CP World Report: Yousef Nardakhani, Iranian Elections, Romney wins Washington
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets today with US President Obama, where Obama is trying to rein in Netanyahu in dealing with Iran and strongly supporting Israeli restraint. Netanyahu met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Friday and also held a press conference on Parliament Hill where he argued against renewed talks with Iran. Netanyahu says the regime is trying to buy time to build its nuclear sites and Israeli officials warn at a certain point, those sites will no longer be vulnerable to pre-emptive strikes. Harper reiterated Canada's friendship with Israel, its right to exist, even though wanting to see a peaceful resolution.
And….Iranians headed to the polls last Friday in a parliamentary election. It was the first nationwide balloting in three years, since massive protests were triggered by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed presidential election victory in 2009. Forces loyal to conservative cleric Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have taken over 75 percent of the seats in parliamentary elections, leaving Ahmadinejad weakened. Yet, the outcome of Friday's vote will not have a big impact on Iranian foreign policy, notably its nuclear stand-off with the West.
Mitt Romney won Saturday night's Washington Primary. Ten states will participate in tomorrow's Super Tuesday contests for the Republican nomination. With victories in Arizona, Michigan and Wyoming, Mitt Romney would seem to be on pace to secure the nomination. But does he and the others have the qualifications to be a president?
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The American center for law and justice recently expressed concern that pastor Youcef nadarkhani-who has been imprisoned in Iran-- may have already been executed, but hope persists. The U.S. House, Donald Trump, Christian and Human Rights groups world-wide are among a growing international coalition of millions trying to stop his execution. Now Open Doors USA says all persecution cases should be receiving similar attention and that the U.S. should stand as the world's guiding light in religious liberties. Open Doors has created a presidential pledge for religious freedoms in preparation for elections. So far Rick Santorum is the only candidate to have signed it.
IN SPORTS…..
And the Boston Celtics defeated the New York Knicks yesterday 115-111. The openly Christian sports hero Jeremy Lin was under pressure to continue to provide that spark that ignited the Knicks for the past several weeks. But Rajon Rondo frustrated Lin as the Knicks tried desperately to end a 10-game losing streak in Boston since last winning in 2006.
The Toronto Maple Leafs won their first game over the weekend under new coach Randy Carlyle. The Leafs beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-1
