France Raises Minimum Wage, New Strike Called as Cost-of-Living Crisis Persists

France's government has increased the minimum wage in response to deepening cost-of-living pressures, but unions have deemed it insufficient and called a general strike for November 17. The move comes six months before presidential elections amid rising polarization between far-right and far-left, with the prime minister acknowledging strong social tensions. The strike's scale and impact remain uncertain, but it signals sustained labor unrest that could affect the political landscape.

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