Taylor Swift announces film of massive ‘Eras’ tour
Didn't score tickets for Taylor Swift's "Eras" tour? Never fear -- the culturally defining juggernaut will hit movie theaters with a concert film released on 13 October. "The Eras Tour has been the most meaningful, electric experience of my life so far and I'm overjoyed to tell you that it'll be coming to the big screen soon," Swift said on social media Thursday. "Eras attire, friendship bracelets, singing, and dancing encouraged." The giant AMC movie chain is vowing that each of its theaters across the United States will play the film at least four times a day on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tickets are on sale now. The company said it had upgraded its website and ticketing services to "handle more than five times the largest influx of ticket-buying traffic the Company has ever experienced before." "But AMC is also aware that no ticketing system in history seems to have been able to accommodate the soaring demand from Taylor Swift fans," the statement added, warning that customers may experience delays and outages. Earlier this year botched sales for Swift's wildly popular tour wreaked havoc, prompting a congressional hearing over Ticketmaster's purported anti-competitive practices. And while "Eras" tickets reached thousands of dollars, fans will be able to nab movie viewings at $19.89 for adults, $13.13 for children and seniors, plus tax. As of Thursday morning, the website for AMC showed that opening weekend tickets in the New York area was already close to selling out. A few hours after Swift's announcement, the release of Universal's sequel to the horror classic "The Exorcist" was pushed up a week to avoid clashing with the concert film. "Look what you made me do. The Exorcist: Believer moves to 10/6/23 #TaylorWins," producer Jason Blum posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The 33-year-old Swift wrapped the North American leg of her global tour with four shows in Mexico and will pick back up in Argentina in November, with plans to tour into the end of 2024. With 146 total stadium dates, it is expected she will set the record for the first billion-dollar tour, with trade publication Pollstar estimating she's selling some $14 million in tickets per show. Swift's team does not report box office numbers. The current record-holder is Elton John, whose "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour, which began in 2018, ultimately made $939 million. The post Taylor Swift announces film of massive ‘Eras’ tour appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Colombia adds non-binary gender option on passports
Colombia has begun issuing passports with the gender option "X," for people who identify as non-binary, the foreign ministry said Thursday. "The foreign ministry recognizes the diversity of genders," said Andrea Garzon, an official with the passport service, who announced the move in a video on the foreign ministry's website. In March 2022, a Colombian court ruled that people should be able to have their gender registered as non-binary, rather than male or female, on official identity documents. In the following seven months, 26 people opted to make this change on their identity cards and birth certificates, according to official data. Colombia, which has a population of 50 million, joins over a dozen other countries that allow this option, such as Australia, Pakistan, Nepal, New Zealand, Germany, Argentina, the United States, and Mexico. The post Colombia adds non-binary gender option on passports appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BRICS admits 6 new members
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Thursday that the BRICS club of emerging nations will admit Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as full members starting next year. Ramaphosa announced the new members at the summit of the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa group in Johannesburg. Mohammad Jamshidi, a senior adviser to Iran’s president, hailed the country’s forthcoming admission to the BRICS on X, calling it a triumph of diplomacy for the Islamic republic. “Ethiopia stands ready to cooperate with all for an inclusive and prosperous global order,” Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said. Calls to expand the had dominated the agenda at its three-day summit and exposed divisions among the bloc over the pace and criteria for admitting new members. Nearly two dozen countries had formally applied to join the club, which represents a quarter of the global economy and more than three billion people. WITH AFP The post BRICS admits 6 new members appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Total frenzy’: Swift fever grows in Latin America
Excitement is building among Taylor Swift fans in Latin America who have endured months-long queues, expensive tickets and, in one case, assault to realize their dream of seeing the pop superstar. The 33-year-old singer-songwriter, who holds the women's record for most number one albums, will bring her "Eras" tour to the region from Thursday starting in Mexico, followed by Argentina and Brazil. In Rio de Janeiro, Renan Rodrigues camped out for several nights to buy tickets for Swift's November 17-19 concerts at the Nilton Santos stadium. The 24-year-old DJ, who performs at parties for Swifties, as the pop star's devoted fans are known, got tickets to all three performances. But he paid a high price -- an assailant hit him on the head with a bottle for resisting an attempted robbery while he was waiting. "They wanted to take my cellphone, and inside the case was my card from the only bank authorized for ticket sales. I just thought: they won't take my card," said Rodrigues, who suffered superficial injuries. Tickets for Taylor Swift shows in Brazil cost between $35 and $468. In Mexico, where young people earn an average salary of $366 a month according to official data, fans had to pay between $55 and $614. Ingrid Cruz, founder of the official Mexican fan club, described the high cost as "abuse" and complained that VIP packages were prioritized over regular tickets. Fans also reported problems with the platform of US retail giant Ticketmaster. The vendor operates in Mexico as part of the powerful CIE entertainment and media group, which in turn controls around two-thirds of the local market for live shows. Pre-sales for the four concerts in Mexico City were based on a previous registration of "verified fans" by email. But even Joel Aguilar, creator of Taylor Swift MX, a fan site with some 20,000 followers from 20 countries, failed to qualify, he said. Denisse Castro, 26, who has been unemployed for six months, hoped that building a credit history and obtaining a card from the bank sponsoring the concert would help her to secure good seats. Unfortunately for her, the bank recently tightened its credit restrictions, so Castro could only afford the cheapest tickets. In the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, a group set up camp outside the River stadium in June, five months before the concert, to ensure they have places near the stage. "It's going to be a total frenzy," said Iara Palavencino, one of the fans, who take it in turns to reserve their spots. Tickets sold out quickly in Argentina, despite the country's serious economic crisis. In Chile, President Gabriel Boric, a self-proclaimed Swiftie, made an unsuccessful appeal to Swift to include his country on her tour. And in Mexico, proving that the pop star's popularity transcends age, a 64-year-old Supreme Court judge outed himself as a Swiftie earlier this year. "There's nothing trivial about Taylor Swift," Arturo Zaldivar wrote in a newspaper in June. The post ‘Total frenzy’: Swift fever grows in Latin America appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Five things to know about BRICS
The BRICS countries, an acronym of the five members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, meet for three days for a summit in Johannesburg starting Tuesday. Representing 23 percent of the world's gross domestic product (GDP) and 42 percent of the world's population, they are seeking to dull Western economic domination in global affairs. Here are some facts and figures about the BRICS: A new world order? A group of emerging economies, it was formally launched in 2009 and it meets yearly at a summit hosted in rotation by one of the member countries. The meetings aim to assert their position, particularly in relation to the United States and the European Union. It promotes the recognition of a multipolar global order with economic and political balance, with the aim of breaking away from organizations formed in the post-World War II era, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Aspirants The bloc whose economic growth is mainly driven by China and India, is now open to expansion. Twenty-three candidates have applied to join the BRICS, and an almost similar number have expressed an interest - among them Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. One of the attractions of the group is the New Development Bank, created in 2015 with the aim of offering an alternative to the World Bank and the IMF. The Shanghai-headquartered bank has since invested $30 billion in infrastructure development projects in member states and other developing economies. The Putin dilemma Preparations for the summit saw diplomatic tensions rise on the global stage after host President Cyril Ramaphosa invited Russia's President Vladimir Putin who is the target of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant over the war in Ukraine. Following months of speculation, Pretoria finally said Putin will attend the summit via video link. South Africa, whose ruling ANC party forged relations with Moscow during the Cold War, when the Soviet Union backed its fight against apartheid, has refused to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Down with the dollar The five countries account for 18 percent of international trade, the majority of which is transacted in dollars. Critical of the greenback's predominance in world trade, one of their goals is to free themselves from the dollar. The bloc supports the increased use of members' national currencies for trade and the introduction of a common payment system in the long term. Brazil and China earlier this year signed a bilateral agreement to settle their trade in their local currencies. University rankings A meeting of BRICS education ministers last month announced their intention to create their own international university rankings. Moscow believes that Russian universities are being excluded from existing international rankings for political reasons. The post Five things to know about BRICS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lula says ‘world must help’ Brazil save the Amazon
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Wednesday the "world must help" Brazil protect the Amazon, ahead of a summit next week on the world's biggest rainforest, a key buffer against climate change. "We know we have a responsibility to convince the world that investing is cheap if it's a matter of saving the rainforest," the veteran leftist told a breakfast meeting with AFP and other international media. "The world needs to help us preserve and develop the Amazon," he said, in response to a question on how to balance the need for economic development in the Amazon region with protecting the forest. Lula and leaders of other countries with territory in the sprawling Amazon are set to meet next week in the Brazilian city of Belem on developing policies to protect the rainforest, which is being badly damaged by deforestation. It will be the first meeting of the eight-member Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization since 2009. Deforestation in Brazil's 60-percent share of the Amazon fell by 33.6 percent year-on-year from January to June, the first six months of Lula's term, according to official figures. The destruction of the rainforest had surged under his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022), who presided over an increase of more than 75 percent in annual deforestation versus the previous decade. Lula said he planned to work with other Amazon basin leaders to "share research on the region's biodiversity" and seek ways to enable people there to "work without destroying" the fragile ecosystem. Lula, 77, who previously led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, also reiterated his desire to help forge a peace deal for Ukraine. Both Russia and Ukraine "are in the 'I'm going to win' stage. Meanwhile, people are dying," he said. He also spoke in favor of expanding the BRICS group of emerging economies, formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. He said the group should discuss inviting new members at its upcoming summit in South Africa later this month, suggesting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Argentina as possibilities. The post Lula says ‘world must help’ Brazil save the Amazon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Scotland’s Graham at the double against Italy in Rugby World Cup warm-up
Darcy Graham marked his return from injury with two tries as an experimental Scotland side beat Italy 25-13 on Saturday in a Rugby World Cup warm-up match at Murrayfield. The 26-year-old Edinburgh wing missed the Six Nations with a knee injury but, after scoring a hat-trick in his last match for the Scots against Argentina in November, he picked up where he left off. Replacement Josh Bayliss sealed the victory with the Scots' third try in the last play of the match after Monty Ioane's score just after the hour had given the Italians hope. Graham was one of the few established internationals in Gregor Townsend's starting XV as the Scotland coach rested key players ahead of a double-header against World Cup hosts France. The visitors started well, but Scotland made the breakthrough in the 13th minute when Graham, on the right wing, collected Ben Healey's kick and helped himself to a straightforward touchdown. The Azzurri edged in front by half-time courtesy of two penalties from Harlequins stand-off Tommaso Allan. Scotland were back in front eight minutes after the interval when Healy scored a penalty. In the 56th minute, Graham claimed his second try of the match when he received a reverse pass from Ali Price and bounded over the line. Healy was accurate with the conversion as the Scots opened up a 15-6 advantage. Italy got back into the match just after the hour when Ioane went over on the left after a lovely pass from Allan, who converted. The hosts regained control when Healy kicked another penalty in the 74th minute. They finished on a high note, with substitute Bayliss scoring his first international try, converted by the impressive Healy. "It was a bit of a mixed bag," Scotland captain Rory Darge told Amazon Prime. "Loads of good stuff, especially in defense. "The shots and physicality were really good but we'll have a lot to work on come Monday, especially taking care of the ball. It was tough conditions but we could have done a bit more, especially around the breakdown." The post Scotland’s Graham at the double against Italy in Rugby World Cup warm-up appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Argentina announces measures to boost foreign reserves
The Argentine peso lost value on the informal market Monday as the government announced measures to bolster dwindling reserves while it negotiates a loan repayment plan with the International Monetary Fund. The rate on the informal market rose to 550 pesos to the dollar from 528 pesos last week as the government said it would take steps to stimulate exports and discourage imports. Many Argentines see converting their pesos to US currency as their only defense against the ravages of inflation, which hit its highest level in three decades in 2022, finishing the year at 94.8 percent. The country's international reserves, over $44 billion in January, are now at just over $25 billion. In the first half of this year, Argentina's trade deficit was $4.4 billion. The new measures included an official rate of 340 pesos to the dollar for agricultural exports until 31 August -- higher than the official rate of 284 pesos. There are also new taxes on imports. Sergio Massa, economy minister and a presidential hopeful in October elections, told representatives of the agricultural industry -- Argentina's main source of foreign exchange -- the measures were necessitated by "the reality of the moment." This included ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund on the repayment of a $44 billion loan, as well as the devastating economic impacts of a record-breaking drought. On Sunday, the government and IMF said they had agreed on "the central objectives and parameters" of a repayment plan. Buenos Aires has not been able thus far to meet the IMF requirements of accumulating international reserves and reducing its fiscal deficit. The post Argentina announces measures to boost foreign reserves appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Berlin’s fetish fashion breaks out of the club
On each of his visits to Berlin, Ronen Shaham feels the rush of freedom that sees the computer engineer from Los Angeles ditch his workwear for something more relaxed: a lace shirt, studded necklace, and a side-split skirt. Known throughout the world for their extravagance, Berlin's clubs have fostered a taboo-free style, inspired by fetishism, that makes liberal use of leather and latex with accessories that pinch, poke and squeeze. "Fetishwear" has its dedicated shops and well-known designers, and takes pride of place in the city's two big summer festivals: the Technoparade, which took place in July, and Berlin's pride march, one of the biggest in Europe, on Saturday. It is during this summer party season that Shaham and his partner Lulu Neel have decided to make their latest pilgrimage to Berlin. The couple fell in love with the city three years ago when they came across a community of clubbers "just dressing so much better than I had ever seen", says Lulu. "I wanted to be dressed like that," says the young woman, a specialist in 3D digital design by day, who wears a black rope necklace with metal rings to a show organized by upstart clubbing label, The Code. Purple and black Shaham and Neel have refined their look over the course of repeated visits to the German capital. He says his preference is for latex, lace, and harnesses, and he likes to put his tattoos on the show. In Berlin, "You can be like that, and you can walk out to the street, you can get into the Uber and... you feel free", says the 45-year-old. "The clubs, the nights, the magazines that you find here -- our clients say there is nothing similar in Paris, Rome, Milan, in Argentina or New Zealand," says Gisela Braun, whose Schwarzer Reiter (Black Knight) boutique is one of the temples of fetish fashion in Berlin. The shop, which opened 14 years ago, is decked out in purple and black and proudly displays its wares in the window, which looks out on a city center street. "We wanted a place where people feel comfortable, where you forget your inhibitions, with a touch of luxury and elegance," Braun says. In their workshop, Schwarzer Reiter's tailors cut out and stitch together their own line of accessories -- most of them in leather -- that have made their reputation among the city's night owls. "When the clubs reopened after the pandemic, we had queues in front of the store for six months. People sometimes waited for 40 minutes," says Braun. After three years spent between coronavirus lockdowns, the demand spoke to a "huge need to rediscover what is carnal, wild", says Carl Tillessen, an expert at the German Fashion Institute (DMI). Uninhibited generation High fashion has not shied away from the trend, with the biggest designers putting on uninhibited shows: Diesel handed out sex toys and condoms with recent collections, while Tommy Hilfiger sent out a model in full S&M gear, brandishing a whip. It was "not a bad thing" for the fashion trend to find a larger audience, according to 34-year-old Argentinian jeweler Augusto Talpalar, who lives in Berlin. "Everything that becomes popular is more accepted by society," he says. The new generation of Berliners amazes Christopher Bauder, who says he has spent more than 20 of his 50 years on the planet in the capital's "dark techno clubs". "There's a naturalness to the way they move, to their sexuality, their fashion sense," says the multimedia artist. "Wearing minimalist clothes or being naked used to be a very special thing. You could only experience it in certain clubs and certain situations. Today, it's completely normal in Berlin. You can do it at every party. I think it's great." The post Berlin’s fetish fashion breaks out of the club appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Around 2,000 penguins wash up dead on Uruguay coast
Around 2,000 penguins have appeared dead on the coast of eastern Uruguay in the last 10 days, and the cause, which does not appear to be avian influenza, remains a mystery, authorities said. The Magellanic penguins, mostly juveniles, died in the Atlantic Ocean and were carried by currents to Uruguayan shores, said Carmen Leizagoyen, head of the Environment Ministry's Department of Fauna. "This is mortality in the water. Ninety percent are young specimens that arrive without fat reserves and with empty stomachs," she said and stressed that all samples taken have tested negative for avian influenza. Magellanic penguins nest in southern Argentina. In the southern hemisphere winter, they migrate north in search of food and warmer waters, even reaching the coast of the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo. "It is normal for some percentage to die, but not these numbers," Leizagoyen said, recalling that a similar die-off occurred last year in Brazil, for undetermined reasons. Hector Caymaris, director of the Laguna de Rocha protected area, told AFP that he counted more than 500 dead penguins along six miles (10 kilometers) of the Atlantic coast. Environmental advocates attribute the increase in Magellanic penguin deaths to overfishing and illegal fishing. "From the 1990s and 2000s, we began to see animals with a lack of food. The resource is overexploited," Richard Tesore, of the NGO SOS Marine Wildlife Rescue, told AFP. A subtropical cyclone in the Atlantic, which hit southeastern Brazil in mid-July, probably caused the weakest animals to die from the inclement weather, he added. In addition to penguins, Tesore said he has recently found dead petrels, albatrosses, seagulls, sea turtles, and sea lions on the beaches of Maldonado, a department east of the capital Montevideo. The post Around 2,000 penguins wash up dead on Uruguay coast appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Javier Parisi serenades Manila with John Lennon classics
Javier Parisi, the John Lennon tribute performer from Argentina, serenaded his Filipino audience with Beatles classics during the Manila leg of his tour last Saturday, 15 July, at the Music Museum. The 43-year-old singer performed songs like “Woman” and “Imagine” and other Lennon tracks that remain remarkable up to this time. The program began with a performance by George Castro, a radio jock of DWWW 774, who sang “The Long and Winding Road”, “All My Loving” and other songs. Castro is known for his late-night program in DWWW 774 that plays 60’s staples, including of course The Beatles. The audience was soon enough on its feet when Parisi launched into Lennon’s timeless Beatles hits, with the whole concert lasting for two and a half hours. Parisi is set to continue the Philippine leg of his tour with remaining performances on 22 July in Cauayan, Isabela; 25 July in Dapitan City, Zamboanga; 27 July at Hard Rock Cafe in Manila; and 30 July at Casino Filipino in Angeles, Pampanga. Parisi will perform next in Argentina and Chile after his Philippines tour. The post Javier Parisi serenades Manila with John Lennon classics appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ICTSI Argentine unit gets more port calls
TecPlata, International Container Terminal Services Inc. or ICTSI’s cargo handling operations at the La Plata Port adjacent to Buenos Aires in Argentina, received the inaugural call of Zim Integrated Shipping Services’ Patagonia Express Service. The vessel connects Argentinian trade to the United States and the Caribbean Gulf, among other destinations. ZIM’s newly launched service links Argentina to the Caribbean and the US Gulf Coast through the ports of Kingston, a major Caribbean hub, and Houston in the Gulf of Mexico. Visits every 45 days The service marked its inaugural call at TecPlata with the arrival of the 1,000- twenty-foot equivalent unit or TEU boxship Contship Key, and with its present network set up, is expected to call TecPlata every 45 days. The maritime service from La Plata to Kingston and Houston provided a reliable and efficient connection for Argentinian foreign trade, offering commercial opportunities that promote economic growth in the region. “We are pleased to receive the Contship Key at TecPlata and start this new connection with the North American gulf coast,” Juan Pablo Trujillo, TecPlata chief executive officer, said. This strategic alliance with ZIM enables us to offer new services and logistics distribution to our clients. We are confident that this service will strengthen TecPlata’s position as a strategic trade port on the East Coast of South America,” Trujillo added. TecPlata takes great pride in delivering new opportunities to clients through this service, which takes advantage of the terminal’s modern port infrastructure and world-class standard of operation. ZIM’s arrival in TecPlata further expands the connectivity of La Plata beyond the Latin America region. The post ICTSI Argentine unit gets more port calls appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lionel Messi signs contract with Inter Miami through 2025
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has signed a contract until 2025 with Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer team announced on Saturday. The 36-year-old striker who sparked Argentina to a World Cup title last year in Qatar, is set to be unveiled by the team in a Sunday ceremony and expected to join Inter Miami on the pitch as early as Friday. "I'm very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in the United States," Messi, who moves from Paris Saint-Germain, said in a statement. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner's arrival in Miami has already caused a sensation and is expected to spark greater interest in the game and MLS across the United States. It's also hoped he'll revive the fortunes of a Miami squad at the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference at 5-13 with three drawn. "This is a fantastic opportunity and together we will continue to build this beautiful project," Messi said. "The idea is to work together to achieve the objectives we set and I'm very eager to start helping here in my new home." Messi's debut match is planned for Friday when Inter Miami will host Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup, a revamped competition between MLS and Mexican league squads. It's the biggest boost for the North American league since English star David Beckham, now a co-owner of Inter Miami, joined the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007. He launched the MLS Miami squad in 2020 after years of trying to find a stadium site. "Ten years ago, when I started my journey to build a new team in Miami, I said that I dreamt of bringing the greatest players in the world to this amazing city, players who shared the ambition I had when I joined LA Galaxy to help grow football in the USA and to build a legacy for the next generation in this sport that we love so much," Beckham said in a statement. "Today that dream came true. "I couldn't be prouder that a player of Leo's caliber is joining our club, but I am also delighted to welcome a good friend, an amazing person, and his beautiful family to join our Inter Miami community. "The next phase of our adventure starts here and I can't wait to see Leo take to the pitch." World's greatest Inter Miami head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino has managed Messi in two separate prior stints –- with FC Barcelona in the 2013-14 campaign, winning the 2013 Spanish SuperCup, and from 2014-2016 with the Argentine national team. Messi captained the Albiceleste to victory at the 2021 Copa America as well as the Qatar World Cup and has 103 goals in 175 appearances for Argentina. "We're overjoyed that the greatest player in the world chose Inter Miami and Major League Soccer," MLS commissioner Don Garber said. "His decision is a testament to the momentum and energy behind our league and our sport in North America. We have no doubt that Lionel will show the world that MLS can be a league of choice for the best players in the game." Messi is set for a glitzy arrival ceremony on Sunday at "The Unveil" with 18,000 expected to watch his first public event with his new club, followed by his first news conference with Inter on Monday and first training session with the club on Tuesday. "I'm honored to welcome Leo Messi and his family to their new home," Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas said. "We made a promise to build an ambitious club that would attract the world's elite players... a heartfelt thank you to our fans that never stopped believing. Together we will continue to turn dreams into reality." The post Lionel Messi signs contract with Inter Miami through 2025 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pope says he will create new cardinals at end September
Pope Francis said on Sunday he would create 21 new cardinals from across the world at the end of September. "Their provenance expresses the universality of the Church that continues to proclaim God's merciful love to all people on earth," said the pope, following his weekly Sunday Angelus prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace on Saint Peter's Square. The consistory will be the ninth for the creation of cardinals under Pope Francis, who is in the tenth year of his papacy. His choices are closely watched as an indication of the future direction of the Catholic Church and its priorities for its 1.3 billion faithful. Cardinals under the age of 80 will participate in the vote to nominate the successor to Francis. Since becoming pope, Francis has sought to promote clergy from developing nations far from Rome to the highest ranks of the Church, as part of his general philosophy of diversity and inclusion. The names Francis announced Sunday include clergy in regions where Christianity is growing, such as Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Among the archbishops to become cardinals are those of Juba, South Sudan, Cape Town, South Africa, and Tabora, Tanzania. The list also includes bishops from Penang, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. Also to become cardinal is the Italian Claudio Gugerotti, currently prefect for the Dicastery of the Eastern Churches, and Argentina's Victor Manuel Fernandez, whom Francis chose in July to head the powerful Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Included from Latin America is the emeritus archbishop of Cumana, Venezuela, and a Capuchin priest from Buenos Aires. The last consistory was held in August 2022, when Francis inducted 20 cardinals. As of last year's consistory, Francis had chosen around 90 out of the 132 cardinals eligible to elect a new pope, around two-thirds of the total. Cardinals, who wear the scarlet robes of their office, serve as the pope's top advisors and administrators. The post Pope says he will create new cardinals at end September appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Iconic coach Popovich signs five-year NBA deal with Spurs
San Antonio Spurs coach and president of basketball operations Gregg Popovich, an iconic bench boss at 74, has signed a new five-year contract with the NBA club, the team announced Saturday. The deal secures Popovich as a guiding force for years to come for 19-year-old French prodigy Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 (2.24m) center taken by the Spurs last month with the top pick in the NBA Draft. Popovich has guided the Spurs to five NBA titles since becoming coach of the team in 1996, a span that makes him the longest-tenured coach in any major US sports league. He also coached a US team of NBA stars to gold at the Tokyo Olympics. Popovich's return was announced in a two-sentence statement that didn't reveal financial terms, but ESPN reported his deal as coach and top personnel decision-maker was worth more than $80 million, citing unnamed sources. It would surpass the six-year deal worth $78.5 million that Monty Williams reportedly signed to coach the Detroit Pistons. Popovich, a three-time NBA Coach of the Year, is the winningest coach in NBA history with a career record of 1,366-761. Popovich is well known for his work with big men and global talent, giving him a perfect resume for easing Wembanyama's introduction to life in the NBA. He has won titles with prior big man top draft picks David Robinson and Tim Duncan and with international talent, having helped France's Tony Parker and Argentina star Manu Ginobili become NBA stars as well as champions. js/sev © Agence France-Presse The post Iconic coach Popovich signs five-year NBA deal with Spurs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Friends with benefits
The Philippines and Argentina reaffirmed their enduring friendship during the 5th Bilateral Consultation Meeting held in Manila earlier this year, the first in-person meeting since the start of the pandemic. DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and Asean Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro and her Argentine counterpart, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Foreign Policy Claudio Javier Rozencwaig, chaired and led their respective delegations to the meeting. [caption id="attachment_155214" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Undersecretaries Lazaro and Rozencwaig.[/caption] The two sides held robust discussions on an agenda that included bilateral trade relations, regional and global developments, exchanges in the maritime sphere, as well as cooperation in the agricultural, scientific and cultural fields. Undersecretaries Lazaro and Rozencwaig underscored the importance of elevating bilateral relations by embracing a more diverse, forward-looking cooperation agenda. Included here is Argentina’s willingness to share its considerable expertise in agricultural technology and experience in nuclear energy, being the first Latin American country to develop its own commercial nuclear energy reactor in the 1970s. For its part, the Philippine side gave a broad briefing on the various incentives given to foreign companies looking to establish an investment presence in the country’s economic zones. At least two Argentine companies already have operations in the Philippines. A highlight of the BCM was the signing of two important agreements—a memorandum of understanding between the Philippine Space Agency and the Argentine National Commission on Space Activities on Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space; and the renewal of an agreement on cultural cooperation. PhilSA Director General Joel Marciano signed the MoU on behalf of the Philippines, while Lazaro initialed the exchange of notes on the renewal of the agreement on cultural cooperation, in the presence of NCCA Chair Victorino Mapa Manalo. The two sides also took the opportunity to discuss regional and global issues such as developments in the South China Sea and the Antarctic region, as well as relations between the United States and China. They spoke about the importance of the multilateral sphere and areas of possible cooperation in terms of the Philippines’ and Argentina’s respective candidatures in the UN system. Lazaro sought Argentina’s support for the Philippines’ bid for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for the term 2027 to 2028. Rozencwaig touched on Argentina’s presidency of Mercosur. Other members of the Philippine delegation to the meeting included high-level representatives from the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Department of Science and Technology, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, and the Department of Agriculture. The BCM is an important platform for discussing issues of common concern, finding ways to enhance existing cooperation, and charting the course for future engagements. This particular meeting comes at a time when both the Philippines and Argentina prepare to celebrate 75 years of formal diplomatic relations in August this year. The next BCM is expected to be held in Buenos Aires in 2025. During his visit to Manila, Rozencwaig also delivered a presentation (“Argentina and the Philippines in the Current International Context”) under the prestigious Mabini Dialogue format of the DFA-Foreign Service Institute. Professor Aries Arugay, Chair of the UP-Diliman Political Science Department, served as reactor for the lecture. The post Friends with benefits appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UN highlights ‘vicious cycle’ of climate impacts for Latin America, Caribbean
As some Latin American countries battle severe drought and other disease outbreaks brought on by flooding, the World Meteorological Organization warned Wednesday that extreme weather and climate shocks were becoming more acute in the region. Latin America and the Caribbean were caught in a "vicious cycle of spiraling impacts" of accelerated warming and sea-level rise, the UN weather agency said in a new report on the state of the climate in 2022. Many recent events in the region were influenced by a long-running La Nina climate event, "but also bore the hallmark of human-induced climate change," said WMO secretary-general Petteri Taalas. And he warned, "The newly arrived El Nino will turn up the heat and bring with it more extreme weather." El Nino is marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific near the equator, while La Nina has the opposite effect. Highlights of the WMO report released in Havana: - In Latin America and the Caribbean, the period from 1991 to 2022 showed an average warming trend of about 0.2 degree Celsius per decade (higher in Mexico and the Caribbean) -- the highest rate on record - Sea levels rose at a higher rate in the South Atlantic and subtropical North Atlantic than the global mean, increasing the risk of coastal flooding and freshwater contamination - Exceptionally high temperatures, low air humidity, and severe drought led to periods of record wildfires in countries including Argentina and Paraguay - The fires, in turn, contributed to planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions reaching their highest levels in 20 years, "locking in even higher temperatures" - Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains caused hundreds of fatalities in the region and billions of dollars in losses - Drought in the Parana-La Plata Basin which includes areas of Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina, was the worst since 1944. Low river flows reduced hydropower production, forcing countries to replace hydroelectric energy sources with polluting fossil fuels - Chile is in the grips of a 14-year-long mega-drought -- the most severe in the region in over 1,000 years - Glacier melt has worsened, with near total loss of snowpack in the Andean glaciers in the 2022 summer. The darker glaciers, as a result, absorbed more solar radiation, further accelerating the melt - Only about 60 percent of people in Latin America and the Caribbean are covered by early warning systems for severe weather events. The post UN highlights ‘vicious cycle’ of climate impacts for Latin America, Caribbean appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Playoff implications for Argentina-Serbia FIVB Nations League match
With four matches remaining in the preliminary round of the 2023 FIVB Men’s Nation’s League, Argentina (sixth spot, 5-3) would like to solidify their spot in the final round when they take on Serbia (ninth, 4-4)......»»
KaladKaren’s historic feat: First transwoman anchor in local TV news
ABS-CBN takes pride in being the manager of transwoman star KaladKaren, who has been making waves in the TV industry. She is now the first transwoman news anchor in the Philippines, as co-host of TV 5’s Frontline Pilipinas evening newscast. She joined Gretchen Ho, Jes delos Santos, Justin Quirino and Mikee Reyes as news presenters on 12 June. There are gays and transwomen who are hosts of talk shows and variety shows on TV, such as Boy Abunda, Vice Ganda and Allan K, but KaladKaren is really the first to read out showbiz, lifestyle and cultural reports on a straight news program. In April, she emerged as the first transwoman to win best supporting actress at the Metro Manila Film Festival, specifically at the first-ever summer edition of the festival. She won for her hilarious turn in the film Here Comes the Groom. As an anchorwoman, she is billed as KaladKaren, a made-up name close to the Tagalog word “kaladkarin,” which refers to someone who is easy to drag along for any decent or indecent occasion. She started using “KaladKaren” as a performer in UP Mass Communication productions on campus. Her real name is Jervi Li. [caption id="attachment_151722" align="aligncenter" width="446"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF IG/KALaDKAREN | JERVI Li aka KaladKaren.[/caption] At her contract-signing recently at ABS-CBN, the celebrity impersonator was asked by a tabloid editor how exactly her name should be spelled and pronounced. The graduate of the University of the Philippines-Diliman stressed that her professional showbiz name should be spelled as one word, with the second “K” capitalized and the last syllable spelled with an “e”, not “i”, to emphasize “Karen,” the first name of the woman she famously impersonates: ABS-CBN broadcast journo Karen Davila. Corporate and news executives of TV 5 obviously find the pedestrian name “KaladKaren” good enough for a news presenter. On camera, her colleagues address her simply as “Karen.” KaladKaren is directly managed by Star Magic, the division for talent recruitment and development headed by Laurenti Dyogi, who is also ABS-CBN head of Television. Dyogi was present at the contract signing along with other Star Magic executives. KaladKaren said she will also be part of an upcoming series, a reality show and a movie. The country is actually late in giving transwomen a shot at news anchoring. The US and other countries have been doing so as far back as 2015. In February 2015, reporter and former TV news helicopter pilot Zoey Tur joined US television program Inside Edition as a special correspondent, becoming America’s first transgender TV reporter. Tur, formerly known as “Chopper Bob,” rose to fame for the live helicopter coverage of the 1994 police chase on Los Angeles freeways of fugitive American football star O.J. Simpson, who was charged with the murder of his ex-wife and her friend. In March 2018, Marvia Malik became Pakistan’s first transgender news presenter at Kohenoor TV. In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Malik said she had to work hard to break taboos and finally be accepted by a society that discriminates against transgender people. In February this year, Malik survived a gun attack outside her residence in Lahore. According to NDTV, Malik was returning from a pharmacy when two gunmen opened fire on her. Bangladeshi activist Tashnuva Anan likewise broke barriers by becoming the first transgender news anchor in her home country in 2021. Anan moved to New York from Bangladesh about a year and a half ago to pursue her acting career. She made her off-Broadway debut in Public Obscenities at SoHo Rep in May 2023. India Willoughby is the first transgender TV news reporter in the United Kingdom. In 2017, she joined 5News on Channel 5, where she read the lunchtime and evening updates. She was a familiar face to millions of viewers in her former life as Jonathon, a contestant in Celebrity Big Brother. Nora Reichardt, who has worked at Local News 5 in Des Moines since July 2021, said she gradually came into her identity as a transgender woman over the course of several years and began a medical transition process. And Diana Zurco, 40, recalled her youthful rebellion ahead of her debut as the country’s first transgender newscaster in Argentina’s public TV station, a milestone for an excluded community that is often the target of violence and has a life expectancy roughly half that of the rest of the population. The post KaladKaren’s historic feat: First transwoman anchor in local TV news appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nearly 40 countries at UN back LGBTQ families
Nearly 40 countries at the United Nations backed LGBTQ families on Tuesday, at a time when some Muslim and African nations are contesting sexual orientation and gender identity language in UN forums. "Families play a fundamental role in society. Supporting families is an important element in promoting and protecting human rights," 37 countries said in a statement at the UN Human Rights Council. "This support must be inclusive of all family compositions, including multigenerational and extended families, single-parent households, LGBTIQ+ families and Indigenous kinship groups," Australia's representative said on behalf of several countries. They were mainly from Europe and the Americas, plus Israel, New Zealand and East Timor. They called on countries and UN bodies "to continue to apply an inclusive lens to families, and to ensure that equality, non-discrimination, and the universality of human rights remain at the centre of engagement in supporting families". Argentina, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Spain and the United States were among the signatories. The statement comes as several other countries, notably from the Middle East, are mounting a defence of the traditional family in UN forums. Sexual orientation and gender identity issues will be at the heart of the 53rd Human Rights Council session, which started on Monday and runs until mid-July. Such issues have become contentious in several branches of the UN. Countries in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and many African nations, plus Russia and China, are trying to roll back concepts and language which have been embedded in UN documents for at least a decade. Earlier this month, OIC and African countries were blocking the adoption of the UN labour agency's budget, before agreeing to a last-minute compromise over references to discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. "Promoting a framework around discrimination that does not have the international consensus and reflects priorities of the few risks undermining the spirit of cooperation," said Pakistan's Khalil Hashmi, on behalf of the OIC group, before the vote was finally passed. The World Health Organization has since last year seen attempts to remove such references from its strategy on infection prevention, while the Human Rights Council faces growing opposition to long-standing efforts to monitor for discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The post Nearly 40 countries at UN back LGBTQ families appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»