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NTC to telcos: Block Binance
The government has ordered internet service providers to prevent Filipinos from accessing cryptocurrency giant Binance......»»
DOF: GFIs can seek extended relief after Maharlika infusion
Government financial institutions Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines will likely seek an extension of its regulatory relief following contributions to the country’s sovereign wealth fund......»»
Davao Metro Shuttle declines offer to manage bus system
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 24 March) — The Davao Metro Shuttle Corporation has declined the offer of the City Government of Davao to operate the Davao City Public Transport Modernization Project (DCPTMP), a public mass transportation project that will replace the jeepneys with buses, an executive of the bus company said. In an interview at […].....»»
Solon bats for expansion of motorcycle taxis outside Metro Manila
A House lawmaker has voiced his support for expanding the government's allotment of motorcycle taxis outside Metro Manila as the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board is set to greenlight the participation of more players in its pilot study......»»
United Kingdom government recognizes University of the Philippines scientists’ achievements
Two scientists at the University of the Philippines-Diliman were recognized by the British government for their contributions to Philippine research and development......»»
PSE approves listing of GSIS-owned Alternergy preferred shares
Alternergy disclosed that the PSE has approved its application to list the 100 million preferred shares that it sold to the Government Service Insurance System at a price of P14.50/share......»»
Israel condemns Iranian-backed Houthis for hijacking international vessel heading towards India
Tel Aviv [Israel], November 19 (ANI): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday condemned the hijacking of an international vessel by Iran-backed Houthis in the Red Sea and called it a "very serious incident on the global scale."Taking to X, the Israeli PMO said, "Israel strongly condemns the Iranian attack against an international vessel. The ship, which is owned by a British company and is operated by a Japane.....»»
The Murdoch business: an empire on three continents
Over the last six decades, Rupert Murdoch built a media empire well beyond his native Australia, amassing key media properties across three continents in a run that was also characterized by multiple scandals. Through his companies, News Corp and Fox Corporation, Murdoch built one of the world's most substantial portfolios of newspaper and broadcast holdings under one roof. Murdoch's wealth was estimated at $17.3 billion by Forbes on Thursday when he announced he was handing the reins to his son Lachlan while shifting to an "emeritus" status at the two companies. Here is a closer look at the two businesses. News Corp The business includes Murdoch's holdings in his birth country of Australia -- led by The Australian, the lone national daily started by Murdoch in 1964. The company also owns Australia The Daily Telegraph and news website News.com.au, as well as television station Sky News Australia and pay television company Foxtel. Murdoch's initial investment in Britain came in 1969 with the purchase of the tabloid News of the World, which was shut down in 2011 following a phone hacking scandal. In 1981, he purchased the prestigious daily The Times, along with The Sunday Times, adding to a print news business that also included The Sun. Holdings in radio and television included talkSPORT, TalkTV, and Virgin Radio UK. News Corp is also present in Ireland with local radio stations. Murdoch's push in North America dates to 1985 with his purchase of the New York Post. In 2007, News Corp landed a major acquisition of the media group Dow Jones, whose holdings include the long-respected Wall Street Journal. The company in 1987 added the publishing house HarperCollins, which originally dates to 1817. HarperCollins bought romance publisher Harlequin in 2014. News Corp also controls Rea Group, which specializes in commercial and residential real estate through websites such as realtor.com and flatmates.com.au. In fiscal 2023, News Corp reported profits of $149 million on revenues of $9.9 billion. Fox Corporation In 1984, Murdoch acquired 20th Century Fox, an entity he reorganized and remade. In 2017, he sold the movie studio, renamed 21st Century Fox, to Disney. Fox Corporation is now comprised of the national television channel Fox and several cable channels, as well as Fox News, which is known for a right-wing spin on news popular with conservative Americans. Other holdings include the entertainment news network TMZ, as well as Studio Ramsay Global, which features British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and the MasterChef franchise. In fiscal 2023, Fox reported profits of $1.3 billion on $14.9 billion in revenues. The post The Murdoch business: an empire on three continents appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UK media investigate sex assault claims against comedian Brand
The BBC and Channel 4, former employers of British actor and comedian Russell Brand, said Sunday they were investigating claims of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse over a seven-year period, which the 48-year-old has denied. Four women have alleged sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013 when Brand was at the height of his fame working as a presenter for BBC Radio 2, Channel 4 and acting in Hollywood movies, a joint media investigation said Saturday. The broadcasters BBC and Channel 4, along with the production company Banijay UK, said Sunday that they would open internal inquiries into the claims. "We are urgently looking into the issues raised," a BBC spokesperson told AFP. The allegations were made in a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, the Times, and Channel 4 Dispatches. "Banijay UK has launched an urgent internal investigation and will cooperate with any requests for information from broadcast partners and external agencies," the production firm said. According to the Times investigation, several women have made a range of accusations about Brand's alleged controlling, abusive and predatory behavior. In a video released Friday, Brand denied the "very serious criminal allegations". He said he had received letters from a TV company and a newspaper listing "a litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks". "Amidst this litany of astonishing rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute," he said in the video clip posted online. According to the media reports, one woman alleged that Brand raped her in his Los Angeles home, while another claims he assaulted her during a three-month relationship while she was 16 and still at school. Known internationally as the former husband of pop star Katy Perry, Brand began his career as a stand-up comedian in the early 2000s. He was the host of the chat show Big Brother's Big Mouth, a spin-off of the popular reality series, for three years from 2004. He also played rock star Aldous Snow in the 2008 film "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and its 2010 sequel "Get Him To The Greek". London's Metropolitan Police told AFP that while it was aware of the allegations, "At this time, we have not received any reports in relation to this". "If anyone believes they have been the victim of a sexual assault, no matter how long ago it happened, we would encourage them to contact police," it said. The post UK media investigate sex assault claims against comedian Brand appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Princess Diana’s ‘Black Sheep’ sweater sells at auction for $1.1 mn
An iconic red sweater worn by Princess Diana shortly after her engagement to then-Prince Charles, featuring rows of fluffy little sheep, sold at auction for more than $1.1 million following a frenetic bout of final bidding, Sotheby's announced Thursday. The 19-year-old sported the knit garment -- which includes one black sheep amid dozens of otherwise white wooly creatures -- at a June 1981 polo match during her whirlwind days as a shy royal-in-the-making. The playfully patterned "Black Sheep" sweater became one of the most emblematic articles of clothing worn by Diana, which in hindsight seems to foretell her troubled journey as a member of the British royal family. The garment nabbed $1.1 million -- which includes fees and commission -- after a fierce battle by internet bidders. The total was over ten times more than Sotheby's initial estimate of between $50,000 to $80,000. Due to an avalanche of bids, the auction house extended the sale by several minutes, with the price leaping from $190,000 to $1.1 million in the final 15 minutes. According to Sotheby's, it is the highest price ever paid at auction for a garment belonging to Princess Diana -- eclipsing her Infanta-style ball gown sold in January for $604,000 -- as well as the most valuable sweater ever sold at auction. The sweater was created by then-little-known designers Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne and their knitting company Warm and Wonderful, which was subsequently catapulted to fame. Weeks after Diana was photographed in the top, the designers received a letter explaining that one of the sweater's sleeves had suffered damage, and asking if it could be repaired or replaced. The designers sent her a new one and had assumed the original was repaired and sent to a customer, but in March 2023 Osborne found the sweater in a small box in her attic. In addition to the sweater, the auction included the letter requesting repair, as well as a thank you note from Diana's private secretary, Oliver Everett. The sweater was so iconic that it even appeared (via replica) in the fourth season of Netflix drama "The Crown," chronicling the House of Windsor's recent history. The post Princess Diana’s ‘Black Sheep’ sweater sells at auction for $1.1 mn appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BP chief Bernard Looney resigns ‘with immediate effect’
British energy giant BP said Tuesday that its chief executive Bernard Looney has resigned "with immediate effect", after admitting that he had not been "fully transparent" about historical relationships with colleagues. "Bernard Looney has notified the company that he has resigned as chief executive officer with immediate effect," the company said in a statement, adding that finance chief Murray Auchincloss would act as interim CEO. Looney, 53, is leaving the energy firm after less than four years in the role. BP said that in May last year, its board received and reviewed allegations from an anonymous source relating to Looney's conduct "in respect of personal relationships with company colleagues". Looney disclosed "a small number of historical relationships with colleagues prior to becoming CEO" during the review, it added while noting that no breach of the company's code of conduct was found. However, the board was given his assurances over his disclosures of past personal relationships, as well as his future behavior, according to BP. "Further allegations of a similar nature were received recently, and the company immediately began investigating with the support of external legal counsel," it said, adding that the process was continuing. "Mr Looney has today informed the company that he now accepts that he was not fully transparent in his previous disclosures," BP added. "He did not provide details of all relationships and accepts he was obligated to make more complete disclosure." BP said the board expects all staff to behave in accordance with the company's values. "All leaders in particular are expected to act as role models and to exercise good judgment in a way that earns the trust of others," the company said. Looney has been at BP since joining the British energy behemoth in 1991 and was appointed chief executive in 2020. The company said no decisions had yet been made regarding any remuneration payments. Looney had vowed to reposition BP as a leader in clean energy technologies, and gradually cut oil and gas production to reduce carbon emissions, but environmentalists have criticized the firm for inaction in that regard during his tenure. Like many of its rivals, BP earlier this year unveiled record annual profits for 2022, thanks to soaring oil and gas prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, earnings have fallen somewhat from those heights so far this year, as energy prices retreated for much of 2023. Nonetheless, BP said in August it was hiking its dividend and returning $1.5 billion to shareholders by repurchasing stock. The post BP chief Bernard Looney resigns ‘with immediate effect’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New York Fashion Week: On holiday with Michael Kors, shivers from Altuzarra
A holiday air with Michael Kors, shivers from Altuzarra, and Tory Burch asserting herself in a spectacular setting: New York Fashion Week expressed its diversity on Monday, the fourth day of the spring-summer 2024 shows. On vacation with Kors American designer Michael Kors took the audience on vacation at his spring-summer show, with Brooklyn's Domino Park, along the East River, transformed into a seaside promenade under the eyes of actresses Blake Lively and Halle Berry. "I can't take you all to Capri, so I can take you to Brooklyn," the 64-year-old Kors said smiling, referring to the Italian island. Models showcased light outfits embroidered with lace, a mini-skirt and blouse set, short dresses and pants paired with small tops in the brand's first show since the announcement that its holding company Capri would be purchased by Coach parent company Tapestry. A loose sweater in cashmere and cotton drops to just below the beltline, leaving the wearer's legs completely uncovered -- a nod to the recent "no pants" trend, maybe, or perhaps something more practical: "You can wear it in the heat. You can wear it when it's cool... We all know that the world has gotten too warm," Kors said. "We are increasingly dealing with, 'How do we get dressed?' Particularly when it's too warm outside, and in (the) office, it's too cold and we're freezing." Everything was in keeping with the vacation vibe, with flat sandals, and an artisanal, hand-woven wicker basket bag in a nod to the recently deceased singer and style icon Jane Birkin. "A British woman living in France, who had this very casual, laid-back attitude," said Kors. "I actually think it was very American." Shivers at Altuzarra The atmosphere took a darker turn at the Altuzarra show, held in the Manhattan Central Library under a high dome with opaque windows. French-American designer Joseph Altuzarra drew on Roman Polanski's timeless horror classic "Rosemary's Baby" for inspiration, creating a dark setting accompanied by ominous music. The collection gives pride of place to slip dresses worn under long jackets, and matching sets were transformed with crinkled satin and undone seams. Short tulle overlay dresses were covered with a transparent organza veil, reminiscent of a doll. With this collection, Altuzarra wrote in the show notes, he wanted to exude "a haunting, enigmatic allure, while anchored in everyday style and pragmatism." Tory Burch asserts herself "In a world of chaos, I wanted a little bit of calm. But I didn't want to be minimalist," Tory Burch said after her show, held in a grandiose setting under the roof and between the undulating granite facades of a new atrium at the American Museum of Natural History. She stepped up the experimentation: ultra-short skirts worn under a parka or a collarless blazer in futuristic shiny purple, with tinted glasses. Among the most original pieces of the collection, there is a cape and dress set in knitted viscose which ends in rounded reliefs. The fabrics are light, but they create structure. Like her other dresses, they are cut diagonally above the knees and leave one shoulder uncovered. The American designer said she wanted to take items like corsets "that were restrictive to women in the past and reclaim them and make them part of beautiful femininity". The post New York Fashion Week: On holiday with Michael Kors, shivers from Altuzarra appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Alexander McQueen designer Sarah Burton quits after two decades
British fashion house Alexander McQueen is losing its artistic director Sarah Burton who has been in charge for more than 20 years, parent company Kering announced on Monday. The 49-year-old British designer took over the reins after the suicide of its founder, Lee Alexander McQueen, in 2010. She distinguished herself the following year by designing the wedding dress of Kate Middleton for marriage to Prince William. Burton joined the label in 1996, just four years after it was founded, and became head of women's collections in 2000. She "kept and continued Lee's heritage, attention to detail and unique vision, while adding her own personal, highly creative touch," said Francois-Henri Pinault, CEO of Kering, which also includes flagship labels Gucci and Saint Laurent. Her last show will be the Spring-Summer collection at Paris Fashion Week later this month, Kering said, adding that "a new creative organisation" will be announced "in due course". The change comes amid a downturn for the luxury giant. It saw a 10 percent drop in net profits in the first half of the year, driven largely by a decline in Gucci sales. Gucci's CEO since 2015, Marco Bizzarri, is leaving the group on September 23, almost a year after the announcement of the departure of the label's artistic director Alessandro Michele. "I am so proud of everything I've done and of my incredible team," Burton said in the statement. "Above all I want to thank Lee Alexander McQueen. He taught me so much and I am eternally grateful to him. I am looking forward to the future and my next chapter," she added. The post Alexander McQueen designer Sarah Burton quits after two decades appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UK marks first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death
King Charles III on Friday thanked the public for their support in his first year as monarch, as he marked the one-year anniversary of the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. In a short statement, the 74-year-old British head of state recalled the "great affection" for his mother, her life and public service. "I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during this year as we do our utmost to be of service to you all," he added. Commemorations will be low-key on Friday, with the king -- who is at his sprawling Scottish Highland estate of Balmoral -- not expected at any official engagement. His mother, who was on the throne for a record-breaking 70 years, died at Balmoral aged 96 after a period of declining health. Throughout her reign, she did not publicly mark her accession, as it was also the anniversary of her own father King George VI's death in 1952. Last year, when she began her Platinum Jubilee year on February 6, she spent the day in private at her Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England. Gun salute In London, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery will mark Charles's accession by firing a 41-gun ceremonial salute in Hyde Park from 12:00 pm (1100 GMT). Members of the Honourable Artillery Company -- the oldest regiment in the British Army -- will fire a 62-gun salute from the Tower of London from 1:00 pm. Both regiments were involved in firing the Death Gun salutes to mark the queen's death, and the Proclamation salutes to mark Charles's new reign. The king's eldest son and heir, Prince William, and his wife, Catherine, are expected to carry out royal duties and deliver a message in honor of the late queen. William's estranged younger brother, Prince Harry, was in the UK for a charity event on Thursday but was not expected to meet members of his family. "As you know, I was unable to attend the awards last year as my grandmother passed away," Harry told the charity event. "She would have been the first person to insist that I still come to be with you all instead of going to her, and that's precisely why I know exactly one year on that she is looking down on all of us tonight, happy we're together." Relations between Harry and his father and brother have been strained since he and his wife, Meghan, quit royal life and moved to North America in 2020. Ties have been frayed further by their criticisms of the family in television interviews, a docuseries, and Harry's autobiography. Memorial Elizabeth II's death was a seismic event in British life. For most Britons alive, the queen was the only monarch and head of state they had ever known. During the 10-day official mourning period, tens of thousands of people queued for up to 25 hours to file past her flag-shrouded coffin as it lay in state in Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament. Even more packed the streets of London and the route west to Windsor Castle for the state funeral, which was beamed around the world to a television audience of millions. The queen was interred in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, Windsor, alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who died in 2021, her father and mother, and the ashes of her younger sister, Princess Margaret. Earlier this week, the government announced that a national memorial to the late monarch will be commissioned "in due course". In London on Thursday, there were mixed views about Charles's first year. Some felt he had been right not to introduce sweeping reform too early. "He's got a hard act to follow but he will I think change things," Joanne Hughes, 61, told AFP outside Buckingham Palace. But despite 161 official engagements and tours of all four nations of the United Kingdom, others were indifferent about the new king -- and the monarchy in general. "The monarchy is dying," said nursing student Mimi Jaffer-Clarke. "If he wants it to not die, then he needs to try to The post UK marks first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chipmaker Arm aims for $52-B valuation in NY listing
British chip maker Arm, owned by Japan's SoftBank, will target a valuation of up to $52 billion when it lists on the New York Stock Exchange later this month, the company said Tuesday. The company is looking to raise between $4.5 and $5.2 billion in its initial public offering (IPO), it announced in a filing, which would make it one of the largest tech IPOs in recent years. Arm is a world leader in designing chips that are used in smartphones across the world and aims to be a major player in artificial intelligence. Arm's IPO comes on the heels of a surge in the share price of chipmakers like Nvidia amid a boom in interest in companies building the hardware needed for AI to flourish in the wake of the successful launch of the chatbot ChatGPT. Rare tech IPO Arm's IPO is being closely watched by the financial markets, with large tech IPOs something of a rarity in recent months, as rising interest rates have pushed traders to take less risky financial decisions. In 2022, the number of IPOs worldwide fell by more than 60 percent year-on-year, while the value of these deals dropped by 45 percent. Under these conditions, Arm's deal would be one of the largest IPOs in the tech sector since Alibaba's Wall Street IPO in 2014, which raised $25 billion at the time. The valuation target announced by Arm on Tuesday is much lower than SoftBank's earlier estimate of more than $60 billion. However, it is still considerably more than the approximately $32 billion Softbank paid for Arm back in 2016. Majority shareholder The document filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission said more than 95 million shares would initially be offered on the Nasdaq exchange at a price of between $47 and $51 per share. The number of shares listed could rise up to 102.5 million in case of strong demand. All of the shares being sold are existing shares owned by Softbank, and all of the money from the IPO would go to the Japanese company. Softbank will continue to own around 90 percent of the company after the listing. Tech giants including Nvidia, Apple, Samsung Electronics, and Intel are interested in investing in Arm once the company is listed, according to numerous press reports. Arm will remain headquartered in the British city of Cambridge and may consider a second listing on the London Stock Exchange, where it was previously listed before its takeover by Softbank in 2016. Founded in 1990, the British company has some 6,000 employees in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Its sales for 2022 were stable at $2.7 billion. Its processors "provided cutting-edge computing for over 99 percent of the world's smartphones" the company said in 2022, estimating that "around 70 percent of the world's population uses products" based on its technology. Arm's parent company SoftBank has experienced numerous difficulties in recent years. Its most high-profile failure came with the dramatic collapse of the American shared office giant WeWork. Once valued at $47 billion, WeWork saw its valuation plummet amid investor concerns over its corporate governance under its controversial chief executive Adam Neumann. The post Chipmaker Arm aims for $52-B valuation in NY listing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Finance, sustainability driver
The ING-FINEX CFO of the Year Award is set to recognize the vital role of finance stewards as leaders and drivers of sustainability. On its 17th edition, the longest-running and most prestigious award for CFOs will underscore the role demanded of finance chiefs by today’s evolving times, wherein CFOs must step up and take charge in leading a company into a sustainable, successful future. According to British multinational professional services network Deloitte, many CFOs have yet to recognize the importance and the impact of sustainability despite increasing pressure on companies. Most of the CFOs’ reporting work remains limited to financial key performance indicators, even if the value of an organization far exceeds what balance sheets suggest. Thus, with finance departments proving integral in integrating sustainability measures into standard processes, CFOs are not only key stakeholders in a company’s successful transition to a sustainable enterprise, they are in a prime position to take the lead. Finance chiefs can also drive sustainable growth by making informed financial decisions that take into account environmental, social, and governance factors. The “Leadership and Sustainability in Numbers” theme celebrates CFOs who have successfully kept up with the times, leveraging their strategic savvy and financial expertise to foster innovation, mitigate risks, and create long-term value for their organizations, the planet, and society. The expanding role of modern CFOs is also reflected in their four core qualities, which are likewise upheld by the ING-FINEX CFO of the Year Award that recognizes the best of the best in finance. As catalysts who implement strategy and steer operations, CFOs can stimulate the timely transition to sustainability. Its principles can also be promoted by finance chiefs across organizations as strategists who set goals and stewards who manage systems. Lastly, as operators, CFOs must ensure to report non-financial information, given that environmental impacts factor into more C-suite decisions. The finance team, led by CFOs, are expected to quickly access, transform and interpret this vital data. The post Finance, sustainability driver appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sabah claim report now in Palace
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said they have already submitted the study and report to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in connection with the Philippine claim on Sabah. This was disclosed by Guevarra when asked about the status of the study conducted by a team he created to look deeply into the international arbitral award that favored the heirs of the sultanate of Sulu. “The OSG submitted its comprehensive study and report to PBBM on the Philippine claim to Sabah and the arbitral award to the heirs of the sultanate of Sulu before the President visited Malaysia a few weeks ago,” said Guevarra in a message. Earlier, Guevarra has issued an assurance to the public that the team he created to look into an international arbitral award in favor of the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu is deeply studying the matter. The team is studying legal and constitutional implications of the $14.92-billion award of a French arbitration court to the descendants of the last Sulu Sultan, Guevarra said. He said the OSG team is very deep in its study of the arbitral award in favor of the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu in relation to the Philippine claim over Sabah. Guevarra told the DAILY TRIBUNE that he will let it know when the study already ripened as they started collating reference materials for the study, but the task would require a lot of manhours to complete. To recall, lawyers of the Sulu royal family have already served notice to seize $2 billion worth of assets of Malaysia abroad, including those of state-owned oil company Petronas, in line with the award. The Palace though has distanced itself from the claims of the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu saying it does not see it as a matter impacting national sovereignty at the moment. The award stemmed from the agreement made by the Sultan of Sulu with a British trading company in 1878 for the exploitation of resources in Sabah in Borneo, which is currently under Malaysian control. Malaysia took over the regular payment to the heirs of Sabah after its independence from British rule. But in 2013, it decided to stop the payments altogether. The Malaysian government offered to resume the payments in 2019, but the offer was rejected by the heirs, who wanted to renegotiate the deal after fuel and oil resources were discovered in Sabah. The post Sabah claim report now in Palace appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
All paws on deck: Singapore company launches luxury cat cruises
Cat owners in Singapore can now take their pets on luxury sunset cruises, perfect for pampered kitties who enjoy the finer things in life. Onboard the tall ship Royal Albatross, the animals can lounge in custom-built "cat-bana" cages as their owners enjoy a four- or seven-course dinner beside them on deck. The ship's operator introduced the cat-friendly sailings this month after dog cruises launched in 2021 proved popular. For two-and-a-half hours, up to 15 feline and 130 human passengers sail along the resort island of Sentosa, enjoying views of Singapore's skyline and a short fireworks display. "I think they're doing very well... they're enjoying the view and I guess the perceived freedom that they get," said Marissa Ng, a 28-year-old human resources professional whose five-year-old ragdolls Coco and Bobo sat looking out at the sea from a cage beside her table. The ship has hosted over 2,000 dogs since 2021, and the cat cruises may soon catch up, with more than 200 tickets for human passengers -- priced at Sg$225 ($166) each -- having already been sold. The cat and dog cruises have different sailing days. While the canines are served an onboard three-course dinner at the table, cat owners take their pets' meals home since the finicky creatures tend to turn down food when they are outside of their comfort zone. The company running the cruises, Tall Ship Adventures, says it consulted with experts and cat welfare organizations such as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to ensure a safe experience on board. Precautions include making sure cats are securely harnessed and leashed at all times. They are also required to be vaccinated and sterilized, and to be transported in carriers while boarding. Four-month-old British shorthair kitten Mahmud appeared calm even though it was his first time in a harness, snoozing on a bench beside his family as they ate dinner. "This is a good time to spend the day as a family, since we just got Mahmud," said Aziana Aziz, a 41-year-old teacher sailing with her son and husband. "He's enjoying it... he's curious, he's looking around, so yeah, happy cat, I guess." The post All paws on deck: Singapore company launches luxury cat cruises appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Virgin Galactic’s first space tourism flight set to take off
The long-awaited, first civilian space tourism flight by Virgin Galactic was set for takeoff Thursday, carrying an 80-year-old ex-Olympian and a mother and daughter who won their tickets in a sweepstakes. The three passengers -- Jon Goodwin, 80; Keisha Schahaff, 46; and her daughter Anastatia Mayers, 18 -- will spend a few minutes in space, where they can admire the curvature of the Earth and briefly float in weightlessness. The flight will be the culmination of a nearly two-decade-old promise by British billionaire Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic's founder, to bring tourists into space, giving them the chance to experience weightlessness and see the earth. This mission, named Galactic 02, is the company's second commercial flight. The first at the end of June carried a group of senior Italian Air Force officers who had carried out several experiments on board, rather than civilians making the trip purely for pleasure. Schahaff, a health coach from Antigua and Barbuda, won a contest for the tickets that raised $1.7 million for the non-profit Space for Humanity, which aims to widen space access. Mayers is a student at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, studying philosophy and physics. "I always was interested in space as a little girl," Schahaff told AFP in an interview in 2021. "This is a great opportunity for me to feel alive and to just make the greatest adventure ever." Goodwin is an adventurer who competed in the 1972 Olympic games as a canoeist for Britain. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2014 and will be the second person with the condition to travel to space. Virgin Galactic's spaceflights involve a giant, twin-fuselage carrier aircraft that takes off from a runway, gains altitude, then drops a rocket-powered spaceplane that soars into space. The passengers experience a few minutes of weightlessness at around 53 miles (85 kilometers) above sea level before the spacecraft glides back to Earth. Founded in 2004, Virgin Galactic has sold around 800 tickets for seats on future commercial flights -- 600 between 2005 and 2014 for $200,000 to $250,000, and 200 since then for $450,000 each. Virgin Galactic competes in the "suborbital" space tourism sector with billionaire Jeff Bezos's company Blue Origin, which has already sent 31 people into space using a vertical lift-off rocket. But since an accident in September 2022 during an unmanned flight, Blue Origin's rocket has been grounded. The company promised in March to resume spaceflight soon. The post Virgin Galactic’s first space tourism flight set to take off appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UK water firms facing legal fight over pollution incidents
An environmental academic said Wednesday she had filed the first of multiple planned court actions against British water companies for underreporting pollution incidents and overcharging customers, in breach of UK laws. Carolyn Roberts, a professor and water and environment consultant, revealed she had lodged an initial claim against Severn Trent Water and planned further legal actions against five other firms on behalf of more than 20 million customers. Roberts, who is represented by the well-known British law firm Leigh Day, estimates the companies could face compensation bills of over £800 million ($1 billion) if the cases are successful. The first claim, filed last week against Severn Trent on behalf of eight million people, is estimated to be worth more than £330 million. It comes amid a long-running scandal over privatized water firms pumping raw sewage into waterways, provoking widespread public anger and promises of increased regulatory scrutiny from the government. Ministers announced last month that companies and individuals polluting Britain's rivers and other ecosystems will be liable for unlimited fines. "Like many others across the country, I have viewed with horror the escalating number of stories in the media regarding the volume of sewage discharged into our waterways and onto our beaches," Roberts said in a statement. "It appears that because of the serial and serious underreporting at the heart of these claims, water companies have been avoiding being penalized by Ofwat," she added, referring to the sector's regulator in the UK. "I believe this has resulted in consumers being unfairly overcharged for sewage services." Industry body Water UK said the accusations are "entirely without merit" and that 99 percent of sewage works are legally compliant. However, Roberts and Leigh Day said they intend to bring similar "collective actions" against Thames Water, United Utilities, Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water, and Northumbrian Water. They urged the companies' millions of customers to visit a website created to assess their eligibility for compensation. "These companies have allegedly been misleading their regulators by underreporting the number of pollution incidents, being discharges of wastewater from a company sewerage asset adversely affecting the water environment and resulting in higher customer bills," a statement on it read. Last month, a UK court fined Thames Water, the nation's biggest supplier, £3.3 million for polluting rivers. The fine came shortly after the UK's privatized water companies pledged to make massive investments to avoid repeats of the contamination. The post UK water firms facing legal fight over pollution incidents appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»