Obama praises opposition leader while rejecting apology demand

October 1st, 2009 Obama praises Gandhi on anniversary of his birthWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is expressing appreciation for Indian spiritual leader Mohandas K. Gandhi. Gandhi was born on Oct.

September 25th, 2009 Video shows NJ kids singing Obama praisesBURLINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. — New Jersey's education commissioner has ordered a review after a YouTube video shows school children learning a song celebrating President Barack Obama.

September 10th, 2009 Obama says he accepts Rep. Wilson's apologyWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he accepts Republican Rep.

August 11th, 2009 Obama condemns conviction of Burma figureWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says the conviction of a Myanmar opposition leader is a violation of "the universal principle of human rights." Obama condemned the treatment of Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi (ahng sahn soo CHEE). She was convicted by a court in Myanmar, also known as Burma, for violating her house arrest by allowing an uninvited American to stay at her home.

August 6th, 2009 Obama praises nominee for ambassador to JapanWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says his nominee for ambassador to Japan will be able to communicate directly with him on U.S.-Japanese issues. Obama said Thursday he placed great thought into choosing lawyer and campaign fundraiser John Roos to oversee what Obama called a crucial diplomatic relationship.

July 15th, 2009 Obama praises progress on health care overhaulWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says his administration will push through an overhaul of the nation's health care system and is urging Congress to finish the work before leaving for an August recess. Obama on Wednesday praised House and Senate versions of a bill to expand health care coverage to millions of Americans.

July 2nd, 2009 Obama praises Civil Rights Act's 45th anniversaryWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says the Civil Rights Act opened doors for freedom but inequities remain on the legislation's 45th anniversary. On Thursday, Obama released a statement praising the 1964 law that ended legal discrimination.

June 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US Senate offered a formal apology for slavery Thursday, five months after Barack Obama became the country's first African-American president. The Senate's non-binding resolution "acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery" in the past US history.

June 10th, 2009 Egypt praises Obama as welcome change from BushCAIRO — Egypt's president praised President Barack Obama on Wednesday, saying his outreach to the Muslim world is a welcome change from the policies of his predecessor. President Hosni Mubarak's comments were his first since Obama delivered a speech last week in Cairo aimed at improving relations between the U.S.

May 16th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has rejected a demand for an apology for the atrocities committed by its military in the buildup to the 1971 war of liberation that saw the creation of Bangladesh as an independent nation, saying bygones should be bygones. 'As far as Pakistan is concerned, this matter stands resolved under the April 9, 1974, tripartite agreement,' Dawn Saturday quoted Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit as saying.

May 11th, 2009 KOLKATA - West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Monday declined to apologise for auto major Tata Motors shifting the Nano plant from Singur, but said he felt remorse over the police firing in Nandigram two years back that left 14 people dead. 'Why should I seek apology for the Singur issue? The state government has no responsibility behind the decision of Tata Motors to pull out from Singur.

May 5th, 2009 PATNA - With the Congress tactically wooing him, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Nitish Kumar denied Tuesday for the second time in as many days any move to join the Congress-led UPA and asserted he would never leave the NDA. A day after saying there was no truth in Congress leader Sheila Dikshit's statement that the JD-U leader could switch over to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) after the polls, Nitish Kumar had to ward off overtures from Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

April 28th, 2009 Obama praises FBI, says country counting on itWASHINGTON — Offering a robust endorsement for the FBI and its leadership, President Barack Obama on Tuesday praised the bureau's employees for their commitment to staying "one step ahead of all who step outside of the law." "We are counting on you," Obama said from an outdoor courtyard at FBI headquarters, where he was greeted by sustained cheers. Thousands crammed the plaza, while many other FBI workers peered down from their windows.

April 13th, 2009 New Delhi/ Patna/ Ranchi (ANI): The Congress Party on Monday asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to tender apologies for the Babri mosque demolition and communal statements made by its leaders. Reacting to BJP leader L K Advani's demand for an apology from Congress President Sonia Gandhi for her critical remarks on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said, "Advani should begin by seeking an apology for Babri; he has to seek an apology for keeping quiet during Varun Gandhi's reprehensive divisive speech, Praveen Togadia, Vinay Katyals and Narendra Modi have to seek apology." Commenting on the controversial statement of All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary in charge of the Goa desk, B K Hariprasad, Singhvi said, "This word (sorry) applies only to the BJP.

February 4th, 2009 BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON - The European Union (EU) Wednesday applauded US President Barack Obama for warning against protectionist measures in the midst of a global economic crisis. Obama, in interviews with US television networks Tuesday night, said he was worried about the US Congress sending signals that could trigger a trade war between the US, the EU and other countries.