Obama holds meeting with the Dalai Lama

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WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Obama personally welcomed the Dalai Lama to the White House Thursday and lauded his goals for the Tibetan people, but he kept their get-together off-camera and low- key in a bid to avoid inflaming tensions with China.

At the risk of angering Beijing, Obama did tell the exiled spiritual leader that he backs the preservation of Tibet's culture and supports human rights for its people.

China early today protested the meeting, saying the United States had interfered in Chinese domestic affairs and demanding it take steps to improve ties.

The Dalai Lama is seen by Beijing as a separatist who seeks to overthrow Chinese rule of Tibet. There was no welcome fanfare on Thursday, nor a public appearance with the president. The White House released only a single official picture.

The Dalai Lama did meet with reporters outside the White House, playfully tossing a bit of snow at them and declaring himself "very happy" with the visit.

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FDA issues warnings for some asthma drugs

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government is taking steps to curb use of some long-acting asthma drugs taken by millions, issuing safety restrictions Thursday to lower an uncommon but potentially Clip on hair extensions life- threatening risk that asthma could worsen suddenly.

The Food and Drug Administration's warnings cover the drugs Advair, Symbicort, Foradil and Serevent. The FDA said they should be used only by asthmatics who can't control their lung disease with other medications -- and then only for the shortest time possible.

Why? These four drugs contain an ingredient that relaxes muscles around stressed airways, called a long-acting beta agonist or LABA. While they're very helpful at preventing day-to-day symptoms for some patients, the way LABA-containing drugs work also sometimes masks that inflammation is building in the airways, a condition that could lead to a serious asthma attack.

Nor should LABA-containing drugs ever be used without simultaneous use of a different asthma-controlling medication, such as an inhaled corticosteroid, the FDA said.

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Romney takes swipe at Obama, Democrats

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican Mitt Romney blistered President Obama for a squandered first year of policy failures and broken promises on Thursday, informally auditioning before a key part of the GOP base for the chance to challenge the Democrat in 2012.

"President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and their team have failed the American people, and that is why their majority will be out the door,"
embroidered patches Romney told a gathering of conservatives, a certain critical constituency in the upcoming Republican primary fight.

"When it comes to pinning blame, pin the tail on the donkeys," Romney quipped.

Conservatives attending the annual Conservative Political Action Conference went wild when newly elected Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., made a surprise appearance to introduce Romney. Romney is seen by observers as the most formidable Republican in 2012, given that he's run before and the GOP has a history of nominating the loser of the last nomination fight.

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