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Obama urges swift Sotomayor approval

WASHINGTON, May 30 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama called Saturday for a swift confirmation process for Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor.

In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama urged the Congress, which returns from recess next week, to begin Sotomayor's confirmation hearings "without delay" minus the "political posturing and ideological brinksmanship that has bogged down this process, and Congress, in the past."

"Judge Sotomayor ought to be on the bench when the Supreme Court decides what cases to hear this year and I'm calling on Democrats and Republicans to be thorough, and timely in dealing with this nomination," Obama said, adding that he's "confident" the 54-year-old federal appeals court judge will be confirmed despite efforts by unnamed opponents to "(play) the usual political games, pulling a few comments out of context to paint a distorted picture of Judge Sotomayor's record."

A 2001 remark in which she said a Latina judge could reach a "better conclusion" than a white male judge who hasn't had the same experiences has resulted in heavy criticism of Sotomayor from Republican opponents, but in his address Obama asserted she is in fact "unbiased."

"Her record makes clear that she is fair, unbiased, and dedicated to the rule of law," the president said.

Gates warns N. Korea against nuclear sales

SINGAPORE, May 30 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates gave North Korea a strong warning Saturday against transferring nuclear technology to other "states or non-state entities."

In a speech at a meeting of Asian defense ministers in Singapore, Gates suggested the United States would respond with military force, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"The transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United States and our allies," Gates said. "And we would hold North Korea fully accountable for the consequences of such action." Gates said the Obama administration is willing to talk to North Korea.

"The United States and our allies are open to dialogue, but we will not bend to pressure or provocation," he said. "And on this count, North Korea's latest reply to our overtures isn't exactly something we would characterize as helpful or constructive."

The speech may also have been a warning to countries that might try to buy nuclear technology from North Korea, which is believed to have had dealings in the past with Libya, Syria and Iran, the report said.

Iran hangs three for mosque bombing

ZAHEDAN, Iran, May 30 (UPI) -- Three men already jailed for other attacks were executed Saturday for planning this week's deadly suicide bombing at an Iranian mosque, officials in Tehran say.

The official Iranian Republic News Agency IRNA said the men were hanged Saturday morning near the site of the Thursday mosque attack in the predominantly Sunni Arab southeastern Iran city of Zahedan. Nineteen people died when a bomber infiltrated the Shiite facility and blew himself up, the BBC reported.

The Sunni militant group Jundallah claimed responsibility for the attack, with a spokesman telling Saudi-owned TV channel Al-Arabiya the bomber was targeting a high-level meeting of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards being held inside, the British broadcaster said.

IRNA said the three hanged men, who had been imprisoned in connection with other attacks, "confessed to illegally bringing explosives into Iran and giving them to the main person behind the bombing."

Aussie 'swine flu ship' allowed to dock

BRISBANE, Australia, May 30 (UPI) -- Eighty-three passengers disembarked in Australia Saturday from the "swine flu ship" Pacific Dawn after it was allowed to dock in Brisbane, officials said.

The cruise ship passengers were kept away from the public at the Port of Brisbane and were to be taken by special buses to deliver them to their homes or to the city's airport, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Queensland state officials declared an emergency allowing it to overrule the objections of the port's cruise ship terminal operator, who reportedly didn't want to allow P&O Cruises Pacific Dawn, which is operated by Carnival Australia, to dock there after three crew members tested positive for the H1N1 swine flu virus and a handful of passengers exhibited flu-like symptoms.

The ship has been stranded in Moreton Bay.

"It was necessary to ensure the cooperation of the port operator, they were reluctant to allow the vessel to berth here," Health Minister and Deputy Premier Paul Lucas told the Morning Herald. "They wanted conditions such as special indemnity for themselves that we determined not to be appropriate, and in the situation I declared a public health emergency."

The BBC reported that all 2,000 passengers and several hundred crew members will be screened for swine flu.