Briefly

FRANCE

Country hit by second nationwide strike

A second nationwide strike disrupted French electricity production, public transport and schools on Tuesday, as workers protested against the government's plans to make people work longer before retirement. Only a third of high-speed TGV trains were operating and even fewer local and regional trains. The Paris metro was also seriously disrupted, with platforms packed as commuters jostled to catch the few trains available.

BURKINA FASO

Recent extremist attacks kill 32 people

Multiple attacks over several days had resulted in the deaths of at least 32 people, including soldiers and civilians, government authorities said on Monday. Extremist violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State terror group has ravaged the West African country for years, killing thousands and displacing nearly 2 million people. Nearly 5,000 civilians have been killed since 2015.

UNITED STATES

Boeing bids farewell to iconic 747 jumbo jet

Boeing was set to officially bid farewell to the original jumbo jet, the 747, as it makes its final commercial delivery of an aircraft that democratized flying and serves US presidents. The existing planes are expected to fly for decades more, but in ceasing 747 production more than 50 years after the aircraft's first flight, Boeing is closing a chapter in the history of civil aviation.

Agencies via Xinhua