IBT Staff Reporter

The following is a White House transcript of remarks by President Barack Obama on the situation in Japan delivered from the Rose Garden at the White House on Thursday March 17, 2011.

President Barack Obama made a visit to the Japanese embassy in Washington D.C. on Thursday, an unannounced arrival meant to show how heartbroken America was over the tragedy Japan faces in the wake of a massive earthquake and tsunami which have killed thousands of people and triggered a nuclear crisis.

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Consumer prices increased at their fastest pace in more than 1-1/2 years in February as fresh data showed growth was accelerating, but underlying inflation pressures remained generally contained.

Mosaid Technologies Inc filed a suit against several technology companies, including Intel Inc, Dell Inc and Research in Motion, for what it called patents violations of its Wi-Fi technology.

Japan is expected to step into the currency markets to curb the yen's surge to record highs against the dollar and has a better chance of success if it wins the blessing of the Group of Seven industrial nations.

Toshiba Corp said an assembly line in Japan making small liquid crystal displays would be closed for a month, and PC maker Lenovo Group Ltd voiced worries over parts, highlighting the threat to global supply chains from Japan's devastating earthquake.

A key Republican in the House of Representatives on Thursday said he would try for the third time to eliminate mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac within five years.

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U.S. officials in Japan will pay for the voluntary departure of any family members of diplomat at several locations in the country, amid growing concerns about radiation from a troubled nuclear plant in Fukushima, Japan.

Yale researchers have discovered prejudice is a trait humans have retained from their evolutionary predecessors.

The network will broadcast live footage of the wedding internationally and promises an authentic British take on all the events, according to a statement by the broadcaster via The Hollywood Reporter.

The publisher of adult magazine Penthouse has renewed plans to sell shares in an initial public offering, using the money to pay down debt.

Consumer prices increased at their fastest pace in more than 1-1/2 years in February as fresh data showed growth was accelerating, but underlying inflation pressures remained generally contained.

When it comes to privacy, the Internet has long been something of a Wild West but that that is starting to change, with regulators in Europe and the United States beginning to pull in the reins.

Mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson said on Thursday the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan would disrupt its supply chain and that it was looking at measures to compensate.

Stocks gained on Thursday, bouncing back after three days of declines as investors searched for bargains, but the near-term outlook is bearish as Japan's crisis keeps investors cautious.

Michael Schumacher, the seven-time Formula One world champion, expressed his belief that he can get back to fighting for race wins and podiums in the 2011 season with Mercedes, after a horrendous comeback season last year.

Security researchers have found that hackers can open doors remotely with a typical Android smartphone.

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FedEx Corp, the No. 2 package delivery company, sees improving revenue and profit this quarter and beyond, even as fuel prices mount, and shares of the economic bellwether rose more than 4 percent.

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Regulators probing alleged manipulation of Libor rates, the benchmark for interbank borrowing costs, are focusing on five lenders, a person familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Industrial conglomerate 3M Co said on Thursday all 2,700 employees in its majority-owned Japan joint venture are safe and its facilities suffered only minor damage, and it is ramping up production of safety-related products.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday that establishing a no-fly zone over Libya would require the bombing of air defenses, as the U.S. seeks broad action to protect civilians fighting Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

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New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits fell as expected last week, with the four-week moving average dropping to its lowest level in more than 2-1/2 years, pointing to a strengthening labor market.

U.S. stocks advanced on Thursday, bouncing back after three days of declines as investors searched for bargains, but the near-term outlook remains bearish.

Fear that Japan may soon intervene to weaken the yen after it hit a record high against the dollar left currency traders skittish on Thursday, and the market may start trimming yen longs as a G7 meeting nears.