Obama heads for Asia with eyes on Middle East
Obama heads for Asia with eyes on Middle East
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — After years of red-eye flights across the Pacific and marathon summits, President Barack Obama had hoped to arrive in this Southeast Asian capital and tout progress in his seven-year charm offensive in Asia: His campaign to move away from the cycle of crisis in the Middle East and toward the rising region was finally yielding results.
Instead, the president was due to land Philippines Tuesday amid a fresh crisis — a reminder of the trouble that has dogged his “Asia rebalance” from its inception.
The terrorist attacks in Paris and talk of reprisals for the Islamic State quickly threatened to overshadow Obama’s good-news tour to the Philippines and Malaysia this week. While Obama was ready to talk up his freshly inked trade deal and military cooperation in Asia, the rest of the world was looking for leadership on the Islamic State’s relentless terror spree.
Palestinian official: Gaza border deal reached with Egypt
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — A senior Palestinian official says the Palestinian Authority has reached an agreement with Egypt to reopen the Gaza Strip’s main border crossing, bypassing the territory’s Hamas rulers.
Azzam al-Ahmad, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Monday the deal was recently reached in Cairo. He said it aims to open the Rafah crossing “to the maximum possible” to allow the movement of students, laborers, medical patients and even commercial goods.
Such a deal could bring great relief to Gaza, the borders of which are largely sealed by an Israeli and Egyptian blockade. It could also mark a setback for Hamas, which seized control of Gaza from Abbas in 2007.
However, Hamas is giving the plan a cool reception, raising questions about its viability.
There was no immediate Egyptian comment.
Bangkok half-marathon accidentally adds 4 miles to route
BANGKOK (AP) — An error by race organizers has made Bangkok home to the world’s longest half-marathon.
Instead of the typical 21-kilometer (13-mile) run through Thailand’s steamy capital, the Standard Chartered Bangkok Marathon on Sunday accidentally extended its annual half-marathon to nearly 28 kilometers (17 miles).
The bonus miles came as a surprise to runners, who unleashed a tirade of complaints on social media after the event.
The Jogging Association of Thailand, one of two organizers of the race, admitted to the error late Monday.
“The association apologizes for the mistake,” Songrakm Kraison, the association’s vice president, told The Associated Press. “It will not happen again in the future.”
The Athletic Association of Thailand, which oversees athletic events in the country, said it discussed the mistake with the organizers, who “admitted that a technical error happened during the half-marathon event,” said Surapong Ariyamongkol, the association’s secretary-general.
He said race officials responsible for pointing half-marathon runners in the right direction inadvertently directed them to make a U-turn at the wrong place.