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Biden says Hamas attacks on Israel were sheer evil
US President Joe Biden, speaking from the White House on Tuesday, said that Saturday's attack on Israel was "sheer evil", and reiterated US support for Israel. Also on Tuesday, Hamas attacked a southern Israeli city after warning residents to evacuate, as Israeli warplanes hammered the Gaza Strip. Read our live blog to see how all the day's events unfolded. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).This live page is no l.....»»
Facebook Updates Branding: Refreshes Logo, Colors
Facebook updates some of its visual assets in a bid to refresh its “identity system,” the company announced in a blog post on September 20, 2023. This comes as the social media giant made changes to its branding that focuses on “fostering effortless, self-initiated exploration and connection across every touchpoint,” according to their announcement. As […].....»»
PGA Tour Player Blog: A once-in-a-lifetime moment
Indian-American Sahith Theegala secured a career breakthrough victory on the PGA Tour at the Fortinet Championship in Napa, California, in front of family and friends to cement his stature as one of the game’s rising stars......»»
Google’s AI chatbot goes personal tapping into Gmail
Google on Tuesday said it had integrated Gmail, YouTube and other tools into its Bard chatbot as the tech giants seek to persuade users that generative AI is useful and not dangerous or just a fad. The search engine juggernaut has for years discreetly developed AI powers, but was caught off guard when OpenAI late last year released ChatGPT and teamed up with Microsoft to make its capabilities available to users worldwide. Google then raced out its own Bard chatbot earlier this year, making it available in more than 40 languages and overcoming data privacy concerns from regulators in Europe. The company said its beefed up chatbot would allow users to carry out new tasks such as summarize a confusing string of emails into its main points or tap into Google Maps to find the best way to a holiday destination. These so-called Bard Extensions would also be available to retrieve key points from content across Google Docs and Google Drive, including PDFs, the company said. The new powers would also help expose incorrect answers with a new button that would compare Bard output with the results of a Google search query on the same topic, flagging discrepancies. This would hopefully give comfort to those put off by the so-called "hallucinations" or bad responses that are a constant danger when using Bard, ChatGPT or Microsoft's Bing. Bard's new capabilities closely match offerings from Microsoft that infuse its Office 365 apps with AI powers, though those come at an extra cost to customers and are not available through the Bing chatbot. To assuage privacy concerns, a pop-up on the Bard webpage said the new powers would only access personal data "with your permission." Any scraping of personal content from Google's workplace tools -- such as Docs, Drive or Gmail -- would not be used to target ads, train Bard, or be seen by human reviewers, it said. "You’re always in control of your privacy settings when deciding how you want to use these extensions, and you can turn them off at any time," the company said in a blog post. The new product comes as the staying power of generative AI chatbots is yet to be confirmed, with usage of ChatGPT trending lower over the past several months, according to industry data. Moreover, the integration of the Bing chatbot into Microsoft's search engine earlier this year failed to make an impact on Google's overwhelming dominance of search. Governments and tech companies however insist that generative AI is technology's next big chapter and have ramped up spending on new products, research and infrastructure. The post Google’s AI chatbot goes personal tapping into Gmail appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fashion seeks dedicated followers with influence online
Once kept firmly at arm's length by the fashion world, influencers are now courted alongside big celebrity names by emerging talents keen to leverage their millions of online followers. "Influencers will have a leading role in building the legitimacy of creators," Delphine Dion, professor at France's ESSEC Business School, told AFP. "It is thanks to them that many designers will manage to break through." The cream of TikTok and Instagram flocked to Masha Popova's show on Sunday as part of London Fashion Week. The young Ukrainian designer counted TikTok superstar Abby Roberts, who has more than 16 million followers, among her guests. "I was in the front row with six other influencers, so I think we are doing well," said TikTok, Instagram and YouTube content creator Emma Winder after the show. Avant-garde To be a fashion influencer who matters, you first have to be "trusted by the big names" in the industry, said Dion. Next you can build a name for yourself as someone with "extremely cutting-edge tastes who can help new fashion players emerge". "It's exactly like the avant-garde dynamics you get in art. You look for the very niche to show you are even more fashionable than the rest," she added. The phenomenon is particularly visible on the catwalks at London Fashion Week, known worldwide for giving emerging talents a platform. Fashionable influencers and stars such as Zendaya, Billie Eilish, Hailey Bieber or Kylie Jenner have been seen wearing outfits by the new generation of designers including Masha Popova, Di Petsa, Chet Lo, Feben, or Yuhan Wang. 'Instant reaction' It's a win-win situation for influencers as it's now much "cooler" to wear clothes by young designers than a luxury brand, said Elizabeth Stiles, a consultant for fashion brands. And from the designer's point of view, it's "definitely faster to grow your brand through social media just through the way it works", she said. When an influencer posts content "you get an instant reaction, versus magazines where even on-line, it still takes time to write that article and upload it and maybe go through an approval process as well with an editor", she added. Social media content creators can also benefit from a good engagement rate, which measures how well their posts interact with their community. An influencer with a high engagement rate posting a photo, dressed by a young label, is more likely to generate sales for the brand. 'Everyone welcome'? Competition between traditional media -- including specialist fashion magazines -- and former fashion bloggers who are now influencers on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube is not new. The influential British journalist Susie Lau began with her fashion blog "Style Bubble" in 2006. Now she writes notably for the British magazine Pop and The Business of Fashion and is also followed by nearly 700,000 people on Instagram. In an article published in Grazia in 2017 titled "Everyone should be welcome in fashion", she said she regretted the "negative connotations" that had attached themselves to fashion bloggers, influencers and content creators. Even as recently as February, she denounced the "gall of most print media" who still in 2023 sneered at influencers. This, she said, was "hilarious, considering how many have adopted social media modus operandi". The post Fashion seeks dedicated followers with influence online appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PGA Tour Player Blog: On my historic FedExCup win
History was made at East Lake Golf Club when Viktor Hovland became the first Norwegian to hoist the FedExCup, the PGA Tour’s ultimate prize, at the conclusion of the 2022-23 Season......»»
Elon Musk lifts political ad ban at rebranded Twitter
Elon Musk on Tuesday lifted a ban on political ads put in place at Twitter to thwart misinformation before the billionaire bought the platform now called X. Welcoming back potentially misleading political messages at X came less than a week after former president Donald Trump posted there for the first time since January 2021. Trump posted his police mugshot after his arrest in Georgia, signaling his return to a platform that was his favorite bullhorn during his years in the White House. It was his first post since several days after the insurrection at the US Capitol that saw an enraged mob of his supporters attempt to block Joe Biden's certification as president. The then-Twitter permanently suspended Trump after the 6 January riot, ruling he had violated the platform's policy on glorifying violence as he pressed his false claims that the election was stolen from him. Musk, who bought the platform last year, reinstated the former president in November 2022, but Trump stayed away, choosing to reach his followers on his own platform, Truth Social, albeit with a much smaller audience. X said in a blog post that allowing political ads, starting in the United States, was "building on our commitment to free expression." X policies prohibit the promotion of false or misleading information, including bogus claims intended to undermine confidence in an election, the blog contended. Trump's recent mug shot post came with a caption reading "Election interference." A judge on Monday set March 4, 2024, for Trump's election subversion conspiracy trial -- placing one of the biggest criminal cases in American history at the height of the next White House race. X said it is expanding its safety and elections teams to focus on combating manipulation of the platform and will provide an online center where political ads can be reviewed. Musk slashed staffing after buying Twitter, raising concerns about its ability to moderate content and reliably function. X said it is updating its Civic Integrity Policy for safeguarding elections to tackle content meant to intimidate or deceive voters while aligning with Musk's philosophy of letting people say what they want. "X shouldn't determine the truthfulness of disputed information," the platform said in the blog post. "Rather, we should empower our users to express their opinions and openly debate during elections, in line with our commitment to protecting freedom of expression." The post Elon Musk lifts political ad ban at rebranded Twitter appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Elon Musk lifts political ad ban at rebranded Twitter
Elon Musk on Tuesday lifted a ban on political ads put in place at Twitter to thwart misinformation before the billionaire bought the platform now called X. Welcoming back potentially misleading political messages at X came less than a week after former president Donald Trump posted there for the first time since January 2021. Trump posted his police mugshot after his arrest in Georgia, signaling his return to a platform that was his favorite bullhorn during his years in the White House. It was his first post since several days after the insurrection at the US Capitol that saw an enraged mob of his supporters attempt to block Joe Biden's certification as president. The then-Twitter permanently suspended Trump after the 6 January riot, ruling he had violated the platform's policy on glorifying violence as he pressed his false claims that the election was stolen from him. Musk, who bought the platform last year, reinstated the former president in November 2022, but Trump stayed away, choosing to reach his followers on his own platform, Truth Social, albeit with a much smaller audience. X said in a blog post that allowing political ads, starting in the United States, was "building on our commitment to free expression." X policies prohibit the promotion of false or misleading information, including bogus claims intended to undermine confidence in an election, the blog contended. Trump's recent mug shot post came with a caption reading "Election interference." A judge on Monday set 4 March 2024 for Trump's election subversion conspiracy trial -- placing one of the biggest criminal cases in American history at the height of the next White House race. X said it is expanding its safety and elections teams to focus on combating manipulation of the platform and will provide an online center where political ads can be reviewed. Musk slashed staffing after buying Twitter, raising concerns about its ability to moderate content and reliably function. X said it is updating its Civic Integrity Policy for safeguarding elections to tackle content meant to intimidate or deceive voters while aligning with Musk's philosophy of letting people say what they want. "X shouldn't determine the truthfulness of disputed information," the platform said in the blog post. "Rather, we should empower our users to express their opinions and openly debate during elections, in line with our commitment to protecting freedom of expression." The post Elon Musk lifts political ad ban at rebranded Twitter appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ChatGPT turns to business as popularity wanes
OpenAI on Monday said it was launching a business version of ChatGPT as its AI bot sensation grapples with declining usership nine months after its historic debut. ChatGPT Enterprise will offer business customers a premium version of the bot that will provide "enterprise grade" security and privacy enhancements from previous versions, OpenAI said in a blog post. The question of data security has become an important one with major companies, including Apple, Amazon, and Samsung, blocking employees from using ChatGPT out of fear that sensitive information will be divulged. "Today marks another step towards an AI assistant for work that helps with any task, is customized for your organization, and that protects your company data," OpenAI said. The ChatGPT business version resembles Bing Chat Enterprise, an offering by Microsoft, which uses the same OpenAI technology through a major partnership. ChatGPT Enterprise will be powered by GPT-4, OpenAI's highest-performing model, much like ChatGPT Plus, the company's subscription version for individuals, but business customers will have special perks, including higher speed. "We believe AI can assist and elevate every aspect of our working lives and make teams more creative and productive," the company said. It added that companies including Carlyle, The Estée Lauder Companies, and PwC were already early adopters of ChatGPT Enterprise. The release came as ChatGPT is struggling to maintain the excitement that made it the world’s fastest-downloaded app in the weeks after its release. That distinction was taken over last month by Threads, the Twitter rival from Facebook -owner Meta. According to analytics company Similarweb, ChatGPT traffic dropped by nearly 10 percent in June and again in July, falls that could be attributed to school summer break, it said. Similarweb estimates that roughly one-quarter of ChatGPT's users worldwide fall in the 18-24 demographic. OpenAI is also facing pushback from news publishers and other platforms -- including X, the former Twitter, and Reddit -- that are now blocking OpenAI web crawlers from mining their data for AI model training. The post ChatGPT turns to business as popularity wanes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Baldie’ and big-talker
As the celluloid world has long since crossed over to the realm of real life, we, the people, have not been left wanting amusement by big-talking politicians who cultivate images reeking with swagger. Who would forget former Hollywood actor and then-United States President Ronald Reagan’s melodramatic, “Mr. (Mikhail) Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” line during a speech in Berlin in 1987 at the climax of the Cold War? Very few millennials or those belonging to generations after may know that Reagan’s call to the Soviet Union’s supreme leader led, in part, to the toppling of the Berlin Wall, separating communist East Berlin from democratic West Berlin. John le Carré even referenced the Berlin Wall in his novel “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold,” which begins and ends in Berlin, where the wall served as a physical and symbolic presence throughout the story. In the opening scene, the protagonist, Alec Leamas, watched as his last agent was shot dead by Soviet-affiliated East German sentries at the wall, tipping him over the precipice, and convincing him to defect. Way earlier in 1956, Soviet strongman Nikita Khrushchev was visiting Poland when he made that infamous line, “We will bury you,” referring to the US-led West, which then used it to further feed its nuclear holocaust, “end of days” paranoia. Khrushchev would later clarify that he never meant he’d rain nukes on Western nations, but that communism would eventually triumph over capitalism, and that the US would be “buried” by the forces of history. How wrong Khrushchev would be with the demise of Soviet empire. Like Khrushchev, our own debonair senator who dropped his screen name Robin, and assumed his real name Robinhood Padilla, may have not meant literally that he would beat up a resource person in a Senate investigation on the alleged violence committed by an employer to a woman, his house helper. According to journalists, Padilla left the hearing in a huff and mouthed an apology off-camera that he let emotions get the better of him. Fine, if the lesson had been learned not to blur the line between reel and real life. But there’s just this propensity by supposed public servants to use big words when faced with challenges that may not be as big as tearing down the Berlin Wall. Again, amusing, but forgivable, if it gets the desired results. We are referring to that post by Quezon City Police District chief Nicolas Torre III in response to a viral video of a man who hit a cyclist after he swerved his car into the path of the bicycle. The hot-tempered motorist even drew and cocked his pistol. Posted Torre in the video blog: “Damn, yari kang kalbo ka. Sumurrender ka na sa pinakamalapit na QC police station para hindi na tayo mapagod pa pareho. Pakidala at surrender na rin ng baril mo para hindi na kami mag-search warrant pa sa bahay mo. Baka kabahan pa ang SWAT ko at makalabitan ka pa ng M16.” Torre’s post is disturbing on several points, foremost of which is that it was a threat to shoot the man on account of his Special Weapons and Tactics team maybe being too “nervous” to have itchy trigger fingers. Doesn’t speak well of the QCPD SWAT team, really, considering that incident in Navotas City when cops, elite SWAT members according to Senator Risa Hontiveros, fired “warning” shots that killed 17-year-old Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar. The general could have also chosen to be more circumspect in his language since that kind of cop-speak does not build public confidence and even adds to the perception that cops shoot first and ask questions later. At any rate, that gun-poking incident involving Willie Gonzales, adds to the reasons why neuropsychiatric tests given by the Philippine National Police to cops and gun license applicants may be considered a failure. Appearing in a press conference called by the suddenly jovial Torre, Gonzales said all’s well that ends well as he and the cyclist had already patched up their tiff. There’s no criminal complaint against Gonzales, said Torre, only an administrative one, with the Philippine National Police’s Firearms and Explosives Office to review Gonzales’ fitness to be allowed to own and carry firearms. In a matter of hours, the tough-talking general had become, to some observers, patronizing of the man he threatened with his post. What an about face? Which brings us to that recent exposure of some rogue cops doctoring neuropsychiatric test results may have to do with us being saddled with neurotic cops and loony armed civilians who can pay thousands of pesos to get them certified to own or carry firearms. Shall we heave a sigh of relief that the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections gun ban is about to commence? Nah. Criminals and those drunk with power are, in fact, most happy during such times when they’re the only ones packing heat. The post ‘Baldie’ and big-talker appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NASA and SpaceX re-attempt launch of four crew to ISS
NASA and SpaceX will try again on Saturday to send the next crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station. Dubbed Crew-7, the mission will be commanded by American Jasmin Moghbeli and includes Andreas Mogensen of Denmark, Satoshi Furukawa of Japan, and Konstantin Borisov of Russia. Liftoff is planned for 3:27 am (0727 GMT) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with a backup opportunity on Sunday. The launch was pushed back to Saturday to give engineers an extra day to review a component of the Crew Dragon capsule's environmental control and life support system, NASA said in a blog post. It will be the first space mission for both Moghbeli and Borisov. "This is something I've wanted to do for as long as I can remember," said Moghbeli, a Naval test pilot, during a media call last month. "One of the things I'm most excited about is looking back at our beautiful planet," added the 40-year-old of Iranian heritage. "Everyone who I've talked to who has flown already has said that was a life-changing perspective -- and also floating around in space, it seems really fun." Crew-7 is set to be the seventh routine mission to the orbital platform for Elon Musk's SpaceX, with the first coming in 2020. NASA pays SpaceX for the taxi service as part of a commercial crew program that it put in place to reduce dependency on Russian rockets for astronaut transport after the space shuttle program ended in 2011. Boeing is the other contracted private partner, but its program remains mired in delays and technical difficulties. It has not yet flown any crew. Borisov will be the third Russian to fly on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, fixed atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Space remains a rare area of cooperation between the United States and Russia despite Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, with Americans also continuing to fly aboard Russian Soyuz rockets that launch from Kazakhstan. The crew will spend six months aboard the ISS, where they will carry out science experiments including collecting samples during a spacewalk to determine whether the station releases microorganisms through its life support system vents. The goal is to understand if microorganisms can survive and reproduce in space. Another experiment will aim to assess the physiological differences between sleep on Earth and in space. "I'm looking forward to coping with all the tasks. This is a very interesting profession: you are preparing for something that you haven't tried yet, and you really want to do it well," said Borisov. Crew-7 will join the seven people already aboard the ISS, before members of Crew-6 leave for Earth a few days later. The first segment of the ISS was launched in 1998, and it has been continuously inhabited by an international crew since 2001. Its operations are set to continue until at least 2030, after which it will be decommissioned and crash into the ocean. Several private companies are working on commercial space stations to replace it. The post NASA and SpaceX re-attempt launch of four crew to ISS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EU users to have more power over Facebook, Instagram content
Facebook and Instagram users in Europe will have greater control over how they view content, Meta said on Tuesday, as platforms take steps to meet imminent stricter European Union rules. Under a landmark EU law, digital giants will be forced to more aggressively police content online to protect users, especially against hate speech and disinformation. The web's 19 largest players -- including Facebook parent Meta, Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, TikTok and Twitter, now rebranded as X -- must comply with the new rules from next week or face heavy fines. All eyes will be on billionaire Elon Musk, who since taking ownership of X has, often abruptly, modified many rules about language allowed on the site -- even if it is found offensive or delivers hate and misinformation -- in direct opposition to the EU's new rules. One of the changes announced by Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, includes giving European users of Facebook and Instagram the option to view different types of content not based on profiling, a requirement under the EU's Digital Services Act. "We're now giving our European community the option to view and discover content on Reels, Stories, Search and other parts of Facebook and Instagram that is not ranked by Meta using these systems," Clegg said in a blog post. "For example, on Facebook and Instagram, users will have the option to view Stories and Reels only from people they follow, ranked in chronological order, newest to oldest." Meta has already given Facebook and Instagram users more control over how they view content on their main feed but the latest move goes further. TikTok announced a similar change earlier this month that would give European users the option to turn off the addictive feature that shows content based on their interests. Clegg said another measure to ensure compliance included expanding a library to "display and archive" all the adverts targeting people in the European Union. Other changes include providing more information about how Meta's artificial intelligence systems rank content on Facebook and Instagram. Clegg said more than 1,000 people were working on DSA implementation at Meta. Dutch travel site Booking.com, also part of the list of 19 "very large" platforms, announced a similar "ad repository" that will hold information about adverts that have been shown on its website. The post EU users to have more power over Facebook, Instagram content appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Vloggers warned: Watch what you’re posting
Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. reminded vloggers and content creators to be responsible in creating videos that they upload on social media and never to make jokes about crimes as they could be held accountable for tumultuous and other disturbances of public order. Acorda made the remark after rapid and resolute response to a highly controversial viral video. The PNP has taken into custody three individuals identified as Mark San Rafael, Mark Lester San Rafael and Eleazar Steven Fuentes all legal ages, have been apprehended on Aug. 1 based on a warrant of arrest on charges of Violation of RPC Art. 513 (Alarm and Scandal) as per Criminal Case No. 83313. “The PNP remains steadfast in upholding the law and ensuring that individuals are held accountable for their deeds. Pranks that induce panic and disrupt public order cannot be taken lightly. We commend our personnel for their swift action in this instance, “ Acorda said in a statement. The controversial case centers around their involvement in a staged kidnapping prank, which triggered widespread public outrage and concern. The incident, which happened 6 April, came under intense scrutiny following the dissemination of a viral video by the vlogger known as “TOKOMI.” The video portrayed a meticulously orchestrated kidnapping scenario. Staff Sergeant Ronnie Conmigo, a dedicated member of the PNP assigned to PNP IMEG, played a pivotal role in unraveling the prank and formally lodging a complaint against the responsible parties. The video, posted by the vlogger under the pseudonym “Tukomi Blog,” depicted a sophisticated fake kidnapping episode that transpired along Saging Street, Phase 2, Barangay CAA. Criminal complaint The ensuing public uproar prompted Conmigo to initiate a criminal complaint for Alarm and Scandal, subsequently filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor on 11 April 2023. The wheels of justice continued to turn, culminating in the issuance of an Arrest Warrant by Judge Lynnette May D. Deloria-Manarang of Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 124, Las Piñas City. Throughout the arrest process, the PNP meticulously adhered to prescribed protocols, capturing crucial incidents through body-worn cameras and alternate recording devices in accordance with the Rules on the Use of Body-Worn Cameras in Warrant Execution. Following the due legal procedures and bail payment, the accused were granted release from custody on 2 August 2023, as directed by Presiding Judge Lynnette May D. Deloria-Manarang of Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 124. As the legal proceedings continue to unfold, the arraignment of the accused is scheduled for 10 August at 2 p.m, before Judge Deloria-Manarang at MTC Branch 124. Acorda said this incident serves as a poignant reminder of the imperative for responsible online conduct and the far-reaching consequences arising from flouting the law. He said the PNP’s decisive and principled action in this case unequivocally underscores its unwavering commitment to preserving public safety and order in the digital age. The post Vloggers warned: Watch what you’re posting appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Robi Domingo’s fiancée Maiqui Pineda battles rare illness while planning wedding
TV host Robi Domingo’s fiancée Maiqui Pineda recently shared how her life changed when she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease. On 3 August, Pineda published a blog entry documenting her struggles with dermatomyositis. “I have always been a private person and tend to keep my thoughts to myself but with everything that has happened to me lately, I felt like this is a story worth sharing,” she wrote. According to Pineda, her symptoms showed up in April 2023, beginning with skin rashes and dryness on her fingers and hands, then discomfort in her joints and shoulders, causing her much difficulty in doing daily tasks. After months of medical tests and scans, Pineda got diagnosed with dermatomyositis — a rare autoimmune condition characterized by muscle inflammation and skin rashes, which makes her at high risk of developing Interstitial Lung Disease. The cause of the autoimmune condition remains unknown, and there is no long-term cure for it. However, it can be managed and treated with long-term medications, physical therapy and rest. “What was supposed to be an exciting year of wedding planning, preparing for a new home and working on my career, life had other plans for me,” said Pineda in a separate post on Instagram. After almost four years of dating, Domingo proposed to Pineda in November 2022 at the famous Shibuya crossing in Japan. Domingo has been by Pineda’s side as she battles her ailment. In an 18 July Instagram post, Domingo penned a message for Pineda, who was confined in the hospital at that time. “These past few weeks have been difficult to say the least… but I’ll be here for you, with you,” he said. Pineda expressed her thanks to everyone who is lending her love and support at this time. “I am grateful to all the people who stayed and took care of me at the hospital especially my fiancé, Robi, my family and friends who visited daily, and all the outpouring of messages, prayers, love and support from other friends and relatives including people who reached out on social media. It’s really what kept me going,” she said in a blog post, which she ended on a hopeful note — that everything is temporary and she would get better in time. Domingo, the host of Pinoy Big Brother and other well-known programs, recently renewed his contract with ABS-CBN, his home network for 15 years now. It was an “emotional” occasion for him, he said in an IG post thanking the network. “This moment has given me a deeper appreciation of what it is to be a KAPAMILYA. I just couldn’t stop thinking about my fiancé and her condition while signing this contract. There has been that tug-of-war of feelings, so maybe that’s why the floodgates just kept pouring,” said Domingo. The post Robi Domingo’s fiancée Maiqui Pineda battles rare illness while planning wedding appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jing Sararaña’s way to healing through art
Angeles City-based visual artist Jaysil “Jing” Sararaña has already established a name in the art scene despite being a “late bloomer,” having started her artistic career only in 2020 during the lockdowns and restrictions imposed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Born in Tulunan, in the province of North Cotabato, Sararaña, with her own family, now lives in Pampanga, the province that first embraced her as a visual artist. Her parents are originally from the towns of San Joaquin and Miag-ao in Iloilo but moved to Mindanao in search of better opportunities like other migrants from the Visayas and Luzon. Sararaña is an abstractionist, a self-taught artist influenced by Pampangan visual artists Arnel Garcia and Aurelio de Guzman and abstractionist Kenneth Montegrade. She describes her style as “hyper creative and spontaneous,” her subjects inspired by her emotions, the poems she writes and her stories. “I paint as I go,” she said. “I usually just create a sketch of an idea but the details come after I’m done with the background.” Sararaña further explained that her art is “exactly how I feel at the moment. I like to be in my art.” “My art is me [and] it usually shows my character, my feelings, my story or my dreams,” she explained. [gallery size="full" ids="167793,167792,167791"] [caption id="attachment_167789" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Dancing On My Own’ (2022).[/caption] [caption id="attachment_167788" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘A Woman Who Weaves Life’ (2022).[/caption] Saved from depression For her, art is heart, which is the most important factor in creating works. Art also saved her from depression brought about by many things including the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. “Art saved me from the shambles of depression. If you feel alone and misunderstood, let art make them hear. Let art explain your emotion,” Sararaña said. Her art journey was accidental, and friends are calling her an accidental artist. “I never really thought of making art as a career as I wanted to study abroad to be a lawyer but it’s very difficult when you have no means and opportunities especially for a mom like me,” she said. “And I met art accidentally. The art community here in Angeles has been very welcoming. I enjoyed the new family I made through art, and I want to keep them so I continue making art.” Big break In March 2021, a big break came when she joined the art group Pilipinta, which mounted an inaugural exhibit at Robinsons Galleria’s Artablado that year. She mounted a mini exhibit at Okada Manila in October the next year after her collaboration with a fashion designer for the Manila International Fashion Week, where she painted a barong Tagalog worn by a participant from Singapore. She had her first solo exhibit in December 2022 in Pampanga. Sararaña is now a full-time mother of two while juggling being an artist after working in the business process outsourcing industry for years. “We transferred here in Pampanga five years ago for a new beginning, and we had to start from scratch,” she revealed. “I did not know anybody here, I don’t have someone to talk to and that is also the reason why I got depressed.” But it “made me discover art.” “I talk a lot but at the same time, I am also a loner and those undisclosed stories in my mind that I used to write in a blog, made a big impact in my works,” she said. The post Jing Sararaña’s way to healing through art appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
No-fly Dane
International travel won’t be fast without flying. But for those who have the luxury of time when visiting other countries, taking other modes of transportation is possible. That’s exactly what Dane Torbjorn Pedersen, 44, did. Pedersen stepped off a Maersk container ship in the Danish port city of Aarhus in late May. He had boarded the vessel in the Maldives, a popular island resort destination in the Indian Ocean. Sailing on a cargo ship, however, was not the feat that Pedersen achieved. Maldives happened to be the 203rd and last country in the world that the Danish national visited. He had been traveling by train, bus, boat, and on foot since 10 October 2013 after taking on his father’s challenge to travel to all the countries without flying on a passenger plane. The former United Nations peacekeeper also never hired a car, preferring to use public transport. One of the highlights of Pedersen’s round-the-world adventure was meeting his wife, Le Gjerum, and keeping their long-distance relationship alive. She traveled 27 times just to visit him abroad. He proposed to her on her 10th visit and they got married online while he was stranded in locked-down Hong Kong during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Once the borders were open again, he set off for the island country of Palau, then continued to the countries in Oceania and the Pacific Ocean. Pedersen documented his journey on social media and in a blog. He also became an ambassador for the Red Cross. The ultimate highlight of his globetrotting adventure was making it to the Guinness World Records as the first person to visit all the countries of the world without breaks and without taking a plane. According to the GWR, Britain’s Graham Hughes was the first person to circumnavigate the globe without a plane, but his journey was interspersed with two returns home, which Pedersen did not do. WJG WITH AFP @tribunephl_wjg The post No-fly Dane appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tainted love: Misinformation drives ‘vaccine-free’ dating
In a private dating group on Facebook, Renee flaunts herself to like-minded singles as a fit, adventurous Kizomba dancer who at 35 exudes "inner child vibes." But her main draw? She is unvaccinated. The Covid-19 pandemic may have receded, but dating apps, websites and social media groups still offer to unite vaccine-hating singles who believe debunked falsehoods such as that coronavirus jabs alter DNA or cause infertility. The trend underscores how anti-vaccine sentiment has become an entrenched identity for many who willfully resist or ignore scientific assertions that inoculations saved tens of millions of lives globally when the pandemic was raging. A prospective match's vaccination status determines compatibility not just for Renee, a self-employed Australian, but for many posting in "unvaxed singles" groups that have cropped up on Facebook. Dating decisions there are driven by chemistry but not science. In one closed group breached by AFP, many listed "no jabbies" as their top dating criteria, while others cheered anti-vaccine advocates as "pure blood freedom fighters." One meme popular in the group described their ideal partner: "She's curvy, funny, intelligent, unvaccinated." It demonstrates how the pandemic turned rejecting vaccines from a personal health decision to the way "people express their personal brand," said Timothy Caulfield, a professor at the University of Alberta in Canada. "It shows how high the walls of their echo chambers are. Being anti-vaccine has become an ideological flag -- a way to demonstrate which team you belong to," Caulfield told AFP. "It is less and less about science and more and more about the values being antivax signal." 'Swipe left' According to a 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center, about half of US adults who used a dating site or app said it was important to see the vaccination status on profiles. "Why is your vaccination status such a big deal? I've even seen it listed as a 'dealbreaker' on some profiles," said a post in a dating discussion group on the online messaging board Reddit. "The profiles I see most state the following: 'if you're vaccinated then please swipe left.'" Some comments in the group referred to vaccinated singles as people carrying "biological weapons," an apparent reference to the debunked claim the vaccinated spread "super strain" variants. Vaccine falsehoods often overlap with other types of misinformation, introducing believers to those espousing the QAnon conspiracy theory and anti-LGBTQ narratives. "Studies have consistently shown that if a person is anti-vaccine – or unvaccinated – you can make a strong guess about that person's positions on a host of other issues," Caulfield said. Spreading falsehoods can also be profitable. The Florida-based Wellness Company sells a detoxification supplement that it claims counteracts the harmful effects of coronavirus jabs, destroying spike proteins to get back "that pre-Covid feeling." But experts and public health authorities told AFP's fact-checkers there is no evidence the nearly $65 supplement does that. The same company also backs a dating website for unvaccinated people called Unjected. Before being accepted, its members are required to have their "vaccination status certified by a medical professional," according to the website. In 2021, US media reported the Unjected app, dubbed as the "Tinder for anti-vaxers," was removed from Apple's App Store over Covid-19 misinformation. A slew of similar apps for unvaccinated singles are available on the Google Play Store. One such platform is called Unjabbed, whose user reviews expressed concern about bugs and phone hacking attempts after the app was downloaded. 'Tall, dark, handsome' At the height of the pandemic in 2021, conventional online dating platforms including Tinder, Hinge and OkCupid sought to boost vaccinations. As part of a White House-backed effort, many platforms allowed users to create badges displaying vaccination status, with OkCupid calling the inoculated the "new tall, dark and handsome." Users who were vaccinated or planned to be saw a spike in matches and engagement, OkCupid said in a blog, adding the "vaccine is really helping people find love." But any future inoculation drive could be jeopardized by anti-vaccine sentiment, which appears resilient even as the pandemic ebbs and travel restrictions are lifted around the world. The allure of finding an unvaccinated partner is reinforced by false social media posts sharing unfounded fears that vaccines can be "shed" or passed onto people through body fluids, threatening fertility. "The only real utility a dating platform like this could have is finding a partner that aligns with your 'medical freedom' views," Katrine Wallace, an epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, told AFP. "There is no clinical reason to do so." The post Tainted love: Misinformation drives ‘vaccine-free’ dating appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dane back home after ‘visiting every nation in the world’
A Danish man who claimed to be the first to visit every country in the world in a single trip without flying landed home Wednesday after 10 years away. Torbjorn Pedersen stepped off a Maersk container ship in the Danish port city of Aarhus, after visiting his 203rd country and final country -- the Maldives -- in late May. "I've been dreaming about coming back home and having it over with and done. So that's today. At the same time, I'm anxious about the future," Pedersen told AFP, describing the return as bittersweet. "A lot of things are up in the air and in the unknown, mixed emotions," he said while listing concerns about restarting his career and trying to adjust to everyday life. Known as "Thor," he has travelled by train, bus, boat or even on foot on the voyage he set off on October 10, 2013. The 44-year-old -- who previously had a career within the shipping sector -- is the first to make the feat. Leaving Micronesia in January 2020, he continued to Hong Kong, where he found himself stuck for two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Once the borders were open again, he set off for the island country of Palau, then continuing the countries of Oceania and the Pacific islands. Took longer than expected "Three have been to every country twice. Two have been to every country without returning home in between. And now, one has done it completely without flying. What can I say? Good luck to the second," he wrote on his blog. Keen to meet new people, the former UN peacekeeper never hired a car, preferring to instead to travel on public transport. Despite the geographical distance, Thor and his partner have managed to keep their relationship alive. During the decade of travel, she travelled to visit him 27 times. On the 10th occasion, he got down on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage -- but unfortunately the pandemic forced them to get married online. His wife Le Gjerum said she found his stubbornness in completing the task admirable but added she was looking forward to having a "daily life together." The inspiration for the trip came from an article his father emailed him. He was first apprehensive but didn't want the regret of not doing it, he however conceded that he originally thought the trip would be completed in less than half the time. "I thought it would take a maximum of four years in total, maybe three and a half if I went a little fast." Thor, who documented his journey on social media and in a blog, was also an ambassador for the Red Cross. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Britain's Graham Hughes was the first person to circumnavigate the globe without a plane, but his journey was interspersed with two returns home, which Thor did not do. The post Dane back home after ‘visiting every nation in the world’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PGA Tour Player Blog: On winning my first major title
American Brian Harman produced a stunning six-shot victory to lift his maiden major title at The Open Championship, the year’s final major, at Royal Liverpool......»»
Google launches ChatGPT rival Bard in EU, Brazil
Google launched its AI chatbot Bard in the European Union, Brazil and a dozen other countries on Thursday and unveiled new features as it expands access to its answer to Microsoft-backed ChatGPT. The US tech giant unveiled Bard in February but delayed its release in the European Union as the bloc plans to regulate artificial intelligence amid concerns about risks associated with the rapidly growing technology. Google has raced to catch up with rival Microsoft, which has rushed to integrate ChatGPT-like powers in a wide array of its products, including the Bing search engine. Bard is "now available in most of the world, and in the most widely spoken languages," Bard's product lead Jack Krawczyk and vice president Amarnag Subramanya wrote in a blog. "As part of our bold and responsible approach to AI, we've proactively engaged with experts, policymakers and privacy regulators on this expansion," they said. The company said it would incorporate user feedback and take steps to protect people's privacy and data as it broadens access to Bard. The AI tool can now be used in over 40 languages including Arabic, Chinese, German, Hindi and Spanish. It was previously available in three languages -- English, Japanese and Korean. Google also announced new features, including receiving audio responses from Bard or answers in five different styles: simple, long, short, professional or casual. Another new feature allows users to upload photos that Bard can analyze for information. The rise of AI has raised both excitement and concerns about its potential to improve or replace tasks done by humans. AI tools have shown in recent months the ability to generate essays, create realistic images, mimic voices of famous singers and even pass medical exams, among a slew of uses. Common worries include the possibility that chatbots could flood the web with disinformation, that biased algorithms will churn out racist material, or that AI-powered automation could lay waste to entire industries. 'Extinction' fears Experts -- even the founder of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, Sam Altman -- have warned about the potential existential risks that the technology poses to humanity. Altman and dozens of other specialists signed a statement in May urging global leaders to reduce "the risk of extinction" from AI. But the warnings have not stopped the rapid development of AI. Tesla and Twitter owner Elon Musk, who has issued his own warnings about the risks, launched an AI company named xAI on Wednesday. The xAI website said Musk would run the company separately from his other companies but that the technology developed would benefit those businesses, including Twitter. Last month, the European Parliament backed a draft law that will be the basis for the world's first comprehensive rules for AI. It includes specific provisions for generative AI systems, such as ChatGPT and Dall-E, capable of producing text, images and other media. The parliament and the EU's member states will negotiate on the regulation before it is approved and the bloc wants to strike a deal by the end of the year. The rules stipulate that AI-generated content must be declared as such and bans some AI including real-time facial recognition systems. The post Google launches ChatGPT rival Bard in EU, Brazil appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»