Widespread heatwave, smoking banned from parks and beaches, success of Budapest Pride… Five things to remember from the weekend

Published on June 29, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. , updated on June 29, 2025 at 7:06 p.m.

Météo-France extended its orange heatwave alert to 84 departments on Sunday for Monday. JEROME GILLES / NURPHOTO VIA AFP

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Recap: Didn't follow the news from this weekend of June 28th and 29th? "Le Nouvel Obs" has prepared a catch-up session for you.

Have you been distracted from the news these past two days? "Le Nouvel Obs" offers you a summary of the key news from Saturday, June 28th and Sunday, June 29th.

• 84 departments on orange heatwave alert on Monday

Météo-France extended its orange heatwave alert to 84 departments on Sunday for Monday, with only a strip of land on the Atlantic coast from Brittany to Pas-de-Calais spared, along with two other departments, according to the latest bulletin from the meteorological institute published at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

"The heatwave will continue at the beginning of next week, with temperatures still rising, except around the Mediterranean where they will remain stable," Météo-France said earlier in the day, predicting that the peak of the heatwave (during which maximum temperatures of 39°C to 40°C will be "fairly frequent" ) will occur "around Tuesday or Wednesday depending on the region."

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During an early heatwave on a construction site in Nantes.

Heatwave Ticket : This insecurity that threatens the French but does not interest politicians

This 50th national heatwave since 1947, the 33rd of the 21st century, a consequence of global warming which increases the intensity and frequency of heatwaves , has been hitting France since June 19, but is also severely affecting biodiversity.

• Smoking officially banned on the beach and in the park

Smoking on the beach, in a park, under a bus shelter, or in front of a high school is officially banned in France as of this Sunday. This ban, aimed particularly at protecting children, does not apply to cafe and restaurant terraces, much to the dismay of anti-smoking groups.

Promised for the end of 2023 and announced at the end of May by Health Minister Catherine Vautrin, this measure also applies to the areas around libraries, sports facilities (stadiums, swimming pools, etc.), schools and establishments intended for the reception, training or accommodation of minors, according to the decree published Saturday morning in the Official Journal.

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Cadmium is a heavy metal, classified as carcinogenic, and can be ingested by humans through food contaminated by soil.

Interview: “We do everything to protect children from cigarette smoke, a source of cadmium… but we make them eat it for breakfast.”

Failure to comply with this ban could eventually be punished by a fourth-class fine, or 135 euros, but the Ministry of Health spoke to the press at the end of May about a period of "education." The precise perimeters of the prohibited zones are yet to be determined by another text. Electronic cigarettes are not affected.

• Very large turnout at the Budapest Pride march

In a festive atmosphere, a huge crowd marched in Budapest on Saturday, June 28, defying the police ban on the Pride Parade, an unprecedented step backward for LGBT+ rights in the European Union (EU). While no official figures are available, organizers estimated the number of participants at nearly 200,000, with the squares and avenues along the route packed with people.

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Mélissa Camara at the Ecologists' Summer Days, in Gières, August 27, 2022.

Budapest Pride Interview : "Viktor Orbán must be punished for the major decline in the rule of law in his country," says Mélissa Camara

Under pressure from across Europe, which had its eyes fixed on his country, nationalist leader Viktor Orbán ruled out any intervention by law enforcement, while threatening gays, lesbians, and transgender people with legal consequences after the fact . For the Prime Minister and his Fidesz party, "this major success of Pride is very embarrassing" and will have political "repercussions ," analyst Szabolcs Pek commented to AFP.

• DRC and Rwanda sign peace agreement

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed a peace agreement on Friday, June 27, under the auspices of the United States, aimed at ending the conflict in eastern DRC, which has left thousands dead. Donald Trump hailed it as "a new chapter of hope."

"Today, the violence and destruction end, and the entire region begins a new chapter of hope and opportunity, harmony, prosperity, and peace," the US president said. "This is a wonderful day," he added of the agreement, which he said should also lead to the United States obtaining mining rights in the DRC.

The peace agreement is based on a declaration of principles agreed in April between the two countries and includes provisions on "respect for territorial integrity and the cessation of hostilities" in eastern DRC, following the offensive led by the M23 armed group.

• Netanyahu's hearings, prosecuted for corruption, postponed

A court on Sunday partially accepted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request to postpone his hearings in his corruption trial , which began in 2020, according to a court document released by his Likud party.

"Following the explanations given, (...) we partially accept the request and cancel at this stage the hearing dates for Mr. Netanyahu set for June 30 and July 2," states the document from the Jerusalem court, which had previously rejected the Israeli Prime Minister's request.

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After an Iranian missile strike in Tamra, northern Israel, on June 19, 2025.

• Smoking officially banned on the beach and in the park

Also read

Interview: “We do everything to protect children from cigarette smoke, a source of cadmium… but we make them eat it for breakfast.”

• Very large turnout at the Budapest Pride march

Also read

Budapest Pride Interview : "Viktor Orbán must be punished for the major decline in the rule of law in his country," says Mélissa Camara

• DRC and Rwanda sign peace agreement

• Netanyahu's hearings, prosecuted for corruption, postponed

Also read

Story of the West Bank and Israel, a journey through scorched earth: "You see, our country is very small. It's the only one we have."

In his attempt to evade justice, Benjamin Netanyahu can count on his staunch American ally, Donald Trump. The US president said Saturday that he "will not tolerate" the continuation of the corruption trial against the Israeli leader. The latter "is negotiating a deal with Hamas, which will include the release of the hostages. How is it possible that the Prime Minister of Israel can be forced to remain in a courtroom all day?" he argued.

Le Nouvel Observateur

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