TOP NEWS

American soldier arrested in England – suspected of spying for Russia

An American soldier has been arrested by British counter-terrorism police on suspicion of spying for Russia, the Metropolitan Police stated in a press release.

The 41-year-old soldier was arrested in Gloucester on Tuesday, in an operation involving the U.S. military and the FBI. He is currently being held at a police station in London.

According to Reuters, the alleged offenses involve the handling of classified information and collaboration with a foreign intelligence service.

Searches are underway at two additional addresses in Gloucester, reports VG.
 

The Election in Israel
Newly elected members walk out of Knesset inauguration following Netanyahu’s remarks on terrorism

Israel’s outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a frontal attack on the Arab parties during today’s inauguration of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

“Serious discussions are underway about forming a government with supporters of terrorism who hate Israel, or becoming dependent on their support,” Netanyahu said, according to *Haaretz*.

He claimed that the goal of the Arab parties is to establish an Islamist state on the ruins of Israel. Two Jewish members walked out, while Mansour Abbas, leader of the United Arab List, responded that they harbor no such ambitions and define themselves as Israeli citizens.

Election winner Gadi Eisenkot stated that his conviction—that Netanyahu should not be allowed to continue governing for “even one more minute”—has only grown stronger, according to the AP.

Eisenkot faces a difficult task in forming a government; the parties in his bloc lack a parliamentary majority, meaning they would need to cooperate with either Arab parties or the ultra-Orthodox right.

Demonstrations in France
Protests continue in France – 49 schools blocked

Student protests continue in France. On Tuesday, the entrances to 49 secondary schools across the country were blocked, and demonstrations are ongoing in several cities, according to reports from AFP and France Info.

The government has promised to reform the university admissions system and to increase resources for schools with the greatest needs. According to the protesters, this is not enough, and they have called for new strikes and protests on November 17.

The trade union CGT is joining the planned protests after the government promised a 0.6 percent increase in the minimum wage, on top of a one percent adjustment for inflation.

"France is the European country that has raised its minimum wage the least over the last ten years; we are now a low-wage country," CGT General Secretary Sophie Binet told BFM TV.