Hat Tip: Ethan Klapper. Update #1: A better picture is here. Update #2: Even CNN noticed that this is not a common sight. Update #3: We now have video.
Obama, Erdogan Pledge To Keep Pressure on Assad — Voice of America President Barack Obama said Thursday that he and Turkish Prime Minister will continue to find ways to end the bloodshed in Syria. “We are going to keep increasing pressure on the {Syrian] regime,” Obama said in a White House Rose Garden news conference after late morning talks with Erdogan. Erdogan, an outspoken critic of the Syrian government he once supported, said there is “a strong cooperation that is ongoing” between Turkey and the U.S. “Syria was number one on our agenda today,” he said, adding that he talked with Obama about the flood of Syrian refugees into Turkey and alleged chemical weapon use in the Syrian conflict. Read more …. More News On Today’s Meeting Between President Obama And Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdogan Live Blog: Obama, Erdogan Hold Press Conference — Wall Street Journal Turkish prime minister, Obama discuss Syria’s civil war in White House meeting — Washington Post/AP US and Turkey agree on a Syria without Assad — Euronews Turkey, US agree ‘al-Assad should go for a free Syria’ — Hurriyet Daily News Obama and Erdogan meet as Syrian war rages — AFP Obama-Erdogan press conference: Free Syria from Assad’s tyranny — YNet News
Idea That American Held By Venezuela Is A Spy ‘Ridiculous’: Obama — Reuters (Reuters) – The Venezuelan government’s suggestion that an American citizen it has detained is a spy is “ridiculous,” U.S. President Barack Obama said in a television interview recorded on Saturday during a visit to Costa Rica. Venezuela said late last month it had detained an American called Timothy Hallet Tracy, accusing him of financing opposition student demonstrations after April’s disputed presidential election and saying he had clearly been trained as an intelligence agent. Venezuela said Tracy, 35, from Michigan, had received money from a foreign non-profit organization and had redirected those funds toward student organizations, seeking to provoke “civil war”. Relatives and friends of Tracy have described him to U.S. media as a documentary maker who was in Venezuela to make a film about the presidential election. Read more …. My Comment: Venezuela responds.
Syria’s President Appeals To BRICS For Help — Al Jazeera In letter to forum of emerging economies, Bashar al-Assad says his country is subject to “acts of terrorism”. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has appealed to the leaders of a five-nation economic forum meeting in South Africa to help end his country’s two-year conflict. The embattled and increasingly isolated president said on Wednesday that his country is being subjected to “acts of terrorism backed by Arab, regional and Western nations”, a reference to the Western-backed opposition fighting his regime. Read more …. More News On Syrian President Assad Pleading To BRIC Members For Help In Ending the Civil War Syria’s Assad Seeks Help from China and Other Developing Nations — New York Times Syria’s Assad makes plea to African summit for help in ending crisis — FOX News/AP Assad urges BRICS to help ‘stop the violence’ in Syria — Global Post/AFP Assad urges Brics to help Syrian people — News24 Syrian President Urges BRICS Leaders to Help End Conflict — Bloomberg Businessweek
Park Geun-hye Sworn In As South Korea President — BBC Park Geun-hye promised a tough stance on national security and an era of economic revival as she was sworn in as South Korea’s president. Ms Park, who defeated liberal rival Moon Jae-in in December’s general election, took the oath of office in front of tens of thousands of people. North Korea’s recent nuclear test posed a “challenge to the survival” of the Korean people, she said. Trust-building was needed to tackle the “extremely serious” security situation. Read more …. More News On South Korea’s New President First female SKorean president faces NKorea crisis — AP South Korea swears in first female president Park Geun-Hye — AFP South Korea Swears in First Woman President — Voice of America Park Geun-hye becomes South Korea’s first female president — CNN South Korea’s first woman president takes office — Deutsche Welle South Korea’s new president demands North drop nuclear ambitions — Reuters Dictator’s Daughter Returns to South Korea President Mansion — Bloomberg Businessweek