http://www.ToTheCenter.com/ ToTheCenter.com's philosophy is simple. The average person may not recognize a political left or right; but rather, somewhere in between. Our mission is to keep our opinion and news "down the middle" for all. http://www.ToTheCenter.com/news.php?readmore=11922 Two days ago Iranian Foreign Minister Manochehr Mottaki stated that Iran will not send its uranium abroad, and also noted that the country will only consider a uranium-for-fuel swap program inside Iran. These latest developments have prompted five representatives from the United Nations Security Council: Britain, France, China, the United States, Russia plus Germany, to meet in Brussels Friday to discuss Iran's latest stand on its nuclear program. Despite deals and three sanctions placed by the UN security council, Iran has not changed its stance on its nuclear program. Threats of embargo were downplayed by Iranian Foreign Minister Manochehr Mottaki, who stated that they were ineffective in the past, and considered them unlikely to be attempted again. Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated that Iran may consider resuming improved relations with the West, but only on the condition that the countries cease their "arrogant" attitudes and returned some of Iran's assets. http://www.ToTheCenter.com/news.php?readmore=11921 Ceremonies around the world are being held today to mark the 20th anniversary of a historical child protection agreement. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, signed in 1989, guarantees children the right to life, to education, the right to play and to be protected from abuse. The convention, ratified by 193 countries, all except the U.S. and Somalia, has had major effects on children around the world according to the UN. The UN notes that as a result of the convention, 30% more children live beyond the age of five and more than 80% of children now attend primary school. Elizabeth Gibbons, deputy director of Unicef, notes that the convention held far-reaching effects on the lives of many children. She also notes that there are still major problems facing children, the increased awareness of these issues has proven helpful. "Yes, there are many problems not resolved, but now children matter, they matter to society, they matter to the media, they matter to politicians," Gibbons told reporters. http://www.ToTheCenter.com/news.php?readmore=11920 Eight militants are believed to be dead after a U.S. missile strike hit northwestern Pakistan Friday. U.S. officials operating under anonymity reported to The Associated Press that a U.S. drone fired two missiles at a compound where suspected Taliban militants have gathered in a village near Mir Ali in North Waziristan. The compound was destroyed in the ensuing explosion, with eight bodies pulled from the rubble, according to the officials. Two other suspected militants were wounded in the attack, which occurred shortly after another strike in North Waziristan killed three militants and wounded four. The attacks are believed to have been held in an attempt to target insurgents who fled to Pakistan from the Afghan border region after army offensives escalated in the area. The attacks have raised concerns in the Pakistan government, who have stressed to the U.S. to consider the concerns of Pakistan while they focus on Afghanistan strategy. The government notes that more militants might be pressed into fleeing to Pakistan if more troops arrive in Afghanistan. http://www.ToTheCenter.com/news.php?readmore=11919 Cumbria has been hit hard by major flooding, forcing rescue workers to scramble to rescue as many trapped individuals as possible. Police officer Bill Barker, 45, may have become a victim himself after falling into the River Derwent when the overlying bridge was destroyed by flooding in Workington. According to police officials Barker, a roads policing officer, was directing motorists off the bridge when it collapsed. A body dressed in a police uniform was found by rescue teams Friday. Although the identity of the body has yet to be confirmed, Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Graham fears the worst. "I'm devastated by the events of the last few days and particularly the news this morning that one of our officers is unaccounted for," Graham said. "However, I am so proud of the way our communities and the emergency services are working together in the face of this crisis." http://www.ToTheCenter.com/news.php?readmore=11918 A Senate vote will be casted on Saturday night that will serve as the first hurdle for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s health care reform bill. In order for the bill to advance to the next step in the process, Senator Reid will need every Democratic and independent Senator to vote in favor of the legislation since Republicans will all but certainly oppose it unanimously. There are three moderate Democrats who are unsatisfied with various components of the bill, and Senator Reid is undergoing the process of trying to persuade them to vote in favor of the legislation, according to Mercury News. The three unidentified Democratic Senators have not announced whether or not they are leaning one way or another but the Senate Majority Leader is reportedly concerned due to the fact that if even one of the three decides to vote against the bill, his legislation would not be approved. One of the most controversial aspects of his bill is the public option that contains an opt-out clause. Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, who will vote in favor of the legislation on Saturday, has revealed his recommendation for the health care reform legislation. Senator Rockefeller seeks an amendment that would require the public plan to pay for hospitals and other health care providers based on Medicare rates. http://www.ToTheCenter.com/news.php?readmore=11917 It was revealed Wednesday night that a suicide terrorist attack occurred Peshawar, Pakistan courthouse that resulted in the tragic death of 19 people. The suicide attack was the tenth of its kind to occur over the past six weeks as retaliation from Taliban militants continues to terrorize Peshawar, Pakistan as a result of action that the Pakistani Army has been taking along the border of Afghanistan against terrorist forces, according to The Los Angeles Times. According to The Associated Press, another terrorist attack has occurred in Peshawar less than 24 hours later that has resulted in the death of two police officers. A bomb was set off that annihilated a police vehicle, wounded five and killed two others in the process. Mohammad Karim Khan, Pakistani police official, described the explosion by revealing information about the bomb itself. Khan said, “It was a remote-controlled bomb packed with steel pellets, which was planted on the roadside.” Three of the five people who were wounded by Thursday’s explosion were police officers as Taliban militants continue to follow their pattern of targeting Pakistani authority figures. The Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday morning that prior to today’s police vehicle bombing, 247 people had been killed in Peshawar since the militants began their path of destruction six weeks ago. http://www.ToTheCenter.com/news.php?readmore=11916 It was revealed on Thursday morning that those close to the situation believed that Rudolph Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, was not going to run for governor of New York City. An inside source has notified The New York Daily News that the speculation regarding Giuliani’s decision about running for governor was factual but that he is also primed to make his political intentions known for the immediate future. Giuliani will reportedly make a run for the U.S. Senate in 2010 against Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to complete the final two years of Hillary Clinton’s term. The inside source also told The New York Daily News that if Giuliani is elected to the U.S. Senate, he may opt to use it as a springboard to make a run at the White House in the 2012 presidential election. His close friend and former Staten Island Borough President Guy Molinari revealed his belief that Giuliani would be a superior fit in the U.S. Senate as opposed to the governor’s chair. Molinari gave his opinion about the former mayor of New York’s decision, stating, “He’s not running for the title [of governor], that’s for sure.” He also expressed his viewpoint about a potential Senate run by Giuliani by saying, “Some of us, including myself, feel like that would be a better fit because he could use his talents there almost immediately. You get the sense that he’d be a major player from day one [in the U.S. Senate].” http://www.ToTheCenter.com/news.php?readmore=11915 The World Health Organization revealed on Thursday that the deaths of 41 people who have passed away that received H1N1 flu shots did not die as a direct result of the influenza vaccine. The announcement was made by Marie-Paule Kieny, the World Health Organization Vaccines Chief, who specified that there are still further deaths that are being investigated amongst those who have passed away that received H1N1 flu vaccines. According to MSNBC.com, the number of deaths that still need to be investigated were not clarified by the World Health Organization but they did reveal that the 41 people that have been researched came from six different countries. Health experts are supporting the results from the investigation by stating that the H1N1 flu vaccine was made the same exact way that flu vaccines are usually created for the winter season. The World Health Organization’s Vaccine Chief announced the symptoms for those who suffer from side effects as a result of the vaccine by saying, "What we do see is a variety of local reactions, such as pain at the injection site, swelling, redness and reactions such as fever, headache, muscle pain or fatigue. Such reactions, which are common after flu shots, usually disappear after a day or two.” MSNBC is reporting that Kieny also clarified that just one out of 10,000 doses that are administered provides the aforementioned reaction and that just five out of 100 reactions are serious. http://www.ToTheCenter.com/news.php?readmore=11914 People who are well informed about the situation have come forward to declare that Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, has decided not to run for governor of New York in 2010. According to The New York Times, he has yet to make the decision official with a public announcement but that all indications are that he has come to a conclusion on the matter after seriously taking a potential candidacy into consideration. Republican politicians are allegedly devastated over Giuliani’s decision due to their optimism that he would have decisively defeated David Paterson in the 2010 election if he had decided to run for governor. Maria Comella, a spokeswoman for Giuliani, has announced that the reports that are currently circulating are premature. However, the multiple sources who have revealed Giuliani’s expected decision have spoken on the condition of anonymity due to a lack of authority, according to The New York Times. There has also been no specific reasoning provided as to why Giuliani decided not to run for governor. However, early speculation indicates that the former mayor of New York City was hesitant about potentially going up against Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who reportedly intends to run for the position. Attorney General Cuomo is widely regarded as the strongest potential candidate in the race due to his popularity in New York as well as the steadily declining approval ratings of incumbent governor of New York, David Paterson. http://www.ToTheCenter.com/news.php?readmore=11913 According to The Associated Press, the daughter of former Democratic Presidential candidate and current Senator of Massachusetts, John Kerry, was arrested on Thursday morning in Hollywood, California and she has been charged with driving under the influence. Los Angeles police sergeant Enrique Mendoza released a brief statement about Alexandra Kerry’s arrest, stating, “She was stopped by officers for a DUI investigation. She was brought to the Hollywood station where she was booked. She identified herself as Senator Kerry's daughter.” Another official from the Los Angeles Police Department, police officer Bruce Borihanh, has revealed that Alexandra Kerry had been booked at the police station at midnight on Thursday morning and that she was released from jail at 5:25 A.M. after she managed to post bail, which had been set at $5,000. A court date has been scheduled for December 10th where the case will be resolved, according to People.com. Alexandra Kerry is a director, producer and actor who has been featured in a plethora of small-time acting roles and has produced numerous documentaries. The Associated Press is reporting that no comment has been provided in response to Alexandra Kerry’s arrest from her agent or from her father. Senator Kerry ran for President during the 2004 elections when he was defeated by incumbent U.S. President George W. Bush.