The Alternative for Germany (AfD) was on track on Sept 1 to become the first far-right party to win a regional election in Germany since World War Two, projections showed, but was almost certain to be excluded from power by rival parties.
The AfD was set to win 33.1 per cent of the vote in the state of Thuringia, comfortably ahead of the conservatives’ 24.3 per cent, broadcaster ZDF’s projection showed. In the neighbouring state of Saxony, the conservatives led on 31.9 per cent, around half a percentage point ahead of the AfD.
With a year to go until Germany’s national election, the results look punishing for Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition. All three parties lost votes, with junior partners, the Greens and Free Democrats, on the cusp of missing the 5 per cent threshold needed to stay in parliament.
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The head of Israel’s biggest labour union called for a general strike on Sept 2 to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to bring back Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, as thousands of protesters took to the streets.
The call for a one-day general strike by Arnon Bar-David, whose Histadrut union represents hundreds of thousands of workers, was backed by Israel’s main manufacturers and entrepreneurs in the high-tech sector.
The alliance of some of the most powerful voices in Israel’s economy reflected the scale of public anger over the deaths, announced on Sept 1, of six hostages among some 250 people seized by Hamas militants on Oct 7, 2024.
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Some 10,000 US hotel workers began a multi-day strike in several cities on Sept 1 after contract talks with hotel operators Marriott International , Hilton Worldwide, and Hyatt Hotels reached an impasse, the Unite Here union said.
Unite Here, which represents workers in hotels, casinos, and airports across the United States and Canada, said thousands of workers at 25 hotels are on strike in some major travel destinations including San Francisco and San Diego in California, Hawaii’s capital city Honolulu, Boston, Seattle, and Greenwich, Connecticut, with workers from additional cities ready to join the walkout as the Labour Day holiday weekend continues.
The strike is taking place with the industry facing a 9 per cent increase in Labour Day weekend domestic travel compared to last year, according to AAA booking data.
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Two goals from Luis Diaz and one from Mohamed Salah helped Liverpool stroll to a 3-0 victory at Manchester United in the Premier League on Sept 1, with Erik ten Hag’s side humbled by their fierce rivals.
Liverpool dominated a United team who could not keep pace with them in the first half, the visitors taking the lead in the 35th minute through a back-post header from Diaz after United midfielder Casemiro had given the ball away.
Casemiro was again at fault for Diaz and Liverpool’s second, again supplied by Mohamed Salah, with the Colombia international sweeping home three minutes before the break, sending United supporters off for their half-time refreshments early.
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After helping Liverpool administer an emphatic 3-0 victory over Manchester United, Mohamed Salah revealed that this would be his last season at Anfield.
The Egyptian, who is the highest scoring visiting player to Old Trafford in Premier League history with seven goals, netted and provided two assists for Luis Diaz as Liverpool continued life under new boss Arne Slot in perfect fashion this season.
United were no match for their arch rivals from start to finish, and could have suffered greater humiliation had Salah and his teammates finished off several other late chances.
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