Connect to share and comment

Obama hails Myanmar leader but warns on Muslims

Agence France-PresseMay 20, 2013 16:30
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.

Obama voices concern to Lebanon on Hezbollah role in Syria

May 20, 2013 16:00
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama told his Lebanese counterpart on Monday he was concerned about Lebanese Hezbollah militants fighting in Syria to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the White House said. Obama and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman spoke by telephone the same day Syrian activists said about 30 Hezbollah fighters and 20 Syrian soldiers and militiamen loyal to Assad had been killed in the fiercest fighting this year in the rebel stronghold of Qusair.

White House says counsel told April 24 of preliminary IRS findings

May 20, 2013 15:00
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.

Obama urges Myanmar to stop violence against Muslims

May 20, 2013 15:00
By Paul Eckert WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama urged the president of Myanmar on Monday to take steps to halt violence against Muslims in his country and move ahead with economic and political reforms. Thein Sein became the first head of Myanmar to visit the White House in 47 years, and he and Obama sat down for talks in the Oval Office.

Hezbollah suffers big losses in Syria battle: activists

May 20, 2013 13:16
By Khaled Yacoub Oweis and Dominic Evans AMMAN/BEIRUT (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama voiced concern at Hezbollah's growing role in the Syrian civil war on Monday after men from the Lebanese militia fought their biggest battle yet alongside President Bashar al-Assad's army. About 30 Hezbollah fighters were killed on Sunday, Syrian activists said, along with 20 Syrian soldiers and militiamen loyal to Assad during the fiercest fighting this year in the rebel stronghold of Qusair, close to the Lebanese border.

Obama, Thein Sein to hold landmark talks; reforms likely top agenda

Kyodo News InternationalMay 20, 2013 13:16
U.S. President Barack Obama and his Myanmar counterpart Thein Sein will hold talks at the White House on Monday with further promotion of democratization and economic reforms in the Southeast Asian country likely topping the agenda. Thein Sein's landmark trip marks the first state visit by a Myanmar leader to the U.S. capital in nearly 50 years.

Special K churning out new products as part of shift into a weight management tool

The Canadian PressMay 20, 2013 13:00
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Special K was once just a line of cereals. Today, it's a diet food empire. The brand first hit shelves in 1955 as a no-frills breakfast alternative but now caters to dieters who see its airy chips and pastries as a way to beat cravings and lose weight. And this summer, Kellogg Co. is building on its biggest moneymaker with a "hot cereal" called Special K Nourish that's made with quinoa and other grains.

UK tries out new model for gene testing in cancer patients

May 20, 2013 12:16
By Kate Kelland LONDON (Reuters) - Britain launched a research program on Monday that should eventually allow all cancer patients to have access to the kind of genetic analysis that led Hollywood star Angelina Jolie to decide to undergo a double mastectomy. The project, involving the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London, the U.S. gene sequencing firm Illumina, geneticists and cancer doctors, aims to find a way to allow more cancer genes be tested in more people.

FDA staff says Merck's sleep drug effective, questions dosage

May 20, 2013 11:23
By Toni Clarke WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Merck & Co's experimental insomnia drug suvorexant appears generally effective, according to reviewers at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but they questioned the company's proposed dosing levels. The reviewers posted their comments on the FDA's website on Monday, two days ahead of a meeting of outside medical experts which will advise the agency on whether or not it should approve the drug. Merck's shares fell 1.1 percent to $45.49 in midday trading.

NK- bird flu

Yonhap News AgencyMay 20, 2013 10:45
SEOUL, May 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Monday confirmed a bird flu outbreak at a Pyongyang duck farm and said it has killed as many as 160,000 ducks to contain the virus. Authorities who conducted examinations on May 7 found that ducks in the Tudan Duck Farm were infected with the H5N1 virus, the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. "They briefed UN bodies concerned on this situation while taking steps to kill as many as 160,000 ducks in the farm and quarantine and disinfect it," the news agency said.
Syndicate content