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Drawing about independence day
Hagel draws fire as Obama’s Pentagon pick
US President Barack Obama named Chuck Hagel on Monday to lead the Pentagon, setting up an ugly confirmation battle as Republican opponents said he was too hard on Israel and too soft on Iran. Obama's choice of John Brennan to replace scandal-tainted David Petraeus as CIA chief was seen as more straightforward despite the counterterrorism czar's defense of "enhanced interrogation techniques" and the US drone war. The second term revamp of the president's national security team was expected to win ultimate approval but several leading Republicans signaled they would make it tough for Hagel even though he is one of their own. Obama paid particular tribute to retiring Pentagon chief Leon Panetta before giving ringing endorsements to the "outstanding" Hagel and Brennan and urging the Senate not to dally in confirming their important appointments. "Chuck Hagel is the leader that our troops deserve. He is an American patriot", the president said, heaping praise on a … [Read more...] about Hagel draws fire as Obama’s Pentagon pick
Ba earns Newcastle draw at Everton
Everton justifiably felt aggrieved after having two goals controversially ruled out before Newcastle snatched a late 2-2 draw. Leighton Baines had put the hosts ahead in the 15th minute only for Ba to score with virtually his first touch after coming on at half-time. … [Read more...] about Ba earns Newcastle draw at Everton
Romney to declare goal of North American energy independence by 2020
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will lay out policies on Thursday aimed at achieving North American energy independence by 2020 by pursuing a sharp increase in production of oil and natural gas on federal lands and off the U.S. coast. Romney is to unveil his plan at a truck and supply business in Hobbs, New Mexico, as he seeks to draw a sharp contrast between his energy policies and those of President Barack Obama and detail in part how he would rekindle job growth in the United States. … [Read more...] about Romney to declare goal of North American energy independence by 2020
Fifth day of protests in Middle East over Trump’s Jerusalem move
The Middle East saw a fifth day of protests on Monday over U.S. President Donald Trump's declaration of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, while further global condemnation followed the deeply controversial move.While tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met EU foreign ministers in Brussels, declaring that the move he has lauded as historic "makes peace possible".He also said he expected "all or most" European countries would follow the United States -- but the 28-nation bloc's foreign policy head Federica Mogherini gave him a stern rebuff, telling him to "keep his expectations for others".In Cairo, Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced Trump's decision as "destabilizing" while calling for a resumption of long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian talks.And after meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara later Monday, Putin said the Trump declaration could "derail" peace efforts.At a joint press conference, Erdogan said he … [Read more...] about Fifth day of protests in Middle East over Trump’s Jerusalem move