International

World News. 9^th December
The big issue for EU leaders on Thursday when they meet is not Brexit.  It is the EU budget.  They have to approve it so it can start in January.  Hungary and Poland are still refusing to agree.   The agreement must be with all the EU Member States.  Poland and Hungary object because part of the deal is that countries have to follow free speech and independent judges in Court.  Poland and Hungary are not following the EU rules and they think their money might be stopped – so they won’t sign up until the details of the budget are changed.
Farmers and other workers went on strike in India over new laws which are supposed to make it easier for farmers to sell their produce direct to the market and not have to use “middle men”.  But the farmers say they will lose their guaranteed prices with the Government and new companies will come in and take over.
President-elect Biden chooses retired General Lloyd Austin (67) to become his new Defense Secretary.  He will be the second in command over all the armed forces (President is first in command).  Very powerful position.  He will be the first African/American to lead the Pentagon (the Department of Defense).  There is a slight problem as the Defense Secretary is supposed to wait for 7 years after being on active service – he only retired in 2016.
In France, 14 people are on trial for January 2015 attacks on Charlie Hebdo magazine, a policeman and the Jewish supermarket. 17 people died.  The prosecutors (lawyers) are asking for life sentences for the main killer.  They want the rest of the group to go to jail for 13 to 20 years if found guilty