Condoleezza Rice, Gov. Bentley and Others Welcome Japanese Business Leaders to Birmingham
Japanese business leaders met Monday at the historic Alabama Theater in Birmingham with delegates from a handful of southern states for a conference aimed at strengthening cultural ties and expanding commercial opportunities.
Governor Robert Bentley played host to the group at the South East U.S. – Japan Conference, which included Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Rice spoke about growing up in Birmingham, her time as Secretary of State during 9/11 and her support of the Trans Pacific Partnership, or TPP. She says the plan will only strengthen the U.S. trade relationship with Japan and she expects Congress to vote in favor of the agreement.
Rice also talked about an urgent need to deal with ISIS, noting that many members of the group hold European and American passports, making them a security threat here in the U.S. as well as abroad.
Governor Bentley boasted the who’s who of Japanese businesses call Alabama home, including Honda and Toyota. Since 1999, Japanese firms have invested more than $4.8 billion in the state, creating nearly 16,000 jobs.
Preliminary report says fuel switches were cut off before Air India Boeing 787 crash
Indian investigators determined the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was properly configured and lifted off normally. But three seconds after takeoff, the engines' fuel switches were cut off.
2 years ago, Amanda Anisimova put down her racket. Now she’s in the Wimbledon final
Anisimova was a teenage tennis prodigy. But by 2023, tournaments had become "unbearable" for her mental health, and she stepped away. Now, she is a win away from her first Grand Slam title.
Guantánamo plea deals for accused 9/11 plotters are canceled by federal appeals court
A federal appeals court has canceled plea deals with three men accused of orchestrating the 9/11 attacks, deepening the legal morass surrounding the long-stalled case.
Gen Z is afraid of sex — and for good reason
Gen Z is in a sex recession. Not because they're less horny, but because they're more afraid.
Nigeria says it won’t accept U.S. deportees: “We have enough problems of our own”
Nigeria's government is pushing back against U.S. efforts to send them migrants and foreign prisoners, with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar quoting Public Enemy to drive home his point.
Wet Leg are back with a slick new record
The English band's sophomore album, moisturizer, is out today. Co-founder Rhian Teasdale joins World Cafe to talk about it.
