U.S. Senate confirms Leon Panetta to be Defense SecretaryJune 22, 2011 - 10:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Leon Panetta's nomination to be Defense Secretary, hailing his successes as CIA chief just as major challenges await him in Afghanistan and Libya. According to AFP, all 100 members of the Senate approved the nomination of Panetta, a rare move of unanimity for a federal government official. The incoming defense chief will have to oversee a troubled war in Afghanistan, the withdrawal of the remaining American troops from Iraq, and U.S. involvement in the NATO-led Libya campaign. But lawmakers hailed his role in tracking down and eliminating Osama bin Laden, killed in a dramatic U.S. commando raid last month deep in Pakistan.   Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot".   Partner news |  Latest news Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha  Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha.Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time.Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte.Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. |
