Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 13, 2015. Index for Today’s Briefing PAKISTAN UKRAINE/RUSSIA SYRIA UKRAINE/RUSSIA SYRIA YEMEN LIBYA/EGYPT EGYPT/FRANCE LIBYA/EGYPT EGYPT/FRANCE INDIA MURDER INVESTIGATION/CHAPEL HILL INDIA INDIA/PAKISTAN PAKISTAN SRI LANKA CUBA ARGENTINA VENEZUELA UKRAINE ARGENTINA BRAZIL MIDDLE EAST PEACE CUBA ISIL TRANSCRIPT: 12:57 p.m. EST MS. PSAKI: Hello, everyone. QUESTION: Happy Friday the[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSFP)—February 13, 2015. Yesterday, the FBI opened an inquiry into the brutal and outrageous murders of Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, Deah Shaddy Barakat, and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  In addition to the ongoing investigation by local authorities, the FBI is taking steps to determine whether federal[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 13, 2015. Guest blog post by Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson  Over the last five years, more than 333 million international visitors have traveled to the United States. Growth in spending from these visitors during this period has supported roughly 280,000 new[Read More…]

Stanford, California–(ENEWSPF)–February 13, 2015 – 11:33 A.M. PST THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Stanford!  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Thank you.  Thank you, everybody.  Have a seat.  Have a seat.  AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Yes, we can! THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, we can!  (Applause.)  First of all, let me thank President Hennessy for not just[Read More…]

Salem,OR—(ENEWSPF)—February 15, 2015. Governor Kitzhaber released the following statement today. I am announcing today that I will resign as Governor of the State of Oregon. It is not in my nature to walk away from a job I have undertaken – it is to stand and fight for the cause.[Read More…]

Refugees from Nigeria queue to get water at the Minawao camp in Cameroon. UNHCR has registered over 40,000 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon’s Far North region to date, and 32,000 of them have moved to Minawao. Photo: UNHCR/D. Mbaiorem GENEVA–(ENEWSPF)–13 February 2015 – As the continuing violence in north-east Nigeria spills[Read More…]

En Route California–(ENEWSPF)–February 12, 2015 – 3:52 P.M. EST MR. SCHULTZ:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Welcome aboard Air Force One.  Before we begin, I’m sure you all saw some significant news out of Philadelphia today.  In anticipation of your questions on that, I’m happy to give you the President’s reaction.  In[Read More…]

Bipartisan legislation would pave the way for new economic opportunities for American businesses and farmers by boosting U.S. exports and allowing Cubans greater access to American goods WASHINGTON—(ENEWSPF)–February 12, 2015.  U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced bipartisan legislation to lift the Cuban trade embargo. Cosponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar[Read More…]

Bipartisan bill will modernize federal drug sentencing policy WASHINGTON—(ENEWSPF)–February 12, 2015.  Today, U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) were joined by U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) to announce legislation to modernize federal drug sentencing polices by giving federal judges more[Read More…]

Damage to property and infrastructure caused by fighting between Government troops and militants is estimated at 95 per cent in some areas of Yemen. Photo: OCHA/EmanAl-Awami NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–12 February 2015 – Amid a dangerous political and humanitarian crisis and a seething secessionist movement, Yemen sits on the brink of collapse,[Read More…]