CANADIAN BANK FINED
FOR FAILING TO REPORT
SUSPICIOUS DEALING
OLYMPIC FLAME TO BE LIT
APRIL 21 IN OLYMPIA
The federal anti-money
laundering agency has levied a
$1.1-million penalty against an
unnamed Canadian bank.
The Greek Olympic Committee
president and Olympic Torch Relay
Commission chairman announced
that after a relay, the flame will be
handed over to Rio officials.
>NEWS PAGE 2
>SPORTS PAGE 23
April 2016 Vol. 2 No. 4
METROVAN INDEPENDENT MEDIA
PH-US War Games
MANILA -- US and Philippine troops began
major exercises as China's state media
warned "outsiders" against interfering in
tense South China Sea territorial disputes.
The official Xinhua news agency gave
the warning as Manila and Washington
launched the 11-day Balikatan (Shoulder-toShoulder) exercises with a low-key opening
ceremony in Manila.
US Defense Secretary Ash Carter is to
fly to the Philippines next week to observe
live-firing of artillery and visit US Navy ships
taking part.
Carter is the first top US defense official
to observe the war games since both
governments started holding joint military
exercises. His visit also coincides with the
implementation of a new military agreement
between the two countries, the Enhanced
Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
"The Secretary is going to be here
toward the end of the exercise. He’s going
to actually observe a couple of things.
He’s very interested in the High Mobility
Rocket System and how that works and
he’s also going to spend some time out at
sea with the US Navy ships that’s going to
be out there," said Lieutenant General John
Toolan, Balikatan 2016 co-director.
"I believe that his main purpose here is
to reaffirm that the relationship we have with
the Philippines is rock solid," Toolan added.
EDCA allows the US military to build
facilities and preposition defense assets
inside Philippine military bases. It was
negotiated against the backdrop of rising
tension in the West Philippine Sea (South
China Sea), but the implementation was
delayed because of legal challenges.
> NEWS PAGE 3
www.metrovanindependent.com
RBC denies
wrongdoing after
being named in
Panama Papers
Royal Bank of Canada said Monday it
has "high standards" to ensure none of the
foreign corporations it helps set up for its
clients are being used to evade taxes in
Canada or anywhere else.
The bank is one of thousands named
in a massive data dump known as
the Panama Papers, which appear to
outline how Panamanian law firm Mossack
Fonseca has helped countless international
power brokers set up foreign corporations.
The full scale of the data has yet to
be revealed. It was confirmed that the
documents show Canada's biggest lender
used Mossack Fonseca's services to set
up at least 370 such entities for its clients
over the years.
> NEWS PAGE 2
Pacquiao dodges
near-assault in LA
Filipino boxing champion Manny
Pacquiao reportedly dodged an assault
attempt outside of Kabuki restaurant in Los
Angeles, according to reports.
Per Philippine Star boxing reporter
Abac Cordero, a "white male" had to
be "restrained by Pacquiao aides" from
assaulting the 8-division boxing champion
as he was exiting the restaurant.
The boxer was by the door of his Ferrari
at the backdoor parking lot when the
unidentified assailant “rushed to him.” As
he was held back, the attacker reportedly
screamed “F-ck you” at Pacquiao.
The first two heavy landing ships sold by Australia to the Philippine navy.
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