President Obama and the first family travel to Russia; later they go to Italy and Ghana

July 20th, 2009 Obama news conference moved to 8 p.m. WednesdayWASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama's news conference on Wednesday will begin at 8 p.m.

July 12th, 2009 Obama says slavery's past should be taught in USWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says slavery is a terrible part of the United States' history and should be taught in a way that connects that past cruelty to current events, such as the genocide in Darfur. During an interview with CNN while traveling in Ghana, Obama compared the legacy of slavery to the history of the Holocaust.

July 12th, 2009 Obama home from whirlwind Ghana tripWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is back home after a whirlwind visit to Ghana. He arrived at Andrews Air Force Base early Sunday morning, soon after midnight.

July 11th, 2009 Obama praises Ghana for its democratic traditionsACCRA, Ghana — President Barack Obama says governments that respect the will of their people enjoy more prosperity, stability and success than those that don't. In a speech Saturday in Ghana, Obama congratulated the West African nation for its democratic traditions.

July 11th, 2009 Philippine president to visit Obama on July 30WASHINGTON — Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will meet with President Barack Obama at the White House on July 30. The White House announced the visit Saturday as Obama wrapped up a weeklong trip to Russia, Italy and Ghana.

July 11th, 2009 Obama has full day in GhanaACCRA, Ghana — President Barack Obama begins a packed day in Ghana with a morning meeting in Accra with Ghanaian President John Atta Mills. It's Obama's first visit as president to sub-Saharan Africa.

July 11th, 2009 Obama departs Ghana for trip home to United StatesACCRA, Ghana — President Barack Obama is headed home after a brief but whirlwind visit to Ghana. Before departing, Obama addressed Ghanaians at the airport in the capital of Accra.

July 10th, 2009 Obama set for emotional visits to Vatican, GhanaL'AQUILA, Italy — President Barack Obama is ending three days of often-wonkish policy discussions with fellow world leaders to embark on two of the most photogenic and emotional events of his young presidency: meeting the pope at the Vatican and becoming the first black American president to visit a mostly black African country. He was throwing in a televised news conference from Italy for good measure.

July 10th, 2009 Obama to conclude summit talks, meet with popeL'AQUILA, Italy — Global problems, Africa and the pope all figure in President Barack Obama's day. He's in Italy, where the three-day G-8 summit on climate change and the economy is wrapping up.

July 10th, 2009 Obama lands in Ghana on historic Africa tripACCRA, Ghana — President Barack Obama has landed in Ghana on his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office. He landed soon after 9 p.m.

July 8th, 2009 Ghana to deploy 10,000 police for Obama visitACCRA, Ghana — Authorities in Ghana say they will deploy more than 10,000 police in this West African nation to boost security for President Barack Obama's weekend visit. Assistant police commissioner Daniel Avorga told The Associated Press the security forces would be deployed in both the capital, Accra, and the town of Cape Coast, where Obama and his family will visit a former British fort once used to ship slaves to the Americas.

July 5th, 2009 Obama to begin overseas mission SundayWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is embarking on his next foreign mission. He leaves late Sunday on a weeklong trip that takes him to Russia, Italy and Ghana.

July 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama's first trip to Sub-Saharan Africa won't include a stop in his father's Kenyan homeland because the violence-plagued country's leaders "do not seem to be moving into a permanent reconciliation that would allow the country to move forward." Obama will make a stop in Ghana next week at the end of a trip to Russia and Italy. In an interview with allafrica.com, President Obama said he chose to visit Ghana because the country "has now undergone a couple of successful elections in which power was transferred peacefully." Fox News quoted Obama, as saying that he intends to highlight the idea that "countries that are governed well, that are stable, where leadership recognizes that they are accountable to the people, have a track record of producing results for the people." Obama went on to say "there is a practical, pragmatic consequence to political instability and corruption when it comes to whether people can feed their families and educate their children." The United States' first African-American president has only invited two African leaders to the White House so far: Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

July 2nd, 2009 Court 'moved ball' on racial hiring, Obama saysWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Thursday the Supreme Court was "moving the ball" on affirmative action in this week's decision favoring white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., but he added that the court had not ruled out the use of racial preferences in the future. In a White House interview with The Associated Press, the president also said, "I don't think that hiring on the basis of race ...

July 2nd, 2009 Obama talks jobs, gets early start on July 4WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has invited a group of business leaders to meet with him at the White House today. Some of their firms are large.