Day: April 9, 2023

The Consulate General of Vietnam in Osaka, in collaboration with the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association of Sakai city, Osaka prefecture, and the local administration have organised a special concert to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu, who is also head of the Foreign Ministry’s State Committee for overseas Vietnamese Affairs, said the event and a series of other cultural activities to take place in both countries in the coming time will contribute to promoting cultural exchanges and cohesion between the two nations, adding it is a foundation to build a strong relationship between the two countries in the coming time.

Takei Shunsuke, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, said the bilateral relations are at the best stage and that 2023 is a special time for the two sides to review the achievements they made in the last 50 years and to strive for a better relationship in the next 50 years.

Earlier, during his visit to Japan from April 5-7, Deputy Minister Hieu paid a courtesy visit to the Mayor of Sakai city, received leaders of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association in Sakai city and the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association in Kansai, and met with representatives of Vietnamese associations there./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The US Navy said Saturday it had deployed a nuclear-powered submarine equipped with missiles to the Middle East region. In a statement, US Navy spokesman Timothy Hawkins said submarine Florida entered the area on Thursday and began crossing the Suez Canal. ‘It is capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles,’ Hawkins said. The submarine is ‘deployed to US Fifth Fleet to help ensure regional maritime security and stability,’ the statement said. Bahrain is the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, whose operations include the Gulf region, the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean. It is stationed in the Juffair area, east of the Bahraini capital, Manama. Securing the Gulf region, through whose waters nearly half of the world’s oil supplies pass, is one of the tasks of the US Fifth Fleet.

Source: Philippines News Agency

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is hopeful that the celebration of Easter Sunday would give Filipino Christians around the world a chance for ‘renewal and recovery’. ‘May this day be an opportunity for us to pause and give thanks for the opportunity for renewal and recovery as we push through our quest for genuine unity and progress for all,’ Marcos said in his Easter Sunday message. ‘Indeed, Easter teaches us that as long as we live our life in Christ, love and hope will remain ever so boundless and will be the cornerstones for the positive transformation of our society,’ he said. Marcos said the resurrection of Jesus Christ not only affirms Filipino Christians’ deepest faith ‘but also signifies a new birth for all the faithful to walk in the new way of life and be granted eternal salvation.’ ‘Indeed, His selfless and unconditional love empowered us to conquer both sin and death, allowing us to deepen our relationship with God and become worthy Christians in this earthly journey,’ he added. He said the triumph of the resurrection of Jesus Christ inspires Filipino Christians to be ‘stewards of faith and compassion no matter the circumstances.’ Marcos likewise enjoined Filipino Christians to look forward to ‘better days.’ ‘As we celebrate the magnificent glory of our risen Savior, let us all take into heart this Christian foundation as we work for and welcome better days for ourselves, our families, and our neighbors as well,’ he said. ‘I wish everyone a meaningful and solemn observance.’ ‘Love and serve’ In an interview with reporters last month, Marcos said he will go on a retreat during the Holy Week and he will spend Easter Sunday with his family. In a separate message, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman expressed hope that the Easter celebration would not only remind Filipinos to hold on to the Lord’s promise of everlasting life but also inspire everyone to follow His example to love and serve one another. ‘May we always remember that no matter who we are, no matter which part of the globe we are in, despite our differences in beliefs, religion or leaning, God is always with us. In suffering and celebration, He never leaves us. He is our hope and our salvation,’ Pangandaman, who belongs to the Muslim community, said. ‘May we use this time of renewal as an opportunity to recommit ourselves to showing God’s love and mercy by praying and extending our hands to the least of our brothers and sisters,’ she added. Pangandaman is the first Muslim DBM secretary and the only Muslim in the Marcos Cabinet. ‘Beacons of hope’ Department of National Defense (DND) chief Carlito Galvez Jr. expressed hope that the miracle of Jesus Christ’s resurrection inspires us to continue persevering over adversities. “As we celebrate Easter Sunday, I wish everyone peace, happiness and thousandfold blessings. May the miracle of the Resurrection of Christ inspire us to triumph over adversities and become beacons of hope in our communities,” he said in a separate message. Galvez also said he and the “One Defense Team” are joining “brothers and sisters in the Christian faith” in the observance of Easter Sunday. “During the Lenten Season, as in life, the auspicious and joyful day of Easter Sunday emanates from overcoming uncertainties and hardships, as symbolized by the Passion of Jesus,” he added. Galvez also expressed hope that this solemn period allows us to rejuvenate our faith, manifest temperance, and rekindle love in our hearts. “As we celebrate Easter Sunday, I wish everyone peace, happiness and thousandfold blessings. May the miracle of the Resurrection of Christ inspire us to triumph over adversities and become beacons of hope in our communities. A blessed and meaningful Easter Sunday to all!” he stressed. ‘Better and brighter tomorrow’ As this developed, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) joined members of the Christian community across the globe in celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “May this occasion serve as an inspiration to all of us that despite the trials that come our way which test our resolve, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and the promise of a better and brighter tomorrow,” OPAPRU acting chief Secretary Isidro L. Purisima said in a statement. And as the nation moves towards the peace process, he also expressed hope that Christ’s resurrection may give us the strength to overcome challenges to this endeavor. “As we continue to move forward the nation’s peace process, ensure security and stability as well as economic development, may the risen Christ give us the strength of mind, body and spirit to overcome them, and bring us together in the spirit of peace, mutual understanding and solidarity,” Purisima noted. House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez likewise called for rest and reflection. It is a time of great joy and jubilation, for our Lord Jesus rose from the dead after dying to redeem us from our sins. It is also a time of hope, for in our Lord’s Resurrection we find that the promise of eternal life holds true for all of Christianity,’ Romualdez said. He said we should thank God for ‘our health, our safety, and the blessings and bounty of nature,’ and for the ‘opportunity to physically celebrate with our friends, family, and colleagues, which the restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic have prevented us from doing so in the past years.’ Easter Sunday marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after he was crucified and died on the cross on Calvary. In the Philippines, most commercial establishments either operate on shorter hours or remain closed until Easter Sunday. The observance of Holy Week this year is from April 2, Palm Sunday, until April 9, Easter Sunday

Source: Philippines News Agency

A low pressure area (LPA) is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Sunday night and likely to become tropical depression after six days. In its 4 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA was spotted 1,285 kilometers east of Mindanao at 3 a.m. Sunday. Benison Estareja of PAGASA said once inside PAR, the LPA is forecast to remain at the Philippine Sea before slowly crossing eastern of Visayas and Mindanao by Thursday. ‘So, the crucial part is Thursday or Friday where there is a likely chance for this LPA, or worst case scenario, this tropical depression will cross Bicol region or central and northern Luzon,’ he said. Though still outside PAR, the trough of LPA will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Eastern Visayas, Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands, the weather bureau said. Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Region will experience cloudy skies with rains due to northeasterly surface windflow. Ilocos Region and Central Luzon will have cloudy to cloudy skies with light rains also due to northeasterly surface windflow. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to trough of LPA and localized thunderstorms. Luzon and eastern section of Visayas will experience moderate to rough coastal waters due to northeast moderate to strong winds. The rest of the country will have light to moderate winds blowing northeast to northwest and slight to moderate seas. The temperate ranges between 24.6 °C to 34.3 °C

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Saturday said its Lockheed C-130 “Hercules” cargo aircraft is undamaged after its left landing gear got stuck in the mud at Catarman Airport in Samar. PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said the crew of the C-130 aircraft, with tail number 5011, conducted precautionary measures to get the left landing gear safely out of the mud sans any damage. The aircraft landed in Mactan, Cebu at about 6:24 p.m. No crew or passengers were hurt. “O/a (on around) 1430 (2:30 p.m.) C-130 # 5011, while maneuvering for a 180 degree turn to preposition for takeoff at the threshold of Catarman Samar Airport, inadvertently got its left landing gear (wheel) stuck in the mud at the edge of the runway. It had been raining in the area which caused the softening of a part of the grassy ground where the tight turn had to be made,” Castillo said in a message sent to the media. She said they appreciate the public’s concern over the mishap and assures of the PAF’s ‘commitment and highest regard for safety as we perform our missions in service of our country and people.” The PAF has at least three C-130s in its fleet with another three units expected to be delivered within two to three years. The C-130s are the Air Force’s primary cargo lifters and used extensively in troop transport, resupply, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions

Source: Philippines News Agency

Western Command (Wescom) head, Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, led an aerial inspection of the Malampaya Natural Gas Platform, considered the country’s “energy crown jewel,’ over the weekend. In a Facebook post Saturday, Wescom said the inspection is part of its commitment to “ensure steady power supply during the Holy Week and throughout the summer months when demand is expected to peak.” After his aerial inspection, Carlos landed on the Matinloc platform, some 42 kilometers off mainland El Nido, Palawan to talk to the seven-man team stationed there and assess the condition of the station and its power and water supplies. He also met with the ranking commanders of Joint Task Force (JTF) Malampaya. led by Navy Capt. Brendo Casaclang, to discuss the challenges of securing the energy projects in the ‘western frontier.’ “It is important for us to ensure the uninterrupted oil supply chain from Malampaya as it accounts for 40 percent of Luzon’s power requirement. Any interruption to this line may mean a minimum of a 10-hour blackout,’ Carlos stressed. To make the most of the Malampaya visit, Carlos observed the operation of the Philippine Navy’s unmanned aerial system (UAS) flight unit stationed in El Nido. The UAS flight unit is under the Naval Air Wing and is currently attached and operationally controlled by Wescom to provide sustained maritime domain awareness picture in the JTF Malampaya’s area of operations. “As the Navy’s Gray Eagle, the most senior naval aviator still in active service, Vice Admiral Carlos noted the strong presence of naval air assets in (the) JTF Malampaya area. In addition to the UAS flight unit, maritime patrol aircraft NV-312 and AW-109 naval helicopter NH-431 are also flying regular air patrols in northern Palawan,” the Facebook post read.

Source: Philippines News Agency