INTERNATIONAL: The 1st of May marked both International Workers’ Day, also known as Labor Day, and May Day, an ancient European festival celebrating the beginning of the summer. Due to its association with the labor holiday, May Day has become a popular day of protest for labor unions, however, more recently, it has become a popular day for protests in general. Here’s a look at some of this year’s May Day celebrations and protests around the world.

In France, thousands of people joined May Day protests on Sunday to demand social justice and salary increases and to push newly re-elected President Emmanuel Macron to drop his plan to raise the retirement age.

The cost of living was the main theme in the presidential election campaign and looks set to be equally prominent ahead of June legislative elections that Macron's party and its allies must win if he is to be able to implement his pro-business policies, including increasing retirement age to 65 for 62

About 250 rallies were organised in Paris and other cities including Lille, Nantes, Toulouse and Marseille.

In the French capital, trade unionists were joined by political figures - mostly from the left - and climate activists. Marchers carried banners reading "Retirement Before Arthritis", "Retirement at 60, Freeze Prices" and "Macron, Get Out"

In Düsseldorf, Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at a May Day rally of unions on Sunday, facing protesters holding signs reading ' Olaf Scholz, not my chancellor' and calling him 'warmonger' as he defended German arms deliveries to the Ukraine.

"I respect any pacifism, I respect any attitude. But it must seem cynical to a citizen of Ukraine to be told to fight back against Putin's aggression without weapons," Scholz said, addressing those who say delivering heavy weapons to Ukraine risks provoking a Russian military response in a third country and sparking a broader conflict.

Scholz is under pressure at home and abroad to supply Ukraine with heavy arms such as tanks and howitzers and support an immediate EU embargo on Russian energy imports to strip President Vladimir Putin of hard currency that helps him finance the war.

In Cuba, thousands of Cubans made their way to Havana's Revolution Square on Sunday, for the traditional May Day celebrations, attended by President Miguel Diaz-Canel who looked on with former President Raul Castro.

Following a two-year hiatus as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year marks the return of the nation’s most important holiday after Jan. 1, the victory day of former leader Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution.

Like in many other countries around the world, May 1 is recognized as Labor Day in Cuba.

Cuba has marked International Workers' Day since 1890, though massive rallies in Revolution Square took off in earnest after the 1959 revolution.

In Mexico, dozens of mothers and family members of missing migrants marched from Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas on Sunday in search of their loved ones.

Carrying photographs, banners and flags, the caravan headed towards Mexico City seeking for answers.

Each year, thousands of migrants go missing in Mexico without proper investigations from the authorities.

Families of the missing migrants demand action from the authorities in the search for their loved ones.

In more Latin American countries, thousands marched through the streets of Buenos Aires, Caracas, La Paz and Lima on Sunday to raise their voices against social injustice and demand better labor conditions during May Day.

Struck by unfavorable economic conditions, high inflation and rising prices worsened by the war in Ukraine, various Latin American countries battle to maintain competitiveness in the global market.

In Lima, Peruvian President Pedro Castillo expressed his “recognition” to the workers of Peru for “their efforts and permanent sacrifice to fight for justice.”

In Caracas, President Nicolas Maduro gave a news conference announcing there would be a rise in wages for Venezuelan workers.

May Day, an annual holiday is observed all over the world to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers.

The celebration of Labour Day has its origins in the Eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.

^{PHOTO: MAY DAY PROTEST TAKING PLACE IN PARIS / INTERVIEWS WITH DEMONSTRATORS CRITICIZING PRESIDENT MACRON / LEADER OF FAR-LEFT 'FRANCE UNBOWED' PARTY AT DEMONSTRATION}