Ban greets US-Russia Nuclear weapons cutback accord
 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has greeted the momentous agreement signed by the US and Russia pledging them to key nuclear weapons reductions and labeled it as a vital objective in universal attempts to move ahead on nuclear disarmament.
A proclamation released by Ban's representative Martin Nesirky observed, "The Secretary-General welcomes the signing of the New START Treaty as an important milestone in the international efforts to advance nuclear disarmament and to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons".
President Barck Obama along with his Russian complement Dmitri Medvedev endorsed the agreement in Prague to reduce their tactical nuclear armory.
Back
Obama’s final plea before healthcare vote
 Prior to a very significant vote on comprehensive healthcare transformation, US President Barack Obama has mobilized the backing of Democratic policymakers on Capitol Hill.
"Let's get this done," while appealing to them to support the move in a House vote anticipated on Sunday.
Democratic leaders have exhausted several days making attempts to obtain the 216 votes required to approve the greatly challenged bill.
Steny Hoyer, Democratic House Majority Leader expressed optimism saying the party at present had the required backing.
Veteran House Democrats have resolved on a direct vote to approve a Senate version of the reform bill, instead of utilizing a bureaucratic method that would have "deemed" it approved without a vote.
Back
China opposed to Iran developing nuclear capability for weapons
March 18: China on Thursday emphasized on the fact that Iran should not build up any potential to manufacture nuclear weapons, but clarified that all channels should be thoroughly explored prior to clamping fresh restrictions on it through the United Nations.
China's ambassador to the United Nations Office in Geneva, He Yafei, observed,” We certainly do not want to see an Iran with a nuclear weapon capability... China is very much for safeguarding and strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime."
He noted that Iran, as a constituent of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), was free to utilize nuclear energy for peaceful objectives but it should not build up any capacity that could generate nuclear arms.
He observed,” We need to do our best, to exhaust every avenue before we decide on whether we should have additional sanction measures (against Iran).”
Back
Thai agitators throw own blood at PM's residence
Agitators wearing red-shirts flung plastic bags stuffing them with their own blood into the housing premises of Thailand's prime minister on Wednesday, anticipating that their bizarre strategy would force the government to quit.
A large number of agitators afterward assembled in front of the US Embassy, telling they would like to convey to the global community that their government was unlawful.
The remarkable action, which came in the wake of comparable "blood sacrifices" on Tuesday at Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's office as well as the head offices of his Democrat Party, got attention , but did not assist the "Red Shirt" red shirt agitators move towards the objective of asking for fresh elections.
The agitators comprised of followers of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister who was removed by a 2006 military rebellion for suspected fraud, and pro-democracy supporters who resisted the actions of the army.
Back
Netanyahu confronts US over Jerusalem colony
 March 16: Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu said that there would be no restrictions on Jewish colony in the proximity of Jerusalem, challenging Washington in Israel's growing difficulties with US President Barack Obama's government.
Netanyahu made this observation while addressing the Parliament on Monday saying, ''For the past 40 years, no Israeli government ever limited construction in the neighborhoods of Jerusalem.'' Prime Minister Netanyahu referred to expanses in the West Bank that Israel seized in 1967 and made it a part of the city.
The United States criticized Israel's proposal to construct 1,600 new residences for Jews in Ramat Shlomo, a religious colony within the Israeli-designated boundaries of Jerusalem, whose potential standing is at the core of the West Asia skirmishes.
Israel's proclamation of the venture during a trip the previous week by US Vice President Joe Biden was a cause of discomfiture for the White House. In extraordinarily frank comments US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, termed it as rude.
Back |
