5 things you didn’t know Filipinos designed, invented
Be proud! At the recent opening of “Art x Design: A Special Reception of the 50 Years of Philippine Design and Beyond” exhibition in National Museum of Fine Arts, it was revealed that there are at least five things that Filipinos indeed designed and invented and have since been useful not only to Filipinos, but to humankind......»»
Lascañas, ex-cop, claims Sara Duterte ‘invented’ Tokhang
MANILA, Philippines — A confessed Davao Death Squad (DDS) gunman claimed that “Oplan Tokhang,” the brutal “knock and plead” anti-drug operation carried out by former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration was a brainchild of then Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. The confessed DDS gunman also claimed that the brother of then Mayor Sara Duterte, then Vice.....»»
Lascañas: Sara Duterte initiated Oplan Tokhang as Davao mayor
"She was not only aware of what her father did, the bogus drug war. She actually invented a new trademark of extrajudicial killings in the name of Tokhang.".....»»
Vlad the Impaler steps out of Dracula’s shadow
Cloaked in a black cape like the infamous count himself, 10-year-old Niklas Schuetz runs through the dark corridors of a hilltop castle in search of the truth about Dracula. "He was a Romanian prince, not a vampire," said the schoolboy, as he tripped by torchlight through the nocturnal gloom of Forchtenstein Castle. The group is guided through the Austrian fortress and is eager to sink their teeth into the gripping life of Vlad Tepes, the notorious "Vlad the Impaler", whose descendants once held the Schloss. The castle is home to one of the few paintings of the cruel 15th-century prince, and this Halloween its curators are trying to bring the real historical figure out from the chilling shadow of the monster invented by the Irish writer Bram Stoker. Rather than being a ghoulish fiend, the real Vlad Tepes had for a "long time gone down in history as a positive figure" who courageously fought the Ottoman Turks, said the director of its collections, Florian Bayer. "More and more people are able to distinguish between the bloodsucking vampire and the historical figure," he said. Voivode Vlad III -- also known by his patronymic name Dracula derived from the Slavonic word for dragon -- once ruled over Wallachia, a Romanian-speaking vassal state of the Kingdom of Hungary. 'Forest' of the impaled Held as a child hostage of the sultan at the Ottoman court, he later turned against his former captors. In several hard-fought campaigns against the Turks, he struck fear into his enemies by impaling thousands of Turkish prisoners. This gruesomely slow death was also used against his internal rivals, like "the German merchants from neighbouring Transylvanian towns," historian Dan Ioan Muresan told AFP. Tepes was often depicted amidst a "forest" of impaled bodies. Yet despite his gory reputation, Vlad was a handsome devil and something of a ladykiller, according to Muresan. He was a "very handsome man with an imposing build", with long hair flowing over his Turkish-style kaftans adorned with diamonds. By marrying a cousin of the Hungarian king, he "gave rise to a branch from which the British royal family descends," the historian added. Indeed Britain's King Charles III has repeatedly boasted of their shared blood ties, saying that Transylvania runs through his veins. Communist marketing The gothic novel by Stoker published in 1897 helped kickstart the modern vampire genre. Dozens of films later, the fictional Dracula had transformed into a pop culture icon. "Until the 1960s, Romanians didn't associate the character imagined by Stoker with Vlad Tepes," said Bogdan Popovici, head of the national archives in the Transylvanian city of Brasov, home to some of the prince's manuscripts. "It was the Communists who started to commercialize it for the Western market to attract tourists," he said. While cashing in on selling the vampire myth to visitors, the regime of Romanian Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu sought to resurrect Vlad as a national hero. Paradoxically, the Communist regime was careful in differentiating the real Dracula from its fictitious counterpart as it pursued its mission to wipe out pagan traditions. Tears of blood "Romanians have never recognized themselves in the character, which was born out of a foreign imagination and planted into an exotic reality," said Muresan. "It is being exploited as a kind of tourist trap," he said. The real Vlad never set foot in Romania's Bran Castle -- widely taken as the inspiration for the lair of Dracula -- but it hasn't stopped it from drawing visitors in their droves. Murdered by his own people in 1476 in the wake of a conspiracy, experts dispute the whereabouts of his remains to this day, with some claiming that his head was sent to the sultan in Constantinople to confirm his death. A recent Italian scientific study based on the analysis of the prince's handwritten letters found that Vlad probably suffered from haemolacria, indicating that he could shed tears of blood. The creepy detail is undoubtedly enough to keep the Dracula myth alive for some time yet. The post Vlad the Impaler steps out of Dracula’s shadow appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Oh, Napoli!
NAPLES, Italy — This is a city you won’t expect to be in Europe... especially in Italy. Many tourists shy away from this gritty area of the country situated on the Gulf of Naples simply because it does not boast of Rome’s romantic allure. Instead, wandering around Naples — especially in the Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Quarters) — would make you wonder if you’re really in Europe or in some not-so-picturesque section of Manila or Jakarta. [caption id="attachment_178845" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Naples’ Quartieri Spagnoli or Spanish Quarters.[/caption] A colleague who went ahead of me for a few weeks didn’t enjoy the visit so much. “Tondo vibes,” she warned me, laughing, referring to that depressed and dirty part of Manila. Still, it didn’t deter me from going, knowing that there are treasures hidden somewhere and my gut telling me Naples is simply misunderstood. Besides, I used the city as my base for exploring Pompeii, which is just a short train ride away. Well, she was right about saying that Naples is, you know, not your usual Italian city oozing with pomp and pageantry. To feel the pulse of the city, I stayed at the Spanish Quarters, an 800,000-square meter-neighborhood that had a reputation for being a bad area to find yourself in regardless of the time of day. Having grown up in Manila and going to places even hardcore individuals try to avoid, what I saw here didn’t compare to the squalor back in my homeland. It looked like Forbes Park compared to what I have seen in the Philippines and Indonesia. So, I stayed up a bit late, drank quite a number of tasty Italian beers and walked around the “bad neighborhood.” In the morning and in the evening, I took a walk and dined and shopped. There were no troublemakers to be concerned about and my daily strolls took me to the city’s jaw-dropping sites and majestic churches. For three days, Naples brought a smile to my face. Tondo vibes? Nah. While the Eternal City is head and shoulders above in terms of well-known attractions and must-see spots, it does not mean travelers have all the reason not to experience what it has to offer. Finest pizzas Oftentimes tagged as the jump-off point to the ancient ruins of Pompeii, a mere 24 kilometers by rail, Naples is a haven for food lovers. It was here that pizza was invented while being watched over by the once-violent Mount Vesuvius in the backdrop. But don’t get me wrong. If you think that you have tasted the finest pizza in the world by sampling the bestsellers being peddled by premium fast-food outlets, then you should be more than willing to try the original pizza that is being sold here. [caption id="attachment_178847" align="aligncenter" width="1536"] Pizza Margherita cooked the old-fashioned way.[/caption] It’s not the usual thin and crispy crust you often wolf down whenever somebody’s celebrating his or her birthday at the office. It’s more than that. [caption id="attachment_178846" align="aligncenter" width="1536"] Napoli staples. Pizza Napoletana, a cold brew and your favorite cola.[/caption] The pizza being baked here — known as Pizza Napoletana — is of a different kind and usually has two flavors: Margherita and Marinara. And they’re almost identical. Margherita has pomodoro, fior di latte, olio, basilico (tomato, fior di latte cheese, oil and basil) and Marinara has pomodoro, origano, aglio, olio (tomato, oregano, garlic, oil). After devouring one huge serving of the €5 Margherita at the renowned L’ Antica Pizzeria da Michele, where Julia Roberts dined and shot Eat, Pray, Love, I took a walk once again and ran into the Bulso di Pulcinella (Bust of Pulcinella). [caption id="attachment_178843" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Julia Roberts took a bite of the renowned Pizza Napoletana during the filming of ‘Eat, Pray, Love.’[/caption] According to legend, one has to rub the statue’s nose for good luck and that’s exactly what I did. [caption id="attachment_178848" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Rub his nose for good luck. | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF AUDREY GIONGCO[/caption] Medieval structures If you love old — and ancient churches —there’s a lot within this lovely area. At almost every corner, there’s a medieval church that is very Instagrammable. But what stood out was the one I visited one balmy morning when residents were either still soundly asleep or just about getting ready to start another day. The Chiesa del Gesu Nuovo (New Jesus) completed in the late-1700s, is undoubtedly the city’s most beautiful church despite its sober facade. [caption id="attachment_178849" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The main altar of Gesu Nuovo, said to be Naples’ most beautiful church.[/caption] Aside from the Gesu Nuovo, worth visiting as well are the Naples Cathedral (Cattidrale di San Gennaro), Basilica di Santa Chiara and the Girolamini. Definitely, by the time you are done, you will be famished. Head to the nearest pizzeria and get the Margherita and pair it with a small bottle of cola zero zuccheri or the ubiquitous Nastro Azzurro in the green bottle. Salute! Would I make a return trip? You bet! The post Oh, Napoli! appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UnionBank taps tools for quick loans
Union Bank of the Philippines, or UnionBank, expects revenues to surge by 132 percent this year as it further streamlines digital and in-branch processes through communication solutions from global provider Infobip. Marc Angeles, UnionBank’s head for low-code development and automation, on Wednesday said the bank has been able to increase messages to clients from 20,000 per hour to 100,000 per hour using Infobip’s technology, leading to more applications for quick loans and a 12-percent growth in income. Infobip’s service called Moments helps the bank engage clients using artificial intelligence or AI to collect data from customers about the types of messaging tools they use often and the specific times in a day they open these communication tools. Different channels accessed “Before we were just sending via texts or SMS. With Infobip, we can deliver messages via different channels like Viber and email,” Angeles said. He said UnionBank started using Infobip’s Moments three or four months ago. With the automation features of Moments, UnionBank can talk to clients for updates on quick loan applications and marketing campaigns more effectively Quick loans provide clients cash for small and medium purchases of certain products and services, such as gadgets, home appliances and travel. “We know if they are booking the loan and engaging with us. Moment is an automated platform. If the clients are not active on SMS, communication automatically switches to Viber or email,” Angeles said. In this way, Infobip said UnionBank can maximize internet-based messaging apps amid the intermittent or low-signal connection in some areas, especially in the provinces. “We have time optimization which analyzes when the users access their messages and the time when they have the internet if they are using Whatsapp or Viber,” Andrew Egan, Infobip’s vice president of sales, said. To add new clients and introduce its digital services, UnionBank said it will continue to deploy physical tools and activities. “We have transformed physical branches into being more personal than simply transactional. We rolled out bank on wheels, for example, to reach clients including those in business process outsourcing during their payday, as well as visit remittance centers, especially in the provinces,” Angeles said. Infobip, on its part, stressed it will continue to tap messaging tools that appeal most to the consumers as UnionBank aims to provide financial services to all Filipinos. “The goal will always dictate the channel of choice. Infobip provides business opportunities not to use proprietary tools invented by Infobip. We don’t want to dictate another communication channel. This is ease of access,” Cecile Tizon, Infobip’s sales director for Asia Pacific, said. The post UnionBank taps tools for quick loans appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Blowing whistle on cops
The Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group, or PNP-ACG, seems predisposed to taking shortcuts, and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, fresh from a heart bypass, was livid about it Monday. Remulla minced no words in slamming the PNP-ACG’s failure to coordinate with the Department of Justice before conducting raids on POGO or Philippine offshore gaming operator firms in Las Piñas City. The DoJ chief’s frustration was palpable as he condemned the PNP-ACG’s approach. “Arresting people without cases. What, cases will be invented? The DoJ will not agree to that,” Remulla fumed. “They just raided… they just entered the premises, as if they were fishing.” Remulla raised the important point that many cases have remained pending due to lack of evidence, in most cases because of sloppy police work. In the POGO raids, he said the cops did not cite specific acts or grounds for arresting the individuals. According to Remulla, the booboo left the DoJ with no choice but to set free five Chinese nationals arrested during the raids for alleged involvement in human trafficking operations, pending reinvestigation. Many similar drug cases had been thrown out either at the prosecutorial level or before the courts for the failure of arresting officers to observe protocol, including having members of the media and the local prosecutor’s office present when processing arrested individuals and the evidence seized from them. The bungling of the Las Piñas raids raises questions about the competence and professionalism of the PNP-ACG. Furthermore, the PNP-ACG’s recent proposal to join POGO raids only adds to the confusion surrounding their intentions and actions. In a press conference, PNP-ACG chief P/Brig. Gen. Sidney Hernia suggested that police officers be included in inspections of POGOs. However, one cannot help but question the reason behind this request. Does the PNP-ACG truly believe that its presence would enhance the effectiveness of these inspections, or is it simply an attempt to exert control and create the impression that the Philippines is a police state? The dangers of the latter scenario cannot be overstated. A police force that overreaches its authority and encroaches upon the rights of individuals and businesses fosters an environment of fear and distrust. We must be cautious not to allow our country to slide down a path where citizens are constantly under surveillance and their rights are infringed upon in the name of law enforcement. Hernia’s proposal came on the heels of the PNP-ACG’s recent “rescue” of around 3,000 Filipino and foreign workers in raids on Las Piñas City POGO firms allegedly involved in human trafficking and other illegal activities. Make no mistake about it, all illegal POGOs should go and those behind them prosecuted. Just the same, Hernia’s suggestion in the face of the dressing down the PNP has received from Secretary Remulla raises concerns about his unit’s approach and its potential ramifications for those involved in the POGO industry, especially those operating legally. The controversy surrounding the PNP-ACG has naturally trained the spotlight on the whole PNP, which has been touting high crime solution efficiency — 81.78 percent in 2022. However, the real question is how many of these “solved crimes” have resulted in convictions. If that’s too much to ask for, let’s dumb it down a bit: How many of the complaints filed by the PNP are ultimately adopted by prosecutors and filed in court? A high crime solution efficiency rate may provide a sense of accomplishment, but it does not necessarily guarantee justice or the successful prosecution of criminals. The PNP’s claimed efficiency in solving crimes must be accompanied by a commitment to thorough investigations, the gathering of compelling evidence, and the successful prosecution of offenders. Without these elements, the high crime solution efficiency rate becomes a hollow metric. In light of these stories, it becomes apparent that the PNP-ACG’s actions are cause for concern. Their failure to coordinate with the DoJ, their lack of proffered evidence, and their questionable proposals raise doubts about their commitment to serve and protect. We must demand better from our law enforcement agencies. We deserve a police force that respects the rule of law, values evidence-based investigations, and prioritizes the protection of citizens’ rights. The post Blowing whistle on cops appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
U.S: No evidence Covid lab-created
The head of US intelligence stated on Friday that there is no evidence that the Covid-19 virus was created in the Chinese government’s Wuhan research laboratory. A declassified report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said there is no evidence to support recent claims that three scientists at the lab were among the first people to contract Covid-19 and may have even invented the virus. The ODNI report claimed that some researchers at the Wuhan lab had genetically modified coronaviruses similar to Covid-19 using information gathered by various US intelligence community members. However, the US “has no information” that they had conducted such research on the particular Covid-9 virus, also known as SARS-CoV-2, or on any “close progenitor, or a backbone virus that is closely related-enough to have been the source of the pandemic.” Three months after lawmakers demanded a fuller explanation of US intelligence’s information on the origins of the pandemic that erupted at the end of 2019, a classified annex was attached to a report prepared for Congress. According to some lawmakers, Beijing hid evidence that the virus was a result of so-called gain-of-function genetic engineering research at Wuhan, and Beijing created the virus. Reiterating a conclusion announced in March, the ODNI report stated that “almost all” of its constituent agencies, including the NSA, CIA and FBI, believe Covid-19 was not genetically engineered and that it was not laboratory-adapted. ODNI said the intelligence community remained divided on whether the pandemic arose from a natural occurrence of the virus — perhaps transferred from animals like bats — or a from lab leak. The report said the Wuhan lab had done pathogen research and vaccine development together with the People’s Liberation Army “for public health needs.” But the coronaviruses used in this research “were too distantly related to have led to the creation of SARS-CoV-2,” the report said. The post U.S: No evidence Covid lab-created appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US lawyer sorry after ChatGPT creates ‘bogus’ cases
What happened when a US lawyer used ChatGPT to prepare a court filing? The artificial intelligence program invented fake cases and rulings, leaving the attorney rather red-faced. New York-based lawyer Steven Schwartz apologized to a judge this week for submitting a brief full of falsehoods generated by the OpenAI chatbot. "I simply had no idea that ChatGPT was capable of fabricating entire case citations or judicial opinions, especially in a manner that appeared authentic," Schwartz wrote in a court filing. The blunder occurred in a civil case being heard by Manhattan federal court involving a man who is suing the Colombian airline Avianca. Roberto Mata claims he was injured when a metal serving plate hit his leg during a flight in August 2019 from El Salvador to New York. After the airline's lawyers asked the court to dismiss the case, Schwartz filed a response that claimed to cite more than half a dozen decisions to support why the litigation should proceed. They included Petersen v. Iran Air, Varghese v. China Southern Airlines, and Shaboon v. Egyptair. The Varghese case even included dated internal citations and quotes. There was one major problem, however: neither Avianca's attorneys nor the presiding judge, P. Kevin Castel could find the cases. Schwartz was forced to admit that ChatGPT had made up everything. "The court is presented with an unprecedented circumstance," Judge Castel wrote last month. "Six of the submitted cases appear to be bogus judicial decisions with bogus quotes and bogus internal citations," he added. The judge ordered Schwartz and his law partner to appear before him to face possible sanctions. 'Ridiculed' In a filing on Tuesday, ahead of the hearing, Schwartz said that he wanted to "deeply apologize" to the court for his "deeply regrettable mistake." He said his college-educated children had introduced him to ChatGPT and it was the first time he had ever used it in his professional work. "At the time that I performed the legal research in this case, I believed that ChatGPT was a reliable search engine. I now know that was incorrect," he wrote. Schwartz added that it "was never my intention to mislead the court." ChatGPT has become a global sensation since it was launched late last year for its ability to produce human-like content, including essays, poems, and conversations from simple prompts. It has sparked a mushrooming of generative AI content, leaving lawmakers scrambling to try to figure out how to regulate such bots. A spokesperson for OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Schwartz's snafu. The story was first reported by The New York Times. Schwartz said he and his firm, Levidow, Levidow & Oberman, had been "publicly ridiculed" in the media coverage. "This has been deeply embarrassing on both a personal and professional level as these articles will be available for years to come," he wrote. Schwartz added: "This matter has been an eye-opening experience for me and I can assure the court that I will never commit an error like this again." The post US lawyer sorry after ChatGPT creates ‘bogus’ cases appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bureaucratic (mal)practice
What welfare state model — replete with assumptions, measures, and calculations — allowed government to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, provide free healthcare to the sick, give cash subsidies to the jobless? This bureaucratic (mal)practice transfers the burden to the taxpayers-at-large if the pattern of government spending is to extend help to the needy. Seemingly a grand equalizer, privileges go to the poor like manna from heaven while obligations pass to the rich like punishment from above, effectively blurring the relationship between entitlements and contributions. Economists have done very little to incentivize interdependence rather than this vicious dependence by the least affluent class on the more affluent class of society. And what angelic genius of an idea have grandstanding politicians invented in the government’s strongest pretension as a welfare state — when navigating like a rudderless ship in fiscally constrained waters — they should not have dared to venture? Came the fire that ravaged the entire Central Post Office building from the basement to the roof of the iconic five-story structure, stripped of its “flesh” solely because water sprinklers had not been installed in the whole edifice that could have averted the tragic inferno. At no point had the government come to its senses on how to preserve a P1-million investment a hundred years ago — or to how much it would cost to build the same structure today. An editorial in a leading newspaper has profusely romanticized the role of the old post office with an unmuffled scream for restoration and reform toward modernity — one more superior than private courier services (i.e. FedEx, DHL, United Parcel Service). But the long prose hardly rolled out — in a manner clear as crystal and hard as diamond — what “structural weaknesses of the agency” ought to be re-engineered. Its nostalgia for the charred edifice as a Filipino heritage is vacuous or paying mere lip-service absent any well-defined reform parameters beyond its existing mandate. Instead, why doesn’t the government sponsor an international competition for the design of a new Central Post Office building by forming a judging committee as early as now? Thereafter, the winning entry will be commissioned to begin construction of what would later be a new heritage landmark. In short, let a new structure rise and supplant that which now lies in ruin – for want of water sprinklers. It will not strain logic that the charred remains of a once-proclaimed national treasure has fallen into an absolute case of “sunk cost,” which simply means that there is nothing more to retrieve. At this critical juncture, however, let it be a local concern rather than a national one given that as head of a local government unit, the city mayor of Manila is in the best position to determine its needs in accordance with existing comprehensive land use plans. Besides, LGU Manila is one of the highest revenue-generating local governments and therefore has the wherewithal to foot the construction of a new post office. What “outstanding universal value,” if any, is the old building known for to deserve classification as a cultural heritage or as a national treasure, as the case may be? What heritage — natural, cultural, historical — is there to really preserve other than the nightmare of the Battle of Manila in World War II? A single article in a referenced journal should be enough proof that it attained a level of recognition of unsurpassed value. When the National Museum of the Philippines declared it an important cultural property for “exceptional cultural, artistic, and historical significance to the Philippines,” it came so rather belatedly in 2018. From then on, it received public funds for its protection, conservation and restoration. If officialdom will download awesome sums of money to restore what was lost, methinks that in both economic and accounting costs, it will be foolhardy to do so. For now, blame not Congress or any board of inquiry for probing why it burned to the ground — beyond the worn-out narrative of faulty wiring. Let heads roll! The post Bureaucratic (mal)practice appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Redflag
A man from Dasmariñas, Cavite had an unusual way of relieving his back pain. The “medication” he ordered online from Spain for P10,000 arrived at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City last 15 April. He went to pick up the package declared as cornflakes. Upon scanning the parcel through an X-ray machine, customs inspectors suspected that something else was inside the package of cereals, which are not for relieving back pains. True enough, after a sniffer dog smelled the package, the K-9 sat, indicating illegal drugs inside it. When the package was opened, its contents turned out to be five kilos of dried opium poppy buds. The consignee was charged with importing illegal drugs. At the Jose Maria Cordova international airport in Rionegro, Colombia, a carton containing donated blood was destined for Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Fresh blood in special bags is usually transported from country to country by air so it can be quickly delivered for emergency application or doesn’t spoil during transit. With red liquid inside three bags labeled biological blood samples and accompanied by tubes and drips inside the box, the items looked legit to airport inspectors. Dulce knew better though. The K-9 sniffed the box and then sat beside it. Inspectors took the cue and opened the blood bags. The content turned out to be 1.6 kilograms of liquid cocaine mixed with a red pigment to make it look like blood and fool authorities. The sophisticated modus of drug traffickers impressed Colombian authorities who, fortunately, have drug-sniffing dogs they could rely on to foil such narco-smuggling tactics. The post Redflag appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trump found liable for sexually abusing writer
A New York jury found Donald Trump liable Tuesday for sexually abusing and defaming an American former magazine columnist and ordered the ex-president to pay her $5 million in damages. The nine jurors rejected E. Jean Carroll's accusation of rape but unanimously upheld her other complaints in the closely watched civil trial, following less than three hours of deliberations. It marks the first time Trump has faced legal consequences over a string of sexual assault allegations dating back decades -- and the former leader immediately rejected the verdict as a "disgrace." Carroll, 79, sued Trump last year, alleging that he raped her in the changing room of the luxury Bergdorf Goodman store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue in 1996. The former columnist for Elle magazine also claimed that Trump defamed her when he called her "a complete con job" after she went public with the allegation in 2019. Trump, the 76-year-old frontrunner for the Republican nomination in next year's presidential election, called her case a "hoax" and "a lie." The jury determined that Carroll had proved sexual abuse -- effectively sexual contact without consent -- by a preponderance of the evidence and awarded her $2 million. The six men and three women on the jury also said Trump should pay Carroll nearly $3 million for defamation. Following the verdict, Carroll left the Manhattan federal court smiling but did not speak to reporters. "We're very happy," said her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan. Trump slammed the outcome on his social media platform Truth Social. "I have absolutely no idea who this woman is," he wrote, using all capital letters. "This verdict is a disgrace -- a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time." Trump's 2024 campaign team said in a statement that the case was a "political endeavor" intended to derail Trump's bid to regain the White House, and that he would appeal. Carroll told the two-week-long civil trial that the assault had left her feeling "ashamed" and unable to have romantic relationships. She said it took her more than 20 years to go public because she was "frightened" by Trump. Her lawyers called to the witness stand two other women who testified that Trump sexually assaulted them decades ago. Former businesswoman Jessica Leeds said that Trump groped her in the business class section of a flight in the United States in the 1970s. Journalist Natasha Stoynoff said Trump kissed her without her consent during an interview at his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2005. Around a dozen women accused Trump of sexual misconduct ahead of the 2016 election that sent him to the White House. He has denied all the allegations and has never been prosecuted over any of them. No criminal case can stem from Carroll's lawsuit. Trump did not testify during the proceedings, nor did his defense team call any witnesses. A video of a sworn deposition he gave in October was played to the jury. In it, Trump called Carroll "a liar" and "really sick person." His lawyers argued that Carroll invented the allegation "for money, for political reasons, and for status." She filed her lawsuit under a New York law that gave victims of sexual assault a one-year window to sue their alleged abusers decades after attacks may have occurred. The burden of proof in civil proceedings is lower than in criminal trial cases when prosecutors must prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was one of several legal challenges threatening to complicate Trump's bid to regain the presidency -- although the Republican's supporters have broadly stayed loyal to their champion up until now. Last month, Trump pleaded not guilty to criminal charges related to a hush-money payment made to a porn star just before the 2016 vote -- allegedly to cover up an affair. Trump is also being investigated over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the southern state of Georgia, his alleged mishandling of classified documents taken from the White House and his involvement in the storming of the US Capitol by his supporters on January 6, 2021. The post Trump found liable for sexually abusing writer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Through invented antiquity, Beijing seeks to validate territorial claims
Beijing [China], April 15 (ANI): Beijing tries to claim territories by attempting to change its name and through invented antiquity, the most recent being announcing a list of standardised names for 11 places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh by China's Ministry of Civil Affairs, reported Sanjay Pulipaka and Mohit Musaddi in Politeia Research Foundation (PRF). Name-giving is a process through which Beijing seeks to.....»»
ChatGPT probed for privacy, disinformation complaints
The European Union’s central data regulator said Thursday that it was forming a task force to help countries deal with wildly popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, ramping up the pressure on its US maker OpenAI. Italy temporarily banned the program last month over allegations its data-gathering broke privacy laws, and France’s regulator said Thursday that it had opened a formal procedure after receiving five complaints. Spain’s AEPD data protection agency also said it had opened an inquiry into the software and its US owner, saying that while it favoured AI development, “it must be compatible with personal rights and freedoms.” ChatGPT can generate essays, poems and conversations from the briefest of prompts, and has proved itself capable of passing some tough exams. But it has been dogged by concerns that its talents could lead to widespread cheating in schools, supercharge disinformation on the web and replace human workers. And the chatbot can only function if it is trained on vast datasets, raising concerns about where OpenAI gets its data and how that information is handled. French regulator CNIL, regarded as Europe’s most powerful, has opened a case after receiving five complaints, one of which was from an MP, Eric Bothorel. Fiction writer He said the bot had invented details of his life, including his birth date and job history. Under Europe’s data protection regulation, such systems are obliged to provide accurate personal data as much as possible. Italy, the first regulator to bar the bot, this week issued a slew of actions OpenAI would need to take to get back into the country — not least providing a legal basis for its data gathering. Europe’s central regulator, the EDPB, said its members chose to take action after monitoring Italy’s approach. “The EDPB decided to launch a dedicated task force to foster cooperation and to exchange information on possible enforcement actions conducted by data protection authorities,” the body said. After Italy’s order to halt ChatGPT, OpenAI told AFP that it was “committed to protecting people’s privacy” and believed its tool complied with the law. The post ChatGPT probed for privacy, disinformation complaints appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Miniskirt pioneer Mary Quant, queen of Swinging London, dies at 93
Fashion designer Mary Quant, the style queen of Britain's Swinging Sixties who popularised the miniskirt, died on Thursday aged 93, her family said. Whether Quant actually invented the then scandalously short skirts have long been disputed, with French designer Andre Courreges insisting he was the first to raise hemlines high on the thigh. But there is no doubt that without Quant the mini would not have become an icon of 1960s youth rebellion. The diminutive designer -- who always wore her hair in a bob -- was also credited with creating hot pants, the skinny-rib sweater, and waterproof mascara. Britain's V&A design museum paid tribute to her "trailblazing vision". "It's impossible to overstate Quant's contribution to fashion," it said on Twitter. "She represented the joyful freedom of 1960s fashion, and provided a new role model for young women." Alexandra Shulman, former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, described her as a "visionary". Quant was not just a "leader of fashion but also in female entrepreneurship, a visionary who was much more than a great haircut," she said. 'Shorter, Shorter' Born on 11 February 1930 in London, Quant studied at Goldsmiths College of Art in the city where she met her future husband and business partner, Alexander Plunket Greene. He died in 1990. Together they opened their first boutique, Bazaar, in 1955 in Chelsea, which would become the beating heart of Swinging London. Bazaar sold clothes and accessories and its basement restaurant became a meeting point for young people and artists. The whole Chelsea district was soon attracting celebrities such as the actors Brigitte Bardot and Audrey Hepburn and pop stars like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Quant raised the hemline well above the knee, creating short dresses and skirts with simple shapes and strong colors that she described as "arrogant, aggressive, and sexy". "Good taste is death, vulgarity is life," she told The Guardian. Her models were showcased in provocative window displays overlooking the King's Road, which became a miniskirt catwalk and drew American photographers keen to picture Swinging London. "City gents in bowler hats beat on our shop window with their umbrellas shouting 'Immoral!' and 'Disgusting!' at the sight of our miniskirts over the tights, but customers poured in to buy," she recalled in her 1966 book "Quant by Quant". The designer was also widely quoted as saying that "it was the girls on the King's Road who invented the mini... I wore them very short and the customers would say, 'Shorter, shorter.' 'Quite outrageous' The era's most high-profile model Lesley Lawson, better known as Twiggy, made the miniskirt popular abroad and with business booming, Quant opened a second shop in London in 1957. She explored geometric designs, polka dots, and contrasting colors, and played with new fabrics, including PVC and stretch fabrics, to achieve a modern and playful look. She entered the American market in the early 1960s, collaborating with the department store JC Penney. She also created the cheaper Ginger Group line and went into cosmetics, all her designs featuring a trademark daisy. Quant also scandalised British society with her frank views on sex, making headlines when she famously said she had shaved her pubic hair into the shape of a heart and dyed it green. Although her heyday was in the 1960s and 1970s, when she turned her sights on the Japanese market, Quant's legacy can still be seen on the high street, with its high fashion at low prices. She sold her make-up company to a Japanese group in 2000, staying on as a consultant. Alongside making it in America, Quant considered being knighted in 2015 her greatest achievement, and called Queen Elizabeth II who made her a dame "the wisest woman I've ever met". Asked by The Guardian in 2016 what she would change if she could edit her past, Quant replied: "Not much, I've had a lovely time." The post Miniskirt pioneer Mary Quant, queen of Swinging London, dies at 93 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Take your eyes off your mobile phone, says inventor, 50 years on
Del Mar, United States — The problem with mobile phones is that people look at them too much. At least, that’s according to the man who invented them 50 years ago. Martin Cooper, an American engineer dubbed the “Father of the cell phone,” says the neat little device we all have in our pockets has almost […] The post Take your eyes off your mobile phone, says inventor, 50 years on appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Wife jealous of husband’s jeans, 5 other unbelievable denim stories
An everyday uniform shared by millions all over the world, the 501 Original has been worn by millions of change makers, risk takers, experimenters, thinkers, icons, and creatives over the course of its 150-year history, including American designer Tom Ford who wished he invented it; and pop artist Andy Warhol who quipped that he wanted to die with his blue jeans on......»»
Question Everything | Keywords, sound bites, and newsmakers of 2022
After half a year in power, the dictator’s son proved that he was no champion of human rights and freedom of expression. Impunity has persisted as evidenced in the killing of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid. Tokhang became Bida but extrajudicial killings did not stop. Red-tagging remains the de facto policy of the state in dealing with critics and activists despite the claim of the Justice secretary that it is only a term invented by the Left. The post Question Everything | Keywords, sound bites, and newsmakers of 2022 appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Bitcoin Short Selling – What Are the Possible Ways You Can Try?
Before you get started with your short selling, let’s take some time to cover the basics of what Bitcoin is and how it works. Bitcoin is a digital currency that got invented in 2009 by an unknown individual or group of persons known as Satoshi Nakamoto. It works as a peer-to-peer payment network. Users can […] The post Bitcoin Short Selling – What Are the Possible Ways You Can Try? appeared first on Kagay An......»»
JuanWheel: Solar-powered bamboo wheelchair for PWDs
With innovation and Filipino ingenuity in mind, three senior high school students from Angeles City, Pampanga invented the JuanWheel—a solar-powered wheelchair made from local bamboo for persons with disabilities (PWDs)......»»