SECRETARY KERRY'S REMARKS WITH CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER WANG YI

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

Remarks With Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Before Their Meeting

Remarks

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Ben Franklin Room

Washington, DC

October 1, 2014

 SECRETARY KERRY:  Good afternoon, everybody.  It’s my distinct pleasure to welcome His Excellency, the foreign minister of China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi.  I met with the foreign minister in July in Beijing for a very productive Strategic & Economic Dialogue.  We spent two days together and President Xi opened up that meeting and closed the meeting.  And we are very grateful for China’s significant commitment to that dialogue.  And in addition, we had useful conversations in August during my trip to Burma for the ASEAN Regional Forum, and we had a chance to briefly talk in New York.  Knowing that we were going to be meeting here, we held back on the length and breadth of that conversation.

But I’m very pleased that he has taken time to visit us here in Washington on the occasion of China’s National Day, and we congratulate you on that and welcome you here.  And I’m pleased he’s taken time to come here and strengthen our relationship as part of the ongoing dialogue between us.

I want to emphasize that the United States welcomes the rise of a peaceful, prosperous, and stable China, and one that plays a responsible role in Asia and the world, and contributes to upholding the existing rules and the norms on economic and security issues.  I take note that China is stepping up and contributing to this challenge of Ebola, and we are appreciative for China’s willingness to put both equipment and personnel on the line in order to help deal with this.  We view that in very positive terms with respect to China’s important role in global leadership.

And that is why we are committed – that role and our interests together – in trying to find ways to cooperate on those issues of greatest consequence on a global basis while we manage some of the differences between us effectively.  We want to show a new model of relations in which we broaden our cooperation on the common interests and constructively manage those differences so that we can be as effective as possible.

The foreign minister and I are both coming off of a very busy and very productive week in New York for the climate summit and the UN General Assembly.  There I took pleasure in participating in President Obama’s meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli and I left those meetings encouraged, significantly encouraged, by his commitment on behalf of China to the dialogue with respect to climate change.  And particularly, we talked about dealing with the mitigating of threats from global climate change and also to trying to work together as we develop the targets for next year’s conference in Paris.  We also talked about containing Ebola as well as countering the challenge of radical extremism and terrorism, and particularly ISIL.

One of the issues that we’re going to discuss today, no doubt, is the situation in Hong Kong.  And as China knows, we support universal suffrage in Hong Kong accordant with the Basic Law, and we believe in open society with the highest possible degree of autonomy and governed by rule of law is essential for Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity.  And we have high hopes that the Hong Kong authorities will exercise restraint and respect for the protestors’ right to express their views peacefully.

China, importantly, is hosting APEC this year, and their hosting of that meeting could not be more timely or more important to all of us.  I know President Obama is personally looking forward to attending the APEC summit in November.  We’re grateful to the Chinese for helping to arrange the dates in a way that worked for everybody’s schedule.  And I think that the foreign minister and I in a few moments will discuss how we can make certain that that visit is a success, that it is as productive as possible, but also so that the APEC summit is the success that we all want it to be.

So Mr. Foreign Minister, I’m delighted you’re here, and I very much look forward to our conversation.  Thank you.

FOREIGN MINISTER WANG:  (Via interpreter) Secretary Kerry, friends from the press, today marks the 65th anniversary of the founding of new China.  It’s our National Day.  I want to share the joy of the Chinese people with you.  I also want to thank Secretary Kerry for his best wishes.  This is a regular visit to the United States by me; it is also a return visit for Secretary Kerry’s visit to China earlier this year.

More importantly, I’ve come to the United States to hold discussion with the U.S. side, to have strategic communication with the U.S. colleagues for President Obama’s trip to China for the APEC meeting and visit to China, particularly for the important consultations, talks between the two presidents.  I want to say that the common interests between us are far greater than our differences.  I agree with what Secretary Kerry said about the areas of cooperation.  Indeed, we need cooperation.  We can cooperate with each other.  And there is an increasing list of areas of cooperation between us, and I believe the list can go on.

There is a very important common mission for the two countries; that is, as the largest developing country and largest developed country in the world, China and the United States need to work together to build a new model of major country relations featuring non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation.  This meets our common interests, meets the expectation of the international community.  It is also in keeping with the trend of human progress.

We don’t think the process will be all smooth sailing.  There will be various risks and challenges on the way.  The China-U.S. relationship is just like a giant ship sailing on the sea.  It requires that both sides work jointly to keep the ship on the right course, keep injecting the impetus for it to forge ahead; and at the same time, we also work jointly to properly handle hidden rocks and shoals.  I believe we need to enhance mutual trust, strategic trust; reduce mutual strategic misgivings; and reduce our misjudgment.  As long as we work jointly in that direction, we will be able to meet our goal.  This is our common mission.  It is also the responsibility that we need to jointly fulfill for the international community.

The endeavor for building this new model of major country relationship is an ongoing process that we are undertaking right at this moment.  We are ready to work with the United States to enhance cooperation, properly manage our differences, and make unremitting efforts towards our common goal.

Secretary Kerry mentioned Hong Kong.  The Chinese Government has very firmly and clearly stated its position.  Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal affairs.  All countries should respect China’s sovereignty.  And this is also a basic principle governing international relations.  I believe for any country, for any society, no one will allow those illegal acts that violate public order.  That’s the situation in the United States, and that’s the same situation in Hong Kong.  We believe that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s government has the capability to properly handle the current situation in accordance with the law.

And I am ready to have a full discussion with Secretary Kerry about those regional and international issues of mutual interest and also our strategic bilateral cooperation.  I hope that more consensus can be reached through such dialogue.  Thank you all.

U.S. DOD SAYS AIRSTRIKES CONTINUE IN IRAQ AND SYRIA

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

More Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria and Iraq

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 1, 2014 – U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria yesterday and today using a mix of fighter and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct three airstrikes.

Separately, U.S. military forces and a partner nation used a mix of fighter and remotely piloted aircraft yesterday and today to conduct five airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq.

In Syria, three strikes near Kobani destroyed an ISIL armed vehicle, an ISIL artillery piece, and an ISIL tank. All aircraft departed the strike areas safely.
In Iraq, three strikes northwest of Mosul destroyed two ISIL armed vehicles, destroyed an ISIL occupied building, and struck two ISIL fighting positions. One strike in the vicinity of Haditha Dam destroyed an ISIL armed vehicle while another strike northwest of Baghdad destroyed two armed vehicles.

To conduct these strikes, the U.S. employed U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy fighter aircraft deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations. In addition, the United Kingdom also participated in the Iraq airstrikes. All aircraft departed the strike areas safely.

The strikes were conducted as part of the President's comprehensive strategy to degrade and destroy ISIL. The destruction and degradation of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to lead, control, project power and conduct operations.

PRESIDENT OBAMA AND PRIME MINSITER NETANYAHU OF ISRAEL MAKE REMARKS BEFORE MEETING

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE 

October 01, 2014

Remarks by President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel Before Bilateral Meeting

Oval Office

11:23 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, it’s good once again to welcome the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu.  Obviously, he’s no stranger to the White House.  I think I’ve met with Bibi more than any world leader during my tenure as President.

We meet at a challenging time.  Israel is obviously in a very turbulent neighborhood, and this gives us an opportunity once again to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel, and our ironclad commitment to making sure that Israel is secure.

Throughout the summer, obviously all of us were deeply concerned about the situation in Gaza.  I think the American people should be very proud of the contributions that we made to the Iron Dome program to protect the lives of Israelis at a time when rockets were pouring into Israel on a regular basis.  I think we also recognize that we have to find ways to change the status quo so that both Israeli citizens are safe in their own homes and schoolchildren in their schools from the possibility of rocket fire, but also that we don’t have the tragedy of Palestinian children being killed as well.

And so we’ll discuss extensively both the situation of rebuilding Gaza but also how can we find a more sustainable peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Our agenda will be broader than that, obviously.  I’ll debrief Bibi on the work that we’re doing to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL, and the broader agenda that I discussed at the United Nations, which is mobilizing a coalition not only for military action, but also to bring about a shift in Arab states and Muslim countries that isolate the cancer of violent extremism that is so pernicious and ultimately has killed more Muslims than anything else.

And we’ll also have an opportunity to discuss the progress that’s being made with respect to dealing with Iran’s nuclear program, which obviously has been a high priority for not only Israel, but also the United States and the world community.

So we have a lot to talk about, and I appreciate very much the Prime Minister coming.  It’s challenging I think for an Israeli Prime Minister to have to work so hard during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but I know that the Prime Minister’s utmost priority is making sure that his country is safe during these difficult times.  And we’re glad that the United States can be a partner in that process.

PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU:  Mr. President, first I want to thank you.  I want to thank you for the unflinching support you gave Israel during our difficult days and difficult summer we had -- expressed in so many ways, but also in an additional installment of support for Iron Dome, which has saved so many lives, saved many lives across the border.  And I thank you for that, and for the continuous bond of friendship that is so strong between Israel and the United States.

I also want to thank you for this opportunity to meet with you and to discuss the enormous challenges facing the United States and Israel in the Middle East.  There’s definitely a new Middle East.  I think it poses new dangers, but it also presents new opportunities.

As for the dangers, Israel fully supports your effort and your leadership to defeat ISIS.  We think everybody should support this.  And even more critical is our shared goal of preventing Iran from becoming a military nuclear power.

As you know, Mr. President, Iran seeks a deal that would lift the tough sanctions that you’ve worked so hard to put in place, and leave it as a threshold nuclear power.  I fervently hope that under your leadership that would not happen.

Equally, I think that there are opportunities.  And the opportunities, as you just expressed, is something that is changing in the Middle East, because out of the new situation, there emerges a commonality of interests between Israel and leading Arab states.  And I think that we should work very hard together to seize on those common interests and build a positive program to advance a more secure, more prosperous and a more peaceful Middle East.

I remain committed to a vision of peace of two states for two peoples based on mutual recognition and rock solid security arrangements on the ground.  And I believe we should make use of the new opportunities, think outside the box, see how we can recruit the Arab countries to advance this very hopeful agenda.  And I look forward to our discussions on these and many other matters.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you very much, everybody.

END
11:29 A.M. EDT

U.S. CONGRATULATES THE PEOPLE OF GUINEA ON THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAY

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT   

Guinea's National Day

Press Statement

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

October 1, 2014

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Guinea as you commemorate 56 years of independence on October 2.

The United States shares a long and productive relationship with Guinea and recognizes the progress that the people of Guinea have made promoting democracy and shared economic prosperity. We look forward to continuing our close partnership in the areas of health, women’s rights, agricultural development, good governance, transparency in the mining sector, and regional stability.

On this joyous holiday, I send best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous future.

9/30/14: White House Press Briefing

The President Meets with the Prime Minister of India

DOD VIDEO: MORE NATIONS JOIN FIGHT AGAINST ISIL

DOD PHOTOS: U.S. PREPARES ARMOR ASSETS IN POLAND FOR OPERATION ATLANTIC RESOLVE

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 

U.S. soldiers prepare to unload their armor assets from a rail line as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve near Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland, Sept. 28, 2014. U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Benton Conque.

U.S. soldiers prepare to unload armor assets that have arrived near Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland, and will be used as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, Sept. 28, 2014. U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Benton Conque.

U.S. CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF NIGERIA ON THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAY

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

Nigeria National Day Message

Press Statement

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

September 30, 2014

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Nigeria as you celebrate your Independence Day on October 1.

Our peoples enjoy an enduring partnership founded on shared values of democracy, security, and respect for human rights and the rule of law. The United States and Nigeria must continue working together to thwart destabilizing forces that would use violence to undo gains achieved to date through so much effort.

I was honored to speak with President Goodluck Jonathan at the United Nations General Assembly last week, and to welcome him to Washington, DC, this summer for the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit. We discussed how our two countries can deepen our partnership through trade and collaboration.

And weeks before, I shook hands with Beatrice Jedy-Agba—a courageous Nigerian woman who has devoted her life’s work to combatting human trafficking and bringing a peaceful, secure future to all Nigerians.

I wish all Nigerians a prosperous future on the 54th anniversary of your independence.

PAKISTANI INDICTED FOR SELLING SPYWARE APP FOR USE BY STALKERS/DOMESTIC ABUSERS

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 

Monday, September 29, 2014

Pakistani Man Indicted for Selling 'StealthGenie' Spyware App
A Pakistani man has been indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia for allegedly conspiring to advertise and sell StealthGenie, a spyware application (app) that could monitor calls, texts, videos and other communications on mobile phones without detection.  This marks the first-ever criminal case concerning the advertisement and sale of a mobile device spyware app.  

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia and Assistant Director in Charge Andrew McCabe of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.

“Selling spyware is not just reprehensible, it’s a crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell.  “Apps like StealthGenie are expressly designed for use by stalkers and domestic abusers who want to know every detail of a victim’s personal life – all without the victim’s knowledge.  The Criminal Division is committed to cracking down on those who seek to profit from technology designed and used to commit brazen invasions of individual privacy.”

“StealthGenie has little use beyond invading a victim’s privacy” said U.S. Attorney Boente.  “Advertising and selling spyware technology is a criminal offense, and such conduct will be aggressively pursued by this office and our law enforcement partners.”  

“This application allegedly equips potential stalkers and criminals with a means to invade an individual’s confidential communications,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge McCabe.  “They do this not by breaking into their homes or offices, but by physically installing spyware on unwitting victim’s phones and illegally tracking an individual’s every move.  As technology continues to evolve, the FBI will investigate and bring to justice those who use illegal means to monitor and track individuals without their knowledge.”

According to allegations in the indictment, Hammad Akbar, 31, of Lahore, Pakistan, is the chief executive officer of InvoCode Pvt Ltd, the company that advertises and sells StealthGenie online.  Akbar and his co-conspirators allegedly created the spyware, which could intercept communications to and from mobile phones, including Apple’s iPhone, Google’s Android, and Blackberry Limited’s Blackberry.  StealthGenie was undetectable by most users and was advertised as being untraceable.

Akbar was charged in the indictment with conspiracy, sale of a surreptitious interception device, advertisement of a known interception device and advertising a device as a surreptitious interception device.  He was arrested in Los Angeles on Sept. 27, 2014, and is expected to appear before a magistrate judge in the Central District of California later today.

StealthGenie was hosted at a data center in Ashburn, Virginia.  On Sept. 26, 2014, a federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia issued a temporary restraining order authorizing the FBI to temporarily disable the website hosting StealthGenie.

The indictment alleges that StealthGenie’s capabilities included the following: it recorded all incoming/outgoing voice calls; it intercepted calls on the phone to be monitored while they take place; it allowed the purchaser to call the phone and activate it at any time to monitor all surrounding conversations within a 15-foot radius; and it allowed the purchaser to monitor the user’s incoming and outgoing e-mail messages and SMS messages, incoming voicemail messages, address book, calendar, photographs, and videos.  All of these functions were enabled without the knowledge of the user of the phone.

Akbar and his co-conspirators allegedly programmed StealthGenie to synchronize communications intercepted by the app with the customer’s account so that the customer could review intercepted communications almost immediately from any computer with access to the Internet.  To install the app, a purchaser needed to obtain physical control over the phone to be monitored for only a few minutes.  The purchaser could then review communications intercepted from the monitored phone without ever again having physical control over the phone.  Akbar and others alleged designed SteathGenie to be undetectable to users of the phone.

According to allegations in the indictment, the business plan for the development, sale and advertisement of StealthGenie stated that the target population for the marketing of the app was “[s]pousal cheat: Husband/Wife of (sic) boyfriend/girlfriend suspecting their other half of cheating or any other suspicious behaviour or if they just want to monitor them.”  Language and testimonials on the StealthGenie website focused significantly on potential purchasers who did not have any ownership interest in the mobile phone to be monitored, including those suspecting a spouse or romantic partner of infidelity.  The indictment alleges that Akbar and his co-conspirators fabricated the testimonials.  

An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and prosecuted by Trial Attorneys William A. Hall Jr. and Peter V. Roman of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay V. Prabhu of the Eastern District of Virginia.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA BECOME FIRST EUROPEAN PARTNER IN GPOI TO ACHIEVE FULL TRAINING CAPABILITY

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

September 29, 2014

The United States congratulates Bosnia and Herzegovina for becoming the first European partner in the U.S. Department of State-led Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) to achieve the significant milestone of Full Training Capability, establishing the country’s certified self-sufficiency to train peacekeeping personnel for UN and regional peace operations. In doing so, Bosnia and Herzegovina demonstrates its commitment to promoting international peace and security by helping meet the growing global demand for military and civilian personnel needed to stabilize post-conflict countries around the world.

Bosnia and Herzegovina was among the founding partners of GPOI, an initiative started in 2005 to train military and police units to serve in both UN-led and regional peacekeeping missions, supply essential non-lethal equipment, and refurbish peacekeeping training facilities. In addition to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s contribution of military personnel to UN peacekeeping missions in Africa, as well as to coalition operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, its GPOI-supported Peace Support Operations Training Center has helped train military, police, and civilian personnel from 48 countries in accordance with the current UN standards. We applaud Bosnia and Herzegovina’s continued national investment in peacekeeping and look forward to building on our GPOI partnership to save lives and help set the stage for post-conflict recovery around the world.

To date, GPOI, administered by the Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, has helped train more than 270,000 peacekeepers from among its 69 partner nations and organizations; supported 52 national and regional peace operations training centers and three regional headquarters worldwide; and facilitated the deployment of more than 197,000 personnel from 38 countries serving in 29 peacekeeping operations around the world.

NSF VIDEO: SCIENCE OF INNOVATION: ELECTRONIC TATOO

PRODUCING ALOGORITHMS THAT ANALYSE HUMAN LANGUAGE

FROM:  NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 

Growing field of natural language processing works at the interface of computers and language

Researcher's algorithm design produces valuable tools for translation, text mining, question answering and more

Most of us never actually bother to read text labeled "terms and conditions," "privacy policy," or "financial prospectus." We usually just check the "accept" box, assume all is well, and move on. Still, wouldn't it be nice to have a computer program that could read them for us, and alert us to any problems?

This ultimately could be among the potential benefits of natural language processing, a field that works at the interface of computers and language. The goal of this growing field, which dates back to the 1950s, is to enable computers to glean meaning from language through the use of automated algorithms that process linguistic data from text.

"Imagine a computer program that reads text and interprets it to do something useful, but not the way you and I would do," says Noah Smith, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science. "This program could read text that people don't like to read, or don't have time to read."

Smith designs algorithms that analyze human language, research that produces valuable software tools for translation, text mining, question answering, information extraction as well as "scientific discovery wherever text serves as data," he says, for example in sociolinguistics, political science or economics.

The National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded scientist specifically is studying computational models for natural language parsing and semantic analysis, that is, to "take a sentence and try to figure out what it means," Smith says. "Doing this could help with certain tasks that people cannot do easily, such as extracting information out of very large collections, and would rather delegate it to a computer that will perform consistently and without getting tired."

It's kind of like the automated equivalent of the sentence diagramming that many of today's adults engaged in during elementary school. "Our programs analyze sentences into deeper linguistic structures," Smith says.

To be sure, these programs have a long way to go before attaining human-like reading and comprehension skills, he says. However, "humans are not always perfect at these things," he says. "People do have cognitive limitations, or limitations on memory, or they get distracted. Computer programs have complementary strengths.

"The public perception of this artificial intelligence branch of computer science is often colored by fears that robots might replace us," he adds. "We are, in fact, trying to make tools that will make life easier and less tedious for people."

Smith is conducting his research under an NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award, which he received in 2011. The award supports junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organization.

Smith also has applied his methods to problems like measuring public opinion as expressed in social media messages, and in understanding the underlying ecosystems of companies by scrutinizing their press releases. The latter could benefit economists who study companies, specifically how companies interact with government or with each other.

As for social media, "text exists in a larger social context," he says. "People don't create language purely because they feel like it. Social media, like Twitter and Facebook, are intended to be read by people we know, but often there is a much larger conversation that goes on. The advent of these platforms allows us to observe more of these interactions, and hopefully to develop statistical methods to better understand what people mean when they write or talk."

Educational activities as part of the grant include the development of new exercises and a competitive project within the undergraduate course on natural language processing. In past years, Smith has written problems for the Computational Linguistics Olympiad, a high school competition. Smith also is committed to tutoring and mentoring the graduate students he advises. His group calls itself "Noah's ARK."

"A lot of them interact with each other, including the junior doctoral students who can learn from the more senior ones," he says. "I try to promote opportunities for them to see all parts of my job, and work with me on not just research, but on service and teaching at the university and beyond."

Finally, his research group makes its software publicly available, not just for students in the classroom, but "so it can be used by other researchers and startup companies, as well as by regular people who want to try their hand at natural language processing," he says.

-- Marlene Cimons, National Science Foundation
Investigators
Noah Smith
Related Institutions/Organizations
Carnegie-Mellon University

400,000 CLAIM CHECKS MAILED TO VICTIMS OF ALLEGED FREE-TRIAL WEIGHT-LOSS SCAM

FROM:  U.S. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 

FTC Mails More Than 400,000 Claim Forms to Possible Victims of Alleged LeanSpa Scam

The Federal Trade Commission, through an administrator, is mailing 449,044 claim forms to consumers who may have lost money after buying LeanSpa, a supplement whose marketers allegedly made deceptive weight loss claims. The claim forms are intended to help determine which consumers are eligible for refunds.

The FTC and the state of Connecticut sued the marketers of LeanSpa in December 2011, charging that they used fake websites to promote acai berry and “colon cleanse” weight-loss products, and that they falsely told consumers that they could receive free trials by paying a nominal cost for shipping and handling. In reality, consumers ended up paying $79.95 for the trial, and for recurring monthly shipments of the product that were hard to cancel. The defendants settled the complaint in January 2014, agreeing to stop making the claims and surrender assets valued at approximately $5.7 to $7 million for consumer refunds.

The claim forms will be mailed to consumers by Rust Consulting, Inc., an administrator working for the FTC. Consumers receiving forms will have 60 days to submit their claims online or by mail, following the instructions on the form. Consumers who lost money after buying LeanSpa, but do not receive a claim form, can still submit a complaint with the FTC using the FTC’s Complaint Assistant or toll-free number below.

Consumers with additional questions about the LeanSpa case or the claim form process can call the administrator toll-free number at 1-866-621-4156 or visit the FTC’s LeanSpa case web page. Using this information, the FTC will determine which consumers are eligible for refunds and how much they should receive. No refund checks are being mailed at this time.

The FTC urges consumers to carefully evaluate advertising claims for weight-loss products. For more information on how to avoid weight-loss scams, see the agency’s guidance for consumers of products and services advertised for Weight Loss & Fitness. The FTC also has guidance for media outlets on spotting false weight-loss claims in advertising.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them.

U.S. CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS ON THEIR NATIONAL DAY

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

On the Occasion of the Republic of Cyprus National Day

Press Statement

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

September 30, 2014

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of the Republic of Cyprus as you celebrate your national day on October 1.

Fifty-four years after Cyprus’s independence, the bond between our two countries remains strong. In New York City last week, I had the opportunity to meet with President Anastasiades and Foreign Minister Kasoulides to discuss our shared challenges. We will continue to work closely together on initiatives to counter terrorism and promote regional security.

The strong partnership between our two countries is also reflected in the growing economic, cultural, and educational exchanges between our citizens. We look forward to deepening our commercial and people-to-people ties for the benefit of both Cypriots and Americans.

I remain fully committed to supporting efforts to reunify the island as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. I am hopeful that this goal can be achieved soon, so that all Cypriots may live in greater peace and prosperity.

I send warmest wishes on this important day.

U.S. SENDS BEST WISHES TO PEOPLE OF BOTSWANA ON THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAY

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

Botswana National Day

Press Statement

John Kerry

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

September 30, 2014

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I send best wishes to the people of Botswana as you celebrate 48 years of independence on September 30.

The United States and Botswana are natural partners. Ours is a relationship built on the shared values of democracy, justice, equality, and the fundamental rights of all people. Together we are taking our partnership to the next level by investing in Botswana’s greatest natural resource of all—its people.

The Young African Leaders Initiative is lifting up Botswana’s youth. Our commitment to combatting HIV/AIDS through PEPFAR is healing the sick. And the listing of the Okavango Delta as the 1000th UNESCO World Heritage Site is raising the global profile of environmental issues.

It is with an eye to a shared, bright future that we work together as Americans and Batswana to strengthen the relationship between our governments and between our people.

I send warm wishes to the people of Botswana for continued peace and prosperity.

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S STATEMENT ON SIGNING OF AGREEMENTS IN AFGHANISTAN

FROM:  THE WHITE HOUSE PRESIDENT 

September 30, 2014

Statement by the President on the Signing of the Bilateral Security Agreement and NATO Status of Forces Agreement in Afghanistan

Today we mark an historic day in the U.S.-Afghan partnership that will help advance our shared interests and the long-term security of Afghanistan. After nearly two years of hard work by negotiating teams on both sides, earlier today in Kabul the United States and the new Afghan Government of National Unity signed a Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA). This agreement represents an invitation from the Afghan Government to strengthen the relationship we have built over the past 13 years and provides our military service members the necessary legal framework to carry out two critical missions after 2014: targeting the remnants of Al Qaeda and training, advising, and assisting Afghan National Security Forces. The signing of the BSA also reflects the implementation of the Strategic Partnership Agreement our two governments signed in May 2012.

Today, Afghan and NATO officials also signed the NATO Status of Forces Agreement, giving forces from Allied and partner countries the legal protections necessary to carry out the NATO Resolute Support mission when ISAF comes to an end later this year.

These agreements follow an historic Afghan election in which the Afghan people exercised their right to vote and ushered in the first peaceful democratic transfer of power in their nation’s history. The BSA reflects our continued commitment to support the new Afghan Unity Government, and we look forward to working with this new government to cement an enduring partnership that strengthens Afghan sovereignty, stability, unity, and prosperity, and that contributes to our shared goal of defeating Al Qaeda and its extremist affiliates.

This day was only possible because of the extraordinary service of our men and woman in uniform who continue to sacrifice  so much in Afghanistan on behalf of our security and the Afghan people. The American people are eternally grateful for their efforts.

6/29/14: WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING

WILLIAM J. BURNS MAKES REMARKS AT SAMUEL L. LEWIS MEMORIAL SYMPOSIUM

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

Remarks at the Samuel L. Lewis Memorial Symposium

Remarks

William J. Burns

Deputy Secretary of State

Washington, DC

September 29, 2014

I can’t tell how both touched and honored I am by that, Dennis, and I also happened to notice that the photo on the plaque reminds me of the time in our lives when neither of us had any gray hair. It’s always an honor to be here at The Washington Institute but it’s a special honor to be introduced by Dennis Ross, someone for whom I’ve had great respect over many years. I’ve learned an enormous amount from you about what it is to be a diplomat and what it is to pursue our country’s interests and our country’s values, and how to do it with integrity and decency. So thank you very, very much.

I’m also deeply honored to join all of you in celebrating the wonderful life and career of Sam Lewis, one of our country’s most admired diplomats and peacemakers. From post-war Naples to the 1973 Afghanistan coup and from Camp David to Oslo, Sam lived a life of significance and adventure that most diplomats could only dream of. And with Sallie, he lived a life of friendship and romance that would make Woody Allen weep. His Texan charm, candor, courage, and common sense earned him the respect of countless leaders – both abroad and here at home. He was as comfortable going jaw to jaw with counterparts in the negotiation room as he was going cheek to cheek with sharks on his many scuba dives off the coast of the Sinai. He was a man who didn’t just know where he – and the country he loved – needed to go. He knew how to get there, how to lead, and how to get things done.

Sam once called the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel – an historic achievement in which he played an indispensable part – “a mountain peak in a sea of sand.” The same could be said about Sam’s own extraordinary career. Generations of American diplomats have tried to learn from his example, follow in his footsteps, and scale the diplomatic peaks he conquered so skillfully over the years. None of us have been terribly successful. But all of us learned a great deal along the way – about our profession, about the Middle East, and about the promise of American leadership.

Through Sam’s remarkable journey and my own checkered thirty-three year career in the Foreign Service, I have learned that the Middle East is a place where pessimists seldom lack for either company or validation, where skeptics hardly ever seem wrong. It is a place where American policymakers often learn humility the hard way… a place where you can most easily see the wisdom in Winston Churchill’s famous comment that what he liked most about Americans was that they usually did the right thing in the end; they just liked to exhaust all the alternatives first.

I’ve learned that stability is not a static phenomenon, and that regimes which do not offer their citizens a sense of political dignity and economic possibility ultimately become brittle and break. I’ve learned that change in the Middle East is rarely neat or linear, but often messy and cruel, and deeply unpredictable in its second and third order consequences. I’ve learned not to underestimate the depth of mistrust of American motives that animates so many people in the region, and I’ve learned that we often get far more credit than we deserve for complicated conspiracies. I’ve learned that, with all its stubborn dysfunction, the Middle East is a place where people and leaders are capable of great things… and that American diplomacy, with all of its own occasional dysfunction, can make a real and enduring difference.

During this incredible moment of testing in the region, we miss Sam’s judgment and good counsel more than ever. If Sam were with us, I suspect he would be the first to say that we cannot afford to neglect what’s at stake. And he would urge us not to neglect our responsibility to help shape, within the limits of our influence, the great generational struggle between moderation and extremism that is unfolding across the Middle East today.

A Changing Middle East

Nothing embodies that struggle in starker terms than the threat posed by ISIL. ISIL is obviously not the only source of disorder in the Middle East today. But it is one of the most immediate, and most poisonous. And it is the most dramatic symptom of the layers of change unleashed by the second Arab Awakening – within, among, and beyond Arab states.

Within a number of states, we’ve seen the collapse of a half-century old political order. Societies that for far too long had known far too little freedom, far too little opportunity, and far too little dignity began to erupt. But what also spilled out, in addition to the thirst of individual citizens for dignity, were all the demons of sectarian and communal tension that authoritarian rulers had fueled and forcefully suppressed.

That dynamic in turn helped set off new uncertainties and frictions among states in the region, as political rivalries, sectarian troubles and old Sunni-Shia passions spilled across borders still not firmly rooted nearly a century after their post-World War One formation.

Meanwhile, beyond Arab states, violent extremist groups were quick to try to fill emerging vacuums and take advantage of post-revolutionary chaos.

ISIL took advantage of all these developments – state collapse, proliferation of weapons, regional rivalries, and sectarian polarization – to prosper and grow. But more broadly, what all of these layers of change add up to is the most significant transition in the Arab world since the revolutions of the 1950’s. And what they have laid bare is the long-term question of whether an “Arab center”, as my friend and former Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher has described it, can eventually replace the old order… gradually establishing democratic institutions to manage sectarian differences and provide an outlet for political pluralism and individual dignity… or whether hardliners and extremists of one stripe or another will prove more resilient. The United States has a powerful stake in that very complex competition, and in shaping a careful strategy for enhancing the long-term chances for a new, moderate order which best protects our interests and reflects our values.

A Global Coalition to Counter ISIL

As all of you know very well, there is no shortage of obstacles to a moderate order in the Middle East today. An arc of instability, complicated transitions, and stagnating economies runs nearly uninterrupted from the Maghreb to the Levant and the Gulf. Iran’s nuclear program continues to loom large as we near the November 24 deadline for a comprehensive deal. And if we needed any reminder, this summer’s tragic conflict in Gaza underscored just how unsustainable and combustible the status quo between Palestinians and Israelis remains.

We are seized with all of these challenges. I know Dennis and I will have the opportunity to touch on a number of them in our conversation. But let me just make a couple of points up front about what I’m sure is on everyone’s mind this afternoon: the challenge posed by ISIL and our strategy to degrade and ultimately defeat it.

First, it’s important to keep perspective. ISIL is not ten feet tall – it has no state partner and its most impressive achievement to date has been to unite the entire region – and the world – against it. But it poses a serious challenge that demands a serious response. If left unchecked, ISIL would control more territory, amass more resources, attract more foreign fighters, further destabilize an already deeply unstable region, and over time, pose a growing threat.

Second, as President Obama and Secretary Kerry have made clear, this is not America’s fight alone. A successful strategy to counter ISIL – and indeed to strengthen the forces of moderation in the region – cannot be about us. It has to be about the people and governments in the region and the choices they make. This is why President Obama made the formation of a united and inclusive Iraqi government an essential prerequisite to going on the offensive against ISIL. It’s why he has insisted that we help our partners on the ground secure their own country’s future. And it’s why he has placed so much focus on building and leading a broad-based coalition of states who have a stake in this fight and the means to provide practical support.

My third point is about the coalition and the comprehensive strategy it is pursuing. Beginning this month with the NATO summit in Wales and following meetings in Baghdad, Jeddah, Cairo, Paris, and last week at the UN General Assembly in New York, we’ve worked hard to build a coalition unified around shared goals, objectives, and actions. President Obama appointed John Allen – a retired four-star general and one of our nation’s finest public servants – to oversee this effort. And already, more than 50 countries from all corners of the globe have joined the coalition and we expect others to join in the weeks and months ahead.

Together, we will deny ISIL a safe-haven by continuing to conduct carefully targeted airstrikes against its leadership, and logistical and operational capabilities, and we will impede its ability to plan, prepare, and execute attacks. We’ve already conducted more than 200 such airstrikes in Iraq, and last week, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, and Qatar joined in strikes against ISIL targets in Syria. While we target ISIL from the air, we will strengthen the capacity of our partners to push back against ISIL on the ground. President Obama sent an additional 475 military advisors to Iraq this month to support Iraqi and Kurdish forces with training, intelligence, and equipment, and to help the Government of Iraq stand up National Guard Units to help Sunni communities push back against ISIL. We will also continue and step-up our support to the moderate Syrian opposition, including through the train and equip program recently authorized by bipartisan majorities in both chambers of Congress.

But this is far more than just a military effort.

We also need to cut off the flow of foreign terrorist fighters into and out of the region. ISIL has recruited thousands of foreign fighters to Iraq and Syria from nearly 80 countries, including over 100 Americans. These fighters pose an immediate threat to the region and a real and growing terrorism threat more broadly. Last week, the UN Security Council unanimously passed a binding resolution requiring countries to prevent and suppress funding, financing, recruiting, organizing, transporting, and equipping of foreign fighters. This resolution received the second most co-sponsors in the history of the United Nations.

Alongside this historic resolution, the coalition will press hard to accelerate global efforts to dry up ISIL’s funding, including by reducing ISIL’s revenue from oil and other plundered assets, extortion of local populations, kidnapping for ransom, and external donors.

We will also continue to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to states and societies carrying the heaviest burden from this conflict. Even before ISIL’s advance this spring, the scale and scope of the human tragedy in Syria was staggering – the world’s largest mass displacement in over three decades. ISIL’s campaign of terror has only exacerbated this tragedy, displacing over a million Iraqis and even more Syrians from their homes. The United States has been the single-largest contributor of humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people and the nations most directly affected by the refugee crisis, with nearly $3 billion in contributions since the start of the conflict. And we’ve led the way in preventing mass atrocities in Iraq. Together with our coalition partners, we will continue to assist populations in need, including vulnerable religious and ethnic minorities.

And we will continue to coordinate efforts to expose ISIL’s true nature and undercut its ideological appeal. Muslim leaders from Al-Azhar to Mecca have denounced ISIL and its false claim to be acting in the name of a great religion. We will work to amplify their efforts and to demonstrate, as President Obama said last week, that “the future belongs to those who build – not to those who destroy.”

All these steps are critical to success. But they will not have any sustainable effect on their own. There is no shortcut to getting at the roots of this moment of turbulence – the political paralysis that has failed to answer the region’s rising aspirations for dignity, political participation, and economic opportunity. Prime Minister Abadi and the new Iraqi government have outlined a bold and ambitious national program that has received broad cross-sectarian support. And it deserves international support as well. We will continue to engage diplomatically to find resolution to longstanding Sunni and Kurdish aspirations and to increase the stake of Iraq’s neighbors in its sovereignty and success. And we will continue to pursue a political transition in Syria to end this crisis once and for all.

Conclusion

If this sounds like a tall order, it is. But it is not impossible. ISIL’s advance can be blunted, and it can be rolled back – with people and leaderships in the region fully committed to working with us and our other international partners.

Sam Lewis knew as well as anyone how unforgiving the Middle East can be for American policymakers and diplomats. But he also knew that we can’t afford to pull back and retrench. There’s too much at issue right now. Together, we can degrade and defeat ISIL. Together, we can increase the odds that moderates across the region can succeed in the years ahead, that they can succeed in the great generational struggle to help open up space for pluralism and economic opportunity.

Sam would be the first to understand that we will not get every judgment right. But he also understood profoundly that we are far better off working persistently to help shape events, rather than wait for them to be shaped for us. Sam Lewis led a life of extraordinary significance in the service of our country, and all of us have been hugely honored to follow in his remarkable footsteps.

Thank you very much.

NSF VIDEO: SCIENCE BEHIND THE NEWS: TORNADOES