'InternationalWomensDay: Liza Soberano, Shay Mitchell excited to voice Netflix s Alexandra Trese
Budjette Tan and KaJO Baldisimo's kickass heroine "Alexandra Trese" are going to be voiced by Liza Soberano and Filipino-Canadian actress Shay Mitchell! .....»»
PM s Prizes for Space to showcase sector s talent
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand's growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister's Prizes for Space today."New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am excited to announce these prizes which will help foster talent, which plays an important role in.....»»
‘Under a Piaya Moon’ director hopes he made mentor Peque Gallaga proud
In receiving the award for Mowelfund Film Institute Special Citation (full-length film category) at the just-concluded Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival at the Gateway Cineplex, “Under a Piaya Moon” director Kurt Soberano dedicated it to all his film and acting mentors, including the late multi-awarded filmmaker Peque Gallaga, Lawrence Fajardo, Jay Abello, and all the Ilonggo and Negrense directors......»»
Marcos, First Lady Liza have made full recovery from flu-like symptoms, says Palace
President Marcos 'has been in meetings today and will resume his public duties tomorrow,' Malacañang says on Monday, March 25.....»»
Save the date: 7 MMFF 2023 movies na babandera sa Netflix
SINO sa inyo ang mga hindi pa nakakanood ng mga pelikula na official entries ng Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2023? Nako, pwedeng-pwede pa kayo humabol! Pitong pelikula ang ipapalabas ulit simula ngayong buwan hanggang sa darating na Hunyo at ito ay libre lang na masisilayan sa Netflix. Kabilang na riyan, siyempre, ang highest-grossing Filipino.....»»
Paolo, Kaye, Patrick bibida sa upcoming Netflix movie na ‘A Journey’
SAMAHAN sa isang roadtrip sina Paolo Contis, Kaye Abad at Patrick Garcia! Ipapalabas na kasi sa darating na April 12 ang pinagbibidahan nilang bagong Netflix film na pinamagatang “A Journey.” Mapapanood sa trailer na iikot ang istorya sa tatlong karakter na nagtungo sa Tasmania sa Australia upang matupad ang pangarap ng kaibigan nilang may cancer......»»
President Marcos, wife feeling better, but still with symptoms
President Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos are feeling better but still have flu-like symptoms, the Presidential Communications Office said yesterday......»»
Miss Saigon cast embrace full circle moments in Philippine return
Excited is an understatement for what the "Miss Saigon" cast feels in bringing the musical back to Philippine shores......»»
MMFF 2023 movies Rewind, GomBurZa, Mallari coming to Netflix
Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2023 entries "Rewind," "GomBurZa" and "Mallari" are soon going to be available for streaming on Netflix. .....»»
Unpacking sex addiction: Director Alexandra Qin talks about her deeply personal Sundance short film
French-Filipino-Chinese director Alexandra Qin talks about getting into Sundance with her debut film ‘Thirstygirl' and the importance of addressing themes like addiction and advocating activism in film......»»
Serious Crash: SH 8, Fruitlands near Alexandra Central Otago
Police are at the scene of a serious crash that has closed State Highway 8 at Fruitlands near Alexandra between Butchers Point Road and Conroys Road.Emergency services were called at 12.25pm, after two vehicles collided.Initial indications suggest three people have injuries, two have critical injuries and one is in a moderate condition.The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.Traffic manageme.....»»
SBG rallies support for Filipino athletes in 19th Asian Games
Senator Bong Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, recently expressed his full support for Filipino athletes participating in the ongoing 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou City, China. "Suportahan natin ang mga kababayan nating sumasabak sa kasalukuyang 19th Asian Games sa Hangzhou City, China," he said in a statement upon arriving in China to show his personal support to the Philippine delegation. “Bilang chair ng Senate Committee on Sports, taus-puso kong pinupuri at pinasasalamatan ang mga manlalaro nating ibinibigay ang lahat para itaas ang bandera ng Pilipinas sa ginaganap na kompetisyon. Manalo man o matalo, ang importante ay magkaisa tayo para sa ating mga atletang Pilipino!” added the senator. "Our unity is the best form of moral support to inspire our competing athletes to give their best. Let us all rally behind them as they continue to bring glory to our country. Laban Pilipinas! Ipakita natin ang puso ng Pilipino na lumalaban hanggang dulo!" he said. As of 2 October, the Philippines has won one gold, one silver, and eight bronze medals at the Games so far. The country's lone gold medal was won by Ernest John Obiena in Athletics, specifically in the men's pole vault event. Arnel Mandal added a silver medal to the tally in the men's 56kg wushu competition. The bronze medalists include Patrick King Perez in Taekwondo's men's individual poomsae, Jones Llabres Inso in Wushu's men's taijiquan/taijijian all-around, Gideon Fred Padua in wushu's men's 60kg, and Clemente Tabugara Jr in wushu's men's 65kg. In Tennis, Alexandra Eala secured a bronze in Women's singles and another bronze in Mixed doubles alongside Francis Casey Alcantara. Eleven Ando also captured bronze in the women's weightlifting 64kg division. Rounding out the bronze medalists is Patrick Bren Coo in Cycling BMX racing for Men. Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, has strongly advocated for increased funding for sports programs under the Philippine Sports Commission, particularly in support of athletes competing in international competitions this year. "During the budget deliberation last year, ang ipinasa po na budget ng PSC more or less about P200 million. Ako po mismo sa Senado bilang inyong chairman po ng Committee on Sports and as vice chair ng Committee on Finance, isinulong ko talaga na madagdagan po ng P1 billion po ang pondo ng Philippine Sports Commission," he said. This move secured financial support for athletes participating in international competitions, including the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia and the current Asian Games in China. He disclosed an allocation of P50 million through the PSC for the Asian Games, along with P30 million specifically for Asian para-games. To promote greater inclusivity and equality in sports, Go also proposed Senate Bill No. 2116, which aims to amend Republic Act No. 10699, also known as the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act. The bill seeks to provide enhanced financial incentives and benefits for para-athletes who represent the Philippines in international competitions. He emphasized the need for increased incentives for para-athletes, stating, "Sana po’y ma-increase naman rin po ang kanilang incentives na natatanggap dahil ‘yung honor po na dala nila sa ating bayan, pareho naman po ‘yong gold, silver, bronze at pinaghirapan rin po nila." In line with his advocacy for grassroots sports development, Go also championed the National Academy of Sports, a fully operational institution located in New Clark City in Tarlac which was enacted into law that he authored and co-sponsored. Go is also prioritizing the institutionalization of the Philippine National Games as a platform to scout and recruit athletes for the national pool. He filed SBN 423, or the proposed PNG Act, which seeks to create a nationwide platform for athletes, particularly the youth, to display their abilities. The Asian Games is being held from 23 September to 8 October. The event was originally scheduled for 2022 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The post SBG rallies support for Filipino athletes in 19th Asian Games appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ready for it? Belgian university offers literature course on Taylor Swift
A hubbub grips the class in the Belgian city of Ghent as university students eagerly discuss whether US pop star Taylor Swift is a "literary genius". The question elicits passionate responses from students, and it's an exercise their professor hopes will enliven their engagement with more traditional figures of the English Literature canon. The course is among a handful that have popped up at universities around the world as pop titan Swift has racked up hits and awards and as her Eras Tour is expected to set a record for the first billion-dollar tour. "To read her lyrics without the context of the song, it can feel like poetry," one student says, after the teacher opens the floor to discussion. Another student pipes up to suggest it's too soon to say Swift, 33, has had the same cultural impact as William Shakespeare, known around the world for many centuries. While Shakespeare wrote at least 38 plays, Swift has recorded 10 albums. Some will wonder what Shakespeare and his peers share in common with today's biggest US singer-songwriter. Well, they are all the subject of Elly McCausland's course called "Literature (Taylor's Version)" for Master's degree students at Ghent University, which will run until the end of the year. During the first class on Monday, assistant professor McCausland piqued the students' curiosity with controversial questions, including why certain authors and literature are considered timeless, while other books are not valued the same way. McCausland's goal? To make literature more accessible. "I'd like to get people excited about literature, thinking about literature in a new way and realizing that actually even literature from centuries and centuries ago still has something to add to our conversations," she told AFP at the class. 'Swift is a real poet' The 10-session course will use Swift's songs as references for themes and will focus on a series of historic texts including Charlotte Bronte's Villette, lesser known than Jane Eyre. The course has proved popular, with 61 students signed up, twice as many as usual. There are even students from other parts of Belgium. Zina Ringoot, 20, had learned just hours before that she could attend the course and made the 90-minute trip to Ghent from Antwerp in the northeast. "I'm a huge Taylor Swift fan," said Ringoot, an English literature Master's student. "I'm hoping to write my thesis on Taylor Swift's album 'folklore' and how it connects to romanticism. So I thought I would get a lot out of this class." Not everyone in the class is a Swiftie, as her fans call themselves. Joris Verschelde, 21, admitted he was "not that big of a fan" but wanted to "see the connection between the songs and what what we already learned" in the older texts. Laughter often fills the windowless auditorium, despite the fact that serious themes are on the agenda, including feminism, sexism and misogyny. When McCausland asks: "Who are the gatekeepers" of English literature, one student quips: "A bunch of old men!" Even if critics reject comparisons with the canonical greats, Swift has fans even among Shakespeare experts including British academic Sir Jonathan Bate. After attending a concert during Swift's record-breaking Eras tour, Bate wrote in the Sunday Times in April: "I came away with confirmation of a thought I first had 15 years ago: this isn't just high-class showbiz, Taylor Swift is a real poet." Beyond Belgium University courses looking at Swift have been popping up around the world. New York University's Clive Davis Institute launched its first-ever course on Swift last year, and Queen Mary University of London offered a summer school this year looking at Swift through a literary lens. In Arizona, PhD student Alexandra Wormley is hosting a course on the social psychology of Swift at Arizona State University this autumn. Critics online and even some media pundits have pondered just what it is about Swift that is so appealing. For Clio Doyle, an academic who hosted the summer course at Queen Mary, "Swift is a really fascinating songwriter". The lecturer in early modern literature added that another reason she looked at Swift was because of her popularity and the discussions surrounding her work. "A course about Swift would be an opportunity for students both to deepen their readings of Swift's lyrics and to think about what it means to study something as literature," Doyle, who runs a similarly-themed podcast about Swift, told AFP. The summer course will be offered again next year, and interest is not limited to the United States or Europe. The University of Melbourne will host a three-day "Swiftposium" looking at Swift's cultural, economic and global impact in February 2024, the same month her tour arrives in Australia. The post Ready for it? Belgian university offers literature course on Taylor Swift appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ABS-CBN ventures into beauty pageants via Binibining Silka 2023
Following the likes of bossa nova singer Sitti Navarro, BINI’s Aiah, Bb. Pilipinas International Nicole Borromeo, Miss Globe Philippines 2022 Chelsea Fernandez, Miss Aura International 2021 Alexandra Faith Garcia, and other former Silka beauty queens, a new titleholder will be crowned as Binibining Silka 2023 come Oct. 29 in a soon-to-be announced venue in Manila......»»
Women s World Cup roundup: Colombia stuns Germany
(Photo credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports) Manuela Vanegas scored in second-half stoppage time to lift Colombia to a 2-1 upset victory over Germany on Sunday in a Group H clash at the Women's World Cup in Sydney, Australia. Linda Caicedo returned from collapsing in training on Thursday to score a goal in the 52nd minute for Colombia (2-0-0), which hosts Morocco (1-1-0) on Thursday in Perth, Australia. Alexandra Po.....»»
‘Geneva patient’ the latest in long-term remission from HIV
A man dubbed the "Geneva patient" is the latest person with HIV to be declared in long-term remission -- however he did not receive a transplant with a virus-blocking gene mutation like previous cases, researchers said on Thursday. But they stopped short of saying the man was "cured" of HIV, warning there was still a chance the virus could still return. Five people have previously been declared cured of HIV: the Berlin, London, Duesseldorf, New York and City of Hope, California patients. All had bone marrow transplants to treat serious cases of cancer, receiving stem cells from a donor with a mutation of the CCR5 gene. This mutation is known to block HIV from entering the body's cells. In 2018, the Geneva patient similarly received a stem cell transplant to treat a particularly aggressive form of leukaemia. But this time the transplant came from a donor who did not carry the CCR5 mutation, French and Swiss researchers told a press conference in the Australian city of Brisbane as part of an AIDS conference that begins at the weekend. This means that the virus is still able to enter the patient's cells. However, 20 months after the man stopped taking antiretroviral treatment -- which reduces the amount of HIV in the blood -- doctors at Geneva University Hospitals have not found a trace of the virus in his system, the researchers said. While they cannot rule out that the man's HIV will return, the researchers said they consider him to be in long-term remission. 'Magical' "What is happening to me is magnificent, magical," the Geneva patient said in a statement. The patient, a white man who chose not to be named, was diagnosed with HIV in 1990. He had been on antiretrovirals until November 2021, when his doctors advised him to stop taking the treatment after the bone marrow transplant. Two previous cases, known as the Boston patients, had also received normal or "wild type" stem cells during their transplants. But in both cases, HIV returned a few months after they stopped taking antiretrovirals. Asier Saez-Cirion, a scientist at France's Pasteur Institute who presented the Geneva patient case in Brisbane, told AFP that if there was still no sign of the virus after 12 months "the probability that it will be undetectable in the future increases significantly". There were a couple of possible explanations for why the Geneva patient remains HIV free, Saez-Cirion said. "In this specific case, perhaps the transplant eliminated all the infected cells without the need for the famous mutation," he said. "Or maybe his immunosuppressive treatment, which was required after the transplant, played a role." 'Promising' Sharon Lewin, the president of the International AIDS Society holding the HIV science conference in Brisbane, said the case was "promising". "But we learned from the Boston patients that even a single" particle of the virus can lead to HIV rebounding, she cautioned. "This particular individual will need to be watched closely over the next months and years." While these cases of long-term remission raise hopes that one day HIV can truly be cured, the brutal and risky bone marrow transplant procedure is not an option for the millions of people living with the virus around the world. It is instead a last-ditch attempt to treat life-threatening cancer in people who also have HIV. Alexandra Calmy, head of the HIV unit at Geneva University Hospitals, acknowledged that the procedure is not an option for most HIV patients. But the exceptional case of the Geneva patient "opens the door to ways to reach lasting remission in the absence of a transplant carrying a mutation," she told an online press conference on Thursday. Saez-Cirion said the case had also encouraged the researchers to continue studying innate immune cells, which act as the first line of defence against various pathogens, and could help control the virus. For his part, the Geneva patient said he was now "looking to the future". The post ‘Geneva patient’ the latest in long-term remission from HIV appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Myanmar crisis to top agenda at ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting
ASEAN foreign ministers will gather in Indonesia on Tuesday for talks set to be dominated by the crisis in Myanmar, with the regional bloc divided over how or whether to reengage with the coup-wracked country's ruling junta. The two-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting will be followed by talks with Beijing, Washington, and other powers where top US diplomat Antony Blinken will seek to push back on China's assertiveness in the South China Sea. ASEAN has long been decried as a toothless talking shop, and it remains split over diplomatic attempts to resolve the Myanmar crisis. The country has been ravaged by deadly violence since a military coup deposed Aung San Suu Kyi's government more than two years ago and unleashed a bloody crackdown on dissent. A Southeast Asian diplomat told AFP that "extra efforts" were being made in the days before the meeting to unite the group around the issue. However, the official was "not too optimistic" that would happen given that a "few members have different perspectives on how to approach the problem", they said. Myanmar remains an ASEAN member but has been barred from high-level meetings over the junta's failure to implement a five-point plan, agreed two years ago, to end the violence and restart negotiations to resolve the crisis. ASEAN efforts to kick-start the plan's execution have been fruitless, as the junta ignores international criticism and refuses to engage with its opponents. Thailand, meanwhile, hosted the junta's foreign minister for controversial "informal talks" last month, deepening the divisions between the ASEAN members that attended and abstained. 'Clearer' plan The bloc's initiatives are limited by its charter principles of consensus and noninterference, but analysts say the meeting could push members to do more. "It is hoped there will be a clearer implementation plan on what will ASEAN do going forward," Lina Alexandra of Jakarta-based think tank the Centre for Strategic and International Studies told AFP. The meeting would be a "crucial" opportunity for Indonesia as ASEAN chair to unite the regional bloc after the Thailand talks, she said. On Thursday, an ASEAN-plus-three ministerial meeting with Japan, South Korea, and China will take place ahead of an 18-nation East Asia Summit foreign ministers' meeting on Friday, which will also include Washington and Beijing. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to attend the latter meeting, again putting him in the same room as US Secretary of State Blinken after a brief March meeting as Moscow's Ukraine invasion grinds on. Beijing's actions in the dispute-rife South China Sea will also be high on the agenda, Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia, told reporters Saturday. China has made sweeping claims in the strategic waterway despite protests from ASEAN members Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as other nations who argue for unimpeded freedom of navigation and that their own territorial claims be respected. The United States and ASEAN will seek to "push back on behavior that runs counter to that vision and to those principles, including the many irresponsible acts that we've seen carried out by China over the last several years", Kritenbrink said. The post Myanmar crisis to top agenda at ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Holistic approach to Childhood Education
Beyond providing holistic and quality early childhood education to underserved communities around the Philippines, being able to provide our donors with a worthwhile platform to help out the greater community and invest in the future generation will always be at the forefront of what we consider to be the significant gains of MovEd or the Mold Optimism and Values through Education Foundation. [caption id="attachment_150794" align="aligncenter" width="525"] MOVED founder Alex Eduque.[/caption] And these goals, we will always strive for in the years to come. Over the last 10 years, MovEd definitely has had its highs and lows. But at our very core is being able to fulfill our mission of providing holistic and quality early childhood education and support programs to children of underserved communities and their families. We are constantly on the lookout to improve in order to make greater strides to perpetuate our mission, in as much as we want to continuously evolve in order to stay relevant with the world today and be sensitive to the communities we serve. Our priority, of course, has been, is and will always be to constantly and consistently grow — in knowledge, in operations and, of course, in expansion and volume without the quality of our programs suffering. We are hoping to serve more communities (and in effect, more children) in the years to come. Because we are a non-profit organization, funding is always challenging. We are consistently looking to expand our donor database and to make sure to reach a safe, sweet spot in terms of funding to achieve sustainability. The pandemic most definitely did not help in this regard, but just being able to survive and stay afloat during a most difficult time is already an achievement in our books. As to the future of volunteerism and the social advocacy sector to which we belong, I think that as a whole, civil society will make an effort to consistently and continuously evolve with the world today — to shift to address the needs of the greater community and worldly issues. After the pandemic, it has become more evident to me that the only constant in this world truly is change. Resilience is essential, but flexibility is key. ***** Alexandra Eduque made her foray into volunteerism and the NGO world with Habitat for Humanity in 2005. Since then, she has expanded her foray into the social advocacy world by starting her own non-profit organization. She is chairperson of the board of MovEd, founded in 2012, which advocates for Mold Optimism and Values through Education. Alex authored a book in the Bikolnon Biography Series, Chito Madrigal, as a tribute to her mentor, society’s grand dame and philanthropist, Consuelo Madrigal. [caption id="attachment_150793" align="aligncenter" width="960"] ALEX Eduque made her foray into volunteerism and the NGO world with Habitat for Humanity in 2005.[/caption] The post Holistic approach to Childhood Education appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Alfred Vargas overjoyed at daughter’s graduation: ‘Stay humble, and help others’
Former Encantadia star and former Quezon City congressman Alfred Vargas took to social media on Tuesday, 6 June, to express his joy at seeing his 11-year-old daughter, Aryana Cassandra, complete her elementary education. “To our daughter Arianna, mahal na mahal ka namin. Right when you were a little kid until today,” he wrote. “You have only given us reasons to smile and pull our heads up and pride. We’re so lucky to have you in our life. We’re so proud of you.” Aside from congratulating his daughter, Vargas also offered her life advice. “Be fearless in dreaming big. Remember to go after what makes you happy, stay humble, and help others along the way. Always share that talent,” he said. He also assured his daughter that no matter what happens, she can always count on him and her mother, Yasmine Espiritu Vargas. “It takes courage to grow up to become who you really are. But never fear. Take comfort in the fact that your mother and I will always be here, cheering for you and believing in you no matter what,” said Vargas. Aryana is the second of Alfred and Yasmine’s children, which include eldest child Alexandra Milan and son Cristiano. Vargas himself is also in school — at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, where he is currently pursuing his PhD. He obtained his master in public administration degree from the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance in 2021. The post Alfred Vargas overjoyed at daughter’s graduation: ‘Stay humble, and help others’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hong Kong police detain more than 20 on Tiananmen anniversary
Hong Kong police on Sunday detained more than 20 people, including key pro-democracy figures trying to commemorate the anniversary of the bloody Tiananmen Square crackdown, as hundreds in Taiwan mourned the dead with a vigil. For years, tens of thousands of Hong Kongers would converge on the city's Victoria Park and its surrounding neighborhood to commemorate the events of June 4, 1989 -- taking part in candlelight vigils. But since Beijing's imposition of a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 to quell dissent, the annual vigil has been banned and its organizers charged under the law. This weekend, scores of police were deployed in the area, stopping people for searches and questioning. Some found with a candle -- regarded as a symbol of the Victoria Park vigil -- were questioned and detained. More than 700 kilometers (430 miles) away on the self-ruled island of Taiwan, hundreds gathered at Taipei's Liberty Square to chant "fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong" as night fell. They lit candles in the shape of "8964" -- numerals forbidden in mainland China because it references the events of June 4, 1989. "We need to cherish the freedom and democracy we have in Taiwan," Perry Wu, 31, told AFP. "I feel really sad to see the news of people getting arrested today in Hong Kong." Hong Kong police said late Sunday they had detained 23 people between the ages of 20 to 74 who were suspected of "breaching the peace". One woman, 53, was arrested for obstructing police officers. Among the most prominent activists AFP saw bundled into police vans was Chan Po-ying, the leader of the League of Social Democrats, one of the few remaining opposition parties. The veteran activist, who was released hours later, held a small LED candle and two flowers before she was seized by police. Other recognizable figures taken were Alexandra Wong, a well-known activist nicknamed "Grandma Wong" and Leo Tang, a former leader of the now-disbanded Confederation of Trade Unions. On Saturday, Hong Kong police arrested four people for "seditious" acts and "disorderly conduct". Another four were detained on suspicion of breaching the peace. The office of UN human rights chief Volker Turk said in a tweet late Sunday it was "alarmed by reports of detentions" in Hong Kong and called for the "release of anyone detained for exercising freedom of expression & peaceful assembly." 'Let the world know' Discussion of the Tiananmen crackdown is highly sensitive for China's communist leadership and commemoration is forbidden on the mainland. The government sent troops and tanks to Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989 to break up peaceful protests, brutally crushing a weeks-long wave of demonstrations calling for political change. Hundreds -- by some estimates, more than 1,000 -- were killed. Hong Kong was for decades the only Chinese city with a large-scale commemoration -- a key index of the liberties and political pluralism afforded by its semi-autonomous status. This year, Victoria Park was transformed for a "hometown carnival fair" organized by pro-Beijing groups. Erase memories Beijing has gone to exhaustive lengths to erase the 1989 event from public memory in the mainland. All mention of the crackdown is scrubbed from China's internet. Over the weekend, sites of more recent protests -- a bridge in Beijing where a "freedom" banner was unfurled, and Wulumuqi Street in Shanghai where demonstrations happened in November -- also saw heightened security. Hong Kong authorities were vigilant in the weeks before June 4, with police seizing a commemorative "Pillar of Shame" statue for a security trial and removing books on the Tiananmen crackdown from public libraries. But there were still pockets of defiance on Sunday around Hong Kong -- a shop gave away candles, while a bookstore displayed Tiananmen Square archival material. At the US consulate in the evening, dozens of candles could be seen shimmering in the large complex's windows. 'Face the consequences' Sidestepping questions about whether public mourning was allowed, Hong Kong's leader John Lee had repeatedly maintained that the public must act according to the law or "be ready to face the consequences". Vigils planned around the world, from Japan to Australia, saw people standing with candles next to images of the brutal crackdown. In London, protesters staged a re-enactment featuring a blow-up tank and women dressed in white, emulating a statue to liberty set up on Tiananmen Square in 1989. A 59-year-old poet from China's Sichuan province, told AFP at the Trafalgar Square rally that his family fled soon after brutal crackdown. "Chinese people in my generation know what happened, but the younger ones, not really," said the man, who declined to be named for fear of Chinese reprisals. "Their parents, their grandparents, need to keep up the knowledge, and we all need to remember at events overseas like this." The post Hong Kong police detain more than 20 on Tiananmen anniversary appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hong Kong police detain prominent democracy figures on Tiananmen anniversary
Hong Kong police on Sunday detained several key pro-democracy figures attempting to commemorate the anniversary of the bloody Tiananmen crackdown, as hundreds in democratic Taiwan mourned the dead in a candlelight vigil. For years, tens of thousands of Hong Kongers would converge on the city's Victoria Park and its surrounding Causeway Bay neighborhood to commemorate the events of 4 June 1989 -- taking part in candlelight vigils. But since Beijing's imposition of the national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 to quell dissent, the annual vigil was banned, and the organizers were charged under the law. This weekend, scores of police were deployed in the area, stopping people to search their belongings and question them. An armored vehicle was sighted parked near a shopping center. Anyone found with a candle -- regarded as a symbol of the Victoria Park vigil -- was questioned and even detained, while police appeared to cast a broad net on what was deemed offensive. More than 700 kilometers (430 miles) away, nearly 500 people gathered at Taipei's Liberty Square to chant "fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong" as night fell. They lit candles in the shape of "8964" -- numerals that are forbidden in mainland China because it references the events of 4 June 1989. "We need to cherish the freedom and democracy we have in Taiwan," Perry Wu, 31, told AFP. "I feel really sad to see the news of people getting arrested today in Hong Kong." By evening, AFP reporters in Hong Kong had witnessed more than a dozen people taken away by police in vans. Among the most prominent was Chan Po-ying, the leader of the city's League of Social Democrats, one of the last few remaining opposition groups. The veteran activist was holding a small LED candle and two flowers before she was seized by police. Other recognizable figures detained were Alexandra Wong, a well-known activist nicknamed "Grandma Wong", former chairwoman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association Mak Yin-ting, and Leo Tang, a former leader of the now-disbanded Confederation of Trade Unions. At Victoria Park, a man sitting on a bench holding an unlit candle was surrounded by cops. As he was led to a police van, he said, "I raised a candle... I was (taken) for just sitting there." The swift removal of people comes a day after police arrested four for "seditious" acts and "disorderly conduct". Another four people were detained on suspicion of breaching the peace. 'Let the world know' Discussion of the Tiananmen crackdown is highly sensitive for China's communist leadership and commemoration is forbidden on the mainland. The government sent troops and tanks to Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989 to break up peaceful protests, brutally crushing a weeks-long wave of demonstrations calling for political change. Hundreds -- by some estimates, more than 1,000 -- were killed. For decades, Hong Kong was the only Chinese city with a large-scale commemoration -- a key index of the liberties and political pluralism afforded by its semi-autonomous status. But after the vigil was banned since 2020, the park was barricaded with metal barriers. This year, Victoria Park was transformed for a "hometown carnival fair" organized by pro-Beijing groups. "The pro-Beijing camp wants to... occupy the venue to exclude the mourners," said Chiu, a 68-year-old retiree, who sat on a park bench with an unlit candle by him in quiet defiance -- a short distance from the fair. Erase memories Beijing has gone to exhaustive lengths to erase the 1989 event from public memory in the mainland. All mention of the crackdown is scrubbed from China's internet. Over the weekend, sites of more recent protests -- a bridge in Beijing where a "freedom" banner was unfurled, and Wulumuqi Street in Shanghai where demonstrations happened in November -- also saw heightened security. Hong Kong authorities were vigilant in the weeks before June 4, with police seizing a commemorative "Pillar of Shame" statue for a security trial and removing books on the Tiananmen crackdown from public libraries. But there were still pockets of defiance Sunday around Hong Kong -- a shop gave away candles, while a bookstore displayed Tiananmen Square archival material. 'Freedom to mourn' Sidestepping questions about whether public mourning was allowed, Hong Kong's leader John Lee had repeatedly maintained that the public must act according to the law or "be ready to face the consequences". Vigils planned around the world, from Japan to Sydney, saw people stand solemnly with a candle next to images of the 1989 crackdown. Hong Kong activist Wong Yat-chin, currently in prison for a national security charge, said he mourned the "loss of the freedom to mourn". "It's not a crime to remember a day," he said on his Instagram page Sunday. The post Hong Kong police detain prominent democracy figures on Tiananmen anniversary appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»