Core inflation, which strips out prices of fresh food, was in line with the 2.1% forecast by economists polled by Reuters.
This report is indexed by BAGANBAZAR GRAPH with its original publisher named and linked for readers.
Read at original outlet ↗
BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsWORLD deskFrance is preparing to deploy about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes across the country on Saturday amid fears of renewed unrest following violent protests and looting last weekend.Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez announced the security operation on Friday, saying it would involve specialised police units, helicopters, drones, armoured vehicles and water cannons.The planned deployment represents an increase of 10,000 personnel compared with the previous weekend, as authorities seek to prevent a recurrence of the violence reported in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and other cities.The protests initially erupted over the rising cost of living, pressure on public services and conditions in schools. However, demonstrations held last Saturday deteriorated into looting, vandalism, fires and confrontations between protesters and police officers.In response, authorities have imposed restrictions on demonstrations or banned them entirely in several cities. Some prominent cultural institutions in Paris, including the Louvre, are also scheduled to close on Saturday as a precautionary measure.Nuñez warned that security personnel would take a firm stance against violence, attempts to loot businesses and attacks on public buildings.The expanded security operation comes amid criticism of the government’s response to last weekend’s unrest and growing concerns that demonstrations planned across France could trigger further clashes.France deploys 70,000 security personnel ahead of fresh protests
BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsWORLD deskGreece’s parliament has approved legislation prohibiting children under the age of 15 from using social media, with the new restrictions scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.The bill was passed on Friday by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s ruling New Democracy party, which relied on its parliamentary majority to secure approval.No other political party supported the legislation during a heated debate that began on Thursday, despite a growing international movement towards restricting minors’ access to social media.Under the new law, social media platforms will be required to verify users’ ages and face severe penalties if they fail to comply with the rules.Mitsotakis announced plans for the restriction in April, using TikTok, a platform popular among young people in Greece, to explain what he described as a “difficult but necessary” step by his government.The opposition socialist PASOK party abstained from the vote after proposing a different approach. Its alternative bill would have prohibited social media use by children under 13 while requiring parental controls for those aged 13 and 14.With the legislation, Greece joins a growing number of countries seeking to limit young people’s access to social media. About 20 countries have introduced or are considering restrictions, including Australia, France, Brazil, Indonesia, Austria, Denmark and the United Kingdom.Supporters of such measures argue that social media platforms use addictive algorithms to keep children engaged for extended periods, raising concerns about excessive screen time and its potential effects on mental health.However, the restrictions have also attracted criticism, with opponents questioning how effectively age limits can be enforced and whether the bans will achieve their intended objecti
BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsWORLD deskThe National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has uncovered more than 100 sacks of empty alcoholic beverage bottles stored at a residential property in Lagos, raising suspicions that they are being collected for the production of counterfeit drinks.The bottles were found at a building located at 322B Meiran Road, Agbado Oke-Odo during an enforcement operation conducted by the agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate.NAFDAC said the recovered bottles were destroyed to prevent their possible reuse in the packaging of fake alcoholic beverages.An Assistant Director in the directorate, Kunle Ojo, disclosed the development in a video released by the agency on Friday, explaining that the operation followed intelligence received about activities at the property.According to Ojo, the building was situated in an isolated residential neighbourhood, where various materials, including empty alcoholic beverage bottles covered with tarpaulins, had been stored.The bottles were of different sizes, with some bearing labels associated with alcoholic beverage brands such as Action Bitter and Royal Circle Premium Whiskey.Ojo said investigators suspected that the bottles were being gathered for supply to individuals involved in the manufacture of counterfeit alcoholic drinks.He explained that the suspected practice involved collecting and distributing empty branded containers to counterfeiters, who could refill them with other products and sell them as genuine alcoholic beverages.The discovery has renewed concerns about the health dangers posed by counterfeit alcohol, particularly when fake products are packaged in containers carrying the labels of recognised brands. Such packaging can make it difficult for consumers to identify imitation products and di