Watch: Planes douse flames as wildfire rages near Marseille
A thousand firefighters have been mobilised to battle a wildfire that has reached the outer edge of Marseille, France’s second largest city.
“The marine firefighter battalion is waging guerrilla warfare, hoses in hand,” said the city’s Mayor Benoît Payan, referring to Marseille’s fire and rescue service.
The prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhône area, Georges-François Leclerc, urged local residents to remain indoors and said firefighters were “defending” the city.
He said that while the situation was not static, it was “under control”.
At least 400 people have been evacuated from their homes, according to French media. Nine firefighters are said to have been injured.
About 20 buildings were at least partly hit by the fire and hundreds of homes have been saved by firefighters, Leclerc said.
At its peak, the fire spread at a rate of 1.2km (0.7 miles) per minute, Payan said, according to French broadcaster BFMTV. This was due to a unique combination of wind gusts, dense vegetation and steep slopes.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who was on a state visit to the UK, expressed support for fire crews and called for residents to follow safety instructions.
“Our thoughts are with the injured and all residents,” he wrote on X.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau arrived in Marseille on Tuesday evening, where he met local officials.
Marseille Provence airport has partially reopened after being closed since midday. Julien Coffinier, the airport’s president, said he had “never experienced a situation of this magnitude”.
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Huge plumes of smoke rose above France’s second biggest city
Residents have been advised to stay inside, close shutters and doors, and keep roads clear for emergency services.
The fire, which broke out earlier on Tuesday near Pennes-Mirabeau, north of Marseille, is said to have covered about 700 hectares (7 sq km).
Local authorities said the blaze was sparked by a car that caught fire on the motorway, and that it could continue to spread as strong winds are set to blow until late this evening.
“It’s very striking – apocalyptic even,” Monique Baillard, a resident of the town, told Reuters news agency. She said many of her neighbours had already left.
Payan asked residents to remain “extremely vigilant” and to limit their movements.
Footage posted online showed huge plumes of smoke above Marseille as fire raged in a hilly area to its north.
The Bouches-du-Rhône area has not recorded a single drop of rain since 19 May, according to BFMTV.
Getty Images
A police officer tries to put out a fire in a car near Marseille
Elsewhere in France, another wildfire that started near Narbonne on Monday remains active, fanned by winds of 60km/h (40mph). Some 2,000 hectares have burnt, local officials said.
Wildfires were also reported in other parts of Europe, including the Catalonia region of north-east Spain, where more than 18,000 people were ordered to stay at home because of a wildfire in the eastern province of Tarragona.
Emergency units were deployed alongside 300 firefighters as high winds overnight fanned the flames, which have spread across nearly 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) of land.
Several other parts of Spain – which experienced its hottest June on record – were on high alert for wildfires.
In Greece, some 41 wildfires broke out across the country on Monday. Of those, 34 were contained early while seven remained active into Monday evening, according to the fire service.
Much of western and southern Europe was hit by a scorching early summer heatwave, sparking fires that saw thousands evacuated from their homes.
Markets extended their downward slide on Tuesday as investors remained wary about the looming tariff deadline, with the S&P 500 dipping 0.07%.
After a celebratory June, which saw the S&P 500 reach record highs, July is off to a gloomy start. The threat of tariffs looms once again for investors, as President Trump insists he will stand by a new negotiation deadline of Aug. 1 for the bruising campaign of levies that he announced in April.
Stocks continued their downward dip from Monday, with the S&P 500 falling 0.07%, driven by modest drops in blue-chip companies like Amazon and Microsoft. And lest wary onlookers hope for another delay, Trump posted on Truth Social that Aug. 1 would be the final opportunity for U.S. trade partners to come to the table, after previously stating the deadline was not “100% firm.”
“No extensions will be granted,” he wrote on his social-media platform. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Trump’s second term in office has been an economic rollercoaster, with stocks falling dramatically after his Liberation Day tariff announcement in April before recovering after he backed off from the steep demands. But even as markets ticked back up, the original extension of July 9 remained as a ticking time bomb. And while Trump signed an executive order on Monday to push the deadline once again to Aug. 1, it wasn’t enough to calm investors.
The imminent reciprocal tariffs are not the only expected economic policy from the White House this week, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent telling CNBC on Monday that it was going to be a “busy couple of days.” On Tuesday, Trump announced a new 50% tariff on copper, though he did not set a date that it would go into effect. To date, the White House has only hammered out deals with Britain and Vietnam, and an expected deal with India remains uncertain.
While markets remain jumpy, Trump continues to put pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. On Tuesday, Trump told reporters that Powell should “resign immediately,” once again criticizing the central banker’s decision not to lower interest rates. Powell, however, has cited the potential impact of tariffs on inflation as a reason the Fed has kept rates steady.
Despite the volatility, stocks have not fallen as sharply as they did in April when Trump first announced his tariffs campaign, sending markets into a downward spiral. And while his Tuesday post on Truth Social insisted that Aug. 1 would be the last chance for countries to negotiate, he has repeatedly moved the goalposts in the past.
One bright spot amid Tuesday’s sea of red was Tesla, which rose 1.33% on Tuesday despite CEO Elon Musk’s public spat with Trump. In a new note on Tuesday morning, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives wrote that Tesla has reached a “tipping point,” calling for the board to end the “soap opera.” One of his recommendations was for Musk to reduce his work, including his recent campaign to create a new political party.
After Ives posted his demands to X, Musk issued a brief reply: “Shut up, Dan.”
Introducing the 2025 Fortune 500, the definitive ranking of the biggest companies in America. Explore this year’s list.
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Whether it’s reporting on conflicts abroad and political divisions at home, or covering the latest style trends and scientific developments, Times Video journalists provide a revealing and unforgettable view of the world.
Whether it’s reporting on conflicts abroad and political divisions at home, or covering the latest style trends and scientific developments, Times Video journalists provide a revealing and unforgettable view of the world.
South Korean police raided Korea Exchange offices last week (June 30) as part of an expanding investigation into alleged securities violations related to HYBE’s 2020 IPO.
Citing Korean police, Korea JoongAng Daily reported on Thursday (July 3) that the raid targeted the exchange’s Yeouido office in Seoul, where investigators secured data related to the listing review process for the K-pop giant.
Police told the news outlet that they were collecting evidence for their probe into potential capital markets law violations by HYBE Chairman BangSi-hyuk.
In late May, it was reported that the South Korean financial watchdog, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), intensified its probe into Chairman Bang regarding alleged arrangements with specific investors and private equity funds prior to the company’s 2020 IPO.
While this story was initially covered at the close of 2024, it gained renewed attention more than a month ago when the Korea Economic Daily published additional details.
The publication said the FSS was conducting “a fast-tracked investigation into [Chairman] Bang’s transactions with the PEFs and plans to refer the case to prosecutors for potential criminal prosecution.”
HYBE, formerly Big Hit Entertainment, went public on the KoreaExchange in October 2020 after raising 962.6 billion South Korean won (approx. $706 million). At the time, MBW noted that the 36.6% stake held by Bang was worth 3.14 trillion won (approx. $2.3bn), making him the sixth richest person in Korea, according to the Korea Herald.
According to the allegations, Chairman Bang diverted potential investors away from HYBE’s planned public offering in 2019, instead directing them toward a private equity fund controlled by an associate, JoongAng reported.
Investigators reportedly claim Chairman Bang received 400 billion won (approx. $293 million) or 30% of the private equity fund’s investment returns after HYBE completed its listing in October 2020. Authorities reportedly allege this payment was not disclosed in the company’s required securities filings, according to the news outlet.
The latest development follows an earlier raid carried out by authorities in South Korea at HYBE’s headquarters as part of a separate investigation into alleged insider trading by a former executive.
That unnamed former exec, as reported by the Korea Times, allegedly made $176,500 by buying shares in rival K-pop company YG Entertainment’s subsidiary YGPlus, after learning that HYBE was planning to invest in the stock.
HYBE’s shares closed 5% lower in Seoul trading on Friday, the lowest level in over a month.
Could Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s third trip to the United States during President Donald Trump’s administration mean a ceasefire in Gaza is close at hand? As Netanyahu lands in Washington, DC, for a week of discussions on topics such as Gaza and Iran, what pressures is he facing at home?
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Lime, often considered one of the earliest examples of “smart” materials, has been used for over 7,500 years, dating back to its application on walls and floors in ancient Jordan. Recognized for its antiseptic qualities and its ability to cool down interiors through its reflective capabilities, lime sets a historical precedent for exploring paints with remarkable features. Modern times have seen the development of innovative paints, such as one that can cool a building, potentially reducing energy consumption by up to 60%. In this tradition, a lab in Vienna has now introduced a sustainable, self-cleaning paint that additionally cleanses the air.
What will I read in this article?
Innovative self-cleaning paint through nanotechnology
This newly developed paint captures and breaks down pollutants using ultraviolet light. This chemical reaction neutralizes the toxins, causing them to fragment and release from the paint’s applied surface. The Material Chemistry Institute at the University of Vienna has honed in on the properties of titanium oxide nanoparticles to facilitate this effect. Prior to this, utilizing titanium oxide in self-cleaning paints posed challenges, including diminished durability and a tendency for the paint to crack, not to mention the necessity for intense ultraviolet light to initiate the photocatalytic reaction.
By integrating phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon atoms into the nanoparticles, the researchers have altered the wavelength required for activation, allowing sunlight to suffice. The enhanced formula, which can complement any self-cleaning paint on the market, boasts a 96% effectiveness in eradicating toxic particles. The experiment utilized materials sourced from recycled metal and organic waste, with titanium oxide derived from scrap metal and organic compounds extracted from olive leaves.
The research team has yet to confirm whether this innovative additive will be compatible across all color spectrums or limited to specific hues, such as white. Ongoing testing aims at eventual commercial availability, promising a material that not only purifies air and self-cleans but also outlasts traditional paint options in durability.
Understanding photocatalytic paint
Photocatalytic paint is at the forefront of coating technology, offering both self-cleaning and air decontaminating solutions. This innovation is grounded in photocatalysis, a process where sunlight activates a catalyst (commonly titanium dioxide) within the paint, breaking down both organic and inorganic matter on the surface and in the air.
Key benefits include:
Self-Cleaning: Facilitates the breakdown of surface dirt and organic matter, simplifying maintenance through natural rain or minimal rinsing.
Air Purification: Helps decompose air pollutants like nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, enhancing air quality and combating “sick building syndrome.”
Anti-Microbial: Prevents the proliferation of mold, fungi, and bacteria by destroying these organisms on surfaces.
Enhanced Durability: The photocatalytic effect also shields the surface from UV degradation and environmental wear, extending the paint’s lifespan.
Should the Vienna team’s breakthroughs come to fruition, the future could see cities becoming cleaner and more sustainable.
Three people in a French town are now in a stable condition following an unusual bee attack at the weekend which left 24 passersby injured, local authorities have said.
Twenty-four people were hurt and three were rushed to hospital in critical condition when hundreds of bees suddenly attacked people in the central-southern town on Sunday morning.
According to local media, one of them was a 78-year-old woman who was stung 25 times and had to be resuscitated after a cardiorespiratory arrest.
Police and firefighters fenced off the area and a beekeeper was called in to smoke out the bees – a safe way to calm the insects.
A local woman called Andrée said she witnessed “very panicked people” trying to bat off the bees. “I could tell they were being attacked by something but I couldn’t figure out what,” she told French media.
The mayor of Aurillac, Pierre Mathonier, was reported as saying that Asian hornets threatening a beehive may have been the catalyst for the attack.
But Christian Carrier, the president of the regional beekeepers’ union, was sceptical.
He told France Info that bees generally avoid leaving their colonies altogether in the presence of Asian hornets.
Instead, he said that the unusual incident may have been due to the bee colony becoming too large for its beehive and becoming “overactive” when the beekeeper handled it.
“It may be that [the bees] didn’t have enough space and that their colony had no intention of swarming. This can trigger strong aggression,” Mr Carrier said.
The mayor’s chief of staff, Vincent Fournier, acknowledged the presence of Asian hornets could be one of the reasons for the bees’ odd behaviour.
However, he also said the bees could have been stressed because of a problem with the queen bee, or could have been reacting to external factors such as “heatwaves, early blossoming in May-June and subsequent lack of food in July, or a sharp drop in temperatures”.
“The causes of this incident will be analysed,” he told the BBC, adding the beehives have now been moved to a location outside the town of Aurillac.
Who: Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) What: Semifinal 2, FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Where: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, United States When: Wednesday, July 9 at 3pm local time (19:00 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from noon (16:00 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.
The last two winners of the UEFA Champions League clash for the remaining spot in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) when Real Madrid play Paris Saint-Germain in an epic face-off at the 82,500-seat MetLife Stadium, just outside New York.
Real are hoping to add a record sixth CWC crown to their collection while PSG need to win this trophy to complete a rare quintuple of major titles in a single season.
The contest has some extra spice thrown in with superstar Kylian Mbappe, an ex-PSG player, lining up against his old club for the first time since signing with Real Madrid last year.
Here is all to know before the second CWC semifinal:
How did Real Madrid reach the semifinals?
Los Blancos finished atop Group H with two wins and one draw.
Real opened their CWC campaign with a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal in Miami, before thumping Mexican side Pachuca 3-1 in a rematch of their FIFA Intercontinental final last December. The Spaniards ensured a smooth passage into the knockout rounds with a 3-0 demolition of RB Salzburg in the final group fixture on June 27.
In the round of 16, Real played out a tough 1-0 win against timeless rivals Juventus at Hard Rock Stadium. They then prevailed in a five-goal thriller to eliminate Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a 2024 Champions League final rematch, capped off by Mbappe’s spectacular match-winning bicycle strike in the 94th minute.
Mbappe’s bicycle strike against Borussia Dortmund in stoppage time put Real Madrid through to the semifinals [File: Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images via Reuters]
How did PSG reach the semifinals?
PSG finished atop Group B with two wins and one loss.
They opened their Club World Cup with a dominant 4-0 victory against Atletico Madrid at the famous Rose Bowl in Los Angeles.
In their second group fixture, the European champions suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Botafogo after a first-half goal from Igor Jesus proved to be the match-winner for the Brazilian side.
PSG bounced back in their final group match to defeat hosts Seattle 2-0 at Lumen Field to comfortably qualify for the knockout stage.
In the last 16, the French side demolished Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
In the quarterfinal, they hit top gear, crushing the challenge of German champions Bayern Munich to win 2-0 and cruise into the last four of the tournament.
Mbappe vs Dembele: The battle of the high-scoring forwards
Real Madrid have netted 11 goals in the Club World Cup so far, while PSG have 12; both teams have been boosted by the return of their injured star strikers, with Ousmane Dembele and Mbappe scoring in the quarterfinals.
The two forwards, who were teammates at PSG until Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid in June 2024 and play together for the France national team, enjoyed incredible offensive statistics in the 2024-25 season.
Mbappe’s superb goal against Dortmund on Saturday was his 44th for Real Madrid in 58 appearances this season.
Dembele, meanwhile, blossomed after Mbappe’s departure from the Paris club, switching from the wing to the attacking talisman role in coach Luis Enrique’s system, scoring 34 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions in 2024-25, and carrying PSG to domestic and European titles.
“I’m feeling really good. It’s the best season of my career,” Dembele told PSG’s official website. “I signed for PSG to have moments like this. It’s been an exceptional year, for me personally and for the team as a whole. It’s magnificent. But we want more. Once you’ve tasted it [championships], you want more.”
Once teammates, now rivals. Dembele, left, and Mbappe celebrate PSG’s French Cup Final victory over Olympique Lyonnais at Stade Pierre Mauroy, Decathlon Arena on May 25, 2024, in Villeneuve d’Ascq, France [Jean Catuffe/Getty Images]
Head-to-head
The last time these two sides met was in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 in 2022 when Mbappe still played for PSG.
Real Madrid won the knockout match 3-2 on aggregate before going on to lift their 14th European title – but PSG were a very different team then, and that was before Enrique took charge of the French side.
How many Club World Cup titles have Real Madrid won?
Real Madrid have won the FIFA Club World Cup a record five times. Their last victory was in 2023 when they beat Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal 5-3.
They also won the trophy in 2015 and 2017, 2018 and 2019.
They also hold the most tournament wins (12) and the most total goals scored in the competition (40).
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr scores the match-winning fifth goal against Al Hilal in the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup final on February 11, 2023, in Rabat, Morocco [Michael Steele/Getty Images]
What titles have PSG already won this season?
PSG achieved their best season in club history in the 2024-25 campaign, winning a perfect four-out-of-four titles: Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophee des Champions and the UEFA Champions League trophy.
In doing so, PSG became the first French side to win a continental treble and also a continental quadruple.
If they win the FIFA Club World Cup, they can add a fifth trophy to their spectacular season, completing a rare quintuple of titles in one season.
Manchester City, in 2023, were the last club side to win five titles in a single season: Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup.
Team news: Real Madrid
Gonzalo Garcia, who has led the Real Madrid attack in Mbappe’s absence and scored four goals in five appearances, will likely hand back the starting job to the French superstar against PSG. Earlier in the tournament, Mbappe was hospitalised with gastroenteritis but is now believed to be ready to lead the line from the opening whistle.
“He is still not perfect, not 100 percent, but he is getting better every day,” Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said of Mbappe after their quarterfinal victory over Dortmund.
Centre back Dean Huijsen, who picked up a late red card against Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinal, will not play due to suspension.
Real continue to be without the injured trio of David Alaba, Eduardo Camavinga and Endrick.
Team news: PSG
Enrique will be without suspended defenders William Pacho and Lucas Hernandez after both were sent off in PSG’s 2-0 quarterfinal win over Bayern Munich. Lucas Beraldo is expected to be named Pacho’s replacement in the starting XI.
Up front, Dembele is a strong probability to make his first start of the tournament after coming on as a substitute against Munich, with Bradley Barcola moving to the bench.
PSG remain relatively injury-free with only Nordi Mukiele unavailable.
Injured during the group stage of the Club World Cup, Dembele, left, came on as a substitute against Bayern Munich in the quarterfinal and is now pushing for a starting position against Real Madrid in the semifinal [Jason Allen/ISI Photos via Getty Images]
Possible lineups:
Real Madrid: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Asencio, Rudiger, F Garcia; Valverde, Tchouameni, Guler, Bellingham; Mbappe, Vinicius Jr
Xabi Alonso, Real coach: “The tactical battle with Luis Enrique will be a big test for us. We will prepare for the upcoming game [PSG] in a positive spirit after today’s [quarterfinal] victory.”
Luis Enrique, PSG coach: “It doesn’t matter who we play in the semifinals. All that matters is that we are there and that we want to get to the final.”
Antonio Rudiger, Real defender: “PSG are a very, very tough team to play against,” Real defender Antonio Rudiger told FIFA. “They’ve shown they’re one of the best teams in Europe, so it’ll be a hard match. But we’re Real Madrid and we’re ready for the challenge.”
Xabi Alonso, centre, faces the biggest test of his young Real Madrid managerial career against European champions PSG in the Club World Cup semifinal at MetLife Stadium on Wednesday [File: Hannah Mckay/Reuters]
Getty Images
Getty Images
