Afghan drug cartels squeeze poppy farmers (AFP)
AFP – Like farmers the world over Haji Afzal has locked in the price for his crop with a forward contract.
Thousands bid farewell to former Nepal PM Koirala (AP)
AP – Politicians, diplomats and thousands of supporters lined up for hours at a public stadium Sunday in Nepal’s capital to pay respect to Girija Prasad Koirala, the former prime minister remembered for leading efforts to bring democracy to the Himalayan nation.
US House to vote on Obama’s historic health plan (AFP)
AFP – The US House of Representatives was to vote Sunday on Barack Obama’s historic plan to overhaul the US health care system that the president says will provide health insurance coverage to the overwhelming majority of Americans.
Obama urges Dems to come together for health care (AP)
AP – Victory within reach, President Barack Obama exhorted House Democrats on Saturday to stay true to their party’s legacy and make history by bringing health insurance to millions of struggling families now left out. Leaders exuded confidence as they defused thorny problems in the countdown to a landmark vote.
Pakistan kidnappers ‘threatened to chop up UK boy’ (AFP)
AFP – The father of a five-year-old British boy held hostage for 12 days in Pakistan said Sunday the kidnappers had threatened to chop off parts of the boy’s body if he did not pay a ransom.
Clinton pokes fun at Dems, GOP and himself (AP)
AP – Former President Bill Clinton poked fun at Republicans, Democrats, his own health and his audience of reporters Saturday night, telling the Gridiron Club’s annual dinner he was there because “I really didn’t have anything much better to do tonight.”
Late run pushes Gonzaga to wild 82-76 win over UNC (AP)
AP – Tiffanie Shives’ baseline jumper finally snapped Gonzaga’s scoring drought.
Quick blanks Islanders 1-0 (AP)
AP – Jonathan Quick posted his fourth shutout of the season and Brad Richardson scored in the first period, leading the Los Angeles Kings to a 1-0 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday night.
Bracket buster: Northern Iowa stuns No. 1 Kansas (AP)
AP – Leading by one against the colossus of the bracket, Ali Farokhmanesh stood at the 3-point line, no one around. The prudent play? Pull it out, burn some clock.
Obama in final health vote push
US President Barack Obama is to head to Capitol Hill as he seeks the backing of a final few Democrats ahead of a vote on sweeping healthcare reform.
Democratic leaders are seeking to ensure they have the 216 votes needed to pass the bill in a vote in the House of Representatives expected on Sunday.
Mr Obama will make his last appeal in a face-to-face visit to House Democrats.
It comes a day after he gave a fiery speech at a rally in which he urged lawmakers to pass a "historic vote".
The reforms would deliver on Mr Obama’s top domestic priority by providing insurance to some 32 million Americans who currently lack coverage.
Senior Democrats have been working for days to secure enough House of Representatives votes among their own party to pass a Senate version of the bill.
The Republicans are unanimously opposed to the legislation, which they say is unaffordable and represents a government takeover of a large part of the country’s economy.
‘Time is now’
Mr Obama has held dozens of meetings and phone calls in recent days with Democratic House members wavering over whether to back the bill or not.
It remains unclear exactly how many votes the party can count on.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was quoted by AFP news agency as saying she was "very excited about the momentum that is developing around the bill".
Some lawmakers want tighter language in the bill to make sure no federal money can be used for abortions, while others are concerned about cost or say its reforms do not go far enough.
The BBC’s Madeleine Morris in Washington says the stakes are high for the president and the Democrats, as healthcare reform is seen as the signature issue of Mr Obama’s administration.
If the Democrats cannot get the legislation through despite having a majority in both Houses of Congress, their opponents say it will call into question their ability to govern and may well have repercussions in November’s mid-term elections, our correspondent says.
Speaking in Virginia on Friday, Mr Obama described the congressional vote as the culmination of a century-long struggle.
Appealing to lawmakers and citizens to back the legislation, he said: "The time for reform is right now."
He dismissed Republican criticism of the bill as too costly and said the country could not afford not to pass the reforms.
Deficit reduction
The House of Representatives and the Senate adopted different versions of the bill in November and December.
The usual procedure would be for two versions of legislation to be combined into a single bill for President Obama to sign into law.
MARDELL’S AMERICA"I can’t help thinking the Democrats haven’t been trying or even thinking that hard about how to win this argument"
Mark Mardell
BBC North America editor
But after Senate Democrats lost the 60-seat majority required to defeat a filibuster by Republicans, Democratic leaders decided to use a controversial procedure to ensure the bill’s passage.
Under the plan, the House will vote on a package of reconciliation "fixes" amending the Senate bill.
The Senate will then be able to make changes in a separate bill using a procedure known as reconciliation, which allows budget provisions to be approved with 51 votes – rather than the 60 needed to overcome blocking tactics.
According to Congressional Budget Office, the final version of the Democrats’ healthcare plan will cut the federal deficit by $138bn over 10 years.
The non-partisan body said the proposed legislation would cost about $940bn over a decade.
The reforms would increase insurance coverage through tax credits for the middle class and expansion of the Medicaid programme for the poor.
If approved, they would represent the biggest change in the US healthcare system since the creation in the 1960s of Medicare, the government-run scheme for Americans aged 65 or over.
Are you in the US What outcome are you hoping for from the anticipated vote on Sunday Are you in favour or opposed to the healthcare bill Send us your comments using the form below.
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