By Marco Hugo Barsotti MHB 
Welcome to the Radio Nice and Central Milan bulletin for Tuesday July 28, 2026, on FranceToday.com, in podcasting, via AI chatbot and on Medium Waves at 1575 kHz. In the newsroom in Nice Marco Hugo Barsotti, from Paris this is Rachel Costa.
Macron declares the fire “fixed” – Situation in Gironde unpredictable – The “heat wave” returns from Tuesday – Weather Paris Monte Carlo Milan
News from France
Fires in Gironde: the situation remains highly unpredictable, the return of heat risks worsening the fires
Météo‑France has forecast a new temperature peak in the southwest of France, with highs that could exceed 40 °C on Wednesday and winds that are slightly milder but decidedly drier. The prefect of Gironde, Sophie Rocas, has stated that the situation remains “extremely unpredictable” and that fire‑fighter operations continue at full capacity, especially in view of an expected rise in temperatures and a drop in humidity relative to Tuesday.
At the moment the return of evacuated residents is not yet possible; authorities have also urged tourists to postpone travel to the region. All sporting and cultural events have been banned, as well as water activities and navigation on Lake Cazaux‑Sanguinet.
Gironde and the Landes will enter a yellow heat‑wave alert starting at noon on Tuesday. In the Landes, the fire that broke out near Biscarrosse has been declared “fixed” by President Emmanuel Macron, while in Gironde the fire has been “stabilized but remains virulent”, requiring utmost caution for the coming hours and days.
Transport disruptions continue: no TGV will run south of Bordeaux on Tuesday, except for lines to Agen and Toulouse, and the A63 motorway is closed on both sides between Bordeaux and Bayonne.
This update is part of the live coverage of the environmental emergencies that struck southwestern France in the summer of 2026.
Fact Check by Gemma4
The fire in the Landes has been fixed, announces Emmanuel Macron
The President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, declared on Monday evening, from the crisis room of the Departmental Operational Center for Fires and Rescue (CODIS) in Bordeaux, that the fire that had erupted near Biscarrosse in the Landes is now “fixed”.
Not even the French press knows exactly what it means, given that they place the expression in quotation marks.
The news was received as a first sign of a turning point after days of uncontrolled flames that threatened the southwest of France.
Meanwhile, the prefect of the Landes, Gilles Clavreul, reassured residents by stating that the “great majority” of people evacuated from Biscarrosse, Parentis‑en‑Born and Sanguinet will be able to return to their homes as early as this evening. 15,000 of the 30,000 inhabitants evacuated since the start of the emergency thus have the possibility to go home, while another 8,000 have been authorized to do so later in the evening.
The fire, which has consumed about 3,600 hectares of forest and destroyed 198 buildings, forced roughly 30,000 people to leave their homes. The prefect clarified that some areas of Biscarrosse remain not yet fully stable: damages are extensive, smoke plumes persist and the houses are not yet safe for re‑entry.
In front of the media, Macron also gave an assessment of the fire in Gironde, stating that the fire has been “stabilized”, but remains dangerous and virulent, urging maximum caution in the coming hours and days.
Authorities continue to monitor the fire’s evolution, while firefighting and containment operations progress thanks to the joint effort of fire‑fighters, military units and local volunteers.
In the context of a summer season marked by record temperatures and heat waves, forest fires are hitting the French southwest with increasing intensity, raising concerns about risk management and the emergency services’ response capacity.
Fact Check by Gemma4
Rachel’s editorial – “The fire is fixed, but the meaning has slipped away”
Macron announces that the fire in the Landes is “fixé”. A word taken from firefighters’ jargon, translated in French as “under control”, but it sounds more like the name of a new luxury perfume. If the President wants to impress with an expert‑level vocabulary, why not use it to describe the budget? Or why not simply say the fire is out, instead of making a wordplay that only technicians would understand?
And then there’s the contradiction: in the Landes the fire is “fixé”, but in neighboring Gironde it is “stabilized” and “virulent”. It isn’t that French has an entire series of terms for “still not optional”. Perhaps the Culture Minister suggested the President vary the lexis to make the news more “colorful”. But does it really make sense to confuse citizens with emergency synonyms?
The prefecture’s press release adds numbers that look taken from a PowerPoint chart: 3,600 hectares burned, 198 buildings destroyed, 8,000 evacuated out of 30,000. Then, suddenly, “the great majority” can return home. Yes, but what are the criteria for this “great majority”? Is it a reassuring wordplay, or a genuine risk assessment? The press seems to accept the comforting version without asking who defined “great majority”.
In the end, that “fixé” is more a magician’s trick than a reassurance. A politician using technical terms to sound expert ends up leaving us more confused than before. And we, viewers accustomed to bold slogans, wonder: how many more “fixé” do we need before we really understand what is happening?
Koan of the day
A monk asked the Master: “Master, why does the president use the word ‘fixé’ to describe a fire, when nobody understands it?”
The Master replied: “Fire is a language that everyone fears; using invisible words is like extinguishing a flame with shadow, not with water.”
The monk persisted: “Then, if words do not extinguish the fire, what should those who govern do?”
The Master smiled and said: “True power is to confess uncertainty, because only then does the fire reduce to smoke and people to honest listening.”
But let’s return to the news.
Welcome to the international bulletin from Radio Nice and Central Milan for Tuesday July 28, 2026 on FranceToday.com in podcasting and on Medium Waves at 1575 kHz.
From Paris this is Rachel Costa.
OpenAI and Anthropic threaten Chinese artificial intelligence companies
The two leading U.S. players in the sector, OpenAI and Anthropic, have launched a campaign to limit the expansion of AI models developed in China. In a joint statement, executives argued that Chinese technologies violate safety standards and could fuel an unchecked race in digital armament. The proposal calls for stricter controls on dataset access and on model distribution mechanisms.
The debate unfolds amid rising tensions between Washington and Beijing, where Western authorities fear that open‑source Chinese solutions could democratize high‑power technologies. The implications for European tech firms will be decisive, as international regulations may require compliance adjustments and a review of partnerships with Asian suppliers.
Wildfires in Spain and France force more than 300,000 people to evacuate
A massive heat wave has triggered rapid fire spread both in Spain and in the Gironde region of southwestern France. The flames have engulfed vast forest areas, threatening hundreds of homes and prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency. Hot winds and prolonged drought have made firefighting work extremely difficult, as crews contend with a shortage of water resources.
Local authorities have launched an evacuation plan for over 300,000 residents, providing temporary housing and medical assistance. Environmental experts warn that the increasing frequency of such climate events is linked to climate change, demanding prompt interventions in land management and greenhouse‑gas emission reductions.
Oil price falls below $90 after the pause in fighting between the United States and Iran
The global energy market recorded a significant drop, with Brent slipping below $90 per barrel. The de‑escalation of hostilities between U.S. forces and Iran reduced concerns over oil supply continuity in the Persian Gulf region, sparking a wave of optimism among investors. Prices held steady for several hours, suggesting that the tension‑reduction dynamic could persist.
Analysts from various banks noted that if the situation remains relatively calm, crude prices could continue to moderate, easing inflationary pressure on consumers. However, they warn that a rapid reignition of hostilities or a sudden halt to Iranian exports could reverse the trend again.
U.S. stock futures tumble while South Korean Kospi loses more than 10 %
In early trading, futures on the major U.S. stock indices recorded a sharp decline, driven by concerns over global economic growth. At the same time, the Kospi, South Korea’s benchmark index, fell by more than ten percent, marking one of its worst recent performances. Analysts attribute the drop to a combination of slowing semiconductor demand and geopolitical tensions in the Asian region.
Investors reacted quickly, trimming positions in technology stocks and shifting to more defensive securities. Market experts caution that volatility could persist in the coming days, especially if great‑power tensions intensify or macro‑economic data from leading economies show signs of slowdown.
China launches mass production of DUV equipment for chips
A major Chinese firm announced that it has begun large‑scale production of deep‑ultraviolet (DUV) immersion lithography machines, essential for manufacturing next‑generation chips. This technological breakthrough reduces reliance on Dutch ASML technology and opens new prospects for the global semiconductor supply chain. Industry specialists forecast a significant impact on equipment prices and on the competitiveness of Chinese fabs.
The Beijing government maintains that self‑sufficiency in semiconductors is a strategic priority, especially in light of trade restrictions imposed by Washington. If DUV equipment meets international standards, China could strengthen its position in memory and logic chip markets, reshaping power balances in the worldwide technology industry.
OpenAI ready to control its own infrastructure: Nvidia could guarantee $250 billion
OpenAI is evaluating the possibility of directly managing the data‑center facilities needed to train its artificial‑intelligence models. In this scenario, Nvidia has offered a financial guarantee of $250 billion, enabling the company to rapidly expand computing capacity without relying on third‑party providers. The proposal aims to overcome current capacity limits and reduce operational costs.
If approved, the strategy would represent a breakthrough for the AI landscape, as greater infrastructural autonomy could accelerate innovation. However, observers warn of risks associated with such a concentration of computational power in a single actor, and of the possible impact on smaller competitors that could find themselves at a disadvantage.
Microsoft launches a low‑cost AI model for cybersecurity
Microsoft has unveiled a new artificial‑intelligence model designed to detect and neutralize cyber threats at reduced cost. Leveraging optimized machine‑learning techniques, the solution promises to improve the detection of zero‑day attacks and phishing, allowing companies to protect their systems with a modest investment. The firm highlighted the platform’s scalability, suitable for both large enterprises and midsize organizations.
The launch comes at a time when demand for cyber‑security solutions is soaring, fueled by increasingly sophisticated attacks. Security experts believe that adopting AI‑based tools can significantly cut response times and mitigate the economic damage from data breaches, opening new market opportunities for advanced‑technology providers.
Weather Paris, Monaco Monte Carlo and Milan for Tuesday July 28, 2026
Paris: hot and sunny day
In the morning the sky is clear and the temperature hovers around 19 °C with a light 15 km/h breeze from the northwest.
In the afternoon the thermometer rises to 32 °C, the sun is intense and the wind remains calm, still around 15 km/h.
In the evening the sky stays clear, the temperature drops to 31 °C and the breeze increases slightly to 20 km/h.
During the night the weather remains ideal, with 25 °C and a light 15 km/h wind, with no precipitation.
The day’s low will be 19 °C, the high 32 °C, the wind variable but moderate and no rain in sight.
According to expert Régis Crêpet, high pressure dominates the region and marks a day considerably hotter than average.
Monaco Monte Carlo: summer and dry climate
In the morning Monaco is warm, 25 °C, with a 10 km/h east wind and a perfectly clear sky.
In the afternoon the heat reaches 31 °C, the sun is at its peak and the wind strengthens to 20 km/h, still from the east.
In the evening the temperature falls to 28 °C, the breeze eases to 15 km/h and the sky remains lightly clouded.
During the night the thermometer reads 26 °C, the wind is light at 10 km/h and conditions stay dry.
The day’s minimum is 25 °C, the maximum 31 °C, the wind moderate and no rain forecast.
The air is dry, humidity is low and the feeling of heat is amplified by the shining sun.
Milan: sweltering heat with humidity
At sunrise Milan shows 24 °C, a light east wind of 4 km/h and mostly clear skies.
During the morning the temperature climbs gradually, reaching 29 °C around noon, with a gentle east‑southeast wind of 9 km/h.
The afternoon is dominated by humidity, the thermometer hits 33 °C, the wind rises to 9 km/h from east‑southeast and remains dry.
In the evening the temperature drops to 32 °C, the wind reduces to 7 km/h and a few scattered clouds appear on the horizon.
During the night it falls to 25 °C, the wind is almost calm and no precipitation is expected.
The day’s low is 24 °C, the high 33 °C, winds weak‑moderate and a heat alert urging caution.
According to expert Daniele Berlusconi of 3BMeteo, an anticyclonic ridge coming from North‑Africa intensifies the humidity and pushes temperatures well above the seasonal average.
Koan of the day
Monk: The sun shines, but the wind blows.
Zhaozhou: Even the sky thirsts for rain.
And this is today’s weather.
Sign-off.
Online, on X and Mastodon, on all smart speakers and on medium wave, this is FranciaOggi with Centrale Milano 1575 kilohertz.