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All Fiscal Roads Lead U.S. to a Value-Added Tax: Albert R. Hunt President Barack Obama, nearing the end of a bruising health-care battle, should consider the counsel of a former Bush official and propose a radical new consumption tax that most Americans oppose.

Bharti Gets $8.3 Billion in Funding for Zain Purchase (Update2) Bharti Airtel Ltd., India’s biggest mobile-phone company, said it obtained $8.3 billion in funding for its proposed acquisition of Zain’s African assets, a day after its board gave approval for a formal offer this week.

Democrats Have Votes to Pass Health Bill, Leaders Say (Update2) House Democrats have more than enough votes to pass health-care overhaul legislation today, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Dubai Shares Climb to 2-Month High on Debt Plan, Saudi Arabia Dubai shares surged to the highest close since January on speculation Dubai World’s restructuring proposal will appease investors and after Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index rose.

Health Care: Changes Planned to Senate Bill by House Democrats House Democrats are aiming to approve today the biggest changes to the U.S. health-care system in more than four decades, extending coverage to tens of millions of uninsured Americans and attempting to curb rising medical costs.

Merkel Says Aid to Greece Must Address Budget Woes (Update1) German Chancellor Angela Merkel signaled a demand for greater budget discipline was the price for her supporting European Union aid to Greece, denouncing what she called “superficial” solidarity and seeking to quell speculation of a split with her finance minister on the issue.

Udall, Interior Chief to Kennedy, Johnson, Dies at 90 (Update1) Stewart Udall, an advocate for the American West who oversaw the addition of 2.4 million acres to national parks and pushed for landmark environmental legislation as U.S. Interior secretary under presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, has died. He was 90.

Obama Rallies Democrats as Leaders Predict Health Win (Update1) President Barack Obama pressed House Democrats to give final approval to health-care legislation he called “the toughest insurance reforms in history” as party leaders predicted they would have the votes to pass the sweeping overhaul today.

Darling Says U.K. Budget Aimed at Spurring Investment (Update1) U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling said the annual budget will include measures to spur private investment, an effort to spur growth while limiting spending as opinion polls point to a hung parliament.

Citigroup Hires Nomura’s Banfield as Asia Merger Head (Update1) Citigroup Inc. hired Nomura Holdings Inc.’s Colin Banfield as head of mergers and acquisitions for Asia-Pacific, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

BA Strike in 2nd Day as Crew Seek to Curb Pay Cuts (Update1) British Airways Plc said flight operations were “continuing to work well” on the second day of a strike by 12,000 cabin crew attempting to force Chief Executive Officer Willie Walsh to drop cuts to pay and staffing levels.

Netanyahu Agrees Indirect Talks Include All Issues (Update1) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said indirect Mideast peace talks the U.S. is trying to get off the ground will allow both sides to raise “issues in dispute,” reversing a previous position before a trip to Washington.

Dubai Shares Climb to Highest in 2 Months on Debt Plan, Saudi Dubai shares were poised for the highest close since January on speculation Dubai World’s restructuring proposal won’t disappoint investors and after Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index rose to a 17-month high.

Icelandic Volcano Erupts, Forcing 500 People From Their Homes A volcanic eruption east of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull glacier has forced the evacuation of more than 500 people and the cancellation of all flights to and from the island, the Department of Civil Protection said.

Iraq’s Al-Maliki Urges Recount as Tied With Rival (Update1) Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al- Maliki called for a recount of votes in parliamentary elections, as near-final results showed him neck-and-neck with his closest rival.

Sahara, Rendezvous to Pay $703 Million for IPL Teams (Update1) Sahara Group and Rendezvous Sports World Ltd. won the rights to own the ninth and 10th teams in the Indian Premier League, the world’s richest cricket franchise, for a combined $703 million.