US President Biden to skip APEC summit

14 Sept 02:18 Key points summarised by AI

President Biden will not attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' meeting in Bangkok, citing a "family engagement."
Vice President Kamala Harris will represent the United States at the two-day APEC summit on November 18-19 instead.
Biden is still scheduled to participate in the G20 summit in Bali on November 15-16, returning directly to Washington afterward.
His absence means he will miss a significant regional gathering where leaders from China and Russia are expected to be present.

Macron condemns those who 'sought to bring down the Republic' after rioting mars nationwide protests

Today 12:56 Key points summarised by AI

President Macron condemned widespread rioting and looting during nationwide protests, blaming far-left activists and criminals for the "unrestrained violence" and vowing accountability for those who "sought to bring down the Republic."
Over 2,400 arrests were made as protests against rising living costs and poor school conditions escalated, causing extensive damage to public buildings and businesses in cities like Paris, Limoges (where City Hall burned), Marseille, and Lyon.
The unrest, which organizers hoped would revive the "yellow vest" movement, saw political leaders trade blame, with Macron instructing prefects to protect public buildings and potentially ban future protests to prevent further disorder.