Washington in 5 Minutes

NUCLEAR CONTROLS

Clinton welcomes new IAEA head

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday welcomed the appointment of Japan’s Yukiya Amano as the new head of the Vienna-based U.N. nuclear watchdog.

“I would like to offer my congratulations to Yukiya Amano of Japan on his appointment as the next director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” Mrs. Clinton said.

The agency clashed bitterly at times with the George W. Bush administration over weapons policy, in particular in the run-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Mrs. Clinton said the IAEA “represents the premier international institution for promoting the safe and secure application of nuclear energy in the pursuit of prosperity, and working jointly on global challenges such as nuclear terrorism and proliferation.”

Mrs. Clinton also thanked Egyptian Mohamed ElBaradei - who also had testy relations with the previous administration - for his 12-year tenure at the helm of the organization.

FOOD SAFETY

Milk products recalled over salmonella fear

Food distributors across the country announced this week they are recalling non-fat dry milk, cocoa and other products that are linked to a possible salmonella contamination at a Plainview, Minn., milk processor.

The Food and Drug Administration said late last month that Plainview Milk Products Cooperative was recalling instant non-fat dry milk, whey protein, fruit stabilizers and food thickening agents that it made over the past two years because they might be contaminated with salmonella.

Salmonella can cause serious infections, especially in children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Kwisnek said on Thursday “there are no illnesses that we are aware of” and the agency is tracking distribution of the products.

The FDA has said none of Plainview’s products was sold directly to the public. But the company sold its products to distributors and to manufacturers, who may have used them in their products, Ms. Kwisnek said.

GUANTANAMO

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