From a nation on edge in France to a deadly training crash in the Philippines and a powerful earthquake off Vanuatu, the past 48 hours have brought major developments on every continent. Here are the day's biggest global events, and what to watch next.
France on edge as 70,000 police deploy
France is bracing for a tense weekend, with 70,000 police officers deployed amid protests and fallout from the Trappes shooting, which President Emmanuel Macron has declared a racist terrorist attack. One person was killed and four hurt in the Trappes attack, which is now under a terror investigation. Macron has also vowed to ban what he called "illegitimate" protests, a stance that has itself drawn criticism from opponents who say the government is using security fears to shut down dissent. Protests are also expected in Rome and Milan under heavy security, according to AFP, as European capitals watch France closely.
West Bank closures after deadly Hebron attack
Israel has launched a major operation in Hebron and imposed sweeping closures across the West Bank after two soldiers were killed in a deadly checkpoint attack. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said he was alarmed at the scale of the closures, which have restricted movement for Palestinians across the territory. Israeli forces have also demolished a Palestinian building in Hebron, according to video reports. The operation is one of the largest in the West Bank in years, and aid groups warn that closures are cutting off access to work, healthcare and schools.
Vanuatu hit by magnitude 6.9 earthquake
Vanuatu was hit by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake, triggering a tsunami warning that was later lifted. The quake struck off the Pacific island nation, and monitors initially warned of possible tsunami waves before standing the warning down. No major damage or casualties had been reported in early assessments, but the quake is a reminder of the Pacific Ring of Fire's volatility. Vanuatu sits in one of the world's most earthquake-prone regions, and residents are accustomed to rapid alerts followed by anxious waits for the all-clear.
Rescuers search for survivors after Tibet quake
Rescue teams are still searching for survivors after a deadly earthquake in China's Tibet region, which has killed at least 18 people according to earlier reports. The quake struck a remote, high-altitude area, complicating rescue efforts as teams work through rubble in difficult terrain and cold conditions. The death toll from the Tibet quake, which struck earlier in the week, has made it one of the deadliest natural disasters in the region this year, and authorities have deployed additional rescue personnel to reach isolated communities.
Ukraine: ceasefire hope in Oleshky, strikes elsewhere
In a rare bright spot, a ceasefire has been brokered in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky to allow relief aid to reach some 2,000 trapped residents, with former US First Lady Melania Trump credited by reports with helping broker the truce. Elsewhere, the war grinds on: Kyiv has faced fresh barrages, a Ukrainian bus was attacked in Russia's Bryansk region killing a woman and injuring three, and Sevastopol was temporarily left without electricity after strikes on energy infrastructure. The contrast captures the war's current shape: local truces for humanitarian relief, alongside continued strikes on both sides.
Prague protesters try to storm parliament
In the Czech capital, protesters tried to storm parliament during a demonstration over a proposed cut to the television licence fee, in a dramatic escalation of a dispute over public broadcasting. Police held the building, but the attempt to force entry underlined how heated the debate over media funding and independence has become in Central Europe. The protest is part of a wider wave of demonstrations across the continent over cost-of-living pressures, media policy and government accountability.
Storm Champi lashes Taiwan, killing one
Storm Champi lashed Taiwan, killing at least one person and bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the island. The storm disrupted transport and prompted warnings as it moved across the region. Meanwhile, Hurricane Vance is intensifying rapidly off Mexico's Pacific coast and could become a major Category 3 hurricane, according to forecasters, putting coastal communities on alert for a potentially dangerous landfall in the coming days.
What to watch next
Watch whether France's weekend protests stay peaceful under the huge police deployment, whether the Oleshky ceasefire holds long enough for aid to reach trapped residents, and whether the West Bank closures ease or tighten. In the Pacific, forecasters will track Hurricane Vance's path, while rescue teams in Tibet continue their search. The Morning Post will update each of these stories as they develop.
Sources: Reuters, The Manila Times, Izvestia.