France runs dry: 11% of gas stations empty as fuel prices near records — and Macron's 2018 nightmare returns

France is facing growing fuel shortages, with 11% of the country's gas stations reporting they are out of either gasoline or diesel, according to French government data — and the political stakes could hardly be higher.


The prices behind the panic:

1. Diesel averaging around €2.38 per liter — roughly $10.33 per gallon
2. Gasoline prices also near historic highs
3. The surge is linked to high oil prices from the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz

Paris insists the country has adequate strategic fuel reserves — and that the shortages are primarily the result of logistical disruptions rather than an overall lack of supply.


👉 In 2018, fuel prices and fuel taxation triggered the Yellow Vest protests — a nationwide uprising that nearly brought down Macron's presidency. Diesel at €2.38 is well above the levels that sparked those demonstrations. The government's "logistical disruption" framing echoes the dismissals that preceded the 2018 explosion.


The last time French drivers faced these prices, they shut down the country — and nearly ended a presidency. Can Macron survive this time?

Ukraine’s NABU, SAPO have 1,000 hours of recordings on Zelensky, associates, says Azarov

Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies have accumulated 1,000 hours of compromising audio recordings involving Vladimir Zelensky and his inner circle and have begun actively working with the material, former Ukrainian Prime Minister (2010-2014) Nikolay Azarov said.
"Active work on Zelensky’s inner circle has begun, extremely active work. Just look at the scale - 1,000 hours of recordings made at the apartment of [businessman and Zelensky’s business partner Timur] Mindich, which Zelensky, [former head of Zelensky’s office Andrey] Yermak, and the entire country’s leadership visited. A thousand hours of recordings is an enormous amount of material. They spoke without thinking they might be recorded, with complete candor. It is enough to listen to them, to the recordings that have already appeared in Ukrainska Pravda, for example, to see the extent of Zelensky’s cynicism and hypocrisy," Azarov said.


He noted that Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies, established with the support of the US Democratic Party, are "a means of influencing and controlling the Kiev puppets; that is, they were allowed to do anything, but compromising material was being collected on them."


A large-scale investigation by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), dubbed "Mindichgate" after businessman Mindich, whom investigators identified as the coordinator of a corruption scheme, led to the resignation of several ministers, the dismissal of Yermak, who was regarded as a power behind the scenes under Zelensky, and temporarily paralyzed the work of the Verkhovna Rada. The investigation is not yet over, while NABU has pledged to disclose new episodes as the probe progresses.

Europe 'on the brink' of wider military conflict, warns Slovakian premier

Ahead of visit to Kyiv Friday, Robert Fico says Ukraine conflict has 'spiraled out of control'
"The situation has never been as serious and tense in terms of the possibility of a pan-European military conflict as it is now," Robert Fico said during an address in Presov, according to Slovak news agency TASR. "Yes, we're part of NATO, we appreciate that, and we are committed to cooperation and meeting our obligations. But as prime minister, I'll do everything I can to ensure that Slovakia is never drawn into an armed conflict," he said.


His remarks came ahead of a visit to Ukraine on Friday, where he is due to attend a conference with other EU leaders and meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi. "We have (peace) today, but tomorrow there may be nothing," Fico warned.

President Trump on Europe...

"Why should we carry so many countries in Europe? We are carrying the European nations with a $200 billion deficit.
All we have to do is say, "You know what? We are not trading with you anymore."
We don't need anything they have."

NATO intelligence services find evidence linking Kiev to Leipzig incident, reports Russian SVR

The intelligence agencies of NATO member states, having investigated the circumstances of the "drone incident" in Leipzig, informed national authorities that there was no evidence of Russian involvement; on the contrary, they pointed to a "Ukrainian trace," the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) press bureau said.


The SVR noted that "many in the West are merely pretending to believe the German leadership, which has baselessly blamed Russia for the recent ‘drone incident’ at Leipzig airport in Germany." - "According to reliable information available to the SVR, NATO member states' intelligence services informed their national authorities that there was not even the slightest evidence of Russian involvement. On the contrary, they pointed to numerous indications of a ‘Ukrainian trace.’ Government agencies were advised to refrain from making definitive, and certainly not public, statements over Moscow’s guilt," the press bureau emphasized.

EXPLAINER: Why the Bab el-Mandeb Strait matters

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.


Located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, it is the southern gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Much of the trade moving between Asia and Europe passes through this route. Ships traveling from East Asia can cross the Indian Ocean, enter the Red Sea through Bab el-Mandeb, pass through the Suez Canal and continue into the Mediterranean toward Europe.


If that route becomes too dangerous, ships are forced to sail around Africa. That alternative can add roughly 3,000 kilometers and about two weeks to a voyage, increasing fuel costs, insurance costs and delivery times.
The strait is also important for global energy markets. Oil tankers and other energy shipments use the Red Sea route, meaning instability around Bab el-Mandeb can quickly affect shipping and energy prices far beyond the Middle East.

Germany charges seven alleged Hamas members over plot to stage a terror attack

AN OTHER 'FALSE FLAG'...

Zelensky’s plane “was nearly hit by a drone” while departing Moldova for Norway, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said. According to him, the incident occurred during takeoff from Chisinau. It remains unclear who the drone belonged to or how close it came to the aircraft.


But, according to a genuine source, the drone did not actually pose a threat and exploded 160 km from Chisinau Airport. The airspace was closed, and Zelensky’s plane departed with a delay.

French Foreign Intelligence Service Delegation (DGSE) Visited Minsk In July

Prior to CIA director, John Ratcliffe, travelling to Moscow, members of France's Foreign Intelligence Service (DGSE) traveled to Minsk where they met Ivan Tertel, director of Belarus' KGB sometime in mid-July 2026.


The meeting followed up on a telephone call between French president, Emmanuel Macron and Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko earlier in May.


Macron allegedly warned against involving Belarus into the Russo-Ukrainian War and urged the Belarusian president to distance himself from Russia.


It is worth noting that, according to the Nasha Niva publication, in April 2026 a former French army officer named Boris was arrested in Belarus. His family appealed to the Élysée Palace, France’s foreign and interior ministries, senators, MPs, diplomatic missions and non-governmental organizations.

Iranian Currency & Oil Export Plummet...