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SWAT raids cops’ house in ‘Betflix’ crackdown
SWAT teams led a crackdown on illegal online gambling network in Thailand on Monday that saw the house of potentially the next police chief raided. One of the 30 houses targeted was in central Bangkok and belonged to Deputy National Police Chief Surachate Hakparn, who is touted as a possible candidate to replace the outgoing police chief. Surachate, well known in Thailand for his regular appearances in the media giving updates on investigations, denied any involvement in the alleged gambling ring. “I’m not worried at all, because I’m not involved in this and I can answer any question,” he told reporters outside his home while the raid was under way. “Today I see this as nothing more than internal politics within the police,” he said. Police Major General Trairong Phiwpan said the raids stemmed from a probe into a gambling website called “Betflix” and 12 subsidiary sites. Investigators have issued 23 arrest warrants, he said, including eight for police officers —though Surachate said he was not among them. Officers conducting the raid said they were unaware whose house it was. The long-serving Surachate — nicknamed “the cat with nine lives” — has been linked to powerful figures in the previous government. He was appointed by ex-deputy prime minister Prawit Wongsuwan as chief of the Immigration Bureau in September 2018. He disappeared in 2019 over unclear reasons, before then-prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha made him a special adviser on strategy to police in 2021. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who took office last month, told reporters he was monitoring the situation. “There may be the need to set up an independent investigation committee, “because this is a big problem,” he said. “It affects the morale and public impression towards the police.” Thai police have long been dogged by allegations of endemic corruption. WITH AFP The post SWAT raids cops’ house in ‘Betflix’ crackdown appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hong Kong flooded by heaviest rainfall in 140 years
Hong Kong was flooded by the heaviest rainfall in nearly 140 years on Friday, leaving the city's streets and some subway stations under water and forcing its schools to close. Just across the border, authorities in China's tech hub Shenzhen recorded the heaviest rains since records began in 1952. Climate change has increased the intensity of tropical storms, experts say, with more rain and stronger gusts leading to flash floods and coastal damage. The heavy rains in Hong Kong started on Thursday and in the hour leading up to midnight, the city's weather observatory recorded hourly rainfall of 158.1 millimeters at its headquarters, the highest since records began in 1884. On Friday afternoon, the Hospital Authority said at least 110 people were hospitalized due to injuries, with four in serious condition. A man was found unconscious off the shore of western Hong Kong Island and declared dead at the hospital, though authorities were still investigating if the death was flood-related. The city's highest rainstorm warning level, "black", was hoisted for a record-breaking 16 hours before being lowered at 3:40 pm Friday, with rainfall mostly easing by late afternoon. "It's absolutely shocking," said Jacky, 52, who lives in the Wong Tai Sin district with his elderly parents. "I don't remember floods ever being this bad in our district." "The bottom floor of the mall is completely flooded, the water level is higher than the storefronts... it's turned our day into chaos," he added. Authorities issued flash flood warnings, with emergency services conducting rescue operations in parts of the territory. "Residents living in close proximity to rivers should stay alert to weather conditions and should consider evacuation" if their homes are flooded, the observatory said. It also warned of potential landslips, telling motorists to "keep away from steep slopes or retaining walls". Hong Kong's stock exchange cancelled all trading sessions on Friday. 'Once in a century' Hong Kong Chief Secretary Eric Chan described the deluge as "a once-in-a-century heavy rainstorm", adding that extreme conditions would continue until midnight local time (1600 GMT). "It's like putting four bathtubs of water into one bathtub... it will spill," Chan said at a press conference, when asked if the government had done enough to prevent flooding. The Hong Kong Observatory said it recorded more than 600 millimeters of rainfall at its headquarters over 24 hours -- roughly a quarter of the city's annual average. Earlier in the day, taxis struggled through flooded roads as commuters attempted to make their way to work, with some cars stranded in the deluge. "It felt like the whole neighborhood was isolated by the floodwater. One of the underground car parks is totally under water," Olivia Lam, who lives on the eastern side of Hong Kong Island, told AFP. "The water was almost waist-deep outside my building, and that's not the worst (case) in the neighborhood." An AFP reporter saw boulders and mud from a landslide block off a two-lane road in the Shau Kei Wan district, with mud also spilling over into a nearby basketball court. Residents of a public housing block just 30 meters from the landslide lined up with buckets to collect fresh water after the building's supply was disrupted. Roads were also flooded on the island of Lantau, where rivers swelled over their banks. Southern China was hit the previous weekend by two typhoons in quick succession -- Saola and Haikui -- though Hong Kong avoided a feared direct hit. Tens of millions of people in the densely populated coastal areas of southern China had sheltered indoors ahead of those storms. Hong Kong's weather observatory said the latest torrential rain was brought by the "trough of low pressure associated with (the) remnant of Haikui". Authorities suspended schools and cargo clearance services on the city's border with Shenzhen were paused. The border disruption came hours after Hong Kong authorities announced that Shenzhen was preparing to discharge water from its reservoir, which they said could lead to flooding in northern parts of the city. Hong Kong's subway operator said there was a service disruption on one of its lines after a station in the Wong Tai Sin district was flooded. A handful of other stations were also affected by the rain. Footage posted on social media showed a subway train not stopping at Wong Tai Sin station, which had floodwater on its platform. The flooding could cost Hong Kong at least $100 million, according to a Bloomberg Intelligence estimate, compared to $470 million in damage when the city was hit by typhoon Mangkhut in 2018. The post Hong Kong flooded by heaviest rainfall in 140 years appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sulu sting ops yield P13-M shabu
JOLO, Sulu Province — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao reported on Thursday that its operatives nabbed a former Moro National Liberation Front member and his cohort in an anti-illegal drug operation last Wednesday. Authorities seized two kilos of suspected shabu worth P13 million and arrested the suspects identified as Janang Bairulla and Anton Jubail following an entrapment operation conducted by members of the PDEA-BARMM. PDEA-BARMM director Christian Frivaldo said that the operation was also joined by police agencies and soldiers in Barangay Poblacion, Maimbung town in Sulu province at about 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Frivaldo said that Jubail was a former member of the MNLF who was removed from the group by senior leaders of the front due to his involvement in the sale and distribution of shabu in the provinces. Bairulla and Jubail are now detained at the Sulu Provincial Police Office in Jolo, Sulu. In a similar operation, a policeman and a drug peddler were killed during a shootout in Barangay Kajatian in Indanan town in Sulu on Wednesday. Indanan Municipal Police chief Police Major Edwin Catayao Sapa said the anti-narcotics team was about to arrest the suspect identified as Jundol Abdurahman and his companions when they fired at the policemen. During the brief shootout, Police SSgt Julmakar Paddam Alih was hit by a bullet to the face that penetrated the back of his neck. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician. Abdurahman also died in the shootout. Four of Abdurahman cohorts were also arrested and were identified as Jibal Hassan Sabtal, Itik Arrang Maldisa, Mansul Buddi Ali and Binang Hailil Alano. Police seized about P242,000 worth of shabu from the four arrested suspects who are all now detained at the Indanan Municipal Police Station. In Zamboanga City, anti-narcotics policemen conducted a buy-bust at the Atilano Pension House in Barangay Pasonanca which resulted to the arrest of Christian Jumanan Siose alias Chan, a resident of Gov. Ramos Avenue, Barangay Sta. Maria in Zamboanga City. Confiscated from Siose possession during the operation were four pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu weighing about 197.40 grams worth P1.34 million. The post Sulu sting ops yield P13-M shabu appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DTI-UNIDO, innovation leaders gather to advance Industry 4.0 agenda
In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Group and with support from the Korean International Cooperation Agency, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization spearheaded the Policy Forum on the Advancement of Industry 4.0 and Digital Transformation of Industries in the Philippines on 21 July 2023 at the Makati Diamond Residences, gathering around 50 innovation leaders from the government, private sector, academe and development partners. The forum fostered an open dialogue with industry experts through a panel discussion. DTI CIG Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba underscored the Philippines' exceptional proficiency in services and highlighted the potential of Industry 4.0 technologies in further enhancing this aspect, “We can link our services with manufacturing, agriculture and others, especially with the presence of these new technologies which would really require a lot of digital skills, software applications development, etc. These are things and areas that the Philippines has a comparative advantage,” she emphasized. The panelists aligned with this perspective as they shed light on how I4.0 continuously shapes society. Arnel Cabungcal, assistant vice president for manufacturing operations services and technology of UNILAB, Inc., highlighted the profound impact of Artificial Intelligence. “During the pandemic, through an emergency use authorization, the standard eight-year approval process of the vaccine was reduced to only eight months, with the aid of AI”, he said. Chief operating officer of Ionics-EMS Inc. Jay Chavez chimed in with his own experience of adopting smart manufacturing in the company’s operations and its impact on job placements. “With smart manufacturing increasing our production, we had to hire more people to do higher value tasks while remaining cost-effective”, he said. The importance of enabling policies also greatly surfaced through the discussion as Emmanuel Lazaro Estrada, senior vice president for regulatory development and strategy of Globe Telecom, Inc., was quoted as saying that “policies should be practical and human-centered.” Anders Isaksson, UNIDO chief of the capacity development and policy advice unit, supported this idea and reiterated the call for a needs-based approach. “Knowing what needs to be done is very important for defining policy areas and reducing policy uncertainties,” he said, while adding the connection running from innovation to I4.0 to productivity growth and welfare enhancement. “The successful adoption of I4.0 banks on the implementation of the right policy mix. This mix should not only focus on pro-I4.0 policies but also on redistribution and compensation policies at the very design stage to reduce the costs of potential disruption and transition [due to I4.0]”, stressed Isaksson. Crafting and institutionalizing such policies would require much effort from the government, according to Dr. Jamil Paolo S. Francisco, Asian Institute of Management’s executive director for the Rizalino S. Navarro Policy Center for Competitiveness. “Government should help individuals, companies, and startups become more agile”, Francisco said. Melvin Jeffrey Chan, vice president and head for enterprise innovation, business development, and consulting and presales of PLDT Enterprise, zoomed in on the critical role of the National Innovation Council. “The NIC joined the forces of the brightest minds in the country, whether they are from the public or private sector, to drive things forward through the formulation of policies and building technologies,” he pointed out. Apart from the enriching panel discussion, the forum also marked the culmination of a week-long workshop held in Pico De Loro, Batangas from 17 to 20 July 2023, participated in by a roster of innovative policy and thought leaders from select government agencies. UNIDO country representative Engr. Teddy Monroy lauded this initiative for igniting the commitment of the participating agencies to this cause, characterizing I4.0 as “a game-changer as it triggers a productive shift bringing increased efficiency and transformation of the global landscape.”. The forum capped off with assurance and support from Dr. Joseph Capuno, the National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary for Investment Programming Group. He remarked, “Rest assured that the Philippine Government remains committed to embracing digital transformation and harnessing the power of technology to guide social and economic transformation as embodied in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.” In collaboration with other development partners, the DTI and UNIDO aim to sustain the momentum and ongoing dialogue and remain dedicated to driving sustainable development through innovation. As part of this commitment, the participants will continue to gain practical experience through site visits to leading I4.0 companies, technology clusters, innovation agencies, think tanks, and business associations worldwide in the upcoming phase. The post DTI-UNIDO, innovation leaders gather to advance Industry 4.0 agenda appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Viva buys Ivory
Ivory Music and Video Inc., a 40-year-old label with a strong domestic catalogue, has been sold to the Viva Music Group. This was announced by Tony Ocampo, chief operating officer of Viva Records, who together with Viva Communications chairman and chief executive officer Vic Del Rosario Jr., finalized the sale for an undisclosed amount with Ivory president Steven L. Tan last week. “Ivory makes a most prestigious addition to the Viva catalogue,” said Ocampo, who coincidentally established the Ivory label in 1983. “Having Ivory in its catalogue further strengthens Viva’s position in the entertainment industry as the leading propagator of original Filipino music,” added Ocampo. The deal includes Ivory’s entire catalogue of recorded music and all of the songs licensed to its music publishing arm. Among these are recordings by MYMP, The CompanY, Side A, Freddie Aguilar, Zack Tabudlo, Moira Dela Torre, Join the Club, Silent Sanctuary, Wolfgang, April Boy Regino, Moonstar 88, Lokal Brown, Gary Granada, Florante, Roselle Nava, Orient Pearl and many others. Ivory is the latest investment acquisition by Viva. As of now, the music side of the multi-media entertainment company already includes all of the recorded music libraries of Vicor Music, Telesis Recording, Terno Records and Viva Music. Among these are recordings by Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nievera, Basil Valdez, Regine Velasquez, Andrew E, Sarah Geronimo, Freestyle and Up Dharma Down. Viva has also invested in start-up labels like Kean Cipriano’s OC Records which boasts of artists like Adie, mrld and Kenenaiah; WayBettr Music of Naki Quimson and NexxFriday with artists Deny and Jin Chan; Blacksheep Records of Jaworski Garcia with artists Magnus Haven and Ferodina; and the recently launched Wild Dream Records of Marion Aunor which has Matt Wilson and Pecado under contract. Viva Music Publishing is home to the works of Dennis Garcia, Rene Garcia, Willy Cruz, Louie Ocampo, Top Suzara, Jay Durias, Thyro Alfaro, Arthur Nery and many other authors and composers. The post Viva buys Ivory appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thai PM front runner claims enough Senate support for top job
The front runner to become Thailand's next prime minister, Pita Limjaroenrat, said on Tuesday he had secured enough support from the Senate to take the top job. Pita's progressive Move Forward Party won the most seats at last month's election as voters delivered a crushing rejection of military-linked parties that have run the kingdom for nearly a decade. To become PM, Pita has to muster a majority across both houses, including the Senate, whose 250 members were handpicked by the last junta. His eight-party coalition has a total of 312 seats in the lower house, but needs another 64 -- from either house -- for a majority. Asked on Tuesday how many senators would endorse him, Pita told reporters at the parliament building: "Enough to make me become PM." Thailand's parliament is set to sit next Monday for the first time since the election and a vote on the prime minister is due in mid-July. MFP's determination to amend Thailand's tough laws against insulting the royal family has spooked the royalist-military conservative establishment. Pita dismissed speculation that his party's stance on reforming royal defamation laws could be a barrier to forming a government. Several senators have already said they will not vote for him as prime minister. Earlier this month the election commission set up an investigation to look at whether Pita was qualified to run for office, because of his alleged ownership of shares in a now-defunct media company. Legislators are not allowed to own media shares. MFP and fellow opposition outfit Pheu Thai dominated the May 14 election, in which voters roundly rejected Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, a former army chief who came to power in a 2014 coup. The coalition has announced ambitious plans to rewrite the constitution -- scripted by Prayut's junta in 2017 -- as well as ending military conscription and allowing same-sex marriage. The post Thai PM front runner claims enough Senate support for top job appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ma Dong-seok joins ‘Hell Divers’
Korean actor Don Lee is set to produce and star in the Hollywood adaptation of New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sansbury Smith’s series Hell Divers. On 22 June, news outlets reported that the Train to Busan actor will play the lead role of Xavier, one of the legendary hell divers who skydive to scavenge parts of ships. The story will take place two centuries after World War III poisoned planet Earth. “We are thrilled to be joining Arad Productions and Jerome Chen as producers to adapt this iconic sci-fi novel, and I am honored and excited to bring the hardened but nuanced character of Xavier to life,” Lee told Deadline. The director has yet to be determined. Lee, known as Ma Dong-seok in Korea, reprised his role as Gilgamesh in Marvels’ Eternals. Gilgamesh is a member of the near-immortal race Eternals with Thena (Angelina Jolie), Sersi (Gemma Chan), Ikaris (Richard Madden), Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), Sprite (Lia McHugh), Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), Druig (Barry Keoghan) and Ajak (Salma Hayek). He is also known for his performance in The Gangster, The Cop and The Devil which he also produced alongside Chris Lee; Billy Acumen, chief executive officer of BA Entertainment; and Sylvester Stallone and Braden Aftergood under Balboa Productions. Meanwhile The Roundup: No Way Out, which Lee acted in, grossed US $70.2 million in the Korean box office since its premiere three weeks ago. It is by far the country’s number-one movie of 2023, just like its predecessor The Roundup (2022) was the biggest movie of the year. The post Ma Dong-seok joins ‘Hell Divers’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Avel: A Book, A Fashion Show, A Filipino Designer
BY JOJO G. SILVESTRE Whether one refers to the book, the fashion show or the Filipino designer who takes center stage on the first two, there is no mistaking the message — Philippine textile, woven and embroidered, at their best. In all three, there is another common denominator — the support and patronage of the First Lady, Liza Araneta Marcos. [caption id="attachment_147815" align="aligncenter" width="525"] FIRST Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos with designer Avel Bacudio.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147821" align="aligncenter" width="525"] First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos with the author.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147818" align="aligncenter" width="525"] BIANCA Zobel and Dina Arroyo-Tantoco of the Office of the Social Secretary with Avel Bacudio.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147824" align="aligncenter" width="525"] THE designer with Grace Bernardo Chan.[/caption] The fashion show that was recently held at the Goldenberg Museum, under the auspices of the Office of the First Lady, with the Office of the Social Secretary providing a multi-faceted back-up, was a spectacle in black and white as interpreted by Avel Bacudio whose creations paid tribute to the handiwork of Filipino artisans all over the country. Each piece of clothing modeled by legislators and cabinet secretaries, their wives, key officials of the executive branch, and scions of political families, all clients of Avel, manifested the virtuosity of the iconic designer who chose to downplay extravagance and over-the-top ornamentation by focusing on well-defined structure, casual elegance, comfortability and versatility, the last allowing the wearers to mix and match to suit the occasion. [caption id="attachment_147820" align="aligncenter" width="525"] DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco and Deputy Speaker Duke Frasco.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147816" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ACTOR-MODEL Jerome Ponce and Cong. Linabelle Villarica, 4th District of Bulacan.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147822" align="aligncenter" width="525"] KATRINA Ponce Enrile, Administrator, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority.[/caption] Goldenberg Mansion, in all its splendor, served as a fitting yet contrasting backdrop to Avel’s functionality, simplicity and orderly geometric configurations. The book, Avel, Ladies in the Palace, quotes the Bicolano designer who laments, “The local weavers and their craft are dying out and they are unable to pass it on to the next generation. This is where I found the passion to do what I can, as a designer, to help this craft alive.” His intention looks beyond the communities where these beautiful fabrics originate and reveals his deep longing to present the best of Filipino craftsmanship to the international community. He admits to being “challenged to bring their weaves into the modern world but going beyond the ordinary. I turned my focus towards elevating them into pieces worthy of the global stage while still paying tribute to their stories and the craft.” On his part, Ilocos Norte Representative Sandro Marcos, who supported the book project, describes Avel as “a highly accomplished and extraordinary fashion designer.” He enumerates his distinctions, namely, “more than 20 years of successful career; extensive and impressive client list; and numerous awards including Metro Magazine’s 2012 Breakthrough Designer and Asia’s Most Influential Designer in 2014 at the Mercedes-Benz Style Fashion Week in Malaysia.” [caption id="attachment_147825" align="aligncenter" width="452"] Yeye Vivas, Chief of Staff of Congressman Sandro Marcos.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147814" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PCOO Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147823" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Marga Montemayor Nograles, COO, Tourism Promotions Board.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147819" align="aligncenter" width="377"] CONGRESSMAN Migz Villafuerte, 5th District of Camarines Sur.[/caption] On these pages are Avel’s creations as modeled by dazzling personalities in government and society, as well as the personal choices of guests, celebrities and achievers too, and Malacanang insiders from their respective closets. Fittingly, everyone arrived in their black and white outfits, eager and ready to be impressed by what the designer had been up to in the past months. Avel Bacudio did not disappoint them. [caption id="attachment_147826" align="aligncenter" width="525"] XAVIER Tengco[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147835" align="aligncenter" width="525"] DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. and Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147817" align="aligncenter" width="641"] Atty. Joeie Domingo, Undersecretary, Special Assistant to the President.[/caption] The post Avel: A Book, A Fashion Show, A Filipino Designer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rody among Phl-China friendship promoters
Former President Rodrigo Duterte and former Special Envoy to China and chief executive officer of Liwayway Marketing Corporation Carlos Chan were chosen to receive this year’s Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding or APPCU. Duterte and Chan were chosen as the Hall of Famer of APPCU among more than 30 applicants, as the award-giving body recognized their “prestige and stature and immense effort of work that they have over time, as evidenced by the extent of reach, impact, and reception of their works by communities and societies.” Aside from them, other awardees for the APPCU’s Outstanding Contributions are former Ambassador to Greece and Cyprus, Rigoberto Tiglao and Jaime Cruz, former Special Envoy to the People’s Republic of China’s Trade and Investments. On the other hand, recipients of Major Contributions are Regina Rosa Tecson, the director of the Satellite Office of Vice President Sara Duterte in Davao City and Jose Ong Tajan, the former president of APCU Baguio and the former chairman of the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Baguio City. The formal bestowing of the award will be on 8 June at the Manila Hotel. APPCU, an annual undertaking, is a joint project of the Association for Philippines-China Understanding, or APCU, and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Philippines. Though it is in its third year already, relatively speaking, it is a novel award-giving body that pays special tribute to Filipinos who have made efforts through time to strengthen friendly ties and promote mutual understanding between the Philippines and China using their respective advocacies and expertise in the various fields and disciplines of mass media and public service; trade and commerce; and arts, culture, and the sciences. APPCU was conceptualized and launched on 16 July 2021 by then-China State Counselor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, during the inauguration of the Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations. The primary rationale behind launching APPCU is to actively continue promoting friendship between China and the Philippines and enhancing people-to-people exchanges, noting that amity between people holds the key to sound state-to-state relations. Essentially, the award is locating people who made a mark and contributed much effort through time in the improvement and advancement of Philippines-China bilateral friendly relations and understanding. The award, in essence, promotes the spirit of friendship and understanding between the Philippines and China. Those eligible for the awards are Filipino citizens who have committed themselves to improving and advancing Philippines-China bilateral relations using their fields of discipline and areas of expertise. The post Rody among Phl-China friendship promoters appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hong Kong police detain more than 20 on Tiananmen anniversary
Hong Kong police on Sunday detained more than 20 people, including key pro-democracy figures trying to commemorate the anniversary of the bloody Tiananmen Square crackdown, as hundreds in Taiwan mourned the dead with a vigil. For years, tens of thousands of Hong Kongers would converge on the city's Victoria Park and its surrounding neighborhood to commemorate the events of June 4, 1989 -- taking part in candlelight vigils. But since Beijing's imposition of a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 to quell dissent, the annual vigil has been banned and its organizers charged under the law. This weekend, scores of police were deployed in the area, stopping people for searches and questioning. Some found with a candle -- regarded as a symbol of the Victoria Park vigil -- were questioned and detained. More than 700 kilometers (430 miles) away on the self-ruled island of Taiwan, hundreds gathered at Taipei's Liberty Square to chant "fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong" as night fell. They lit candles in the shape of "8964" -- numerals forbidden in mainland China because it references the events of June 4, 1989. "We need to cherish the freedom and democracy we have in Taiwan," Perry Wu, 31, told AFP. "I feel really sad to see the news of people getting arrested today in Hong Kong." Hong Kong police said late Sunday they had detained 23 people between the ages of 20 to 74 who were suspected of "breaching the peace". One woman, 53, was arrested for obstructing police officers. Among the most prominent activists AFP saw bundled into police vans was Chan Po-ying, the leader of the League of Social Democrats, one of the few remaining opposition parties. The veteran activist, who was released hours later, held a small LED candle and two flowers before she was seized by police. Other recognizable figures taken were Alexandra Wong, a well-known activist nicknamed "Grandma Wong" and Leo Tang, a former leader of the now-disbanded Confederation of Trade Unions. On Saturday, Hong Kong police arrested four people for "seditious" acts and "disorderly conduct". Another four were detained on suspicion of breaching the peace. The office of UN human rights chief Volker Turk said in a tweet late Sunday it was "alarmed by reports of detentions" in Hong Kong and called for the "release of anyone detained for exercising freedom of expression & peaceful assembly." 'Let the world know' Discussion of the Tiananmen crackdown is highly sensitive for China's communist leadership and commemoration is forbidden on the mainland. The government sent troops and tanks to Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989 to break up peaceful protests, brutally crushing a weeks-long wave of demonstrations calling for political change. Hundreds -- by some estimates, more than 1,000 -- were killed. Hong Kong was for decades the only Chinese city with a large-scale commemoration -- a key index of the liberties and political pluralism afforded by its semi-autonomous status. This year, Victoria Park was transformed for a "hometown carnival fair" organized by pro-Beijing groups. Erase memories Beijing has gone to exhaustive lengths to erase the 1989 event from public memory in the mainland. All mention of the crackdown is scrubbed from China's internet. Over the weekend, sites of more recent protests -- a bridge in Beijing where a "freedom" banner was unfurled, and Wulumuqi Street in Shanghai where demonstrations happened in November -- also saw heightened security. Hong Kong authorities were vigilant in the weeks before June 4, with police seizing a commemorative "Pillar of Shame" statue for a security trial and removing books on the Tiananmen crackdown from public libraries. But there were still pockets of defiance on Sunday around Hong Kong -- a shop gave away candles, while a bookstore displayed Tiananmen Square archival material. At the US consulate in the evening, dozens of candles could be seen shimmering in the large complex's windows. 'Face the consequences' Sidestepping questions about whether public mourning was allowed, Hong Kong's leader John Lee had repeatedly maintained that the public must act according to the law or "be ready to face the consequences". Vigils planned around the world, from Japan to Australia, saw people standing with candles next to images of the brutal crackdown. In London, protesters staged a re-enactment featuring a blow-up tank and women dressed in white, emulating a statue to liberty set up on Tiananmen Square in 1989. A 59-year-old poet from China's Sichuan province, told AFP at the Trafalgar Square rally that his family fled soon after brutal crackdown. "Chinese people in my generation know what happened, but the younger ones, not really," said the man, who declined to be named for fear of Chinese reprisals. "Their parents, their grandparents, need to keep up the knowledge, and we all need to remember at events overseas like this." The post Hong Kong police detain more than 20 on Tiananmen anniversary appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Good things come with babies’
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 36-year-old leader of the main opposition Pheu Thai party, was given a rock star welcome as she returned to the campaign trail for the first time since giving birth less than two weeks ago. The daughter of billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra fulfilled a promise to get back on the campaign trail after giving birth on 1 May. Paetongtarn has been first or second in surveys of voters’ preferred choice of prime minister and her Pheu Thai party — the latest incarnation of the political movement founded by her father — is leading most opinion polls. “I believe that good things come with babies, so this is a blessing for my family,” she told reporters at Bangkok’s Praram 9 hospital on 3 May. A heavily pregnant Paetongtarn was a near-constant presence at campaign rallies in searing tropical heat until just a week before giving birth. The baby, named Prutthasin Sooksawas and nicknamed “Thasin” in honor of her father, is Paetongtarn’s second. Napisa Waitoolkiat, a political analyst at Naresuan University, said the pregnancy and birth might help win over swing voters. Emilie Pradichit, of feminist human rights organization Manushya, said she had sent out a strong message in a patriarchal society. “By actively participating in the electoral process, while also sharing about her pregnancy, she is breaking barriers, Pradichit told Agence France-Presse. “It challenges the notion that pregnancy and motherhood are incompatible with political careers.” Voters are predicted to deliver a heavy defeat to the government of former army chief and coup leader Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, with Pheu Thai and the rival opposition Move Forward Party leading the final polls. Paetongtarn, the daughter of billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra — himself ousted in a coup — arrived to an electric atmosphere at Bangkok’s Impact arena. “May 14 will be a historic day where Thailand will change from a junta rule to a democratic rule,” she told around 10,000 supporters clad in Pheu Thai’s signature vivid scarlet colors. Sunday’s election is a clash between the opposition, fired up by the youth-led pro-democracy street protest movement of 2020, and the older conservative royalist-military establishment embodied by Prayut. Pheu Thai, which draws on a deep well of support from rural voters in the northeast, is well ahead in the polls, but winning most seats in the lower house is no guarantee of taking power. The prime minister will be chosen by the 500 elected members of parliament and 250-strong senate — whose members were appointed by Prayut’s junta, stacking the deck in favor of army-linked parties. The Shinawatra family’s bitter tussle with the royalist-military establishment has been at the center of Thailand’s rolling political drama. Thaksin was removed in a 2006 coup, and his sister Yingluck Shinawatra by Prayut’s putsch in 2014, and some analysts are skeptical that the military will release its grip on power now. The post ‘Good things come with babies’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Envisioning smart, sustainable cities at AI Summit PH 2023
What will the cities of tomorrow be like? Aboitiz Data Innovation, the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence arm of the Aboitiz Group, brings together key players and industry movers championing sustainable smart cities, as well as power generation and distribution, at the inaugural AI Summit Philippines (AI Summit PH 2023). Organized in partnership with Aboitiz Equity Ventures and Union Bank of the Philippines, the two-day summit will be held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay, Philippines on 10 to 11 May 2023, with industry and government leaders and forward-thinking entrepreneurs sharing real-world use cases, lessons learned and valuable insights. The AI Summit PH 2023 offers attendees an array of events, including talks, panel discussions, knowledge sessions and networking opportunities with tech innovators and game-changers. The summit will focus on three streams: Powering Smart Cities through Data, Data Science and Transformation in Financial Services, and Operationalizing Data Science and AI. Imagine a city where everything is interconnected, more livable and environmentally friendly — where people can move around seamlessly, where energy is generated and consumed sustainably, where lives are enhanced by efficient services, and where the livelihoods of communities are improved. As the world becomes more urbanized, smart cities play an important role in accommodating the growing population. With AI and advanced technologies as enablers and catalysts, a smarter, greener, more livable world is not impossible to attain. Path to the future Opening the Summit is Third District of Negros Occidental Representative Dr. Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez with a keynote on “Reimagining a Sustainable and Equitable Philippines with AI.” Representative Benitez brings insightful expertise as the chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development and a member of the House Committee on Information and Communication Technology. One of the summit’s highlights is a plenary discussion on “Defining the Smart Cities of the Future.” This path to the future requires collaboration between the government, the private sector and other important stakeholders. From the public sector, panelists include Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, who will share his insights on the government’s role in enabling smart city development. He will be joined by IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines president and chief executive officer Jack Madrid and Aboitiz InfraCapital president and CEO Cosette Canilao. This session will delve into the potential benefits of smart city development, including public services, increased economic growth and enhanced sustainability. AIC is already providing Filipinos with a glimpse of the cities of the future across its economic estates. LIMA Land and Cebu Industrial Park Developers president Rafael de Mesa will participate in a breakout session on “AI and the Future of Sustainable Cities: Challenges and Opportunities.” He will be joined by CAZA Principal and award-winning architect Carlos Arnaiz, Arup Associate principal of Cities and Planning Tony Chan and AECOM Asia ESG Services Business lead Sylvester Timothy Wong. The session will be moderated by ADI chief operating officer for Smart Cities Alvin Ng. Technology trends A breakout session will cover the topic of “Unlocking The Benefits of AI in Achieving Sustainability.” Among the panelists are Environmental Resources Management South and Southeast Asia managing partner Wei Chee Liew and members of the academe Dr. Godofredo Ramizo Jr., fellow and principal investigator, Nanyang Technological University; and Dr. Immanuel Koh, assistant professor, Singapore University of Technology and Design. The session will be moderated by ADI chief marketing officer Felicia Li-Gaillard. In another breakout session, “The Future of Smart Cities: AI-Enabled Innovation and Transformation,” summit participants can learn about technology trends, challenges and opportunities in the smart cities landscape from around the region. Moderated by ADI head of AI and Innovation Center of Excellence Dr. Adrienne Heinrich, the panelists include Amazon Web Services ASEAN Business Development Manager Dr. Chomchana Trevai, KPMG APAC head of Technology Darren Young, Johnson Controls APAC chief technology officer Sachin Gupta and AboitizPower Distribution head of Corporate Services Jokin Aboitiz. On the power front, a discussion on the regulatory frameworks in support of AI in utilities will be tackled by Energy Strat Asia managing director and founder Tim Rockell and Analytics Association of the Philippines president Michelle Alarcon. Another summit highlight is the plenary panel discussion on “Power Fueling Urban Development and Economic Growth,” which will be participated by OceanPixel Chief Executive Officer Dr. Michael Abundo, University of San Carlos Associate Professor and Industrial Engineering Department Chairperson Dr. Lorafe Lozano and Chief Operating Officer for Power Luis F. Gonzalez. There is much more that lies in store. Join ADI and like-minded visionaries for two days of insightful talks, solutions showcase and networking opportunities to share ideas and make meaningful connections that may one day change the world for a sustainable future. For more information about the event, visit www.aiphsummit.ph. The post Envisioning smart, sustainable cities at AI Summit PH 2023 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New lawyer-cops urged: Stay in service
Philippine National Police chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. on Tuesday lauded police officers who passed the 2022 Bar Examination and urged them to stay in the service while practicing law. In a statement, Azurin stressed that the PNP still needs their service to add more teeth to our legal offensive in the campaign against criminality, illegal drugs, and corruption. “I hope that our new lawyers will continue to serve in the police force,” said Azurin of the 43 policemen and women and non-uniformed personnel who passed the Bar exams. “We have counted so far 43 new PNP lawyers, they were composed of 11 Police Commissioned Officers, 29 Non-Commissioned Officers and three Non-Uniformed personnel,” he added. Based on the data gathered by the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management, the National Capital Region recorded a highest number of bar passers with a total of eight personnel — Lt. Col. Erving Chan; PMSg Jose Mari Quilinguin Whiteside; PSSg Lovely May Bernal Janguin; PSSg Rey Vincent Panganiban Mamauag; PSSg Jerusalem Bungalan Dulnuan; PSSg Marie Rannelle Villaluz Dulnuan; PSSg Desiree Chaclag Pasong; and P/Cpl Dizzy Dominong Buyuccan. Police Regional Office 9, on the other hand, had five bar passers — Maj. Alvin Lepiten; PMSg Marifel Otap Sabandal; PSSg Roderick Isong; NUP Marifer Araneta Miguel; and NUP Loi Dominic Tan Arancon. Meantime, the PRO 10 and PRO COR recorded four bar passers — Lt. Col. Michelle Olaivar; PSSgt. Naif Abubacar Malawani; PSSg Elmond Ordoñez Monteron; NUP (non-uniformed policemen) Rose Anna Opalla Abuhan; Maj. Leonard Danasen; PSSg Jefferson Balay-odao Cadap; PCpl Tetchie Paclay Assudo; and PCpl John Bryan Latawan Cong-o. Additional names of bar PNP bar passers from different units and regional offices were PMSg Christian Philip Mariñas Reduca, and PSSg Febelyn Digap Tebes of PRO1; PEMS Alex Correa Becerra and PSMS Roland Gliocam Molino of PRO 3; PCpl Joan Collado Mecono and PSSg Lorena Castillo Ripalda of PRO 8; Maj. Gabato and PMSg Faidzal Ganion Sendad of Maritime Group; PLTCOL Alvin Laborte Villalon of PNPA; Lt.Col. Caesar Ian Cordero Binucal of NPTI; Maj. Jericho Partido Rapiz of Finance Service; Maj. James O Bad-e of Forensic Group; Cpt. Jenyvie Butalid Nagtalon of Aviation Security Group; Cpt. Cherry Madrinan Ricafort of EOD/K9; PMSg Joey Alcantara Gumera of WCPC; PMSg Sherwin Mendez Balagat of SAF; PSSg Ailyn Don Delos Angeles of PRO 5; PSSg Jazal dela Cruz Andrada of PRO 6; PSSg Joel Bacsal Purog, Jr. of CIDG; PCpl Joy Pingad Dayag of PRO 4A; PCpl Rogelio Gutierrez Marcelo of PRO 4B; and Pat Melody Bedey Mamilig of Health Service. The Supreme Court said a total of 3,992 out of 9,183 examinees, or 43.47 percent passed the 2022 Bar examination. The oath-taking of the successful examinees will be at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on 2 May. The post New lawyer-cops urged: Stay in service appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
15 dialysis patients start treatment sessions in Lapu-Lapu hospital
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — Some dialysis patients from Lapu-Lapu City have already started their dialysis sessions at ARC Hospital in Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City. This was confirmed by Lawyer Apple Collados, chief of staff of Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Representative Cindi King-Chan. READ: Patients worry about VSMMC’s move to temporarily stop outpatient dialysis in April […] The post 15 dialysis patients start treatment sessions in Lapu-Lapu hospital appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
SWU PHINMA names new COO
The year 2022 brought many exciting news to the Southwestern University PHINMA community. On top of it was the appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer (COO) in the person of Cheryl Jane P. Chan. A native of Cagayan de Oro City, she first started as a Controller and was promoted to Assistant COO at […] The post SWU PHINMA names new COO appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
PRO-7 chief assures Lapu-Lapu mayor: More cops to secure city streets
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — More policemen will secure the streets of Lapu-Lapu City this holiday season. Police Brigadier General Jerry Fornaleza Bearis, Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) director, assured Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan during the police officer’s courtesy call to the Lapu-Lapu mayor on Dec. 23, 2022. During their casual chat, […] The post PRO-7 chief assures Lapu-Lapu mayor: More cops to secure city streets appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
VisMin Super Cup COO apologizes to the people of Siquijor
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Rocky Chan, the Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the ongoing Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup, has clarified that they are not banning the entire province of Siquijor from the league but only the Siquijor Mystics which was involved in a controversial game last April 14, 2021, against the ARQ Builders Lapu-Lapu […] The post VisMin Super Cup COO apologizes to the people of Siquijor appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Physicality a byword in VisMin Cup
There won’t be a shortage of physicality in the Visayas leg of the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup which kicks off under strict bubble conditions in Alcantara, Cebu, tomorrow as league chief operating officer Rocky Chan guaranteed “exciting action every game” with six homegrown players a requirement in the rosters of the 16 participating teams......»»
Caubian brgy chief earns ire of Lapu mayor over lamp post removal
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — Caubian Barangay Captain Jackson Matbagon said he ordered the removal of an electric post in his barangay because the Barangay Mayor’s Office (BMO) did not coordinate with his office regarding the project. A netizen captured a video of the incident, which trended on social media. Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan […] The post Caubian brgy chief earns ire of Lapu mayor over lamp post removal appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Thai protesters kick off weekend of rallies
Pro-democracy protesters took to the streets of Bangkok Saturday as a rally expected to draw tens of thousands of people kicked off calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy. Thailand has seen near-daily gatherings of youth-led groups since mid-July demanding the resignation of Prayut, the former army chief […] The post Thai protesters kick off weekend of rallies appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»