NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–28 March 2014 – In a vote that reaffirmed Ukraine’s unity and territorial integrity, the United Nations General Assembly yesterday adopted a measure underscoring that the mid-March referendum in Crimea that led to the peninsula’s annexation by Russia “has no validity” and that the parties should “pursue immediately a[Read More…]

Senator Merkley helped reach bipartisan agreement that the Senate is expected to pass in coming days WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–March 27, 2014.  Today, the recent bipartisan agreement on an extension of emergency unemployment insurance passed a key hurdle in the U.S. Senate, with 65 Senators voting to move ahead on the bill. Oregon’s[Read More…]

GENEVA–(ENEWSPF)–March 27, 2014.  The United Nations Human Rights Committee issued scathing report today castigating the United States’ record on a wide range of issues, including counterterrorism operations, immigrants’ rights, voting rights, and the criminal justice system. The “Concluding Observations” from the committee, made up of 18 independent renowned experts, are[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–March 27, 2014. Index for Today’s Briefing DEPARTMENT Secretary Kerry’s Travel Update PHILIPPINES Signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro BURMA Mob Violence in Sittwe / Security of Humanitarian Workers UKRAINE / RUSSIA / REGION UN Charter / Staff-Level Agreement between IMF and Ukraine Russian Troops on Ukrainian[Read More…]

Rome, Italy–(ENEWSPF)–March 27, 2014.  SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you, Kathleen. Thank you very much and good evening. Buona sera. I’m happy to be here with everybody in this rather modest public housing that our — (laughter) – I keep going around with the President, we keep going to Villa Taverna, Villa[Read More…]

Rome, Italy–(ENEWSPF)–March 27, 2014 – 4:18 P.M. CET PRIME MINISTER RENZI:  Good afternoon, everybody.  Thank you so much.  And obviously, thank you so much, President Obama, because for me it’s a very great pleasure to host here in Villa Madama President Obama.  All Italian journalists know very well President Obama[Read More…]

President Barack Obama meets with Pope Francis for a private audience in Vatican City, Italy, March 27, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) ITALY–(ENEWSPF)–March 27, 2014.  Today, President Obama headed to Italy, continuing his five-country trip across Europe and Saudi Arabia. The President started off the day at[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–March 27, 2014. SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 311,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 321,000. The 4-week moving average was 317,750, a decrease of 9,500 from the previous week’s revised[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—March 27, 2014. Earlier this year in a speech at the Department of Justice, I announced a transition that would end the Section 215 bulk telephony metadata program as it previously existed and that we would establish a mechanism to preserve the capabilities we need without the government holding[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—March 27, 2014. The United States welcomes the preliminary agreement between the Government of Ukraine and International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff on a loan program of $14-18 billion.  This represents a powerful sign of support from the international community for the Ukrainian government, as we help them stabilize and[Read More…]