Obama appeals for public support on health care

Washington, Mar 09: President Barack Obama accused insurance companies of placing profits over people as he sought to build public support Monday for swift passage of health care legislation stalled in Congress. “Let’s seize reform, the need is great,” Obama said at an appearance that had the feel of a campaign rally.Obama’s pitch in this Philadelphia suburb, along with a stop in St Louis on Wednesday, comes as the president begins an all-out effort to pass his health care proposals. The next two weeks will prove decisive, with the White House pushing for a vote in the House of Representatives by 18th March, when Obama leaves for an Asia trip.

“How much higher do premiums have to rise before we do something about it?” Obama asked at Monday’s appearance.The United States is the only developed nation that does not have a comprehensive national health care plan for all its citizens. About 50 million of America’s 300 million people are without health insurance. Most of those who are insured rely on their employers for coverage.The president said dismissively that Republican critics in Congress say they want to do something about rising health care costs, but said they did not when they held power.“You had 10 years. What happened. What were you doing?” he said to applause from an audience at Arcadia University.

Obama made his appeal as Democratic leaders in Congress worked on a rescue plan for sweeping changes in health care that seemed earlier in the year to be on the brink of passage.

The two-step approach calls for the House to approve a Senate-passed bill despite opposition to several of its provisions, and both houses to follow immediately with a companion measure that makes a series of changes.

Ban Ki-moon writes to military junta to release Suu Kyi

Beijing, Mar 09: With the elections in Myanmar likely to take place later this year, UN Chief Ban Ki-moon has asked for the release of all political prisoners including detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. In a letter to top leader, Senior General Than Shwe, the Secretary-General emphasised that without the participation of all parties the elections will not be inclusive.

“Most importantly, all the political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, should be released as soon as possible, so that all of them can take part in elections. That would make the elections inclusive and credible,” Ban told journalists in United Nations, noting that the letter was sent ten days ago.  “I repeatedly emphasised that without the participation of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all key political prisoners, the elections would not be inclusive,” he added.

No date for the poll has been set, but the ruling generals have promised that it will be sometime this year. Critics say the elections, the first to be held in Burma for 20 years, will be a sham designed to entrench the military’s grip on power.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi, 64, has been under detention for most of the past two past decades. She is the leader of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), which won the national elections in 1990.

In February, the United Nations’ special envoy on human rights in Burma,Tomas Ojea Quintana, was again denied a meeting Suu Kyi. Last year, Suu Kyi , was sentenced to 18 months of house detention for violating terms of her detention after an uninvited American swam ashore to her house where she was already being held.

Her lawyer appealed against the decision in November, and now turning down her appeal will prevent her from running in the first elections in almost 20 years scheduled for 2010.

Last month, Tin Oo, 82, the deputy leader of the NLD was released after six years in detention.

Ban underlined that the letter to General Than underlined the “lack of progress” being made and the need for elections to be carried out in an inclusive manner.

“For that purpose, there should be administrative measures taken,” he said.

Regarding the recent announcement of election laws by the regime, Ban said, “That is what I had been urging the Myanmar authorities to do as soon as possible”.

On Tuesday, Myanmar released the first of five of these laws by announcing the criteria of the forming of an election commission.

Ban Ki-moon writes to military junta to release Suu Kyi

Beijing, Mar 09: With the elections in Myanmar likely to take place later this year, UN Chief Ban Ki-moon has asked for the release of all political prisoners including detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

In a letter to top leader, Senior General Than Shwe, the Secretary-General emphasised that without the participation of all parties the elections will not be inclusive.

“Most importantly, all the political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, should be released as soon as possible, so that all of them can take part in elections. That would make the elections inclusive and credible,” Ban told journalists in United Nations, noting that the letter was sent ten days ago.  “I repeatedly emphasised that without the participation of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all key political prisoners, the elections would not be inclusive,” he added.

No date for the poll has been set, but the ruling generals have promised that it will be sometime this year.

Critics say the elections, the first to be held in Burma for 20 years, will be a sham designed to entrench the military’s grip on power.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi, 64, has been under detention for most of the past two past decades.

She is the leader of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), which won the national elections in 1990.

In February, the United Nations’ special envoy on human rights in Burma,Tomas Ojea Quintana, was again denied a meeting Suu Kyi.

Last year, Suu Kyi , was sentenced to 18 months of house detention for violating terms of her detention after an uninvited American swam ashore to her house where she was already being held.

Her lawyer appealed against the decision in November, and now turning down her appeal will prevent her from running in the first elections in almost 20 years scheduled for 2010.

Last month, Tin Oo, 82, the deputy leader of the NLD was released after six years in detention.

Ban underlined that the letter to General Than underlined the “lack of progress” being made and the need for elections to be carried out in an inclusive manner.

“For that purpose, there should be administrative measures taken,” he said.

Regarding the recent announcement of election laws by the regime, Ban said, “That is what I had been urging the Myanmar authorities to do as soon as possible”.

On Tuesday, Myanmar released the first of five of these laws by announcing the criteria of the forming of an election commission.

Foreign Secretary Rao to visit US next week

Washington, Mar 9 (PTI): Ways to expand bilateral high- technology trade and regional and global issues of mutual interest will figure in talks Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will have with top officials of the Obama Administration during her six-day visit to the US next week. Rao, who would embark on the visit to Washington and New York on March 14, will co-chair the seventh meeting of the India–US High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG) with Dennis F Hightower, Deputy Secretary of Commerce, on March 15-16. This is the first meeting of the HTCG after the Obama administration assumed office in January last year. Both sides hope to consolidate the progress made in the last five years and move ahead to significantly expand bilateral trade in strategic and high technology areas, the spokesperson of the Indian mission here said.

The HTCG was formed in 2002 to provide a forum to discuss bilateral high-technology trade issues and build the confidence necessary to facilitate trade in sensitive items. On March 15, the US-India Business Council (USIBC) will host the industry dialogue here in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).The meeting will give the US and Indian industry representatives an opportunity to discuss ways in which the two governments can facilitate trade in specific industry sectors and make suggestions. These industry suggestions are expected to provide substantive input for bilateral government meetings the following day. Apart from meetings in the Commerce Department, the Foreign Secretary will hold talks with other senior members of the Administration as well as the US Congress during her stay in Washington, the spokesperson said. India and the US had agreed on establishing a Strategic Dialogue to be co-chaired by the External Affairs Minister and the US Secretary of State and also on a revised Dialogue Architecture last year during the visit of Hillary Clinton to India. Rao, in her meetings in the State Department, will review the progress made on various elements of the revised dialogue architecture and also discuss the way ahead in preparation for the visit of External Affairs Minister S M Krishna to the US later this year for the next round of Strategic Dialogue. Regional and global issues of mutual interest would also figure in these talks, the official said.

Husain applies for Overseas Citizen of India card

Dubai, Mar 9 (PTI) :Famed painter M F Husain may have quit his Indian citizenship, but he does not want to snap his links with the country of his birth and has applied for an Overseas Citizenship identity. “India is my motherland and I simply cannot leave that country. What I have surrendered is just a piece of paper,” Husain, revered by many as India’s Picasso, was quoted by the local media as saying, a day after he surrendered his Indian passport in Doha.

“I will continue to travel to India and have applied for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card as Indian law does not permit its citizens to hold dual citizenship. I’m here to fulfil my professional commitments and I’m grateful that Qatar came to my support,” said the 95-year-old painter, whose decision to quit his Indian citizenship has caused dismay and cynicism in equal measures among Indians in the Gulf. “It’s a great loss for the country, especially the so-called secular government, who could not protect a national treasure for exercising freedom of expression,” said Jyotika Khemchandani, a marketing professional here. “It’s a shame on Indian democracy. Husain sahib hasbeen denied justice and freedom of expression. Indian government should apologise to him for being ignorant about his security and his rights,” said Munawwar Ali Khan, assistant professor of biotechnology at a local university.  However, an official at the Indian embassy, who choose to remain anonymous, expressed regret over the entire episode.

“I have seen some of his controversial paintings on the web. I just don’t understand what was the need for him to do such paintings. The entire situation could have been avoided,” he said. Another Indian national, Iftikhar Ahmad, said that Husain’s decision should be seen in the context of the hassles he might have faced as a resident in India. “Qatari citizenship is nothing but an enabling factor to his creative urge and in no way dilutes his Indianness. Artists by nature need patrons and Qatar is good at that,” he said. Asked if the Indian mission had advised him against surrendering his passport in the wake of Home Minister P Chidambaram’s recent plea for him to return to his home country, Husain replied in the negative. “She (Indian ambassador to Qatar Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa) is such a gracious lady. I could read her pain from her face when I surrendered the document,” he said.

Victims of Nigeria’s riots buried;Christians threaten reprisal

Abuja, Mar 9 (PTI) Corpses of the victims of communal riots have been buried in mass graves in the northern Nigerian city of Jos where attackers killed more than 500 people in a weekend attack, even as Christian leaders in a Southern state have threatened reprisal against the killers.

Machete-wielding and gun totting marauders besieged a village close to Jos early Sunday morning and shot into the air thereby attracting villagers mostly Christians.

They shot and killed the villagers mostly children and women when they tried to escape their onslaught. Nigerian police said they have arrested 19 of the suspected attackers just as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has called for maximum restraint by quarrelling factions in

the city. Jos, located 350 km northeast of Nigerian capital Abuja, has witnessed several violence in the past leading to loss of hundreds of lives with the latest being in January this year when 500 people died in the communal riots. Acting president Goodluck Jonathan had issued a statement declaring a security red alert and ordered troops deployment to quell violence in the city. The attackers are suspected to be Fulani ethnic herdsmen who wanted to revenge the January killing in Jos where Muslims were said to be the larger number of the victims.

The city is populated by ethnic Berom who are often referred to as indigenes and the Hausa-Fulani group seen as settlers. Struggle for cultivable land and political power are usually behind the killings. Meanwhile, a South-eastern Nigeria Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria has threatened reprisal if the Nigerian government fails to find solution to the attacks. State Chairman of CAN Bishop Cletus Bassey said: “Federal Government of Nigeria owe the citizens of this nation an explanation of what has happened to the different committees that were set up at different time where these issues (crises) that had repeated themselves.” In January, a similar crisis led to the death of more than 300 persons and thousands were displaced. The Nigerian government is still investigating the cause of the January crisis.

The two out break of violence occurred in the absence of the country’s president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who was flown back home from Saudi Arabia where he went to receive medical treatment. Nobody has seen him in public since then and his arrival was preceded by the endorsement of Goodluck as acting president. The acting president faces a big challenge to restore peace in a state that is divided between Northern Muslim settlers and the Berom indigenes who perceive them as power hungry.

India, Russia to sign agreement for development of FGFA

Moscow, Mar 9 (PTI): India and Russia are expected to sign the first of a series of agreements for the development of fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) to meet futuristic requirements of the Indian Air Force during Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi later this week.“We expect to ink the agreement for the development of FGFA design and its technical parameters after March 10,” sources in the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) said. The comments come ahead of Putin’s two-day visit to New Delhi begining Thursday. The twin-stick two seater version of the futuristic multi-role fighter jet for the IAF would be developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and ‘Sukhoi’ Corporation, which is part of the Russian integrated aircraft manufacturer UAC on the parity basis. “India would be the only partner in the FGFA project and the two sides have agreed to share the proceeds from the sale of the fighters to third countries keeping in view their intellectual property rights,” the sources said.

The design of the FGFA for IAF would be based on Sukhoi’s T-50 PAK FA technology demonstrator, which after making its maiden flight on January 29 is beginning a series of trials. According to local media reports, the cost of the project would be around USD 8-10 billion and would be shared by India and Russia on parity basis. The aircraft would carry a price tag of USD 85-100 million and would be available in the global market after India and Russia meet their initial requirements.

Gyanendra endorses campaign to restore Nepal as Hindu state

Kathmandu, Mar 9 (PTI) :Nepal’s dethroned king has come out in support of a campaign to restore the country as a Hindu state at rare public appearance near the world famous Pashupatinath temple in the capital. 64-year-old Gyanendra and former queen Komal went to the Bankali forest area near Pashupatinath yesterday where Kali Baba, a popular saint in the country, has been conducting a ‘Maha Yagnya’, a ritual to restore Hinduism as the state religion in Nepal. Nepal was converted into a secular state three years ago by the Parliament.

The former monarch also took part in the ritual as per the Hindu tradition on the occasion, according to eye-witnesses.

The former monarch was greeted with cheers by the large crowd when he arrived at the temple. Wearing garlands, Gyanendra spoke to the media briefly, saying Nepal should be restored as a Hindu state as per people’s desire. “I will extend my support to the campaign if Nepalese people want to restore the Hindu state status, he said.

The ‘Sahasra Rudrachandi yajna’ by Kali Baba from March 1. It has been drawing thousands of Hindu devotees including senior politicians and ministers. Kali Baba has announced that he would sacrifice his life if Hindu state status is not restored within the next nine days.

Israel calls for ‘direct dialogue’ with the Palestinians

Israel, Mar 09: Israel has asked United Nations Secretary-General Chief Ban Ki-moon to persuade Palestinians to engage in “direct dialogue” with it so that the peace talks can be resumed. “Israel would like to resume the negotiations directly, immediately,” Israel’s Vice Prime Minister Shalom told journalists in United Nations after meeting Ban.

During the meeting, Shalom underlined that Israel recommended the Quartet to call on the Palestinians to accept direct talks. The Quartet is the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations with former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, as its current special envoy.

It is scheduled to meet in Moscow on 19th March. “We would like to move to direct dialogue immediately and I hope the Secretary-General will convince his partners in the Quartet in Moscow to ask the Palestinians to come in order to move to direct dialogue,” Shalom said.

Ban also expressed hope that the meeting in Moscow would “lead to direct negotiations between the parties.” The peace talks have been stalled since Israel attacked the Gaza strip in Operation Cast Lead, which was a military offensive carried out by the Israeli Defense Forces on the Gaza strop between December 2008 to January 2009, which claimed the lives of 1400 Palestinians as well as 13 Israelis. On Monday, the Palestinians agreed to US-backed “indirect talks” or “proximity talks.” Shalom said, “After one year unfortunately that we lost. we are happy that the Palestinians took the decision. They were looking at the backing and support of the Arab League.”

On the Gaza front, Shalom stressed that dialogue with Hamas was not possible until Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit who was captured in 2006 by the militants, was released.

“We don’t have any (issues) with the Palestinians themselves. Of course with the Hamas is different,” Shalom said, noting that the government could not deal with Hamas that governs Gaza in a manner similar to dealing with Fatah that hold power in the West Bank.

The United Nations has repeatedly called on Israel to end its blockade of Gaza, warning of a humanitarian disaster since basic materials could reach the Palestinians.

Shalom emphasised here that hundreds of trucks were being allowed into Gaza.

“Hundred of trucks are coming on a daily basis into Gaza with all kinds of products,” he said.

The January report of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says a total of 2,062 truckloads of goods entered Gaza, a 21 percent decline compared to the number of truckloads that entered in December 2009.