Obama Pitches Plan To Promote High-Tech Innovation

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says technological innovations can help create jobs and spur growth in clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

In his radio and Internet address, the president promoted a plan he outlined Friday in which the government would join with universities and corporations to re-ignite the manufacturing sector with an emphasis on cutting-edge research and new technologies.

Obama To Reveal Afghan Troop Decision Wednesday

President Barack Obama will announce the size of his drawdown of US troops from Afghanistan on Wednesday, mapping out an endgame for a 10-year war that has exacted a fearsome human and financial toll.

Two administration officials said Obama would reveal the fruit of his deliberations on a pullback due to begin next month, in a pivotal moment for US war strategy and his own political prospects ahead of his reelection bid.

"The Afghanistan speech will be on Wednesday," one official said, on condition of anonymity, as Obama moved closer to a final decision on the size of the withdrawals and the future US footprint on Afghan soil.

Obama Warns Gaddafi Of "No Let Up"

By Matt Falloon and Joseph Logan

LONDON/TRIPOLI

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama warned Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on Wednesday there would be 'no let-up' in pressure on him to go, following a second successive night of heavy NATO bombing in Tripoli.

Six loud explosions rocked Tripoli late on Tuesday within 10 minutes, following powerful strikes 24 hours earlier, including one on Gaddafi's complex in which Libyan officials said 19 died.