Saturday, July 4, 2015
Friday, July 3, 2015
The President Speaks on the Economy in La Crosse, Wisconsin
President Obama delivers remarks on the progress we've made over the
past six years at University of Wisconsin.
West Wing Week: 07/03/15
This week, the President signed a bipartisan trade deal, welcomed the
President of Brazil to the White House--and showed her one of our
national treasures--hosted 50 girls in green on the South Lawn for a
campout to celebrate the great outdoors, answered questions about
healthcare in Tennessee and online, and traveled to Wisconsin to
announce new overtime protections for hard-working Americans. That's
June 26th to July 2nd or, "Amazing Grace."
Former Governor Rick Perry on his Economic Plan
2016 Republican presidential candidate former Governor Rick Perry
(R-TX) lays out his economic plan in a National Press Club luncheon
address and responds to questions from an invited audience.
Government Debt in Greece and Puerto Rico
Panelists talked about the debt crises in Greece and Puerto Ricoand the
effects they could have on the Eurozone and the U.S. economies. Though
the countries face similar economic challenges, the panelists noted how
Greece’s position as a sovereign state and Puerto Rico’s position as a
U.S. territory would affect their outcomes. Financial consultant Bert
Ely predicted that Greece would leave the Eurozone and eventually be
forced to leave the European Union. Panelists agreed that Congress needs
to take a more active role in finding a solution for Puerto Rico’s
crisis
“A Tale of Two Debt Crises: Is Puerto Rico America’s Greece?” was held at the American Enterprise Institute.
Video link: Debt in Greece and Puerto Rico
Source: C-Span
Tired EMS Workers a Prescription for Danger on the Roads, Experts Say
EMS driver fatigue is an issue of growing concern in the industry, with some calling for federal standards.
Bernie Sanders an Unlikely Source of Competition for Hillary Clinton
The Vermont senator has been drawing huge crowds, raising big money and climbing in the polls.
The Internet Is Now Officially Too Big as IP Addresses Run Out
The Internet as we know it is now officially too big for its britches.
The organization that assigns IP addresses in
North America — the numbers that identify every computer, smartphone and
device connected to the Internet — ran out of numbers overnight
Wednesday. It's not the end of the world, because there's a newer, more
robust system rolling out, but it's a milestone in our shared online
history, nonetheless.
IP addresses are the four-number strings like
74.125.224.72 that you'll sometimes see in your browser's address bar,
in the guts of your smartphone's system settings, or that you might be
asked to type in to your cable modem or WiFi router. That address,
74.125.224.72, is one of many that should take you to Google.com.
It's like the highway system. If you're driving
through New York, you might take Interstate 95 or I-190 or I-287. But in
plain English, it's all the New York State Thruway.
Full article available here: Too Big!
Source: NBC News
Cuomo Urges New Yorkers to be Alert, Terror Warning Issued for July 4 Weekend
Governor Directs Office of Emergency
Management to Enhance Monitoring Operations
Management to Enhance Monitoring Operations
Governor Andrew Cuomo today directed the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Emergency Management to enhance monitoring of celebrations and events on Saturday, July 4 in light of the recent terror warning issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Governor additionally urged New Yorkers to be alert and aware of any potential suspicious activity during the holiday weekend.
“We are keenly aware that New York State remains a top target for terrorists,” Governor Cuomo said.
“In response to the warning by the
federal government, New York State is taking steps to increase
monitoring and communication with our local, state, and federal
emergency management and law enforcement partners through the holiday
weekend. As we celebrate with family and friends this Independence Day, I
urge all New Yorkers to not only remember the freedoms that we hold
dear, but also remain cautious of their surroundings and learn to
recognize and report suspicious activity."
This Saturday through 11:00 p.m., additional staff will operate the Emergency Operations Center and the New York State Watch Center, the state’s 24-hour hour, seven-day-per-week monitoring point for all state national and international events.
DHSES Commissioner John P. Melville said, “Reporting suspicious activity can be crucial to maintaining the safety of all communities. If you see something, say something by calling the New York State Terrorism Tips Line at 1-866-SAFE-NYS.”
Governor Cuomo urged new Yorkers to remember the following safety tips:
This Saturday through 11:00 p.m., additional staff will operate the Emergency Operations Center and the New York State Watch Center, the state’s 24-hour hour, seven-day-per-week monitoring point for all state national and international events.
DHSES Commissioner John P. Melville said, “Reporting suspicious activity can be crucial to maintaining the safety of all communities. If you see something, say something by calling the New York State Terrorism Tips Line at 1-866-SAFE-NYS.”
Governor Cuomo urged new Yorkers to remember the following safety tips:
Learn how to spot suspicious activity.
It is important to identify individuals with malicious intentions
before they are able to cause damage. While preparing for an attack,
they may conduct themselves in ways that do not match the usual pattern
of activity found within our daily lives, which makes them stand out
from others.
Learn the 8 signs of terrorism. Know
the routines of your community. Always remain alert and aware of what
is going on around you, and take what you see and hear seriously. Share
this important information with your friends, family, neighbors, and
co-workers.
Learn how to accurately describe suspicious behavior.
The more accurately you can describe the behavior you observed, the
more useful you will be to authorities reviewing the suspicious activity
or incident.
Learn how to report suspicious activity. Program
the phone numbers of your local law enforcement agencies, and the New
York State Terrorism Tips Line phone number – 1-866-SAFE-NYS – into your
phone, should you need to use it quickly. You can also report a tip online.
If you observe suspicious activity, always remember these important tips:
DO NOT take direct action.
DO NOT confront the individual.
DO NOT reveal your suspicions.
DO record as many details as possible.
DO notify the appropriate authorities as soon as possible.
For more information about the Safeguard New
York Program, and to learn how to remain aware and prepared for signs
of terrorism, visit the DHSES website.
About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency
DHSES and its four offices – Counter Terrorism, Emergency Management, Fire Prevention and Control, and Interoperable and Emergency Communications – provide leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies. For more information, visit the DHSES Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter, or visit dhses.ny.gov.
About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency
DHSES and its four offices – Counter Terrorism, Emergency Management, Fire Prevention and Control, and Interoperable and Emergency Communications – provide leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies. For more information, visit the DHSES Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter, or visit dhses.ny.gov.
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Visit White House
On July 7,
2015, President Obama will welcome to the White House Nguyen Phu Trong,
the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of
Vietnam. The President looks forward
to discussing with General Secretary Trong ways to strengthen further
the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership, reflecting on the
accomplishments of the past twenty years since the normalization of
bilateral diplomatic relations. The President also welcomes
the opportunity to discuss other issues, including the Trans-Pacific
Partnership, human rights, and bilateral defense cooperation.
Source: The White House Press Office
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Presidential Delegation to Canada to Attend the Final Match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015
President
Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential
Delegation to Canada to attend the Final Match of the FIFA Women’s World
Cup 2015 in Vancouver on July
5, 2015.
Vice President Joe Biden will join the delegation, led by Dr. Jill Biden, to Vancouver.
Members of the Presidential Delegation:
The Honorable Bruce Heyman, United States Ambassador to Canada, Department of State
The Honorable Evan Ryan, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State
Mr. Cobi Jones, Three-Time U.S. Men’s World Cup Player
Ms. Mia Hamm, Former U.S. Women’s National Team Player
Source: The White House Press Office
'Veep Talk': Vice President Biden Speaks with Prime Ministers Al-Abadi and Yatsenyuk
Vice
President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi today to
discuss ongoing efforts to defeat ISIL in Iraq. The Vice President
reaffirmed full U.S. support for
the Iraqi Government’s ongoing efforts to counter ISIL, including the
mobilization of local tribal fighters.
The Vice President applauded recent battlefield successes by
those fighters and the contributions of U.S. military advisors in that
effort.
The Vice President and Prime Minister discussed the importance of
having all Iraqi communities continuing to work together to fight
ISIL.
NOTE: The following was added on Jul 2 at 6:20 p.m.
The Vice President also spoke with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. The two leaders discussed Ukraine’s reform agenda and the U.S.-Ukraine Business Forum on July 13th in Washington, DC. The Vice President welcomed the advancement of the constitutional reform process in Ukraine as a means to bring about meaningful decentralization of power in keeping with the Minsk agreements. The Vice President and Prime Minister also discussed the situation in the east and deeply regretted the numerous civilian casualties that have resulted from the continued shelling of the coastal city of Shyrokine by combined Russian-separatist forces. In that regard, the two leaders welcomed the renewal of European Union sanctions on Russia until January 31, 2016 to impose costs for Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine and ensure its full compliance with the terms of the Minsk agreements. The Vice President also strongly condemned the announcement by separatist leaders of plans to hold elections on October 18th in direct contravention of the Minsk agreements and Ukrainian law.
NOTE: The following was added on Jul 2 at 6:20 p.m.
The Vice President also spoke with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. The two leaders discussed Ukraine’s reform agenda and the U.S.-Ukraine Business Forum on July 13th in Washington, DC. The Vice President welcomed the advancement of the constitutional reform process in Ukraine as a means to bring about meaningful decentralization of power in keeping with the Minsk agreements. The Vice President and Prime Minister also discussed the situation in the east and deeply regretted the numerous civilian casualties that have resulted from the continued shelling of the coastal city of Shyrokine by combined Russian-separatist forces. In that regard, the two leaders welcomed the renewal of European Union sanctions on Russia until January 31, 2016 to impose costs for Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine and ensure its full compliance with the terms of the Minsk agreements. The Vice President also strongly condemned the announcement by separatist leaders of plans to hold elections on October 18th in direct contravention of the Minsk agreements and Ukrainian law.
Source: The White House Press Office
Gil Noble on Malcolm X
Thank you for your incredible legacy, Mr. Noble. May you forever rest in peace.
Washington Journal: Larry Pratt on Gun Control in the U.S.
Gun Owners of America Executive Director Larry Pratt discusses calls
for stronger gun regulations following the mass shooting at a
historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, in which nine
people died.
Alexei Venediktov on Vladimir Putin's Russia
Echo of Moscow Editor-in-Chief Alexei Venediktov discusses
changes in the Russian political system and the state of media under
President Vladimir Putin’s leadership against the backdrop of the
ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
Video link: Russian journalist Alexei Venediktov
Source: C-Span
CEA: '5.6 Million Jobs Added Over the Past Two Years'
Statement on the Employment Situation in June
WASHINGTON,
DC – Betsey Stevenson, a member of the Council of Economic Advisers,
issued the following statement today on the employment situation in
June.
The economy added 223,000 jobs in June as the unemployment rate fell to 5.3 percent. Our
economy has now added 5.6 million jobs over the past two years, the
strongest two-year job growth since 2000. But despite this progress,
there is more work to do. We must continue to build on the positive
trends underlying our economy by ensuring that Americans working overtime receive a fair day’s pay, opening new markets for U.S. goods and services through expanded trade, increasing investments in infrastructure, providing relief from the sequester, and raising the minimum wage.
FIVE KEY POINTS ON THE LABOR MARKET IN JUNE 2015
Point 1: The private sector has added 12.8 million jobs over 64 straight months of job growth, extending the longest streak on record. Today
we learned that total nonfarm employment rose by 223,000 in June—and
all those jobs came from the private sector. Although total job growth
was revised down somewhat in April and May, much of the revision is
attributable to lower government employment than previously estimated.
On the whole, our economy has added 2.9 million new jobs over the past
twelve months, near the fifteen-year high achieved in February.
Click on all graphs to enlarge them.
Point 2: The labor force grew more slowly in June than it normally does at this
time of year, reducing the seasonally adjusted labor force participation
rate. June is normally a seasonally strong monthfor
labor force growth, as many new graduates and summer workers enter the
labor force. Over the past sixty years, the labor force has grown by 1.8
percent in June on average before seasonal adjustment—more than three
times faster than May, the next fastest month. But this June, the labor
force only rose 0.4 percent. Accordingly, the labor force contracted on a
seasonally adjusted basis, reducing the labor force participation rate.
One
contributing factor was the timing of the “reference week”—the week for
which households report their labor force status in the Current
Population Survey. Each month, the reference week is the Sunday-to-Saturday period that includes the 12th day of the month. Last month, the 12th was a Friday,
pushing the reference week earlier in the month than normal.
Accordingly, a smaller fraction of June’s labor force gains were likely
captured in this year’s survey than in prior Junes. In fact, since 1955,
June labor force growth has averaged 2.0 percent when the 12th has been a Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, but only 1.7 percent when the 12th has been a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. That 0.3 percentage-point gap alone represents nearly 500,000 members of the labor force.
Point 3: Since the recession, both the number of workers who work overtime and
the number of average overtime hours they work have increased. Both
the number of people working more than 40 hours a week and the number
of average hours worked over 40 reached their low in early 2010, but
have since rebounded by 18 and 10 percent respectively, although neither
has returned to its pre-recession average. Growth in both measures was
faster from May 2014 to May 2015 than the annualized average rate over
the previous four years. Both of these factors boost aggregate overtime
worker-hours. This increase in both the number of employees who work
overtime and the number of average overtime hours worked emphasizes the
need to ensure that workers are fairly compensated for the rising
importance of overtime in our economy.
Point 4: The share of workers who are unemployed due to job loss, as opposed to
new entrants searching for a job, has returned to its pre-crisis level. The
distribution of reasons for unemployment shifts with the business
cycle. When overall unemployment is higher, more of the unemployed tend
to have lost their previous jobs. When overall unemployment is lower,
more of the unemployed are labor force entrants, either new or
returning, who have begun job searches. (A third category, the fraction
of unemployed who voluntarily left their jobs, is also cyclical but
accounts for less of the variation.) Over the past year, the fraction of
unemployed persons who lost their jobs returned to its average level
from 2005 and 2006. Notably, the distribution has stabilized over the
past eight months, with the breakdown of unemployed looking much like it
did before the crisis struck. However, the fraction accounted for by
job losses is still above its level from the height of the late 1990s
expansion.
Point 5: The
distribution of job growth across industries generally followed recent
trends in June, but some industries saw especially weak or strong
months. June
was an especially strong month for financial activities (+20,000),
retail trade (+33,000), temporary help (+20,000), information (+7,000),
and other services (+10,000). June was a weaker than usual month in
construction (unchanged), wholesale trade (unchanged), utilities
(unchanged), manufacturing (+4,000), and leisure and hospitality
(+22,000). Across the 17 industries shown below, the correlation between
the most recent one-month percent change and the average percent change
over the last twelve months fell to 0.80 from 0.90 last month,
remaining well above the average correlation in previous months.
As
the Administration stresses every month, the monthly employment and
unemployment figures can be volatile, and payroll employment estimates
can be subject to substantial revision. Therefore, it is important not
to read too much into any one monthly report and it is informative to
consider each report in the context of other data as they become
available.
Source: The White House Press Office
Martin Dempsey Releases 2015 National Military Strategy for the US
During a briefing at the Pentagon, Defense secretary Ashton Carter joins
the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in answering questions about
the nation's current strategic policies and security interests.
Next Batch of Hillary Clinton Emails Already Being Prepared By State Dept.
During a State Department briefing, spokesman John Kirby answers
questions related to the phased release of the former secretary of
state's emails.
Officials Want Facebook to Alert Them to Suspected Terror Messages
Civil liberties group says new bill would turn social network services into "secret police."
Alzheimer's Study Finds Caregiver Link
Research shows caregivers of someone with dementia are at a sixfold higher risk of the same fate. KPLC's Britney Glaser reports.
9/11 First Responder Hits $5 Million Lottery Jackpot
Mercado is pictured with New York Lottery's Yolanda Vega.
An FDNY firefighter who responded to
the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11 terror attacks -- then had to
retire three years later because of the toll it took on his body -- just
hit the lottery.
Carmelo
Mercado, a firefighter from Queens who rushed to Ground Zero moments
after the second twin tower collapsed and spent two days aiding in
search efforts, was presented with a $5 million check Thursday at the
New York Lottery's offices in lower Manhattan.
Mercado said that he hit the lottery
after buying two tickets earlier this year. He said the first one didn't
net him a prize. He said when he saw the first digit of the winning
scratcher, he had to do a double-take.
"I said, 'Holy mackerel, that looks like $5 million'," he said. "My mind went blank. I was in shock."
Full article available here: Carmelo Mercado
Source: NBC News
Cuomo Responds to de Blasio Swipes: "I Choose to Seek Compromise"
Governor Andrew Cuomo is responding to Mayor Bill de Blasio's unusually
sharp and critical remarks Tuesday that he's been "disappointed" with
the governor after pledging in his inaugural address 18 months ago to
stand "shoulder to shoulder" with his one-time boss. Brynn Gingras
reports.
Published Wednesday, Jul 1, 2015
Source: NBC News
Deadly Attack on UN Peacekeepers in Mali
Five UN peacekeepers have been killed and up to six others severely hurt in an attack on their convoy in northern Mali.
According to officials, the ambush took place close to Goundam, a town southwest of the northern city of Timbuktu.
Full article and video available here: UN Peacekeepers Killed
Source: Euronews
US Formally Asks Switzerland to Extradite FIFA Officials
By Alasdair Sandford
The United States has formally asked Switzerland to extradite seven FIFA officials arrested at the end of May in a corruption inquiry.
It is the first stage in what looks set to be a long procedure – up to six months according to Swiss authorities – as those being held had previously indicated that they would oppose extradition.
The Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said in a news release that the US embassy in Bern submitted the formal requests on Wednesday, in line with a bilateral extradition treaty.
The demand was expected: US authorities had until July 3 to submit a formal request or ask for an extension.
The officials have 14 days to respond. The FOJ
says it will rule on extradition within a few weeks after the detainees
have been interviewed by the Zurich Cantonal Police – a decision which
may then be subject to appeal.
The seven are among 14 people – senior FIFA officials plus figures from other governing bodies connected to the organisation – who were charged by New York judicial authorities with offences including racketeering and bribery following an investigation by the FBI.
Full article available here: FIFA Officials
Source: Euronews
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
"Let's Talk": The President Speaks with the Prime Minister of Italy
The President
spoke today with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy regarding
developments in Greece. They agreed on the importance of all sides
working to put Greece
back on a path of reforms and financing that leads to growth and debt
sustainability within the Eurozone. The leaders noted that their teams
are in close contact and are monitoring economic developments in Greece
as well as broader financial markets. They
also discussed the importance of continued close coordination on
counterterrorism.
Source: The White House Press Office
U.S. and Cuba Embassy Openings
President Obama announced the re-establishment of diplomatic relations
with Cuba and the opening of embassies by both countries in Washington
and Havana. He also called on Congress to lift the embargo on Cuba.
Full video available here: U.S. and Cuba Embassy Openings
Source: C-Span
Washington Journal: Mike Debonis on Export-Import Bank Expiration
Washington Post Reporter Mike Debonis joins by phone to
discuss Congress' failure to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank before
their July 4th recess, resulting in the bank losing its authority to
extend taxpayer-backed loans to companies.
Hillary Clinton Emails Released by the State Department
Nearly 2,000 messages are now available from Clinton's time as the Obama administration's secretary of state.
First Read: A Tale of Two Republican Brackets
First Read is a morning briefing from Meet the Press and the NBC
Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why
they matter.
A Tale of Two Republican Brackets
Sure, he has an impressive organization in South Carolina. And a Top-3 finish in Iowa or New Hampshire would allow him to remain in the race a long time. But if he's going to win, it's going to have to start in Iowa, right?
A Tale of Two Republican Brackets
With Chris Christie camping out in New Hampshire and with a brand-new poll out of Iowa,
here's a helpful way to look at the crowded Republican field: It's a
tale of two different brackets -- Iowa and New Hampshire. About half of
Republicans are betting on success in the Hawkeye State, and the other
half are focused on the Granite State, with a little overlap between the
two.
- Your Iowa bracket: Scott Walker (who is leading today's new Quinnipiac poll of Iowa at 18%), Ben Carson and Donald Trump (who are tied for second at 10% each), Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, Rick Perry, Bobby Jindal
- Your New Hampshire bracket: Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, John Kasich, George Pataki, maybe Lindsey Graham
- Your crossovers: Rand Paul, Marco Rubio
Iowa is fascinating because you have 20% of
likely caucus-goers in the Quinnipiac poll supporting either Trump or
Carson, who in many ways look like placeholders for two different types
of conservatives. Does that support go elsewhere as the race picks up --
to Walker, Cruz, or maybe even Rubio? As for Rubio, while we label him a
crossover, ask yourself this question: How does he win the nomination
without Iowa?
Sure, he has an impressive organization in South Carolina. And a Top-3 finish in Iowa or New Hampshire would allow him to remain in the race a long time. But if he's going to win, it's going to have to start in Iowa, right?
As for New Hampshire, you're going to have three
"moderate"-leaning governors or ex-governors all in the running -- Jeb,
Kasich, Christie -- with maybe the eventual Iowa winner being a factor,
too.
Full article available here: A Tale of Two Republican Brackets
Source: NBC News
NSC Spokesperson Ned Price on Terrorist Attacks in Egypt
The United
States strongly condemns the terrorist attacks against Egyptian security
forces in North Sinai this morning, which killed dozens of Egyptian
personnel and injured many others. We extend our deepest condolences
to the families of the deceased and the government and people of Egypt,
and wish for a speedy recovery for those who were injured. The United
States stands resolutely with Egypt amidst
the spate of terrorist attacks that have afflicted the country and, in
the context of our long-standing partnership, will continue to assist
Egypt in addressing these threats to its security.
Source: The White House Press Office
National Action Network to Convene Members of Congress, Administration and Civil Rights Leaders
Legislative & Policy Conference on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON – Reverend Al
Sharpton, President and Founder of National Action Network (NAN), and
NAN leadership will bring together members of Congress and the
Administration, policy experts, and civil rights leaders
and partners for this year’s NAN Legislative and Policy Conference.
The
two-day policy conference will take place next week, July 8th and 9th,
on Capitol Hill.
Reverend Sharpton will deliver remarks to the conference and will be joined by Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06), Assistant Democratic Leader, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (CA-39), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), U.S. Senators Charles E. “Chuck” Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Tim Scott (R-SC), and members of U.S. Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services, among others for a series of policy discussions and programs.
Reverend Sharpton will deliver remarks to the conference and will be joined by Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06), Assistant Democratic Leader, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (CA-39), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), U.S. Senators Charles E. “Chuck” Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Tim Scott (R-SC), and members of U.S. Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services, among others for a series of policy discussions and programs.
White House Lifts Camera and Photo Ban on Public Tours
Today,
the White House is lifting its longstanding camera and photo ban on
public tours. This ban has been in place for over 40 years. To
announce the change in policy,
the First Lady posted
THIS video on her Instagram account. Effective today, guests are
now welcome to take photos throughout the White House tour route and
keep those memories for a lifetime. Visitors are also encouraged to
share their experience using the hashtag #WhiteHouseTour.
Permitted Items:
Phones
and compact still cameras with a lens no longer than 3 inches are
allowed inside the White House. Photography is permitted but may not
interfere with the enjoyment of other
guests on the tour.
Prohibited Items:
Video
cameras, including any action camcorders, cameras with detachable
lenses, tablets, tripods, monopods, and camera sticks are not permitted
on White House Tours. Flash photography
and livestreaming are not permitted while on the tour.
Source: The White House Press Office
Greek Prime Minister Tsipras Makes New Offer to Creditors
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras
(Reuters/Marko Djurica)
(Reuters/Marko Djurica)
The Greek Prime Minister Alex Tsipras has put a new offer on the
table accepting nearly all of the international creditors demands
published on June 28, with several conditions.
The new offer comes in a letter leaked by the Financial Times
newspaper, which detailed five key points to negotiate including keeping
the VAT discount for Greek islands, a
delaying the increase in the pension age and delaying the phasing out of
a solidarity grant to pensioners.
Full article available here: Tsipras Makes New Offer
Source: Euronews
Eurogroup to Consider New Greece Bailout Request
By Alasdair Sandford | With REUTERS
The Greek request on Tuesday for a new bailout from the eurozone took the Eurogroup by surprise.
A planned conference call was put back from Wednesday morning till late afternoon.
The Eurogroup will consider Athens’ request for a new bailout of
29.1 billion euros from the eurozone’s 500 billion euro rescue fund
known as the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).
Some eurozone finance ministers are thought to be hostile to agreeing a new bailout when Greece could not accept the terms of the last offer.
Full article and video available here: Eurogroup to Consider Bailout Request
Source: Euronews
Another Historically Black Church in South Carolina Burns
Yet another black church in the South went up in flames Tuesday
night, this time historic Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal in
Williamsburg County, South Carolina — 20 years after it was burned to
the ground by Ku Klux Klan members.
The Clarendon County Fire Department said
shortly before midnight ET that the fire was under control, but it
released a photo showing the church with its roof apparently completely
collapsed.
Williamsburg County Fire Chief Randy Swinton
told NBC News it wasn't known whether the fire was intentionally set,
noting that a lightning storm passed through the area about the same
time the blaze was reported.
No injuries were immediately reported, but The Kingstree News of Williamsburg County reported that the church was "gutted."
Full article available here: Church "Gutted" by Fire
Source: NBC News
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
President Obama and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff (Joint Press Conference)
President Obama and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff held a joint news
conference following a meeting at the White House. In addition to
issues of U.S.-Brazilian relations, President Obama addressed questions
on the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran and a string of positive
moments for his presidential legacy over the prior week.
State Department Briefing
Spokesman John Kirby briefs reporters and responds to their questions
on a variety of international topics, including the release of the next
round of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s emails.
Ebola Returns to Liberia
Liberia, which had been Ebola-free for more than a month, reported a new case of the virus Tuesday.
The body of a 17-year-old boy tested positive
for Ebola in Margibi County and authorities have begun tracing people
the victim may have come into contact with while infected, Deputy Health
Minister Tolbert Nyenswah said on Tuesday.
"There is no need to panic. The corpse has been
buried and our contact tracing has started work," Nyenswah told Reuters.
Margibi is a rural area close to the capital Monrovia, and is home to
the country's main international airport.
At least 11,207 people have died from Ebola in
Liberia, neighboring Guinea and Sierra Leone since the outbreak began in
December 2013, World Health Organization (WHO) spokesman Tarik
Jasarevic told a news conference in Geneva. More than 27,000 have been
infected.
Full article and accompanying video available here: Ebola
Source: NBC News
Cuba Stops Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission
Cuba is the first country in the world to stop
the transmission of the AIDS virus from mothers to their babies, the
World Health Organization said Monday.
Cuba's also stopped the transmission of syphilis
from mothers to newborns -- two feats that show it's possible to
control epidemics of both infections.
"Eliminating transmission of a virus is one of
the greatest public health achievements possible," said WHO
Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan. "This is a major victory in our long
fight against HIV and sexually transmitted infections, and an important
step towards having an AIDS-free generation."
"Eliminating transmission of a virus is one of the greatest public health achievements possible."
Babies can be infected with HIV at birth or by
breastfeeding if the mother is infected. If the mother gets HIV drugs
before and after giving birth, and if the newborn is given drugs, the
risk falls to less than 1 percent.
The 2016 Money Chase: Everything You Need to Know
Keeping track of the money in the 2016
presidential race will be harder than ever - with all of the candidates,
all of the Super PACs, all of the other outside groups.
But here's a handy guide on everything you'll need to know.
Just more than two weeks from now, we'll reach
our next milestone in the 2016 presidential contest: The first results
from the money race.
The 2nd fundraising quarter (April 1 thru June 30) ends on Tuesday, and the campaigns are required to report their results with the Federal Election Commission by July 15, while the deadline for the Super PACs is July 31.
So those are the dates when we'll find out which campaigns have raked
in the most money, as well as which big donors have written hefty checks
to Super PACs.
Note: Only one major candidate - Sen. Ted Cruz,
R-Texas - began his presidential campaign before April 1. So while the
other campaigns will be reporting their first fundraising hauls of the
2016 race by July 15, this will be Cruz's second report. And since
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Ohio Gov. John Kasich won't be
announcing their presidential bids until after June 30, they won't have
to file their first campaign reports until Oct. 15.
Misty Copeland Is American Ballet Theatre's First Black Principal Dancer
Misty Copeland was promoted Tuesday to female
principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, becoming the first
black woman in the company's 75-year history to hold the role.
Copeland, 32, is already arguably the most
famous ballerina in the United States, having been the subject of a TIME
magazine cover and a popular Under Armour ad campaign along with her
high profile position at American Ballet Theatre. She has spent 14 years
there, more than half as a soloist.
Full article and video of Copeland performing available here: Misty Copeland
Source: NBC News
Islamic State Threatens to Topple Hamas in Gaza
CAIRO (Reuters) – Islamic State insurgents
threatened on Tuesday to turn the Gaza Strip into another of their
Middle East fiefdoms, accusing Hamas, the organisation that rules the
Palestinian territory, of being insufficiently stringent about religious
enforcement.
The video statement, issued from an Islamic State
stronghold in Syria, was a rare public challenge to Hamas, which has
been cracking down on jihadis in Gaza who oppose its truces with Israel
and reconciliation with the U.S.-backed rival Palestinian faction Fatah.
“We will uproot the state of the Jews (Israel) and you
and Fatah, and all of the secularists are nothing and you will be
over-run by our creeping multitudes,” said a masked Islamic State member
in the message addressed to the “tyrants of Hamas”.
Full article available here: Islamic State Threat
Source: Euronews
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