World

August 13, 2008 -- "I welcome President Bush's decision to send aid to the people of Georgia, and Americans stand united in support of the men and women who will carry out this humanitarian mission. As soon as possible, we must follow this aid with broader reconstruction assistance, including emergency economic loans, to help the people of Georgia rebuild their lives and their economy.    » read more »

8/13/2008 -- UMM QASR, Iraq (NNS) -- As part of Iraq Navy Day celebrations, USS Firebolt (PC 10) made a port visit to Umm Qasr, Iraq Aug. 13, marking the first visit by a U.S. ship to Iraq in more than 15 months.

"Our port visit to Umm Qasr demonstrates the great confidence we have in our Iraqi partners, and reflects the marked improvements in security that they have achieved within the past several months," said Lt. Cmdr. Trent Thompson, Firebolt's commanding officer.

The coastal patrol craft USS Firebolt (PC 10) underway in the Persian Gulf.: U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Randall Damm    » read more »

Aug 14, 2008 -- TBILISI, Georgia — A C-17 Globemaster departed Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and landed at Tbilisi International Airport, Aug. 13, 2008, delivering $1 million in humanitarian aid to reduce the suffering of the people of the Republic of Georgia.

A Georgian official receives pallets of US humanitarian aid during South Ossetia crisis: Department of Defense photo by Air Force Master Sgt. Scott Wagers    » read more »

Urges Russia to Cease Military Operations

August 13, 2008 -- THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I've just met with my national security team to discuss the crisis in Georgia. I've spoken with President Saakashvili of Georgia, and President Sarkozy of France this morning. The United States strongly supports France's efforts, as President of the European Union, to broker an agreement that will end this conflict.

Outgoing president George W. Bush delivers a statement on Georgia: Flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Aug. 13, 2008. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian    » read more »

Abuja -- 13 August 2008 -- Animal health specialists warn a new strain of highly pathogenic bird flu in Nigeria - which has previously not been recorded in sub-Saharan Africa - increases the risk of avian influenza spreading to other countries in West Africa.

Nigeria's bird flu officials blame infected migratory birds from Europe or Central Asia for the spread of the new strain of H5N1 to the country.

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization says the newly discovered virus strain is genetically different from the strain that circulated in Nigeria in 2006 and 2007.

The U.N. food agency says the new strain is similar to ones previously identified in Italy, Afghanistan and Iran, last year.    » read more »

Washington -- 13 August 2008 -- U.S. President George Bush has announced a massive humanitarian effort in Georgia that would involve American aircraft and naval forces. Analysts say the United States and the West have very little leverage to force Russia to withdraw its forces from Georgia.

Last week Tbilisi sent troops in an effort to take control of the capital of the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Russia, which had troops based in the area, responded by sending additional manpower, tanks and armored personnel carriers and going on the offensive.

Marshall Goldman is with Harvard University.    » read more »

13 August 2008 -- U.S. and Iraqi officials say car bomb attacks have killed at least four people and wounded at least 28 in northern Iraq.

Police say a bomb exploded in a parked car in the town of Qayara, south of Mosul Wednesday, killing two civilians. At least nine people were wounded in the blast.

Elsewhere, police say a suicide car bomber detonated his explosives near a convoy carrying Abdul-Karim Ali Nsaif, the mayor of the town of al-Multaqa, near the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. Officials say the bomb wounded the mayor and at least three of his bodyguards.

Police say another suicide car bomber struck an Iraqi army patrol in Mosul, killing an Iraqi soldier and a civilian and wounding at least 15 people.    » read more »

14 August 2008 -- Georgian officials say Russian forces have begun to pull out of the key Georgian city of Gori, where their continued presence raised fears that Russia would not abide by a French-brokered cease-fire agreement.

Georgia's Interior Ministry also says Georgian police have begun to move into the city just outside the breakaway region of South Ossetia, and along Georgia's main east-west highway.

Much of Gori's population fled just after the fighting between Georgian and Russian troops broke out one week ago. Those who stayed say the city was looted by Russian troops and paramilitaries.

They also complained of kidnappings and murders, but Russian commander Major-General Alexander Borisov told Georgian television Russian troops never entered Gori.    » read more »

August 11, 2008 -- "Good morning. The situation in Georgia continues to deteriorate because of the escalation of Russia's use of military force. I have spoken to President Saakashvili, and conveyed my deep regret over the loss of life, and the suffering of the people of Georgia.

For many months, I have warned that there needs to be active international engagement to peacefully address the disputes over South Ossetia and Abkhazia, including a high-level and neutral international mediator, and a genuine international peacekeeping force - not simply Russian troops.    » read more »

August 09, 2008 -- Chicago, IL -- "I just spoke separately with Secretary Rice and President Saakashvili about the grave crisis in Georgia. I told President Saakashvili that I was deeply concerned about the well-being of the people of Georgia.    » read more »

Washington, D.C.-Between 2000 and 2007, carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion worldwide increased 22 percent to an estimated 8.2 billion tons, according to the latest Vital Signs Update released by the Worldwatch Institute. China accounted for a staggering 57 percent of the growth in emissions during this period, while India contributed 8 percent and the United States and Europe contributed 4 and 3 percent, respectively.    » read more »

Java, August 13, 2008 – Human Rights Watch researchers in South Ossetia on August 12, 2008, saw ethnic Georgian villages still burning from fires set by South Ossetian militias, witnessed looting by the militias, and learned firsthand of the plight of ethnic Ossetian villagers who had fled Georgian soldiers during the Georgian-Russian conflict over the breakaway region of South Ossetia.    » read more »

August 5, 2008 -- WASHINGTON – Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., and senior Committee Member John Warner, R-Va., today announced the release of a report [PDF] by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) detailing annual Iraqi oil revenues and Iraqi government contributions to security and reconstruction efforts in the country. This report was requested by the Senators in a March 6th letter to the Comptroller General.    » read more »

06 August 2008 -- The flame of the Beijing Olympics has arrived in the capital city for the final leg of its international relay ahead of Friday's opening ceremonies.

Thousands of enthusiastic residents cheered and waved Chinese flags as Wednesday's relay began with a lighting ceremony at the Forbidden City. China's first man in space, Yang Liwei, was the first to carry the torch, followed by other Chinese celebrities, including National Basketball Association star Yao Ming.

Despite the tight security in Beijing, foreign activists staged two separate demonstrations to protest China's human rights record. Four foreigners were detained for displaying giant banners near the main Olympic "Bird's Nest" stadium, calling for a free Tibet.    » read more »

August 5, 2008 -- PRESIDENT LEE: Mr. President, Mrs. Bush, as well as your lovely daughter, Barbara Bush, I would like to welcome you from the bottom of our hearts. Yes, well, Mr. President, the majority of the Korean people have been eagerly waiting for your visit to Korea this time, and as you saw yesterday, there were many people who gathered together to welcome your visit to Korea.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you.

PRESIDENT LEE: And also, Mr. President, yesterday, in the lawn in front of the Seoul City Hall, there were many people gathered there, thousands of people gathered, who came together to pray, not only for your visit, but also for the future of the Korea-U.S. relationship, as well.    » read more »