Oct. 31 - In Washington on October 29, Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. welcomed the decisions by the Federal Reserve to create reciprocal currency arrangements (swap lines) with Brazil, Mexico and Korea and by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to establish a short-term liquidity facility, stating, "The Federal Reserve and IMF actions show international resolve to support strong performing emerging market economies adversely impacted by the current financial market turbulence." [Full statement]

Oct. 30 - The Japan-United States Bilateral Investment Working Group, co-chaired by Deputy Director-General Makoto Shiota of the Trade Policy Bureau of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Ambassador Patricia Haslach of the U.S. Department of State, met in Tokyo on October 29 and issued a Joint Statement noting, "A positive trade and investment agenda will contribute to rapid return to prosperity and economic growth." [Full text]

Oct. 29 - The peaceful transfer of power from one Presidential Administration to the next is a hallmark of American democracy. On October 28, the Transition Coordinating Council met for the second time, continuing the Administration's comprehensive transition efforts and commitment to establishing and executing a transition plan that minimizes disruption, maintains continuity, and addresses the major changes in government since the 2000 transition.

• White House Fact Sheet on Transition
• Embassy "Elections 2008" page, with links to candidates' bios

Oct. 27 - Interim Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability Neel Kashkari testified at a hearing on U.S. financial markets before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs on October 23. He stated that the Treasury has moved quickly since enactment of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to implement programs that will provide stability to the markets and help enable financial institutions to support consumers and businesses. [Full text]

Oct. 24 - On November 20, the Embassy will host a digital video conference linking Japanese college students in Tokyo with American students in the Washington, DC area to discuss "The Role of New Media in Political Participation Among Youth Voters." The discussion, held in celebration of International Education Week, will be moderated by Professor Henry Farrell of George Washington University. Ambassador Schieffer and Deputy Secretary of Education Raymond Simon are scheduled to make remarks, and media will be invited to cover the event. Japanese college students interested in participating can register now. [Event registration, in Japanese]

Oct. 23 - The White House Press Secretary released a statement on October 22 that President Bush is inviting the leaders of the Group of 20 countries to a November 15 summit in the Washington, D.C. area to discuss financial markets and the global economy. On October 21, the President attended the White House Summit on International Development, stating that "we ought to remain committed to development because it's in our long-term economic interests." On October 20, he participated in a roundtable meeting in Louisiana on the economy.

Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. made remarks on China and the global economy in New York at an October 21 meeting of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. Treasury Under Secretary for International Affairs David H. McCormick spoke about "Financial Turmoil and the Global Economy" in Hong Kong on October 22.

Oct. 22 - Ambassador Schieffer spoke to the students of all-female Tsuda College in Tokyo on October 10 about "The Future of the Global Community." Citing the example of Madame Tsuda Umeko, who was educated in the United States, returned to champion women's education in Japan and founded the college in 1900, Ambassador Schieffer encouraged the students to be bold in seeking their place in the new globalized world, while always remembering the power of compassion to transform lives. [Speech text]

Oct. 21 - State Department Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer visited Japan October 16-18 to consult with the government of Japan and brief the media. She stressed the importance of developed countries continuing their assistance to Africa despite the current financial crisis. In an October 17 interview with Ms. Mitsuko Nishikawa of NHK in the Embassy's studio, she also emphasized the U.S. commitment to assist Africa in aggressively increasing agricultural production in order to cope with the food crisis.

Oct. 20 - President Bush, on October 17 at the White House, announced that seven countries - the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and South Korea - have met the requirements to be admitted to the United States Visa Waiver Program. Soon the citizens of these nations will be able to travel to the United States for business or tourism without a visa.

• Full text of the President's Remarks
• Fact Sheet: Extending Travel Opportunities to Our Allies

Oct. 20 - The Department of State is holding a worldwide competition aimed at enhancing the global dialogue on democracy. The Democracy Video Challenge asks budding filmmakers, democracy advocates, and the general public to create video shorts that complete the phrase, "Democracy is ..." Six regional winners, selected by the online voting public, will be eligible to claim an all-expense paid trip to the United States.

• Summary
• Official rules
• FAQs

Oct. 17 - On October 16, the Department of State issued a media note commending Dr. Osamu Shimomura of Japan, a recipient of this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry, who received a Fulbright scholarship in 1960 to conduct research at Princeton University. Dr. Shimomura, whose research in the United States led to the isolation of a protein that has become one of the most important tools in contemporary bioscience, said, "It would have been impossible to do anything without Fulbright."

• Fulbright Program in Japan
• More about Study in the USA

Oct. 16 - The leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the President of the European Commission, released a statement on the global economy on October 15 emphasizing their commitment to resolve the current crisis, strengthen financial institutions, restore confidence in the financial system, and provide a sound economic footing for citizens and businesses. On October 14, the Treasury Department issued several statements about the actions federal regulators are taking to stabilize financial markets.

Oct. 16 - October 22 is the last day to register for the Bilateral Investment Promotion Seminar to be held in Shizuoka on October 30, 2008.
[Details and registration]

Oct. 15 - The Fall 2008 issue of the Embassy's "American View" magazine is now online, focusing on the November 4 U.S. elections, now less than a month away. The issue features articles on absentee voting, the dramatic increase in the use of political polls, and congressional elections.
[More on elections]

Oct. 12 - Special Envoy for the Six-Party Talks Ambassador Sung Kim, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Sean McCormack, Assistant Secretary of State for Verification, Compliance, and Implementation Paula DeSutter, and Acting Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation Patricia McNerney held a special briefing on North Korea at the State Department in Washington on October 11 following the Secretary of State's rescission of the designation of the DPRK as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Assistant Secretary McCormack noted the following: "North Korea has stated it will resume disablement of its nuclear facilities. This demonstrates that the Six Party principle of action for action is working. We welcome the recent progress made in discussions between Japan and the DPRK toward addressing Japan's concerns, particularly those arising from the DPRK's past abductions of Japanese nationals. We strongly urge North Korea to address Japan's concerns without further delay. The United States wholeheartedly supports Japan's position on the abduction issue. We have not forgotten and will never forget the suffering of the abductees and their families."

• Full transcript
• Video

Fact Sheets:

• U.S.-North Korea Understandings on Verification
• Existing Sanctions and Reporting Provisions Related to North Korea

Press Statement:

• U.S.-DPRK Agreement on Denuclearization Verification Measures

Oct. 10 - Admiral Timothy J. Keating, USN Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, met with senior Japanese civilian and Japan Self Defense Force leaders during his October 8-10 visit to Japan to reaffirm the U.S.-Japan Security Alliance and ties between the U.S. military and Japan Self Defense Forces. Admiral Keating also held a media roundtable with Japanese and international journalists at the Embassy October 9.

Oct. 10 - The Embassy will be hosting the computer-based Foreign Service Officer Test on November 6 and 7, 2008 for American citizens interested in joining the State Department as Foreign Service Officers. The time and date of testing will be assigned by Washington after candidates register. [More]

Oct. 9 - At an October 8 Pre-G7 press conference, Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. provided an update on market stabilization efforts. "Although we are facing particularly difficult circumstances, I remain confident that we will work through this challenge, as we have always successfully worked through every economic challenge in the history of the United States," said Paulson. [Full Remarks]

Oct. 8 - President Bush visited Guernsey Office Products in Chantilly, Virginia, on October 7 and discussed the Emergency Economic Stabilization legislation he signed last week in response to the financial crisis. The President said he knows that small businesses like Guernsey around the nation are feeling the impact of the financial crisis, and spoke about what the government is going to do to address the challenge and get the economy back on track. On October 6, the President discussed the economy with small business owners in San Antonio, Texas.

• Full Remarks, October 7, Virginia
• Full Remarks, October 6, Texas
• White House Fact Sheet: Taking Urgently Needed Action to Stabilize Our Markets

Oct. 7 - Wendy Cutler, the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Japan, Korea, and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Affairs, spoke at an October 2 American Enterprise Institute (AEI) event in Washington, D.C., noting that the United States and Japan must consider how to push their trade relationship to a new level, including such areas as ensuring food and energy security, considering a free trade agreement, and providing leadership in APEC. [AEI Summary, with links to audio and video]

Oct. 7 - With events including an October 1 gala at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is celebrating its first half-century as the nation's "guardian of aviation safety and maestro of the intricate air traffic ballet" that carries more than 2 million people to their destinations every day. When the FAA was established in 1958, about 53 million passengers boarded airplanes, compared to the 776 million expected in 2008. [More]

Oct. 6 - Dr. Nina Fedoroff, Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State and the Administrator of USAID, spoke on October 2 at the Tokyo American Center about the safety and necessity of technologically advanced agriculture in meeting the world's food needs. Dr. Fedoroff, who is visiting Japan October 1-8, met with government officials and academics in Tokyo before traveling to Kyoto to participate in the Science and Technology in Society Forum.

Background materials:

• Ambassador Schieffer's Address at Life Sciences Summit
• State Department Fact Sheet: Promoting Food Security Worldwide: A U.S. Commitment

Oct. 1 - The State Department announced on September 30 that it will accept electronic applications for the 2010 Diversity Visa Lottery from October 2 until noon Eastern Standard Time on December 1, 2008. Under the congressionally-mandated program, up to 50,000 permanent resident visas are given out annually to eligible persons from countries with low immigration rates to the United States. Applicants are strongly encouraged not to wait until the last week of the registration period to enter.

• State Department Media Note
• More details from the Embassy Consular Section