Paris (AFP) – Angry demonstrations sprang up across France after French President Emmanuel Macron forced a contentious pension reform through parliament without a vote. Despite two months of strikes and some of the biggest protests in decades, Macron’s government insisted on imposing the bill to hike the retirement age from 62 to 64, which is opposed by two-thirds of the French public.
Sydney (AFP) – After shredding the world record for the longest surfing session, Australian surfer Blake Johnston admits he feels “pretty cooked” from catching the waves for more than 40 hours. The 40-year-old former surfing pro took on South African Josh Elsin’s previous record of 30 hours 11 minutes to raise money for mental health, marking 10 years since losing his father to suicide.
Beijing (AFP) – Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Russia next week, Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin says at a regular briefing on Friday, adding that the diplomatic visit will be “for peace” where China will uphold its “fair position on the Ukrainian crisis”. Xi will be in Russia from Monday to Wednesday, where he will hold talks with his strategic ally Vladimir Putin just over a year into Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Bria (Central African Republic) (AFP) – IDPs in Central African Republic hope to leave PK3 camp in Baria but despite Improvements in the security situation, the lack of humanitarian and financial assistance is making it difficult for most.
Chasiv Yar (Ukraine) (AFP) – Civilians gather to receive water in the centre of Chasiv Yar, a small eastern Ukrainian town close to conflict hotspot and Russian target Bakhmut.
Bordeaux (AFP) – Thousands in the southern French cities of Bordeaux and Marseille join nationwide protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s reform to pensions after the government pushed the bill through parliament without a vote.
Adiyaman (Turkey) (AFP) – People living in tents and container housing in earthquake-stricken areas of southeastern Turkey face a new challenge after flash floods killed at least 14 people on Wednesday.
North Korea (North Korea) (AFP) – Images from North Korean state media show the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, which was fired amid joint military drills conducted by the United States and South Korea.
Jenin (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Thousands of mourners and armed fighters take part in the funeral procession of four Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, in the latest deadly raid on Jenin which Israel said targeted “armed suspects”.
Paris (AFP) – “We have to get organised and we have to fight,” says a young demonstrator in a rally organised on the Place de la Concorde in Paris, after French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne deploys article 49.3 of the constitution to push through President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial reform of the pension system.
Kigali (AFP) – After being re-elected as president of FIFA until 2027, Gianni Infantino asks journalists why some of them are “so mean” and insists that world football’s governing body “is about football and not about money”. Both Infantino and FIFA have faced criticism over their defence of Qatar’s hosting of last year’s World Cup, especially in light of the Gulf state’s treatment of migrant workers, women and the LGBTQ community.
Tel Aviv (AFP) – Israeli protesters return to the streets to rally against proposed judicial reforms, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a compromise plan touted by the country’s president Isaac Herzog. Since Netanyahu’s hard-right government announced the reforms in January, the month after taking office, massive demonstrations have regularly taken place across Israel, with protesters arguing that the reforms threaten the country’s democracy.
