Australian Foreign Minister arrives in PH for official visit | ABS-CBN
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Australian Foreign Minister arrives in PH for official visit
Australian Foreign Minister arrives in PH for official visit
ABS-CBN News
Published May 17, 2023 09:50 PM PHT
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Updated May 18, 2023 12:36 AM PHT
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MANILA - Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has arrived in Manila for a four-day official visit.
MANILA - Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has arrived in Manila for a four-day official visit.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) posted photos of Wong as she was welcomed by DFA USec. Antonio Morales, Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen De La Vega and Deputy Chief of Protocol Mary Jennifer Dingal at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) posted photos of Wong as she was welcomed by DFA USec. Antonio Morales, Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen De La Vega and Deputy Chief of Protocol Mary Jennifer Dingal at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday.
DFA Undersecretary Antonio Morales, PH Ambassador to AU Ma. Hellen De La Vega, and Deputy Chief of Protocol Mary Jennifer Dingal welcome AU Foreign Minister Penny Wong @SenatorWong at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on 16 May 2023. pic.twitter.com/kNhE0VG45N
— DFA Philippines 🇵🇭 (@DFAPHL) May 17, 2023
DFA Undersecretary Antonio Morales, PH Ambassador to AU Ma. Hellen De La Vega, and Deputy Chief of Protocol Mary Jennifer Dingal welcome AU Foreign Minister Penny Wong @SenatorWong at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on 16 May 2023. pic.twitter.com/kNhE0VG45N
— DFA Philippines 🇵🇭 (@DFAPHL) May 17, 2023
DFA also said Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo invited Wong to Manila “to discuss further strengthening the Comprehensive Partnership between the Philippines and Australia.”
DFA also said Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo invited Wong to Manila “to discuss further strengthening the Comprehensive Partnership between the Philippines and Australia.”
DFA earlier said Wong will be in the country from May 16 to 19.
DFA earlier said Wong will be in the country from May 16 to 19.
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Manalo and Wong on May 18 will discuss various issues of mutual interest to both countries.
Manalo and Wong on May 18 will discuss various issues of mutual interest to both countries.
Wong’s visit to the Philippines is her first since assuming office in May 2022.
Wong’s visit to the Philippines is her first since assuming office in May 2022.
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DFA
Department of Foreign Affairs
Australia Foreign Minister
Penny Wong
Enrique Manalo
official visit
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Hamas says ready to free all hostages at once in Gaza truce phase two
Hamas says ready to free all hostages at once in Gaza truce phase two
Agence France-Presse
Published Feb 20, 2025 12:58 AM PHT
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Palestinian militant group Hamas fighters secure an area before handing over two Israeli hostages to a Red Cross team in Khan Yunis on February 1, 2025, as part of fourth hostage-prisoner exchange. Eyad Baba, AFP/File
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GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories -- Hamas signaled on Wednesday that it was willing to free all remaining hostages held in Gaza in a single swap during the next phase of the ongoing ceasefire agreement.
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories -- Hamas signaled on Wednesday that it was willing to free all remaining hostages held in Gaza in a single swap during the next phase of the ongoing ceasefire agreement.
Israel and Hamas are currently in the process of implementing phase one of the fragile Gaza truce, which has held since taking effect on January 19 despite accusations of violations on both sides.
Israel and Hamas are currently in the process of implementing phase one of the fragile Gaza truce, which has held since taking effect on January 19 despite accusations of violations on both sides.
Israel's foreign minister said on Tuesday that talks would begin "this week" on the second phase, which is expected to lay out a more permanent end to the war.
Israel's foreign minister said on Tuesday that talks would begin "this week" on the second phase, which is expected to lay out a more permanent end to the war.
"We have informed the mediators that Hamas is ready to release all hostages in one batch during the second phase of the agreement, rather than in stages, as in the current first phase," senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP.
"We have informed the mediators that Hamas is ready to release all hostages in one batch during the second phase of the agreement, rather than in stages, as in the current first phase," senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP.
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He did not clarify how many hostages were currently being held by Hamas or other militant groups.
He did not clarify how many hostages were currently being held by Hamas or other militant groups.
Nunu said this step was meant "to confirm our seriousness and complete readiness to move forward in resolving this issue, as well as to continue steps towards cementing the ceasefire and achieving a sustainable truce".
Nunu said this step was meant "to confirm our seriousness and complete readiness to move forward in resolving this issue, as well as to continue steps towards cementing the ceasefire and achieving a sustainable truce".
Under the ceasefire's first phase, 19 Israeli hostages have been released by militants so far in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli jails in a series of Red Cross-mediated swaps.
Under the ceasefire's first phase, 19 Israeli hostages have been released by militants so far in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli jails in a series of Red Cross-mediated swaps.
Wednesday's offer came after Israel and Hamas announced a deal for the return of all six remaining living hostages eligible for release under phase one in a single swap this weekend.
Wednesday's offer came after Israel and Hamas announced a deal for the return of all six remaining living hostages eligible for release under phase one in a single swap this weekend.
After the completion of the first phase, 58 hostages will remain in Gaza.
After the completion of the first phase, 58 hostages will remain in Gaza.
- 'Held onto hope' -
Hamas also agreed on Tuesday to return the bodies of eight dead hostages in two groups this week and next, including the remains of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Kfir and Ariel, who have become national symbols in Israel of the hostages' ordeal.
Hamas also agreed on Tuesday to return the bodies of eight dead hostages in two groups this week and next, including the remains of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Kfir and Ariel, who have become national symbols in Israel of the hostages' ordeal.
The boys' father Yarden Bibas was taken hostage separately on October 7, 2023, and was released alive during an earlier hostage-prisoner swap.
The boys' father Yarden Bibas was taken hostage separately on October 7, 2023, and was released alive during an earlier hostage-prisoner swap.
While Hamas said Shiri Bibas and her boys were killed in an Israeli air strike early in the war, Israel has never confirmed this, and many supporters remain unconvinced of their deaths, including members of the Bibas family.
While Hamas said Shiri Bibas and her boys were killed in an Israeli air strike early in the war, Israel has never confirmed this, and many supporters remain unconvinced of their deaths, including members of the Bibas family.
"I ask that no one eulogize my family just yet. We have held onto hope for 16 months, and we are not giving up now," the boys' aunt, Ofri Bibas, wrote on Facebook on Tuesday night following Hamas's announcement.
"I ask that no one eulogize my family just yet. We have held onto hope for 16 months, and we are not giving up now," the boys' aunt, Ofri Bibas, wrote on Facebook on Tuesday night following Hamas's announcement.
Israeli authorities have confirmed that the remains of four hostages are due to be returned on Thursday, although they have not officially named them.
Israeli authorities have confirmed that the remains of four hostages are due to be returned on Thursday, although they have not officially named them.
The national forensic institute in Tel Aviv has mobilized 10 doctors to expedite the identification process, public broadcaster Kan reported on Wednesday.
The national forensic institute in Tel Aviv has mobilized 10 doctors to expedite the identification process, public broadcaster Kan reported on Wednesday.
Hamas and its allies took 251 people hostage during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, of whom 70 remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
Hamas and its allies took 251 people hostage during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, of whom 70 remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
The October attack resulted in the deaths of 1,211 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
The October attack resulted in the deaths of 1,211 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 48,297 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory that the United Nations considers reliable.
Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 48,297 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory that the United Nations considers reliable.
© Agence France-Presse
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