Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 22, 2013. Index for Today’s Briefing INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE Status of Wrestling / Iran IRAN Almaty Talks / Nuclear Program EGYPT Upcoming Parliamentary Elections DEPARTMENT Secretary’s Upcoming Trip Secretary’s Tweets SYRIA UN Security Council Language on Condemnation of Violence Videos of Damage to Ruins of Palmyra Support for[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 22, 2013. The two Governments confirm that should Japan participate in the TPP negotiations, all goods would be subject to negotiation, and Japan would join others in achieving a comprehensive, high-standard agreement, as described in the Outlines of the TPP Agreement announced by TPP Leaders on November 12,[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 22, 2013 – 1:30 P.M. EST   PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, I want to extend a warm welcome to Prime Minister Abe and congratulate him on his victory and his leadership of Japan.   Obviously, Japan is one of our closest allies, and the U.S.-Japan alliance is the central[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 22, 2013 – 11:34 A.M. EST MR. CARNEY:  I just want to say that it is my pleasure, and clearly yours, to have with me today the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, who is here to speak with you about the impacts of sequester, if it comes to[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 22– To prepare for the possibility of a budget sequestration on March 1, 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is making plans to reduce its expenditures by approximately $600 million for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2013. Among the changes we are considering are furloughing the vast majority[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 22, 2013. On Sequestration and the Federal Aviation Administration Sequestration will have a serious impact on the transportation services that are critical to the traveling public and the nation’s economy. At DOT we will need to cut nearly a billion dollars, which will affect dozens of our programs.[Read More…]

BELGIUM—(ENEWSPF)—February 22, 2013. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LEON E. PANETTA:  Let me begin by welcoming everyone to what should be my final press conference on this — the last of my international trips as secretary.  I’ve been saying that a lot lately, but my hope is that this time it really[Read More…]

BELGIUM–(ENEWSPF)–22 February 2013.  Defence Ministers from NATO and partner nations assessed the progress made since the transition to Afghan security responsibility began two years ago, and looked ahead to future tasks at a meeting in Brussels on 22 February. “There have been challenges. But in those two years we have[Read More…]

Grant Independent Monitors Access to Detention Facilities New York–(ENEWSPF)–February 22, 2013. A peaceful activist who had been helping local committees deliver aid died in detention in Syria on February 16, 2013. A second detainee died in detention in November, a released detainee recently told his family. The reported deaths highlight[Read More…]

WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–February 22, 2013. As part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to strengthen the United States’ cybersecurity defenses, Energy Secretary Steven Chu yesterday announced the availability of up to $20 million for the development of tools and technologies to enhance the cybersecurity of the nation’s energy delivery control systems for[Read More…]