French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has announced his determination to see through his government's planned pensions reform, despite criticism.
"I'm determined to take this pension reform to its completion and I will do this respectfully and I will address people's concerns about it," Philippe told weekly Le Journal du Dimanche.
"If we do not implement a thorough, serious and progressive reform today, someone else will do one tomorrow, but really brutally."
He added that he a detailed outline of the pension reform plan will be presented on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, leader of hardline union CGT leader Philippe Martinez said he will fight until the plan is withdrawn.
It comes as French transport systems were paralysed for a fourth day on Sunday as unions at state railway SNCF and Paris public transport system RATP maintained their strike against the reform.
US Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected in a surprise choice to be the new leader of the Catholic Church on Thursday, taking the name Leo XIV, becoming the first American pontiff.
White smoke appeared from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on Thursday, signalling that the 133 Roman Catholic cardinals meeting in a secret conclave have elected a new pope.
Bill Gates has pledged to give away almost his entire personal wealth in the next two decades and said the world's poorest would receive some $200 billion via his foundation at a time when governments worldwide are slashing international aid.
Blasts rang out across the city of Jammu in Indian Kashmir late on Thursday during what Indian military sources said they suspected was a Pakistani drone attack on the second day of clashes between the two neighbours.
A three-day ceasefire declared by Russia came into effect on Thursday morning with skies over Ukraine's major cities quiet, in a change from successive nights of heavy attacks by Russian drones and ballistic missiles.
A series of major policy reforms have been approved in Dubai, aimed at improving quality of life in line with the Dubai Social Agenda 33 and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, has attended the conclusion of the military exercise 'Desert Flag 10' involving multiple countries.
Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is set to begin an official visit to Kazakhstan this Sunday, at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.