Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 16, 2012.  The Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau released retail sales data (PDF) for March 2012 this morning. Retail and food services sales were $411.1 billion, growing 0.8 percent from February to March 2012 and increasing 6.5 percent from one year earlier. This exceeds private-sector forecasts of an[Read More…]

Democratic Party Of Colorado Endorses Amendment 64 OREGON–(ENEWSPF)–April 16, 2012.  It’s not everyday that a major political party endorses a marijuana reform initiative, so I’m very excited to pass along some information that I was sent by the Colorado Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol campaign. It’s going to be an enormous[Read More…]

BELGIUM–(ENEWSPF)–16 April 2012.  NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen welcomed German President Joachim Gauck on his first official visit to NATO headquarters on Monday, 16 April 2012. The Secretary General praised Germany’s commitment to NATO and its role in the Alliance’s missions, notably in Afghanistan and Kosovo. Mr. Fogh Rasmussen[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–April 16, 2012 – The Executive Directors met today to select a new President of the World Bank Group. The Board expressed its deep gratitude for Mr. Robert B. Zoellick’s outstanding leadership and his dedication to reducing poverty in its member countries, the core mandate of the World Bank Group.  The[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 16, 2012.  The State Department is pleased to announce an increase in the validity of visas for Colombians traveling on a temporary basis to the United States from five years to ten years. This means that most Colombian applicants who qualify for a B-category non-immigrant visa may be[Read More…]

WASHINGTON, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 16, 2012.  For over 40 years, the Presidential Citizens Medal has recognized Americans who have “performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.” Starting today, the President invites the American public to nominate everyday heroes for the 2012 Citizens Medal, one of our nation’s[Read More…]

‘Green Millionaire Book’ Promoters Settle FTC Charges; Will Pay Almost $2 Million for Consumer Refunds Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 16, 2012.  The Federal Trade Commission put a stop to an online operation that allegedly lured consumers with a supposedly “free” book falsely promising that it would show them how to power their[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–April 16, 2012.  The international community and Congolese government must urgently agree upon a new deal to reform the Congolese military, according to a new report by 13 leading international and Congolese civil society groups. The report argues that the lack of political will to reform the security sector in[Read More…]

Cartagena, Colombia–(ENEWSPF)–April 15, 2012 – 4:30 P.M. COT PRESIDENT SANTOS: (As interpreted.) Good afternoon to you all. I’d like to announce that we have had a bilateral meeting with President Obama and his team. This has been highly productive. Colombia and the U.S. have been successful partners in fighting against drug[Read More…]

Cartagena, Colombia–(ENEWSPF)–April 14, 2012 – 3:11 P.M. COT MR. CARNEY: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for being here in Cartagena, where the President is participating in the Summit of the Americas. As you know, he participated earlier today in a CEO Summit with President Rousseff of Brazil and President Santos[Read More…]