News | 12 September 2017

UN imposes fresh sanctions on North Korea +++ Russian and Turkey sign controversial deal

UN imposes fresh sanctions on North Korea +++ Russian and Turkey sign controversial deal +++ U.K. Brexit bill clears first parliamentary hurdle +++ French protest Macron’s labour reforms +++ Florida Keys evacuees told they cannot return home +++ The Weather

News | 12 September 2017

Paul Brennan

UN imposes fresh sanctions on North Korea

The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to impose new sanctions on North Korea following its sixth and largest nuclear test. The U.S. had originally proposed harsher sanctions including a total ban on oil imports. But the vote was only passed unanimously after North Korea’s allies Russia and China agreed to the reduced measures. The U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. is Nikki Haley: “We are done trying to prod the regime to do the right thing. We are now acting to stop it from having the ability to continue doing the wrong thing. We are doing that by hitting North Korea’s ability to fuel and fund its weapons programme. Oil is the life blood of North Korea’s effort to build and deliver a nuclear weapon.”

Russian and Turkey sign controversial deal

Both Moscow and Ankara have confirmed that they’ve signed a controversial deal for Turkey to buy advanced Russian anti-aircraft missiles. The contract between Turkey – a member of NATO – and Russia is said to be worth around three billion dollars. The decision by Ankara is seen as a rebuff to NATO after the U.S. and Germany withdrew their anti-missile systems from Turkey.

U.K. Brexit bill clears first parliamentary hurdle

One of the British government’s key Brexit bills, which ends the supremacy of EU law in Britain, has passed its first vote in the lower hours of parliament. The so-called EU Withdrawal Bill will transfer European Union law onto the UK’s statute books on the day the country leaves the bloc in March 2019. The bill passed despite most of the opposition Labour Party voting against it. The Shadow Brexit Minister, Matthew Pennycook, said the bill gave Theresa May’s government too much power: “The unique challenge of disentangling the UK from the EU’S legal structures and ensuring we have a functioning statue book on the day we leave required a bill that restored power to this House of Commons not a bill that concentrates unparalleled power in the hands of the executive.”

French protest Macron’s labour reforms

France is facing a day of protests against President Macron’s plans for sweeping labour reforms. A strike by air traffic controllers has led to flights being cancelled and train services are also affected. Macron says the reforms are necessary to make France’s economy more competitive.

Florida Keys evacuees told they cannot return home

As U.S. officials continue to assess the damage from Hurricane Irma, the governor of Florida, Rick Scott, has urged people who moved out of their homes in the Florida Keys to delay their return. The authorities says many of the 10,000 people who had insisted on staying in their homes in the Keys may now have to be rescued. These people are among those waiting to drive back to the islands: Woman: “We’re hoping that they’ll let us in. It’s been a long three days in one room in a friend’s house.” Man: “There’s no communication down there. I’ve got a home and a couple of boats down there. Hoping for the best.”

The Weather

The rain should slowly let up during the afternoon. There’ll be some sunshine - mainly in the west. Highs will range from 8C to 19 - with those warmest temperatures in eastern Austria.

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