US will resist Irans development of nuclear bomb: Panetta

 

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Sunday that Iran is only one year away from producing a nuclear weapon.

 

In an interview to an American TV channel, Panetta said “the consensus is that, if they decided to do it, it would probably take them about a year to be able to produce a bomb and then possibly another one to two years in order to put it on a deliverable vehicle of some sort in order to deliver that weapon.”

 

During the interview, Panetta reiterated Obama’s opposition to Iran s nuclear program, and said that the U.S. shares common goals with Israel in its opposition to the program.

 

“The United States, and the president s made this clear, does not want Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. That s a red line for us. And it s a red line obviously for the Israelis so we share a common goal here,” he told CBS. “If we have to do it, we will do it,” he added.

 

A six-member delegation of inspectors from the United Nations  nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), arrived in Tehran on Sunday, according to an Iranian state television report.

 

Earlier, sources close to the Vienna-based IAEA said the visit would not involve inspections of nuclear facilities but would rather focus on resuming talks on Iran s disputed nuclear program.
 

Liverpool scores late to edge Man United in FA Cup

 

Liverpool reached the fifth round of the FA Cup at the expense of arguably its fiercest rival on Saturday, Dirk Kuyt scoring an 88th-minute goal to earn his side a 2-1 win over Manchester United.

 

While Chelsea progressed with a 1-0 win at Queens Park Rangers, Kuyt hit a low shot past goalkeeper David de Gea to win the game for Liverpool following first-half goals by Daniel Agger and United s Park Ji-sung.

 

Victory means Liverpool is unbeaten in its last three matches against United.
 

Ultimatum Not in my Dictionary: Nawaz Sharif

Pakistan Muslim League (N) chief Nawaz Sharif has said the word of ultimatum was not in his dictionary and he didn’t give any ultimatum to the government.

Addressing a press conference in Raiwind, Nawaz said he is pleased that the prime minister has given positive response to his agenda.

He said Pakistan economy going down day by day. He said, “my agenda is prosperity of the nation.”

Gilani’s phone to Nawaz

Political leaders said on Monday that Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani’s telephone to PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif had eased political situation and described it as a democratic process and positive development.

Information Secretary of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Fauzia Wahab told VOA, “I believe we need the same atmosphere. If we want our country to make progress and weed out extremism and terrorism, we should unite otherwise we cannot achieve our goals.”

She said that the development would be good for the country, not only for Punjab but also for the Centre and added “We should remember that our survival is in democracy and powerful democratic institutions.”

About the possible appointment of PPP leader Latif Khosa as Punjab Governor, she said though she had not received any notification in this regard. If he is appointed, it will be a positive step, she said.

“I believe Latif Khosa is a well-known person of Punjab. Secondly, he has a great say in his own lawyer community,” she added.

Chairman of Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Raja Zafarul Haq said that Gilani’s phone to Nawaz Sharif would calm the political situation and perhaps the government started taking measures for the betterment of people.

A political analyst Professor Rasool Bukhsh Raees described the reconciliation between the country’s two major parties as a good omen for the nation and the country.

DREAM Act: US House votes to integrate young immigrants

The Democrat-controlled US House of Representatives narrowly passed a law seeking to offer a path to citizenship to young illegal immigrants who attend college or enroll in the military.

The so-called DREAM Act — Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2010 — cleared the House 216 to 198. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a rights group, called the vote a major victory for equality.

But the bill now awaits action Thursday in the Senate, where Majority Leader Harry Reid is not expected to garner the 60 votes needed.
After repeated efforts failed to secure a comprehensive overhaul of the tattered immigration system in the United States — where some 11 million undocumented people are estimated to currently live — the bipartisan bill sought to better integrate children brought illegally to the country by their parents.

The measure narrowly applies to immigrants younger than 30 years old who arrived in the US illegally before they were 16, spent at least five years on US soil and have not had run-ins with the law. Candidates must also have earned a high-school degree, attend at least two years of college or serve in the military. President Barack Obama welcomed the vote, noting the Congressional Budget Office found the bill would cut the massive US deficit by 2.2 billion dollars over the next 10 years. This vote is not only the right thing to do for a group of talented young people who seek to serve a country they know as their own by continuing their education or serving in the military, but it is the right thing for the United States of America, he said in a statement urging the Senate to follow suit.He said the DREAM Act corrects one of the most egregious flaws of a badly broken immigration system. A flaw that forces children who have grown up in America, who speak English, who have excelled in our communities as academics, athletes or volunteers to put their lives and talent on hold at a great cost to themselves and our nation.Supporters say the move could help legalize the status of hundreds of thousands of youths who have been brought to the country illegally at no fault of their own.But Republicans criticized the bill as amnesty for illegal immigrants.About 40 House Democrats voted against the measure.In passing the DREAM Act, the House has taken an historic step forward to help motivated, bright young people fulfill their goals and aspirations, said ACLU Legislative Counsel Joanne Lin.This bill will help young people achieve their dreams and pursue a better future for themselves and for their families.Under current US immigration law, illegal immigrant youngsters cannot attend university even if they completed elementary, middle and high school in the United States and have been offered college scholarships.

UN summit ends with pledges and lingering pessimism

UNITED NATIONS: US President Barack Obama called for greater urgency in the fight against the world’s social ills as a UN poverty summit ended with tens of billions of dollars of pledges but lingering pessimism about the impact.

Obama unveiled a new “big hearted” but “hard headed” US aid policy to push the poorest countries toward prosperity. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon launched a 40 billion dollar drive to save the lives of millions of women and children. Britain, China and Japan also promised more help.

But many leaders still accused wealthy nations of failing to keep their promises to provide assistance. Aid groups said millions would still die unnecessarily in the final five years of UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) initiative launched in 2000.

Obama and the UN chief highlighted advances made to reduce poverty and disease, spread education and

NHP to meet millennium development goals: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said on Thursday that the effective and sustained implementation of the National Health Policy (NHP) 2010 would go a long way in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Speaking to the 44th convocation of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan here, he said, “There is no denying the fact that health sector did not receive the policy attention it rightfully deserved”.

Upon taking over in March 2008, the democratic government embarked on a long but laborious path of designing institutional response to the problems of the health sector, he said.

He said the democratic government has created history by purging the constitution of all undemocratic insertions and restoring it to its original character.

The abolition of the Concurrent List from the Constitution after the unanimous passage of the 18th Amendment and historic adoption of the 7th National Finance Commission
(NFC) Award has empowered the provinces politically, administratively and financially.

He said that these fundamental constitutional shifts have been factored into the formulation of National Health Policy 2010.

FC Chief, 4 personnel killed in Peshawar suicide attack

PESHAWAR: A suicide bomber killed Commandant Frontier Constabulary Siffwat Ghayur and at least four FC personnel in Peshawar’s Saddar area on Wednesday, Geo News reported.

According to sources the suicide bomber hit the vehicle of FC Commandant when he was leaving the office for home.

FC Cantonment, confirming the death of Siffwat Ghayur, said that four guards accompanying him were also killed in the attack.

The powerful blast injured 9 people including 3 policemen who have been shifted to Lady Reading Hospital.

The suicide bomber’s head has been found off Deens Center, usually a crowded commercial area where the blast occurred. Other vehicles present around the FC Chief’s were also damaged.

Gunshots were also heard immediately after the blast.

Heavy contingents of police and FC personnel reached the blast site and sealed the area for collecting evidence.

Siffwat Ghayur, considered to be an honest and valiant police officer, served as CCPO Peshawar before assuming the office of FC Commandant. The deceased, who also remained a Commandant of Police Academy for three years, played a significant role in maintenance of peace in Peshawar.

Senior Provincial Minister Bashir Bilour also reached the blast site and told the reporters that the blast was a suicide attack. He said the suicide bomber was in a taxi that struck the FC vehicle.

He said the terrorists are going berserk because they have failed to achieve their goals.

Sri Lanka 91/1 at Lunch in first Test against India

GALLE, Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka lost wicket of Dilshan and made 91 at Lunch on the first day of the opener of the three-match test series at Galle International Stadium which was delayed by an hour because of a wet pitch.

Originally posted here:
Sri Lanka 91/1 at Lunch in first Test against India

Rare stinking flower draws US crowds

HOUSTON: Thousands of people are breathlessly waiting for one of the largest and rarest flowers in the world to bloom.

See original here: 
Rare stinking flower draws US crowds

The mountains loom for Tour de France cyclists

REVEL, France: The Tour de France begins one of the most punishing sequences of stages in its recent history Sunday as the riders enter the Pyrenees for four days that include two ascents of the famed Col du Tourmalet.

Originally posted here:
The mountains loom for Tour de France cyclists

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