European Union

Hundreds of thousands of people went on strikes and demonstrated across France on Thursday to protest the government's austerity plans. Local transport was severely disrupted, many schools and pharmacies remained closed and blockades were organised at companies. Commentators see the country facing major problems.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and nuclear power Pakistan have signed a mutual defence pact, whereby an attack on one of the countries will be considered an attack on both. The agreement comes days after Israel's attack on Hamas representatives in Qatar. Commentators see potential power shifts across the region.

US President Donald Trump has ended his state visit to the UK with the signing of a multi-billion-dollar trade agreement. The deal will involve mutual investments of around 300 billion euros, Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced at a joint press conference on Thursday. Trump had also been received with much pomp by King Charles III at Windsor Castle on the first day of his visit. Commentators take stock.

The EU is edging closer to seizing frozen Russian central bank assets. Could Vladimir Putin retaliate by expropriating even more Westerners’ money – including my own?

In today's edition: Business Wallet uses, Musk snubs the Dutch and LinkedIn's AI data grab

Belgium’s Oostende’s shoreline to mark World Cleanup Day with civic beach action