We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
Exclusive: Phil Spencer Reveals What He Wants From Official Xbox Handheld as Rumors Swirl
In a recent interview with Polygon, Xbox boss Phil Spencer hinted at the possibility of an upcoming Xbox handheld device. Spencer expressed his desire for.....»»
Korda triumphs in sudden death anew; Saso, Pagdanganan waver
Yuka Saso failed to sustain a third round 69 as she struggled with five bogeys against three birdies, while ICTSI stablemate Bianca Pagdanganan also faced difficulties, limping with a 78 to end up at tied 55th with 290......»»
The iris reveals it all
William Shakespeare once said, “The eyes are the window to your soul......»»
Food vlogger Kevin Garcia reveals how he earns from social media
Content creator Kevin Garcia, the man behind the popular vlog Eat’s A Small World, revealed how food vloggers like him earn through social media. .....»»
Asian Study Reveals Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals Found in Personal Care Products from the Philippines
In a press briefing in time for the observance of World Consumer Rights Month, BAN Toxics, a chemical and waste management NGO, discloses the findings of recent laboratory testing indicating the presence of parabens, triclosan, and triclocarban, classified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), in personal care products sold in the country. The result underscores potential health risks for.....»»
‘We all share the air we breathe’
After seven long years, Marcus Wallenberg has returned to Manila to renew ties with the Philippine government and to reassure the current administration of the Wallenberg sphere’s long-term commitment to the country......»»
The New Era of Freshness has arrived! Welcome TCL CoolPro | FreshIN 2.0 Inverter Air Conditioner is here to stay!
TCL, a leading consumer electronics brand and one of the world’s top two TV brands, is happy to announce that the TCL CoolPro | FreshIN 2.0 Breathe+, Live Cool ‘Inverter Air Conditioner is finally available. Get ready to experience the invigorating comfort of breathable freshness with the latest innovation. Dubbed as the coolest and freshest.....»»
Deceased Maine shooter had mental health problems: police
Police in Maine said Saturday that the man who gunned down 18 people at a bar and a bowling alley and later committed suicide, suffered serious mental health issues, but was able to buy weapons legally because he had never been forcibly committed to treatment. The body of Robert Card, a 40-year-old army reservist, was discovered Friday night inside a tractor-trailer near a recycling center where he used to work, said Maine public safety commissioner Mike Sauschuck. Card had shot himself. Investigators are still struggling to determine Card's motive for carrying out Wednesday's massacre in the town of Lewiston. However, Sauschuck said that Card had reportedly been hearing voices and suffering from paranoia. "Clearly there's a mental health component to this," Sauschuck told reporters. Investigators found a "paper-style" note that Card had left to a loved one which contained a password to his phone and bank account information, Sauschuck said, adding that the note had the tone of a suicide letter. Card was found in possession of three weapons, one of them a long gun, all purchased legally because he had never been forcibly committed to a mental institution. Despite the apparently clear mental health issues and a reportedly recent psychiatric evaluation undergone by Card, "a background check is not going to ping that this individual was prohibited," Sauschuck added. The sigh of relief The discovery of Card's body ended a massive two-day manhunt, which had this quiet city of 38,000 people on lockdown, with businesses and schools closed and residents terrified. Sauschuck acknowledged the help Card's family had provided to the investigation, saying his relatives were among the first people to call the police and identify the suspect. "This family has been incredibly cooperative with us," he said. Lewiston finally breathed a sigh of relief with businesses beginning to open and people appearing on the streets Saturday. Several posters reading "Lewiston strong" were seen in the city. Shukri Abasheikh, 60, was finally able to reopen her halal grocery store after the lockdown. "This morning I'm so happy because the last two days, we were worried a lot and we were scared," Abasheikh told AFP. "My customers were calling me saying we don't have milk, we don't have anything, can you open and I said, 'I'm scared.'" Upon learning that Card was dead, Sheri Withers, 44, owner of a Lewiston art gallery, said she felt "a balance of relief and remembering how to breathe, but also just being sad because, you know, it was a human life." For now, residents are "just trying to rebuild the pieces, and getting on from here is gonna be the next step for our community," she added. A local resident named Danica, who was buying coffee at a drive-through, said she was happy Card was dead, but at the same time wished he had first been brought to justice. "I think he took the coward's way out of doing it by suicide," Danica, who declined to give her last name, told AFP. "I think he should be held accountable for his crimes." In a statement issued shortly after Card's body was discovered Friday night, President Joe Biden vowed to renew efforts to curb gun violence in the United States. "Americans should not have to live like this," Biden said. "I will continue to do everything in my power to end this gun violence epidemic." Biden said the shooting brought "a tragic two days -- not just for Lewiston, Maine, but for our entire country." Authorities on Friday identified the victims, ranging from a husband and wife in their 70s to a 14-year-old boy killed alongside his father. This was one of the deadliest shootings in the United States since 2017, when a gunman opened fire on a crowded music festival in Las Vegas, killing 60 people Mass shootings are alarmingly common in the United States, a country where there are more guns than people and where attempts to clamp down on their spread are always met with stiff resistance. The United States has recorded over 500 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a non-governmental organization that defines a mass shooting as four or more people wounded or killed. Efforts to tighten gun controls have for years run up against opposition from Republicans, staunch defenders of the constitutional right to bear arms. The political paralysis endures despite widespread outrage over recurring shootings. The post Deceased Maine shooter had mental health problems: police appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘I couldn’t breathe’: Seoul crowd crush survivor writes to heal
Kim Cho-long escaped death by chance last October -- pulled from packed streets in South Korea's capital by a friend, as those around her were swept into an alley where 159 people later died in a crowd crush. Kim, 33, told AFP she'd been going to Halloween parties in Seoul's Itaewon district for years, but there were more people at the 2022 event -- the first post-pandemic celebration -- than she'd ever seen before. The crowd was so dense that she was quickly swept off her feet by the pressure, trapped and unable to breathe until her friend saw her and somehow managed to drag her into a nearby bar. "I was completely stuck in the crowd as I was pushed back and forth," said Kim, who has written a book about her Itaewon experience called "Am I a Disaster Survivor?" "The pressure first started from behind, and then pressure came from the front so hard that my feet were lifted off from the ground and I couldn't breathe." By chance, she was swept to the side of the street, and when her back hit a wall, she was able to catch her breath, before her friend saw her and pulled her out of the melee. With no police or official crowd control measures in sight -- an official investigation would later slam "massive failings" of preparation and response -- Kim said the confusion and chaos continued for hours, as she sheltered in a nearby bar with her friend. She had no idea what was happening or how close she had been to death. "I went out to the streets of Itaewon and saw people lying on the street receiving CPR. Ambulances were parked disorderly on the road and people were being taken away, but even then I didn't think that all those people were dead," she said. Writing to heal Kim walked for hours to get home, in a state of shock. "I couldn't sleep for two days. As if obsessed with something, I couldn't turn off the news on TV. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, I only drank water and kept watching the news." Kim, a writer, struggled with feelings of survivor's guilt, and eventually, her therapist suggested that writing about her feelings might allow her to process what had happened. At first, she shared her writing only in private forums online, where she received overwhelmingly positive feedback, including from others who said it had helped them with their own Itaewon-linked trauma. After one of her posts went viral, local newspapers asked her to write for them, which she eventually agreed to -- but the reaction from the general public was overwhelmingly negative. "When it was released to the public, I did not receive comfort from the reactions I received. Personally, it was good as a way to release my feelings and it was helpful in relieving my depression," she said. Critics showered her with personal insults and told her she was spoiled and shouldn't have been out partying. But despite the onslaught of online attacks -- which are also aimed at families of victims campaigning for an independent inquiry into the disaster -- Kim remains positive. 'All survivors' "I believe that all citizens living in South Korea are survivors of the Itaewon disaster," she said. The police probe did not find any senior officials were to blame for the disaster, and none of the lower-level officials who are being prosecuted have yet been convicted or jailed. "Looking at this disaster from a survivor's point of view for a year, I don't think anything has been resolved and the truth has not been revealed legally, socially, or at any government level," Kim said. But her near-death experience has totally changed her view of society, for the better. "In the past, I never once imagined how bereaved families would live on. I thought it had nothing to do with me and it was none of my business," she said. "But now I realize it could have happened to me, and their pain could be mine someday. So I started to sympathize with them and took more interest in their lives." Kim, who hopes to have her book translated into English, said she plans to continue writing about what happened at Itaewon, to keep the memories of all the victims alive. "I will keep thinking hard about what I can do so that they are remembered for a long time." The post ‘I couldn’t breathe’: Seoul crowd crush survivor writes to heal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Infrastructure crisis
Without infrastructure — including “info-structure” — there can be no development. And without development support, many developing countries will be starved of the infrastructure they desperately need. Infrastructure is the foundation of everyday life for people and economies. From drinking water and basic sanitation, to electricity, connectivity and Internet access. From public services like schools and hospitals, to modern roads, bridges, tunnels, harbors and railways that keep people and goods moving. And yet, billions in the developing world lack access to these basic systems. This infrastructure crisis comes as people are facing a cauldron of challenges across our efforts to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights. This includes soaring costs of living, rising inequalities and the existential threat of climate breakdown. Meanwhile, progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement is slipping into reverse. We must find and fund ways to generate economic growth, create decent jobs, transform energy systems and advance sustainable solutions for the 21st century. Infrastructure is a crucial pathway. We can and must turn the infrastructure emergency into the infrastructure opportunity. The Belt and Road demonstrates that we have a historic opportunity to build modern, green cities, communities and transportation and power systems that place resilience and sustainability at the heart. That deliver services and decent jobs for people in a sustainable manner. And I see the Belt and Road Initiative’s potential to make valuable contributions in two key areas of action. First — by advancing economic sustainability in developing countries. Many developing countries are confronting dramatic financial challenges, drowning in debt and without fiscal space to implement the sustainable development goals. It is time to make the global financial architecture truly global and fit for the 21st century. At last month’s SDG Summit, world leaders endorsed a commitment to reforming the global financial architecture to make it reflect the world economy of today, not the one of 1945. Leaders also agreed that we can take actions right now to promote effective debt relief mechanisms — including by ensuring that countries are not locked into unsustainable debt — and channeling emergency financial support toward those countries that need it most. And leaders also supported an SDG Stimulus of $500 billion per year. Now, in this context, a dramatic context for the developing countries, the relevance of the Belt and Road Initiative is undeniable. It has included nearly $1 trillion in cumulative investments across more than 3,000 projects around the world. The second key area for action is by advancing environmental sustainability. The Belt and Road Initiative recognizes that infrastructure for infrastructure’s sake is not enough. The Belt and Road is an important instrument to make key investments a reality, driven by clear domestic demand, and in line with international best practices. Investments that enable resilience and adaptation across national and local planning. Investments that can help keep our 1.5-degree global warming limit within reach. And investments that don’t leave countries with stranded assets and the polluted dead ends of the past. Many developing countries are confronting dramatic financial challenges, drowning in debt and without fiscal space to implement the sustainable development goals. It is time to make the global financial architecture truly global and fit for the 21st century. I recognize the efforts of the Green Silk Road initiative to anchor investments in sustainable solutions — an area in which the UN is poised to support. But developing countries will need massive support for a fair, equitable and just energy transition towards renewables while providing affordable electricity to all. We all agree that development cannot come at the expense of the air we breathe, the water we drink or the biodiversity that defines our planet’s health. *** Excerpts from the UN Secretary General’s remarks at the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, 18 October 2023. The post Infrastructure crisis appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Putting an ‘X’ Through Anxiety
Let Go & Breathe When you stop and think about it, it’s amazing that we’re not all in a heap in the corner given what is happening in the world around us. Add to that the challenges we face in our personal world and you have a recipe for worry, fear, and, in the most […].....»»
Old Montreal churches get a second life
Inside a former Anglican church in central Montreal, crucifixes, prayer benches and candlesticks have been replaced by books and chessboards -- part of an effort by developers and community groups to breathe new life into abandoned churches. "I really like coming here. I like the little church feel, it is conducive for concentrating," university student Alexia Delestre whispered at the Mordecai-Richler library, which is housed in the old church building. Across the once highly religious French-speaking province of Quebec, dozens of churches have been transformed into daycare centers, spas, basketball courts, climbing centers, and a cheese factory. "In general, we do not want to destroy churches if we can preserve them because they are beautiful buildings that mark the urban space well," said Justin Bur, 58, a member of the local historical society Memoire du Mile-End. "They are important landmarks." Another 1960s church in Montreal was saved from demolition at the last minute and now houses a residence for the elderly, social housing, and daycare. Outside, its imposing white concrete structure and its high-perched cross stand out in the urban landscape. Inside, seats and children's toys fill rooms with high ceilings and large windows. "It's really the Rolls-Royce of daycare centers," boasted Isabelle Juneau, deputy director of La Creche daycare, highlighting the modernist architecture and the brightness of the place. City of 100 steeples The repeal in the 1960s -- during Quebec's Quiet Revolution or secularization -- of a tax that paid for the maintenance of churches contributed greatly to the abandonment and deterioration of places of worship. Many have been deserted, including in Montreal, which was nicknamed "the city of 100 steeples" by the writer Mark Twain who once famously said that "you couldn't throw a brick without breaking a church window." Quebec used to be home to around 2,800 churches, but their number has been dwindling, explained Lucie Morisset, an urban heritage researcher. In Montreal alone, there were about 1,000 churches at the beginning of the 20th century, of which only 400 are left today. "There are no more priests, there are no more religious practices. Society has moved on to something else," said Morisset. Over the past two decades, about 100 churches have been redeveloped, according to the Quebec Religious Heritage Council. About ten have been demolished and some forty have transitioned into synagogues, mosques, or other types of places of worship. Costly conversions Conversions are not always easy, but they have become even more costly lately due to galloping inflation. Marc-Andre Simard, general manager of the Chic Resto Pop restaurant said it cost several hundred thousand dollars to convert an old church into a community cafeteria. The entire basement was repurposed into a kitchen and the grounds had to be decontaminated after an old heating oil tank leaked. The restaurant now serves more than 300 meals each day to the neighborhood's needy while providing kitchen training for the unemployed -- amid the original woodwork, multicolored stained glass windows, and confessionals. For Simard, it is "essential that the entire religious heritage is not left to rot" because old churches can still serve as community spaces or residences. The post Old Montreal churches get a second life appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Davao Cenro underscores how trees mitigate rising temperatures
The Davao City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) recently underscored the vital role of trees in mitigating rising temperatures. In a radio interview, Christopher Asibal, chief of the Cenro Upland Community Project & Forest Management Section, explained that trees and humans have a symbiotic relationship. Trees provide oxygen for humans to breathe, while humans help trees by absorbing their carbon dioxide. Asibal also noted various environmental ordinances in the city, particularly the recent Heritage Tree Ordinance, which aims to protect trees that hold significant value for both the city and the environment. He urged Dabawenyos who have trees in their areas to take proper care of them, especially during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) period when campaigners often attach banners to trees. Asibal said that any injury to a tree can serve as an entry point for fungi, leading to the tree's deterioration......»»
PSALM 75
Psalm chapter 75 opens with thanks to the Almighty God. It’s a prayer of gratitude. The words offer praises to God for all of His wonderful deeds. Sometimes life takes a dark turn, stunning you with a horrifying plot twist. It could be bad news about your health or your loved one’s health. It could be sudden unemployment or loss of income. The death of someone close to you. A heartbreak. The grief or anguish is so bad it’s like being thrown into a dark, endless, boundless sea. You try and stay afloat. Not a soul in sight. Just the vast, blackness of the ocean. Your face is above the water. The rest of your body? You cannot see. You have no idea what creatures lurk beneath the waters, ready to pull you in, to drown you or eat you alive. And you don’t know when the rescue boat will arrive. It is exhausting. You have lost all control. The physical, mental, emotional turmoil is getting worse by the hour. Such is the sensation I feel when I am going through a terrible hardship. Sure, I could still breathe, as my face is above the water. But my problem is as overwhelming and borderless as the great sea. All-consuming. [caption id="attachment_194550" align="aligncenter" width="525"] As the Bible also advised — when you’re confused and panicking, pause. Then pray.[/caption] I feel lost at sea. Panicking. Agitated. Trapped. Stranded. Fearing for my life or sanity. Terrified of all the uncertainties. Feeling insecure and unsafe. Even hope seems like an enemy. Every day, I wake up, hoping for relief. Gasping for rest. But it never seems to arrive. I am still floating in the middle of the dark ocean and unable to hold on to anything. That’s when I always remember Psalm 75. I pause and remember the first verse in that chapter in the Bible. I look back at all the wonderful deeds God showed me in the past. The countless times when He saved me. The many times He healed me. The many times He threw me a life raft. And this soon relaxes me. As the Bible also advised — when you’re confused and panicking, pause. Then pray. Give all your worries to God. Put your trust in Him. Then, gradually, my head clears. The ocean may still be treacherous, but when you look up, there’s a constellation of stars. You become bewildered by the beauty of a black velvet sky littered with diamonds. We may be so focused on the negative, on what we are lacking, on what we are suffering from, that we forget that there are still plenty of things to be thankful for. Things that we take for granted. A supportive parent, a joyful niece, a family to come home to. Warm meals. That hot cup of coffee. The laughter in the living room. The ability to walk outdoors and enjoy nature. The ability to work, to earn. The friends that cheer you up. There are many, many reasons to praise God. Psalm 75 — specifically verse 1 — reigns us in and redirects our focus to the positive. To the silver lining. SCIENCE-BACKED Harvard Health Publishing posted a study on an online article titled, “Giving thanks can make you happy.” The article described a research conducted by two psychologists, Dr. Robert A. Emmons of the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami. The doctors asked all participants to write a few sentences each week. They facilitated three groups: one group wrote about things they were grateful for that had occurred during the week. A second group wrote about daily, and the third wrote about events that had affected them, according to the article. After 10 weeks, the research discovered that those who wrote about gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives. In June, The New York Times published a story titled “Gratitude Really is Good for You. Here’s What the Science Shows.” The author, Christina Caron, quoted Emmons: “Gratitude heals, energizes and changes lives. It is the prism through which we view life in terms of gifts, givers, goodness and grace.” Expressing gratitude to people who show kindness to us already benefits our well-being, what more if we are grateful to God? So when you find yourself in tough times? Just turn to Psalm 75:1. The post PSALM 75 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Road rage incidents a security threat — expert
Road rage incidents last year was 12 percent higher than the previous years and should be taken as a security threat, a psychology expert from the Quezon City Rehabilitation Center said Tuesday. At the Quezon City Journalist Forum, Dra. Ana Victoria Faltado said there were 15 recorded deaths and 222 injuries “because of aggressive driving” that led to road rage incidents. “It (aggressive driving) has become the common cause of traffic altercation,” Faltado said noting that incidents are higher in Metro Manila because of urbanization. “Eight out of 10 (drivers) exhibit aggressive behavior, while nine out of 10 tends to be aggressive,” she added. “It is now a security threat. Socially it’s a psycho-cultural problem. There is a need for stricter traffic laws implementation,” Faltado explained. 2nd District Councilor Rannie Ludovica, on the other hand, who headed the Council Committee on Public Order and Safety said he had already filed an “anti-road rage” measure to prevent it from happening around the city’s jurisdiction. Ludovica said the ordinance carries a penalty of P5,000 to both the “aggressor” and the “victim.” “Once na nagtalo sa kalye, obstruction na sa traffic ang result. We leave the imprisonment clause to the discretion of the court, as there are other charges to be slapped against them, we have LTO rules that they also violated for sure,” Ludovica explained, adding that the measure however will still have to go into process like calling for a public consultations first of all sectors concerned. “What we have arrived first are the factors behind it (road rage). Economic, cause everything now has become expensive. Most common is under the influence of liquor and drugs. But the biggest factor is that the driver or would be road rager has a love problem,” Ludovica explained. For Dra. Fataldo, to prevent irritation on the road, the driver should have to “take a deep breathe” and “turn your radio to listen to a good music.” The post Road rage incidents a security threat — expert appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Skin-saving tandem
Salicylic acid is a known medicated topical solution that treats and prevents acne and other skin conditions. It penetrates deep inside the skin pores, peels off thick skin, reduces inflammation and exfoliates the skin. Tea tree oil, on the other hand, is one of nature’s most powerfully purifying ingredients noted for reducing skin blemishes and keeping acne at bay. Together, salicylic acid and tea tree oil create an extremely potent combination that fights off acne and targets post-acne dark spots and stubborn blemishes. The Body Shop has recently reformulated its bestselling Tea Tree line of skin care by adding the efficacy of salicylic acid. “We updated our number one skin care range of Tea Tree to help manage people with unpredictable skin care days,” says Emily Sia-Koa, The Body Shop assistant vice president for marketing. “This formula with added salicylic acid is more powerful than ever. The result is skin that feels purified, light and a visible reduction in blemishes.” Dr. Mara Evangelista-Huber, internationally certified dermapathologist, says tea tree oil works well with inflamed pimples. Adult female acne is usually big, returns on the same spot and tends to leave deep marks. [gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="190029,190030"] “Salicylic acid or beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) is a chemical exfoliant,” explains Evangelista-Huber. “All of our cells are connected to each other and a chemical exfoliant breaks that bond to easily shed off the skin. So, all hydroxy acids exfoliate the skin. Salicylic acid is not only an exfoliant but it also controls excessive oil and inflammation. It is the same as tea tree in the sense that they are anti-inflammatory. They complement each other. They exfoliate dark pigmentation of the skin.” She also adds that salicylic acid is one of the safest chemical exfoliants there is because it doesn’t go too deep into the skin, but it’s the only thing that can go inside the hair follicle that unclogs bacteria-causing acne. “The four main causes of acne include clogged pores, excessive oil production, inflammation and bacteria,” says Evangelista-Huber. “Tea tree is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammation. Salicylic acid also does those two things but, in addition, it unclogs the pores and controls the oil. So, they really work together. They target all four causes. Since salicylic acid is an exfoliant, it also lightens the dark spots.” Reformulated skin care line The Body Shop reformulated line of Tea Tree with salicylic acid includes Skin Clearing Facial Wash (cleans and controls excess oil), Skin Clearing Toner (removes lingering makeup and impurities), Daily Solution (leaves skin feeling purified and looking healthy), Skin Clearing Hydrator (hydrates skin) and Rapid Action Gel (visibly reduces blemishes). Sia-Koa says The Body Shop sources the naturally powerful tea tree plant from the foothills of Mount Kenya, where it is carefully hand-harvested by expert farmers and steam-distilled within 12 hours of harvesting to deliver the highest-quality oil. “Every individual has different skin care needs and concern,” Sia-Koa says. “So, the skin care each and every individual use depends on what your skin is telling you. From the brands perspective, we always advise our customers to do the basic -- cleanser, tone, treat and moisturize, and not to forget to apply sunscreen wherever you go. Listen to your skin and let it breathe once in a while. Take off your makeup before you sleep. Double cleanse, if needed, to ensure you take out the makeup and dirt in your face effectively.” The post Skin-saving tandem appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sudanese desperate for passports
Since authorities inaugurated a new passport office in the eastern city of Port Sudan in late August, hundreds of people have lined up all day, every day. They are desperate to obtain paperwork that will allow them to leave Sudan’s deadly war behind. In five months of war, the violence has killed 7,500 people, displaced more than five million and eroded Sudan’s already fragile infrastructure, plunging millions into dire need. A million people have crossed Sudan’s borders since 15 April, fleeing from harm as the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces battle for power. Many civilians have flocked to the coastal city, which has so far been spared in the fighting and is now home to government officials, the United Nations and Sudan’s only functioning airport. But days go by and only a lucky few manage to get inside the building to hand in their paperwork, as others wait outside for their turn. Those lucky enough to get inside the building have to enter “a cramped room, terrible heat and no chairs,” an applicant, Shehab Mohammed, told Agence France-Presse. “It’s so crowded it’s hard to breathe. Imagine what these children and old people are feeling,” Fares Mohammed, another applicant, said. More than 2.8 million people have fled the Sudanese capital Khartoum, where the pre-war population was around five million. Some left immediately for safer places, but others spent months sheltering in their homes, rationing water and electricity while praying that the rockets were farther away than they sounded. More than half the country is in urgent need of humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations, and six million people are on the brink of famine. WITH AFP The post Sudanese desperate for passports appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Small islands take ocean protection case to UN court
Leaders of small island states turned to the UN maritime court on Monday to seek protection of the world's oceans from catastrophic climate change which threaten the very existence of entire countries. The nine island states are asking the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to determine if carbon dioxide emissions absorbed by the oceans can be considered pollution, and if so, what obligations countries have to prevent it. "This is the opening chapter in the struggle to change the conduct of the international community by clarifying the obligation of states to protect the marine environment," said the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne. "The time has come to speak in terms of legally binding obligations rather than empty promises that go unfulfilled," he said, addressing the court in Hamburg, Germany. Ocean ecosystems create half the oxygen humans breathe and limit global warming by absorbing much of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities. But increasing emissions can warm and acidify seawaters, harming marine life. At the heart of the case is the international treaty UNCLOS that binds countries to preventing pollution of the oceans. The UN treaty defines pollution as the introduction by humans of "substances or energy into the marine environment" that leads to harm to marine life. But it does not spell out carbon emissions as a specific pollutant, and the plaintiffs argue that these emissions qualify. Marine heatwave The push for climate justice won a big boost when the UN General Assembly in March adopted a resolution calling on the International Court of Justice to lay out nations' obligations on protecting Earth's climate and the legal consequences they face if they fail to do so. The ICJ's advice is still pending but the action has opened up a new front to bind countries to pledges on reducing emissions. The move at the UN had been led by Vanuatu, which also counts among the islands that had brought Monday's case before the ITLOS. Small islands like Vanuatu are particularly exposed to the impact of global warming, with seawater rises threatening to submerge entire countries. "Just a few years -- this is all we have before the ocean consumes everything my people built across centuries," Tuvalu's Prime Minister Kausea Natano told the court. "If international law has nothing to say about an entire country going underwater... then what purpose does it serve?" he asked, pleading for a clear direction from the court. Across the two-thirds of the planet covered by seas, nearly 60 percent of ocean surface waters experienced at least one marine heatwave in 2022, according to the annual State of the Climate report led by scientists from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This is 50 percent more than pre-industrial levels and "the highest in the modern atmospheric record and in paleoclimate records dating back as far as 800,000 years", the report published this month noted. The world's oceans also set a new temperature record in August. Average sea surface temperatures reached an unprecedented 21 degrees Celsius (69.8 degrees Fahrenheit) for over a week, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, after months of unusually high temperatures. Other island states joining the ITLOS case include The Bahamas, Niue, Palau, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia as well as St Vincent and the Grenadines. Thirty-four other state parties will also participate in the court hearing, with sessions scheduled through to 25 September. The post Small islands take ocean protection case to UN court appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Barbie, David experience ‘more intense’ romance in latest GMA teamup
The breakout and well-loved tandem of Barbie Forteza and David Licauco headlines the TV adaptation-reimagined version of Maging Sino Ka Man. Barbie and David, also known as BarDa, breathe life into the iconic characters of Monique and Carding, originally played by Megastar Sharon Cuneta and Sen. Robin Padilla......»»
Wright Park gets PAGCOR-funded light show
BAGUIO CITY — Visitors of the Upper Wright Park here were treated to a dazzling spectacle after the much-awaited Water Fountain Music and Lights Show was formally inaugurated at the Pool of Pines last 8 September. The city’s newest attraction, whose project concept was approved by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, was funded by the Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc. in the amount of P19 million. BCFI is the corporate social responsibility arm of Solaire Resort and Casino. Baguio’s city government sought the assistance of PAGCOR in the installation of the Water Fountain Music and Lights Show at the Pool of Pines in line with its efforts to breathe new life into the Upper Wright Park while preserving its rich heritage and beauty. According to BCFI Executive Director Filipina Laurena, they readily agreed to partner with the local government of the country’s “Summer Capital” in carrying out the project as they believe in its potential to reinvent the Upper Wright Park’s identity as one of the city’s most visited spots. “Baguio City has always been one of the centers of tourism in the Philippines with its cool climate and scenic attractions. Without a doubt, this Water Fountain Music and Lights will not only add to its charm but also provide every visitor a captivating experience, uniting the harmony of music, the magic of lights and the serenity of the park’s iconic Pool of Pines,” she said. The Water Fountain Music and Lights Show project is part of the casino licensees’ provisional obligation to allot a portion of their revenues to their foundations every month to fund projects related to education, cultural heritage, environment and health. The post Wright Park gets PAGCOR-funded light show appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»