Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—January 3, 2014. Today, the Administration is announcing two new executive actions that will help strengthen the federal background check system and keep guns out of the wrong hands.  The Department of Justice (DOJ) is proposing a regulation to clarify who is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—January 3, 2014. The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens against all travel to the Republic of South Sudan and recommends that U.S. citizens currently in South Sudan depart immediately.  As a result of the deteriorating security situation, the Department of State ordered the departure of most remaining[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—January 3, 2014. Due to the deteriorating security situation in South Sudan, today the United States has further drawn down staffing at our Embassy in Juba. We are taking this step out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety and security of our diplomatic personnel. As a[Read More…]

“Colorado is the first, but it certainly won’t be the last, state to treat cannabis as a legal, adult retail product” Denver, CO–(ENEWSPF)–January 2, 2014.  Dozens of state and locally licensed cannabis retailers opened for business on Wednesday, engaging in thousands of retail transactions with customers age 21 and older.[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–January 2, 2014.  The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a notice of appeal in their federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the NSA’s mass call-tracking program. Last Friday, the district court dismissed the case, ACLU v. Clapper, ruling that the program[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 2, 2014. Index for Today’s Briefing DEPARTMENT Secretary Kerry’s Travel to the Middle East LEBANON Terrorist Bombing / Saudi Assistance to Lebanese Armed Forces CHINA Reports of Arson at Chinese Consulate in San Francisco LEBANON Terrorist Bombing / Issue of Destabilizing Impact in Region MIDDLE EAST PEACE Secretary[Read More…]

JERUSALEM–(ENEWSPF)–January 2, 2014. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Welcome back to Jerusalem, John. I want to use this opportunity to express once again my personal appreciation and the appreciation of the people of Israel for your unremitting personal efforts to advance peace between us and the Palestinians. I know that you’re committed[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 2, 2014. SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending December 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 339,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 341,000. The 4-week moving average was 357,250, an increase of 8,500 from the previous week’s revised[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—December 31, 2013. We are disappointed that Northern Ireland’s political leaders did not conclude an agreement today. We commend the work of the independent chair and his team.  Through months of consultations with civil society and the political parties — undertaken at the request of the Northern Ireland Executive[Read More…]

Decision Dismisses ACLU Lawsuit Challenging DHS Search Policy as Unconstitutional BROOKLYN–(ENEWSPF)–December 31, 2013.  A federal court today dismissed a lawsuit arguing that the government should not be able to search and copy people’s laptops, cell phones, and other devices at border checkpoints without reasonable suspicion. An appeal is being considered.[Read More…]