Day: June 27, 2024

South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun and his Japanese counterpart held talks in Washington and they agreed to launch a working group on cooperation in the supply chain for clean hydrogen and ammonia, Seoul officials said Thursday.

Ahn and his Japanese counterpart, Ken Saito, also agreed to expand cooperation based on Seoul’s Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) initiative, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

South Korea and Japan vowed to expand cooperation to stabilize the global supply chain, including key minerals as well.

Seoul and Tokyo also discussed ways to enhance ties on other multilateral platforms, including the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and the World Trade Organization, as well as in relationships with the U.S. and China.

“During a bilateral summit on the margins of a trilateral summit between South Korea, Japan and China last month, the leaders of the two countries highly praised progress in cooperation between Korea and Japan, and agreed to accelerate collaboration in v
arious fields, including energy, economic security, hydrogen and supply chains,” Ahn said in his opening remarks.

Based on growing bilateral ties, he expressed hope for discussions on diverse ways for cooperation.

Saito also took note of “great improvement” in relations between the two countries over the past year.

“Japan and South Korea are important neighbors that share basic values and should work together in dealing with various tasks of the international community,” he said.

“The two countries’ cooperation has taken on increasing importance for regional stability and development at a time when world situations remain uncertain due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East,” he added.

The bilateral meeting came amid the improving relationship between Seoul and Tokyo, after the Yoon administration decided last year to compensate Korean victims of Japanese wartime forced labor without seeking contributions from the Japanese companies involved.

Ahn was visiting Washington to
participate in a trilateral ministerial meeting with the U.S. and Japan to discuss ways of strengthening three-way cooperation on supply chains and economic security.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

MANILA: For giving honor to the country, the players and coaches of the Alas Pilipinas women’s volleyball team received PHP200,000 each from Senator Christopher Lawrence Go.

The team bagged bronze in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Challenge Cup after beating Australia, 25-23, 25-15, 25-7, at Rizal Memorial Coliseum on May 29.

Philippine Sports Commissioner Bong Coo and executive director Paolo Tatad and Philippine National Volleyball Federation secretary general Don Caringal joined Go in handing out the checks to the 14 players and nine members of the coaching staff in a simple ceremony at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) conference hall inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila Wednesday night.

The team also received pairs of shoes and watches.

‘Itong financial support from PSC… ay para makatulong sa kanila. Pero ang importante dito ay ang drive to win. At stake dito ang ating flag, ang ating bayan. Lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila na (This financial support from PSC… is to help
them. But the important thing here is the drive to win. At stake here is our flag, our country. I always tell them to) give your best,” Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, said.

‘Karangalan po ‘yun para sa ating bayan kaya dapat po ma-increase po ang suporta at incentives mula sa gobyerno para sa ating atleta. Maliit na halaga ‘yan kumpara sa kanilang hirap at sa karangalan na dala dala nila habang-buhay para sa ating bayan (That is an honor for our country so the support and incentives from the government for our athletes should be increased. That is a small amount compared to their hard work and the honor they carry for life for our people),” he added.

Last week, Go distributed PHP500,000 each to the athletes going to the Paris Olympics in July.

‘Alam ko hindi rin kayo ang pinakamalaking team pero ‘yung puso ninyo, ‘yung pusong Pinoy nyo, ay lumalaban at ‘yung masarap po diyan ay yung pinagpaguran at pinagpawisan ninyo ang inyong laban (I know you are not the biggest team but your heart, your Fi
lipino heart is fighting, and the good thing about that is that you worked hard and sweat in your fight),” Go said. ‘I am proud of Alas Pilipinas and I will continue to support Philippine sports, especially those in the grassroots.”

Alas Pilipinas is composed of Anne Anjel Canino, Julia Cyrille Coronel, Julia Melissa De Guzman-Morado, Arrah Ella Panique, Thea Allison Gagate, Vanessa Gandler, Ejiya Laure, Dawn Nicole Macandili-Catindig, Jennifer Nierva, Faith Janine Shirley Nisperos, Cherry Rose Nunag, Dell Palomata, Cherry Anne Rondina and Mereophe Sharma.

The members of the coaching staff are Jorge Edson De Brito, Ronwald Kris Dimaculangan, Eduardo Ortega, Grace Gomez, Joyce Antoniette Palad, Justin Santos, Norman Montalvo, Hollie Reyes and Angelica Bautista.

Alas Pilipinas is preparing for the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Challenger Cup which will be held at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, also within the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, next week.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Russia should not make a mistake that could hurt its relations with South Korea in an “irreversible” way, a Seoul official warned Thursday, in a tit-for-tat exchange of words after Moscow warned against Seoul hinting at potential arms support to Ukraine.

The comment from Seoul’s foreign ministry came a day after Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman at the Russian foreign ministry, warned South Korea not to take rash steps that could bring about an irreversible outcome for the bilateral relations.

Zakharova’s comments came in response to the remarks by South Korea’s National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin that South Korea could consider supplying weapons to Kyiv, depending on Moscow’s actions in the follow up to the treaty it signed with North Korea on pledging mutual defense.

“We warn that Russia should not make a mistake that could lead to irreversible consequences in South Korea-Russia relations,” ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said in a regular press briefing.

“Additionally, we hope that the Russian side wil
l move away from relying on North Korea and act appropriately as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council,” Lim said.

Tensions have heightened after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared an upgrade of their countries’ relationship after talks in Pyongyang last week. The new treaty commits them to providing mutual military assistance in case either of them is put under armed attack.

South Korea has expressed grave concerns over the growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea in violation of U.N. resolutions, urging Moscow to act responsibly and cut off such military ties with Pyongyang.

Seoul’s foreign ministry said South Korean Ambassador to Russia Lee Do-hoon had a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko in Moscow on Wednesday (local time) and heard Moscow’s position on the new partnership treaty with North Korea.

In the meeting, Lee stressed that any cooperation that would help the North’s arms buildup poses serious threa
ts to security in the region, and called for Russia’s clear explanation of its actions.

Russia voiced regrets over South Korea’s reaction to Putin’s visit to Pyongyang, reiterating that its cooperation with the North is not directed at Seoul and the treaty is defensive in nature, according to Seoul’s foreign ministry.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

BACOLOD CITY: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the distribution of about PHP608 million in financial support, agricultural projects, and other assistance from the national government during his visit to this city Thursday afternoon.

‘Narito po kami ngayon sa Bacolod upang ipadama ang aming pagmamahal at suporta para sa tunay na bayani ng ating panahon – kayo. Ang walang humpay na nagsisikap para sa ating bayan (We are here in Bacolod to show our love and support to the true heroes of our times -you. Those who persevere for our country),’ the President said in his message before thousands of beneficiaries of the El Niño cash assistance in Negros Occidental and this highly-urbanized city, at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos football field.

Some 8,315 farmers and fisherfolk severely affected by drought were recipients of PHP10,000 each, totaling PHP83.15 million from the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk and Families (PAFFF) funded by the Office of the President (OP).

Marilyn De
ita, 58, a farmer-beneficiary from Barangay Rizal, Sagay City, said she would use the cash aid to buy rice seeds and resume planting sugarcane after the prolonged heat in the past months damaged her crops.

‘This is really a big help. The drought was a sacrifice for us. My farms have dried up,’ she said.

Fish vendor Roger Alibuda, 54, of Barangay Banago in this city, said he is thankful to receive the PHP10,000 financial assistance that could augment his capital.

‘The prices of fish are going up, which means less profit for us. The amount will also help with my children’s school expenses. I thank the President for this assistance,’ he added.

Each beneficiary also received five kilos of rice from the Office of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the assistance for the beneficiaries in Bacolod City would ensure that the agriculture sector can thrive amid the climate challenges and economic difficulties.

‘You are providing relief to the economic stress experienced b
y our farmers and fisherfolk and promoting sustainable livelihoods,’ he told the President.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the financial aid and additional resources distributed to those severely affected by El Niño would result in significant relief and bring hope to many Negrenses.

‘President Bongbong Marcos, on behalf of a grateful people and province, particularly our hardworking farmers and fisherfolk, I extend our deepest appreciation and thanks for including our province as one of the beneficiaries of the PAFFF,’ he added.

The President also provided monetary support of PHP10 million to the City of Bacolod and PHP50 million to the province of Negros Occidental sourced from the OP-Socio Civic Project Funds.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies and bureaus allocated PHP457.897 million in interventions to individual farmers, farmers cooperatives and associations, and local government units in Negros Occidental.

These include PHP314.174 million w
orth of DA programs such as small irrigation projects, planting materials, hauling trucks, swine and goat multiplier farms, corn seeds and fertilizers, rice hybrid seeds, and rice fertilizer discount vouchers.

Also distributed were PHP143.723 million worth of programs and projects from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Philippine Coconut Authority, and Sugar Regulatory Administration, as well as indemnity for farmers from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.

Thirteen barangays from Silay City were recipients of PHP5.179 million worth of checks for the wages of 1,079 beneficiaries under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) or emergency employment program of the Department of Labor and Employment.

The Department of Trade and Industry funded PHP1.05 million for the two shared service facilities that will benefit the Murcia Integrated Mushroom Growers Ass
ociation and the Association of Negros Producers.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority allocated PHP477,620 worth of starter tool kits and training support funds for various beneficiaries.

Source: Philippines News Agency

South Korea has imposed independent sanctions on four Russian vessels and eight North Koreans for engaging in illicit weapons and fuel trade and other activities in violation of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, Seoul’s foreign ministry said Thursday.

The sanctions also include five entities, including North Korea’s Missile Administration, which is responsible for the latest missile launch on Wednesday that Seoul claims was a failed test, the ministry said in a press release.

The ministry noted that the latest move is in response to a military pact signed between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin during their summit in Pyongyang on June 19. This pact calls for the provision of military and other assistance from one side to the other “with all means” at their disposal and “without delay” if either of the two countries is invaded or enters a state of war.

The four Russian vessels were involved in supplying refined oil to North Korea through ship-to-ship transfers, a
critical resource for North Korea’s development of nuclear and missile armaments.

Such activity violates UNSC sanctions, specifically Resolution 2397 adopted in December 2017, which bans the supply, sale and transfer of luxury items to North Korea.

The sanctioned vessels will require special approval from South Korean port authorities if they wish to enter a South Korean port.

Other entities include Russia-based M Leasing LLC, responsible for weapons trading between Moscow and Pyongyang, and Euromarket, located in Georgia, which has been selling Russian oil to North Korea.

The sanctions also target eight North Koreans, all of whom are involved in developing and managing missiles within North Korea’s Missile Administration, according to the ministry.

Han Kum-bok and Kim Chang-rok are involved in missile development within the agency, while Choi Chol-ung and Ma Chol-wan have been engaged in missile operations. Notably, Choi accompanied North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to Russia last September.

Ryu Sang-hun
, an official spearheading a program to develop a spy satellite, was also responsible for the country’s successful launch of a military spy satellite in November 2023.

The other three North Koreans are involved in the development of ballistic missiles, the ministry said.

Financial and foreign exchange transactions with the sanctioned entities and individuals will require prior approval.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

MANILA: Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday bared that the National Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and Guo Hua Ping have matching fingerprints.

‘Ibig sabihin (Which means), they are the fingerprints of one and the same person,’ Hontiveros said in a statement.

She said the findings also confirmed suspicions that Guo was a fake Filipino, ‘a Chinese national masquerading as Filipino citizen to facilitate crimes being committed by POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations).’

Hontiveros thanked the NBI, headed by Director Jaime Santiago, for its quick action, and called on the Office of the Solicitor General to expedite its filing of a quo warranto case against the suspended mayor.

‘Dapat mapanagot siya sa lahat ng krimen na ginawa niya. Ito na ang pinakamabigat na ebidensya para palayasin na sa pwesto si (She should be made accountable for all the crimes she had committed. This is the strongest evidence to remove from her post) Mayor Alice,’ she said.

‘This revelation is
not the end. Guo Hua Ping, soon, we will know the full extent of your deception. We will dig deeper and locate the systemic roots of our POGO problem,’ Hontiveros said.

Source: Philippines News Agency