MANILA, Philippines — Japan has offered to assist the Philippines develop its own military-industrial complex via strategic technology transfers and outright equipment donations, a source at the defense department told the Inquirer on Wednesday. The talks were staged a few months after both countries agreed to expand defense cooperation. The two countries’ foreign and defense ministers met in April to expand defense cooperation amid concerns over the situations in the East and South China Seas and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Closer tiesThe officials agreed to boost defense cooperation through defense capability and capacity building, joint exercises, reciprocal visits, and the transfer of more equipment and technology. ADVERTISEMENTJapan has also transferred defense and technology equipment that could help the Philippines boost patrols in the South China Sea, where it has territorial disputes with China.

As many people have discovered lately in the last two years, Hong Kong has many stunningly beautiful hiking trails that await your discovery. For an exciting new challenge, take the “Fly & Hike” package that is certain to put a smile on the face of your outdoorsy dad! Currently, Heliservices is offering another special package “Fly to the Beach” at $37,500 that includes the return flight and a 30-minute leisure time. After a sightseeing tour of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong’s famed Geopark, you can land on a pristine beach of your choice, take a stroll and take lots of selfies with family and friends. --------------------Heliservices (HK) LimitedBooking hotline: +852 2802 0200Email: info@heliservices.com.hkWebsite: www.heliservices.com.hk

Customs detected a suspected money laundering case and arrested a woman on Wednesday. She is suspected of remitting suspicious funds via local banks and participating in money laundering activities. Officers raided two residential premises and a licensed money changer on Wednesday and seized one mobile phone and four bank cards. A 51-year-old woman was arrested for dealing with property known or reasonably believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, commonly known as money laundering. The maximum penalty for money laundering activities upon conviction is a fine of HK$5 million and imprisonment for 14 years while the crime proceeds are also subject to confiscation.

IMAGE BY ME-MYSELF-AND-I VIA PIXABAYRIYADH: Saudi officials are seizing rainbow-colored toys and articles of clothing from shops in the capital as part of a crackdown on homosexuality, state media reported. Gesturing toward a rainbow flag, a journalist says: "The homosexuality flag is present in one of the Riyadh markets." The colors send a "poisoned message" to children, the report says. The Al-Ekhbariya report also showed stills of Benedict Cumberbatch in "Doctor Strange" and of apparently foreign children waving rainbow flags. The report did not detail how many establishments were targeted or items seized in the operation, and Saudi officials did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment on Wednesday.

MANILA, Philippines — Red-tagging puts labeled people or groups in danger, so, instead of publicly tagging them as connected to armed groups, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the government should file charges against them if they have evidence. [Otherwise] stop labeling them,” Guevarra said. The outgoing DOJ chief said the DOJ already expressed its position to the NTF-ELCAC but he is not aware if his advice has been followed. Earlier, in-coming National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos expressed similar sentiments and expressed her disapproval of red-tagging. RELATED STORIES:ADVERTISEMENTHealth workers slam Badoy for ‘red-tagging’ them againUPV decries red-tagging of studentsIntel chief Red-tags publishing companyJPVSubscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address.

MANILA, Philippines — Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Tuesday suggested building permanent civilian installations at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal and other parts of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to enforce Philippine control over its waters. “We should construct a more permanent platform with a lighthouse and marine research station (there),” Carpio told the Inquirer. The DFA filed a diplomatic protest against the latest Chinese actions, and also against the return of dozens of Chinese maritime militia boats at Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef. But their usual route to the Sierra Madre from the east was blocked by the Chinese with nets and buoys. —WITH A REPORT FROM FRANCES MANGOSINGRELATED STORIESCarpio: Next president should protect PH’s marine wealthCarpio: Chinese ships in West PH Sea reef could be a ‘prelude’ to occupationCarpio to youth: Defend West Philippine Sea without letupRead Next

SENATOR-elect Robin Padilla, who topped the recent May 9, 2022 national elections, outvoting veteran senators, both incumbent and returning senators, attended a briefing on the legislative process on Tuesday, June 14. Padilla has also taken lessons at the Development Academy of the Philippines in preparation for his new mandate. Talking to Senate reporters, he said he is now 100 percent ready to perform his duties as a senator, including debating with his fellow legislators using Tagalog, not English. Padilla argued that he will be using Tagalog since he will be debating with fellow Filipino legislators, not Americans. He clarified, however, that he will also be using English if there is a need for it.

THE global market for marine propellers is estimated to increase to $6.1 billion by 2026, from the projected $5 billion in 2022, driven by the growth in global seaborne trade, according to Global Industry Analysts Inc. (GIA). GIA, one of the premier market research companies, published a report entitled, "Marine propellers – Global market trajectory and analytics." It said the world marine propellers market is projected to reach a revised size of $6.1 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.5 percent. It also sees that the rising maritime tourism contributes to the growth of the marine propellers market. Maritime transport constitutes the most important component facilitating global trade, as 90 percent of worldwide merchandise that is traded is carried by ships.

SHARES in the management agency of the K-pop supergroup BTS plummeted Wednesday in early trading in Seoul after the band announced they were taking an indefinite break. The news sent shares of the band's label HYBE tumbling -- it was down about 27 percent as of 10:40 a.m. local time (0140 GMT). The group cited the pressures of fame and success in explaining the break, and said they planned to focus on solo pursuits. BTS recently made headlines for visiting the White House to deliver a message to US President Joe Biden on the fight against anti-Asian racism. BTS has said they were going on short breaks before, first in 2019 and later in December 2021.

Hong Kong celebrated a slice of history on Tuesday after reaching the Asian Cup for the first time in 54 years. The big win sent the Palestinians through and they took several other teams with them including India and Hong Kong. Hong Kong and India are now guaranteed spots before they face off in Kolkata. "We did it," Hong Kong midfielder Wong Wai wrote on Instagram, while team-mate Leung Kwun-chung posted: "We are in the history." Hong Kong qualified despite the domestic league being put on hold after Covid cases surged in the city of 7.5 million people earlier this year.

Hong Kong reported 752 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, as the city's health chief said patrons of bars and pubs would have to present proof of negative rapid test results. Among the cases, 348 were confirmed via PCR tests, and 404 were positive RAT results further verified by health authorities. Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said the number of confirmed cases was rising, expecting to hit four digits again this month. The authorities received 134 cases reported from 112 schools, involving 103 students and 31 staff members. Two more nurses from the psychiatric department of United Christian Hospital confirmed who had attended the same gathering as patients confirmed yesterday.

THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of 45 officials and employees of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) implicated in the "pastillas" scheme. The Ombudsman found them liable for grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Nevertheless, all the accessory penalties of dismissal from the service shall apply," a consolidated decision signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on May 27, 2022 said. On June 6, 2022, the Office of the Ombudsman filed a graft complaint before the Sandiganbayan against former BI deputy commissioner Marc Red Mariñas and other individuals in connection with the pastillas scheme. On Monday, acting spokesman and Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar said the Ombudsman indictment proves that "there are no sacred cows in the Duterte administration."

Hongkongers will lose another piece of their collective memory as Jumbo Floating Restaurant started being towed away on Tuesday noon and heading to the southern waters of Hong Kong. Two tugboats and three escort vessels were seen at around 11.30am towing the floating restaurant, and leaving the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter after 12pm. Hoardings were being installed in the floating restaurant starting from Sunday. For almost half a century, the Jumbo in Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter and its smaller vessel, Tak Pak Restaurant, have been destinations for families and tourists. Its parent company cited lack of funds to maintain the restaurant’s structural integrity amid a three-month shutdown.

HONG KONG: Markets tumbled in Asia and Europe on Monday to extend a global rout while the dollar soared after a forecast-beating United States inflation print ramped up bets that the Federal Reserve (Fed) would be more aggressive in hiking interest rates. "For the last few weeks, there has been a cautious calm in markets — rates not pricing anything unforeseen, and equities able to make small gains," SPI Asset Management's Stephen Innes said. "The market is now thinking much more about the Fed driving rates sharply higher to get on top of inflation and then having to cut back as growth drops." Wall Street's three main indexes tanked, with the Nasdaq taking the heaviest blow as technology firms — which are susceptible to higher rates — were battered, while European markets were also hammered. "The ongoing backdrop to the yen's fall is the growing gap between long-term interest rates in Japan and the US," Takahide Kinouchi, executive economist at Nomura Research Institute, said in a recent commentary.

LEGAZPI CITY — Two farmers were killed in a shooting incident in Libon town in Albay on Monday morning. Maj. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of Bicol police, identified the victims as Antonio Losabia and Martin Maraño, both residents of Barangay Libtong in the said town. ADVERTISEMENTInitial investigation showed that while the victims were walking toward the village proper, they were shot by unidentified suspects that caused their instant death at around 9:30 a.m.Police were immediately deployed to the area to conduct a checkpoint for possible arrest of the suspects. INQRELATED STORYDOJ asks NBI to probe killing of two activist farmers in AlbaySubscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy PolicyRead Next