France’s oldest national newspaper, centre-right, Figaro’s voice in modern media
Public Health France has recorded 5,764 excess deaths between 17 June and 2 July during an exceptional June heatwave, the highest heat-related excess mortality since 2003. France recorded 21,674 deaths against 15,910 expected; two-thirds of the excess were people aged 75 and older and more than half occurred between 25–27 June.
Tadej Pogačar has secured a fifth Tour de France victory, joining a rare club of five-time winners. The Slovenian clinches the title after a tense final stage on the Champs-Élysées, with Remco Evenepoel second and Isaac del Toro third. Vingegaard crashes earlier in the race, and the finish is marked by a photo finish on Montmartre.
Zinedine Zidane has been appointed France's head coach on a four-year deal and will start in August, with staff to be announced in September. He describes the role as a dream and signals continuity with Didier Deschamps while pledging to bring his own approach to the team.
A blazing stretch from southwest France to Madrid is fueling mass evacuations as heat waves persist. France reports hundreds of thousands flee homes; Spain sees similar upheaval. Authorities warn conditions remain volatile with new outbreaks possible as temperatures spike and winds shift.
French DJ Kavinsky, real name Vincent Belorgey, has died at 50 in Paris. Tributes describe him as a singular French voice; Nightcall, performed at the 2024 Paris Olympics closing ceremony, is cited as a defining track. Paris prosecutors say no suspicious circumstances and an investigation is opened into the death.
A police body cam from Carcassonne shows officers using racist and homophobic language. The clip, published by Midi Libre, is tied to the National Rally and has drawn condemnation from officials. The RN says it has removed the officer and condemned the remarks; investigations are underway as scrutiny of the party grows ahead of France’s presidential race.
Britain has announced a National Centre for Information Defence to detect, attribute and disrupt AI-enabled disinformation campaigns. The move follows a UN address by Prime Minister Burnham warning of an industrial-scale information assault and calls for closer cooperation with tech platforms and allies. The effort aims to shield the UK from foreign interference and bolster national resilience.
The Prix Goncourt drama over Thélyson Orélien’s novel has intensified as AI-detection claims trigger withdrawals, while publishers defend originality and the academy enforces integrity.
Protests and riots linked to France's school funding and classroom conditions have intensified across the country. Demonstrations involve students, teachers, and unions amid debates over budget allocations, with clashes between police and protesters resulting in injuries and arrests. The demonstrations have grown into a broader political moment. The Indian context features a separate rally in New Delhi calling for the resignation of election officials amid alleged voter-list manipulation.