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Chop-chop murder suspect shot dead
JOLO, Sulu — An alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf Group was killed while nine police officers were wounded, including three senior police officers, during a nearly three-hour clash in Barangay Siet Higad, Panamao, Sulu. Police and military operatives were about to serve a warrant of arrest against the suspect at about 2:30 a.m. yesterday when a firefight erupted and lasted until 5 a.m., P/Col. John Francis Encinareal said. Encinareal identified the slain suspect as Muksidal A. Jumadil, a resident of Barangay Kamindus, Luuk, Sulu, and temporarily residing in Barangay Siet Higad, Panamao, Sulu. Jumadil was the primary suspect in the brutal killing of Nurdija Dammang Aminiddin, a small-town businesswoman in Barangay Kanmindus, Luuk, according to Encinareal. Jumadil killed Dammang, and her body was cut into small pieces and found scattered in different locations in the village. A case for murder was filed against Jumadil and is still pending at the office of the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. The wounded police officers were identified as P/Capt. Nolie L. Agmaliw, P/Lt. Jhorlino Rico D. Apal, and P/Lt. Jose Earl Abdurajan III. Also wounded were Pat. Lionel A. Suarverdez, P/Cpl. Reymir M. Subion, P/Cpl. Lindo M. Macua, Pat. Edison Ray D. Paris, P/Cpl. Oliver R. Alviar, and P/Cpl. Andres G. Dalang. Jumadil was facing charges for violating RA 10591, or Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition, with a P200,000 bail bond. Recovered at the encounter site were one unit M14 rifle, one piece bandolier, five M14 magazines, and a total of 65 live 7.62 bullets. Two body-worn cameras (with Boblov serial numbers LYY1127 and 1234567890 of CIDG Sulu PFU were used during the operation, Encinareal said. The post Chop-chop murder suspect shot dead appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kim leaves Russia with token drones
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un left Russia on Sunday aboard his armored train, taking home with him Russian drones and a bullet proof vest as tokens from his hosts. A “departure ceremony” was held at the Artyom-Primorsky-1 station, where Kim’s train left for the border 250 kilometers away, according to a video broadcasted by Ria Novosti. In the footage, Kim is seen waving goodbye from the train to a Russian delegation led by Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov, before the Russian march “Farewell of Slavianka” is played as the train rolls. Kim had been given five explosive drones, a reconnaissance drone, a bulletproof vest and “special clothing not detectable by thermal cameras” as gifts from a regional governor, TASS news agency reported. One of the drones was a “Geran-25” reconnaissance drone capable of vertical takeoff. The North Korean leader was in Far East Russia since Tuesday, meeting President Vladimir Putin and touring military equipment and facilities. The Kim-Putin meeting is believed to be a formality for a trade in arms and technology, though Moscow denied that an agreement to that effect was signed by the two leaders. He capped his visit with a meeting with Russian defense minister and inspection of bomber planes and a hypersonic missile system in Vladivostok on Saturday. In Seoul, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol lashed out at Kim in an interview published Sunday, calling the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia “illegal and unjust.” WITH AFP The post Kim leaves Russia with token drones appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QCPD chief leads distribution of BSKE equipment
Quezon City Police District Director P/Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan led the distribution of equipment Thursday, to be used for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections 2023. The program highlighted the distribution of 179 body-worn cameras from the Quezon City local government unit to QCPD police officers who will be deployed to 107 different polling centers during the BSKE 2023. The use of these tools will guarantee that every action taken during the election is precisely recorded. The Task Force District Anti-Crime Reaction Team was also launched during the activity. The TF-DART was created to deter criminal activities, provide immediate response to incidents, and support the electoral process to maintain peace and order for the upcoming Barangay and SK Elections 2023 in Quezon City. The team is composed of skilled and well-trained motorcycle officers, wherein the Acting Deputy District Director for Operations P/Col. Josefino Ligan was designated as the overall supervisor. The team is also equipped with 22 motorcycles, body vest, body cameras, tactical helmet, and hand-held radios. Meanwhile, the QCPD conducted operations against wanted persons from September 10-12, 2023 wherein 50 wanted persons were arrested by QCPD. “I would like to take the opportunity to thank our beloved Mayor Josefina ‘Joy’ Belmonte for providing this logistics, the body worn cameras, the motorcycles, and other enforcement equipment,” Maranan added. Maranan said that one week before election day, they will deploy 100 percent total strength of the QCPD including 900 personnel at the voting centers, treasurer’s offices, national printing offices, and other vital installations in connection with elections. The post QCPD chief leads distribution of BSKE equipment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Apple expected to bow to EU and unveil iPhone with USB-C charger
Apple is expected to unveil its new iPhone lineup on Tuesday, with its Lightning charger ports likely to be replaced on the newest models by a universal charger after a tussle with the European Union. The bloc is insisting that all phones and other small devices must be compatible with the USB-C charging cables from the end of next year, a move it says will reduce waste and save money for consumers. The firm had long argued that its cable was more secure than USB-C chargers, which are already deployed by Apple on other devices and widely used by rivals including the world's biggest smartphone maker Samsung. Apple, still the world's biggest company by market capitalization, has not revealed what it plans to announce at Tuesday's "Wonderlust" event but usually unveils new iPhones at this time of year. It comes as Apple faces declining sales of iPhones, with higher prices pushing customers to delay switching to newer models. The firm is also caught up in diplomatic turbulence between the United States and China, with reports saying the Communist government is banning civil servants from using its phones. - 'Tepid' sales - Like any other company, Apple would prefer to boast about shiny new features rather than new charging ports. But analysts agree that the switch to USB-C is going to be the main headline. Insider Intelligence principal analyst Yory Wurmser said the iPhone needed "a big cycle" after "tepid" recent sales. He said Tuesday's event would probably see new Apple Watch and AirPod models, "but it's the iPhone 15 that will really determine how the next year will look for Apple". EU policymakers said the rule would simplify the lives of Europeans and do away with a mountain of obsolete chargers. "With the common charger, we are slashing consumer costs, and it's good for the environment too," said EU internal market commissioner Thierry Breton in a statement, adding that the move would save consumers 250 million euros ($270 million) each year. Apple had long resisted the change, arguing that it would stifle innovation and make the phones less secure. "The cable change may give consumers pause, but within a generation they will get over it: they won't have a choice," said Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart. - Price bump? - Along with rolling improvements to iPhone cameras and chips, Apple is expected to raise prices on its Pro models, according to Wurmser. Sales of iPhones in the recently ended quarter lagged analyst estimates. Apple suffered a 2.4 percent drop in iPhone sales, which account for nearly half of total revenues. Apple shares were battered last week following reports of significant Chinese restrictions on iPhones at government offices and state-backed entities. "China is a very important market for Apple, so any negative sentiment by the Chinese government toward Apple is concerning," analyst Greengart told AFP. Apple reported $15.8 billion in revenues from China in the most recent quarter, nearly 20 percent of total revenues. Executives pointed to the uptick in China sales in a period when overall sales fell. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives estimated that a Chinese government ban would affect less than 500,000 iPhones of roughly 45 million projected to be sold in the country in the next year. "We believe despite the loud noise Apple has seen massive share gains in China smartphone market," Ives said. gc/arp/jxb/lth © Agence France-Presse The post Apple expected to bow to EU and unveil iPhone with USB-C charger appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Go to authorities, not to social media’ — Valenzuela mayor on latest road rage incident
Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian on Monday called on the public not to resort to social media when getting involved in road rage incidents. He also advised motorists who are also gun owners to be "responsible enough" as having a license to carry a gun is just a "privilege" to have protection and not to use it like a "street toughie." "Huwag kayong matakot lumapit sa authorities (police or LGU), paalala sa mga gun owner, license is a privilege for protection. Huwag niyong abusuhin," Gatchalian said at a press briefing he called to present the victim on another road rage incident that happened in his jurisdiction. "I don't see the reason why (the motorist who is a gun owner) would be in a rage. Madaling araw nangyari, maluwag ang daan," Gatchalian said, referring to Marlon Malabute a businessman from Tondo, Manila who cut and hit at the cab driven by Henry Ong Jr., a resident of Valenzuela. "Wala pang sinasabi (victim) binunutan na ng baril," the Mayor added. Gatchalian was referring to the latest road rage incident that happened on 19 August, a couple of weeks after the controversial road rage incident in Quezon City involving a dismissed policeman and bicycle rider. Gatchalian said the incident only reached them on 6 September, but their police were able to track the suspect through the vehicle he used which probers found to have been registered thrice because of different transfers of ownership. P/Col. Salvador Destura Jr., Valenzuela police chief on the other end said they have already filed charges of "alarm and scandal" as well as "grave threats" charges against the road rager. He added that they also moved to have Malabute's gun license revoked. "He will answer that at the Prosecutors' Office. If he doesn't show up, he will have a warrant. That's the time we will hunt him if he still would not present himself," Destura explained. He added that they also reached out to the suspect's uncle and brother who promised them their cooperation. Ong for his part, said he came into the open because of his fear and fear for his family's safety. The incident, he added was a traumatic experience to him, affecting his health and work as a taxi driver. He urged the suspect to surrender. Gatchalian, meanwhile, noted the incident will be treated as a "lesson learned" that will make his local government push for the planned installation of 1,500 LED streetlights with close circuit cameras and would serve as a deterrent to similar incidents. He also ordered Destura to conduct checkpoints. The post ‘Go to authorities, not to social media’ — Valenzuela mayor on latest road rage incident appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
VR, AI bring Wallace, and Gromit to ‘life’
VENICE, Italy (AFP) — The rapid evolution of virtual reality was on display here this week, with visitors brought into the world of Wallace and Gromit and watching books come to life before their eyes. Running alongside the world’s oldest film festival, Venice Immersive is tucked away on a former quarantine island that transforms each year into a showcase for the latest frontiers of entertainment. This year showed how quickly technology is evolving. Some experiences had users interacting with the virtual environment using hand controllers. Thus “Wallace & Gromit in The Grand Getaway” plunged them into the world of the famous animated duo. Players become Gromit, helping him fix his hapless owner’s contraptions and rescue them from an accidental trip to Mars. “The interactivity in those worlds is increasingly precise and diverse,” said Venice Immersive co-curator Michel Reilhac. “Makers are finding ways to hijack the technology and use it in really unexpected ways.” Another experience used VR helmets to put several people at once in the studio of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, allowing them to snoop around his workshop and watch as his famous Barcelona cathedral rose up spectacularly around them. AI was an inevitable talking point, with one experience using a mix of two AI apps, ChatGPT and Midjourney, to ask users about their deepest thoughts before creating a bespoke story and images based on their answers. One of the most technologically impressive was “Jim Henson’s The Storyteller.” Page-turner Visitors don augmented-reality glasses to watch a 3D film come to life on a special book they hold in their hands, moving through different chapters as they turn the pages. It is the latest innovation from VR pioneers Felix and Paul Studios, who have created immersive tours of the International Space Station, the Obama White House and LeBron James’s training sessions. The interactive book was another “leap of faith,” co-founder Paul Raphael told AFP. “We wanted to realize the dream of what an augmented book could be,” he said — but that required “pushing the technology so much further.” Cameras in the glasses read the surface of the pages and track their position in real time, which the algorithm, designed from scratch, uses to calculate where to overlay the constantly moving 3D images. “The performance and speed at which it needs to happen is kind of insane,” Raphael said. With the emergence of new headsets from Apple and other companies, he believes augmented books could soon become widely available. Immersive “It’s early days and there’s so much ground to cover,” he said. “Even after 10 years, it feels like we could do this our whole lives and still just scratch the surface.” The festival highlighted social experiences, particularly VR Chat, an online platform allowing users to meet and play in virtual worlds. “VR immersive is no longer a solitary experience,” said Reilhac. “It’s gained a social dimension — and that’s where it will find its ‘killer app’ that wins over a much bigger audience.” As the tools evolve, creating these virtual worlds has become much easier, with free templates available for newcomers to use. The post VR, AI bring Wallace, and Gromit to ‘life’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CdO, my second home
Cagayan de Oro City is fast turning out to be no different from other fast developing metropolises. Quotidian concerns like horrendous traffic, crime, political maneuverings (with the Barangay/Sangguniang Kabataan Elections barely a month away), bickering in the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and similar problems of an urban area are common. A year has passed since the new leadership of the city took over, but we don’t see the problems abating. With a full plate before them, the administrators must work double time before their terms of office expire. When the pandemic struck, we sort of evacuated to and settled in the city. It is now a second home to us after our house in Marawi was bombed and ransacked during the 2017 siege (I still have to file my claim for compensation before the Marawi Compensation Board as provided by law). We were a constant visitor to the city and are familiar with its geography. It has always been a choice weekend hideaway of Maranaws of Marawi and as a law practitioner I have cases in courts in the city. But now, I need assistance in navigating its labyrinthine traffic. Thanks to modernity and the Waze app which maps our way to our destination. Still, I feel like a stranger adjusting to life in the city. The main attraction of the city for a golfer like me are the golf courses. Good thing they have courses like Pueblo de Oro which is a championship course, a second-rate military golf course in Patag, Camp Evangelista, and the Del Monte Golf Course — a 30-minute drive from the city, home of golf legends Celestino Tugot and Frankie Minoza. These golf courses were the overpowering magnet that pulled me to settle here, in addition to the fact that many members of my immediate family already lived here. From my vantage position, here are some of the problems I have observed that need attention. Traffic is getting worse. I experience regularly Edsa-like traffic from going my place, Xavier Estates, to the golf course, which I could navigate in two minutes. Unfortunately, there are schools along the road causing monstrous traffic. But we avoid that by teeing off at early dawn to escape the snarl of vehicles. The principal stretch they call Masterson has regular bumper-to-bumper traffic in the morning and late afternoon when office workers’ vehicles fill the street. Yes, I notice uniformed traffic aides managing the flow of vehicles, but they are not enough. A daylight robbery in the heart of the commercial hub of the city has residents worried about their security and peace. Robbers got away with about P9 million. Public and commercial establishment are on their toes because of what happened. The daring robbery has exposed the weak security infrastructure of the city. Residents are asking what happened to the much-publicized installation of 50 traffic lights and 80 closed-circuit television or CCTV cameras in strategic spots at a budget of about P93.5 million over a decade ago. It has been kaput since 2012 and has not been attended to nor repaired. The winning bidder for the project was nowhere to be found after completion of the traffic and security infrastructure. Now the city government is toying with the idea of requiring public establishments to install CCTV cameras within their premises before they are issued a permit to operate. In fact, the Department of the Interior and Local Government has issued a memorandum circular directing local governments “to pass ordinances mandating all business owners to install CCTVs.” The circular allows for the meting out of “penalties for non-compliant business establishments and grants local chief executives the authority to revoke, refuse to renew or grant permits to establishments for non-compliance.” Problems of this nature come with the march of Cagayan de Oro towards progress and development, being the corridor of northern Mindanao. And this column is optimistic that its new mayor is up to the challenges of his stewardship. *** amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post CdO, my second home appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Festive mood in Gabon as coup leader sworn in
Thousands of Gabonese, many of them voicing joy and relief as a new era dawned, on Monday watched the inauguration of the military chief who last week toppled the Bongo dynasty, the rulers of their oil-rich state for more than half a century. General Brice Oligui Nguema took the oath of office as president, five days after he toppled President Ali Bongo -- the son of Omar Bongo, who ruled with an iron fist for more than four decades. Oligui defended the coup as a courageous move by the army to save Gabon from bloodshed after elections that awarded victory to Bongo. And he promised to steer the country to "free, transparent and credible elections" -- but gave no details on the timeframe. A crowd gathered at the plaza in front of the Hassan II Mosque in Libreville to watch the ceremony on a giant screen, many of them waving little tricolor flags with the national colours of green, yellow and blue. Many of those who spoke to AFP said they felt ecstatic that Bongo, who had been in power for 14 years, was gone. Lucrece Mengue, a 28-year-old specialist in logistics and human resources, said that for young Gabonese, the country had been "under a cloud" for years. "We feel freedom, joy, happiness!" exclaimed Mengue, who said she had gone to the venue early in order to get a front-row seat. Ghislain Bouemba, a 50-year-old police captain, said he was savouring a "historic moment" -- Gabon, he said, "was being asphyxiated" under Bongo. Poverty and jobs Rich with oil from offshore fields first discovered in the 1970s, Gabon has one of the highest per-capita GDPs in Africa. But a third of the population still lives below the poverty line of $5.50 per day, according to the World Bank. "We study but we don't find work. I've been unemployed for five years," said Anouchka Minang, 31, who trained as a midwife but works doing occasional jobs to survive. She and others spoke positively about plans unveiled by Oligui last week to reform Gabon's dysfunctional pension system, whose bureaucracy and delays have left many people impoverished. Remi Gaspard Ngoua, a retired civil servant aged 66, said he felt "relief" at the promise. He said he should be receiving a monthly pension of 300,000 CFA francs (nearly $500), but only received half of it because of problems with disbursement. Oligui, in a meeting with business leaders last week, also sternly warned that corruption that had flourished in the Bongo era would no longer be tolerated. Jeers Live coverage of the swearing-in was punctuated by deafening jeers from the crowd every time cameras showed leading figures from Bongo's Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), who attended the ceremony. Discontent seemed specially reserved for his former prime minister Alain Claude Bilie By Nze, and his vice president, Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, an architect of Bongo's disputed election victory. Cries rang out of "throw Oussouka in prison," -- a protest that would have been unthinkable a week ago. "These are fraudsters -- justice has to be done and this lot cleared out," said Joseph Akoughe, a 51-year-old salesman. "It was a dictatorship and they divided up the cake between themselves. Now it's time to stop," said Ngoua. "We want to have nothing more to do with them. We have courageous people, there are people who are still clean and can haul the country out of the rut." The post Festive mood in Gabon as coup leader sworn in appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan fishermen want Fukushima water release halt
Around 100 fishermen and locals living near Fukushima will file a lawsuit this week seeking to stop the release of wastewater from the stricken Japanese nuclear plant, they said Monday. Twelve years after one of the world’s worst nuclear accidents, on 24 August Japan began releasing treated cooling water from the facility into the Pacific Ocean. Many Japanese fishermen have been against the release, fearing that it will undo years of efforts to improve the industry’s image in the wake of the 2011 catastrophe. More than 100 plaintiffs, including fishermen in Fukushima and neighboring prefectures, will file the lawsuit in the Fukushima District Court on Friday, Sugie Tanji, who is a member of the group’s secretariat, told AFP. “The government failed to keep to its promise of gaining agreement from fishermen before taking such a decision to release,” she said. “This is a wrong policy as it ignores strong opposition from not only the Fukushima fishermen’s cooperative but also from cooperatives across the country,” the group said in a statement. “The release to the ocean can never be tolerated as it brings about further suffering to victims of the nuclear accident,” it added. The release has generated a fierce backlash from China, including a blanket ban of Japanese seafood imports. Japanese government officials have made efforts to appeal to the public that the action has little impact on health or safety issues. Last week, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the US envoy to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, among others, ate Fukushima fish in front of TV cameras. Japan has repeatedly insisted the wastewater is treated and is harmless, a position backed by UN atomic watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency. In total, plant operator TEPCO plans to release around 540 Olympic swimming pools’ worth of water over the next several decades. with AFP The post Japan fishermen want Fukushima water release halt appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Road rage trending
With horrendous traffic comes pent-up anger, manifesting in violent outbursts also known as “road rage,” something we are seeing more often now. The FIBA basketball tournament caused several road closures, expanded bus lanes on EDSA, and instituted stop-and-go schemes to give way to team buses and coasters. Inconvenienced motorists must adjust to this global tournament, which has led to irate and impatient heads. We are only aware of what is captured by CCTVs and mobile phone cameras, but we can be certain that this is just a thin slice of a larger pie. Luckily, no lives have been lost, and neither has anybody been injured, with all the road rage occurring daily. We have several factors to blame, such as the poor transport infrastructure, the high number of vehicles on the road, incompetent driving skills, and selective traffic enforcement. In the end, it is the motorist who must bear the stress of driving. I spent the last (long) weekend in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and the traffic there can be likened to Manila. The stark distinction lies in the discipline of the riders. In that city, you will see more motorcycles than four-wheel vehicles. That is why the buildings there are very narrow and functional, without garages for four-wheelers. There are wide sidewalks where people can walk safely. A horde of motorcycle riders does not feel like a threat in Vietnam — they move around like a school of fish, in rhythm and sync with each other. Of course, there will always be a few rowdy ones, but most of them are disciplined in their speed and maneuvering. In the Philippines, we have motorcycle riders going in all directions at the fastest speeds possible. Our motorcycle riders deliberately try to sneak into every nook and cranny between cars and trucks. There is no sense of spatial distancing for our motorists when it comes to driving on the road, especially during rush hour. This leads to accidents and road rage. Nowadays, you cannot afford to lose your cool in public, thanks to mobile phones and social media. If humiliating footage of you is taken, in minutes it will be uploaded on Facebook, and within hours you will be in the news and vloggers will be giving their two centavos on the issue. With the recent footage of the retired cop in Quezon City, we saw how the public can crucify these individuals even before the benefit of a fair trial, although we can argue that there was nothing the retired cop could do or say in his own defense. The handling of the issue was pathetic on the part of the PNP. Why would you grant the retired cop an audience via a press conference, when other similarly situated suspects are placed in a jail cell? The cop, it turned out, had even been dismissed earlier for dubious reasons, but despite this, he was armed with a handgun and was even employed in the Supreme Court. Kudos to the public officers who spoke up on the issue, especially Senator JV Ejercito and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte. I am also most thankful for public interest lawyer, Atty. Raymond Fortun, immediately came forward to lead the prosecution of the retired cop, despite the victim cyclist’s refusal to file a case against the retired cop. This is the sad reality of our societal system — victims choose not to come out due to fear for their own and their families’ safety. We hope and pray to see progress in this case so that it can be prevented from happening again. For comments, email him at darren.dejesus@gmail.com The post Road rage trending appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Libya foreign minister suspended after Israel meeting
Libya's internationally recognized prime minister has suspended his top diplomat after she met her Israeli counterpart, with news of the encounter triggering demonstrations in a country that does not recognize Israel. Oil-rich Libya, which plunged into chaos after dictator Moamer Kadhafi was toppled and killed in 2011, has been divided since 2014 between the UN-supported government of Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah in Tripoli and a rival administration based in the country's east. Angry protesters took to the streets of the capital and other western cities on Sunday night, blocking roads with burning tires and waving Palestinian flags, after it emerged that Najla al-Mangoush had met with her Israeli counterpart in Rome last week. Mangoush was "provisionally suspended and subject to an 'administrative investigation'", Dbeibah's government said, hours after Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said the "unprecedented" meeting had taken place. On Monday, Libya's Internal Security Agency (ISA) said Mangoush had not been authorized to leave the North African country after reports on social media that she had flown to Turkey overnight as the protests flared. Internet users had posted the tracking details from the FlightRadar website of a flight said to be carrying Mangoush from Mitiga airport in Tripoli to Istanbul. "Surveillance cameras will prove this" is false, the ISA said in a statement. Mangoush "is on the travel ban list until she submits to the investigation", said the security agency. Turkey's Anadolu news agency, citing security sources, said Mangoush had already left for Istanbul following the diplomatic furor. There was no official confirmation of the flight from Ankara or Tripoli, however. 'Chance and unofficial encounter' The Libyan foreign ministry had in a statement defended the meeting with Cohen as a "chance and unofficial encounter". The minister had reiterated "in a clear and unambiguous manner Libya's position regarding the Palestinian cause", it said, while accusing Israel of trying to "present this incident" as a "meeting or talks". The Israel foreign ministry statement had quoted Cohen as saying that the two had discussed "the importance of preserving the heritage of Libyan Jews, which includes renovating synagogues and Jewish cemeteries in the country". "Libya's size and strategic location offer a huge opportunity for the State of Israel," he added. The statement said the meeting in Rome had been hosted by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. But on Monday the Israeli foreign ministry appeared to backtrack on Cohen's statement, saying that neither it nor the minister had anything to do with the "leak" about his meeting with Mangoush. The ministry did not offer details or clarify who was behind the so-called leak. "Contrary to what has been published, the leak regarding the meeting with Libya's foreign minister did not come from the foreign ministry or the foreign minister's office," the ministry said in a statement released to journalists. Tajani's office on Monday referred all questions to the Libyan and Israeli authorities. However, an Italian diplomatic source said the Italian minister had not himself been present at the meeting. In recent years, Israel has pushed for normalizing ties with some Arab countries as part of US-backed deals known as the Abraham Accords. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hardline government has come under intense criticism from Arab states because of surging violence in the West Bank and for backing the expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied territory. The post Libya foreign minister suspended after Israel meeting appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Drunken disaster
There is wisdom in the advice to drink liquor moderately. Putting spirit in the head instead of the stomach can lead to drunken misbehavior. When two men who toured Paris’ Eiffel Tower on the night of 13 August decided to have extra fun in the famous attraction, they went during closing time to an area off limits to visitors, unnoticed by security guards. In a spot between the 330-meter-tall steel structure’s second and third floors, the Americans indulged in alcohol while stargazing. They got so drunk that they could not get themselves off their perch and dozed off. The following morning, guards doing checks at the site before opening time found the sleeping interlopers. Firefighters, including a specialist unit for recovering people from dangerous heights, had to be called in to recover the intruders, a police source said, according to Agence France-Presse. Both men were brought to the police station for questioning, while Sete, the Eiffel operator, said it would file a criminal complaint. In another case, the owner of a rental swimming pool in Pansol, Calamba, Laguna almost sued a group of visitors for allegedly trashing their place on 14 August. Owners of Jeremias Resort and the men caught by the resort’s CCTV cameras agreed to a settlement, with the vandals paying P30,000 in damages. A viral video from Kath Llarenas as reported by a TV news outlet shows four men throwing into the swimming pool monoblock chairs, tables, bottles, a griller and a water dispenser. The renters, who celebrated a friend’s birthday, made a big mess of the place, including the restrooms, Pep reported. In an interview, one of the men admitted that they drank too much alcohol. “We weren’t able to control ourselves so that was what happened,” he said. Despite their apology and payment of damages to the resort owners, their employers, who learned about the incident, later fired them. WJG @tribunephl_wjg The post Drunken disaster appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Loch Ness hunt biggest in decades
DRUMNADROCHIT, United Kingdom (AFP) — The biggest search for the Loch Ness Monster in five decades takes place in the Scottish Highlands Saturday, as researchers and enthusiasts from around the world meet to try to track down the elusive Nessie. The expedition will deploy drones with thermal scanners, boats with infrared cameras and an underwater hydrophone to try to unravel a mystery that has captivated the world for generations. “It’s always been our goal to record, study and analyse all manner of natural behavior and phenomena that may be more challenging to explain,” said Alan McKenna, of co-organizers Loch Ness Exploration. The searchers believe the thermal scanners could prove crucial in identifying any strange anomalies in the murky depths. The hydrophone will allow the searchers to listen for unusual Nessie-like underwater calls. Stretching 23 miles and with a maximum depth of 788 feet, the freshwater loch is the UK’s largest lake by volume. Reports of an aquatic monster lurking in Loch Ness date back to ancient times, with stone carvings in the area depicting a mysterious beast with flippers. The earliest written record of the creature dates back to AD 565 in a biography of the Irish monk, Saint Columba. According to the text, the monster attacked a swimmer and was about to strike again when Columba commanded it to retreat. More recently, in May 1933, the local Inverness Courier newspaper reported a couple driving along a newly constructed lochside road seeing “a tremendous upheaval” in the water. “There, the creature disported itself, rolling and plunging for fully a minute, its body resembling that of a whale, and the water cascading and churning like a simmering cauldron,” the report said. In December that year, British newspaper the Daily Mail recruited a South African big game hunter, Marmaduke Wetherell, to locate the sea serpent. Wetherell found large footprints that he believed belonged to “a very powerful soft-footed animal about 20 feet long.” But zoologists at London’s Natural History Museum determined that the tracks were made with an umbrella stand or ashtray that had a hippopotamus leg as a base. In 1934, English physician Robert Wilson captured what came to be known as the “Surgeon’s Photograph,” seemingly depicting Nessie’s head and elongated neck emerging from the water. The photo, published in the Daily Mail, was later revealed to be part of a hoax, catapulted the Loch Ness Monster into international fame. There are now more than 1,100 officially recorded Nessie sightings, according to The Loch Ness Center in Drumnadrochit, near Inverness. The monster brings in millions of pounds in tourism revenue to the Scottish economy each year. Over the years, scientists and amateur enthusiasts have tried to find evidence of a large fish such as a sturgeon living in the depths of the loch. Some have suggested the monster could be a prehistoric marine reptile like a plesiosaur. In 1972, the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau undertook the biggest search to date but returned empty-handed. In 1987, Operation Deepscan deployed sonar equipment across the width of the loch and claimed to have found an “unidentified object of unusual size and strength.” In 2018, researchers conducted a DNA survey of Loch Ness to determine what organisms live in the waters. No signs of a plesiosaur or other such large animal were found, though the results indicated the presence of numerous eels. “The weekend gives an opportunity to search the waters in a way that has never been done before, and we can’t wait to see what we find,” said Paul Nixon, the general manager of the Loch Ness Center. The post Loch Ness hunt biggest in decades appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘You are supposed to preserve life’: Hontiveros slams PNP over Jemboy Baltazar’s death
A Senate panel on Tuesday tackled the recent killing of Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar by six members of the Navotas Police Station. During the hearing, Senator Risa Hontiveros slammed the actions of members of the Philippine National Police who are supposed to protect citizens from harm and any type of danger. Hontiveros questioned why the PNP allowed members of the Special Weapons And Tactics Philippines or SWAT team as well as their intelligence service to conduct the operation against the unarmed 17-year-old Baltazar, who later on turned out to be the victim of mistaken identity. Hontiveros likewise lambasted the police officers for leaving the victim’s body after shooting him dead, saying their act was a violation of PNP policies. “Sirs, you are supposed to preserve life, not take it,” she said. Hontiveros chided the PNP for filing only reckless imprudence resulting in homicide cases against the involved policemen. “Parang ang lumalabas, aksidente lang ang nangyari, na walang intensyong pumatay nang pinaulanan nila ng bala ang bata (It appears that it was just an accident, that there was no intention to kill when they rained bullet on the child). I want to know the reasoning behind filing such a case. 'Yang lahat-lahat na yan, yan na ba ang sinasabing new era of policing? (All these, is this what's called the new era of policing?), ” she stressed. Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said the chamber’s hearing seeks clarification on the status of administrative and criminal cases involving PNP personnel involved in shooting incidents during police operations. “Similar to all our other hearings, we are here not to point fingers nor to determine the guilt or innocence of anyone, but we will focus on the three policy considerations,” he said. Dela Rosa said the Navotas police officers involved breached the PNP’s rules of engagement. The Senate panel is looking at whether the PNP guidelines on the use of body-worn cameras were strictly followed, and if there are sufficient training programs being conducted by the PNP to ensure that their personnel are, at all times, knowledgeable with policies and procedures on police operations. The post ‘You are supposed to preserve life’: Hontiveros slams PNP over Jemboy Baltazar’s death appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sana (kub)ol
So the Bureau of Corrections is dismantling kubols in the New Bilibid Prison compound AGAIN. A kubol, for the uninitiated, is that peculiarly Filipino invention of a customized personal space in a prison that is supposed to have standardized living quarters for all prisoners. This is strange because then Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (2010-2016) made a big to-do about demolishing kubols in her time — which was also the Golden Age of Kubols. It was in 2014 when I, as a lawyer for one NBP inmate (who eventually became part of the so-called “Bilibid 19,” but more on that later) went to the prison for an initial conference with my client, who obviously couldn’t come to my office. I was shocked — shocked! — when I arrived at the compound, and not only because I was ushered in through a side door by a warden who put me in a fancy golf cart to take me to my client. En route, I saw that there were buildings(!) inside the prison premises housing — okay, be ready for this — mini-groceries, beauty salons and barber shops, spas, restaurants and, I was to learn later, a high-tech recording studio and radio-television broadcast facility. My client was waiting for me in a three-story(!) building. The first floor housed a fully-equipped office(!) and staff; the second floor was my client’s office with phones and a computer connected to the Internet, and a separate conference room for 12 people; the third floor housed his quarters (a bedroom with toilet, shower and bathtub). Responding to my quizzical look, he answered my unasked question: “Attorney, dito lahat puede basta ‘magpaangat’ ka kay secretary (Anything goes here, just ‘take it up’ with the secretary).” Anyways (to use the favorite expression of my friend Arni Teves), back to my client. Later that year, he and 18 other prisoners had a falling out with Secretary De Lima over what he claimed to be drug dealing inside Bilibid, and they were transferred incommunicado to the National Bureau of Investigation compound. To the frantic cries of their families who feared that they would be liquidated, I filed for a writ of amparo before the Court of Appeals. Their detention was ruled unconstitutional, and their families and I were allowed see them, albeit with very strict restrictions. The story that they told me of drug trafficking inside the NBP compound would later form the backbone of the indictments against De Lima once Aquino was out of power. I had cautioned them to keep things under wraps, as such disclosures then would definitely put them in grave danger. Back to the kubols. De Lima invited the press to witness their destruction, and the mediamen’s jaws dropped — as mine did years before — at the sight of luxury houses complete with airconditioning, king-size beds and Jacuzzis; a state-of-the-art recording studio; a radio and television station with equipment to rival many commercial stations; among other things. As De Lima smiled smugly for the cameras, claiming credit for “cleaning up Bilibid,” friends in media asked her the question, obliquely and sometimes directly, “How could such a thing happen under your watch and your very nose all these years?” The answer was somehow provided in the probe by the House of Representatives in 2017, when an inmate testified that in a meeting with the late J.B. Sebastian (one of the privileged inmates who was said to have done De Lima’s bidding in the Bilibid drug trade) inside his , De Lima held on to a pole (one provided for pole dancing) and, after preening, looked at Sebastian and said, “Okay ba, J.B.?” She knew, and tolerated — nay, encouraged — it. The authorities can knock down the kubols every year, and they will keep springing back up again, unless drastic reforms in the correctional system are made. In this, we sincerely wish Secretary Boying all the luck and success in the world. So when these kubols are removed, we can plausibly wish, SANA (KUB) ALL… The post Sana (kub)ol appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Russia’s Luna-25 probe crashes on the Moon
Russia's first Moon mission in almost 50 years, the Luna-25 probe, has crashed on the Moon's surface after an unspecified incident during pre-landing maneuvers, the Russian space agency Roscosmos said Sunday. The crash comes almost a year and a half into Russia's Ukraine offensive that has seen Moscow isolated, with punishing sanctions that have affected its space industry. The failed mission comes as several companies and nations have entered a Moon race, and put a spotlight on the Russian space sector's troubles -- from corruption to lack of innovation and partnerships. Communication with Luna-25 was lost at 2:57 pm (1157 GMT) on Saturday, Roscosmos said. According to preliminary findings, the lander "has ceased to exist following a collision with the Moon's surface". "Measures taken on August 19 and 20 to locate the craft and make contact with it were unsuccessful," the space agency added. It said a ministerial investigation would be opened into the causes of the crash, without giving any indication of what technical problems might have occurred. With Luna-25, Moscow had hoped to build on the legacy of its Soviet-era Luna program, marking a return to independent Moon exploration in the face of financial troubles and corruption scandals at the program and growing isolation from the West. Valery Yegorov, a former researcher with Russia's space program who now lives in exile, said the crash would severely affect Roscosmos's future missions, with the next one not planned until 2028 or "even later". He suggested the probe's failure was linked to electronic problems, possibly resulting from Western sanctions on Moscow. The Luna-25 launch was postponed several times in the last five years, Yegorov said, "because of sanctions imposed on Russia in response to seizing Crimea". Research 'not a priority' "Science, fundamental research, some kind of humanistic ideas about space colonization, about revealing the secrets of the universe, are clearly not a priority right now," said Yegorov, who has denounced the Kremlin's Ukraine offensive. The 800-kilogram (1,760-pound) Luna-25 probe was to have made a soft landing on Monday on the Moon's south pole -- which would have been a historic first. Russia has not attempted to land on a celestial body since 1989, when the Soviet Union's Phobos 2 probe to explore the moons of Mars failed after an onboard computer malfunction. Roscosmos chief Yuri Borisov had said the venture would be "risky", telling President Vladimir Putin in June that the probability of it succeeding was "around 70 percent". Luna-25 had been successfully placed in the Moon's orbit on Wednesday after being launched from the Vostochny cosmodrome in the Russian Far East. Space race But on Saturday, Roscosmos said an "emergency" had been detected during a maneuver by the probe before its landing, preventing the operation from being carried out. Luna-25 had been expected to stay on the Moon for a year, collecting soil samples and looking for water -- an ingredient enthusiasts hope could be used to make rocket fuel for future launches and support potential colonies living there. Cameras installed on the lander had already taken shots of the lunar surface. Doubts had already emerged about Russia's long-running space cooperation with the West in the wake of its military campaign in Ukraine. While Russia has said it intends to use the International Space Station until 2028, the European Space Agency has dropped plans to co-operate with Moscow on Moon and Mars missions. Moscow last landed a probe -- Luna-24 -- on the Moon in 1976, before shifting away from lunar exploration in favor of missions to Venus and building the Mir space station. Landing Luna-25 successfully would have paved the way for further Russian missions to the Moon, at a time when India and China are launching their own probes and the United States returns to manned missions. India's competing space probe, Chandrayaan-3, entered the Moon's orbit earlier in August, also with the goal of landing on the south pole. Only Russia, the United States and China have previously achieved a controlled landing on the Moon. The post Russia’s Luna-25 probe crashes on the Moon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Emergency detected in pre-moon landing manoeuvre by Russia’s Luna-25 probe: Roscosmos
An "emergency" was detected on Saturday during a maneuver by Russia's Luna-25 probe prior to its Moon landing, Russian space agency Roscosmos said. "Thrust was released to transfer the probe onto the pre-landing orbit," Roscosmos said in a statement. "During the operation, an emergency situation occurred on board the automatic station, which did not allow the carrying out of the maneuver within the specified conditions." The lander, Russia's first such mission in almost 50 years, was successfully placed in the Moon's orbit on Wednesday after being launched from the Vostochny cosmodrome in the country's Far East. Roscosmos did not say if the incident would delay the landing, due to take place on Monday, north of the Boguslawsky crater on the lunar south pole. In June, Roscosmos chief Yuri Borisov told President Vladimir Putin that such missions were "risky", with an estimated success probability of around 70 percent. The probe is expected to stay on the Moon for a year, where it is tasked with collecting samples and analyzing soil. Cameras installed on the lander have already taken distant shots of the Earth and Moon from space. Russia is seeking to restart and rebuild the Soviet Union's pioneering space program as the future of its long-running space cooperation with the West looks in doubt amid the offensive in Ukraine. Russia said it would go ahead with its own lunar plans, despite the European Space Agency announcing it would not cooperate with Moscow on future missions over its actions in Ukraine. The post Emergency detected in pre-moon landing manoeuvre by Russia’s Luna-25 probe: Roscosmos appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jemboy unarmed, posed no threat’
The chief of the Northern Police District yesterday acknowledged that Jerhode “Jemboy” Baltazar was not armed and posed no threat to anyone when he was shot dead by members of the Navotas City police. “We saw that there was no threat and no aggression from the person being arrested but they immediately used their firearms. So our police should be held liable for that,” Brig. Gen. Rizalito Gapas said Thursday. Gapas added that the Navotas police investigation of the “accidental shooting” of the teen was “not exhaustive.” He noted the cops involved were not subjected to paraffin tests to determine who fired their guns. The cops violated the Philippine National Police operational guidelines and the principle of “force continuum,” he said. A use-of-force continuum is the standard for how much force law enforcement personnel may use against a resisting subject in a given situation. It typically includes an officer’s demeanor to de-escalate a situation, and the use of empty hands to control the subject, such as grabbing, pushing, or handcuffing. Likewise, force continuum may put into play non-lethal devices like pepper spray and tasers. The six policemen also did not wear body cameras during the operation in violation of the rules, Gapas said. Navotas police chief, Col. Allan Umipig, was relieved from his post on Wednesday. He earlier refused to identify the six cops who were only charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. The lawyer of the Baltazar family said they want the charge to be elevated to murder, while forensic expert Dr. Raquel Fortun said the cops should be charged with homicide at least. Fortun said the gunshot wound to the head of Baltazar was not immediately fatal, and he might have lived had not the Navotas policemen prevented people from pulling him out of the river. The cops were on a follow-up operation against a murder suspect when they chanced on Baltazar and allegedly mistook him for their suspect. They said they merely fired warning shots at Baltazar. Umipig, who was replaced by Col. Santos Sumingwa Jr., denied there was a cover-up. Aside from Umipig, 22 other police personnel were relieved from their posts. The Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service also sought to charge Umipig with dishonesty and command responsibility. IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said he issued a directive to the National Capital Region Police Office “to have the Navotas chief of police relieved.” Umipig allegedly ordered the names of 11 police officers stricken from the report on the killing of Baltazar, Triambulo said. On 2 August, Baltazar was in a small boat fishing with a friend on the Navotas River in Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran, when the policemen shot him. Baltazar was laid to rest on Wednesday. The post Jemboy unarmed, posed no threat’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Wave of violent Indonesia muggings sparks ‘shoot-to-kill’ calls
A spate of violent muggings by machete-wielding thieves in Indonesia has drawn coded calls from prominent politicians for them to be killed-on-sight by police, in comments condemned by rights groups as condoning extrajudicial murders. Last month, police in the northern Sumatran city of Medan shot dead a "begal" -- a term used to describe a type of street thief known for their brutality -- as part of what the force said was a bid to "eradicate" them. Bobby Nasution, Medan mayor and President Joko Widodo's son-in-law, lauded the officers involved, saying such criminals should be shot dead on the spot. "I appreciate this because begal and criminals have no place in Medan," he wrote in an Instagram post on July 9, sharing footage of the suspect's dead body. President Widodo has not commented on Nasution's statements. Other leaders, including the governor of North Sumatra province, have supported the comments. Rights groups want an investigation into the killing, and have condemned the rhetoric as giving officers and citizens the right to take the law into their own hands. "It is inappropriate for public officials to declare support for such extrajudicial actions," Amnesty International Indonesia director Usman Hamid told AFP. "The shooting not only violates human rights principles –- such as the right to life, the right to a fair trial -- but also the regulations." Indonesian police rules state that firearms should only be used as an officer's last resort. Indonesia's Institute for Criminal Justice Reform called Nasution's words "irresponsible". Some public sentiment, however, is on the mayor's side. Under viral videos of the begal attacks, social media users call for the thieves to be shot dead or to face the death penalty. And in a village east of Jakarta, local leaders have issued a 10 million rupiah ($662) bounty for the capture of begals. 'Begal' terror Begals have savagely attacked their victims with sickles, airguns and rocks, terrorising Indonesians in the capital Jakarta, Medan and other urban centres. They approach their victims on scooters, usually in carefully chosen areas that have few security cameras, so that they can rapidly escape after the robbery. "They have to do it quickly and cruelly to make the victim surrender," said Adrianus Meliala, a criminologist at the University of Indonesia. "Begal run away using the city labyrinth they have mastered." Medan, Indonesia's fifth-largest city, has been hit by 45 begal attacks since January, police say, and one brutal case two months ago caused an uproar. Student Insanul Anshori Hasibuan was riding a scooter home when a man hacked him in the head with a machete, stealing his wallet. Hasibuan, 22, died in hospital after the attacker and several accomplices escaped with the contents of the wallet: just 70,000 rupiah ($4.60). Four suspects were later arrested, and face up to 15 years in jail if convicted. Such brutal attacks have been splashed across Indonesian media, raising public fear and allowing Nasution to cast himself as a champion for law and order. According to official data, the rate of robberies has risen in 2023, but experts say Indonesian criminal data is often incomplete due to underreporting. Indonesia's national police force did not respond to an AFP request for comment. The issue is a complex culmination of factors, including rising poverty in one of the world's most unequal countries, the difficulty of countering such quick and violent attacks, weak rule of law and crumbling public trust in the police. "The begal phenomenon cannot be separated from the social economic order of society," said Ida Ruwaida of the University of Indonesia. Rights groups say they are concerned that calls by prominent politicians such as Nasution to kill suspects on sight could lead to chaos on the country's streets. "We are concerned that the statement by the mayor of Medan can serve as legitimacy for more extrajudicial killings," said Hamid. "This is very dangerous." The post Wave of violent Indonesia muggings sparks ‘shoot-to-kill’ calls appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EDITORIAL - Camera low bat
For 2024, the Philippine National Police is seeking funds to procure 2,000 body cameras......»»