CHICAGO – President Barack Obama accused Senate Republicans on Thursday of jeopardizing the “integrity of the judicial branch” by refusing to consider his “extraordinary” nominee to the Supreme Court.
Holding court before Chicago law students, Obama argued that the treatment of judge Merrick Garland will cause the public to lose confidence in the ability of courts at all levels of government to fairly judge cases and resolve controversies.
“Our democracy can’t afford that,” Obama said.
UNITED NATIONS – A record number of more than 130 countries will sign the landmark agreement to tackle climate change at a ceremony at UN headquarters on April 22, the United Nations said Thursday.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is hosting the signing ceremony on the first day that the agreement reached in Paris in December opens for signature.
The UN chief, French President François Hollande and French Environment Minister Segolene Royal have invited leaders from all 193 U.N. member states to the event.
The UN said signatures from over 130 countries, including more than 60 heads of state and government, would surpass the previous record of 119 signatures on the opening day for signing an international agreement
Associated Press
