A day after more than 1 million people took to the streets and millions more went on strike across France in protest at the government's plan to raise the legal retirement age, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire tells FRANCE 24's Business Editor Kate Moody in Davos that the government "stands firm" on its reform plan, but that there could be "improvements".

The French press react to strikes and protests across France on "Black Thursday" against the government's pension reform plans. Also, there's mixed reaction in New Zealand to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stepping down. Finally, Andy Murray wins the second-longest match in Australian Open history, but the late finishing time sparks criticism of the tournament's organisers.

France has received a request from the Burkinabe military junta to withdraw its troops from the Sahel country and will do so within a month. The success of the counterterrorism operation has been limited, experts say.

Faced with an ageing population and holes in public finances, many European countries are grappling with reform of their pension systems. In this programme, we compare and contrast the situations in two EU member states, Denmark and Romania, and debate what constitutes a fair system of pension contributions.

A pension reform is to push up France's minimum pension age from 62 to 64. The government says the measures are needed. But most French, and even a number of economists, disagree.

Protests against planned reforms to raise the retirement age are expected to cause huge disruption to local and regional transport. Unions mobilized massive street protests amid similar strikes earlier this month.

Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Tuesday.⁣

The world of drag exploded into popular culture in France after the French version of the "Drag Race" TV show was broadcast last year. In this programme, we meet some of the country's drag artists who aim to entertain, but also educate. Minima Gesté is a Parisian drag queen who quit her day job as an engineer to commit herself fully to the art form.

Trade unions launched a third wave of nationwide strikes on Tuesday against President Emmanuel Macron's plans to make the French work longer before retirement, a day after parliament began debate on the bill. Read our live blog below to see how all the day's events unfolded.

Located near the Spanish border, France's Basque Country has no fewer than twelve Michelin-starred restaurants, born of the marriage between local produce and the know-how of top Basque chefs. In Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, regular market-goers easily recognise chef Philippe Arrambide.

The government's proposed changes to the pension system have partly been turned down by the country's parliament. Article 2, which would have set up a "senior employment index" to support older workers, did not get a majority. The measure was meant to accompany the raising of the legal retirement age from 62 to 64.

Russia’s foreign minister is coming off a barnstorming tour of the African continent, which included Mali, where coup leaders have kicked out the French and replaced them with Wagner mercenaries. The same scenario has already unfolded in the Central African Republic, and Mali’s neighbor Burkina Faso could be next to welcome the Russians.