U.S. leaders look back, one year after a catastrophic earthquake devastated Haiti. Amid a political crisis in Lebanon, President Obama meets with and expresses support for Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Regardless of the outcome, the U.S. calls the Sudanese referendum a “win-win” for both north and south. Chinese President Hu Jintao’s upcoming visit to the United States comes during a significant transition for the global economy. Meet Nadereh Chamlou, an Iranian-American economist who studies gender issues. And finally, learn about Levi’s new green jeans.

U.S. Support for Haiti Endures One Year After Quake
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President Obama and other U.S. leaders mark one year since a catastrophic earthquake devastated Haiti, pledging continued partnership and support as the country rebuilds. “As they forge ahead with the hard work of rebuilding their proud country, the people of Haiti will continue to have an enduring partner in the United States,” he says.

Obama Backs Lebanon’s Hariri
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Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s visit to Washington coincided with the resignation of 11 Lebanese cabinet ministers who are allied with the militant group Hezbollah, which the United States has designated as a terrorist organization. Their resignations have forced the collapse of the government. President Obama met with Hariri at the White House and praised his efforts to “reach peace, stability, and consensus in Lebanon under difficult circumstance.”

U.S. Praises Sudanese Officials
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Regardless of the outcome, the referendum on southern Sudanese self-determination can present new opportunities for the people of both northern and southern Sudan, says Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson.

Economic Reform in China
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The state visit of China’s President Hu Jintao to the United States January 19 comes during a significant transition for the global economy, China’s economy and for the United States, says Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

The Cost of Gender Barriers
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Nadereh Chamlou is senior adviser to the World Bank’s chief economist for the Middle East and North Africa and an authority on the crucial difference women can play in the economic success of families, companies and countries. “Gender issues can no longer be seen as a political issue or an issue of culture. No, these are becoming now international issues,” says the Iranian-born Chamlou.

When Jeans Turn Green
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Levi Strauss & Co. just rolled out a collection of pants that requires a fraction of the water normally used during production. The initiative is part of its broader campaign to shrink the overall environmental footprint of its global supply chain. “We know it’s vital to understand, and reduce, the impact our products have on the environment,” says Michael Kobori, Levi’s vice president of social and environmental sustainability.