Tag Archives: US

Posted on by

Veteran US diplomat Holbrooke passes away

Richard Holbrooke

Richard Holbrooke, an accomplished statesman for the United States known for his sharp understanding of international relations and politics, died at the age of 69.

The US State Department announced his demise in a statement on Dec 13 in Washington.

During his stint as a diplomat, Holbrooke had some unprecedented success to his name that no statesman could achieve in the United States. It was him who gave a new dimension to the diplomatic ties with China and also managed critical situation in Afghanistan.

Holbrooke was admitted in the hospital on Dec 10 and undergone a heart surgery. .While remembering his contributions to the US policies for Afghanistan, President Obama said that he was grateful to have a diplomat of Holbrooke’s calibre in his administration.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that Holbrooke had helped in shaping American history, managing complex international relations and  securing  better future for the people. “He will be remembered as a skillful diplomat, who was able to challenge dictators and fight for US interests even during critical hours,” she concluded.

Holbrooke had a vast experience as a statesman, who worked under four Democratic presidents, starting from Lyndon Johnson to Obama. People will never forget his vital role on Vietnam issue in the Johnson government. However, his best acclaimed work was ending the Bosnia war while working as a special mediator in the Clinton government.

Posted on by

Democrats finally agree to go with Obama’s tax plan

Democrats were deeply divided over Obama tax plan

The US president got a relief when Democrats have moved toward approving his deal to extend George Bush’s tax cuts for the richer section.

Obama’s chances of getting 60 votes required to pass his Tax relief plan were quite bleak as Democrats were quite apprehensive and feared that he might compromise too much with Republicans, the opposition party members. Obama asked the ex-president Bill Clinton to persuade Democrats to approve the deal.

Following the Democrats’ approval the bill would go to other house of the Senate in the House of Representatives. Obama is likely to win in the other House.

The Republicans won in the November 2 congressional elections taking control over the House of Representatives.

The proposed bill includes a package of $856 billion and extends unemployment benefits and tax breaks for lower income groups. The bill if passed will also revoke many subsidies for businessmen and renewable energy sector.

The deal retains all tax relief schemes for richer Americans passed under the Republican government under George Bush which would otherwise expire by January 1.

However, the Democrats wanted to raise tax rates for rich Americans by 2% to lower the already high deficit of the United States.

They were resentful for Obama’s readiness to retain Republicans’ tax cuts and agreed to support the bill only after former president Bill Clinton’s persuasion.

Posted on by

US says Cancun Summit a ‘significant step forward’

Cancun Climate Change Summit

The United States has termed the conference on climate change in Cancun as ‘significant’ and promised to work with international community to remain focused on the environmental challenges in the coming days.

US president Obama hailed Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderon for showing exceptional leadership and chairing the Cancun conference to a successful outcome on the foundation laid down at Copenhagen last year. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the conference reached to a significant point under the United Nations framework and from here lot of meaningful results could be achieved. Ms Clinton further said that the United States along with its friend nations would make all efforts to tackle the climate change and other environment-related issues.

She expressed utter satisfaction over the progress made at Cancun conference and said that the outcome would take forward the core elements raised in the Copenhagen Accord, such as creating a new Green Climate Fund, Working on a culture of transparency, creating a framework to reduce deforestation, establishing a technology mechanism, seeking international cooperation and many others.

The United States has been working with its global partners to move forward and sort out all differences since the Copenhagen summit took place last year, she reiterated.

“The United States joined other countries at Cancun for a fresh round of discussions focused at mobilizing common efforts to meet the shared objective. So now that we have reached an important milestone, time has come to enlarge our vision and work together to meet the challenges that come our way,” Ms Clinton Said.

The Cancun Summit has been able to reach a ‘compromise’ to organize a $100 billion ‘Green Fund’ to fight global warming. There was, however, no agreement regarding the Kyoto Protocol on carbon emissions cuts beyond 2012. The development made at Cancun will be followed up in the next round of talks to be held next year.

Posted on by

N Korea blames US for provoking ‘war’ in peninsula

South Korean soldiers and US forces exercising on N Korean boarder

The US receives another criticism for instigating war like situation in the Korean Peninsula.  This time it is North Korea faulting the United States and its allies for exercising military activities and creating an explosive atmosphere for war.

The tense situation between N Korea and s Korea is almost reached on the threshold of a war due to continuous reactions by the United Sates and its allies. No only they are giving aggressive statements to provoke conflict but also reaching out with their military aid for South Korea, states a Korean news paper.

Involvement of S Korea, Japan and US in the conflict directly will make the dispute an international war. North Korea has already demonstrated its readiness both for a war and an ‘all-out war.’

The attack on Yeonpyeong Island by N Korea was first aggression from its side since Korean War in 1950-53In March N Korea also submerged a South Korean ship leading to death of more than 40 sailors.

However, the Korean media calls all these incidents as ‘cooked up’ by the United States and its allies. North Koreans consider the attack on island as revenge to S Korea’s firing in common waters.

It is not just the United States and its allies patting South Korea’s back to instigate war. China has also been reportedly involved in the conflict. N Korean leader Kim Jong Il’s meeting with Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo is not hidden from anyone.

The United States had warned China recently against N Korea’s aggression in the Korean peninsula and suggested to guide N Korea.

Posted on by

US regrets Middle East talk failure; calls for ‘real progress’

US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton

U.S. faults Israelis and Palestinians for “demonizing” each other. Hillary Clinton, the secretary of state, United States, stated in a meeting with officials of the two conflicting nations She in Washington and called for efforts for growth.

Mrs. Clinton regretted over the failure of diplomatic talks between the two sides and appealed to stop blaming each other.

She further added that the core issues of conflict–boarder security, settlements, water and problem of refugees and the main center of dispute—Jerusalem between Israel and Palestine needed to be resolved. She asked Israel and Palestine to show accountability for their mistakes and they should be ready to step forward for a peaceful resolution.

The diplomatic negotiation between the two countries has been reinitiated after  it stopped in September. The United States also offered its willingness to mediate to rule out differences between the two groups. Mrs. Clinton also said that the resolution of conflict between the two groups would be in the interests of the United States as it was a reason for tension in the entire region.

The top US diplomat appealed for peace between Israelis and Palestinians for the sake of entire international community while attending a conference of Brookings Institute’s Saban Center for Middle East Policy. Among the listeners, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad were also attending the conference.

Posted on by

US ‘Not Rushing’ To Military Option Against Iran

US- Iran Diplomatic relation are changing

Washington: The Obama government’s chief nuclear advisor, Gary Samore, has stated that the United States may impose new sanctions on Iran very soon in order to check its nuclear program advancement. Samore, the US coordinator for Counter-terrorism and arms control, has revealed that the US will keep mounting diplomatic pressure on Teheran and take additional measures considering the upcoming meeting next month between Iran, the US and other world powers to direct nuclear talks.

While addressing a conference on security and defense, he stated that the United States would increase sanctions as Iranian leaders kept avoiding detailed negotiations on the nuclear issue. He further said that the sanctions would not be lifted until all concerns are fully addressed. Samore did not give details about the exact roadmap over the Iran issue but it has been said that several members of Congress are considering a new legislation to limit Iran’s crude oil export and pressurize firms to publicly disclose their deals with Teheran. In addition, many Congress members want more stern sanctions which include punishing foreign companies engaged in business deals with Iran.

He said that Iran had more successful missile program as compared to its nuclear program; so, the United States would like to have a serious strategy to prevent arms sales taking place from Iran.

So far, sanctions imposed on Iran have had significant outcomes since the global ban on acquiring nuclear equipment and technologies for its nuclear program, Samore said. He further said that the United States would not rush to military option against Iran and first resort to diplomatic efforts.

Posted on by

Facebook Chief Joins Richest Americans Group for Charity

Mark Zuckerberg, Founder & CEO, Facebook

Another milestone in the history of philanthropy has been created in the united States. Social network Facebook chief join hands with 16 other richest people of America to devote money for charity issues.

Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, junk bond pioneer Michael Milken and AOL co-founder Steve Case together have joined philanthropic community promising to give away their wealth for social welfare.  Zuckerberg has already devoted $100 million to Newark NJ school education system. Giving Pledge is a charity organization founded by Microsoft  founder Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. Facebook CEO has joined Giving Pledge with other rich people of America and commit to step up his donations toward charity.

The group has already 57 members devoting their wealth for humanity. The members include celebrities like New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, CNN founder Ted Turner and film director George Lucas. But Zuckerberg and Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskowitz, who is just 26 years old.

Today, younger generation is thriving on success so they should initiate work for charity in their youth, he social network chief stated. Though Giving Pledge do not have a criteria about how much money should be devoted for philanthropic causes, most of the members have committed to spend half of their wealth.

By joining the world of philanthropy at this age, Facebook chief has set a milestone for upcoming young entrepreneurs to give it a thought right now.

Posted on by

US likely to impose sanctions on Ivory Coast over poll verdict

Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo in the center

Abidjan, Ivory Coast – Following the UN allegation over controversial presidential  election in Ivory Coast, the US government has issued a warning against former president  Laurent Gbagbo regarding wrongdoings to the electoral process and showing disrespect for the verdict. The United States has asked the ex-president to leave the presidential office at the earliest as the UN claims that the election was won by Gbagbo’s opponent.

Meanwhile, the African Union has shown deep concerns over the recent developments in the Ivory Coast politics and decided to suspend the country from the union’s membership. Gbagbo did not accept his defeat in the presidential election and rejected the electoral commission’s verdict, which showed that the opposition party leader Alassane Ouattara won the election by a considerable margin of votes.

Ivory Coast has been in news since the verdict came last week. The world community has shown its disapproval over Gbagbo’s unconstitutional act and asked him to immediately step down as a president. Gbagbo has been ignoring the world community’s voice since last week and even did not take call from Barack Obama. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came openly to talk on the Ivory Coast’s issue and said that the US government has asked Gbagbo to transfer power to his opponent in a constitutional manner otherwise he would be facing a dire consequences.

Gbagbo, who spent many years as an expatriate in France, may face a travel ban as the international community including the European Union and the United Nations have also condemned the act.

Posted on by

US Steps To Help Illegal Immigrants

The Speaker of the House of Representatives supporting illegal immigration

Taking a step forward toward granting legal status to the illegally migrated youths, the US House of Representatives passed a bill for changing immigration law.

The US representatives voted the bill with a majority [198] to change the current immigration law, that do not permit illegal immigrants to enjoy normal rights. For converting into a law, the bill needs to win 60 votes at least in the House of Chambers.

However, the Republicans plan to block the bill unless Obama administration extends tax cuts initiated by George Bush and before the next fiscal year begins in October.

The proposed bill has also been considered as a DREAM Act as it, if passed would allow illegal young immigrants to get legal rights as residents provided they serve in military or study for 5 years. This provision will come into effect with the cooperation of Representative Howard Berman, a California Democrat, and Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a Florida Republican who would also sponsor the process.

The proposed bill has been titled as a ‘tailored’ transformation of immigration laws to revamp the shattered US economy. This would also promote employment and education.

Democrats regarded the bill targeted youth migrated to the US with their parents who entered the country illegally.

The Opposition however called the measure as an ‘amnesty’ to shade illegal migration and feared that this would again give a chance to foreigners to grab the jobs otherwise meant for American youths.