News Line
Ukraine reports 5,276 new COVID-19 cases Zelensky: Every third Ukrainian considers road construction one of greatest achievements of 2021 Ukraine ready to implement Minsk agreements, but Russia's desire needed - Yermak Michel: EU unanimously agree to roll over economic sanctions against Russia Actions by Ukraine's partners will help prevent worst-case scenario - Zelensky COVID-19 in Ukraine: Health officials confirm 8,899 daily cases as of Dec 17 Macron tells Zelensky he declared support for Ukraine in call with Putin Zelensky, Scholz discuss gas transit through Ukraine after 2024 Ukraine ready for any format of talks with Russia - Zelensky Ukraine’s only journalist in Russia facing extremism charges - lawyer PM Shmyhal: First two applications for investment projects worth $96 million filed Zelensky, PM of Italy discuss security situation around Ukraine President signs off State Budget 2022 London considering all options for responding to Russia's aggression against Ukraine Putin, Biden to hold another round of talks Some 260,000 Ukrainians “victims of human trafficking” over 30 years - prosecutor general Ukraine plans to create center to protect energy infrastructure from cyber attacks No clear idea so far when Normandy Four top diplomats set to meet - German Ambassador Ukraine receives EUR 600M in macro-financial assistance from EU Zelensky holds phone conversation with PM of Israel Ukraine sets new daily COVID vaccination record MFA: European Union has not yet removed Ukraine from list of safe countries Kyiv records 1,023 new COVID-19 cases, 29 deaths G7 ambassadors welcome adoption of law on NABU status Ukraine can increase Covid vaccination rates to 1.5M a week – Liashko

Protesters clashed with police in the Hungarian capital Budapest overnight during ongoing demonstrations against new legislation that has been dubbed the "slave law".

The change allows employers to ask staff to work up to 400 extra hours per year of overtime instead of 250. It could amount to another eight hours a week for some workers, equivalent to an extra working day.

An amendment that has also enraged unions is that employers will be able to delay payments for the extra hours for up to three years. Previously it was one year.

The legislation was pushed through by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz party earlier in the day by way of their large majority.

Opposition MP's sought to block the vote and some held up a banner reading "Thank you Fidesz" with "Year of the Families" crossed out and "Year of the Slaves" written instead. The stated aim of Orban's administration is to help families.

Protesters shouting "Traitors, traitors" and "Orban go to hell" faced off against hundreds of police who stood on the steps of the parliament building.

A Reuters photographer said the crowd then moved towards a side gate, where some threw objects at police, who responded with pepper spray.

Viktor Orban's government has built a system critics see as autocratic, affecting businesses, academia, the courts and the media, but he has rarely angered different domestic voter groups at the same time.

Some people have also been angered by a new law passed on the same day to set up courts overseen directly by the justice minister.

The administrative courts will take over cases about government business such as taxation and elections currently handled in the main legal system. The government said the courts would be presided over by independent judges who would be able to handle cases more efficiently.

Critics say it will allow political interference in judicial matters and further undermine the rule of law.

In a statement, the rights group the Helsinki Committee said the law "is a serious threat to the rule of law in Hungary and runs counter to values Hungary signed up to when it joined the European Union."