U.S. President Barack Obama says a new job training initiative will help thousands of people gain the necessary qualifications for manufacturing jobs. In his weekly address Saturday, Mr. Obama said the government is partnering with colleges and the private sector so 500,000 community college students can acquire approved credentials for manufacturing. Earlier this week at […]
Obama Promotes Job Training to Spur Hiring
11 Killed in Iraq Attacks
Two apparently coordinated car bombings have killed six people in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Police and medical officials say the blasts took place Saturday on a busy street near government buildings. They say the explosions wounded at least 55 people. Meanwhile, government officials say gunmen stormed the home of a school teacher in […]
British Queen Celebrates 85th Birthday
Britain is celebrating the birthday of Queen Elizabeth with traditional pomp and ceremony. The Queen and her husband rode in a carriage through central London Saturday for the annual military parade in her honor. Her grandson, newlywed Prince William and his bride, Catherine, were also on hand for the celebration. The prince rode on horseback […]
Yemeni Leader’s Health Described as ‘Bad’
There are new reports that the health problems of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh are so significant that he is not likely to return anytime soon from his hospital stay in Saudi Arabia. The Yemeni leader left his homeland a week ago after sustaining burns over 40 percent of his body in a bomb attack […]
US Secretary of State Promotes American Investment in Zambia
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is urging American companies to invest in Zambia, citing its 11 years of economic growth. Secretary Clinton’s comment came Saturday during a forum with U.S. and Zambian business leaders in the capital, Lusaka. She said the U.S. wants a relationship of partnership, not patronage; of sustainability, not quick fixes. […]
US Spy Chief Continues Pakistan Visit
CIA Director Leon Panetta began the second day of his unannounced visit to Pakistan on Saturday. Panetta, nominated to take over as defense secretary next month, held talks Friday with Pakistani Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Pakistani spy chief Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha. Panetta’s trip to Pakistan is his first since the […]
South Korea Welcomes Return of Looted Books
South Korea welcomed the return Saturday of nearly 300 royal books looted in the 19th century by invading French soldiers. South Koreans dressed in court costumes from the Joseon Dynasty paraded the 297 volumes to central Seoul’s Gyeonbok Palace. The richly illustrated books detail protocol for royal ceremonies during the Joseon Dynasty, which ruled the […]
Afghanistan-Pakistan Peace Commission Meets
Afghanistan and Pakistan on Saturday held a joint peace commission meeting to discuss ways to bring peace to the violence-wracked region. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Afghan President Hamid Karzai participated in the meeting in Islamabad where they pledged to strengthen ties between the two countries. Outgoing U.S. CIA chief Leon Panetta, who […]
Mandela Message Uplifts Mourners at Anti-Apartheid Veteran’s Funeral
Former South African president Nelson Mandela called anti-apartheid icon Albertina Sisulu “one of the greatest South Africans,” as mourners paid their final respects during funeral services in Soweto Saturday. Mr. Mandela’s message, read by his wife Graca Machel, triggered a rejoicing outburst of singing and dancing among the crowd of thousands at a huge football […]
Anti-Nuclear Demonstrations Held in Japan
Thousands of people staged anti-nuclear rallies in Tokyo and other Japanese cities Saturday, as radiation continued to leak from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi power plant, three months after a powerful earthquake and tsunami triggered one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters. Also Saturday, embattled Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan visited part of the tsunami-damaged region […]