Myanmar President Thein Sein urged Monday for an end to intercommunal violence and discrimination after hearing a call from US President Barack Obama to put a stop to anti-Muslim attacks. In a speech after his landmark White House meeting, the leader of the former pariah nation said he wanted a "more inclusive national identity" but did not directly mention the plight of the beleaguered Rohingya community. "Myanmar people of all ethnic backgrounds and all faiths -- Buddhists, Muslims, Christians and others -- must feel part of this new national identity," he said.

BERKELEY, Calif. - Gov. Jerry Brown said Monday that he does not know if the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge will open over Labor Day weekend because of safety concerns. It's the first time the governor acknowledged serious worries about the structural integrity of the $6.4 billion infrastructure project to build a new eastern span of the bridge. Brown had dismissed concerns about broken bolts earlier this month.

US President Barack Obama on Monday threw his support behind Myanmar President Thein Sein in his drive to reform a former pariah state but warned that a wave of violence against Muslims must stop. As his guest became the first leader of his country in almost 50 years to visit the White House, Obama praised Myanmar's journey away from brutal junta rule and promised Washington would offer more political and economic support.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House acknowledged on Monday that its counsel was told on April 24 about the preliminary findings of an IRS audit that eventually showed Internal Revenue Service employees had targeted conservative groups for extra scrutiny. White House spokesman Jay Carney said the counsel, Kathryn Ruemmler, later informed the White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and other senior staff members about the politically damaging preliminary findings of inappropriate activity by some IRS employees.