Violence in Egypt / 21st Century Challenges / Global Action on Counterfeits

The United States urges security forces and protestors in Egypt to shun violence. In his State of the Union address, President Obama discussed how America can meet 21st century challenges. Watch mothers and daughters in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan share their dreams and aspirations. And U.S. officials vow to crack down on intellectual property infringements.

Protestors in Cairo, EgyptU.S. Calls for Calm in Egypt
(mobile version)
The United States is urging both security forces and protestors to shun violence as discontent over corruption, poverty, and government reductions in subsidies continues in Egypt. “As we monitor the situation in Egypt, we urge all parties to refrain from using violence, and expect the Egyptian authorities to respond to any protests peacefully,” says White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. At right, protestors take to the streets in Cairo.

Facing 21st Century Challenges
(mobile version)
In the annual State of the Union address, President Obama urged American lawmakers to support innovative research and educational opportunities as a means of maintaining U.S. economic competitiveness and ensuring its progress in the 21st century.

“Dreams for My Mother, Dreams for My Daughter”
Explore the videos and interviews in “Dreams for My Mother, Dreams for My Daughter,” a project by America.gov and the U.S. embassies in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in which pairs of mothers and daughters took turns interviewing each other about their dreams and aspirations.

Counterfeit watchesGlobal Action on Counterfeits
(mobile version)
U.S. officials vow to pursue broader international cooperation in the fight against intellectual property theft. More and more countries are recognizing the importance of stopping IP infringements, especially counterfeiting that puts public health at risk, like trafficking in bogus drugs. At right, counterfeit watches that were seized in Philadelphia.

The State of the Union / U.S., Mexico Action on Cross-Border Crime / Mothers and Daughters

President Obama updates the nation on the State of the Union. The U.S. and Mexico talk tough on cross-border crime. Finance leaders expect this year’s G20 and G8 summits to focus on world food price and currency stability. Learn about a unique and environmentally-friendly use for old cooking oil. And finally, watch mothers and daughters in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan share their dreams and aspirations.


Obama Offers Plan to Meet 21st Century Challenges
(mobile version)
In the annual State of the Union address, President Obama urges American lawmakers to support innovative research and educational opportunities as a means of maintaining U.S. economic competitiveness and ensuring its progress in the 21st century. Obama referred to dramatic educational and research advances in countries like China and India, and said that he would ask Congress to fund programs in clean energy technology, biomedical research and information technology to help strengthen U.S. security, protect the environment and create new jobs in the United States.

U.S., Mexico to Take Steps on Border Crime
(mobile version)
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa say the United States and Mexico are taking “decisive steps” to combat cross-border organized crime. The two leaders made remarks to the press after meeting in Guanajuato, Mexico.

Preparing for the G20
(mobile version)
The Group of 20 (G20) major industrial and emerging-market nations are expected to focus on world food price and currency stability during summits in 2011, finance leaders say at preliminary meetings in Paris.

The Power of Cooking Grease
(mobile version)
Chula Vista, a green California town near the Mexican border, recently contracted with a company that collects cooking grease from area restaurants and converts it into a 20-percent-grade biodiesel fuel known as B20. In recent months, the federal government has supported several similar projects around the country.

A mother and daughter in Afghanistan“Dreams for My Mother, Dreams for My Daughter”
Explore the videos and interviews in “Dreams for My Mother, Dreams for My Daughter,” a project by America.gov and the U.S. embassies in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in which pairs of mothers and daughters took turns interviewing each other about their dreams and aspirations. At left, Arezoo Ghanem in Afghanistan responds to a question from her mother, Maleke Ghanem, right, about her dreams for herself and for her country.