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Cebu City councilor calls out ‘foul, unhygienic’ restrooms of establishments
CEBU CITY, Philippines – “Foul and unhygienic” comfort rooms in various establishments caught the attention of Cebu City Councilor Jun Alcover. In his privileged speech during the council’s regular session on Wednesday, December 20, he raised concerns about unsanitary comfort rooms in establishments in Cebu City. “Ako lang gusto ipaabot nga obserbasyon sa mga establishments.....»»
Cordova Mayor on SOCA: Encourage kids, stop bullying
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu— Students and children should be encouraged to develop their talents and skills. This was among the calls of Cordova Mayor Cesar “Didoy” Suan to parents and teachers to help kids become better and to make their environment more suitable to their needs. READ:Lapu-Lapu to mark National Children’s Month with congress, SOCA State.....»»
Israeli air strikes kill 32 in south Gaza amid calls for civilians to flee
Gaza health authorities raise their death toll on November 17 to more than 12,000 — 5,000 of them children.....»»
Malta hosts fresh round of Ukraine-backed peace talks
A third round of Ukrainian-backed peace talks opened in Malta Saturday with representatives from more than 60 countries but without Moscow, which denounced it as a "blatantly anti-Russian event". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the first of two days of closed-door talks among national security and policy advisors, which he hopes will drum up support for his 10-point plan to end the war. In a statement on social media afterward, he said 66 countries had taken part in the talks, proof that his plan "has gradually become global". It follows similar meetings in Jeddah and Copenhagen this summer, with the Ukrainians hoping to eventually hold a summit at the level of heads of state. "The meeting confirmed the broad interest and increasing support for the key elements of Ukraine's Peace Formula," an EU official said Saturday. Against the backdrop of the Hamas-Israel war, it also showed "that restoration of just peace is important beyond Ukraine -- it is about a global plea for respect of international law". Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova however has dismissed the Malta talks as a "blatantly anti-Russian event". They had "nothing to do with the search for a peaceful resolution", she said on Thursday. "Obviously such gatherings have absolutely no perspective, they are simply counterproductive." China absent Participants in Malta included the United States, the EU, and Britain, staunch supporters of Kyiv following Russia's February 2022 invasion. Turkey, which has offered itself as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia, was also represented, according to a list seen by AFP before the talks opened. So too were South Africa, Brazil, and India -- all members of the influential BRICS bloc, which also includes Russia. South Africa and India have not condemned Russia's invasion, while Brazil has refused to join Western nations in sending arms to Ukraine or imposing sanctions on Moscow. China, which insists it is neutral and refuses to criticize the invasion, did not attend, despite being present in Jeddah in August, according to the EU official. Organizers were hoping for a joint statement from the Malta summit after both previous meetings ended without a final declaration. Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential office, said on Telegram that the discussions on Saturday were "lively" and focused on five key areas, notably the issue of Ukraine's territorial integrity. Zelensky's peace plan calls for Russia to withdraw all its troops from Ukraine's internationally recognized borders, including from the territory of Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. Russia, which claimed last year to have annexed the four Ukrainian regions of Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, has rejected any settlement that would involve giving up land. The Malta talks are also looking at nuclear security, notably the need to ensure the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and how to protect Ukraine's energy infrastructure as winter approaches. The issue of food security was also on the agenda, as Russia blocks grain exports from Ukraine; and humanitarian issues, including the release of prisoners and the return of Ukrainian children to taken to Russia. "Russia will have to give in to the international community. It will have to accept our common conditions," Yermak said. Both Russia and Ukraine are preparing for a grueling winter ahead, with Ukraine warning of renewed strikes on its energy infrastructure and Russia pushing back against Kyiv's counteroffensive. The post Malta hosts fresh round of Ukraine-backed peace talks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UN General Assembly calls for ‘humanitarian truce’ in Gaza
The UN General Assembly on Friday called by a large majority for an "immediate humanitarian truce" in Gaza, on the 21st day of the Israel-Hamas conflict as the Israeli army announced it was extending its ground operation into the shattered territory. The non-binding resolution, criticized by Israel and the United States for failing to mention Hamas, received 120 votes in favor, 14 against and 45 abstentions from UN members. Israel angrily dismissed the measure, and said the country would use "every means at our disposal" in confronting Hamas. "Today is a day that will go down as infamy. We have all witnessed that the UN no longer holds even one ounce of legitimacy or relevance," Israeli ambassador Gilad Erdan said, telling the assembly: "Shame on you." "Israel will continue to defend itself. We will defend our future, our very existence by ridding the world of Hamas's evil so that it can never threaten anyone else again," he said. Hamas meanwhile welcomed the call for a break in the conflict. "We demand its immediate application to allow the entry of fuel and humanitarian aid for civilians," said a Hamas statement. The rival Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry said that as Israel's campaign "reaches a new peak of brutality," there was "a solid international position rejecting Israel's unhinged aggression". The text proposed by Jordan in the name of 22 Arab countries called for "an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities." An earlier version called for an "immediate ceasefire." Jordan's Ambassador Mahmoud Hmoud, just before the vote, stressed that: "It is not merely our responsibility, but a profound moral obligation to champion the cause of peace." Israel has heavily bombarded Gaza since Hamas gunmen stormed across the border on October 7, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 220 others, according to Israeli officials. The health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, in an update on Friday, said the Israeli strikes had now killed 7,326 people, mainly civilians and many of them children. The resolution co-sponsored by nearly 50 other countries centered largely on the dire humanitarian situation in sealed-off Gaza as Israel presses on with its bombardment. The document urges "immediate" provision of water, food, medical supplies, fuel and electricity and unhindered access for UN and other humanitarian agencies trying to help the Palestinians. The draft condemns "all acts of violence aimed at Palestinian and Israeli civilians, including all acts of terrorism and indiscriminate attacks" but it does not mention Hamas. The resolution exposed a division within Western countries, with France voting for the measure; Germany, Italy and Britain abstaining; while Austria and the United States voted against. "It is outrageous that this resolution fails to name the perpetrators of the October 7 terrorist attack," US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said. "Another key word missing in this resolution is hostage," she added. The post UN General Assembly calls for ‘humanitarian truce’ in Gaza appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Our lives stopped’: Relatives plead for Israel hostages
Moran Betzer Tayar, wracked by anguish about the kidnapping of her nephew and his wife by Hamas fighters on October 7, summed up her feelings during a press conference: "On Saturday morning, our lives stopped." The 54-year-old, speaking in Paris on Wednesday, is on a European tour with other relatives of hostages snatched by the Palestinian militant group during a raid that killed more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians. Israel's retaliation has so far killed more than 6,500 people, including 2,704 children, Hamas says. The Islamists are still believed to be holding more than 200 hostages. It is the plight of these people that Betzer Tayar -- who says she is "worried sick" and cannot eat -- and her compatriots are desperate to keep in the public eye. She told a press conference organized by the Council of Jewish Institutions in France how her relatives were snatched from Kibbutz Nirim, where community members were reportedly besieged for nine hours in one of dozens of attacks staged on 7 October. 'They got me' Two sisters -- Shani and May Yerushalmi -- joined Betzer Tayar to describe how their sister, Eden, was taken from the bar where she was working. "She called us, screaming, saying that terrorists were shooting at them," said Shani Yerushalmi, describing the attack at a rave party where 270 people were killed. Eden hid among bodies of her friends in a car, her sister said, before trying to use a bush as cover. "She told us she could hear the terrorists coming," Shani Yerushalmi said. "We knew it was the last moment with her. Her last sentence was: Shani, they got me." She played the screams of her sister, recorded on her phone, to the gathered journalists. Another of the women on stage, Ofir Weinberg, described how her cousin Itay Svirsky was taken from Kibbutz Beeri, where Hamas fighters killed at least 100 people, according to Israeli authorities. Messages began to pour into the family WhatsApp group on 7 October -- the calls for help and the progress of the attackers documented minute by minute. "I can't even begin to describe the feeling you have when you feel like you're losing your family one by one," said Weinberg. The families have had no news of their loved ones since the Hamas attack. The Israeli army has confirmed only that they are among the hostages taken to Gaza. They are asking for the Red Cross to be allowed to visit their relatives to answer the most basic questions -- whether they are still alive, where they are, and whether they are hurt. But political questions remain taboo. Those caught in the middle of the tragedy decline to speculate on the best course of action for their loved ones: a ground invasion of Gaza or a ceasefire and negotiations. "We're not representing the country... We don't tell Israel what to do," said Ofir Weinberg. "I don't have the answers. I'm just a citizen." The post ‘Our lives stopped’: Relatives plead for Israel hostages appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Netanyahu says Israel ‘preparing’ Gaza ground war
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel is readying a ground war in Gaza, pressing ahead with plans that have troubled allies and threaten to worsen an already cascading humanitarian crisis. Facing ever-louder international calls to temper Israel's ferocious 19-day bombing campaign in the Hamas-controlled territory, Netanyahu delivered a nationally televised address. He told fellow Israelis still grieving and angry after Hamas's bloody attacks: "We are in the midst of a campaign for our existence," while insisting Israel will decide how the war is prosecuted. On 7 October, throngs of Hamas gunmen poured from Gaza into Israel, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 222 more, according to official tallies. US President Joe Biden is among the foreign leaders stepping up public calls for Israel to "protect innocent civilians" and to follow the "laws of war" as it pursues Hamas targets. Thousands of Gazans are already believed to have died in Israel's aerial assault, with the toll expected to rise substantially if tens of thousands of Israeli troops massed around Gaza move in. Biden on Wednesday said he had privately suggested Israel should get hostages out if possible before any ground invasion. "It's their decision, but I did not demand it", Biden said, as he called on Congress to allocate more money for Israeli defense. Speaking in Cairo, French President Emmanuel Macron warned: "A massive intervention that would put civilian lives at risk would be an error." But boasting of "raining down hellfire on Hamas" and killing "thousands of terrorists", Netanyahu said his war cabinet and the military would determine the timing of a "ground offensive" to "eliminate Hamas" and "bring our captives home." "I will not detail when, how, or how many," he said. 'It's a massacre' Gaza's Hamas-controlled health ministry puts the number of Palestinian deaths at 6,500, including many children and 700 people killed in a single 24-hour window this week. AFP could not independently verify the ministry's claims, and US President Biden has stated he has "no confidence" in the Hamas ministry figures. While the exact toll from the war in Gaza is unclear, the depth of the suffering is not in question. Entire neighborhoods have been razed, overflowing hospitals carry out procedures without anesthetic, and residents have been forced to use ice cream trucks as makeshift morgues. "They're not waging war on Hamas, they're waging war on children," raged Abu Ali Zaarab, after his family home was bombed in the southern town of Rafah. "It's a massacre." About 1.4 million people -- more than half the population -- have been displaced, according to the United Nations. The UN says 12 of the territory's 35 hospitals have closed due to damage or insufficient fuel, and a key UN aid agency serving almost 600,000 Palestinians "began to significantly reduce its operations." Israel has cut off Gaza's normal supply corridors for water, food, and other necessities, and fewer than 70 relief trucks have entered the impoverished territory since the war began. None contained fuel, which Israel fears Hamas will use for rockets and explosives. Aid agencies have warned that more people will die if medical equipment, water desalination plants, and ambulances stop operating because of a lack of fuel. Once the generators stop, hospitals will "turn into morgues", the Red Cross has warned. Hospitals are also struggling with a shortage of medicines and equipment. "There's not enough anesthetic," said Ahmad Abdul Hadi, an orthopedic surgeon working at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. "The wounded are in severe pain but we can't wait for the procedure, so we're forced to do the operation. We performed a number of surgeries without anesthetic. It's tough and painful, but with the lack of resources, what can we do?" A regional 'explosion' The war has sparked fears of a regional conflagration if it draws in more of Israel's enemies. Since October 7, Israel has launched thousands of reprisal strikes in Gaza, but it has also hit targets in Lebanon and Syria. Late Wednesday, Lebanon-based Hezbollah fired what Israel said was a surface-to-air missile at an Israeli drone. Israel's military said it had intercepted the missile and "struck the source of the launch" in retaliation. Hamas, Hezbollah, and Syria's government are backed by Iran, which denies Israel's right to exist. Tehran's top diplomat on Wednesday accused Israel of carrying out "genocide" in Gaza. Jordan's King Abdullah became the latest leader to warn that ongoing violence could "lead to an explosion" in the region. His wife Queen Rania accused Western leaders of a "glaring double standard" for not condemning Israel's killing of Palestinian civilians in its bombardment of Gaza. Violence has also risen sharply in the occupied West Bank, where health officials said more than 100 Palestinians had been killed, mostly in raids by Israeli troops or in clashes with Israeli settlers. The post Netanyahu says Israel ‘preparing’ Gaza ground war appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Toxic? Britney tells of troubles in new memoir
Britney Spears, the dewy-eyed child star who became a global pop phenomenon and then melted down in full view of the world, tells her story Tuesday with the release of her already bestselling memoir. "The Woman In Me" is the pop princess in her own, unvarnished words, shot through with the anguish of a family she believes has failed her at every step of the way, in an industry that mercilessly devours its talent. From sharing daiquiris with her mother as a young teenager -- two years after she became a regular on "The Mickey Mouse Club" -- to the 13 years she spent as an adult in a conservatorship, the memoir details how she struggled to escape the influence of her controlling father. Until two years ago, when she got out from under the conservatorship legal relationship that she says dictated everything from her birth control choices to the set list at lucrative Las Vegas gigs. In the intervening months, Spears has married a former dancer, announced then lost a pregnancy, and is now on the road to her third divorce. The book, whose pre-orders catapulted it to the top of the Amazon best-seller list, was produced too early to include that coda with husband Sam Asghari. But readers will still have plenty to chew on. 'Harlot' Tidbits that have leaked ahead of publication include news of an abortion Spears says fellow Mickey Mouse Club alum Justin Timberlake urged her to have after she became pregnant while the couple was together. When the pair split, and his hit "Cry Me A River" appeared to be about the way he felt she had betrayed him, Spears was painted as the "harlot who'd broken the heart of America's golden boy," she writes. In reality, he was "happily running around Hollywood" while she was "comatose in Louisiana." Readers have also learned of a brief but intense affair with Irish actor and Oscar nominee Colin Farrell, what she calls "a two-week brawl." "Brawl is the only word for it -- we were all over each other, grappling so passionately it was like we were in a street fight." The noughties brought fame and notoriety to Spears in equal measure, with a passionate fan base eager for every last scrap of news about her. That collided with an aggressive paparazzi culture that delighted in capturing her partying alongside hell-raisers like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. Spears insists there were never hard drugs and that she did not have a drinking problem, but admits that she was taking Adderall, the ADHD medication. A publicly played-out bust-up with second husband Kevin Federline, and an ensuing custody fight over their two children, presaged the emotional low watermark: shaving her head and attacking a photographer's car. "Flailing those weeks without my children, I lost it, over and over again," she writes. "I didn't even really know how to take care of myself. "I'd begin to think in some ways like a child." A year later, the courts appointed her father Jamie Spears to control her money and her personal life. Over the next 13 years, she was told who she could see, and how much she could spend, and even ordered not to have more children. Yet under Jamie Spears, she would still perform as a pop icon. "Too sick to choose my own boyfriend and yet somehow healthy enough to appear on sitcoms and morning shows, and to perform for thousands of people in a different part of the world every week." "From that point on, I began to think that (my father) saw me as put on the earth for no other reason than to help their cash flow." Jamie Spears has always insisted that he had the best interests of his daughter at heart and was seeking to protect her from exploitation. The conservatorship was dissolved in 2021, but -- aside from collaborations with Elton John and will.i.am -- it has not heralded a return to creativity for Spears. "Pushing forward in my music career is not my focus at the moment," the now-41-year-old Britney writes. "It's time for me not to be someone who other people want; it's time to actually find myself.".....»»
Belarusian exiles lose hope
When police in Belarus began knocking on doors and interrogating citizens suspected to have taken part in pro-democracy rallies three years ago, Maxim Isayev knew he could never go back. Like thousands of others, the 32-year-old engineer and father of two peacefully protested against the disputed re-election of strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko in 2020 and is currently wanted by the country’s authorities. “I know that they came to my address in Belarus and searched for me,” Maxim told AFP in Warsaw, where he now lives with his wife and children. More than 100,000 people are thought to have left Belarus since security forces began violently cracking down on dissidents, many of whom fled to neighboring Poland and the Baltic states. Lukashenko now wants to shut them out for good. In January, he signed a law allowing courts to strip “extremist” dissidents living abroad of their citizenship, and in September he blocked Belarusian embassies from issuing passports. The decision effectively deprives thousands of Belarusian dissidents of the ability to renew their passports unless they return, making it difficult for them to travel internationally, access public services, open bank accounts or obtain employment. “If people are forced to return to Belarus, many of them will be exposed to rights violations, like arbitrary arrest, and torture,” UN rights expert Anais Marin told AFP after the decision. Describing Lukashenko’s decree as “outrageous,” she called on all governments to refrain from sending Belarusians back to their country over invalidated or expired passports. For Maxim, who fears he faces multiple criminal charges including terrorism, returning is not an option. “I took part in the protests. Rallies, marches, calls for sanctions,” he said. “There are more than ten counts I could be charged with.” Since 1994, Lukashenko has ruled Belarus with an iron fist, in what critics have called Europe’s last dictatorship. Elections held in August 2020 resulted in another landslide victory for the long-time leader, a result which the opposition decried as blatantly falsified. The fallout from the vote led to the biggest protests in Belarus’ modern history, which were soon followed by a record number of arrests. “There are situations where people were travelling to the funeral of their relatives. They were detained and put in jail,” said Helena Niedzwiecka, founder of the Belarusian Solidarity Center that supports exiles in Poland. “You can be imprisoned for liking a post in 2020.” Maxim, whose families’ passports expire in 2024, debated with his wife whether it was safe for her to go back, given she had made fewer political posts. “I said okay, if you want to go, you are an adult... Take one of the children.” “You will get a few years for your political views,” Maxim said. “And they will put the child into an orphanage.” They decided against the idea. Lukashenko has criticized those who have sought refuge abroad as disloyal, casting them as “criminals” who do not deserve citizenship. “Are these people worthy to remain citizens of Belarus if they have fled their native country and actually severed ties with it?” he asked at a government meeting last year. Most dissidents say it is the state that severed ties with them. “My contract with my country was terminated in 2020,” said Inga Okava, a 49-year-old former volunteer who was jailed for trying to independently monitor the 2020 elections. “They falsified everything that everybody wanted,” she sighed. WITH AFP The post Belarusian exiles lose hope appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Negotiation not an option
The terrorist group Hamas has been playing with international sentiment using the hostages of different nationalities it seized in the 7 October act of treachery to put global pressure on Israel to implement a ceasefire. The United States thwarted a resolution at the United Nations Security Council calling for a halt in Israeli operations as the superpower cited the right of Israel to self-defense. Simply put, Hamas as a terror organization cannot demand a ceasefire with Israel, which is a legitimate state. The Israeli airstrikes have essentially crippled the capability of Hamas to pursue its terror campaign against Israel and it now needs an opportunity to regroup, hoping that it will secure help from other terror groups waiting in the wings. Crushing Hamas quickly is necessary to avert the possible participation of other foreign armed groups in the Gaza conflict. Nations that have feuded with Israel sponsor armed militants that are now aching to get an order to strike and join the battle with Hamas. Prolonging the conflict is to Hamas’ advantage as global outrage is guaranteed when civilian deaths pile up and the hostages are released one at a time. An estimated 200 people, including 30 teenagers and young children and 20 people over the age of 60, are being held hostage in Gaza, based on estimates from an Israel Defense Forces source. Among the hostages are a still undetermined number of Filipinos who mostly work as caregivers. The strategy of the terror group to win international sympathy by using subterfuge has backfired in most cases. A commentary in the Thai broadsheet, The Examiner, indicated rising awareness of the level of deception being engineered by Hamas and its supporters. According to the newspaper, comments by the Iranian Ambassador in Bangkok “demonstrate Hamas is using the 19 Thai hostages as leverage to halt the bombardment of the enclave.” Ambassador Seyed Reza Nobakhti said in Bangkok that the Hamas leader had assured the Iranian foreign minister the Thai hostages would be released, but this could not happen until hostilities ceased. “However, Hamas, which Iran funds, made it clear that the hostages were being held in Palestinian safe houses but that no place was safe in Gaza,” according to the commentary. Thailand said 19 of its citizens were seized by Hamas during the terror strike over two weeks ago. On Friday, Hamas released two American hostages, a mother and her daughter, following mediation by Qatar. The armed group said more will be released under a ceasefire. Israel has resisted calls for a halt in its offensive against Hamas, saying the release of hostages will not affect its ongoing military operations. Its target is the elimination of all Hamas infrastructure and facilities and the release of all hostages will follow. The problem, however, is that as the crisis plays out longer, and the surgical strikes to take out Hamas targets can’t be completed unless all the civilians evacuate, casualties will tend to rise and so will international indignation. Such a situation favors Hamas which will assume the role of victim, which is preposterous as it initiated the war with Israel with the slaughter of the innocents. Israel, which is now being accused in the United Nations and elsewhere of atrocities, however, had repeatedly warned residents to leave the war zone. Israel has not been remiss in urging the residents to move south, towards a safer humanitarian area. The IDF’s notices to the people of Gaza, which were intended to protect them from the strikes on Hamas, stand in contrast to the way Hamas treats its civilians, using them as shields. Since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, one of its most reprehensible deeds is endangering Palestinian civilians during its terror operations, such as by positioning rocket launchers and command centers deep in the heart of Gaza. It even fortified tunnels under UN schools. “Our war is not with the people of Gaza. It’s with a murderous organization that attacks Israelis, while intentionally endangering its residents to protect its leadership,” the IDF said. Hamas is a terror group no different from the Islamic State, which both use mayhem to attain their objective of replacing civilized existence with a fundamental Islamic empire. The post Negotiation not an option appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rally outside UN calls for Hamas to release hostages
Hundreds of demonstrators rallied outside the United Nations on Sunday demanding the release of hostages seized by Hamas during the Islamist group's bloody attack on Israel. The protest on the square outside the UN's Palais des Nations headquarters in Geneva was organized by the Voice for Freedom coalition, bringing together several Christian Zionist organizing committees. The gathering therefore had a religious tone, with chants and slogans intermingled with prayers and psalms. The demonstration was the culmination of a visit to Geneva by the families of several of those missing since the Hamas attack. They met with Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and UN human rights chief Volker Turk. Many demonstrators waved Israeli flags or wore them around their shoulders, or held posters featuring pictures of missing Israelis, including children. Some wore T-shirts that said "Set them free", and held placards reading: "Never again is NOW", "Innocent life is non-negotiable" and "Children aren't bargaining chips". Leon Meijer, president of Christians for Israel International, urged the UN Human Rights Council to "work for the release of the hostages", saying: "Save the lives of those who can still be saved". Multiple demonstrations Hamas militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7 and killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day of the raid, according to Israeli officials. It was the worst attack on civilians in Israel's history. Israel says more than 200 hostages were abducted by the militants. More than 4,600 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed across the Gaza Strip in relentless Israeli bombardments in retaliation for the attacks by the Palestinian Islamist militant group, according to the latest toll from the Hamas health ministry in Gaza. Several demonstrations have been held in Switzerland, some pro-Palestinian and others in solidarity with Israel. Three days after the Hamas attack, Zurich's Jewish community organized a demonstration in support of Israel, bringing together several hundred people. A demonstration in Lausanne brought together 4,500 to 5,000 people to demand an immediate end to Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip, while around 6,000 pro-Palestinian protesters rallied in Geneva last Saturday. Zurich has since decided to ban any gatherings relating to the Middle East, while Basel decided to ban all gatherings this weekend. The UN human rights office said Friday that blanket bans on peaceful assemblies were disproportionate. States "must not unduly restrict participation and debate, or critical commentary about the conflict, of expressions of solidarity with Israelis or Palestinians", spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told a media briefing in Geneva. "Any restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly must be based on law, and necessary for and proportionate to the risks, such as national security, public safety or public order," she said. The post Rally outside UN calls for Hamas to release hostages appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chinese sci-fi steps into the spotlight
Once effectively banned, Chinese science fiction has exploded into the mainstream, embraced by the government and public alike –- inviting scrutiny of a genre that has become known for its expanding diversity and relative freedom. Its new status was epitomized by this week's Worldcon, the world's oldest and most influential sci-fi gathering, which closed Sunday after taking place in China for the first time. Held in the gleaming new Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, the event's star was Liu Cixin, author of the international phenomenon "Three-Body" series and inspiration for the domestic blockbuster "Wandering Earth". But the wider science fiction fandom has become a rare space where diverse voices have flourished and a vast array of issues -- social, environmental, even sometimes political -- can be explored. "In its nature, part of sci-fi is talking about the present," award-winning author Chen Qiufan told AFP. "It takes advantage of talking about outer space, or being set in different times, but reflects the human condition right now." Chen's own novel "The Waste Tide" is set in a dystopian future in China, where migrant e-waste workers toil in hazardous conditions, exploited by corrupt conglomerates. He grew up near Guiyu, once one of the largest e-waste dumps in the world. Ecological destruction, urbanization, social inequality, gender, and corruption, to name just a few –- "these issues are intersectional and intertwined with each other", said Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University's Liu Xi. Together, they "allow everyone to understand Chinese writers' exploration of Chinese society", she said. That can be rare to find in today's China, where the space for political and artistic expression has shrunk drastically over the last decade under President Xi Jinping. Spiritual pollution Historically, science fiction has had a turbulent relationship with Chinese authorities -– it effectively disappeared during the Cultural Revolution and then was banned as "spiritual pollution" in the 1980s. Though it returned, it remained relatively obscure. Writer Regina Kanyu Wang said it was only at university that she met other fans -- together they formed one of the smaller clubs on campus. Sci-fi was not taken seriously, and seen as something for children and young adults, Chen said. That had its advantages. "There was a lot of freedom... because nobody was reading science fiction, (authors) could just do whatever they wanted," the University of Zurich's Jessica Imbach told AFP. The global success of the "Three-Body" series changed everything, catapulting its epic themes of technological prowess and the fate of humanity into the public consciousness. "Whether you like science fiction or not, the social reality we are facing is becoming more and more like science fiction," said Yu Xuying from Hong Kong Metropolitan University. "We live in a high-tech era. And then your daily life is completely technological," she said. The pace of digital change in China, already fast, was accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Cash has all but disappeared, and stringent health regulations further enhanced the state's significant surveillance capacity. The international interest spike in Chinese sci-fi is also related to real-world concerns, Chen believes. "I think there are different layers of reasons for the phenomenon," he said. "But a major one is the rising economic and technological power of China on the world stage." A good vehicle China's government has been happy to capitalize on all this. "At a national level, science fiction is a good vehicle for conveying the country's discourse on its science and technology strength," said Yu. It can also help "highlight the relationship between the Chinese dream (a Xi-era aspirational slogan) and science", she said. Authorities have put their money where their mouth is. The nebula-shaped Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, designed by the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects, was built at lightspeed in just a year to coincide with Worldcon. The event, historically fan-led and funded, this year was a "capitalistic initiative, coming top-down from the Chinese government", said Chen. "They want sci-fi to be the name card of the city, showing China's openness and inclusiveness to the world," he said. Government attention comes with potential risk. "The Three-Body Problem" has a different structure in English, with the narrative beginning with a violent Cultural Revolution scene. In the original Chinese, it was buried halfway through the book to make it less conspicuous, the translator Ken Liu was told. Liu told the New York Times in 2019 that increasingly, "it's gotten much harder for me to talk about the work of Chinese authors without... causing them trouble". Some works he has translated into English, deemed too sensitive, have never been published in Chinese at all. "If you're very marginal if you have low print numbers in China, then it's OK, you have more leeway. If you're doing a mega big-budget movie... it's much more complicated," said Imbach. "That's what's now also happening with science fiction," she said. "As it's becoming more mainstream, there is increased scrutiny." The post Chinese sci-fi steps into the spotlight appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mano po, Tatang
Johans Juruena was only nine years old when he had a chance encounter with SM founder Henry Sy Sr. That brief encounter profoundly impacted his life. It was 1978, and Juruena was looking forward to his yearly summer visit to Manila. Summers, for many youngsters, were spent hanging around at what was then Shoemart along Carriedo Street in Quiapo, Manila, Jaruena’s mother, Erlinda, worked as a sales clerk for the growing store. He still vividly remembered what the shoe store looked like. “It sold shoes for men, ladies, and children. There was a glass display in the middle where several shoes were showcased.” During that same summer, Juruena bumped into store owner Henry Sy, whom SM employees fondly called “Tatang.” [caption id="attachment_201003" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] ‘Tatang’ Henry Sy has one unbeatable formula in his business: ‘Know customers’ needs.’[/caption] Father to all Juruena shared that his mother told him to pay his respects to Sy through pagmamano, the traditional gesture of respect toward the elderly by touching one’s forehead to the back of an elder’s hand as an act of “blessing.” “When Tatang visited the store along Carriedo Street to check the display and its merchandise, it just so happened that I was there. I was lucky enough to approach him and pay my respects,” he recalled. “He was smiling. He even held out his hand for me to ‘bless.’” While observing the store owner, Juruena overheard how Tatang constantly quizzed his employees about what the customers needed. “What are customers looking for that we don’t have?” Tatang would ask. “What do our customers need that we don’t have?” During that brief encounter, the youngster became an admirer of Tatang — for his attention to what customers needed most, which also strengthened his determination to be an employee of the company just like his mother. Working for SM It was 1990, when Juruena, fresh out of college, became part of SM. He first worked as a sales utility clerk, facing customers, day in and day out, that honed his skills as a salesman. “North EDSA is the first Supermall of SM. During our time, customers would line up as soon as the mall opened before 10 a.m. The foot traffic at North EDSA was something else,” he recalled. His next encounter with Tatang happened while handling the Men’s Shoes section at the SM Store North EDSA. “I saw him visit. I was already a Men’s Shoes Department supervisor, that was then 1996 or 1997. My manager wasn’t around that day; he had the day off. Usually, Tatang would drop by the Men’s Shoes section first. We were all ready.” Tatang reminded Juruena and the other employees to keep “the sandals and other footwear clean. That way, he said, “the customers could appreciate their products better. It was a simple but important lesson that Juruego would carry with him throughout his life.” Salute to a continuing legacy Fast forward to 2023. Many things have changed, but some things have remained constant. SM is celebrating its 65th year in the industry. Juruena’s experience working at SM is a testament to the company’s decades-long commitment to top-notch customer service and Tatang’s enduring legacy. He is now a manager at SM Store Quiapo and now shares to the new employees what Tatang imparted to him. The post Mano po, Tatang appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pope Francis calls for humanitarian corridors to help those under siege in Gaza
'I forcefully ask that children, the sick, the elderly and women, and all civilians do not become the victims of the conflict,' says Pope Francis.....»»
A multifaceted life
Seventy-five is a number of great significance, which is why people who have reached this stage always have a celebratory mode. Only a few are given the rare experience to be 75. In morbidity statistics, people of lesser tenacity do not even reach the golden era of life, much more the diamond age. For us, 75 connotes more than a ripe age. It constitutes a wealth of experience and a plethora of wisdom. At 75, one has already achieved more than he could ever dream of. For some, it’s an age where learning has not stopped, where wisdom comes of age and where sound decisions have been made. Seventy-five is about tenacity. Whoever reaches this age must have weathered all storms, sailed through the waves of life and bended on windy seasons. If lessons were to be learned, they would have to be how to be strong in the midst of trials, how to rule with ease and how to be calm in turbulent times. At 75, one’s excursion to life is viewed with generous perspective, panning on what today gives and with hope eyed for the future. A 75-year-old person tends to look at life with a peaceful countenance. He is no longer racing against time. He has stopped competing, just enjoying what all the days would give. At 75, you become focused more on healthy activities and improving your physical wellness. So, outdoor activities appeal to you more than ever. You jog, you walk, you swim, you trek, you see more time with friends and family. Seventy-five also means spending more time with your family, enjoying quality time with your children and grandchildren. Happy occasions like birthdays always fill up good memories. Even simple bantering matters to you. At 75, you become active in social activities as you busy yourself attending them. Being a member of a club communities makes you feel wanted and needed and resuscitates your passion to be in the inner wheel of things you enjoy doing. At 75, you become more emotional, unwittingly or wittingly wishing more attention, more love, more care. At this age, you also enjoy a trip down memory lane. In your free time, you browse through a lot of photo albums which immortalized great moments of your past life. You want to relive those memories which linger in your mind, making wishful thinking in the process. It is at this age where you also feel grateful, successful and peaceful. Lastly, at 75, priorities change. Since you’re no longer a spring chicken, you avoid strenuous activities. You enjoy life at peace and you don’t like any noise. You have a better appreciation of things. Your perspective of things around you changes. You eat in moderation as you value your health more than anything. You learn from every little thing that life has to offer. You become more humble and you appreciate things more. Life at 75 shines with the facets honed by years. The post A multifaceted life appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Israel says at ‘war’ after rocket barrages, militant infiltration
Palestinian militants have begun a "war" against Israel, the country's defense minister said Saturday after a barrage of rockets were fired and fighters from the Palestinian enclave infiltrated Israel, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Violence between Israel and the Palestinians has been surging for almost two years, with fatalities in the occupied West Bank hitting a scale not seen in years. At least two people were killed in Israel, officials said. Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Palestinian militant group Hamas has "launched a war against the State of Israel." "Troops are fighting against the enemy at every location," he said in a statement. AFP journalists said Israel's military began air strikes on Gaza, following the rocket barrage from inside the territory which is sealed off from Israel by a militarized border barrier. "Dozens of IDF fighter jets are currently striking a number of targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip," the military said. Rockets had earlier streamed across the sky repeatedly after the first launches from multiple locations across the Palestinian territory from 6:30 am (0330 GMT), AFP journalists in Gaza City reported. The armed wing of Hamas, which controls Gaza, said it was behind the aerial assault, saying its militants had launched thousands of rockets and its fighters seized an Israeli tank. Israel's army did not immediately comment on the tank claim when contacted by AFP. Israeli security chiefs convened over the violence, which occurred on Shabbat and during a Jewish holiday. Air raid sirens wailed across southern and central Israel, and the army urged people to stay near bomb shelters. AFP journalists in Jerusalem heard multiple rockets being intercepted by Israeli air defense systems. Sirens blared across the city on more occasions than in any Gaza conflict in the past three years. "We decided to put an end to all the crimes of the occupation (Israel). Their time for rampaging without being held accountable is over," the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said. "We announce Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and we fired, in the first strike of 20 minutes, more than 5,000 rockets." Hundreds of Gazans flee Hundreds of residents fled their homes in eastern Gaza to move away from the border with Israel, an AFP correspondent said. Men, women and children carrying blankets and food left their homes, mostly in the northeastern part of the territory, the reporter said. Israel's military said Hamas launched "massive shooting of rockets", while at the same time "terrorists infiltrated into Israeli territory in a number of different locations". Hamas "will face the consequences and responsibility for these events", it said in a statement. In Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, some Palestinian residents cheered and blew their car horns as sirens blared. A regional council for Israeli communities northeast of Gaza said its president was killed in an exchange of fire with attackers from Gaza. Separately, a woman in her 60s was killed "due to a direct hit" in Israel, the Magen David Adom emergency services said. Fifteen others were wounded, two of them seriously, medics said. An AFP photographer in the coastal city of Tel Aviv saw a gaping hole in a building, with residents gathered outside. Hamas calls to 'join battle' Hamas called on "the resistance fighters in the West Bank" as well as "our Arab and Islamic nations" to join the battle, in a statement posted on Telegram. The United States condemned the Hamas fire and urged "all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks." "Terror and violence solve nothing," the US Office of Palestinian Affairs wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Israel has imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza since 2007 after Hamas took power. Palestinian militants and Israel have fought several devastating wars since. The latest violence follows heightened tensions in September, when Israel closed the border to Gazan workers for two weeks. The shutdown of the crossing came as Palestinian demonstrators along the border burned tires and threw rocks and petrol bombs at Israeli troops, who responded with tear gas and live bullets. Resuming workers' passage on 28 September had raised hopes of calming the situation in impoverished Gaza, home to 2.3 million people. In May, an exchange of Israeli air strikes and Gaza rocket fire killed 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. So far this year at least 247 Palestinians, 32 Israelis and two foreigners have been killed in the conflict, including combatants and civilians on both sides, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials. The vast majority of fatalities have occurred in the West Bank, which has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. There has been a rise in army raids, Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis and Israeli settler violence against Palestinians and their property. The rising violence this year came against the backdrop of divisive judicial reforms introduced by the hard-right government of President Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges he denies. Several far-right ministers in Netanyahu's cabinet live in West Bank settlements deemed illegal under international law. The post Israel says at ‘war’ after rocket barrages, militant infiltration appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Millions of children affected by climate disasters – UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund warned on Thursday that weather disasters brought on by climate change caused 43.1 million child displacements between 2016 and 2021 and criticized the lack of attention given to the victims. Co-Author Laura Healy told American for Prosperity, or AFP, that the data only indicated the “tip of the iceberg,” with many more possibly affected, in comprehensive research on the subject that included the heartbreaking stories of some children affected. Khalid Abdul Azim, a child from Sudan, recalls his terrible experience in a flooded village that can only be reached by boat. "We moved our belongings to the highway, where we lived for weeks," he said. In 2017, sisters Mia and Maia Bravo watched flames engulf their trailer in California from the back of the family minivan. "I was afraid, in shock," Maia said. Statistics on internal displacements caused by climate disasters generally do not account for the victim’s age. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, a non-governmental organization, and UNICEF collaborated to analyze the data and uncover the hidden toll for children. Four types of climate disaster (floods, storms, droughts, and wildfire) has led to 43.1 million child displacements in 44 countries in which frequency of the said disasters has increased during global warming, the report says. Ninety-five percent of those displacements were caused by floods and storms. “It’s equivalent of about 20,000 child displacements every day,” Healy lamented on AFP highlighting how the afflicted children are then at risk of suffering other traumas, such as being torn away from their parents or being the prey of child traffickers. As one child may be uprooted more than once, the numbers reflect the number of displacements rather than the number of children affected. The number of displaced people as a result of drought is “radically underreported,” according to Healy because they are less abrupt and hence harder to measure. This is just the tip of the iceberg based on the available data that we have," she said. "The reality is with the impacts of climate change, or better tracking of displacement when it comes to slow onset events, that the number of children who are uprooted from their homes is going to be much greater." Healy added. UNICEF Report Reveals Alarming Predictions for Child Displacements Due to Climate Events In a recently released UNICEF report, startling forecasts have been unveiled for specific climate-related events. According to the report, the next three decades could witness a staggering 96 million child displacements due to flooding caused by overflowing rivers. Additionally, cyclonic winds are projected to force 10.3 million child displacements, while storm surges may result in 7.2 million displacements. It's worth noting that these estimates do not factor in preventive evacuation measures, raising concerns about the potential scale of displacement. UNICEF's Executive Director, Catherine Russell, emphasized the profound impact on those compelled to flee, including the fear of an uncertain return, disruptions to education, and the possibility of further relocations. Russell stressed that while migration may save lives, it also brings significant upheaval and challenges. "As the impacts of climate change escalate, so too will climate-driven movement. We have the tools and knowledge to respond to this escalating challenge for children, but we are acting far too slowly." She added. At the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in November and December, UNICEF urged world leaders to take up the climate issue. According to Healy, children, particularly those who have already been compelled to move must be prepared “to live in a climate change world”. While the effects of climate change are spreading across large portions of the planet, the UNICEF report highlights some of the most susceptible nations. The biggest number of displaced people (almost 23 million in six years) occurred in China, India, and the Philippines because of their massive populations, strategic positions, and precautionary evacuation measures. However, in proportional terms, Africa and small island states are most at risk; in Dominica, 76 percent of all children were uprooted between 2016 and 2021. More than 30 percent of the said amount went to Saint Martin and Cuba. The post Millions of children affected by climate disasters – UNICEF appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tens of millions of children uprooted by climate disasters — UNICEF
Weather disasters fueled by climate change -- from floods to droughts, storms to wildfires -- sparked 43.1 million child displacements from 2016 to 2021, the UN Children's Fund warned Thursday, slamming the lack of attention paid to victims. In a sweeping report on the issue, the United Nations agency detailed the heart-wrenching stories of some of the children affected, and co-author Laura Healy told AFP the data only revealed the "tip of the iceberg," with many more likely affected. "We moved our belongings to the highway, where we lived for weeks," recounts Sudanese child Khalid Abdul Azim, whose flooded village was only accessible by boat. In 2017, sisters Mia and Maia Bravo watched flames engulf their trailer in California from the back of the family minivan. "I was afraid, in shock," Maia says in the report. "I would stay up all night." Statistics on internal displacements caused by climate disasters generally do not account for the age of the victims. However, UNICEF worked with the non-governmental Internal Displacement Monitoring Center to unpick the data and reveal the hidden toll on children. From 2016 to 2021, four types of climate disasters (floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires) -- the frequency of which has increased due to global warming -- led to 43.1 million child displacements in 44 countries, the report says. Ninety-five percent of those displacements were caused by floods and storms. "It's the equivalent of about 20,000 child displacements every day," Healy told AFP, underscoring how the children affected are then at risk of suffering other traumas, such as being separated from their parents or falling victim to child traffickers. The data reflect the number of displacements and not the number of children affected, as the same child could be uprooted more than once. The figures do not allow for a distinction between those evacuated before a weather event, and those forced to leave in the wake of a disaster. And, according to Healy, the number of displacements due to drought is "radically underreported," because they are less sudden and thus more difficult to quantify. "This is just the tip of the iceberg based on the available data that we have," she said. "The reality is with the impacts of climate change, or better tracking of displacement when it comes to slow onset events, that the number of children who are uprooted from their homes is going to be much greater." 'Far too slowly' The UNICEF report offers some partial predictions, for specific events. Floods linked to overflowing rivers could spark 96 million child displacements in the next 30 years, while cyclonic winds could force 10.3 million displacements, it says. Storm surges could lead to 7.2 million displacements. None of those estimates include preventive evacuations. "For those who are forced to flee, the fear and impact can be especially devastating, with worry of whether they will return home, resume school, or be forced to move again," UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement. "Moving may have saved their lives, but it's also very disruptive," Russell said. "As the impacts of climate change escalate, so too will climate-driven movement. We have the tools and knowledge to respond to this escalating challenge for children, but we are acting far too slowly." UNICEF called on world leaders to take up the issue at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in November and December. Healy says children, including those already forced to move, must be prepared "to live in a climate change world." Even if the intensifying effects of climate change are affecting wide swathes of the planet, the UNICEF report shines the light on particularly vulnerable countries. China, India, and the Philippines are the countries with the largest number of displacements (nearly 23 million in six years) because of their huge populations and geographic locations -- but also because of their preventive evacuation plans. But in proportional terms, Africa and small island nations are most at risk -- in Dominica, 76 percent of all children were displaced from 2016 to 2021. For Cuba and Saint-Martin, that figure was more than 30 percent. The post Tens of millions of children uprooted by climate disasters — UNICEF appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Eco group warns vs toxic lead spray paints
An environmental group on Wednesday has urged authorities to look into the sale of five lead-containing spray paints being sold in Metro Cebu cities. According to the EcoWaste Coalition, the spray paint brands — the yellow Bad Axe Spray Paint which contains 23,080 ppm lead, canary yellow, jade green, Gongcheng orange yellow and deep yellow variants — had 21,610 ppm, 21,500 ppm, 20,040 ppm and 15,700 ppm. It added that it discovered these spray paints are being sold in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue. “Our discovery of five more lead-containing aerosol paints in Cebu indicates the need for improved compliance monitoring, particularly outside Metro Manila and Luzon, to protect the health of children and adults from this continuing source lead exposure,” said EcoWaste Coalition’s Manny Calonzo. These five Bad Axe brand spray paints are being sold each for less than P100 per 400 ml can. As indicated on the label, Bad Axe can be used for coating the interior and exterior wood, steel and other metal surfaces of household appliances, equipment, furniture, bicycles and the like. “The product has no manufacturer’s markings and its country of manufacture is unknown. It provides no information or warning about the paint’s lead content,” said the group. However, the product’s date of manufacture is indicated at the bottom of the can and all variants of Bad Axe were manufactured between 2021 to 2023, or after the completion of the national phase-out deadline for lead-containing decorative paints in December 2016. The World Health Organization, which co-manages the Secretariat of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint or the Lead Paint Alliance, has warned that lead exposure can have serious consequences for the health of children. EcoWaste Coalition added that exposure to lead is known to result in adverse health effects such as damage to the brain and central nervous system, slowed growth and development, hearing and speech problems, learning difficulties and behavioral problems, which can cause reduced ability to pay attention, underperformance in school, and lower intelligence quotient. The country’s lead paint regulation is stipulated under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order 2013-24, which established a maximum limit of 90 ppm for total lead in paint. This landmark chemical policy phased out leaded decorative and industrial paints in December 2016 and December 2019, respectively. The post Eco group warns vs toxic lead spray paints appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Romnick Sarmenta calls out Lala Sotto’s request for P5-M ‘honorarium’ for MTRCB board
At the recent budget hearings in Congress, Lala Sotto, chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, requested an additional P5 million in the 2024 budget for her agency, purportedly to be used as honorarium for the MTRCB's board members. Specifically, the request conveyed to Congress was for additional funds covering an "honorarium of P10,000 for every board meeting [that] shall be given to a board member for his/her attendance amounting to P5.20 million per year". Many netizens, already irate at the MTRCB for its decision to suspend the popular noontime show "It's Showtime", scored Sotto's request for additional funding for meetings by her agency's board members. Among those who registered their protest online was actor Romnick Sarmenta, who pointed out in a tweet: “Mam…. di po nila kailangan yung honorarium. Tinanggap po nila yung pwesto eh. Obligasyon po pag attend sa meeting, hindi po kailangan ng may pampalubag-loob“ (Maam, they don't need the honorarium. They willingly accepted their posts. It's their obligation to attend meetings without incentives). The request was on top of P19 million requested by the agency for "developmental activities". Sotto cited a new MTRCB campaign that needs to be funded, the 'Responsableng Panonood Campaign' where "we involve the parents, equipping and empowering them to be able to be able to be responsible for the viewing habits of their children," said Sotto. The post Romnick Sarmenta calls out Lala Sotto’s request for P5-M ‘honorarium’ for MTRCB board appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»