Syria protests fuel price anger; Céline Dion returns to stage

Syria’s streets filled with demonstrators this week as protesters rallied against soaring fuel prices, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney travelled to Brussels to pitch Canada’s climate‑finance agenda to EU leaders, Quito battled raging wildfires that scorched the city’s outskirts, and Céline Dion made a surprise return to the stage in Montreal, her first public performance in more than a year. The images captured by France 24 illustrate a world grappling with economic strain, environmental crisis and cultural revival.

The Syrian unrest stems from a government decision in early September to cut fuel subsidies in an effort to shore up a battered treasury already weakened by years of war and U.S. sanctions. The price hike has pushed basic transport costs beyond what many families can afford, igniting protests that echo the 2011 uprisings. In Europe, Carney’s “charm offensive” follows Canada’s pledge at the recent G‑20 summit to mobilise C$ $30 billion for climate‑friendly projects abroad, a move designed to cement ties with the EU and attract private investment for clean‑energy transitions. Quito’s fires, meanwhile, are the latest in a series of Amazon‑region blazes sparked by a prolonged drought linked to El Niño and illegal land‑clearing, threatening biodiversity and displacing thousands of residents. Dion’s appearance comes after a 2022 diagnosis of stiff‑person syndrome that forced her to cancel her Las Vegas residency; her brief set at Montreal’s Bell Centre marks a tentative step back into live performance, sparking hope among fans worldwide.

In Damascus, police used tear‑gas and water cannons to disperse crowds, while opposition groups warned the fuel crisis could deepen the country’s economic collapse and fuel further dissent. Carney met with EU climate commissioner Katrin Jenkins‑Alvarez and presented a joint Canada‑EU framework for green bonds, receiving tentative support but also criticism from environmental NGOs that say the plan lacks concrete enforcement mechanisms. Quito’s fire‑fighting crews, aided by the military, have contained 70 percent of the blaze, but the smoke has already caused hazardous air‑quality alerts in the capital. Dion’s performance, a duet of “My Heart Will Go On” with a local choir, was streamed online, drawing millions of viewers and prompting a surge in ticket requests for a forthcoming North‑American tour.

The coming weeks will test whether Syria’s government can ease the fuel burden without sparking wider unrest, while Canada and the EU must translate Carney’s diplomatic overtures into binding financing agreements. Quito’s authorities plan to launch a reforestation program and stricter enforcement against illegal logging to prevent future infernos. Dion’s return may signal a broader revival of live music events that have struggled to recover from pandemic‑era cancellations, offering both cultural relief and economic stimulus to the entertainment sector.