Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–March 29, 2013. As Easter approaches, we mark the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.  The people of Northern Ireland and their leaders have traveled a great distance over the past fifteen years.  Step by step, they have traded bullets for ballots, destruction and division[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–March 28, 2013. Index for Today’s Briefing CUBA Calls for Investigation into Deaths of Oswaldo Paya and Harold Cepero RUSSIA Inspections of NGOs DEPARTMENT Benefits for Same-Sex Domestic Partners of Department Employees Accreditation of Same-Sex Partners of Foreign Diplomats CUBA Support for Calls for Investigation into Paya and Cepero[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–March 28, 2013 – 3:45 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Well, it is a great pleasure to welcome four leaders from Africa, all of whom are doing extraordinary work — President Sall from Senegal, President Banda from Malawi, President Koroma from Sierra Leone, and Prime Minister Neves from Cape Verde. [Read More…]

BELGIUM–(ENEWSPF)–28 March 2013.  The North Atlantic Council approved the nomination of General Philip M. Breedlove, United States Air Force, to the post of Supreme Allied Commander Europe. General Breedlove is currently serving as Commander, United States Air Force Europe; Commander, United States Air Force Africa; Commander, Headquarters, Allied Air Command,[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–March 28, 2013 – 11:58 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you, Katerina, for sharing your story.  Reema was lucky to have you as a teacher, and all of us are fortunate to have you here today.  And I’m glad we had a chance[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–March 28, 2013.  Yesterday, a coalition made up of 109 civic groups sent a letter to Mortgage Settlement Monitor Joe Smith and the Executive Monitoring Committee highlighting concerns with the slow pace of change on the ground for hardest-hit communities and the need for greater oversight. Homeowners and advocates[Read More…]

90,000 Searchable Complaints on Mortgages, Bank Products, Student Loans, and Credit Cards WASHINGTON, D.C.—(ENEWSPF)—March 28, 2013. Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) goes live with the nation’s largest public database of federal consumer financial complaints, opening up to consumers across the country information on more than 90,000 individual complaints[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–March 28, 2013. Note: This week’s release reflects the annual revision to the weekly unemployment claims seasonal adjustment factors. The seasonal adjustment factors used for the UI Weekly Claims data from 2008 forward, along with the resulting seasonally adjusted values for initial claims and continuing claims, have been revised.[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–March 27, 2013.  Pentagon Press Secretary George Little provided the following readout:  “Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke by phone this evening with Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Kim Kwan Jin to discuss the unwavering United States’ commitment to our alliance with the Republic of Korea, especially during this[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–March 27, 2013. Index for Today’s Briefing SYRIA Assad Regime / Syrian Opposition Coalition / Arab League / Coordination / U.S. Assistance / Extremist Elements International Nonproliferation Concerns NORTH KOREA DPRK Rhetoric / Threats / Communication Channels International Obligations MIDDLE EAST PEACE Concern for Palestinian People / Humanitarian Needs[Read More…]