1 UKRAINE
Russia suffering heavy losses, US intelligence says
More than 20,000 Russian soldiers have been killed and more than 80,000 injured in just five months of fighting in Ukraine, an acceleration in already heavy losses for Moscow, US intelligence officials estimate.
Most of the troops were killed in brutal trench warfare for the small eastern city of Bakhmut, White House national security council spokesperson John Kirby said. He did not detail how the US calculated the deaths, but said about half were fighting under the Wagner mercenary group, rather than with the Russian military. They were being sent into battle without proper training or leadership, he added.
In November US officials estimated Russian casualties for the first eight months of the war were at a similar level to that reached between December and April, with more than 100,000 dead and injured.
The US has declined to estimate Ukrainian casualties publicly, saying it is sensitive military information. Leaked secret briefing documents estimated the toll in February had reached between 15,500 and 17,500 killed, and more than 100,000 injured.
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2 FRANCE
Almost 300 arrested as May Day marches turn violent
Police fired teargas and clashed with demonstrators in Paris and other cities on Monday after trade unions transformed their traditional Labour Day marches into anti-government demonstrations against the rise in the retirement age.
At least 108 police were wounded and 291 people detained across France as violence erupted in several cities on the sidelines of
