Day: June 30, 2024

SEOUL: North Korea vowed Sunday to take “offensive and overwhelming countermeasures” to protect its sovereignty as it condemned South Korea, the United States and Japan for their recent joint military exercises.

The move came amid a growing North Korea-Russia alignment after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a “comprehensive strategic partnership” treaty that calls for providing military assistance to each other without delay if either side comes under an armed attack.

North Korea will “never overlook the moves of the U.S. and its followers to strengthen the military bloc … but firmly defend the sovereignty, security and interests of the state and peace in the region through offensive and overwhelming countermeasures,” North Korea’s foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the country’s official Korean Central News Agency.

The ministry did not elaborate on what it meant by countermeasures.

On Saturday, South Korea, the U.S. and Japan wrapped up their firs
t, three-day trilateral multi-domian military exercise, titled “Freedom Edge,” aimed at strengthening their deterrence against North Korean threats.

The three nations have had combined maritime and aerial exercises before, but Freedom Edge was the first trilateral exercise held across multiple domains, including air, maritime, underwater and cyber.

South Korea’s defense ministry said the trilateral exercise is “defensive in nature.”

“Our military will firmly respond to any threat or provocation from North Korea that destroys peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula based on the overwhelming South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture,” the ministry said.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

SEOUL: Houses and roads were flooded Sunday as strong winds and heavy rain pounded the country, disrupting flights and passenger ships, and causing landslides and power outages in some areas, fire and provincial authorities said.

Due to heavy rain that began Saturday, 18 domestic flights were canceled, and 13 domestic and international flights had been delayed at Jeju International Airport on the southern resort island of Jeju as of 10 a.m.

Passenger ships connecting Incheon, west of Seoul, and nearby islands as well as those operating in South Jeolla Province were affected by the severe weather. Entry to five national parks in South Jeolla Province was also banned.

Power outages were reported in the southeastern cities of Changwon and Busan on Sunday morning, affecting more than 1,800 households.

In the central city of Daejeon, rocks tumbled a few meters down a hill before landing near a house. No casualties were reported.

A landslide at a construction site in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, swept over two
nearby houses, prompting four residents to evacuate.

Most of the advisories on strong winds and heavy rains had been lifted as of 5 p.m.

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast daytime temperatures to rise to above 30 C in most parts of the country Monday before monsoon season rains begin Tuesday.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

MANILA: Over 41,000 Las Piñas City voters approved the delineation of its 20 villages, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported on Sunday.

A plebiscite was held Saturday for the approval of City Ordinance No. 1941-23 which delineates the territorial boundaries of 20 barangays to match the cadastral survey approved in 2015 by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Based on the Certificate of Canvass (COC) of the Las Piñas plebiscite, a total of 41,493 registered voters voted ‘yes’ while 19,498 said ‘no’ against the ordinance.

The plebiscite was conducted from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in 30 voting centers — 14 in District 1 and 16 in District 2.

The voters, however, were just 20 percent of the total 308,059 registered voters.

‘On the basis of the foregoing, we hereby proclaim that ordinance delineating the territorial boundaries of the twenty (20) Barangays of Las Piñas City to conform with the approved Cadastral Survey of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) compl
eted in March 2015, pursuant to the City Ordinance No. 1941-21, Series of 2023 dated April 24, 2023, was ratified… by the majority of the votes cast in the City of Las Piñas, National Capital Region on June 29, 2024. In witness whereof, we have signed these presents at the City of Las Piñas, National Capital Region this 30th day of June 2024,’ the City Plebiscite Board of Canvassers said in the signed COC.

‘Effective na po ang delineation ng 20 barangays based sa ordinance, (The ordinance that delineates 20 barangays is now effective,’ Comelec chief George Garcia said in a statement.

Las Piñas election officer, lawyer Datumama Macainding, said the plebiscite was conducted to settle the issue among villages with overlapping boundaries.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Nominations for the 2nd Philippine Resilience Awards (PRA), an initiative that recognizes outstanding contributions to climate action and disaster resilience, are now open.

Under the theme ‘Kabataan at Kababaihan: Katatagan ng Bayan,’ this year’s awards will honor both women champions and youth leaders from across the country.

In 2023, Mayor Joy Belmonte of Quezon City; Director Alicia Ilaga from the Department of Agriculture; Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral of the Department of Public Works and Highways; Dr. Shirley Agrupis, president of the Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte; Dr. Joy Mirasol, president of the Bukidnon State University; and Maria Vicente Jalandoni, president of the Base Bahay Foundation, Inc. were among the notable awardees for exemplifying resilience and dedication to climate action and disaster risk reduction.

Following the success of last year’s awards, which highlighted the remarkable achievements of women champions, the PRA now broadens its scope to i
nclude the youth, to reflect the program’s commitment to inclusivity and recognition of leaders across multiple sectors.

Women Resilience Champions showcase exceptional leadership in climate risk reduction, emphasizing their central role in resilience building. Youth Resilience Champions are young leaders committed to build resilient communities through science-based and evidence-informed risk and resilience governance.

Initiated by the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, the PRA is supported by a distinguished group of partners: the Climate Change Commission, Philippine Commission on Women, National Resilience Council, Carlos P. Romulo Foundation, SM Prime, ARISE Philippines, and Women’s International Network on DRR – Philippines.

‘Together, under the banner of ‘Kabataan at Kababaihan: Katatagan ng Bayan,’ let’s move towards a more sustainable and resilient future. Join us in recognizing and empowering the champions leading the way in climate action,’ Legarda said in a news release on Saturday.

Qualified no
minees are invited to submit their applications through the PRA nomination portal. The nomination period is open until July 31, 2024.

For more information on nomination guidelines, eligibility, and submission procedures, visit https://bit.ly/2024PRA-NominateWomen for Women Champions and https://bit.ly/2024PRA-NominateYouth for Youth Champions.

The PRA is a recognition program that seeks to honor champions of resilience who have made significant contributions in climate and disaster risk reduction in their communities.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos hosted a concert Sunday night at the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacañang Palace, Manila to honor the sacrifices and dedication of Filipino healthcare workers.

Dubbed ‘Konsyerto sa Palasyo: Para sa ating mga Healthcare Workers’ (Concert at the Palace: For our Healthcare Workers), it showcased Filipino talents in singing, dancing, and various forms of art.

Filipino nurses in the United Kingdom (UK) — Xyza Macutay-Malloch, Louie Horne and Charito Leonardo-Romano, recipients of the British Empire Medal (BEM), were among the attendees. They were acknowledged during the concert.

Malloch of Ilagan, Isabela received the BEM in 2021 for her outstanding contributions to British society during the Covid-19 pandemic.

She was invited to witness His Royal Highness King Charles III’s coronation at Westminster Abbey in May.

Horne received the BEM last year for her contributions to nursing and advocacy for international staff within the National Hea
lth Service, becoming the first Filipino Lamp Bearer at the 58th Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service at Westminster.

Meanwhile, Romano received her BEM in 2021 for her commendable work in the UK during the pandemic.

Filipino music icon Martin Nievera led the lineup of local artists who ascended the Palace stage.

At one point during his performance, the singer handed President Marcos the microphone to sing parts of his classic hit ‘Be My Lady,’ to which the President gamely obliged, much to the delight of the First Lady and the crowd.

Douglas Nierras’ Powerdance dance group; ‘The Clash Philippines’ finalist Garrett Bolden; singer and former child actor Brenan Espartinez; singer and music coach Justin Taller; singer Christel Galacan; and singer and theater artist Lara Maigue also performed.

Joining them were singer Alyn Magadia, along with ‘6th Pilipinas Got Talent’ aerial dance winner Kristel de Catalina and former ‘The Voice Generation’ contestants the Ayta Brothers.

83 ‘Lab for All’ medical truc
ks

During the concert, a video presentation showed the 83 “Lab for All” medical trucks that will be distributed to all the provinces across the country.

Lab for All is the health and social services program of the First Lady.

Malacañang held the first ‘Konsyerto sa Palasyo’ for soldiers in April last year, then for athletes (August 2023) and teachers (October 2023).

Source: Philippines News Agency

BEIRUT: Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib urged countries to show solidarity with Lebanon in the face of Israeli threats to launch a war.

Bou Habib was commenting on countries that issued warnings in recent days to their nationals to leave or avoid travel to Lebanon amid tension with Israel.

He urged the countries to replace those statements that “causes concern among citizens and visitors (to Lebanon),” with solidarity statements that show them standing with Lebanon.

Bou Habib also encouraged the countries to intensify efforts to pressure Israel to stop its military assaults against Lebanon.

Amid growing tension between Israel and Lebanon, several countries, including Germany, Canada, North Macedonia, Netherlands, the US and others have urged their nationals to leave or avoid travel to Lebanon.

In recent weeks, tensions have escalated between the Israeli army and the Lebanese resistance group, Hezbollah, raising concerns about a potential full-scale war following Tel Aviv’s recent approval of
operational plans for a ‘wide-scale attack’ against Lebanon.

Tensions have soared along Lebanon’s border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv presses ahead with its deadly offensive against the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 37,700 victims since Oct. 7.

Source: Philippines News Agency