Boris Johnson Looking At Landslide Election Win
According to an exit poll, British Prime Minister is on course to win Thursday’s election. Plus, the election will give him the numbers in Parliament to pass his Brexit deal. “At this stage it does look as though this one-nation Conservative government has been given a powerful new mandate, to get Brexit done and not just to get Brexit done but to unite this country and take it forward,” Johnson said.
However, Nigel Farage, leader of the Brexit party, said, “Does it get Brexit done? No. I think we’re going to head into three years of pretty agonizing negotiations”. Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn also said after winning his north London electoral seat, “I will discuss with our party to ensure there is a process now of reflection on this result and on the policies that the party will take going forward and I will lead the party during that period to ensure that discussion takes place and we move on into the future.”
US Senate Committee Approves Turkey Sanctions Bill
A US Senate committee approved a bill to impose sanctions on Turkey on Wednesday. This comes as a response to Turkey’s recent purchase of a Russian missile defense system, as well as it’s offensive on Syria. “Now’s the time for the Senate to come together and take this opportunity to change Turkey’s behavior,” said Senator Jim Risch, the panel’s Republican chairman, a lead sponsor of the bill with Senator Bob Menendez, the panel’s top Democrat.
However, Republican senator Rand Paul opposed the act. He argues that it weakens the President’s power. Plus, it would make negotiations with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on other NATO matters. Nonetheless, the committee voted 18-4 to send the “Promoting American National Security and Preventing the Resurgence of ISIS Act of 2019” for a vote in the full Senate.
Malaysia Seizes Vietnamese Oil Tanker
Malaysia seized a Vietnamese oil tanker after it found the tanker adrift off the Malaysian coast. The tanker first visited North Korea in February, carrying 2,000 tons of gasoline. However, it is unknown if the tanker unloaded in North Korea. Currently, North Korea is under sanctions imposed by the United Nations, preventing the imports of crude and refined oil products.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said a team of officers boarded the tanker on Sunday after they found it anchored without authorization just off the southern Malaysian state of Johor. The only person on board was a 61-year-old Vietnamese chief engineer, who said the tanker drifted from its original position.
Jihadists Kill 71 Soldiers In Mass Attack
Islamist militants killed 71 soldiers in an attack on a remote military camp in Niger. This is the deadliest attack against the Nigerian military in living memory. Several hundred jihadists attacked the base over several hours. In addition, it was in the same place as a similar attack that took place in May. “The combat (was) of a rare violence, combining artillery shells and the use of kamikaze vehicles by the enemy,” army spokesman Colonel Boubacar Hassan said on state television. In addition, the attacks injured 12 other soldiers. Another unspecified amount is missing, as well. However, a large number of militants died as well.
Tremors Worsen On New Zealand Island
Increased tremors on a volcanic island in New Zealand raised the risk of another eruption. On Monday, an eruption covered a group of tourists in steam and hot ash. Six people died, and 30 others injured. Another 9 are reported missing. The new tremors have also prevented the recovery of bodies in the area.
