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Baron Geisler nagsayang ng P1M noon para sa iligal na droga
AMINADO ang aktor na si Baron Geisler na nagsayang siya ng P1 million noon para lang sa ipinagbabawal na droga. Sa kanyang panayam sa writer na si Kobe Adam JoshuaLaurena ay inamin niyang gumastos siya ng malaking halaga para sa droga. Chika kasi ni Baron, noon raw talaga ay hindi niya alam kung paano maayos.....»»
President Marcos in Brunei for royal wedding
President Marcos left last night for Brunei to attend the wedding today of Prince Abdul Mateen and Yang Mulia Dayang Anisha Rosnah Binti Adam upon the invitation of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah......»»
FBI seizes New York Mayor Eric Adam s electronic devices
New York [US], November 11 (ANI): FBI agents have seized New York Mayor Eric Adams' electronic devices. This comes as part of a criminal inquiry into whether Adams' 2021 campaign conspired with the Turkish government and others to funnel money into its coffers, The New York Times reported. The New York mayor was approached by agents after an event in Manhattan on Monday evening. They climbed into his SUV with him and, pur.....»»
Villagers displaced by gunfight in Maguindanao del Norte
COTABATO CITY --- The police and military have urged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to disengage and reconcile two of its groups that clashed on Monday morning in Maguindanao del Norte, causing the displacement of about a hundred villagers. The two groups figured in running gunfights for about four hours in Linib and Tinindanan areas in Barangay Bugawas in Datu Odin Sinsuat town, the local police stated in a report on Tuesday to Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Lt. Col. Esmael Madin, chief of the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station, and officials of the Maguindanao del Norte Provincial Police Office identified the leaders of the feuding groups as Commanders Salim and Adam, who has more than 30 followers each, armed with assault rifles and grenade launchers. Evacuees from the conflict-torn villages are convinced the hostilities were related still to the October 30 synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, where both groups had favored candidates. Talks are spreading around Datu Odin Sinsuat and in this city hinting that the incident, which affected more than 30 families, could be connected to the gun attack on Monday morning in the same barangay that resulted in the death of two residents, Juhaimen Ube and Mistah Alon and left four others wounded. The slain duo, who were attacked while on their way to a polling site, campaigned for certain candidates for barangay elective posts, according to their relatives. They are both related to members of one of the two groups that clashed in Linib and Tinindanan on Monday, according to traditional community Moro leaders. Army Major Gen. Alex Rillera, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, said he has directed their units in Datu Odin Sinsuat and nearby towns to secure Barangay Bugawas to prevent a repeat of Monday’s skirmishes in the area. The two groups scampered away when they sensed that soldiers backed by armored combat vehicles dispatched to secure Barangay Bugawas were closing in......»»
Korea s Tom Kim successfully defends Shriners Children s Open title
Korean star Tom Kim became the first golfer to successfully defend the Shriners Children's Open in 24 years after he closed with a 5-under 66, clinching a one-stroke win over Canada's Adam Hadwin......»»
FIRST LOOK: Meet the gods, campers of ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ series
Also part of the series are Jay Duplass as Hades, Adam Copeland as Ares, and Lin Manuel-Miranda as Hermes.....»»
Paris Fashion Week opens with drama and dashes of humor
Paris is the last of the big four fashion weeks in the busy September calendar that sees back-to-back events in London, New York, and Milan. The biggest story this season has been a new creative director at Gucci. The debut by Sabato de Sarno in Milan on Friday was a relatively low-key affair but gave a boost to the share price of French parent company Kering, which has been struggling lately to keep up with its major rival, LVMH. The first day of Paris Fashion Week always focuses on emerging designers and there was excitement this year about avant-garde newcomer Marie Adam-Leenaerdt from Belgium, who brought a dash of much-needed humor to the opening show. It opened with a chorus singing "Let's go to the beach!" only to follow it with a series of decidedly un-beachy gray, formal, and structured outfits before introducing some more summery Barbie pink and sky-blue dresses. "There's something very Belgian about it," the 27-year-old designer told AFP backstage. "It's important for me to play with the codes and have some paradoxes." Also showing on Monday was Victor Weinsanto, a former classical dancer who trained in fashion with Jean Paul Gaultier and loves to bring cabaret to the catwalk. There were doses of humor -- opening with an extravagant wedding gown that he said was designed for "a woman who gets married entirely in Swarovski". But he also showed a more serious side, with structured and chic pieces alongside more offbeat items like hooded suit jackets. Far from a newcomer, but long absent from the official line-up in Paris, is Pierre Cardin, which returned to the catwalk for the first time in 25 years last season and was back with a glamorous show on Monday night. The label's founder died in 2020 and his nephew Rodrigo Basilicati-Cardin is currently in charge but is embroiled in a bitter succession dispute with family members who have accused each other of fraud and other crimes. The post Paris Fashion Week opens with drama and dashes of humor appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
9 Works Theatrical to stage ‘Rent’ in 2024
9 Works Theatrical has announced that it will restage the Broadway musical Rent in 2024. Following the successful run of tick, tick… BOOM!, another production by Jonathan Larson will be mounted as the local theater company’s first production next year. 9 Works Theatrical previously staged Rent in 2010 and 2011 with Gian Magdangal as Roger, Sheree Bautista as Mimi, Fredison Lo as Mark, OJ Mariano as Tom, Job Bautista as Angel, Jenny Villegas as Joanne, Lorenz Martinez as Benjamin and Carla Guevara-Laforteza as Maureen. As a teaser, tick, tick… BOOM! cast members Kayla Rivera, Reb Atadero, Khalil Ramos, Tanya Manalang-Atadero, Vien King and Jef Flores sang an excerpt of “Seasons of Love” during the show’s curtain call. “You won’t have to wait 525,600 minutes to catch this musical,” 9 Works wrote on Instagram. The theater company had earlier announced auditions for Rent would take place on 25 to 26 September at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater in BGC, Taguig City. Applicants should bring their latest photo, curriculum vitae and should prepare a maximum of 16 Bars of two pop-rock songs in English of varying tempos. They are required to bring their own music sheet or minus one (in a thumb drive or phone). Broadway songs and songs from Rent are not allowed. The registration period is until 11 September. All auditionees must register via tinyurl.com/9wtRENT2024AuditionForm. Applicants who will receive a text message with their assigned time slot must be in the venue at least one hour before their slot. 9 Works is looking for the roles for: 1. Roger (male, tenor, must know how to play the guitar); 2. Mark (male, tenor); 3. Mimi (female, mezzo-soprano, dancer); 4. Angel (male/ transgender, tenor, dancer); 5. Benny (male, baritone-tenor); 6. Tom (male, bass-baritone); 7. Maureen (female, mezzo-soprano); 8. Joanne (female, mezzo-soprano); and 9. ensemble (male/ female, can dance, various vocals). Applicants must be 22 years old and up. Rent, set in the late 1980s and early 1990s, follows a group of friends living in Manhattan’s East Village amid issues of poverty, drug abuse, HIV/AIDS epidemic, social tension and political unrest. It is loosely based on Giacomo Puccini, Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa’s opera La Bohème. It won the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and four Tony Awards the same year including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Original Score and Best Performance by a Featured Actor. In 2005, director Chris Colombus helmed its movie adaptation with Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Rosario Dawson, Jesse L. Martin and Idina Menzel in the cast. The post 9 Works Theatrical to stage ‘Rent’ in 2024 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......»»
Emma Stone stars in sex-mad Frankenstein-like tale at Venice
With Emma Stone as a sex-mad reanimated corpse in "Poor Things" and Wes Anderson presenting his take on Roald Dahl, the Venice Film Festival was taken on some wild rides on Friday. "Poor Things" was set to premiere on the Lido without its star to light up the red carpet, due to the ongoing Hollywood strike barring actors from publicity work. Rumors at the festival suggest the horror-comedy, in which Stone plays a woman brought back from the dead by a mad scientist, could be an early awards frontrunner. Its Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos has established himself as one of the most imaginative and daring filmmakers of his generation. His previous film "The Favourite", also starring Stone, won the Jury Prize in Venice in 2018 and best actress for Olivia Colman, paving the way to her Oscar triumph. "Poor Things" is among 23 movies competing for the top prize, the Golden Lion, to be awarded on September 9 by a jury including directors Damien Chazelle, Jane Campion and last year's winner Laura Poitras. Anderson's Dahl Meanwhile, another indie darling, Wes Anderson, was feted in Venice with a lifetime achievement award. He presented "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar", a 40-minute film based on a short story by beloved children's author Roald Dahl. It is one of four Dahl adaptations the whimsical director has made for Netflix featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, Ben Kingsley, Dev Patel and Ralph Fiennes. As always, there is a meticulous, chocolate-box feel to Anderson's film. "It's more like a little theatrical presentation that we found a way to film," Anderson told reporters. The director, who previously adapted Dahl's "Fantastic Mr Fox", said he was strongly against moves to alter the author's books for "sensitivity" reasons. Asked about recent revisions to Dahl's books to remove character descriptions like "fat" and "crazy", Anderson said: "No one who is not an author should be modifying someone's book." He added: "I understand the motivation for it, but I'm in the school where, when the piece is finished... the audience participates in it, we know it, so when it's done, it's done." Strikes and waivers Also premiering on Friday was "The Promised Land" starring Mads Mikkelsen, described by The Hollywood Reporter as a "gripping historical epic" about a low-born soldier seeking to better himself. Mikkelsen was able to attend the festival for the Danish film, but Venice has lost out on several star appearances due to the actor and writer strike in Hollywood, which is primarily over pay and the potential threat of AI. Some independent films have been given a waiver, including Michael Mann's "Ferrari" which premiered on Thursday, allowing lead actor Adam Driver to attend. But others such as Stone and Bradley Cooper (for his Leonard Bernstein biopic "Maestro") are not coming, costing the studios valuable PR shots of their stars arriving by gondola and working the red carpet. Still to come in Venice are new movies by Sofia Coppola ("Priscilla" about Elvis Presley's wife) and David Fincher ("The Killer" starring Michael Fassbender and Tilda Swinton). There are also out-of-competition premieres for controversial directors Woody Allen ("Coup de Chance") and Roman Polanski ("The Palace"). The post Emma Stone stars in sex-mad Frankenstein-like tale at Venice appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hollywood strikes sap glamour of Venice Film Festival
Historic Hollywood strikes have robbed the Venice Film Festival of some of its usual glitz as it launched its 80th edition Wednesday, but a raft of big-name -- and controversial -- directors are keeping the film world buzzing. The world's longest-running film festival was due to start with "Challengers", a tennis romance with one of the biggest stars of her generation, Zendaya. But it was replaced at the last minute by an Italian war drama, "Comandante", due to the ongoing strikes by Hollywood actors and writers -- primarily over pay and the threat of AI -- that has barred them from publicity work. The rest of the line-up was largely unaffected: the festival will see Emma Stone as a Frankenstein-like creature in "Poor Things" and Bradley Cooper as legendary conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein in "Maestro", among several Oscar contenders. But the strikes mean those stars will not be lighting up the red carpet. Adam Driver has been given an exemption to show up for "Ferrari" on Thursday because the biopic by Michael Mann ("Heat") was made outside the studio system. Jessica Chastain is also expected for the premiere of "Memory" at the end of the festival, according to Variety. It is her first outing since her Oscar-winning turn in "The Eyes of Tammy Faye". 'Apocalyptic ideas' All are competing for the top prize Golden Lion, to be awarded on 9 September by a jury led by Damien Chazelle, director of "La La Land". He told AFP he understood the anxiety around AI -- which many fear could lead to computer-generated actors and scripts replacing humans -- but said some of the fears may be overblown. "People have some apocalyptic ideas about it," said Chazelle a few hours before the festival opening. "I agree it's a major technological change like the internet or radio, and it will overturn a lot of things, but the art will survive." Other attention-grabbing entries include Sofia Coppola's "Priscilla", about Elvis Presley's wife, and "The Killer" by David Fincher, who returns to the Lido two decades after "Fight Club" was famously booed at the festival only to become a cult hit later. 'Absolutely incomprehensible' But with less star gossip, a lot of attention risks being absorbed by the inclusion of Woody Allen with "Coup de Chance" (his 50th film and first in French) and Roman Polanski with "The Palace", both in the out-of-competition section. Allen, 87, was investigated for an alleged assault on his adopted daughter in the 1990s. Though cleared by police, he has been effectively blackballed by Hollywood. Festival director Alberto Barbera defended Allen's inclusion, telling AFP: "He has been completely absolved. Twenty-five years have passed and, for me, the hostility towards him, especially in the United States, is absolutely incomprehensible." Polanski, 90, remains a fugitive from the United States over a conviction for raping a minor in the 1970s. The victim has long since forgiven him, but he faces other assault allegations. The festival says he is not attending. Barbera acknowledged it was more complex with Polanski but said: "The history of art is full of artists who were criminals, and we nonetheless continue to admire their work." There are also out-of-competition premieres for a 40-minute Wes Anderson film, "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar", based on a Roald Dahl tale, and a new feature from indie favorite Richard Linklater, "Hit Man". "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial", the final film from William Friedkin ("The Exorcist"), who died this month at 87, is also playing out of competition. The post Hollywood strikes sap glamour of Venice Film Festival appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
FEU Theater Guild presents eight monologues on love
The Far Eastern University Theater Guild, being the oldest theater organization in Manila’s University Belt, has already established a solid reputation in the country for its numerous productions, such as Confessions, Usapang X, Ang Pinakamakisig na Nalunod sa Buong Daigdig, Kung Paano Maghiwalay, Halu Halo, and laboratory productions like the Saltik and Tamdula. Closing the organization’s 89th theater season, the FTG proudly presents Tamdula VI: Love-Oratory, a series of eight monologues on love — ranging from the romantic and sexual to the intimate and familial. Tamdula VI: Love-Oratory is a laboratory production intended to train the FTG members in further enhancing their acting, stage designing, stage management, marketing and branding skills. The production is directed by the FTG’s artistic head, Raffaelle Pascua (BS Psychology, 2024), with FTG’s company manager and assistant director Jonas Cunanan (BA Communication, 2024). Both directors are student artists who have been members of the FTG and have been gaining artistic experience inside and outside of the organization. They are directly guided by FTG’s artistic director Dudz Teraña. Monologues The first play, Against Any-Body written by Drea Achas (BS Psychology, 2024), delves into the imperfections of womanhood and makes a social statement on how their self-acceptance transcends the opinions of everyone else. Starring Julia Ramas (BS Multimedia Arts, 2026) and Gwen Temprosa (BS Psychology, 2026). Ang Pinakawalang Kwentang Kwentong Pag-ibig ni Tanga, written by Teraña, is about the difficulty of moving on from a non-committed relationship. Featuring Adam Labador (BFA Studio Arts, 2026) and Meldy Malig (BS Psychology, 2024). It’s Always You, written by Davewyn Macawile (BA Communication, 2025), is a narrative from the point of view of someone who has been abruptly abandoned by their partner (or what is more popularly called as “ghosting”). Starring Maria Mayano (BA Communication, 2026), Jhoan Gemora (BA International Studies, 2026) and Ryana Azurin (BS Medical Technology, 2025). Shake, Rattle, and Fall, written by Aaron Bayani (BS Computer Science, 2024), explores the twisted nature of one’s obsession and desperation towards finding love. Starring Drea Achas (BS Psychology, 2024) and Jharelle Villalobos (BS Medical Technology, 2025). Mama Kong May Tama, written by Brigitta Marilla (BA International Studies, 2025), tells the story behind the unconditional bond a daughter has with her mother. Starring Heleina Li and Bjorn Pestaño, both BA Communication students from the Class of 2026. Teraña’s Dear God is a comedy that explains the thoughts of an 18-year-old wishing for a boyfriend. Starring Dianne Andallo (BS Tourism Management, 2026) and Renz Dotillos (BA Communication, 2026). Colorblind, written by Franz Luis (BS Hotel and Restaurant Management, 2026), is about a character being medically — and romantically — colorblind. Starring FTG’s surprise guest artist. Paghihintay ng Isang Libong Minuto Para sa Pag-ibig by Teraña is a narrative about the definitions of romantic love and what or how much a person can give. Starring Arvin Javier (BA Communication, 2026). Tickets are priced at P100 for the FEU community including the other branches of FEU, FTG alumni and FEU alumni (with an alumni ID) and P150 for guests. Tamdula VI: Love-Oratory play dates are 29, 30 and 31 August and 1, 2, 4 to 9 September, 6 p.m., at the FEU Center for the Arts Studio, G/F Engineering Building, FEU Manila, Nicanor Reyes Street, Sampaloc, Manila. The post FEU Theater Guild presents eight monologues on love appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bradley Cooper s Maestro among 23 films vying for the Golden Lion at 80th Venice Film Festival
Twenty-three (23) films are competing to win the Golden Lion award at this year's Venice Film Festival, including Adam Driver's "Ferrari" and Bradley Cooper's "Maestro.".....»»
Meta’s Twitter rival Threads launches web version
Threads, Meta's challenger to depose Twitter as the go-to platform for celebrities, companies, and governments, is now available on the web as it seeks to revive its underwhelming launch. A web version of Threads is seen as key to attracting professionals and media types who are the most active users of social media and post mainly from their computers during working hours. "Threads.net is now live for everyone. Let us know what you think," posted Instagram head Adam Mosseri on Thursday, who also leads Threads. Until now, Threads was accessible only as a mobile app on iPhones and Android phones. "The Threads team is working hard to bring this experience to parity with mobile, and will be adding more functionality to the web experience in the coming weeks," a spokesman said. The rival to Twitter (now called X) was rushed out in early July by Meta, which invited its more than a billion Instagram users to download the app. This helped Threads become the fastest-downloaded app ever, crushing the previous record held by AI sensation ChatGPT. However, the initial excitement did not last, with usage by the early adopters falling steadily ever since and users calling out for a web version of the app and other tweaks. Many of the celebrities who were given privileged early access to Threads - such as Jennifer Lopez or American Football star Tom Brady - have posted only rarely. X, owned by Elon Musk, still dominates as the platform for comment and news, but the chaos endured at the platform since the Tesla owner took over has eroded its success and sent users seeking alternatives. One measure of usership, by company Similarweb, showed that daily active users on the Android version of Threads dropped to 10.3 million from the peak of 49.3 million. In the week of the Threads launch early last month, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg cautioned the app would "take time to stabilize, but once we nail that then we'll focus on growing the community." Threads is not available in Europe because parent company Meta is unsure how to navigate the European Union's data privacy legislation. The post Meta’s Twitter rival Threads launches web version appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Foreigner nabbed for assault, unpaid bill
Police arrested a 30-year-old Irish national for physical assault and failure to pay his bill at a local bar located along P. Burgos Street, Barangay Poblacion at dawn yesterday. The suspect, identified as Fitzgibbon Adam reportedly engaged in a drinking spree at the said bar. However, trouble arose when he was presented with a bill amounting to P23,479.50. The bouncer of the said bar, who is also the complainant and victim, said he confronted Adam regarding the unsettled bill. The situation quickly escalated as the suspect refused to pay and grew increasingly unruly. Witnesses recount that Adam, seemingly under the influence, assaulted the victim by striking him on the right side of his face. The victim accompanied the suspect to a nearby ATM in an attempt to retrieve the unpaid sum. However, Adam attempted to escape but the bouncer/victim was able to apprehend him He was subsequently taken into custody by law enforcers from the Poblacion Substation for documentation and underwent a medical examination at the Ospital ng Makati. The suspect is currently detained at the Station Custodial Facility of the Makati City Police Station. The post Foreigner nabbed for assault, unpaid bill appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sell no casino
As a take-off point, let us quote Abraham Lincoln’s words on the legitimate object of government, viz., “It is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done, but cannot do in their separate and individual capacities.” In the case of privatizing Pagcor down to some 45 casinos, it would appear that the “bargain of government spending” is framed along Adam Smith’s theory — “Give me this which I want and you shall have this which you want.” Privatization simply means removal of responsibilities, activities, or assets from the collective realm, but are there not “risks and rewards when we put public tasks into private hands?” All of a sudden — from out of the blue — this government plan to auction off Pagcor is quite disconcerting unless national survival has become a central concern. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez rightly questions, thus, “Why do we sell the goose that lays the golden egg?” Specially so since the agency’s forthcoming net gains are on the uptrend (i.e., P59 billion in 2022 and an estimated P75 billion by the end of this year). So far, the alibi of government is that by selling its casinos — lock, stock, and barrel — Pagcor’s role as “gaming regulator-cum-operator” becomes purely as regulator. In other words, there is that “revolving door problem” which should be avoided. Even granting that this could be a tenable argument for privatization — though never heard of — what would the backlash be? As far as the role of the Governance Commission for GOCCs is concerned, a public enterprise like Pagcor should only be privatized, if and only if, there’s a “government failure;” when it fails to generate revenues for the state; when it becomes reduced to a “non-performing asset;” when it shows “poor grades” in its Corporate Governance Scorecard. Thus, to privatize Pagcor absent these parameters should be interpreted as “implied contempt for government bureaucracy,” albeit misplaced. The sale of the casinos would fetch about P60 to P80 billion — practically within the same threshold of profit intake for any given year, give or take. In recent weeks, it’s as though the Senate’s over-fixated concerns with Pagcor were the POGOs (Philippine offshore gaming operators) alleged as fronts for human trafficking, kidnapping, other sorts of lawlessness. After privatizing the Pagcor casinos, will all these problems then go away? Bottom line, who in his right mind can say that Pagcor isn’t doing any better given that it contributes half of its revenues to the national coffers (i.e., in taxes) and mandated beneficiaries. It is said to be one of the government’s “staunch allies in nation building” and one of the biggest revenue generators. With the casinos out, who will shoulder the fiscal void created when “funded mandates” shift back to becoming unfunded? As a consequence of privatizing the casinos, there will be a number of national government agencies, local government units, non-government organizations, peoples’ organizations, a number of taxes, duties, licenses, fringe benefits — that taken together would no longer bring a “bundle of joy” to mandated beneficiaries who were allocated such subsidies over the years. The next thing that will ensue is the stark truth that Pagcor would cease to be a “responsible partner of the Filipino” — once privatization cuts the umbilical cord of subsidy dependence. In the next cycle, Pagcor would slide down from third place among GOCCS that remit the highest government contribution. As a rule, no GOCC belonging to so-called “billionaires club” should close shop without more justifiable grounds. In short, it should come last in privatization’s pecking order. There’s clearly no compelling reason to sell off the Pagcor casinos by public auction if the projected proceeds to be generated thereof are practically equivalent to the profit intake of any given year. Again, it escapes comprehension why only a handful of policy makers are against this self-inflicted move. The new pack of most-favored operators will quickly recoup their money without needing to gild the lily. What luck! The post Sell no casino appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US surgeons say pig kidney functional in human for more than a month
US surgeons who transplanted a genetically modified pig kidney into a brain-dead patient said Wednesday the organ was still working well after a record 32 days -- a significant step in the quest to close the organ donation gap. The latest experimental procedure is part of a growing field of research aimed at advancing cross-species transplants, testing the technique on bodies that have been donated for science. There are more than 103,000 people waiting for organs in the United States, 88,000 of whom need kidneys. "We have a genetically edited pig kidney surviving for over a month in a human," Robert Montgomery, director of the New York University Langone Transplant Institute, told reporters. "I think there's a very compelling story that exists at this point that I think should give further assurances about starting some initial studies... in living humans." Montgomery carried out the first genetically modified pig kidney transplant to a human in September 2021, followed by a similar procedure in November 2021. There have since been a handful of other cases, with all the experiments running for two or three days. While previous transplants have involved body parts with up to 10 genetic modifications, the latest had just one: in the gene involved in so-called "hyperacute rejection," which would otherwise occur within minutes of an animal organ being connected to a human circulatory system. By "knocking out" the gene responsible for a biomolecule called alpha-gal -- a prime target for roving human antibodies -- the NYU Langone team was able to stop immediate rejection. "We've now gathered more evidence to show that, at least in kidneys, just eliminating the gene that triggers a hyperacute rejection may be enough along with clinically approved immunosuppressive drugs to successfully manage the transplant in a human for optimal performance -- potentially in the long-term," said Montgomery. They also embedded the pig's thymus gland -- which lies around the neck and is responsible for educating the immune system -- in the kidney's outer layer. Adam Griesemer, of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, added that this practice allowed immune cells in the host's body to learn to recognize the pig's cells as its own, preventing a delayed rejection. Both of the patient's own kidneys were removed, then one pig kidney was transplanted and started immediately producing urine. Monitoring showed that levels of creatinine, a waste product, were at optimal levels, and there was no evidence of rejection. No evidence of pig virus Crucially, no evidence of porcine cytomegalovirus -- which may trigger organ failure -- has been detected since the transplant, and the team plan to continue monitoring for another month. The research was made possible by the family of the 57-year-old male patient, Maurice "Mo" Miller, who was found unresponsive in his bathroom in July. Doctors determined he had an aggressive form of brain cancer, and would not wake up. "Though my brother cannot be here, I can say with confidence he would be proud of the fact in the tragedy of his death, his legacy will be helping many people live," his sister Mary Miller-Duffy told reporters. In January 2022, surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical School carried out the world's first pig-to-human transplant on a living patient -- this time involving a heart. He died two months after the milestone, with the presence of porcine cytomegalovirus in the organ later blamed. The donor pig in these experiments came from a herd from Virginia-based biotech company Revivicor. The herd was approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a source of meat for people with hypersensitivity to the alpha-gal molecule, an allergy caused by tick bites. These pigs are bred, not cloned, meaning the process can be more easily scaled. Early so-called xenotransplantation research focused on harvesting organs from primates -- for example, a baboon heart was transplanted into a newborn known as "Baby Fae" in 1984, but she survived only 20 days. Current efforts focus on pigs, which are thought to be ideal donors for humans because of their organ size, their rapid growth and large litter, and the fact they are already raised as a food source. The post US surgeons say pig kidney functional in human for more than a month appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New milk tea collab
Moonleaf Tea Shop brings the gaming and milk tea-loving community together for a legendary collaboration with the number one mobile game in the Philippines, Mobile Legends Bang Bang. Epic teas and treats await—from in-game prizes of skins and diamonds to in-store excitements from August to September 2023. Being the community’s tambayan for their authentic drinks, delectable eats and exciting events, Moonleaf is a staple brand that has become Pinoy’s go-to milk tea shop for years. If the conversation is about being the crowd’s favorite, Mobile Legends Bang Bang knows it too like no other — a well-acclaimed mobile game enjoyed by various types of gamers all over the country. A first in the Philippines, this partnership will excite milk tea enthusiasts and mobile gamers with extraordinary treats coming their way. “Here at Moonleaf, we are passionate about bringing communities together, and gaming is one of these communities. We are excited to launch this collaboration because we see milk tea and Mobile Legends as a perfect pair to give good vibes to everyone,” Mike Magallanes, Moonleaf marketing director. “Over the years, we have been partnering with brands across regions to deliver unique experiences for our gamers, and this is our first-ever collaboration with a local milk tea brand in the Philippines. We think this partnership is perfect because we’re very much in sync in gathering communities and bringing them a legendary experience,” shared Adam Wang, MLBB PH Community manager. Moonleaf will be launching a “Beyond The Clouds’’ menu that features drinks inspired by the game’s newest hero skins: Okinawa Milk Tea x Kagura, Wintermelon Milk Tea x Edith, and Passion Fruit Tea x Xavier. These drinks will retail from P95 to P115 each. There will also be special co-branded cup sleeves that showcase these new skins to excite everyone even more. Selected Moonleaf branches will be dressed up in MLBB-inspired decor and customers can also take home a Moonleaf x Mobile Legends co-branded key ring when they purchase drinks from the Beyond The Clouds menu. Because Moonleaf and Mobile Legends are always about bringing people together, this partnership also launches the Barkada Fight Promo. Here, groups of friends who are up for some healthy competition can brawl in an ML game over a perfectly-brewed cup of Moonleaf milk tea, giving the team MVP a chance to win a sought-after skin and the rest of the team members an exclusive MLBB Beyond The Clouds poster. Interested teams can choose either Dagupan, General Trias, Mindanao Ave, Matatag, or Kalibo Moonleaf branches as their battlefield. Gamers and ML fans can also flaunt their ML knowledge with the Quiz Challenge. Moonleaf and Mobile Legends will give away exclusive MLBB merchandise to winners. Interested players can participate in this contest by scanning a QR code at selected branches to answer the online quiz. This team up also takes the hype to the online world. With the Moonleaf x MLBB Fanart Contest, interested artists are encouraged to design artworks that show an ML hero enjoying a Moonleaf milk tea. Thirty winners can receive special MLBB skins or Moonleaf drinks for this contest. Unleashing more of everyone’s creative prowess, a Pose and Post Photo Contest will also be facilitated. Every customer is encouraged to strike a pose with their Moonleaf x MLBB drink and share it on Moonleaf’s social media pages for a chance to win skins and diamonds as well. The post New milk tea collab appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Possible Chinese malware in US systems a ‘ticking time bomb’: report
The Biden administration believes China has implanted malware in key US power and communications networks in a "ticking time bomb" that could disrupt the military in event of a conflict, The New York Times reported Saturday. The Times, quoting US military, intelligence and security officials, said the malware potentially gave China's People's Liberation Army the ability to disrupt US military operations if Beijing were to move against Taiwan at some point. The systems affected, the Times said, could allow China not only to cut off water, power and communications to US military bases, but also to homes and businesses across the United States. The report comes two months after Microsoft warned that state-sponsored Chinese hackers had infiltrated critical US infrastructure networks. Microsoft singled out Guam, a US Pacific territory with a vital military outpost, as one target but said malicious activity had also been detected elsewhere in the United States. It said the stealthy attack, carried out since mid-2021, was likely aimed at hampering the United States in the event of a regional conflict. Authorities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Britain warned at the same time that Chinese hacking was likely taking place globally, affecting an extensive range of infrastructure. Discovery of the malware, the Times said, sparked a series of meetings in the White House Situation Room involving top military, intelligence and national security officials in an effort to track down and eradicate the code. The newspaper quoted one congressional official as saying the malware operation amounted to "a ticking time bomb." The White House issued a statement Friday that made no mention of China or military bases. "The Biden administration is working relentlessly to defend the United States from any disruptions to our critical infrastructure, including by coordinating interagency efforts to protect water systems, pipelines, rail and aviation systems, among others," said Adam Hodge, acting spokesman for the National Security Council. He added that President Joe Biden "has also mandated rigorous cybersecurity practices for the first time." Reports of the malware operation come at a particularly strained point in US-China relations, with China aggressively asserting its claim that Taiwan is Chinese territory and the US seeking to ban sales of sophisticated semiconductors to Beijing. bbk/dw © Agence France-Presse The post Possible Chinese malware in US systems a ‘ticking time bomb’: report appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Ravishing, irresistible’: ‘Here Lies Love’ opens to solid reviews
Here Lies Love, the groundbreaking musical about former First Lady Imelda Marcos, officially opened on Broadway on Thursday night, 20 July, with an all-Filipino cast led by Tony-winning actor Lea Salonga and a guest list headed by Filipino-American entertainers H.E.R. and Jo Koy, who are among the show’s producers. Giselle Tongi, a known actress in the Philippines before migrating to the United States, is also a co-producer who functions as community/cultural liaison. She was joined at the event by other celebrities of Filipino descent, including actress Tia Carrere, fashion designer Josie Natori and drag performer Manila Luzon. There were also Hollywood figures, such as actors Drew Barrymore and Daniel Dae Kim, comedian-TV host Stephen Colbert, filmmaker Spike Lee, singer-songwriter Shoshana Bean and hairstylist Frederic Fekkai. [gallery size="full" ids="161929,161926,161931"] Philippine-based actors Yassi Pressman and Mark Bautista, plus Liza Soberano, who’s trying her luck in the United States, were in attendance, too, along with fashion photographer BJ Pascual and model-host Joey Mead.The show has received mostly raves so far. Charles Isherwood of The Wall Street Journal praised “the irresistible score” that is “like nothing else on Broadway,” a sentiment shared by Peter Marks of the Washington Post who said the show’s “jolting tunes, melodic and insistent, send scintillating vibrations through your nervous system.” Wrote Greg Evans of Deadline: “The real pull of Here Lies Love is the staging, with a malleable performance space, an audience herded to and fro, and cast members finding perches throughout the venue.” [caption id="attachment_161930" align="aligncenter" width="720"] LEA Salonga and Manila Luzon.[/caption] Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune, meanwhile, pointed to “a couple of formidable assets. One is the Byrne-and-Slim soundscape, which is to my mind more beautiful, more exciting and more surprising than any score on Broadway last season… The second strength is director Alex Timbers’ conceptual staging.” “The groundbreaking, floor-shaking Here Lies Love makes space for itself like no Broadway show ever has,” said Adam Feldman in Time Out New York, with the “immersive production” allowing audience members to “get swept up in the shifting tides and undertows of history.” [caption id="attachment_161933" align="aligncenter" width="449"] FILMMAKER Spike Lee (middle). | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF IG/HERE LIES LOVE[/caption] And Johnny Oleksinki of The New York Post concluded: “Even if Here Lies Love doesn’t reach the emotional highs of Evita… it’s a ravishing sensory experience unlike any other.” Here Lies Love is based on the concept album created by Scottish-American musician/songwriter/record producer David Byrne and English musician/DJ/record producer Fatboy Slim that evolved into a rock musical. It tells the story of Imelda’s rise to power and subsequent fall in the aftermath of the People Power revolution in 1986. The show premiered off-Broadway in 2013 at The Public Theater in New York City. A year later, it moved to the Royal National Theater in London, England, and then was restaged at Seattle Repertory Theater in the U.S. in 2017. Mark Bautista played the role of the late President Ferdinand Marcos in both the London and Seattle productions. In the current Broadway run, Arielle Jacobs plays Imelda and Jose Llana reprises the Ferdinand Marcos role he originated at The Public Theater. Conrad Ricamora takes on the part of Ninoy Aquino, while Lea Salonga portrays Ninoy’s mother Aurora Aquino in a limited run until 13 August. The post ‘Ravishing, irresistible’: ‘Here Lies Love’ opens to solid reviews appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»