DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Iran unrest divides UN Security Council meeting Iran has told the UN it has "hard evidence" that protests there were being "directed from abroad," while Russia has urged the chamber to "let Iran deal with its own problems." The US said it had put Iran "on notice." The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting at the request of the US on Friday to discuss the antigovernmentprotests that rocked Iranlast week. The meeting began as a closed-door session but the US was able to ensure a second, open phase of talks thereafter, despite resistance from Russia, France, Bolivia and other members. The US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, argued that the Iranian protests — first against andlater for authorities in Tehran— could escalate into a full-blown conflict, drawing parallels with Syria. "Freedom and human dignity cannot be separated from peace and security," Haley said. "The Iranian regime is now on notice: the world will be watching what you do."
ʼWorldʼs most expensiveʼ vodka bottle found following bar theft A high-end bottle of vodka that was stolen from a Copenhagen bar has been found at a construction site. The gold and diamondencrusted bottle was found intact, save for one thing — all of the vodka was missing. A bottle of vodka, claimed to be the "worldʼs most expensive," was found intact in Copenhagen after it wasstolen from a bar earlier this week, Danish police said. Made from three kilograms (6.6 pounds) of white and yellow gold, three kilograms of silver and crowned with a diamond-encrusted replica of the Russian Imperial Eagle on its cap, it is believed to be worth $1.3 million (€1.07 million). Police in Copenhagen said the rare bottle was found at a construction site and thanked "a member of the public" for reporting the missing bottle, which is now being analyzed.
7/2018 • 9, JANUARY 2018
ʼLeaveʼ champion Nigel Farage says EU doesnʼt get Brexit Prominent Brexit advocate Nigel Farage has claimed pro-leave sentiment is on the rise in the UK
Following a meeting in Brussels, he accused the European Unionʼs chief negotiator of failing to understand Brexit dynamics. "I wouldnʼt say itʼs ahappy New Yearfor theBrexit deal." Thatʼs how euroskeptic Nigel Farage summed up his Monday morning meeting with the European Unionʼs chief negotiator, Michel Barnier. The British right-wing member of the European Parliament emerged quipping that at least heʼd been served coffee, but for him that seemed to be the only positive note in the 40-minute rendezvous. Farage said heʼd suspected the British government had not been fairly representing the views of the "17.4 million" Brexit voters and that "this meeting completely confirmed that." Posting his own video after the meeting, Farage concluded Barnier had been left in the dark as to why British voters want out of the bloc and "doesnʼt understand for one moment" that opposition to immigration was one of the major motivations for the vote to leave. "Itʼs perfectly clear the British government hasnʼt even discussed the matter with him so far," Farage said. Farage said the debate on the future borders between the EU and the UK has been given
short shrift in negotiations, despite being "front and center" in the minds of Brexit voters, and had so far gotten "nowhere." The long-time critic of the EU said heʼd been driven to ask Barnier for the meeting after seeing so many "pro-remain" figures — whom he referred to as "remoaners" — visiting European Commission headquarters that it should qualify as "collusion." But Barnier advisor Stefaan De Rynck told Farage via Twitter that he was hardly the first or the only Brexiteer to meet the top EU negotiator, and advised Farage to "tone it down." EC spokesman Margaritis Schinas wouldnʼt even give the meeting that much attention. Asked at Mondayʼs daily briefing what Barnierʼs motivation was for the sit-down, given that Farage is essentially just a former head of the United Kingdom Independent Party (UKIP) and not actually involved in the process, he simply said the blocʼs Brexit negotiator occasionally meets with lawmakers to discuss the state of play, but would not comment further.
Saudi Arabian princes arrested over palace protest Saudi authorities have reportedly detained a group of 11 Saudi princes who staged a protest over a decree that suspended payment of their utility bills. They were put in a maximum security prison, local media claims. The princes gathered in a historic royal palace in Qasr al-Hokm to demand compensation for a death sentence issued against one of their relatives, Saudi media reported on Saturday. The group of 11 princes also decried the recent royal decree that introduced various austerity measures, including cutting state payment of water and electricity bills for the royals. Saudi Arabiaʼs royal family has many thousands of members, thanks to polygamy practiced in the kingdom. Some observers estimate that around 15,000 princes and princesses live in the oil-rich state. They have seen many of their perks cut as part of an economy drive pushed by the powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Avalanche kills two German skiers in Austria The bodies of two German nationals caught in an avalanche in Austria on Friday have have been recovered. The men, 25 and 26 respectively, were skiing off piste when they were killed by a sliding wall of snow. Rescuers recovered the body of a second skier on Saturday, a day after the avalanche buried him and his ski partner. The two men were from the state of Bavaria, and were skiing near the village of Kals in Austriaʼs western Tyrol region on Friday when they were buried by a tumbling wall of snow.
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