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COMING EMZOOM
GAC Motor Philippines, under the management of Astara Philippines, held a grand ceremony at the Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan, Quezon City, to introduce the all-new GS3 Emzoom to the world. The event signified a significant stride in the brand's ongoing expansion and growth strategy within the Philippine market. "We are proud to host the international debut of the all-new GS3 Emzoom after its reveal in China last December. The GS3 Emzoom is the newest challenger in the scene, set to drive the GAC brand to new heights and zoom through Philippine roads with its fierce and sporty character," said Jun Cajayon, brand head of GAC Motor, Astara Philippines. The launch was attended by Astara executives from both GAC and Peugeot, GAC dealer principals, friends from the banking industry and the motoring media. Also present was newly announced ambassador for the GAC brand, Dingdong Dantes. The GS3 Emzoom launch is a clear testament to GAC's aggressive growth strategy in the Philippines. Astara Philippines, the new distributor of GAC Motor, is rapidly expanding the brand's dealership network. They have increased the number of dealerships from six in January of this year, to 16 dealerships as of this writing, with a target of 20 by the end of 2023. The current dealerships are in Alabang, Bacoor, Tarlac, Pampanga, Pasig, and Davao. New ones are set to open in E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue (C5), Manila Bay, Quezon Avenue, Lipa City, Cainta, Makati, BGC, Batangas City, Cagayan de Oro and Bacolod. The GS3 Emzoom is a trendy and intelligent SUV, perfect for the dynamic and mobile generation. The vehicle carries GAC’s bold and futuristic design language. Angular edges, geometric textures and a dynamic stance give it a sporty yet futuristic industrial aesthetic. Its look is completed by 19-inch alloy wheels, an exhaust sound package and a sporty body kit, exclusive to the top of the range GL variant. The vehicle's front face features what the brand calls the Flying Wing Front Grille and Laser-Eye LED headlights, geometric executions that give the car a sporty attitude while maintaining its sleek and futuristic appearance. Its sides are led by arc shadow blades that lead to its light dart tail lamps. The GS3 Emzoom’s interior combines a trendy aesthetic with functionality and comfort. It includes advanced technological features such as dual screens, a multi-function steering wheel, leather seats, wireless charging, and futuristic AC vents. A sunroof with electric shades provides additional daylight and an airy cabin experience. The wide cabin offers more legroom and shoulder space than its competitors in the sub-compact crossover segment. Ample storage spaces and compartments can fit up to 21 items across the entire vehicle, while its luggage compartment provides a vast amount of cargo space when rear seats are folded flat. Safety has not been compromised in the GS3 Emzoom. It comes packed with industry-standard safety features, including Dual Front Side and Curtain Airbags, seatbelts with Pretensioner and Force Limiters, Hill-start Hold Control, Hill Descent Control, Electronic Parking Brake with Autohold, Electronic Stability Program, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, ISOFIX Child Safety Seat Anchors, and Engine Immobilizer. Moreover, the GS3 Emzoom features a wide range of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems including cruise control,parking sensors, a reverse camera, and other intelligent systems such as High Beam Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Warning. The GS3 Emzoom is powered by a third-generation 1.5 Turbocharged gasoline direct injection engine mated to a seven-speed Wet Dual Clutch Transmission. The robust engine delivers 174 horsepower and 270 Nm of torque, combining power and efficiency for a smooth, energetic drive. The GS3 Emzoom is available in three variants: 1.5L GS DCT priced at P 998,000, 1.5L GB DCT at P1,098,000, and the top-of-the-range 1.5L GL DCT at P 1,198,000. Five colors are on offer, namely, Salt Lake Blue (the launch color), Graphene Grey (matte finish), Moonlight Grey, Ivory White, and Superstar Silver. Potential customers can book their reservations for the all-new GS3 Emzoom at all GAC Motor dealerships nationwide or through their website. All units come with a five-year warranty and customer deliveries will commence next month. The post COMING EMZOOM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rubbing vaginal fluid on C-section babies boosts development: study
Babies born by cesarean section don't acquire the same healthy bacteria as those delivered vaginally, a setback to the development of their immune system thought to increase their risk of certain diseases later in life. But a new study, published Thursday in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, finds that exposing C-section babies to their mother's vaginal fluids after birth successfully restores this microbial balance, and has neurodevelopment benefits, too. The study used rigorous methods but was small, involving just 68 infants. Coauthor Jose Clemente of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai told AFP that if the findings are confirmed in bigger clinical trials, the technique could be used as a low-cost way to ensure C-section newborns start life on the same footing as vaginally delivered infants. "If the results can be generalizable to a larger population, then ideally we would like to see that this becomes a part of standard of care," he said. It comes as C-section rates are on the rise globally, now accounting for around one in every three births in the United States, though the World Health Organization estimates only 10-15 percent are medically necessary. Past research has shown infants born by C-section have vastly different gut bacteria composition compared to those born vaginally. The latter receive their early gut bacteria from their mother's birth canal, while C-section babies receive theirs mainly from their mothers' skin, breast milk and the environment. These differences tend to disappear by around the age of one, but even so, they can have certain lasting impacts, raising the risk for asthma, allergies and diabetes. 'Vaginal seeding' In the new study, Clemente, an expert on the role of the microbiome in human health, collaborated with colleagues at the Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China to test out a technique known as "vaginal seeding," or smearing newborns with vaginal fluid. Chinese colleagues, led by researcher Yan He, rubbed 32 newborns delivered by C-section with a gauze soaked with their mother's vaginal fluids, and another 36 newborns with a gauze soaked with saline as a control. The gauze was placed inside the mothers' vaginas about an hour before C-section. Applying it to babies took about 30 seconds, starting with the mouth and face and moving to the rest of the body. Mothers were tested in advance to make sure they did not have sexually transmitted diseases or group B streptococcus. No infants experienced severe adverse events as a result of the experiment. At six-weeks-old, the group exposed to vaginal fluid had gut bacteria that was more "mature" and more characteristic of vaginally delivered babies than the group given the saline placebo. The team also looked at the babies' neurodevelopment at three months and six months using a standard questionnaire to ask their mothers about milestones, such as whether the babies were able to make simple sounds or had begun rolling or getting in the crawl position. The infants who received the vaginal seeding scored significantly higher at both three and six months. "We think this is partially because of how microbes are producing certain chemical compounds that might impact brain function," said Clemente, an expanding field of study that is backed by animal research. Crucially, he stressed, the experiment was "triple blinded," meaning nobody involved (mothers, healthcare providers or researchers) knew beforehand which babies belonged to which group, in order to eliminate any temptation to make the results match expectations. Dorothy Bishop, a developmental neuropsychology expert at the University of Oxford, who was not involved in the study, praised the "clever design," and said the team had laid the groundwork for bigger trials by establishing the safety and feasibility of the technique. However, she stressed that they had not yet proven developmental benefit and that the test scores from the placebo group "seem pretty average" rather than suggesting impairment. Next, Clemente is looking to expand the study with his Chinese collaborators to move the procedure closer to clinical practice, while he has another ongoing study assessing whether it reduces the risk of food allergies. In the meantime, he says, families should not try to replicate the procedure outside of clinical research settings. The post Rubbing vaginal fluid on C-section babies boosts development: study appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Suez Canal traffic resumes after broken down tanker tugged away
Egypt deployed three tugboats Sunday to tow away an oil tanker that had broken down and caused brief delays in the Suez Canal, authorities in charge of the vital waterway said. Traffic in both directions returned to normal after a brief disruption when the Malta-flagged Seavigour experienced a "machinery malfunction" while en route from Russia to China, the Suez Canal Authority said. Three tugboats "successfully towed and moored the ship" at a shipyard where the technical fault will be fixed before the tanker "resumes its crossing", according to a statement. Brief disruptions caused by ships breaking down or running aground are common in the waterway, through which about 10 percent of global maritime trade passes. Most are refloated within hours, allowing traffic to resume. In March 2021 the giant container ship Ever Given caused a nearly week-long stoppage in Suez traffic after it became lodged diagonally in the waterway. The disruption cost billions of dollars in shipping delays, with Egypt losing between $12 million and $15 million for every day of the closure. The canal is a major source of much-needed foreign currency for cash-strapped Egypt, earning it $8 billion in transit fees in 2022. The post Suez Canal traffic resumes after broken down tanker tugged away appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Iraq unveils $17-B transport project linking Europe and Mideast
Iraq on Saturday presented an ambitious plan to turn itself into a regional transportation hub by developing its road and rail infrastructure, linking Europe with the Middle East. Once completed, the $17 billion project known as the "Route of Development" would span the length of the country, stretching 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) from the northern border with Turkey to the Gulf in the south. Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani announced the project during a conference with transport ministry representatives from Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. "We see this project as a pillar of a sustainable non-oil economy, a link that serves Iraq's neighbors and the region, and a contribution to economic integration efforts," Sudani said. While further discussions are required, any country that wishes "will be able to carry out part of the project", the Iraqi parliament's transport committee said, adding the project could be completed in "three to five years". "The Route of Development will boost interdependence between the countries of the region," Turkey's ambassador to Baghdad Ali Riza Guney said, without elaborating on what role his country would play in the project. War-ravaged and beset by rampant corruption, oil-rich Iraq suffers from dilapidated infrastructure. Its roads, riddled with potholes and poorly maintained, are in terrible condition. Those connecting Baghdad to the north cross areas where sporadic attacks are still carried out by remnants of the Islamic State group. Sudani has prioritized the reconstruction of the country's road network, along with upgrading its failing electricity infrastructure. Lack of 'fluidity' Developing the road and rail corridor would allow Iraq to capitalize on its geographical position, with the aim of making the country a transportation hub for goods and people moving between the Gulf, Turkey, and Europe. Work has already started to increase capacity at the commercial port of Al-Faw, on the shores of the Gulf, where cargo is to be unloaded before it embarks on the new road and rail links. The project also includes the construction of around 15 train stations along the route, including in the major cities of Basra, Baghdad, and Mosul, and up to the Turkish border. The Gulf, largely bordered by Iran and Saudi Arabia, is a major shipping zone, especially for the transportation of hydrocarbons extracted by countries of the region. Zyad al-Hashemi, an Iraqi consultant on international transport, cast doubt on the plan to develop the country into a transportation hub, saying it lacks "fluidity". "Customers prefer to transport their goods directly from Asia to Europe, without going through a loading and unloading process," that would see containers moved between ships and road or rail, he said. Transport is a key sector in the global economy and Iraq's announcement is the latest in other planned international mega-projects, including China's "Belt and Road Initiative" announced in 2013 by its President Xi Jinping. The planned works in that project would see 130 countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa connected through land and sea infrastructure providing greater access to China. The post Iraq unveils $17-B transport project linking Europe and Mideast appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New air cargo route links central China air hub, Türkiye
ZHENGZHOU, May 17 (Xinhua) -- A Turkish Airlines cargo plane arrived at the Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport on Tuesday, marking the launch of the air cargo route linking Istanbul with Zhengzhou, the capital city of central China's Henan Province. The cargo service uses an A330-200F aircraft and runs three times a week. The opening of the cargo route is expected to enhance economic and trade links.....»»
US, South Africa in spat over arms-to-Russia charge
The US envoy to South Africa on Thursday accused the country of having covertly provided arms to Russia, a charge that drew an angry rebuke from Pretoria. Ambassador Reuben Brigety told a media briefing the US believed weapons and ammunition had been laden onto a Russian freighter that docked at a Cape Town naval base in December. "We are confident that weapons were loaded onto that vessel and I would bet my life on the accuracy of that assertion," Brigety said, according to a video of the remarks. "The arming of Russia by South Africa... is fundamentally unacceptable." President Cyril Ramaphosa's office hit back, saying it was "disappointing" that Brigety had "adopted a counter-productive public posture." The remarks "undermine the spirit of cooperation and partnership" between the two nations, Ramaphosa's spokesman Vincent Magwenya said in a statement. "While no evidence has been provided to date to support these allegations, the government has undertaken to institute an independent enquiry to be led by a retired judge." In Washington, the State Department took a noticeably milder tone than the outspoken ambassador and welcomed the promise of a probe. "We continue to be committed to our affirmative agenda with our South African partners," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters, pointing to cooperation on public health, climate and trade. He declined to spell out any repercussions for South Africa, after repeated US threats to punish China if it sends arms to Russia. Neutral approach South Africa, which wields moral clout for its victory over apartheid, says it wants to stay neutral over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has championed dialogue to end the war. But critics cite a number of recent incidents as evidence of a tilt towards the Kremlin. Earlier this year, it held a joint military exercise with Russia and China, and last month a sanctioned Russian military cargo plane landed at an air force base in the middle of the night to deliver what defence authorities described as "diplomatic mail." Ambassador Brigety appeared to refer to a previously known episode, when the Lady R, a cargo vessel under Western sanctions flying a Russian flag, docked at South Africa's largest naval base. "Among the things we noted was the docking of the cargo ship in the Simon's Town naval base between 6th to 8th December 2022, which we are confident uploaded weapons and ammunition onto that vessel in Simon's Town as it made its way back to Russia," the envoy said, according to news outlet News24. The US would like South Africa to start "practising its non-alignment policy", he added. The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), accused the government of trampling on South Africa's values and interests "in favor of a global war-mongerer and despot" and warned of "major consequences". "It means that our main investment and trading partners cannot trust us. This is... treasonous in terms of how they have compromised South Africa and our interests," DA lawmaker Kobus Marais, the shadow minister of defense, told AFP. The rand, which had been softening against the dollar in recent days, dropped sharply, reaching its lowest point in three years, after news of the ambassador's remarks spread. Tightrope South Africa, which has strong economic and trade relations with the United States and Europe, has been walking a diplomatic tightrope over the Ukraine conflict. Trade with Russia is much smaller, but Pretoria has ties with Moscow dating back decades, to when the Kremlin supported the ANC in its struggle against apartheid. It is a member of BRICS -- a grouping bringing together Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- and has advocated for multilateralism as a counterbalance to a US-led international order. In March, it was faced with a diplomatic dilemma after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is due to attend a BRICS summit in South Africa in August. The warrant meant that Pretoria would have to detain Putin on arrival. In response, last month Ramaphosa said the ANC had resolved that South Africa should quit the ICC -- before backtracking hours later citing what his office called a communications "error." Eurasia Group, a think-tank, said in a note that Brigety's comments were likely an attempt "to influence South Africa to change its neutral stance on the Russia/Ukraine conflict." The post US, South Africa in spat over arms-to-Russia charge appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SpaceX will try to launch most powerful rocket ever Monday
SpaceX plans to carry out its first test flight on Monday of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, designed to send astronauts to the Moon and eventually beyond. The launch is scheduled to take place at 7:00 am (1200 GMT) from the sprawling Texas base of the private space company owned by billionaire Elon Musk. Fallback times are scheduled later in the week if Monday's attempt is postponed. The US space agency NASA has picked the Starship capsule to ferry its astronauts to the Moon as part of the Artemis III mission, set for late 2025 at the earliest. Starship consists of a reusable capsule that carries crew and cargo and the first-stage Super Heavy booster rocket. The 164-foot (50-meter) tall Starship spacecraft sits atop the 230-foot tall Super Heavy rocket. SpaceX conducted a successful test-firing of the 33 Raptor engines on the first-stage booster of Starship in February. The Super Heavy booster was anchored to the ground during the test-firing, called a static fire, to prevent it from lifting off. The rocket has never flown in its full configuration, powered by the first stage. "Success maybe, excitement guaranteed!" Musk tweeted late Friday. NASA will take astronauts up to lunar orbit itself in November 2024 using its own heavy rocket called the Space Launch System (SLS), which has been in development for more than a decade. Starship is both bigger and more powerful than SLS. It generates 17 million pounds of thrust, more than double that of the Saturn V rockets used to send Apollo astronauts to the Moon. SpaceX foresees eventually putting a Starship into orbit, and then refueling it with another Starship so it can continue on a journey to Mars or beyond. The idea of a reusable launcher, Musk's broad strategy, is to reduce the price. Each Starship flight could eventually cost "less than $10 million," he said early last year. Other super heavy rockets under development include Blue Origin's New Glenn, China's Long March 9 and Russia's Yenisei. The post SpaceX will try to launch most powerful rocket ever Monday appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippines, China ink deal on cargo processes
The Philippines and China have signed an agreement that would fast-track cargo processes between the two countries in a bid to improve trade facilitation......»»
New cargo route links Philippines Davao with China s Tianjin
TIANJIN, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Tianjin Air Cargo, a cargo carrier based in China's Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, has launched a direct cargo flight service connecting Nanning, the capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Davao City, an important economic center in the southern Philippines. On Tuesday, the service's first outbound flight left Nanning for Davao and arrived in the afternoon of t.....»»
The Tianzhou-5 cargo ship has been successfully launched to supply the Tiangong space station
Caracas. – China declared The launch of the Tianzhou-5 cargo spacecraft, loaded with supplies to power the station, which is in the final stage of.....»»
Partial closure of China port to affect Philippines
Further setbacks face the country’s shipments as peak holiday season draws near following the partial closure of China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan port, the world’s third busiest cargo port......»»
China conducts search operations but finds no trace of missing cargo vessel crew
Majority of the cargo vessel's crew are still missing, 36 of whom are Filipino. It has been over three weeks since the ship sank off the coast of Japan......»»
Cebu Customs intercepts P4.5M of misdeclared ‘ukay-ukay’
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Customs officials in Cebu on Thursday, September 10, intercepted a cargo containing misdeclared used clothes, commonly referred to as ‘ukay-ukay’. The Bureau of Customs in Cebu (BOC – Cebu), in an official statement, said the misdeclared goods worth P4.5 million were shipped from China. They were to be sold as ‘ukay-ukay’ […] The post Cebu Customs intercepts P4.5M of misdeclared ‘ukay-ukay’ appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Progressive : Arlene Damot on embracing married women, all ages in Miss Universe
Mrs. Universe 2023 2nd runner-up Arlene Damot sees the Miss Universe Organization's decision to lift the age requirement and welcome married women as a progressive move......»»
Filipina rescued from mail-order bride syndicate
The Bureau of Immigration rescued a suspected victim of a mail-order bride syndicate, targeting Filipinas sent to China under false pretenses......»»
US reaffirms support for Philippines sovereignty amid its tensions with China
Washington, DC [US], March 28 (ANI): US Secretary of Defence Llyod Austin has reaffirmed Washington's commitment to Manila in defending its sovereignty while criticising China's "dangerous" water cannon attack at the Philippine supply mission vessel on Saturday. In a telephonic conversation between Austin and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, the US Secretary reiterated the US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty.....»»
Philippines announces decisive measures amid tensions with China
Manila [Philippines], March 28 (ANI): Amid the escalating tensions in the South China Sea, Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr has announced decisive measures to protect his country's sovereignty and maritime rights while ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Marcos, known as Bongbong, said that the measures, aimed at addressing what he said is the "open, unabating, and illegal" actions by China's Coast.....»»
China urges ROK to stay prudent on South China Sea issue: Chinese FM
BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- China urges the Republic of Korea (ROK) to stay prudent when it comes to the South China Sea issue, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday. Lin made the remarks at a regular press briefing when responding to a media query about ROK Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's biased and unfactual comments on the South China Sea issue over the past few days. "China.....»»
Chinese Diplomat Liu Jianchao Meets With Singapore s Leaders
singapore - Liu Jianchao, the senior diplomat widely expected to become China's next foreign minister, said "the world needs connectivity, not decoupling," during a four-day visit to Singapore.Liu, who heads the international department of the Communist Party, was in the city-state to meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the country's incoming leader, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.During a s.....»»
Philippines’s Marcos pledges action in response to China’s ‘dangerous attacks’
President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines has issued a strong statement in response to recent confrontations in the South China Sea, stating that the country.....»»