Headlines Package - Wednesday, January 7, 2009

• European Countries Feel the Chill after Russia Cuts Natural Gas Supplies
• Pakistan Concedes Mumbai Attacker is a Pakistani National
• Zimbabwe Opposition Members Charged in Bomb Plot
• Obama Picks CNN Doctor for Surgeon General Post
• Blue Cross Reinstates Insurance to 700 Customers Cut after Becoming Ill

European Countries Feel the Chill after Russia Cuts Natural Gas Supplies
Russia continues to reduce the flow of natural gas into Europe today, leaving people in several countries without heat.  Yesterday, the Russian national energy company Gazprom reduced pipeline shipments because of a dispute with Ukraine.  The cut-offs have left countries like Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Romania and Turkey without fuel and have forced them to dip into their rapidly shrinking national reserves.  The crisis highlights Europe's dependence on Russian energy and has many calling for greater energy independence, which could come in the form of nuclear power.

Pakistan Concedes Mumbai Attacker is a Pakistani National
The investigation into the November Mumbai, India attacks took another turn today when Pakistan officially accepted that Ajmal Kassab – the only person currently in custody for involvement in the attacks – is a Pakistani citizen.  Both the countries have their military forces on alert at the border, but the Pakistan Intelligence Chief says he does not foresee war.  Afridai Afridi has more from Pakistan.

Reporter:
The big news in Pakistan today is Indian allegations that Pakistan government agencies had a hand in training those involved in the attacks. But Pakistan has continuously denied those accusations since the first day.  Most Pakistani critics think India's media played an important role in placing blame on their country.  Today Pakistan officially acknowledged India's claim that the man in custody is a Pakistani national – a day after India provided a detailed report on their investigation.  But ex-interior minister, Hamid Nawaz, says this was forced by foreign diplomatic pressure.

"There is collective pressure from both India and the US on Pakistan to accept the responsibility for the Mumbai attacks. Slowly and gradually, Pakistan will give in. The first step towards accepting all Indian allegations is accepting the arrested man is a Pakistani citizen."

But despite the back and forth between the two countries, most Pakistani citizens are more worried about unrelated military operations within their own country, rather than the threat of war with India.  For FSRN, It is Afridai Afridi.

Zimbabwe Opposition Members Charged in Bomb Plot
Seven activists and opposition party members being held by the Zimbabwe government were formally charged today for alleged involvement in a bombing plot.  All seven pleaded not guilty.  The international community and the group Zimbabwean Lawyers for Human Rights have criticized Zimbabwe for arresting countless activists – saying they have been tortured and not provided proper medical care.  The government also did not comply with a Zimbabwe high court ruling demanding the prisoners' release in late December.  In other news the death toll from the country's growing cholera epidemic has topped 1750 people.

Obama Picks CNN Doctor for Surgeon General Post
President-elect Barack Obama is actively pursuing a famous neurosurgeon for the position of Surgeon General.  Marc Dadigan has more.

Reporter:
For the past seven years, Dr. Sanjay Gupta has worked as CNN's health care correspondent, WHERE HE demystifIES COMPLEX medical issues for regular Americans.

"Hollywood is fascinated by memory loss, movies probably reflect our fears. Four and half million Americans have Alzheimer's, but there is hope on the horizon. . ."

Although the 39-year-old Gupta has not officially confirmed it, the Washington Post reports he is President-elect Barack Obama's choice for surgeon general. It's a position that doesn't carry much power, but rather serves to promote and market the administration's health care message.  Gupta, the son of Indian parents, is a polished TV personality, whose media experience could prove highly useful in the position.  However, some doubt Gupta's credentials. Members of the commissioned corps of the US Public Health Service, which the surgeon general oversees, have expressed concern about Gupta's lack of public health experience. For FSRN, I'm Marc Dadigan.

Blue Cross Reinstates Insurance to 700 Customers Cut after Becoming Ill
Health Insurance Company Blue Shield will reinstate medical coverage to nearly 700 Californians whose policies were canceled after they got sick.  The company will also reimburse those consumers for medical expenses they paid out of pocket. FSRN's Christina Aaenstad has the details.

Reporter:
It's called recission - granting a client health insurance then taking it back after learning the client failed to disclose health complications.  But in the case of Blue Shield, the insurance company cancelled the polices of nearly 700 people, after they became ill.  After negotiations with the state, the company has agreed to reinstate those policies.  Daryl Ng is a public relations officer the department of insurance.

"This agreement makes sure that every person who had their insurance taken away has all of their out of pocket expenses covered, it offers them new insurance as of today with no underwriting so if you have a preexisting condition that's not an issue, and number three it provides safeguards to make sure that this doesn't happen again."

According to the LA Times, whose reporting led to the state's crackdown on the company, policy holders must give up their rights to sue in order to obtain medical reimbursement.  Lawyers for the victims criticize this aspect of the deal, saying without health insurance, some of the policyholders were forced into bankruptcy.  I'm Christina Aanestad for Free Speech Radio News.

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