The termination of long-standing government subsidies has caused bread prices to surge tenfold alongside steep rises in fuel and electricity rates, completely neutralizing public sector wage increases. In mid-September, nationwide demonstrations erupted after further fuel hikes, prompting protesters to block major transit corridors and demand the removal of top economic officials. To de-escalate the crisis, the energy ministry instituted a tiered diesel pricing system and announced plans to reactivate small refineries handling up to 35,000 barrels of crude daily.
Key points
Government austerity measures and subsidy removals have triggered the most significant pu…: Government austerity measures and subsidy removals have triggered the most significant public demonstrations seen since Bashar al-Assad was ousted.
Recent adjustments to public sector pensions and salaries have failed to insulate familie…: Recent adjustments to public sector pensions and salaries have failed to insulate families from soaring basic food and utility costs.
Energy officials attempted to pacify nationwide unrest by implementing a tiered fuel disc…: Energy officials attempted to pacify nationwide unrest by implementing a tiered fuel discount system for agriculture, heating, and productive sectors.
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Nearly two years after Bashar al-Assad was ousted, Syrians who had hoped for a better life under President Ahmed al-Sharaa are still struggling to afford basic necessities. Rising food, fuel and electricity costs are deepening an economic crisis that has fuelled public anger against the new administration.
The government's inability to ease the financial burden on households was laid bare in September, when a sharp increase in fuel prices triggered widespread protests. The unrest forced authorities to partially roll back the decision, according to a Reuters report.
The government had raised diesel prices by 40 per cent on September 14, taking them to 175 Syrian pounds per litre from 125 pounds. It also increased the prices of 95-octane petrol by 28 per cent to 195 pounds, 90-octane petrol by 26 per cent to 185 pounds, and household and industrial gas by around 9 per cent.
The increases triggered demonstrations across Syria is the most widespread since Assad's fall. Protesters burned tyres, blocked key roads, including the highway linking Damascus to Aleppo, and disrupted crude tanker convoys heading towards refineries in…
Diplomatic rifts took center stage as European officials protested the attendance of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov amid ongoing attacks on Ukraine. The tensions prompted Secretary of State Marco Rubio to scrap the traditional group photo to avoid boycotts, even as he urged attendees to confront shared economic and geopolitical threats. The summit serves as a contentious stepping stone for a planned gathering of world leaders later this year.
The child's death on Friday follows a critical shooting two days prior in the southern Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, local civil defence teams continue to retrieve casualties from earlier bombardments across the territory amid persistent drone and ground attacks. These incidents underscore the ongoing physical toll and sustained military pressure impacting communities in both northern and southern Gaza.
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