IRAN: To coincide with the Nowruz festival, celebrating spring, Obama released a new video appeal to Iran. In the video, Obama praises Iran, and again stressed his wish for a mutual understanding between the two countries.

Watch the video: New Year, New Beginning

Reacting positively, the Iranian press advisor embraced the video, but said he wants concrete action more than words. He told the AFP:

We welcome the wish of the president of the United States to put away past differences.

But the way to do that is not by Iran forgetting the previous hostile and aggressive attitude of the United States.

The American administration has to recognise its past mistakes and repair them as a way to put away the differences.

A nice unyielding response. What I found interesting was reading all the comments from readers on the news articles about the video. Basically everyone said “This seems good, but what next?” I hope the Obama administration has a plan, because I’d hate to think of this as a pleasant Friday stunt to distract everyone from economic news over the weekend.

Al Jazeera English article: Obama offers Iran ‘new beginning’

Cartoon from China Daily

It’s interesting that the Chinese might see the US as bossing them around, but I guess it makes sense, since we’re taking their money and then spreading it around, and then asking them for/demanding more money.

China Daily cartoon: Link

See the French perspective on Clinton’s first meeting with Russia. The US is hoping for Russia’s help in dealing with Iran.

This video clip also covers some other stories that France 24 English is watching right now, including Michael Jackson’s return tour.

Photo by jrvetson

WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES: Tonight Obama will give his first speech to Congress. I found this piece in Mail & Guardian, South Africa’s most popular paper, titled “Obama makes showpiece Congress address”. It’s their brief report on the subject, and it’s not too positive. They even present survey data about Obama’s approval rating (60% or more approve) with a negative spin. Either M&G is getting really cynical, or they’re hedging their bets. South Africa has been taking it on the chin during the recent economic turmoil, so they are well within their right to be skeptical.

Mail and Guardian aticle: Obama makes showpiece Congress address

Image by yeowatzup

WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES: During his confirmation hearing, Leon Panetta acknowledged North Korea’s 2006 nuclear weapons test. The Bush Administration had always described the event a “the detonation of a nuclear device”. This, coupled with North Koreas plan to test a ballistic missile capable of reaching California, has the U.S. State Department scrambling to set up Hillary Clinton’s first visit to the region. The U.S. is still not granting North Korea the title of “nuclear state”, which seems stupid to me. What are we trying to do, force them to prove it?

In South Korea, tension is running high after recent “tough talk” by Kim Jong-il. No one is really sure the six-party talks will start up again, and Kim has managed to set up a country full of deprived people who still seem to like him. That makes it rather hard to convince the guy. Until someone can think of something Kim Jong-il wants more than a country of his own and a nuclear weapon to defend it, we are going to keep having this problem.

Article from The Korea Herald: Is North Korea a nuclear weapon state?