Rey Vincent Romero International

28th February 2012

Foreigners to be offered free treatment for HIV on the NHS

Robert Winnett - Daily Telegraph -

Those from abroad, including failed asylum seekers, students and tourists are currently barred from receiving free HIV treatment unlike other infectious diseases. However, the Government is to support proposals recommended by peers which will end the anomaly and allow free treatment even for those not legally settled in Britain. Campaigners argue that the free treatment is essential as it reduces the risk of Britons being infected and can help people to be treated for HIV before their condition becomes serious and lifethreatening. However, ministers are braced for criticism that the decision may prompt so-called health tourism and put the NHS under financial pressure at a time when hospitals are being forced to find cuts. It typically costs up to 7,000 a year to treat someone diagnosed with HIV and an average of 300,000 per patient over their lifetime with the disease. Last night, Anne Milton, the public health minister, said: This measure will protect the public and brings HIV treatment in to line with all other infectious diseases. Treating people with HIV means they are very unlikely to pass the infection on to others. However she added: Tough guidance will ensure this measure is not abused. The Government is understood to have decided to introduce free treatment amid fears that the potential costs of being diagnosed were dissuading foreigners from seeking help. There are estimated to be 25,000 people, many of whom are foreign-born, undiagnosed HIV sufferers in Britain. The Health Protection Agency recently calculated that it costs more than 300,000 to treat every person who contracts the disease including those who go on to develop AIDS. The cost of treating sufferers in the last stages of their lives is particularly high. The government belives that early diagnosis of sufferers could ultimately help cut costs before the virus is passed on to other people. Professor Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer, said: Effective treatment of HIV reduces its spread by up to 96 per cent. This change is in line with the UK Chief Medical Officers Expert Advisory Groups advice, and offering NHS treatment will encourage testing, resulting in fewer undiagnosed

HIV infections and therefore ensuring that there is less chance of passing on infection to the wider population. The change in the rules has been proposed by Lord Fowler, the former Cabinet minister, who ran the 1980s Aids awareness campaign. The peer, who chaired a Parliamentary committee studying the disease, has proposed amending the NHS bill to allow free treatment. His proposal would only allow people who have been in the country for six months to be treated. Lord Fowler said: Its a rather curious anomaly because for all other infectious conditions, treatment is free. The case for change is overwhelming in human terms. The proposal almost speaks for itself and every group is in favour of this change. Although the Government will reject Lord Fowlers amendment it has pledged to amend NHS guidelines to allow free treatment. A Department of Health source said: This is about protecting this nations health. By offering treatment it will encourage people to come forward for testing reducing late diagnosis and infection of others. The public health argument is compelling. The number of people being treated for HIV in this country has trebled over the past decade and almost 100,000 people are thought to now suffer from the disease. Only one in three people with HIV was born in the UK. However, the infection rate in this country has doubled in the past decade and the number of infections acquired within the UK exceeded those abroad in 2010 for the first time. If diagnosed early, HIV, although incurable, is now treatable for many people. According to the National Aids Trust, many people taking anti-HIV drugs become non-infectious. Yusef Azad, the director of policy at the trust, said: If someone is tested and treated early it is much cheaper than them presenting themselves in hospital with a much more serious, complex condition that can cost tens of thousands of pounds to treat. However, the decision is expected to spark renewed concerns over so-called health tourism, which the NHS has recently taken steps to address. Entitlement to free NHS hospital treatment is based on a patient being ordinarily resident in the UK. Anyone else is supposed to be charged for the full cost of any treatment they receive unless an exemption applies to the particular therapy. Hospitals must take reasonable measures to recover any debt and most have overseas visitors managers to do this. However, last year it emerged that so-called health tourists have taken at

least 35 million of free treatment over the past eight years. The costs fall disproportionately on certain hospitals, particularly those close to Heathrow and other airports. Although the NHS budget is due to rise in real terms over the next few years, the rising cost of treatment and the ageing British population means that most hospitals are having to make significant cutbacks. The Government is not thought to have yet conducted a cost-benefit analysis studying the impact of the decision to allow free HIV treatment to foreigners. However, the Scottish and Welsh governments effectively already offer the free treatment and have not reported a major upsurge in patients.

Those from abroad, including failed asylum seekers, students and tourists are currently barred from receiving free HIV treatment unlike other infectious diseases. However, the Government is to support proposals recommended by peers which will end the anomaly and allow free treatment even for those not legally settled in Britain. Campaigners argue that the free treatment is essential as it reduces the risk of Britons being infected and can help people to be treated for HIV before their condition becomes serious and life-threatening.

Why is it that the ministers were backing these anomaly controversial plans? This move seeks to end the HIV disease thats spreading throughout Europe, because of increasing rate of reported infected patients that has been doubled since from the last decade. Its rather curious anomaly because for all other infectious conditions, treatment is free. On the governments side, its all about protecting nations health and besides HIV virus, if diagnosed early, is now treatable for many people and it has been said that for those people whore treated early, it reduces its spread by 98% percent. After all treating HIV patient is not that easy, it takes a lot of money to treat every patient, so theres a doubt to it. Only tough guidance will ensure this measure is not abused.

Rey Vincent Romero National February 28, 2012

CREATION OF ICT AGENCY IMMINENT ANGARA

Senator Edgardo J. Angara said that the Philippines is close to creating a new government agency dedicated to the development of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, after the Senate unanimously passed the DICT bill, which he authored and sponsored, on Third and Final Reading. Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, noted that the House of Representatives has already approved the counterpart measure of Senate Bill No. 50, which calls for the reorganization of communications-related agencies under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) into a separate entity known as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). "I can only laud my colleagues for enacting swiftly a measure that many of us have been waiting for a long time," said Angara, noting that the Senate voted 12-0 in favor of the measure. Senators Loren Legarda, Vicente Sotto III, Teofisto Guingona III, Lito Lapid and Manuel Villar co-sponsored said measure. Many sectors, such as the Information Technology and Business Processing Outsourcing (ITBPO) industry, have expressed support for the establishment of a DICT. In a position paper submitted to the Senate, the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) underscored that the new department will help ensure the country's global competitiveness and attractiveness for foreign investments, particularly during the digital age. Angara, who is also Chair of the Congressional Commission on Science & Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), noted that at the beginning of 2011, 158 ICT agencies existed, regulating more than 80 percent of the markets worldwide. ASEAN nations Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam have their own Ministries or Departments of ICT. The Philippines is in league with Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar in not having a separate agency focused on ICT development. "Having a DICT in place provides ample opportunity for us to create policies that will transition the country toward a full-fledged technology-driven economy," stressed Angara. He explained, "Of course, the bill still has to go under bicameral review before ultimately getting signed into law by the President. But I am optimistic that the imperative of having a DICT in this information age is clear enough that we will have the necessary legislation in place very soon."

Senator Edgardo J. Angara said that the Philippines is close to creating a new government agency dedicated to the development of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, after the Senate unanimously passed the DICT bill, which he authored and sponsored, on Third and Final Reading. Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, noted that the House of Representatives has already approved the counterpart measure of Senate Bill No. 50, which calls for the reorganization of communications-related agencies under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) into a separate entity known as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). What is this Senate Bill No. 2546 or the Act Creating the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Defining Its Powers and Functions, Appropriating Funds therefore, and For Other Purposes? This just means that this new department will become the primary policy-making, planning, coordinating, implementing, regulating and administrative entity of the government that will plan, promote and aid the development of the Philippines Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. One of the main purposes of the DICT when established is to enhance the global competitiveness of our countrys ICT. The DICT, together with other Philippine government agencies, is also intended to address major issues related to the IT and BPO sectors such as intellectual property rights, human resources, data protection, security, and quality management and standards.

Rey Vincent Romero International

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Chief NKorea nuke envoy heading to NY

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea's top nuclear negotiator is heading to New York next week on the heels of a breakthrough nuclear agreement with the U.S., two people with knowledge of negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang told The Associated Press on Thursday. Word of Ri Yong Ho's visit follows announcements Wednesday of the agreement, which calls for the U.S. to provide food aid in exchange for a suspension of uranium enrichment and a moratorium on nuclear and long-range-missile tests by North Korea. The agreement, announced two months after the death of longtime leader Kim Jong Il, raised hopes of a major easing in nuclear tensions under his son and successor, Kim Jong Un. It's seen as a preliminary but necessary step to restart broader six-nation negotiations that would lay down terms for what the North could get in return for abandoning its nuclear weapons program. Ri, the North Korean vice foreign minister in charge of nuclear negotiations, will attend a forum at Syracuse University in New York state, two people with close knowledge of the negotiations told the AP. They spoke on condition of anonymity because Ri's travel plans have not been formally announced. The State Department has cleared his travel to the U.S., one source said. The countries still lack formal diplomatic relations, but the measures laid out in the deal announced Wednesday include facilitating educational, cultural and sports exchanges. Ri is expected to meet U.S. officials on the sidelines of the forum, he said. The forum is being co-hosted by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, a German nongovernmental organization, the other source said. The information could not immediately be confirmed with the State Department or officials at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse, which is organizing the event.

North Korea's top nuclear negotiator is heading to New York next week on the heels of a breakthrough nuclear agreement with the U.S., two people with knowledge of negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang told The Associated Press on Thursday. Word of Ri Yong Ho's visit follows announcements Wednesday of the agreement, which calls for the U.S. to provide food aid in exchange for a suspension of uranium enrichment and a moratorium on nuclear and long-range-missile tests by North Korea. If North Korea were to accept aid from US in exchange from its nuclear program and longrange-missile tests, does that mean theyre now for peace? After the forgotten war of Korea, North Korea impose a grudge to the US after helping its enemy South Korea, and for so many years they started hating US and Japan after what theyve done to their country, so thats why theyve tried to attain a Nuclear weapon to avenge their lost battle with the South. And now theyve accepted this aid from US over their nuclear program, I think they are now ready to forget the past and its the sign that North Korea is now opening its doors from the world.

Rey Vincent Romero International

6 March 2012

Fresh Iran nuclear talks agreed with world powers - EU

Six major world powers and Iran are to hold fresh talks on Tehran's nuclear programme, the EU has said. EU foreign policy head Catherine Ashton said she had replied to a letter from Iran on behalf of the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany. Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili sent the letter last month proposing talks. No date or venue has been set. The move comes amid fresh speculation of a pre-emptive military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran insists there is no military element to its programme but Western powers fear it is constructing nuclear weapons. US President Barack Obama told a news conference in Washington DC that he believed there was still a "window of opportunity" to use diplomacy to resolve the standoff with Tehran. He said there was no need to make a choice in the next fews weeks or months on whether to use military means to stop Iran building nuclear weapons. Parchin access The statement from Baroness Ashton said the EU hoped that Iran would "now enter into a sustained process of constructive dialogue which will deliver real progress in resolving the international community's long-standing concerns on its nuclear programme." It added: "Our overall goal remains a comprehensive negotiated, long-term solution which restores international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme." UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement that Iran had to "convince the international community that its nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful". "Until those actions are taken we will not ease the international pressure on Iran." Iran had earlier said it was prepared under certain conditions to grant inspectors from the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to the key military site of Parchin. The complex, south of Tehran, is dedicated to the research, and the development and production of ammunition, rockets and explosives.

IAEA inspectors wanted to visit last month to clarify the "possible military dimensions" of Iran's nuclear programme, but were denied entry. But on Monday, Iran's mission to the IAEA said if the UN agency "combined all related issues" then "once more, access would be granted". Talks between the EU and Iran on the nuclear issue have been off and on for a number of years, with the last round ending in failure in January last year. Baroness Ashton had written to Mr Jalili last October with an offer of new talks. In February, Mr Jalili wrote back that Iran was ready for dialogue on what he called a spectrum of issues. He said he welcomed the P5+1's affirmation that it would respect Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. "No doubt that by committing to this approach, our talks for cooperation based on step-by-step principles and reciprocity on Iran's nuclear issues could be commenced," he wrote. On Monday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, on a visit to the US, said time was running out to put a stop to Iran's nuclear programme, warning Israel would "not live in the shadow of annihilation". He stressed that all options were on the table, but that containment - leaving Iran to develop its programme under monitoring - was "not an option". On Tuesday, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said: "Military action is the last alternative when all else fails. But make no mistake, we will act if we have to."

Six major world powers and Iran are to hold fresh talks on Tehran's nuclear programme, the EU has said. EU foreign policy head Catherine Ashton said she had replied to a letter from Iran on behalf of the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany. Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili sent the letter last month proposing talks. No date or venue has been set. The move comes amid fresh speculation of a pre-emptive military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran insists there is no military element to its programme but Western powers fear it is constructing nuclear weapons. What would be the right decision that UN should do in times of this crisis? They still need to continue solving it through conversation, because one false move and will trigger to another world war where casualties would be higher than recent world war in history, theres no room for mistakes in this kind of issue, its all about whether they obtain a nuclear weapon. Israel should stop suggesting so hastily about using military forces to Iran because if theyre found innocent, US will now face another enemy from the east.

Rey Vincent Romero Local (5-Mar-12)

Operation Pacific Angel 12-1, a prelude to US military expansion in PH

LEGAZPI CITY Bicol militants under the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Bikol (BAYAN-Bikol) and Karapatan-Bikol hit the United States and Philippine government for trying to pass off Operation Pacific Angel 12-1 as a joint humanitarian and disaster relief operations to be conducted by the United States Armed Forces (USAF) at Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) starting today to March 10, 2012. Supposedly medical and dental missions as well as engineering civic action programs are to be conducted to train NGOs and LGUs in humanitarian and disaster relief operations skills. These will be conducted in selected areas in Albay being known as civil-military disaster risk management partnership at climate change adaptation initiatives, according to Fred Manson, Bayan-Albay. At first glance, it may seem to be a simple social service program like medical and dental missions, repair of classrooms and water systems as among the highlights of the activity. But based on our experience with the RP-US Balikatan exercises in 2009 and other joint military exercises conducted in other parts of the country, these are always paired with surveillance operations and spying with the use of drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Manson said. Whatever publicity gimmick is done by the USAF and the AFP, it cannot be denied that their humanitarian posturing in Operation Pacific Angel is programmed to divert the attention of the people from its real purpose and that is to make the presence of US troops in the country more acceptable, Manson added. This is in the light of developments that Philippine defense and military officials confirmed a Washington Post report last January that the two countries were negotiating a deal that would increase cooperation between the two militaries, but stressed that the tension in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) over the disputed Spratly Islands was only part of the equation. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the terms of such an agreement would still be dictated by the Visiting Forces Agreement, which allows the periodic visits of US troops for joint training and exercises. Meanwhile, John Conception, Spokesperson, Karapatan-Bikol said We must expose and oppose this new scheme of the US and the Aquino administration to further trample on our sovereignty. We are not against humanitarian and civic missions but these should be coursed through legitimate NGOs and LGUs. There should be also no strings attached. We must be wary of these gimmicks of the US, a few medicines and repaired classrooms are definitely not worth our sovereignty,

Operation Pacific Angel 12-1 is conducted by the US Pacific Command (US PACOM) in its areas of responsibilities in Asia spanning 36 countries. It supposedly launches humanitarian services but at the same time launch civil-military operations and intelligence operations to memorize the terrain, space, sea, air and cyberspace of the target area. The 13th US Air Force based in Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii is a direct participant to the operation. Its mission is to plan, command and control, deliver and assess air, space and information operations in the Asia-Pacific. It is tasked with surveillance when there is no war and even in major combat operations. It is directly under the US Pacific Command, Conception ended. BicolToday.com

Bicol militants under the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Bikol (BAYAN-Bikol) and Karapatan-Bikol hit the United States and Philippine government for trying to pass off Operation Pacific Angel 12-1 as a joint humanitarian and disaster relief operations to be conducted by the United States Armed Forces (USAF) at Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) starting today to March 10, 2012. Supposedly medical and dental missions as well as engineering civic action programs are to be conducted to train NGOs and LGUs in humanitarian and disaster relief operations skills. These will be conducted in selected areas in Albay being known as civil-military disaster risk management partnership at climate change adaptation initiatives, according to Fred Manson, Bayan-Albay. Whats wrong about using spy drones and conducting surveillance operations? This drones is used to track terrorist hideout, if we remember the news about somewhere in Mindanao, an air strike by Philippine air force that killed two of the most wanted terrorist here in Asia, that too uses a spy drones from US, if we were to think of it theres no harm using this drones, and if theyre worried about the US memorizing the terrain or whatsoever, its not a problem to them because theyve already satellites and the top of that they have already know all about our information since they our former colonizer. If those on top were correct, it doesnt mean they going to bombard the whole Bicol region and besides we are allied country, so we do have to make efforts to cooperate by all means we know.

Rey Vincent Romero International

Thu Mar 8, 2012

Pentagon says aims to keep Asia power balance

(Reuters) - The United States is shifting more military muscle, including another aircraft carrier, to the Pacific to protect the status quo in a region facing China's growing clout, the Pentagon's second-ranking official said on Thursday. In coming years, 60 percent of U.S. Navy ships will be in the Pacific, up from 52 percent now, including a net increase of one carrier to six, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told an industry conference hosted by Credit Suisse and McAleese and Associates, a consultancy. The U.S. Army and Marine Corps are also working on stepped-up rotations, "so they'll be seeing more of the U.S. Army in the Asia Pacific region not less," Carter said. Elaborating on military priorities that President Barack Obama announced in January, Carter said U.S. forces had played a crucial role in preventing conflict in the Pacific region for roughly the last 60 years. "We don't want that to change. We want to continue to have that role and that's really what our investments are aimed at," Carter said when asked whether the goal was to pre-empt, deter or hedge against China. Navy Secretary Raymond Mabus, speaking to the conference after Carter, said the Navy planned to achieve the buildup using new ships as they roll out of shipyards. Beijing in recent years has asserted territorial claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea more aggressively. In response, the United States is laying the groundwork for a more widely distributed footprint in Asia through strengthened alliances and partnerships, including with Australia, Singapore and the Philippines. Carter cited a range of upgrades and new programs that he said were directed to the region, including radar sets, antisubmarine warfare improvements and development of a new longrange, nuclear-capable bomber. The programs were largely outlined in a five-year spending request that Obama sent to Congress last month. The United States also is moving to protect fixed bases in the region, he said. Such installations are increasingly vulnerable to Chinese ballistic missiles, according to the Pentagon.

The United States is shifting more military muscle, including another aircraft carrier, to the Pacific to protect the status quo in a region facing China's growing clout, the Pentagon's secondranking official said on Thursday. In coming years, 60 percent of U.S. Navy ships will be in the Pacific, up from 52 percent now, including a net increase of one carrier to six, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told an industry conference hosted by Credit Suisse and McAleese and Associates, a consultancy. How long they are planning to stay here in Asia-pacific? Nowadays where now seems to be more dangerous than over the last few years after China has aggressively flexing its muscles and using its strength to pressure its neighboring countries over the territorial disputes in South China Sea, and now after so many attempts that China had been made that causes many ASEAN countries to react negatively, US will now play a role to this disturbance of balance here in Asia. They serve as a world police that ensures everything will set in place and stabilize the harmony between countries, and because the afghan war is now slowly taking out of place, its their time to focus once again here in Asia-pacific. As long as they have military presence here, we can ensure that China would lessen its attempt to take over the spratlys.