Reuters World News Summary

Ukrainian military commanders this week rejected as exaggerated Russian statements that its forces now controlled 80% of the city. Macron cleared to raise French retirement age, protesters vow to fight on French President Emmanuel Macron's flagship pension reform will enter into force swiftly, officials said on Friday after it received the Constitutional Council's approval despite months of street protests and strikes.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Bolsonaro must testify on Jan. 8 riots, Brazilian judge rules

A judge on Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to testify before federal police within 10 days about his role in the Jan. 8 storming of government buildings by his supporters. According to a document seen by Reuters, Justice Alexandre de Moraes agreed to a request filed by the country's top public prosecutor, who said Bolsonaro's testimony was an "indispensable" step to be able to clarify what happened.

Airman suspected of leaking secret US documents hit with federal charges

A 21-year-old member of the U.S. Air National Guard accused of leaking top secret military intelligence records online was charged on Friday with unlawfully copying and transmitting classified material. Jack Douglas Teixeira of North Dighton, Massachusetts, who was arrested by heavily armed FBI agents at his home on Thursday, made his initial appearance in a crowded federal court wearing a brown khaki jumpsuit.

Ukraine secures another $5 billion in funding after meetings, prime minister says

Ukraine secured promises of $5 billion in additional funding to support its ongoing fight against Russia amid "fruitful meetings" in Washington this week, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told reporters on Friday. Shmyhal met with representatives of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the European Investment Bank as well as top U.S. officials, on the sidelines of the spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank.

Eight dead in Sloviansk strike as Ukrainians said to pull back in Bakhmut

A Russian missile strike killed eight people in eastern Ukraine on Friday as a British assessment said Ukrainian troops had been forced to withdraw from parts of the city of Bakhmut, the focus of Moscow's slow advance through the region. Ukrainian troops have been doggedly defending Bakhmut, shattered after months of shelling and bombardment. Ukrainian military commanders this week rejected as exaggerated Russian statements that its forces now controlled 80% of the city.

Macron cleared to raise French retirement age, protesters vow to fight on

French President Emmanuel Macron's flagship pension reform will enter into force swiftly, officials said on Friday after it received the Constitutional Council's approval despite months of street protests and strikes. The legislation, which pushes up the age at which one can draw a pension to 64 from 62, remains deeply unpopular, and spontaneous protests broke out when the Constitutional Council's decision was announced.

Trudeau's top aide tight-lipped on Chinese election meddling in Canada, citing security

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's top aide on Friday refused to say when Trudeau first learned about allegations that China tampered with recent elections, citing security concerns. Canadian authorities have started several investigations into the allegations of interference in Canada's 2019 and 2021 elections, accusations that Beijing denies.

Fire in a children's shelter in Brazil leaves at least 4 dead, 13 injured

At least four people died and 13 were injured in a fire at a shelter for children and adolescents in Northeastern Brazil on Friday, the local fire department said. Firemen were called to fight a fire at the Lar Paulo de Tarso charity institution in Recife, capital of the Pernambuco state, at around 4:20 a.m.

'Mayo for Sam!' Biden delights Irish ancestors with sporting shoutout

U.S. President Joe Biden delighted thousands of locals from his Irish ancestral home of Ballina on Friday when he saved the final words of his Ireland tour to back their Gaelic football team to break a famous decades-long curse. The proud Irish-American, wrapping up a nostalgic three-day visit to Ireland with a rally in the County Mayo town that his great-great-great-grandfather left for the United States in 1851, got the biggest cheer of the night with three parting words: "Mayo for Sam."

Cuba's fuel shortages due to supplier nations not delivering, says president

Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel said the island's ongoing gasoline shortages were caused by countries contracted to supply the fuel not complying with their requirements due to "a complex energy situation." In an evening TV broadcast, Diaz-Canel said the Caribbean island had less than 400 tonnes of gasoline per day to fuel all its activities, whereas the country consumes between 500 tonnes and 600 tonnes daily.

Biden to host Colombian President Petro on April 20 -White House

U.S. President Joe Biden will host a bilateral meeting with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement on Friday. "I am grateful to President Biden for his invitation," Petro said on Twitter. "It is a key moment to strengthen the relationship and mutual cooperation between both countries, not just in the fight against drug trafficking but in the protection of the Amazon, on climate change and on rural development."