French military parades on national holiday after a ramp up in defence spendings

REPLAY - France celebrates Bastille Day with a military parade on the Champ-Élysées

Swooping warplanes, axe-carrying warriors, a drone light show over the Eiffel Tower and fireworks in nearly every French town… France is celebrating its national holiday Monday with 7,000 people marching, on horseback or riding armored vehicles along the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees, the mo...

Tug of war over Russian Orthodox churches in France: Moscow reclaims cultural sites

About 20 years ago, the Russian state began a large-scale operation to take control of Orthodox parishes all over Europe. Some of these had, over time, broken ties with the Moscow patriarchate. They're now the object of legal cases pitting the Russian Federation against local associations created...

Trump's rollercoaster for Ukrainians: US to send Patriot missiles to Kyiv

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Monday, as anticipation grew over a possible shift in the Trump administration’s policy on the three-year war. This announcement came as a surprise to Ukrainians, after co...

France announces an extra €6.5 bn in military spending

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday announced 6.5 billion euros ($7.6 billion) in extra military spending in the next two years because of new and unprecedented threats, ranging from Russia to nuclear proliferation, terrorists and online attacks. Analysis by General Dominique Trinquand, form...

Donald Trump says will send US patriot missiles to Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, was in Kyiv on Monday, a senior Ukrainian official said, as anticipation grew over a possible shift in the Trump administration’s policy on the three-year war. Story by Caroline Baum....

France is the main military power in the EU, but is it ready for the future?

France may be the main military power in the EU -- but is it really in a position to respond to new security threats? And what resources do the armed forces have to meet security challenges or any wars of the future? Nicholas Rushworth takes a closer look....

The 'Bleuet de France' play a newly composed song to remember veterans

Swooping warplanes, axe-carrying warriors, a drone light show over the Eiffel Tower and fireworks in nearly every French town… France is celebrating its national holiday Monday with 7,000 people marching, on horseback or riding armored vehicles along the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees, the mo...

France Bastille Day: Youth volunteers at centre stage of military parade

Swooping warplanes, axe-carrying warriors, a drone light show over the Eiffel Tower and fireworks in nearly every French town… France is celebrating its national holiday Monday with 7,000 people marching, on horseback or riding armored vehicles along the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees, the mo...

Bastille Day parade: France's annual show of military might

Swooping warplanes, axe-carrying warriors, a drone light show over the Eiffel Tower and fireworks in nearly every French town… France is celebrating its national holiday Monday with 7,000 people marching, on horseback or riding armored vehicles along the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees, the mo...

France Bastille Day: 5,618 troops march on the Champs-Élysées

Swooping warplanes, axe-carrying warriors, a drone light show over the Eiffel Tower and fireworks in nearly every French town… France is celebrating its national holiday Monday with 7,000 people marching, on horseback or riding armored vehicles along the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees, the mo...

Troops from all over the world parade alongside the French army on Bastille Day

Swooping warplanes, axe-carrying warriors, a drone light show over the Eiffel Tower and fireworks in nearly every French town… France is celebrating its national holiday Monday with 7,000 people marching, on horseback or riding armored vehicles along the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees, the mo...

France Bastille Day: Military troups start arriving at Place the la Concorde

Swooping warplanes, axe-carrying warriors, a drone light show over the Eiffel Tower and fireworks in nearly every French town… France is celebrating its national holiday Monday with 7,000 people marching, on horseback or riding armored vehicles along the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees, the mo...

France Bastille Day: Indonesia opens military parade as the guest of honour

Swooping warplanes, axe-carrying warriors, a drone light show over the Eiffel Tower and fireworks in nearly every French town… France is celebrating its national holiday Monday with 7,000 people marching, on horseback or riding armored vehicles along the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees, the mo...

Bastille Day: French-built rafale jets soar over Paris

Swooping warplanes, axe-carrying warriors, a drone light show over the Eiffel Tower and fireworks in nearly every French town… France is celebrating its national holiday Monday with 7,000 people marching, on horseback or riding armored vehicles along the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees, the mo...

French national holiday: Emmanuel Macron rekindles flame of unknown soldier

Swooping warplanes, axe-carrying warriors, a drone light show over the Eiffel Tower and fireworks in nearly every French town… France is celebrating its national holiday Monday with 7,000 people marching, on horseback or riding armored vehicles along the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees, the mo...

Bastille Day: What are the origins of the French national holiday?

Swooping warplanes, axe-carrying warriors, a drone light show over the Eiffel Tower and fireworks in nearly every French town… France is celebrating its national holiday Monday with 7,000 people marching, on horseback or riding armored vehicles along the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees, the mo...

France: Crowds gather to witness spectacular military parade on national holiday

Swooping warplanes, axe-carrying warriors, a drone light show over the Eiffel Tower and fireworks in nearly every French town France is celebrating its national holiday with 7,000 people marching, on horseback or riding armored vehicles along the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees, the most icon...

Indonesian troops join France's Bastille Day military parade on Champs-Élysées

France marked its Bastille Day national holiday Monday with a traditional military parade in Paris that showcased troops from Indonesia, this year's country of honour. In his traditional address to the military on Sunday, President Emmanuel Macron announced €6.5 billion in extra military spending...

The Bright Side: French military pigeons race in tribute to feathered World War heroes

The French army ceased to rely on messenger pigeons back in 1961, following the Algerian war of independence. But carrier pigeons still take part in military ceremonies and races, honouring the memory of their predecessors that served in both World Wars....

Trump says US will send Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he will send Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine, saying they are necessary to defend the country because Russian President Vladimir Putin "talks nice but then he bombs everybody in the evening". Trump did not give the number of Patriots he plans to...

Dozens killed in violent clashes in predominantly Druze Syrian city

At least 37 people have been killed in violent clashes between Bedouin tribes and local Druze fighters in the southern Syrian city of Sweida, a war monitor reported Monday, marking the deadliest bout of unrest in the region since May. The unrest has prompted the Syrian government to deploy security...

Watch live: France’s Macron to announce 'major' defence policy measures on eve of Bastille Day

Macron to raise defence targets in Bastille Day address

President Emmanuel Macron is set to address France's armed forces Sunday evening in a speech traditionally held on the eve of Bastille Day. Macron is expected to set new French defence targets in the face of a menacing Russia and a potential United States disengagement from Europe, according to his...

Several killed in Russian drone strikes on Ukraine

Russia fired more than 620 drones and long-range missiles overnight, killing at least six people in the latest wave of strikes, Ukraine said Saturday, adding that it was close to an agreement to receive more Patriot air-defence systems....

Macron to boost French defence targets, citing rise of global threats

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to announce new French defence budgetary targets on Sunday, in the face of a menacing Russia and a potential US disengagement from Europe, his office said. France's defence budget has already increased sharply since Macron took power, and is projected to r...

Israel-Hamas war: 'Every day has been a deadly day in Gaza'

Ever since Israel refused the ceasefire proposal in March, "every day has been a deadly day in Gaza", FRANCE 24's Noga Tarnopolsky said, reporting from Jerusalem. Dozens of Palestinians were killed as they were seeking to get aid since Saturday, "we are talking about a bloodbath", Tarnopolsky said....

Kim Jong-un reaffirms North Korean support for Russia in its war with Ukraine

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un offered Moscow his full support for its war in Ukraine during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Pyongyang state media said Sunday. The talks were the latest in a series of high-profile trips by top Moscow officials as the two countries deepen milit...

Russian drone attack: The goal is to 'terrorise the Ukrainian population'

At least six people were killed overnight and on Saturday as Russia continued to pound Ukraine with hundreds of drones and missiles as part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that has further dampened hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the more than three-year-old war. The goal of Russia's dr...

Trump to hit Mexico, EU with 30% tariffs from August 1, rattling major US trading partners

President Donald Trump on Saturday announced a 30% tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union starting on August 1, ramping up pressure for deals in his trade wars. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen criticized the tariffs, but said the EU was ready to keep working towards an...

Russia fires over 600 drones, missiles in massive barrage targeting western Ukraine

Russia launched a massive barrage of more than 600 drones and missiles in an overnight attack Saturday on western Ukraine, killing at least four people and injuring 14 others. President Volodymyr Zelensky called on his Western allies to send "more than just signals" to stop the war launched by Russ...