Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 29, 2013. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homesby Combined Lenders, used as an index in some adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)contracts, was 3.29 percent based on loans closed in December. There was a decrease[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 29, 2013. Today, President Obama reaffirmed the United States’ continued commitment and support for the Syrian people by announcing an additional $155 million in humanitarian aid to help meet the acute needs of people inside Syria and refugees across the region who are affected by the violence in[Read More…]

BSA-(ENEWSPF)- The Boy Scouts of America released the following statement on their website January 28 regarding the group’s Membership Policy, specifically the possibility of removing the restriction of regarding excluding members based on sexual orientation. The statement follows: “For more than 100 years, Scouting’s focus has been on working together[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 28, 2013. Index for Today’s Briefing DEPARTMENT Secretary Clinton’s January 29 Townterview EGYPT Recent Violence Emergency Law U.S. Embassy Status SYRIA Russian Prime Minister’s Comments Chemical Weapons Ambassador Ford / Meeting with Opposition Figures / Humanitarian Concerns ARGENTINA AMIA Bombing / Iranian Government Should Cooperate with Argentine Authorities[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 28, 2013 – 1:44 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Everybody please have a seat.  Well, today I am honored to welcome a little up-and-coming basketball team — (laughter) — to the White House called the world champion Miami Heat.  (Applause.) Now, for many of teams that[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 28, 2013 – 12:45 P.M. EST MR. CARNEY:  Thanks for bearing with us today.  A lot going on at the White House.  Before I take your questions I just wanted to note that the President and the Vice President completed a very productive meeting with law enforcement officers,[Read More…]

Principles to Help Guide Common Sense, Tough and Fair Immigration Reform WASHINGTON, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 28, 2013. Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) unveiled a series of immigration reform principles today after months of negotiations with a bipartisan group of Senators. Durbin, joined by Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Lindsey[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 28, 2013 – 11:28 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT:  Well, Vice President Biden and I just want to thank the police chiefs and sheriffs who are here today representing law enforcement officials all across the country who obviously share our deep concern about issues of gun safety and how[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–January 28, 2013. President Obama spoke today by telephone with Prime Minister Netanyahu to congratulate him on his party’s success in winning a plurality of Knesset seats in Israel’s recent election.  The President indicated that the United States looks forward to working with the next government.  He also reiterated[Read More…]

KUNDUZ, AFGHANISTAN/NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–JANUARY 28, 2013—Following Saturday’s bomb blast in the center of the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, the independent international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) received 22 patients at its surgical hospital there. Five people were dead on arrival and two others died during surgery.[Read More…]