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Republicans pick ‘novice’ as 4th speaker nominee
Republicans have named a fourth candidate for speaker of the United States House of Representatives and hope to end two weeks of party division and a leaderless lower chamber. Louisiana’s Mike Johnson won an internal party vote just hours after previous nominee, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, buckled under a backlash led by former President Donald Trump and announced his withdrawal. Johnson — the vice chairman of the conference but a relative novice in politics — lost out to Emmer earlier in the day but quickly threw his hat back in the ring after his leadership colleague bowed out. Only 128 of Johnson’s colleagues voted for him in the final round of balloting, according to US media — with 29 preferring his rival, Florida lawmaker Byron Donalds, and another 44 casting their votes for someone else entirely. Like Johnson, Emmer had baselessly sown doubt over the validity of Biden’s 2020 election win over Trump, but supporters of the former president were angered by the majority whip voting to certify the result. Trump took to his Truth social website to brand Emmer a “globalist RINO” — short for “Republican in name only.” If Johnson were to succeed where his colleagues have failed, he would be the least experienced speaker in more than a century, having never chaired a committee or held a top leadership role. Moving up to the House from state-level politics only in 2017, Johnson could find himself presiding over a government shutdown in three weeks unless he can cut a 2024 budget deal with much more seasoned negotiators in the White House that is acceptable to his party. He would also be expected to lead the deeply fractured conference through upcoming fights over funding for Ukraine and Israel in their conflicts with Russia and Hamas. Tuesday’s disarray marked two weeks since the party’s first nominee to replace Kevin McCarthy, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, withdrew as it became clear he was nowhere near the 217 votes needed to be elected. Hard-line Trump ally Jim Jordan, the next nominee, flopped three times on the House floor as successively larger tallies of Republican opponents joined the Democrats to reject him. The post Republicans pick ‘novice’ as 4th speaker nominee appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Government confirms improved quota system to support dairy exports
Following a review of the dairy quota allocation system, the Government will progress changes to the system in order to maximise opportunities for our dairy exporters, Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor announced today. "Having signed seven new or upgraded Free Trade Agreements since 2017, New Zealand has several new dairy quotas - inc.....»»
Narcolepsy, cancer tipped as Medicine Prize opens Nobel week
Narcolepsy, cancer, or mRNA vaccine research could win the Nobel Medicine Prize on Monday when a week of announcements kicks off, but experts see no clear frontrunner for the Peace Prize. The awards, first handed out in 1901, were created by Swedish inventor and philanthropist Alfred Nobel in his 1895 will to celebrate those who have "conferred the greatest benefit on mankind." The Medicine Prize is first out and will be announced in Stockholm on Monday around 11:30 a.m. (0930 GMT), followed by the awards for physics on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday, and literature on Thursday. The Peace Prize, the most highly-anticipated Nobel and the only one announced in Oslo, will follow on Friday, before the Economics Prize rounds things off on October 9. The Medicine Prize has over the years crowned groundbreaking discoveries like the X-ray, penicillin, insulin, and DNA -- as well as now-disgraced awards for lobotomy and the insecticide DDT. Several Nobel watchers have suggested this year's prize could go to research into narcolepsy and the discovery of orexin, a neuropeptide that helps regulate sleep. It could also go to Hungarian-born Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman of the United States for research that led directly to the first mRNA vaccines to fight COVID-19, made by Pfizer and Moderna. Their discovery has already won a slew of major medicine prizes, but the Nobel committee nowadays often waits decades to bestow its laurels to ensure the research stands the test of time. "Maybe the Academy thinks it needs to look into it more, but someday they should win," predicted Annika Ostman, science reporter at Swedish public radio SR. Gene engineering and IceCube telescope But Ostman said her guess for this year was on Kevan Shokat, an American biologist who figured out how to block the KRAS cancer gene behind a third of cancers, including challenging-to-treat lung, colon, and pancreatic tumors. T-cell therapy for cancer treatment and work on the human microbiome could also be contenders, said David Pendlebury, head of the Clarivate Analytics group which identifies Nobel-worthy research. "There are more people deserving of a Nobel Prize than there are Nobels to go around," he told AFP. Lars Brostrom, Ostman's colleague at SR, singled out two American biologists, Stanislas Leibler, and Michael Elowitz, for their work on synthetic gene circuits which established the field of synthetic biology. It enables scientists to redesign organisms by engineering them to have new abilities. But Brostrom noted the field could be seen as controversial, raising "ethical questions about where to draw the line in creating life". For the Physics Prize, twisted graphene or the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica were seen as possible winners, as well as the development of high-density data storage in the field of spintronics. Peace Prize to Iranian women? For Wednesday's Chemistry Prize, Pendlebury suggested next-generation DNA sequencing could get the nod, or research into how to target and deliver drugs to genes. Brostrom said he would love to see it go to US-based chemist Omar Yaghi for his work into porous materials known as MOFs, which can absorb poisonous gases or harvest water from desert air, and is an "important field for the future" with enormous potential for the environment. Criticism over a lack of gender and geographical diversity has plagued the Nobels over the years. US-based men have dominated the science fields, while women account for just six percent of overall laureates -- something the various award committees insist they are addressing. Among the names making the rounds for Thursday's Literature Prize are Russian author and outspoken Putin critic Lyudmila Ulitskaya, Chinese avant-garde writer Can Xue, British author Salman Rushdie, Caribbean-American writer Jamaica Kincaid and Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse. But for the Peace Prize, experts have been scratching their heads over possible winners, as conflicts rage around the globe. Some have pointed to the Iranian women protesting since the death in custody a year ago of Mahsa Amini, arrested for violating Iran's strict dress code imposed on women. Others suggest organizations documenting war crimes in Ukraine, or the International Criminal Court, which could one day be called upon to judge them. "I think that climate change is a really good focus for the Peace Prize this year," Dan Smith, the head of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, told AFP after a year of extreme weather around the world. For the Economics Prize, research on income and wealth inequality could be honored. Recent winners of the Nobel Medicine Prize Here is a list of the winners of the Nobel Medicine Prize in the past 10 years: 2022: Swedish paleogeneticist Svante Paabo for his discoveries on the genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution. 2021: US duo David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian for discoveries on human receptors responsible for our ability to sense temperature and touch. 2020: Americans Harvey Alter and Charles Rice, together with Briton Michael Houghton, for the discovery of the Hepatitis C virus, leading to the development of sensitive blood tests and antiviral drugs. 2019: William Kaelin and Gregg Semenza of the US and Britain's Peter Ratcliffe for establishing the basis of our understanding of how cells react and adapt to different oxygen levels. 2018: Immunologists James Allison of the US and Tasuku Honjo of Japan, for figuring out how to release the immune system's brakes to allow it to attack cancer cells more efficiently. 2017: US geneticists Jeffrey Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael Young for their discoveries on the internal biological clock that governs the wake-sleep cycles of most living things. 2016: Yoshinori Ohsumi of Japan for his work on autophagy -- a process whereby cells "eat themselves" -- which when disrupted can cause Parkinson's and diabetes. 2015: William Campbell, an Irish-US citizen, Satoshi Omura of Japan, and Tu Youyou of China for unlocking treatments for malaria and roundworm. 2014: American-born Briton John O'Keefe, May-Britt Moser, and Edvard I. Moser of Norway for discovering how the brain navigates with an "inner GPS". 2013: Thomas C. Sudhof, a US citizen born in Germany, and James E. Rothman and Randy W. Schekman of the US for work on how the cell organizes its transport system. The post Narcolepsy, cancer tipped as Medicine Prize opens Nobel week appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The Murdoch business: an empire on three continents
Over the last six decades, Rupert Murdoch built a media empire well beyond his native Australia, amassing key media properties across three continents in a run that was also characterized by multiple scandals. Through his companies, News Corp and Fox Corporation, Murdoch built one of the world's most substantial portfolios of newspaper and broadcast holdings under one roof. Murdoch's wealth was estimated at $17.3 billion by Forbes on Thursday when he announced he was handing the reins to his son Lachlan while shifting to an "emeritus" status at the two companies. Here is a closer look at the two businesses. News Corp The business includes Murdoch's holdings in his birth country of Australia -- led by The Australian, the lone national daily started by Murdoch in 1964. The company also owns Australia The Daily Telegraph and news website News.com.au, as well as television station Sky News Australia and pay television company Foxtel. Murdoch's initial investment in Britain came in 1969 with the purchase of the tabloid News of the World, which was shut down in 2011 following a phone hacking scandal. In 1981, he purchased the prestigious daily The Times, along with The Sunday Times, adding to a print news business that also included The Sun. Holdings in radio and television included talkSPORT, TalkTV, and Virgin Radio UK. News Corp is also present in Ireland with local radio stations. Murdoch's push in North America dates to 1985 with his purchase of the New York Post. In 2007, News Corp landed a major acquisition of the media group Dow Jones, whose holdings include the long-respected Wall Street Journal. The company in 1987 added the publishing house HarperCollins, which originally dates to 1817. HarperCollins bought romance publisher Harlequin in 2014. News Corp also controls Rea Group, which specializes in commercial and residential real estate through websites such as realtor.com and flatmates.com.au. In fiscal 2023, News Corp reported profits of $149 million on revenues of $9.9 billion. Fox Corporation In 1984, Murdoch acquired 20th Century Fox, an entity he reorganized and remade. In 2017, he sold the movie studio, renamed 21st Century Fox, to Disney. Fox Corporation is now comprised of the national television channel Fox and several cable channels, as well as Fox News, which is known for a right-wing spin on news popular with conservative Americans. Other holdings include the entertainment news network TMZ, as well as Studio Ramsay Global, which features British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and the MasterChef franchise. In fiscal 2023, Fox reported profits of $1.3 billion on $14.9 billion in revenues. The post The Murdoch business: an empire on three continents appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Former Starbucks CEO Schultz steps down from board
Starbucks said Wednesday its former chief executive Howard Schultz will step down from the coffee chain's board of directors "as part of a planned transition." Schultz, who ended his third stint as CEO in March, helped transform the brand from a small coffee shop into an international chain over the decades. "I look forward to supporting this next generation of leaders to steward Starbucks into the future as a customer, supporter, and advocate in my role as chairman emeritus," the longtime Starbucks leader said in a statement. In 2017, Schultz stepped aside as chief executive after his second tenure, handing the reins to Kevin Johnson. He later announced his retirement from the company and weighed a run for US president. When Johnson left in 2022 after five years at the helm, Schultz returned as interim CEO, before Laxman Narasimhan took over the position in March this year. In the company's statement on Wednesday, it also announced that Wei Zhang, most recently a senior advisor to Alibaba Group, has been elected to the board of directors effective 1 October. Starbucks has in recent times come under fire over its confrontational approach to unionization, with Schultz defending against allegations it had violated US labor laws in countering the campaign. In a hearing convened by progressive Senator Bernie Sanders earlier this year, Schultz said he was unaware of instances where workers were fired or relocated to other stores because of union activity. Today, the Seattle-based corporation has more than 36,000 stores in 86 markets globally, according to the company. The post Former Starbucks CEO Schultz steps down from board appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PHL to chair ASEAN in 2026
JAKARTA, Indonesia – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced that the Philippines is ready to take the helm and chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026. He made the announcement during the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia on Tuesday, where he made his remarks during the summit plenary. "It is my pleasure to announce that the Philippines is ready to take the helm and chair ASEAN in 2026," Marcos said. "We will fortify the foundations of our Community-building and navigate ASEAN as it embarks on a new chapter," he added. Marcos assured that the Philippines will count on the support of fellow Member States and continue to work with our partners to strengthen ASEAN Centrality, and to promote peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region. ASEAN is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten countries in Southeast Asia: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Philippines last chaired ASEAN in 2017, during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Indonesia currently hosts the ongoing 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia. After the summit, Indonesia will pass on the role of ASEAN chairmanship to Laos. The post PHL to chair ASEAN in 2026 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EXO’s D.O. returns as soloist after two years
After the global success of EXO’s group comeback Exist, member Doh Kyungsoo, known by his stage name D.O., again goes solo with his second mini-album Anticipation, which drops on 18 September. On 1 September, his agency, SM Entertainment, announced the K-pop idol’s comeback as a solo singer after two years, with a logo update across all their social media platforms and a teaser image showing the singer sitting in front of a desk inside a barely lit room. D.O. also posted the teaser on his Instagram account, which he opened to the public on 10 July. His IG was a surprise, since the 30-year-old K-pop star has kept a minimal social media presence. Although details of the mini-album are yet to be announced, the seven-track EP is sure to highlight once again the singer’s vocals. His first solo album, Empathy, was critically acclaimed following its release in July 2021, topping iTunes’ album charts in 60 countries despite minimal promotions. D.O. is also busy with his acting career and variety show appearances. The multi-award-winning Korean idol-actor recently led the South Korean sci-fi drama film The Moon (2023), written and directed by Kim Yong-hwa, the esteemed director behind box-office hits Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017) and Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days (2018). After bagging his first Male Actor Excellence award at the KBS Drama Awards last year with his impeccable comic acting in Bad Prosecutor, D.O. has bagged nominations for Best Actor at the 2nd Blue Dragon Series Awards with Bad Prosecutor, and another Best Actor nomination at the 32nd Buil Film Awards for The Moon. D.O. and his bandmates are currently headlining the fourth season of the variety show EXO Ladder. He will also star in a new show by Na Yeong-seok with Kim Woo-bin, Lee Kwang-soo and Kim Ki-bang. Pre-orders for D.O.’s second mini-album have officially started in various online and offline music stores. The post EXO’s D.O. returns as soloist after two years appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Singapore ex-deputy PM Shanmugaratnam elected president
Singapore's former deputy prime minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam was elected president Friday, earning a landslide victory in the city-state's first contested vote for the largely ceremonial position in more than a decade. Singaporeans headed to the polls that were closely watched as an indication of support for the ruling party after a rare spate of scandals, but the longtime stalwart of the party won more than two-thirds of the vote over two rivals. "I believe that it's a vote of confidence in Singapore. It's a vote of optimism for a future in which we can progress together and support each other as Singaporeans," the former finance minister said in a speech before the results were announced. "I'm humbled by this vote. It is not just a vote for me, it is a vote for Singapore's future." He won 70.4 percent of the vote to win a six-year term. His main rival Ng Kok Song, a former chief investment officer of Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, which manages the country's foreign reserves, conceded after winning only 15.7 percent of the vote. "The result is clear," he told reporters, adding Shanmugaratnam "has indeed earned a mandate from the people of Singapore." Shanmugaratnam acknowledged the "changing and evolving" nature of Singapore, notably its diversity, and said he believes the election was seen as "another milestone in that process of evolution." There are stringent requirements for the position, which formally oversees the city's accumulated financial reserves and holds the power to veto certain measures and approve anti-graft probes. While the presidency is a non-partisan post under the constitution, political lines had already been drawn ahead of the election to replace incumbent Halimah Yacob, who ran unopposed for her six-year term in 2017. 'Decisive margin' Shanmugaratnam was widely viewed as the favourite for the position and had resigned as a member of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) and as a senior minister in the cabinet ahead of the election as all presidential candidates must be independent. The 66-year-old economist is perceived as having the government's backing and was questioned about his independence during the campaign. The city-state's government is run by the prime minister, currently Lee Hsien Loong of the PAP, which has ruled Singapore continuously since 1959. "Singaporeans have chosen Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam to be our next President by a decisive margin," Lee said in a statement. Observers said the vote would indicate the level of PAP support ahead of general elections due in 2025 or discontent after recent scandals that include a corruption probe into the transport minister and the resignations of two PAP legislators over an affair. "What we want is a prosperous Singapore," self-employed worker Patrick Low, 70, told AFP after casting his vote. Shifting sentiments Another candidate, former insurance executive Tan Kin Lian, 75, had gained the support of several opposition leaders but only picked up 13.88 percent of votes. "The presidential election is increasingly being treated as a general election," said Mustafa Izzuddin, a political analyst with consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore. Voting is compulsory for Singapore's more than 2.7 million eligible citizens. As of 5:00 pm local time (0900 GMT), more than 2.3 million Singaporeans, or about 85 per cent of eligible voters, had cast ballots, according to the Elections Department. Long but orderly lines snaked from polling centres absent the raucous environment that can accompany elections in other countries, where supporters chant or distribute flyers to lobby for last-minute votes. Izzuddin said an increase in protest voting had been expected but Shanmugaratnam secured an overwhelming win despite what experts had said was shifting opinions about the ruling party. The PAP suffered its worst-ever election performance in 2020 but maintained its more than two-thirds majority. Singapore requires presidential candidates to have served either as a senior civil servant or the chief executive of a company with shareholder equity of at least 500 million Singaporean dollars ($370 million). Perhaps the president's most crucial function is to serve as a custodian of Singapore's financial reserves, which can only be drawn upon in exceptional circumstances, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2009 global financial crisis. The post Singapore ex-deputy PM Shanmugaratnam elected president appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos appoints Teodoro’s wife as UNICEF envoy
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr.’s wife has been appointed as special envoy to the United Nations Children’s Fund by President Marcos, the Presidential Communications Office announced in a Facebook post on Monday. Monica Louise Prieto-Teodoro held the same position under the Duterte administration from 2017 to 2018......»»
Evergrande plunges as HK trading resumes
Shares in troubled Chinese property giant Evergrande plummeted nearly 80 percent in Hong Kong on Monday after the end of a 17-month trading suspension. The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. is on holiday yesterday as the country marked National Heroes Day. The resumption of trading came after the company said in a filing on Friday that it had met guidelines set out by the bourse, including belatedly publishing its financial results and complying with other listing rules. Once China’s largest real estate firm, Evergrande defaulted in 2021 and is saddled with more than $300 billion in liabilities, becoming a symbol of the nationwide property crisis that many fear could spill over globally. 87% freefall Its shares plunged as much as 87 percent during morning trading, slashing its market value from a peak of more than $50 billion in 2017 to less than $600 million. It finished the day down 79.4 percent. The company on Sunday reported fresh losses for the first half of the year amounting to 33 billion yuan ($4.53 billion) — an improvement on the 66.4 billion yuan in losses reported in the same period last year. But its cash assets fell from $2 billion last year to $556 million, reflecting its dwindling liquidity. China’s property market “cooled down significantly” in the first six months of the year and saw new defaults in the sector, “further exacerbating the volatility in the market,” Evergrande said. “Based on the principles of respecting international restructuring practices and treating the rights and claims of all creditors in a fair and equitable manner, the Company steadily pushed forward the work related to the restructuring of its offshore debts,” the firm added. In March 2022, the Hong Kong stock exchange suspended trading in Evergrande shares after it failed to publish its 2021 financial results. Its earnings for 2021 and 2022 were published last month, showing a net loss of more than $113 billion over the two-year period. The company risked being delisted if its shares were suspended from trading for 18 months, according to Hong Kong stock exchange rules. Meetings delayed Evergrande was supposed to hold creditor meetings on Monday on its offshore debt restructuring proposal, but it announced in the afternoon the meetings were delayed — just hours before they were set to take place. The postponement of roughly one month will allow creditors to “consider, understand and evaluate” the plan, the company said in an exchange filing. The meetings will take place between 25 to 26 September, which the developer said was “in line” with the timetable creditors expected. Evergrande’s plan offers creditors a choice to swap their debt into new notes issued by the company and equities in two subsidiaries, Evergrande Property Services Group and Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group. Earlier this month, the company filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States, a measure to safeguard its US assets during its restructuring. The post Evergrande plunges as HK trading resumes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China developer Evergrande plunges as Hong Kong trading resumes
Shares in troubled Chinese property giant Evergrande plummeted nearly 80 percent in Hong Kong on Monday after the end of a 17-month trading suspension. The resumption of trading came after the company said in a filing on Friday that it had met guidelines set out by the bourse, including belatedly publishing its financial results and complying with other listing rules. Once China's largest real estate firm, Evergrande defaulted in 2021 and is saddled with more than $300 billion in liabilities, becoming a symbol of the nationwide property crisis that many fear could spill over globally. Its shares plunged as much as 87 percent during morning trading, slashing its market value from a peak of more than $50 billion in 2017 to less than $600 million. It finished the day down 79.4 percent. The company on Sunday reported fresh losses for the first half of the year amounting to 33 billion yuan ($4.53 billion) -- an improvement on the 66.4 billion yuan in losses reported in the same period last year. But its cash assets fell from $2 billion last year to $556 million, reflecting its dwindling liquidity. China's property market "cooled down significantly" in the first six months of the year and saw new defaults in the sector, "further exacerbating the volatility in the market", Evergrande said. "Based on the principles of respecting international restructuring practices and treating the rights and claims of all creditors in a fair and equitable manner, the Company steadily pushed forward the work related to the restructuring of its offshore debts," the firm added. In March 2022, the Hong Kong stock exchange suspended trading in Evergrande shares after it failed to publish its 2021 financial results. Its earnings for 2021 and 2022 were published last month, showing a net loss of more than $113 billion over the two-year period. The company risked being delisted if its shares were suspended from trading for 18 months, according to Hong Kong stock exchange rules. Creditor meetings delayed Evergrande was supposed to hold creditor meetings on Monday on its offshore debt restructuring proposal, but it announced in the afternoon the meetings were delayed -- just hours before they were set to take place. The postponement of roughly one month will allow creditors to "consider, understand and evaluate" the plan, the company said in an exchange filing. The meetings will take place between 25 and 26 September, which the developer said was "in line" with the timetable creditors expected. Evergrande's plan offers creditors a choice to swap their debt into new notes issued by the company and equities in two subsidiaries, Evergrande Property Services Group and Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group. Earlier this month, the company filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States, a measure to safeguard its US assets during its restructuring. It is also fending off winding-up petitions in Hong Kong courts, with one case adjourning its hearing to October. China's real-estate sector has proven to be a stumbling block as the world's second-largest economy tries to break out of a post-Covid slump. Fellow Chinese property developer Country Garden now risks defaulting on its bond payments next month, with the company saying there are "major uncertainties in the redemption of corporate bonds". The post China developer Evergrande plunges as Hong Kong trading resumes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Viral engagement video of Jon Semira and Yassi Pressman went viral after separation
After confirming their breakup recently, an engagement video of former couple Jon Semira and Yassi Pressman circulated online. In the video, Semira narrated how their love story started and bloom when he first saw Pressman in Toronto way back in July 2017. He claimed that it was a case of love at first sight on his part. He also shared how Yassi's love became a great life hack giving him superhuman strength. "It gives me superhuman strength. And it gives me energy and drive, and motivation, and belief that you can, I can do anything... Our love is such a powerful feeling that I don't take for granted and I'm thankful for every day. I want this forever", he lovingly uttered. It was after that that he asked Pressman to marry him. His exact words were "Yassi, make me the happiest, luckiest, smartest man in this universe... Yas, will you marry me? Please don't leave me hanging!" With tears in her eyes, Pressman nodded and gave him a sweet "Yes". The engagement possibly happened in 2022. The unfortunate news of their separation was announced by Semira on 16 August 2023. The post Viral engagement video of Jon Semira and Yassi Pressman went viral after separation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Robert Arevalo dies at 85
Veteran actor Robert Arevalo, one of the most enduring performers in the Philippine entertainment scene whose career spanned decades, died on 10 August 2023, according to his daughter Anna Ylagan. In a Facebook post, Ylagan announced: "Today is the day that the Lord has chosen to take our dearest Papa home. Robert Francisco Ylagan, a.k.a. Robert Arevalo, peacefully passed away at 10:17am this morning, Aug. 10, 2023. Praise God for His mercy and grace. We are grateful that He has given us the best Papa one can ever wish for." "Thank you for loving us the way you did, Pa. Although our hearts are broken, we are comforted by God’s promise that He has a place reserved for you in His kingdom in Heaven where all of us who believe in His son, Jesus, will one day reunite," she added. Well into his '70s and '80s, Arevalo was still an active presence in movies and TV series. In 2017, at 79 years old, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at that year's Metro Manila Film Festival for his role as the conflicted senator Don Perico in the musical film, "Larawan," where his rendition of the moving anthem "Hindi Simple ang Buhay" brought him a new generation of fans who briefly made the septuagenarian actor trend on social media with their accolades for his performance. Born on 6 May 1938, Arevalo came from a family of showbiz creatives --- the son of actor and musical artist Tito Arevalo, older cousin to another acclaimed actor, Jay Ilagan, and with an uncle in the person of director Gerardo De Leon, eventually a National Artist for Film. He had a fabled marriage with fellow actor Barbara Perez -- one of great love stories in local showbiz, lasting 61 years from the time they tied the knot in Baguio City in 1962. Ylagan shared details of her father's wake in her FB post: "Papa’s wake will be at Arlington Chapels, Araneta Ave. ‘Solace Rooms 1 & 2’ beginning Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023 up to Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023." "Thank you for all your expressions of love and sympathy. We are deeply touched and grateful," she said. The post Robert Arevalo dies at 85 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Forked-tongue promises
Commitment to transparency is among the qualities of a corporation that investors and the public look at before making the crucial decision to either infuse some capital into it or buy its products. Power companies have the bigger responsibility for disclosures during the difficult period of rising prices, coupled with the global effort to save the earth from climate catastrophe as a result of greenhouse gases. In 2017, a movement among global big businesses for full disclosure of their projects that may impact the environment called Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, or TCFD, was launched. Since then, the country’s biggest corporations have signed up to the global transparency movement but not San Miguel Corp. Instead, SMC said in its annual report that it “developed a comprehensive, standardized data template to capture pertinent data and disclosures on our material ESG topics from our various subsidiaries,” without actually signing up for the global accord. Among companies engaged in power generation, SMC also lags in terms of its climate commitments. Think tank Center for Energy, Ecology and Development said in 2019 that First Gen of the Lopez Group announced it will “lead the transition to a decarbonized energy system in line with the United Nations target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.” SMC, which now dominates energy production through fossil fuel, also has not made any commitments to align with the 1.5°C Paris temperature goal. CEED said that unlike some of the biggest conglomerates in the country, SMC has yet to indicate unqualified support for TCFD. The body was created to develop recommendations on the types of information that should be disclosed by corporations to support investors, lenders and insurance underwriters in appropriately assessing and pricing a specific set of risks related to climate change. The Aboitiz Group, through its holding company Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., was the first local supporter of TCFD. The global movement said on its online site that companies that express support for TCFD recommendations “join a cohort of leading companies that take action against climate change and are thoughtful to consider how climate change will impact their businesses.” “Easing transparency makes markets more efficient, and economies more stable and resilient,” Michael Bloomberg, TCFD chairperson said. According to CEED, the disclosure of climate risks in key private undertakings would guide SMC and its shareholders in making informed choices in “an increasingly carbon-constrained world.” It added that the value of climate-disclosure information and SMC’s plans for a low-carbon economy are becoming increasingly valuable for stakeholders. SMC, by the way, has major shareholders affiliated with the Catholic Church that have kept silent amid the reluctance of the Asian giant for full disclosure. Church groups, ironically, have been calling for action and accountability from financial institutions, energy and extractive companies, and government leaders to contribute to efforts to save the planet. In July 2021, SMC announced plans to move away from building new coal facilities, including those that use “clean technology,” and move towards clean energy. SMC, however, never discloses which power plant projects will be dropped except for three projects in Quezon and Cebu that have total capacities of 1,500 megawatts. CEED said data from the DoE from July 2020 showed plans for new coal-fired power plants with a total capacity of 3,628 MW until a moratorium imposed by the Department of Energy disrupted these plans. SMC also stated that it is aggressively pursuing more sustainable sources of energy which include expensive liquefied natural gas. The duplicity is very apparent since the company’s environmental commitments clash with its actual program to dominate power generation through imported fossil fuel. The post Forked-tongue promises appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
First US nuclear reactor in seven years goes online
A new reactor at a US nuclear power plant entered into operation Monday, a first in seven years in the country where conventional reactors may give way to smaller-scale nuclear facilities. The Vogtle Unit 3 near Waynesboro, in the southeastern state of Georgia, has begun serving some 500,000 homes and businesses, operator Georgia Power said in a statement. "The new unit represents a long-term investment in the state's clean energy future and will provide reliable, emissions-free energy to customers for decades to come," the company said. The project comes online seven years after it was supposed to start producing power. The costs for Unit 3, and a fourth reactor anticipated to enter operation in late 2023 or early 2024, have topped $30 billion, according to an estimate by the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAP). That is more than double the budget of $14 billion announced at the start of the project. Cost overruns pushed original investor Westinghouse, a subsidiary of Japan's Toshiba, to file for bankruptcy in 2017, and it withdrew from the project. Once all four units are in operation, Vogtle will become the largest generator of clean energy in the nation, according to Georgia Power. Vogtle Units 3 and 4 were the first new reactor projects approved by US authorities since 1979 and an incident at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island, the most serious nuclear accident in US history. The most recent prior commission of a nuclear reactor was Unit 2 at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant in Tennessee, in 2016. Construction for that reactor had begun in 1973. Work was suspended for more than two decades before the project was revived. Low-carbon nuclear power has been hailed as a climate-friendly energy source as the world struggles to combat global warming. Environmentalists, however, worry about safety and warn that disposing of radioactive waste carries huge risks. Since 1990 only three reactors have entered into operation in the United States: the two units at Watts Bar, in 1996 and 2016, and Vogtle Unit 3 on Monday. No other conventional reactor project is underway. Construction of two reactors at the Virgil Summer Nuclear Station in South Carolina was abandoned in 2017, despite $9 billion already invested in the projects. Manufacturers have now reoriented themselves towards smaller, new-generation facilities known as small modular reactors, or SMRs. The newer designs -- none of which have yet to come into operation in the United States -- are expected to be less expensive, take less time to build, and are considered safer than conventional power plants. The post First US nuclear reactor in seven years goes online appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DFA’s Manalo off to Vietnam, Laos to strengthen bilateral ties
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday announced the visit of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo to Vietnam and Laos to review current relations and explore ways to strengthen bilateral ties with the two countries. In a statement, the DFA said Manalo will travel to Hanoi from 31 July to 3 August for the 10th Philippines-Vietnam Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation. Manalo and his Vietnamese counterparts are set to discuss areas of cooperation such as defense, maritime, economic and people-to-people ties. He is also slated to speak at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam with the theme, “Philippines-Vietnam Strategic Partnership in the Age of Change.” The 9th Philippines-Vietnam JCBC was held in Manila in 2019, attended by then-Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. The DFA chief will then travel to Vientiane for the 2nd Philippines-Lao PDR JCBC on 3-5 August, where he will take stock of the current Philippines-Lao PDR relations and explore ways to expand cooperation. He will also engage with the diplomatic community through his talk at the Institute of Foreign Affairs, entitled “Closer Together: People at the Center of Philippines-Laos Relations.” The first Philippines-Lao PDR JCBC was also held in Manila last 2017, attended by then DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith. According to the DFA, the JCBC is the primary mechanism that the Philippines has with both Vietnam and Laos that provides an opportunity to comprehensively discuss bilateral relations, as well as various regional and global issues. The post DFA’s Manalo off to Vietnam, Laos to strengthen bilateral ties appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden’s son pleads not guilty on tax charges as deal derails
US President Joe Biden's son Hunter pleaded not guilty to minor tax offenses Wednesday as a deal with federal prosecutors derailed in a Delaware court. The surprise move came after Judge Maryellen Noreika raised questions over the original deal -- under which Biden had agreed to enter a guilty plea and admit to illegal gun possession -- and effectively placed it on hold. Biden, 53, whose legal troubles have cast a shadow over his father's reelection campaign, had reached an agreement with prosecutors that he would be sentenced to probation on two tax avoidance counts. The deal also specified that the firearms charge would eventually be erased if he adhered to a counseling-and-rehabilitation program. But the deal fell apart after Noreika queried why the gun charge was included in a tax case, and whether the plea agreement protected Biden from charges that might arise from a wider ongoing investigation of his business dealings, according to US media. When prosecutors could not resolve her questions, Noreika said she could not accept the deal, and Biden then entered a not guilty plea to close the session. That was expected to send the deal back to negotiations, which could become more complex. Prosecutor David Weiss confirmed to the court that his office is still examining other possible crimes by Biden. Weiss did not detail those possible crimes, but one issue mentioned in the court was possible violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, relating to his business deals in China, Ukraine and other countries dating back to the early 2010s, when his father was vice president. Political attacks Republicans have accused Weiss of giving Biden a "sweetheart deal" with the plea agreement announced on 20 June. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that Hunter Biden was "a private citizen. This was a personal matter." The case was "handled independently by the Justice Department under the leadership of a prosecutor appointed by President Trump," she added. The plea deal was to end a five-year investigation that Republicans have sought to use to politically harm his father Joe. According to the charges, Hunter, a Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist, failed to file his tax returns on time on earnings of more than $1.5 million for 2017 and 2018. He was facing up to 12 months in prison for each tax charge and a possible maximum 10 years on a charge that, as a known drug user, he had illegally possessed a handgun in 2018. But prosecutors recommended probation on the tax charges after Biden paid the taxes and penalties, according to his attorney. In addition, the gun charge was to be suspended and then eliminated if Biden completed "pretrial diversion," which often involves counseling or rehabilitation. That would require Biden to remain sober as the charges arise from a long period when he says he struggled with addiction to alcohol, crack cocaine and other drugs. "The president, the first lady, they love their son and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life," Jean-Pierre said. The post Biden’s son pleads not guilty on tax charges as deal derails appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Police, military upgrade gains
Initiatives that would strengthen the country’s police and military to ensure a “strong and stable rule of law” in the archipelago will continue, according to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. In his second State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa, Marcos said this effort would serve as a foundation for the country’s transformation. “Our police and armed forces are being strengthened and modernized to be more effective in maintaining peace and order and in defending our sovereignty,” he said. The President also vowed the government will continue its stiff campaign against illegal drugs — which he said has taken on “a new face” and is now geared towards community-based treatment, rehabilitation, education, and reintegration, to curb drug dependence among the affected citizenry. “Last year, we launched the ‘Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan’ or BIDA Program, and established additional 102 Balay Silangan Reformation Centers nationwide,” Marcos said. Marcos underscored that the government will focus its efforts on the rehabilitation of drug dependents while sustaining the fight against drug syndicates by shutting down their illegal activities and dismantling their network of operations. His administration, he said, will also run after law enforcers and their accomplices implicated in the illegal drug trade. Narcos exposed “Unscrupulous law enforcers and others involved in the highly nefarious drug trade have been exposed. I will be accepting their resignations. In their stead, we will install individuals with unquestionable integrity, and who will be effective and trustworthy in handling the task of eliminating this dreaded and corrosive social curse,” Marcos said. His administration will not tolerate corruption or incompetence in government, he added. Marcos likewise said the country is now nearing a peaceful solution to its problems concerning Filipinos who have taken up arms against the government. “For almost half a century, some of our fellow Filipinos have taken to arms to make their views heard. We are now at a point in our history when their armed struggle has evolved. We have now progressed together towards peace and development,” he emphasized. The government, he added, has incorporated capacity-building and social protection into its reintegration programs to guarantee full decommissioning of former combatants. Marcos underscored that the government’s Barangay Development and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Programs has been effective in addressing the root cause of conflict in the countryside through the continuous implementation of the community development and livelihood programs for the former rebels. Further, the President announced he will issue a proclamation granting amnesty to rebel returnees to complete the reintegration process. “I ask Congress to support us in this endeavor,” he said. Meanwhile, the Chief Executive was pleased to note that communities affected by the infamous Marawi siege in May 2017 are recovering with the ongoing granting of financial aid to those severely affected by the conflict. He said it will allow these residents to start afresh. “Nawa’y mamayani ang pag-asa. Nawa’y magpatuloy ang pagkakaisa, pagmamatyag, at paghahangad ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran (May hope prevail, may unity continue along with vigilance and the desire for peace and progress),” he added. Marcos also mentioned the progress of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao which he said was made possible because of the cooperation of all key groups. “We are proud of the progress that the BARMM has taken. It will be self-governing, progressive, and effective,” he said. “The local government, the royal families, the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front), and the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) were all consulted and represented in the transition phase. The international community has also supported us in this smooth transition. Former adversaries are now partners in peace. Its functions have been defined, and its basic laws are being written.” Marcos said the progress in the BARMM has pulled up the sustainable advancement of southern Philippines anchored on a “true and lasting peace.” The post Police, military upgrade gains appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brawner Jr. is next AFP chief — Palace
Malacañang on Wednesday announced that Philippine Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., will serve as the next Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines replacing General Andres Centino who will be appointed Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea. “Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner will be the next Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and will take the place of General Andres Centino who was re-appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the said post earlier this year,” the Palace said an announcement made through the Presidential Communications Office. It was not known though when Brawner will assume the top AFP post. Brawner was appointed Commanding General of the Philippine Army on 20 December 2021. He graduated in the Top 2 in the Philippine Military Academy “Makatao” Class of 1989 and has been serving the military organization in various capacities for 34 years. He served as company commander of the 6th Special Forces Company; battalion commander of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion; operations officer of the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne); chief of staff of the 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division; chief of public affairs of the Philippine Army; spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; and commander of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment. Brawner is also a former brigade commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade in the aftermath of the Marawi Siege in 2017. He once served as Commandant of Cadets at the Philippine Military Academy, where he played an important role in the total eradication of hazing and maltreatment in the Cadet Corps. Brawner later served as the first deputy chief of staff for Financial Management, J10, of the AFP. He is also the former commander of the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division, where he supervised the unit’s combat operations that resulted in the decisive neutralization of Jorge Madlos or “Ka Oris,” the notorious commander of the National Operations Command of the New People’s Army. Malacañang said that Brawner has exemplified the highest levels of excellence in his military schooling, a top notcher in his classes in the Special Forces Operations Course, Intelligence Officer Course, and the AFP Comptrollership Course. Brawner acquired three Master’s degrees in Information Management from the Ateneo de Manila University; Business Administration from the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand and from the European School of Management, Oxford, United Kingdom; and a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. Brawner also received numerous awards and recognitions, including The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers or TOPS in 2013 from the Metrobank Foundation and Rotary Club of Makati; and the Lapu-Lapu Award from President Rodrigo Duterte, for his valuable contributions to the neutralization of Abu Dar, the last of the original leaders of the Maute-ISIS faction. In March this year, Brawner was inducted into the US Army War College or UASWC International Fellows Hall of Fame in recognition of his service in the highest command position in the Philippine Army. The post Brawner Jr. is next AFP chief — Palace appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Janella Salvador stars with Thai actor Win Metawin in new movie
Filipina actress Janella Salvador and Thai Actor Win Metawin are joining forces for the upcoming film Under Parallel Skies. In an announcement video posted by production company 28 Squared Studios on 18 July, Salvador and Win confirmed details about their collaboration. “We are so excited to announce to you guys that we will be teaming up for the upcoming movie Under Parallel Skies,” Win said in the announcement video. The production company also released sneak peek photos of Salvador and Win while filming. More details about the movie and its premiere date are yet to be announced. The film, to be shot in Hong Kong, will be directed by Sigrid Bernardo, the director of the 2017 romantic-comedy Kita Kita, the highest-grossing Philippine indie film. Salvador, an award-winning Filipina actress-singer, debuted in the hit morning drama Be Careful with My Heart (2012-2014), eventually bagging lead roles in Oh My G! (2015), Born for You (2016) and The Killer Bride (2019 - 2020). She further cemented her place in the Philippine entertainment scene when she played the supervillain Valentina in ABS-CBN’s latest production of “Mars Ravelo’s Darna.” Meanwhile, Win Metawin rose to fame in 2020 with his acting debut 2gether: The Series alongside Bright Vachirawit. He then joined the main cast of F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers. The Thai star has also made a mark in the fashion industry. He has deals with multiple lifestyle brands and has graced numerous prestigious fashion magazines. He was also appointed Prada’s global brand ambassador. Win has met his Pinoy fans. In November 2022, the actor came to the Philippines for the first time with the cast of F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers for a fan meet. Last June, Metawin returned for a solo fan meet at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City. The post Janella Salvador stars with Thai actor Win Metawin in new movie appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»