Charles Michel says peace progress in Caucasus ‘encouraging’
President Emeritus of the European Council Charles Michel has said he is “confident” in the progress of peace efforts between Azerbaijan and Armen...
France’s iconic Eiffel Tower was shut on Thursday as nationwide strikes and protests swept across the country, with unions demanding the government scrap austerity plans and raise taxes on the wealthy.
The Eiffel Tower closed its doors to visitors on Thursday as France was gripped by a wave of nationwide strikes and mass demonstrations against proposed austerity measures and spending cuts.
Thousands of workers, retirees, and students filled the streets of more than 200 towns and cities, calling on Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to abandon budget proposals introduced by his predecessor. The draft measures include welfare freezes and significant cuts, which unions argue will erode living standards for low- and middle-income earners.
In Paris, protesters marched from Place d'Italie while visitors arriving at the Eiffel Tower were greeted with signs announcing its closure due to the strike.
“I’m disappointed, but I understand — it’s a fight for their rights,” said Portuguese tourist Fabio Rocha.
The strike comes amid intense political turmoil and economic challenges. France’s previous minority government collapsed in September after losing a confidence vote, leaving the new prime minister racing to form a cabinet and present a budget.
With a national debt exceeding €3.3 trillion, about 114% of GDP, and last year’s deficit nearly double the European Union limit, President Emmanuel Macron’s administration faces mounting pressure from EU partners and financial markets to stabilise public finances.
Unions, however, insist the government should instead target the country’s wealthiest with higher taxes.
“It’s the first time we’ve had three days of strikes in a month without a government or a budget. It shows the level of social anger,” said Sophie Binet, head of the CGT union.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Snapchat will start charging users who store more than 5GB of photos and videos in its Memories feature, prompting backlash from long-time users.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met King Charles III at Windsor Castle on 24 October, ahead of planned talks with European leaders in London.
Uzbekistan and the European Union (EU) are set to sign a new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), marking a major step in bilateral relations and placing Uzbekistan among the EU’s closest partners in Central Asia.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan said the United States and others must do more to push Israel to stop violating the Gaza ceasefire agreement, including the possible use of sanctions or halting arms sales.
Southeast Asian leaders and global partners, including U.S. President Donald Trump, will gather in Kuala Lumpur from 26 to 28 October to discuss trade, regional conflicts and global security, with East Timor set to join ASEAN as its 11th member.
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