Stories from France

More than half of parliamentary assistants in the French National Assembly use artificial intelligence for their daily work. Nicolas Bonnet, an ecologist deputy and co-rapporteur of a working group on AI usage, confirmed the trend.

The Mona Luna group is seeking selection by the European Space Agency (ESA) to provide a rover for a future lunar mission. If selected, the team expects to participate in a mission to the lunar surface by the 2030 horizon. The rover is designed to operate in temperatures reaching 300 degrees Celsius to allow for long-distance exploration. The mission aims to enable long-distance travel on the Moon and would launch from French Guiana. Teams expect to learn if their rover has been selected within several weeks.

A new bulletin from the Copernicus Surveillance Institute was published this morning. The findings indicate rising temperatures around the Arctic Circle, leading to melting glaciers and reduced snow cover in both the Arctic and the Alps. The report notes that these snow and ice layers are essential for mitigating climate change by reflecting sunlight. The Copernicus Climate Change Service 2025 report states that 95 percent of the continent experienced above-average annual temperatures. Record heatwaves, extreme storms, and floods are increasing in frequency and intensity, impacting society and the economy. Researchers noted that sea surface temperatures in Europe reached the highest levels ever measured. According to the report, 96 percent of the region experienced these elevated temperatures. The report notes that the continent is warming faster than the rest of the world.

French national cybercrime authorities have launched an investigation into a website operating under the name "Cocoland." The site is reportedly a rebranded version of the previously banned "Coco" site, which was implicated in the Pélico case and shut down by justice...

The European Parliament definitively adopted a single method for calculating carbon emissions in the transport sector. Deputies described these actions as part of systematic military and hybrid provocations by Russia against the EU and its member states. The broadcaster stated that the response to these violations will continue. In Poland, approximately twenty drones were reported in early September. On September 13, one drone was recorded in Romania, which prompted the deployment of F-16 and German fighter jets. Reports include approximately twenty drones in Poland in early September and one drone in Romania on September 13 that triggered F-16 and German fighter jet responses. In September, approximately 20 drones were recorded in Poland, and one drone was detected in Romania on September 13, which prompted F-16 and Eurofighter jets to scramble.

The European Space Agency has entered the active development phase for the Orbit Maintenance Laser (Omlet) project. The laser-based system is designed to prevent collisions between satellites and space debris.

Airbus reported that its earnings before interest and taxes were impacted by engine supplier issues and a weak US dollar at the start of the year. The company noted these factors as burdens on its results. A third round of negotiations is scheduled for mid-May in Potsdam.

Italian founder Isaac Steidel of the Cocollande site is under investigation for the diffusion of pedopornographic images, corruption of minors, and criminal association. The platform was cited in 23,000 criminal cases between 2021 and 2024.

French pilots have returned to Base 115 in Orange, Vaucluse, following a month of defensive missions. The operations involved Rafale jets and Fennec helicopters to protect the airspace of allied Gulf nations against Iranian drones. Commander Quentin, head of the Rafale detachment, described the missions as consisting primarily of long aerial patrols. French military aircraft have conducted 360 Rafale missions and approximately 30 Fenec helicopter missions in the Middle East since February 28. Colonel Hugues Fouquet of Air Base 115 in Orange stated that Fenec helicopters are used to maintain stable distances and speeds behind targets. The aircraft will remain stationed in the region to respond if existing truces fail. The mission utilizes Rafale-capable radar technology to detect both very low and very high speed targets.

European consumer associations alert that annual household bills could increase by 53 percent over the next four years. While energy companies and businesses currently bear the costs, European households are expected to be affected by 2028. Currently, 37% of households in France use gas for heating, a figure that rises to 55% in social housing. The warning comes amid concerns regarding the impact of the crisis in Iran on energy prices. The World Meteorological Organization stated that the record increase in greenhouse gases makes it practically impossible to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees in the coming years without temporarily exceeding the Paris Agreement. Celeste Saulo of the World Meteorological Organization said that any such exceedance must be kept as short and shallow as possible.