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President Obama will again pivot toward Asia next month with a week-long trip to Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines, the White House announced Friday. Obama will be away Oct. 6-12 for a trip that the White House describes as “part of his ongoing commitment to increase U.S. political, economic and security engagement with the Asia Pacific.” He’ll start the trip in Bali, to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders meeting. He missed last year’s summit in Russia, which came weeks before the presidential election. Depending on the status of Syria talks, the summit could include a...

President Barack Obama will be traveling to Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines, at the beginning of next, the White House announced today. "The President will travel to Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines from October 6 – 12 as part of his ongoing commitment to increase U.S. political, economic and security engagement with the Asia Pacific," reads the press secretary's announcement.

Before leaving for home after the Group of 20 summit, President Barack Obama sat down with Russian civil society activists on Friday evening to assure them that he would keep pressing Moscow to respect human rights, some of the activists said. But Obama also explained to them why this wasn't always possible. The meeting was held several hours after two dozen of gay activists rallied in St. Petersburg to protest Russia's new law banning gay propaganda, which prompted some activists to call for the boycott of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. Igor Kochetkov, the head of LGBT Network, who...

Reports: G-20 seating chart altered By: Tal Kopan September 5, 2013 07:51 AM EDT Those eager for a potentially awkward photo op of President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin sitting next to each other at the G-20 summit might be disappointed: The seating chart is putting more distance between the two leaders than previously expected. Seating at the summit is alphabetical, but the planners for the event have reportedly changed which alphabet they are using to make the chart, Voice of America and The Guardian reported. In the Cyrillic alphabet, which is used in Russian, Russia and the...

U.S. President Barack Obama reacts as the sun comes out as he works alongside Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron and students on a school project about the G8 summit during a visit to the Enniskillen Integrated Primary School in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, Monday, June 17, 2013. U.S. President Barack Obama (L) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the G8 Summit at Lough Erne in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland June 17, 2013. Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (2nd R) arrives for a group photo with (L-R) European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel,...

President Obama's visit to Israel reaffirms the deep and multifaceted relations between Israel and the United States. These relations are rooted in shared values and common interest. The State and people of Israel know America will always have Israel's back when it comes to Israel's security. Together, our two nations are working to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear military capabilities and denouncing those who seek to twist history and the 3,000 year old connection of the Jewish people to the land of Israel. America's support and cooperation on joint defense ventures give Israel the ability to defend itself, by itself....

One of the limousines in Barack Obama's fleet has broken after reports that it was mistakenly filled with the wrong fuel at the start of the US president's visit to Israel. Another limo is on its way from Jordan, according to Ma'an News agency, citing Israel's Channel 10, to replace one that was filled with diesel instead of gasolene.

When questioned by a reporter aboard Air Force One about the optics of President Obama vacationing in Palm Beach this weekend, White House principal deputy press secretary Josh Earnest said Obama deserves some time off. "The president is going to enjoy the Presidents' Day weekend with some friends," Earnest said

Taxpayers will be sending President Obama on his second vacation of the year when he departs Friday aboard Air Force One for a Presidents’ Day Weekend excursion to West Palm Beach, Florida. Without apparent irony, Obama has decided to jet to a well-trod stomping ground of the rich just days after presenting himself to the nation in his State of the Union speech as the guardian of the middle class. Obama presumably will head directly to some fabulous golf course, having not been able to play in recent weeks because of the cold weather in Washington. While Obama may pay...

Michelle, Mom, Kids Africa Trip Costing Taxpayers $171,000 At Least for Air Travel Alone Tuesday, June 21, 2011 By James Zilenziger (CNSNews.com) - The White House isn’t saying how much of a tab the taxpayers will need to pick up for the week-long trip that First Lady Michelle Obama, her two children, her mother, a niece and a nephew are taking to South Africa and Botswana. But according to Congressional Research Service estimates, the flights alone will cost taxpayers more than $171,000--almost as much as the $174,000 annual salaries paid to rank-and-file members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The...

LONDON – It was all going so well. But when the time came for President Obama to deliver his toast to Queen Elizabeth Tuesday night, the meticulously planned state dinner at Buckingham Palace turned, well, awkward. As Obama began wrapping up his remarks, he put down his notecards and picked up his glass. “Ladies and gentlemen, please stand with me and raise your glasses as I propose a toast,” the president said, as the guests stood up. “To her majesty the Queen.” At this point, the band queued up “God Save the Queen.” But Obama wasn’t quite finished yet. So...

President Obama’s lack of experience with royalty was on full display today in England as he mistakenly began a toast to the Queen of England at the wrong time, resulting in “God Save the Queen” blaring over his words and no one getting to drink what was in their cups. Awkward.“And now I propose a toast to the Queen,” President Obama began in London today, but only got as far as “To the vitality of the special relationship” before “God Save the Queen” cut him off. He kept reading the toast, however, and finally raised his glass to her. No...

This is how President Obama signed the guestbook at Westminster Abbey earlier today, where he got a tour from the Very Reverend Dr. John Hall and laid a wreath on the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. It is a great privilege to commemorate our common heritage, and common sacrifice. Barack Obama 24 May 2008 It was really nice until he got the date wrong by three years. Granted, 2008 was a great year for him, and we might try to live it for as long as possible, too, if we were him. Also, though, he may have had a stroke.

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Never home? President Obama has now spent more days out of the country than any other U.S. chief executive during his first two years in office: Fifteen trips to 26 countries, more than 55 travel days. Some hefty gas money, too: Air Force One costs about $181,757 per hour to operate, according to military sources.

It turns out being president is a lot harder than Barack Obama thought it was. After the biggest electoral defeat in 80 years, Obama packed up Air Force One and headed out for a political shellacking abroad. You'd be hard pressed to locate an accurate picture of world opinion regarding Obama's trip from our adoring media, so here are the highlights as reported by the foreign press. Nothing is more emblematic of the Obama Administration's tactful use of "smart power" than the front page of the Drudge Report the other day after Obama delivered his Jakarta speech. As reported by...

President Obama is getting defensive about his attempts to play offense for the U.S. economy. The President, who is winding up a tour of Asia this weekend, told an economic conference in Yokohama, Japan Saturday that his mission is to bring jobs to America. "For America, this is a job strategy," Obama told the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference. The President added that he makes "no apologies" for trying to pump up employment in the U.S. The unemployment rate in the U.S. is currently 9.6%. In his speech, Obama promoted the idea that economic competition between the U.S. and Asian countries...

India is preparing for Barack Obama's first visit to the country by removing coconuts from palm trees in Mumbai to protect the US president. Mr Obama will visit India, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan and China on the 10-day tour. Photo: WHITE HOUSE Mr Obama will arrive in India on Saturday for the first leg of an Asian tour. But as well as the usual security measures that come with welcoming a a visiting dignitary, Indian authorities have decided to go one step further, by removing all natural threats to the president as well. Mani Bhavan, where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during...

New Delhi: The White House will, of course, stay in Washington but the heart of the famous building will move to India when President Barack Obama lands in Mumbai on Saturday. Communications set-up, nuclear button, a fleet of limousines and majority of the White House staff will be in India accompanying the President on this three-day visit that will cover Mumbai and Delhi. He will also be protected by a fleet of 34 warships, including an aircraft carrier, which will patrol the sea lanes off the Mumbai coast during his two-day stay there beginning Saturday. The measure has been taken...