
Italy Protests and General Strike Put Cost Pressures in Market Focus
Italy’s general strike and protests over housing, fuel and military spending put European cost pressures and disruption risks in focus.

Italy’s general strike and protests over housing, fuel and military spending put European cost pressures and disruption risks in focus.

Britain pledged £10 billion for Ukraine, while the Netherlands announced winter military aid and a three-year reconstruction programme.

Italian authorities tightened security as cost-of-living protests reached retail districts and transport hubs, with nine arrests and 371 preliminary detentions.

Putin used a Valdai speech to accuse the West over Ukraine, cite Russian battlefield claims and revive nuclear escalation warnings.

Zelensky said North Korea is preparing to send about 10,000 more troops to Russia, adding fresh geopolitical risk for markets.

Germany announces a record €124.7 billion defense budget for 2026, marking a 25.5% increase amid NATO efforts to boost European military spending.