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Rubio heads to Central Asia while other US officials hit foreign policy hot spots

Diplomat Times
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Rubio heads to Central Asia while other US officials hit foreign policy hot spots

WASHINGTON, USA —  While the Iran war smolders, Saudi Arabia fights the Houthis and a new rift opens in US-Ukraine relations, Secretary of State Marco Rubio travels on Sunday to Uzbekistan, a nation far removed from the biggest US foreign policy challenges.

The top US diplomat is scheduled to land in Samarkand on Sunday to meet with leaders from the C5+1, a grouping that brings together the United States and the Muslim-majority post-Soviet states of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

US officials have portrayed resource-rich Central Asia — the region between China, Russia and Iran — as worthy of more attention than it received from US President Donald Trump’s predecessors.

Trump hosted C5 leaders at the White House last November, when Kazakhstan agreed to join the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements under which Muslim-majority countries have normalized or deepened relations with Israel. Separately, Trump met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the United Nations General Assembly last September.

Regional politics aside, the trip fits an emerging pattern in which Rubio often visits regions not at the center of the news cycle, while leaving some more fraught foreign-policy portfolios to other Trump aides, including special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and Vice President JD Vance.

For instance, Rubio has not visited Kyiv or Moscow since becoming secretary of state. He was not present for talks between US and Ukrainian officials in Florida earlier this month, when US officials pressed Ukraine to stop hitting Russian refineries. Vance, not Rubio, represented the US in Pakistan during peace talks with Iran in April.

Rubio’s previous foreign trip, in early October, took him to Greece, Portugal and Iceland.

Trump administration officials have typically rejected any suggestion that cabinet-level officials should focus their travels on geopolitical capitals and hot spots.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, for instance, said on X last week that the idea only certain destinations were worthy of visits from secretaries of state “perfectly encapsulates the decadence and degeneracy of the contemporary US foreign policy establishment.”

US-RUSSIA RELATIONS LOOM

One Central Asian diplomat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said officials in the region are wondering to what extent the US will continue targeting Russian sanctions evasion. All C5 states, while drawing closer to the US, have deep historical ties with Moscow, and the region has facilitated Russian imports and exports that violate US and European Union sanctions, Western officials say.

In the past, the US has pushed regional states to clamp down on those illicit flows.

But Trump struck a deal with Moscow this month to import Russian diesel, a move to lower domestic fuel prices before the congressional midterm elections. On Friday, Trump waived all provisions of legislation that would have allowed him to slap massive tariffs on some nations that buy significant amounts of Russian crude or otherwise help Moscow evade sanctions. Among the nations that could have been affected, experts have said, are India and Kazakhstan.

India, which Rubio will visit after Uzbekistan, remains the world’s No. 2 Russian crude importer after China, despite Trump saying in February that India had agreed to stop buying oil from Russia.

Additional questions hang over a potential trade deal with India and an expansion of the Abraham Accords in Central Asia.

A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described the trade deal on Friday as “pretty much done,” raising the possibility that an agreement could be announced during the Rubio trip.

Separately, the US has talked to additional Central Asian nations about joining the Abraham Accords, Reuters reported last year, conversations that could in theory continue in Samarkand.

More than 200 business executives will accompany Rubio to Uzbekistan, the State Department said. The Central Asian diplomat said the Trump administration has focused its commercial efforts on expanding access to the area’s rare earth mineral resources.

The trip to Uzbekistan was largely organized by Sergio Gor, the US ambassador to India, the Central Asian diplomat said. Gor, who was born in Uzbekistan and is a friend of Rubio, also serves as the US special envoy for South and Central Asian affairs.

After Uzbekistan, Rubio will visit the Indian cities of Mumbai and Jamnagar to meet with business leaders, including Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, who earned the Trump administration’s favor earlier in the year by backing a new refinery in Texas. Rubio most recently visited India five months ago.

The trip is due to wrap up on Thursday.

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2 killed in light aircraft crash in northern Greece

Diplomat Times
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2 killed in light aircraft crash in northern Greece

ATHENS, Greece — Two people were killed after a light, single-engine aircraft crashed into a dry riverbed in the Pieria region of northern Greece on Sunday, according to Greek national broadcaster ERT.

The two occupants were found unconscious outside the wreckage by firefighters and were subsequently transported by ambulance to a hospital in Katerini, where they were pronounced dead. Reports gave conflicting ages for the victims, with initial accounts identifying them as 55 and 60, while later information from the Fire Department listed their ages as 41 and 59.

READ MORE : 3 killed, 19 injured in bus-truck collision in Indonesia’s East Java

The aircraft crashed into a dry riverbed near the airstrip of the Pieria Flying Club, close to the village of Karyotis in the community of Kontariotissa, the Fire Department said.

Emergency services were alerted at approximately 1:50 p.m. local time (1050 GMT). Eight firefighters and four fire vehicles were dispatched to the scene.

Upon arrival, rescuers found the two occupants outside the aircraft. Firefighters moved them to a safe location, where emergency medical personnel from Greece’s National Emergency Aid Centre (EKAB) took them to Katerini Hospital.

Police have taken over the investigation and are examining the circumstances surrounding the crash to determine its cause.

Authorities have not yet released the victims’ identities, and the cause of the accident remains under investigation.

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Over 2,000 arrested and 600 emergency personnel injured as protests sweep France

Diplomat Times
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Over 2,000 arrested and 600 emergency personnel injured as protests sweep France

PARIS, France — More than 2,000 people have been arrested across France following nationwide cost-of-living protests that escalated into violent clashes, arson and widespread looting, leaving more than 600 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters injured, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on Sunday.

The unrest erupted alongside mass demonstrations involving Yellow Vest groups, trade unions, students and farmers, causing extensive damage to businesses and public infrastructure in several major French cities.

In a statement on X, Nuñez said the injury figures remained provisional as authorities continued investigating the violence and identifying those responsible. He added that hundreds of businesses had suffered significant material damage.

Alexandre Bompard, president of the Federation of Commerce and Distribution and chief executive of Carrefour, said approximately 1,500 retailers had been affected, with losses estimated at hundreds of millions of euros.

Saturday’s demonstrations drew an estimated 550,000 people nationwide, including 110,000 in Paris, according to the Interior Ministry. Organisers, however, put the national turnout at approximately 800,000.

While the main demonstration in Paris proceeded without major incidents, violence broke out on the sidelines of protests in several cities. Rioters reportedly set fires, looted shops and damaged public and private property.

In Paris, a demonstrator died after collapsing on Boulevard Magenta. Police said the individual suffered cardiorespiratory arrest.

In Saint-Étienne, a 17-year-old lost a hand after being struck by a police grenade, according to French newspaper Le Parisien.

Paris police initially announced 855 arrests, while prosecutors separately reported 720 arrests, including 517 people placed in custody. Authorities said the figures were preliminary and subject to revision.

In Limoges, a major fire devastated the city’s historic town hall, while shops were looted and buildings damaged in Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux.

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire announced the establishment of an emergency task force to assist affected businesses, assess the destruction and facilitate administrative and insurance procedures.

He also scheduled a meeting for Monday with business owners, chambers of commerce, insurers and government agencies to coordinate the response.

“This Saturday, numerous businesses were targeted by unacceptable violence and looting. The extent of the damage is considerable and unprecedented,” Grégoire wrote in an open letter.

“Nothing can justify such acts. No anger, no demand, however legitimate, can authorize attacks on those who work, who are driven entrepreneurs, and who keep our city alive every day,” he added.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu was scheduled to chair an interministerial crisis meeting at 7 p.m. on Sunday to address the economic consequences of the unrest, insurance claims and judicial proceedings.

He was also expected to meet the mayors of Paris, Marseille and Lyon, who had demanded explanations regarding the deployment of police resources and the authorities’ handling of the violence.

National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet was considering establishing a parliamentary commission of inquiry into the unrest, according to BFMTV. She was expected to meet parliamentary group leaders on Tuesday to discuss the proposal.

Meanwhile, calls for further demonstrations on Sunday circulated on social media, including a planned gathering at Place de la République in Paris at 2 p.m., raising concerns among business owners about the possibility of renewed violence.

The unrest has intensified political pressure on the government over its handling of the demonstrations.

Lecornu blamed the violence on the “ultra-left”, while opposition figures criticised police tactics and the authorities’ response.

Green politician Marine Tondelier and lawmaker Alexis Corbière called for Nuñez’s resignation, while the far-right National Rally renewed its demand for the interior minister to step down.

The government now faces mounting pressure to restore public order, address the damage suffered by businesses and respond to questions about security arrangements as France confronts the economic and political fallout from the protests.

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Egypt pledges full support to Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks

Elis Hadi
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Egypt pledges full support to Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks

CAIRO, Egypt — Egypt’s National Defence Council, chaired by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, has pledged to provide “all necessary and possible forms of support” to Saudi Arabia to protect its security and stability amid continued attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militia.

The council reaffirmed Egypt’s full solidarity with the kingdom, stressing its commitment to helping safeguard Saudi Arabia’s resources, territorial integrity and Islamic holy sites.

Egypt’s presidency said Cairo would intensify diplomatic efforts, in coordination with relevant regional and international partners, to de-escalate tensions and pursue peaceful solutions to ongoing regional crises.

President el-Sisi also said Egypt would act in accordance with guidance from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He called for an emergency session of parliament to authorize him to respond to any Saudi requests for defence assistance.

In its statement, the National Defence Council reiterated Egypt’s commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia in defending its security and stability, while emphasizing the importance of protecting the kingdom against threats to its territory and national interests.

The pledge comes amid heightened regional tensions following missile and drone attacks attributed to Yemen’s Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia.

The council also agreed to continue and intensify political and diplomatic engagement with regional and international partners to contain the escalation and prevent further instability.

The meeting was attended by senior Egyptian officials, including the speaker of parliament, the prime minister, the defence minister, the army chief of staff, the foreign minister, the interior minister, the intelligence chief and senior military commanders.

The announcement underscores Cairo’s stated commitment to Saudi security and regional stability, while highlighting its parallel emphasis on diplomatic efforts to prevent the crisis from escalating further.

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Moscow backs GCC efforts to prevent renewed full-scale war in the Middle East

Diplomat Times
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Moscow backs GCC efforts to prevent renewed full-scale war in the Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Sunday that Moscow supports the efforts of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states to prevent a return to full-scale war in the Middle East.

Speaking at the ninth ministerial meeting of the Russia-GCC Strategic Dialogue in Bahrain, Lavrov proposed an updated concept for collective security in the Gulf, noting that earlier versions of the initiative had been discussed with political leaders, academics and experts across GCC member states over several decades.

He stressed that countries bordering the Gulf should have the decisive say in determining how regional security is maintained, calling for direct dialogue among Gulf states and neighbouring countries, including Iraq and Jordan.

“Our concept is aimed at this, and — as you are aware — we propose involving actors from outside the region in creating such conditions, including the leadership of the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as — should you be interested — the permanent members of the UN Security Council, to help bolster this process,” Lavrov said.

Lavrov described strengthening relations with GCC member states as a foreign policy priority for Moscow, highlighting expanding economic cooperation and regular high-level contacts.

He said trade turnover between Russia and GCC countries increased by 45% last year, while cooperation continued under a joint action plan covering the 2023–2028 period.

“The effectiveness of our economic cooperation depends to a significant extent on the stability of the region,” he said.

Lavrov also underscored the importance of the Russia-GCC Strategic Dialogue in facilitating discussions on regional and international developments and strengthening trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation.

The meeting comes amid continuing regional security concerns, with Moscow expressing support for diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing a renewed escalation into full-scale conflict in the Middle East.

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15 Killed, 28 Injured as truck ploughs into devotees near sheetla mata temple in Gwalior

Diplomat Times
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15 Killed, 28 Injured as truck ploughs into devotees near sheetla mata temple in Gwalior

Madhya Pradesh, India — At least 15 people, including several teenagers, were killed and 28 others injured after a speeding truck ploughed into devotees gathered near the Sheetla Mata Temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior district early Sunday, October 18, during the ongoing Sharadiya Navratri celebrations, according to reports.

The accident occurred at around 1:30 a.m. on Chinor Road, when a truck travelling downhill reportedly lost control and struck devotees walking to and returning from the temple. The incident occurred amid a large influx of pilgrims visiting the shrine during the festive period.

READ MORE : 5 Pilgrims killed as car en route to Tuljapur Collides With Bus in Beed

The truck, which bore a Punjab registration number, rammed into devotees and roadside stalls before crashing into the temple’s entrance gate. The impact brought down part of the temple’s outer wall, leaving several people trapped beneath the vehicle and debris.

According to police, the accident occurred on a steep stretch where heavy vehicles are restricted because of the large number of devotees using the road during the festival. The truck reportedly entered the restricted area despite barricades and the presence of police personnel.

Gwalior officials initially reported 14 deaths, but subsequent reports put the toll at 15. At least 28 people were injured, including two police personnel who were on duty at the time of the accident. Several of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.

Investigation Launched Into Possible Lapses

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered an investigation into the accident and announced financial assistance for the victims’ families.

The chief minister announced compensation of ₹4 lakh for the family of each deceased victim and ₹50,000 for those who sustained minor injuries. Additional assistance was announced for seriously injured victims, according to reports.

Yadav said the circumstances that allowed the truck to enter the prohibited area would be investigated. Gwalior District Collector Ruchika Chauhan said the truck was travelling from the Chinor side when it reportedly veered to the left while descending the slope, resulting in the collision.

Preliminary accounts suggested that a possible brake failure or mechanical problem may have caused the driver to lose control. Investigators were examining the circumstances surrounding the vehicle’s movement down the slope and its entry into the restricted stretch.

The precise cause of the accident has yet to be established. Authorities are also examining how the truck passed through the barricades and reached the crowded temple approach road.

Following the tragedy, the injured were taken to several hospitals in Gwalior, including the city’s trauma centre. Medical teams were treating those with fractures and other serious injuries, while some patients were reported to be out of danger.

The truck driver reportedly fled the scene after the accident, prompting police to launch a search. Subsequent reports said the driver and the vehicle’s owner had been arrested.

Families Demand Answers

The tragedy sparked grief and anger among relatives of the victims, many of whom gathered near the post-mortem facility at the trauma centre while searching for missing family members and seeking information about the injured.

Several relatives questioned how a heavy truck could enter a road crowded with devotees despite the security arrangements reportedly in place for Navratri.

Lokendra Singh Tomar, whose aunt Sarla Tomar was among those affected, questioned how the vehicle had been allowed to reach the temple approach road. He said his aunt had been on her way to offer prayers when the accident occurred and demanded accountability from those responsible for security arrangements.

Pawan Rathore, 23, a resident of Gadaipur in Gwalior’s Hazira area, was among those killed. His family received his body amid profound grief after he had gone to the temple to offer prayers.

Relatives of injured devotees also described the distress of learning about the accident in the early hours of Sunday.

Sandeep, a relative of injured devotee Nikesh, said the family received a telephone call at around 5 a.m. informing them that Nikesh had been injured near the temple. When they reached the hospital, he was in critical condition, with fractures in both legs, and had been placed on a ventilator, Sandeep said.

Savitri, a relative of the deceased Divyansh, said the family realised he was missing after their group left the temple following prayers. They searched for him and alerted the police but were initially unable to locate him. They later returned to the temple premises and identified him, she said.

Gajendra Prajapati, whose brother-in-law was injured in the accident, said his relative operated a shop near the temple and was admitted to hospital after the incident. According to Prajapati, the injured man told his family that he had struggled to understand what had happened because smoke had engulfed the area.

Survivor Questions Security Arrangements

Ravi, a devotee who narrowly escaped the accident, alleged that security arrangements were inadequate despite the large number of pilgrims visiting the shrine.

He questioned how a speeding truck could enter a road crowded with devotees and said he and his family escaped being hit by only a matter of seconds.

The allegations have intensified questions about traffic management, the enforcement of restrictions on heavy vehicles and the deployment of security personnel during major religious gatherings.

Jaya Arogya Government Hospital doctor Sudhir Saxena said several injured people remained in critical condition, while others were reported to be out of danger. Multiple medical teams were involved in treating the victims.

Reports from Gwalior said eight of the deceased had initially been identified, with their ages ranging from 15 to 50 years.

The accident has raised serious concerns about public safety around religious sites during major festivals, particularly where narrow roads, steep slopes and large crowds create additional risks.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the crash, including the possible mechanical failure, the truck’s entry into the restricted area and alleged lapses in security arrangements.

For the families who lost loved ones while travelling to offer prayers during Navratri, the tragedy has turned a religious occasion into a period of mourning, with many now demanding answers and accountability.

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5 Pilgrims killed as car en route to Tuljapur Collides With Bus in Beed

Shasi Kumar
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5 Pilgrims killed as car en route to Tuljapur Collides With Bus in Beed

Maharashtra, India — Five pilgrims were killed and one person was seriously injured after a car carrying devotees to the Tuljabhavani Temple in Tuljapur collided head-on with a Maharashtra State Transport bus in Beed district on Sunday at around 11 a.m.

According to preliminary information, the accident occurred near the Majalgaon–Telgaon road on the Majalgaon–Khamgaon–Pandharpur National Highway. The car was reportedly carrying devotees travelling to the temple when it collided with the state transport bus.

READ MORE : 3 killed, 19 injured in bus-truck collision in Indonesia’s East Java

The impact was so severe that the car was completely wrecked, killing five occupants at the scene. The injured person was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

All five deceased were reportedly residents of Majalgaon town and surrounding areas, according to preliminary reports.

After receiving information about the accident, police personnel rushed to the scene and arranged for the injured person to be taken to a hospital. The bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem examinations, while an investigation into the circumstances of the collision is underway.

Meanwhile, the incident has sparked grief and concern among local residents. Some residents have alleged that the poor condition of the road may have contributed to the accident and have demanded accountability from the contractor responsible for its construction.

They have also called for a case to be registered over alleged negligence in the road construction work. However, the cause of the collision and the circumstances surrounding the road conditions remain subject to investigation.

The tragic incident has once again raised concerns among residents about road safety and the need for proper infrastructure maintenance to prevent fatal accidents.

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3 killed, 19 injured in bus-truck collision in Indonesia’s East Java

Mega Komalasari
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3 killed, 19 injured in bus-truck collision in Indonesia’s East Java

AKARTA, Indonesia — Three people were killed and 19 others injured in a fatal collision involving a tour bus and a truck on a toll road in Ngawi Regency, East Java Province, on Sunday, local police said.

Police said one victim died at the scene, while two others succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment at a hospital.

According to authorities, the tour bus was carrying 54 passengers and travelling from Surabaya, the provincial capital of East Java, towards Ngawi when the accident occurred.

READ MORE : 8 Killed in Separate Road Accidents in Pakistan’s Lahore and K-P, Including Two Children

Witnesses said the truck had stopped on the roadside after suffering a tyre blowout shortly before the collision.

Local police said the crash occurred when the two vehicles collided, citing a lack of caution by both drivers as a contributing factor.

Authorities have not provided further details about the identities of the victims or the full circumstances surrounding the accident.

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Chinese Premier arrives in Tajikistan for official visit and SCO Meeting

Diplomat Times
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Chinese Premier arrives in Tajikistan for official visit and SCO Meeting

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan — Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Dushanbe on Sunday for an official visit to Tajikistan and to attend the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, at the invitation of Tajik Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda.

Upon his arrival, Li said China and Tajikistan are “good neighbors, good friends, and good partners,” highlighting the rapid development of bilateral relations in recent years and the fruitful cooperation across various fields that has delivered tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

Li noted that the two countries’ leaders met in Beijing in May this year and outlined a roadmap for further strengthening China-Tajikistan relations.

China is ready to work with Tajikistan to uphold their traditional friendship, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly advance development and prosperity, and deliver greater benefits to the people of both nations, he said.

Regarding the upcoming SCO meeting, Li said China looks forward to working with all member states to implement the outcomes of the Bishkek summit, ensure the successful convening of the meeting of SCO prime ministers, and advance cooperation across various fields to achieve new progress and bring greater benefits to people throughout the region.

Tajik Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda and other senior government officials welcomed Li at Dushanbe International Airport, where a formal welcome ceremony was held in his honour.

Li arrived in Dushanbe after concluding his official visit to Uzbekistan.

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Brazil’s Flávio Bolsonaro pledges 200 billion reais fiscal adjustment, rules out social spending cuts

Diplomat Times
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Brazil’s Flávio Bolsonaro pledges 200 billion reais fiscal adjustment, rules out social spending cuts

SÃO PAULO, Brazil — Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro said on Friday that, if elected president, he would seek to curb the country’s rising public debt through a 200 billion reais ($39.49 billion) fiscal adjustment without cutting social spending commitments.

The right-wing lawmaker, the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, rejected media reports suggesting his campaign was considering measures to freeze minimum wage increases or reduce social benefits.

Speaking in an interview with TV Globo’s Jornal Nacional, Brazil’s most-watched television news programme, Bolsonaro pledged to deliver the fiscal adjustment through changes to government administration, improved management of state-owned companies and the monetisation of federal real estate assets.

“There has been a lot of fake news circulating, and this is an important moment to set the record straight,” Bolsonaro said, dismissing reports that his campaign was considering reductions in mandatory social expenditure.

He also rejected proposals attributed to his campaign that would halt real minimum wage increases or eliminate automatic adjustments to social benefits.

Instead, Bolsonaro said the planned savings would come from eliminating government ministries, addressing mismanagement at state-controlled companies and generating revenue from federal property assets.

Brazil’s gross public debt has risen by more than 10 percentage points during President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s term, reaching 82.9% of gross domestic product (GDP), according to the figures cited in the report.

Long-term interest rates have declined since Bolsonaro’s first-round victory, reflecting developments in financial markets following the election.

The senator also said he would not seek to reverse a constitutional amendment approved on Wednesday that would shorten Brazil’s standard working week from six days to five.

Bolsonaro’s fiscal proposal centres on reducing public debt while maintaining social spending, a politically sensitive issue as voters weigh economic management, public services and government expenditure.

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