Europe's medicines watchdog said Friday the benefits of acne drug Diane-35, also widely used as a contraceptive, outweigh the risk of developing blood clots in the veins. The clot risk was "low", said a European Medicines Agency (EMA) ruling on a French-initiated review of the drug's safety. But it stressed Diane-35 and its generics should only be used when alternative acne treatments had failed and said measures must be taken to minimise the blood clot risk.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Obama administration on Monday filed a last-minute appeal to delay the sale of the morning-after contraceptive pill to girls of any age without a prescription. The legal paperwork asked the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan to postpone a federal judge's ruling that eliminated age limits on the pill while the government appeals that overall decision.

By Steve Holland MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Thursday he is comfortable with a U.S. government agency's decision to allow over-the-counter purchases of a morning-after pill for anyone 15 and older. Some critics have complained girls that young should not be allowed to purchase the pills without a doctor's approval. But Obama told a news conference in Mexico City that the decision was based on "solid scientific evidence."

The US Department of Justice appealed Wednesday a federal judge's ruling ordering regulators to provide emergency contraception to women and girls of all ages. The appeal came just one day after the Food and Drug Administration allowed a manufacturer to make the Plan B One-Step morning after pill available to those age 15 and older without a prescription. The FDA says that decision is not related to the pending court case over emergency contraception.