Earthquake in Turkey and Syria: more than 41,000 deaths recorded

The death toll of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria exceeded 41,000 deaths. The chances of finding survivors are dwindling. According to official and medical sources, the total now reached 41,732 people who have lost their lives: 38,044 in Turkey and 3,688 in Syria. Nearly eleven days after the earthquake that ravaged the border area between the two countries, Turkish rescuers pulled a 17-year-old girl and a woman in her 20s out of the rubble on Thursday.

Pension reform: MEPs start their final exam day on Friday

Deputies begin their final day of examining pension reform today, after nine days of epic debates, in an atmosphere that promises to be electrifying as the chances of addressing the key measure on deferring the age are point of view. The curtain will fall at the National Assembly and the text will leave for the Senate at midnight, regardless of the progress of the debates on Emmanuel Macron's flagship reform, whether or not deputies have had time to address the famous Article 7, at the heart of the text with its criticized postponement of the retirement age from 62 to 64 years.

According to the CGT, the demonstrations brought together 1.3 million people on Thursday and 440,000 according to the Interior Ministry. Awaiting March 7, when the unions threaten to bring the country “to a standstill” if the government does not withdraw the reform, this figure is the lowest since the start of the mobilization.

Munich Security Conference: 150 government representatives expected in the Bavarian capital this Friday

Following the war in Ukraine, almost a year after the Russian invasion, and the heightened tensions between Beijing and Washington, a Munich Security Conference was launched. This Friday, more than 150 government representatives, with the exception of Russian officials, will meet for this major mass devoted to international security issues, which is held every year in the Bavarian capital. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be among the headliners on Friday. Foreign Minister Antony Blinken, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, American Vice President Kamala Harris, and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, who will leave office in the autumn, will also be there.

IN SHORT

Volodymyr Zelensky said at the opening of the Berlinale that “cinema (...) can inspire and influence people who can change the world.” He decided to turn his spotlight on Ukraine.

With the aim of convincing Beijing in particular to “contribute” to peace in Ukraine, after a cooling linked to Covid but also to diplomatic tensions, France said on Thursday that “the time to reconnect” with China had come.

While Nantes drew a superb 1-1 draw from their trip to Juventus, Monaco did a very good job in the play-offs to reach the 1/8 Europa League final, winning 3-2 in extra time on Thursday in Leverkusen.