- Jul 26
France marks decade since Father Hamel's murder at altar with call for peace and fraternity
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu leads a memorial mass and speeches in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, joined by François Hollande and other officials, as the town reaffirms a message of peace.
- Jul 26
France orders 55,000 more residents to flee as wildfire engulfs 100,000 hectares near Bordeaux
The prefecture of Gironde ordered an additional 55,000 residents to evacuate overnight, bringing the total displaced in the region to at least 222,000 as the blaze creates its own wind system.
- Jul 26
Over 250,000 evacuated as fires sweep southwest France and central Spain
Soldiers and military aircraft join the fight as flames consume tens of thousands of hectares near Bordeaux and Madrid, with NASA’s deep space complex forced to suspend operations.
- Jul 25
Greece dispatches two Canadair water bombers to Spain, EU mobilises rescEU fleet against devastating wildfires
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis confirmed the deployment of two Canadair CL-415 water bombers to Madrid on Saturday, as the EU's rescEU fleet rushed additional aircraft to battle out-of-control blazes in Spain and France.
- 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 25
France and Spain order 250,000 evacuations as fires rage across Bordeaux and Madrid
Gironde and Landes in France, Madrid and Avila in Spain are fighting multiple blazes that have destroyed over 19,000 hectares and prompted a state of emergency in both countries.
- Jul 25
Over 220,000 evacuated as twin wildfire crises engulf southwestern France and central Spain
French authorities ordered the full evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula on 24 July, pushing the combined number of people forced from their homes across France and Spain past 220,000, as record heat and high winds drove multiple fire fronts.
- Jul 23
France shifts €1.7bn in health costs to mutual insurers and doubles patient deductibles
Health Minister Stéphanie Rist sent four decrees to the health insurance council on Friday, reducing the state's share of dental, transport and drug reimbursements while doubling the annual deductible ceiling to €200.
- 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 22
French ecology minister Monique Barbut quits as parliament brings back two pesticides banned in France
Monique Barbut, France's Ecological Transition minister, intends to resign after the government declined to block a parliamentary amendment reintroducing two neonicotinoid pesticides prohibited nationally but still permitted across the European Union.
- Jul 15
France legalises assisted dying: National Assembly votes 291-241 for landmark end-of-life law
The National Assembly gave definitive approval on 15 July to a law allowing medically assisted suicide and, in limited cases, euthanasia for adults with incurable illnesses. The text now goes to the Constitutional Council.
- Jul 15
France adopts assisted dying law after years of debate, becoming sixth country to legalise euthanasia
The National Assembly gave final approval on 15 July with 291 votes for and 241 against, after a legislative battle that saw three Senate rejections.
- 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
France lifts storm alert after tornado-like winds leave 53,000 without power and extensive damage across centre and east
A mini-tornado toppled two lorries on the A72 near Saint-Étienne, hail ignited a house fire in Haute-Savoie and a road worker was seriously hurt, as the most intense thunderstorm episode of the year swept France on 16 July. The orange vigilance was lifted early on 17 July while the heatwave receded to the south-east.
- Jul 7
France cuts 2026 growth forecast to 0.7% and announces €3bn in budget savings
The French government has revised its 2026 GDP growth projection down to 0.7% from 0.9%, citing a delayed budget and the Middle East conflict, and unveiled €3 billion in additional spending cuts to keep its deficit target on track.
- Jul 6
French parliament rejects heatwave no-confidence motion, Socialist leader isolated
The French National Assembly overwhelmingly rejected a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's government on Monday, with only 132 deputies backing the Ecologist-led initiative over the June heatwave. The vote laid bare divisions within the Socialist Party, where First Secretary Olivier Faure supported the motion but a majority of his own deputies refused.
- Jul 2
Wildfires engulf southern France after record heatwave, 2,000 firefighters deployed and new heatwave looming
More than 2,000 firefighters are fighting multiple wildfires along France's Mediterranean coast, driven by strong winds and drought after a record-breaking heatwave, with authorities warning another extreme heat event is expected next week.
- Jun 30
Fifth heatwave of the year hits Portugal and France, bringing 43°C temperatures, 55 drownings and extreme fire risk
A severe heatwave, the fifth in Portugal this year, is forecast to push temperatures to 43°C, while France reports 55 drowning deaths since June 18, and Portuguese authorities warn of extreme fire danger and possible power outages.
- Jun 29
France ends record heatwave with over 1,000 dead, braces for new one as 30,000 air conditioners head to hospitals
After a 10-day heatwave that killed more than 1,000 people and saw Paris hit 42°C, Météo-France warns of a new bout of extreme heat this weekend. The government has ordered 30,000 air conditioners for hospitals and promised a new extreme-heat plan.
- Jun 28
Historic 11-day heatwave ends across France, leaving over 1,000 excess deaths and strained emergency services
After 11 days of record-breaking heat, France's canicule is finally receding, but health officials warn the worst effects may still be ahead with over 1,000 excess deaths already recorded.
