JAKARTA: Beijing and Jakarta signed a series of economic agreements yesterday as Chinese President Xi Jinping began a trade-focused trip to Indonesia, his first visit to Southeast Asia since taking power. Like its Asian peers Japan and South Korea, China is seeking to strengthen its presence in the booming Indonesian economy, which has been a leading destination for foreign investment in recent years. During his two-day trip, Xi, who took power in March, will today become the first foreign leader to address the Indonesian parliament. “Both countries are very big, both are developing countries, and we have great influence in the region and in the world,” Xi said after the meeting.
Robbers kill legislator’s kin
BACOLOD CITY: An aunt of Bayan Muna party-list Rep Neri Colmenares was shot dead by three robbers who barged into her home in La Castellana town, Negros Occidental on Saturday. elia Colmenares, 54, died on the spot from gunshots to the abdomen, while her two children – Antonio Jose, 28, and Ma Pamela, 19 – were wounded when armed men raided their home in Sitio Mananawin, Barangay Masulong at about 3pm. The robbers failed to open the family’s safety vault, according to investigators. Senior Superintendent Milko Lirazan, Negros Occidental police provincial director, said the victims were taken to the Riverside Medical Centre in this city for treatment.
58 gun ban violators held
MANILA: Fifty-eight people have been arrested by authorities in connection with the nationwide Commission on Election gun ban for the October 28 barangay polls, the Philippine National Police said yesterday. The gun ban violators were apprehended since the start of the election period last September 28. It will last until November 12. Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor, spokesperson to the PNP chief, said that of the figure, 54 were civilian; two were policemen, a security and a government official. Under the gun ban rule, violators will be jailed from one to six years, permanent disqualification from holding public office, and stripped of their right to vote. Authorities also has seized arms and ammunition. Agencies
