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Philippine Daily Inquirer November 22nd, 2015 07:06 AM KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia— US President Barack Obama voiced his determination to put Asia front and center in his foreign policy on Saturday, even as a two-nation visit to the region was eclipsed by jihadist attacks in France and Mali. America’s self-styled “Pacific President” has been frustrated to see a trip to Malaysia and the Philippines designed to highlight his stated refocus on Asia overshadowed once again. After years of talking about the need to deepen trade, security and diplomatic ties with the region, White House officials had hoped the trip would be a victory lap. Twelve countries recently agreed to Obama’s Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact, and the US pledged to boost security assistance to its ally the Philippines, which is in a confrontation with China over maritime territory. During the weeklong Asia swing, Obama has touted his years growing up in Southeast Asia, vowed to become the first president to visit Laos, and chatted with audience members in Bahasa Indonesia. But at a business forum on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Malaysia yesterday, Obama had to begin by talking about events half a world away in Mali, where 27 people died in an attack by gun-toting jihadists. In a speech, Obama condemned the “appalling” attack, adding that “this barbarity only stiffens our resolve to meet this challenge” of extremist violence. “On behalf of the American people, I want to extend our deepest condolences to Read More …

Philippine Daily Inquirer By: Tina G. Santos, November 22nd, 2015 07:02 AM Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has urged the faithful to participate in a prayer-march on Nov. 29, the day before the global climate change talks in Paris, to encourage global leaders to hear the moral imperative for a climate treaty. “I encourage everyone, especially our various communities in the Archdiocese of Manila to participate in the Metro Manila-wide Climate Solidarity Prayer March,” he said in a post on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News site. The gathering, led by Catholic communities, aims to show solidarity with over a million people who are expected to gather in over 2,000 cities around the world for a Global Climate March. The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM), according to Tagle, has enjoined the Catholic faithful to participate. The GCCM said that following Pope Francis’ call to action, Catholics are urged to join in the global movement to tell world leaders that “climate change is real, and we care” so actions must be taken immediately. The movement is expected to hand over to world leaders a petition with over 20 million signatures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Aside from Manila, 12 other places will hold marches, namely, Antipolo City, Baguio City, Baler, Cagayan de Oro City, Cebu City, Ibaan (Batangas), Imus City, Jaro (Iloilo), Las Piñas City, Mandaluyong City, San Fernando (Pampanga) and Tuguegarao City. In Manila, various groups will gather at 6 a.m. at three points: Central Bank Read More …

Associated Press November 21st, 2015 10:08 PM President Barack Obama waits for the media to leave after he spoke at a US-Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nov. 21. Obama is in Malaysia where he joins leaders from Southeast Asia to discuss trade and economic issues, and terrorism and disputes over the South China Sea. AP KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Ten Southeast Asian heads of state and nine world leaders, including President Barack Obama, are meeting in Malaysia to discuss trade and economic issues. Terrorism and disputes over the South China Sea are also on the agenda. (All times local.) 9:30 p.m. The United States and Southeast Asian nations have pressed their call for freedom of navigation and overflight in the disputed South China Sea, in a veiled rebuke to China. China has come under heavy criticism for recently transforming disputed reefs into islands in aggressive actions that have set off alarms in the region. Following an annual regional summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday, the US and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations also pressed for the peaceful resolution of the territorial conflicts “without resorting to the threat or use of force.” This is standard language that Washington and its allies have used against China’s increasingly assertive stance in the disputed waters. The joint US-Asean statement, however, did not mention China by name. 9:15 p.m. President Barack Obama has met with Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong of Laos on the sidelines of a regional summit in Read More …

INQUIRER.net By: Ivan Angelo L. de Lara, November 21st, 2015 08:04 PM Arizza Nocum is not just a delegate, but a speaker at the One Young World summit, tackling peace and security as a young woman who has witnessed terrorism. IVAN ANGELO L. DE LARA BANGKOK, Thailand—It was last year when 21-year-old Arizza Nocum learned about the One Young World summit, the largest forum of and by the youth in the world. Learning that being a delegate to the event would cost her an arm and a leg, she applied for a scholarship to attend it, and was luckily chosen by a foundation which would support her trip. On Saturday, she was not just a delegate, but a speaker in front of more than a thousand eager young people from all over the world, talking about peace and security, a cause which she has advanced for years as a young woman who has learned and witnessed terrorism. Library for peace Raised by a Muslim mother and a Christian father, Arizza said her parents have taught her that both religions could co-exist. And so, she has started a library open to young Muslims and Christians in order to bridge the gap between the two faiths and promote education. “My family started building libraries to provide a venue not only for young people of different religions and backgrounds to come together but also to provide access to educational materials that are sparse in these areas,” Nocum said during her speech. Her venture Read More …

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