U.S.-Angola Relations |
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U.S., Angola Enjoying Strengthened and Renewed Relationship
Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson addresses U.S.-Angola Forum
Washington — Both the United States and Angola are demonstrating a “renewed commitment to expand and strengthen” their bilateral relationship, a trend the United States hopes and expects will continue in the years to come, says Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson. The year 2009, he said, has been a year of new opportunities for U.S.-Angola relations. |
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White House Senior Adviser Gavin Discusses U.S.-Angolan Relations
United States wants to be responsible partner with Angola
Washington — There are new opportunities ahead in U.S.-Angolan relations. A spirit of partnership exists that is focused on the future rather than the past, and the United States wants to be a responsible partner and capitalize on opportunities that now exist to move the bilateral relationship forward, says President Obama’s senior White House adviser on African affairs, Michelle Gavin. |
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Senator Lugar Hails New Chapter in U.S.-Angolan Relations
Expresses strong support for robust relationship
Washington — Senator Richard G. Lugar, the ranking Republican on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed his strong support for a “robust relationship” between the United States and Angola, noting that “our relations have come a very long way in the last seven years,” opening a new chapter in what he termed an important bilateral relationship. |
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Fighting Terrorism and Piracy in Africa |
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Senate Hearing Examines Effort Against Trans-Sahara Terrorists
Washington — The North Africa–based terrorist group al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) continues to be a menace to parts of the Maghreb and the Sahel, but the Muslim populations there generally reject AQIM, and the group is less likely to expand operations into Europe because of pressure being applied by Algerian security forces, says Ambassador Daniel Benjamin, the U.S. State Department’s coordinator for counterterrorism. |
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U.S. Welcomes Armed Repulsion of Pirate Attack
The United States on November 18 welcomed the repulsion of a band of pirates by gunfire from a private security team on a ship off the northeastern coast of Somalia. |
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Democracy and Human Rights |
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Ambassador Verveer Answers Questions on Violence Against Women
Ambassador Verveer: Violence against women and girls is a very serious global pandemic. In fact, here in the United States, both our Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee have recently held ground-breaking hearings on this topic. There is a growing recognition that this is a problem that is a fundamental violation of human rights and impedes the potential of women and girls to be able to participate fully as individuals, not constricted in any way, in the life that they want to lead. |
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Statement on United Nations Creation of Mandela International Day
U.S. joins other U.N. member states, welcomes creation of Mandela Day
The United States joined 192 other United Nations member states this week in enthusiastically supporting by consensus the creation of Mandela International Day, every July 18 starting in 2010. July 18 is Nelson Mandela’s birthday; he turned 91 this year. This joint resolution recognizes and honors the extraordinary contribution to world peace made by former President Nelson Mandela of South Africa. President Mandela is an example to every leader and every nation. His leadership was essential in the demise of apartheid and the successful launch of South Africa’s thriving multi-racial democracy. For this, he and his counterpart President F.W. de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. |
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Food Security Worldwide |
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Food Security Now at Center of Global Development Agenda
African and Angolan agriculture reviewed at Angola forum
Washington — The issue of food security can now be found at the center of the global community’s development agenda in the wake of recent food and fuel crises caused by spiking prices. According to a USAID official, the current situation shows that inattention to agriculture has consequences for stability and the economic development process worldwide. |
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Rome Summit Seeks to Promote Food Security Worldwide
USAID’s Moore previews “country-led” efforts to alleviate hunger
Washington — The November 16–18 World Summit on Food Security offers a chance to broaden the international coalition working to promote greater food security for the more than 1 billion chronically hungry people who are now at risk worldwide. |
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Food Security Top Priority for Obama Administration
Food activist Tony Hall supports comprehensive approach to hunger
Washington — Food security is one of the top issues worldwide and a “very top priority” for the Obama administration, says longtime food security advocate Tony Hall, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. World Food Programme and former U.S. lawmaker, who spent 24 years in Congress working to feed the hungry worldwide. |
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U.S. Pledges $3.5 Billion to Spur Agriculture-Led Economic Growth
At World Food Summit, leaders agree to increase food security efforts
Washington — The United States will invest $3.5 billion over three years to spur agricultural growth in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way. |
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Global Health: Fighting AIDS, TB, and Malaria |
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Global Fund Approves $2.4 Billion to Fight AIDS, TB, Malaria
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has approved grants worth $2.4 billion to fight the diseases during the next two years. The amount represents a slight decrease in funding levels, though the three killer diseases show little sign of abatement. |
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U.S. PEPFAR Program Helps Millions with AIDS in Africa
Effort larger than the Marshall Plan, says PEPFAR head
Washington — A U.S. program that supports millions of HIV/AIDS sufferers in Africa through critical drug therapy has “impacted more people and taken them away from certain death than any other health program,” says Dr. Eric Goosby, U.S. global AIDS coordinator and administrator of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). |
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Good Governance and Economic Progress |
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Corruption Continues to Hobble Social, Economic Progress
Despite international efforts, Afghanistan, Iraq ranked low
Washington — Corruption continues to hobble social and economic progress in most countries, according to the latest report by Transparency International, a nonpartisan, civil society organization that monitors corruption from some 90 offices around the world. |
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Economic Recovery Depends on Rebalancing Global Demand
Washington — To establish a global foundation for growth and avert future economic crises, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says, the major advanced economies must rebalance global demand. |
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People and Places |
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Muslim Americans Prepare for Hajj
An estimated 10,000 to 12,000 will participate in 2009
Washington — Edgar Castillo is one of an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 American Muslims participating in this year’s Hajj.
The number of Americans making the trip is down from previous years, according to tour operators who specialize in offering travel packages for the Hajj as well as Umrah trips to the sacred cities of Mecca and Medina, which can take place throughout the year. |
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