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EXPLAINER: Why did the Baltimore bridge collapse and what is the death toll?
(Reuters) -Divers recovered the remains of two of the six missing workers more than a day after a cargo ship smashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. The bodies of two men were found in a red pickup truck submerged in the icy waters of the Patapsco River. Rescuers pulled two workers from the water.....»»
Cebu Pink Paddlers make waves in US dragon boat scene
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The breast cancer survivors-turned dragon boat racers from the Cebu Pink Paddlers continue to make their presence felt in the United States after bagging a gold medal in the 2023 Nevada International Dragon Boat Festival in Henderson, Nevada, United States on Saturday, October 14, 2023. The Cebu Pink Paddlers ruled the 200-meter breast cancers survivor race category and earned the bronze medal in the 200m women’s championship division. It came less than a week after they also claimed a gold and a silver medal in the Santa Fe Dam Dragon Boat Festival 2023 in Irwindale, California. This time, the Cebu Pink Paddlers topped the 200m breast cancer survivor category with a time of one minute and 2.51 seconds to earn the first place. Warriors on Water came in second with a time of 1:02.63, followed by Dragon Divas of Minnesota at 1:02.85. The fourth and fifth placers were the Pink Phoenix (1:03.56) and the Pink Paddlers (1:06.98) in the 200m breast cancer survivor category. Meanwhile, the Cebu Pink Paddlers finished third in the 200m women’s championship division with a time of 57.44 seconds. They were behind silver medalist Tilikum Dragons who clocked in 56.97 seconds, while Catch 22-Tsunami topped the race in 55.97 seconds for the gold medal. One of Cebu Pink Paddlers’ goals of competing in the United States is to inspire more women, especially breast cancer survivors, that there is so much to life after battling the dreaded disease. They showcase this by competing not just in an average dragon boat race, but in an elite level. RELATED STORIES Cebu Pink Paddlers Dragon Boat team to compete in US next month Cebu Pink Paddlers bag silver in Malaysia competition Cebu Pink Paddlers hold photo exhibit to raise breast cancer awareness.....»»
PSALM 75
Psalm chapter 75 opens with thanks to the Almighty God. It’s a prayer of gratitude. The words offer praises to God for all of His wonderful deeds. Sometimes life takes a dark turn, stunning you with a horrifying plot twist. It could be bad news about your health or your loved one’s health. It could be sudden unemployment or loss of income. The death of someone close to you. A heartbreak. The grief or anguish is so bad it’s like being thrown into a dark, endless, boundless sea. You try and stay afloat. Not a soul in sight. Just the vast, blackness of the ocean. Your face is above the water. The rest of your body? You cannot see. You have no idea what creatures lurk beneath the waters, ready to pull you in, to drown you or eat you alive. And you don’t know when the rescue boat will arrive. It is exhausting. You have lost all control. The physical, mental, emotional turmoil is getting worse by the hour. Such is the sensation I feel when I am going through a terrible hardship. Sure, I could still breathe, as my face is above the water. But my problem is as overwhelming and borderless as the great sea. All-consuming. [caption id="attachment_194550" align="aligncenter" width="525"] As the Bible also advised — when you’re confused and panicking, pause. Then pray.[/caption] I feel lost at sea. Panicking. Agitated. Trapped. Stranded. Fearing for my life or sanity. Terrified of all the uncertainties. Feeling insecure and unsafe. Even hope seems like an enemy. Every day, I wake up, hoping for relief. Gasping for rest. But it never seems to arrive. I am still floating in the middle of the dark ocean and unable to hold on to anything. That’s when I always remember Psalm 75. I pause and remember the first verse in that chapter in the Bible. I look back at all the wonderful deeds God showed me in the past. The countless times when He saved me. The many times He healed me. The many times He threw me a life raft. And this soon relaxes me. As the Bible also advised — when you’re confused and panicking, pause. Then pray. Give all your worries to God. Put your trust in Him. Then, gradually, my head clears. The ocean may still be treacherous, but when you look up, there’s a constellation of stars. You become bewildered by the beauty of a black velvet sky littered with diamonds. We may be so focused on the negative, on what we are lacking, on what we are suffering from, that we forget that there are still plenty of things to be thankful for. Things that we take for granted. A supportive parent, a joyful niece, a family to come home to. Warm meals. That hot cup of coffee. The laughter in the living room. The ability to walk outdoors and enjoy nature. The ability to work, to earn. The friends that cheer you up. There are many, many reasons to praise God. Psalm 75 — specifically verse 1 — reigns us in and redirects our focus to the positive. To the silver lining. SCIENCE-BACKED Harvard Health Publishing posted a study on an online article titled, “Giving thanks can make you happy.” The article described a research conducted by two psychologists, Dr. Robert A. Emmons of the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami. The doctors asked all participants to write a few sentences each week. They facilitated three groups: one group wrote about things they were grateful for that had occurred during the week. A second group wrote about daily, and the third wrote about events that had affected them, according to the article. After 10 weeks, the research discovered that those who wrote about gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives. In June, The New York Times published a story titled “Gratitude Really is Good for You. Here’s What the Science Shows.” The author, Christina Caron, quoted Emmons: “Gratitude heals, energizes and changes lives. It is the prism through which we view life in terms of gifts, givers, goodness and grace.” Expressing gratitude to people who show kindness to us already benefits our well-being, what more if we are grateful to God? So when you find yourself in tough times? Just turn to Psalm 75:1. The post PSALM 75 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Millions of children affected by climate disasters – UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund warned on Thursday that weather disasters brought on by climate change caused 43.1 million child displacements between 2016 and 2021 and criticized the lack of attention given to the victims. Co-Author Laura Healy told American for Prosperity, or AFP, that the data only indicated the “tip of the iceberg,” with many more possibly affected, in comprehensive research on the subject that included the heartbreaking stories of some children affected. Khalid Abdul Azim, a child from Sudan, recalls his terrible experience in a flooded village that can only be reached by boat. "We moved our belongings to the highway, where we lived for weeks," he said. In 2017, sisters Mia and Maia Bravo watched flames engulf their trailer in California from the back of the family minivan. "I was afraid, in shock," Maia said. Statistics on internal displacements caused by climate disasters generally do not account for the victim’s age. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, a non-governmental organization, and UNICEF collaborated to analyze the data and uncover the hidden toll for children. Four types of climate disaster (floods, storms, droughts, and wildfire) has led to 43.1 million child displacements in 44 countries in which frequency of the said disasters has increased during global warming, the report says. Ninety-five percent of those displacements were caused by floods and storms. “It’s equivalent of about 20,000 child displacements every day,” Healy lamented on AFP highlighting how the afflicted children are then at risk of suffering other traumas, such as being torn away from their parents or being the prey of child traffickers. As one child may be uprooted more than once, the numbers reflect the number of displacements rather than the number of children affected. The number of displaced people as a result of drought is “radically underreported,” according to Healy because they are less abrupt and hence harder to measure. This is just the tip of the iceberg based on the available data that we have," she said. "The reality is with the impacts of climate change, or better tracking of displacement when it comes to slow onset events, that the number of children who are uprooted from their homes is going to be much greater." Healy added. UNICEF Report Reveals Alarming Predictions for Child Displacements Due to Climate Events In a recently released UNICEF report, startling forecasts have been unveiled for specific climate-related events. According to the report, the next three decades could witness a staggering 96 million child displacements due to flooding caused by overflowing rivers. Additionally, cyclonic winds are projected to force 10.3 million child displacements, while storm surges may result in 7.2 million displacements. It's worth noting that these estimates do not factor in preventive evacuation measures, raising concerns about the potential scale of displacement. UNICEF's Executive Director, Catherine Russell, emphasized the profound impact on those compelled to flee, including the fear of an uncertain return, disruptions to education, and the possibility of further relocations. Russell stressed that while migration may save lives, it also brings significant upheaval and challenges. "As the impacts of climate change escalate, so too will climate-driven movement. We have the tools and knowledge to respond to this escalating challenge for children, but we are acting far too slowly." She added. At the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in November and December, UNICEF urged world leaders to take up the climate issue. According to Healy, children, particularly those who have already been compelled to move must be prepared “to live in a climate change world”. While the effects of climate change are spreading across large portions of the planet, the UNICEF report highlights some of the most susceptible nations. The biggest number of displaced people (almost 23 million in six years) occurred in China, India, and the Philippines because of their massive populations, strategic positions, and precautionary evacuation measures. However, in proportional terms, Africa and small island states are most at risk; in Dominica, 76 percent of all children were uprooted between 2016 and 2021. More than 30 percent of the said amount went to Saint Martin and Cuba. The post Millions of children affected by climate disasters – UNICEF appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tens of millions of children uprooted by climate disasters — UNICEF
Weather disasters fueled by climate change -- from floods to droughts, storms to wildfires -- sparked 43.1 million child displacements from 2016 to 2021, the UN Children's Fund warned Thursday, slamming the lack of attention paid to victims. In a sweeping report on the issue, the United Nations agency detailed the heart-wrenching stories of some of the children affected, and co-author Laura Healy told AFP the data only revealed the "tip of the iceberg," with many more likely affected. "We moved our belongings to the highway, where we lived for weeks," recounts Sudanese child Khalid Abdul Azim, whose flooded village was only accessible by boat. In 2017, sisters Mia and Maia Bravo watched flames engulf their trailer in California from the back of the family minivan. "I was afraid, in shock," Maia says in the report. "I would stay up all night." Statistics on internal displacements caused by climate disasters generally do not account for the age of the victims. However, UNICEF worked with the non-governmental Internal Displacement Monitoring Center to unpick the data and reveal the hidden toll on children. From 2016 to 2021, four types of climate disasters (floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires) -- the frequency of which has increased due to global warming -- led to 43.1 million child displacements in 44 countries, the report says. Ninety-five percent of those displacements were caused by floods and storms. "It's the equivalent of about 20,000 child displacements every day," Healy told AFP, underscoring how the children affected are then at risk of suffering other traumas, such as being separated from their parents or falling victim to child traffickers. The data reflect the number of displacements and not the number of children affected, as the same child could be uprooted more than once. The figures do not allow for a distinction between those evacuated before a weather event, and those forced to leave in the wake of a disaster. And, according to Healy, the number of displacements due to drought is "radically underreported," because they are less sudden and thus more difficult to quantify. "This is just the tip of the iceberg based on the available data that we have," she said. "The reality is with the impacts of climate change, or better tracking of displacement when it comes to slow onset events, that the number of children who are uprooted from their homes is going to be much greater." 'Far too slowly' The UNICEF report offers some partial predictions, for specific events. Floods linked to overflowing rivers could spark 96 million child displacements in the next 30 years, while cyclonic winds could force 10.3 million displacements, it says. Storm surges could lead to 7.2 million displacements. None of those estimates include preventive evacuations. "For those who are forced to flee, the fear and impact can be especially devastating, with worry of whether they will return home, resume school, or be forced to move again," UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement. "Moving may have saved their lives, but it's also very disruptive," Russell said. "As the impacts of climate change escalate, so too will climate-driven movement. We have the tools and knowledge to respond to this escalating challenge for children, but we are acting far too slowly." UNICEF called on world leaders to take up the issue at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in November and December. Healy says children, including those already forced to move, must be prepared "to live in a climate change world." Even if the intensifying effects of climate change are affecting wide swathes of the planet, the UNICEF report shines the light on particularly vulnerable countries. China, India, and the Philippines are the countries with the largest number of displacements (nearly 23 million in six years) because of their huge populations and geographic locations -- but also because of their preventive evacuation plans. But in proportional terms, Africa and small island nations are most at risk -- in Dominica, 76 percent of all children were displaced from 2016 to 2021. For Cuba and Saint-Martin, that figure was more than 30 percent. The post Tens of millions of children uprooted by climate disasters — UNICEF appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Huge’ overfishing problem shows need to ratify ocean treaty: Greenpeace
Overfishing in international waters has surged in the past five years and demonstrates the need to ratify a recent global treaty to protect the high seas, a Greenpeace report said Wednesday. The non-governmental network is calling on as many countries as possible to sign the treaty next week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Finalized in June, the text was hailed as a "historic" accord with the potential to better safeguard the oceans. A key element in the treaty is the creation of a legal framework to protect high seas marine areas -- beyond 230 miles (370 kilometers) from coastlines -- whose good health is vital to humanity. But without enforcement of the accord, such protections are minimal, the report warned. "Reality at sea is moving in the opposite direction from the ambition laid out in the Treaty," it said. Governments must step up immediately, urged Greenpeace oceans campaigner Chris Thorne, aboard the group's ship Arctic Sunrise, which was docked Wednesday in Long Beach, California for an event marking the report's release. To protect 30 percent of Earth's land and oceans by 2030, the target adopted last year by the COP15 convention on biological diversity, "there is no time to waste," he told AFP. Fishing hours on the high seas increased by 8.5 percent between 2018 and 2022, according to the report, which compiles data from an organization capable of tracking boat movements via their transmitters. Such intensification is especially pronounced in the ecologically sensitive areas identified by the UN as potential future marine sanctuaries. Greenpeace reported fishing there has increased by 22.5 percent over the same period. "Overfishing is a huge problem," Thorne said. "That fishing pressure is just absolutely unsustainable, and it's pushing our oceans to the brink." Greenpeace's report notes that in the span of 30 years, stocks of Pacific bluefin tuna have collapsed by more than 90 percent. It also draws attention to the damage caused in open seas by longline fishing, which uses cords fitted with thousands of baited hooks dozens of miles long. The destructive method catches many sharks by mistake. 'Let her heal' Given such dire situations, using the treaty to create high seas sanctuaries is crucial, said Samantha Murray, a marine biodiversity specialist at the University of California San Diego. "We have up to 670 percent greater biomass inside highly protected and fully protected reserves," she told reporters. "When we sort of leave the ocean alone and let it be who she is and let her heal, we get more complex ecosystems that can be more resilient." In order to come into force before the next UN Ocean Conference, in 2025, the treaty will need ratification from at least 60 nations. This would enable convening a conference of the parties, empowered to create the marine sanctuaries. Scientists and non-governmental organizations have already identified a dozen priority high seas zones needing protection. They include the Costa Rica Thermal Dome, a nutrient-rich marine biodiversity hotspot hospitable to blue whales; the Emperor seamount chain of underwater mountains near Hawaii; and the Atlantic's Sargasso Sea region. In addition, the Salas y Gomez and Nazca ridges off Chile's coast may be among the first sanctuaries to see the light of day. The post ‘Huge’ overfishing problem shows need to ratify ocean treaty: Greenpeace appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES — Mananquil emerges as Phl boxing’s top power broker
When boxing promoter-manager Jim Claude Mananquil is not attending to his stable of fighters, he can be seen just before daybreak minding his family’s tuna export business in General Santos City. “This is what keeps my boxing promotion going,” said the 29-year-old Mananquil, who started promoting at the tender age of 15. Of course, Mananquil didn’t have the proper license to put up fights owing to his being a minor and somebody with a license had to pose as the promoter-on-record. But it was he who assembled all the fighters and took care of the finances, quite a feat for someone whose main weapon for staging a card was his unparalleled love for the fight game. Instead of celebrating, Mananquil had to endure 16 straight losses as most of his boxers — though solidly built — were all as raw and green as a harvested broccoli. “We got kids who had muscular bodies thinking that they would do well in the ring. But everyone lost and I was devastated,” recalled Mananquil, who manages two-belt world super-bantamweight Marlon Tapales. Born and bred in General Santos City, Mananquil fell in love with the fight game at an early age. “I looked up to, of course, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather and Zab Judah,” he said. Mananquil didn’t just like boxing. He was so obsessed with the sport that he even wanted to proceed with a professional career after a triumphant debut in 2018. “But my mom objected and told me to just get involved in boxing as long as I don’t fight.” Mananquil was already busy promoting even before he turned 20 and in just a few years he was crisscrossing the United States accompanying his boxers signed up to see action under different promoters. At one time, his boxers set up camp in Miami under a Florida-based Cuban trainer but soon found himself relocating to southern California and Las Vegas with influential American fight guy Sean Gibbons lending a hand. Just a few months ago, Mananquil had two reigning world champions: Tapales and Melvin Jerusalem. But Jerusalem’s reign as World Boxing Organization minimumweight titlist was short-lived. After winning the World Boxing Organization 105-lb title in Tokyo in January, he surrendered the championship in Indio, California, several months later. Following Jerusalem’s loss, Mananquil is now left with Tapales, who is being groomed to figure in a megabuck matchup with Japanese Naoya “Monster” Inoue sometime in December. “My responsibility is to give Marlon the very best preparation so he can win this very important fight,” Mananquil said. The odds are stacked against the southpaw but Mananquil swears nothing is impossible. ‘It’s a tough decision but I really love boxing.’ Whether that multi-million dollar showdown happens or not will be known in the coming days and weeks as both camps are going to hold another round of talks very soon in the hopes of putting a deal in place. The youngest of three kids, Mananquil admits he is torn between the family business and boxing. And if somebody’s going to put a gun to his head, Mananquil would not hesitate to make his choice. “It’s a tough decision but I really love boxing.” Coming from a well-to-do family, Mananquil went to five schools during college. Once, he tried studying in America but went home after just a few weeks, saying his heart was not there. Back in the Philippines, Mananquil enrolled at Ateneo de Davao University, Enderun College and even tried schooling in a small college in General Santos City. Likewise, he went to school at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig but wound up backing out for the nth time and returned to General Santos City. He was always on-the-go. But one thing’s clear, though. Mananquil insists his first and only love is boxing. And if that big fight down the road happens in Tokyo before the end of the year, Mananquil says that would end up becoming the highlight of his young career provided his fighter emerges victorious. But in the meantime, Mananquil will continue to look after the tuna business in the morning to assure that boxing gets the sustenance it badly needs. Right now, Mananquil is rolling with the punches as the family business and boxing seem to be blending well. And if things fall into place, there could come a time when Mananquil won’t even have to be forced to sacrifice one but winds up mastering both. The post ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES — Mananquil emerges as Phl boxing’s top power broker appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Around 40 migrants rescued, others found dead off Cape Verde
Several migrants have been found dead and around 40 rescued from a boat off Cape Verde, authorities said Tuesday, with fears dozens more may have died. Cape Verdean media reported that the "pirogue" style boat common in the region left Senegal a month ago, while police said about 100 people had set off from the West African coast. Senegal's foreign ministry said late Tuesday that 38 people, including a citizen of Guinea-Bissau, were rescued from the migrant boat off the Cape Verde coast. The vessel was spotted on Monday almost 200 miles from the island of Sal by a Spanish fishing boat, which alerted Cape Verde authorities, police said. "We must open our arms and welcome the living and bury the dead with dignity," said Cape Verdean Health Minister Filomena Goncalves, as quoted by the Inforpress news agency. Around 40 survivors and several dead bodies were found on the boat, but sources differed on the exact number. The coast guard said the total number of survivors and dead was 48. The local morgue said it had received seven dead bodies. Jose Rui Moreira, a health official in Sal, said there were 38 survivors and seven needed to be taken to hospital. Cape Verde lies about 600 kilometres (350 miles) off the coast of West Africa on the maritime migration route to the Spanish Canary Islands -- a gateway to the European Union. Thousands of migrants fleeing poverty and war risk their lives to make the dangerous crossing each year. They often travel in modest boats or motorised canoes supplied by smugglers, who charge a fee for the journey. In January, rescue teams in Cape Verde saved around 90 migrants adrift in a canoe, while two others aboard died. The migrants were from Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone. The post Around 40 migrants rescued, others found dead off Cape Verde appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hawaii fire death toll nears 100, and anger grows
The death toll in Hawaii from the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century ticked towards 100 Sunday, fueling criticism that government inaction contributed to the heavy loss of life. At least 96 people were confirmed to have died as of Sunday night, but officials warned the figure was likely to rise as recovery crews with cadaver dogs work their way through hundreds of homes and burned-out vehicles in Lahaina. The historic coastal town on the island of Maui was almost destroyed by the fast-moving inferno early Wednesday morning, with survivors saying there had been no warnings. When asked Sunday why none of the island's sirens had been activated, Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono said she would wait for the results of an investigation announced by the state's attorney general. "I'm not going to make any excuses for this tragedy," Hirono, a Democrat, told CNN's "State of the Union." "We are really focused, as far as I'm concerned, on the need for rescue, and, sadly, the location of more bodies." More than 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed as the fire tore through Lahaina, according to official estimates, wreaking $5.5 billion in damage and leaving thousands homeless. "The remains we're finding are from a fire that melted metal," said Maui Police Chief John Pelletier. "When we pick up the remains... they fall apart." That was making identification difficult, he added, appealing for those with missing relatives to give DNA samples that might speed up the process. Pelletier said cadaver dogs still had a vast area to search in the hunt for what could still be hundreds of people who are unaccounted for. "We're going as fast as we can. But just so you know, three percent -- that's what's been searched with the dogs," he said. Questions over alert system The wildfire is the deadliest in the United States since 1918, when 453 people died in Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to nonprofit research group the National Fire Protection Association. The death toll surpassed 2018's Camp Fire in California, which virtually wiped the small town of Paradise off the map and killed 86 people. Questions are being asked about how prepared authorities were for the catastrophe, despite the islands' exposure to natural hazards such as tsunamis, earthquakes and violent storms. In its emergency management plan last year, the State of Hawaii described the risk wildfires posed to people as being "low." Yet the layers of warning that are intended to buffer a citizenry if disaster strikes appear not to have operated. Maui suffered numerous power outages during the crisis, preventing many residents from receiving emergency alerts on their cell phones. No emergency sirens sounded and many Lahaina residents spoke of learning about the blaze from neighbors running down the street or seeing it for themselves. "The mountain behind us caught on fire and nobody told us jack," resident Vilma Reed, 63, told AFP. "You know when we found that there was a fire? When it was across the street from us." Reed, whose house was destroyed by the blaze, said she was dependent on handouts and the kindness of strangers, and was sleeping in a car with her daughter, grandson and two cats. The New York Times reported Sunday that firefighters sent to tackle the flames found some hydrants had run dry. "There was just no water in the hydrants," the paper quoted firefighter Keahi Ho as saying. Roadblocks The congregation of Grace Baptist Church, which was leveled in the blaze, gathered Sunday in a coffee shop in Kahului for two hours of solace. Pastor Arza Brown led the service in his sandals, the only shoes that survived the blaze that destroyed his house. But the trappings of ministry were far from his mind as he comforted fellow evacuees. "That's one thing about getting together today -- just to be with each other and encourage each other," he said. For some survivors, the difficult days after the tragedy were being worsened by what they see as official intransigence, with roadblocks preventing them from getting back to their homes. Maui police said the public would not be allowed into Lahaina while safety assessments and searches were ongoing -- even some of those who could prove they lived there. Maui's fires follow other extreme weather events in North America this summer, with record-breaking wildfires still burning across Canada and a major heat wave baking the US southwest. Europe and parts of Asia have also endured soaring temperatures, with major fires and floods wreaking havoc. Scientists say human-caused global warming is exacerbating natural hazards, making them both more likely and more deadly. The post Hawaii fire death toll nears 100, and anger grows appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hawaii fire death toll nears 100, anger grows
The death toll in Hawaii from the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century was expected to cross the 100-mark Sunday, fueling criticism that an inadequate official response contributed to the heavy loss of life. Officials updated the toll to 93 late Saturday but warned the figure was likely to rise as recovery crews with cadaver dogs continued the grim task of searching burned-out homes and vehicles in the epicenter of Lahaina. The historic coastal town on the island of Maui was almost completely destroyed by the fast-moving inferno early Wednesday morning, with survivors saying there had been no warnings. When asked Sunday why none of the island's sirens had been activated, Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono said she would wait for the results of an investigation announced by the state's attorney general. "I'm not going to make any excuses for this tragedy," Hirono, a Democrat, told CNN's "State of the Union." "We are really focused, as far as I'm concerned, on the need for rescue, and, sadly, the location of more bodies." More than 2,200 structures were damaged or destroyed as the fire tore through Lahaina, according to official estimates, wreaking $5.5 billion in damage and leaving thousands homeless. "The remains we're finding are from a fire that melted metal," said Maui Police Chief John Pelletier. "When we pick up the remains... they fall apart." Among the ruins in Lahaina, a town of more than 12,000 and the former home of the Hawaiian royal family, an iconic, 150-year-old banyan tree remained standing but severely burned, AFP journalists saw. President Joe Biden said on Sunday he was "looking at" the possibility of visiting the island. Questions over alert system The wildfire is the deadliest in the United States since 1918, when 453 people died in Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to the non-profit research group the National Fire Protection Association. The death toll surpassed 2018's Camp Fire in California, which virtually wiped the small town of Paradise off the map and killed 86 people. Maui suffered numerous power outages during the crisis, preventing many residents from receiving emergency alerts on their cell phones. No emergency sirens were sounded, and many Lahaina residents have spoken of learning about the blaze because of neighbors running down the street. "The mountain behind us caught on fire and nobody told us jack," resident Vilma Reed, 63, told AFP. "You know when we found that there was a fire? When it was across the street from us." Reed, whose house was destroyed by the blaze, said she was depending on handouts and the kindness of strangers while sleeping in a car with her daughter, grandson, and two cats. In its emergency management plan last year, the State of Hawaii described the risk wildfires posed to people as being "low". Some residents who fled the flames have also expressed anger at a roadblock put up preventing them from returning to their homes. Maui police said members of the public would not be allowed into Lahaina while safety assessments and searches were ongoing -- even some of those who could prove they lived there. Some residents waited for hours hoping to be allowed in to comb through the ashes or look for missing pets or loved ones. When asked about growing anger at the response, Hirono told CNN she understood the frustration because "we are in a period of shock and loss." Maui's fires follow other extreme weather events in North America this summer, with record-breaking wildfires still burning across Canada and a major heat wave baking the US southwest. Europe and parts of Asia have also endured soaring temperatures, with major fires and floods wreaking havoc. Scientists say human-caused global warming is exacerbating natural hazards, making them both more likely and more deadly. The post Hawaii fire death toll nears 100, anger grows appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EDITORIAL — Life-saving
As of yesterday afternoon, 21 bodies had been pulled out of the water, while 30 people were confirmed to have survived after an outrigger boat capsized off Binangonan, Rizal......»»
23 dead, six missing as boat capsizes in Philippine lake
A small passenger boat capsized in a lake near the Philippine capital on Thursday, killing 23 people on board and leaving six missing, rescuers said. The accident happened in the early afternoon at Laguna lake, near Manila, hours after Typhoon Doksuri had swept out of the northern Philippines. "Some survivors begged us to rescue those trapped beneath the boat," resident Monica de la Cruz, who watched the rescue effort off the municipality of Binangonan, told AFP. "They were crying and some of them were injured." Cruz said the accident took place following a "sudden gust of wind, big waves and rain", with locals initially too afraid to assist, fearing they would be "dragged down as well". The wooden outrigger "encountered strong winds prompting all passengers to panic" and move to one side of the vessel, the coast guard said in a statement. "The boat had clearance to sail," coast guard spokesman Rear Admiral Armando Balilo told reporters, downplaying speculation the typhoon had caused the accident. The passenger boat was making its regular run from a Binangonan port to the island of Talim in the middle of the lake, municipality rescue official Kenneth Cirados told AFP. Rescuers retrieved 23 bodies from the water and there were 40 survivors, he said. Six people remained missing with the search set to resume Friday. By nightfall, rescuers had righted the boat and dragged it close to shore, where its yellow hull sat in shallow water. A broken motorcycle cargo and soiled pieces of tarp were draped over it. "The boat sank in front of us while on its way home to the island," said Binangonan resident Frederic Sison, who had been standing at the Kalinawan port when the incident happened. Video footage of the rescue shared by the coast guard showed a man standing on the hull of the boat that was lying on its side, shouting "There are so many people here", as small outrigger boats circled trying to help. Another clip showed two rescuers leaning from the side of a boat to pluck a person who appeared to be unconscious from the calm waters. Mobile phone footage taken by Sison and shared with AFP showed anxious people standing on the shore watching the boats take part in the frantic rescue effort. In the video, a young boatman said he saved four people including a disabled person and a girl. A woman could be seen doing chest compressions on one of several victims laid out on the concrete pier, as men lifted more motionless people out of small boats. Boats, including wooden outriggers and passenger ferries that provide transport between islands, had been ordered to shore in Luzon and central islands earlier in the week due to gale warnings as the typhoon intensified the southwest monsoon. The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, has a poor maritime safety record, with scores dying in mishaps at sea each year, usually aboard wooden-hulled outriggers used for fishing or to move people from one small island to another. The post 23 dead, six missing as boat capsizes in Philippine lake appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thousands flee Greek island fires as southern US swelters
Around 30,000 people were moved to safety on the Greek island of Rhodes where a wildfire burned on Saturday, while people in the southern United States struggled under a record-breaking heatwave. Tens of millions of people have been suffering through intense heat this summer and the world looks set for its hottest July on record. As temperature records tumble, experts have pointed to climate change driven by the burning of fossil fuels, arguing that global warming is playing a key role in the devastating heat. On the Mediterranean island of Rhodes, where a wildfire has been blazing for days, boats carried 2,000 people to safety from beaches in the east of the popular tourist island. Greek fire service spokesman Vassilis Varthakogiannis told Skai TV: "This is not a fire that will be over tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. It'll be troubling us for days." Three coastguard ships led more than 30 private vessels in the evacuation, while a Greek navy boat was heading to the area. Island officials arranged for dozens of buses to take people to safety, but where fires had cut off road access, others had to walk. Authorities have opened up gyms, schools and hotel conference centers to serve as makeshift accommodation, while firefighters battle the blaze. In Athens, the foreign ministry said it had activated its crisis management unit to facilitate the evacuation of foreign citizens due to the ongoing forest fires. Greece is fighting dozens of forest fires 11 days into a heatwave that has seen temperatures soaring above 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Meteorologists have warned it could be the longest hot spell the country has ever seen. - 80 million Americans sweltering - Across the southern United States, about 80 million Americans will swelter in temperatures of 41C and above this weekend, the National Weather Service said. The southwestern city of Phoenix, Arizona hit 46C on Saturday, extending a record-breaking streak to 22 consecutive days of highs above 43C. Tourists have been flocking to Death Valley National Park, which straddles California and Nevada, to post selfies with a temperature display outside the visitor centre. Many are hoping to see it break a world record of 56.7C, which was set in July 1913 but was likely the result of a faulty measurement, according to several meteorologists. Further north, in Canada, which has been suffering wildfires that left Montreal blanketed in smog, torrential rain hit the eastern province of Nova Scotia, cutting off roads and threatening to burst a dam. Four people were reported missing, including two children who had been in a car engulfed by flood waters. Meanwhile, nearly 1,000 active wildfires were burning across Canada, with 11.3 million hectares scorched this season by the deadly blazes. Across the border in the US state of Washington, a wildfire burned more than 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) in less than a day. - Hottest month - July 2023 is on track to be the hottest month -- not only since records began, but also in "hundreds, if not thousands, of years", said leading NASA climatologist Gavin Schmidt. The effects cannot be attributed solely to the El Nino weather pattern, which "has really only just emerged" and isn't expected to strengthen until later in the year, he added. El Nino is associated with the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. Schmidt said the trend of extreme heat was expected to persist, "and the reason why we think that's going to continue, is because we continue to put greenhouse gases into the atmosphere". The exceptional temperatures in Greece also meant key tourist sites such as the Acropolis closed during the hottest part of the day. A 46-year-old man was reported to have succumbed to heatstroke on the central Greek island of Evia after being admitted to Chalkida hospital. Staff there said cardio-respiratory failure following exposure to high temperatures appeared to have been the cause. Emergency health officials told the state broadcaster they had admitted at least 38 heatstroke patients in the last three days, while hospitals were also seeing cases of fainting and other heat-related conditions. Greece is just one of many countries battling a prolonged spell of extreme heat around the globe in recent days. burs/jj/acb © Agence France-Presse The post Thousands flee Greek island fires as southern US swelters appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Drought scuppers salmon fishing season in California
Gazing out at San Francisco harbor from her wooden fishing boat, Sarah Bates looks glum. In happier times, she would head out to sea every morning. But for much of this year, she has remained hopelessly docked, due to a ban on salmon fishing as a result of California's drought. "Salmon is my main fishery and it's 90 per cent of my income," says the 46-year-old. In force since April along the entire coast of the Golden State, and parts of neighboring Oregon, the moratorium will last until the end of the salmon fishing season in September. It was brought in as the number of salmon expected to return to the region's rivers has plummeted close to historic lows. The decades-long drought gripping the American West, aggravated by climate change, has seen the levels of California's rivers drop, and their waters grow warmer. With many dams already constructed on these waterways, these inhospitable conditions mean salmon are struggling to swim upstream to reproduce, and their offspring often die before reaching the ocean. The ban is a significant blow to California, where salmon fishing generates $1.4 billion per year, and supports 23,000 jobs, according to the Golden State Salmon Association. On the San Francisco harbor front, several restaurants have been forced to import salmon from further afield, including Canada, in order to keep the popular fish on their menus. "Salmon is king... that's what people want," says Craig Hanson, a 60-year-old chartered boat operator specializing in sport fishing. "They're also a very spectacular fish to catch... the salmon is going to fight you to the end." 'Marine heat waves' In summers past, Hanson would take his boat out every day. This season, the sailor weighs anchor only four times a week He blames a lack of enthusiasm among customers for fishing halibut or striped bass. Despite the loss of income, Hanson approves of the ban if it helps the future of the industry, and is optimistic that salmon can rebound soon thanks to recent months of heavy rain and snow. Yet many fishermen fear another ban next year. "The Chinook salmon that are fished here in California typically have a three- or four-year life cycle," explains Nate Mantua, a scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). "So when things happen to them in freshwater, as eggs or juveniles, we see it impacting the fishery two or three years later." The decline in salmon numbers has been precipitous for at least a decade. Low river water levels -- which authorities have tried to work around, by trucking baby salmon down to the ocean -- are only part of the problem. Between 2014 and 2016, the Pacific reached temperatures never before seen off the west coast of North America. "Marine heat waves" created "really poor growth and survival conditions for salmon", says Mantua. Deprived of cold ocean currents that bring essential nutrients, the fish fell prey to other hungry species. "It's not just a California problem. It's really the entire Pacific, except for a few exceptions," such as certain Alaskan species, he adds. 'Climate shocks' But in California, "our fish were already predisposed to being vulnerable to any kind of climate shocks," says Mantua. This is because the state -- with a giant 40-million population, and a sprawling agricultural sector essential for feeding the United States -- has relentlessly developed its rivers, in order to support its cities and farms. Due to countless dams and canals, salmon have lost 80 percent of the habitats in which they can spawn. Water management, and the priority afforded to farmers in central California, is now a major source of grievance for fishermen. In San Francisco, many are calling for water to be re-diverted into rivers, rather than supplying producers of water-intensive crops like almonds, pistachios and walnuts -- which are often grown for export. "When it comes down to it, water is more important for the fish than it is for nuts," says Ben Zeiger, a 23-year-old deckhand working on a local sport-fishing boat. Salmon fishers are waiting to receive financial compensation from federal authorities for this year's fishing ban. But their priority is efforts to improve salmon habitats. Along northern California's Klamath River, a giant project has just begun to demolish four hydroelectric dams, potentially reopening 400 miles of river for migratory fish. "If we don't fix the water policy, we're going to be here again" in future drought years, says Bates, back on the wharf. "Climate change is happening. And it's happening faster than I think any of us expected." The post Drought scuppers salmon fishing season in California appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tingting Cojuangco — Christian Espiritu’s ultimate muse
Through the years of Philippine fashion history, Margarita “Tingting” de los Reyes Cojuangco has always been known as the muse of the iconic Filipino designer Christian Espiritu who recently passed away. Theirs is a friendship that had stood the test of time. Tingting was named one of the 100 beautiful women of the world by the international magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, on the occasion of its 100 founding anniversary. During the early years of the 1970s, she made it to the Hall of Fame of Manila’s Best Dressed List, an annual selection initiated by the old guard of Philippine fashion, among them Ramon Valera, Salavacion Lim Higgins of Slim’s, Pilar Romack of New Yorker Gown Salon, and Imelda Reyes of Milie’s Gowns. In the 1980s, Tingting, who graced the social pages as a teenager and a young matron, transformed into a new woman, this time as a street activist braving the firecanons and tear gas, a Yellow campaigner in the South, and finally a graduate student and scholar specializing in the ethnic muslim communities of Cotabago and Zamboanga. She would cap this with a National Defense College master’s thesis on the then rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Through it all, she kept her friendship with the man who first showed the world her potential. Christian saw in Tingting, this gangly yet beautiful teenager, a lady worth grooming and turning into an icon of fashion. Tingting thus became Christian’s muse. Chosen by her mother and grandmother, Christian made her outfit for her high school prom at Maryknoll College. It was the beginning of a lifelong friendship and collaboration that would pass through social, political and economic upheavals in this country. No matter, they were constant in each other’s lives, not minding intrigues, the cycle of fortunes and The recent demise of her original mentor and designer, Christian, brought Tingting out of her reculsive and quiet life to share with the Daily Tribune her memories of the designer who streamline Filipiniana, incorporating his knowledge as a graduate of architecture. The interview with Tingting Cojuangco follows: “He launched my modeling career” Daily Tribune (DT): How did you meet Christian? Did you go to him for your teenage formal dresses, and not only during your wedding? Tingting delos Reyes Cojuangco (TRC): My mom and grandma Lucia “Dada” admired the simplicity of his designs on the Christian Espiritu shop on their way to fetch me from Maryknoll College. [caption id="attachment_148162" align="aligncenter" width="525"] CHRISTIAN and Tingting photographed by Jaime Zobel de Ayala.[/caption] The display changed constantly but the clothes were cut simply along the revered lines of Audrey Hepburn’s and Jackie Onassis. His below the knee dresses were sleeveless, with a boat collar, 2-pin tucks under the bust accentuated the waist and hips that ended in semi straight skirt. Mom brought me into his shop at age 15 it was called “Christian” for Christian Espiritu. He launched my modeling career at 16 years old with Gilbert Perez who taught me how to pose. Mother always reminded me, a pretty face looses attraction if the voice isn’t modulated or manners are impeccable and courteousness for elders. Christian reinforced Mom’s belief, simplicity are carried off with poise, beauty and elegance. Christian’s creativeness suggested taste with ease and wealth subdued characterizing by minimalism. DT: Tell me about that wedding gown. Why did you choose him and not Valera or one of the stalwarts of the era? What was his inspiration for the gown? What did you tell him about your preferences? TRC: He made my wedding gown and the whole entourage. My in-laws wanted my wedding gown to be made by Valera a great designer of his time. But I insisted on Christian. For my wedding gown he sketched the simplest white gown, it turned out he had sequins sewed on the satin fabric one by one. He put a sheer fabric organza on top of the gown. It was very elegant for my morning wedding as the sequins shined different colors depending on the lights. That was his precision. For my wedding Christian was at home with his assistant Romulo Estrada. I recall Inno Sotto as his right hand, both dressed me up constantly. Did I have a preference in designs? He said “bahala na ako” and I agreed. That was trust and loyalty. He designed my dresses with simplicity, cut perfectly, shaping my thin body whether it was a day dress or gown. “His dresses were cut perfectly.” DT: When you were married already, did you still see him for your outfits? Which of the dresses and gowns he made for you do you remember? TRC: Yes, we had a friendship of two family’s compadres and ninangs. He did China’s wedding gown of gray and pink even if he claimed he was retired. I forced him. DT: What made him an outstanding designer? TRC: Simplicity. His dresses were cut perfectly and fabrics that didn’t crumple with pin tucks here and there. With the timelessness in the designs and his execution I could wear Christian’s couture clothes for many years. DT: You are in the Best Dressed Hall of Fame. Was he among the designers that you admired and commissioned to do your dresses? TRC: Yes and our friendship developed through the years and confidence. He never spoke bad of anybody. He would just put his hands together and smile. DT: Any unforgettable creation of his exclusively for you? Can you describe some of the gowns and dresses he made for you? TRC: I had a satin dress with a round Chinese emblem and tassel. His clothes for me were stand outs…my gowns for formal functions were of full skirts. “He said, ‘The language of fashion is refined, cultured and well-mannered.’” DT: When was the last time you saw him? Tell us about that last encounter with him. TRC: At an Elegant Women event in Diamond Hotel, Elegance…Merriam-Webster defines it as “refined grace or dignified propriety; tasteful richness of design or ornamentation; restrained beauty of style.” The Cambridge Dictionary writes “graceful and attractive in appearance or behavior.” When the project of elegant women first came up, it was for me to make a list of best dressed women. It had been done too many times now without a conclusion. I figure that there are many Filipinas who have the perfect body for dressing, who dress and accessorize well – but money and a stylist can do that. And, as the cliché goes, money cannot buy class. So, the concept evolved and we agreed on making a list of The Elegant Filipina. We also decided that, first, this project would be for a cause, and second, that I would be allowed to redefine the meaning of elegance to inspire others to contribute to one’s community, society and country by being an elegant example. While the list was handpicked by me, I sought advice to validate my choices. This panel was composed of designer Christian Espiritu, fashion entrepreneur Tina Ocampo, Monaco Consul Fortune Ledesma, Philippine Tatler’s Editor-In-Chief Anton San Diego, and Managing Editor Chit Lijauco and Pete Cura. We defined an Elegant Filipina as: He said “The woman at the center of attention knows that the language of fashion is refined, cultured and well-mannered; Commands respect in her chosen field; leaves a legacy of power and grace, beauty and sophistication, wisdom and compassion.” At the first Elegant Women event, he was elegant in his suit with a scarf wearing his trade mark of silver bracelets or varied silver rings. I called him three weeks ago and we promised to see each other. It didn’t happen. “He never mixed politics with art.” [caption id="attachment_148158" align="aligncenter" width="525"] A PORTRAIT of Christian Espiritu by Jaime Zobel de Ayala, 1987.[/caption] DT: He turned his back on his number one client, Imelda Marcos, after Ninoy died. Were you ever with Christian during the Anti-Marcos rallies? Do you recall if he was in EDSA? TRC: Christian was calm, well educated, schooled and respectful. He wouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings. Never mixed politics and arts. I don’t know about that. I was not with Christian rallying. For rallies I only wore blue jeans or khaki pants and trubenized blouses made of cotton white t-shirt. DT: Who are his other clients from your social set? Who were his loyal customers. TRC: I don’t know. I didn’t care nor ask. That’s not my concern. DT: How did your relationship evolve in the latter years of his life? TRC: I love him. He was part of my growing up and getting old. DT: What do you think was his greatest contribution to Philippine fashion? How did he influence the Philippine fashion industry? TRC: He kept piña alive and the Paranaque bordaderas working day to midnight in their livelihood of Filipino tradition. He used muted colors of fabric. He made women look elegant and desired without showing of their bodies. I agreed that elegance can be expensive. But elegance can be inexpensive too, but confidence and amiability are the key factors. The post Tingting Cojuangco — Christian Espiritu’s ultimate muse appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Frantic search for survivors of migrant boat sinking
Greece’s coast guards were scanning the Ionian Sea Friday hoping to find more survivors from a sunken migrant boat that a witness said was also carrying 100 children. Some 104 people were rescued while 78 bodies were pulled from the water off the Peloponnese when the fishing boat overloaded with migrants capsized and sank on Wednesday. The exact number of people aboard the boat is unknown, with one survivor telling hospital doctors in Kalamata he had seen 100 children in the boat’s hold, broadcaster ERT reported. “Hopes of finding survivors are fading each minute after this tragic sinking, but the search must continue,” Stella Nanou, a spokesperson for the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, told Agence France-Presse. The Greek coast guard said that rescuers scoured the sea through the night using a helicopter, a frigate and three boats. Police on Thursday arrested nine Egyptians suspected of people smuggling, including the captain of the ill-fated boat. They were detained at the port of Kalamata, where the survivors are being cared for, said Greek news agency ANA. The survivors, mainly from Syria, Egypt and Pakistan, were being housed in a Kalamata warehouse. The post Frantic search for survivors of migrant boat sinking appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Largest’ cosmic blast baffles astronomers
Astronomers said on Friday they have identified the “largest” cosmic explosion ever observed, a fireball 100 times the size of our Solar System that suddenly began blazing in the distant universe more than three years ago. While the astronomers offered what they think is the most likely explanation for the explosion, they emphasized that more research was needed to understand the puzzling phenomenon. The explosion, called AT2021lwx, is not the brightest flash ever observed in the universe. That record is still held by a gamma-ray burst in October that was nicknamed BOAT — for Brightest Of All Time. Philip Wiseman, an astrophysicist at Britain’s University of Southampton and the lead author of a new study, said that AT2021lwx was considered the “largest” explosion because it had released far more energy over the last three years than was produced by BOAT’s brief flash. Wiseman said it was an “accidental discovery.” The Zwicky Transient Facility in California first spotted AT2021lwx during an automated sweep of the sky in 2020. But “it basically sat in a database” until being noticed by humans the following year, Wiseman said. It was only when astronomers, including Wiseman, looked at it through more powerful telescopes that they realized what they had on their hands. By analyzing different wavelengths of light, they worked out that the explosion was roughly eight billion light years away. That is much farther away than most other new flashes of light in the sky — which means the explosion behind it must be far greater. Brighter than sun It is estimated to be around two trillion times brighter than the Sun, Wiseman said. Astronomers have looked into several possible explanations. One is that AT2021lwx is an exploding star — but the flash is 10 times brighter than any previously seen “supernova.” Another possibility is what is called a tidal disruption event, when a star is torn apart as it is sucked into a supermassive black hole. But AT2021lwx is still three times brighter than those events, and Wiseman said their research did not point in this direction. The only somewhat comparable bright cosmic event is a quasar, when supermassive black holes swallow huge amounts of gas in the center of galaxies. But they tend to flicker in brightness, Wiseman said, whereas AT2021lwx suddenly started flaring up from nothing three years ago, and it is still blazing away. “This thing we have never, ever seen before — it just came out of nowhere,” Wiseman said. Plausible In the new study, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the international team of researchers laid out what they believe is the most likely scenario. Their theory is that a massive, single cloud of gas — around 5,000 times larger than the Sun — is slowly being consumed by a supermassive black hole. But Wiseman said that “in science, there’s never a certainty.” The team is working on new simulations to see if their theory is “fully plausible,” he added. One problem could be that supermassive black holes sit in the center of galaxies — for an explosion this size, the galaxy would be expected to be as vast as the Milky Way, Wiseman said. But no one has been able to spot a galaxy in the vicinity of AT2021lwx. “That’s an absolute puzzle,” Wiseman admitted. Now that astronomers know what to look for, they are searching the skies to see if other similar explosions have been missed. The post ‘Largest’ cosmic blast baffles astronomers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Intensify search for missing passengers — Sulu LGU
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Sulu provincial government on Tuesday has called on concerned agencies to intensify the search and retrieval of missing passengers of the Ill-fated M/V Lady Mary Joy 3 which caught fire near the coast of Baluk-Baluk island in Mohammad Adjul, Basilan on 29 March. Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan believed that much has yet to be done and lamented that government authorities who were involved in the search and rescue operation have not exerted much effort in their search and rescue operation. “I think not so much has been done by the search and rescue operatives to address the recent sea tragedy involving the Ill-fated M/V Lady Mary Joy 3 of the Aleson Shipping Lines,” Tan said. “I hope other government agencies can step in and conduct an in-depth investigation on the tragedy,” he added. Tan said the provincial government believed that 19 more passengers are still missing and authorities should continue their search for the missing passengers, all not listed in the boat list of passenger manifest. It was reported that a total of 197 passengers were rescued, 16 of them died in the incident and were identified while 17 charred bodies were recovered inside the vessel accommodation section and remained unidentified. Families of the 19 passengers continue to claim that their relatives boarded and bought their ticket on board the vessel on that fateful night. According to the governor, the Sulu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council are checking daily with families for an update on the missing member of their family. Tan also lamented that government agencies tasked to investigate the incident have different numbers of reported missing persons. As this developed, senior officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao led by BARMM Deputy Minister for Island Provinces Albakil Jikiri visited Tan to seek update on the search effort made by authorities to account for the missing passengers of the ferry. Jikiri was accompanied to Jolo, Sulu by Hja Nur-Ainee Misuari Lim, deputy minister MSSD-BARMM, Nurredha Misuari, member of Parliament and Tarhata Ibrahim Miisuari, wife of Moro National Liberation Front founding chair Nur Misuari. Tan said close to 100 lawyers, most of them Tausug and from Zamboanga City, have joined other lawyers who expressed their willingness to assist the victims of the sea tragedy in seeking justice for the death of their loved ones. The post Intensify search for missing passengers — Sulu LGU appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Big sponge’: new CO2 tech taps oceans to tackle global warming
Floating in the port of Los Angeles, a strange-looking barge covered with pipes and tanks contains a concept that scientists hope to make waves: a new way to use the ocean as a vast carbon dioxide sponge to tackle global warming. Scientists from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) have been working for two years on SeaChange -- an ambitious project that could one day boost the amount of CO2, a major greenhouse gas, that can be absorbed by our seas. Their goal is "to use the ocean as a big sponge," according to Gaurav Sant, director of the university's Institute for Carbon Management (ICM). The oceans, covering most of the Earth, are already the planet's main carbon sinks, acting as a critical buffer in the climate crisis. They absorb a quarter of all CO2 emissions, as well as 90 percent of the warming that has occurred in recent decades due to increasing greenhouse gases. But they are feeling the strain. The ocean is acidifying, and rising temperatures are reducing its absorption capacity. The UCLA team wants to increase that capacity by using an electrochemical process to remove vast quantities of CO2 already in seawater -- rather like wringing out a sponge to help recover its absorptive power. "If you can take out the carbon dioxide that is in the oceans, you're essentially renewing their capacity to take additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere," Sant told AFP. Engineers built a floating mini-factory on a 100-foot (30-meter) long boat which pumps in seawater and subjects it to an electrical charge. Chemical reactions triggered by electrolysis convert CO2 dissolved in the seawater into a fine white powder containing calcium carbonate -- the compound found in chalk, limestone and oyster or mussel shells. This powder can be discarded back into the ocean, where it remains in solid form, thereby storing CO2 "very durably... over tens of thousands of years," explained Sant. Meanwhile, the pumped water returns to the sea, ready to absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Sant and his team are confident the process will not damage the marine environment, although this will require further testing to confirm. A potential additional benefit of the technology is that it creates hydrogen as a byproduct. As the so-called "green revolution" progresses, the gas could be widely used to power clean cars, trucks and planes in the future. Of course, the priority in curbing global warming is for humans to drastically reduce current CO2 emissions -- something we are struggling to achieve. But in parallel, most scientists say carbon dioxide capture and storage techniques can play an important role in keeping the planet livable. Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) could help to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 as it offsets emissions from industries which are particularly difficult to decarbonize, such as aviation, and cement and steel production. It could help to tackle the stocks of CO2 that have been accumulating in the atmosphere for decades. Keeping global warming under control will require the removal of between 450 billion and 1.1 trillion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere by 2100, according to the first global report dedicated to the topic, released in January. That would require the CDR sector "to grow at a rate of about 30 percent per year over the next 30 years, much like what happened with wind and solar," said one of its authors, Gregory Nemet. UCLA's SeaChange technology "fits into a category of a promising solution that could be large enough to be climate-relevant," said Nemet, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. By sequestering CO2 in mineral form within the ocean, it differs markedly from existing "direct air capture" (DAC) methods, which involve pumping and storing gas underground through a highly complex and expensive process. A start-up company, Equatic, plans to scale up the UCLA technology and prove its commercial viability, by selling carbon credits to manufacturers wanting to offset their emissions. In addition to the Los Angeles barge, a similar boat is currently being tested in Singapore. Sant hopes data from both sites will quickly lead to the construction of far larger plants that are capable of removing "thousands of tons of carbon" each year. "We expect to start operating these new plants in 18 to 24 months," he said. The post ‘Big sponge’: new CO2 tech taps oceans to tackle global warming appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ill-fated vessel death toll at 33
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Authorities on Thursday reported that the death toll on the Ill-fated M/V Lady Mary Joy 3 which caught fire near the coast of Baluk-Baluk island in Mohammad Adjul, Basilan on 29 March is now at 33. This comes after the half-body cadaver recovered on 9 April by the search and rescue team at the coast of Sitio Kawkan, Barangay Sulutan Matangal in Mohammad Adjul has been identified by a member of his family. Basilan Province Information Officer Richard Falcatan formally announced the identity of the half-body cadaver — a certain Private First Class Marion Malda who is a member of the Philippine Army and assigned to Sulu province. According to Falcatan, the identity of the remains was confirmed by Malda’s brother through secondary identification, as the half-body cadaver was wearing maong denim pants. “The pants on the recovered cadaver have led the brother to identify it as that of his brother,” Falcatan said. Authorities conducting the search and rescue operation have so far recovered 33 cadavers of passengers of the ill-fated M/V Lady Mary Joy 3. They were identified as Arsaic Damil, Nuripa Hamid, Nasara Jamalul, Rashiv Khan Jamalul, Anacleto B. Ponollera and Ponollera, all from Zamboanga City. Abdulkalam Alih, Aleeya Bungso, Jack Bungso Jr., Hussin Hamid, Nafiesa Muksan, Fausia Hasiron and Anhar Yap Julambri, from Sulu province and Fadzrina Lasal from Isabela City and Malda. Seventeen more charred bodies retrieved by authorities inside the M/V Lady Mary Joy 3 which were brought to this city have remained unidentified at the morgue of Vila Funeral Homes here. To recall, the M/V Lady Marry Joy 3 of the Aleson Shipping Lines caught fire off the waters of Baluk-Baluk Island in Hadji Muhtamad town in Basilan province while en route to Jolo, Sulu. The vessel has 195 boat passengers listed in the boat passengers list and 35 crew members. However, many who were rescued and died during the incident were not listed in the passenger manifest of the vessel. The provincial government of Sulu has allotted over P1 million in government funds to serve as aid for the victims of the sea tragedy. Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan said the Sulu government extended financial aid of P5,000 to each of the 69 survivors who survive the ordeal, P20,000 to each of the 10 survivors admitted to the hospitals, and P50,000 to each of the 13 identified passengers who perished in the incident. The post Ill-fated vessel death toll at 33 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»