, the Los Angeles Lakers are once again facing an ownership change. Investor Josh Kushner and former Disney chief Bob Iger are said to have reached an agreement with Mark Walter to purchase the NBA franchise. The enterprise value set for the deal is reported at $12.5 billion. If the transaction is completed on these terms, it would represent the highest valuation yet in the acquisition of a professional sports team.Details of the agreement were not initially disclosed. The timetable and any possible conditions also remained unclear. Ownership changes in the NBA generally require approval by the Board of Governors, which represents the team owners. The league had only confirmed Walter as the Lakers' majority owner on 30 October 2025, following a unanimous decision.Walter had acquired the majority stake from the Buss family, which had shaped the club since 1979. In that transaction, the Lakers were valued at ten billion dollars - already a record in North American professional sports at the time. The newly reported figure is $2.5 billion higher. Less than ten months separate Walter's confirmation by the NBA from the new sale agreement.Josh Kushner is the founder of investment firm Thrive Capital. Bob Iger led Disney as chief executive for many years and remains one of the most influential figures in the American media industry. According to reports, both said they would continue the Lakers' sporting tradition and...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 18:16

Singapore Turns to Adapted Parkour Training to Prevent Falls in Old Age

Singapore - 12 August 2026: In Singapore, sports coaches are testing adapted parkour training for older people. It is intended to prevent falls while also teaching participants how to break a sudden loss of balance as safely as possible. The approach presented by Franceinfo combines exercises for strength, mobility and responsiveness with movement sequences that can be useful in everyday life.The programme has little in common with the spectacular jumps over walls for which parkour is known. Participants practise safely stepping over low obstacles, bracing themselves against a wall, controlled rolling and getting up from the floor. Coaches adapt the intensity to the participants' mobility,...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 18:15

Haut-Jura tests new warning signs to protect lynx

Champagnole - 12 August 2026: A three-year trial involving new road signs warning of crossing Eurasian lynx will begin in September in the Haut-Jura Regional Natural Park. On particularly high-risk road sections, the signs are intended to alert motorists early to the risk of collisions and encourage more cautious driving. The region is one of the most important habitats of this strictly protected species in France.The legal basis is an order by the Interior and Transport Ministries published in the Official Journal on 25 July 2026. For the first time, it authorizes, on an experimental basis, a triangular warning sign depicting a lynx. Unlike the...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 17:02

Nearly 30 Years After Tupac Shakur’s Death, Trial Against Duane Davis Begins

Las Vegas - 12/08/2026: At the Clark County courthouse, proceedings have begun that relatives, music fans and investigators have been awaiting for decades. Nearly 30 years after the death of rapper Tupac Shakur, Duane "Keffe D" Davis is on trial. Jury selection has been underway since Monday, August 10. According to the court, the trial is expected to last about one month.Nevada prosecutors accuse the 63-year-old of organizing the fatal attack on Shakur. Davis is charged with murder with a deadly weapon; the additional aggravating allegation is that he promoted or supported a criminal gang. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.Davis has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors must therefore show the jury what role he allegedly played on the night of September 8, 1996. Shakur was traveling in a car near the Las Vegas Strip after a boxing match when shots were fired from another vehicle. He succumbed to his injuries six days later, on September 13, 1996.The murder remained unsolved for decades. Numerous speculations, competing...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 16:47

At least eleven French nationals detained in Thailand over suspected cannabis trafficking

Bangkok - 12 August 2026: At least eleven French nationals are being held in Thailand on suspicion of cannabis trafficking. This was reported by Franceinfo, citing a police source. According to the report, those concerned have been arrested since mid-June. The competent authorities initially provided no public information about their ages and origins, the locations of their arrests, or the quantities seized.Some of those arrested are said to have responded on Snapchat to offers advertised as a "Thailand plan" or a free trip. According to the report, the recruited individuals received flights and accommodation. In return, they were expected to bring suitcases back to France. The suitcases are alleged to have contained cannabis. Whether the accused knew what they contained is the subject of the Thai investigation and has not yet been established in court.The method described follows a known pattern in international drug trafficking: organisers recruit travellers with free or low-cost stays and assign them to transport luggage. This entails considerable risk for the couriers. If they are stopped,...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 16:30

Jellyfish Disable Parts of the Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant

Gravelines - 12/08/2026: Exceptionally large jellyfish aggregations significantly disrupted operations at the Gravelines nuclear power plant on France's North Sea coast on Monday, 10 August. According to operator EDF, reactor units 3 and 4 shut down automatically. Unit 2 was brought down in a controlled manner by the operating team, while Unit 1 reduced its output to 50 percent.Unit 5 was already out of service for scheduled maintenance work. Only Unit 6 continued to generate electricity. EDF stated on 11 August that the incident had affected neither the safety of the plant and its employees nor the environment. The group initially did not say when...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 16:15

Government reportedly considers smaller pension increases for wealthy retirees

Paris - 12.08.2026: France's government is reportedly considering no longer fully indexing higher pensions to inflation in the future. According to a report by Franceinfo, wealthier retirees could thereby be asked to contribute more to easing pressure on public finances. However, no official announcement setting out income thresholds, calculation rules or a timetable had been made as of Wednesday.Until now, statutory basic pensions have generally been increased once a year in line with changes in consumer prices excluding tobacco. On January 1, 2026, they rose by 0.9 percent. The adjustment applies, among other things, to benefits from the general pension insurance system, agricultural social security...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 16:15

Le Cle zio runs personal best to reach European Championships 800-metre final

Birmingham - 12 August 2026: Corentin Le Cle zio qualified for the 800-metre final at the European Athletics Championships with a personal best. The 26-year-old Frenchman finished third in his semi-final and crossed the line in 1:43.80. He therefore secured direct qualification for the final on 13 August 2026 at Alexander Stadium.Le Cle zio initially held back in the tightly packed field. His French teammate Yanis Meziane ran further ahead for much of the race. Only over the final 200 metres did Le Cle zio launch his finishing sprint. He closed the gap to the leaders, moved into third place and defended that position to...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 16:00

Paris en Compagnie provides older people with everyday companionship

Paris - 12 August 2026: A medical appointment, a visit to a government office or a trip to a museum can become an obstacle for older people when they lack someone to accompany them. The Paris program Paris en Compagnie therefore connects people aged 65 and over with volunteers who support them on errands and outings. Participation is free and requires that seniors are still independently mobile.The accompaniment ranges from walks around the neighborhood to medical and administrative appointments and cultural outings. It is primarily designed for short trips close to the person's home. Requests can be made by telephone or through the program's platform....

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 15:47

Three Dead in Fire at Property in Deux-Sevres

Deux-Sevres - 12 August 2026: Three people died in a fire at a property in the western French department of Deux-Sevres, according to a report by Franceinfo. The fire reportedly broke out in a field on Tuesday, 11 August, before spreading to a house and an agricultural shed. The victims are believed to be a couple and their child. Official confirmation of their identities, ages and family relationship was not initially available.The exact location of the incident was not specified in the information available so far. It also remained unclear at what time the flames were discovered, how long the operation lasted and how many firefighters were involved. There is also currently no confirmed information on possible rescue attempts or on the condition of the buildings when emergency crews arrived.According to the report, the house and agricultural shed were destroyed. It is not known what function the property served or whether it was an actively farmed holding or a family business. There is likewise no information on whether animals, machinery,...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 15:31

Three Dead Found After Fire in Lhoumois

Lhoumois - 12 August 2026: Three people have been found dead in a house following a devastating fire in the western French municipality of Lhoumois. The fire broke out in a field on Monday, 11 August, and according to current findings initially engulfed a hangar. The flames then spread to the immediately adjacent house. Both buildings were destroyed.The identities of the victims had not yet been publicly disclosed on Wednesday. There was also initially no confirmed information about their ages, genders or relationships to one another. It also remained unclear whether the three people lived in the house or were there for another reason. Authorities...

Aktuell Read 12.08.2026 15:15

Solar Eclipse in France: How to Observe Safely Without Special Glasses

France - 08/12/2026: The partial solar eclipse will be visible across France on Wednesday evening. As suitable protective glasses have become scarce in some places, authorities, ophthalmologists and astronomical organizations are warning against improvised eye protection. Sunglasses, darkened glass, X-ray images or homemade film do not adequately protect the retina.Anyone without certified eclipse glasses should observe the sun only indirectly. A simple pinhole camera can be made from two pieces of cardboard. A small opening is pierced into one piece of cardboard; sunlight passes through it onto a second, preferably white piece of cardboard or another bright surface. The image of the partially obscured solar...

Aktuell Read