Global Briefs: EU upholds workplace religious-symbol ban

Fact Box Source: The World Factbook-CIA

Luxembourg

The European Union Court of Justice ruled Nov. 28 that government offices can ban employees from wearing religious symbols. The ruling stemmed from the case of a Muslim employee banned from wearing a headscarf at work. The municipality later banned all workers from wearing overt signs of religious affiliation. The woman claimed discrimination, but the EU court said the ban was not discriminatory if “applied in a general and indiscriminate manner to all staff.” The court also noted governments could allow employees to wear visible signs of their religion, as long as enforcement applied equally. —Jenny Lind Schmitt

New Zealand

The world’s first “smoke free generation” laws will be repealed by March, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced shortly after taking the oath of office in late November. Just over a year ago, lawmakers in New Zealand banned tobacco sales to anyone born after Jan. 1, 2009, and reduced the number of retailers by 90 percent. World health ministers applauded the laws, and the U.K. made plans to introduce similar measures. But Luxon campaigned on promised tax cuts, and after making compromises to form a coalition government, he found himself with a revenue shortfall. He now says he needs $619 million in tobacco taxes to plug the economic hole. He also said keeping the laws would increase black market sales and retail theft. Lisa Te Morenga, co-chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa, called it “a major loss for public health, and a huge win for the tobacco industry.” —Amy Lewis

Cobre Panamá mine Luis Acosta/AFP via Getty Images

Panama

The country’s Supreme Court has ordered the closure of a major copper mine. Judges ruled the concession contract for the Cobre Panamá mine, ­operated by a subsidiary of the Canadian company First Quantum Minerals, is unconstitutional. Last year, the mine produced over 86,000 tons of copper, contributing to about 5 percent of Panama’s GDP. Environmentalists celebrated the ruling. They argued the mine exacerbated a current drought, threatened migratory birds, and hindered sustainable economic development. The government said it would shut down the mine in an “orderly and safe” fashion. —Javier Bolanos

Nepal

Authorities recorded the country’s first same-sex marriage on Nov. 29—a first for any South Asian nation. The move follows a Supreme Court order allowing interim registration of gay marriages while the court considers a relevant case. Nepal’s civil code still defines marriage as between one man and one woman. In June, a district court rejected the order, saying Parliament must change national law first. But a Lamjung district municipality permitted two men—one of whom identifies as a woman—to register their marriage last month. The two have lived together for six years and reportedly married with their families’ blessing. Nepal’s decision comes on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling in India that refused to legalize homosexual marriage. —Grace Snell

Niger

The military junta on Nov. 27 overturned an 8-year-old law that penalized human traffickers. The law mandated a five-year sentence for convicted smugglers. The military also cleared previous sentences under the law. Niger passed the European Union–backed measure in 2015 when more than 1 million migrants tried to enter Europe illegally. EU officials hailed Niger’s legislation as a success, citing decreased arrivals. But the United Nations rights office warned that migrants only sought more dangerous routes. Military leaders overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum in July, and the EU and other Western nations have suspended aid to Niger since then. The landlocked nation serves as a hub for migrants and asylum-seekers heading for Europe via Algeria or neighboring Libya. —Onize Ohikere

Heathrow Airport Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi Arabia

A public investment fund controlled by Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud has agreed to buy a 10 percent stake in London’s Heathrow Airport. The current owner of the stake, Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial, said the deal is worth more than $1 ­billion. Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s most active sovereign wealth funds, with over $700 billion in assets built on the country’s oil wealth. The prince has invested much of it in sports like football and golf. Those efforts have created controversy because the government stands accused of numerous human rights violations, including the brutal 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Qatari and Chinese funds also own stakes in Heathrow. —Elizabeth Russell