Gingrich set to endorse rival Romney
Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – On Wednesday, GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich is set to suspend his presidential bid and back Mitt Romney. In an interview Tuesday with USA Today, Gingrich said he will back Romney’s candidacy and is prepared to campaign for his former foe. In return, Romney will help Gingrich pay off some of his millions of dollars of campaign debt. Gingrich said, “Mitt Romney met the first criteria of being a good candidate: He won. Now, you have to respect that.” Gingrich will make the official announcement at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Arlington, Va. Romney is not scheduled to be there. It has been a rollercoaster ride for Gingrich, who in January sat at the top of the polls. However, in the months that followed it became apparent he was not a GOP favorite. Gingrich has maintained that he is committed to the Republican party and his goal is to make certain Obama is not re-elected. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
FL governor rejects ban on guns near GOP convention
Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter Tallahassee, FL, United States (AHN) – Florida Gov. Rick Scott has rejected a request from the city of Tampa to ban concealed weapons in areas near this summer’s Republican National Convention. Florida state law allows concealed weapons. Scott wrote, “An absolute ban on possession in entire neighborhoods and regions would surely violate the Second Amendment. It is unclear how disarming law-abiding citizens would better protect them from the dangers and threats posed by those who would flout the law. It is at just such times that the constitutional right to self defense is most precious and must be protected from government overreach.” Scott, a Republican, was endorsed by the National Rifle Association in his 2010 campaign. The Republican National Convention will be held Aug. 27-30 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
UN threatens sanctions on Sudan-South Sudan
AHN News Staff New York, NY, United States (AHN) – The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday threatened to impose sanctions against Sudan and South Sudan if they fail to stop their hostilities within 48 hours. In a resolution that passed unanimously, China and Russia, which had blocked sanction talks, also joined the call to stop the border conflict. Under resolution 2046, the UNSC demanded a written commitment from both the countries that they would halt the fighting within the next two days and start peace talks within two weeks under observation of African Union mediators. The council also threatened to impose non-military sanctions under Article 41 of the U.N. Charter if any of the sides fail. “The current conflict between Sudan and South Sudan is on the verge of becoming a full scale and sustained war,” U.S. ambassador Susan Rice told the council. “Both countries are on the brink of returning to the horrors of the past and threaten to take the entire region with them,” she added. The resolution on the conflict depends on the settlement of an oil dispute because landlocked oil producer South Sudan has to rely on Sudan to export its oil. South Sudan is already in talks with Sudan, which is asking for $32 to $36 per barrel – a price South is unwilling to pay. “If we reach an agreement, we will continue to export our oil through Port Sudan,” South Sudanese Minister for Government Affairs Deng Alor Kuol said. Talking to journalists after the U.N. vote, Kuol said that they would continue to look for alternatives. Responding to the Security Council vote, the Sudanese government cautiously welcomed the move, saying it contained positive elements. However, Sudan pledged to review the threat carefully to finalize its strategy with South Sudan. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
U.S. set to publish seized Bin Laden documents
AHN News Staff Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – Documents seized by U.S. SEALs in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden at his compound in Pakistan are scheduled to be published online Thursday. The handful of papers are scheduled to be released at 10 a.m. EDT by the U.S. Army’s Combating Terrorism Center. Some details of the documents have already been published, but information gathered from thousands of documents, videos and computer disks is still secret. The documents are likely to show that Bin Laden was largely worshipped but sometimes his own field commanders defied him in his calls to keep attacking U.S. targets. He was deeply concerned by falling support in the Islamic world. Just a few months before his killing, he had planned to change al-Qaeda’s name as part of what is believed to be a major re-branding exercise. The documents also revealed Bin Laden’s plans to overthrow Afghan President Hamid Karzai and control Afghanistan once the U.S. pulls its troops from the country. To see the success of his plan, Osama had discussed the proposal with the Taliban leadership council and the Pakistan-based Haqqani network. However, a Director of National Intelligence spokesman has said that although the documents’ release come a day after Bin Laden’s death anniversary, it is not linked with it. “Identifying the documents, declassifying the documents, analyzing and reviewing the documents required considerable time since they were obtained a year ago,” Michael Birmingham told The Washington Times. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Christie may wind up–may–as Mitt Romney’s veep
Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter Trenton, NJ, United States (AHN) – Some Americans were disappointed when New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ruled out a run for the presidency. Disappointed Christie fans could get the second best thing. Christie acknowledged Monday that Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, is a “convincing guy” when asked if he might say yes to the number two spot on the ticket. The governor was addressing a high school AP history class when the discussion turned to the V.P. question. Christie said, referring to Romney, “He might be able to convince me. He’s a convincing guy.” Christie maintained months ago that he was not looking to be vice president, reiterating that he loves his job as New Jersey governor. However, Monday he said that he would hear Romney out with an open mind if the question came up again. No word yet from Romney. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
US, Japan reach deal over Okinawa base
AHN News Staff Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – The United States and Japan have reached a deal over a U.S. military base in Okinawa, ending a long stalemate that could ease relations between the nations. Under the agreement, the U.S. agreed to move 9,000 Marines to locations outside Japan – in the Asia Pacific and even to the U.S. territory of Guam. While some viewed it as a step to improve ties with Japan, others saw it as a U.S. strategy aimed at spreading American troops across the Asia Pacific region. In a joint statement, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and their Japanese counterparts said that the deal was aimed at strengthening the U.S.’ military presence for Japan’s security amid the Asia Pacific’s increasing uncertain environment. “Japan is not just a close ally, but also a close friend,” Panetta said in a separate comment. “And I look forward to deepening that friendship and strengthening our partnership as, together, we address security challenges in the region,” he added. The remaining 10,000 Marines will stay in Okinawa. Japan has long been at odds with the U.S. over its base on Okinawa, an island strategically located near Taiwan, where America has stationed thousands of its troops for decades. Six years ago, the U.S. offered to shift the base to the Futenma air base. Okinawa officials opposed that plan, saying it was dangerous to have a foreign military facility in the city. Japan urged the U.S. to either close the base or shift it to somewhere else in the country. In turn, the U.S. continued to press Japan to find a replacement for Futenma – an issue still remained unresolved. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Clinton to visit China, South Asia next month
AHN News Staff Washington, United States (AHN) – In a bid to improve bilateral relation with Asian nations, United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will visit China, India and Bangladesh next month. On the first leg of her trip, she would stop in China on May 3 where she would hold the fourth round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S& ED) with China’s Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo. Top U.S. envoy and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will accompany her during the two-day China visit. “As with earlier S& EDs, this year’s event will be a ‘whole of government’ dialogue that brings together cabinet members and agency heads, as well as other officials and experts, from agencies across both of our governments,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement. Clinton will then fly to Dhaka where she is expected to review “robust” bilateral cooperation with senior Bangladeshi government officials. Political, economic and security issues are likely to top the agenda. In the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, she will meet with representatives of civil society organizations and later fly to New Delhi to discuss the upcoming U.S.-India Strategic Dialog to be held in Washington on June 13. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
U.S. plans to use leftover sanctions to put pressure on Myanmar
AHN News Staff Washington, United States (AHN) – Less than a week after the European Union and Canada lifted most of sanctions on Myanmar, the United States on Wednesday said that it would not immediately end all sanctions. The remaining sanctions, it said, will be used to push the regime in addressing human rights issue and ending ethnic violence. Talking to lawmakers, U.S. diplomat Kurt Campbells said that the Obama administration would only lift sanctions in “certain prescribed areas.” “I would simply say that there is no intention to ‘lift’ sanctions,” Campbell, the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian affairs, told the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “We recognize very clearly that there have to be provisions and capabilities to be able to respond if there is a reversal or a stalling out (of reforms), that leverage is an essential component of our strategy,” he said. Acknowledging Myanmar’s move to release political prisoners, Japan had recently cancelled the country’s debt as a reward. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Reports: Gingrich to drop out next Tuesday
Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – Newt Gingrich is expected to end his presidential aspirations next Tuesday, CNN and Fox News report. People close to Gingrich told the networks that he will endorse GOP front runner Mitt Romney when the former House Speaker hangs up his hat for the bid for the Republican presidential nomination. Wednesday morning, Gingrich told a North Carolina audience that he is “working out the details of our transition.” He added that he is committed to the Republican Party and to helping defeat President Obama in November. Gingrich has lagged in the polls and his campaign is some $4.3 million in debt. Last month, Gingrich cut his staff by a third and he also curtailed travel, instead attempting to reach supporters via social media. He is also a far cry from the 1,144 delegates needed for the nomination. Over the past three months, Gingrich has only won his home state of Georgia. On Tuesday, with the primaries essentially over, Romney swept all five primaries in New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Delaware. The former House speaker is credited with bringing Republicans into the House majority in the 1990s after four decades of taking a political back seat. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
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