Baloch nationalists protest in front of White House

"At least 35,000 Baloch are missing. There is a grave violation of human rights on the people of Balochistan and all this is being perpetrated by the Pakistan Army and the ISI," said Mama Abdul Qadir Baloch in an interview to PTI yesterday in front of the White House.

Vice president of the Voice for Baloch Missing Person, Qadir Baloch who came from Pakistan to attend this peaceful protest in front of the White House had carried out a 3,000 km long march from Quetta to Islamabad in 2013 against human rights violations in the province.

The White House protest was organised by the Baloch National Movement (BNM) to condemn the cold-blooded murder of its secretary general, Dr Mannan Baloch allegedly by the Pakistani army in Baluchistan.

"We urge US President Barack Obama to ask the Pakistani Government to immediately stop human rights violations against the people of Balochistan. We also urge US to send NATO forces in Balochistan to save its people from the atrocities perpetrated by the Pakistan Army on us," he said.

Calling for a free and independent Balochistan that can guarantee peace and stability in the region plagued by religious extremism and terrorism perpetrated by the Pakistani army, the peaceful protestors alleged that the military is currently engaged in a bloody campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing of the indigenous population.

"We are asking the US government to intervene and stop military aid to Pakistan as American weapons are used by them for genocide against the Baloch people," Waheed Baloch, former speaker of Balochistan Provincial Assembly said.

"Recently they killed three political leaders. There is a war going in in Balochistan. There are protests in the streets, in the mountains," he said.

Dr. Mannan Baloch was assassinated because of his unwavering struggle to end Pakistan's forceful occupation of Baloch lands, deep sea port of Gwadar, resources (natural gas, minerals, copper and gold mines) and brutal human rights violations of civilians, he alleged.

Senge Sering, president of Gilgit-Baltistan Institute, in his address supported the struggle for the independence of Balochistan.

He also condemned the brutal murder of the BNM leader Dr. Mannan Baloch. 

And you thought your WiFi was irritating. Obamas are suffering too

In an interview with Gayle King on CBS's Super Bowl pre-game show, Obama listed WiFi as one of the things in the White House he would want to improve for his successor.

The US president said there are a lot of WiFi dead spots in the building and that he hopes to have the whole "tech thing" sorted out.

First Lady Michelle too said WiFi was an issue in the house.

"The girls are just irritated by it," she said, referring to her daughters Sasha and Malia.

Barack Obama seeks USD 1.8 billion to fight Zika virus

The White House said the Obama administration is taking appropriate measure to protect Americans and is seeking the fund to expand mosquito control programmes, speed development of a vaccine, and boost support for low-income pregnant women.

It said it is asking the Congress for more than USD 1.8 billion in emergency funding to enhance ongoing efforts to respond to the Zika virus domestically and internationally.

Obama is scheduled to send his annual budgetary proposals to Congress tomorrow.

The Obama administration has been working to combat Zika -- a virus primarily spread by mosquitoes and linked to birth defects and other health outcomes. It is believed the virus is passed from infected pregnant women to their unborn children.

The federal government has been monitoring the Zika virus and working with domestic and international health partners to alert healthcare providers and the public about the virus.

It is also working to provide public health laboratories with diagnostic tests and detect and report cases both domestically and internationally, the White House said.

The mosquito-borne illness has surged across Latin America, prompting fears that spring weather could bring an explosion in cases. There is no vaccine for the virus which, in most people, causes mild symptoms.

While there has not been transmission of Zika virus by mosquitoes within the continental United States, Puerto Rico and other US territories in warmer areas with Aedes aegpyti mosquito populations are already seeing active transmission.

In addition, some Americans have returned to the continental US from affected countries in South America, Central America, the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands with Zika infections.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have reported 50 laboratory-confirmed cases among US travellers from December 2015-February 5 this year.

The White House said: "As spring and summer approach, bringing with them larger and more active mosquito populations, we must be fully prepared to mitigate and quickly address local transmission within the continental US, particularly in the southern United States."

According to the White House, the emergency will also be used to enable the testing and procurement of vaccines and diagnostics; improving epidemiology and expanding laboratory and diagnostic testing capacity; improving health services and supports for low-income pregnant women, and enhancing the ability of Zika-affected countries to better combat mosquitoes and control transmission.