- Jul 25
A400M military transport plane drops retardant for first time on massive Gironde wildfire, 167,000 evacuated
The Airbus A400M, repurposed to carry 20 tonnes of fire retardant, dropped its first red line near Lacanau on Saturday, joining the battle against a wildfire that has consumed 32,700 hectares and forced 167,000 residents to flee.
- Jul 23
French ecology minister Monique Barbut reverses resignation after Macron guarantees on pesticides law
Monique Barbut, France's ecological transition minister, withdrew her resignation on Wednesday after President Emmanuel Macron refused to accept it and offered new environmental guarantees, following a dispute over pesticide reintroduction in the agricultural emergency law.
- Jul 23
TotalEnergies doubles Q2 profit to $5.4 billion as Middle East war lifts oil prices and reignites France's superprofits tax debate
The French oil major posted a net profit of $5.4 billion for the second quarter of 2026, up from $2.7 billion a year earlier, while adjusted net income reached $6 billion. The surge was fuelled by the three-month Brent average of $97 per barrel, a 45 percent year-on-year jump driven by the conflict in the Middle East and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Jul 10
France activates first-ever Orsec 'extreme heat' plan as third heatwave pushes temperatures toward 40°C
Nine western departments were already under red alert on Friday, with 24 set to follow on Saturday, affecting 22.2 million people as the heatwave persists into next week.
- Jul 10
French deputies adopt police self-defense presumption as petition against it tops 500,000
The National Assembly passed a bill granting a presumption of lawful firearm use to police, while a citizen petition against it has gathered over half a million signatures in two days.
- Jun 24
France detects first Ebola case from DRC outbreak, five contacts isolated
A doctor returning from a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo tested positive for Ebola, marking the first confirmed case of the virus on French soil linked to the ongoing outbreak. Health authorities isolated the patient immediately, identified five close contacts on his flight, and say the risk to the wider public remains low.
- May 28
UN climate chief calls Europe's record-breaking May heatwave a 'brutal reminder' of the climate crisis
Temperatures up to 14°C above seasonal norms have shattered May records across Western Europe, prompting the UN's top climate official to warn of the spiraling human and economic costs of fossil fuel dependence.
- May 26
Historic May heatwave grips Europe: France reports seven deaths, UK shatters records as temperatures soar past 37°C
A historic and unprecedented May heatwave has engulfed large parts of Western Europe, with France recording its hottest May day ever and reporting seven heat-related deaths, while the United Kingdom shattered its nighttime and daytime temperature records for the month.
- May 26
Deadly Heatwave in France: 7 Deaths as Country Battles Record May Temperatures
A severe heatwave sweeps across France, claiming seven lives including five drownings and two deaths during sports activities. Authorities warn temperatures will continue to climb.
