Christy caracas biography of barack obama

TOKYO — Former President Barack Obama said Sunday that negotiations with North Korea on its nuclear weapons program are difficult in part because the country's isolation minimizes possible leverage, such as trade and travel sanctions against Pyongyang.

"North Korea is an example of a country that is so far out of the international norms and so disconnected with the rest of the world," Obama told a packed hall in Tokyo Sunday.

He stressed the effort to get North Korea to give up nuclear weapons remains difficult, but countries working together, including China as well as South Korea and Japan, to combine pressure on North Korea will be better than nations working alone.

Obama noted that past U.S. efforts on Iran's nuclear weapons were more successful because there was more leverage, but there's little commerce and travel with North Korea to being with.

"That makes them less subject to these kinds of negotiations," he said of North Korea.

Obama was speaking at an event sponsored by a Japanese nonprofit group during his trip to Asia, which included earlier stops in Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. His work after leaving office has been focused on nurturing young leaders.

Obama, welcomed by a standing ovation, said the U.S.-Japan alliance remained strong, and the U.S. committed to defending Japan.

"North Korea is a real threat," he said.

"Our view has always been that we would prefer to resolve these issues peacefully," he said, adding that otherwise "the cost in terms of human life would be significant."

He acknowledged progress on a nuclear-free world will likely take a long time as long as Russia and the U.S. could not agree to start reducing their stockpiles.

Obama also reflected on his 2016 visit to Hiroshima, one of two Japanese cities where the U.S. dropped atomic bombs in the closing days of World War II. His visit was the first by an American president.

Almost all Ameri

Caracas, Venezuela, Jan 30, 2009 / 02:32 am

Several Latin American leaders have criticized President Barack Obama’s Jan. 23 reversal of the Mexico City Policy, arguing its funding of organizations which promote or perform abortions both disrespects the right to life and threatens countries whose laws protect unborn human life.

Christine Vollmer, President of the Caracas-based Latin American Alliance for the Family (ALAFA), in a Wednesday statement called the decision a “horrible way” to begin relations with Central and South America.

“Instead of a positive message of wanting to work to better conditions for every Latin American, President Obama has announced his willingness to fund the enemies of the people of Latin America, whose laws generally are very respectful of the right to life before birth.”

Liliana Negre de Alonso, Vice-president of Argentina's Senate and president of the World Action of Parliamentarians and Political Leaders for Life, attacked the U.S. president’s decision.

“We can’t say we defend human rights if we don't defend the first human right, the Right to Life from conception to natural death,” she said. “To use public funds to finance groups that promote abortion is not respecting the First Human Right, Life.”

Congresswoman Martha Lorena de Casco of Honduras voiced “deep regret and sorrow” that “one of President Obama's first decisions is to revoke the Mexico City policy.”

“I interpret this action as a promotion of abortion and a threat to the national legislation of my country,” she said.

Julia Regina de Cardenal from the El Salvadoran organization "Yes to Life” said her country’s constitution and laws have “total protection” for the right to life from the moment of conception.

“Our ‘Yes to Life’ organization works on a daily basis to provide practical help in a loving and life-enhancing way to poor women who have difficult pregnancies,” she said.

“Ours is t

By Robert Cavooris, Christina Sabato, and Mike Reaney

On March 19, President Barack Obama will embark on his first tour of selected Latin American nations since taking office two years ago. Stops on his trip will include Brazil, an emerging world power, Chile, a stable U.S. ally, and El Salvador, a Central American nation mired in an ongoing drug and anti-crime war. By strengthening ties with these countries, President Obama hopes to maintain a balance of power in the region against members of the Caracas-led Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA). This left-leaning intraregional coalition seeks greater independence from Washington and the right to strengthen their relations with foreign nations hostile to U.S. interests. To counter this, President Obama is bolstering moderate allies in Brasília, Santiago, and San Salvador by expanding commercial ties, supporting private-sector infrastructure development, and providing military aid.

Brazil

Brazil has eagerly awaited President Obama’s arrival ever since his November 2008 pledge to former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to visit the country “as soon as possible.” After two years, it seems the U.S. President has finally found time in his schedule. Admittedly, Lula did not leave office on the most amicable terms with Washington—policy differences like Brazil’s support for Iran’s nuclear program in early 2010 created a rift between the countries. Obama predictably waited for Lula’s successor Dilma Rousseff who has proved to be much more deferential to U.S. interests, as demonstrated by her inaugural speech wherein she expressed hopes to “deepen” ties with the U.S.

After three months in office, President Rousseff’s foreign policy has been in line with U.S. objectives. Rousseff has distanced Brazil from Iran by aborting Lula’s failed effort to mediate Tehran’s nuclear goals and by criticizing human rights abuses under President Ahmadinejad. Additionally, Brasília and Washington have been working closely t

Venezuelan fashion designer (born 1939)

For the Venezuelan beauty pageant winner and actress, see Astrid Carolina Herrera.

Carolina Herrera (born María Carolina Josefina Pacanins y Niño; 8 January 1939) is a Venezuelan American fashion designer. Known for her personal style, she founded her namesake brand in 1980. Herrera has dressed various First Ladies of the United States, including Jacqueline Onassis, Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, and Melania Trump.

Early life

María Carolina Josefina Pacanins y Niño was born on 8 January 1939 in Caracas, Venezuela. Her father, Guillermo Pacanins Acevedo, was an Air Force officer and her mother, María Cristina Niño Passios, was a former governor of Caracas. Her socialite grandmother introduced her to the world of fashion, taking young Carolina to shows by Balenciaga and buying her outfits at Lanvin and Dior. She has said, "My eye was accustomed to seeing pretty things."

Early career

In 1965, Herrera began her career working as a publicist for Emilio Pucci, a Florentine Marquis himself and a close family friend. She began working at Pucci's Caracas boutique and moved to New York in 1980. Frequently associating with the New York glitterati such as Andy Warhol, Halston, Diana Vreeland, and Bianca Jagger, she became well known for her d