WASHINGTON, D.C.—(ENEWSPF)—January 31, 2013. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today announced Steve Antonakes will serve as Acting Deputy Director while the agency continues its search for a replacement for departing Deputy Director Raj Date. Date’s last day at the Bureau is today. As Antonakes assumes this temporary role, he[Read More…]

BELGIUM–(ENEWSPF)–31 January 2013.  Allies should hold the line on defence spending and look for ways to close the gaps in their capabilities, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said as he launched his second Annual Report on 31 January 2013. The Annual Report sets out the Alliance’s achievements in 2012[Read More…]

NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–January 31, 2013. The Iranian authorities must release journalists arrested in the past three days and accused of cooperating with “anti-revolutionary” Persian-language media organizations outside Iran, Amnesty International said. The organization believes further waves of arrests are planned. Underpinning this fear is today’s arrest of Bahar Newspaper Economics Editor,[Read More…]

Bureau seeks information on financial products marketed to students by colleges WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–January 31, 2013. Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that it is launching an inquiry into the impact of financial products marketed to students through colleges and universities. The CFPB intends to use the information gathered[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–January 31, 2013. On January 29, actress Robin Wright and Enough Project’s Raise Hope for Congo Campaign Manager JD Stier joined a group of human rights activists to deliver a petition to the White House calling for a presidential envoy to support a comprehensive peace process in eastern Congo. The[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 31, 2013. SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending January 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 368,000, an increase of 38,000 from the previous week’s unrevised figure of 330,000. The 4-week moving average was 352,000, an increase of 250 from the previous week’s unrevised[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 30, 2013. Index for Today’s Briefing DEPARTMENT Secretary’s Town Halls SYRIA JSR Brahimi’s Assessment / U.S. Support for Opposition / Moscow’s Continued Support of Assad / Geneva Framework / Concerns with Regime’s Relationship with Hezbollah RUSSIA Termination of Agreement on Law Enforcement Cooperation and Narcotics Control DEPARTMENT Secretary-Designate[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 30, 2013 – 12:52 P.M. EST   MR. CARNEY:  I have no announcements to make, so I’ll take your questions.  Jim.   Q    Thanks, Jay.  On the economy, the Commerce Department reported a contraction in GDP in the last quarter; we’ve had declining consumer confidence for two[Read More…]

Gillibrand-Kirk Gun Trafficking Prevention Bill Will Crack Down on the Flow of Illegal Guns and Gang Violence in Our Streets WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–January 30, 2013. U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) will introduce their bipartisan gun trafficking legislation later this morning to crack down on the daily flow of illegal[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 29, 2013. I am pleased that the Senate has confirmed John Kerry as our next Secretary of State with overwhelming bipartisan support.  From his decorated service in Vietnam to his decades in the Senate as a champion of American global leadership, John’s distinguished career has prepared him to[Read More…]