Secretary's Nigeria Visit Highlights Security:  Secretary Clinton visited Abuja for meetings with President Goodluck Jonathan and his cabinet menbers and security chiefs. Following the meetings, the Secretary and the President held a joint press conference, covered by over 20 local and international media organizations.  The visit highlighted U.S. support for Nigeria's efforts to find a lasting solution to the country's insecurity and the strong bilateral relations that cover a wide range of issues including education, agriculture, and trade.

Ambassador Rapp Addresses Situation in Eastern Congo:  Embassy Kinshasa used the visit of Ambassador-at-Large Stephen Rapp of the Office of Global Criminal Justice to discuss with the local media the U.S. Government's efforts to help restore peace in the region.  In Goma, in eastern Congo, the post arranged an

Ambassador Rapp at the press conference

interview for Ambassador Rapp with independent, national radio station, Radio Okapi.  And in Kinshasa, Ambassador Rapp opened the post's bi-weekly press briefing with a statement on the current conflict in eastern Democratic Repulic of the Congo (DRC), before responding to questions from the audience of twenty local print and broadcast journalists. Given the ongoing concern over the conflict in eastern DRC, Ambassador Rapp's contact with the local press provided an important opportunity to reiterate the U.S.'s commitment to peace in the Great Lakes' region, and tied into larger U.S. efforts to help the DRC mitigate, and eventually end, the ongoing violence.

Ambassador Interviews with BBC on Mali:  Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard gave an interview with BBC TV and radio, in which she addressed the full spectrum of Mali's political, security, and humanitarian crises. The Ambassador took the high-profile engagement as an opportunity to reiterate the U.S. interest in prioritizing elections to restore democracy and civilian government, so that Mali will have a strong foundation to meet humanitarian needs and take on the security challenges in the northern part of the country.

Improving Public Information in Nigeria:  Embassy Abuja's Information Section and Military Information Support Team (MIST) partnered with the Nigerian Police Force to host a workshop to train newly-appointed Nigerian public information officers on how to work with the media and run a professional public information operation.  Nigeria's security challenges have tested the Nigeria Police Public Relations (PR) department to the limits, and the workshop provided PR department officers with the skills needed to keep the public better informed about police policies and operations.

VOA Starts Mobile Newscasts to Mali:  Voice of America is now offering special daily news broadcasts for mobile phone users in Mali, where Islamic militants in the north have clamped down on independent sources of information. 

"Mobile phones are the single best platform to share news and information in places like northern Mali," according to Gwen Dillard, the Director of VOA's Africa Division.

"The audience for mobile broadcasts has been growing by leaps and bounds in Africa.  It's an excellent way to reach places where radio and television are subject to censorship and intimidation.  Even in the most unstable regions, you find widespread use of mobile phones," Dillard says.

The three-minute French-language mobile newscasts include on-the-ground reports from Bamako and the northern cities of Timbuktu, Gao, Kidal, and Mopti, as well as breaking news from the surrounding countries of Mauretania, Niger and Chad.  The first broadcast included information about a recent Cholera outbreak.

Many private radio stations have stopped broadcasting in northern Mali and the flow of information has been sharply limited since Islamic militants seized control of the region following a coup that overthrew Mali's government earlier this year.  Some independent reporters in the region have been assaulted and threatened by militants who have imposed strict Islamic law and shut down private radio stations.

Voice of America's French Service, which can be heard online, on shortwave and medium wave, has been providing extensive coverage of the situation in Mali and the neighboring countries.

VOA Program Connects US and Pakistan:  Viewers in Pakistan can now experience a slice of life in America, with the premiere of a dynamic new VOA program called "Sana, A Pakistani," that follows show host Sana Mirza as she gets to know the country.

"I just moved here myself, so I'm seeing things with fresh eyes," says Sana, one of Pakistan's most popular television newscasters. "I want the program to paint a picture of what life is really like in the United States."

The first program focused on Washington D.C. and included a visit to a mosque, the White House, and an aid organization that provides free meals to the homeless. 

Sana says she plans to travel around the country so she can show viewers how people really live, including the many Pakistani-Americans that have moved to the United States.

I want to be "an ambassador to the Pakistani people, not the government, and I want the show to be like a bridge between the two cultures," Mirza says.  "The program will include stories from people from all walks of life, from struggling taxi drivers and mechanics to the successful 'high profile people."

VOA Hosts Angola Election Debate:  The candidates running against Angolan President Jos� Eduardo dos Santos held a lively election debate on a special two-hour edition of VOA's popular radio call-in program Angola Fala S�.

The candidates, Isaisas Samakuva (UNITA), Eduardo Kwangana (PRS), Lucas Ngonda (FNLA) and Abel Chivukuvuku (CASA-CE), participated by telephone from Angola, and responded to questions from the audience.

All of the candidates expressed frustration about what they described as shortcomings in the election campaign, and regret that the ruling party did not take part in the debate.  VOA extended an invitation to incumbent President Jos� Eduardo dos Santos, but the ruling party declined to participate in the forum.

The head of the party that wins this fall's parliamentary election will be Angola's next president.  The debate, broadcast live from the VOA studios in Washington, was moderated by Luis Ribas, the host of Angola Fala S�.

"Today's show gave Angolans around the country a chance to hear firsthand what the presidential candidates have to say, and to ask them direct questions," said Portuguese Service Chief, Ana Guedes.  "It was," she added, "an opportunity that has not been available on state controlled media."

Plaque Commemorating 1958 U.S.-China Talks in Warsaw Unveiled in Poland:  Ambassador Feinstein, along with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski and the Chinese Ambassador to Poland Yuxi Sun, spoke at an unveiling ceremony for a plaque commemorating the historic U.S.-China talks at Myslewicki Palace in Warsaw's Lazienki Park.  In his remarks, Ambassador Feinstein praised Poland's recognition of the need for the talks in 1958 which eventually led to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's visit in 1971 and President Richard Nixon's visit in 1972.  He expressed hope that the new plaque will serve as a symbol of all three countries' devotion to achieving and securing prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic and the Pacific.  This event supports Embassy Warsaw's efforts to encourage regional peace, prosperity, and security.

Ambassador's Video Blog Encourages Strong Civil Society in Armenia:  Ambassador Heffern discussed Armenia's growing civic activism and recent grassroots advocacy campaigns, stressing that an active civil society is vital to a healthy democracy.  Yerevan TV featured the blog on its evening news program, boosting the number of views to over 1,240.

Ambassador Eisen Marches in Prague Pride Parade and Delivers Remarks:  Ambassador Eisen and a group from the U.S. Embassy marched in the 2nd annual Pride Parade in Prague on August 18, 2012.  Parade participants walked from Wenceslas Square to Střeleck� Island accompanied by floats with music and dancers. This event supported Embassy Prague's goals to promote tolerance and protection of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights.

Consulate Istanbul Hosts Iftar for the Neighborhood:  Approximately 500 people joined the U.S. Consul General, the Sarıyer Mayor, several Sarıyer City Council members, neighborhood muftis and imams, and American Consulate families for an Iftar on August 15.  The dinner received praise in local media and by Mission Turkey leadership as one of its best public diplomacy events, demonstrating U.S. respect for Turkish culture and thanks to the Consulate's neighbors.