FLASH: FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE KISSINGER FALLS ILL IN

FLASH: FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE KISSINGER FALLS ILL IN SEOUL

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WASHINGTON, March 17 (Xinhua) — For the first time since U.S. President Barack Obama took office more than one year ago, more Americans disapprove of his job performance than approve, according to the latest Gallup survey released on Wednesday.

The survey shows 47 percent of Americans disapproved of his job performance, one percentage point higher than those who approve.

Obama\’s approval rating has experienced a sharp decline since he took office at Jan. 21, 2009, when 68 percent of Americans approved of his job performance.

In recent months, Obama\’s approval rating has been hovering around 50 percent. His weekly approval rating for March 8-14 tied the lowest weekly average of his administration so far, standing at 48 percent.

Another Gallup\’s survey found that Obama has largely missed public expectations with respect to his environment and energy policy as well as making America prosperous.

Among these three issues, Americans\’ ratings for his energy policy saw the sharpest decline, from 72 percent one year ago to the current 43 percent.

The declines are understandable, given the high expectations for Obama when he took office and the erosion in his overall job approval rating over the past year, said Gallup.

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WASHINGTON, March 13 (Xinhua) — The White House on Saturday confirmed that U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev have agreed to sign a nuclear arms control treaty soon.

\”The results of their talks are encouraging, and both leaders are committed to concluding an agreement soon,\” said White House spokesman Mike Hammer, referring to an earlier telephone conversation between Obama and Medvedev.

The Kremlin said earlier that the two presidents have agreed to \”talk about specific dates for signing a new arms reduction treaty, \” which is expected to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty that expired on Dec. 5, 2009.

Related:

Russia, U.S. look to date for signing new arms treaty

MOSCOW, March 13 (Xinhua) — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama said on Saturday that it was now possible to talk about specific dates for signing a new arms reduction treaty, the Kremlin said.

Medvedev spoke over phone on Saturday with Obama about the preparation for a successor to the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-1) that expired on Dec. 5, 2009.Full story

New nuclear arms treaty could be ready within weeks: Russian FM

MOSCOW, March 9 (Xinhua) — A new Russia-U.S. treaty on nuclear arms reduction could be signed within two or three weeks, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

\”We would like everything to be finished in two or three weeks. The chances are there,\” Lavrov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

\”If everyone strictly abides by the central principle – the principle of parity underlying this document – all issues will be resolved soon,\” he said.?? Full story

http://www.ceshq.com

WASHINGTON, March 13 (Xinhua) — The White House on Saturday confirmed that U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev have agreed to sign a nuclear arms control treaty soon.

\”The results of their talks are encouraging, and both leaders are committed to concluding an agreement soon,\” said White House spokesman Mike Hammer, referring to an earlier telephone conversation between Obama and Medvedev.

The Kremlin said earlier that the two presidents have agreed to \”talk about specific dates for signing a new arms reduction treaty, \” which is expected to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty that expired on Dec. 5, 2009.

Related:

Russia, U.S. look to date for signing new arms treaty

MOSCOW, March 13 (Xinhua) — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama said on Saturday that it was now possible to talk about specific dates for signing a new arms reduction treaty, the Kremlin said.

Medvedev spoke over phone on Saturday with Obama about the preparation for a successor to the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-1) that expired on Dec. 5, 2009.Full story

New nuclear arms treaty could be ready within weeks: Russian FM

MOSCOW, March 9 (Xinhua) — A new Russia-U.S. treaty on nuclear arms reduction could be signed within two or three weeks, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

\”We would like everything to be finished in two or three weeks. The chances are there,\” Lavrov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

\”If everyone strictly abides by the central principle – the principle of parity underlying this document – all issues will be resolved soon,\” he said.?? Full story

http://www.ceshq.com