2020: World rocked by COVID-19, Trump and Black Lives Matter
The COVID-19 pandemic cast a long pall over 2020 but it also saw President Donald Trump beaten by Joe Biden in a tumultuous US election and the Black Lives Matter movement shake the world......»»
‘Largest’ cosmic blast baffles astronomers
Astronomers said on Friday they have identified the “largest” cosmic explosion ever observed, a fireball 100 times the size of our Solar System that suddenly began blazing in the distant universe more than three years ago. While the astronomers offered what they think is the most likely explanation for the explosion, they emphasized that more research was needed to understand the puzzling phenomenon. The explosion, called AT2021lwx, is not the brightest flash ever observed in the universe. That record is still held by a gamma-ray burst in October that was nicknamed BOAT — for Brightest Of All Time. Philip Wiseman, an astrophysicist at Britain’s University of Southampton and the lead author of a new study, said that AT2021lwx was considered the “largest” explosion because it had released far more energy over the last three years than was produced by BOAT’s brief flash. Wiseman said it was an “accidental discovery.” The Zwicky Transient Facility in California first spotted AT2021lwx during an automated sweep of the sky in 2020. But “it basically sat in a database” until being noticed by humans the following year, Wiseman said. It was only when astronomers, including Wiseman, looked at it through more powerful telescopes that they realized what they had on their hands. By analyzing different wavelengths of light, they worked out that the explosion was roughly eight billion light years away. That is much farther away than most other new flashes of light in the sky — which means the explosion behind it must be far greater. Brighter than sun It is estimated to be around two trillion times brighter than the Sun, Wiseman said. Astronomers have looked into several possible explanations. One is that AT2021lwx is an exploding star — but the flash is 10 times brighter than any previously seen “supernova.” Another possibility is what is called a tidal disruption event, when a star is torn apart as it is sucked into a supermassive black hole. But AT2021lwx is still three times brighter than those events, and Wiseman said their research did not point in this direction. The only somewhat comparable bright cosmic event is a quasar, when supermassive black holes swallow huge amounts of gas in the center of galaxies. But they tend to flicker in brightness, Wiseman said, whereas AT2021lwx suddenly started flaring up from nothing three years ago, and it is still blazing away. “This thing we have never, ever seen before — it just came out of nowhere,” Wiseman said. Plausible In the new study, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the international team of researchers laid out what they believe is the most likely scenario. Their theory is that a massive, single cloud of gas — around 5,000 times larger than the Sun — is slowly being consumed by a supermassive black hole. But Wiseman said that “in science, there’s never a certainty.” The team is working on new simulations to see if their theory is “fully plausible,” he added. One problem could be that supermassive black holes sit in the center of galaxies — for an explosion this size, the galaxy would be expected to be as vast as the Milky Way, Wiseman said. But no one has been able to spot a galaxy in the vicinity of AT2021lwx. “That’s an absolute puzzle,” Wiseman admitted. Now that astronomers know what to look for, they are searching the skies to see if other similar explosions have been missed. The post ‘Largest’ cosmic blast baffles astronomers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fans in frenzy as Beyoncé kicks off concert tour
Ecstatic Beyoncé fans sang and danced in feverish excitement in Stockholm Wednesday as the superstar kicked off her first solo tour in seven years with a futuristic spectacle featuring a lunar rover, an airborne horse, and wall-to-wall rhinestones. Hours before the doors opened hundreds of people were thronging outside the stadium, including some who had traveled halfway around the world to catch the show, anxious to see the global music icon -- one of the world's best-selling artists. Once the concert was about to begin, the tens of thousands of fans in the 60,000-capacity Friends Arena -- filled to the brim -- erupted in cheers as their "queen" emerged on stage. "Just want to say: Y'all make me so happy," Beyoncé said as the concert began. "I see familiar faces, people that flew from very, very far to come see the first show tonight," she told the audience at the outset of the three-hour space and science fiction-themed show. The show features Beyoncé performing atop a lunar vehicle, playing the role of a news anchor while dressed as a queen bee, and suspended above the crowd as she sits on a model horse completely covered in sparkling rhinestones. "This was another level. Amazing, I can't wait for the rest of the tour," Abdul Ibraimoh, a 33-year-old artist manager from London, told AFP after the show. "There was a lot of anticipation for what she was going to do, and yes I'm speechless, it was just incredible," Shane Barkey, a 31-year-old radio host from Ireland, said. Beyoncé, who has a record 32 Grammy awards; is in the top 10 biggest-grossing female artists. She is also a fashion icon, with designers queueing up for her attention. Many of the fans in Stockholm sported cowboy hats and rhinestones, mimicking the look of the performer's outfit in the ads announcing the 57-stop European and North American tour. Julie Vargas, who flew in from Houston, Texas -- Beyoncé's hometown -- confessed to having a "shrine" dedicated to the star at home. "I don't want any spoilers, I wanted to be the first to see it and take the news back to H-town baby!" the 38-year-old surgical technologist told AFP as she waited in line in the early afternoon. The "Renaissance World Tour", announced in February after being teased last autumn, is the star's first solo tour since 2016. Tickets sold out so quickly for the opening show that tour organizers added a second concert at the same venue for Thursday. From there, she goes to Brussels this weekend. The tour, which continues until September, is expected to earn the international artist nearly $2.1 billion, according to business magazine Forbes. She is already a multi-millionaire. "We love Beyoncé, she's the queen, that's why we are here of course," 36-year-old artist Kasher Bloom from Riga told AFP. "Beyoncé is the queen! Our mother, everything! I would do anything for her," Jarra Jatta, a 21-year-old fan from Helsingborg in southern Sweden. In February, Beyoncé made history by becoming the most successful artist in the history of the Grammys, surpassing the late classical conductor Georg Solti's long-standing record of 31 lifetime trophies. But despite winning another four Grammys, fans were disappointed that she missed out on the award for album of the year for her seventh studio album, the house-tinged "Renaissance". The 16-song 2022 album was an instant hit and earned wide praise for its deep ambition. Born Beyoncé Giselle Knowles, the now-41-year-old has been in the upper echelons of pop music since her teenage years. She initially rose to fame as part of Destiny's Child -- whose smash hits included "Survivor" and "Say My Name" -- before embarking on a wildly successful solo career. From setting the standard for the overnight album drop to delivering her earth-shattering "Homecoming" show at Coachella in 2018, Beyoncé has long bucked the industry's conventional wisdom. She is simultaneously one of music's most private and most watched stars. Her paradigm-shifting 2016 album "Lemonade," which emphasized Black womanhood against the backdrop of America's heritage of slavery and culture of oppression, remains one of the most venerated musical projects in recent memory. Then she dropped the critically acclaimed song "Black Parade" in June 2020, amid nationwide protests ignited by the murder of an unarmed Black man, George Floyd, at the hands of a white police officer. The post Fans in frenzy as Beyoncé kicks off concert tour appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UK deputy PM resigns after most bullying claims upheld
UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab announced his resignation on Friday after bullying claims against him were upheld in a report, a fresh political shock for Britain's Conservatives. Raab's resignation gives Prime Minister Rishi Sunak a headache some two weeks before local elections at which the Conservatives are expected to lose seats. He is also battling to claw back a chasm of lost ground to the main opposition Labor Party before a general election next year. Raab, who stood in for former prime minister Boris Johnson as he battled Covid in 2020, had promised to quit if any claims against him were upheld. But even though he was cleared of most of the allegations, he blasted the conclusions of a lawyer-led inquiry. "Whilst I feel duty-bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry, it dismissed all but two of the claims leveled against me," he wrote in a resignation letter. "I also believe that its two adverse findings are flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government." The bar for bullying was set so low, he said, that "it will encourage spurious complaints against ministers and have a chilling effect on those driving change". Raab also resigned from his post as justice secretary, where he has had to battle a backlog in criminal cases caused by years of under-funding and disruptions caused by the pandemic. He previously served as Brexit minister and foreign secretary but was moved from that post after being criticized for failing to return from holiday as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban. Sunak, who succeeded the short-lived Liz Truss in October last year, vowed to restore "integrity, professionalism, and accountability" in government after Johnson's rollercoaster tenure. He previously sacked Nadhim Zahawi as Conservative party chairman over his tax affairs. Gavin Williamson, a former defense secretary who kept a tarantula on his desk while in charge of party discipline in parliament, quit over expletive-laden messages. Low bar Former lawyer Raab, a karate black belt, has denied bullying civil servants working for him and in his letter rejected allegations of an overbearing manner with colleagues. He insisted in his letter that ministers "must be able to exercise direct oversight with respect to senior officials over critical negotiations conducted on behalf of the British people". Not to do so, he said, would mean the loss of "the democratic and constitutional principle of ministerial responsibility". He also maintained ministers "must be able to give direct critical feedback on briefings and submissions to senior officials in order to set the standards and drive the reform the public expect of us". "Of course, this must be done within reasonable bounds," he went on. Sunak appointed senior employment lawyer Adam Tolley to look into the claims in November and he submitted his report to Sunak on eight allegations on Thursday. The report has yet to be published. But Raab said Tolley "concluded that I had not once, in four and a half years, sworn or shouted at anyone let alone thrown anything or otherwise physically intimated anyone, nor intentionally sought to belittle anyone". "I am genuinely sorry for any unintended stress or offense that any officials felt, as a result of the pace, standards, and challenge that I brought to the Ministry of Justice," he added. "That is, however, what the public expects of ministers working on their behalf." The post UK deputy PM resigns after most bullying claims upheld appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Miss USA is first Black contender to win Miss Grand International crown
Miss Grand USA Abena Appia was crowned Miss Grand International 2020 at the close of glitzy coronation rites in Bangkok's Show DC Hall. An early favorite, and spoke fluent Thai, she bested 62 other hopefuls for the golden crown, to become the first Black contestant to win the title......»»
Razon s ICTSI recaptures lost ground to end 2020 in black
Prior to this audited report, ICTSI was running a 1% decline in net income in the first 9 months, financial results showed. .....»»
WATCH: 63rd Grammy Awards (Record of the Year Nominees)
Airing Sunday, March 14, 2021, on CBS, the 63rd GRAMMY Awards recognize excellence in music released in late 2019 and 2020. Here are the nominees for Record of the Year in video! BLACK PARADEBeyoncéBeyoncé & Derek Dixie, producers; Stuart White, engineer/mixer; Colin Leonard, mastering engineer COLORSBlack PumasAdrian Quesada, producer; Adrian Quesada, engineer/mixer; JJ Golden, mastering engineer ROCKSTARDaBaby Featuring Roddy RicchSethinTheKitchen, producer; Derek “MixedByAli” Ali, Chris Dennis, Liz Robson & Chris West, engineers/mixers; Glenn A Tabor III, mastering engineer SAY SODoja CatTyson Trax, producer; Clint Gibbs, engineer/mixer; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer EVERYTHING I WANTEDBillie EilishFinneas O’Connell, producer; Rob Kinelski & Finneas O’Connell, engineers/mixers; John Greenham, mastering engineer DON’T START NOWDua LipaCaroline Ailin & Ian Kirkpatrick, producers; Josh Gudwin, Drew Jurecka & Ian Kirkpatrick, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer CIRCLESPost MaloneLouis Bell, Frank Dukes & Post Malone, producers; Louis Bell & Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer SAVAGEMegan Thee Stallion Featuring BeyoncéBeyoncé & J. White Did It, producers; Stuart White, engineer/mixer; Colin Leonard, mastering engineer.....»»
Tony, JC bagay maging magdyowa; game mag-date sa Valentine’s day
DAHIL sa success ng series noong 2020 na “Hello Stranger” nina Tony Labrusca at JC Alcantara ay ginawa na itong pelikula, mula sa ABS-CBN Films at Black Sheep na idinirek ni Dwein Baltazar. Napanood na namin ang trailer nito at bagay talagang maging magdyowa sina JC at Tony at kung sakaling pareho silang gay, ipu-push […] The post Tony, JC bagay maging magdyowa; game mag-date sa Valentine’s day appeared first on Bandera......»»
Paulo inialay ang MMFF best actor award sa anak nila ni LJ; Charlie tinalo sina Nora, Iza at Sylvia
MUKHANG wala namang mga nagreklamo sa paghakot ng awards ng pelikulang “Fan Girl” sa ginanap na Metro Manila Film Festival 2020 Gabi Ng Parangal kagabi. Nagkakaisa ang madlang pipol sa pagsasabing deserving ang pagiging big winner ng entry ng Star Cinema at Black Sheep sa taunang filmfest na idinirek ni Antoinette Jadaone. Pak na pak […] The post Paulo inialay ang MMFF best actor award sa anak nila ni LJ; Charlie tinalo sina Nora, Iza at Sylvia appeared first on Bandera......»»
2020: World rocked by COVID-19, Trump and Black Lives Matter
The COVID-19 pandemic cast a long pall over 2020 but it also saw President Donald Trump beaten by Joe Biden in a tumultuous US election and the Black Lives Matter movement shake the world......»»
Black wedding in Iloilo defies tradition making their wedding one of a kind
CEBU CITY, Philippines— A bride’s wedding gown defying traditions makes their wedding truly one of a kind. A big black wedding gown spoke volumes during Gerald and Daryl Jetonzo’s wedding in Iloilo City last December 12, 2020. Read: Intimate wedding can be perfect in the new normal Instead of the traditional white gown, the bride […] The post Black wedding in Iloilo defies tradition making their wedding one of a kind appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Black Jesus born in burnt Amazon at Brazil church manger
There was a lot to choose from in 2020, but the church picked two topics that have become particularly pertinent in Brazil since far-right President Jair Bolsonaro took office last year: racism and rampant deforestation in the Amazon......»»
Black Friday 2020: AirPods Pro Reach Lower Price Ever $ 169 [Updated]
Black Friday has closed this week, and one of the first major sales for the AirPod Pro is available at Walmart right now. You........»»
Title over individual awards
Winning Rookie of the Year honors is not the main objective for strong candidates Aaron Black of Meralco and Arvin Tolentino of Ginebra entering the tailend of the historic 2020 PBA Philippine Cup......»»
Meralco wary of Ginebra’s adjustments in Game 3 clash
Meralco wary of Ginebra’s adjustments in Game 3 clash Luisa Morales (Philstar.com) – November 22, 2020 – 1:20pm MANILA, Philippines — The Meralco Bolts may be coming from an emphatic Game Two victory over the Ginebra San Miguel in their best-of-five series in the PBA Philippine Cup semis. But head coach Norman Black isn’t resting his […].....»»
Kamala Harris’s husband Doug Emhoff to be first ‘second gentleman’
When Kamala Harris makes history as the first woman and first Black US vice president, her husband Doug Emhoff will break his own new ground: as the original “second husband.” Media and entertainment lawyer Douglas Emhoff is seen here with his wife Kamala Harris after she took part in the vice presidential debate in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 27, 2020; he will make history as America’s first “second husband” (AFP/ MANILA BULLETIN) Harris and Emhoff, who married in 2014 — she for the first time, he for the second — will also be the first mixed-race couple to occupy their positions. He is white while she is the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants. Both are 56. The contours of Emhoff’s new role as the nation’s “second husband” — some prefer “second gentleman” — have yet to be determined; he has been vague about his plans so far. Traditionally, the spouses of presidents and vice presidents have been expected to forge a careful balance of supportiveness and independence. Many pick a charitable cause to promote. Emhoff, who was credited as a “secret weapon” on the campaign trail for his wife — even earning his own following on social media — is an accomplished lawyer specializing in media, sports and entertainment law. He took leave in August from the multinational DLA Piper, which has lobbying offices in Washington. That could raise prickly conflicts of interest with Harris’s work. Emhoff has been publicly vague about whether he will stay with the firm, though he ha stold interviewers he might want to pursue pro bono legal work. Emhoff marks another milestone: he would be the first Jew to be part of America’s first or second families. Friends have described him as a less-than-observant Jew but one who identifies strongly with, and is deeply shaped by, Judaism. The Jewish publication Forward embraced him as the “Second Mensch.” When its reporter asked Emhoff’s mother Barbara about his religious upbringing, she was coy, but offered: “He was bar mitzvahed in New Jersey, I can tell you that.” Born in Brooklyn and raised in New Jersey, he is said to have happy memories of Jewish summer camp, where he won athletic awards. While in high school, his father moved the family to Los Angeles. Emhoff earned a law degree at the University of Southern California, then worked at other law firms before reaching DLA Piper. When Emhoff met Harris on a blind date arranged by friends, it was “love at first sight,” he later said. His children by his first marriage — Cole, named after John Coltrane, and Ella, named after Ella Fitzgerald — have embraced their stepmother as “Momala.” Emhoff’s ex-wife Kerstin Mackin remains friendly and even joins the family at Thanksgiving. The “second husband-elect,” incidentally, shares one thing with Donald Trump: both are avid golfers. .....»»
Honda set to unveil all-new City model in Philippine market
Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) is set to release the All-New Honda City targeting total sales of more or less 1,800 units combining the current and the All New City model for the remaining months of the year. HCPI Vice President Louie Soriano said they expect to sell more or less 1,800 units for both old and new City models for the remaining 3 months. From January to October this year, HCPI Honda City’s sales reached over 2,000 units. Among the models in its segment, the Honda City is currently at third place. Since the start of 2020, the Honda City is HCPI’s second best-selling model in its lineup. First is Honda Brio and third is Honda BR-V. “Our target market for the All-New City are the Sporty and Premium Seeker who are career driven, business minded, and those who are looking for a stylish and sporty sedan,” said Soriano. Interested customers may already inquire and reserve the All-New Honda City any of the 34 Honda Car Dealerships nationwide starting today, October 15, 2020. The all-new model will be available in the local market on October 22, 2020, as part of its month-long celebration of its 30th anniversary. This 5th generation of Honda City – the revamped best-selling sedan in HCPI’s model lineup now comes with new variant names and includes a new color. The All-New Honda City will soon be available with the following colors: Ignite Red Metallic (new color; 1.5 RS CVT, 1.5 V CVT, and 1.5 S CVT); Modern Steel Metallic; Platinum White Pearl (new color; 1.5 RS CVT and 1.5 V CVT only); Crystal Black Pearl; Lunar Silver Metallic (1.5 V CVT and 1.5 S CVT only); and, Taffeta White (1.5 S CVT and 1.5 S MT only). The company also announced that from October 15 to December 31, 2020, all current Honda owners who will refer an All-New City buyer will receive P5,000 worth of e-gift certificates upon every successful referral. Interested referrers may visit www.hondaphil.com/promos/referral-program for more information. The current generation of the Honda City, launched in May 2017, revolves around the grand concept of “Advanced Energetic Smart Star”. It exhibits a high-tech and sporty design, class-leading fuel efficiency and comfort, and above class safety that provide customers with the smartest ownership experience......»»
Baser maangas, Bolts umalpas
NAGTULONG sina Baser Amer at rookie Aaron Black sa krusyal na bahagi ng laro upang itulak ang Meralco Bolts sa unang panalo kontra Alaska Aces, 93-81, sa eliminasyon ng 2020 Honda PBA Philippine Cup sa AUF Gym sa Clark, Pampanga. The post Baser maangas, Bolts umalpas first appeared on Abante......»»
3 scientist wagi sa 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics
Tatlong scientist ang tatanggap ng Nobel Prize in Physics ngayon 2020 dahil sa kanilang “groundbreaking discovery” hinggil sa black hole. The post 3 scientist wagi sa 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics first appeared on Abante......»»
Wesley So stuns world chess champ Carlsen
Philippine-born Grandmaster Wesley So stunned reigning world champion GM Magnus Carlsen of Norway with the black pieces in the fifth round to stay half-a-point behind GM Levon Aronian of Armenia in the 2020 Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX on Sunday. So, who now represents the United States, now has 4 points following drawn matches with GM […] The post Wesley So stuns world chess champ Carlsen appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chris Nick creates the modern flapper
His fall/winter 2020 collection takes cues from the 1920s, Années folles, the ‘Crazy Years.’ What happened in the ’20s, 100 years ago? They went roaring, années folles, as the French called them. The Jazz Age in the US, the Golden Age in Europe, emerging from World War I, descending to the Great Depression. It was the time of The Lost Generation, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound, Cole Porter. It was the time of the Surrealists, Andre Breton, Arthur Rimbaud, Charles Baudelaire. It was a time of radical views and paradigm shifts. It was the time of women’s suffrage and women’s emancipation, when fashion at last entered the modern era, with women ditching the restricting clothes in favor of comfort, slipping into short skirts or trousers. It was the time of the flapper, defined informally as a fashionable young woman intent on enjoying herself and flouting conventional standards of behavior. It is in ode to these “Crazy Years” that designer Chris Nick de los Reyes came up with his fall/winter collection 2020. “I started conceptualizing the collection December of 2019 and, as we entered a new decade, the ’20s came to mind,” he says. “The Roaring ’20s saw an explosion of art, culture, and racial pride. Social change was evident and economic growth was booming.” Contrast that to these times, 100 years since, when we are between what seemed like a boom and what lies ahead, possibly a much-changed world that has survived a pandemic. “Very timely,” says Chris of his current collection that is a form of defiance, a chin up against the tendency to dwell in the darkness, just as the 1920s emerged from a decade of war and the Black Plague. “Fashion does not necessarily have to stop. We must look forward, seek advancement.” More than giving Filipino women a temporary means of escapism, the collection celebrates the craving “for light, speed, fun” that this decade in the last century sought. In today’s restrictions, despite today’s restrictions, those cravings remain and Chris Nick lets them have it in fashion. Whereas the flapper of the 1920s was a form of rebellion, in Chris’ interpretation, it is a symbol of strength. “The modern flapper in my eyes is dressed up in classics with a distinct aura of authority, sensuality, and wit,” he says. “And as a Filipina, she brings traditional Filipiniana into the current times.” It is a time of fear and great uncertainty, but the modern Filipina maintains a positive outlook. With fashion as her outlet, she is unafraid to express herself, her individuality. “These women are leaders of change,” says Chris. “With a strong personality, attitude, and a whole lot of charisma, they are symbols of confidence.” His collection at once conceals and reveals—but not too much, never too much—the female form in tulle, satin, silk, and wool mostly in black, the designer’s favorite color, the color of power, seduction, fantasy, and mystery. Chris also plays with texture with a boldness he’s never had before, although his style signature mixing tailored pieces with evening dresses, embellishing masculine silhouettes with fringes, feather, and sparkle, makes each piece distinctly, unmistakably Chris Nick......»»