UK and EU reach trade agreement but questions remain
The deal will now have to be ratified not only by the British Parliament, but also by all the 27 member nations of the EU and the European Parliament, before December 31 to avoid major trade uncertainty
Israel’s parliament dissolves, fresh elections to be held in March 2021
Parliament was dissolved after the government could not pass the budget in the stipulated time. The upcoming elections in March will be the fourth election in less than two years
Former Kurdish parliamentarian Leyla Güven sentenced to over 22 years in jail
Leyla Güven, a former member of parliament, was tried and sentenced for her alleged membership of the banned Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) and on the charge of disseminating “terrorist propaganda”
In Luxembourg workers of clothing-retail company H&M protest against reduction in year-end bonus
Swedish clothing-retail brand Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) in Luxembourg decided to reduce the workers’ year-end bonus, equivalent to the two months of partial unemployment caused by the lockdown between March and May
Austrian students demand support amid COVID-19 crisis, reject changes to university law
Austrian students have been seeking comprehensive financial support in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. They are also calling for the withdrawal of proposed changes to the University Act which impose higher grade point requirements for them to pass their courses
Workers Party of Belgium opposes kilometer tax for Brussels region
The tax proposed by the Brussels government will be calculated according to the number of kilometers traveled and the power of the engine. The PTB says workers will bear the brunt of the tax
Workers of Leica plant in Portugal protest wage discrimination
The workers at the Lousado plant of the German company Leica in Portugal organised a protest demanding a salary hike and an end to the harassment faced by workers
14 more people charged with insulting monarchy in Thailand
With the latest action by authorities, the total number of people charged under Thailand’s harsh lèse-majesté law in the recent round of protests has risen to 31. Those charged include a 16-year-old