18.07.2026 17:30

UV Protection Shirts: What They Do and What Families Should Look For

Paris - 18 July 2026: UV protection shirts are increasingly becoming standard equipment for many families during the summer. They are intended to protect children and adults from harmful solar radiation during days at the beach, swimming or sports, while reducing the need to repeatedly apply sunscreen to large areas of skin. However, experts stress that such a shirt is an additional protective measure, not a free pass to spend longer periods in direct sunlight.The protective effect depends primarily on the fabric. Densely woven or specially treated materials block ultraviolet radiation more effectively than very thin, loosely woven textiles. Consumers should look for clear UV protection labelling. The French standard NF EN 13758-2+A1 sets out requirements for the classification and labelling of clothing intended to protect against solar UV radiation.A high UV protection factor is particularly useful for extended periods outdoors. At the same time, the garment must actually cover the body: a short-sleeved shirt protects neither the forearms, hands, face nor neck. For children, a combination of a long-sleeved top, a wide-brimmed hat and suitable sunglasses is therefore recommended. Exposed areas of skin must still be carefully protected.Sunscreen remains necessary on uncovered skin. The National Cancer Institute points out that clothing, shade and avoiding the strongest midday sun are the most important measures. Sunscreen complements these precautions but does not replace them. It should be reapplied regularly during summer activities, especially after swimming, heavy sweating or drying off with...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 17:18

Back-to-school supplies: How families can reduce costs

Paris - 18 July 2026: Families in France can significantly limit spending on supplies for the upcoming back-to-school season with a precise shopping list and price comparisons. According to a recent survey, prices for school supplies in supermarkets and hypermarkets on 1 July 2026 were on average 2 percent higher than on 1 July 2025. This continues the increase seen in recent years.The consumer organization Que Choisir Ensemble examined a basket of 136 items representing typical back-to-school purchases. It recorded online prices from more than 4,500 supermarkets and hypermarkets offering collection services across France. The findings show that not every price increase affects all products...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 17:02

Jens Spahn Resigns as Parliamentary Group Leader After Surrogacy Debate

Berlin - 18 July 2026: Jens Spahn has resigned as chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag. The move follows the fierce debate over the parenthood of the CDU politician and his husband Daniel Funke through a surrogate mother in the United States. Spahn informed the parliamentary group of his resignation on Saturday and, according to media reports, had previously informed party leaders Friedrich Merz and Markus Söder.The discussion had intensified within just a few days. Funke had publicly announced the birth of their son. It subsequently became known that a surrogate mother in the United States had carried the child. Spahn confirmed...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 16:46

Antonelli Takes Pole Position at Spa Ahead of Verstappen and Norris

Spa-Francorchamps - 18/07/2026: Kimi Antonelli has secured pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver set a fastest time of 1:44.361 minutes in the decisive third segment of qualifying. Max Verstappen in the Red Bull Racing was second, 0.317 seconds behind, while Lando Norris in the McLaren finished third.Antonelli thus confirmed his strong form at the Ardennes circuit. The Italian had already shown competitive times in practice. In qualifying, he held his own through all three segments: after recording 1:46.304 minutes in Q1 and 1:45.142 minutes in Q2, he improved significantly in the final and set the fastest lap of the session.Verstappen remained within striking distance with a time of 1:44.678 minutes but was unable to beat Antonelli's benchmark. Norris was 0.440 seconds off the fastest time with 1:44.801 minutes. This means three different teams occupy the top three positions. The race on Sunday, 19 July 2026, therefore promises an open battle at the front.Behind the leading trio, George Russell in the second Mercedes completed the second row...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 16:31

Court Orders Justice Minister to Act Following Allegations from Condé-sur-Sarthe Prison

Caen - 18 July 2026: Behind the high-security walls of the Alençon-Condé-sur-Sarthe prison complex in Normandy, a dispute has now reached the administrative court. The court in Caen ordered the justice minister to end conduct by certain staff members that is alleged to breach professional ethical obligations. The decision was issued in expedited proceedings brought by the French prison watchdog OIP.The trigger was an urgent report by the Comptroller General for Places of Deprivation of Liberty, Dominique Simonnot. Her office visited the prison from 4 to 7 May and published its recommendations in the Official Journal on 9 July. According to the oversight authority, the report describes repeated assaults and humiliations of inmates by prison service staff.Among the allegations are searches deemed humiliating or brutal, disproportionate use of physical force, harassment, and statements that may violate the law and professional ethics. The accusations concern in particular the unit for combating organised crime. According to the authority, its findings were based on observations and interviews with prisoners, staff and other parties...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 16:15

TF1 removes “Ici tout commence” actor from production after heated altercation

France - 18/07/2026: TF1 has temporarily removed an actor from the daily series "Ici tout commence" from the production following a heated altercation with a fellow actress. The incident occurred on Friday, 17 July, on the sidelines of a shoot. The broadcaster confirmed that it had taken a precautionary measure.The private broadcaster is thus responding to an incident whose exact circumstances have not yet been publicly clarified. No further details were provided regarding what happened or the possible consequences for those involved. The measure does not initially constitute a finding of guilt, but is intended to safeguard day-to-day production operations while the matter is investigated.For...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 16:02

Vieilles Charrues Gives Emerging Artists the Big Stage

Carhaix-Plouguer - 18 July 2026: On the Kerampuilh meadow, the great summer crush has once again become a landscape of its own: stages, tents, lights, voices. The 34th edition of the Vieilles Charrues festival runs until Sunday, 19 July, and this year it is not relying solely on the familiar force of international names. Between pop spectacle and rap, it is also making room for Brittany's next musical generation.This is more than a pleasant programming gesture. Major festivals in particular face the temptation to keep their audiences entertained with the most uninterrupted possible sequence of familiar faces. In Carhaix-Plouguer, however, discovering new voices is part...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 15:45

Charging Assistants Aim to Prevent Queues at Motorway Charging Stations in France

France - 18/07/2026: Heavy travel traffic at the start of the holiday season is increasing pressure on fast-charging stations along French motorways on Saturday. To limit queues, several operators are deploying trained charging assistants this summer. They support electric car drivers directly at service areas, explain how to use the facilities and provide information on available alternatives along the planned route.The measure comes during a particularly busy travel weekend. The state traffic forecast service Bison Fute classified Saturday, 18 July, as a day of very heavy holiday traffic nationwide in the direction of holiday destinations. Higher demand is therefore also expected at service areas, especially...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 15:15

Severance: The Future Begins Behind the Office Door

Paris - 18 July 2026: In its summer series on shows that envision the future, Franceinfo turns to "Severance" this Saturday. The American production available on Apple TV+ poses a question that is as simple as it is unsettling: What would happen if employees had their memories of the workplace and their private lives surgically separated?At its center is Mark Scout, played by Adam Scott. At the mysterious Lumon corporation, he leads a department whose employees divide their consciousness into two strictly separate existences. As soon as they enter the company corridor, they know nothing of their lives outside; after work, their jobs are in...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 15:00

Four Suspects Arrested After Discovery of Large Drug Lab in The Hague

The Hague - 18 July 2026: Following the discovery of a large-scale drug laboratory, apparently still in operation, on Meidoornstraat in The Hague's Valkenboskwartier district, Dutch police have arrested four suspects. The evacuation of numerous homes in the immediate vicinity continued on Saturday because there is a risk of leaks during the dismantling and removal of chemical substances.The operation began on Friday, 17 July, after a report of a strong smell coming from a house. Emergency services found a laboratory there, along with substantial quantities of chemicals. A 39-year-old man from The Hague was found in the building; according to police, he was covered in liquids, received medical treatment and was then arrested.Three further arrests followed on Saturday: a 34-year-old man from Voorburg, a 44-year-old man from The Hague and a 71-year-old man from Leiden. They are suspected of possible involvement in operating the laboratory. The investigation is ongoing; no reliable information has yet been released on the exact production volumes or the roles of the individual suspects.The Haaglanden safety...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 14:46

Tour de France: Paret-Peintre in Six-Man Lead Group at Markstein

Le Markstein - 18 July 2026: The Vosges have split the Tour de France field into small pieces. On stage 14 from Mulhouse to Markstein, a six-man breakaway, including Valentin Paret-Peintre, is riding ahead of the peloton on Saturday afternoon. No stage winner has been determined at this point; the official classifications do not yet list a result for the stage.For Paret-Peintre, the breakaway is an attack on terrain that offers no respite. At 155.3 kilometres, the stage is comparatively short, but its succession of climbs makes it an intense test of endurance. The Grand Ballon, the Col du Page, the Ballon d'Alsace and the...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 14:15

Heatwaves put growing pressure on French vegetable farming

Paris - 18/07/2026: The series of intense heatwaves has pushed French vegetable farming into a critical phase. According to industry representatives, the consequences are not limited to individual crops or regions. Open-field crops, whose development depends directly on sufficient soil moisture and reliable irrigation, are particularly at risk. The damage is hitting farms after an already difficult start to the year marked by flooding and unstable market conditions.Météo-France reported on 18 July a gradual easing of the heat, which is now largely concentrated in the southeast. At the same time, drought remains exceptionally severe nationwide: on 17 July, soil moisture reached a record low for...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 14:01

Gallifet: Aix’s Quiet Address for Contemporary Art

Aix-en-Provence - 18 July 2026: Just a few steps from the Cours Mirabeau, Gallifet sits behind an understated facade on Rue Cardinale. This private centre for contemporary art is housed in an 18th-century townhouse, and for that very reason it does not feel like just another exhibition venue. Rather, it is a house with several voices: an art space, garden restaurant, shop and meeting place all at once.Nicolas Mazet opened the family home to art in 2010, giving it a new, carefully contemporary purpose. Six exhibition rooms and a garden of around 500 square metres provide the setting for three major exhibitions each year. The architecture is more than merely decorative scenery: historic rooms, tall windows and the tranquillity of the Quartier Mazarin offer a pleasantly resistant rhythm to the often loud world of contemporary art.Gallifet is currently showing the exhibition "Ne rien jeter, 33 ans apres" by photographer Francois Halard, roughly translated as: Throw Nothing Away, 33 Years Later. The title alone captures the spirit of the house. It does not seek a quick effect, but rather a renewed look at what time has accumulated: images, objects, craftsmanship and memories. The exhibition runs until 27 September 2026, Tuesday to Sunday, from noon to 6 pm.That Gallifet does not limit the idea of art to the walls of the exhibition rooms is evident in the small boutique at the entrance to the garden. La Petite Maison de Gallifet presents one-of-a-kind...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 13:45

Tour de France: Power data makes performance in the peloton measurable

France - 18 July 2026: The pros' pedal strokes have long contained a second, invisible Tour. While the peloton is riding Stage 14, power meters on the crank, pedal or rear wheel continuously transmit figures to bike computers: watt readings. They show how much mechanical power a rider produces in every phase of the race - during an acceleration, in the slipstream, on a descent and especially when the road turns steep.For riders and sporting directors, this data is a tactical tool. Power can be combined with heart rate, speed, cadence, gradient and temperature. This allows a professional to pace their effort instead of digging...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 13:32

Invasive Ants Put Residents Under Pressure in Several Regions of France

France - 18.07.2026: Residents of several French municipalities are reporting a major spread of ants invading houses, apartments and gardens. According to recent reports, the insects are reaching kitchens, bedrooms and upper floors. Those affected say that repeated vacuuming, cleaning and over-the-counter products often only push back the colonies temporarily.Different species are involved depending on the location. The black glossy ant, Tapinoma magnum, can be particularly problematic, as its colonies can become very large and may have multiple queens. The Argentine ant and the electric ant are also considered invasive species in France and can spread in densely populated areas and on agricultural land.The burden...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 13:15

Heat prompts people in France to rethink where they live

Paris - 18/07/2026: Repeated heatwaves are changing residential decisions for some people in France. A report published by franceinfo on Saturday describes residents who are considering or have already made a move to climatically more temperate parts of the country because of oppressive days and particularly warm nights. Normandy is mentioned as one of the destination regions. The report thus highlights a very personal consequence of global warming.The backdrop is an exceptionally hot start to the summer. Météo-France reported a nationwide average temperature of 22.7 degrees in June 2026, 3.8 degrees above the 1991 to 2020 average. This made it the hottest June since comparable records began. From 17 to 30 June, France also experienced an early, prolonged and particularly intense heatwave.For those affected, the focus is not solely on peak afternoon temperatures. Nights during which homes can barely cool down, as well as the strain on sleep, work and family life, are also decisive. Authorities point out that high temperatures increase health risks while also disrupting daily life, public...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 13:00

Italy tightens rules for electric scooters with mandatory insurance

Rome - 18/07/2026: Italy has further tightened regulation of electric scooters. Since 16 July 2026, no electric scooter may operate on public roads without its own third-party liability insurance. The requirement applies nationwide and supplements the requirement for a visible individual identification marking that has been in force since 16 May. This largely completes the implementation phase of the reform of Italian road traffic law adopted in 2024.Contrary to a common description, the marking is not a conventional registration like that for cars or motorcycles. The Ministry of Transport instead describes it as a personal, non-transferable identification code. It is assigned to the applicant and must be visibly attached to the vehicle. The state aims to end the vehicles' previously extensive anonymity in road traffic and make police checks easier following violations or accidents.The insurance covers civil liability towards third parties. Damage to pedestrians, cyclists or other road users should therefore no longer have to be borne solely by the owner or rider. According to guidance from Italian municipalities, general...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 12:45

Memorial plaque for rescue family damaged in Paris’s 12th arrondissement

Paris - 18 July 2026: A memorial plaque honouring Arsène Richard, his wife Angèle and their daughter Marcelle has been damaged in Paris's 12th arrondissement. The plaque is located on Rue Louis Braille and commemorates the Richard family, who protected a Jewish boy from their neighbourhood from persecution during the German occupation. Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire made the incident public on Friday.The damage occurred during the days commemorating the Velodrome d'Hiver roundup. On 16 and 17 July 1942, more than 13,000 Jews were arrested in Paris, including many children. Many of those arrested were initially imprisoned at the Vélodrome d'Hiver and subsequently deported via French transit...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 12:31

Canadian Wildfires Worsen Air Quality in the United States

Ottawa - 18 July 2026: The wildfire situation in Canada has worsened further. According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, nearly 900 fires were burning nationwide on Friday, July 17, including more than 200 that were out of control. Northern Ontario has been particularly affected. Heat, drought and difficult-to-access operational areas are complicating the work of firefighting crews there.The Canadian federal government had already pointed to a rising wildfire risk later in the summer in its July situation assessment. Emergency crews are being supported by provinces, federal agencies and local organizations. Additional air and ground operations are underway in Ontario; airspace restrictions are in...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 11:45

New Video Footage Released After Parcel Bomb Attack in Monaco

Monaco - 18 July 2026: A quiet residential street, a building entrance, and seconds later a blinding fireball: New footage of the parcel bomb attack on 29 June in Monaco adds another disturbing visual record to the investigation. The video was released on Friday by the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office. According to consistent media reports, it documents the placement of an explosive device and the explosion outside a residential building in the principality.Three Ukrainian nationals were injured in the attack. According to several media outlets, businessman Vadim Ermolaev is among those affected; two relatives were also reportedly injured. Monaco's authorities initially did not officially confirm...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 11:30

Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Affects Air From Toronto to Washington

New York - 18 July 2026: Smoke from wildfires in Canada continues to affect the air in several major North American cities. According to Franceinfo, around 950 fire sites were active nationwide on Saturday. Winds carried the masses of smoke over the Great Lakes and the northeastern United States. Toronto, New York and Washington experienced significantly reduced visibility and elevated fine particulate pollution.The fires are concentrated in Ontario, among other places. According to the New York emergency management agency, several large, still active wildfires are burning in the west of the province. NASA satellite images documented in recent days how the smoke plumes spread across...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 11:15

BTS Returns to the French Stage with Concert at the Stade de France

Saint-Denis - 18/07/2026: South Korean pop group BTS returned to France on Friday evening with a concert at the Stade de France. The July 17 performance was the first of two dates at the Saint-Denis arena. According to Franceinfo, the show was sold out. For the seven members, it was their first major joint stop in France in several years.The Stade de France has confirmed two concerts by the group on July 17 and 18, 2026. The dates are part of the "ARIRANG" world tour, which takes BTS across Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia. In France, only the two performances in Saint-Denis are scheduled for this leg of the tour. The second show is set for Saturday, July 18.BTS, consisting of RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook, is performing again as a full group. The band had temporarily paused its joint activities while members completed mandatory military service in South Korea or pursued individual projects. Suga was the final group member to complete his...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 11:00

France Enshrines Climate Neutrality by 2050 in New Strategy

Paris - 18 July 2026: With the publication of Decree No. 2026-636 in the Journal officiel, France has formally adopted its third National Low-Carbon Strategy. The SNBC-3 strategy sets the framework for the path to climate neutrality by 2050 and updates the country's emissions budgets. The decree of 16 July was published in the official gazette on Saturday, 18 July.The government confirms its target of halving France's territorial greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared with 1990. By 2050, remaining emissions are to be offset by natural and technological carbon sinks. Climate neutrality therefore does not necessarily mean complete freedom from emissions, but rather a balance...

Aktuell Read 18.07.2026 10:45

How the Seine Supplies the Louvre and National Assembly with District Cooling

Paris - 18 July 2026: Beneath the riverside roads along the Seine, a largely invisible cooling network is operating, supplying, among others, the Louvre and the National Assembly. It is operated by Fraîcheur de Paris, the concession holder for the municipal district cooling network. The principle is not based on the direct use of river water in buildings, but on a closed circuit of chilled water that transports cooling to connected facilities.At the production centers, the heat generated at customers' sites is removed. The Seine serves as a local resource for releasing this heat; when water temperatures are sufficiently low, its natural coolness can also...

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