The United States will restore aid to the Palestinians in full and reestablish contacts with their new emergency government, U.S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice said.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed concern about press freedom in Venezuela after the closing of the nation's largest private television station. In Panama City, VOA's Brian Wagner reports Rice asked leaders of the Organization of American States to send a team to Venezuela to study the situation.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has addressed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), amid increasing strains between Washington and Moscow. Just one week before, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, addressing that same forum, criticized the United States for allegedly threatening Europe's security.

U.S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice criticized Spain Friday for not doing enough to support dissidents in Cuba. Rice was speaking en route to talks with Spanish leaders, during a one-day visit meant to smooth over a three-year downturn in relations between Washington and Madrid.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday she saw hopeful signs that progress was possible in forging peace in the Middle East.

Condoleezza Rice said Thursday at a conference on women's peace efforts in the region that democracy in the Middle East will not flourish until women gain greater rights and roles.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has praised Australia for helping the United States in the Middle East. Mike O'Sulivan reports, Rice and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer spoke at the Reagan Library during a visit to California.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas Thursday to discuss the latest outburst of violence in Gaza. Rice, appealing for restraint by all sides, is expected to visit the region again within a matter of weeks.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called for Iran to release an Iranian-American academic accused of "crimes against national security." Ms. Rice told reporters in Moscow that the detainment of scholar Haleh Esfandiari "underscores the nature of the Iranian regime." She said Ms. Esfandiari ought to be released immediately.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has won agreement from President Vladimir Putin to tone down Russian tough talk in an effort to improve strained ties, though neither side gave any ground on major disagreements over missile defense and Kosovo.

The United States and Russia have agreed to tone down diplomatic rhetoric, in a bid to improve strained ties. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the agreement was reached Tuesday in a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice outside Moscow.

U.S. secretary of State Condoleezza Rice opened talks with Russia after acknowledging growing tensions between two countries but rejecting suggestions about the new Cold War.