Bipartisan Legislation Would Make Combating International Violence Against Women and Girls a Top U.S. Diplomatic Priority WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–May 8, 2014.  U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) today introduced the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA), bipartisan legislation that would make reducing[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 8, 2014.  Congressman Jim Moran, Northern Virginia Democrat, today offered an amendment to the FY ‘15 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill to ensure gun store employees have to pass the same background check their customers are required to clear. “It’s basic common sense that gun shop employees are[Read More…]

Trial Judge’s Decision Finding Law Unconstitutional Stands PHILADELPHIA–(ENEWSPF)–May 8, 2014.  Governor Tom Corbett announced today that the commonwealth will not be appealing a Commonwealth Court judge’s ruling that prohibits enforcement of Pennsylvania’s voter ID law on the grounds that the law unconstitutionally disenfranchises large numbers of voters. On May 1,[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 8, 2014. Index for Today’s Briefing SYRIA Readout of Secretary Kerry’s Meeting with Syrian Opposition Coalition President Jarba Nonlethal and Humanitarian Assistance to Moderate Opposition / Situation on the Ground Secretary Kerry to Attend London 11 Meeting RUSSIA / UKRAINE Secretary Kerry’s Call with Foreign Minister Lavrov Secretary[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 8, 2014. SECRETARY KERRY: Well, good afternoon, everybody. I’m delighted to welcome President Ahmad Jarba of the Syrian Opposition Coalition. Before I fully welcome him – excuse me – I do want to say one word about another subject (inaudible). The images from Nigeria this week have captured[Read More…]

Shaheen, McCain, Blumenauer, Kinzinger introduce Special Immigrant Visa Program extension for civilians who served alongside Americans in Afghanistan WASHINGTON, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 8, 2014.  Continuing a bipartisan effort to honor the service of civilians assisting the U.S. mission in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and John McCain (R-AZ) and[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–8 May 2014 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced his deep concern at the fate of the recently kidnapped schoolgirls in Nigeria during a phone call with the country’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, who has accepted the United Nations chief’s offer to send a high-level envoy to discuss how the[Read More…]

LONDON–(ENEWSPF)–May 8, 2014.  A new investigation into the conflict in South Sudan has revealed horrific atrocities committed by both parties to the conflict, with ethnically motivated attacks on civilians constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity, Amnesty International said in a report released today. Nowhere Safe: Civilians Under Attack in[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 8, 2014.  The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer all non-essential travel to Ukraine.  In addition, the Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer all travel – both essential and non-essential – to several regions of Ukraine, including the Crimean Peninsula, the eastern regions of[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—May 8, 2014. SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA There were no special factors impacting this week’s initial claims. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.0 percent for the week ending April 26, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the previous week’s unrevised rate of 2.1 percent. The advance[Read More…]