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Wednesday, 24 December 2014
Obama Hits The Links With Malaysia's Prime Minister
President Barack Obama plays golf with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Wednesday at a Marine Corps Base during the first family's Hawaiin vacation. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption
itoggle caption Jacquelyn Martin/AP
President Barack Obama plays golf with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Wednesday at a Marine Corps Base during the first family's Hawaiin vacation.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
What do two world leaders do when they find themselves on the same Hawaiian island on Christmas Eve? If you're President Barack Obama and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, you round up a few aides and make common cause on the golf course.
Both vacationing this week in Oahu, Obama and Najib teed off Wednesday on a cloudy but balmy afternoon at a Marine Corps base, not far from where Obama is renting a home for his two-week stay. The two leaders seemed at ease together, smiling and laughing in casual clothes as they sized up their shots.
Although Obama plays golf nearly every day while on vacation, he typically restricts his foursome to a small circle of longtime friends and advisers. But in recent years, his annual trip to Hawaii has allowed Obama to mix in a little diplomacy. Last year, he hit the links with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, who owns a home in Hawaii.
Media access to Obama's golf games is typically restricted, but reporters and photographers were permitted to briefly watch the two leaders Wednesday about halfway through their game. Neither leader was having particularly good luck with their short game.
Up first to finish the hole, Najib came up short with his putt. Obama crouched low to line up his shot, but the ball tilted left and evaded the hole. After another failed attempt, he picked up the ball and called it quits. Najib, too, missed his next shot, but a gracious Obama gave him a pat on the shoulder and praised his golf game just the same.
"Merry Christmas," Obama said as he waved to the media.
Then he added a note of caution for reporters covering his Hawaiian getaway.
"Be careful about those fruity drinks," he said. "You never know - they might have a little kick to them."
Ever the statesmen, Obama and Najib also used their time on the course to discuss world affairs, including Malaysia's rotating leadership next year of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. "The two leaders took the opportunity to discuss the growing and warming relationship between the United States and Malaysia," the White House said in a statement.
Najib has served as Malaysia's prime minister since 2009. In April, Obama paid the first presidential visit to Malaysia in nearly half a century, when Lyndon B. Johnson visited the Southeast Asian nation. During that visit, Obama met with Najib and pressed his government to improve its human rights and political freedoms.
Obama is no stranger to Hawaii's picturesque golf courses, and this year's vacation has been par for the course. The president has played a round four out of the five days he's been on the island so far.
What To Expect In The 2016 Presidential Announcement Season
With Jeb Bush signaling he's likely to run for president in 2016, it's another sign that the presidential announcement season is underway. Here's a look at who has jumped in the race early and what to expect in the coming months.
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Copyright © 2014 NPR. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to NPR. This transcript is provided for personal, noncommercial use only, pursuant to our Terms of Use. Any other use requires NPR's prior permission. Visit our permissions page for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio.
Nevada Congressman's Loss Exposed Raw Nerve In Democratic Caucus
One of the most unexpected Democratic losers on Election Day was Rep. Steven Horsford from Nevada. His defeat is about politics, but also about race.
Copyright © 2014 NPR. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required.
Copyright © 2014 NPR. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to NPR. This transcript is provided for personal, noncommercial use only, pursuant to our Terms of Use. Any other use requires NPR's prior permission. Visit our permissions page for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio.
With New Congress, Will Obama Work Differently?
The GOP-led Congress President Obama will have to deal with for the last two years of his presidency is a stark contrast to the Democratic-led one he came in with. Does that mean Obama will change his approach to dealing with Capitol Hill?
Copyright © 2014 NPR. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required.
Copyright © 2014 NPR. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to NPR. This transcript is provided for personal, noncommercial use only, pursuant to our Terms of Use. Any other use requires NPR's prior permission. Visit our permissions page for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio.
The Faces of Health Care: Shannon K.
"I cannot begin to express the relief and decreased stress this has brought me. Know that you are doing good work and making a positive change in the world."
Shannon K. from Great Falls, Montana recently wrote the President to express her gratitude for the Affordable Care Act.
After losing her father this past December, she started taking care of her ailing mother while continuing to work more than 40 hours a week -- all while being a single mother herself, with her own health concerns.
“Prior to the Affordable Care Act, I would be forced to stay in my full-time position,” she writes. “Now I’ve been able to transition to part-time, take [care] of my family, and still get the health care I need at an affordable price.”
Need to get covered? Find a health plan that best fits your needs at HealthCare.gov.
Already covered? Commit to help someone you know get covered here.
And if you want to share your own story, contact us here.
Future-Hezbollah dialogue a basis to combat terrorism
BEIRUT: Hezbollah’s number two Sheikh Naeem Qassem on Wednesday said dialogue between his party and the Future Movement defuses sectarian tensions and constitutes an adequate basis to combat terrorism.
“Today there is a dialogue between Hezbollah and the Future Movement,” Qassem said during a graduation ceremony. “We have long called for dialogue because we know that dialogue generates appropriate solutions instead of bickering and incitement.”
The first round of talks between the two rival groups Tuesday, lasted for three-and-a-half hours, was hosted by Speaker Nabih Berri at his Ain al-Tineh residence amid a total media blackout.
A statement issued by Hezbollah and the Future Movement following their first meeting said the two parties agreed during an ice-breaking meeting to start a “serious and responsible” dialogue with the aim of easing political tensions in the country and paving the way for energizing state institutions.
“This dialogue is part of the social and political stability,” Qassem said. “[Dialogue] puts an end to sectarian incitement and provocation and diminishes tensions and constitutes an adequate basis to fight terrorism, which is threatening all of us.”
The deputy secretary general of Hezbollah said dialogue was an opportunity to “thoroughly” discuss all problematic issues with “frankness and transparency.” “We might find solutions for some [issues] but not be able to resolve others,” he noted, adding that the concept of dialogue in itself was a positive one.
Qassem slammed skeptics, saying dialogue with the Future Movement served the interests of the Lebanese people.
Speaking about dialogue, Berri told visiting lawmakers Wednesday that the first round of talks between Hezbollah and the Future Movement was “positive and encouraging.” Berri added that dialogue was the only means to bolster entente among the various components of Lebanon’s political sphere.
Hezbollah and the Future Movement said their dialogue “is not aimed at forming a new political alliance in the country or confronting any political group, hijacking the decision of another or pressuring parties to take certain stances on constitutional events.”Attending the talks on behalf of Hezbollah were Hussein Khalil, the political aide to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, Industry Minister Hussein Hajj Hasan and MP Hasan Fadlallah.
Representing the Future Movement were Nader Hariri, chief of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s staff, Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk and MP Samir Jisr.
Media reports said on Wednesday that the next dialogue session is scheduled for January 5.
West Wing Week: 12/26/14 or, "The Jazzy, Snazzy Holiday Special"
Welcome to this special, Holiday Season edition of West Wing Week. While we certainly hope you all are taking some time off to reflect on the meaning of the holidays and spend time with your loved ones, we also want to offer up some of our favorite White House holiday moments from this festive time of year.
Officer Fatally Shoots Armed Man Less Than Five Miles From Ferguson
A police officer fatally shot an armed man at a gas station in suburban St. Louis shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday night. In a statement, the St. Louis County Police department said the officer was doing a "routine check" at a Mobil station in Berkeley, Missouri, when he approached two men along the side of the building. According to the police, one of the men pointed a 9 mm handgun at the officer, leading the officer to fire several shots in self defense, fatally wounding one man while the other fled the scene. Police have released surveillance video of the moments leading up to the shooting.
As reported by The New York Times , the scene intensified in the hours after the incident took place:
After the shooting, a large crowd gathered at the station. Chief Belmar said there were three instances of explosives, likely fireworks, being set off, and bricks or rocks that were thrown at police. At least two officers were injured, and four people were arrested on charges of assaulting an officer. By sunrise, the crowd had dissipated.
According to the Times, investigators do not believe that the suspect fired his gun.
[H/T: The New York Times ]
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Hezbollah: U.S.-Cuba thaw proof of colonial demise
BEIRUT: Hezbollah views Washington’s historic reconciliation with Cuba after five decades of Cold War impasse as a popular victory against colonial hegemony, a party official said Wednesday.
“The achievements of Cuba, which was firm on its principles, is a lesson for all people of the world who are suffering from American hegemony,” Hezbollah official Ammar Moussawi said after a meeting with the Cuban ambassador to Lebanon.
Cuba’s success reveals how the will of the people is much stronger than a policy of sanctions, threats and intimidation practiced by hegemonic forces, Moussawi said.
Moussawi also congratulated Cuba for “thwarting a political, economic and military siege which was carried out as policy by Washington against Cuba for more than half a century.”
The firmness of Cuba’s positions and the steadfastness and patience of the Cuban people has pushed the US administration to recognize the inability of the siege to force Cuba to join American colonial policies, he said.
The statement was released after Washington and Cuba said last week they would launch measures to rebuild relations between the two countries, cut off since shortly after Fidel Castro took power in 1959, with first official talks scheduled for January.
Moussawi met Wednesday with the Cuban Ambassador to Lebanon Rene Prats.
According to a statement released by Hezbollah’s news office, “the visit was an occasion to congratulate the leadership and people of Cuba on the liberation of five Cuban youths who were detained in U.S. prisons for more than 15 years.”
In comments made after the meeting, Moussawi said that detention of the Cuban nationals by U.S. authorities unlawfully has always been a “black page” in the history of American politics.
The release, according to the Hezbollah official, would not have been possible had it not been for the fact that the issue continued to be essential to Cuba’s foreign policy interests.
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Christmas shoppers hit Beirut Souks in last-minute scramble
BEIRUT: Shoppers scurried across the Beirut Souks Wednesday afternoon in a last-ditch effort to buy Christmas gifts for their loved ones.
Amid the bustle of hurried shoppers shuffling for gifts, Joelle strutted down a narrow lining of shops with no less than 10 shopping bags dangling from her arms. “I never have the time to buy Christmas gifts; that is why I’m late this year,” she said, before rushing off to scan the next store-front window.
The entrance to Beirut Souks was busy with visitors shuffling between shops and window shopping for last-minute gifts. Dragging along an armful of bags, Dana, who also claimed that she didn’t have enough time to shop for gifts earlier, said that she was rummaging for a gift for her boyfriend.
Meanwhile, her boyfriend Moustafa, who was accompanying Dana on her last-minute escapade, was better prepared: “I’m not here to buy her a gift, I already bought her one. I’m here to buy myself a video game."
For those seeking a brief respite from the holiday shopping marathon, a Coke stand set up near the Antoine book store was distributing free customized cans to passersby.
In less alarm than the other visitors, one last-minute shopper, Rabih, tried to hit two birds with one stone as he attempted to cash in a gift-card he had received from his sister for Christmas in order to buy a gift for a friend.
When asked why he was shopping so late, he simply said “I’m not late, these are last minute touches.”
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BEIRUT: Health Minister Wael Abu Faour announced Wednesday that he would continue to crack down on what he deemed to be a "mafia" of food violators who benefit from lax monitoring of food-safety standards.
“Corruption in the food dossier is much greater than we imagined,” Abu Faour said during a news conference, vowing that the “battle against food mafias is at the top of our priorities.”
Abu Faour said that the campaign did not just target food safety exclusively, its goal was also to abolish “corruption” in the sector.
The health minister expressed fears that “greater corruption” was set to be revealed, given the lack of surveillance and monitoring of food safety.
The corruption, according to the minister, springs from the “greed and ignorance” of stake-holders who constitute a “mafia” of corruption.
This mafia, he argued, benefits from the lack of monitoring, possibly because they could market and profit from food that should not be viable for sale.
Abu pledged that the Health Ministry would carry on with its sweeping campaign against violators as he thanked the ministry’s employees for their hard work throughout the campaign.
The efforts of the ministry’s employees have restored the “value” of their work and the “prestige” of the public servant title, he said.
With regards to financial compensation and extra hours, the health minister said that the privileges would only be given to active and productive employees. Abu Faour also noted that he would dismiss any inactive member of the ministry at the start of the new year.
Commenting on an airport inspection that took place a day earlier, Abu Faour said that the ministry’s raid helped “close large sections of corruption in Lebanon.”
On Tuesday, Abu Faour ordered the closure of food and medicine storage warehouses at Beirut's airport, citing poor hygiene and expired items found during an inspection.
Abu Faour referred to the warehouse as an “execution chamber for the Lebanese citizen’s health.”
The health minister also vowed to pursue the matter with the judiciary through the prosecution of negligent officials.
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France in fresh push for Lebanese president: report
BEIRUT: France will resume its efforts to push for the election of a Lebanese president after the New Year with Saudi Arabia and Iran, the two regional heavyweights who command a great influence on Lebanese rival parties, according media reports.
Pan-Arab, Saudi-owned daily Asharq al-Awsat reported Wednesday that Jean-Francois Girault, chief of the French Foreign Ministry’s Middle East and North Africa Department, would visit Riyadh and Tehran, in addition to the Vatican, starting Jan. 5, in an attempt to help break the deadlock that has left Lebanon without a head of state for more than six months.
The paper quoted French Foreign Ministry sources as saying that “there is an opportunity to break the presidential impasse, with Tehran showing more flexibility in that regard as well as on the Syrian crisis, by accepting Russia’s proposal to push for a Syria dialogue.”
The paper said that the Vatican was unhappy with Lebanon’s Maronite leaders, whom it blamed for the vacancy in the country’s top post, which is reserved for Maronite Christians under Lebanon's National Pact.
The Lebanese president is the only Christian head of state in the Arab world and The Holy See was “considering” a new initiative aimed at ending the presidential stalemate, the paper said, quoting Arab diplomatic sources.
Girault visited Lebanon earlier this month on what was described as an exploratory mission to sound out Lebanese politicians and push for the election of a consensus president.
The top post is mainly contested by rivals Michel Aoun, head of the Free Patriotic Movement, and Samir Geagea, chief of the Lebanese Forces, who belong to opposite coalitions, March 8 and March 14 respectively.
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