Thursday Morning Briefing: Britain clinches Brexit deal, Johnson now faces parliament challenge
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October 17, 2019
Reuters News Now
Highlights
Britain clinched a last-minute Brexit dealwith the European Union on Thursday, but still faced a challenge in getting it approved by parliament. The Northern Irish party that Prime Minister Boris Johnson needs to help ratify any agreement has refused to support the deal that was hammered out over weeks of negotiations.
High-resolution satellite imagesshow that the construction of China’s first full-sized aircraft carrier is progressing steadily alongside expansive infrastructure work that analysts say suggests the ship will be the first of several large vessels produced at the site. Asian and Western militaries says this carrier would represent a vital step in China’s ambitions to create a far-ranging navy that can project power around the world.
U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings,the Democratic chairman of a leading congressional committee investigating President Trump, has died at age 68. Cummings, the son of sharecroppers, was a trial lawyer before being elected to office to represent Baltimore and other parts of central Maryland, and has championed civil rights issues.
Iran-backed militias deployed snipers on Baghdad rooftopsduring Iraq’s deadliest anti-government protests in years, two Iraqi security officials told Reuters. The deployment of militia fighters, which has not been previously reported, underscores the chaotic nature of Iraqi politics amid mass protests that led to more than 100 deaths and 6,000 injuries during the week starting Oct. 1.
Japan’s prime minister visited communitieson Thursday that were hit by a powerful typhoon, while the government said it was postponing a parade for Emperor Naruhito’s formal enthronement next week because of the disaster. Typhoon Hagibis killed at least 77 people last week.
Palestinians in Gaza are increasingly turning to domestic petsfor emotional comfort from the harsh realities of the economically-depressed enclave but the growing animal population is stretching ill-equipped veterinarian facilities. Some 130 veterinarians work in Gaza but the lack of animal hospitals means most have to turn to regular medical facilities and even to Israel to help care for ailing pets.
Global bottled water giants are ramping up trials of easily recyclable aluminum cans to replace plastic that pollutes the world’s seas. Sound like a slam-dunk for the environment? Not entirely.
General Motors and the United Auto Workers union reached a tentative agreement on Wednesday for a new four-year labor deal, moving closer to ending a costly month-long strike that shut down GM’s most profitable factories in a test of wills over the future of U.S. auto industry jobs.
Tesla was added to a government list of approved automotive manufacturers, China’s industry ministry said on Thursday, as it granted the electric-vehicle maker a certificate it needs to start production in the country.
WeWork owner, The We Company, has formed a special board committee to consider proposals for a $5 billion financing lifeline from its largest shareholder SoftBank and its main lender JPMorgan Chase, four people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
