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Venice’s Grand Canal turns phosphorescent green
A stretch of Venice's Grand Canal turned bright green Sunday, prompting police to investigate amid speculation about a stunt by environmentalists. Gondoliers could be seen punting through the phosphorescent waters, while tourists took photographs of the green area, from the Rialto Bridge up and along part of the Canal. [caption id="attachment_137834" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] (Photo by STRINGER / ANSA / AFP)[/caption] The color was first spotted by local residents, the Veneto region's president Luca Zaia said on Twitter. "The prefect has called an urgent meeting with the police to investigate the origin of the liquid," he said. The Italian fire service said it was helping the regional environmental protection agency take samples for testing. It is not the first time the Grand Canal has been turned green. In 1968, Argentine artist Nicolas Garcia Uriburu dyed the waters of Venice's Grand Canal green with a fluorescent dye during the 34th Venice Biennale in a stunt to promote ecological awareness. Police were looking into whether Sunday's action could be a protest by climate change activists, local daily La Nuova Venezia said. The post Venice’s Grand Canal turns phosphorescent green appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fuel prices rise by 50¢ per liter amid Russia export ban
MANILA, Philippines —Fuel pump prices will increase by P0.50 per liter starting Tuesday, March 5, due to Russia’s six-month export ban. However, diesel prices will decrease by P0.40 per liter and kerosene by P0.35 per liter, as reported by local oil firms. Shell and Seaoil will implement the price adjustments by 6 a.m. while CleanFuel.....»»
No one to hug on Valentine’s Day? Try hugging trees!
CEBU CITY, Philippines – As Valentine’s Day graces our calendars with its presence, a different kind of love story unfolds—one that blossoms not in the exchange of roses and chocolates, but in the silent rustle of leaves and the sturdy arms of ancient trees. Amid the whirlwind of romantic air, the Department of Environment and.....»»
Investors reconsider May rate cut expectations amid robust US inflation figures
Title: “Exclusive Offer: Subscribe to the FT Print Edition for Only $199 and Gain Access to Unparalleled Expertise” In today’s fast-paced digital age, where news.....»»
Youth groups condemn Marcos, Duterte ‘word war’ amid cha-cha talks
"We maintain that the two rallies are not expressions of the genuine calls and struggles of the Filipino masses" The post Youth groups condemn Marcos, Duterte ‘word war’ amid cha-cha talks appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
BSP Governor Eyes Potential Rate Cut as Inflation Eases
In a recent interview, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona Jr. hinted at a potential rate cut later this year, signaling optimism amid the nation’s economic landscape. While cautious about the first semester, Remolona remains watchful, stating that the move could come “within the year.” The BSP, responding to escalating inflation, had hiked […].....»»
Marcos-Duterte rival rallies ‘a disgusting display of political ambitions,’ says lawmaker
Amid the growing rift, a lawmaker asserted that Filipinos are bearing the brunt of the ongoing political play. The post Marcos-Duterte rival rallies ‘a disgusting display of political ambitions,’ says lawmaker appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Latest Updates on the Israel-Hamas War: Supreme Court Ruling – The Daily Guardian
Title: Israel’s Supreme Court Faces Criticism for Ruling Amid Ongoing Conflict in Gaza Jerusalem – Israel’s Supreme Court has recently issued a highly contentious ruling.....»»
Kenny Payne to continue as Louisville mens basketball coach – The Daily Guardian
Title: Kenny Payne to Remain Head Coach of Louisville Men’s Basketball Program Amid Speculation Louisville, KY – In a surprising move, Kenny Payne has confirmed.....»»
China to Philippines: ‘Act with caution’ amid maritime clashes
Beijing, China–China’s top diplomat Wang Yi warned his Philippine counterpart that Manila “must act with caution”, Beijing’s foreign ministry said, following a flurry of tense maritime confrontations in the disputed South China Sea. Wang said on a Wednesday call with Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo the two countries were “facing serious difficulties”, blaming Manila for changing.....»»
NFL Star Aaron Rodgers Returns to Practice Amid Uncertainty of Playing in Current Season
Title: Aaron Rodgers Returns to Practice for the New York Jets Following Achilles Tendon Surgery New York Jets’ star quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, made a remarkable.....»»
The Daily Guardian Reports: Googles $147 Million Offer to Bring Fortnite to Google Play Store
Title: Google’s $147 Million Offer to Epic Games Unveiled Amid Ongoing Battle Over App Stores Subtitle: Epic Games’ Lawsuits against Google and Apple Shed Light.....»»
Seventeen years of journey in the field of publication
“How time flies, and it feels like just yesterday when Bicol Peryodiko started in the province of Catanduanes as an alternative community newspaper of general circulation. Even though we are still minors at the age of 17, we could not have imagined reaching this year amid life’s challenges. It’s an unforgettable moment to have given […].....»»
SM’s Steven Tan named Winshang’s 2023 International Influential Person in Shopping Centers
SM Supermalls president Steven Tan was recognized as one of Winshang’s Golden Censer Prize winners for being "The International Influential Person of the Year 2023 in Shopping Centers" at the 2023 China (International) Shopping Center Summit in Shanghai on 24 August 2023. The Golden Censer Prize is a large-scale professional recognition of China's commercial real estate and famous brands initiated by Winshang, in collaboration with mainstream industrial media, based on field research, data analysis and media surveys, among others. Tan, who assumed the role of President of SM Supermalls in 2020, has been a key figure in the growth and innovation of the mall chain in the Philippines and China. As president, he oversees mall operations in both countries, carrying forward SM's 65-year legacy of retail innovation and outstanding customer service. SM Mall of Asia Complex Under his leadership, SM Supermalls withstood the challenges of the pandemic and rebounded as the economy slowly opened up amid the global health crisis. With the guidance of the Sy family, Tan made sure that SM responded with an agile, innovative and proactive approach to cater to the needs of all stakeholders, from employees and tenants to shoppers. SM City Yangzhou SM City Sto. Tomas The mall’s strategies -- adapting the tenancy mix, creating novel reasons to attract visitors to malls, targeting new customer segments through innovative marketing and developing omnichannel services -- enabled them to gain the trust and loyalty of modern shoppers during the pandemic. Because of this, SM managed to recover and exceed pre-pandemic revenues and income by 2023. In line with their latest expansion program, SM continues to open new malls in China and the Philippines. This brings the total number of shopping centers, locally and internationally, under Tan's stewardship to 93, featuring a cumulative construction area of over 10.8 million square meters and a daily foot traffic of more than 4.2 million. The latest malls to open were SM City Yangzhou last 28 September 2023 and SM City Sto Tomas, Batangas last 27 October 2023. Tan’s exceptional efforts were also honored by various international organizations over the years. He received numerous accolades including the 2021 Asia's Most Influential by Tatler Asia, the 2022 Asia Pacific Women's Empowerment Principles Awards Leadership Commitment by United Nations Women, and the Global Filipino Executive of the Year at the Asian Chief Executive Officer Awards, just to name a few. His dedication and visionary leadership continue to shape the landscape of shopping centers and commercial real estate, not just in Asia but also across the globe. Steven Tan receives the 2023 PeopleAsia People of the Year Award. Tan shared the Winshang Golden Censer Prize with his two co-awardees, namely Powerlong Real Estate Holding’s Co-president Chen Deli, and SCE Commercial Management Holdings' chairman of the board Huang Lun. SM Supermalls is a subsidiary of SM Prime Holdings Inc., with 85 malls in the Philippines and 8 in China. The post SM’s Steven Tan named Winshang’s 2023 International Influential Person in Shopping Centers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
900 US Troops Deploying to Middle East Amid Heightened Tensions – The Daily Guardian
Title: US Deploys 900 Troops to Middle East Amidst Rising Tensions Date: [Insert Date] Byline: [Writer’s Name], The Daily Guardian In response to escalating tensions.....»»
California governor presses China’s Xi on climate cooperation
California governor Gavin Newsom said he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on climate cooperation at a meeting on Wednesday in Beijing, the latest in a string of visits to China by US politicians. The head of the US economic powerhouse state is on a week-long tour of China, which Newsom has said will focus on climate change. "We are not going to move needles on climate change unless the United States and China collaborate together," the governor, who has long been touted as a future presidential candidate, told reporters after meetings with Xi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. China and the United States are the two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases. Newsom arrived in the southern semi-autonomous city of Hong Kong on Monday, where he held a talk on climate change. He then traveled to the neighboring city of Shenzhen, which has pioneered the use of renewable energy in public transport, touring an electric bus station. Newsom described his talks on Wednesday with Xi and Wang as "very productive". "Not only the MOUs in the last couple days but the fact that I'll be meeting with five governors tomorrow... engaging and advancing our collective efforts on low carbon green growth," Newsom told reporters, referring to memorandums of understanding signed with Chinese counterparts. Newsom said he also raised the issue of human rights with Wang and spoke with Chinese leaders about China's role in the fentanyl drug addiction crisis in the United States. Washington has imposed sanctions on China-based firms for producing and distributing chemicals used to make fentanyl, though Beijing has insisted the root of the opioid problem lies in the United States. "Governor Newsom's topics of discussion also included human rights violations and anti-democratic efforts in Hong Kong, Tibet, Xinjiang, and Taiwan, as well as David Lin, a California pastor who has been imprisoned in China since 2006," the governor's office said in a statement. String of visits Newsom's visit came amid a flurry of diplomacy between Beijing and Washington as the two sides seek to improve strained ties. Xi met with a group of US senators in Beijing earlier this month, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Foreign Minister Wang will pay a rare visit to Washington this week. Wang will be returning from a visit in June to Beijing by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was the highest-ranking US official to travel to China since 2018. Blinken huddled for 11 hours with the top Chinese leadership including Xi. Diplomats say Wang will be expecting a similar meeting with President Joe Biden, who is in Washington this week. Biden, who last saw Xi last November on the sidelines of G20 talks in Bali, has invited the Chinese leader to travel next month to San Francisco where the United States will host an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Newsom on Wednesday said of Xi's potential visit that he was "very hopeful that he makes it". The post California governor presses China’s Xi on climate cooperation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Grab’s new earnings plan aids delivery riders amid price woes
Dominant super app Grab Philippines has rolled out a more competitive compensation scheme for delivery partners to help them cope with the current market and inflationary challenges. Grab Philippines chief operating officer Ronald Roda said in a press statement on Wednesday that the new enhancements—which promote platform experience, earnings fairness and sustainability, and social safety nets—will benefit all industry stakeholders. The new program, which was designed to better align with its partners' efforts and the realities of the delivery landscape, was launched after a two-month pilot. The revamped plan addresses imbalances and ensures fairer compensation by improving the previous model that offered a fixed base fare, which was often not reflective of the actual effort involved in each delivery task. A guaranteed minimum fare is also introduced in the new model to provide financial stability and protect partners from low-earning trips. This guarantees that every delivery job, no matter how small, contributes a fair amount towards a partner's income. On top of all these, Grab ensures that its delivery partners on the platform continue to earn significantly more than the minimum wage. "In the face of evolving consumer behaviors and significant macroeconomic shifts, our delivery service's remarkable resilience is a reflection of our philosophy that our success is intertwined with the success of our partners," Roda said. "As we continue to navigate the post-pandemic era, we are firm in our commitment to showcasing our adaptability and unwavering support to our delivery partners," he added. Grab has also made "significant upgrades" to the partner-platform interaction, deploying advanced digital tools for better order forecasting and preparation time accuracy, as well as merchant education programs. These will significantly reduce unnecessary delays–allowing partners to fulfill more orders in less time, and thus increasing their potential earnings. Likewise, Grab has improved its algorithms and enhanced the merchant-partner interface to ensure pinpoint accuracy in merchant details and geotagging, which means that partners can trust the platform to direct them accurately. "With these progressive enhancements, we're not just optimizing a service; we're fortifying a platform of vast opportunities. This move goes beyond transactional interactions, touching lives and empowering thousands of delivery partners across the Philippines by providing more equitable earnings, stability, and growth potential," Roda affirmed. Locally, Grab has committed to helping the government generate 500,000 livelihood opportunities for Filipinos in the coming years. The post Grab’s new earnings plan aids delivery riders amid price woes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Russia’s Lavrov to visit Iran for regional talks Monday
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit the Iranian capital Tehran on Monday for talks with regional counterparts, his ministry's spokeswoman has confirmed. Iran's official IRNA news agency reported earlier that the foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia had been invited to meet for the talks. "We confirm Lavrov's planned talks in Tehran on Monday," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the TASS and RIA news agencies. The talks come amid tensions over the Middle East and unresolved disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which launched a lightning offensive against Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh last month. Armenia later confirmed that its foreign minister would attend the meeting. A full list of attendees has not yet been released, but Armenia's northern neighbor Georgia said Sunday that it would not be attending, its foreign ministry told the Interpressnews agency. Georgia applied for EU membership together with Ukraine and Moldova after Russia invaded its pro-Western neighbor in February 2022. Since launching its assault, Russia has turned to Iran for military support and economic partnerships as both countries face a raft of Western sanctions. Western countries have accused Tehran of supporting Russia's offensive in Ukraine by providing it with large quantities of drones and other weaponry. The post Russia’s Lavrov to visit Iran for regional talks Monday appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Stop, stop!’ Pope Francis urges over Hamas-Israel conflict
Pope Francis pleaded Sunday for an end to the Hamas-Israeli conflict amid fears it could widen, and called for more humanitarian aid to be allowed into to the Gaza Strip. "War is always a defeat, it is a destruction of human fraternity. Brothers, stop! Stop!" Francis said after his traditional Angelus prayer in Rome's Saint Peter's Square. "I renew my call for spaces to be opened, for humanitarian aid to continue to arrive and for hostages to be freed," the 86-year-old pontiff said. Hamas militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing at least 1,400 people. Israel's retaliatory bombing campaign has killed more than 4,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and reduced swathes of densely populated Gaza to smoldering ruins. Alarm has grown about a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israel has cut off water, food and power. A first trickle of aid entered the besieged Strip on Saturday, but UN officials said the 20 trucks permitted to cross were not enough given the "catastrophic" humanitarian situation for 2.4 million people. Two US hostages were released Friday but over 200 people abducted by the militants are still being held. ide/js © Agence France-Presse The post ‘Stop, stop!’ Pope Francis urges over Hamas-Israel conflict appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pentagon amps up posture in Mideast in response to ‘escalations’
The United States warned against any "escalation" in the Middle East in the wake of Israel's war with Hamas, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday, hours after the Pentagon moved to step up military readiness in the region. The United States has seen a "prospect of a significant escalation of attacks on our troops" in the region, Austin said Sunday, adding that the US military was preparing for "the ability to respond." "If any group or any country is looking to widen this conflict and take advantage of this very unfortunate situation that we see, our advice is: don't," he told ABC News. "We maintain the right to defend ourselves and we won't hesitate to take the appropriate action," he added. His comments came hours after the Pentagon said it was upping readiness in the region in response to "recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces." Austin ordered the activation of air defense systems and notified additional forces that they may be deployed soon. Austin did not say how many US troops would be added to those already in the region. The Pentagon's moves came after what Austin had earlier described in a statement as "detailed discussions" with President Joe Biden. "These steps will bolster regional deterrence efforts, increase force protection for US forces in the region, and assist in the defense of Israel," Austin said. The steps continued the Biden administration's response since Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip stormed Israel on October 7, taking more than 200 hostages and killing at least 1,400 people, according to Israeli officials. tensions rising Israel has since vowed to destroy Hamas, and says around 1,500 of the group's fighters were killed in clashes before its army regained control of the area initially under attack. Austin said he had activated deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and additional Patriot battalions "throughout the region." "Finally, I have placed an additional number of forces on prepare-to-deploy orders as part of prudent contingency planning, to increase their readiness and ability to quickly respond as required," Austin said. Tensions are rising along Israel's northern border with Lebanon after the Israeli army traded fire with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah amid fears of a new front opening as Israel battles Hamas. In south Lebanon on Saturday, Hezbollah said four of its fighters were killed. Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said one of its fighters was also killed. Armed factions close to Iran have threatened to attack US interests in Iraq over Washington's support for Israel. Multiple Iraqi bases used by US-led coalition troops have been targeted in several attacks in recent days. Israel's military said Saturday it would intensify strikes on Hamas-controlled Gaza ahead of a planned ground invasion. The military has pounded Gaza with relentless strikes in response to Hamas's 7 October attack. The bombing campaign has killed more than 4,650 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and reduced swaths of the densely populated territory to ruins. A first trickle of aid entered the Palestinian enclave from Egypt on Saturday, but the 20 trucks permitted to cross have been described as a "drop in the ocean" given the needs of 2.4 million residents. The post Pentagon amps up posture in Mideast in response to ‘escalations’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»