Rod Stewart cancels several Asia concerts including Manila
Pop-rock singer-songwriter Rod Stewart canceled several of his concerts around Asia, including Manila, due to "unforeseen circumstances.".....»»
Jon Stewart returning to The Daily Show through US election
Irreverent US comedian Jon Stewart, an icon among American liberals due to his biting political sarcasm, will return to satirical news program "The Daily Show" as a part-time host and an executive producer for the US election cycle......»»
From K-pop to Rock Legends: The ultimate guide to Philippines biggest concerts in 2024
Apart from K-pop acts who have become regulars in the Philippines’ concert scene, more foreign and local pop and rock music artists will make some noise as well in the 2024 music scene with Coldplay, Jonas Brothers, Ed Sheeran, Rod Stewart, Janet Jackson, Incubus, and One Direction’s Niall Horan at the forefront......»»
Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Nov. 19
SYDNEY -- Two former military planes on a training flight collided on Sunday over the Mornington Peninsula in southeast Australia, sending one plummeting into the water, local media reported. One plane crashed into the ocean about 12 km off the coast of Mount Martha while the other plane made it back to its base after the disaster struck about 1:45 p.m. local time (0245 GMT), The Herald Sun reported. (Australia-.....»»
Rod Stewart coming to Manila for 2024 concert
British rock and pop singer Rod Stewart is coming to Manila for a concert next year......»»
‘History is watching:’ Hollywood stars urge Biden to press for Israel, Gaza ceasefire
Dozens of celebrities including Jon Stewart, Joaquin Phoenix, Susan Sarandon, and Kristen Stewart urge the US administration to press for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.....»»
Apple scraps Jon Stewart show over China, AI clashes: report
US comedian Jon Stewart's talk show on Apple TV+ has reportedly been canceled after just two series due to clashes between its host and the company over topics such as China and artificial intelligence. Stewart told staff that executives from Apple -- which has vast commercial interests in China and AI -- had expressed concern over proposed new content for "The Problem with Jon Stewart," The New York Times said. Apple did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment. Stewart became a household name in the United States as the host of Comedy Central's long-running "The Daily Show," before stepping down to pursue other interests in 2015. Streaming platform Apple TV+ launched "The Problem with Jon Stewart" as a flagship current affairs show in 2021. The show takes a satirical look at a different topical issue each week. Episodes in the most recent season included "Globalization: Made In America" and "Searching for Allies." Since Apple first established a presence in China in 1993, the US tech giant has grown into a major provider of smartphones, laptops and consumer electronics in the country. Apple chief Tim Cook made a surprise visit to China this month, and he has previously spoken of his company's "symbiotic" relationship with the nation. In an earnings call in August, Cook said Apple views AI and machine learning as "core fundamental technologies that are integral to virtually every product that we build." amz/hg/sst © Agence France-Presse The post Apple scraps Jon Stewart show over China, AI clashes: report appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hollywood actors call for Middle East ceasefire
A-list Hollywood celebrities including Cate Blanchett, Joaquin Phoenix, Ramy Youssef and Andrew Garfield penned a letter to US President Joe Biden on Friday, urging him to call for a ceasefire in Israel's war with Hamas. Dozens of top-flight names from the world of entertainment asked Biden to work to achieve an "immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost." "We urge your administration, and all world leaders, to honor all of the lives in the Holy Land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay -- an end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages," said the letter, released by artists4ceasefire.org. "Saving lives is a moral imperative." Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the Islamist group launched a shock raid from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials. In response to the Hamas attack, Israeli bombers have leveled entire city blocks in Gaza in preparation for a ground invasion they say is coming soon. The Hamas-run health ministry said more than 4,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died in the onslaught. Friday's letter, which was also signed by Jon Stewart, singer Dua Lipa, Susan Sarandon and Channing Tatum, comes a week after hundreds of Hollywood figures signed an open letter condemning the "barbaric acts" committed by Hamas fighters. hg/amz/sst © Agence France-Presse The post Hollywood actors call for Middle East ceasefire appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl, Canada to deepening bilateral defense cooperation
The Philippines and Canada have committed to an increased bilateral engagement, particularly in bilateral defense cooperation. This came after Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met with Canadian Ambassador, David Bruce Hartman and Vancouver His Majesty's Canadian Ship commander Meghan Coates earlier this week at the Department of National Defense headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the HMCS Vancouver is set to participate in the humanitarian assistance and disaster response, particularly in the Search and RescueTraining component of Exercise SAMASAMA 2023, an annual joint naval exercise between the Philippines and the United States. During his meeting with the DND officials, Coates conveyed that the Canadian crew “is happy to be in the country, and looks forward to the upcoming activity.” Meanwhile, Hartman highlighted the increase in engagements between the Philippines and Canada since his last meeting with Teodoro last 4 August this year. Hartman said that Canada, as a stalwart of international order, remains committed to supporting the rules-based order of the Indo-Pacific region, and is looking towards broadening the scale of interoperability between the Philippine Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy. Both sides expressed their strong and resolute commitment to enhancing Philippines-Canada bilateral defense relations with the purpose of maintaining peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region. At the sidelines, Teodoro awarded Col. Stewart Taylor, outgoing Canadian Non-Resident, Defense Attachè to the Philippines, the first-ever SND Plaque of Merit, given to a Foreign Armed Forces Attachè for his extraordinary and outstanding performance. Teodoro said Taylor was highly instrumental in advancing Philippines-Canada defense cooperation. He also recognized Taylor’s active role in accelerating the finalization of the proposed Philippines-Canada Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation. The post Phl, Canada to deepening bilateral defense cooperation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fisherfolk opposes Fisheries Code amendments
TACLOBAN CITY — Fisherfolks, civil society organizations and academic experts are calling on legislators to deny the proposal of the Bureau of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to amend the Fisheries Code and commercial fishing vessels in municipal waters. Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Eastern Visayas chairperson Martha Cadano stressed that there were no consultations made with the local government units and other affected sectors before BFAR made the assessment and review of the Republic Act 10654 or the Philippine Fisheries Code. “The assessment and review of RA 10654 is not enough because there was no LGU participation. BFAR should have at least consulted the mayors of affected municipalities before it takes steps,” said Cadano. Cadano leads a community-based and women-led enterprise that processes sardines in Victoria, Northern Samar. In a statement, a broad coalition of academe, civil society and fisherfolk, asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and members of the Congress and the Senate to deny BFAR’s proposal to allow commercial fishing inside the 15-kilometer municipal water zone of the sea. Senator Cynthia Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food and the primary author of RA 10654 or the Fisheries Code, as amended, commits towards enabling mechanisms for the strict implementation of the law. To recall, the BFAR conducted consultations in May and on 22 to 23 August and presented their proposed amendments to the Philippine Fisheries Code, among which are to allow commercial fishing as a rule rather than as an exception in the municipal waters, from 10.1 to 15 kilometers and in waters with the depth of 20 fathoms. The post Fisherfolk opposes Fisheries Code amendments appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
GCash keeps fee’s subsidy
Financial super application GCash will continue to subsidize the convenience fee for cash-ins to provide a financial cushion to users amid the rising cost of goods. At a recent media briefing of the Globe Group, GCash president and CEO Martha Sazon said that while users are still charged a fee for cash-ins, it is still “much lower” than the P25 that other financial institutions usually charge for cash transfers because of the subsidy. “The P5 convenience fee is only 1/5 of what is normally charged by other financial institutions. As GCash continues to scale, we still subsidize most of the charges as well as heavily invest in upgrading our infrastructure and reinforcing security services,” Sazon said. “This also ensures that our operations will remain seamless for all customers,” Sazon said. “Even with this fee, we will continue to subsidize part of the operating cost for cash-ins as we remain committed to keeping our services accessible to many Filipinos,” she added. More cash-in options Later this year, GCash is set to charge a cash-in or convenience fee of P5 for every cash-in via linked BPI and UnionBank accounts. Cash-ins via linked bank accounts are one way to add funds to a GCash account. Over-the-counter cash-in is also available through cash-in machines, partner convenience stores, pawnshops, supermarkets, department stores, drug stores, gas stations, sari-sari stores and retail stores, among others. Meanwhile, GCash has waived fees for QRPH transactions for merchants until the end of the year, giving micro-entrepreneurs extra earnings while using convenient cashless transactions. Other payment platforms charge up to 2 percent for QR-based or card payments. GCash also continues to offer micro-merchants access to a wallet with a limit of up to P500,000 monthly. GCash also waives the 1.5 percent transaction fee for up to P100,000 in gross sales. The post GCash keeps fee’s subsidy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Western Canada wildfires force tens of thousands to flee
Officials in western Canada's British Columbia implored tens of thousands of residents to heed warnings and evacuate Saturday as "severe and fast-changing" wildfires threatened large parts of the scenic Okanagan Valley, including the city of Kelowna. The situation in the popular boating and hiking destination was "highly dynamic," said Bowinn Ma, the province's minister of emergency management. Around 30,000 people were under evacuation orders while another 36,000 were under alert to be ready to flee, she said. "We cannot stress strongly enough how critical it is to follow evacuation orders when they are issued," Ma said at an afternoon news conference. "They are a matter of life and death not only for the people in those properties but also for the first responders who will often go back to try to implore people to leave." Kelowna, a city of 150,000, was choked with thick smoke as it became the latest population center hit in a summer of dramatic wildfires across Canada that has left millions of acres scorched. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had spoken with British Columbia Premier David Eby about the "rapidly evolving and incredibly devastating wildfire situation" and pledged federal resources in responding to the disaster. Blazes far away in the neighboring Northwest Territories have meanwhile prompted the evacuation of regional capital Yellowknife, leaving the remote city of some 20,000 largely a ghost town. Winds have been fanning the wildfires toward Yellowknife, but Saturday saw some relief after overnight rain brought a sharp dip in temperatures. Since the evacuation was ordered Wednesday, most people have fled by road with several thousand taking emergency flights, Northwest Territories environment minister Shane Thompson said Saturday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "Approximately 1,000 essential staff remaining in the city and surrounding area," he added. Those crews were remaining to erect defenses from the flames, while water bombers have been seen flying low over the city, with the Canadian military also helping out. - 'Incredible' exodus - Tony Whitford, a former commissioner for the Northwest Territories and a longtime resident of Yellowknife, arrived in the city of Calgary on one of the first flights out and gave the evacuation high marks. "My compliments to them all," Whitford, who is 82 and wheelchair-bound, said of the organizers. "It's so complex -- 20,000 people -- it's incredible. It went smoothly." Several towns and Indigenous communities were evacuated earlier. The exodus from Yellowknife means half the population of the near-Arctic territory has been displaced. The ongoing fires have caused "terrible loss," Trudeau told reporters after meeting Yellowknife evacuees Friday as they arrived in Edmonton, Alberta, with no idea when they may return home. Martha Kanatsiak, who has lived in Yellowknife for 28 years, arrived late Friday in Calgary. "I'm okay, but I feel sad and depressed and worried. I never saw something like this," the 59-year-old Inuit retiree told AFP. Some 40 flights carrying around 3,500 passengers from Yellowknife have arrived in Calgary, said officials in the city, which has made nearly 500 hotel rooms available. - Northwest US threat - In British Columbia, blazes have already destroyed several properties in West Kelowna, separated by Okanagan Lake from its larger, eponymous neighbor. Among them is the Lake Okanagan Resort, according to local media, which is known for having hosted high-profile politicians such as British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Eby on Saturday announced an emergency order halting non-essential visits to the area. The order, which bans visitors from checking in at hotels and other temporary accommodations, covers Kelowna and the nearby towns of Kamloops, Oliver, Penticton and Vernon as well as Osoyoos near the US border. "If you are currently in accommodations in these areas, we are asking you to voluntarily check out early and free up those spaces for evacuees and responders," Ma added. Meanwhile across the border in the United States, several thousand people were forced to flee wildfires in Washington state, with at least one death reported, local media said. An evacuation was ordered for Medical Lake, a town outside Spokane and next to a US Air Force base, while a section of the vital I-90 highway was closed, authorities said. Canada is experiencing a record-setting wildfire season, with official estimates of over 14 million hectares (34.6 million acres) already burned -- roughly the size of Greece and almost twice the area of the last record of 7.3 million hectares. Four people have died so far. Scientists say human-caused global warming is exacerbating natural hazards, making them both more frequent and more deadly. bfm/bbk/des/acb The post Western Canada wildfires force tens of thousands to flee appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Michael Ted Macapagal: Making tracks in public service
If life were a train, then Michael Ted Macapagal’s has been quite a ride. Raised by a labor leader and human rights lawyer father who served the people of Olongapo, including the workers of the US American Base in Subic, Michael Ted Macapagal had always wanted to become a public servant. It took Ted, though, a long journey to reach his goal, first achieving success in the insurance field in the United States where he lived for 20 years starting in 1991. Today, he is the chairman of the Philippine National Railways, a position “that allows me to make a difference in the lives of my countrymen,” he shared during his recent visit to the Daily Tribune office in Makati. Ted, good-looking and affable, proudly spoke of a father, his namesake, Atty. Teddy C. Macapagal who, early on, exposed his son to a firsthand view of a gentleman who looked beyond himself and his personal interests, and instead dedicated his career to protecting the common man and bettering their lot. The elder Ted served as a city councilor for 10 years. In 1984, he ran for the Batasang Pambansa, and in the late 1980s, for city mayor. “In all these electoral processes, I was involved and saw for myself how my father related to the people. He was a sincere man who helped them in the best way he could. He provided free legal services to those in need,” Ted recounted. Ted grew up in Olongapo, his place of birth. It was in the neighboring province of Pampanga, though, at the Don Bosco Institute in Bacolor town, where he first studied, but he eventually returned home to Olongapo, where he finished high school at the St. Columban. Aiming to become a lawyer, he enrolled at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, where he majored in History, which he intended as his pre-law course. Not unexpectedly, he joined the Upsilon Sigma Phi, his father’s fraternity. He also joined rallies where he stood with those who wanted the retention of US bases in the Philippines, in keeping with the sentiments of his townsmen. “It was the one concern where the whole of Olongapo was united,” he recalled, “because the people’s livelihood was connected to the base and the American presence in the community.” As a lawyer who specialized in labor, his father himself handled cases for the base employees. In 1988, his father lost his mayoralty bid in Olongapo. He fought against his fraternity brother, Richard Gordon. Actually, the two had been fighting it out for decades. “Olongapo became too small for them,” shared Ted. “A vivid memory to me to this day was the night I cried after my father lost. I was heartbroken because, for the most part of my life, I saw him give his all to the people. Throughout all those years, I just loved assisting my father. I followed him whenever he visited his constituents. I was a witness to everything that happened to him, his conflict with his political adversary and the loyalty of the people who believed in him and saw in him the man who would change the face of politics in our city.” The elder Macapagal became OIC-Mayor in 1986, but only two months after he received his appointment from the new president because the incumbent mayor did not easily give up his post which he was required to vacate under the new revolutionary government. “The next local election was the most expensive political exercise that our family ever waged,” Ted recounted. “It was then that my father decided that I pursue a new life in the United States, away from politics back home. “All the while, my heart never left the Philippines. Even before I left, I promised myself I would return to continue what my father started.” First non-white president Ted stayed in San Francisco for 20 long years. He had a tough time at the beginning of his new life. “I started off doing odd jobs. I worked as a security guard, janitor and waiter in a pizza parlor. “I also guarded the heavy equipment in a construction site in San Francisco. Thievery was a problem in that kind of situation. We would sleep in a trailer. “I transferred to a construction firm because I found out it offered a bigger salary. But I didn’t know the technical aspects of construction. Once, I made a portable ladder, but it fell apart, for which I was scolded by the owner of the company. I was fired on my third day on the job. Too bad because it paid high.” Ted then decided to pursue another degree, one that would be more useful in the United States. He took up Human Resource Management, a four-year course at the University of California in Berkeley. When he finally entered the corporate world, his first job was as a clerk. It wasn’t long before he became Division President of Stewart Title Company, one of the largest underwriters in the world, with offices across the United States, and in some 80 countries around the globe. He was based in the San Francisco Bay Area. “I may have been the first non-white president,” he said. “And I was a division president for the whole of North America. I was the first Filipino to reach that level.” Of his trailblazing accomplishments, he shared, “I was able to bring cultural diversity to the company, which enhanced its value. I got the top post because I asked for a meeting with the president. I told him we were not diverse enough to appeal to the non-white clients, and there were many of them who were first-time home buyers. Then, I told him to make the rounds. He would see that none of the home buyers was white. They were of different ethnic groups. I told him that if he appointed me as vice president, I would give him multi-cultural buyers because I would appeal to them and they would be our first-time buyers. So, he appointed me, and one month later, he made me president.” As an adjunct, he lectured on the topic of title insurance and escrow procedures in several community colleges in and around the San Franciso Bay Area. Through it all, he chose to keep his Filipino citizenship. The ‘Railway President’ For all the successes he was enjoying, the Philippines beckoned. He felt he still had a mission to accomplish. “My father was surprised. He asked me why I would still want to go home when I was doing well in the States. I insisted, so I came back and I plunged into political life. I worked on difficult campaigns, like the one for Rodrigo Duterte.” Back to his first love and passion, the political arena, he was in his element and served as president of PDP LABAN in Olongapo City from 2016 to 2021. In 2022, he joined LAKAS-CMD as its local chairman. This engagement led to his original target, as his father had achieved in his lifetime — serving the people. This time, he would be appointed to key posts in the government. He became director of the Clark Board and Gulf Oil Philippines. He took his oath of office as chairman of the Philippine National Railways on 28 April 2023. It is a job in a government agency where he is confident “I could make a difference because I can see that President Bongbong Marcos is really intent on improving the railway system of the country. “On my part, I want to make a difference. I want to be able to contribute whatever I can to help the president to achieve that objective. I call him now the ‘Railway President’ because I consider him the father of the railway system in our country.” Of course, he noted that many plans have been formulated during the time of President Rodrigo Duterte. Moreover, he recognized that President Gloria Arroyo “navigated our country through the global crisis. I was in the United States when the global economic crisis happened, and the Philippines was one of the countries spared, and I give credit to her. The economic fundamentals were very strong during her time. Being an economist, she was there at the right time when the country needed her the most.” With President BBM at the helm, he is confident “we will be able to push through with our development plan and finish the projects we have started, like the North-South Commuter Railway, which is a 147-kilometer stretch from Clark to Laguna. We hope to have the dry run in 2026 and it will be fully operational in 2027.” He also looks forward to the completion of the Bicol South Long Haul project. He is equally hopeful for the North Long Haul, the Subic-Clark and the Mindanao railways. He clarified that “we are now talking with the proponents, while some negotiations are being undertaken.” Working boots and a hard hat It would seem that this successful insurance executive was out of place in the railway sector. He pointed out, though, that “coming from the outside, I have the technical advantage of being able to look outside the box. So, I’m looking at it from outside the box, looking in. I am able to see the problems that need to be fixed. Stoppage is one of the problems so we have a bus augmentation program. We will also deploy UV Express units. We are closely coordinating with the LTFRB to provide emergency alternative transportation.” On the other hand, his exposure to people of all backgrounds from his youth, being his father’s son, has given him the advantage of “knowing how it is to be one of the boys. Something that I also experienced in the United States. “When people ask me what my management style is, I tell them straight I like to go down to the ground. I like hands-on supervision. I want my hands to be dirty. If you open the trunk of my car, you will find my working boots and my hard hat. I enjoy going to the construction sites and seeing for myself the progress, the problems, whatever it is that needs to be attended to. “Finally I want those working in the field doing the most difficult tasks to be satisfied and never to be hungry. Gusto ko, busog sila lagi. I am not happy when I get invited by the constructors and I am honored with a feast-like lunch or dinner, and not knowing what the workers are eating. I am on a diet anyway, so I make sure that my hosts bring the food to where the workers are eating. I can only eat so much and I would rather that the workers and the staff are full and happy. I am vocal about my displeasure when the construction workers are not eating the same food that is served to me. I may not be able to invite them to where I am eating but I can have the food brought to them.” Smiling from heaven Without a doubt, the old man Atty. Teddy C. Macapagal is smiling happily from his heavenly perch. He had served his fellowmen well, but he had done right as well by raising a son who took after his heart, to whom service to the people and compassion for the less fortunate matter more than any personal gain. His father, according to Ted, “died a broken man at the young age of 63. But whatever he lacked in longevity and riches, he made up for it with his compassion for others, for the free legal services that he gave to the people of Olongapo. “If you didn’t have money, you went to him because he was generous with his time and expertise. He would even give you some cash to use for your transportation fare to go home. That was my father. “The people whom he helped in turn would come to our home and bring him gifts like eggs, fruits, fish, vegetables and native chickens that they raised in their backyards. My father accepted them all. When I came home and saw all this, I teased him and said that he should probably open a sari-sari store so he could resell them. “Of course, we had a good laugh. But beyond the laughter, we both knew in our hearts that doing good to one’s fellowmen is its own reward and nothing in this world can take the place of personal fulfillment for having put a smile on people’s faces because you somehow made their lives better. “I am grateful that I have been raised by such a great father.” The post Michael Ted Macapagal: Making tracks in public service appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Miss Universe Organization parts ways with Miss USA, Miss Teen USA national president Crystle Stewart
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) announced that it cut ties with Miss USA and Miss Teen USA national president Crystle Stewart. Miss USA and Miss Teen USA are also under the MUO franchise. .....»»
ICTSI Nigeria unit provides Ogu community with sustainable water systems
Onne Multipurpose Terminal, the Nigerian subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc., recently turned over three solar-powered water systems to the Ogu community to address its pressing need for access to clean water. Numerous communities in the Niger Delta region continue to struggle with the lack of access to water. “Today is a momentous occasion for both OMT and the Ogu community, who now have access to clean water. This achievement fills us with great joy and further inspires us to do our part in supporting our host communities,” Jim Stewart, OMT chief operations officer, said. Ogu community elders led by Chief Adokiye, Ogu Council of Chiefs chairman, thanked OMT for providing the community with sustainable access to clean water. Highlighting the project’s impact on their lives, the community pledged to diligently maintain the water systems to ensure their longevity. The water system project is one of the ICTSI Group’s several social responsibility initiatives for its host communities. The company currently operates 32 terminals worldwide four of which are in Africa. ICTSI actively seeks to expand its footprint in the continent through opportunities along the Durban and Gauteng container corridor and other regions in West and South Africa. The post ICTSI Nigeria unit provides Ogu community with sustainable water systems appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nothing short of extraordinary
Surround yourself with exceptional people and you will find yourself with your own phenomenal achievements. There is just something magical that happens when you bring together a special bunch of individuals who speak the language of excellence. This was the evident scenario at the annual gratitude event of Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, a multi-awarded full-service law firm in the Philippines. [caption id="attachment_146347" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Atty. Mark Gorriceta, founder and managing partner of Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_146356" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Dara Roa with ASCEND host Stephanie Zubiri and Tanya Moreno.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_146350" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Ascend party scene at Antonio’s PGA.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_146355" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Martha Javelosa, Dara Roa and Kathy Babst.[/caption] I am truly proud and honored for the opportunity to work with the said law firm in executing this brilliant event entitled ASCEND: A Celebration to Honor the Nation’s Most Influential Innovators and Technology Leaders. The exclusive event’s intention was for Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra to pay it forward to the prestigious law firm’s friends and clients, while its founder and managing partner, Atty. Mark Gorriceta, celebrated his birthday. And I must say, despite a very rainy 10th of May at Antonio’s PGA, there was overwhelming support and attendance from the most distinguished names in the technology and innovation industry, business leaders, government officials, ambassadors and trade ministers. As a witness to Atty. Mark Gorriceta’s keen attention to detail and his preciseness in everything that he does, you can always expect the best experience if he’s in charge. It was just natural for the evening to evolve into an occasion filled with synergism and forged relationships as guest host Stephanie Zubiri, a highly respected lifestyle, food and travel journalist, led the guests right along with the sax and DJ pairing of global jazz artist Archie Lacorte and his band into each memorable experience to another. Furthermore, the guests enjoyed the curated wines, bespoke cocktails and the deliberately prepared food menu by chef Cyrille of Antonio’s PGA. [caption id="attachment_146351" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Atty. Mark Gorriceta, head of Grab financial group Martha Borja, RJ Ledesma and S&P Global president Jimbo Borja.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_146354" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Marc and Loralee Soong.[/caption] The post Nothing short of extraordinary appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Wayward US plane’s pilot was slumped over, apparently unconscious: report
US aviation officials on Monday were investigating the fatal crash of an "unresponsive" private plane that strayed over the nation's capital and prompted the scrambling of F-16 fighter jets. The Cessna Citation slammed into mountainous terrain Sunday afternoon in Virginia, some 170 miles (275 kilometers) southwest of Washington, killing all four people aboard, officials said. The crash came shortly after the North American Aerospace Defense Command dispatched F-16s to intercept an "unresponsive" Cessna 560 Citation V aircraft over Washington, whose airspace is tightly restricted. According to The Washington Post, the pilot of one of the F-16s could see the pilot of the Cessna slumped over in the cockpit -- suggesting a loss of consciousness due to depressurization of the aircraft. NORAD said flares were deployed to try to draw the attention of the pilot but there was no response and the private plane eventually crashed near the George Washington National Forest in Virginia. "NORAD attempted to establish contact with the pilot until the aircraft crashed," it said in a statement. The F-16s triggered a sonic boom across Washington and its suburbs, startling residents and rattling windows for miles. "The NORAD aircraft were authorized to travel at supersonic speeds and a sonic boom may have been heard by residents of the region," NORAD said. Aviation experts speculated that the pilot of the Cessna may have become incapacitated due to depressurization of the aircraft, which can cause a rapid loss of consciousness at altitudes above 10,000 feet (3,000 meters). A loss of cabin pressure was blamed for a high-profile 1999 Learjet accident that killed golfer Payne Stewart and four other people. In that case, the Learjet, which was on a flight from Florida to Texas, flew for thousands of miles on autopilot before eventually running out of fuel and crashing in South Dakota. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board said they were investigating Sunday's accident. Virginia State Police said first responders reached the crash site near the town of Staunton by foot some four hours after the Cessna plummeted to the ground. "No survivors were located," police said in a statement. The Cessna had taken off from Elizabethton, Tennessee, bound for Long Island MacArthur Airport in New York, the FAA said. But it turned around after flying over Long Island and headed back south over Washington and into Virginia, climbing as high as 34,000 feet according to flight tracking website Flightradar24. The Post said contact with the plane was lost about 15 minutes after its departure from Elizabethton and the aircraft may have continued to fly for hours on autopilot before exhausting its fuel and crashing. My family is gone President Joe Biden, who was at the White House and also played golf Sunday, was briefed on the incident, an official said without specifying whether any emergency precautions were implemented. US authorities have yet to officially identify those on board, but comments by two relatives of people believed to have been on the plane provided some information. Public records showed the aircraft was registered to Florida-based company Encore Motors of Melbourne, whose owner John Rumpel told the Post his daughter, a grandchild, and her nanny were on board. In response to condolence messages on her Facebook page, Rumpel's wife, Barbara, wrote on the platform Sunday night: "My family is gone, my daughter and granddaughter." The post Wayward US plane’s pilot was slumped over, apparently unconscious: report appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PNR chief: P873-B Clark rail underway
Construction of the 147.26-kilometer or km North-South Commuter Railway Project from Clark in Pampanga to Metro Manila and then to Calamba City in Laguna has started, Michael Ted R. Macapagal, chairperson of the Philippine National Railways, said yesterday. The Asian Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency are financing the P873.62-billion project. Acciona-DMCI and Leighton-First Balfor were awarded the contracts to undertake the construction of elevated rails for commuters and ground-level rails for freight. Three depots and 35 stations will be built along the way. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista attended the contract signing ceremony in Malacañang Palace on 27 April 2023. Two Japanese firms, Sumitomo Corporation and Japan Transport Engineering Company, will provide, initially, a fleet of 13 electric multiple units (trains) with 13 cars each for the train system. Once the project is completed, PNR will be able to ferry 800,000 passengers every day safely and in comfort. ‘Father of Phl railway’ Travel time on the entire length of the railway system will be cut in half, from four to two hours. That also applies to the movement of goods. Macapagal was appointed to his post on 2 May. After taking his oath of office before the DoTr chief, he remarked that Marcos will go down in history as “the father of the Philippine railway system.” Macapagal said he was grateful for having been given a role in the history-making process. The new PNR chair spent some time in the United States, where he worked for years as division president of Stewart Title Company of San Francisco Bay Area. The company is one of the largest underwriters in the world with offices all over the US and 80 other countries. The post PNR chief: P873-B Clark rail underway appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Martha Stewart becomes oldest Sports Illustrated cover model at 81
Television personality and author Martha Stewart graced the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit for 2023, making her the oldest cover model in the publication's history at 81 years old......»»
Martha Stewart, 81, becomes oldest person to grace 2023 SI Swimsuit cover
TV and social media personality Martha Stewart has just made history. At 81 years old, she is the oldest model to pose on the cover of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit edition, dethroning dietitian Maye Musk, who claimed that distinction at age 74. "To be on the cover at my age was a challenge. And I think I met the challenge," Stewart said in a "Today" show interview. Posing in daring swimsuits, Stewart admitted that it was kind of a request she have never had before. Backed in November 2022, she was asked to join the magazine's cover shoot. She posed in 10 different swimsuits during a photo shoot on an island in the Dominican Republic, which took place in the latter part of January 2023. When asked about her reaction to the photo shoot, she said it was "so much fun" and the cover photo "turned out OK". Stewart joins actress Megan Fox, singer Kim Petras, and model Brooks Nader who were each honored with their own 2023 SI Swimsuit covers. The popular lifestyle guru and entrepreneur is the founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. But before she became a household name, she worked as a brand model during her teenage years. The post Martha Stewart, 81, becomes oldest person to grace 2023 SI Swimsuit cover appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»