Peosta, Iowa–(ENEWSPF)–August 16, 2011 – 2:46 P.M. CDT THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you so much.  Please, please, everybody have a seat.   I just want to, again, thank my extraordinary Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for leading this forum.  (Applause.)  You don’t[Read More…]

Peosta, Iowa—(ENEWSPF)—August 16, 2011 – 12:44 P.M. CDT THE PRESIDENT:  I think all I want to say by way of introduction is, I had the chance to have breakfast with a couple of your panelists here, and — three of them, actually — and I was just struck by the[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 16, 2011.   VICE ADMIRAL RONDEAU:Welcome to NDU. This is the apex and the vortex for interagency and whole-of-government education, knowledge, conversation, dialogue, and discussion. We are indeed extraordinarily privileged and honored to have the inaugural Distinguished Leader Program speakers be our secretaries of Defense and State and[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–16 August 2011.  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (centre) participates in a joint press conference with the Middle East Quartet (file) Voicing great concern at Israel’s recent announcements to advance planning for new housing in Ariel and East Jerusalem in occupied Palestinian territory, the United Nations and its partners in the[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 16, 2011.  The Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau today released data on new residential construction for July 2011. Permits for new housing units fell 3.2 percent following a small increase in June. Private-sector analysts had expected a 1.8-percent decline. The decrease was driven by multi-family homes with five or[Read More…]

WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–August 16, 2011.  Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the approval of applications for State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) funding from 11 states and Washington, D.C.  This funding will help create new private sector jobs and spur more than $3.6 billion in additional small-business lending. The SSBCI,[Read More…]

ITALY–(ENEWSPF)–16 August 2011.  An Italian coastguard vessel, carrying 142 people rescued at sea after fleeing Tripoli, prepares to dock at Lampedusa harbour. (May 2011) People are continuing to flee Libya and Tunisia for a variety of reasons, the United Nations refugee agency reported today, noting that almost 2,000 people arrived[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–Aug. 16, 2011 – President Obama today announced that the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Navy will invest up to $510 million during the next three years in partnership with the private sector to produce advanced drop-in aviation and marine biofuels to power military and commercial transportation.  The initiative[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–August 15, 2011.  On August 16, at the White House Rural Economic Forum, President Obama will announce new jobs initiatives recommended by the White House Rural Council for growing the economy and creating jobs in rural America.  The Council’s recommendations focus on key areas of need in rural communities, including[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 15, 2011.  Index for Today’s Briefing DEPARTMENT Deputy Secretary Burns Will Visit Mexico Today LIBYA Advances Made by the Rebels/ Haven Seen a Steady March of Senior Qadhafi Officials Abandoning Him / South African Planes / TNC Ongoing Discussions in Tunisia / TNC’s Expectations / UN Special Envoy[Read More…]