WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–August 9, 2011.  Today, President Obama will meet with industry officials to discuss the first of their kind fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas pollution standards for work trucks, buses, and other heavy duty vehicles and to thank them for their leadership in finalizing a successful national program for these vehicles. [Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—August 9, 2011.  Nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased at a 0.3 percent annual rate during the second quarter of 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, with output and hours worked rising 1.8 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively. (All quarterly percent changes in this release are[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 8, 2011 – 2:18 P.M. EDT MR. CARNEY: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for being here today. As promised, today I have with us the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on my left, and on my right, Melody Barnes, Director of the Domestic Policy Council and Assistant[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 8, 2011.   Japan’s 2012 GDP Could Drop 5.6% If Reactors Remain Shut Plant Status Tokyo Electric Power Co. reports that the water decontamination system recycling accumulated water to cool the Fukushima Daiichi reactors stopped working Sunday after several pumps failed. TEPCO is working to reduce the volume[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENWESPF)–August 8, 2011.  Index for Today’s Briefing SUDAN Travel of Ambassador Dane Smith to Geneva and London BELARUS U.S. Concerned over Arrest and Detention of Human Rights Activist Ales Byalyatski UKRAINE U.S. Concerned over Arrest and Detention of Former President Yulia Tymoshenko SYRIA Recall of Saudi, Kuwaiti, and Bahraini[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 8, 2011 – 1:52 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  On Friday, we learned that the United States received a downgrade by one of the credit rating agencies — not so much because they doubt our ability to pay our debt if we make good decisions, but[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 8, 2011.   Amid the worst drought in East Africa in 60 years, the United Nations has declared that famine now affects five regions in Somalia and predicts that famine could soon expand throughout southern Somalia.   Thousands of Somalis are fleeing the famine and seeking refuge in Kenya[Read More…]

IRAQ–(ENEWSPF)–8 August 2011.   Armed violence continues to affect large numbers of Iraqis, with minorities, women and children suffering disproportionately, torture widely reported and impunity rife, according to a United Nations report released today. “The human rights situation throughout Iraq remains fragile,” the report notes, also citing so-called “silent” human rights[Read More…]

SOMALIA–(ENWESPF)–8 August 2011.  Aircraft being loaded in Dubai with emergency aid for the thousands of displaced people in Mogadishu The United Nations refugee agency today airlifted the first of three consignments of emergency relief supplies for famine-stricken people in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, the first time the agency has delivered aid[Read More…]

JAPAN–(ENEWSPF)–8 August 2011.  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) is greeted by Governor Sato of Fukushima prefecture as he arrives at Fukushima rail station Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon brought a message of international solidarity to parts of eastern Japan still reeling from the effects of the ‘triple disasters’ triggered by the tsunami, earthquake and[Read More…]