Category: World » Middle East
Hunger And Poverty Rates Up Sharply In Egypt
22 May 10:58 | World
Poverty and food insecurity in Egypt have risen significantly over the past three years, according to a new report.read more »
Press Releases: Remarks to the Foreign Service Institute Overseas Security Seminar
21 May 16:32 | US Politics and Govt
Remarks to the Foreign Service Institute Overseas Security Seminar RemarksJohn KerrySecretary of State George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center Arlington, VA May 20, 2013 The video is available with closed captionread more »
Call For Greater Efforts To Improve Health Of Palestinian Refugees
21 May 15:20 | World
Health programmes carried out by the United Nations agency tasked with assisting Palestinian refugees has helped to improve their lives, but greater efforts and more resources are needed to effectively tackle health challenges, particularly during times of conflict, says a new report. read more »
Press Releases: Remarks at the Annual Meeting of the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
21 May 07:08 | US Politics and Govt
Remarks at the Annual Meeting of the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons RemarksJohn KerrySecretary of State White House Washington, DC May 17, 2013 The video is available with closed caread more »
Press Releases: Remarks With Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni Before Their Meeting
21 May 07:07 | US Politics and Govt
Remarks With Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni Before Their Meeting RemarksJohn KerrySecretary of State Treaty Room Washington, DC May 17, 2013 The video is available with closed captioning on YouTube. read more »
Press Releases: Remarks With Foreign Minister of Brazil Antonio de Aguiar Patriota Before Their Meeting
21 May 07:06 | US Politics and Govt
Remarks With Foreign Minister of Brazil Antonio de Aguiar Patriota Before Their Meeting RemarksJohn KerrySecretary of State Treaty Room Washington, DC May 20, 2013 The video is available with closed captioning on YouTube. read more »
Press Releases: Remarks to the Foreign Service Institute Overseas Security Seminar
21 May 07:05 | US Politics and Govt
Remarks to the Foreign Service Institute Overseas Security Seminar RemarksJohn KerrySecretary of State George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center Arlington, VA May 20, 2013 The video is available with closed captionread more »
Fact Sheets: Visit of President U Thein Sein of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar / U.S. Assistance
20 May 17:55 | World
Visit of President U Thein Sein of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar / U.S. Assistance Fact SheetWashington, DC May 20, 2013 The United States recognizes the important ongoing reform efforts underway by President Thein Sein, his government, Parliament, and key stakeholders among civil society to build a modern, peaceful, and democratic country. Building on a long legacy of support for the aspirations of the Burmese people, the United States is providing assistance to strengthen and accelerate the political, economic, and social transition; promote and strengthen respect foread more »
Fact Sheets: Benghazi Accountability Review Board Implementation
20 May 13:10 | U.S. News
Benghazi Accountability Review Board Implementation Fact SheetOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC May 20, 2013 Following the September 11, 2012 attack on U.S. government facilities in Benghazi, Libya, the independent Benghazi Accountability Review Board (ARB) issued 29 recommendations (24 of which were unclassified) to the Department of State. The Department accepteread more »
Press Releases: Remarks to the Foreign Service Institute Overseas Security Seminar
20 May 12:35 | US Politics and Govt
Remarks to the Foreign Service Institute Overseas Security Seminar RemarksJohn KerrySecretary of State George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center Arlington, VA May 20, 2013 read more »
Fact Sheets: U.S. Policy and Programs in Support of International Religious Freedom
20 May 12:29 | World
U.S. Policy and Programs in Support of International Religious Freedom Fact SheetOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC May 20, 2013 The Department of State, our missions abroad, and especially the Office of International Religious Freedom in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, leverage the various tools of the U.S. Government to promote and protect religread more »
Press Releases: Travel of Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues Robert King to Seoul and Tokyo
17 May 18:12 | US Politics and Govt
Travel of Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues Robert King to Seoul and Tokyo Media NoteOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC May 17, 2013 Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues Robert King will travel to the Republic of Korea (R.O.K.) and Japan, May 18-25. Ambassador King will be in Seoul May 19-23 for meetings with senior R.O.K. Goveread more »
Press Releases: Assistant Secretary Jose Fernandez Travels to Mexico, Turkey, Bangladesh, and Spain
17 May 18:03 | US Politics and Govt
Assistant Secretary Jose Fernandez Travels to Mexico, Turkey, Bangladesh, and Spain Media NoteOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC May 17, 2013 Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Jose W. Fernandez will travel to Mexico, Turkey, Bangladesh, and Spain May 20-29, 2013. He will meet with government and business leaders to further U.S. economicread more »
Number Of Syrian Refugees Tops 1.5 Million
17 May 15:23 | World
The United Nations refugee agency says the number of Syrian civilians who have fled their country to escape conflict has passed the 1.5 million mark, while warning that the widening gap between the needs and resources available is becoming a huge challenge.read more »
U.S. Treasury Increases Sanctions Against Syria
17 May 09:16 | World
The U.S. Treasury Department has announced sanctions against four senior officials of the Syrian government, an airline and one privately owned television station that has been airing forced confessions. read more »
Naval Helicopter Association Commences Annual Symposium
16 May 04:22 | U.S. News
The Naval Helicopter Association (NHA) held its annual symposium in San Diego, May 13-16read more »
Pekari Takes Helm as Commander, U.S. Naval Activities Spain and Naval Station Rota, Spain
16 May 04:21 | U.S. News
Commander, U.S. Naval Activities Spain and Commanding Officer, Naval Station Rota held a change of command ceremony, May 16.read more »
Fact Sheets: Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic
15 May 08:32 | World
Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic Fact SheetOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC May 15, 2013 The Government of Canada, the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Government of the Republic of Finland, the Government of Iceland, the Government of the Kingdom of Norway, the Government of the Russian Federation,read more »
Fact Sheets: Kiruna Declaration: On the Occasion of the Eighth Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council
15 May 08:25 | World
Kiruna Declaration: On the Occasion of the Eighth Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council Fact SheetOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC May 15, 2013 We, the Ministers representing the eight Arctic States, joined by the representatives of the six Permanent Participant organizations of the Arctic Council, have gathered in Kiruna, Sweden, at the conclusion of the firead more »
Critical Shortage Of Food And Supplies In Parts Of Syria
15 May 07:38 | World
A United Nations mission that recently visited the Syrian village of Houla where over 100 people were massacred in May has found a critical shortage of food, water, medical supplies and fuel.read more »
Fact Sheets: New U.S. Department of State Memorial Honors Fallen Advisors
14 May 10:28 | US Politics and Govt
New U.S. Department of State Memorial Honors Fallen Advisors Fact SheetOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC May 14, 2013 The U.S. Department of State has commissioned a new memorial to honor personnel who lost their lives while supporting overseas criminal justice assistance programs. These criminal justice advisors, including police, corrections, and support staff wread more »
Israel Urged To Stop Highway Construction Through Palestinian Community
13 May 15:29 | World
An independent expert has called on Israel to immediately halt construction of a settlement highway that would cut through the Palestinian community of Beit Safafa endangering the livelihoods of some 9,300 people.read more »
Fact Sheets: The President's Export Control Reform Initiative: Reinventing the System and Promoting National Security
13 May 14:31 | US Politics and Govt
The President's Export Control Reform Initiative: Reinventing the System and Promoting National Security Fact Sheet Bureau of Public Affairs May 10, 2013 “We need fundamental reform in all four areas of our current control system – in what we control, how we control it, how we enforce those controls, and how we manage our controls.” - President Barack Obama President Barack Obama’s Export Control Reform Initiative is a common sense approach to overhauling the nation’s export control system. The President’s entread more »
Car Bomb Attack In Southeastern Turkey Kills 40
13 May 07:39 | World
A car bomb attack has reportedly killed 40 people in the town of Reyhanli, in Turkey's Hatay province.read more »
Peacekeepers Detained In Golan Heights Released
12 May 15:45 | World
Four United Nations peacekeepers captured last week while on patrol in the Golan Heights have been released unharmed.read more »
Fact Sheets: Partnering with State and Local Authorities to Support International Criminal Justice Sector Assistance
9 May 2013 | US Politics and Govt
Partnering with State and Local Authorities to Support International Criminal Justice Sector Assistance Fact SheetOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC May 9, 2013 For the past three years, the U.S. Department of State has made a sustained effort to recruit state and local law enforcement, corrections officials, prosecutors, and judges to participate in our criminal jread more »
Fact Sheets: U.S. Announces Additional Humanitarian Assistance in Response to the Syrian Crisis
8 May 2013 | US Politics and Govt
U.S. Announces Additional Humanitarian Assistance in Response to the Syrian Crisis Fact SheetOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC May 8, 2013 The United States is providing an additional $100 million in humanitarian assistance to support those affected by the violence within Syria and the more than 1.4 million refugees across the region. This new funding is in additiread more »
Fact Sheets: The United States-Republic of Korea Alliance
7 May 2013 | SciTech
The United States-Republic of Korea Alliance Fact SheetOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC May 7, 2013 On the occasion of the visit to the United States by Republic of Korea President Park Geun-hye, the United States-Republic of Korea Alliance stands stronger and more vibrant than ever. Originally forged in shared sacrifice 60 years ago, our relationship has become read more »
Increasing Number Of Displaced Syrians Concentrated Near Aleppo, Damascus
7 May 2013 | World
Syrians forced by the ongoing violence to leave their homes are often displaced more than once and are concentrating around Aleppo and rural Damascus, emergency workers say, as aid agencies faced bureaucratic hurdles and insecurity trying to reach hard-to-access areas. read more »
Fact Sheets: U.S. Assistance in Somalia
7 May 2013 | US Politics and Govt
U.S. Assistance in Somalia Fact SheetOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC May 7, 2013 U.S. assistance to Somalia aims to: help develop a stable government; ensure Somalia is not a safe-haven for terrorists; respond to and mitigate humanitarian crises; combat piracy; and prevent instability in Somalia from destabilizing the region. On January 17, 2013, the United Statread more »
Fact Sheets: Afghanistan Opium Survey and Opium Risk Assessment
7 May 2013 | US Politics and Govt
Afghanistan Opium Survey and Opium Risk Assessment Fact Sheet Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs May 6, 2013 The Afghanistan Opium Survey and Afghanistan Opium Risk Assessment (ORAS) are two distinct reports that aid the Afghan government in policy development and the U.S. Government and other donors in foreign assistance planning. Both reports are joint publications by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics. The United States, as well as a number of other international donors, provides fread more »
Syria: "No Conclusive Findings" On Use OF Chemical Weapons
6 May 2013 | World
An independent panel on Syria says it has "no conclusive findings" regarding the use of chemical weapons by any of the parties to the conflict in the country.read more »
5,292 Graduates to Receive Degrees During MU’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies
6 May 2013 | SciTech
Peter Hessler, award-winning author and Columbia native, to receive honorary degree from MUread more »
Fact Sheets: President Obama and Leaders of Mexico and Central America Expand Low Carbon Electricity Cooperation
4 May 2013 | US Politics and Govt
President Obama and Leaders of Mexico and Central America Expand Low Carbon Electricity Cooperation Fact SheetOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC May 4, 2013 During his May 2-4 visit to Mexico and Costa Rica, President Obama met with heads of state of Central America, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic to discuss U.S. economic engagement and the read more »
April Deadliest Month In Iraq In Five Years
3 May 2013 | World
More people were killed and wounded in violent attacks across Iraq in April than in any month since June 2008, according to new figures.read more »
Fact Sheets: U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement
2 May 2013 | US Politics and Govt
U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement Fact SheetOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC May 2, 2013 In 2012, the United States and Mexico signed an agreement concerning the development of oil and gas reservoirs that cross the international maritime boundary between the two countries in the Gulf of Mexico. The Agreement is designed to enhance energy security iread more »
Fact Sheets: United States-Mexico Bilateral Forum on Higher Education, Innovation, and Research
2 May 2013 | US Politics and Govt
United States-Mexico Bilateral Forum on Higher Education, Innovation, and Research Fact SheetOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC May 2, 2013 Today President Obama and President Pena Nieto announced the formation of a Bilateral Forum on Higher Education, Innovation, and Research to expand economic opportunities for citizens of both countries and to develop a 21sread more »
Palestinian Refugees Displaced In Greater Numbers By Syrian Violence
1 May 2013 | World
Increasing numbers of Palestinian refugees in Syria are being killed, injured or displaced amid the intensifying violence a United Nations agency warned as it appealed to all sides to resolve the conflict through dialogue and political negotiations. read more »
Press Releases: Remarks With Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo After Their Meeting
30 Apr 2013 | World
Remarks With Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo After Their Meeting RemarksJohn KerrySecretary of State Treaty Room Washington, DC April 30, 2013 read more »
Press Releases: U.S. Department of State Launches Central America Journalism Security Hub
30 Apr 2013 | World
U.S. Department of State Launches Central America Journalism Security Hub Media NoteOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC April 30, 2013 Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Jane Zimmerman traveled to San Salvador on April 29 to participate in the launch of a regional Journalism Security Hub, in conjunction with World Press Freedoread more »
Press Releases: U.S.-Japan Joint High-Level Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation
30 Apr 2013 | World
U.S.-Japan Joint High-Level Committee Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation Media NoteOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC April 30, 2013 Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Ichita Yamamoto, Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy, and Hakubun Shimomura, Minister read more »
Press Releases: Remarks With Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo After Their Meeting
30 Apr 2013 | US Politics and Govt
Remarks With Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo After Their Meeting RemarksJohn KerrySecretary of State Treaty Room Washington, DC April 30, 2013 SECRETARY KERRY: What are we here? Good morning. I was just checking. (Laughter.) (In Spanish.)read more »
Press Releases: Remarks With Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo After Their Meeting
30 Apr 2013 | World
Remarks With Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo After Their Meeting RemarksJohn KerrySecretary of State Treaty Room Washington, DC April 30, 2013 read more »
Fact Sheets: 2013 Community Of Democracies Ministerial, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia April 27-29, 2013
30 Apr 2013 | World
2013 Community Of Democracies Ministerial, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia April 27-29, 2013 Fact SheetOffice of the Spokesperson Washington, DC April 30, 2013 The Seventh Ministerial meeting of the Community of Democracies (CD) took place April 27-29, 2013 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The biennial meeting is the world’s premier global gathering devoted to strengthening democracread more »
Fact Sheets: U.S. Support for the Istanbul Process
30 Apr 2013 | US Politics and Govt
U.S. Support for the Istanbul Process Fact Sheet Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs April 29, 2013 The “Heart of Asia” foreign ministerial in Almaty, Kazakhstan April 26, 2013 continues a high-level dialogue focused on encouraging security, political, and economic cooperation among Afghanistan and its neighbors. This region-led dialogue was launched in November 2011 to expand practical coordination between Afghanistan and its neighbors and regional partners in facing common threats, including counterterrorism, counternarcotics, poverty, and eread more »
Syria Urged To Give Access To Chemical Weapons Investigators
29 Apr 2013 | World
There are renewed appeals for Syria to provide unfettered access to the team probing the alleged use of chemical weapons during its civil war.read more »
Social Protection Measures Key In Fight Against Child Labour: Report
29 Apr 2013 | World
The implementation of social protection measures can play a key role in rescuing minors from occupational bondage, a new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) has found.read more »
Head Of Probe Into Syria Chemical Weapons To Report Back
28 Apr 2013 | World
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has asked the head of the United Nations probe of the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria to come to New York on Monday for consultations. read more »
Syrian Crisis 'Threatening Entire Middle East'
25 Apr 2013 | World
With a "grim" tragedy unfolding in Syria, the United Nations Political Chief has told the Security Council that at this moment of increased risk across the entire Middle East, rapid action was needed not only to address the impact of that crisis, but also to make progress on the Israeli-Palestinian front. read more »
Remarks by Tom Donilon, National Security Advisor to the President At the Launch of Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy
24 Apr 2013 | World
Introduction Thank you, Jason. During your time at the White House, the President and our team counted on your deep knowledge of energy, climate and national security. Thank you also to Columbia University. You chose well in Jason and there could scarcely be a more timely moment for a Center like this one. Finally, a special thanks to Dan Yergin, who has made an unparalleled contribution to how we understand and talk about energy. Dan, I look forward to our discussion today. But, I want to tell you that I think I should be interviewing you. Congratulations also on hiring David Sandalow, who has been an important part of our team at the Department of Energy for the past four years, as your inaugural fellow. It is a bit unusual for a National Security Advisor to address an energy conference like this one. So let me begin with a straightforward proposition: energy mattersread more »
