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Biden says Israel agrees to stop Gaza attacks for Ramadan as Hamas mulls draft truce proposal
The draft proposal, which would allow hospitals and bakeries in Gaza to be repaired and 500 aid trucks to enter the battered enclave every day, is the most serious attempt in weeks to end the conflict.....»»
Negros Oriental hog ban lifted
The province of Negros Oriental is opening its borders to hog raisers and traders to revive its pork industry, which has been battered by African swine fever......»»
6 rescued from distressed boat
Six persons were rescued after their boat was battered by strong winds and big waves while sailing in the waters off Surigao del Norte on Sunday......»»
Mati City to donate P800,000 worth of rice to typhoon-battered neighbor
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 28 December)— The City Government of Mati aims to donate P800,000 worth of rice to their neighboring municipality of Caraga, Davao Oriental, which was badly hit by Tropical Storm “Kabayan.” In a Facebook Live interview Tuesday, Mati Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat said that the money for the rice donation will be […].....»»
Strong winds destroy houses, rice fields
Up to 82 houses and more than a hundred hectares of rice fields were destroyed by strong winds that battered four villages in Kabacan, Cotabato over the weekend......»»
PAGCOR unveils new emergency facility in disaster-prone town
CATANAUAN, Quezon – Frequently battered by natural disasters that force residents to flee their homes, this town finally saw the inauguration of a new evacuation facility that helps boost the local government’s disaster preparedness efforts. On November 24, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) inaugurated the two-story multi-purpose evacuation building in Barangay Madulao, one […].....»»
Russian strike on Ukraine mail depot kills six
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) — At least six postal workers were killed while 17 were wounded after Russian missile strikes hit a mail depot in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, officials said. The strike in the northeastern Kharkiv region on Saturday came as Kyiv declared its positions in the embattled city of Avdiivka were “protected” despite Russian attacks, while Moscow said it had downed Ukrainian missiles targeting the Crimean Peninsula. The six killed in the depot attack were all workers at the Ukrainian postal operator Nova Poshta in Korotych, a village on the outskirts of Kharkiv city, regional governor Oleg Sinegubov said. “The victims, aged between 19 and 42, received shrapnel wounds and blast injuries,” he said. Of the injured being treated in hospital, seven were in a serious condition, according to Sinegubov, who said “doctors are fighting for their lives.” The regional prosecutor’s office later updated the number of injured to 17. President Volodymyr Zelensky shared a video on social media of what appeared to be a heavily damaged warehouse surrounded by rubble and a container with the Nova Poshta logo. Sergiy Nozhka, who works for Nova Poshta, described the condition of some his colleagues as “mild to moderate severity,” adding that “there are some people in a very serious condition.” He said that a rocket “flew into the neighboring depot, but at ours too — the windows and shutters flew out. This is not the first time.” According to the prosecutor’s office, Russian forces in the Belgorod region north of Kharkiv fired S-300 missiles, two of which hit the warehouse. “Debris analysis continues at the site in order to establish the exact number of injured and dead,” office spokesperson Dmytro Chubenko told Ukraine’s state broadcaster Suspilne. Separate Russian attacks on villages near the war-battered Ukrainian city of Bakhmut killed at least two people on Sunday, officials said. Both Kyiv and Moscow are preparing for a grueling winter ahead, as Ukraine warns of renewed strikes on its energy infrastructure and Russia contends with a Ukrainian counteroffensive to regain territory. In the eastern Donetsk region, Ukraine’s positions around the frontline city of Avdiivka were “protected”, Zelensky said in his evening address Sunday. The city has been the center of intense fighting in recent weeks as each side struggles to make advances. Ukraine’s general staff said on Friday that Russia had stepped up its military assault on Avdiivka in an ongoing bid to encircle and capture it. “The Avdiivka and Maryinka directions are particularly tough”, Zelensky said. “Numerous attacks by Russians. But our positions are protected.” Avdiivka has been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance since 2014, after it briefly fell to Russian-backed separatists. It lies just 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the Moscow-held city of Donetsk, capital of the Donetsk region that Russia said last September it was annexing. Ukrainian soldiers had been bracing for a new assault after a failed Russian offensive earlier this month using columns of armored vehicles and tanks from three sides. Built around a huge coke plant, Avdiivka had a pre-war population of around 30,000 people. Around 1,600 remain, according to local authorities, living in basements converted into bomb shelters. The city center has been all but destroyed through daily Russian artillery shelling and a months-long aerial bombing campaign. Also on Sunday Russian forces shot down three missiles targeting the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, a Russian official said. The peninsula is crucial to Russia’s offensive, both for supplying troops in southern Ukraine and for carrying out missile strikes from the sea. The post Russian strike on Ukraine mail depot kills six appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Evidence shows Hamas militants likely used some North Korean weapons in attack on Israel
SEOUL, South Korea — Hamas fighters likely fired North Korean weapons during their Oct. 7 assault on Israel, a militant video and weapons seized by Israel show, despite Pyongyang’s denials that it sells arms to the militant group. The video was analyzed by two experts on North Korean arms. Along with an Associated Press analysis of weapons captured on the battlefield and South Korean military intelligence, the video indicates that Hamas used the F-7 rocket-propelled grenade, a shoulder-fired weapon that fighters typically use against armored vehicles. The evidence shines a light on the murky world of the illicit arms shipments that sanction-battered North Korea uses as a way to fund its arms programs. Rocket-propelled grenade launchers fire a single warhead and can be quickly reloaded, making them valuable weapons for guerrilla forces in running skirmishes with heavy vehicles. The F-7 has been documented in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, said N.R. Jenzen-Jones, a weapons expert who works as the director of the consultancy Armament Research Services. “North Korea has long supported Palestinian militant groups, and North Korean arms have previously been documented amongst interdicted supplies,” Jenzen-Jones told The Associated Press. Hamas has published images of their training that show fighters with a weapon with a rocket-propelled grenade with a distinctive red stripe across its warhead, and other design elements matching the F-7, said Matt Schroeder, a senior researcher with Small Arms Survey who wrote a guide to Pyongyang’s light weapons. “It is not a surprise to see North Korean weapons with Hamas,” Schroeder said. The North Korean F-7 resembles the more widely distributed Soviet-era RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade, with a few noticeable differences. A militant video examined by the AP shows one fighter carrying the F-7. Weapons seized by the Israeli military and shown to journalists also included that red stripe and other design elements matching the F-7. In a background briefing with journalists Tuesday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff specifically identified the F-7 as one of the North Korean weapons it believed Hamas used in the attack. The Israeli military declined to answer questions from the AP about the origin and the manufacturer of those rocket-propelled grenades, saying the ongoing war with Hamas prevented it from responding. North Korea’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the AP. However, Pyongyang last week through its state-run KCNA news agency dismissed.....»»
Hundreds dead in Israel-Gaza war as Hezbollah launches attacks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday warned of a "long and difficult" war, as fighting with Hamas left hundreds dead on both sides after a surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group. The conflict's bloodiest escalation in decades saw Hamas carry out a massive rocket barrage and ground, air and sea offensive Saturday that Israel's army said had killed more than 200 Israelis and wounded 1,000, while soldiers and civilians were taken hostage. Gaza officials said intense Israeli air strikes on the coastal enclave had brought the Palestinian death toll to at least 256, with nearly 1,788 wounded. As fighting raged Sunday, Lebanon's powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah movement said it had fired "large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles" at Israeli positions in a contested border areas "in solidarity" with Hamas. Israel's army had earlier said it fired artillery on southern Lebanon in response to a shot from the area without identifying the attackers. "We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack," Netanyahu said on X, formerly Twitter, early Sunday. "The first stage is ending at this time by the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory," he added, pledging no "respite" until victory. Overnight Israel battered the Gaza Strip with air strikes as rockets from the blockaded Palestinians territory rained on Israel. Sunday morning gun still battles raged between Israeli forces and hundreds of Hamas fighters in multiple locations, including at the Sderot police station across the border from Gaza. Police and Israeli army special forces "neutralized 10 armed terrorists" who were holed up inside the station, a police statement said. The bloody air, sea and land attack launched Saturday by Hamas came half a century after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, taking Israel and the world by surprise. As the UN Security Council called an emergency meeting for Sunday, President Joe Biden voiced "rock solid and unwavering" support for the US ally and warned "against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation". - Hostages and 'so many bodies' - The Israeli army said overnight its forces were still engaged in gun battles in a string of Israel locations, in an operation labelled "Swords of Iron", as reservists were being called up. Hamas earlier released images of several Israelis taken captive, and another army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, confirmed that soldiers and civilians had been kidnapped. "I can't give figures about them at the moment," he said late Saturday, adding there was also a "severe hostage situation" in the Negev desert communities of Beeri and Ofakim east of Gaza. According to Ynet Israeli news website "dozens of Israeli captives, including numerous women, children and elders, are believed to have been taken into the Gaza Strip". The fighting prompted Israel to cut off Gaza's electricity, fuel and goods supplies, Netanyahu said. The Islamist group started the multi-pronged attack around 6:30 am (0330 GMT) on Saturday with thousands of rockets aimed as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, some bypassing the Iron Dome defense system and hitting buildings. Hamas fighters -- traveling in ground vehicles, motorized paragliders and boats -- breached Gaza's security barrier and attacked nearby Israeli towns and military posts, opening fire on residents and passersby. "Send help, please!" one Israeli woman sheltering with her two-year-old child pleaded as militants outside opened fire and tried to break into their safe room, Israeli media reported. Bodies were strewn on the streets of the Israeli town of Sderot near Gaza and inside cars, the windscreens shattered by a hail of bullets. "I saw many bodies, of terrorists and civilians," one man told AFP, standing beside covered corpses on a road near Gevim Kibbutz in southern Israel. "So many bodies, so many bodies." AFP journalists witnessed Palestinian armed men gather around a burning Israeli tank, and others driving a seized Israeli military Humvee vehicle back into Gaza, where they were met by cheering crowds. - 'Gates of hell' - Israeli army Major General Ghasan Alyan warned Hamas had "opened the gates of hell". An AFP journalist in Gaza saw clouds of dust from the remains of bombed residential towers which Gaza's interior ministry said contained 100 apartments. Israel's military said it had warned residents to evacuate before targeting the multi-story buildings used by Hamas. The escalation follows months of rising violence, mostly in the occupied West Bank, and tensions around Gaza's border and at contested holy sites in Jerusalem. Before Saturday, at least 247 Palestinians, 32 Israelis and two foreigners had been killed this year, including combatants and civilians, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials. Hamas labeled its attack "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" and called on "resistance fighters in the West Bank" as well as in "Arab and Islamic nations" to join the battle. Its armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, claimed to have fired more than 5,000 rockets, while Hecht said Israel had counted more than 3,000 incoming rockets. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said the group was on the "verge of a great victory", vowing to press ahead with "the battle to liberate our land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons must be completed". - 'Dangerous precipice' - Air raid sirens wailed across southern and central Israel, as well as in Jerusalem on Saturday, and there were major disruptions at Tel Aviv airport where many carriers canceled flights. Israel said schools would remain closed on Sunday which marks the start of the week. Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, leading to Israel's crippling blockade of the impoverished enclave of 2.3 million people. Israel and Hamas have since fought several wars. The last major military exchange, in May, killed 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. Violence also erupted across the West Bank, including annexed east Jerusalem, with five Palestinians killed and 120 wounded in clashes with Israeli forces and settlers, Palestinian medical services said. Countries around the world condemned the wave of attacks by Hamas, which Israel, the United States and European Union consider a terrorist group. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the attack "terrorism in its most despicable form". But Hamas drew support from other foes of Israel, with Iran's supreme leader declaring he was "proud". UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland warned of "a dangerous precipice" and called on all sides to "pull back from the brink". (Rosie Scammell with Adel Zaanoun in Gaza) az-rsc-jd/hkb © Agence France-Presse The post Hundreds dead in Israel-Gaza war as Hezbollah launches attacks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A feast for the senses – but doesn’t quite coalesce in the heart
“Baka maiyak ako” (I might cry), the lady seated behind me intoned to her companion just before the show started. “Pero ‘di bale. Madilim naman” (But that’s okay since it’s dark). Her concern of tearing up during the show was triggered by the unusual configuration of the stage and the audience seats for this particular show — a low, slim platform that straddled the entire length of the venue right smack in the middle of two layered/staggered seating sections. The viewers on both sides faced each other. Apparently the lady didn’t want others to see her cry. My guess is the tears didn’t come. That’s not necessarily the fault of anyone involved in this production of The Last Five Years, Jason Robert Brown’s acclaimed 22-year-old musical that had its debut in Manila in 2003 after premiering in Chicago in 2001 and Off-Broadway in 2002. Now, the Barefoot Theatre Collaborative is staging its own version of the musical (at the Power Mac Center Spotlight in Ayala Circuit), with real-life couple Gab Pangilinan and Myke Salomon, both accomplished theater artists, playing the leads. Reverse timelines On paper, The Last Five Years sounds like a whopper of an emotional rollercoaster ride. It’s about the five-year relationship between rising novelist Jamie and struggling actress Cathy that starts, as all romances usually go, with happy hellos and ends, as theatrical pieces usually go, with sad goodbyes. What sets it apart from the usual is its storytelling: While both characters narrate the same story simultaneously, Jamie tells it from the first year to the last while Cathy recounts it from the last year to the first. Parallel lives in reverse timelines. It’s a novel, ingenious take on the he said, she said conceit that adds an extra layer of friction and tension to the songs in this sung-through piece. And it is creatively visualized by director Topper Febregas and production designer Joey Mendoza with the inventive runway-like stage made up of two parallel platforms with a hollow middle section where a small mobile platform is placed to carry the actors to various spots of the stage throughout the show. Jamie and Cathy are only ever together — side by side, hand in hand, wrapped in a tight, warm embrace, bodies entwined in a waltz — on this tiny piece of the performance stage for one number, during their marriage proposal and wedding halfway through the show. If only the source material gave us more of this “show,” the tears would’ve probably come to the audience. But it’s mostly tell, the piece made up of a string of vignettes from Jamie and Cathy’s relationship. We hear them sing individually about their joys, frustrations, dreams, aspirations, struggles, victories and despair, as lovers and as professionals, from one musical number to the next, and every song highlights a particular conflict between the couple. Little drama But none of it draws us very deeply into their woundedness, their brokenness. There’s little drama, really: Although we see how their marriage crumbles in the second half of the last five years, we don’t get a sense of and feel for what they have lost. In a way, the catwalk-style stage is perfect as the show feels more like a fashion extravaganza, with songs standing in for couture: It’s enjoyable as a spectacle but does not engage as a narrative piece can and should. Not that stars Gabbi Pangilinan and Myke Salomon don’t pack any heat with their performances. Salomon, in particular, is arresting as Jamie, his highly expressive face registering a full range of emotions without overselling anything, and his full, creamy, commanding baritone growing in color, weariness and edge as his character ages over the years. Pangilinan certainly has the more difficult part, a character whose narrative arc is the opposite of the convention — starting the show as a weathered, emotionally battered if not defeated woman and ending it as a wide-eyed, hopeful romantic girl. It’s a major challenge for any performer, and Pangilinan certainly hits all the musical notes perfectly, effortlessly. But perhaps only seasoned artists have what it really takes to hurdle it and bring Cathy to full, thrilling, cutting life within just 90 minutes. The Last Five Years, with its inventive material and clever design, surely is a feast for the senses. It just doesn’t quite coalesce in the heart. There’s little chance of being caught crying under the lights. The Last Five Years runs from 29 September to 15 October at Power Mac Center Spotlight, Circuit Makati, Makati City. Tickets available at Ticket2Me. The post A feast for the senses – but doesn’t quite coalesce in the heart appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Africa’s top pop culture festival showcases homegrown superheroes
Africa's largest pop culture festival opened this week with a spotlight on home-grown superheroes including a black knight battling South Africa's rolling power cuts and a warrior inspired by the legendary Zulu king Shaka. Clad in superhero capes and sci-fi costumes, thousands of people flocked to a vast expo center south of Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday for the first day of Comic Con Africa, which runs until Monday. The festival, in its fourth edition, has a dedicated 'Afro Geek' pavilion, showcasing comics reflecting African heritage and society. "The cartoons we used to watch, particularly Tarzan, had this colonial mentality around Africans... it would be a character in Africa but the Africans would be invisible," Trevor Ngwenya, an artist, told AFP. "It didn't sit well with me". Ngwenya's latest project is a superhero inspired by King Shaka, the 19th-century leader still revered for having united a large swathe of the country as the Zulu nation. Other 'Afro Geek' offerings include a paladin fighting the relentless power outages that have battered South Africa in recent years and a comic series inspired by African mythology. "Seeing superheroes that I look like brings more of a relatability to me. It makes me want to read the comics a little more," said Ethan Msithini, 26, an animator promoting the Kidwiz Inc. series featuring the blackout-busting hero. The festival has been praised for opening doors for cosplayers in a country and continent where the industry is not as established as in more developed parts of the world. "I just really love that people of color are taking back ownership of certain things like fantasy and sci-fi," said Abigail Backman-Daniels, a festivalgoer dressed as a Valkyrie from the Thor movie franchise. The post Africa’s top pop culture festival showcases homegrown superheroes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gov’t assembling Morocco responders
The government is reviewing proposals to send a humanitarian team to Morocco to help in the aftermath of the strong earthquake that hit the country last week. The Office of Civil Defense said Saturday it is making arrangements for the possible deployment of a Philippine inter-agency humanitarian contingent to Morocco. “We are deeply saddened in the aftermath of the earthquake that hit Morocco. We want to assure Morocco that the Philippines is more than willing to extend assistance in support of the ongoing response operations,” OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said in a statement. OCD team on standby Nepomuceno said the OCD, as the executive arm of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, is prepared to deploy a contingent to help in the ongoing rescue and relief efforts in Morocco that was battered by a magnitude-6.8 earthquake that destroyed communities and has killed nearly 3,000 people. Authorities said the number may still rise as search, rescue, and retrieval operations continue. “We want to assure Morocco that the Philippines is more than willing to extend assistance in support of the ongoing response operations. We are organizing a humanitarian contingent for possible deployment,” he added. Nepomuceno, who is also NDRRMC executive director, said the contingent will consist of personnel from the OCD, the 525th Engineering Combat Battalion of the Philippine Army, the 505th Search and Rescue Group of the Philippine Air Force, Bureau of Fire Protection-Special Rescue Unit, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Davao Rescue 911 and the Department of Health. Last February, the Philippines sent an 82-man humanitarian contingent to Turkiye to assist in response operations following the quake that hit the country. The magnitude-7.8 earthquake that hit Turkiye and nearby Syria left 50,288 dead and 125,857 injured. The Philippine contingent helped in medical, search, rescue, and retrieval operations. Meanwhile, Nepomuceno said the recent earthquakes should serve as a reminder to all to continuously be prepared for earthquakes, especially the big one. He called on the public and other stakeholders to actively take part in the government’s earthquake preparation drills. “It is terrifying that in just seconds, an earthquake could claim many lives and leave massive destruction. Through the whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach, we should strengthen our prevention, mitigation, and preparedness measures against earthquakes,” he said. The post Gov’t assembling Morocco responders appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl humanitarian contingent may be deployed to quake-hit Morocco
The Office of Civil Defense said Saturday it is making arrangements for possible deployment of Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent to quake-hit Morocco. "We are deeply saddened by the aftermath of the earthquake that hit Morocco. We want to assure Morocco that the Philippines is more than willing to extend assistance to support the ongoing response operations. We are organizing a humanitarian contingent for possible deployment,” OCD administrator, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, said in a statement. Nepomuceno said the OCD, as the executive arm of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, is prepared to deploy a contingent to help in the ongoing rescue and relief efforts in Morocco battered by a Magnitude 6.8 earthquake that destroyed communities and killed nearly 3,000 people. Authorities said the number may still rise as search, rescue, and retrieval operations continue in affected areas. "We want to assure Morocco that the Philippines is more than willing to extend assistance to support the ongoing response operations. We are organizing a humanitarian contingent for possible deployment,” he added. Nepomuceno, who is also NDRRMC executive director, said the contingent will consist of personnel from the OCD, 525th Engineering Combat Battalion of the Philippine Army, 505th Search and Rescue Group of the Philippine Air Force, Bureau of Fire Protection - Special Rescue Unit, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Davao Rescue 911, and Department of Health. Last February, the Philippines sent an 82-man PIAHC to Turkey to assist in the response operations of the quake-ravaged country. The magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria left 50,288 dead and 125,857 injured. The contingent assisted in medical and search, rescue, and retrieval operations. Meanwhile, Nepomuceno said the earthquake in Morocco will serve as a reminder for all to continuously prepare against the threat of earthquakes, especially the big ones. He called on the general public and other stakeholders to actively take part in the government’s earthquake resilience endeavors. “It is terrifying that in just seconds, an earthquake could claim many lives and leave massive destruction. Through the whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach, we should strengthen our prevention, mitigation, and preparedness measures against earthquakes,” he said. The post Phl humanitarian contingent may be deployed to quake-hit Morocco appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Over P7-M shabu seized
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Authorities arrested four individuals during separate sting operations in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur and seized at least 1.125 kilos of suspected shabu worth P7.659 million. Police Regional Office in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region director P/Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza on Friday narrated that anti-narcotics agents arrested two drug peddlers during the first drug buy-bust operation at Hayfah compound, Barangay Gadongan in Marawi City about 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Nobleza identified the arrested drug peddlers as Rahib Solaiman Cayugan alias Mosep, a resident of Making, Parang, Maguindanao del Norte and Norain Anto Gunda, a resident of Barangay Pindolunan in Butig in Lanao del Sur. Seized from the two suspects were 1.025 kilos of suspected shabu worth P6.97 million. Police disclosed that two other individuals were able to elude arrest after sensing that the group was dealing with government anti-narcotics operatives. Those still at large were identified as Aripoden Kiram Ander and Rania Musor Maca-angcos, both residents of Tubod in Lanao del Norte. Nobleza said Cayugan and Gunda were arrested after they sold to a police poseur-buyer 25 grams of shabu worth P170,000. Also recovered from the possession of Cayugan and Gunda was a piece of Green Chinese Tea bag labeled “Chinese Pin Wei” containing one piece of an open transparent plastic bag. Cayugan and Gunda are now detained at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency BARMM Jail Facility while cases for violations of Republic Act 10640 are being prepared to be filed against them. In the other anti-illegal drug operation, P/Col. Robert S. Daculan, director of Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office reported the arrest of Sarip Osngan Mamangacao and Alihassan Ampuan Mangacop in Barangay Bobonga-Marawi in Marawi City at 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday. Daculan said anti-narcotics agents recovered from the possession of Mamangacao and Mangacop were 100 grams of suspected shabu worth P689,000 and buy-bust money. Mamangacao and Mangacop and recovered pieces of evidence were brought to Marawi City Police Station for proper disposition. The post Over P7-M shabu seized appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Libya, Morocco get aid, rescuers
Foreign military planes and ships flew emergency supplies to eastern Libya’s disaster zone as rescuers in quake-hit Morocco struggle to deliver food and tents to survivors and find missing ones under the rubble of a destroyed mountain village on Thursday. The two North African countries are reeling from contrasting disasters with the death toll from Libya’s dam breaks at nearly 4,000 people and almost 3,000 fatalities in Morocco. The United Nations has pledged $10 million to support Libya’s survivors, including at least 30,000 people it said had been left homeless in Derna. Britain is sending aid worth a million pounds, including shelter, health care and sanitation. Egyptians will help set up shelter camps. France was sending around 40 rescuers and tons of health supplies along with a field hospital. Ships from Turkey and Italy are bringing medical supplies and field hospitals. The United Arab Emirates sent two planes carrying 150 tons of aid. Another 40 tons of supplies took off Wednesday on a Kuwaiti flight. Palestinian media reported a rescue mission had left from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, and Jordan sent a military plane loaded with food parcels, tents, blankets and mattresses. Tens of thousands of people in Derna have also been displaced after the huge flash flood slammed on Sunday. Two upstream dams burst when torrential rains brought by storm “Daniel” battered the region. The wall of water ripped away buildings, vehicles and the people inside them. Many were swept out into the sea, with bodies later washing up on beaches littered with debris and car wrecks. Foreign rescuers In Morocco, Qatari firefighters are working to find survivors in many destroyed villages in the High Atlas mountains, where homes made from adobe crumbled easily during the 6.8-magnitude quake that struck late Friday. Helicopters are being used to evacuate the injured from remote places or those that cannot be reached by road, with media reports saying at least three people were airlifted to Marrakesh on Wednesday. Many Moroccan citizens have rushed to help quake victims with food, water, blankets and other aid or by donating blood to help treat the injured, an effort joined by the national football team. Morocco has allowed rescue teams to come to its aid from Spain, Britain, Qatar and the UAE but so far declined offers from several other nations, including the United States, France and some Middle Eastern countries. The US on Wednesday offered $1 million in support of groups on the ground and said it had deployed a small team to Morocco to help assess the situation. As of late Wednesday, there were at least 2,946 dead and 5,674 injured. The toll is unlikely to be the final one. The post Libya, Morocco get aid, rescuers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Apple expected to bow to EU and unveil iPhone with USB-C charger
Apple is expected to unveil its new iPhone lineup on Tuesday, with its Lightning charger ports likely to be replaced on the newest models by a universal charger after a tussle with the European Union. The bloc is insisting that all phones and other small devices must be compatible with the USB-C charging cables from the end of next year, a move it says will reduce waste and save money for consumers. The firm had long argued that its cable was more secure than USB-C chargers, which are already deployed by Apple on other devices and widely used by rivals including the world's biggest smartphone maker Samsung. Apple, still the world's biggest company by market capitalization, has not revealed what it plans to announce at Tuesday's "Wonderlust" event but usually unveils new iPhones at this time of year. It comes as Apple faces declining sales of iPhones, with higher prices pushing customers to delay switching to newer models. The firm is also caught up in diplomatic turbulence between the United States and China, with reports saying the Communist government is banning civil servants from using its phones. - 'Tepid' sales - Like any other company, Apple would prefer to boast about shiny new features rather than new charging ports. But analysts agree that the switch to USB-C is going to be the main headline. Insider Intelligence principal analyst Yory Wurmser said the iPhone needed "a big cycle" after "tepid" recent sales. He said Tuesday's event would probably see new Apple Watch and AirPod models, "but it's the iPhone 15 that will really determine how the next year will look for Apple". EU policymakers said the rule would simplify the lives of Europeans and do away with a mountain of obsolete chargers. "With the common charger, we are slashing consumer costs, and it's good for the environment too," said EU internal market commissioner Thierry Breton in a statement, adding that the move would save consumers 250 million euros ($270 million) each year. Apple had long resisted the change, arguing that it would stifle innovation and make the phones less secure. "The cable change may give consumers pause, but within a generation they will get over it: they won't have a choice," said Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart. - Price bump? - Along with rolling improvements to iPhone cameras and chips, Apple is expected to raise prices on its Pro models, according to Wurmser. Sales of iPhones in the recently ended quarter lagged analyst estimates. Apple suffered a 2.4 percent drop in iPhone sales, which account for nearly half of total revenues. Apple shares were battered last week following reports of significant Chinese restrictions on iPhones at government offices and state-backed entities. "China is a very important market for Apple, so any negative sentiment by the Chinese government toward Apple is concerning," analyst Greengart told AFP. Apple reported $15.8 billion in revenues from China in the most recent quarter, nearly 20 percent of total revenues. Executives pointed to the uptick in China sales in a period when overall sales fell. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives estimated that a Chinese government ban would affect less than 500,000 iPhones of roughly 45 million projected to be sold in the country in the next year. "We believe despite the loud noise Apple has seen massive share gains in China smartphone market," Ives said. gc/arp/jxb/lth © Agence France-Presse The post Apple expected to bow to EU and unveil iPhone with USB-C charger appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
150 dead as ‘catastrophic’ storm floods hit east Libya
At least 150 people were killed when freak floods hit eastern Libya, officials said Monday, after storm "Daniel" swept the Mediterranean, its torrential rains earlier lashing Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece. Images filmed by residents of the Libyan disaster area showed massive mudslides, collapsed buildings and entire neighborhoods submerged under muddy water. "At least 150 people were killed as a result of flooding and torrential rains left by storm Daniel in Derna, Jabal al-Akhdar region and the suburbs of Al-Marj," said Mohamed Massoud, a spokesman for the Benghazi-based administration in Libya. "This is besides the massive material damage that struck public and private properties," he told AFP. Hundreds of residents were still believed to be trapped in difficult-to-reach areas as rescuers, backed by the army, were trying to come to their aid. East Libyan authorities had "lost contact with nine soldiers during rescue operations", Massoud said. He said the prime minister of the east-based government, Oussama Hamad, and the head of a rescue committee as well as other ministers had travelled to Derna to evaluate the extent of the damage. Hamad's government -- which in war-battered Libya rivals an UN-brokered, internationally recognized transitional administration in Tripoli -- on Monday declared Derna a "disaster area". Libya's western government under Abdelhamid Dbeibah, during an extraordinary ministerial meeting broadcast live on television, announced three days of national mourning and emphasized "the unity of all Libyans" in the face of the disaster. The National Petroleum Company, whose main oilfields and terminals are in eastern Libya, declared "a state of maximum alert" and suspended flights between production sites where activity was drastically reduced. Experts have described storm Daniel -- which killed at least 27 people when it struck parts of Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria in recent days -- as "extreme in terms of the amount of water falling in a space of 24 hours". 'Severe weather' A Derna city council official described the situation in the city as "catastrophic" and in need of "national and international intervention", speaking to the local TV channel Libya al-Ahrar. He reported the collapse of four main bridges and two buildings in Derna, a city of 100,000 people that lies in a river wadi 900 kilometers (560 miles) east of the capital Tripoli. The storm struck eastern Libya on Sunday afternoon, hitting especially the coastal town of Jabal al-Akhdar but also Benghazi, where a curfew was declared and schools closed for several days. The United Nations mission in Libya on Monday said on X, formerly Twitter, that it was "closely following the emergency caused by severe weather conditions in the eastern region of the country". It expressed its condolences over the deaths and said it was "ready to support efforts by local authorities and municipalities to respond to this emergency and provide urgent humanitarian assistance". Libya, sitting on Africa's largest known oil reserves, was plunged into chaos following the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed former dictator Moamer Kadhafi. Two rival governments based in the west and east have been vying for power, with deadly conflict occasionally erupting. The French ambassador to Libya, Mostafa Mihraje, also offered his condolences and expressed his "solidarity with the Libyan people in this ordeal", also in a message on X. In neighboring Egypt, authorities called for caution on the northern coast which borders eastern Libya, and announced they were beginning preparations to minimize the impact of Storm Daniel. The weather forecast predicted more heavy rain in coming days there. As the world warms, the atmosphere contains more water vapor which increases the risk of heavy precipitation in some parts of the world. Combined with other factors such as urbanization and land-use planning, these more intense rainfall events contribute to flooding. The post 150 dead as ‘catastrophic’ storm floods hit east Libya appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bohol beneficiaries receive ‘happy homes’
In a gesture of compassion and community spirit, elderly Commissioners and Faith Corps from Tzu Chi Manila flew to Bohol on 18 August 2023 to help transform the lives of three beneficiaries of the “Happy Home” project in Bohol. This charitable initiative aimed to provide hope and stability to those who had their homes severely battered by typhoon “Odette” in December 2021. The volunteers set off from Tagbilaran City to Sagbayan to turn over new homes to their owners. [caption id="attachment_182279" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] The ‘Happy Home‘ turnover coincided with Gleceria Celades’ birthday, making it a double celebration for the 87-year-old recipient.[/caption] Fernando Navarez, 62, a bachelor from Katipunan, Sagbayan Bohol, faced paralysis and speech impairment when he suffered a stroke in 2012. After typhoon “Odette” destroyed his home, he tried to rebuild a shanty for his shelter located on top of a slope, while barangay officials supported him through monthly food rations. Upon learning of Tzu Chi Bohol’s “Happy Home” project, one of his neighbors sought help for him to have a liveable home. Navarez was most grateful for the home he received from the charity organization. Gleceria Celades, 87, from Canmaya Diot in Sagbayan, lived alone in home built from salvaged materials that was then destroyed by typhoon “Odette.” The “Happy Home” turnover coincided with her birthday, making it a meaningful double celebration for Celades, who said the moment was a turning point in her life. Finally, 64-year-old Felipa Gonzaga, a resident of San Roque in Sagbayan, turned to Tzu Chi Bohol for assistance following the devastating aftermath of “Odette.” Felipa and her family found refuge in their daughter's dwelling nearby, living off mainly on the senior citizen pension of Felipa and her husband. [caption id="attachment_182295" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Felipa Gonzaga (left), 64, and her family can now rebuild anew in their new home.[/caption] But with the help of Tzu Chi, now she can rebuild anew and restore the safety and stability of her family's abode. The post Bohol beneficiaries receive ‘happy homes’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Huge rescue effort in Greek villages after deadly storms
Helicopters and lifeboats have been deployed to reach hundreds of stranded villagers in central Greece, as the death toll from deadly flooding rose to seven, authorities said Friday. Firefighters worked alongside the army to reach villages cut off by rising water levels, which have transformed roads into rivers and left houses submerged in the central Thessaly region. "We almost died yesterday, we didn't have drinking water or electricity", Mina Mprakratsi told AFP from a lifeboat, after being evacuated from her flooded house on Friday. Fierce storms have battered Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria following a period of extreme heat and devastating wildfires -- the kind of extreme weather climate experts say is becoming more frequent because of human-induced climate change. Two elderly women and a 69-year-old man were reported dead Thursday, bringing the death toll to seven after torrential rains lashed parts of central Greece from Monday evening to Thursday. "It's one of the most difficult moments of my life, the water came into the house yesterday evening (Wednesday), the children are with a neighbour", local farmer Eleftheria Kotarela told AFP. At least six people were reported missing in the Magnesia and Karditsa areas, 330 kilometres (205 miles) north of Athens. "It is almost certain that other people will be found dead", said Christodoulos Makris, a farmer who fled to a neighboring village by tractor on Thursday. 'Extreme phenomenon' Storm Daniel, which has lashed the country for several days, has been called an "extreme phenomenon" by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Flooding affected the port city of Volos, and the towns of Karditsa and Trikala further inland and several villages, after more than a year's worth of rain fell in 24 hours this week. Nearly 200 tourists stranded in central Greece have been evacuated by boat in recent days, firefighters said. The heavy rains and flooding follow devastating fires in Greece this summer that killed at least 26 people. As the world warms, the atmosphere contains more water vapor which increases the risk of heavy precipitation in some parts of the world, notably in Asia, Western Europe and Latin America. Combined with other factors such as urbanization and land-use planning, these more intense rainfall events contribute to flooding. Severe flooding in neighboring Turkey and Bulgaria this week left 12 people dead. The post Huge rescue effort in Greek villages after deadly storms appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pirate politician: eyepatch-wearing Scholz sparks mirth
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday posted a photo of himself wearing an eyepatch after injuring his face while jogging, triggering a flood of pirate jokes online. Scholz suffered minor injuries after falling while out running at the weekend, forcing him to cancel some appointments. The chancellor posted a picture on X, formerly known as Twitter, showing him wearing a large black patch over his right eye, with red scrape marks visible around the edge. "Thanks for the well wishes. It looks worse than it is!" he wrote under the picture on his official account. "Excited to see the memes," he added. And there were memes aplenty, many comparing him to a buccaneer. They ranged from one featuring an eyepatch-wearing cartoon pirate brandishing a cutlass, to others showing a pirate at a ship's wheel, and Scholz wearing a hat with a skull and crossbones on it and holding a sword. There were also many messages wishing him a speedy recovery, with his tweet racking up over 31,000 likes and more than 6,000 comments by the evening. Despite the injury, Scholz -- who has been a regular runner for several years -- was in good form, his spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said. The German Chancellor was seen later Monday, sporting the eyepatch, at an annual reception at a Catholic Church in Berlin. He also planned to attend his scheduled appointments this week, including a tour of the IAA car show in Munich on Tuesday and a speech in parliament on Wednesday. "He's doing well under the circumstances," Hebestreit told a regular press briefing. "He was in a good mood this morning, although he still looks a little battered." The post Pirate politician: eyepatch-wearing Scholz sparks mirth appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»