Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–June 15, 2010. INDEX: DEPARTMENT Secretary Clinton met with Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis today U.S. welcomes EU Foreign Affairs Council statement that it will take up the issue of strong measures to implement and accompany UN Security Council Resolution 1929 U.S. welcomes publication of the Bloody Sunday Report[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–15 June 2010 – A lack of funding has forced the United Nations food aid agency to suspend humanitarian flights to three West African countries from tomorrow, the agency reported today. The UN World Food Programme (WFP), which manages the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), said flights to Guinea,[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–15 June 2010 – A top United Nations official today stressed the need for a fundamental change in the situation in Gaza, noting that the recent tragedy involving an aid flotilla intercepted by Israel is just another reminder of why the blockade of the Strip is unsustainable and must[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–June 15, 2010.  At the authorization of the President and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen has directed the establishment of three Deputy Incident Commanders to lead oil impact mitigation and cleanup efforts in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. These officials will serve under the Mobile,[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–June 15, 2010.  National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen today announced the development of specific guidance to ensure accelerated processing of requests for Jones Act waivers should they be received as a part of the BP oil spill response. Currently, 15 foreign-flagged vessels are involved in the largest response to[Read More…]

LONDON–(ENEWSPF)–15 June 2010.  BP today announced significant progress in its half-billion dollar pledge to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GRI). Three research institutions in the Gulf region will receive a total of $25 million in fast-track funding for high-priority studies of the distribution, composition and ecological interactions of oil[Read More…]

GULF COAST–(ENEWSPF)–June 15, 2010.  At approximately 9:30 am CDT, a small fire was observed at the top of the derrick on the Discoverer Enterprise. The fire was quickly extinguished. The preliminary view is that the fire was caused by a lightning strike. There were no injuries. All procedures were followed[Read More…]

LONDON–(ENEWSPF)–15 June 2010.  BP today announced that it has approved initial payments toward 90% of commercial large loss claims that have been filed as a result of financial losses of the Deepwater Horizon incident and spill. Using an accelerated process BP approved payments of 337 checks for a total amount[Read More…]

Aboard Air Force One En Route Andrews Air Force Base–(ENEWSPF)–June 15, 2010 – 12:45 P.M. EDT MR. BURTON:  I figured since there’s a lot of this that it’s just going to get kicked to the afternoon briefing — we’ll just do this right now and — fire away. Q    On[Read More…]

Pensacola, Florida–(ENEWSPF)–June 15, 2010 – 10:25 A.M. CDT THE PRESIDENT:  Well, hello, Pensacola!  (Applause.)  It is great to be here.  I want everybody, first of all, to give a big round of applause to Chief Elison Talabong for leading us in the pledge and singing our National Anthem — (applause)[Read More…]