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Multilingual Education: A Peaceful Approach to Attaining A Free, Inclusive, and Fair Society
by Vhyxcent Andlen P. Cruz"Educational systems usually have a combination of humanistic and pragmatic rules and objectives. We seek the development of happy children because we want them to be happy adults, and happy adults don't really start wars, and don't really hurt other people. This is a simple way of really advocating for peace, and l.....»»
Surfing Santas ride waves, raise funds in Florida
Santas of all stripes descended on Florida’s Cocoa Beach this Christmas Eve — not to deliver presents, but to ride some waves and raise funds for a good cause. Beginning early Sunday, the beach filled up with thousands of adults and children alike dressed as St Nick, elves or reindeer for the annual “Surfing Santas”.....»»
Myanmar: Armed Group Abuses in Shan State
(Bangkok) - An ethnic armed group in northern Myanmar has abducted and forcibly recruited civilians fleeing fighting in Shan State, Human Rights Watch said today. Myanmar's military also has a long record of using adults for forced labor and recruiting children, but getting recent information about unlawful practices in junta-controlled areas is difficult.The.....»»
Natural Everyday Ways You Can Protect Your Vision
Americans’ vision is declining. An estimated 7 million have a health issue or impairment related to their vision, including 2 million children and adults aged under.....»»
Fa-BOO-lous Halloween celebration with your pups
Too cute to spook? Dress up your kids and pet dogs in fun and colorful costumes and take them to The Westin Manila for a Halloween lunch celebration and a Fa-BOO-lous Costume Parade on 29 October. The themed Sunday lunch buffet at Seasonal Tastes features a wickedly wonderful spread alongside premium meats, such as Australian Beef Rump, Turkey, BBQ Pork Ribs, Roasted Chicken and a variety of sausages, plus an assortment of sweets, treats and much more. Lunch is served from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Every two adults who dine at the Halloween lunch buffet are entitled to two complimentary tickets for their children to join the Kiddie Costume Soirée in the afternoon at 2 p.m. To be held in the ballroom foyer on the second level, the afternoon activity is offered to kids two to 12 years old. The program includes games, cookie decorating, costume parade, giveaways and a five-minute self-portrait shoot per child at the A Studios booth. Pet dogs are invited to the Doggie Costume Paw-ty at the Lobby Lounge veranda at 4 p.m. Tickets are sold at P1,500, good for one dog and one pet owner, and the rate is consumable on food and drinks from the A La Bark and Lobby Lounge menus. The event will include a paw-lor game and costume parade, giveaways and a five-minute photo session for each dog at the A Studios booth. Register through westinmanila@westin.com or call 8256-2020. The post Fa-BOO-lous Halloween celebration with your pups appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
How nations allow or restrict legal gender change
A small number of countries have made it easier for transgender people to change their legal gender, while other nations have restricted such changes, notably Russia and Pakistan. Here is a snapshot of the situation around the world. Exception, not the rule According to the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), 24 UN member states have legally allowed people to change their gender on the basis of self-identification. In about 40 other countries, the legal and administrative process can take years and may include requirements such as psychiatric diagnosis, hormone treatment, gender confirmation surgery, or even sterilization. Making it easier Argentina has led the way on transgender rights, allowing a change of gender on national ID cards with a simple declaration since 2012. Several Latin American countries have followed suit. Denmark was the first European country in 2014 to allow adults to apply for a gender change without undergoing medical or psychological assessments, with Belgium, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Portugal, and most recently Spain following suit. Since 2017, France has allowed transgender people to change their status on their ID documents without treatment, surgery, or sterilization but they must receive court approval. The issue of trans rights sparked a fierce row in 2022 in Scotland, where parliament passed a bill making it easier for people to self-identify their gender that was sensationally vetoed by London. The German cabinet in August 2023 signed off plans under which Germans will be able to change their name or legal gender by making a simple application to their local registry office. The law still has to go to parliament. Hesitating Sweden, one of the world's most liberal countries, was the first in the world to authorize physical and legal gender reassignment for adults in 1972. But last year it began restricting hormone therapy available for children diagnosed with gender dysphoria, such as puberty blockers, citing the need for caution following a strong increase in demand. It also restricted access to mastectomies for teenage girls wanting to transition. Finland in 2020 had already restricted hormone treatment for minors. Making it harder Russia adopted new legislation in July 2023 banning "medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person" and "the state registration of a change of gender without an operation". President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly railed against transgender rights in his speeches. Pakistan's religious judiciary ruled in May that landmark transgender legal protections from 2018 are un-Islamic and therefore void. An appeal is being sought with the Supreme Court. Pakistan continues to recognize the existence of a third gender, neither masculine nor feminine, as do India and Nepal. Restricting gender-affirming treatment, such as puberty blockers for minors, has become a major campaign of US conservatives. Arkansas in 2021 became the first US state to ban physicians and health workers from offering transition-related treatment to transgender minors. A federal judge in June overturned the ban. Around 20 states, including Florida and Texas, have passed similar laws. Anti-LGBTQ sentiment in Hungary has escalated during the rule of Viktor Orban's right-wing government. In May 2020, the country passed a law making it impossible for transgender people to change their name and gender on their ID documents. The post How nations allow or restrict legal gender change appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar: Scaling the realms of social responsibility
There is something quite riveting about Ana Margarita “Ginggay” Hontiveros-Malvar. Her gaze direct, her rhetoric fluid, she shares stories of immersing in conflict areas, of being in Leyte post-“Yolanda” and in Marawi post-violence, and within the same conversation, of her corporate hat within the “power, banking, food, land and infrastructure sectors.” Not so much as a vein mars her refined features. If not for those eyes, which reveal a depth of thought and feeling, hers would likely be a face some might take as just another classic beauty. Then again, her relationship with similarly strong-minded women cannot be discounted. She says, from the get-go, that she would rather not talk about herself or her sisters (Risa, the senator, and Pia, the broadcast news personality). Unlike them, she took the private route, but now unwittingly finds herself in the limelight. The Aboitiz Group, for which she handles a vital role, has many exciting things to share, Ginggay says. Smiling, she proceeds to rattle off some of these pillars — in education (“to create future leaders” who are solutions-oriented), in climate action and in enterprise and jobs. “For over 35 years, we’ve delivered probably over 5,000 CSR (corporate social responsibility) projects, spread over all the business units all over the Philippines. We’ve partnered with something like 600,000 individuals and organizations and we’ve invested the amount of P5.1 billion in all these different programs. We’re trying now to reevaluate what it is that’s next for Aboitiz Foundation, and then how we can serve our stakeholders better, and what are some of the things that we want to scale. Maybe to create a bigger impact in the country, help the country more, I think is what we want to do.” In the pipeline toward this goal of creating a bigger impact on development, Aboitiz Foundation is seeking more collaboration — “more conversations between organizations that are doing a lot of work already here in the country, and probably having a stronger voice and then putting that voice out there,” she enthuses. Clearly, Ginggay is in her element in the world she inhabits — at the heart of an “old legacy conglomerate,” her words, that now sees the need to transform along with the climactic times. “I lead a department called Reputation Management. We cover brands, media, corporate communications, sustainability — the ESG (environmental, social and governance) journey for the Aboitiz Group. We provide strategy, direction, governance and then very recently, just this year, we have our CSR arm which is called Aboitiz Foundation. It was recently also placed under us. Because at the end of the day, Aboitiz Foundation is like the big ‘S’ in our ESG — it’s really all about the social impact, the social good that we want to continue,” Ginggay tells the DAILY TRIBUNE in an interview on Pairfect. Ginggay is currently vice president for Reputation Management and Sustainability at Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., a holding company of the Aboitiz Group. For the Aboitiz Foundation, meanwhile, she works to help “scale its impactful programs for systemic change.” The mother of two is also communications lead for the Philippines’ Private Sector Advisory Council and team leader for APEC Business Advisory Council, which are areas where the visionary leader, Aboitiz Group chief executive officer Sabin Aboitiz, holds key roles. Grateful her children are adults now, Ginggay keeps her nurturing side on overdrive with her current responsibilities. “Aboitiz is a group,” she emphasizes. “And as a family of organizations, our priority has always been about people. That’s always been our passion, whether it’s the well-being of our own employees or the well-being of communities where we have our businesses. It’s really always been about people. “We don’t feel it’s right that a business does well and then the community that it’s in doesn’t. It cannot be like that — it has to go hand in hand. So, we’ve always been like that. Very people-centric. I think what we’re trying to change now in our transformation or evolution is to see how can we use more of technology and innovation and balance it with our people-centric approach. So maybe we can be a little bit faster, be better, be more data-driven in the kinds of things that we’re doing,” she says. And has her heart always been in this kind of work — one she freely admits is demanding and sometimes even emotion-driven? “My dad was pretty laidback. And he usually let us do what we want to do as long as you know, like, please do well in school, and things like that,” Ginggay recalls. “My mom was very attentive to us and she just wanted to make sure that aside from doing well in studies, you also had to do well in something else. And then, very ingrained, I think, in our DNA, I think as a family also, is that aspect of service, whether it’s public service, or you know, just service in general — whether it’s to your community or to your family, or your immediate set of, I suppose, stakeholders. So, it’s almost been like part of my DNA or something like that, or probably my character as well.” With so much on her plate, and a daily grind that consists of steering various teams to ensure the conglomerate is moving toward its goals smoothly, Ginggay makes sure she takes time — even just 30 minutes a day, she says — disconnecting from it all and connecting with herself. “Our days are very fast — they are jam-packed with schedules, meetings, a lot of stakeholder engagement activities,” she says. “There’s a lot of collaboration also that goes on between our team and the rest of the business units in the Aboitiz Group, and then a lot of meetings as well with the board just to check in on directions and things like that. It’s very fast-paced. It’s very demanding. It takes a lot of time and I think a lot of commitment… and this is what I see from all our team leaders and team members — people are really passionate about what they do. I think that’s important.” For Ginggay, certainly, such passion is necessary to lead the company toward its goals including “delivering on communications and brand that are integral to the transformation of the group into the Philippines’ first techglomerate.” Techglomerate, she explains, “is a dream in Aboitiz Group, something that we have really been working hard on for the past few years. We kind of coined the term from ‘technology’ and ‘conglomerate,’ putting it together — and it is really about trying to be more technologically advanced but we also want to incubate exciting businesses which are more in the techspace or, say, data science. To incubate all these new companies and hopefully lead in certain industries… and I think at the end of the day we realized we have a much greater responsibility to the country.” And what’s next? “We realized that to stay ahead, we also need to transform… and I suppose that transformation should happen first and foremost at the level of the person. We’re also really focused on building a new kind of culture for the Aboitiz Group, still very much rooted in our core values of responsibility, innovation, teamwork, integrity. But now, probably trying to imbibe more of the behaviors like being more entrepreneurial, trying to be more articulate, being better storytellers, being more open to new things, being more data-driven in our decisions, you know, and a lot of other things that we’re trying to do in terms of helping to develop this new culture.” In her capacity as first vice president at Aboitiz, as well as in her other roles — senior adviser for Agripreneurship at Go Negosyo, for example — Ginggay keeps her “eye on the prize” no matter what challenges come along. This “multi-disciplined, results-oriented and multi-awarded leader,” as she is described in the Women of the Future, may prefer to keep herself below the radar, but Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar will certainly not stay unnoticed. The post Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar: Scaling the realms of social responsibility appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chinese sci-fi steps into the spotlight
Once effectively banned, Chinese science fiction has exploded into the mainstream, embraced by the government and public alike –- inviting scrutiny of a genre that has become known for its expanding diversity and relative freedom. Its new status was epitomized by this week's Worldcon, the world's oldest and most influential sci-fi gathering, which closed Sunday after taking place in China for the first time. Held in the gleaming new Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, the event's star was Liu Cixin, author of the international phenomenon "Three-Body" series and inspiration for the domestic blockbuster "Wandering Earth". But the wider science fiction fandom has become a rare space where diverse voices have flourished and a vast array of issues -- social, environmental, even sometimes political -- can be explored. "In its nature, part of sci-fi is talking about the present," award-winning author Chen Qiufan told AFP. "It takes advantage of talking about outer space, or being set in different times, but reflects the human condition right now." Chen's own novel "The Waste Tide" is set in a dystopian future in China, where migrant e-waste workers toil in hazardous conditions, exploited by corrupt conglomerates. He grew up near Guiyu, once one of the largest e-waste dumps in the world. Ecological destruction, urbanization, social inequality, gender, and corruption, to name just a few –- "these issues are intersectional and intertwined with each other", said Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University's Liu Xi. Together, they "allow everyone to understand Chinese writers' exploration of Chinese society", she said. That can be rare to find in today's China, where the space for political and artistic expression has shrunk drastically over the last decade under President Xi Jinping. Spiritual pollution Historically, science fiction has had a turbulent relationship with Chinese authorities -– it effectively disappeared during the Cultural Revolution and then was banned as "spiritual pollution" in the 1980s. Though it returned, it remained relatively obscure. Writer Regina Kanyu Wang said it was only at university that she met other fans -- together they formed one of the smaller clubs on campus. Sci-fi was not taken seriously, and seen as something for children and young adults, Chen said. That had its advantages. "There was a lot of freedom... because nobody was reading science fiction, (authors) could just do whatever they wanted," the University of Zurich's Jessica Imbach told AFP. The global success of the "Three-Body" series changed everything, catapulting its epic themes of technological prowess and the fate of humanity into the public consciousness. "Whether you like science fiction or not, the social reality we are facing is becoming more and more like science fiction," said Yu Xuying from Hong Kong Metropolitan University. "We live in a high-tech era. And then your daily life is completely technological," she said. The pace of digital change in China, already fast, was accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Cash has all but disappeared, and stringent health regulations further enhanced the state's significant surveillance capacity. The international interest spike in Chinese sci-fi is also related to real-world concerns, Chen believes. "I think there are different layers of reasons for the phenomenon," he said. "But a major one is the rising economic and technological power of China on the world stage." A good vehicle China's government has been happy to capitalize on all this. "At a national level, science fiction is a good vehicle for conveying the country's discourse on its science and technology strength," said Yu. It can also help "highlight the relationship between the Chinese dream (a Xi-era aspirational slogan) and science", she said. Authorities have put their money where their mouth is. The nebula-shaped Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, designed by the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects, was built at lightspeed in just a year to coincide with Worldcon. The event, historically fan-led and funded, this year was a "capitalistic initiative, coming top-down from the Chinese government", said Chen. "They want sci-fi to be the name card of the city, showing China's openness and inclusiveness to the world," he said. Government attention comes with potential risk. "The Three-Body Problem" has a different structure in English, with the narrative beginning with a violent Cultural Revolution scene. In the original Chinese, it was buried halfway through the book to make it less conspicuous, the translator Ken Liu was told. Liu told the New York Times in 2019 that increasingly, "it's gotten much harder for me to talk about the work of Chinese authors without... causing them trouble". Some works he has translated into English, deemed too sensitive, have never been published in Chinese at all. "If you're very marginal if you have low print numbers in China, then it's OK, you have more leeway. If you're doing a mega big-budget movie... it's much more complicated," said Imbach. "That's what's now also happening with science fiction," she said. "As it's becoming more mainstream, there is increased scrutiny." The post Chinese sci-fi steps into the spotlight appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
England, Wales grapple with growing teen knife violence
Elianne Andam was headed to school like any other teenager in London last month when she was stabbed to death, becoming the latest victim of rising knife crime in England and Wales. The 15-year-old suffered a "brutal attack" in Croydon, south London, shortly after she and her friends had stepped off a public bus on a Wednesday morning, prosecutors have said. A 17-year-old boy arrested nearby just over an hour later will stand trial for her murder next April. One of the latest tragic cases of teen-on-teen violence in the British capital, it has become an increasingly common problem nationwide over recent decades. A few days after Andam's death, 16-year-old Taye Faik died in Edmonton, north London, following another knife attack. He was the 14th teenager to be killed with a blade in the city this year. The UK government, and mayors in some of its biggest cities and regions, have repeatedly vowed to tackle the persistent scourge of youth violence, but appear to be failing. Between 2012 and 2022, the number of knife and offensive weapon offences amongst children aged 10-17 increased by 19 percent across England and Wales, according to the Ministry of Justice. That compared with an eight percent increase among adults. 'Social issue' With the sale of guns strictly controlled in Britain, teenagers intent on violence typically turn to blades, including machetes and so-called "zombie" knives. Inspired by horror films, they often have one smooth blade and one serrated edge, and feature graphics or text on the blade or handle glorifying violence. Possessing them has been illegal since 2016, but some manufacturers have managed to evade this quasi-ban by altering their design. The government unveiled plans in August to outlaw them entirely and give police more powers to seize the weapons, which it said "seem to be designed to look menacing with no practical purpose". The new legislation will also increase the maximum penalty for their "importation, manufacturing, possession and sale" from six months to two years. However, machetes and zombie-style knives can be bought with relative ease for less than £50 ($60) on social media platforms like TikTok or Snapchat, circumventing online age restrictions, according to anti-knife crime campaigners. They urge more focus on the roots of the problem. "Knife crime isn't just a law-and-order issue, it's a social issue," Patrick Green, president of the Ben Kinsella Trust, told AFP. The anti-knife crime charity is named after a London teenager murdered in 2008. "When you start to unpick knife crime, you start to look at social deprivation, poverty, the lack of social mobility, mental health probation for young people," Green said. 'Awful weapons' Youth knife violence is more prevalent in Britain than many other European countries, he noted. "It's difficult to determine why exactly," Green added. London mayor Sadiq Khan's office blamed the austerity policies of successive Tory governments in power since 2010, which it argued have "decimated youth services" in the capital and beyond. As many as 130 centers offering sports and arts activities in the city have closed over that period, its statement noted. The pandemic and the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, driven by decades-high inflation, are also seen as contributing to the problem. Following the recent knife crime deaths in the capital, the Labour mayor urged the Conservative government in a letter "to speed up the legislation so we can ban these awful weapons as soon as possible". "The proposals also need to be toughened up to close the loopholes that could still allow the sale of these weapons," Khan added. He also wrote this month to London's 500 secondary schools reiterating that wand metal detectors to screen pupils for weapons were available, as well as police officers to deliver knife crime prevention talks. His opposition Labour party -- well ahead in polls for over a year -- has pledged to spend up to £100 million if it wins power in an election expected next year on a "Young Futures" program. It would fund new youth mentors and mental health hubs in every community, youth workers in schools set up for troubled students and hospitals, alongside wide-ranging public sector reforms. The post England, Wales grapple with growing teen knife violence appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘We love singing’: Filipinos find joy in karaoke
At a busy tricycle terminal in Manila, driver Edgar Soriano slips a coin into a karaoke machine and belts out his favorite song while waiting for passengers. Karaoke is wildly popular in the archipelago nation where it's never too early -- or too late -- to grab a microphone and sing a tune. Machines can be found everywhere from cheap bars in far-flung villages to modern KTV joints in the cities, and many families have their own or rent one for parties. For as little as five pesos (nine US cents) a song, many in the poverty-afflicted country can experience a few minutes of joy in the day. Soriano, 53, smiles as he stands in a tiny eatery on a hot weekday afternoon singing the lyrics of British musician Albert Hammond's "When I'm Gone", which he seems to know by heart. The karaoke machine is one of six at the terminal, but drivers and passengers waiting for a ride appear unbothered by the competing songs reverberating through speakers. "I always sing that song, it's my favorite," said Soriano, wearing a long-sleeved Jordan top and tracksuit pants. After consulting a well-thumbed plastic folder of songs, street sweeper Bernardo Aguire, 67, settles on Frank Sinatra's "My Way", and pops a coin into the slot. It is a bold choice in a country where the song has reportedly gotten people killed -- allegedly because they sang it poorly. Aguire, unfazed by the stories that have become an urban legend, finishes his rendition unscathed. Felomina Hernane, 52, owns the eatery where the karaoke machine cranks up at 8:00 a.m. and doesn't stop until 10:00 p.m. or later, seven days a week. She bought the machine to attract customers and it's been a boon to earnings, bringing in as much as 18,000 pesos a month. "It's a huge help for my business," Hernane told AFP. Hernane said singing makes the drivers happy. "It entertains them," she said. "It's a way to relax after driving." 'It takes away my stress' In a crowded neighborhood in Manila, tricycles deliver karaoke machine casings to stores where they are fitted with speakers, amplifiers, and televisions. Their prices depend on the quality of the electronics inside them, with a basic machine starting at around 19,000 pesos and a premium version topping 46,000 pesos. Alfred Condez works at a store overflowing with machines in various stages of assembly. It takes several hours for employees to finish wiring one, and customers are often happy to wait. "We love singing," said Condez, 40. As if to prove his point, he picks up a microphone and stands on the footpath to test an assembled machine's sound quality, his deep voice echoing into the noisy street. The busiest period for the karaoke assembly business is November and December when Filipinos hold Christmas and New Year parties, said Condez. His shop sells as many as 10 machines a day in those months. Karaoke took off in the Philippines in the 1980s, said Krina Cayabyab, a vocal instructor and associate professor in the University of the Philippines' music department. But she said the country's love of singing was deeply rooted in its colonial past, starting with the Spanish and then the Americans, whose music was absorbed by Filipinos. "It's really tied into that reproducing and borrowing of stuff that Filipinos would hear," Cayabyab said. Singing is one of the few affordable entertainment options for many Filipinos. In a hardscrabble district of Manila, children and young adults gather outside a small store where the karaoke machine is in high demand. "My friends and I are just hanging out because it's boring at home," said Honey Servito, 24. "I'm not really a singer, it's just that when we have nothing better to do at home, my friends and I go here and sing," she said. "It takes away my stress and boredom." The post ‘We love singing’: Filipinos find joy in karaoke appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘19 minors forced into common-law marriages with Socorro adults’
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed yesterday that about 19 children were found to be in common-law marriages with adult members of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc.......»»
Eco group warns vs toxic lead spray paints
An environmental group on Wednesday has urged authorities to look into the sale of five lead-containing spray paints being sold in Metro Cebu cities. According to the EcoWaste Coalition, the spray paint brands — the yellow Bad Axe Spray Paint which contains 23,080 ppm lead, canary yellow, jade green, Gongcheng orange yellow and deep yellow variants — had 21,610 ppm, 21,500 ppm, 20,040 ppm and 15,700 ppm. It added that it discovered these spray paints are being sold in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue. “Our discovery of five more lead-containing aerosol paints in Cebu indicates the need for improved compliance monitoring, particularly outside Metro Manila and Luzon, to protect the health of children and adults from this continuing source lead exposure,” said EcoWaste Coalition’s Manny Calonzo. These five Bad Axe brand spray paints are being sold each for less than P100 per 400 ml can. As indicated on the label, Bad Axe can be used for coating the interior and exterior wood, steel and other metal surfaces of household appliances, equipment, furniture, bicycles and the like. “The product has no manufacturer’s markings and its country of manufacture is unknown. It provides no information or warning about the paint’s lead content,” said the group. However, the product’s date of manufacture is indicated at the bottom of the can and all variants of Bad Axe were manufactured between 2021 to 2023, or after the completion of the national phase-out deadline for lead-containing decorative paints in December 2016. The World Health Organization, which co-manages the Secretariat of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint or the Lead Paint Alliance, has warned that lead exposure can have serious consequences for the health of children. EcoWaste Coalition added that exposure to lead is known to result in adverse health effects such as damage to the brain and central nervous system, slowed growth and development, hearing and speech problems, learning difficulties and behavioral problems, which can cause reduced ability to pay attention, underperformance in school, and lower intelligence quotient. The country’s lead paint regulation is stipulated under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order 2013-24, which established a maximum limit of 90 ppm for total lead in paint. This landmark chemical policy phased out leaded decorative and industrial paints in December 2016 and December 2019, respectively. The post Eco group warns vs toxic lead spray paints appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Two dead in Bangkok mall shooting, 14-year-old boy arrested
A 14-year-old boy was arrested Tuesday after a shooting at a packed Bangkok mall that left two people dead and five wounded, and sent hundreds of panicked shoppers running in terror into the streets. Witnesses told AFP of chaotic scenes as shots rang out at the upmarket Siam Paragon mall in the heart of the Thai capital around 4:30 pm (0930 GMT). The shooting comes just days before the first anniversary of the deadliest massacre in modern Thai history, when an ex-policeman armed with a gun and knife attacked a nursery in the country's north, murdering 24 children and 12 adults. National Police Chief Torsak Sukwimol told reporters that two women -- one Chinese, one from Myanmar -- were killed in the mall shooting, and five other people wounded. He said the 14-year-old suspect was in custody but was too confused to undergo questioning. "He is a mental patient at Rajavithi hospital and he has not been taking his medication," Torsak said. "He said it felt like someone told him to 'go shoot people'. It's like there's another him. This is what we got from the initial talk with him." Video footage showed a long-haired boy wearing a black shirt, glasses and a cap with a US flag motif being taken into custody by police. Yuthana Srettanan, director of the Erawan Emergency Centre, told reporters that all but one of those who were shot were women. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin visited the scene of the shooting as well as calling on the wounded in hospital. Srettha posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he had spoken to the Chinese ambassador and offered condolences. "From now on, the Thai government will implement the highest safety measures for the safety of all tourists," Srettha wrote. Thailand is keen to attract more Chinese visitors as it rebuilds its tourism industry after the pandemic, but numbers are lower than hoped, partly because of safety fears. A private school called The Essence, just metres from Siam Paragon, confirmed the suspect was one of their students and offered condolences to the victims' families. "We will collaborate with the authorities and investigators for the benefit of those involved," Wiwat Catithammanit, director of the $4,000-a-term school said in a statement. 'Multiple gunshots' Witnesses described scenes of panic as the attack unfolded at Siam Paragon, one of Bangkok's top shopping destinations, hugely popular with tourists and Thais alike. "At around 4:30 pm, I heard loud gun noises, continuously, about 10 times," Thanpawasit Singthongkham, 31, who works at a Japanese restaurant in the mall, told AFP. "Then the department store announced that there was a shooting. The emergency sign was turned on and everyone ran to get out." In footage shared with AFP, he recorded a scrum of terrified shoppers scrabbling under metal security gates blocking shop entrances, before they fled down emergency stairwells as sirens blared. In another video, shared on Facebook and verified by AFP, scores of people can be seen in the mall's basement car park being directed by loudspeakers. Dozens of police vehicles and a number of ambulances could be seen outside one of the shopping centre's main entrances in the wake of the shooting. "I heard multiple gunshots -- about three times -- and saw people running around towards the exits," Nattanon Dungsunenarn, who was shopping in a branch of Boots pharmacy, told AFP. "It was very chaotic and seemed like many people didn't know what exactly was going on." 'Terrified' "We didn't know what was happening, then staff from a shop asked us to go inside and said there was a shooter," Chinese tourist Xiong Ying, 41, told AFP. "Everyone was trying to find a place to hide. So many people were terrified, just like a scene in the zombie movies. "I now feel quite scared. It happened just like two minutes after we left by crossing the bridge. We even took photos there." Almost a year on from the October 6 nursery massacre, the mall shooting will raise fresh questions about gun control in Thailand, which has one of the highest rates of firearm ownership in the region. In 2020, a former army officer went on a rampage in a shopping mall in Korat, murdering 29 people and wounding scores more. The post Two dead in Bangkok mall shooting, 14-year-old boy arrested appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Three wounded in Bangkok mall shooting, attacker arrested: Thai PM
Three people were wounded in a shooting at a major Bangkok shopping mall on Tuesday, the Thai prime minister said, adding that the shooter had been arrested. Multiple videos circulating on social media showed people running from the Siam Paragon mall, one of the Thai capital's top shopping destinations, which is hugely popular with tourists and locals alike. Premier Srettha Thavisin told reporters that three people had been wounded in the incident, and that the attacker had been arrested. "Police are clearing the scene. The situation is easing," Srettha told reporters. The shooting comes just days before the one-year anniversary of one of the bloodiest days in recent Thai history, when an ex-police officer armed with a knife and gun attacked a nursery, murdering 24 children and 12 adults. Thailand has high rates of gun ownership and has a long and violent history of firearm incidents, both small and large. In 2020, a former army officer went on a rampage in a shopping mall in Korat, murdering 29 people and wounding scores more. The post Three wounded in Bangkok mall shooting, attacker arrested: Thai PM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The 10-year-old fashion influencer
Taylen Biggs has close to 1.5 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, a wardrobe full of designer clothes and 15 fashion weeks under her belt -- and she's 10 years old. Taylen arrived at last week's Balmain show, one of the hottest tickets of Paris Fashion Week, in a luxurious white jacket-and-skirt combo by the French label, black boots and bag by Karl Lagerfeld and her favourite Vintage Frames shades. She was followed, as always, by her cameraman. Also keeping a discreet distance was her "bodyguard", as she calls him, who also happens to be her father. "I love fashion and I love meeting new people and interviewing them and seeing what they have to say," she told AFP, before getting down to business with her microphone. Taylen, who lives in Miami, has interviewed the likes of DJ Khaled, popstar Kali Uchis and American Football star Patrick Mahomes, as well as a huge number of models, designers and fellow fashionistas. She is practically a veteran of red carpets, appearing at everything from the MTV Music Awards to the Superbowl, a regular at New York and Miami fashion weeks, and all over Milan and Paris for the past fortnight. "I really miss my family a lot," she said. "And I miss Miami. But I don't miss the food from Miami. I'm in love with the food here." Influencers are now the fashion industry's favoured form of media -- a direct line to the public and happy to trade goodies for coverage -- and age is no obstacle. Taylen's father, Josh Biggs, says he has largely given up his job as a construction contractor in Miami to work full-time as his daughter's assistant. "I travel with her everywhere she goes, I am her shadow," he told AFP. Asked if his daughter has become a business, he says: "People see her through the camera lens... but in real life, she's a child first and foremost." 'No qualms' Taylen landed her first modelling gig when she was 18 months old after her fashion-loving mother, a Colombian who came to the United States when she was 13, posted pictures of her on social media that were spotted by an advertising agency. She now runs her daughter's social media accounts and oversees home-schooling for Taylen and her two younger brothers. "We take school very seriously, it's priority number one," said her father. They worked through the summer so that Taylen could take a long break during the back-to-back fashion weeks in Milan and Paris in September. Taylen's father -- who says he has little interest in fashion -- says there is no pressure on his daughter to continue if she gets bored. "If she's ready to change and pursue a different career, then it's up to her," he said. "We will leave the fashion world in a second. There's no qualms about it." But Taylen seems to enjoy her job. "I'm really good with anyone," she said. "I'm really good with kids. I loooove children! And I really love adults -- I don't even get annoyed." The post The 10-year-old fashion influencer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DSWD’s Oplan Pag-Abot teams reach out to individuals in Manila
The Department of Social Welfare and Development reached out to 56 individuals living on the streets of Manila during its Oplan Pag-Abot’s 9-hour non-stop operations from last night until early Friday morning, From 9 p.m. Thursday (28 September) until 6 a.m. Friday (29 September), Oplan Pag-Abot teams were able to reach out to 23 unattached adults, 10 older persons, three children, and 20 family members of five families who were staying in the Malate tourist area and along the stretch of nearby Roxas Boulevard. “The reached-out individuals and families were brought to the processing centers located at Barangay 721 Dakota Covered Court in Malate for biometrics registration, and initial intake interview,” DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez said on Friday. After the assessment, Asst. Sec. Lopez said some clients needing special care were referred to the DSWD-run centers and residential care facilities such as Bahay Silungan, Golden Reception and Action Center for the Elderly and Other Special Cases, and the Haven for Children for temporary custody and shelter. “Some families and individuals were referred to the local government units of Manila, Caloocan, Navotas, Pasay, Sta. Maria in Bulacan, and Field Office - National Capital Region,” Lopez, who is also DSWD spokesperson, said. The Oplan Pag-Abot teams were assisted by the City of Manila’s Department of Social Welfare and City Health Office, the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and the Philippine National Police - Tactical Motorcycle Unit during the 9-hour reach-out operation. The post DSWD’s Oplan Pag-Abot teams reach out to individuals in Manila appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dela Rosa: ‘Hindi pwedeng magsinungaling ang mga bata’
Several underage members of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Incorporated on Thursday narrated how they were forced to marry and have sexual intercourse with adults as well as locked up within their mountainous community at Sitio Kapihan, Barangay Sering, in Socorro town, Surigao del Norte. In a media interview, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa admitted that he believed the statements of several child witnesses attended the Senate’s public investigation on the alleged cases of rape, sexual abuse, forced labor, and child marriage perpetrated by the Socorro-based group against their young members. “Hindi pwedeng magsinungaling ang mga bata. Nakikita ko Iyan. Sabihin mong biased ako sa mga bata pero naniniwala (Children can’t lie. I see that. You may say I’m biased to children but I believe them),” said Dela Rosa. During the joint investigation by the Senate committees on women and children, and public order and dangerous drugs on Thursday, 15-year-old Jane, not her real name, said she was coerced to marry an 18-year-old man she never met before. She said it was “Senyor Agila” whose real name is Jey Rence Quilario, the SBSI leader, who ordered and facilitated her marriage. She added that Quilario forced her to immediately sleep and have sex with her new husband so can “go to heaven.” Lovely Novie Savandal, also a member, emotionally shared that her 12-year-old sister was compelled to marry someone she didn’t know personally. Savandal said the Quilario was forcing every married couple to have sexual intercourse, if not, they will be punished. Dela Rosa grilled Quilario after Savandal recalled her sister’s experiences. “Bakit gustong gusto mong mag sex ang mag asawa? Bata, 12 years old? Pipilitin mong makipag sex sa lalaking hindi niya kagustuhan. Kinasal mo na, tapos sisiguraduhin mo pa na sila ay mag sex. Tapos kapag hindi mag sex, pina-punish mo ‘yung bata (Why do you want the couple to have sex? A child, 12 years old, [then] you will force her to have sex with a man. You already had them married. Then you still want to make sure they have sex. And when they don’t, you punish the child),” he asked the SBSI leader, Despite revelations from the witnesses, Quilario denied every allegation and claimed he could not do such a thing. “Hindi po ‘yan totoo. Hindi ko po magagawa (There is no truth to that. I cannot do that),” he said. During the opening of the panel’s hearing, Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed that managed to recruit 3,650, including 1,587 minors. “Sabi po ng liderato ng SBSI sa mga interviews, parang normal subdivision lang daw ang [Sitio] Kapihan. Ewan ko lang, pero sa subdivision namin, ‘di nila nire-require ang iisang gupit para sa mga babae, ‘di po inilibing sa ilalim ng lupa ang mga cellphone ng mga dalaga at binata,” she said. Hontiveros earlier revealed that SBSI conducted cult practices including rape, human trafficking, and even punishing disobedient members to swim in human feces. She said some SBSI members were ordered to wear the same haircut and had their cellphones buried underground. They are even forced to drop out of school. Meanwhile, Commission on Human Rights Director Jasmin Navarro-Regino said SBSI is now being subjected to several human rights violations after hearing the testimonies of witnesses during Thursday’s Senate hearing on SBSI’s suspected cult activities. Regino said the CHR has already conducted its initial investigation, conducted by a five-member team in Sitio Kapihan. “We found out initially, based on interviews with children, [that] there was forced marriage…There was a violation of the right to access education, and likewise, there’s a violation of the freedom of movement of these people,” she said. “We will submit our initial investigation report because it is based on many violations,” she added. The post Dela Rosa: ‘Hindi pwedeng magsinungaling ang mga bata’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Snow White’ like never before
Repertory Philippines’ Theater for Young Audiences opens its first production after the Covid-19 pandemic with a new version of a classic fairy tale. Snow White and the Prince is a love story between these two iconic characters. Written by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, the same authors of RTYA’s very successful 2017 production Rapunzel, Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale, it is a musical comedy for the young and the young at heart and will be enjoyed by the whole family. On the eve of her birthday celebration, Snow White anticipates her first ball, and dreams of romance. She meets a charming prince at the ball but her dreams are shattered by her stepmother who is jealous of her beauty. For her protection, her loving nursemaid sends her to the forest to find the nurse’s seven (of course) friends. Also, in the picture are a magic mirror who can never lie and, the symbol of evil, an apple. The guiding principle behind all RTYA productions is that children deserve as good a theater as adults and this production strives to do just that. Joy Virata, director and RTYA’s creative director, has gathered a group of both veteran and young actors to tell the story through simple and humorous dialogue and delightfully tuneful songs. Leading the cast are REP and RTYA regulars Carla Gueverra Laforteza and Pinky Marquez as the Queen with newcomer Julia Serad alternating. Veterans Chino Veguillas and Franco Ramos play the all-important Mirror along with newbie Sebastian Katigbak. In the title roles are Kiara Dario, Pappel (Ashlee Factor), Jillian Ita-as and Anyah as Snow White and MC dela Cruz, Neo Rivera and Rapah Manalo as the Prince. Abi Sulit, Ring Antonio and Cara Barredo alternate as the Nurse. Fourteen (seven times two) actors of all heights, weights, genders and ages (and with varying theater backgrounds), play the friends. The post ‘Snow White’ like never before appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Taylor Swift announces film of massive ‘Eras’ tour
Didn't score tickets for Taylor Swift's "Eras" tour? Never fear -- the culturally defining juggernaut will hit movie theaters with a concert film released on 13 October. "The Eras Tour has been the most meaningful, electric experience of my life so far and I'm overjoyed to tell you that it'll be coming to the big screen soon," Swift said on social media Thursday. "Eras attire, friendship bracelets, singing, and dancing encouraged." The giant AMC movie chain is vowing that each of its theaters across the United States will play the film at least four times a day on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tickets are on sale now. The company said it had upgraded its website and ticketing services to "handle more than five times the largest influx of ticket-buying traffic the Company has ever experienced before." "But AMC is also aware that no ticketing system in history seems to have been able to accommodate the soaring demand from Taylor Swift fans," the statement added, warning that customers may experience delays and outages. Earlier this year botched sales for Swift's wildly popular tour wreaked havoc, prompting a congressional hearing over Ticketmaster's purported anti-competitive practices. And while "Eras" tickets reached thousands of dollars, fans will be able to nab movie viewings at $19.89 for adults, $13.13 for children and seniors, plus tax. As of Thursday morning, the website for AMC showed that opening weekend tickets in the New York area was already close to selling out. A few hours after Swift's announcement, the release of Universal's sequel to the horror classic "The Exorcist" was pushed up a week to avoid clashing with the concert film. "Look what you made me do. The Exorcist: Believer moves to 10/6/23 #TaylorWins," producer Jason Blum posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The 33-year-old Swift wrapped the North American leg of her global tour with four shows in Mexico and will pick back up in Argentina in November, with plans to tour into the end of 2024. With 146 total stadium dates, it is expected she will set the record for the first billion-dollar tour, with trade publication Pollstar estimating she's selling some $14 million in tickets per show. Swift's team does not report box office numbers. The current record-holder is Elton John, whose "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour, which began in 2018, ultimately made $939 million. The post Taylor Swift announces film of massive ‘Eras’ tour appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Daring rescue saves 8 from dangling cable car
Military helicopters plucked a child trapped inside a broken cable car while commandos zipped on the steel lines to rescue seven others one by one in a remote valley of Pakistan on Tuesday. The cable car passengers, including six schoolboys, were trapped for hours in the gondola when it broke down at around 7 a.m. midway through its journey above the lush green Allai Valley. Residents used mosque loudspeakers to alert neighborhood officials of the emergency, and hundreds of people gathered on both sides of the ravine — hours away from any sizeable town — to watch the dramatic rescue. After 12 hours of preparation, the rescue began. A video of the first rescue showed a teenager in a harness hanging at the bottom of a swinging rope under a helicopter as crowds cheered with relief. “After tireless efforts by highly skilled pilots and SSG personnel, a child was rescued but the mission had to be canceled due to bad weather,” the military’s media wing said in a statement. By nightfall, commandos from Pakistan’s Special Service Group — known as the Maroon Berets — used the cable keeping the gondola from plunging into the valley as a zipline to rescue the rest of those stranded. Bilal Faizi, an official with Pakistan’s emergency service, said the two adults were the last to be brought to safety. “Great teamwork by the military, rescue departments, district administration as well as the local people,” Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Earlier Tuesday, as the rescue operation unfolded, headmaster Ali Asghar Khan told Agence France-Presse by phone that the children were all teenage boys and students at his government high school Battangi Pashto. “The school is located in a mountainous area and there are no safe crossings, so it’s common to use the chairlift,” Khan said. WITH AFP The post Daring rescue saves 8 from dangling cable car appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»