WASHINGTON—(ENEWSPF)—December 6, 2011. Alpha Natural Resources Inc. has agreed to make payments and safety investments totaling $209 million in connection with the criminal investigation of the April 5, 2010, explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine (UBB) in Montcoal, W.Va., announced Attorney General Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney R. Booth Goodwin[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 6, 2011.  MR. HAMMER: Good afternoon, everybody. I’m pleased to have with us Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, who’s here to talk to you about the launch of our Virtual Embassy Tehran website. Wendy? UNDER SECRETARY SHERMAN: Thank you. Good afternoon. Yes, I guess[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 6, 2011.  The following statement is attributed to Victoria Nuland, Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson: I am delighted to announce the online opening of the Virtual U.S. Embassy Tehran as a new and exciting engagement opportunity between the peoples of Iran and the United States. Because the United States and[Read More…]

KABUL, Afghanistan–(ENEWSPF)–Dec. 6, 2011.  The commander of the International Security Assistance Force and the NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan join President Karzai in condemning today’s terrorist attacks in Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif that reportedly killed and wounded dozens of innocent Afghan civilians observing Ashura.   “An attack against Ashura pilgrims on one[Read More…]

GENEVA–(ENEWSPF)–6 December 2011.  The United Nations today called on all sides in Yemen to halt the use of violence and on the Government to allow access for human rights monitors. There are reports of more than 20 people being killed in the southern city of Taiz since last Thursday, according[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–6 December 2011.  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed today’s ratification by Indonesia of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), and encouraged all States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify this instrument to advance its entry into force. Indonesia is one of the so-called Annex 2 States, whose ratification[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—December 6, 2011. Unemployment rates were lower in October than a year earlier in 281 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 76 areas, and unchanged in 15 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Eight areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 21[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 5, 2011.  TEPCO Injects Nitrogen Into Reactors, Prepares for “Cold Shutdown Condition” Plant Status Tokyo Electric Power Co. has begun injecting nitrogen into the pressure vessels of Fukushima Daiichi reactors 1 through 3. The action will reduce any buildup of hydrogen in the reactors as TEPCO prepares to[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 5, 2011 – 2:18 P.M. EST         MR. CARNEY:  I know you guys want to get to writing your stories, so I will obviously take your questions on the issues the President just discussed, and any others.  And I will also, if I might, just note on a[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 5, 2011.  Index for Today’s Briefing DEPARTMENT Travel by Special Representative for North Korea Policy Glyn Davies / Opportunity to Engage with Key Partners on Korean Peninsula Issues Secretary’s Visit to Brussels BELGIUM Ambassador Howard Gutman / Condemn Anti-Semitism in all its Forms / Full Confidence in the[Read More…]