News Headlines - 22 December 2018

▽Japan-EU EPA set to take effect in Feb. - The Japan News

On Friday, Japan and the EU informed each other that their necessary procedures, including parliamentary approvals, have been completed for the deal to create a free trade bloc that accounts for 30 percent of the world’s gross domestic product.
The EPA will take effect on Feb. 1, 2019, the first day of the second month after the mutual notification, as stipulated by the agreement.

▽Thousands of Hungarians join latest rally against Orban’s 'slave law' | The Guardian

Thousands of Hungarians marched to the presidential palace late on Friday to protest against labour reforms as a rally led by spoof political party MKKP merged with a subsequent demonstration staged by opposition groups.
Passage of two laws last week backed by prime minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party angered a variety of groups.
One, dubbed by critics the “slave law”, allows employers to ask staff to work up to 400 hours per year of overtime. Another would set up new courts which critics say could be politically manipulated.

▽Czech coal mine methane gas explosion kills 13 - BBC News

At least 13 miners have been killed and 10 more injured in a methane explosion at a Czech coal mine, officials say.
Most of the victims were Polish miners provided by an agency, the state-run OKD mining company said.
Thursday's blast happened 800m (2,600ft) below ground at the CSM hard-coal mine, near the eastern town of Karvina, close to the Polish border.

▽Train in Serbia Hits Bus Full of Students, Killing at Least Five - Bloomberg

A train collided with a bus carrying students in southern Serbia, killing at least five people and injuring 27, the Interior Ministry said.
The collision took place near the southern city of Nis on Friday. Images from the scene showed that the train cut the bus in half before partially derailing. Police are investigating.

▽Government partially shuts down for third time in a year - CNNPolitics

Parts of the federal government shut down at midnight after Congress and the White House failed to reach a deal Friday night to avert the shuttering of several departments.
Both the US House of Representatives and the Senate adjourned after Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said there would not be a vote Friday night in the Senate.