News Roundup: 9/19/2017
By Jessica Murray
1. Earthquake in Mexico:
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook the Mexican state of Puebla this afternoon. The quake was felt in Mexico City, one of the largest cities in the world, 75 miles from the epicenter. At least 226 people are reported dead and 30 children are missing. President Enrique Peña Nieto has called for the National Emergency Committee to evaluate the damage and take action accordingly. The leader is on a trip to Oaxaca and will immediately return to Mexico City to address the situation as well. This earthquake strikes on the 32nd anniversary of an 8.0 quake which killed an estimated 9,500 people in and around Mexico City in 1985.
Source: CNN
2. Trump's UN Speech:
In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, President Donald Trump warned North Korea of the possibilities to "totally destroy" the nation of it persists in continuing nuclear activities. "The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea," Trump said. This is Trump's most direct military threat for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as he repeatedly conducts nuclear tests over Japanese skies as well as underground domestically.
Source: Reuters
3. Hurricane Maria Continues Path to Puerto Rico:
Hurricane Maria regains its status as a category 5 storm after battering the Caribbean islans of Dominica. The storm is now emulating 165 MPH winds as it moves along the same path as Hurricane Irma did, another category 5 storm this season. One person is reported dead and two are missing. The storms moves in to occupy the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as the countries experience heavy rainfall. 3.5 million people inhabit the U.S. territory island of Puerto Rico.
Source: BBC
4. Delta Airlines Ends Flight Route:
Delta Airlines ends flights between Guam and Japan because of low demand, leaving United Airlines the only company to offer a Japan to Guam flight. The announcement comes just days after airline company HK Express delayed Japan to Guam flights because of North Korea's threat to attack the United States island territory. "Customers are weary of making the trip," according to the Guam Visitors Bureau. The country lost $9.5 million in tourism sector spending because of the threats.
Source: Washington Post
5. Rouhani Warns of Repercussions of Backing out of Iran Nuclear Deal:
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday if President Trump backs out of nuclear deal with Iran his country could resume work on expanding nuclear capabilities. In an interview with NBC news, Rouhani raised the possibility just before President Trump spoke at the United Nations general Assembly for the first time. Under agreement with six is other world powers - the U.K., the U.S., China, Russia, France and Germany - the country agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some economic sanctions. "The exiting of the United States from such an agreement would carry a high cost," Rouhani said. "No one will trust America again."
Source: NBC News