Washington: The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to impose the new sanctions on North Korea, banning exports that supply up to a third of the country's annual $US3 billion ($3.7 billion) earnings.

The US-sponsored resolution is the most punitive against the rogue state in 11 years and comes in response to North Korea's launch of two intercontinental ballistic missiles last month, activities prohibited under existing UN resolutions.

The sanctions ban North Korea's largest export, coal, along with exports of iron and iron ore, lead and lead ore, and seafood. Together, those exports amount to more than $US1 billion a year in income for Pyongyang.

The measure's unanimous approval was a diplomatic victory for the Trump administration and partly reflected growing impatience with North Korea by China. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on China to exert more pressure on its neighbour over its nuclear belligerence.

Whether Trump's badgering played any role in China's support for the resolution is unclear. But its willingness to enforce the resolution's provisions will be critical to its effectiveness.

China's ambassador to the United Nations, Liu Jieyi, hinted at his country's vexation with North Korea in his Security Council remarks after the vote. He urged North Korean authorities to "cease taking actions that might further escalate tensions".

But Mr Liu also criticised the US, calling for dismantlement of the THAAD missile defence system it has begun installing in South Korea.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley told the council the vote showed Pyongyang that the world was united in seeking to end its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. But "we should not fool ourselves into thinking we have solved the problem," Mrs Haley said. "Not even close. The North Korean threat has not left us."

She said the US had no plans to decrease its military exercises with South Korea, despite calls from China and Russia to do so, in exchange for gradual deescalation of its prohibited weapons activities.

Both Beijing and Moscow, in casting their votes for the new sanctions, said they appreciated statements by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last week that the US does not seek North Korea's collapse, replacement of its government or "accelerated reunification" of the Korean peninsula, and has no intention of send troops there.

"Our hope is that the United States will translate these 'four no's' into a firm policy," Mr Liu told the council.

And he repeated THAAD would "not bring a solution" to the crisis."What it will do is to seriously undermine the strategic balance of the region."

China also called for the resumption of talks between North Korea, regional powers and the United States. Last Week, Mr Tillerson said Washington was interested in a "productive dialogue," but only on the basis of Pyongyang's acceptance of nuclear disarmament.

"We don't think having a dialogue where the North Koreans come to the table assuming they're going to maintain their nuclear weapons is productive," he said.

China accounts for 90 per cent of North Korea's economic activity. Passage of the new resolution follows nearly a month of US-Chinese negotiations over the text, bolstered with Trump administration warnings that it was preparing to lodge unrelated complaints against Beijing at the World Trade Organisation.

It condemns the long-range missile tests, and reminds North Korea that tests of both the missiles and nuclear weapons are prohibited by previous resolutions.

In addition to banning exports, the resolution also prohibits all countries from increasing the number of North Korean labourers they employ, prohibits any new joint ventures and commercial agreements with North Korea, and increased investment in existing ventures.

The goal is to prevent North Korea's access to hard currency, which Mrs Haley and other delegates said are not used for the welfare of the North Korean people. The US had initially hoped to ban oil exports and additional banking and commercial penalties, which were opposed by China and Russia.

Although UN sanctions were first imposed in 2006 against North Korea, they have not prevented tests of five nuclear warheads and four long-range missile launches since then, including the two launches in July. </s> The U.N. Security Council on Monday unanimously approved new sanctions on North Korea in a watered-down resolution without an oil import ban or international asset freeze on the government and leader Kim Jong Un that the Trump administration wanted.

The resolution does ban North Korea from importing all natural gas liquids and condensates. But it only caps Pyongyang's imports of crude oil at the level of the last 12 months, and it limits the import of refined petroleum products to 2 million barrels a year.

It also bans all textile exports and prohibits all countries from authorizing new work permits for North Korean workers — two key sources of hard currency. </s> Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings.

San Francisco became the first major U.S. city to ban e-cigarettes after city supervisors unanimously passed the measure in a final vote Tuesday. The ban will go into effect 30 days after the mayor signs the ordinance.

San Francisco's Board of Supervisors approvedan ordinance to prohibit the sale of electronic cigarettes in the city until marketing for the devices are approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The board voted unanimously last week to approve the bill but a city ordinance in San Francisco requires two readings before it can be put into effect.

The measure specifically singled out the use of electronic cigarettes for presenting "significant public health consequence" to minors.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study from February stated that about 4.9 million middle and high school students were vaping in 2018, up from 3.6 million the year before. CDC Director Robert R. Redfield said when the study released that the country must help keep kids safe from a preventable health risk.

“The skyrocketing growth of young people’s e-cigarette use over the past year threatens to erase progress made in reducing youth tobacco use," Redfield said. "It’s putting a new generation at risk for nicotine addiction."

The new measure passed along with a similar ordinance that bans the sale, manufacture and distribution of e-cigarettes on city property. San Francisco's newest measures expand on a 2014 measure which banned the sale of such devices where the sales of traditional tobacco products are already prohibited.

Supervisor Shamann Walton, who co-sponsored the ordinance, said in a statement Tuesday that the ban is until the FDA completes appropriate clinical trials and issues standards on e-cigarettes.

"As of now the FDA has not made a ruling on the safety and all health issues associated with e-cigarettes," Walton said. "In addition, the Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to never allow companies that sell, manufacture or distribute tobacco products, to lease any city property."

E-cigarette company Juul, which is based in San Francisco, frames vaping as a healthier alternative to smoking tobacco. Juul has said it has taken steps to deter children from using its products.

Juul spokesman Ted Kwong said in a statement Tuesday that the city's ban will "create a thriving black market instead of addressing the actual causes of underage access and use." The company said it has taken steps to enhance its age verification process online and shut down its Facebook and Instagram accounts to restrict underage access.

"We are proposing a comprehensive set of new city regulations that require mandatory electronic scanning of IDs to verify age and ID validity to avoid human error, restrictions on bulk purchases to discourage unauthorized resale or sharing of products, city permits for all online vapor product retailers who wish to do business here, and increased restrictions on marketing for vapor products to name a few," Kwong said.

San Francisco's measure also sets the stage for a November ballot fight over e-cigarettes. Juul has already contributed $500,000 to the Coalition for Reasonable Vaping Regulation, which is set to gather signatures to put an initiative on the issue before voters.

The American Vaping Association also opposes San Francisco's proposal, saying adult smokers deserve access to less hazardous alternatives. </s> The United Nations Security Council on Monday unanimously approved new sanctions against North Korea in a weakened resolution that won’t ban oil imports or an international asset freeze on the government or dictator Kim Jong Un, which the Trump administration had wanted.

The resolution bans the regime from importing all natural gas liquids and condensates, and caps Pyongyang’s imports of crude oil at the level of the last 12 months. It also limits the import of refined petroleum products to 2 million barrels per year.

The sanctions also ban all textile exports and prohibit all countries from authorizing new work permits for North Korean workers, both of which are sources of hard currency for the regime.

NORTH KOREA THREATENS ‘PAIN AND SUFFERING’ IN RETALIATION FOR NEW U.N. SANCTIONS

“This resolution sends a very clear message to North Korea that the Security Council is united in condemning North Korea’s violations and demanding North Korea give up its prohibited nuclear and ballistic missile programs,” the U.S. mission to the U.N. responded.

Ahead of the vote, North Korea vowed the United States would face “pain and suffering,” and vowed it was “ready and willing” to retaliate if any new sanctions were approved by the U.N.

“The forthcoming measures to be taken by [North Korea] will cause the U.S. the greatest pain and suffering it had ever gone through in its entire history,” North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

An initial draft of the U.N. sanctions called for a ban on all oil and natural gas exports to North Korea, as well as a freeze on all foreign financial assets of the government and Kim Jong Un.

A call for tougher sanctions against North Korea came after the country said detonated a hydrogen bomb last week after a series of missile launches earlier this year.

Fox News’ Ben Evansky and The Associated Press contributed to this report. </s> The United Nations Security Council unanimously stepped up sanctions against North Korea on Monday over the country’s sixth and most powerful nuclear test on Sept. 3, imposing a ban on the country’s textile exports and capping imports of crude oil, Reuters reported.

It was the ninth sanctions resolution unanimously adopted by the 15-member council since 2006 over North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs. The United States watered down an initial tougher draft resolution to win the support of Pyongyang ally China and Russia.

Textiles were North Korea’s second-biggest export after coal and other minerals in 2016, totaling $752 million, according to data from the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. Nearly 80 percent of the textile exports went to China.

The resolution imposes a ban on condensates and natural gas liquids, a cap of 2 million barrels a year on refined petroleum products, and a cap on crude oil exports to North Korea at current levels. China supplies most of North Korea’s crude.

A U.S. official, familiar with the council negotiations and speaking on condition of anonymity, said North Korea imports some 4.5 million barrels of refined petroleum products annually and 4 million barrels of crude oil. </s> Ban noted that the adopted resolution called for implementation of previous resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council. He also called for ensuring access for humanitarian organizations across Syria.

“The Secretary-General hopes that these developments will lead to productive talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, and contribute to intra-Syrian negotiations to be convened by the United Nations in Geneva on 8 February 2017 and pursuant to resolution 2254,” the statement added.

On Saturday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution supporting Russian-Turkish brokered ceasefire in Syria and pointing out importance of the forthcoming talks that will be held in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana.

Since January 1, Ban Ki-moon is not UN Secretary-General anymore with Antonio Guterres assuming the functions of the UN chief. </s> Colombia’s government now knows only too well that there is many a slip between the cup and the lip. In October, a referendum to ratify a painstakingly negotiated peace deal it had signed with the long-time insurgent organisation, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), was narrowly defeated. A more piecemeal, less ambitious and sequenced process since then has helped Bogota notch its first significant victory in effecting the peace deal with the rebels. Now, Colombia’s Congress has unanimously approved an amnesty law granting immunity to FARC fighters from prosecution for committing minor crimes, clearing a major hurdle in effecting the revised peace accord. Those accused of major crimes will be tried by a special tribunal. The main difficulty in passing this measure was the intransigence of the leading opposition, the right-wing Centro Democratico led by former President Alvaro Uribe, who had led a vigorous campaign first against talks between the government and the rebels, later during the referendum and also when a revised accord was eventually signed and ratified by Congress on December 1. The party abstained during voting both during the ratification and when the amnesty law was introduced. The law helps overcome a key sticking point for those who voted “No” in the October referendum and who felt that the government was being too lenient with those among the FARC commanders accused of severe crimes. The law will reassure the rebels, who are moving to special demobilisation zones, marking a breakthrough in the five-decade-long civil war that has taken more than 2,20,000 lives.

Without doubt, the Nobel Peace Prize given to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos gave him the necessary ballast and international support to carry out these steps. But there are other laws to be passed, including those addressing FARC’s demands for agrarian reform and compensation to victims of the civil war. There is still some distance to go before FARC converts itself into a political party to participate in the contested polity. Amendments to the peace accord include requirements from FARC to share details about any involvement in drug production and declaration of assets. But there is a clear commitment towards peace shown by both the government and FARC, especially after the initial accord was signed. If things go as per the government’s plan, the rebels should become civilians by May 2017, culminating in the end of a process that began with negotiations four years ago. </s> UNITED NATIONS, Sept 12 (APP): The United Nations Security Council has unanimously approved a new resolution, banning North Korea’s textile exports and capping its oil imports following Pyongyang’s sixth nuclear test conducted last week. </s> While Mexico began Día de Muertos celebrations, the country's Supreme Court offered a gift of epic proportions. The court ruled an absolute ban on the adult use of cannabis is unconstitutional.

This doesn’t mean cannabis users south of the border can start lighting up in the streets today. But it does mean lawmakers will now be charged with the responsibility of regulating the consumption of the plant. And make no mistake: it's a huge victory for legalization advocates and investors looking to get an early lead in the race to legalize cannabis in Mexico.

One company that’s been strategic about entering the Mexico market is Khiron Life Sciences (OTC: KHRNF).

The company recently started an education program by hosting and sponsoring the CannaMexico conference, which former Mexico president Vincente Fox has championed. Not coincidentally, Fox sits on the board of Khiron.

While Khiron is known for its core operations in Colombia, the company is actively seeking to expand throughout Latin America. With the former president of Mexico in its corner, Khiron has a distinct advantage. It also doesn’t hurt that Mexico's new president Andrés Manuel López Obrador is also in favor of legalization.

Last month, The Green Organic Dutchman (OTC: TGODF) announced its entry into a strategic joint venture with LLACA Grupo Empresarial to create a company to enter the medicinal cannabis market in Mexico.

LLACA is a distribution company with access to distributors with commercialized pharmaceutical and OTC products. Their reach includes 4,500 pharmacies and 3,100 supermarkets throughout Mexico.

The deal allows TGOD full access to LLACA’s services, which, in addition to distribution, include warehousing, product registrations, regulatory representation and authorized clinical trials.

In addition to Khiron and TGOD, other public cannabis companies with exposure to Mexico include ICC Labs (OTC: ICCLF) — which is soon to be acquired by Aurora Cannabis Inc (NYSE: ACB) — and Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC: MJNA).

The bottom line is that the Latin American cannabis industry is projected to be worth nearly $13 billion in less than 10 years, with Chile and Mexico expected to be the engines of growth in the medical cannabis sector, according to Prohibition Partners.

While cannabis investors have been focused on Canada, that focus is moving south to the U.S. and Mexico.

Make no mistake: a legal cannabis market in Mexico is going to occur, and it promises to be incredibly profitable for those who are positioned for the move.

3 Small Cannabis Companies To Keep An Eye On&
The Congress of Colombia unanimously approves a resolution to ban the production, commercialization, and distribution of asbestos.