Obama, Netanyahu to meet July 6, discuss Gaza blockade

June 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 20 (Reuters) – The White House on Sunday hailed Israel’s easing of its land blockade of Gaza and said President Barack Obama would discuss “additional steps” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a Washington visit on July 6.

“We believe that the implementation of the policy announced by the government of Israel today should improve life for the people of Gaza, and we will continue to support that effort going forward,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement.

Israel unveiled new procedures on Sunday to ease its land blockade on Gaza, saying it would start allowing in all goods except for weapons and materials that can be used to make them. Israel has been under pressure to loosen restrictions since a deadly May 31 raid on an aid flotilla bound for the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick)

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Factbox: Obama meets with BP executives, attorneys

June 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

as well as U.S. Cabinet secretaries and economic and

environmental officials were among those at the first White

House meeting between the company’s top executives and U.S.

President Barack Obama since the oil spill in the Gulf of

Mexico.

Here is a list of attendees at the meeting on Wednesday,

according to the White House.

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U.S. welcomes Israel inquiry on flotilla events

June 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – The United States on Sunday welcomed Israel’s decision to begin an internal investigation into the events surrounding last month’s raid on a convoy of Gaza-bound aid ships.

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A statement by White House spokesman Robert Gibbs called the proposal for the probe “an important step forward” and said Israel was capable of conducting a fair investigation into the deadly flotilla raid.

“But we will not prejudge the process or its outcome, and will await the conduct and findings of the investigation before drawing further conclusions,” the statement said.

(Writing by Caren Bohan; Editing by Sandra Maler)

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U.S. welcomes Israel inquiry on flotilla events

June 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 13 (Reuters) – The United States on Sunday welcomed Israel’s decision to begin an internal investigation into the events surrounding last month’s raid on a convoy of Gaza-bound aid ships.

A statement by White House spokesman Robert Gibbs called the proposal for the probe “an important step forward” and said Israel was capable of conducting a fair investigation into the deadly flotilla raid.

“But we will not prejudge the process or its outcome, and will await the conduct and findings of the investigation before drawing further conclusions,” the statement said.

(Writing by Caren Bohan; Editing by Sandra Maler)

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Good chance for ‘reasonable’ US reform bill-Volcker

June 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 9 (Reuters) – There is a good chance that the sweeping U.S. financial reform bill will be passed in a “reasonable form,” White House economic adviser Paul Volcker said on Wednesday, adding the bill could provide a basis for international coordination on coherent legislation.

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He added there is no basis yet for “business as usual” in U.S. and European financial markets, despite some economic growth over the last year.

The proposed “Volcker rule” being debated by U.S. lawmakers would ban risky proprietary trading unrelated to customers’ needs; bar them from sponsoring hedge funds and private equity funds; and limit their future growth through a new cap on market share. (Reporting by Jonathan Spicer; Editing by James Dalgleish)

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Obama: U.N. sanctions “unmistakable message” to Iran

June 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Wednesday said fresh U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran send an “unmistakable message” to that country over its nuclear program.

Barack Obama

“This resolution will put in place the toughest sanctions ever faced by the Iranian government,” Obama said after the 15-nation council passed a fourth round of sanctions against Iran, which the West suspects of developing the means to build atom bombs.

“It sends an unmistakable message about the international community’s commitment to stopping the spread of nuclear weapons,” he told reporters at the White House.

The resolution followed five months of talks between the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia.

With 12 votes in favor, it received the least support of the four Iran sanctions resolutions adopted since 2006, but Obama vowed to make them stick.

“We will ensure that these sanctions are vigorously enforced, just as we continue to refine and enforce our own sanctions on Iran,” he said.

“There is no double standard at play here. We’ve made it clear, time and again, that we respect Iran’s right, like all countries, to access peaceful nuclear energy,” Obama said.

(Reporting by Alister Bull; Editing by Jackie Frank)

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Obama: UN sanctions “unmistakable message” to Iran

June 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON, June 9 (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday said fresh U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran send an “unmistakable message” to that country over its nuclear program.

“This resolution will put in place the toughest sanctions ever faced by the Iranian government,” Obama said after the 15-nation council passed a fourth round of sanctions against Iran, which the West suspects of developing the means to build atom bombs.

“It sends an unmistakable message about the international community’s commitment to stopping the spread of nuclear weapons,” he told reporters at the White House.

The resolution followed five months of talks between the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia.

With 12 votes in favor, it received the least support of the four Iran sanctions resolutions adopted since 2006, but Obama vowed to make them stick.

“We will ensure that these sanctions are vigorously enforced, just as we continue to refine and enforce our own sanctions on Iran,” he said.

“There is no double standard at play here. We’ve made it clear, time and again, that we respect Iran’s right, like all countries, to access peaceful nuclear energy,” Obama said.

(Reporting by Alister Bull; Editing by Jackie Frank)

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White House: still open to talks with Iran

June 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

June 9 (Reuters) – The White House said on Wednesday that the United States was still open to talks with Iran following fresh U.N. Security Council sanctions against the country over its nuclear program.

“The United States remains open to dialogue, but Iran must live up to its obligations and clearly demonstrate to the international community the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities,” the White House said in a statement.

The 15-nation council earlier passed a fourth round of sanctions against Iran over a nuclear program the West suspects is aimed at developing the means to build atom bombs. The resolution that was the product of five months of talks between the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia.

(Reporting by Alister Bull; Editing by Jackie Frank)

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Senator calls Nikki, Obama ‘ragheads’

June 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Nikki Haley, the Indian American woman running for South Carolina’s Governor seat, was attacked with racial slur by a state lawmaker who called her a “raghead”.

Republican state Senator Jake Knotts also attacked US President Barack Obama in comments on an Internet political show called Pub Politics.

Haley, who was born a Sikh and describes herself as a Methodist, became target of racial slur typically used against ethnic groups that wear turbans or headdresses.

“We already got one raghead in the White House,” Knotts said. “We don’t need another in the Governor’s Mansion,” he was quoted as saying by The State newspaper. Knotts reportedly also talked at length about Haley’s parents, religion and family.

Haley campaign manager Tim Pearson said Knotts was an embarrassment to the state, and that South Carolina voters would make it clear on Tuesday they are better than this.

Knotts now insists that his comments were made in zest and also agreed to apologise.

“My ‘raghead’ comments about Obama and Haley were intended in jest,” he said. “Bear in mind that this is a freewheeling, anything-goes Internet radio show that is broadcast from a pub. It’s like local political version of Saturday Night Live,” he said in a statement.

Since my intended humorous context was lost in translation, I apologise. I still believe Haley is pretending to be someone she is not, much as Obama did, but I apologise to both for an unintended slur,” the Republican politician added.

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Obama calls on Japan’s new PM

June 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, June 6 (IANS) US President Barack Obama Saturday called Naoto Kan to congratulate him on being chosen Japan’s new prime minister, and pledged to work together on issues like Iran and the Korean Peninsula.

‘The two leaders agreed to work very closely together to address the many issues facing both nations and the global community, including the challenges posed by North Korea and Iran,’ Xinhua reported quoting a White House statement Saturday.

The two leaders emphasised the importance they each place on the US-Japan alliance, it said.

Kan, the former finance minister, became the prime minister after being approved by the Diet to replace Yukio Hatoyama, who resigned Wednesday.

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Obama calls to congratulate Japan’s PM-elect Kan

June 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

U.S. President Barack Obama called Japan’s prime minister-elect, Naoto Kan, on Saturday to congratulate him on his election and pledge to work together on issues including North Korea and Iran, the White House said.

Kan, 63, will become Japan’s fifth prime minister in three years, taking the helm as the country struggles to rein in a huge public debt, engineer growth in an aging society, and manage ties with security ally Washington and a rising China.

“The two leaders agreed to work very closely together to address the many issues facing both nations and the global community, including the challenges posed by North Korea and Iran,” the White House said in a statement.

“They emphasized the importance they each place on the US-Japan Alliance,” it said.

The two men are expected to meet at the G8 and G20 summit meetings in Canada later this month. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Peter Cooney)

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US: IAEA report shows Iran’s nuclear defiance

June 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

May 31 (Reuters) – The latest report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog underscores Iran’s refusal to comply with international requirements needed to allow constructive talks on its nuclear program, the White House said on Monday.

“This latest IAEA report clearly shows Iran’s continued failure to comply with its international obligations and its sustained lack of cooperation with the IAEA,” White House National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said.

He was referring to a confidential report obtained by Reuters that said Iran has been preparing extra equipment for enriching uranium to higher levels. Such a move could increase tensions with the West over its atomic work. President Barack Obama’s administration is leading a push for new U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran.

(Reporting by Matt Spetalnick, Editing by Sandra Maler)

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White Houses examining circumstances of Gaza clash

June 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

May 31 (Reuters) – The United States said on Monday it deeply regretted the deaths and injuries caused when Israeli commandos stormed a convoy of Gaza-bound aid ships leading to 10 deaths.

“The United States deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries sustained, and is currently working to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy,” said White House spokesman William Burton. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, editing by Alan Elsner)

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White House party crashers now barge onto David Letterman”s stage

May 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New York, May 26 (ANI): Gatecrashing seems to have become a habit with Tareq and Michaele Salahi – the couple are now making news for barging on stage during the “Late Show with David Letterman.”

Letterman was joking through his monologue when the smiling Salahis suddenly walked out, flanked him, posed for “photographers,” then left as quickly as they had appeared on the stage.

“See, it”s interesting to me… For all practical purposes, they”re trespassing. But the crowd goes wild!” the New York Daily News quoted Letterman as saying on the show.

The Salahis gained notoriety when uninvited they attended the White House State Dinner last November. (ANI)

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Obama to act on offshore oil after report Thurs

May 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The decision on whether to resume issuing offshore drilling permits will be made after Interior Secretary Ken Salazar sends his report on the BP oil spill to the White House this week, a department official told Reuters on Monday.

Shortly after BP’s massive oil spill in the Gulf, President Barack Obama ordered that no new offshore drilling permits be issued until Salazar’s 30-day review of the spill was completed.

“All decisions will be made after he submits the report to the president,” said the official on whether permits will be issued again.

The White House said it expects to get Salazar’s report on Thursday and that President Obama would likely talk publicly about it when the report arrives.

Some U.S. lawmakers have called on the administration to lift the ban on new permits in the shallow waters of the Gulf, and leave it in place for the deep waters where the BP accident occurred.

Salazar’s report could also recommend whether the department should go ahead with its next lease sale in the western Gulf of Mexico scheduled for Aug. 18. Salazar said last week the department was considering whether to delay that lease sale.

The 18.8 million offshore acres that would be offered to oil companies in the lease sale could produce between 242 million and 423 million barrels of crude oil.

(Reporting by Tom Doggett; additional reporting by Alister Bull; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

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White House backs South Korea move to punish North

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The White House on Monday gave strong backing to plans by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to punish North Korea for sinking one of its naval ships.

“We endorse President Lee’s demand that North Korea immediately apologize and punish those responsible for the attack, and, most importantly, stop its belligerent and threatening behavior,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.

“U.S. support for South Korea’s defense is unequivocal, and the president has directed his military commanders to coordinate closely with their Republic of Korea counterparts to ensure readiness and to deter future aggression,” he said.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

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Macca set for White House stint?

May 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 21 (ANI): Sir Paul McCartney has hinted in an online video conference that he”s getting ready for a trip to the White House.

During a web chat for 30 minutes with his fans on Thursday, the former Beatle talked about the upcoming Wings remasters and answered his followers’ questions.

What really left his fans wondering was a vague comment though.

“There”s been some rumours and I think we can give you a clue. Think White House. Think playing… If there is an announcement mentioning the White House, remember where you heard it first,” The Daily Express quoted him as stating. (ANI)

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