Donald Trump prepares for UN debut +++ Calls for sanctions against Myanmar military

19. Oktober 2017, 02:00

Donald Trump prepares for UN debut

The US President Donald Trump will make his first appearance at the United Nations in New York later today when he addresses a meeting on reforming the organisation. During the presidential campaign, Trump criticized the U.N. saying it was weak and incompetent. Edward Mortimer, a speech writer and aid to the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, says Trump has softened his tone since taking office: "although he is certainly insisting on quite significant cuts in the budget - particularly some of the specialised programmes - he has managed to frame his proposals as support for the Secretary General. So I think actually that is probably better than one had any right to expect at the beginning of the year." Meanwhile, security is tight in New York as international leaders and diplomats also gather for the UN General Assembly. Austria is being represented by President Alexander van der Bellen and Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz.

Calls for sanctions against Myanmar military

A human rights group has called for sanctions and an arms embargo targeting the military in Myanmar in response to an offensive that has forced over 400,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh. The country's security forces say they're targeting insurgents. But Human Rights Watch says they're ignoring international condemnation and it's urging the UN Security Council to impose tougher measures.

Caribbean braces itself for Hurricane Maria

Another hurricane is heading for the eastern Caribbean. Hurricane Maria is currently a category one storm but is expected to strengthen over the next two days. It's expected to affect some of the territories which were devastated by Hurricane Irma earlier this month which left at least 37 people dead and caused billions of dollars' worth of damage. Eric Holthaus is a meteorologist: "the hurricane will be passing through the islands of Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe on Monday and then over the span of the next two days after that will be passing near the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, places that received a direct hit from Irma."

8 killed in storm in Romania

8 people have been killed and dozens injured in a strong storm in Romania. Road and rail traffic in parts of the country have been affected by fallen trees. Several hospitals, schools and apartment buildings had roofs damaged and dozens of towns and villages were left without electricity. Officials say the severe weather also affected parts of Serbia and Croatia.

The weather

Changeable with a few showers, especially in the West and South but also some sunny periods. Highs ranging between 10 and 19 degrees.

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