Saturday, October 4th, 2025
Anti-government protesters in Georgia attempt to storm presidential palace
Police in Georgia used water cannons and pepper spray on Saturday to push back protesters who tried to storm the presidential palace, as the South Caucasus country held a municipal election boycotted by the main opposition blocs amid a sweeping crackdown on dissent. Tens of thousands of people rallied in the capital, Tbilisi, to protest repressive policies by the conservative governing party, Georgian Dream, which they see as trying to pull the country away from its democratic aspirations and into Russia’s orbit. They carried Georgian flags and placards supporting membership inRead more
Trump says Israel agrees to ‘initial withdrawal line,’ Hamas confirmation pending
Dozens were killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza on Saturday, local health officials said, despite a demand from U.S. President Donald Trump for Israel to stop bombing in response to a declaration by Hamas that it was ready to free hostages under his plan to end the two-year-old war. With ceasefire talks due to begin in the coming days in Egypt, Trump said on Saturday on his Truth Social platform that Israel had agreed to an “initial withdrawal line” inside Gaza and that “when Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will beRead more
There could be ‘mutual interest’ in Canada building its submarines, says German armament secretary
Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems submarine facility in Kiel, Germany, in August. The company is one of two the federal government is considering for the construction of 12 subs. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) There’s nothing stopping Canada from building half — maybe more — of the dozen submarines it intends to buy for the navy, Germany’s armament state secretary tells CBC News. Jens Plötner says the decision would be up to the Canadian government, but the notion is within the realm of industrial possibility — and givenRead more
Federal budget watchdog’s comments are ‘just wrong,’ says one of his predecessors
Kevin Page, a former parliamentary budget officer, says he disagrees with the current PBO that Canada’s fiscal position is unsustainable. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) A former parliamentary budget officer says it is “just wrong” to suggest that the federal finances are unsustainable and is publicly disagreeing with the current fiscal watchdog. Kevin Page — who was Canada’s first parliamentary budget officer (PBO) starting in 2008 — told CBC’s Power & Politics that he disagrees with the language of the current PBO, Jason Jacques. “I think the language from the currentRead more