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Balmain races to recover from robbery at Paris Fashion Week
The fashion world loves drama but normally it does not involve violent robberies, so there is outsize attention on Wednesday's Balmain show after the French label had 50 outfits stolen just days earlier. Balmain's creative director Olivier Rousteing announced on September 17 that a driver had been "hijacked" on the way from a Paris airport to the house's headquarters by a gang of thieves who stole 50 outfits. He and his team have since been racing to put together a collection for the show on Wednesday night. There were no signs of panic from Rousteing on Tuesday when he posted a video from his workshop showing the finishing touches being put to a dress that looked like a pink garden trestle with blue flowers climbing over it. He added the apparently ironic comment: "Florals for spring? Groundbreaking..." Paris Fashion Week kicked off on Monday and runs to 3 October, with 107 brands presenting, of which 67 are giving runway shows. One of the first big names was Pierre Cardin, which has returned to the official Paris lineup this year for the first time in a quarter-century. Its show was full of retro space-age outfits that harked back to its glory days, but the relatives of Cardin, who died in 2020, are currently tearing each other apart in court over the inheritance. "My uncle gave me the mission to perpetuate the house and its style," Rodrigo Basilicati-Cardin, who is currently overseeing the label, said backstage. "If the brand is sold, it will be the end of the house. I am confident the court decisions will ensure continuity," he added. Among the other highlights so far was the latest collection from Dior on Tuesday, which saw the walls of the show plastered with mock sexist slogans from old adverts, such as "Save your marriage -- iron properly". The collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri, who recently dressed Queen Camilla for her state dinner at Versailles, was a largely monochrome affair with comfortable, breezy items alongside straight masculine jackets, pleated skirts, and plenty of knitwear. Coming later this week are the final shows for two big-name designers. Gabriela Hearst is leaving Chloe after fewer than three years. Her focus on sustainable fashion was critically acclaimed but did not bring a major boost to sales. It will also be the last show for Sarah Burton, who took over at Alexander McQueen following the founder's suicide in 2010. The post Balmain races to recover from robbery at Paris Fashion Week appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Acquittal flawed, recantation witness’ intimidation unproved (4)
To acquit former Senator Leila de Lima, there is a need for the defense to destroy the testimonies of Jovencio Ablen and Ragos, but it was not up to it. It should have introduced evidence that Ablen and Ragos were lying. There should be proof before the court that Ablen and Ragos have an axe to grind against De Lima hence they were testifying falsely to get back at De Lima. There is nothing in the record establishing those exculpatory evidence. They remained unrebutted. The court in its decision acquitting De Lima reasoned out that the testimony of Ragos was necessary for any conviction. It added that since Ragos recanted his previous testimony done under oath and in open court, such recantation created a reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the accused. The justification of the court based alone on Ragos’ recantation is flawed on three points: One, it is incorrect for the court to say that the previous testimony of Ragos is necessary to render a judgment of conviction. The court is forgetting that it was not only Ragos who testified that he delivered the P10 million on two occasions. Ablen also testified that he was with Ragos when the said amount was delivered to De Lima. His testimony jibes with Ragos’ in every detail of the circumstances surrounding the delivery of the drug money to De Lima. Even without the testimony of Ragos, Ablen’s testimony which was not rebutted nor demolished by the defense is sufficient to establish that De Lima received the P10 million coming from the drug lords, which receipt proved that she was part of the illegal drug trafficking inside the NBP, establishing therefore the conspiracy in committing the crime. Two, the recantation of Ragos according to him was made by him because his original testimony in court was not voluntarily given he having been coerced or forced by the then Secretary of Justice Vitaliano Aguirre. There is however no evidence on record, whether documentary or testimonial, other than his own self-serving allegation that he was indeed forced or coerced into lying when he testified in court against De Lima. To justify the recantation of Ragos, the defense should have given proof of the coercion and/or intimidation done to make him testify falsely against De Lima, but it failed. The court cannot be giving weight to a serious allegation of coercion and intimidation without any evidence to back it up. For the court to impair the previous testimony of Ragos without proof is to blatantly violate the rules on evidence and jurisprudence. To rule that the recantation of witness Ragos, without an accompanying evidence validating the claim of coercion and intimidation, is gross ignorance of the law. Three, the coercion and intimidation of Ragos which led him to recant or reverse his previous testimony not only was not proven in court, but such coercive factor was rebutted in court by the Public Attorney’s Office lawyer, Demiteer Huerta, who assisted him in court in executing his sworn statement stating, among other things, the circumstances that led to his — and Ablen’s delivery of the P10 million. Huerta testified that he helped Ragos in drafting his affidavit, the truth of the contents of which was sworn to before him. He also testified that Ragos went to the PAO office to make a supplemental sworn statement confirming the contents of the affidavit of Ablen and that Ragos sworn before him on the truth of the allegations contained in his supplemental affidavit. Moreover, the Muntinlupa court should have taken judicial notice of the fact that Ragos after his testimony before the court and long after the then Justice Secretary Aguirre, the official whom Ragos claimed to have forced him to testify falsely against De Lima, was replaced as head of the justice department, repeated his court testimony before the investigating committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives. If it is true that he was coerced by Aguirre and he was afraid of him as he had still the power and influence as his boss hence he could not expose the coercion for fear of reprisal, why then did he not come forward and told the truth after Aguirre’s departure from office? Instead, in the interregnum between his court testimony and his recantation, he testified, again willingly and voluntarily, and repeated the same damaging testimony before the congressional bodies. That very significant circumstance should have raised the red flag in the mind of the court but it incredibly ignored it. Collating the evidence extant on record, the quantum of proof required for conviction beyond a reasonable doubt is robustly present. (To be continued) The post Acquittal flawed, recantation witness’ intimidation unproved (4) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lady Gaga, car horns trumpet Biden’s grand campaign finale
PITTSBURGH (AFP) – Honking horns, huge American flags, and pop superstar Lady Gaga: on the eve of the presidential election, Joe Biden brought an air of spectacle to workers’ stronghold Pittsburgh as he capped a campaign largely curtailed by the Covid-19 pandemic. US singer Lady Gaga performs prior to Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaking during a Drive-In Rally at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 2, 2020. (Photo by JIM WATSON / AFP) “The power’s in your hands, Pennsylvania!” the Democratic White House nominee thundered late Monday to several hundred supporters gathered for a drive-in rally in what has become the pivotal state in Biden’s battle against President Donald Trump. “It’s time to stand up and take back our democracy,” the 77-year-old added, prompting a crescendo of car horns outside the stadium that is home to the Pittsburgh Steelers American football team. In the biting November cold, Biden took up the clarion call of a campaign that he launched 18 months ago: “This is a battle for the soul of America,” he said. “We have to win this.” Lady Gaga, clad in a white sweatshirt with “Joe” printed on the front, listened and applauded from her stage. Minutes earlier she had peeled off her gloves and sat down at a white piano to give a short but inspired musical warmup to the Biden headliner. “Gloves off because it’s a fight — a fight for what you believe in,” she said before launching into her hit “Shallow.” The 34-year-old Grammy winner called on the audience to vote for Biden because “we needed somebody that was going to bring us all together for this moment, for this very important moment.” “No matter who wins tomorrow, we’re going to have to do this together. Tomorrow’s got to be peaceful,” she added somberly, in an allusion to the tensions that have swelled in the United States ahead of the poll. The singer, who once lived in Pennsylvania, has been in this position before. In 2016, she helped close out the campaign of Democrat Hillary Clinton, who lost in a shocker to Trump. ‘End of Trump era?’ Dancing in the parking lot was Jamie Scafuri, a 26-year-old hairdresser, who came with friends invited by someone who works for the campaign. “We’re hoping that it’s the end of the Trump era,” Scafuri told AFP. “We’re hopeful. That’s why we’re here.” These drive-in rallies have become a staple of the Democrat’s mostly low-key campaign, which has scrupulously adhered to social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines to guard against the coronavirus, which has already killed more than 230,000 Americans. But despite efforts to put on a show at least partly resembling concert-infused mega-rallies that have traditionally marked the end of a campaign, the cars parked at distance, sparse spectators and few journalists allowed to enter makes it clear: the pandemic has upset the face of American politics in 2020. “Stay close to your cars!” urged an announcer as fans rushed forward for the arrival of Lady Gaga, in scenes far removed from the massive Trump rallies that often bring thousands of supporters packed together, very often without wearing masks. But here, Biden’s supporters understand the constraints. “I feel safe being here around our car with masks on, but it’s a great opportunity to celebrate life for sure,” Scafuri said. Biden is “a pro-science, pro-healthcare candidate, so it makes sense that he would want to protect his constituents,” added Scafuri’s friend Katie Soulen, 32, who owns the salon where they work. Trump ‘don’t care’ about us Biden is coming full circle with his campaign. The former vice president launched his White House candidacy — his third, following disastrous bids in 1988 and 2008 — in April 2019 in this blue-collar city. Even then, in the cradle of the American steel industry now remaking itself as a tech hub, Biden predicted that a victory against the Republican president would “happen here,” in Pennsylvania. Biden has a slight lead in the pivotal state, which Trump won by less than a percentage point in 2016. But the polls have tightened in recent days, and after the brash billionaire’s shock victory four years ago, some Democrats are nervous. But Bob Wilson, born and raised “right where we stand” in Pittsburgh, is confident that Trump will be defeated. “No, we’re gonna crush him… We’re gonna beat him in every state,” the 68-year-old retired truck driver, now a union official, said as he waited for Biden in the large parking lot at Heinz Field, named after the giant food processing company founded here in the 19th century. Trump is “not qualified” and “don’t care about nobody but himself,” he added......»»
House panel eyeing legalization of motorcycle taxis
UP-NIH says use of helmets, face shields protect riders The chairman of the House Committee on Transportation has given the green light to its technical working group (TWG) to convene and jumpstart the deliberation on the proposed resumption of the operations of motorcycle taxis, and the measures seeking to legalize the operations of the two-wheel vehicles. (JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN) This was the guidance given by Samar 1st District Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento to Navotas lone District Rep. John Reynald Tiangco during his panel’s recent virtual motu proprio probe on land transportation policies concerning the back-riding and motorcycle taxi operations.Tiangco heads the TWG, which was created by the House panel last January to thresh out the issues concerning the motorcycle taxi operations. Sarmiento approved the motion made by Manila 5th District Rep. Cristal Bagatsing for Congress to “spearhead the evaluation of the pilot study of motorcycle taxis”, along with other government agencies sitting at the TWG that earlier conducted pilot tests on motorcycle taxis. Bagatsing laments that the TWG’s report on pilot testing “is lacking and seems to be rushed.”LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante admitted that the report is “somewhat lacking”, explaining that some activities that were supposed to have been conducted have not been conducted at all because of the pandemic.The LTO official said the TWG focuses on the aspect of “safety evaluation” and not on the economic viability of the motorcycle. The Sarmiento panel called on Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and National Task Force (NTF) Against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to allow ride sharing or motorcycle taxis to operate, provided that the riders and drivers strictly follow heath protocols as sought by Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo. Castelo said by allowing the operation of the motorcycle taxis, the government will be able to augment its public transport system and respond to the transportation needs of the commuting public.The Sarmiento panel also decided to adopt the motion made by Iloilo City lone District Rep. Julienne “Jam” Baronda calling on the DOTr’s TWG to extend its pilot tests for motorcycle taxis, which lapsed on March 23.During the hearing, Dr. Vicente “Jun” Belizario of the the University of the Philippines College of Public Health (UP-CPH) said they have been asked by motorcycle ride-hailing service Angkas to provide technical support to develop guidelines promoting health and safety in motorcycle taxi operations during the time of COVID-19 and the new normal. “The guidelines that we have drafted are consistent with policies and protocols coming from international organisations— WHO (World Health Organisation), US Center for Disease Control and Prevention,” he said, citing that they also strongly considered the recommendations made by the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the DOTr.Citing the study published in The Lancet, he said the chance of COVID-19 transmission is reduced if masks or respirators are worn, and the helmets may also function as face shields, thus not only reducing the risk of injuries, but importantly, increasing protection also from possible air droplet transmission. He said while, the use of the so-called barriers or shields provides an additional layer of protection, there should be “additional studies” on the potential role of barriers or the shield in preventing COVID-19 transmission in motorcycle back-riding. Citing the study published in The Lancet, Belizario also stressed that that with poor ventilation, you have increased the risk of respiratory infection, including COVID-19.He said for the control and prevention COVID-19, it is important to impose “diligent use” of a combination of proven measures or layers of protection. There must be heightened awareness among the public, internal and external monitoring by private company and government officials, and collaboration is needed more than ever to promote health and safety in the transport sector, Belizario stressed.During the hearing, George Royeca, Angkas Chief Transport Advocate, noted that they engaged the services of the Total Control, a motorcycle safety firm in the United States for the last 30 years, to design the shield “to make it very light weight and aerodynamic” and ensure its roadworthiness. “The weight of this shield is less than 1 kg so it does not hamper the operations of the motorcycle. Dito po nakalagay (It was indicated here), (the speed was) up to 30 to 40 kph na meron po syang sakay sa likod (and there was a backrider) , she felt almost no wind drag and she was able to manage it well with the driver leaning in to the turns because wala pong metal barrier na nakasagabal (there was no metal barrier) in between them, and then he brought it out to C-5, all the way up to 90 kph and based from his testimony, there was turbulence but not enough be able to throw them off balance, it still maintain the stability,” he said, as he presented the specifications of the Angkas shield, which was approved by the IATF, apart from the prototype of Bohol Governor Arthur Yap.He told the lawmakers that their designed shield “doesn’t break and (is) malleable.”.....»»
Van plows into house in Philippines, killing 1, injuring 4
MANILA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- A delivery van plowed into a house along a highway in Quezon province of the Philippines, southeast of Manila, on Friday morning, killing the driver and injuring four others, police said. Police said the freight forwarder closed van truck was traveling to Unisan town from Manila when it crashed into a roadside house around 6 a.m. local time, killing the driver on the spot. A r.....»»
Delivery van rams house; 1 dead, 4 hurt
A driver of a delivery van died while four other people were injured when the vehicle rammed a house by the roadside in Barangay Ibabang Kalilayan in Unisan, Quezon yesterday......»»
Solenn, Nico gipabuhatan og maanindot nga staff house ang mga katabang, driver
“PARANG gusto ko na lang mag-apply at magtrabaho bilang kasambahay kina Solenn Heussaff at Nico Bolzico!” Mao na ang hirit sa uban nga mga netizen sa dihang nalantaw nila ang bongga nga pa-house tour series sa Kapuso actress ug celebrity mom sa iyang YouTube channel. Basaha Pod Ni: Solenn, Nico ipinagawa ng bonggang staff house ang mga kasambahay,.....»»
‘Government not giving up West Philippine Sea claims’
The Marcos administration is on the right track in its consistent lodging of official protests against China’s incursions and harassment in the West Philippine Sea, as the protests prove to the world the country’s determination to defend its sovereignty, House Deputy Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said yesterday......»»
Xinhua world news summary at 0630 GMT, Feb. 11
GAZA -- At least 25 Palestinians were killed in Israeli bombing of a house in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah on Sunday, according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. (Gaza-Israel-Bombing) - - - - LIMA -- The Peruvian government has declared a state of emergency on Saturday for at least 96 districts in 15 regions of the country due to damage caused by heavy rains in recent weeks. Th.....»»
Xinhua world news summary at 0630 GMT, Feb. 11
GAZA -- At least 25 Palestinians were killed in Israeli bombing of a house in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah on Sunday, according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. (Gaza-Israel-Bombing) - - - - LIMA -- The Peruvian government has declared a state of emergency on Saturday for at least 96 districts in 15 regions of the country due to damage caused by heavy rains in recent weeks. Th.....»»
Bodyguard of 4 kidnapped Chinese surrenders
The driver and bodyguard of four Chinese women who were kidnapped and robbed, reportedly by police officers, in Parañaque last year surrendered to House Deputy Majority Floor Leader Erwin Tulfo Thursday morning......»»
AMD Launches Frame Generation Tech DX11, DX12 Games in First Driver Release in 2024
AMD introduced a frame-generating technology called Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF) for all users in its first official driver release for 2024. The latest development comes as HYPR-RX, embedded in the drivers, now enables gamers to enhance frame generation for ‘any’ DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 games, marking a shift from the previous preview status of […].....»»
Calapan, Oriental Mindoro barangay councilman stabbed dead in his house
The Calapan mayor and the Rotary Club offered a reward of P300,000 for information to help solve the killing of Anacorito Bolor, a barangay official fond of wearing gold necklaces, bracelets, and rings in public.....»»
LTO summons SUV driver, owner in road crash
The Land Transportation Office yesterday issued a show-cause order against the owner and driver of a sport utility vehicle involved in a road crash in Mandaluyong City early Saturday morning......»»
Ex-PNP official to recant drug allegations vs De Lima
Another key witness in former senator Leila de Lima’s third and final drug case has expressed intent to recant his testimony......»»
Lawmaker defends President Marcos on Cha-cha stance
An official of the House of Representatives has defended President Marcos for voicing his openness to amending the Constitution – particularly its economic provisions – and chided the Senate for its “obstructionist stance.”.....»»
FAST FACTS: Media Serbisyo, Martin Romualdez’s joint venture with ABS-CBN
Although House Speaker Martin Romualdez is not on any official document in his joint venture with ABS-CBN, the directors representing his holding firm in Media Serbisyo Production Corporation all have links to him and his business interests.....»»
SMNI suspension urged for alleged violations
Davao City-based legislator and Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Partylist Representative Margarita “Migs” Ignacia B. Nograles has proposed a resolution urging the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to suspend the operations of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI). The resolution alleges that SMNI has violated the terms of its franchise and disseminated false information, failing in its responsibility to the public. This move is in response to multiple complaints filed against SMNI, including accusations of fake news peddling and baseless red-tagging of individuals, groups, and organizations. Specific incidents cited in the resolution include attacks on ACT Teachers Partylist Representative France L. Castro and false claims about House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez's foreign travel expenses. SMNI's host, Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz, admitted to providing inaccurate information on air, further fueling the allegations against the network. Pending the Committee on Legislative Franchises' recommendations on SMNI's alleged violations, Nograles emphasized the urgency for the NTC to halt the deliberate dissemination of false information that may erode public trust. The 25-year franchise of SMNI was renewed in 2019, and the network has not yet issued an official statement regarding the resolution. In a related development, the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises cited Celiz and former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) spokesperson Lorraine Badoy-Partosa in contempt for refusing to disclose their source of erroneous information and being evasive about their income from co-producing their show. Both anchors will be detained at the House premises until the committee's report is adopted in the plenary. This story highlights the growing scrutiny on SMNI's operations and the calls for accountability amid allegations of spreading false information......»»
LP picks De Lima as official spokesperson
The opposition Liberal Party has designated a new spokesperson in the person of former senator Leila de Lima, who was recently released on bail on one of the drug charges filed against her by the previous administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte......»»
PNP official nabbed for firing gun in restobar
A Philippine National Police official who figured in a hit-and-run accident that killed a tricycle driver in August last year was apprehended yesterday after he allegedly fired his handgun in front of a restobar in Quezon City......»»