MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday pledged that his administration will continue to defend the Philippines' maritime territory as well as the rights of Filipino fisherfolk.

Marcos made the vow as he justified his recent order to remove the floating barriers installed by the China Coast Guard in the southeast entrance of Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc.

GENEVA – Germany and Israel on Thursday signed an agreement for Berlin's purchase of the Arrow 3 missile defense system.

The defense ministers of Germany and Israel, Boris Pistorius and Joav Galant, signed a memorandum of understanding for the purchase in Berlin. The procurement authorities of both countries also signed an agreement on the start of Arrow 3 production.

MANILA – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) urged motorcycle riders who are either beginners or experienced riders to enroll in the agency's Motorcycle Riding Academy which opened Wednesday.

MMDA acting chair Don Artes led the inauguration of the academy at Julia Vargas Avenue corner Meralco Avenue in Pasig City.

SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands – Some 5,000 coconut growers whose farms were destroyed by Typhoon Odette in December 2021 will benefit from several assistance packages from the Philippine Coconut Authority in the Caraga Region (PCA-13).

In partnership with the provincial government of Dinagat Islands, PCA-13 said the assistance includes the establishment of nurseries for the propagation of hybrid planting materials to replace the damaged coconut trees.

A 13-year-old tabby cat from Missouri U.S. recently set a Guinness World Record title for having the most skips by a cat in a minute.

According to Kit Kat's owner and trainer, Trisha Seifried, her cat was able to jump the rope nine times in just one minute.