Obama to Deliver Major Speech on Changes in Mideast, N. Africa
President Barack Obama delivers a major address Thursday about historic changes in the Middle East and North Africa, and their impact on U.S. policy toward the region. The address comes as the U.S. stepped up pressure on Syria's government in response to its crackdown on protesters, and urged faster movement toward political transition in Yemen.
The speech will be broad in scope, as Mr. Obama focuses on the peaceful democratic movements for change that have swept the region, discusses implications for U.S. policy, and offers what administration officials call some concrete policy proposals.
He will give his assessment of the impact of popular uprisings that have led to political changes in Egypt and Tunisia, and which continue in places like Syria, Libya and Yemen.
Senior administration officials say Mr. Obama will speak of a moment of opportunity, after a decade of great tensions and divisions, in which people of the region and U.S. policy can begin to turn the page toward a more positive and hopeful future.
The stalemated Israel-Palestinian peace process will be an important element. However, Mr. Obama is expected to frame it as part of a wider picture and say that leaders on both sides of that conflict should seize an opportunity for peace.
Speaking to reporters this week, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said that where Mideast peace efforts are concerned, Mr. Obama will not say that this is a "now or never" moment, but will make the case that change generally must be embraced by all in the region.
"While change can be unsettling, it can even be scary because we don't always know where it is headed, it is something in this case to be embraced, because the opportunity is there to help shape a better future for the region and for the world," Carney said.
President Obama's address, to be delivered at the State Department, comes as the U.S. and other countries step up pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in response to his government's bloody crackdown against protesters.
Mr. Obama has signed an executive order freezing assets of Mr. Assad and six other Syrian officials in American financial institutions. Similar sanctions were imposed on Libyan leader Colonel Moammar Gadhafi as a means of pressuring him to give up power.
Not known is whether President Obama will specifically call on the Syrian leader to step down. But on the eve of the speech, the White House pointed reporters to remarks by a senior administration official discussing new sanctions targeting Mr. Assad. "President Assad has a clear choice: it's either lead this transition to democracy, or to leave," the official said.
On the eve of the address, the U.S stepped up pressure on Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was urged by Mr. Obama's counter terrorism advisor, John Brennan to move forward immediately with political transition.
Senior administration officials also outlined another key aspect of President Obama's speech, involving a series of initiatives focused initially on Egypt and Tunisia, to support economic modernization, reform, and stability.
President Obama is expected to outline a combination of debt relief and investment steps. Officials say these would amount initially to about $1 billion with an additional $1 billion in loan guarentees, along with additional financing from multilateral development banks.
As he speaks about the potential of the Middle East and North Africa, President Obama is also expected to draw a contrast between the violent ideology of al-Qaida, and democratic aspirations of peaceful protesters.
Speaking about the U.S. killing of Osama bin-Laden recently, Mr. Obama's national security advisor Tom Donilon said al-Qaida's faces a real challenge from the popular uprising known as the Arab Spring.
"The Arab Spring presents al-Qaida with a potent ideological challenge. For its entire existence, al-Qaida's message has been that violence is the only path forward. It has never had an affirmative program, which speaks to the aspirations of people in the Middle East, and it could not have been further removed from or relevant to those who came to Tahrir Square this past January," Donilon said.
The day after President Obama's address, he welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu back to the White House to discuss ways to end the deadlock in Palestinian-Israel peace efforts.
Israel and Palestinians continue to accuse each other of responsibility for stalemate, caused among other things by Israel's settlement policy in the occupied West Bank, and exacerbated by the recent political unity pact between the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas.
White House officials have sought to downplay descriptions of Mr. Obama's address as being merely an update of his 2009 speech in Cairo delivered about six months into his presidency in which Mr. Obama called for a "new beginning" between the United States and Muslims around the world.
White House officials say Thursday's address, amid the Arab Spring, will be Mr. Obama's effort to explain to the region and the world what U.S. values and principles are and how these will be applied in supporting the democratic aspirations of the people in the region.
Al-Qaida Releases Posthumous bin Laden Audio
Al-Qaida has released an audio recording by Osama bin Laden made just days before his death.
A U.S.-based monitoring service, SITE, said Wednesday that in the audio, the al-Qaida former leader praises revolutions sweeping the Middle East and North Africa and expresses joy at the victory of uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
In the tape, bin Laden addresses the revolutions and offers advice and guidance.
U.S. special forces killed bin Laden on May 2 in a raid on his compound in northern Pakistani garrison city of Abbottabad.
Strauss-Kahn arrest: IMF boss faces new bail hearing
International Monetary Fund (IMF) head Dominique Strauss-Kahn will make a new plea for bail at a court hearing on Thursday morning, his lawyer says.
Mr Strauss-Kahn, 62, faces a number of charges in the alleged sexual assault of a hotel maid in New York and was denied bail on Monday.
Mr Strauss-Kahn, on suicide watch at New York's infamous Rikers Island prison, denies all the charges.
The maid, 32, has said she is "scared" but will testify against him.
Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said the new bail hearing would be in Manhattan on Thursday morning.
The IMF chief faces charges of committing a criminal sexual act, attempted rape, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment and forcible touching.
On Monday a judge in New York denied Mr Strauss-Kahn bail - despite the offer of a $1m (£618,000) guarantee - saying there was a risk the IMF chief would flee the country. France and the US have no extradition agreement.
The BBC's Laura Trevelyan in New York says the defence will offer a new package that they hope will convince the judge that Mr Strauss-Kahn will not try to flee while he prepares his defence.
That could include Mr Strauss-Kahn offering to wear an electronic ankle tag, surrendering his passport and living under very restrictive conditions, our correspondent says.
'Scared and incredulous'
Earlier on Wednesday the maid's lawyer, Jeffrey Shapiro, said that his client feared for herself and her daughter when she discovered Mr Strauss-Kahn's identity a day after the incident on 14 May.
He said she had only become aware of Mr Strauss-Kahn's identity "a day later when a friend called her to tell her, 'do you have any idea who this man is who did this to you?'".
Mr Shapiro said his client was "scared and incredulous".
"When she found out this encounter was with a man of great power and wealth she feared not only for herself but more importantly for her daughter."
The woman had now been reunited with her 15-year-old daughter in a "safe place", he added.
Mr Shapiro said she had tried to return to her home - a sub-let flat in the Bronx - but had found about 30 people waiting outside.
He said: "She has been in a whirlwind since this has taken place... She has not had a moment of peace, has not been able to return home or seek help.
"She doesn't know what her future will bring."
Carpet examined
Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said on Monday that the defence believes the forensic evidence "will not be consistent with a forcible encounter".
However, Mr Shapiro said there was "nothing consensual about what took place in that hotel room" in New York.
Police have removed a piece of carpet from the Sofitel hotel, in search of evidence to support the maid's allegation she was forced into an act of oral sex.
Mr Shapiro told NBC television that his client was expected to testify before a grand jury later on Wednesday.
The maid, from the West African nation of Guinea, told police that when she entered the hotel room, Mr Strauss-Kahn came out of the bathroom naked, chased her down and sexually assaulted her before she broke free and fled.
Mr Strauss-Kahn, one of France's most high-profile politicians, has been seen as a front-runner in next year's presidential elections. His arrest has shocked France.
His wife, former French TV interviewer Anne Sinclair, is thought to be visiting him in the next two days.
Public opinion in France appears still to be backing Mr Strauss-Kahn, with polls suggesting many people believe he was the victim of a conspiracy - an accusation strongly denied by the accuser's lawyer, Mr Shapiro.
China 'will not match' US military power - general
China has no intention to match US military power, a top Chinese general has said.
Speaking in Washington, Gen Chen Bingde said America's armed forces remained far more advanced than China's despite considerable progress by China in recent years.
But Gen Chen warned that further US arms sales to Taiwan could damage US-China military relations.
China regards Taiwan as a renegade province that must be reunited.
'Gaping gap'
"China never intends to challenge the US," Gen Chen, chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, said at the National Defense University during his week-long visit to the US.
"Although China's defence and military development has come a long way in recent years, a gaping gap between you and us remains."
But Gen Chen warned that US-Chinese relations would suffer if Washington again sold weapons to Taiwan.
"As to how bad the impact will be, it will depend on the nature of the weapons sold to Taiwan," he said.
Last year, Beijing cut off most military-to-military contacts with the US after Washington announced more than $6bn (£4bn) arms sales to Taipei.
Gen Chen's visit to the US has drawn a strongly favourable press in China - a signal of the importance that the Chinese authorities are now placing on better military ties, the BBC's defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus says.
But there should be no illusions, our correspondent says, as superficial harmony inevitably masks significant underlying tensions.
The aim of China's extensive military modernisation, he adds, is to extend its military reach well beyond its own shores and to potentially neutralise weapons systems where the US has a dominant advantage.
Japan’s Economy Shrinking at 4% Annual Rate
Japan says its economy shrank at an annual rate of nearly 4 percent during the first three months of the year, as the country struggles to recover from the March earthquake and tsunami.
Japan's gross domestic product — the total of all goods and services — fell a little less than 1 percent from January through March. It was the second straight quarterly drop, meaning that Japan technically is in a recession.
The March disasters knocked out production at many Japanese factories and severely disrupted the supply chain so that factories still able to operate could not get parts.
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan says nuclear power still will be a part of Japan's future. Mr. Kan said Wednesday that nuclear reactors deemed to be safe will be put into use. But he also said Japan must explore renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power.
The earthquake and tsunami severely damaged the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The disasters knocked out the plant's cooling system and caused a radiation leak.
Prime Minister Kan also said the government has to rethink how nuclear power is regulated. Critics say regulators need more independence from the nuclear industry.
World Hypertension Day Celebration
World Health Organization (WHO) attributes Hypertension or high blood pressure as the leading cause of cardiovascular deaths. The theme for World Hypertension Day, May 17th, 2011 is “Know Your Numbers and Target Your Blood Pressure”. This silent killer, high blood pressure (Hypertension) has no specific symptoms and is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure is elevated or high. “Globally, over 1.5 billion people suffer from hypertension and 7 million people die each year.
World Hypertension Day aims to highlight the complications of high blood pressure such as stroke, heart and kidney diseases and to communicate to the public information on prevention, detection and early treatment of high blood pressure.
Predisposing factors or factors that make you more likely to develop high blood pressure are being over weight, having a family history of hypertension, being black or of African decent and lack of physical activity. High consumption of sodium in our foods is also a major cause of hypertension in about 3 of 10 adults. Sodium or in other words SALT – can literally be a fatal attraction! Currently, about 80% of the sodium we consume comes from packaged, restaurant and fast foods.
Today we encourage each and everyone within the Turks and Caicos Islands and beyond to get your blood pressure checked, „Know Your Numbers and Target Your Blood Pressure”. As a matter of priority, visit our Primary Health Clinics throughout the islands and have your blood pressure checked.
Some helpful tips to remember:
Maintain your blood pressure; keep your weight in check......
Eat a rainbow of colours. Increase your fruit and vegetable intake.
Eat fruit and nuts in their natural form as a snack.
Be physically active. Try walking, biking, or swimming for 30 to 60 minutes on
most days.
Cut down on foods such as cheese, chips, bacon, table sauces, coated chicken,
salted nuts and canned meats.
Eat fewer processed and fast foods like cookies, breakfast cereals, bread, burgers,
cakes, pies and pizza.
Be food label conscious – get to know what you are eating.
Don‟t skip meals. Eat three adequate meals a day.
Reducing your portion size and avoiding unnecessary carbohydrates is an easy way to cut back without feeling deprived.
If you drink, do not have more than two alcoholic drinks a day and Quit smoking.
Manage stress levels.
For those who may be affected by hypertension already; we must control it!
Measure your blood pressure regularly.
If it is high, see your health care provider to get an assessment.
If you are currently on medication, be sure to take your medications regularly,
and consult your doctor about losing weight.
Reduce your sodium intake as much as possible.
Don‟t add extra salt when cooking and leave the salt shaker off the dinner table.
Try using fresh herbs and dried spices instead of salt.
Instead of buying ready made sauces laden with sodium have fun making your
own sauce.
Read food labels on products for sodium content.
Manage stress levels
The National Health Planning and Promotion Unit and by extension the Ministry of Health and Human Services encourages the public to appreciate the importance of health screening such as blood pressure and weight checks and have yours measured today.
World Hypertension Day 2011; Know Your Numbers and Target Your Blood Pressure.
St Kitts-Nevis seeing signs of economic recovery, says PM
St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas says there are signs of economic recovery in the twin-island Federation.
Addressing over 500 delegates, officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps and invited guests at the 79th annual conference of his governing St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party on Sunday, the national Labour Party leader and prime minister said the past few years have been very challenging.He noted, however, his government is already seeing signs that decisive policy actions will bring substantial long-term benefits for the Federation.
“We have had to use all our skills and experience to keep the ship of state on course, in very turbulent waters. It has not been easy and we know that our people have been called upon to make significant sacrifices but I am convinced that these sacrifices are well worth it,” said Douglas.
“We have had to introduce VAT to stabilize our public finances that was so badly affected by the global recession. At the same time, we have had to streamline the operations of public corporations with a view to enhancing their efficiency and reducing their claims on scarce financial resources of the central government. Moreover, we were forced to restructure the very generous subsidies that we provided to electricity consumers in our Federation. This has combined with increases in commodity prices all over the face of the globe, to increase our inflation rate and create new challenges for our households,” he said.
“It is very clear, however, that our actions have helped to avert a potential crisis that could have been far more devastating on our people. Moreover, we are already seeing signs that our decisive policy actions will bring substantial long-term benefits for our Federation,” said Douglas.
He disclosed that earlier this year the government’s bank overdraft account which, at times, has reached hundreds of millions of dollars, was in the black, indicating that for the first time in many years, the government recorded a positive bank balance.
“We are also pleased that the St Kitts Air and Sea Ports Authority is now reporting monthly profits after a prolonged period of losses and negative cash flows,” said the prime minister.
Douglas said that it is not surprising therefore that the IMF has projected, in its April 2011 Regional Economic Outlook, that for 2011 the primary surplus could reach 2.9 percent of GDP which would be substantially higher than the average of 1 percent projected for the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union.
“At the same time, it is expected that economic growth will pick up and reach 1.5 percent in 2011. We believe that as global conditions improve, our policy initiatives will yield even greater benefits and will set the stage for a sustained reduction in national debt,” said Douglas.
Investigation to be launched in Trinidad into $27m Caribbean Airlines contract
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said an investigation will be launched into allegations that a $27 million Caribbean Airlines (CAL) contract was awarded to an insurance firm, to which CAL chairman George Nicholas has ties.
“I do not know anything more than what is in the newspapers... I saw the headline, but I did not get a chance to read the story so it would be inappropriate to comment on that now,” Persad-Bissessar said on Sunday.
She said, however, that Transport Minister Jack Warner would investigate the matter.
The prime minister said she was awaiting a written report on the CAL Board from the Finance and General Purposes Committee.
“The committee has not yet given me a written report, I guess because they have so many matters that seem to be important,” she said. “The board continues to function until such time as that report comes and a decision is taken.”
The Sunday Guardian reported that a three-year contract to provide employment benefits, brokerage and consulting services at CAL was awarded to CIC Insurance Brokers, a subsidiary of CIC Holdings, on February 4. Issa Nicholas Holdings Limited, CIC’s fifth largest shareholder, is owned by Nicholas’ father. He is also a director of the company.
The report stated Nicholas, vice-chairman Mohan Jaikaran, and directors Allan Clovis and Gizelle Russell, were at the tenders committee meeting with insurance manager Ronald Sukhbir and human resources manager Charmaine Heslop Da Costa, when CIC was shortlisted. It is also alleged that WINTV, a local television station owned and operated by Jaikaran, had received a significant number of advertising contracts from the airline.
Persad Bissessar said, “I will certainly ask the line minister to look into the matter.”
Former foreign minister of Chile chosen as next UN envoy for Haiti
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday appointed Mariano Fernández, a former foreign minister from Chile, as his next Special Representative for Haiti and head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Caribbean nation.
Fernández will succeed Edmond Mulet of Guatemala at the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), according to a statement released by Ban’s spokesperson.
In the statement, Ban expressed his deep appreciation to Mulet – who will complete his assignment on 31 May – for his contribution to UN efforts in Haiti in the wake of last year’s catastrophic earthquake.
Fernández was Chile’s foreign minister between 2009 and 2010. He also worked as his country’s ambassador to the United States, United Kingdom, Spain and Italy and in the Chilean Mission to the European Union. Between 2003 and 2007, Fernández also acted as Chile’s Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission.
Between 1974 and 1982, during a period of military rule in Chile, Fernández was exiled in Germany, where he worked as a magazine editor, among other jobs.
The new appointment was announced two days after Michel Martelly was sworn in as the new president of Haiti at a ceremony in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
War Crimes Prosecutors Seek Gadhafi's Arrest
In asking for the arrest warrants, Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said the evidence is clear: Moammar Gadhafi personally ordered the attacks on unarmed civilians that have been taking place since the uprising began in mid-February.
"He committed crimes with the goal of preserving authority. He has absolute authority. He uses that authority to commit crimes," said Ocampo.
Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo said Mr. Gadhafi ruled through fear, that his security forces opened fire onto demonstrators, used heavy artillery on funeral processions, and used snipers to shoot worshippers leaving mosques.
But Mr. Gadhafi, on his way to deliver a speech to his supporters in Tripoli, refuted the charges, saying there were absolutely no protests in Libya, and no firing on protesters because armed gangs related to Al-Qaida do not appear on streets and do not make protests.
The prosecutor said Colonel Gadhafi couldn’t do it without the help of what he called the colonel’s inner circle: his second oldest son, Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, who he called the de facto prime minister. And his brother-in-law, Abdullah al-Sanousi, his right-hand man and head of Libya’s military intelligence. The prosecutor says he has evidence that the three men held meetings to plan the attacks.
Prosecutors have had a lot of help in their two-month long Libya investigation - the court’s quickest to date.
The international police agency Interpol and Libyans who have left the country have all provided evidence.
Prosecutors say they’ve interviewed 50 people - including insiders and eyewitnesses - and have reviewed about 1,200 documents, and are almost ready for trial. But first, judges will have to decide whether or not there’s enough evidence to issue the arrest warrants. They have three months to do that. And then, if granted, it will be up to Libyan authorities to turn the men over to The Hague.
Because the U.N. Security Council ordered the ICC investigation, all U.N. member states would be obliged to arrest him if he ventures into their territory.