The World

The French president is determined to raise the pension age to 64. But plenty of French workers are pushing back. For the sixth time this year, people across the country are walking off their jobs. And, the US and European police shut down a notorious cybercrime gang linked to Russia. After breaking into computer networks, the so-called DopplePaymer group demanded payment to unscramble sensitive material and to not release it online. Also, a Cuban filmmaker returns to see his family during the island's worst economic crisis in decades. Hundreds of thousands of mostly young Cubans have left the country in recent months, and those who stay behind are growing more desperate. Plus, the documentary film "Navalny” is up for an Academy Award.

The Turkish government has begun investigating journalists, media commentators and social media users accused of spreading misinformation about earthquake recovery efforts. If convicted, they could face up to three years in prison. And, former Prime Minister Imran Khan's speeches were banned by Pakistan's media regulator on Monday. The regulator said Khan was "spreading hate speech" in his recent rhetoric against the country's institutions. Also, almost three years after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, mask usage in Mexico is still relatively common. But usage varies widely from country to country, where culture and politics determine how widespread the practice is at this point. Plus, Swiss authorities say Toblerone is not "Swiss" enough.

A group of Israeli activists traveled to a village in the West Bank on Friday, intending to bring a message of coexistence with Palestinians. But they were halted by Israeli soldiers. These rising tensions come amid a crisis of democracy in Israel. And, thousands of passengers were stranded in airports in Colombia and several other Latin American countries this week following the collapse of the budget airline Viva Air. It's the latest airline company to fold amid decreasing passenger demand and higher oil prices. Also, most salt production in Mexico is industrial. But a handful of Indigenous salt-makers are preserving an ancestral tradition of making artisanal salt that goes back 2,000 years. Plus, Nigeria reverses a decision on its new bank notes.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken unexpectedly met his Russian counterpart on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in New Delhi, India, on Thursday. But minimal actual dialogue seemed to take place amid deepening global rifts. And, Romania's Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă introduced his new adviser, Ion, an artificial intelligence assistant. Also, a multiagency assessment from US intelligence officials says it is unlikely that a foreign adversary is behind the cases of so-called "Havana Syndrome'' that has stricken American diplomats, defense officials and spies based overseas. Instead, the cases appear to have different causes, from environmental factors to undiagnosed illnesses. Plus, Nigerian author Ayòbámi Adébáyò talks about her new book, "A Spell of Good Things."

Bola Tinubu will be Nigeria's next leader, extending his party's rule. But the opposition is calling the election rigged and promising to challenge the results in court. And, African countries have mostly stayed on the sidelines of the Russia-Ukrainian war. Many African nations import large supplies of wheat and fertilizer from the two warring nations and they aren't eager to jeopardize those vital supplies by taking sides. Also, the United Nations estimates that the number of migrants crossing the dangerous Darien Gap will exceed the previous year. Approximately 60,000 children among them will face extreme violence, harsh weather conditions and hunger along the way. Plus, how ketchup kept this man alive for 24 days lost at sea.

Diplomats from many Arab nations are meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the first time since the country's civil war began in 2011, when most of them severed ties. The visits follow the devastating earthquakes that hit the region earlier this month. And, the Taliban restricted the media and freedom of expression when they took power in August 2021. In the last two months, there's been a crackdown on government critics who have been imprisoned alongside academics, journalists and former Afghan government employees. Also, the European Parliament has banned the Chinese short-video-sharing app TikTok from staff phones for security reasons. This follows similar actions taken by the governments of Canada and the United States in recent days. Plus, 76 years after a deadly massacre, Taiwanese people continue to commemorate — and debate — the tragedy.

Palestinian and Israeli delegations began peace talks in Jordan on Feb. 26, just as a Palestinian gunman killed two Israelis and settlers burned cars and buildings in the West Bank. And, millions of Nigerians cast their votes for a new president over the weekend. Many voters applauded improvement in the election process, but others experienced violence at the polls. Now, comes the wait for the results. Also, Belarusian officials will visit Beijing on Tuesday, just days after US officials announced they had gathered intelligence suggesting China is considering supplying lethal aid to Russia for its war in Ukraine. Plus, a UK publisher says it will continue to publish Roald Dahl's original books, despite their controversial terms.

One year to the day after Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a "special operation" in Ukraine, we look back at some of the turning points in the ground war, the humanitarian crisis and the political fallout across the globe. We also break down some of the statistics to help illuminate what this war has meant for those living through it. Also, the war in Ukraine is shaking up global alliances and deepening the divide between Moscow and Washington. Has Russia's President Vladimir Putin completely given up on nuclear arms control treaties? Plus, passing the hat at a Kyiv nightclub.

Nigeria, the largest country in Africa, holds elections on Feb. 25. Most voters are under the age of 30, and see this moment as a chance to throw out the old guard that has ruled for decades. And, since early 2023, police in Haiti have been targeted by gangs. Angry officers have been protesting the killings of their comrades, but also demanding basic guarantees to do their job. Also, we hear from Ukrainian college students of diverse backgrounds about how their priorities and expectations have changed over the last year. Plus, an extensive David Bowie archive will go on display in London, in 2025.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy has won praise as a heroic defender of democracy in the face of Russian aggression. As the war enters its second year, what does the public expect from its president? And, attacks on the Kyiv area have receded and rebuilding damaged areas is underway. But homeowners say the Ukrainian government isn't providing enough financial assistance to cover the cost of repairs. Also, the White House has proposed new limits on asylum that presumes migrants are ineligible for protection if they didn't first apply in another country. The proposal is similar to the sharp limits instituted by the Trump administration. Plus, Seattle becomes the first US city to outlaw caste discrimination.