UN chief to host Cyprus talks in Geneva
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will host talks next week in Geneva to discuss the future of Cyprus, as opposing views on the island’s political status remain deeply divided.
A general strike docked ships and disrupted rail and bus services across Greece on Wednesday, as thousands of workers marched in Athens to demand better pay and living standards.
A general strike docked ships and disrupted rail and bus services across Greece on Wednesday, as thousands of workers marched in Athens to demand better pay and living standards.
Doctors, teachers, builders and transport workers from Greece's biggest private and public sector unions joined the walkout, which was triggered partly by the lingering impact of Greece's 2009-18 debt crisis and the high cost of living.
"Each time we go to the supermarket and each time electricity bills land, we suffer small heart attacks," said Stratis Dounias, a court employee who joined the march in Athens. "We want real measures against the high prices."
Protesters gathered in Syntagma Square in central Athens chanted "Workers' rights are the law" and waved banners that read "General strike against rising prices".
Greece's economy has rebounded since the debt crisis, but salaries lag the European average, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is among the lowest in the European Union, while the cost of goods has skyrocketed.
Many Greeks saw their wages and pensions slashed in return for bailouts worth 280 billion euros ($297 billion) during the debt crisis, which shaved a quarter off Greece's economic output and nearly pushed the country out of the eurozone.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' centre-right government has raised the minimum monthly gross wage four times since taking power in 2019, to 830 euros, and has promised to raise it to 950 euros by 2027. It has also increased pensions.
But Greeks say the rises are not enough as energy, food and housing costs continue to outpace salary and pension increases.
'INFLATION AFFECTS EVERYTHING'
"Today we are demanding that the government gives us back what they and the previous governments took from us in the last decade. Our buying power has been reduced by 50%, inflation affects everything," said pensioner Giorgos Skiadiotis.
GSEE, Greece's largest private sector union representing some 2.5 million workers, has blamed "oligopolies" for concerted practices it says keep drivingup the cost of basic goods.
Mitsotakis acknowledged on Monday there was room for improvement with regard to wages and living standardsand reiterated a call to the EU to help with discrepancies in the bloc's power prices.
The strike comes as the government submitted its final 2025 budget to parliament. It envisages economic growth of 2.3% next year, above the EU average, and includes extra spending of about 1.1 billion euros to help fund a rise in wages and pensions.
Aid groups in Myanmar’s worst-hit areas urgently need shelter, food, and water after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed over 2,700 people. Rescue efforts face challenges due to ongoing civil war, damaged infrastructure, and restricted aid access, with the toll expected to rise.
Russian forces carried out a drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, late Wednesday, injuring at least twenty one people and causing structural damage, according to Ukrainian officials.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running for public office for five years after being convicted of embezzlement, ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race. She received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine. Le Pen plans to appeal.
Apple marked its 49th anniversary by reaching a market capitalization of $3.3 trillion. Despite recent tech stock volatility, Apple's shares surged 28% in 2024.
The Armenian armed forces attempted three reconnaissance drone flights over Azerbaijan Army positions near Gerenzur, but all were successfully intercepted. Meanwhile, Armenian units repeatedly fired on Azerbaijani positions from multiple regions, escalating tensions in the area.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is set to appear in court on Wednesday over allegations of failing to pay €1 million in taxes on image rights earnings during his first tenure at the club. Prosecutors seek a prison sentence of nearly five years and a €3.2 million fine.
Preparations for the second meeting in Istanbul on the normalisation of bilateral ties between Russia and the United States are underway, said Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to unveil a sweeping new round of tariffs on what he calls “Liberation Day,” a move that could shake up U.S. trade policy and heighten tensions with global partners. With few details known, markets are already bracing for impact.
China is prepared to collaborate with Russia to advance multi-polarization and promote greater democracy in international relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated after discussions with Russian officials in Moscow.
The US Attorney-General has directed prosecutors to pursue the death penalty for the 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, the accused killer of UnitedHealth Group CEO. In official statement, Mangione’s lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo labeled the Attorney General’s move as “barbaric.”
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