Trump announces USA’s withdrawal from Trans-Pacific Partnership
President-elect Donald Trump has announced his intention to withdraw the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal. In a video outlining his priorities for his first day in office, Trump described the trade deal as a “potential disaster” for the country. Instead he argued that by organising their own trade deals, the US would “bring jobs and industries back onto American shores”. The Trans-Pacific Partnership deal (TPP) was signed in 2015 by 12 countries, who together make up 40% of the global economy. The deal is designed to encourage economic growth through tariff reductions, and also enforces environmental and employment standards. Trade and industry was a key focus in Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Many of his supporters have said that the TPP deal will destroy jobs for Americans and weaken industry.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38059623
Storm Angus causes havoc across UK
Parts of the UK experienced heavy rain and gusts of around 90 mph as Storm Angus moved across the country over the last weekend. The West of England and South Wales were particularly badly affected with flash flooding in many areas. The Environment Agency issued over 130 flood alerts and over 20 flood warnings, meaning that flooding was expected and imminent in these areas. Rail services were disrupted across the country, particularly in the South West, where all trains were suspended between Bristol and Exeter St. David’s. Many motorists were forced to abandon cars in floodwater, and in Cumbria many cars were stuck after heavy snowfall. For Exeter, measures put in place after previous flooding were deemed a success, especially in the Cowley bridge area. Network Rail engineers had moved key electrical equipment away from the track in recent years, meaning that rail services could get up and running again a lot quicker than before.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-3806057
Andy Murray achieves world number one status
British tennis player Andy Murray has finished the 2016 tennis season as world number one following a victory at the ATP World Tour Finals. Murray secured the title by beating Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-4 in the match crucial to his ranking. Following his win, Murray said that it was “very special playing against Novak in a match like this”. Andrew Castle, the BBC Sport Tennis commentator said that for Murray, “this achievement, to put in perspective, is bigger than any grand slam”. Figures such as Nicola Sturgeon and fellow tennis star Roger Federer sent messages of support to Murray via twitter. J.K. Rowling tweeted that “I’d almost forgotten what it’s like when the person you really, really want to win, wins!”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/38046276
Mike Pence booed at Broadway Musical
Audience members booed US Vice-President elect, Mike Pence, as he attended a showing of the musical ‘Hamilton’ on Broadway. One of the cast members of the show, which tells the story of America’s founding father Alexander Hamilton, read out a letter addressed to the Vice-President elect which expressed concern regarding whether the new political administration would protect a diverse America. He went on to express his hope that “this show has inspired you [Pence] to uphold our American values”. In response to the incident, Donald Trump demanded via twitter that an apology should be made for ‘harassment’ of Pence. However, Brandon Dixon, the cast member who read out the letter responded to Trump tweeting that “conversation is not harassment sir”, and Mike Pence himself has stated that he was not offended by the incident.