A large wildfire in the Fontainebleau forest south of Paris, initially burning 800 hectares and suspected arson, has now scorched over 2,000 hectares, becoming the third-largest recorded in northern France since 2006. President Macron visited the site, pledging 'zero tolerance' for arsonists, as authorities arrested 59 people across France, including a volunteer firefighter who admitted to starting a fire with a lighter and gasoline. Nearly 1,000 residents were evacuated, and the A6 highway remains closed. The fire is part of a record wildfire season in France, with over 32,000 hectares burned this year, surpassing the entire 2025 season.

Background: France planned its 2025 Bastille Day parade as a demonstration of military rearmament and European solidarity, honoring Ukraine with 10,000 troops and a more operational format. The parade took place on July 14, 2025, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attending alongside around 30 world leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Approximately 7,600 troops marched, including 500 soldiers from the 'Coalition of the Willing' and 25 Ukrainian soldiers. The fly-past featured French Mirage fighter jets flown with Ukrainian co-pilots currently training on the aircraft. The event followed a summit of Western allies supporting Ukraine, where an air-defense coalition was announced. The Kremlin described the participating countries as 'hostile.' The parade was Macron's last before leaving office in 2027.