Macron defies French unions over retirement age in pension reform
France’s government defied trade unions on Friday by including a contested clause on raising the retirement age by two years in its draft legislation, amid signs that weeks of street protests and strikes may be losing momentum.
Iran to download plane black box after missile blamed for crash
Iran said on Friday it wanted to download black box recordings itself from a Ukrainian airliner that crashed, killing all 176 people aboard, after Canada and others said the plane was brought down by an Iranian missile, probably by mistake.
Polish draft law would muzzle judges: European rights official
A leading European human rights official has said new Polish plans to reform the judiciary are aimed at muzzling judges and has urged the country’s Senate to reject them.
Thai opposition figure says he has been charged over protest rally
Thai opposition party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has been charged over an anti-government rally he staged last month, he said on Friday after meeting with police.
Niger sets new offensive against militants after 25 soldiers killed
Niger will launch a new military offensive against Islamist militants after their latest attack on an army base killed at least 25 soldiers, the defense minister said on Friday.
U.S, Canadian, French representatives to attend Iran plane crash investigation meetings
U.S., Canadian and French representatives are to travel to Tehran to attend meetings for the Iran-led investigation into the Ukrainian airliner incident, Iranian state media reported on Friday.
Deadline is now for Northern Irish parties to accept deal to restore government, says UK
Parties in Northern Ireland should come together and accept a balanced deal to restore devolved government to the province, a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday, warning that the deadline was now.
Spain’s PM names UN’s Arancha Gonzalez as foreign minister
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will appoint Arancha Gonzalez, assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, as the country’s foreign minister, the government said on Friday.
Australia’s bushfires make massive clouds of pollution
Smoke from Australia’s bushfires has blanketed its major cities over the past month, turned the sky over New Zealand bright orange and left sooty deposits on its glaciers and drifted across the Pacific to South America.
Tunisian parliament set to reject new government in Friday vote
Tunisia’s parliament looked poised to reject a proposed new government on Friday after only one party said it would support it in a vote of confidence, meaning a complex coalition-building process may need to start again.
