tours

Feb. 4 (Asia Today) — Canada’s minister responsible for defense procurement toured major South Korean defense companies this week, praising their technology and production capabilities as Ottawa moves ahead with large-scale land and naval modernization plans.

Stephen Fuhr, Canada’s minister of state for defense procurement, visited facilities operated by HD Hyundai and Hanwha during a three-day trip to South Korea, industry officials said Tuesday.

Canada is preparing to procure new submarines valued at up to 60 trillion won ($44.9 billion) and self-propelled howitzers worth about 8 trillion won ($6.0 billion). Korean firms used the visit to highlight their submarine construction, artificial intelligence applications and plans for local production in Canada.

HD Hyundai said Fuhr and his delegation toured its research and development center in Pangyo, south of Seoul, where they reviewed models of destroyers, frigates and submarines built by its shipbuilding arm, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. The delegation also examined progress on autonomous ship technologies incorporating AI.

Earlier, Fuhr visited Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard and boarded the Jang Young-sil, a next-generation Korean submarine proposed for Canada’s Canadian Patrol Submarine Project. The project, with bids due in early March, is expected to reach up to 60 trillion won and has attracted competition from Germany’s TKMS.

Industry officials said Fuhr’s tight schedule, traveling from South Gyeongsang Province to Gyeonggi Province, reflected Ottawa’s intent to closely assess Korea’s special-purpose shipbuilding capacity. Analysts say Korean firms have emerged as strong contenders in the final stage of the bidding.

“It is meaningful that Korea, with less than 50 years of submarine development experience, is competing head-to-head with Germany,” said Jang Won-jun, a professor of advanced defense technology at Jeonbuk National University. He added that Korean submarine construction has reached roughly 90% to 95% of Germany’s technical level, with an edge in price competitiveness.

Industry sources said Fuhr spoke favorably of the technology on display, describing the facilities as “feeling like the future has already arrived,” remarks viewed as an implicit endorsement of Korea’s capabilities.

Beyond submarines, Canada is also advancing its Indirect Fire Modernization program, which emphasizes land-based systems and involves investments of more than $6 billion to acquire new self-propelled howitzers and long-range rocket systems.

Fuhr visited Hanwha Aerospace’s Changwon plant, where he toured production lines for the K9 self-propelled howitzer, K10 ammunition resupply vehicle and Cheonmu multiple rocket launcher, and observed live maneuver demonstrations. The company proposed an integrated firepower and mobility package and pledged to establish manufacturing operations in Canada to support local jobs and technology transfer.

Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il said the company aims to become a key partner in Canada’s military modernization based on its track record in delivery and accumulated technological expertise.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260205010001719

I’VE been waiting ten years for this moment.

Ever since my first gondola ride — a short jaunt around The Venetian hotel in Las Vegas — I’ve wanted to experience the real thing, in Venice.

Now I am with a group of fellow journalists, so it’s not as romantic as it could be, but two Italians in stripy shirts and wide-brimmed hats are rowing me across the Floating City. Bucket list: tick.

Venice is a place you need to see at least once in your life.

From the breathtaking Piazza San Marco to the mesmerising mosaics of St Mark’s Basilica, astounding architecture of the Doge’s Palace and view from the 323ft high Campanile di San Marco bell tower, your phone’s battery will pay the price as you snap the spectacular sights.

From this Saturday to February 17 the historic Venice Carnival will burst on to the streets — this year’s theme is Olympus, The Origins Of The Game, in honour of the Winter Olympics being hosted in Milan and Cortina.

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Expect masks and dressing up everywhere as locals and visitors embrace the festival, plus parades, performances and themed shows.

Festival aside, winter and spring are brilliant times to explore the city without the crowds.

A tour of the bacari, or wine bars, is a great way to delve into the alleys between the canals and waterways. Over three hours we stop at four wine bars for cicchetti — Italian tapas — washed down with local wines or spritz cocktails.

The latter feature Aperol, Campari or, in Venetian style, Select — a spirit made using juniper berries.

A Bellini in Harry’s bar, though almost £20, is a must — this was Ernest Hemingway’s favourite bar, where the cocktail was invented.

Hawaiian rituals

Then a 25-minute water-taxi ride across the lagoon and a 20-minute cab journey take us to our 5H resort, Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa on the Lido di Jesolo — a purpose-built seaside resort on Italy’s Adriatic coast, with nine-mile sandy beach and vibrant promenade.

I’m staying in one of 50 huge suites, which have one, two and three-bedroom options, with separate bathrooms, living and kitchen areas, TVs and sea-view balconies.

The smell from the ground-floor restaurant is oh, so Italian — pizza, pasta and risotto. With buffet breakfasts and Michelin-starred dinners at the poolside restaurant, luckily I can run along the promenade to work it off.

Or there’s a gym at the hotel, and yoga and fitness classes. But I’m on holiday to relax, so it’s off to the Acqua Pura spa, which has a panoramic sauna with privacy glass, meaning I can take in the sea view.

An hour-long massage inspired by Hawaiian rituals, which starts with meditation, is, and I don’t say this lightly, the best I’ve ever had.

There is a babysitting service, plus a play room, kids’ pool area and playground on the beach.

Bicycles are available at the hotel, and cycle lanes throughout the town lead us to Europe’s longest shopping street, the Via Bafile — all eight miles of it.

This is a wonderfully relaxing beachside break in a traditional Italian town — as well as a bucket-list trip to the city of romance.

What’s not to love?