Clinton: Obama made right decision on Duterte

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Wednesday said U.S. President Barack Obama made the right decision to cancel his meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

"With respect to the Philippines, President Obama made exactly the right choice," Clinton told reporters on her campaign plane. "When you meet with anyone, ally or adversary, you come in with a list of issues that are important to be raised. You determine what they are."

Expletive-laden comments made by Duterte regarding the U.S. and Obama before he left for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit on Monday have resulted in Washington calling off a bilateral meeting between the two nations.

Duterte threatened to curse at Obama if the American leader voices concern over the Philippines' brutal campaign against drugs and crime. Duterte later sought to defuse the row, voicing regret.

The two had been scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Laos.


 Clinton said Obama wanted to raise the issue of extra-judicial killings in the Philippines under the Duterte administration's ongoing war on illegal drugs.

"On the other side, they determine what they want to raise. And clearly the president was going to raise concerns that are global about what is going on in the Philippines with extrajudicial killings of alleged drug dealers, that is now somewhere up near 2,000 killings," she said.

"When the president of the Philippines insulted our president, it was appropriate and a very low key way to say: sorry, no meeting. And since then there's been an apology and an expression of regret, which is appropriate," Clinton added.

'Words matter'

Obama's planned meeting with his Philippine counterpart was canceled because the tone of Duterte's rhetoric raised questions about the chances for a productive talks, the U.S. State Department also said on Tuesday.

"Words matter, and we want to see an atmosphere that is cordial and open to strong cooperation," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

Clinton's Republican rival, Donald Trump, on the other hand took to Twitter to take potshots at Obama over Duterte's expletive and China's treatment of the current U.S. president.

"China wouldn't provide a red carpet stairway from Air Force One and then Philippines President calls Obama 'the son of a whore.' Terrible!' Trump said.

    China wouldn't provide a red carpet stairway from Air Force One and then Philippines President calls Obama "the son of a whore." Terrible!

 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 6, 2016

Duterte's regret

Duterte has issued a statement saying he hopes to resolve his spat with Washington, a long-time ally of the Philippines.

"While the immediate cause was my strong comments to certain press questions that elicited concern and distress, we also regret that it came across as a personal on the US President," he said in a statement read by Presidential spokesperson Ernest Abella.

"Our primary intention is to chart an independent foreign policy while promoting closer ties with all nations, especially the US with which we have a had long standing partnership," he said. "We look forward to ironing out differences arising out of national priorities and perceptions, and working in mutually responsible ways for both countries."

Duterte clarified that he gave his consent to the cancellation of what would have been his first meeting with the US leader.

"The meeting between the United States and the Philippines has been mutually agreed upon to be moved to a later date," he said.

But Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza admitted that the meeting has yet to be rescheduled.

"It's being moved to a later date, so let's wait when that date will be announced," he said.

The perceived strain on the US-Philippine relations comes as Manila seeks to reinforce a tribunal ruling that invalidated the historic claims of China to the resource-rich South China Sea. - with reports from Reuters

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Obama to create world's largest marine reserve

US President Barack Obama will travel to his native Hawaii Wednesday to establish the world's largest marine reserve and burnish his environmental legacy.

The outgoing president will announce a massive expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument across a swath of the Pacific.

The protected area, which is already bigger than Greece or North Korea, will almost quadruple in size to 582,578 square miles (1.5 million square kilometers) the White House said.

That is more than twice the size of France.

Obama will also travel to Midway Atoll, inside the protected area, to underscore the decision.

There he will make the case that climate change "makes protecting our public lands and waters more important than ever," according to the White House.

Papahanaumokuakea is home to a bewildering array of more than 7,000 marine species, including black coral, which can live more than 4,500 years.

The marine protected area is considered federal land where commercial fishing is prohibited.

Obama has made conservation and climate change a central pillar of his presidency -- in the face of Republican opposition in Congress -- forging international climate accords and promoting national parks.

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Canada's Trudeau meets Obama for first time, insists will withdraw jets

MANILA - New Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held his first formal meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday as the two men tried to repair relations that have become frayed over the last decade.

"I'm confident that he's going to be able to provide a great boost of energy and reform to the Canadian political landscape," Obama told reporters after the two talked on the margins of an Asia-Pacific summit.

In last month's election, Trudeau's Liberals defeated Stephen Harper, who had irritated the Obama administration by insisting it approve the Keystone XL pipeline that would have taken tar sands oil from Canada to U.S. refineries.

Obama - whose ties with Harper were usually frosty - said he hoped Trudeau would be able to visit him in the White House early next year for more substantial talks.

"It's going to be a wonderful time of strengthening ties between our two countries," said Trudeau, who is much closer politically to Obama than the right-of-center Harper.

The two leaders, who smiled and looked relaxed during their appearance, said they agreed on the need to do more to protect the environment and also on the importance of the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State.

Trudeau though vowed to stick to a promise to withdraw six Canadian jets that have been attacking the militants in Iraq and Syria.

Diplomats say the United States and Britain have expressed concern about the proposed withdrawal, saying it could undermine the coalition.

Trudeau added he had reassured the president that Canada was committed to the U.S.-led campaign against the militants. Canada, he says, could contribute more effectively by training Kurdish troops in northern Iraq.

Neither man mentioned Harper, who during his nine years in power said as little as he could about the environment and pulled Canada out of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

This did little to endear him to Obama, who vetoed Keystone XL earlier this month, saying it would send the wrong signal at a time when the world needed to do more to combat greenhouse gas emissions.

Trudeau said that over the last decade many people felt Canada had not being doing enough on the environmental front.

"One of the first tasks that I have on energy and climate issues is to reassure Canadians and others that we are serious about meeting reduction targets (and) being positive actors on the world stage in the fight against climate change," he said.

(Reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by David Ljunggren and Raju Gopalakrishnan)

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Obama hails Pinay scientist's saltwater lamp

MANILA – US President Barack Obama hailed a Filipina scientist's invention, a lamp that runs on saltwater, as the US leader made a push for the use of renewable energy ahead of a crucial meeting in Paris that will weigh heavily on the future of the earth.

During a light moment at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit, Obama admired De La Salle University faculty member Aisa Mijeno for making the aspirations of ordinary people as her inspiration in coming up with an invention that provides a very basic necessity that is also environmentally sustainable.

''One of the most important things you said, in my mind at least, is that this starts from the bottom,'' Obama told Mjieno.

''If we're working at the grassroots level, seeing what folks need and figuring out efficient way how to deliver an improved quality of life while being environmentally sustainable, that's an enormous opportunity. But it starts at looking at the aspiration and hopes of ordinary people."

Mijeno's multi-awarded SALt (Sustainable Alternative Lighting) lamp runs on saltwater and can last for up to 8 hours before the saline solution inside it requires replacement.

''The main science behind the lamp is it’s a chemical reaction. You try to convert chemical reaction into energy. There's something inside the lamp and you have to change it, but you only have to change every 6 months if you are using the lamp 8 hours a day,'' Mijeno explained to Obama.

Mijeno said the idea of the SALt lamp was conceived when she visited mountain communities in Kalinga, where people had to walk for hours a day just to get kerosene to power their lamps.

Obama, in turn, said Mijeno is a ''perfect example of what we're seeing in a lot of countries – young entrepreneurs coming up with leapfrog technologies."

''They did not have to make some of the massive infra investments. This is part of the reason why the old idea of development and environmental sustainability is outdated. It does raise the issue though of what we can do support young entrepreneurs like Aisa,'' he said.

Obama said governments should provide tax incentives for those producing renewable and alternative sources of energy and help and provide support for research and development.

Mijeno said the SALt lamp project is now on its critical phase as she and her team attempt to mass produce the lamp.

''What we need is support from the private sector and the government to mentor us how we can scale up the project, [give] support in terms of funding,'' she said.

CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT

In his speech during the summit, Obama said renewable technology is the way to go with traditional sources of energy threatening the earth's climate.

Obama will attend a climate change conference in Paris, France by the end of the month where world leaders will craft a legally binding agreement on lowering carbon emissions.

Obama said the climate change conference would provide ''opportunities'' for businesses because the agreement will usher in ''new jobs and opportunities and an investment in technology that frankly needs a boost right now.''

''The urgent and growing threat of climate change is a challenge but also, I would argue, an opportunity,'' he said.

''An ambitious agreement in Paris will prompt investors to invest in clean energy technologies because they will understand the world is committed to a low-carbon future.''

The Philippines has already submitted its climate change mitigation and adaptation plan to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Obama said more than 160 countries, representing 90 percent of global emissions, have put forward climate targets for post-2020.

The Philippines had earlier said it would cut the archipelago nation's carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030 but only if it receives support from developed nations.

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Obama leads chorus of world outrage over Paris attacks

WASHINGTON, United States - US President Barack Obama led a chorus of global condemnation of attacks in Paris that killed more than 100 people Friday, as nations pledged solidarity with France and vowed to help hunt down the perpetrators.

The shootings, explosions and a hostage-taking at a popular concert venue in the French capital reverberated around the world, especially in countries such as the United States, Britain and Spain, previous scenes of devastating acts of terror.

"It's an attack not just on the people of France. But this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values we share," Obama said in an address at the White House.

"We're going to do whatever it takes to work with the French people and with nations around the world to bring these terrorists to justice and to go after any terrorist networks that go after our people."

In London, where 52 people were killed and hundreds wounded in a series of coordinated suicide bombings on the city's public transport system in 2005, British Prime Minister David Cameron said: "We will do whatever we can to help."

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called his French counterpart to express solidarity and his Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo raised the specter of a "jihadist" attack.

One witness said an attacker at the Bataclan music venue yelled "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) and fired into the crowd at the concert given by US rock band Eagles Of Death Metal.

"All of this confirms that we are facing an unprecedented challenge, a hugely cruel challenge," Garcia Margallo told public television TVE in Spain, scene of the 2004 Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered his condolences.

"As a country that knows very well the manner and consequences of terrorism, we understand perfectly the suffering that France is experiencing now," he said. Last month, twin bombings on a peace rally in Ankara killed 102 people.

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini tweeted that she was "in the process of following with pain and dread the events in Paris."

"Europe is with France and the French people," she said.

- 'Appalled and outraged' -

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country stood "shoulder-to-shoulder" with French President Francois Hollande and the people of France in what he called "our common battle against terrorism."

Since the start of October, Israel has been faced with a wave of Palestinian knife, gun and car-ramming attacks.

In Asia, where people woke up to the news from Paris, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Facebook that he was "shocked."

"It is not the first time innocent civilians have been massacred like this in this troubled world. But each time it happens we again feel appalled and outraged beyond words, for an attack like this is in fact an attack on our shared humanity," Lee said.

In Washington, Obama pledged to work with France to bring those responsible to justice.

"We are reminded in this time of tragedy that the bonds of liberte, egalite, fraternite are not just the values French people share, but we share," he said.

"Those go far beyond any act of terrorism or the hateful vision of those who perpetrated the crimes this evening."

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Obama heckled at White House gay pride event

WASHINGTON -- US President Barack Obama would normally expect a warm welcome from gay rights activists, particularly in his own home at the White House, but that was not the case Wednesday.

Hosting a reception to observe LGBT Pride Month in the East Room, Obama was repeatedly interrupted by persistent shouts from a member of the audience, prompting a few awkward minutes before the president instructed the individual be ejected.

"Listen, you are in my house," said a finger-waging Obama, as the person could be heard to shout about deportations in English and Spanish.

"You know what, it is not respectful" Obama added. "You're not going to get a good response from me by interrupting me like this."

When it became clear the protester would not stop, Obama said, "Shame on you," adding, "You shouldn't be doing this," before asking security to "escort this person out."

The crowd chanted "O-Ba-Ma!" to drown out the shouts.

A visibly angry Obama joked with the crowd: "As a general rule I am just fine with a few hecklers. But not when I'm up in the house."

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Obama tribute to 'true giant of history' Lee Kuan Yew

WASHINGTON -- US President Barack Obama hailed Lee Kuan Yew on Sunday as a visionary and ''true giant of history'' after Singapore's first prime minister died aged 91.

Lee, who dominated Singapore politics for more than half a century, was an authoritarian leader who transformed the city-state from a sleepy British imperial outpost into a global trading and financial center.

"A visionary who led his country from Singapore’s independence in 1965 to build one of the most prosperous countries in the world today, he was a devoted public servant and a remarkable leader," Obama said in a glowing tribute.

He added in a statement: "I personally appreciated his wisdom, including our discussions during my trip to Singapore in 2009, which were hugely important in helping me formulate our policy of rebalancing to the Asia Pacific.

"He was a true giant of history who will be remembered for generations to come as the father of modern Singapore and as one of the great strategists of Asian affairs."

Former US presidents George W. Bush and his father George H. W. also hailed Lee's pivotal role in the history of Singapore.

"The father of today's Singapore transformed his country and helped usher the ASEAN region into the modern era," George W. Bush said in a statement.

"The nation he leaves behind is an influential force for stability and prosperity and a friend to the United States."

In a separate statement, George H. W. Bush said: "I will always be proud that Lee Kuan Yew was my friend."

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Obama condemns 'outrageous' murders of Muslim students

WASHINGTON, United States - US President Barack Obama on Friday condemned the "brutal and outrageous" execution-style murders of three Muslim students in North Carolina at the hands of a neighbor who espoused anti-religious views.

"No one in the United States of America should ever be targeted because of who they are, what they look like, or how they worship," Obama said in a statement, three days after the trio were shot dead.

Police say they are investigating what may have been a parking dispute gone wrong, but have not ruled out a hate-based crime. Relatives of the victims however say they are convinced they were targeted because of their faith.

The president has faced criticism for not responding quickly enough to the deaths of the three students -- Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23; his new wife Yusor Mohammad, 21; and her 19-year-old sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened an inquiry into the fatal shootings, allegedly carried out by Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, who railed against all religions on his Facebook page.

The three were buried on Thursday before a gathering of thousands.

"Michelle and I offer our condolences to the victims' loved ones. As we saw with the overwhelming presence at the funeral of these young Americans, we are all one American family," Obama said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a devout Muslim, had been one of those who criticized Obama for his silence in the days following the attacks.

"Three Muslims have been murdered in North Carolina and President Obama, (Secretary of State John) Kerry and (Vice President Joe) Biden have not made any statements about it," Erdogan said during a visit to Mexico.

"As politicians, we are responsible for everything that happens in our countries and we have to show our positions."

The State Department rejected Erdogan's criticism.

Jordan said it was closely watching the investigation, after it emerged that the slain sisters had dual citizenship in the United States and Jordan.

Alia Bouran, Jordan's ambassador to the United States, met the families of the murdered students on Friday, an embassy statement said, calling their deaths a "horrific tragedy and immense loss."

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Obama wants US to declare war on Islamic State

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama sent Congress his text on Wednesday for an authorization to use military force in the campaign against Islamic State, limiting operations against the militants to three years and barring use of U.S. troops in "enduring offensive ground combat."

According to the text, Obama also wants to repeal the 2002 measure that authorized the Iraq war. But his proposal leaves in place a 2001 authorization, passed shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, for a campaign against al Qaeda and its affiliates.

Obama said he remained committed to working with Congress to "refine, and ultimately repeal" the 2001 AUMF. He said enacting a measure specific to the campaign against Islamic State fighters could serve as a model for revamping the 2001 measure.

"I have directed a comprehensive and sustained strategy to degrade and defeat ISIL," Obama wrote in a letter accompanying the draft, using an acronym for the Islamist militant group.

"Local forces, rather than U.S. military forces, should be deployed to conduct such operations," he said.

The White House said Obama would make a statement on his request at 3:30 PM EST (2030 GMT).

Obama's proposal must be approved by both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, where it is expected to provoke strong debate between Democrats, who are generally wary of another Middle East war, and Republicans, many of whom have been pushing for stronger measures against the militant fighters.

Obama has defended his authority to lead an international coalition against Islamic State since Aug. 8 when U.S. fighter jets began attacking the jihadists in Iraq. But he has faced criticism for failing to seek the backing of Congress, where some accuse him of breaching his constitutional authority.

Facing pressure to let lawmakers weigh in on an issue as important as the deployment of troops and chastened by elections that handed power in Congress to Republicans, he said in November he would request formal authorization for the use of military force (AUMF).

Secretary of State John Kerry, who spent nearly three decades in the U.S. Senate, said in a statement it was important that the administration work with Congress to secure its passage. The coalition fighting Islamic State will be stronger if it is passed, he said.

"The world needs to hear that the United States speaks with one voice in the fight against ISIL," he said. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

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Obama reveals nuclear breakthrough on landmark India trip

NEW DELHI - In a glow of bonhomie, U.S. President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled plans to unlock billions of dollars in nuclear trade and to deepen defense ties, steps they hope will establish an enduring strategic partnership.

The two countries reached an understanding on two issues that, despite a groundbreaking 2006 agreement, had stopped U.S. companies from setting up reactors in India and had become one of the major irritants in bilateral relations.

"We are committed to moving towards full implementation," Obama told a joint news conference with Modi. "This is an important step that shows how we can work together to elevate our relationship."

The new deal resolved differences over the liability of suppliers to India in the event of a nuclear accident and U.S. demands on tracking the whereabouts of material supplied to the country, U.S. ambassador to India Richard Verma told reporters.

"Ultimately it's up to the companies to go forward, but the two governments came to an understanding," he added.

Signalling warmth and determination to take ties to a higher level, Modi broke with protocol to meet and bear-hug Obama as he landed in New Delhi, then referred to him as Barack. It was a remarkable spectacle, given that a year ago Modi was persona non grata in Washington and was denied a visa to the United States.

Between a working lunch that included kebabs made with lotus stem, figs and spices and an evening banquet where Obama spoke a smattering of Hindi, the two leaders got down to talks.

They emerged with a 10-year framework for defense ties and deals on cooperation that included the joint production of drone aircraft and equipment for Lockheed Martin Corp's C-130 military transport plane.

Other deals ranged from an Obama-Modi hotline -- India's first at a leadership level -- to financing initiatives aimed at helping India use renewable energy to lower carbon intensity.

But Modi cautioned that work was still needed to create a solid partnership between the world's two largest democracies.

"We have to convert a good start into lasting progress. This requires translating our vision into sustained action and concrete achievements," he said, standing next to Obama.

On Monday, Obama will be the first U.S. president to attend India's Republic Day parade, an annual show of military might long associated with the anti-Americanism of the Cold War. He will also host a radio show with Modi.

His presence at the parade at Modi's personal invitation marks the latest upturn in a roller-coaster bilateral relationship that just a year ago was in tatters.

Up to 40,000 security personnel have been deployed for the visit and 15,000 new closed-circuit surveillance cameras have been installed in the capital, according to media reports.

NEW VITALITY

The United States views India as a vast market and potential counterweight in Asia to a more assertive China, but has frequently been frustrated with the slow pace of New Delhi's economic reforms and unwillingness to side with Washington in international affairs.

Elected last May, Modi has injected a new vitality into the economy and foreign relations and, to Washington's delight, has begun pushing back against China across Asia.

In a veiled reference to China, the leaders reiterated the "importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the region, especially in the South China Sea". They also called for the peaceful resolution of territorial conflicts.

Obama will depart slightly early from India to travel to Saudi Arabia following the death of King Abdullah, skipping a planned visit to the Taj Mahal.

Like Obama, Modi rose from modest origins to break into a political elite dominated by powerful families. Aides say the two men bonded in Washington in September when Obama took Modi to the memorial of Martin Luther King, whose rights struggle was inspired by India's Mahatma Gandhi.

On Sunday, the two leaders talked outside over tea in an elegant garden. Modi, who sold tea on a railway platform as a child, poured a cup for Obama.

The "chemistry" they describe is striking because Modi's politics is considerably to the right of Obama's and because he was banned from visiting the United States for nearly a decade after deadly Hindu-Muslim riots in a state he governed.

Obama, the first sitting U.S. president to visit India twice, also enjoyed a close friendship with Modi's predecessor Manmohan Singh, who staked his premiership on the controversial nuclear deal that made India the sixth "legitimate" atomic power and marked a high point in Indo-U.S. relations.

The deal failed to deliver on a promise of business for U.S. companies because of India's reluctance to shield suppliers from liability, a deviation from international norms that reflects the memory of the Bhopal industrial disaster.

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Obama: 'The shadow of crisis has passed'

REDWOOD CITY, California - A noticeably revitalized President Barack Obama appeared Tuesday night before the new GOP-led Congress to paint the state of the nation.

"America, for all that we’ve endured; for all the grit and hard work required to come back; for all the tasks that lie ahead, know this: The shadow of crisis has passed and the state of the Union is strong," he said.

Obama was buoyed by a growing US economy, increasing number of jobs, lower gas prices, and a job approval rating that’s the highest since the government shutdown in 2013.

By appealing to the needs of the middle class, Obama framed the political debate in the next two years.

"Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort?” he said.

Included in Obama’s proposals:

    Lower taxes for low income families
    Affordable child care
    Guaranteed paid sick and maternity leaves
    Equal pay for women
    Free community college education
    Higher wages

“To everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this: If you truly believe you could work full time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, try it. If not, vote to give millions of the hardest working people in America a raise,” he said.

But to get these proposals to sail through Congress will be a challenge. The GOP-led Congress is blocking Obama’s recent orders including his executive action on immigration.

For his part, the president made it clear that he will take an offensive stance.

“We can’t put the security of families at risk by taking away their health insurance, or unraveling the new rules on Wall Street, or re-fighting past battles on immigration when we’ve got to fix a broken system. And if a bill comes to my desk that tries to do any of these things, i will veto it,” he said.

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa delivered the GOP’s response to the State of the Union.

She appeared to take a less combative stance by saying she will not respond to the speech, but alluded to Washington’s faults, saying Congress has its own solutions.

“Americans have been hurting,” she said. “But when we demanded solutions, too often Washington responded with the same stale mindset that led to failed policies like Obamacare. It’s a mindset that gave us political talking points, not serious solutions. That’s why the new Republican majority you elected started by reforming Congress to make it function again. And now, we’re working hard to pass the kind of serious job-creation ideas you deserve.”

President Obama said he is willing to work with Republicans. But the tone from both sides of the aisle seemed less than conciliatory.

As for the majority of the public, a recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows people believe that a divided government does not work well for the country.

Read more from Balitang America

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Obama toasts, teases NBA champion Spurs

WASHINGTON -- US President Barack Obama welcomed NBA champions San Antonio to the White House on Monday, and said he'd be glad to offer advice as they pursue a title repeat.

"If you guys need any tips on winning back-to-back, you know where to find me," quipped the second-term president, no doubt aware that the Spurs' five NBA titles don't include any in successive years.

As a passionate fan of the Chicago Bulls, who won all six of their NBA titles to date in the 1990s, Obama admitted it was bittersweet to yet again congratulate another team.

"It's never easy celebrating a non-Bulls team in the White House," he said. "That's all I've been able to do -- so far."

Despite the demands of his Bulls fandom, however, the President admitted the Spurs were "hard to dislike."

"First of all, they're old," he said of the squad led by 38-year-old Tim Duncan.

"For an old guy, it makes me feel good to see -- where's Tim? Tim's got some gray. There's a few others with a little sprinkles around here. There's a reason why the uniform is black and silver."

As a father of two daughters, one of whom plays basketball, Obama praised the Spurs as the first NBA team to hire a woman assistant coach, and welcomed the wealth of international talent the team has brought to the league.

"It's the UN of basketball teams," he said of a squad that features French players Tony Parker and Boris Diaw along with Argentina's Manu Ginobili. Italy, Brazil, Australia and Canada are also represented on their roster.

"They find folks who didn't have a chance someplace else and suddenly they figure out a way to make them shine as part of a team. In that sense, they're a great metaphor for what America should be all about," said Obama, who was presented with a Spurs jersey with "POTUS" written over its number one.

The keen basketball fan also offered some serious analysis of the Spurs' style and its influence on the league, and praise for their bounce back from a crushing NBA finals loss to Miami in 2013, to beat the Heat in 2014.

But he couldn't resist poking some fun at notoriously taciturn coach Gregg Popovich.

"I want the coach to know that he is not contractually obligated to take questions after the first quarter of my remarks," Obama said.

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N.Korea's Internet appears to collapse after Sony hack

WASHINGTON, United States- North Korea's weak Internet links appear to have been crippled by a major outage, cyber experts said Monday, suggesting the country's network could be under attack after the hacking of Sony Pictures.

Pyongyang's apparent connection woes came after US President Barack Obama vowed to retaliate for the cyber assault on the Hollywood studio blamed by the FBI on the isolated Asian nation.

While US officials refused to confirm whether Washington had already taken any action against Pyongyang, they did call for compensation for Sony which -- following threats against movie-goers -- pulled the Christmas Day debut of the comedy action film "The Interview," which lampoons North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.

"If they want to help here they could admit their culpability and compensate Sony for the damages that they caused," State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters.

According to respected US-based cyber security firm Dyn Research, Internet connectivity between North Korea and the outside world, never good at the best of times, seems to have been severely affected over the weekend.

"I haven't seen such a steady beat of routing instability and outages in KP (North Korea) before," Doug Madory, director of Internet analysis at Dyn Research, told the North Korea Tech website.

"Usually there are isolated blips, not continuous connectivity problems. I wouldn't be surprised if they are absorbing some sort of attack presently."

North Korea's communist authorities however have denied being behind the Sony hacking that also led to the release of a slew of embarrassing company emails.

Instead Pyongyang has called for a joint investigation, and vowed reprisals if the US brings in new sanctions, including putting the country back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The diplomatic row comes as China failed on Monday to block the first-ever UN Security Council meeting on North Korea's dismal rights record after a strong majority of members voted in favor of it.

North Korea has limited Internet access, available only to trusted government officials.

Networks under duress

Its main Internet presence is through its Uriminzokkiri website, which has Twitter and Flickr feeds and is best known for posting propaganda videos excoriating South Korea and the United States.

On Monday the website was slow to load, and then eventually just timed out.

A graph by Dyn appeared to show that from around 2200 GMT Sunday to 1000 GMT Monday the number of unstable networks seen in North Korea dramatically increased.

"Their networks are under duress," Madory told the New York Times.

"This is consistent with a DDoS attack on their routers," he said, a reference to a "distributed denial of service" attack in which attackers flood a network until it collapses under the strain.

Obama had vowed a "proportional" response, saying he saw the attack as an act of "cyber vandalism" not a declaration of war.

But US officials have been tight-lipped about exactly what action they will take, and Harf refused to confirm reports that North Korea's cyberspace was under attack.

The US administration is "discussing a range of options" in response to the Sony hacking, she said.

"As we implement our responses, some will be seen, some may not be seen," she said.

Washington has urged Beijing -- Pyongyang's closest ally -- to help rein in the North's cyber hacking activities, with US Secretary of State John Kerry speaking with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi over the weekend to discuss the problem.

"Despite our differences, I would say on this or other issues, we have affirmed that malicious cyber activity like this attack can pose a risk to international peace and security," Harf told reporters.

In Beijing, a foreign ministry statement on Monday said the country "opposes cyber attacks and cyber terrorism in all of its forms," without referring directly to North Korea.

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Obama diagnosed with acid reflux

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama, who had medical tests on Saturday after complaining of a sore throat, is suffering from acid reflux, the president's physician said.

"The president's symptoms are consistent with soft tissue inflammation related to acid reflux and will be treated accordingly," Obama's doctor, Captain Ronny Jackson, said in a statement.

Acid reflux is a condition in which the stomach contents flow back up from the stomach into the esophagus, causing such symptoms as heartburn and sore throat.

Obama, 53, went to Walter Reed military hospital for a fiber optic exam of his throat and since swelling was detected, doctors decided to perform a CT scan as well, Jackson said.

"The CT scan was conducted this afternoon purely as a matter of convenience for the President's schedule. The CT scan was normal," Jackson added.

Jackson said he recommended Obama go to Walter Reed for the tests after the president complained of suffering from a sore throat over the past couple of weeks.

Jackson did not give any cause for Obama's case of the illness. There are many risk factors for acid reflux, including smoking, use of alcohol and hiatal hernia, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Most people respond to lifestyle changes and medicines, although many patients need to continue on medication to control their symptoms.

Obama had his annual physical exam in June and was given a clean bill of health by Jackson, who noted in a medical report that daily exercise, healthy eating and a tobacco-free lifestyle had helped the president stay in great shape. The president is a former smoker.

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Obama toughens line on Putin over Ukraine at G20

BRISBANE, Australia -- U.S. President Barack Obama said on Sunday that Russia would remain isolated by the international community if President Vladimir Putin continued to violate international law in Ukraine, some of his toughest remarks yet on the crisis.

Putin has come under intense pressure from other leaders at this weekend's G20 summit in Brisbane over his government's backing for pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine, where a conflict has killed more than 4,000 people this year.

Obama, who described his meetings with Putin this week as "blunt and business-like," said that he had made it clear Russia would remain isolated if it continued to provide support to separatist rebels.

"We are also very firm on the need to uphold core international principles. And one of those principles is that you don't invade other countries or finance proxies and support them in ways that break up a country that has mechanisms for democratic elections," Obama said at a press conference.

On Saturday, Western leaders warned Putin that he risked more sanctions if he failed to end his country's backing for the separatists. Russia has denied any involvement.

Obama said more sanctions were a possibility.

"At this point the sanctions we have in place are biting plenty good," said Obama, speaking after the Group of 20 meeting in Brisbane, Australia. "We retain the capability, and we have our teams constantly looking at mechanisms in which to turn up additional pressure as necessary."

On Syria, President Bashar al-Assad was warned against his military engaging U.S. warplanes conducting operations against Islamic State militants on its territory.

"We have communicated to the Syrian regime when we operate going after ISIL in their airspace, they would be well advised not to take us on," he said, using another name for Islamic State.

Obama ruled out a political solution to the civil war in Syria that would leave Assad in power and denied reports that his administration was conducting a formal review of its military policy in the country.

He accepted, however, that it was the "nature of diplomacy", that Washington would eventually have to deal with some of its rivals to bring peace to the war-wracked country.

"At some point the people of Syria and the various players involved, as well as the regional players, Turkey, Iran, Assad's patrons like Russia, are going to have to engage in a political conversation," he said.

Back to domestic affairs

Switching to domestic politics as he wraps up a week-long swing through Asia, Obama said that he was taking a wait and see approach to the Keystone XL pipeline bill approved by the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives on Friday.

A similar measure struggled to get enough support in the Senate, and Obama has indicated he might use his veto if the bill does get through Congress.

"We are going to let the process play itself out," he said.

"But I won't hide my opinion about this, which is that one major determinant of whether we should approve a pipeline shipping Canadian oil to world markets, not to the United States, is 'does it contribute to the greenhouse gases that are causing climate change?'"

Obama also promised not to allow the threat of another government shutdown to deter him from enacting comprehensive immigration reform despite opposition from Congress.

"I take Mitch McConnell on his word when he says the government is not going to shut down," he said, referring to the incoming Republican Senate majority leader.

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US and China announce 'historic' climate accord

BEIJING, China -- The United States and China on Wednesday announced an action plan on greenhouse emissions as part of a "historic" pact that was acclaimed by climate scientists but denounced by US Republicans as a job-killer.

At a Beijing summit, the leaders of the world's two biggest polluters put their stamp on attempts to breathe new life into action against global warming ahead of international talks in Paris next year.

US President Barack Obama said the joint announcement on the two countries' emissions targets was a "historic agreement" and a "major milestone in the US-China relationship".

Chinese President Xi Jinping said: "We agreed to make sure that international climate change negotiations will reach an agreement in Paris."

Attempts to deal with climate change, which scientists warn is approaching a potentially catastrophic point of no return, have long been stymied by the unwillingness of the United States and China to work together on the problem.

But China set a target for its greenhouse gas output to peak "around 2030", which Obama commended as an effort to "slow, peak and reverse the course" of its emissions.

And Obama, who faces scepticism as well as outright denial about climate change in the US Congress, set a goal for the United States to cut its own emissions of greenhouse gases by 26-28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025.

"We have a special responsibility to lead the worldwide effort against climate change," Obama said at a joint news conference with Xi.

"We hope to encourage all economies to be more ambitious," he added.

China and the US, which together produce around 45 percent of the world's carbon dioxide, will be key to ensuring a global deal on reducing emissions after 2020 is reached next year.

- 'A new day' -

The two countries have long been at loggerheads over global targets, with each saying the other should bear more responsibility for cutting emissions of gases blamed for heating up the atmosphere.

But after the 2009 Copenhagen Summit nearly ended in fiasco, salvaged only by a last-minute deal brokered by Obama and China's then premier, Washington and Beijing have started to move closer towards agreement.

The World Resources Institute, a US-based environmental group, hailed the Obama-Xi pact as a breakthrough.

"It’s a new day to have the leaders of the US and China stand shoulder-to-shoulder and make significant commitments to curb their country's emissions," the institute's president Andrew Steer said in a statement.

"They have both clearly acknowledged the mounting threat of climate change and the urgency of action," he said.

But while it was the first time China agreed to a target date for emissions to peak -- officials have previously only spoken of doing so "as soon as possible" -- the commitment was qualified, leaving considerable room for manoeuvre.

China has trumpeted its efforts to reduce dependence on coal and oil in the past, and is the world's largest hydropower producer, with a growing nuclear sector.

But economic growth remains a vitally important priority and has seen demand for energy soar.

Much of Obama's action on climate change meanwhile has been done with executive orders rather than cooperation from an often confrontational legislature.

The deadline for Obama's new pledge is in more than a decade's time but he only has two years left in his presidency. He faces a Congress now set to be controlled by opposition Republicans in both houses after this month's mid-term elections, which will make passing environmental legislation even more difficult.

In an early portent of the battles to come, the US Senate's new Republican leader was quick to slam Obama's proposed greenhouse gas reductions.

“This unrealistic plan, that the president would dump on his successor, would ensure higher utility rates and far fewer jobs," Senator Mitch McConnell said.

The European Union pledged last month to reduce emissions by at least 40 percent by 2030 compared with 1990 levels.

But efforts to make meaningful progress on climate change will by stymied unless the US sets "a concrete and ambitious" goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, Connie Hedegaard, EU climate commissioner, said in October.

The EU accounts for 11 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, compared to 16 percent for the United States and 29 percent for China.

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Obama digs in even as he vows to work with Republicans

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama pledged Wednesday to work with Republican lawmakers after their midterm election win but warned he would act without them to protect his core agenda, starting with immigration reform.

The US leader stopped short of accepting direct responsibility for his Democratic party's colossal defeat at the hands of opponents who successfully turned the election into a repudiation of his policies.

The GOP snatched control of the Senate, tightened its grip on the House of Representatives and won key Democrat governorships, in an election Obama admitted was "a good night" for Republicans.

Democrats suffering from the whiplash of their overwhelming defeat were left to contemplate what went wrong.

Some Republicans nevertheless acknowledged they need to find avenues of cooperation with Obama so they are seen as capable congressional stewards ahead of the 2016 presidential race.

In a lengthy White House news conference, Obama insisted he was "eager to work with the new Congress to make the next two years as productive as possible."

Both sides have pointed to the passage of tax reform and approval of two stalled international trade agreements as potential areas of cooperation between the camps.

Obama said he would also ask the new Congress for help in battling the spread of Ebola in West Africa and beyond, and to endorse US-led military action gainst jihadists in Iraq and Syria.

But, in the absence of a strong legislative base for the remaining two years of his presidency, Obama said he would press ahead with plans on immigration reform.

He said he would take executive action this year, without waiting to see whether the new Congress makes progress toward a comprehensive bipartisan immigration reform bill.

"My executive actions not only do not prevent them from passing a law that supersedes those actions, but should be a spur for them to actually try to get something done," Obama insisted.

'Red flag' on immigration

That sets up a potential firestorm with congressional leaders, notably incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who just minutes before Obama spoke expressed an eagerness to cooperate with the president but warned against such a unilateral move.

Taking executive action on immigration, without votes in Congress, would be "like waving a red flag in front of a bull," McConnell told reporters in Kentucky.

Despite Obama insisting he was optimistic about America's future, exit polls Tuesday confirmed the pessimistic mood that several Republican winners had capitalized on during the campaign.

Voters are convinced the nation is headed in the wrong direction and are skeptical of the abilities of the president and his Democrats to turn things around.

At least one senior Democratic official, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's chief of staff, suggested Obama came up short in encouraging voters to back his own party.

Instead of providing a direct mea culpa for the election losses, Obama noted that Americans of all stripes have grown frustrated with Washington, "and as president they rightly hold me accountable to do more to make it work properly."

"Obviously Republicans had a good night and they deserve credit for running good campaigns," Obama said. "Beyond that I'll leave it to you and professional pundits to pick through the results."

The tone was a world away from president Bill Clinton's acceptance of "responsibility" the day after his Democrats lost control of both chambers of Congress 20 years ago.

While Obama said he would "measure ideas not whether they're from Republicans or Democrats but whether they work for the American people," he reiterated he would use his veto powers on any bill that repealed his landmark health care reform that he insists has begun to work well for millions.

"There certainly are some lines I'm going to draw. Repeal of the law I won't sign," he said.

"Efforts that would take away health care from the 10 million people who now have it and the millions more who are eligible to get it, we're not going to support."

But he acknowledged he would study Republican proposals to make "responsible changes" to the law.

Obama's occasionally aloof 70-minute press conference earned a swift rebuke from the Republican National Committee which suggested the president was "in denial" about the election.

"Today, in word and tone he refused to take responsibility or even express humility," RNC chairman Reince Priebus said.

"He seemed to suggest the only ideas he's willing to listen to are his own, old, failed ones," he added.

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It can happen to anyone: Obama's credit card declined

WASHINGTON - Apparently, even the president of the United States can have trouble with his credit card.

Barack Obama on Friday said his card was declined at a New York restaurant he went to while visiting the United Nations.

"I was there during the General Assembly, and my credit card was rejected," Obama said at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where he unveiled new measures to stem credit card fraud and identity theft.

"It turned out, I guess I don't use it enough. So they thought there was some fraud going on," he said to laughter, adding "fortunately, Michelle had hers."

The president signed an executive order which adds "chip-and-pin" protection for US government cards and payment terminals, at a time when the financial industry is moving in the same direction.

"I was trying to explain to the waitress, no, I really think that I've been paying my bills," Obama said.

"Even I'm affected by this."

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Obama girls, Malala, Lorde make Time's 'influential teens' list

LOS ANGELES - The daughters of US President Barack Obama, entertainers, a Nobel laureate and a girl baseball player all made Time's annual list of most influential teenagers, the magazine said on Monday.

First daughters Malia, 16, and Sasha, 13; Grammy-winning New Zealand singer Lorde, 17; and Nobel Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai, 17, the Pakistani education activist winner, were all on the unranked list dominated by 20 females.

Time said it compiled its list of 25 teens - 29, counting accolades shared by siblings and partners - by analyzing their social media following, business successes and cultural importance.

The youngest were Sasha Obama and fellow 13-year-old Mo'ne Davis, a pitching sensation who led her Philadelphia boys' baseball team to the Little League World Series and landed a spot on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Tavi Gevinson, the 18-year-old fashion writer and founder of popular online magazine Rookie, was noted as emblematic of the contemporary teen in the Internet age, while transgender activist Jazz Jennings, 14, and Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, 18, also made the list.

The dominant categories were athletes, actors and singers.

Actors taking center stage were Kiernan Shipka, 14, of "Mad Men," Rico Rodriguez, 16, of "Modern Family" and "The Equalizer's" Chloe Grace Moretz, 17.

Pop singers Becky G, 17, and Austin Mahone, 18, earned plaudits as did New Zealand pro golfer Lydia Ko, 17, and Afghan National Cycling Team member Salma Kakar, 17.

Teens noted for business success include 15-year-old Erik Finman, founder of the online tutoring site Botangle.com; YouTube fashion star Bethany Mota, 18, and actress-turned-stockpicker Rachel Fox, 18.

Irish trio Ciara Judge, 16, Emer Hickey, 17, and Sophie Healy-Thow, 17, were noted for their discovery of bacteria that deposits nitrogen from the atmosphere into soil.

Los Angeles teen chef Flynn McGarry, 15, joined stars of Twitter's Vine short-form video service, Nash Grier, and singer Shawn Mendes, both 16.

Jaden Smith, 16, son of actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, was recognized for acting and his Twitter following, while reality TV stars the Jenner sisters Kendall, 18, and Kylie, 17, were noted for their burgeoning Hollywood and merchandising careers.

Also in the spotlight were 19-year-olds Megan Grassell, founded of the Yellowberry clothing company that makes bras for teens, and South African-Australian YouTube star and actor-musician Troye Sivan.

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Inside Malaysia Airlines, tears and shock as tragedy strikes again

KUALA LUMPUR - It started with another late-night phone call, another rush to the airport, where familiar faces in a familiar setting tried to make sense of nearly 300 more lives lost in the second disaster to strike Malaysia Airlines in the space of just a few months.

For a company and a nation still struggling to come to terms with the unsolved disappearance of Flight MH370 on March 8, Thursday's apparent shooting down of another Boeing 777 over eastern Ukraine was a devastating blow.

"For something like this to happen, just four months after MH370, just when we were beginning to get on with life, it is just very difficult to take," one airline executive told Reuters at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, sobbing as he spoke.

"You can't imagine how draining it is, how emotional it is. Everyone can't believe this is happening again, we are going through all of the emotions once again."

After the earlier tragedy, politicians and airline officials were slow to acknowledge the plane had gone missing en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing and then gave confusing, sometimes contradictory statements.

On Thursday, the news began to filter in just after 11 p.m. local time that something had gone wrong with Flight MH17 scheduled from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. Soon after, Malaysian Airline System Bhd executives were awakened and dispatched to the airport to help set up emergency operations, according to interviews with company officials.

"When we entered the room, we looked around and saw the same colleagues, the same familiar faces, that we saw during MH370," said one government official. "And almost everyone was sighing. Gosh, we could not believe that something like this was happening once again."

By 11:30 p.m., Malaysia Airlines (MAS) officials knew from television footage and then confirmation from Ukraine authorities that the plane had gone down. The airline announced on its official Twitter feed that it had lost contact with the aircraft - a change from the March disaster when it was roundly criticised for waiting six hours before acknowledging MH370 was missing.

Before midnight, the officials realized that the 298 passengers and crew were most likely dead.

"People knew the drill this time around - everyone was focused on what they had to do," the government official said. "MAS, the government, the different agencies, the politicians. Everyone had a role and they knew what it was."

PRE-DAWN CALL

This time, the decision was made early that there would be only one spokesperson - Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai, who was had only been appointed late last month.

Before dawn, Prime Minister Najib Razak spoke with U.S. President Barack Obama and issued a detailed statement spelling out what had happened and vowing swift justice for the perpetrators.

"We were better prepared for this, we got the statements out fast and verified everything quickly," a second government official said.

Oliver McGee, a former senior U.S. Transportation Department official, said it was unprecedented for a commercial airline to suffer two tragedies in such rapid succession with more than 530 people dead.

"Malaysia Airlines is now in the fog of the greatest crisis in international aviation safety and security history," McGee said. "I don't see how Malaysia is going to recover from this as a firm."

Defense Minister and former Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, the public face of the government during the MH370 crisis, tweeted early Friday morning that he was asking the military to confirm reports that the aircraft had been shot down.

"MH17: If indeed our plane was brought down, those responsible WILL be brought to justice!" he wrote.

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