Washington, D.C. (July 6, 2011) – The U.S. Department of State is pleased to sponsor “Strategies for Success,” the Central Asia and Afghanistan Women’s Economic Symposium to be held July18-20, 2011 in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic. The symposium will bring together women policy makers and leaders from private enterprise, education, and civil society to share strategies in support of women’s entrepreneurship. Kyrgyz Republic President Roza Otunbayeva, a long-time champion of women’s enterprise, will provide the opening address. U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne S. Verveer and Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, Robert O. Blake, Jr. will also participate in the symposium.

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By Frank Viviano
New America Media

San Francisco (July 6, 2011) – BARGA, Italy – My head tells me it’s time to leave. But my heart, for reasons grounded in personal experience, is profoundly wary.

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WASHINGTON (May 26, 2011) – U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-5) this week urged the U.S. military strategy in Afghanistan following the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

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ROME (WFP News  – April 15, 2011) – The United Nations World Food Program urgently requires US$257 million to continue providing food and assistance to the 7.3 million vulnerable and food-insecure Afghans it aims to support this year, mainly women and children.

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Athens, Greece (December 14, 2010) – More than 33,000 football fans demonstrated their support Tuesday for the people of Pakistan and Haiti by filling the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece, to watch top players reach a 2-2 draw in the eighth Match Against Poverty. As in previous years, the United Nations Development Program and two of its goodwill ambassadors, Zinédine Zidane and Ronaldo, organized the match in support of the Millennium Development Goals which seek to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods worldwide by the year 2015.

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NEW YORK (December 1, 2010) – Welcoming the completion of the final certification of the results of Afghanistan’s parliamentary polls, the United Nations said today it looks forward to the prompt inauguration of this crucial body. Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission announced today the completion of the final certification of the results of the September 18, 2010 elections for the Wolesi Jirga, or lower house of parliament.

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Opening July 23 at Lagoon Cinema, “Restrepo” (Rated R), is a documentary film from National Geographic Entertainment and Outpost Films that chronicles the one-year deployment of a platoon of American soldiers at one of the most dangerous outposts in Afghanistan. Filmmakers Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger deployed with the unit on a remote 15-man outpost, “Restrepo,” considered one of the most dangerous postings in the U.S. military.

This is an entirely experiential film: the cameras never leave the valley; there are no interviews with generals or diplomats. The only goal is to make viewers feel as if they have just been through a 94-minute deployment. This is war, full stop. The conclusions are up to you.

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WASHINGTON (March 11, 2010) – President Obama last week announced the charities that will receive a portion of the $1.4 million award that comes with the Nobel peace prize. The gifts include $100,000 to the Central Asia Institute, which promotes and supports community-based education and literacy, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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NEW YORK (March 22, 2010) – The Security Council voted Monday to extend the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanista for another 12 months and to expand its mandate to include support for the parliamentary elections scheduled for September.

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Sadi Ashraf, center, Outreach Coordinator for Central Asia Institute, the Reverend LeeAnne Watkins, left, Pastor of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul, and Kris Hennelly, right, a parishioner and member of the St. Mary’s Leadership Team.  (AAP photo by Tom LaVenture)

Watch the entire presentation online at http://www.youtube.com/user/aanews

By TOM LAVENTURE

AAP staff writer

ST. PAUL (March 10, 2010) – Sadi Ashraf, the Outreach Coordinator for Central Asia Institute, was present to speak at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul last Thursday.

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