Sen. Barack Obama was strongly criticized by Sen. John McCain because for turning down another senator’s suggestion of a joint trip to Iraq which he has not visited the country for a little more than two years. He is also targeted by McCain for not seizing opportunities to meet with Gen. Petraeus, the leader of the U.S. troops in Iraq. The last time Obama visited Iraq was in January of 2006, and the only time he met with the Gen. Petraeus was in a hearing. Later, McCain invited the Democratic presidential to accompany him on his upcoming trip, saying that it would be an “educational opportunity” for Sen. Obama. Obama’s spokesperson Bill Burton calls this move a “political stunt” after he declines the offer.
Nepal’s change in leadership has also changed their country to a republic from a monarchy, ending the autocratic rule which lasted for almost 240 years. Only 4 of the 564 members of the assembly voted to keep the country’s monarchy. After the approval of this landslide vote, the assembly would send a latter to King Gyanendra and his family, giving them 15 days to leave the royal palace. The meeting of the body was held in a convention center even if the place was recently bombed. The building was damaged by two bombs, but the group agreed to continue working anyway. There were no reported injuries, and work was resumed only 10 minutes after the blasts.
Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, currently under an investigation on corruption, is advised to step down by defense minister Ehud Barak who is also the head of Israel’s Labor Party. According to Barak, Olmert should suspend himself as he is distracted by the investigations, compromising his leadership. Olmert says that his investigation is not a reason for him to resign and that he has enough explanations for all allegations against him, and all testimonies against him are to be refuted. He says that he will only resign if the charges on corruption were to be proven in court. If he does not resign, according to Barak, elections would be pushed by the Labor Party.
Meetings and talks between the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama are closely watched by the people as demonstrators allied outside the Royal Albert Hall. This 72-year old Buddhist monk recently received a warm welcome in China where he just came from before visiting London for his five-nation tour. His tour involves talks on peace and human rights and meetings with the makers of the law. Aside from these formal agenda, the Dalai Lama has also given several pieces of advice and spiritual direction. Gathering outside the Royal Albert Hall were hundreds of demonstrators rallying just as the Dalai Lama makes his first public appearance.
Eight civilians were killed by a helicopter strike by the U.S. forces who conducted raids in Iraq. Three of these eight civilians were children, and they were said to be fleeing in their vehicle to a safer area. Col. Mudhher al-Qaisi of the Beiji police says that the U.S. troops in the helicopter grew suspicious of this fleeing vehicle that they opened fire killing the said civilians. The U.S. military says that their forces were actually targeting a facility used as weapon storage which was believed to be somehow connected to the network of suicide bombing. These civilian deaths could have an effect on the treaties between the Sunni Arabs who are now against the al-Qaeda, and the U.S. military. The American forces say that they truly regret the death of innocent civilians.
Almost 300, 000 people hobbled traffic, train systems, and public transportation services as they march through Paris and more than a hundred towns and cities in a day’s walkout. These protesters mainly composed of state workers, press on President Nicolas Sarkozy who is planning to extend the age of retirement. French President Sarkozy who was put in office only the previous year, has promised a more modern and competitive France, but he is to face more protests with more people joining the rallies. Fishermen in a number of ports have also started a separate protest. According to the police, figures would rise to as much as 700, 000. Despite the intense pressure, Prime Minister Francois Fillon states that the government would remain on its stand in extending the employees’ work by another year in order for them to obtain optimum retirement benefits.
According to Suu Kyi’s lawyer Jared Genser who is based in Washington, the military rulers of Myanmar could no longer extend the house arrest of Nobel peace prize awardee Aung San Suu Kyi who is completing her fifth year of house arrest on May 24 2008. According to the law, house arrest could only last up to five yeas and could only be extended one year at a time. It was last renewed last May 25, 2007. Genser remarks that her release is timely as so she could attend the international aid conference which is scheduled on May 25, Sunday. This is if the Burmese junta would follow their own law. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is also scheduled to visit Myanmar to persuade junta leader Than Shwe who has been refusing relief effort from countries all over the world. International efforts seek to aid two million people who desperately need help.
President Bush addressed the Israeli Parliament, talking about the “unbreakable” bond of the United States and the Jewish state’ alliance. He also gave calls to negotiate and settle things with the “terrorists and radicals.” After this talk in Jerusalem, he will be meeting with the king of Saudi Arabia during his visit to the said country. This visit commemorates the 75th year of the establishment of the relationship between. U.S. and Saudi, according to the White House. Then, U.S. President will fly to Egypt with President Hosni Mubarak, another ally of the U.S. Bush will deliver remarks regarding the world economy.
Sen. Barack Obama wins North Carolina and Sen. Hilary Clinton barely wins the Indiana Democratic presidential primary. It’s supposed to be a tie now, right?
Mr. Obama called North Carolina “a victory in a big state, in a swing state, in a state where we will compete to win if I am the Democratic nominee.”
But Mrs. Clinton said that taken together with her win two weeks ago in Pennsylvania, Indiana was the key tie-breaker and “tonight we’ve come from behind, we’ve broken the tie, and thanks to you, it’s full speed on to the White House.”
The win edges Obama over Clinton as he topped in North Carolina by 200,000 votes and a strong showing in the Indiana voters. So if he wins the presidential nomination, more people would vote for him over McCain.
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Since the House Democrats can’t force the United States to withdraw from Iraq, they’re going to do the next best thing: spend the $108 billion dollar war request to pass billions of dollars in election-year domestic spending.
“I reject the president’s view that all this supplemental should be is for spending money overseas,” House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, said yesterday. “We believe Americans have needs.
Some of the programs in dire need for funding is the Hurricane Katrina relief and the extension of unemployment benefits. However, according to President Goerge Bush, he will veto any supplemental war-funding bill that exceeds his $108 billion spending limit or that micromanages the war or “ties the hands of our commanders.”
This has a lot of Democrats in rage. According to the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, the President, “seems to think that he can issue pronouncements like the great Yoda and that the American people and the Congress will comply.”
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