Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 14, 2011.  Today, as the National Endowment for Democracy awards the Democracy Service Medal posthumously to Laura Pollán, the founder of Las Damas de Blanco, we honor and celebrate her life by recognizing her significant contributions to the struggle to defend human rights in Cuba. Laura Pollán and[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 14, 2011.  Index for Today’s Briefing DEPARTMENT Secretary Delivers Remarks at Istanbul Process IRAN Defense Bill in Congress UN Obligations Meeting with Saudi Crown Prince MIDDLE EAST Mosque Burnings in Jerusalem Settlements Quartet SYRIA Homs Ambassador to Washington RUSSIA Elections ISRAEL Secretary’s Meeting with Defense Minister PAKISTAN President[Read More…]

Protests scheduled in Chicago on Thursday and Minneapolis on Friday Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—December 14, 2011. At time when millions of Americans are unemployed and with the poverty rate at record levels, new projections reveal that the bonus and compensation pool at the 7 big banks is estimated to reach $156 billion, an[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 13, 2011.  This Congress needs to do its job and stop the tax hike that’s scheduled to affect 160 million Americans in 18 days.  This is not a time for Washington Republicans to score political points against the President.  It’s not a time to refight old ideological battles. [Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 13, 2011 – 12:57 P.M. EST MR. CARNEY:  Hi, everybody.  Good afternoon.  Thanks for being here.  Welcome to your daily briefing.  I do not have an announcement at the top — sorry to disappoint.  So I will go to Mr. Feller. Q    Thank you, Jay.  The omnibus bill[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 13, 2011.  Index for Today’s Briefing DEPARTMENT Durban Conference Call Announcement / Climate Change UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Secretary Clinton Meeting with Foreign Minister IRAN Defense Bill in Congress Drone PAKISTAN Defense Authorization Bill / IED Issue KXL Consultations with States / Study of Routes SYRIA Demonstrations / Regime[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 13, 2011.  MODERATOR: MS. NULAND: Good afternoon, everybody. We are delighted today to have a special briefing for you from USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah and our U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Princeton Lyman to talk about the International Engagement Conference on South Sudan, which starts tomorrow and which[Read More…]

Moratorium would protect good-paying jobs while Congress works to enact comprehensive postal reform legislation WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 13, 2011. Fifteen Senators from around the country today announced that, at their request, the U.S. Postal Service has voluntarily agreed to put in place a five-month moratorium on closing postal facilities, which would[Read More…]

Paris, France–(ENEWSPF)–13 December 2011.   Palestinian flag raised at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France The Palestinian flag was raised for the first time at the Paris headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today as the UN agency marked Palestine’s admissionas a full member. Senior UNESCO officials[Read More…]

Walkout to Target Bay Area Sutter Hospitals, Long Beach Memorial; Nurses Cite Patient Care Issues, Cuts in Healthcare Coverage CALIFORNIA–(ENEWSPF)–December 13, 2011. Nurses are poised to hold a one-day strike at California’s second largest private hospital, and one of its most profitable corporate hospital chain December 22. The strike will affect[Read More…]