Philippine president regrets “son of a bitch” remark

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday expressed regret over his "son of a bitch" remark while referring to President Barack Obama. In a statement read out by his spokesman, Duterte said his "strong comments" to certain questions by a reporter "elicited concern and distress, we also regret it came across as a personal attack on the U.S. president."

‘Son of a Bit*#h’ Says Philippines Prez, Obama Cancels Meeting

The White House cancelled the meeting of the US President Barack Obama with his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte after the latter used obscene language against him. "President Obama will not be holding a bilateral meeting with President Duterte of the Philippines this afternoon," said Ned Price spokesman of the National Security Council, White House.

Obama cancels meeting with Philippines’ Duterte

US President Barack Obama is greeted with an honor guard and red carpet as he arrives aboard Air Force One, ahead of the ASEAN Summit, at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos September 5, 2016. Photo: Reuters Duterte, a plain-spoken populist known for his colourful remarks and his campaign against illegal drugs in which thousands of people have died, used the term in front of reporters on Monday, a day ahead of the planned meeting in Laos, where Southeast Asian leaders are meeting for annual summits.

After cursing Obama, Duterte expresses regret

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is expressing regret after his obscenity-laden rant against President Barack Obama prompted the White House to cancel planned bilateral talks between the two leaders. Duterte, who cursed Obama as a "son of a bitch" Monday, said in a statement through his spokesman that he regretted "it came across as a personal attack on the US President."

Obama aims to avoid a – cycle of escalation’ in cyberattacks by countries

U.S. President Barack Obama said his country has had problems with cyber intrusions from Russia and other countries in the past, but aims to establish some norms of behavior rather than let the issue escalate as happened in arms races in the past. Obama's statement on the sidelines of the G20 summit in China, after he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, did not refer specifically to a recent hack of the Democratic National Committee of the Democratic Party that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is probing.

TPP looks DOA, but Obama keeps fighting for it. What does he need to do to get it passed in the U.S.?

Despite formidable opposition across the political spectrum, President Barack Obama is using his final months in office to fight for congressional approval of a 12-nation free trade pact called the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Obama plugged the trade agreement Monday in China, saying it is "indisputable that it would create a better deal for us than the status quo."

Obama to juggle issues during final trip to Asia

President Barack Obama faces thorny talks about the fight against the Islamic State group, climate change and human rights when he sets off this week across the Pacific for an eight-day valedictory tour through Asia. Coming five months from the end of Obama's term, the White House has planned the trip as a moment to highlight his administration's seven-year effort to expand U.S. influence Asia, including his push for massive free-trade and a landmark climate agreement with China.

Glenn Beck piles on ‘hurt 13-year-old boy’ Milo…

One of the strangest things that's come out of this election season has been talk radio host Glenn Beck attacking other conservatives for being bigoted bullies. This is strange because Beck himself was once seen as the craziest, nastiest conservative pundit on the block who became notorious for comparing Barack Obama to Hitler , and whom Fox says was nudged out the door after advertisers kept fleeing his show .

Obama becomes first sitting US president to visit Laos

Barack Obama became the first US president to visit Laos in office, touching down in Vientiane Monday for a summit of East and South East Asian leaders. Obama arrived in the capital, where the tropical rain did not prevent a large number of airport workers coming out to greet him and cheering -- before being hushed by an official.

Obama: ‘Gaps of trust’ preventing Syria cease-fire

Negotiations to reach a peace deal in Syria are being hampered by "gaps of trust" between the United States and Russia, President Obama said Monday. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, speaks with U.S. President Barack Obama in Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province, Monday, Sept.

No deal on Syria as Obama and Putin meet

US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met Monday as talks between their governments on ending violence in Syria ended without an agreement. The two leaders conversed on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit here for ninety minutes, a senior US official said, and worked to clarify gaps in negotiations over on the Syrian crisis.

The Morning Vertical, September 5, 2016

Vladimir Putin was hoping to have a meeting at the G20 with Western leaders about Ukraine that excluded Ukraine. As I discuss with RFE/RL senior editor Steve Gutterman on The Power Vertical Briefing , Putin was hoping to decide Ukraine's future with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande over Kyiv's head and behind Kyiv's back.