Obama threatens to veto new Iran sanctions bill

Obama threatens to veto new Iran sanctions bill

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama vowed on Tuesday to veto any new bill by lawmakers to impose new sanctions against Iran in the middle of delicate negotiations to rein in its nuclear program.

 

"The sanctions that we put in place helped make this opportunity possible. But let me be clear: if this Congress sends me a new sanctions bill now that threatens to derail these talks, I will veto it. For the sake of our national security, we must give diplomacy a chance to succeed," Obama said, in his State of the Union address.

 

The United States has turned a corner after struggling to escape the economic downturn and is poised for recovery, President Barack Obama declared.

 

"That´s why I believe this can be a breakthrough year for America," he said. "After five years of grit and determined effort, the United States is better-positioned for the 21st century than any other nation on Earth."

 

Obama urged Congress to raise the federal minimum wage, challenging legislators to help reverse deepening income disparity across the country. "Say yes. Give America a raise," Obama told Congress.

 

Noting that the current national minimum of $7.25 an hour was effectively 20 percent lower than it was a quarter-century ago, he announced an executive order requiring government contractors to pay their workers at least $10.10 an hour.

 

He urged the legislature to support a bill already proposed that would hike the national base rate to that level.

 

"This will help families. It will give businesses customers with more money to spend," he said.

 

The threat from US arch foe Al-Qaeda is evolving and taking root in new places around the world, US President Barack Obama warned.

 

"In Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, and Mali, we have to keep working with partners to disrupt and disable these networks."

 

Obama added the United States had put "Al-Qaeda´s core leadership on the path to defeat." (AFP)

KMC launches anti-encroachment op in Empress Market

KMC launches anti-encroachment op in Empress Market

KARACHI: Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC)’s anti-encroachment cell launched operation against encroachments in Empress Market, Karachi, Media reported.

 

Following this, the infuriated encroachers started protest and pelted with stones at the KMC officials. The water cannon were used to disperse the protesters. 

Police also detained several encroachers.

H1N1 flu deaths hit 123 in Mexico, officials say

H1N1 flu deaths hit 123 in Mexico, officials say

MEXICO CITY: Mexico is worried about a spike in the number of H1N1 flu cases and deaths, in the country that was the epicenter of the 2009 outbreak of the strain.

 

But even with 1,261 confirmed cases of the flu strain and 123 deaths in the Jan. 1-23 period, the Health Department says the figures remain well below 2009 levels, when there were 1,479 deaths and more than 70,000 confirmed cases for the year as a whole.

 

The H1N1 strain generally hits people in the prime of their life, and memories remain sharp of the 2009 outbreak. People have waited in long lines at vaccination posts set up in Mexico City´s subway stations to get their flu shots. (AP)

Miles Teller rides Sundance wave to leading roles

Miles Teller rides Sundance wave to leading roles

PARK CITY: Miles Teller is a name movie fans can expect to hear a lot this year.

 

The 26-year-old actor stars alongside Zac Efron and Michael B. Jordan in the romantic comedy "That Awkward Moment," opening Friday. He appears in the anticipated dystopian adventure "Divergent" this spring. And he dazzled Sundance Film Festival audiences with his passionate performance in "Whiplash," which won both jury and audience honors Saturday at the festival's awards ceremony.

 

"It's rare to get a script where they really trust an actor, especially an actor my age, to really do some heavy lifting and some hard work, and that's my favorite," he said. "When I was in college, I never did scenes from romantic comedies. I always picked the weird stuff or the darker stuff, more challenging material. So hopefully this is a trend for things that I want to do and accomplish."

 

In "Whiplash," Teller plays a jazz drummer determined to succeed. He foregoes friends and romantic relationships, opting instead to practice until his hands bleed. As a student at the nation's leading music conservatory, he fights for a spot in the competition band, led by an unforgiving, intimidating and often abusive instructor (played by J.K. Simmons at his scariest).

 

Writer-director Damien Chazelle introduced "Whiplash" as a short film at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival to gain funding for his debut feature that opened the festival this year. And from the start, he wanted Teller for the role.

 

"I saw 'Rabbit Hole,' his first movie when it came out, and it was right around the time I was writing the first draft of this script," Chazelle said. "I was just immediately like, 'Who the hell is this kid? I've got to work with this kid.'"

 

"Even though you were only two years older than me at the time," Teller added.

 

The young actor is in nearly every frame of the film, and he took four-hour drum lessons three times a week to prepare for the part. Like his character, Teller's hands blistered and bled as he thrashed at the drum kit.

 

"I remember (he) was really proud when (he) showed me the first drop of blood (after) doing the drum solo," Chazelle said. "(He) was like, 'Look, it actually happened! It's not makeup!'"

 

"Whiplash" will be distributed in North America by Sony Pictures Classics, though no release date has been announced.

 

Teller has two other films slated for release in 2014: the comedies "Two Night Stand" and "Get A Job." He also earned accolades for his Sundance debut in 2013, playing opposite Shailene Woodley in the coming-of-age drama "The Spectacular Now." (He and Woodley reunite in "Divergent.")

 

"As a young actor, you just know about Sundance and all the great film festivals, and you think about what it would be like to get up there," he said. "And last year it completely lived up to that. It was a really special moment in my career. And now to come back with this film and have it open up and have the response that we're getting, it's very rewarding. It feels good." (AP)

Sindh CNG stations reopen after 24 hours

Sindh CNG stations reopen after 24 hours

KARACHI: CNG stations across Sindh including Karachi reopened after 24-hour closure at 8:00 AM today (Tuesday), Media reported.

 

The CNG outlets, under load management plan, were closed on Monday at 8:00 AM for 24 hours.

 

The CNG pumps resumed supply of gas at 8:00 AM today.

India makes 278-5 in 4th ODI vs. New Zealand

India makes 278-5 in 4th ODI vs. New Zealand

HAMILTON: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored 79 in an unbroken 127-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja to lift India to 278-5 batting first in Tuesday´s fourth one-day international against New Zealand.

 

Dhoni made his runs from 73 deliveries, with six fours and three sixes, as India gradually accelerated its scoring after a slow start.

 

Jadeja played an equally important role in the sixth-wicket partnership, making an unbeaten 62 from 54 balls with eight fours and two sixes.

 

Opener Rohit Sharma made 79 for India, which trails 2-0 in the series and needs a victory.(AP)