France

Wildfires rage across southern Europe; 3 firefighters killed in Greece

An uncontained wildfire four times the size of Paris threatened to surge again in southwest France on Wednesday -- as three firefighters died in Greece and crews across southern Europe confronted a punishing mix of heat, drought and strong winds. The deaths on Crete brought a fatal new dimension to a wildfire emergency stretching from the Atlantic coast to the eastern Mediterranean. At the peak of the evacuations, a third of a million people were driven from homes and vacation sites in France and Spain. In France's Gironde region, the country's biggest blaze had not spread during a calm night, authorities said. But as temperatures approached 40 degrees Celsius Wednesday afternoon and winds strengthened, the reprieve threatened to be short-lived. The landscape was so combustible that investigators believe routine brush-clearing work near a high-voltage line may have sparked the inferno, even though the work appeared to comply with regulations. At the command centre in Lege, ...

From US to China: How countries punish exam cheating and paper leaks

As Parliament debates tougher penalties for paper leaks, here's how countries from China and South Korea to the US, UK and Singapore punish exam fraud and organised cheating

Infosys fined €175,000 by French authority over work-hour tracking system

Infosys said in an exchange filing that it had received a communication from French labour authority DRIEETS lle-de-France, informing the company of a €175,000 penalty

France, Spain battle worsening wildfires as heat fuels massive blazes

With over 300k people evacuated across the two nations, a French official said the fire in the southwest Atlantic coast's Gironde region is headed toward Bordeaux, an urban center of 265k people

More than 250,000 people flee as wildfires spread across France, Spain

Authorities on Saturday ordered the immediate evacuation of some western suburbs of Bordeaux, a city in southwestern France famed for its wines

Wildfires force evacuation of over 200K people in France and Spain

Massive forest fires forced the evacuation of some 200,000 people in southwestern France and central Spain, with residents fleeing towns near Madrid and Bordeaux as the flames raged out of control. Firefighters and authorities in both European countries on Friday were caught off guard by the virulence of the fires, which were fuelled by high temperatures and the long-term effects of climate change. Firefighters in Spain admitted the fires were so fast and violent that they could not be tackled head on. Some people even fled by boat when flames swept through the touristic area on France's Atlantic coast. Some 141,000 fled homes in the Gironde and Landes departments in France, the French interior ministry said. In central Spain, 60,000 were forced from their homes, according to the Spanish interior ministry. Dozens of French firefighters were injured, authorities said, but no deaths were reported in either country despite the scenes of panic as townsfolk fled by car and police went d

Spain declares national emergency over wildfires, France asks EU for help

French authorities ordered the total evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula, a tourism hotspot busy for the summer season, as smoke and flames drew closer to homes

Why France banned social media for children under 15

France has become the first European Union country to ban social media access for children under 15. The law will be introduced in phases,

France approves social media ban for under-15s: Key details explained

The phased law bars new accounts from September, removes existing ones from January 2027, and signals a wider European push to tighten children's access to social media

FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals: Date, time (IST), predictions, key stats

Argentina are bidding to become only the third nation after Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962) to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup title

Explosions in Damascus during French Prez Macron's Syria visit, 4 injured

Explosions rocked Damascus on Tuesday as France's president met with his Syrian counterpart in a landmark visit. Emmanuel Macron had entered the presidential palace to meet Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa when the explosions happened near the Four Seasons Hotel. Syrian authorities did not immediately comment on the incident. Syrian media reported that Macron was staying at the Four Seasons. Two explosions were heard in the heart of the capital, Syrian newspaper Al-Watan and Syria TV network reported. A large plume of smoke could be seen from the site. Footage widely circulated on social media showed a vehicle on fire and blood stains on the street. The number of casualties was not immediately clear. No group immediately claimed responsibility. The incident comes days after an explosive device was detonated in a cafe near the Justice Palace in Damascus, killing at least 10 people and wounding 20.

Why Europe's heatwave has already killed 1,300 people | El Niño | France | Germany | WHO

Europe is witnessing one of the worst heatwaves in its recorded history. The ongoing heatwave has caused more than 1,300 excess deaths since June 21, according to the World Health Organization

Sitharaman begins four-day France visit to deepen economic, strategic ties

The finance minister will co-chair the India-France Economic and Financial Dialogue, meet business leaders and participate in a global economic forum during her four-day visit

Intensifying heat wave threatens record-breaking temperatures across Europe

The heat wave is spreading north from mainland Europe, where it's plagued France for nearly a week

Europe braces for prolonged heatwave as France, UK issue red alerts

A powerful heatwave sweeping western Europe has triggered red alerts, school closures and energy concerns, with forecasters warning of further extreme temperatures through July

France curbs public alcohol consumption, outdoor sports amid scorching heat

France is putting emergency services and military forces on wildfire alert, restricting public alcohol consumption and cancelling some outdoor sports events to cope with a heat wave unfurling across parts of Europe. About a third of France is under the national weather service's heat red alert Sunday and temperatures are high nationwide, expected to reach 40 C on Sunday in some areas, in a country where air-conditioning isn't widespread. The forecast for Monday is even hotter. The Eiffel Tower and other Paris venues set up misting stations to cool crowds, among a raft of measures announced by national and local authorities to minimize risks. More than 200,000 people across Europe died from heat-related causes over the last four years, and most of the fatalities were preventable, the World Health Organisation's Europe office said this month. More above-average temperatures are expected this summer, which can cause heat exhaustion and life-threatening heat stroke. WHO's Europe office

Meloni rejects Trump's claim she begged for a photo at G7 Summit in France

Trump claimed Giorgia Meloni "begged" for a photo at the G7 summit, prompting the Italian premier to dismiss the remarks as "fully made up"

'France loves you': Macron bids farewell to PM Modi, posts video in Hindi

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday posted a farewell video for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Hindi, calling him a dear and added that "France loves you". Macron said, "Priya mitra Narendra, mujhe bahut khushi hai aap ka Nice, Evian aur Paris, daure ke liye swagat karte, France Bharat ki dosti amar rahe (Dear friend Narendra, I feel very happy to welcome you on your trip to Nice, Evian and Paris and I wish the friendship between France and India remains eternal)." "I hope it was correct," Macron said after delivering the lines in Hindi. The French president also thanked PM Modi for his visit and described it as "very fruitful", while expressing hope of meeting him again in February. "Thank you for your visit. Thank you for our friendship. It was a very fruitful visit. France loves you. We are looking forward to seeing you again soon, in February. Jai Hind." Modi arrived in the Mediterranean city of Nice on June 13 where he inaugurated the Bharat Innovates programme ...

PM Modi departs for New Delhi after concluding visit to France, Slovakia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday left for New Delhi after concluding his two-nation visit to France and Slovakia during which he attended the G-7 Summit and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders. "This visit to France has been extensive when it comes to engagement and outcomes. It began in Nice, where the Bharat Innovates programme was held, followed by Evian for G7 and then in Paris, where I addressed VivaTech 2026 and a large community programme, as well as met CEOs," Modi said in a social media post. "I am especially grateful to my friend President Macron, the Government and the people of France for the warmth. The India-France friendship will become even stronger in the times to come," he added. Modi addressed the Indian diaspora earlier in the day and said India is emerging as a "trusted partner" to the world. Modi also said that this is a defining period in India's journey, where aspirations are reaching new heights. "It's always special to interact with