'Escalate to deescalate': Putin seeks to push Europe, NATO to the brink and force them to stand down

NATO on edge as Russia follows up drone incursion with Belarus military drills

Russia and Belarus begin their largest joint military drills since the invasion of Ukraine on Friday, further unnerving countries on NATO’s eastern flank just days after a Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace stoked fears of a spillover in the Ukraine war – and exposed gaps in the Weste...

Russia, Belarus start ‘Zapad 2025’ drills as West watches warily

Russia and Belarus on Friday began their "Zapad 2025" joint military exercises amid escalating tensions following Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace during an attack on Ukraine earlier this week. "Zapad" (or West in Russian) drills occur every two years and are perceived as intimidation...

Russia says it downed 221 Ukrainian drones overnight

Russia on Friday said it downed 221 Ukrainian drones, one of the highest tallies in the war. More than half of them flew over the Bryansk and Smolensk regions, according to the Russian defence ministry....

Israel has ‘gone beyond any borders’ with Doha strike, Qatar PM warns UN

Israel’s leaders “do not care” about hostages in Gaza after striking Hamas officials in Doha this week, Qatar’s prime minister told the UN on Thursday. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Israel had “gone beyond any borders” as world powers condemned Tuesday’s deadly attack...

'Clash of the civilisations ideology ramping up the potential for escalatory war around the world'

In the wake of Israel's attempt to kill the political leaders of Hamas, the UN Security Council has condemned the strikes on Qatar's capital Doha. Although, they did did not mention Israel in the statement agreed to by all 15 members. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, François Picard...

France deploys three jets to shield Poland after Russian drone incursion

France will send three Rafale fighter jets to help protect Polish airspace, President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday, after Warsaw accused Russia of launching a drone raid. France will summon the Russian ambassador in Paris to protest the "unacceptable" drone incursion, French Foreign Minister Jean-...

Turning Point USA, the MAGA war machine founded by Charlie Kirk

Charlie Kirk, the far right activist who was killed at a college speaking engagement in Utah on Wednesday, was also the founder of Turning Point USA. FRANCE 24's Catherine Viette takes a closer look....

Strikes in Qatar: Netanyahu pushes the limits in Israel's war against Hamas

The unprecedented Israeli strikes against Hamas leaders in Qatar on Tuesday revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is willing to cross what were previously red lines in his mission to decapitate the Islamist movement. But there may be a high price to pay for such a risky strategy ...

Young, evangelical and pro-Trump: Who was right-wing activist Charlie Kirk?

Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organisation Turning Point USA, was fatally shot at an event at a Utah college. Kirk was a top podcaster, culture warrior and ally of President Donald Trump. He led an effort to remake the GOP’s get-out-the-vote effort in the 2024 ele...

'Timestamp': A snapshot of school days amid war in Ukraine

Filmmaker Kateryna Gornostai takes us to classrooms all over Ukraine in her latest documentary, as children and teenagers continue their education despite the ongoing Russian aggression. Amid the rubble and air raid sirens, "Timestamp" reveals the unwavering commitment of teachers to convey lifesav...

French MPs urge social media ban for under-15s exposed to 'ocean of harmful content'

A French parliamentary report released on Thursday urged a social media ban for under-15s and a 10pm curfew for older teens in a bid to counter an "ocean of harmful content" online. Video platform TikTok came in for particular critisicm in the report due to content encouraging suicide, self harm an...

'Disquiet in Poland': Parliament convenes emergency session following Russian drone incursions

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting following what the Polish foreign ministry said was a Russian drone raid on its territory. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, François Picard welcomes Marcin Zaborowski, Policy Director of the Future of Security Programme at GLOBS...

Will Charlie Kirk's death herald a new era of political violence in the US?

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, September 11: Papers from across the political divide pay tribute to Charlie Kirk, the young US conservative leader who's been killed at a university in Utah. Also: Russian drones are fired into Poland, mark a turning point for NATO and its allies. A French parliamentary...

Russian drones shot down over Poland, NATO mulls ‘drone wall’

Multiple Russian drones crossed into Poland in what European officials described Wednesday as a deliberate provocation, causing NATO to send fighter jets to shoot them down. Only four out of the ten drones were shot down, however, FRANCE 24's Dave Keating said. Citing von der Leyen, Keating said NA...

Israeli air strikes on Yemen kill at least 35, Houthi officials say

Israeli strikes in Yemen killed at least 35 people and wounded more than 130 others, the Houthi-run health ministry said Wednesday. The Israeli military on Thursday said it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, where Houthi rebels have regularly launched attacks they say are in response to Israe...

S. Koreans detained in US raid set to return, Seoul warns of chilling effect on investments

The process of releasing hundreds of South Korean workers detained in a US immigration crackdown on a Georgia Hyundai plant was under way, officials in Seoul said Thursday. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung called the raid "bewildering" and noted it could have a chilling effect on future investm...

'Success rate of air defences not as good as NATO would want', analyst says

Poland shot down on Wednesday what it said were Russian drones in Polish airspace, drawing vows of support from the United States and other NATO members. Speaking on FRANCE 24, Dafydd Townley, a teaching fellow in US politics and international security at the University of Portsmouth, says that "th...

Some Ukrainians concerned Poland may hesitate to support Kyiv after drones shot down

FRANCE 24's Gulliver Cragg reports from Kyiv as NATO jets shoot down Russian drones in Poland, with some Ukrainians concerned that the long range of the Russian attack may discourage Warsaw from sharing its air defenses with Ukraine. Debris from the Russian drones was found in 11 towns across Polan...

Was Russian drone incursion deliberate or accidental?

Poland shot down what it said were Russian drones in its airspace on Wednesday with the backing of military aircraft from its NATO allies, the first time a member of the Western military alliance is known to have fired shots during Russia's war in Ukraine. The incident will ratchet up tensions betw...

NATO, EU condemn 'Russia's reckless behaviour' after Poland drone incursion

NATO on Wednesday slammed Moscow's "reckless behaviour" after Russian drones violated Polish airspace, and hailed the alliance's "very successful reaction" to counter the incursion. EU chief von der Leyen meanwhile said Russia had carried out a "reckless and unprecedented" violation of Polish airsp...

Sebastien Lecornu, the loyal Macron ally set to become PM at 39

Sebastien Lecornu, named Tuesday as France's new prime minister, has served as defence minister for over three years during much of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and is seen as a deeply loyal, if discreet, ally of President Emmanuel Macron. Still just 39, Lecornu has been one of the few faces of con...

Poland says shot down Russian drones that violated its airspace

Poland said early Wednesday that multiple Russian drones entered and were shot down over its territory with help from NATO allies, describing the incident as an “act of aggression” carried out during a wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine....

Von der Leyen urges EU to fight for place in 'hostile' world

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday urged Europe to assert its independence in a "hostile" world, as she condemned Russia's drone incursion in Poland and pushed for tougher action against Israel over Gaza....

Poland 'closest to open conflict since WWII', PM says after Russian drones shot down

Poland is the closest it has been to open conflict since World War Two, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday after the NATO member state shot down Russian drones over its territory. He said Poland had asked NATO to open consultations under Article 4 of its treaty, which states that members...

Poland: Russian drones shot down after violating airspace

Poland invoked NATO Article 4 for urgent talks after multiple drones entered its airspace overnight during strikes on western Ukraine, marking the first time Russian drones have been downed over the country....

Poland downs drones that violated its airspace during Russian strikes on Ukraine

The Polish military said early Wednesday that it had downed drones that violated its airspace as Russia launched aerial attacks on Ukraine. France 24's Gulliver Cragg reports from Kyiv....

Live: Israel warns enemies 'no place they can hide' after strikes on Hamas in Qatar

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday warned Israel's enemies they were not safe anywhere, after Israeli strikes a day earlier targeted Hamas's senior leaders in Qatar. "Israel's long arm will act against its enemies anywhere. There is no place where they can hide," said Katz. Follow ou...

Poland downs drones that violated its airspace during Russian attack on Ukraine

War in Ukraine: Russia denies targeting Poland during overnight drone attack

Russia said on Wednesday that it did not attempt to strike targets on Polish territory after NATO air defences helped counter drones that entered Polish airspace overnight. The downing marks the first time that a NATO country has shot down missiles and drones during Russia's three-and-a-half year w...

Princeton academic Elizabeth Tsurkov released from militia captivity in Iraq

Israeli-Russian academic Elizabeth Tsurkov was released from captivity in Iraq, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Suani and US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday, after more than two years of being held hostage by a Shiite militia. Tsurkov was researching pro-Iran factions when she was k...