The microphone was hot, and this time, President Barack Obama was happily aware that he was being recorded. During the opening of a speech he gave to news editors in Washington, Obama took a light jab at the media for reporting sideline discussions he had with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Seoul that were, unbeknownst to the pair, picked up by press microphones. “It is a pleasure to speak to all of you — and to have a microphone that I can see,” Obama said to laughter from the audience of news executives. “Feel free to transmit any of this to Vladimir if you see him.” READ MORE: Obama likes knowing when the microphone is on
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The microphone was hot, and this time, President Barack Obama was happily aware that he was being recorded.

During the opening of a speech he gave to news editors in Washington, Obama took a light jab at the media for reporting sideline discussions he had with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Seoul that were, unbeknownst to the pair, picked up by press microphones.

“It is a pleasure to speak to all of you — and to have a microphone that I can see,” Obama said to laughter from the audience of news executives.

“Feel free to transmit any of this to Vladimir if you see him.”

READ MORE: Obama likes knowing when the microphone is on

As Myanmar prepares to vote in only its third election in 50 years, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party faces a challenge that seems at odds with her global celebrity and long fight for democracy: brand recognition.

“I’m worried that some people think that this represents our party,” says Dr May Win Myint, a candidate in her National League for Democracy (NLD), pointing to the logo of the rival National Democratic Force (NDF), created by former NLD members.

Its dominant feature is the traditional bamboo hat worn by Myanmar’s farmers and widely associated with Suu Kyi loyalists.

READ MORE: In Myanmar, voters prepare for clash of symbols

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney had this assignment for Rick Santorum on Tuesday to make light of his chief rival’s frequent tussles with the news media: “Press secretary.” Romney, who sometimes struggles to connect with everyday voters, appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” for an interview that was at times serious and at times humorous. The strait-laced former Massachusetts governor was quickly sidetracked into commenting on Santorum’s recent vow to crack down on pornography if he were to be elected president. “Did you ever think we’d be talking about porn, with all the other things in this election?” Leno asked. “I didn’t know we were talking about porn,” Romney said to laughter from the audience. READ MORE: Romney has job for Santorum:  press secretary
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Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney had this assignment for Rick Santorum on Tuesday to make light of his chief rival’s frequent tussles with the news media: “Press secretary.”

Romney, who sometimes struggles to connect with everyday voters, appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” for an interview that was at times serious and at times humorous.

The strait-laced former Massachusetts governor was quickly sidetracked into commenting on Santorum’s recent vow to crack down on pornography if he were to be elected president.

“Did you ever think we’d be talking about porn, with all the other things in this election?” Leno asked.

“I didn’t know we were talking about porn,” Romney said to laughter from the audience.

READ MORE: Romney has job for Santorum:  press secretary

President Barack Obama voiced doubt on Tuesday on the prospects for progress with Moscow on missile defense until after the November U.S. election as he staunchly defended remarks caught on camera the day before with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Obama was overheard assuring Medvedev on Monday that he would have “more flexibility” to deal with contentious arms-control issues after the November 6 presidential ballot, drawing sharp criticism back home from his Republican foes. Speaking on the sidelines of a global nuclear security summit in Seoul, Obama sought to put the controversy to rest but made clear that his earlier comments reflected a political reality that “everybody understands.” “I don’t think it’s any surprise that you can’t start that a few months before presidential and congressional elections in the United States and at a time when they just completed elections in Russia,” Obama told reporters with Medvedev at his side. Read more: Obama seeks to defuse controversy on missile comments
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President Barack Obama voiced doubt on Tuesday on the prospects for progress with Moscow on missile defense until after the November U.S. election as he staunchly defended remarks caught on camera the day before with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Obama was overheard assuring Medvedev on Monday that he would have “more flexibility” to deal with contentious arms-control issues after the November 6 presidential ballot, drawing sharp criticism back home from his Republican foes.

Speaking on the sidelines of a global nuclear security summit in Seoul, Obama sought to put the controversy to rest but made clear that his earlier comments reflected a political reality that “everybody understands.”

“I don’t think it’s any surprise that you can’t start that a few months before presidential and congressional elections in the United States and at a time when they just completed elections in Russia,” Obama told reporters with Medvedev at his side.

Read more: Obama seeks to defuse controversy on missile comments

International monitors said Russia’s presidential election was clearly skewed to favour Vladimir Putin, a verdict that could spur protesters planning to take to the streets to challenge his right to rule. Putin, who secured almost 64 percent of votes on Sunday, portrayed his emphatic victory for a third term as president as a strong mandate to deal with the biggest anti-Kremlin protests since he rose to power in 2000. But hours before protests were planned to start in central Moscow, vote monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe echoed his opponents’ complaints that the election was slanted against them. Read more: Russian election criticism may spur protests
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International monitors said Russia’s presidential election was clearly skewed to favour Vladimir Putin, a verdict that could spur protesters planning to take to the streets to challenge his right to rule.

Putin, who secured almost 64 percent of votes on Sunday, portrayed his emphatic victory for a third term as president as a strong mandate to deal with the biggest anti-Kremlin protests since he rose to power in 2000.

But hours before protests were planned to start in central Moscow, vote monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe echoed his opponents’ complaints that the election was slanted against them.

Read more: Russian election criticism may spur protests

The White House announced plans on Monday to help “Arab Spring” countries swept by revolutions with more than $800 million in economic aid, while maintaining U.S. military aid to Egypt. In his annual budget message to Congress, President Barack Obama asked that military aid to Egypt be kept at the level of recent years — $1.3 billion — despite a crisis triggered by an Egyptian probe targeting American democracy activists. Obama proposed $51.6 billion in funding for the U.S. State Department and foreign aid overall, when $8.2 billion in assistance to war zones is included. The “core budget” for the category would increase by 1.6 percent, officials said. Most of the economic aid for the Arab Spring countries — $770 million — would go to establish a new “Middle East and North Africa Incentive Fund,” the president said in his budget plan. Read more: Obama proposes $800 million in aid for ‘Arab Spring’
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The White House announced plans on Monday to help “Arab Spring” countries swept by revolutions with more than $800 million in economic aid, while maintaining U.S. military aid to Egypt.

In his annual budget message to Congress, President Barack Obama asked that military aid to Egypt be kept at the level of recent years — $1.3 billion — despite a crisis triggered by an Egyptian probe targeting American democracy activists.

Obama proposed $51.6 billion in funding for the U.S. State Department and foreign aid overall, when $8.2 billion in assistance to war zones is included. The “core budget” for the category would increase by 1.6 percent, officials said.

Most of the economic aid for the Arab Spring countries — $770 million — would go to establish a new “Middle East and North Africa Incentive Fund,” the president said in his budget plan.

Read more: Obama proposes $800 million in aid for ‘Arab Spring’

Meet the GOP’s sugar daddy donor: 78-year-old Texas billionaire Harold Simmons has emerged as one of the biggest contributors to Republican presidential coffers — shelling out $8.5 million in 2011. 

Reuters Andy Sullivan gets to dirt on the tycoon’s generous donations.

Watch on YouTube | More from Reuters TV

Despite his strong showing in early voting contests in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney’s support among Republicans nationwide has dipped slightly during the past month, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday. Romney was backed by 29 percent of Republican voters in the telephone poll conducted February 2-6, down from 30 percent in a survey in early January. The former Massachusetts governor’s three rivals in the race to oppose President Barack Obama in November were in a close race for second, the poll showed. Read more: Romney’s lead dips despite wins
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Despite his strong showing in early voting contests in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney’s support among Republicans nationwide has dipped slightly during the past month, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday.

Romney was backed by 29 percent of Republican voters in the telephone poll conducted February 2-6, down from 30 percent in a survey in early January. The former Massachusetts governor’s three rivals in the race to oppose President Barack Obama in November were in a close race for second, the poll showed.

Read more: Romney’s lead dips despite wins

Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (l) high fives his son Josh in the campaign’s “war room” at his Florida primary night rally site in Tampa, Florida, January 31, 2012. [REUTERS/Brian Snyder] Full coverage: Election 2012 | Romney wins Florida primary
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Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (l) high fives his son Josh in the campaign’s “war room” at his Florida primary night rally site in Tampa, Florida, January 31, 2012. [REUTERS/Brian Snyder]

Full coverage: Election 2012 | Romney wins Florida primary

“Romney makes it rain snack chips.” -@BuzzFeedBen Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney tosses bags of chips to members of the press on his campaign plane in Jacksonville, Florida January 30, 2012. [REUTERS/Brian Snyder]
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“Romney makes it rain snack chips.” -@BuzzFeedBen

Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney tosses bags of chips to members of the press on his campaign plane in Jacksonville, Florida January 30, 2012. [REUTERS/Brian Snyder]