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New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Malaysia shows the way through quiet diplomacy, principled mediation
In a region often pulled between the ambitions of global powers, Malaysia has quietly reaffirmed a different kind of leadership — one rooted in dignity, balance, and regional agency. The recent breakthrough in Thailand-Cambodia border talks, facilitated under Malaysia as Asean Chairman, is more than a diplomatic milestone. It reflects a deeper narrative: Asean's ability to resolve its own disputes and Malaysia's role in guiding that process through civilisational diplomacy. This renewed regional agency was personified by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, whose quiet yet decisive leadership helped broker the ceasefire. Malaysia's facilitation was intentional: to rebuild trust within the region, not to outsource peace efforts to distant powers. This decision aligns with Malaysia's Asean Chairmanship theme: "Inclusivity and Sustainability." Malaysia's approach affirms its identity as a principled middle power and a quiet architect of peace. Malaysia has shown that regional stability can be cultivated through inclusive dialogue and cultural depth, not geopolitical dependency. Anwar's intervention exemplifies this posture. Behind closed doors, he convened both sides, navigated nationalist sensitivities, and secured an immediate ceasefire. His ability to balance regional trust with global respect — welcoming observers from the US and China while keeping Asean at the centre — demonstrates Malaysia's non-aligned strength. Malaysia's example offers a different narrative: one where civilisational wisdom meets strategic relevance, and where Asean speaks not as a proxy, but as a sovereign collective committed to peace. As Asean enters a more complex geopolitical era, this approach offers a strategic and symbolic compass for future engagements. Malaysia's historical role as a mediator in regional conflicts — from the Mindanao peace process to the southern Thailand insurgency — has earned it a reputation for neutrality, trustworthiness, and moral clarity. These qualities are not incidental; they stem from a worldview where diplomacy is not transactional, but transformational. This legacy also includes Malaysia's role as Asean Chair in 2005, when it hosted the First East Asia Summit (EAS) in Kuala Lumpur. Amid rising tensions between Japan and China, Malaysia provided a neutral and dignified platform for dialogue — ensuring that strategic disagreements did not derail regional cooperation. While not a direct mediator, Malaysia's convening power reflected its capability of fostering trust and restraint among major powers. The latest Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire is a continuation of this legacy. It shows that civilisational diplomacy anchored in cultural resonance and ethical depth can succeed where conventional power politics falter. Malaysia's leadership in hosting the recent Asean-GCC-China Summit reflects a growing recognition that civilisational diplomacy is not a cultural ornament — it is a strategic asset. By convening diverse traditions — Islamic, Confucian, and Southeast Asian — Malaysia is helping to shape a multipolar future grounded in mutual respect, shared values, and regional agency. This posture is not about nostalgia or soft power branding. It is about redefining diplomacy as a moral and cultural undertaking, capable of addressing today's complex challenges — from climate resilience to digital ethics — with communal wisdom and inclusive governance. In an era where diplomacy is often reduced to power metrics and transactional gains, Malaysia offers Asean another path, one shaped by narrative stewardship and civilisational clarity. In doing so, Malaysia is helping Asean rediscover its voice as a principled community capable of shaping a more inclusive, sustainable, and peaceful regional order.
Dominion Post
19-07-2025
- Business
- Dominion Post
MGW on pace to soar past 14,000 enplanements in 2025
MORGANTOWN — 7,302 enplanements in six months. That's 7,302 paying customers boarding aircraft at the Morgantown Municipal Airport between Jan. 1 and June 30. To get some perspective on the impact new Essential Air Service carrier SkyWest Airlines has had since taking over for Southern Airways Express in December, consider the enplanement number this time last year was about 3,600. For all of 2024, the count was just over 7,700 — a good year by recent standards, as it marked just the second time in a decade the airport surpassed 7,300. This year, the state's only city-owned airport is on pace to fly past 14,000. And they're just getting warmed up. 'When SkyWest presented their service to us, they felt that they would be able to get close to 20,000 passengers a year,' Airport Director Jon Vrabel said. 'They didn't think it would happen maybe the first year, but possibly starting in years two and three.' For small airports, enplanement numbers mean big money. In basic terms, falling short of 10,000 enplanements – as MGW has done each year since 2011 — has traditionally slashed the amount of the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program dollars received from $1 million to $150,000 annually. AIP funds are capital improvement and infrastructure dollars, making them critical for airports looking at expensive facility upgrades, like, for example, the $60-million-plus runway extension project underway at MGW. Consistently missing out on those AIP funds was heavy on the collective mind of the selection committee this time last year as it considered staying with Southern Airways — the city's EAS carrier since 2016 — or taking off in a different direction. Essential Air Service, or EAS, is a federal subsidy provided directly to carriers to offset the cost of rural operations and ensure air service in smaller communities. 'It is impossible to be productive in today's world and stay where we're at,' former City Manager Kim Haws said at the time. 'I feel very strongly that we need to move forward and increase, not only enplanements, but the speed with which we are attempting to extend the runway.' It certainly appears as if the first box has been checked, which should help with the second. The project to extend the MGW runway by 1,001 feet to 6,200 feet is expected to conclude sometime between 2028 and 2030, depending on the flow of funding. When it meets Tuesday, Morgantown City Council will consider receipt of a $9.5-million grant from the FAA for construction of Phase 5 and the design of Phase 6 of the project. In order to accept the grant, the city must provide a $500,000 local match. Once complete, the extension will allow MGW to step up in terms of the variety of aircraft it can accommodate. It will also allow its own carrier to fully utilize the 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 jets that make up the bulk of its fleet. 'The runway length here limits how many passengers they can carry on the Chicago flight. So, that's been restricted down to somewhere between 32 and 40. During the summer, it's down around 32 and it's up in the 40s in the winter,' Vrabel said, explaining the calculation comes down to weight and air density. 'In the summer, the air is thinner and the airplane doesn't perform as well. So it needs more runway to get off the ground with the same amount of weight,' he said. SkyWest offers daily flights from Morgantown to Dulles International Airport, in Virginia, and Chicago O'Hare International Airport. 'They're just a very professional company. We see that across the board with them and they've been great to work with; easy to work with. They conduct business very much like all the major carriers do,' Vrabel said of SkyWest. A representative of the carrier said the support is appreciated. 'The Morgantown community has shown incredible support for their local air service since the first United Express flights, operated by Skywest, began last December. We are pleased that so many people have taken advantage of flights to both Chicago and Washington, D.C., and the community is continuing to utilize and enjoy SkyWest's reliable, convenient travel options for Morgantown travelers.'
Filipino Times
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Marcos to Invite Trump to Manila for 2026 East Asia Summit During US Visit
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will formally invite U.S. President Donald Trump to attend the 2026 East Asia Summit (EAS) in Manila during his official visit to Washington, D.C. from July 20 to 22, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced. According to DFA Assistant Secretary Raquel Solano, the invitation is symbolic, aligning with the 80th anniversary of Philippine-U.S. diplomatic ties and the 75th year of their defense alliance. As the 2026 ASEAN Chair, Marcos aims to showcase the Philippines' strategic vision for regional security, economic collaboration, and deeper people-to-people engagement. The East Asia Summit gathers ASEAN member states and major global partners including the U.S., China, Japan, and India. Marcos' invitation highlights efforts to deepen U.S.-Philippines ties amid regional tensions. His visit also marks the first official dialogue between a Southeast Asian head of state and Trump since the latter's return to the presidency.
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Virginia Beach Senior Amber Alert: Who is Marian Weaver Byers and where is she? Details here
On Monday, Virginia State Police issued a Senior Alert for Marian Weaver Byers, an 83-year-old woman missing from Virginia Beach, believed to be at risk due to cognitive impairment. She was last seen at around 2:35 PM local time and has been missing since. Virginia Beach Police issued a senior amber alert for an 83-year-old woman on Monday(Virginia Beach Police) Who is Marian Weaver Byers? Marian Weaver Byers, 83, is a Virginia Beach resident. She is 5'2', weighs approximately 120–150 pounds, has hazel eyes and gray hair, and was last seen wearing a yellow button-up shirt, black jeans, black sunglasses, and white shoes, possibly carrying a cane. Read More: New York flash floods: Which major airports are grounded? Here, have a look 'The missing senior suffers from a cognitive impairment and the disappearance poses a credible threat to their health and safety as determined by the investigating agency,' Virginia Beach police noted on a flyer. Where Was She Last Seen? Byers was last seen on Monday, around 2:35 PM EDT at the 700 block of Weich Lane, off Witchduck Road in Virginia Beach. She may be driving a gold 2010 Ford Escape with Virginia license plate GOD4MWB, as per officials. Read More: New York flash flood map: LaGuardia Airport, Westchester, Staten Island, Rockland affected; videos emerge Virginia Beach Police and Virginia State Police are actively searching, using K-9 units and checking local surveillance. The Senior Alert was broadcast via radio, TV, and cellphones through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). Residents are urged to call 757-385-5000 (non-emergency) or 911 with information. Read More: Scary video shows NYC subway line severely flooded amid heavy downpour Senior Alert vs. AMBER Alert A Senior Alert is issued for missing adults aged 60+ with cognitive impairments. An AMBER Alert targets abducted children under 18. Senior Alerts prioritize health risks; AMBER Alerts focus on abductions. Both use EAS/WEA broadcasts but differ in criteria.
Malaysia Sun
15-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
MoS Margherita emphasises need for early completion of review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement
New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, during his recent Malaysia visit, emphasised the need for early completion of the review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) and underlined development partnerships in digital, maritime, health and innovation, as per a statement from the MEA. Minister Pabitra Margherita led the delegation at the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AIFMM), 15th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting (EAS FMM) and 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum on July 10-11, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In his remarks at the AIFMM on July 10, MoS Margherita extended India's continued support to Malaysia's chairmanship of ASEAN and reiterated India's support for ASEAN unity and centrality. Further, MoS Margherita appreciated progress in the implementation of the 10 Point proposal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announced at the 21st ASEAN-India Summit in Lao PDR in 2024 to further strengthen the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and shared the initiatives taken this year under the India -ASEAN Year of Tourism. 'He emphasised the need for early completion of the review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) and underlined development partnerships in digital, maritime, health and innovation,' Ministry of External Affairs said in the statement Monday. At the 15th EAS FMM on July 11, 2025, MoS Margherita underlined India's contribution towards strengthening the Leaders-led EAS platform as the EAS mechanism completes 20 years and exchanged views on the current regional and international developments. Preparations for the upcoming 20th EAS Summit, scheduled in October 2025, were also discussed. At the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held on July 11, MoS Margherita participated in a constructive exchange of views on pressing international and regional developments, and deliberated on the future trajectory of the ARF process. He underscored India's deep concerns over the persistent threat posed by Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism, particularly in the wake of the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam in the Indian UT of Jammu and Kashmir. The Minister reaffirmed India's resolute commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. He commended the ASEAN-led mechanisms, including the emerging regional security architecture, as an important platform for candid discussions and collective efforts to address the challenges in the region. Minister Margherita also held bilateral meetings with the Secretary General of ASEAN and the Foreign Ministers of Cambodia, the Philippines, and Timor Leste, on the sidelines of the ASEAN-related meetings. (ANI)
