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Trending tickers: Trump Media, Tesla, Bitcoin and DS Smith
Former US president Donald Trump’s media firm, Trump Media & Technology Group, had a successful stock market debut in New York, with shares soaring past.....»»
Trump to face jurors in April before facing US voters in November
Republican strategists say voters have grown accustomed to Donald Trump's norm-shattering behavior, but a guilty verdict could hurt his ability to win over swing voters who decide elections.....»»
Executioner
Earlier this week, Trump adviser Peter Navarro finally stepped into jail......»»
Why Trump May Benefit from Truth Social Stock Market Merger
A recent study has shed light on the negative effects of excessive screen time on children’s development. Researchers have found that children who spend extended.....»»
Rose petals heal cancer patient
(Author’s Note: This story is based on the book “Mary Mediatrix of All Grace” by the late Rene C. de Jesus, published circa December 2015, now out of circulation.) Mrs. Julie Hughes-Sikora, born of an American father and a Filipino mother from Ormoc, Leyte, migrated to the US in 1941. In 1948, she returned to the Philippines for a visit. Curious about the many stories about the miraculous “shower of rose petals” in Lipa, Batangas, she went there on a pilgrimage. During a Sunday mass, a strong wind suddenly encircled the pilgrims. A shower of rose petals from the sky followed. Julie picked up two petals — fresh, light red, and almost translucent. Returning to Manila, she examined the petals and found nothing unusual. She inserted them in the pages of her prayer book. Later, she discovered that one of the petals had an image of Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace and the other of Our Lady of Sorrows. She promised the Blessed Mother that when she returned to the US, she would promote the Marian devotion through the petals and a two-foot Mediatrix statue given to her by the Carmelite Sisters. In the summer of 1950, she spoke to the high school students of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Chicago. The Catholic Women’s League president forbade her to talk of the apparitions and the rose petals. Knowing that the petals were not a hoax, she knelt in tears and prayed, “Blessed Mother, please help me. You must convince the people that these are rose petals from heaven.” Her prayer was answered immediately. A Felician sister borrowed the petals for a sick sister, Sr. Mary Angela, who was dying of bladder cancer. In fact, Sr. Mary Angela had her coffin made. She later recounted that a smiling lady in white came out of the rose petals and floated on a cloud. Sr. Mary Angela fainted from the extreme pain of the cancer. Her surgery scars were gone when she woke up, and she was completely healed. Her urologist, Dr. Dooley, a non-Catholic, was shocked to discover that she was instantly cancer-free. He gave her a copy of her medical records as evidence of a miracle. Sr. Mary Angela lived for another 12 years. The news of her miraculous healing spread like wildfire across the world, silencing the many “doubting Thomases.” Many years later, Julie returned to Lipa to return the rose petals to the Carmelite sisters, who regarded them as Marian relics. Julie signed an affidavit of her testimony before the sala of Judge Harriet Demetriou on 5 October 1999. The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith or CDF, tasked to investigate the Mediatrix apparitions, regarded them as a hoax and ordered the rose petals burned, the very evidence that proved the apparition. If the CDF had done a proper investigation, they would have seen the evidence of the miracles. But they decided “with finality” that the Mediatrix apparitions were a hoax based on a Pius XII decree, which was discovered recently to be INVALID and NON-EXISTENT because it was not registered in the Vatican’s Acta Apostolicae Sedis, which is required by Canon Law to make it binding and effective. So, the Vatican committed the blunder of all blunders by suppressing the Mediatrix apparition for 70 long years based on a non-existent Papal decree. They manipulated the results of the first investigation in 1951 by ordering six Filipino bishops to change their findings to “not of supernatural origin” under threat and intimidation. This was discovered only when one bishop, on his deathbed, admitted that he was forced to change their original decision of authentic apparition to a hoax. The rest of the other bishops followed. They have all passed away. The Vatican kept the non-existent decree secret, blaming instead Filipino Bishop Mariano Gaviola and Archbishop Emeritus Ramon Arguelles for “violating” Vatican orders. In fairness, some cardinals did not know about the invalid decree, believing all the while that the apparitions were really a hoax. We are now asking Pope Francis to rectify the errors of the Vatican and restore the Filipino clergy and Marian devotees in the name of the Virgin. The more it is suppressed, the more Marian miracles there are, increasing the fold of Marian devotees despite Vatican suppression. The Virgin prevails over the Vatican. eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com The post Rose petals heal cancer patient appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Poor team player
A string of blunders by the United States contributed greatly to the aggressiveness of China in the West Philippine Sea, in disregard of the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that invalidated most of China’s maritime claims. A geopolitical expert even suggested that America’s traditional ally, the Philippines, was left out in the cold after the Obama administration initiated its Asian pivot to contain China. Dean Cheng, senior advisor to the China program at the US Institute of Peace, a federal watchdog on the global situation, assessed the recent deployment of “ships and other maritime forces to the disputed Spratly islands near the Philippines.” Cheng identified China’s goal as coerce the Philippines into withdrawing from the contested Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal) to effectively cede it to the People’s Republic of China or PRC. The expert who advises the US government said China’s actions “are in defiance of the international Permanent Court of Arbitration’s findings that undermined the PRC claims to the Spratlys and they constitute a serious challenge to the international rules governing maritime conduct.” Cheng traced the unabated Chinese incursions to the poor handling of the situation during the 2012 standoff at Scarborough Shoal that practically encouraged Beijing to build permanent military structures on the sea formation. The weak response of the US government to China’s sea maneuvers emboldened increasingly drastic actions in the disputed region which Beijing claims is historically its territory. “It is worth recalling that in 2012, the United States chose to persuade the Philippines to withdraw from Scarborough Shoal (a separate set of features north of the Spratlys) while making no effort to compel the PRC to do the same. In effect, Washington forced Manila to cede that set of features to the PRC,” Cheng said. Worse, under President Barack Obama, the US took a three-year hiatus from freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, an absence that coincided with massive Chinese construction on features it controlled. “For the United States to once again fail to counter Chinese efforts to dominate a region that sees some $3.37 trillion in trade would reinforce a perception of American withdrawal,” according to Cheng. Over the years, Cheng said, the PRC has become more assertive in supporting its ambiguous claims. It has extended patrols in the area, often arresting foreign fishing boats for violating the nine-dash line while requiring everyone who wishes to fish there to register with Sansha in the Paracels, a Chinese prefecture. China has also undertaken extensive land reclamation on rocks and reefs under its control, totaling over 3,000 acres on artificial islands in the Spratlys — dwarfing all other claimants combined. “Despite promises not to militarize these new features, the PRC has deployed artillery pieces and rockets and built runways that can support both fighter and cargo aircraft,” Cheng said. China is intent on coercing the Philippines out of its position in the Spratlys, regardless of legal rights and claims. According to the US expert, it is likely that the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s findings have only strengthened China’s “resolve to secure the Spratlys (as well as the separate Scarborough Shoal and Macclesfield Bank territories). At the same time, the PRC is likely trying to signal to the region that American support is both escalatory and counterproductive.” The US has not matched its strong statements on the West Philippine Sea dispute, such as its frequent assurances to the Philippines of an iron-clad alliance, with determined moves, thus giving China the impetus to gradually ramp up its actions. When the ball was in its court, the US, because of domestic political considerations, exited the game leaving its teammate at the mercy of its powerful opponent. The post Poor team player appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DOT Blunders
The Department of Tourism (DOT) is currently in hot water under the leadership of Secretary Maria Esperanza Christina Garcia Frasco, following a controversy surrounding the launch of their new slogan, “Love the Philippines.” Instead of showcasing the beautiful Philippines as intended, different locations were featured in the promotional materials. In other words, there was a […].....»»
Lawyers seek De Lemos head for NBI blunder
A group of lawyers who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal blamed the recent significant mistakes of the National Bureau of Investigation on overstaying Director Medardo de Lemos and called for his immediate resignation. The Department of Justice confirmed that Jose Adrian “Jad” Dera, a co-accused of former senator Leila de Lima in her remaining drug case, was arrested by authorities on Wednesday, 21 June, after he allegedly went out from and came back to the NBI Detention Center. Dera’s lawyer says his medical condition necessitates his leaving the NBI premises, even as the NBI has its medical doctor. DoJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said that “firearms, cash, and other contraband” were confiscated from Dera. Six NBI security personnel were arrested together with Dera. Dera is also implicated in the slaying of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo last 4 March 2023. Lawyer Levito Baligod, legal counsel for the Degamo family, said that aside from Jad Dera, alleged co-mastermind Marvin Miranda also enjoys furlough from corrupt NBI officials, leaving the NBI Detention Center as he pleases. A reliable source inside the bureau revealed that the Degamo witnesses’ recantation started with the arrest of Marvin Miranda, the alleged recruiter of the killers of Gov. Degamo. The same source said that he is an asset/informant of a newly-appointed Chief of a District Office of a province near Metro Manila, promoted by the NBI Director De Lemos himself. The same source said that unknown to the public, it was kept from the Department of Justice officials’ knowledge that Miranda is an asset/informant of a newly-installed Chief of a District Office of a province near Metro Manila. The same Chief of the District Office is married to a lady agent who also was a newly-installed Bureau Chief. The same person is rumored to be the paramour of the NBI Director. She was reported to have been with the latter during a foreign trip. “Miranda is a Trojan horse who has a connection with the top officials of the Bureau. And this is just one of the many things that are eroding the morale of the career officers and personnel of the NBI,” the source said in dismay. The widow of Governor Degamo, Pamplona, Negros Oriental Mayor Janice Degamo, in her Facebook post, said; “I have lost my trust in the NBI… It is in this facility that all gunmen recanted (their testimonies). Paano nangyari yun?” She added that “as if the Bureau has no IDEA at all how things like this could happen. Tapos nangyari ito na nahuli si Dera??? Tapos wala itong kinalaman sa recantation? Hanggang saan sa NBI umabot ang P25 million?” “We would request another agency of the government to handle the Degamo case, wag na sa NBI (expletive),” Mayor Janice emphatically said. An NBI source said the recantation of testimonies of all 10 gunmen in the Degamo case is a first in the history of the Bureau. The same group of lawyers said De Lemos might as well resign. He should have retired weeks ago as he reached the age of compulsory retirement last 8 June having reached the age of 65. “The compulsory retirement age of the NBI Director is sixty-five (65). Said position cannot be reappointed because the position is technical and not confidential,” as stated in the description of the position of the NBI Director. Extended term A copy of a memorandum from the Office of the President circulated on social media dated 9 June 2023, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin to Secretary of Justice Crispin Remulla, states “… Mr. De Lemos, who holds a coterminous appointment as Director (Director VI) of the NBI, is considered automatically extended in the service upon reaching the compulsory retirement age of 65 years on 8 June 2023, until the expiry date of his appointment which is until the end of the term of the President, unless his services are earlier terminated”. Executive Order 136 series of 1999 or the law Requiring Presidential Approval of Requests for Extension of Services of Presidential Appointees Beyond the Compulsory Retirement Age, however, states: “That Officials or employees who have reached the compulsory retirement age of 65 years shall not be retained in the service, except for exemplary meritorious reasons.” “The blunders at the NBI is surely not a meritorious reason for De Lemos to be extended in office,” one of the lawyers said. Also cited was a memorandum from Executive Secretary Salvador Madialdea, under then-President Rodrigo Duterte, dated 18 February 2021, and addressed to the heads of departments, agencies, offices, and instrumentalities of government, including Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations or GOCCs. “To ensure the effective and efficient delivery of service, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has instructed the strict adherence of all concerned to Republic Act 8921, otherwise known as the Government Service Insurance System Act 1997, which provides that the compulsory retirement age of government employees is sixty-five (65) years. As such, the extension of service of government officials and employees who have reached the compulsory retirement age will no longer be allowed,” the memorandum read. The post Lawyers seek De Lemos head for NBI blunder appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Timberwolves hold off Nuggets to stay alive, Warriors edge Kings
Anthony Edwards scored 34 points, including a three-point dagger with 11.5 seconds left, as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 114-108 in overtime Sunday to stay alive in the NBA playoffs. Western Conference top seeds Denver, led by 43 points from reigning two-time Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic, closed regulation on a 12-0 run to force overtime. But they were out-scored 18-12 in the extra session at the Target Center in Minneapolis as the Timberwolves pulled within 3-1 in the series. Minnesota still face a daunting task -- no NBA team has come back from 3-0 down to win a best-of-seven series. "See you in Denver, we're going back," said Edwards, whose 16 third-quarter points keyed a Timberwolves charge that carried them to a 12-point lead midway through the fourth. Mike Conley added 19 points for Minnesota. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 17 points with 11 rebounds and Rudy Gobert added 14 points and 15 rebounds as the Timberwolves withstood another big night from Jokic. The Serbian star matched his playoff scoring high and added 11 rebounds and six assists. The teams swapped the lead four times in overtime, but Nuggets coach Michael Malone said too many defensive lapses in the extra session doomed his team. "You hold them to 16 points in the fourth quarter, then (they have) 18 in five minutes," Malone said. "That's the hardest thing to stomach about this game is that when the game was on the line, we were unwilling and unable to get the necessary stops." 'Sloppy' Curry It was the second Western Conference thriller of the day, after the Golden State Warriors held off a ferocious fourth-quarter fightback from the Sacramento Kings to secure a 126-125 victory that leveled their series at two games apiece. Harrison Barnes almost snatched victory for Sacramento at the buzzer, but his long-range effort bounced off the rim to leave the NBA champions celebrating. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 32 points -- and breathed a sigh of relief after two uncharacteristic blunders in a frenetic finale at the Chase Center. Curry missed a wide-open three-pointer with his team-leading 126-121 with less than a minute remaining. He then erroneously called a timeout when the Warriors had none left, earning a technical foul and allowing Sacramento's Malik Monk to make it a four-point game with a free throw. De'Aaron Fox's three-pointer pulled Sacramento within 126-125 and Curry missed another floater to give the Kings a final chance. "It was kind of sloppy not knowing how many timeouts we had left, and a couple of dagger shots didn't go in -- but we did what we needed to do defensively in those last 10 seconds," a relieved Curry said. Klay Thompson added 26 points and Jordan Poole had 22. Draymond Green, back from suspension, scored 12 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists off the bench to help the Warriors withstand a 38-point performance from Fox. Knicks, Celtics close in In the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics moved within a victory of advancing, the Knicks beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-93 and the Celtics downing Atlanta 129-121 to each take 3-1 series leads. Jalen Brunson drained five three-pointers on the way to 29 points for the Knicks, who again electrified Madison Square Garden. With just one win from three more games the Knicks can advance past the first round for the first time since 2013. Darius Garland led Cleveland with 23 points but Donovan Mitchell scored just 11 -- only two in the second half. The Cavs will try to extend the series when they host game five on Wednesday. The Celtics can wrap up their series at home on Tuesday after bouncing back from a disappointing game-three defeat with a convincing victory in Atlanta. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 31 points apiece for the Celtics, each delivering a dunk in the final minute as the Celtics thwarted the Hawks' final rally bid. Hawks star Trae Young finished with a game-high 35 points and handed out 14 assists. But Boston stepped up their defensive intensity and had an answer for every Atlanta run, never trailing after the first quarter. Brown got off to a slow start, making just one of his first seven shots. Then he got rid of the protective mask he's worn since suffering a facial fracture in February and made 11 of 15. "Maybe it was all in my head," Brown said. "I took it off and started to turn things around a little bit." The post Timberwolves hold off Nuggets to stay alive, Warriors edge Kings appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Warriors down Kings to level series; Knicks and Celtics on brink
Stephen Curry scored 32 points as the Golden State Warriors held off a ferocious fourth-quarter fightback from the Sacramento Kings to secure a series-leveling 126-125 victory in the NBA playoffs on Sunday. Harrison Barnes almost snatched victory for Sacramento on the buzzer, but his long-range effort bounced off the rim to leave the NBA champions celebrating a result that leaves them tied at 2-2 in the best-of-seven series after dropping games one and two. In the East, meanwhile, the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics moved within a victory of advancing, the Knicks beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-93 and the Celtics downing Atlanta 129-121 to each take 3-1 series leads. Curry breathed a sigh of relief after two uncharacteristic blunders in a frenetic finale at the Chase Center. The Warriors talisman missed a wide-open three-pointer with his team-leading 126-121 with less than a minute remaining. Curry compounded that rare miss by erroneously calling a time-out when the Warriors had none left, earning a technical foul and allowing Sacramento's Malik Monk to make it a four-point game with a free throw. A superb De’Aaron Fox three-pointer from 28 feet then left Sacramento within one at 126-125, and when Curry missed another floater, the Kings had a chance to win it only to see Barnes's late effort bounce out. "I ain't gonna lie, I thought it was the smartest play in the world," Curry said of his timeout call after a failed challenge had cost the Warriors their last time out. "I looked over at the bench and everybody was shaking their head. "But we did what we needed to do defensively in those last 10 seconds," a relieved Curry said. "We've protected home court, and now we move on." Barnes's late miss was the final act of a thrilling battle between the Western Conference rivals that saw the lead change hands no fewer than 19 times as momentum ebbed and flowed throughout. Golden State looked to have turned the screw decisively in the third quarter, outscoring the Kings 37-23 to start the fourth with a 10-point advantage. Sacramento, however, came surging back with a 7-0 run to start the final quarter and only a handful of points separated the two teams in the waning seconds. Curry led the Warriors' scoring with 32 points while Klay Thompson added 26, including four three-pointers, and Jordan Poole had 22. Andrew Wiggins added 18 points while Draymond Green, returning after suspension, had 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists off the bench. Fox produced a dazzling performance for Sacramento with 38 points while Keegan Murray added 23 and Monk 16. The Kings host game five on Wednesday. In New York, Jalen Brunson drained five three-pointers on the way to 29 points for the Knicks, who again electrified Madison Square Garden. With just one win from three more games the Knicks can advance past the first round for the first time since 2013. New York led by as many as 15 on the way to a nine-point halftime lead. A big third quarter saw the Cavs sneak into a narrow lead before a sustained Knicks rally in the fourth. Brunson was one of four players in double figures with R.J. Barrett providing offensive support with 26 points. Darius Garland led Cleveland 23 points but Donovan Mitchell had a game to forget after finishing with just 11 points -- only two in the second half. The Cavs will try to extend the series when they host game five on Wednesday. The Celtics can wrap up their series at home on Tuesday after bouncing back from a disappointing game-three defeat with a convincing victory in Atlanta. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 31 points apiece for the Celtics, each delivering a dunk in the final minute as the Celtics thwarted the Hawks' final rally bid. Hawks star Trae Young finished with a game-high 35 points and handed out 14 assists. But Boston stepped up their defensive intensity and had an answer for every Atlanta run, never trailing after the first quarter. The post Warriors down Kings to level series; Knicks and Celtics on brink appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ERC could have averted electricity rate hikes
Expect electricity rates to skyrocket in December. Prices of food and other basics will follow. Culprit: the Energy Regulatory Commission. Being under Malacañang, ERC’s blunders will explode in the President’s face. Unwanted Yuletide fireworks......»»
Duterte takes full responsibility for vaccine acquisition amid Sinovac concerns
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday night defended his government's decision to buy 25 million doses of a Chinese-made vaccine with an uncertain efficacy rate, telling the public that he would take full responsibility for any blunders in the national vaccination program......»»
DOH admits: ‘A lot of gaps’ in COVID-19 response
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health admitted on Wednesday that there have been “a lot of gaps” in its handling of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, but added that these blunders are not just about Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. Health Undersecretary and Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said this in an interview with […] The post DOH admits: ‘A lot of gaps’ in COVID-19 response appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
‘SONA must provide clear direction vs COVID-19’
There should be no more threats or denials of blunders in handling the COVID-19 crisis in President Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address, only a clear roadmap on how the country will fight the pandemic and help the economy recover......»»