White House news

• Bergdahl charges stoke fresh criticism of prisoner swap

  26-03-2015 23:57
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The tough military charges against Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl have revived the questions and controversy surrounding President Barack Obama's decision to swap five Taliban detainees to secure his release, as well as the wisdom of the White House fanfare that followed.
  
  Read more

• Head of U.S. Chemical Safety Board resigns: White House official

  26-03-2015 23:56
  
  The head of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board has resigned weeks after lawmakers with oversight of his agency accused him of hostility toward his staff, a White House official said on Thursday. Rafael Moure-Eraso stepped down from his role as chairman of the CSB, an independent federal agency responsible for investigating industrial and chemical accidents. "The White House asked for and received Dr. Rafael Moure-Eraso's resignation," the official said. His term was up in June and earlier this month
  
  Read more

• House panel asks White House for documents on Bergdahl swap

  26-03-2015 23:48
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Oversight panel is asking the White House for intelligence information, reports and documents on the swap of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was held captive for five years, for five members of the Taliban.
  
  Read more

• White House crafts first-ever plan to fight superbugs

  26-03-2015 22:58
  
  By Yasmeen Abutaleb and Lisa Baertlein NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The White House is due to issue an ambitious plan to slow the growing and deadly problem of antibiotic resistance over the next five years, one that requires massive investments and policy changes from a broad array of U.S. government health agencies, according to a copy of the report reviewed by Reuters. The 60-page report is the first ever to tackle antibiotic resistance so broadly. Administration officials were not immedi
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Bergdhal charges stoke fresh criticism of prisoner swap

  26-03-2015 21:53
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The tough military charges against Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl have revived the questions and controversy surrounding President Barack Obama's decision to swap five Taliban detainees to secure his release, as well as the wisdom of the White House fanfare that followed.
  
  Read more

• White House concerned about Iranian weapons in Yemen

  26-03-2015 21:23
  
  The White House on Thursday expressed concern about Iran's alleged role in stoking violence in Yemen, the latest flashpoint in tensions between Middle East powers. Amid a Saudi-led military offensive to defeat pro-Iran rebels that control much of Yemen, a National Security Council official told AFP that Tehran's actions were destabilising and threatening Yemen's government. "We have concerns about Iranian activities in Yemen and reports of Iranian flow of arms into Yemen,&quo
  
  Read more

• One of the most powerful women in Silicon Valley has ties to two top 2016 candidates

  26-03-2015 21:02
  
  NBC Laurene Powell-Jobs during a television interview. Billionaire Laurene Powell-Jobs, widow of Steve Jobs, has a long history as a Democratic donor including contributions to the party’s likely frontrunner in the 2016 presidential race, Hillary Clinton. However, Powell-Jobs also has close ties to one of the GOP’s top White House hopefuls, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R). As of now, it’s not clear whether either Clinton or Bush will have Powell-Jobs’ support for their likely campaigns.
  
  Read more

• Obama discusses Yemen, Iran in call with Turkey's Erdogan

  26-03-2015 20:44
  
  President Barack Obama spoke with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday about pressing issues in the Middle East, including the crisis in Yemen, the White House said. Turkey and the United States support the Saudi-led military operation against Houthi forces in Yemen, who have taken over much of the country in an effort to oust President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Iran supports the Houthis. The leaders also discussed U.S.-led negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme, the White House said i
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Obama, Turkey's Erdogan discuss Yemen, Iran, Islamic State-White House

  26-03-2015 20:15
  
  WASHINGTON, March 26 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama spoke with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday about the crisis in Yemen, ongoing nuclear talks with Iran, and cooperation in the fight against Islamic State militants, the White House National Security Council said on Twitter. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Sandra Maler)
  
  Read more

• White House concerned about 'Iranian activities' in Yemen

  26-03-2015 20:09
  
  Washington (AFP) - The White House on Thursday voiced concern about "Iranian activities" in Yemen, where Huthi Shiite rebels have taken control of several cities and are assaulting the port of Aden.
  
  Read more

• Opinion Journal: White House Deserters

  26-03-2015 19:55
  
  Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow Jason Riley on the political motivations behind the exchange of five Guantanamo Bay detainees for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. Photo credit: Associated Press.
  
  Read more

• Ghani jokes Afghanistan may beat US to woman president

  26-03-2015 19:54
  
  Afghanistan may have one of the worst reputations in the world for women's rights but its leader joked in New York Thursday that Afghans may elect a female president before the United States. President Ashraf Ghani could not resist the throwaway quip -- just weeks before Hillary Clinton is expected to announce her bid for the White House in 2016 -- while addressing a think tank. The Afghan leader then broke into a chuckle, met with laughter and applause from the audience, at his latest appe
  
  Read more

• The Latest: White House says crash not linked to terrorism

  26-03-2015 19:38
  
  7:35 p.m. (1835 GMT, 2:35 p.m. EDT) The U.S. doesn't believe there's a link to terrorism in the Germanwings crash in France that killed all 150 people aboard the plane. White House spokesman Josh Earnest, ...
  
  Read more

• US weighs tanker and radar planes for Saudi Yemen op

  26-03-2015 19:34
  
  The United States may provide refueling and early-warning radar aircraft support to a Saudi Arabian-led operation in Yemen against Huthi rebels, officials told AFP Thursday. The White House said Wednesday that the United States will provide intelligence and logistics support to the Saudi-led coalition and officials said that would likely include information gathered from surveillance drones. About a dozen US military personnel are taking part in a "joint planning cell" at an undisclose
  
  Read more

• Pope Francis is heading to the White House

  26-03-2015 18:53
  
  It’ll be the pontiff’s first visit to Washington.
  
  Read more

• U.S. lawmaker to Homeland Security: 'clean up' Secret Service

  26-03-2015 16:51
  
  A U.S. lawmaker on Thursday questioned Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson's choice of a veteran agent to lead the U.S. Secret Service and said the agency that protects the American president needs to be cleaned up. We all have the highest of regard and respect for the Secret Service. Rogers questioned the choice of Joseph Clancy, a 27-year veteran of the Secret Service, as its director, citing an independent panel's recommendation that the new director be picked from outside the agency, whi
  
  Read more

• White House: no nexus to terrorism in Germanwings crash: CNN

  26-03-2015 16:49
  
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - There does not appear to be a "nexus to terrorism" connected to the downed Germanwings flight in France, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told CNN on Thursday. Separately, the FBI said it had offered help to French investigators who are studying the crash. "We stand ready to fulfill any requests for information or assistance by crash investigators, as we work with partner nations whose citizens were impacted by this tragedy," the FBI said in a statement. (Reporting by Je
  
  Read more

• Pope to visit White House during U.S. trip

  26-03-2015 15:47
  
  The White House says President Barack Obama will host Pope Francis in Washington when he visits the United States this fall.
  
  Read more

• Obama to host Pope Francis on September 23

  26-03-2015 15:37
  
  US President Barack Obama will host Pope Francis at the White House on September 23, accepting an invitation extended during talks at the Vatican last year. The White House said the president and the pope will continue a dialogue about poverty, the environment, immigration and promoting religious freedom.
  
  Read more

• Pope Francis to visit Obama at White House on Sept 23

  26-03-2015 15:32
  
  Pope Francis will visit U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House on September 23, the White House said on Thursday in a statement on the meeting, scheduled as part of the pontiff's first visit to the United States.
  
  Read more

• Pope Francis To Visit White House In September

  26-03-2015 15:32
  
  Pope Francis will meet US President Barack Obama in Washington on 23 September, the White House says. A statement from the White House said the talks would focus on the environment, "protecting religious minorities and promoting religious freedom around the world" as well as "integrating immigrants and refugees into our communities", among other issues. The Pope has also agreed to address a joint meeting of Congress on 24 September, the first time the head of the world's
  
  Read more

• Independence Blue Cross CEO Dan Hilferty joins President, Secretary Burwell at White House for meeting on new payment initiative

  26-03-2015 15:30
  
  PHILADELPHIA -- Yesterday, Independence Blue Cross (Independence) President and CEO Daniel J. Hilferty joined President Barack Obama, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell, ...
  
  Read more

• Obamas to host Pope Francis at White House Sept. 23

  26-03-2015 15:21
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says President Barack Obama will host Pope Francis in Washington when he visits the United States this fall.
  
  Read more

• Nouriel Roubini To Deliver Keynote Address At The Next Billion: Women & the Economy of the Future Conference

  26-03-2015 14:01
  
  VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The organizers of The Next Billion: Women & the Economy of the Future today announced that acclaimed economist Nouriel Roubini will deliver the keynote address at the May 7 conference here. Roubini served as the senior economist for international affairs on the White House Council of Economic Advisors and senior advisor to the undersecretary for international affairs at the U.S. Treasury Department. He is co-founder and chairman of Ro
  
  Read more

• Obama’s Digital Double Down: Will His Pivot Away From Old Media Pay Off?

  26-03-2015 14:00
  
  BuzzFeed, YouTube, InstaMeets — over the last few weeks, the politician who leapfrogged into the Oval Office seven years ago by capturing the mainstream media’s adoration has all but abandoned it in favor of dancing to the digital drum. Unburdened by having to win another election, President Barack Obama delivered a fiercely progressive State of the Union address in January, and instead of the traditional Steve Kroft “60 Minutes” follow-up interview or face time on the broadcast netw
  
  Read more

• White House & Federal Agencies Recognize Westchester Health Associates As Alternative Payment Innovator

  26-03-2015 13:20
  
  KATONAH, N.Y., Mar. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Westchester Health Associates was recognized at the White House yesterday during an event that launched the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network, hosted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Center For Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI).  Westchester Health Associates Chief Medical Officer Nancy Beran was invited to showcase Westchester Health Associates' great success in creating and implementing altern
  
  Read more

• ‘Distrust and Verify’: How Obama will sell an Iran deal to America, Congress and the world

  26-03-2015 10:15
  The White House is gearing up to unleash an unprecedented campaign to sell a nuclear deal with Iran, should President Obama secure it, in a bid to win over divided Americans, skeptical lawmakers and wary Middle Eastern allies.
  
  Read more

• US to give 'logistical, intelligence' support in Yemen

  26-03-2015 06:30
  
  The United States is coordinating closely with Saudi Arabia and regional allies in the military action against Huthi rebels in Yemen, including providing intelligence and logistical support, the White House said. "President Obama has authorized the provision of logistical and intelligence support to GCC-led military operations," National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said in a statement, referring to the Gulf Cooperation Council.
  
  Read more

• Saudi Arabia Launches Strikes On Yemen Rebels

  26-03-2015 06:19
  
  Saudi Arabia has led airstrikes against Iran-backed rebels who have been laying seige to a city where Yemen's president had taken refuge. Warplanes launched an attack on the Yemeni capital Sanaa's airport and its al Dulaimi military airbase shortly after the Saudi ambassador in Washington announced the action. The White House said it supported the operation and that Barack Obama had authorised US "logistical and intelligence support".
  
  Read more

• Saudi Arabia, allies launch air strikes in Yemen against Houthi fighters

  26-03-2015 06:12
  
  * Saudi Arabia launches military action in Yemen with air strikes * Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, Pakistan ready to join ground offensive - al-Arabiya * United States providing logistical and intelligence support-White House * Fears of disruption to oil supplies, wider sectarian war * Graphic: http://link.reuters.com/xaj44w By Sami Aboudi and Matt Spetalnick ADEN/WASHINGTON, March 26 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia and Gulf region allies launched military operations including air strikes in Yemen on Thursday,
  
  Read more

• Bergdahl charges revive questions over prisoner swap

  26-03-2015 05:49
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The tough military charges against Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl have revived the questions and controversy surrounding President Barack Obama's decision to swap five Taliban detainees to secure his release, as well as the wisdom of the White House fanfare that followed.
  
  Read more

• Saudi Arabia, allies launch air campaign in Yemen against Houthi fighters

  26-03-2015 04:07
  
  By Sami Aboudi and Matt Spetalnick ADEN/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia launched air strikes in Yemen on Thursday in coalition with Gulf region allies to counter Iran-backed forces besieging the southern city of Aden, where the U.S.-supported Yemeni president had taken refuge. Shortly after the kingdom’s ambassador in Washington announced the military action, unidentified warplanes launched an attack on the Yemeni capital Sanaa’s airport and its al Dulaimi military airbase, residents and
  
  Read more

• US to give 'logistical, intelligence' support in Yemen operation

  26-03-2015 03:42
  
  The United States is coordinating closely with Saudi Arabia and regional allies in the military action against Huthi rebels in Yemen, including providing intelligence and logistical support, the White House said. "President Obama has authorized the provision of logistical and intelligence support to GCC-led military operations," National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said in a statement, referring to the Gulf Cooperation Council.
  
  Read more

• Saudi Arabia launches strikes against Yemen rebels

  26-03-2015 03:24
  
  Saudi Arabia carried out air strikes against Huthi rebels in Yemen, launching an operation by a regional coalition to save the government of embattled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi as the country teetered on the brink of civil war. The aistrikes were announced by the Saudi ambassador to the United States as five Gulf states said they will answer Hadi's plea for intervention against the Shiite militia that has closed in on the city of Aden, were he took refuge after fleeing the capital Sa
  
  Read more

• U.S. authorizes logistical, intelligence support to Saudi operation in Yemen

  26-03-2015 03:07
  
  U.S. President Barack Obama has authorized logistical and intelligence help in support of a Saudi-led military operation in Yemen to beat back Houthi militia forces, the White House said late on Wednesday. "While U.S. forces are not taking direct military action in Yemen in support of this effort, we are establishing a Joint Planning Cell with Saudi Arabia to coordinate U.S. military and intelligence support," a White House statement said.
  
  Read more

• White House Continues to Back Yemen as Model For Successful Counterterrorism

  26-03-2015 01:11
  
  The White House still sees Yemen as the model for counterterrorism despite country's descend into chaos.
  
  Read more

Follow @NwslWhiteHouse on Twitter!