Dozens of protesters arrested in Madrid, Barcelona, Basque Country, and Valencia after disturbances during general strike

A general strike took place on Wednesday, involving approximately four million Spanish workers, which accounts for about one-fifth of the total employed in the country. The strike was organized by the country's main trade unions and was the first of its kind in the last 14 years.

Workers in Spain overcame adverse weather conditions to organize pickets. Mass demonstrations took place in Madrid, Barcelona, and other cities across Spain.

Around 120,000 people took to the streets in Madrid, while over 50,000 participants protested in Barcelona. In the evening in Barcelona, clashes occurred between police and some demonstrators; video footage shows masked protesters setting fire to trash bins and smashing shop windows, prompting the police to use tear gas. Many shops in the city closed and were barricaded in anticipation of unrest.

According to the police, at least 73 arrests were registered nationwide by 9:00 PM Greenwich Mean Time related to the general strike, including blocking offices and industrial areas, as well as burning waste containers.

The strikes caused serious disruptions in transport and other public services across Spain, reflecting growing public dissatisfaction with the deteriorating housing situation in the country.

According to the country's central bank, there is a housing deficit of about 750,000 homes in Spain, and this figure is expected to exceed one million by 2028.

Public outrage intensified after the eviction of 87-year-old Carmen Abascal from an apartment in Madrid where she had lived for seven decades. Abascal passed away in the hospital several weeks after this incident.

As fewer people can afford housing, the rental market has sharply increased, putting pressure on it. According to the Spanish Youth Council, the average rent of 1,176 euros ($1,315 USD) is equivalent to approximately 98.7% of the average monthly income of a young person in Spain.

Madrid resident José González, who works in the hospital's IT department and supports the strike, stated: 'I am 36 years old and still cannot live alone. Rent is constantly rising, housing prices are constantly increasing, and it is simply impossible.'

Despite the growing emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI), employers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) prioritize more fundamental skills when hiring employees. The main requirements are the ability to communicate, work in a team, and lead others.

A new study, based on an analysis of 4706 job postings in the UAE, found that the most sought-after skill is communication, which appeared in 59.1 percent of the posted advertisements. This is followed by teamwork and leadership, while artificial intelligence ranked thirteenth.

The UAE Skills Index, released by the professional training provider Informa Connect Academy, analyzed job postings on LinkedIn published between August 1 and September 29 to determine which competencies employers are looking for.

According to the study results, artificial intelligence was mentioned in 15.2 percent of advertisements, slightly trailing Excel, which was listed in 15.8 percent of cases. Among the most frequently mentioned skills were: Communication (59.1%), Teamwork (41.7%), Leadership (32.7%), English language (26.3%), Budgeting (24.4%), Problem-solving (20.7%), Arabic language (16.5%), Attention to detail (16.5%), Stakeholder management (15.8%), and Excel (15.8%).

For those entering the UAE job market, communication skills can be particularly important. The study revealed that 67.6 percent of entry-level job postings mentioned communication, which is the highest proportion across all qualification levels. Furthermore, communication was the most frequent requirement across all 11 industries studied, including banking, hospitality, technology, and real estate.

In the real estate sector, 72.2 percent of vacancies required communication skills, making it one of the areas where this requirement is most common. English language also proved to be an important condition, appearing in 35.3 percent of postings for entry-level specialists. For candidates in managerial positions, the importance of leadership increases: it was listed in 70.4 percent of senior manager and director level postings, compared to 43.9 percent at the manager level.

Although AI did not make it into the overall top 10, the analysis showed that the demand for it varies significantly depending on the profession. More than half, specifically 56.6 percent of job postings in the data and analytics field, required at least one AI-related skill. This was followed by IT and technology (29.4%), marketing (18.4%), and sales and business development (15.7%). Demand was lower in finance and accounting (5.7%) and project management (8.3%).

Overall, 15.9 percent of all postings required knowledge of at least one AI-related skill, such as generative AI, machine learning, or artificial intelligence. Notably, ChatGPT was mentioned in only 27 vacancies, accounting for 0.6 percent of the total.

The study's findings suggest that job seekers should not focus exclusively on mastering new technologies. Communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and language skills remain among the most frequently declared requirements in UAE job postings. Nevertheless, the study also emphasizes that technical skills are critically important for specialists aiming to work in data, analytics, and technology fields.

The Chilean Government implemented a freeze on fuel prices for a period of three months in response to the transport workers' stoppage, which resulted in the partial blockade of the country's main roads.

On Wednesday, the Minister of the Interior, Claudio Alvarado, informed the press at the La Moneda Palace that the decision was made to suspend the increase in fuel costs until the first days of February.

Several small and medium-sized truck driver associations began an indefinite strike on Tuesday, covering almost all regions of Chile. This protest was motivated by the continuous increase in fuel prices, which has caused considerable losses to the transport sector.

During the day, Minister Alvarado held several meetings with representatives of the transporters and announced that the adjustment in fuel prices will be reversed through a bill that will be urgently discussed in parliament next week.

The two largest entities in the sector, the National Confederation of Truck Owners and the National Confederation of Freight Transport, chose to distance themselves from the protest, although they expressed solidarity with the demands of the other groups.

Alvarado clarified that the new measures were proposed during the last round of negotiations with the leaders of the associations involved in the strike. He added that it is now up to these groups to present proposals for a vote among their bases, determining whether they will end the movement.

The minister declared that starting the following Thursday, there would be no justification to continue obstructing the free flow on highways and cities across the country.

Considering that Chile, one of the world's largest countries, lacks a railway system and relies mainly on road transport for cargo, the road blockades cause serious disruptions to supply chains.

The last major truck driver strike occurred in February 2022 but lasted only a few days.

The fuel crisis began in March when President José Antonio Kast opted not to use a state mechanism designed to mitigate the impact of international oil price fluctuations, thereby transferring the entire increase caused by the Middle East war to consumers.

Since the start of this offensive, the international price of diesel has increased by 80%, while gasoline has risen by 40%. This event triggered a domino effect in various economic segments and contributed to a drop in the popularity of the far-right head of state, who had taken office promising to revitalize the economy.

The increase in fuel costs has driven inflation to its highest level in 18 months; the consumer price index registered a growth of 0.5% in October, totaling an annual variation of 4.5%.