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Afghan boxer first reported doping case at Asian Games
An Afghan boxer has been provisionally suspended for failing a doping test at the Asian Games, the International Testing Agency said, the first reported drugs case at the event. The 37-year-old Mohammad Khaibar Nooristani, who was defeated on Monday in the preliminary rounds of the 71kg weight class in Hangzhou, tested positive for two banned substances, the ITA said. Both were anabolic steroids. The boxer was tested four days before his bout but it takes time for positive results to come through. "The sample was collected by the ITA at the Asian Games Hangzhou during an out-of-competition anti-doping control performed on September 21, 2023," the body said Thursday. "The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended with immediate effect. He has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample." Speaking earlier this week, Mani Jegathesan, an adviser to the Olympic Council of Asia's anti-doping committee, warned that drug cheats at the Games would be rooted out. "Every athlete participating in these Games must understand that they could be picked at any time," Jegathesan warned. "That is the best step to ensuring we have a clean event." There are about 12,000 athletes at the 19th Asian Games, more competitors than at the Olympics, and Jegathesan admitted it would be impossible to test them all. Instead, they will prioritize, including picking out those who break world or Asian records. They will also home in on athletes if they receive "intelligence". The post Afghan boxer first reported doping case at Asian Games appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New diabetes drug better for weight loss than Ozempic: research
A new diabetes drug leads to more weight loss and lower blood sugar than its blockbuster rival semaglutide, also known as Ozempic, a review of research said on Saturday. Tirzepatide, sold under the brand name Mounjaro by US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, is currently approved to treat type 2 diabetes in the United States, Europe and most recently the UK. However Eli Lilly is seeking to get the drug authorized in the US for obesity, which would put it further in competition with Danish firm Novo Nordisk's semaglutide drug, known as Ozempic for diabetes treatment or Wegovy for weight loss. After Ozempic went viral on social media earlier this year for its ability to help people lose weight, skyrocketing demand led to occasional supply shortages -- and concerns that people without diabetes or obesity were using it to shed a few kilos. New research, which is being presented at a conference in Germany and has not been peer-reviewed, suggests that Eli Lilly's newer drug could be even more effective. The Greek researchers combined data from 22 previous randomized control trials which separately looked at the two drugs, both of which are taken once a week as an injection. The researchers then used the studies, which covered a total of nearly 18,500 patients with type 2 diabetes, to compare three different doses of both drugs over a period of at least 12 weeks. Lead author Thomas Karagiannis of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki told AFP that for the highest doses, "tirzepatide resulted in an average weight loss that was 5.7 kilograms (12.5 pounds) more than semaglutide". It also led to a two percent reduction in blood sugar levels compared to the highest dose of semaglutide. "However, it is also notable that the highest tripeptide dose was associated with increased gastrointestinal adverse events," Karagiannis added. - Give to those with 'greatest need' - The research will be presented next month at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Germany. Duane Mellor, an expert in evidence-based medicine at the UK's Aston University not involved in the research, cautioned that it was not a full peer-reviewed paper. "It would have been better if it had analyzed data from studies which directly compared the two drugs," he told AFP. Given previous shortages of these drugs, Mellor emphasized that it was essential that both are "given to those with the greatest need," such as people living with type 2 diabetes. A previous study found that the highest dose of tirzepatide leads to an average loss of 15 percent of body weight over 72 weeks. However, like Ozempic, the weight can come back if people stop taking the drug. Both drugs mimic the gastrointestinal hormone GLP-1, activating receptors in the brain involved in appetite regulation. But unlike semaglutide, tirzepatide also targets fellow hormone GIP, which stimulates the release of insulin. Sales of Mounjaro nearly reached $1 billion in the second quarter of this year alone. © Agence France-Presse The post New diabetes drug better for weight loss than Ozempic: research appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
GMA’s Suzette Doctolero comes to the defense of ‘It’s Showtime’, resigns as MTRCB deputy
Suzette Doctolero, Head of Drama Development of GMA and a screenwriter, wrote a screed on her various social media in defense of 'It's Showtime', which has been suspended for 12 days by the MTRCB for what the body deems as various offenses. This is what she wrote: "At bilang mema ako kaya.. In the world of show business, competition fuels progress. Instead of resorting to extreme measures that could be perceived as undermining the rival show, I hope MTRCB aspires to promote fairness and healthy competition in the world of television. This is the only way to ensure our industry’s growth. ...As one of the many deputies of MTRCB, I strongly advocate for a review of the penalty in question (ni hindi ko rin nga ginagamit ang pagiging deputy para ireport ang anumang rival show ng show ko no at delikadeza na lang o hiya sa sarili). Please consider suspending my deputy card na lang rin po. Thanks!" #Delicadeza #mahalKOangIndustriyaNGTV It can be recalled that Doctolero has had various verbal tussles with fans and writers in the past for her vocal opinions about dramas and teleseryes that air on ABS-CBN. The post GMA’s Suzette Doctolero comes to the defense of ‘It’s Showtime’, resigns as MTRCB deputy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Woody Allen would film in NY again if ‘some foolish person’ funds it
Despite being effectively barred from the US film industry, Woody Allen said Monday that he has an idea for a New York film ready to go "if some foolish person" agrees to finance it. Allen was speaking at the Venice Film Festival, where his 50th movie, "Coup de Chance", was about to premiere in the out-of-competition section. It is his first film entirely in a foreign language, having been shot with French actors in Paris. The 87-year-old director told reporters it was "very simple" working in French. "I could tell by the body language and the emotion of the actors without understanding the language when they were being realistic and when they weren't." The film was originally meant to be about Americans in Paris, but he changed his mind. "I thought to myself: It's my 50th film and I love Paris so much that I'll make it in French... And then I could think I'm a genuine European filmmaker," he said. Asked whether he would work in his native New York again, Allen said he already had a "great idea" for a film in the city. "If some guy steps out of the shadows and says we'll finance your film in New York and obey all my terrible strictures -- they can't read the script, they can't know who's in it, they just give me the money and go away -- if some foolish person agrees to that, I'll make a film in New York," he said. "Coup de Chance" ("Stroke of Luck") fits in the classic Allen mould -- a light-hearted dissection of love and infidelity with a beautiful woman at its centre. Allen is blackballed by much of Hollywood due to allegations he molested his adopted daughter in the 1990s, which he says were fabricated by his ex-partner Mia Farrow. But he said he had always been "very, very lucky" in his life and career. "I hope it holds out," he added. "Of course it's early in the afternoon so we'll see..." The post Woody Allen would film in NY again if ‘some foolish person’ funds it appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Woody Allen would film in NY again if ‘some foolish person’ funds it
Despite being effectively barred from the US film industry, Woody Allen said Monday that he has an idea for a New York film ready to go "if some foolish person" agrees to finance it. Allen was speaking at the Venice Film Festival, where his 50th movie, "Coup de Chance", was about to premiere in the out-of-competition section. It is his first film entirely in a foreign language, having been shot with French actors in Paris. The 87-year-old director told reporters it was "very simple" working in French. "I could tell by the body language and the emotion of the actors without understanding the language when they were being realistic and when they weren't." The film was originally meant to be about Americans in Paris, but he changed his mind. "I thought to myself: It's my 50th film and I love Paris so much that I'll make it in French... And then I could think I'm a genuine European filmmaker," he said. Asked whether he would work in his native New York again, Allen said he already had a "great idea" for a film in the city. "If some guy steps out of the shadows and says we'll finance your film in New York and obey all my terrible strictures -- they can't read the script, they can't know who's in it, they just give me the money and go away -- if some foolish person agrees to that, I'll make a film in New York," he said. "Coup de Chance" ("Stroke of Luck") fits in the classic Allen mould -- a light-hearted dissection of love and infidelity with a beautiful woman at its centre. Allen is blackballed by much of Hollywood due to allegations he molested his adopted daughter in the 1990s, which he says were fabricated by his ex-partner Mia Farrow. But he said he had always been "very, very lucky" in his life and career. "I hope it holds out," he added. "Of course it's early in the afternoon so we'll see..." The post Woody Allen would film in NY again if ‘some foolish person’ funds it appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Conflict’s dark realm
The unseen struggle behind the seething conflict in the West Philippine Sea may be more intense than what has been playing out daily in the open, as recounted by global media. Jamestown Foundation, a Washington-based adviser to US policymakers, has identified several groups in the Philippines conducting so-called foreign influence operations, or FIOs, which it identified as groups that have direct lines to the hierarchy of the Communist Party of the People’s Republic of China, or PRC. The conservative think tank, which is often consulted on the sea conflict said an aspect of “PRC statecraft that has garnered comparatively less attention, is the use of covert, coercive and corrupting practices to distort the national Filipino debate on sovereign competition in the (West Philippine Sea, or WPS).” The report stated that the policy falls under the ambit of the Chinese government’s United Front Work Department, or UFWD, which “squares clearly with the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s, or CCP, general emphasis on achieving information dominance.” The function of the UFWD overlaps and interlinks with the intelligence community. It also works closely with the CCP International Liaison Department and the Central Propaganda Department in promoting “political influence inside and outside of the PRC.” The body is on top of an elaborate network of proxies and front organizations “to reward, intimidate, surveil and ‘positively’ influence the overseas Chinese community as well as foreign academic institutions, political parties, and other influential bodies and personalities.” According to the report, the overarching goal is to win the hearts and minds of “targeted entities and unite them in supporting the Communist Party’s goals while neutralizing critics.” It revealed that the UFWD’s battle cry, “To rally our true friends to attack our true enemies,” came directly from China’s Great Leader Mao Zedong, and President Xi Jinping has himself referred to united front work as an “important magic weapon to win the cause of revolution, construction, and reform, and also realize the greatness of the Chinese nation.” The bulk of the foreign influence operations is now focused on the Philippines amid the heightened rift in the WPS. Based on the report, China’s United Front Work has three broad goals: 1) Sow discord in domestic Philippine politics to encourage the population to focus on internal conflict and tensions rather than on China as a main threat; 2) Weaken the US-Philippine defense alliance and promote a pro-PRC government in Manila, and; 3) Shape Philippine public opinion in support of Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea. The report admitted that much remains unknown about the overall bureaucracy of the UFWD in the Philippines, but its affiliated groups are present and active in the country. The Jamestown Foundation said that UFWD proxies have a specific remit to coopt influential Filipinos and “Chinoy” or Chinese-Filipino community members into backing the PRC’s position on regional affairs. “Concerning the South China Sea, the department focuses on manipulating businessmen, civic leaders, academics, journalists, and politicians to act as pliable conduits for promoting and endorsing Beijing’s presence in this littoral area,” the report said. On the American interest in the covert operations of Beijing, it indicated that an uptick in such operations in the Philippines is of immediate concern “given its sensitivity to any Chinese endeavor that could endanger freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” The report urged Washington to develop and prioritize proactive initiatives to help Manila identify and counter foreign interference that China is specifically using to expand and entrench its littoral presence around the archipelago’s northwestern waters. An active role by the US in the “development of a robust and resilient counter interference network in the Philippines would not only assist in stemming Chinese territorial adventurism in the WPS but in doing so would also contribute to weakening the Chinese Communist Party’s drive to recalibrate Asia’s power structure in Beijing’s favor,” the report noted. The battle for the minds would thereon be expected to be fiercer than what transpires on the disputed waters. For Filipinos, vigilance and discernment to separate lies from the truth are essential. The post Conflict’s dark realm appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Russia launches first Moon mission in nearly 50 years
Russia launched its first probe to the Moon in almost 50 years on Friday, a mission designed to give fresh impetus to its space sector, which has been struggling for years and become isolated by the conflict in Ukraine. The launch of the Luna-25 probe is Moscow's first lunar mission since 1976, when the USSR was a pioneer in the conquest of space. The rocket with the Luna-25 probe lifted off at 02:10 am Moscow time (2310 GMT Thursday) from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, according to live images broadcast by the Russian space agency Roscosmos. The spacecraft is due to reach lunar orbit in five days. It will then spend between three and seven days choosing the right spot before landing in the lunar south pole area. "For the first time in history, the lunar landing will take place on the lunar south pole. Until now, everyone has been landing in the equatorial zone," senior Roscosmos official Alexander Blokhin said in a recent interview. Roscosmos expects the probe to land on the Moon around August 21, a source in the agency told AFP. 'The ambition of our ancestors' The spacecraft, which will remain on the Moon for a year, will be tasked with "taking (samples) and analysing the soil" as well as "conducting long-term scientific research", the Russian space agency said. The launch is the first mission in Russia's new lunar programme, which gets underway at a time when Roscosmos is being deprived of its partnerships with the West amid the conflict with Ukraine. According to Russian space expert Vitali Iegorov, the mission is the first time that post-Soviet Russia has attempted to place a device on a celestial body. "The biggest question will be: can it land?" he told AFP, stressing that this mission is "of great importance" for Russia. President Vladimir Putin has pledged to continue Russia's space programme despite sanctions, pointing to the USSR's sending of the first man into space in 1961, at a time of escalating East-West tensions. "We are guided by the ambition of our ancestors to move forward, despite difficulties and external attempts to prevent us from doing so," Putin said at the Vostochny Cosmodrome last year. The mission is important for the Russian space sector, which is suffering from funding problems, corruption scandals and increasing competition from the United States and China, as well as from private initiatives such as billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX. The post Russia launches first Moon mission in nearly 50 years appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Disney streaming service sees subscribers fall again
Disney on Wednesday reported a loss for the most recent quarter, with the number of subscribers to its streaming service shrinking again, but a pledge to crack down on password sharing sent shares higher in after-market trades. The falling Disney+ subscriber numbers -- for the third consecutive quarter -- came as a crippling writers and actors strike hits the US entertainment industry, threatening the company's ability to produce content key to the streaming service's appeal. "It is my fervent hope that we quickly find solutions to the issues that have kept us apart these past few months," chief executive Bob Iger, whose contract has been extended through 2026, said of negotiations with striking actors and writers. "I am personally committed to working to achieve this result." Hollywood television and movie writers went on their first strike in 15 years in May, only to be joined in mid-July by actors. The last time Hollywood writers laid down their pens and keyboards, in 2007, the strike lasted 100 days and cost Los Angeles's entertainment economy around $2 billion. This time, the two sides are clashing as writers demand higher pay, minimum guarantees of stable employment and a greater share of profits from the boom in streaming, while studios say they must cut costs due to economic pressures. The current double whammy of actors and writers is the first since the 1960s. At issue for both labor groups in the age of streaming is better pay and residuals, and the role of artificial intelligence, which they fear the studios would like to use to replace them. As things stand, neither the unions nor the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the body that represents the studios, seems prepared to give ground. Password sharing a 'priority' Disney+ finished the quarter with 146.1 million subscribers, compared with just shy of 158 million in the first three months of this year, the group said. All but a sliver of the loss in Disney+ subscribers took place in India, where the entertainment titan early this year lost rights to stream popular Premier League cricket matches. Rival Netflix recently reported that its subscriptions climbed by nearly six million in the wake of its crackdown on password sharing. Iger told financial analysts that Disney+ password sharing is "significant" and that the company plans to start tackling the situation. "We already have the technical capability to monitor much of this," Iger said. "We're going to get at this issue; we certainly have established this as a real priority." Disney announced it will raise its streaming service subscription price in the United States to $14 monthly starting October 12, an increase of $3. The company also expanded availability of an ad-supported Disney+ tier to Canada and parts of Europe. Third Bridge analyst Jamie Lumley believes Disney+ has "a long road ahead" to becoming profitable. "Our experts expect that 2025 is a more realistic timeline to achieve profitability than next year," Lumley said. "Especially considering factors like the dual strike in Hollywood and relatively weak reception of Disney's content by audiences." Disney shares were up more than 2 percent to $90 in after market trades despite the drop in streaming service subscriber numbers and a posted loss of $460 million in the quarter. The unusual quarterly loss for the company was due to charges related to ending licensing agreements and yanking content from its streaming platforms. Disney reported that its theme parks and cruise business continued to rebound from the pandemic, even while its traditional television offerings face a trend of ad dollars shifting to online viewing alternatives. Iger said in the earnings call that streaming, film studios and theme parks will drive its growth in the coming five years. "On the traditional TV side, losses continue to mount as CEO Bob Iger looks to offload what he now considers non-core assets, including the ABC Network," said Insider Intelligence principal analyst Paul Verna. "These adverse trends are compounded by economic uncertainty, a soft ad market, increased competition in streaming media, labor disputes with screenwriters and actors, and lackluster box office numbers for Disney's films." The post Disney streaming service sees subscribers fall again appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Masculinity with Responsibility’: Who will win the 10th Misters of Filipinas pageant? ?
After months of casting calls and competitions in the Philippines and Filipino communities abroad, Prime Event Productions Philippines Foundation, Inc. formally introduced the 10th Misters of Filipinas official candidates on Sunday evening, 5 August, at the Grand Ballroom of Winford Hotel Manila Resort and Casino. The candidates strutted down the runway in stunning all-white ensembles, showcasing their impeccable ramp skills and physiques in Julius Peggaro swimwear. But the candidates will not just be pageant figures who can strut in swimwear and formal wear. What’s more important is how they can become positive role models to their communities and the country. “That is why the slogan of Misters of Filipinas and Man of the World is Masculinity with Responsibility,” said PEPPS president Carlo Morris Galang. “More than having a handsome face and a gorgeous body, every man who has passed through Misters of Filipinas and Man of the World should have developed a sense of community and have evolved in becoming the best versions of themselves so that they contribute to society. Everyone who became part of our 10 years is just that,” he added. Adding glamour and sophistication to the event were hosts Ryan Tercero, Miss Fitness Super Model World Philippines Kristel Galang and Mr. Fitness Super Model World Philippines Mayko Toledo. “It was a long search for the official candidates, but I am confident that we have a good batch this year,” said Galang. “These men came from various backgrounds such as event hosting, film acting, modeling and other occupations. They will now set off on their journey for the titles that will have the winners competing in various international competitions.” The candidates are hoping to win one of the coveted titles of the competition and follow on the heels of Man Hot Star International 2023 Jovy Bequillo, Mister Runway Model Universe 2022 Junichi Yabushita, Mister Model Worldwide 2018 Carlo Pasion, Mister Universe Tourism 2018 Ion Perez, Mister Tourism and Culture Universe 2018 Yves Campos, Man of the Year 2016 Karan Singhdole and Mister International 2014 Neil Perez. The finals night will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, 17 September, at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City. The post Masculinity with Responsibility’: Who will win the 10th Misters of Filipinas pageant? ? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dozens of swimmers fall ill after UK triathlon competition
At least 57 people suffered from diarrhea and vomiting after swimming in the sea during the UK leg of the World Triathlon Championship Series, health officials have said. Around 2,000 people took part in the events in Sunderland, northeast England, last weekend, which included swimming off the city's Roker beach. The UK Health Security Agency said this weekend it was investigating the possible cause of the outbreak and will be asking those affected to complete a questionnaire and provide a sample for testing. Routine tests carried out by the Environment Agency at Roker in late July, days before the competition, found high levels of E. coli bacteria in the water. But British Triathlon, a governing body for UK triathlons, said these tests were taken outside of the body of water used for the competition and the results were published after the weekend's events. It said its own tests met the required standard. One of the participants, Australian triathlete Jake Birtwhistle, said on Instagram that he had been "feeling pretty rubbish since the race". "The swim should have been canceled," he added, posting a picture of a graph with the results of the water tests from Roker. The competition was held in an area of the coastline that has been at the heart of a long-running dispute between campaigners and the government over sewage discharges, the Guardian newspaper reported. Local water company Northumbrian Water insisted there have been no discharges "that might negatively impact water quality" at Roker since 2021. The Environment Agency said "temporary dips" in water quality can be caused by various factors "including heavy rain". In Paris, a pre-Olympic open water swimming test event in the Seine was canceled this weekend due to pollution following recent heavy rainfall. The post Dozens of swimmers fall ill after UK triathlon competition appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
First German offshore wind farm auction raises billions
Germany on Wednesday auctioned off rights to build offshore wind power plants for the first time, raising billions of euros earmarked to help slash consumer electricity bills. Three sites on the North Sea and one on the Baltic brought in proceeds of 12.6 billion euros ($14.0 billion), the Federal Network Agency, a government regulatory body, said. The winning offers came from energy giants BP and TotalEnergies among eight bidders for each of the sites. "The outcome confirms the attractiveness of investments in offshore wind energy in Germany," said Federal Network Agency president Klaus Mueller in a statement. "Competition for offshore wind energy has never been higher." Ninety percent of the windfall is to be used to offset a spike in household electricity costs largely with grid expansion, the agency said, with the remaining funds going toward marine conservation and sustainable fishing measures. It was the first time the agency used an auction to determine which companies could build wind farms, which are set to open by 2030. The North Sea sites are due to have a capacity of 2,000 megawatts each while the Baltic facility will produce up to 1,000 megawatts. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left-led coalition government has pledged to produce 80 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, with an ambitious timetable for boosting offshore wind capacity. The post First German offshore wind farm auction raises billions appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Changemakers of tomorrow
PUP Hygears and UPHSD Altas Valor are vying for the Philippines at the Shell Eco-marathon in Lombok, Indonesia. The teams are part of a global network of student innovators working to create energy-efficient vehicles that reduce emissions and promote sustainability. Serge Bernal, vice president for corporate relations of Shell Pilipinas Corp., asks for the teams to look at this experience beyond the competition: “We at Shell Pilipinas are proud to support the next generation of innovators through programs like Shell Eco-marathon.” PUP Hygears’ vehicle Luna IV will be joining the Battery Electric Prototype category. The vehicle aims to reduce the amount of waste produced during the fabrication process by reusing and repurposing the materials used for their vehicle last year. This year, PUP Hygears is determined to bounce back from last year’s competition and to improve their performance. Altas Valor’s vehicle Avalon is joining the Urban Concept Internal Combustion category. Avalon is an automatic engine powered by Continuously Variable Transmission. It has a carbon fiber body with enhanced stock parts and an aluminum chassis. SEM 2023 runs at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit in Lombok until 9 July. The post Changemakers of tomorrow appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Yes, anybody can fly with aerial arts
photograph courtesy of Lariza Jane E. Cabaltierra AERIAL silks. photograph courtesy of Kate Cometa AERIAL hammock. Zendaya as circus aerialist Anne Wheeler in the 2017 musical drama film The Greatest Showman is truly captivating. But do you know that you can also do her aerial tricks? Well, yes, if you take lessons in aerial arts, which are offered in local studios. Aerial arts is a type of performance in which one or more artists perform aerial dance and acrobatics with the use of an apparatus, such as hoop, silks and hammock as the most common ones. Aerial hoop Aerial hoop (also known as lyra) looks a lot like hula hoop, though made of steel and suspended from an overhead point upon which a performer can do tricks while spinning. Nesh Zamora teaches aerial hoop at Elite Aerial Arts, which she co-owns. She began her aerial arts journey in 2012. She was then engaged to be married and weighed about 138 pounds, so she wanted to slim down to fit nicely into her wedding gown. She “chanced upon” a dance and fitness studio around the Ortigas area, where she discovered pole fitness, dance and eventually, aerial arts. She fell in love with aerial hoop and silks that she continued taking lessons in different studios in Metro Manila and in the United States even after she achieved her ideal weight. “It was a slow start for me,” she recalls. “I needed to psych myself to believe that I can be at par with the other girls in class. Would you believe it took me six sessions to just be able to climb the aerial fabric? There are no shortcuts in learning aerial arts. It is truly for everyone as long as they are willing to put in the work.” Zamora says she started teaching aerial hoop and silks in 2014, after taking “intensive classes from known aerialists in countries like Thailand, Hong Kong and the US.” Today, she also teaches and performs (during parties or corporate events) aerial silks and hammock, as well as less common types like aerial straps, cube, moon and lyrapole. She recommends aerial arts not only for only for its health and health and confidence-boosting benefits but also the friendships formed among students and teachers. “Whatever lifestyle, gender, age and even weight you may have when you enter our studio, you will end your first session knowing that aerial arts is for you.” Tips for new students: 1. Make sure you choose a studio with qualified instructors and which puts premium to student safety in terms of the quality of equipment used and instruction pacing. 2. Come to class with an open mind. 3. Try out all types of aerial equipment to see what excites you the most. 4. Listen and watch intently. Don’t be shy to ask your instructors to repeat or demonstrate what is being taught. 5. Enjoy and document your progression by taking photos and videos. 6. Never compromise your safety. Elite Aerial Arts Address: 143-3 Maginhawa St., Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. Website: eliteaerialarts.com. FB: Elite Aerial Arts, IG: @eliteaerialartsph. Aerial silks Aerial silks (also referred to as tissu, fabric and ribbon) are two long pieces of fabric made of not silks but a blend of polyster-lycra or nylon tricot that measure at least 16 meters each. These fabrics are draped down from a single point, which is then connected on a ceiling or outdoor rig using steel or aluminum hardware. The performer will climb the silks and do different kinds of sequences on them. Lariza Jane E. Cabaltierra is an aerial instructor at Idanceph dance studio and a junior member of the Whiplash Dance Company. In 2014, or merely a year after she learned aerial silks, this former teacher of ballet for kids made the cut in the Hall of Fame of TV5’s Talentadong Pinoy with her stunning performance. Over the years, she’s learned many other apparatuses, such as hoop, hammock, chandelier, moon and helix. She says not to believe in misconceptions that aerial arts is only for women who are young, strong and have a dance background. “It’s a step-by-step process. Little by little, your body will become strong and you will have confidence that you can do the tricks. As long as you’re happy with what you are doing, just keep going. What matters is what your heart wants.” Tips for new students: 1. Wear comfortable clothing that is suitable for the class you will be attending. 2. Do some proper warm-ups before class starts. 3. Expect more laughter and be ready to surprise yourself. 4. If you have a health concern, don’t be shy or don’t hesitate to tell the teacher or coach about it. 5. Be friendly, so you can make new friends and have a support system. 6. Most of all, just enjoy the class. Idanceph Address: #96 Maginhawa St., M Place Building, Diliman, Quezon City. FB: Idanceph. Aerial hammock Aerial hammock (also called slings) is similar to the one used in aerial yoga or aerial fitness, but with a much longer fabric, so the performer can do more tricks while spinning. Kate Cometa teaches aerial hammock at Beast House Pole and Aerial Dance Studio. She discovered aerial arts in 2016, when, as she tells it, “life had me all kinds of confused,” especially in her relationships and career choices, while suffering from insomnia and anxiety. “When I started in aerial silks, I looked more like a flailing sausage than a graceful aerialist. For two whole months, I couldn’t even manage a simple invert.” But she didn’t give up and even became “obsessed” with aerial arts, not minding “spending all my money on class cards and super cool aerial outfits.” She then joined her first recital and realized that it wasn’t just a hobby but already her “heart and soul.” She also ventured into hoop and silks, and even outside her comfort zone with pole dance. In 2018, she started teaching aerial hammock and joined her first competition, the Philippine Aerial Cup, in the amateur women pole division. “The most important thing is to allow yourself to be a beginner and fully enjoy the class,” Cometa points out. “There’s no need to worry about your fitness background or any preconceived notion. Everyone is welcome. It’s an inclusive community that embraces diversity and celebrates the uniqueness of each individual.” Tips to new students: 1. Listen to your teacher and truly know your body parts, both left and right. It may sound simple, but you’d be surprised how often we forget those essential details when we’re hanging in the air. 2. Approach your aerial journey with an open heart that is ready to accept new things, embrace challenges and love every step of the process. It’s through this openness that you’ll find the true magic of aerial arts. 3. Let the guidance and expertise of your instructor sink in and trust that they are there to support you on your incredible journey. (Cometa leads the aerial flow workshop in Cebu on 8 to 10 July.) Beast House Pole and Aerial Dance Studio Address: 2nd Floor, Pioneer Centre, United Street corner Pioneer St., Kapitolyo, Pasig City. FB: Beast Home Pole and Aerial Dance Studio. IG: @beasthomeph. The post Yes, anybody can fly with aerial arts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Star gymnast Biles poised for August return to competition
Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles is poised to compete in August for the first time since mental health and safety concerns cut short her Tokyo Olympics campaign, entering the August US Classic near Chicago. USA Gymnastics announced Wednesday that the four-time Olympic gold medallist was entered in the August 4-5 event, which would be her first since she withdrew from most of her events in Tokyo in 2021. "Registration...does not guarantee participation," USA Gymnastics warned in the statement. "Every athlete is at a different place in their season and career, and we will support each of them, wherever they are in their journey," said USA Gymnastics chief programs officer Stefanie Korepin. Biles electrified the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where she won gold in team, all-around, vault and floor exercise as well as a balance beam bronze. She entered the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021 as a heavy favorite to win as many as five gold medals. She hadn't lost an all-around competition since 2013 and her build up to the Games included mastery of a daring Yurchenko double pike vault that had never before been seen in women's competition. However, she would depart Tokyo with only team silver and a balance beam bronze, however, her campaign cut short after she experienced the "twisties" -- the phenomenon in which gymnasts lose the ability to orientate themselves in mid-air. Biles withdrew from the team event after performing on one apparatus and later withdrew from the all-around competition and the finals for vault, uneven bars and floor exercise, saying at the time she needed to prioritze her mental health. Biles said in a video released after Tokyo that her problems had been building for a while. "I wouldn't even say it started in Tokyo. I feel like it was probably a little bit deeper-rooted than that," Biles said. "I think it was just the stress factor. It kind of built up over time, and my body and my mind just said no. But even I didn't know I was going through it until it just happened." "It just sucks," Biles said in the video. "But I know that I helped a lot of people and athletes speak out about mental health and saying no. Because I knew I couldn't go out there and compete. I knew I was going to get hurt." After the Tokyo Games, in September 2021, Biles testified before a U.S. Senate committee looking into FBI failures in investigating sexual abuse by former gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. Nassar received a life sentence after pleading guilty in late 2017 and early 2018 to sexually assaulting women and girls while working as a sports medicine doctor at USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University. - Another Olympics? - In recent months Biles's popular social media feeds have featured not gymnastics but news of her personal life, including her marriage to NFL Safety Jonathan Owens, then with the Houston Texans, in April. When Owens signed with the Green Bay Packers in May she endeared herself to Green Bay fans by soliciting suggestions on what to see and do in the couple's new town. Biles has won 25 world championships medals, 19 of them gold, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Joe Biden in 2022. Although she hasn't outlined her plans, the US Classic is roughly a year out from the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Biles has used the event to launch a comeback before. She returned to competition at the meeting in 2018, having taken a break after her stunning Rio Games campaign. bb/pb/nr © Agence France-Presse The post Star gymnast Biles poised for August return to competition appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Athletics body says Obiena not yet done after record jump
A day after EJ Obiena become the first Asian to hit the 6-meter mark in the men’s pole vault competition, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) expects the pole vaulter to achieve more record feats in upcoming overseas competitions. .....»»
Miss Conception
Just a few days ago, our country’s pageant mill minted a new “beauty queen” in the person of one Angelica Lopez of Palawan as Binibining Pilipinas International. And a few weeks before that, a certain Yllana Marie Aduana was crowned Miss Earth Philippines 2023. Like others before them who had won the Miss Universe Philippines, Miss World Philippines and, of course, the local Miss Earth competitions, they will compete, and hope to win in the international equivalents of their competition as representatives of our country. Our country takes pride in winning a total of fifteen crowns in the so-called “Big Four” of international beauty pageants: Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth. There are, to be sure, “lesser” contests: Miss Supranational, Miss Grand International, Miss Intercontinental, the list goes on and on. And our women have won in many of them. Truly, we are one pageant-crazy nation, as witnessed by how life seems to be put on hold whenever one of the major ones air in the country. Beauty contests have also been considered traditional springboards to fame and fortune. We have many A-list actresses who started out as beauty queens. Two of the most prominent of these would be Gloria Diaz — “Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa” — and Pilar Pilapil. Others like Pia Wurtzbach and Kylie Versoza also tried their luck, but their showbiz careers did not gain as much traction as the first two parts because, in the case of Ms. Wurtzbach, she was a bad actress. While it seems that beauty pageants are here to stay, many (this author included) have serious doubts about their continued utility in this day and age of changing societal roles. One main criticism against traditional pageants is that they promote a measure of “beauty” that is too high: One must be tall, slender, with perfect body proportions, and a style of comporting oneself on stage that takes years to master. Thus, this gives rise to a culture of sorts that makes ordinary mortals try to achieve the same level of pulchritude, only to fall short, as the vast majority of women are not as endowed as the standard pageant candidate. This state of affairs, many say, leads to a distorted sense of worth that strongly implies that one is less of a woman when one does not fit into the mold of a beauty queen. Another critique is that pageants objectify women, in the sense that they are treated as mere “things” that must comply with certain specifications; hence, they must look good in an evening gown and swimwear, know how to sing and dance for the obligatory production, and be able to answer asinine questions that are hardly a source of edification. The way by which they are paraded before a live and remote audience like cattle, some would add, is essentially demeaning to the contestants, making them look like “pieces of meat,” like in a cattle auction. Now, don’t get me wrong; I love looking at lovely women. In fact, my Twitter profile states, in part, that I am “a lover of beauty” and my personal motto is that “women are the foundation of society, so men must lay the foundation.” Nonetheless, I am a progressive, and I personally think that pageants, on the whole, serve no other purpose in this day and age but to enrich their organizers, promote products and personalities (especially couturiers), and provide she is the sum total of all her wit and wisdom, her learning and experience, her personality and charisma. Happy hunting grounds for dirty old men (don’t look at me, I bathe three times a day). Levity aside, if doing away with these pageants is too extreme a measure, we should at least stop sending the message that a woman’s worth is limited to how tall of stature, curvaceous of figure and lovely of face she is. Indeed, a woman is more than that: To say or think otherwise would be a serious misconception. The post Miss Conception appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Andi Eigenmann grateful for ‘wonderful experience’ in joining surf competition
Andi Eigenmann takes her island life to the next level by engaging in Mayor Sol's 1st Local Surf Comp for women. The celebrity mom shared her wonderful experience alongside her photos in action and wrote, "The only L's we take are Learnings!". "It was @chepoxz that signed me up for Mayor Sol's 1st Local Surf Comp for women and I got all nervous and jittery BUT it was a wonderful experience! And it awakened a bone in my body that made me realise that it's not too late to believe in myself and start pushing towards applying my life's motto into this sport: be the best version of yourself that you can be! i've been surfing for the fun of it, but nakakahawa ang hardworking and dedicated persona ni papa! More importantly it means the world to me that he believes in me!", she added. This milestone of hers encourages Eigenmann to strive more to be the best version of herself. The post Andi Eigenmann grateful for ‘wonderful experience’ in joining surf competition appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
World’s ‘oldest’ tree able to reveal planet’s secrets
In a forest in southern Chile, a giant tree has survived for thousands of years and is in the process of being recognized as the oldest in the world. Known as the "Great Grandfather," the trunk of this tree measuring four meters (13 feet) in diameter and 28 meters tall is also believed to contain scientific information that could shed light on how the planet has adapted to climatic changes. Believed to be more than 5,000 years old, it is on the brink of replacing Methuselah, a 4,850-year-old Great Basin bristlecone pine found in California in the United States, as the oldest tree on the planet. "It's a survivor, there are no others that have had the opportunity to live so long," said Antonio Lara, a researcher at Austral University and Chile's center for climate science and resilience, who is part of the team measuring the tree's age. The Great Grandfather lies on the edge of a ravine in a forest in the southern Los Rios region, 800 kilometers (500 miles) to the south of the capital Santiago. It is a Fitzroya cupressoides, a type of cypress tree that is endemic to the south of the continent. In recent years, tourists have walked an hour through the forest to the spot to be photographed beside the new "oldest tree in the world." Due to its growing fame, the national forestry body has had to increase the number of park rangers and restrict access to protect the Great Grandfather. By contrast, the exact location of Methuselah is kept a secret. Also known as the Patagonian cypress, it is the largest tree species in South America. It lives alongside other tree species, such as coigue, plum pine and tepa, Darwin's frogs, lizards, and birds such as the chucao tapaculo and Chilean hawk. For centuries its thick trunk has been chopped down to build houses and ships, and it was heavily logged during the 19th and 20th centuries. Park warden Anibal Henriquez discovered the tree while patrolling the forest in 1972. He died of a heart attack 16 years later while patrolling the same forest on horseback. "He didn't want people and tourists to know (where it was) because he knew it was very valuable," said his daughter Nancy Henriquez, herself a park warden. Henrique's nephew, Jonathan Barichivich, grew up playing amongst the Fitzroya and is now one of the scientists studying the species. In 2020, Barichivich and Lara managed to extract a sample from the Great Grandfather using the longest manual drill that exists, but they did not reach the center. They estimated that their sample was 2,400 years old and used a predictive model to calculate the full age of the tree. Barichivich said that "80 percent of the possible trajectories show the tree would be 5,000 years old." He hopes to soon publish the results. The study has created excitement within the scientific community given that dendrochronology -- the method of dating tree rings to when they were formed -- is less accurate when it comes to older trees as many have a rotten core. This is about more than just a competition to enter the record books though, as the Great Grandfather is a font of valuable information. "There are many other reasons that give value and sense to this tree and the need to protect it," said Lara. There are very few thousands-years-old trees on the planet. "The ancient trees have genes and a very special history because they are symbols of resistance and adaptation. They are nature's best athletes," said Barichivich. "They are like an open book and we are like the readers who read every one of their rings," said Carmen Gloria Rodriguez, an assistant researcher at the dendrochronology and global change laboratory at Austral University. Those pages show dry and rainy years, depending on the width of the rings. Fires and earthquakes are also recorded in those rings, such as the most powerful tremor in history that hit this area in 1960. The Great Grandfather is also considered a time capsule that can offer a window into the past. "If these trees disappear, so too will disappear an important key about how life adapts to changes on the planet," said Barichivich. The post World’s ‘oldest’ tree able to reveal planet’s secrets appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PCC, NBI partner to boost antitrust body s enforcement capacity
MANILA - The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have forged partnership to strengthen the antitrust body's enforcement capacity to crack down on anticompetitive activities in the market.On Wednesday, PCC officer-in-charge J.....»»
FINA binanatan ni Olympic diving champion Tom Daley sa isyu ng transgender
MANILA, Phililippine – Sinabi ng Olympic diving champion na si Tom Daley na “galit na galit” siya sa desisyon ng governing body na FINA na paghigpitan ang paglahok ng mga transgender athlete sa mga elite women’s competition. Si Daley, na lumabas bilang bakla noong 2013, ay nagsasalita sa British LGBT Awards noong Biyernes, Hunyo 24, […] The post FINA binanatan ni Olympic diving champion Tom Daley sa isyu ng transgender appeared first on REMATE ONLINE......»»