23.07.2026 04:02

France 2 airs new episodes of “The Magic of Trees”

Paris - 23 July 2026: France 2 continues the report series "The Magic of Trees" on Sunday, 26 July 2026, in the magazine programme "13h15 le dimanche". The announced third and fourth episodes take viewers into forests in France, Poland and Gabon. They focus on people who study trees scientifically, protect them or work to preserve them.The edition builds on the central importance of forests as habitats and resources. It describes how foresters, researchers and committed individuals engage with the complex relationships within forest areas. The focus is not solely on individual old or exceptional trees, but on entire ecosystems and their ability to respond to change.According to the programme description, the series also addresses the question of how trees are connected to one another and can support each other under certain conditions. The programme places this topic within research into forest communities. It links it to the protection of near-natural forests and the knowledge of local stakeholders.The locations bring together different forest regions. France represents the report's European perspective, Poland other forest areas on the continent, and Gabon the tropical rainforests of Central Africa. The programme thus broadens its view beyond national borders and shows that forest protection depends on regional conditions, conflicts over land use and long-term stewardship."13h15 le dimanche" is a France 2 report format broadcast after the midday news. The programme combines current affairs and social issues with personal stories. "The Magic of Trees" is listed...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 03:15

Louvre: The Galerie d’Apollon Reopens – and Reveals Its Luminous Emptiness

Paris - 23 July 2026: The golden doors of the Louvre's Galerie d'Apollon are open again. On Wednesday, 22 July, the hall on the first floor of the Denon Wing welcomed visitors for the first time in nine months. What awaits them there, however, is an unfamiliar form of splendor: the display cases have disappeared, and the precious objects have been removed. What remains is a room displaying itself - and doing so with considerable persuasive power.The gallery was closed following the break-in of 19 October 2025. At the time, a four-person team entered the museum via a balcony overlooking the Seine and stole eight...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 03:02

After threats against Alès mayor, Delafosse calls for more resources for the justice system

Alès - 23 July 2026: Following serious threats against the mayor of Alès, Christophe Rivenq, Michaël Delafosse, the Socialist mayor of Montpellier, has called for a firm state response to drug trafficking. The case has now taken on a national judicial dimension: the National Anti-Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office, PNACO, took over the investigation into the intimidation directed at Rivenq on 21 July.On 16 July, graffiti containing an alleged reference to the criminal group DZ Mafia, along with two nine-millimetre cartridges, were discovered at the Alès mayor's home. Further threats during the night of 20 to 21 July led to Rivenq being swiftly moved to a...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 02:46

Savoie wineries invite visitors to tastings in the vineyards on July 23

Apremont - 23/07/2026: Wine producers in the Coeur de Savoie are focusing this summer on tastings held directly among the vines. The Apéro'Vignes series combines short tours of vineyards and cellars with tastings of regional wines and local products. Its aim is to give residents and visitors a firsthand introduction to the work of the estates, the grape varieties and the landscape-specific features of Savoie winegrowing.On Thursday, July 23, 2026, events are scheduled at Domaine des Granges Longes in Porte-de-Savoie, Maison Philippe Grisard in Cruet, and Domaine de La Gerbelle in Chignin. Each event begins in the early evening. According to the Coeur de Savoie tourist office, the format is aimed at people who want not only to taste wine but also to understand the journey from vine to bottle.The summer series has been running since July 2 and is scheduled to continue until August 27, 2026. Several estates in the area between Chambéry and the Combe de Savoie, recognized with the Vignobles et Decouvertes label, are taking part. The...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 02:31

Car maintenance costs in France rise by an average of 9 percent

Vanves - 23.07.2026: Car maintenance in France has become an average of nine percent more expensive within one year. Franceinfo reported this after visiting a garage in Vanves near Paris. The increase particularly affects motorists whose vehicles require replacement wear parts or more complex repairs. Clutch kits, brake discs and brake pads, as well as work on air conditioning systems, are among the services whose costs carry particular weight.The increase is hitting households at a time when a vehicle represents a significant fixed cost in addition to fuel, insurance and financing. A garage bill is not made up of labour time alone. Spare parts, diagnostic equipment, technical procedures and the growing complexity of many vehicles all affect the final price. The more extensive a repair is, the more strongly changes in component prices can affect the total bill.Earlier surveys by the industry portal idGarages had already shown significant increases for various standard services. In 2025, the average cost of a general inspection was listed at EUR 352.09, while replacing front...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 02:16

Russian Continues to Be Taught in French Schools

Paris - 23 July 2026: The claim that Russian is no longer taught in France is false. The current debate was triggered by the call for applications for the 2026 teacher recruitment examinations: Russian does not appear among the foreign languages offered in the published list of positions for the CAPES. This concerns the recruitment of new teachers through this competitive examination, not the continuation of existing courses.For 2026, the Ministry of National Education continues to set mandatory Russian curricula for the final years of upper secondary school. In the Bulletin officiel of 18 June, a literature syllabus for advanced Russian instruction was established through...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 02:01

Parliament Passes Agricultural Law with Exemptions for Controversial Insecticides

Paris - 22.07.2026: The French Parliament has definitively passed the law on the security and sovereignty of agriculture. The Senate confirmed the compromise previously negotiated between the two chambers on July 21 by 214 votes to 111. The National Assembly had already adopted the text on July 20. This concludes the parliamentary process.Particularly controversial is a provision concerning two insecticides that have so far been banned in France: acetamiprid and flupyradifurone. The law does not generally lift the ban. Instead, it allows for time-limited exemptions, provided that the national health and safety agency ANSES first issues a positive scientific assessment. Each authorization may be valid...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 01:46

Charli XCX Bids Farewell to Brat Summer – But Not to Pop

Paris - 22 July 2026: Two days before the release of her new album "Music, Fashion, Film" on 24 July, Charli XCX is making one of those calculated changes of direction that, in her case, are rarely only about music. After the vividly calculated, electrifying "Brat" universe, some of it now sounds more abrasive, more guitar-driven, almost demonstratively unglamorous. But the singer rejects the obvious diagnosis of a mere foray into rock.The tracks released so far, "Rock Music," "SS26," and "Wink Wink," have fueled the speculation. Distorted guitars, stripped-back rhythms, and a less euphoric foundation move to the foreground. "SS26" in particular combines the fashion...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 01:34

Twelve children found in car: investigation into caregivers in Yerres

Yerres - 22/07/2026: During an inspection of a private childcare facility in Yerres, southeast of Paris, twelve children were found in a car parked in the basement. According to consistent French media reports, the children included infants. A total of 17 minors were found in the house. Two women working as childminders were brought before the court in Evry-Courcouronnes and subsequently placed under judicial supervision.The inspection took place on Thursday, 16 July. Staff from the Protection maternelle et infantile, the municipal maternal and child protection service, inspected the facility together with the municipal police. It was apparently prompted by reports that significantly more children were...

Aktuell Read 23.07.2026 00:00

Epstein Case: Human Trafficking Investigation Continues After Death of Daniel Siad

Colombes - 22 July 2026: Daniel Siad has been found dead in a residential building in Colombes, northwest of Paris. The Nanterre public prosecutor's office confirmed on Wednesday that the 69-year-old was found on Monday evening, 20 July. It opened proceedings to determine the cause of death. The authorities initially provided no details on the specific circumstances of the death or a possible cause.Meanwhile, the Paris public prosecutor's office's human trafficking investigation is continuing. It concerns the French dimension of the far-reaching case surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in US custody in 2019. The investigation was relaunched on a new and comprehensive basis in February after the publication of additional US documents. It is not directed solely at one specific person, but is intended to clarify possible criminal offences and responsibilities in France.Siad worked as a model scout and had been named in numerous documents connected to Epstein. Several complaints had been filed against him, including allegations of rape and human trafficking. According to media reports, the...

Aktuell Read 22.07.2026 23:45

Bordeaux to impose tougher measures against risky fires in Gironde

Bordeaux - 22 July 2026: One day after the deaths of two firefighters in a blaze in Merignac, the Bordeaux public prosecutor's office announced a significant tightening of its approach to risky behavior in the forest and natural areas of Gironde. The focus is on people who light fires there or are found with open flames. The measures are a response to a situation in which minor causes can quickly create major dangers for emergency responders and local residents.According to the prosecutor's office, public prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul instructed police and gendarmerie to step up checks. Anyone found using fire in wooded natural areas may be...

Aktuell Read 22.07.2026 23:30

Two firefighters die in wildfire near Bordeaux – fire engine protection system under investigation

Mérignac - 22 July 2026: Two professional firefighters from the Saint-Médard-en-Jalles station died on Tuesday while responding to a vegetation fire near Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport. Their fire engine was engulfed by flames in a pine forest. While colleagues continued to fight the blaze, a day began for the families, the station and an entire region for which there are no prepared words.The victims were named as Will Schmitter and Anthony Berthome. Both belonged to the Service départemental d'incendie et de secours de la Gironde, or SDIS 33. They had been deployed to the scene during the initial attack phase when, according to the head of SDIS...

Aktuell Read 22.07.2026 23:15

Wildfires in Gironde and Var keep emergency crews on alert

Saumos - 22 July 2026: A severe wildfire near Saumos in the Gironde department burned around 600 hectares on Wednesday, according to authorities. The fire broke out in a forested area in the early afternoon and spread rapidly due to dry vegetation and wind. Emergency crews focused on keeping the flames away from inhabited areas and additional forest land.The fire developed between Saumos and Le Porge in the Medoc, near the Atlantic coast. The situation remained tense in the evening because fires can spread quickly through densely vegetated and difficult-to-access areas. Authorities urged the public to follow emergency service instructions and keep access roads clear for fire engines.At the same time, firefighters in the Var department continue to deal with the aftermath of a major fire in the Gros Bessillon massif. The blaze, which broke out on Tuesday, 21 July, had burned around 2,550 hectares of vegetation and forest by Wednesday. According to the prefecture, further spread had been contained by Wednesday morning, but the operation was not yet fully over.In Var, numerous hotspots and potential flare-ups continued to pose a danger. Emergency crews monitored the fire perimeters, extinguished remaining fire sites and secured particularly vulnerable areas. Wind played a decisive role: stronger gusts can carry ash and embers into previously unaffected areas and trigger new fires.The major fire in Var triggered extensive evacuations in less than a day and disrupted the power supply in parts of the affected area....

Aktuell Read 22.07.2026 23:00

Wildfire near Cotignac: Hundreds evacuated, dozens of homes damaged

Cotignac - 22 July 2026: Following the major wildfire in the Ponteves area of the Var department, residents of Cotignac are facing considerable damage. The fire broke out on Tuesday, 21 July, and had affected around 2,500 hectares by Wednesday morning, according to the prefecture. People were brought to safety in Cotignac and surrounding towns, while firefighters continued to tackle smouldering areas and active fire fronts.The authorities' Wednesday morning assessment listed between 30 and 40 damaged homes. Several hundred additional buildings were reportedly protected. Around 500 evacuees spent the night in municipal reception centres or with relatives. Residents of Sillans-la-Cascade were partially allowed to return...

Aktuell Read 22.07.2026 22:45

Forest and Vegetation Fires: 44,000 Hectares Destroyed in France

Bordeaux - 22 July 2026: Forest and vegetation fires have destroyed at least 44,000 hectares in France since the start of the year. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez provided this assessment on Wednesday in Bordeaux. He also stated that 128 people had been arrested in connection with suspected fire-setting. The figures highlight the exceptional strain on firefighters, security forces and investigative authorities in several regions of the country.Nunez spoke in the Gironde while another major fire was challenging emergency services there. Near Lacanau, the flames had engulfed more than 200 hectares of vegetation, mainly pine forest, according to the prefecture. The interior minister was expected in...

Aktuell Read 22.07.2026 22:30

After the Deaths of Two Firefighters, Pressure Mounts on Interior Minister Nunez

Mérignac - 22 July 2026: The deaths of two professional firefighters during a firefighting operation in Mérignac near Bordeaux have intensified the debate over the resources available to France's civil protection service. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez was due to meet the deceased firefighters' colleagues in Gironde on Wednesday. The two members of the Saint-Médard-en-Jalles fire center died while on duty on 21 July.The deaths occurred during a period of heavy strain on fire services. On 8 July, a 22-year-old volunteer firefighter was killed in Savoy while battling a vegetation fire. This brought the number of firefighters who died on duty within two weeks to three. Unions are linking their mourning for the victims with fundamental criticism of the staffing and technical resources available to emergency services.Representatives of professional firefighters report exhausted crews, difficulties in filling vacancies and, in some cases, inadequate equipment. This criticism is not directed solely at the central government: operational fire and rescue services in France are largely organized at the departmental level. Their funding is based...

Aktuell Read 22.07.2026 22:15

Amine Kessaci under police protection: Drug trafficking puts pressure on France’s local politics

Marseille - 22 July 2026: Marseille deputy mayor Amine Kessaci, who is under strict police protection, says he considers himself a particularly vulnerable target of organised drug trafficking. His statements are receiving renewed attention after Christophe Rivenq, the mayor of Alès in the Gard department, had to be removed from his home during the night of 20 to 21 July. The reason was renewed threats attributed to the criminal network known as the DZ Mafia.On 16 July, Rivenq had already received two nine-millimetre cartridges and threats at his home. Intimidating graffiti was later also reported. According to several media outlets, the mayor was taken to safety by the elite RAID unit; the GIGN mentioned in the original text was not involved. The case is being investigated by security authorities and the judiciary.Kessaci, deputy mayor of Marseille since the municipal elections in March 2026, is responsible within the city administration for the Marseille Naval Fire Battalion and civil protection. He became known above all as a committed opponent of drug trafficking....

Aktuell Read 22.07.2026 21:30

June Heatwave: 5,764 Additional Deaths Recorded in France

Paris - 22 July 2026: During the exceptionally severe heatwave in June, France recorded 5,764 additional deaths, according to an initial national assessment. This was announced by the national health authority Santé publique France. The figure covers a period of 16 days and compares observed overall mortality with the level expected for this time of year.However, the authority warns against drawing premature conclusions. The data recorded cover deaths from all causes. Therefore, it is not currently possible to determine for every individual case whether the heat directly or indirectly contributed to the death. Mortality data must also undergo further review and be cross-checked against medical...

Aktuell Read 22.07.2026 21:15

Twelve Children Found in Car: Investigation Into Two Caregivers in Yerres

Yerres - 22/07/2026: During an inspection of a suspected improperly operated childcare facility in Yerres, in the Essonne department, twelve children were discovered in a parked car in a garage. According to consistent media reports, two infants were among them. The inspection had already taken place on 16 July; the case became public on Wednesday.The inspection was reportedly carried out by specialists from the maternal and child protection service, Protection maternelle et infantile, together with Yerres municipal police. A total of 17 minors are said to have been in the house. According to the reports, five children were inside the premises, while another twelve were...

Aktuell Read 22.07.2026 21:01

Saint-Médard-en-Jalles mourns two firefighters killed in the line of duty

Saint-Médard-en-Jalles - 22 July 2026: Deep mourning has gripped Saint-Médard-en-Jalles one day after the deaths of two firefighters. The two professional firefighters from the municipality's emergency response centre were killed on Tuesday, 21 July, in a major fire in Mérignac. They were deployed near Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport when they were trapped by the flames.Residents gathered outside the Saint-Médard-en-Jalles fire station on Wednesday to express their condolences. Many knew the emergency personnel from around the town or through municipal events. The focus was on gratitude for two men who died while serving to protect the public and the forests of Gironde.The victims belonged to the Service départemental...

Aktuell Read 22.07.2026 20:45

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

Paris - 22/07/2026: The heatwave from June 17 to July 2, 2026 caused at least 5,764 additional deaths in France. This is according to a preliminary national assessment published on Wednesday by Santé publique France. The figure refers to 92 departments affected by the heat event and includes deaths from all causes that were above the statistically expected level.During the period under review, 21,674 deaths were recorded. The estimated excess amounts to 36.2 percent. Based on the data currently available, this represents the most severe excess mortality during a heatwave since August 2003. However, the health authority notes that the data may still be supplemented...

Aktuell Read 22.07.2026 20:31

Solar Eclipse on August 12: Spain and Iceland Prepare for Rare Celestial Spectacle

Madrid - 22 July 2026: In just under three weeks, a total solar eclipse will cover parts of Iceland and Spain. Franceinfo is calling on people planning a trip to observe the event on August 12 to share their preparations. Interest is focused primarily on the areas where the Moon will completely cover the solar disc for a short time.According to NASA calculations, the path of totality will run across Greenland, Iceland, the North Atlantic, northern Spain and a small part of Portugal. Outside this narrow corridor, the event will be visible only as a partial solar eclipse. It is therefore crucial for travelers to check in advance whether their chosen location lies within the zone of complete coverage.Spain occupies a special position in this event. The path of totality crosses the country from west to east, passing through A Coruna, Oviedo, Leon, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Valencia and Palma, among other places. Spain's National Geographic Institute describes the eclipse as the first total solar eclipse visible from the Iberian Peninsula in...

Aktuell Read 22.07.2026 20:15

16-Year-Old in Custody Following Alleged Rape of an 80-Year-Old Woman in Rennes

Rennes - 22 July 2026: According to investigators, an 80-year-old woman in Rennes was the victim of an alleged sexual assault. Nearly three weeks after the incident on July 4, police arrested a 16-year-old and placed him in police custody. The Rennes public prosecutor's office confirmed that the teenager is due to appear before a court on Thursday, July 23.The assault is alleged to have occurred as the woman was returning to her apartment after an evening out. According to consistent reports, she was attacked in the entrance area of her residential building. In addition to suspected rape, the investigation also concerns a possible theft....

Aktuell Read 22.07.2026 20:01

Fetes de Bayonne: Fewer visitors, 44 people taken into custody and investigations following sexual offense allegations

Bayonne - 22 July 2026: As the last white and red shirts disappeared from the alleyways of the Basque city early Monday morning, police, emergency services and judicial authorities began assessing the event. According to preliminary figures, around one million people attended the 2026 Fetes de Bayonne. That was about five percent fewer than the previous year, when organizers and authorities counted around 1.1 million visitors.The lower visitor numbers did not change the fact that the city center became an extremely crowded space for several days: people moved between squares, venues and traditional festival attractions, while security forces were present at access points and in...

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