In the creeks near Marseille, 37 metres underwater, lies the only submerged cave on the planet that's covered with cave paintings. On its damp walls, people have painted horses, bison, ibex and even penguins – animals that were present in the south of France during the Ice Age. The oldest paintings date back some 27,000 years.

The French Mediterranean island of Corsica attracts two million holidaymakers every summer. To properly discover the so-called Isle of Beauty, what better way than on a cruise ship? Aboard a week-long cruise on La Belle des Océans, passengers explore Corsica's most beautiful beaches, as well as the local gastronomy and breathtaking panoramas – such as the medieval town of Bonifacio, perched 40 metres above the Mediterranean. FRANCE 24 brings you a little taste of summer.

European governments have a duty to rescue asylum seekers who cross the sea to escape conflict, Pope Francis said in Marseille. He called it "a duty of humanity" to save people in difficulty.

Japan has begun to pump more than a million metric tons of treated water from the destroyed Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The process is expected to take decades to complete.

According to EU climate observers Copernicus, the surface waters of the world's oceans were warmer than ever before this week: 20.96 degrees Celsius. This narrowly broke the previous record set in 2016.

To discover France's Baie de Somme, on the northern Picardy coast, it's best to venture out at low tide. The River Somme's vast estuary reveals an archipelago of sandbanks and salt marshes: a paradise for migratory birds, but also for sheep farmers. During a canoe trip, tourists can get close to the stars of the bay: the seals. The largest seal colony in France has taken up residence here, much to the delight of visitors.

Marine biologist Uli Kunz is a research diver, underwater photographer, TV presenter and lecture traveler. His goal: to raise awareness of the fragility of the oceans in the face of their growing pollution.

This summer, an unprecedented marine heatwave hit the Mediterranean Sea, causing mass die-offs of marine life. Will ecosystems ever recover? The Down to Earth team takes a closer look.