23.07.2026 18:01

Former Gabriel Attal adviser speaks about past cocaine addiction

Paris - 23 July 2026: Louis Jublin, a former communications adviser to Gabriel Attal, spoke in a Vanity Fair profile about a past addiction to cocaine. According to consistent media reports, the 40-year-old communications professional confirmed to the magazine that a video exists showing him using the drug. He said he went public in order to preempt a possible release.Jublin said that the footage was several years old. He assured that he had not used cocaine for a long time. The drastic language he chose describes a period of excessive use, rather than a current condition. An independent verification of the video and the circumstances visible in it was initially not possible. The available reports did not mention any indication of criminal proceedings.The case nonetheless touches on Gabriel Attal's circle because Jublin had supported his political rise in communications for years. According to French media reports, his work took him from Attal's time at the Economy Ministry in Bercy to the office of prime minister at the Hotel Matignon. Attal, now a candidate for the 2027 presidential election, is not the subject of the allegations. The published information provides no indication that he knew about or was involved in the private events described.Jublin is no longer part of a government cabinet and now works as an independent adviser. This institutional distance is particularly important for the political assessment: the statements concern a former staff member and, according to his account,...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 17:46

Born in Mayotte: Mother Has Been Fighting for Years to Have Her French Nationality Recognized

Sablé-sur-Sarthe - 23 July 2026: Fatima, who is from Mayotte, says she has been fighting for nearly ten years to have her French nationality recognized again by the authorities. The mother of four has lived in Sablé-sur-Sarthe, in the Sarthe department, for 14 years. A report by Franceinfo La 1ère brought her case to public attention on Thursday and describes the impact the lengthy administrative deadlock has had on her daily life.According to the report, Fatima had held a French identity card and a French passport since her youth. However, when she sought to renew the documents, her applications were rejected. As a result, she...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 17:31

Padel Conquers France: The Small Court Becomes a Big Stage

Paris - 23.07.2026: The glass walls are not an obstacle, but part of the plan. The ball rebounds, the running distance becomes shorter, and the point stays alive longer. Padel, once dismissed as a compact version of tennis, has developed in France within a few years into one of the most visible racket sports. Current interest extends from beginners to experienced club players.Its momentum lies in the format. It is usually played by four people on a court significantly smaller than a tennis court, and the walls may be incorporated into play. This creates rallies immediately, even when technique is not yet refined. The first...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 17:15

Customs seizes more than 46,000 fireworks items in six weeks

Paris - 23 July 2026: In warehouses, parcel flows and roadside inspections, French customs officers seized more than 46,000 pyrotechnic items within six weeks. The seizures took place as part of the nationwide Operation Taranis, through which authorities aim to curb the illegal trade and unauthorized importation of fireworks ahead of several events expected to draw large crowds.The figure reflects controls that go far beyond individual discoveries: parcels are opened, supply chains checked and vehicles stopped. According to French customs, the operation is primarily aimed at items imported, distributed or supplied to private individuals without the required permits. No details of specific suspects or ongoing criminal proceedings were initially released.The name Taranis had already appeared in security planning in mid-June. Police and customs had prepared the operation at the time in connection with the Football World Cup and the national holiday celebrations on 13 and 14 July. Demand for fireworks rises particularly during such periods. Authorities see this as a risk when unauthorized or especially powerful items fall into the...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 16:15

Wildfire in Gironde: Thousands of People Evacuated as a Precaution at Cap-Ferret

Lège-Cap-Ferret - 23 July 2026: On the Cap-Ferret peninsula, an anxious wait has turned into a large-scale precautionary operation. Because of the wildfire that broke out in Saumos on 22 July and continued moving toward Le Porge and Lège-Cap-Ferret, authorities had numerous holidaymakers, employees and residents evacuated from threatened areas overnight.Several campsites north of Cap-Ferret, as well as the La Jenny holiday resort, are affected. According to the prefecture, the Aux Couleurs du Ferret, La Prairie, La Pinède, Brémontier, Le Truc Vert and Le Grand Crohot facilities were among those evacuated as a precaution. Holiday groups also had to leave their accommodations. For many families, this meant packing bags, loading vehicles and following instructions from police and emergency services.The fire started in the municipality of Saumos and engulfed a large forest area in less than a day. By Thursday morning, more than 2,000 hectares had reportedly burned. Authorities initially reported more than 10,000 precautionary evacuations. The figures may continue to change as the situation develops. The priority is to keep...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 16:00

Used electric cars find buyers faster in France than combustion-engine vehicles

Paris - 23 July 2026: Used electric cars are being sold faster in France for the first time than comparable vehicles with petrol or diesel engines. This is shown by the latest half-year barometer from Avere-France, Mobilians and AAA Data for the second quarter of 2026. On average, 138 days passed between purchase by a professional dealer and re-registration. For used combustion-engine vehicles, the period was 142 days.The shift is particularly notable because electric cars had previously tended to wait longer for buyers on the used-car market. In the first quarter of 2026, their average time on the market was still 151 days. It therefore...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 15:52

Fire at the Bassin d’Arcachon: When the Landes Forest Burns Again

Southwestern France smells of smoke once again. Four years after the devastating fires of summer 2022, the Gironde is once again battling a blaze that has eaten its way into the forest north of the Bassin d'Arcachon. What initially appeared to be a regional operation quickly developed into a large-scale emergency. According to the latest update, around 3,100 hectares of vegetation had already gone up in flames or lay charred behind the fire front. Around 20,000 residents, holidaymakers and campers had to leave their homes, holiday rentals and pitches as a precaution. The Bassin d'Arcachon, normally a place of oysters, the scent of pines, bicycle...

Artikel des Tages Read 23.07.2026 15:45

Government plans to raise cap on medical out-of-pocket charges to 200 euros

Paris - 23 July 2026: The French government plans to raise the annual cap on medical out-of-pocket charges from the current total of 100 to 200 euros. Health Minister Stéphanie Rist announced on Thursday that preparations were under way for a corresponding decree. The measure would affect insured people with particularly frequent doctor visits, prescriptions for medicines or medical examinations. It is part of efforts to limit the deficit of the statutory health insurance system.Under the current system, two types of patient contribution are distinguished. The medical deductible is one euro per package of medicine and per paramedical service, as well as four euros per...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 15:30

Etretat Secures Vulnerable Cliff Section Against Rockfalls

Etretat - 23 July 2026: The town of Etretat has secured a section of its cliffs classified as unstable. Specially trained industrial climbers worked directly on the rock face and controlled the removal of a large piece of rock. The purpose of the operation was to prevent an unpredictable collapse in an area at significant risk of rockfall.According to the report, the operation was carried out using crowbars and under special safety precautions. The crews had to rappel down the cliff to reach the vulnerable rock precisely. Such work is considered technically demanding because loose material, weather conditions and the exposed coastal location must all...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 15:16

Wildfires Are Already Leaving a Record Trail in France

Paris - 23 July 2026: Blackened pine trees, cleared roads, exhausted emergency crews: France is experiencing an exceptionally severe wildfire season by the middle of summer. According to the latest figures based on European satellite data, more than 42,000 hectares of forest and vegetation have been destroyed since the beginning of the year. That is roughly equivalent to 60,000 football pitches. The country has not previously recorded such a high figure this early in the season.The number represents many individual operations spread across large parts of the country. Especially in the south, areas in several departments have repeatedly burned since the end of June. At the beginning of July, a fire in the Aspres massif near Ille-sur-Tet in the Pyrenees-Orientales consumed around 4,900 hectares of vegetation, according to the Gendarmerie. Fire services, municipalities, the prefecture and security forces organized evacuations and secured the affected areas.The Fontainebleau forest region southeast of Paris was also severely hit this month. Since 12 July, a major fire there has destroyed more than 2,000 hectares...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 15:00

Barbara Butch announces lawsuits after concert interruption in Grenoble

Grenoble - 23 July 2026: Five days after her performance in Grenoble was interrupted, DJ Barbara Butch is considering legal action. The artist announced on Thursday that she intends to file several lawsuits. According to her lawyer, Audrey Msellati, one of them is also directed against La France insoumise. It initially remained unclear which other individuals or bodies might specifically be reported.The performance took place on Saturday, 18 July 2026, at the municipal Cabaret Frappe festival. According to consistent reports, the DJ set was interrupted after around 20 minutes. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators had gathered in front of the stage. The city of Grenoble subsequently stated that...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 14:45

Wildfire in Gironde: Nearly 21,000 people brought to safety near Cap-Ferret

Saumos - 23 July 2026: Dense smoke hangs over the pine forest in the Médoc, roads are closed, and holidaymakers are leaving campsites with only the essentials. A wildfire that broke out near Saumos on Wednesday had spread toward Le Porge and Lège-Cap-Ferret by Thursday. According to the latest known situation report, around 2,400 hectares have been affected. The flames were still not under control in the afternoon.For people on the Cap-Ferret peninsula, the night was mainly about waiting, packing and leaving. According to authorities, nearly 21,000 residents and tourists in total were moved out of at-risk areas as a precaution. Those affected include the...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 14:30

Paris emergency service reports around 50 percent more callouts after June heatwave

Paris - 23 July 2026: When heat builds up in apartments and the night brings no relief, phones ring more often at Paris's emergency call center. During the June heatwave, the Samu de Paris recorded around 50 percent more callouts, according to its own figures. The toll shows how quickly extreme temperatures can turn a weather event into an acute strain on emergency services and hospitals.Older people were particularly frequently affected, the head of the Paris emergency service reported. For them, dehydration, overheating and the worsening of pre-existing illnesses can quickly become life-threatening. At the same time, emergency crews also recorded younger patients suffering cardiac arrests. The Samu de Paris coordinates medical emergencies in the capital and decides under time pressure whether to dispatch a team, provide medical advice or arrange transport.The exceptional heat affected the entire Île-de-France region. Paris and the region's other seven departments were at times placed under France's highest heat alert level from 21 to 28 June. The alert had previously begun on 17 June. For many people, this meant closed shutters during the day, exhausting nights and concern for relatives who live alone or have underlying health conditions.The figures now disclosed from Paris are consistent with health data for the region. Santé publique France recorded an increase in emergency admissions and subsequent hospitalizations during the June heatwave. The main conditions observed included overheating, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. The number of heat-related treatments by SOS Médecins...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 14:15

After Concert Halted in Grenoble: Licra and Barbara Butch Announce Legal Action

Grenoble - 23 July 2026: The halted performance by DJ Barbara Butch at the Cabaret Frappe festival will have legal repercussions. The anti-racism organization Licra announced on Thursday that it would file a criminal complaint. The artist also said she was preparing several legal actions, including one against La France insoumise. The specific allegations and the investigative authorities responsible were not initially specified in further detail.The performance was stopped on Saturday, 18 July, in Grenoble's Jardin de Ville after around twenty minutes. According to the city administration, there had been threats against the artist. Intimidation and violence reportedly occurred during the event; the city halted...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 14:00

France’s yield on 10-year government bonds rises above 4 percent

Paris - 23 July 2026: The yield on 10-year French government bonds temporarily rose above 4 percent on Thursday. According to market data, it reached 4.01 percent. This was the first time the threshold had been exceeded since June 2009. The movement concerns the secondary-market yield, meaning the interest rate investors demand when trading French government bonds that have already been issued.The increase does not automatically raise the cost of the entire existing debt stock. France refinances its liabilities gradually as older bonds mature and also raises additional new funds. Higher market yields therefore mainly affect future issues. The longer yields remain high, the more...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 13:00

Norway’s Federation Considers Ethics Complaint Over Balogun Case

Oslo - 23 July 2026: The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) does not intend to simply let FIFA's handling of the Folarin Balogun case pass. Federation president Lise Klaveness said on Thursday that the issue would be discussed at the next board meeting. A decision will then be made on whether the affair will become part of a submission already being prepared for FIFA's Ethics Committee. The matter concerns the suspended ban of the US international striker and possible political pressure surrounding the decision.Balogun was shown a red card on 1 July in the USA's World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under the competition rules, this initially resulted automatically in a suspension for the following match. FIFA later suspended the enforcement of this ban on probation for one year. This made the forward eligible to play in the round of 16 against Belgium.The matter became particularly explosive because US President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged that he had contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino about the sanction. Infantino confirmed the call, but...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 12:45

Fact Check on Wind Power: Odoul’s Comparison with Germany Does Not Hold Up

Paris - 23 July 2026: MP Julien Odoul and spokesperson for the Rassemblement National described wind power as a "scam" in an interview with franceinfo. However, his claim that Germany causes eleven times more pollution than France because of its wind power expansion does not withstand scrutiny. The fact check published by franceinfo puts the gap in power-mix emissions at roughly fivefold.The comparison points to a real difference between the two countries, but explains it incorrectly. With its nuclear power fleet, hydropower and growing renewable capacity, France has a particularly low-emission electricity mix. According to French grid operator RTE, the CO2 intensity of electricity generation stood at 19.6 grams of CO2 equivalents per kilowatt-hour in 2025. More than 95 percent of production was low-carbon.Germany's electricity generation has a higher climate impact because fossil-fuel power plants, especially coal- and gas-fired facilities, are still in use. Germany's Federal Environment Agency documents significantly higher specific emissions for the electricity mix than in France. The difference is therefore mainly a consequence of the composition...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 12:30

Epstein Case: Child Protection Association Sues French State After Death of Daniel Siad

Colombes - 23/07/2026: Following the death of former model scout Daniel Siad, the child protection association Innocence en danger has taken the French state to court over an alleged failure of the justice system. The association accuses the authorities of failing to pursue complaints and information with the necessary determination for years. Siad had been named as a possible intermediary in the French branch of the Epstein case.According to French media reports, the 69-year-old was found dead in his apartment in Colombes, in the Hauts-de-Seine department. The circumstances of his death were not further detailed in the available reports. Crucial to the investigation is this:...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 12:15

Lescure questions state aid for Fibre Excellence takeover

Paris - 23 July 2026: Economy Minister Roland Lescure has sharply criticized the takeover bid submitted by investor Matthieu Pigasse for pulp producer Fibre Excellence. In connection with a government question session in the National Assembly, the minister stated that rescuing the company must not be politically exploited at the expense of its employees. According to Lescure, state support requires a robust business plan and an adequate equity contribution from the buyer.Fibre Excellence has been in court-supervised restructuring proceedings since the end of April 2026. The company operates plants in Saint-Gaudens, in the Haute-Garonne department, and in Tarascon, in the Bouches-du-Rhone department. Both sites account...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 12:00

Lakeside Chalets in the Auvergne Gain Attention as a Peaceful Travel Destination

Cros - 23 July 2026: The Chalets Lacustres de Roudeix in the municipality of Cros are the focus of a recent report on nature-based tourism in the Auvergne. The site is located in a remote landscape near the border between the departments of Puy-de-Dôme and Cantal. Six holiday chalets stand directly beside a private body of water and cater to guests seeking a break from everyday life and outdoor activities.According to the region's tourism information offices, the site offers accommodation on or directly beside the water. Its offerings include fishing opportunities in particular, as well as paths for walks and hikes in the surrounding area....

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 11:45

Amine Kessaci speaks about police protection after death threats

Marseille - 23 July 2026: Amine Kessaci justified his police protection by citing what he described as a specific threat. On the franceinfo morning program, the Marseille deputy mayor and anti-drug trafficking activist said that a bounty had been placed on him. He said this was not a personal feeling, but information derived from police intelligence.Kessaci appeared on the program alongside Bernard Petit, the former head of the Paris Criminal Investigation Department at 36, quai des Orfevres. The discussion focused on how local politicians, witnesses and engaged citizens can be protected from intimidation by criminal networks. Kessaci called not only for armed escorts, but also...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 11:31

At Least 5,764 Additional Deaths During June Heatwave in France

Paris - 23/07/2026: The exceptional heat period from June 17 to July 2, 2026, caused at least 5,764 additional deaths in France, according to a new initial assessment. The national health authority Santé publique France announced this on July 22. In the 92 affected departments, all-cause mortality was 36.2 percent above the statistically expected level.The authority recorded 21,674 deaths during the periods examined, compared with 15,910 expected deaths. This is the highest excess mortality recorded during a heatwave since 2003, although it did not reach the scale of that year. The figures demonstrate a temporal link with the extreme heat, but do not establish a medically confirmed direct cause of death in every individual case.Excess mortality was particularly concentrated on the days from June 25 to 27. These three days accounted for 56 percent of the estimated additional deaths. According to Santé publique France, nationwide average daily mean temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius were reached for the first time on June 24 and 25. Several cities simultaneously recorded exceptionally high...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 11:15

Roland Lescure speaks about fires, heat and fuel prices

Paris - 23 July 2026: Economy Minister Roland Lescure was a guest on the program "8h30 franceinfo" on Thursday morning. The focus was on the consequences of recent wildfires and heatwaves, as well as the burden of high fuel prices. The discussion comes at a time when France must respond to climate risks while also limiting the economic consequences of the energy crisis.Lescure is Minister for the Economy, Finance, and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty. His appearance on the morning program underscores that the government does not treat these issues separately: high temperatures and fires affect civil security, agriculture, transport and energy supply. Rising costs...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 10:15

RN Spokesman Jacobelli Attacks Government After Barbut U-turn

Paris - 23.07.2026: The spokesman for the Rassemblement National (RN), Laurent Jacobelli, has sharply attacked the government following the decision of Environment Minister Monique Barbut to remain in office. In an interview on Thursday, the member of parliament from the Moselle department described the cabinet as incapable and said that, apart from Barbut, hardly anyone would be willing to join the government. The statement is part of the RN's opposition campaign against the executive's climate and crisis policies.The trigger was a conflict that escalated within hours on Wednesday, 22 July. Barbut had offered her resignation to President Emmanuel Macron after parliament passed an emergency agricultural...

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