FRANCE: Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva was awarded honorary citizenship of Paris on Monday for his fight against inequality which lifted 30 million people out of poverty.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said it was an “immense joy” to bestow the award, warning that Brazil had “turned its back on democracy” with the election of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

“Paris will always stand by those whose rights are not respected,” she said. Lula was jailed for 20 months on what were branded politically motivated charges.

US: Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar quit the Democratic presidential nomination contest ahead of yesterday’s “Super Tuesday” primaries in 15 states.

Both threw their weight behind former vice-president Joe Biden, a move seen by many as a bid to stop socialist front-runner Bernie Sanders from winning the race to take on incumbent President Donald Trump in November’s election.

Elizabeth Warren remains in the contest.

ISRAEL: Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party emerged with the largest number of seats in Monday’s election but remained two short of a majority, leaving the country in political deadlock.

He declared the result “the biggest win of my life,” but his closest rival, Blue & White party leader Benny Gantz, refused to concede defeat as both men vie to form coalition governments.

It was the third election in the space of a year and comes two weeks before Mr Netanyahu’s trial on corruption charges.

INDIA: Journalists have warned of deteriorating press freedom after at least 47 media workers were attacked during last week’s anti-Muslim pogroms in New Delhi.

One reporter was shot and survived, another had his teeth knocked out, and many more said militant Hindus demanded proof of religion and tried to keep them from documenting the violence.