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Obama, China's Xi to meet in California on June 7-8

Kyodo News InternationalMay 20, 2013 23:16

U.S. President Barack Obama will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 7 and 8 in California for the first time since Xi took office in March, the White House said Monday. The two leaders will "review progress and challenges in U.S.-China relations over the past four years and discuss ways to enhance cooperation," the White House said. U.S. National Security Adviser Tom Donilon will make a three-day visit to Beijing from Sunday to prepare for the meeting, it said.

Rescuers comb Oklahoma tornado rubble for buried survivors

Thomson ReutersMay 20, 2013 22:16

By Ian Simpson and Alice Mannette MOORE, Oklahoma (Reuters) - Rescue workers with sniffer dogs and searchlights combed through the wreckage of a massive tornado to ensure no survivors remained buried in the rubble of primary schools, homes and buildings in an Oklahoma City suburb. The massive tornado on Monday afternoon flattened blocks of the town, killed at least 24 people and injured about 240 in Moore, just outside Oklahoma City.

Obama to meet Xi in California in June

Agence France-PresseMay 20, 2013 22:15

President Barack Obama will hold his first summit with President Xi Jinping in California next month, with Sino-US relations rattled by alleged Chinese cyber spying and tensions in the Pacific. Obama will welcome Xi to the plush Sunnylands estate resort in Palm Springs on June 7-8, as Washington seeks Chinese help to subdue North Korean belligerence and seeks a diplomatic breakthrough to end the slaughter in Syria.

AP source: Treasury told White House IRS planned to disclose targeting of political groups

The Canadian PressMay 20, 2013 22:00

WASHINGTON - A Treasury official says the department told the White House twice that the IRS was preparing to make public its targeting of conservative political groups.

Obama to meet China's Xi in California on June 7-8: White House

Kyodo News InternationalMay 20, 2013 21:45

US condemns mosque bombings in Iraq: White House

Agence France-PresseMay 20, 2013 21:31

The United States condemned the bombing of two Shiite mosques in Iraq on Monday, appealing for calm amid a mounting wave of sectarian attacks. White House press secretary Jay Carney said "we strongly condemn" the latest attacks, which left 13 people dead in a Shiite area south of Baghdad. tq/jm/dc

Obama-Xi meeting

Yonhap News AgencyMay 20, 2013 21:30

By Lee Chi-dong WASHINGTON, May 20 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will meet early next month for "in-depth" discussions on pending issues, Obama's office announced Monday. "President Obama will meet with President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China on June 7-8 in California at Sunnylands, the Walter and Leonore Annenberg estate," the White House said. It will be their first meeting since Xi became China's leader in March.

100 Reported dead in gigantic Oklahoma tornado

Agencia EFEMay 20, 2013 21:15

Washington, May 21 (EFE).- As many as 100 people have been reported dead after a gigantic tornado more than three km (1.8 mi.) in diameter ravaged the area south of Oklahoma City on Monday, destroying or heavily damaging numerous homes and at least schools, according to media reports. Local KFOR television reported that four people had died, among them a boy, while CNN and NBC reported that there had been 100 fatalities.

White House to brief Democrats on economy on Tuesday

Thomson ReutersMay 20, 2013 18:46

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group of Democratic lawmakers has been invited to the White House on Tuesday for a briefing about economic issues from two top advisers to President Barack Obama on Tuesday. White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and Alan Krueger, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, will talk to a small group of Democrats from the Senate and House of Representatives. A list of the invited lawmakers was not immediately available.

Obama to travel to Africa in late June

Thomson ReutersMay 20, 2013 18:16

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, will travel to Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania in late June and early July to reinforce U.S. ties with countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the White House said on Monday. "The trip will underscore the president's commitment to broadening and deepening cooperation between the United States and the people of sub-Saharan Africa to advance regional and global peace and prosperity," the White House said in a statement.