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U.S. NEWSSaturday 13 February 2016
House sends North Korea sanctions bill to president
House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., center, walks to the House chamber on Capitol Hill in Washing- RICHARD LARDNER when Obama would sign
ton, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, as Republicans and Democrats joined together to overwhelmingly ap- Associated Press it. The expanded sanctions
prove legislation that hits North Korea with more stringent sanctions for refusing to stop its nuclear WASHINGTON (AP) — Con- from Congress come at the
weapons program. gress sent President Barack same time the U.S. and Chi-
Obama legislation Friday na are in delicate nego-
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) that hits North Korea with tiations over a U.N. Security
more stringent sanctions for Council resolution on new
refusing to stop its nuclear sanctions, with China rais-
weapons program. ing concerns about mea-
House Republicans and sures that could devastate
Democrats joined togeth- North Korea’s economy.
er to overwhelmingly ap- “We’re philosophically and
prove the bill by a vote of intellectually in the same
408-2 less than a week af- place as Congress on this,
ter North Korea launched so that will not be a bill that
a rocket carrying a sat- we’ll oppose,” White House
ellite into space. Pyong- spokesman Eric Schultz said
yang conducted its fourth on Friday. The expanded
underground nuclear test sanctions are intended to
last month. Both actions deny North Korea the mon-
sparked worldwide con- ey it needs for the develop-
demnation and height- ment of miniaturized nucle-
ened fears the reclusive ar warheads and the long-
Asian nation is moving range missiles required to
steadily toward assembling deliver them.
an atomic arsenal. The legislation also authoriz-
The Senate unanimously es $50 million over the next
passed the legislation ear- five years to transmit ra-
lier this week. dio broadcasts into North-
The Obama administra- Korea, purchase commu-
tion said it wouldn’t op- nications equipment and
pose the bill, but officials support humanitarian assis-
declined to say whether or tance programs.q
Senate confirms nominees for US
State posts and ambassadorships
RICHARD LARDNER position to the landmark
Associated Press nuclear deal Obama and
WASHINGTON (AP) — The other nations brokered with
Senate on Friday con- Iran. Under Senate rules,
firmed six of President a hold is a parliamentary
Barack Obama’s nominees procedure that allows a
for ambassadorships and senator to block a nomi-
senior positions at the State nation and other motions
Department after Republi- from coming to the floor for
can presidential candidate a vote. Phil Novack, a Cruz
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas end- spokesman, said Friday that
ed his opposition. the senator removed his
The approvals came after hold on State Department
Democrats said Republi- nominees after the Sen-
cans were holding up the ate passed legislation au-
nominations to undermine thored by Cruz to rename
Obama’s agenda in his fi- the plaza in front of the Chi-
nal year in office. nese embassy in Washing-
Cruz placed a hold last ton as “Liu Xiaobo Plaza.”
year on all nominees for Liu is a Chinese activist and
State Department positions Nobel Peace Prize winner
requiring Senate confirma- imprisoned on charges of
tion, due in part to his op- inciting state subversion.q
