Tag Archives: Iran

Obama Condemns Violence in Libya / Human Rights Abuses in Iran / Social Networks Help Missing Kids

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President Obama calls on the world to unite in condemnation of the Libyan government’s violent response to protests seeking new leadership. President Obama offers condolences to the people of New Zealand in the aftermath of a major earthquake. The U.S. has designated two Iranian officials for “serious human rights abuses in Iran.” And social networking is helping missing children.

Obama Condemns Violence in Libya
President Obama says it is imperative that the world speak “with one voice” to condemn the suppression of peaceful demonstrators in Libya and to support their universal rights, and adds that the administration is preparing “a full range of options” that the United States can take unilaterally and multilaterally in response to the ongoing violence.

Aftermath of Quake in New Zealand
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President Obama has conveyed the condolences of his family and the United States to the people of New Zealand affected by a second major earthquake in just six months. “As our New Zealand friends move forward,” Obama says, “may they find some comfort and strength in knowing that they will have the enduring friendship and support of many partners around the world, including the United States.”

Human Rights Abuses in Iran
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The U.S. Departments of State and Treasury have announced the designation of two Iranian officials for “serious human rights abuses in Iran.” “These designations underscore our enduring commitment to support Iranians seeking to exercise their universal rights and express our solidarity with victims of torture, persecution and arbitrary detention,” says Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner.

Finding Missing Kids Online
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Authorities in Canada, the United States and elsewhere are using social media as a tool to help find missing children. Police in Canada have established Facebook, YouTube and Twitter accounts to post descriptions of suspected child abductors and Facebook has partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the U.S. Department of Justice to expand a U.S. system that alerts the public when children go missing.

New START is Signed / Clinton on the Middle East / The Sweetest Mangoes

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The START treaty gets signed. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton calls for democratic change in the Middle East. President Obama calls for an orderly transition in Egypt. The State Department honors former Iran hostages on the 30th anniversary of their release. A top U.S. diplomat says defeated former Côte d’Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo must go. A grant is helping preserve early Christian frescoes in Macedonia. And, learn about a joint U.S.-Pakistan program and the world’s sweetest mangoes.

New START for U.S., Russia
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov exchange diplomatic documents in Munich, concluding a two-year effort to reduce nuclear arsenals to their lowest levels in more than 50 years. Clinton, right, and Lavrov, left, sign instruments of ratification to implement the New START treaty which reduces the number of nuclear warheads to 1,550 for each nation from 2,200 warheads.

Clinton: Democratic Change is Mideast “Necessity”
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The status quo in the Middle East is unsustainable and democratic change in the region is a “strategic necessity,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tells officials from NATO, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia at the Munich Security Conference in Germany. ”This is not simply a matter of idealism,” Clinton says.

Obama Calls for Egypt to Move Toward Transition
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President Obama says violence against peaceful demonstrators and the shutdown of information sources will not resolve Egypt’s political unrest, and he repeats his call for the Egyptian government to immediately begin an orderly transition process that includes a broad section of the opposition and addresses their grievances.

The Iran Hostage Crisis, 30 Years Later
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The U.S. State Department used the 30th anniversary of the release of 52 hostages in Iran to honor them as heroes and to hear the thoughts of five prominent former hostages. The 444 day Iranian hostage crisis, which began in November 1979, was a painful period for the hostages, their families and the United States. 

Gbagbo’s Closing Window
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The window for defeated former Côte d’Ivoire President Laurent Gbagbo to leave honorably, peacefully, with amnesty, is closing, U.S. Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Phillip Carter says.  

Restoring Macedonian Frescoes
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The Early Christian frescos at Stobi, Macedonia are being preserved thanks to a grant from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation. The main goal of the project is to perform conservation work on the unique wall paintings in the Episcopal basilica at the site of the ancient town of Stobi, capital of the former Roman province Macedonia Secunda.

A Sweet Deal for U.S., Pakistan
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In spring 2011, Pakistan will send its first shipments of the world’s sweetest mango to the United States. This initial export marks a milestone in an ongoing joint project with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pakistani farmers and mango growers to expand Pakistan’s mango industry.

Democracy in Egypt / Clinton in Haiti / Black History Month

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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton urges an orderly and peaceful transition to democratic and economic reforms in Egypt. On a visit to Haiti, Secretary Clinton reaffirmed U.S. support for Haiti’s people through its reconstruction. Iranian film festivals in the U.S. are a big hit. Meet Adeeb Khalid, a Pakistani American scholar who is working on a history of Central Asia. And February is Black History Month.

Close-up of Secretary Clinton

Democracy in Egypt
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton urges an orderly and peaceful transition to democratic and economic reforms in Egypt, but also acknowledges that it will take considerable time. In a series of television news interviews, Clinton, above, said that violence, looting or criminal acts will not move the political process forward in a productive way that will be satisfying for the Egyptian people.

Clinton in Haiti
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reaffirmed continued U.S. support for Haiti’s people through its reconstruction, redevelopment and humanitarian assistance and urged Haiti to move forward with the second round of its presidential election. Speaking in Port-au-Prince, Clinton said, “we are here to reassert our commitment. We are impatient; we are determined to work with the people of Haiti to accelerate the progress.”

Iranian Film Festivals in U.S.
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Several U.S. cities are holding Iranian film festivals this winter, allowing Americans to see what Iranian filmmakers have to say about their country.

The Future of Central Asia
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Adeeb Khalid, a Pakistani American and a professor of history at Carleton College in Minnesota, is currently a visiting scholar at the Kluge Center of the Library of Congress. Khalid is working on a history of Central Asia in the first 15 years of Soviet rule, a pivotal period he describes as one of nationalistic and idealistic hope turning to disappointment and fear.

Carter WoodsonBlack History Month
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Each February, Black History Month honors the struggles and triumphs of millions of American citizens over the most devastating obstacles — slavery, prejudice, poverty — as well as their contributions to the nation’s cultural and political life. It was the inspiration of Carter G. Woodson, right, a noted scholar and historian. February was chosen because it includes the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and the abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

Obama’s Energy Agenda / Mideast Protests / Rebuilding Haiti

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President Obama outlined a bold energy agenda in his State of Union address. The U.S. urges governments in the Middle East to engage with protesters. The Afghan parliament opens in Kabul. We’ve got a report on how financial institutions must polish their public images. Many U.S. cities are hosting Iranian film festivals this winter. And, finally, another look at photo galleries on the rebuilding effort in Haiti.

Obama’s Energy Agenda
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President Obama sees a future in which Americans will drive electric vehicles and get their power from wind, solar, biomass, natural gas and nuclear plants. In his State of the Union address, Obama called for heavy investment in clean energy to help the United States transition to a stronger and more sustainable economy.

Winning the Future with Renewable Energy
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President Obama speaks about how innovation and investment in clean energy technology can help protect the environment while creating new jobs and growing the economy. 

U.S. Urges Engagement with Mideast Protesters
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The Obama administration urges governments in the Middle East and North Africa to “actively respond” to the concerns of younger populations who are voicing their protests in the streets. 

Afghan Parliament Opened
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The Afghan parliament opened on January 26 in Kabul, and the Obama administration calls this “a significant milestone” for the country’s democracy and its people. The United States “joins the Afghan people in celebrating today’s achievement and we encourage the Afghans to begin an inclusive dialogue on electoral reform,” says National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer.

In Business, Reputation Matters
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Many companies know they need to maintain a good reputation to do or improve business, but rarely have they faced the kind of reputational challenges as financial and related industries do today, experts say.

Iranian Film Festivals in U.S.
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Several U.S. cities are holding Iranian film festivals this winter, allowing Americans to see what Iranian filmmakers have to say about their country.

A young boy at a shelter in HaitiPhoto Gallery: Rebuilding Haiti, One Year Later
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One year after a 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti, the United States continues its commitment to help the Haitian people build back better. Housing remains a critical issue, and USAID has partnered with several organizations to build transitional shelters. Explore this photo gallery about the rebuilding process. At right, a young boy peeks in at his mother in their newly constructed transitional shelter in Carrefour, Haiti.

Economic Strides at U.S.-China Summit / Iran Talks / A Drumbeat in Iraq

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Economic progress was all in a day’s work for President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao. The United States hopes upcoming international talks with Iran will be meaningful. The USAID is working toward transparency and efficiency. A new idea for African farmers is a winner for a Uganda man. Finally, meet Tom Teasley, a percussionist on a mission.

One-Day Summit Yields Economic Strides
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President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao agreed to move toward liberalized global trade and investment and to oppose measures that could lead to protectionism. During a one-day summit in Washington, Obama, right, and Hu emphasized “their strong commitment” to engage in talks to conclude the World Trade Organization’s Doha Development Agenda, which would foster greater global trade liberalization.

The Upcoming Talks With Iran
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The United States is hoping for a “meaningful and practical negotiation process” when it joins five other nations in talks with Iran about its nuclear activities. The State Department also said the Obama administration is willing to discuss an updated deal to provide nuclear fuel for Iran’s Tehran Research Reactor.

USAID Announces Reforms
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The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announces new policies aimed at improving efficiency, increase transparency and setting a new standard for the field of development, says USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah.

A Winning Idea for Farmers
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Johnstone Baguma Kumaraki of Uganda won the 2010 Africa Rural Connect online contest for developing ways to increase the capacity of small-scale rural maize farms. Farmers across Africa will benefit from Kumaraki’s idea, which is aimed at providing them with better storage and marketing options.

In Iraq, a Different Drummer
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World-renowned percussionist Tom Teasley frequently tours the United States and other countries as a musician and cultural communicator, most recently visiting Iraq through a program of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. At right, Teasley works on rhythms with young Iraqi percussionists.

Biden in Afghanistan / Voting in South Sudan / Business Conference in Algiers

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Vice President Biden travels to Afghanistan. President Obama praises the timely start of the referendum on self-determination for southern Sudan. The United States and China are working to improve military-to-military relations. A top U.S. official assesses progress in Haiti, one year after the devastating earthquake. President Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy meet ahead of economic summits. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says sanctions on Iran are working. In Algiers, entrepreneurs gather and share ideas.

Biden in Afghanistan
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Vice President Biden is in Afghanistan to assess current operations and Afghan army and police training programs and to hold talks with President Hamid Karzai on political and economic progress. Biden, center, met with U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, right, and U.S. Army General David Petraeus, left, for an “update from them on the situation on the ground” before his planned meetings with senior Afghan officials, the administration says.

Obama Urges Free Vote in Sudan
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President Obama praised the timely start of the referendum on self-determination for southern Sudan and urged all sides to refrain from intimidation, coercion or violence and to allow voters to freely and peaceably express their will. “The world will be watching in the coming days,” says Obama. At right, South Sudanese men wait to cast their votes at a polling station in Juba.

U.S., China Defense Talks
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The United States and China are working to improve military relations to manage common security problems and promote communication and understanding, Defense Secretary Robert Gates says in Beijing.

Assessing Progress in Haiti
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In the year since a powerful earthquake struck Haiti, an unprecedented international effort has mobilized to bring relief to the country while confronting obstacles both pre-existing the quake and directly caused by it. Deputy Coordinator Kara McDonald outlines the U.S. government’s approach to reconstruction and assesses the progress of the last 12 months.

Obama, Sarkozy Discuss Summits
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President Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy agree to work closely in preparing for upcoming major economic summits that will address the continuing recovery from the recent recession.

Clinton: Iran Sanctions Working
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Secretary Clinton says economic sanctions are slowing down Iran’s ability to acquire nuclear weapons. “The most recent analysis is that sanctions have been working,” she tells university students in Abu Dhabi.

Amel ChouikhBusiness Conference in Algiers
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Dozens of American and North African entrepreneurs attended the U.S.-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference in Algiers in December. Amel Chouikh, right, one of the attendees, says that the conference caused her to see opportunities for cross-border partnerships and for expanding her business outside Algeria and into other Maghreb countries.

A Green Christmas / Côte d’Ivoire Violence / Persian Food Blogs

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This year, many people are choosing to have a green Christmas by reducing their holiday carbon footprint. The United States condemns the violence in Côte d’Ivoire following the recent elections. And meet Persian food bloggers, who offer their readers both recipes and a sense of community.

Dreaming of a Green Christmas
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In recent years, many people have chosen to add a shade of green to their Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or other year-end festivities by limiting the size of their holiday carbon footprint. One British study found that households generate an additional 1,430 pounds (650 kilos) of carbon dioxide during Christmas. At right, The National Christmas Tree, shown here with President Obama and his family, is illuminated by LED energy-saving bulbs. 


U.S. Condemns Violence in Côte d’Ivoire
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Deputy Assistant Secretary of State William Fitzgerald urges all Ivorians to respect the will of the people as expressed in a November 28 vote in which Alassane Ouattara was elected as the next president. Fitzgerald condemns the recent violence in Côte d’Ivoire as “egregious.”

An Online Taste of Iran
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Three Iranian-American women created separate blogs with parallel missions of offering Persian recipes. “I’ve always loved to write, and I’ve always loved to cook, and… I thought, ‘Well, why shouldn’t I be the one to have a blog about Persian food?’” says Sanam Lamborn.

Recipes for Persian Memories
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Persian food blogs offer recipes and a sense of community to their readers. Azita Mehran, author of the blog Turmeric & Saffron, writes mini-essays that includes recipes and memories of childhood trips or news of what she’s found at the market. Above, her red lentil soup.

Progress in Afghanistan / Lifting Sanctions on Iraq / Carbon Capture Challenges

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The United States is making progress toward its strategic goals in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Sanctions on Iraq are lifted. The United States urges action against child labor. Trade talks between the United States and China are yielding progress. Obama denounces a terrorist attack in Iran. And it’s going to take more than cap-and-trade to reduce greenhouse gases.

Progress in Afghanistan, Pakistan
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The United States is making progress toward its core goal of disrupting, dismantling and defeating violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan, President Obama says. The annual review of administration policy shows more Afghans are reclaiming their communities from the Taliban, says Obama, center at right, with Vice President Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Iraq Sanctions Lifted
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In a meeting chaired by Vice President Joe Biden, the U.N. Security Council voted to lift three key international sanctions on Iraq to acknowledge the “significant steps Iraq has taken” toward fulfilling its international obligations.

Eradicating Child Labor
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Governments around the world should take urgent and effective steps to eradicate child labor practices in their countries, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis says.

U.S.-China Make Trade Progress
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The just-concluded 21st session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade makes progress on intellectual property rights, open markets and government procurement restrictions.

Obama Denounces Iran Attack
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President Obama denounces a bombing attack targeting Iranian civilians in Chabahar as “disgraceful and cowardly” and says those who carried out the attack “must be held accountable.”

The Challenge of Carbon Capture
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Cap-and-trade and renewable energy alone likely won’t be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, governments and companies are increasingly looking for new and unconventional solutions to the climate problem. Ten major demonstration projects are underway, along with more than 50 smaller projects, with the goal to bring between five and 10 commercial projects online by 2016.

Obama Denounces Iran Attack / The Carbon Capture Challenge / Native American Art

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President Obama denounces a terrorist attack on a mosque in Iran. Reducing greenhouse gases is going to take more than cap-and-trade. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton hosts a town hall meeting to discuss the release of the first Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review. Read our handbook on U.S. media law. The U.S. gives Jordan vehicles to help in its fight to protect intellectual property. Global citizens speak up about climate change. And finally, explore a photo gallery of Native American art.

Obama Denounces Iran Attack
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President Obama denounces a bombing attack targeting Iranian civilians in Chabahar as “disgraceful and cowardly” and says those who carried out the attack must be held accountable. “The murder of innocent civilians in their place of worship during Ashura is a despicable offense,” Obama says.

The Challenge of Carbon Capture
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Cap-and-trade and renewable energy alone likely won’t be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This reality has prompted governments and companies to increasingly look for new and unconventional solutions to the climate problem.

A Diplomacy, Development Review
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A newly released internal study of the U.S. State Department lays out a plan for better coordinating U.S. responses to crises, conflicts and natural disasters around the world. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, unveiled the State Department’s Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, which suggests changes in organization, coordination with other U.S. government agencies, and implementation of overseas programs.

Media Law Handbook
What are the privileges and responsibilities of a free press? In Media Law Handbook, Professor Jane Kirtley, Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law at the University of Minnesota, explores how free societies answer this question.

Protecting Intellectual Property in Jordan
The Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement donates ten vehicles to the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization headquarters to contribute to Jordan’s robust intellectual property rights enforcement regime.

Global Messages: Climate Change
America.gov asked people around the world to write a message to world leaders about climate change. We received responses from all corners of the globe. Read their messages.

Photo Gallery: Native American Art
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The artistic traditions of American Indians convey the resilience of the United States’ indigenous peoples. Thanks to the U.S. State Department’s Art in Embassies program, which installs art in U.S. diplomatic posts, global audiences can enjoy the talents of many American artists — tribal and otherwise. Explore the work in this photo gallery. At right, a portrait of the legendary Sioux chief Jack Red Cloud.

Core Issues in the Middle East / Obamas Light Christmas Tree / Iran’s “Students Day”

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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the Middle East peace process needs to focus on the conflict’s core issues. President Obama and the First Family light the National Christmas Tree. The 1975 Biological Weapons Convention is being used to prevent bioterrorism and to expand information-sharing. The United States is building a strong U.S.-Africa partnership. The third annual Bali Democracy Forum presents an opportunity to learn from other countries. A bright future is in store for the U.S. solar market. And finally, a former Iranian student activist talks about his time in prison.

Focusing on Core Issues in Middle East
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The United States believes it is time for the Middle East peace process to focus on the core issues of the conflict: borders and security, settlements, refugees and Jerusalem, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says. “It is no secret that the parties have a long way to go and that they have not yet made the difficult decisions that peace requires,” Clinton, right, says.

The Obamas Light America’s Christmas Tree
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President Obama and the First Family lit the National Christmas Tree in front of the White House last night. Addressing the crowd at the tree-lighting ceremony Obama said: “On behalf of Malia, Sasha, Michelle, Marian — who’s our grandmother-in-chief — and Bo — don’t forget Bo — I wish all of you a merry Christmas and a blessed holiday season.”

Bio-Weapons Convention at 35
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The 1975 Biological Weapons Convention is being used today to prevent bioterrorism and to expand information-sharing and communication that can be used to combat any pandemic, spread deliberately or otherwise. It originally was designed to ban the development, production, and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons by nation states.

U.S.-Africa Priorities
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The United States government is very much focused and engaged on a wide array of issues across the African continent with an overall goal of building a strong U.S.-Africa partnership, says Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson. Carson says top priorities in Africa remain the same: strengthening democracy, good governance and adherence to the rule of law.

The Bali Democracy Forum
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Praising the opportunity to “listen and learn from the experiences of other countries,” Under Secretary of State Judith McHale expressed U.S. support for the third annual Bali Democracy Forum.

A Bright Future For Solar
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The U.S. solar market could grow eightfold to $8 billion by 2015, says a recent study by GTM Research, a market analysis company focusing on renewable energy industries. Driving growth are state policies that require power companies to generate a certain portion of their electricity from renewable sources, the report says.

Iran’s Students Day
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Abolfazl Jahandar, a former Iranian student activist and political prisoner, spoke at Virginia’s George Mason University on what Iran marks as Students Day, the anniversary of the slaying of three student demonstrators by Iranian police in 1953. Jahandar, left, spent three years in prison, including 400 days in solitary confinement, for his activism.