6,426 new COVID-19 cases seen ahead of new quarantine classifications
Today's figures pushed the country's overall count to 1,322,053. The Department of Health said 10 laboratories did not turn in screening results. .....»»
6,426 new COVID-19 cases seen ahead of new quarantine classifications
Today's figures pushed the country's overall count to 1,322,053. The Department of Health said 10 laboratories did not turn in screening results. .....»»
Philippines ends May with 6,684 new COVID-19 cases
Today's figures came ahead of the new quarantine classifications for June, which President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to announce later......»»
DOH: Firework-related injuries climb to 52 ahead of New Year s Eve
As of 6 a.m. on December 26, Herbosa said that hospitals had documented 24 new cases, with 23 of them being male, inflicting individuals ranging from five to 52 years old. .....»»
Everything you need to know about RSV in winter 2023: Symptoms, treatments, shots
RSV Cases Surge in the United States Ahead of Winter Season The United States is witnessing a surge in cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).....»»
England, Wales grapple with growing teen knife violence
Elianne Andam was headed to school like any other teenager in London last month when she was stabbed to death, becoming the latest victim of rising knife crime in England and Wales. The 15-year-old suffered a "brutal attack" in Croydon, south London, shortly after she and her friends had stepped off a public bus on a Wednesday morning, prosecutors have said. A 17-year-old boy arrested nearby just over an hour later will stand trial for her murder next April. One of the latest tragic cases of teen-on-teen violence in the British capital, it has become an increasingly common problem nationwide over recent decades. A few days after Andam's death, 16-year-old Taye Faik died in Edmonton, north London, following another knife attack. He was the 14th teenager to be killed with a blade in the city this year. The UK government, and mayors in some of its biggest cities and regions, have repeatedly vowed to tackle the persistent scourge of youth violence, but appear to be failing. Between 2012 and 2022, the number of knife and offensive weapon offences amongst children aged 10-17 increased by 19 percent across England and Wales, according to the Ministry of Justice. That compared with an eight percent increase among adults. 'Social issue' With the sale of guns strictly controlled in Britain, teenagers intent on violence typically turn to blades, including machetes and so-called "zombie" knives. Inspired by horror films, they often have one smooth blade and one serrated edge, and feature graphics or text on the blade or handle glorifying violence. Possessing them has been illegal since 2016, but some manufacturers have managed to evade this quasi-ban by altering their design. The government unveiled plans in August to outlaw them entirely and give police more powers to seize the weapons, which it said "seem to be designed to look menacing with no practical purpose". The new legislation will also increase the maximum penalty for their "importation, manufacturing, possession and sale" from six months to two years. However, machetes and zombie-style knives can be bought with relative ease for less than £50 ($60) on social media platforms like TikTok or Snapchat, circumventing online age restrictions, according to anti-knife crime campaigners. They urge more focus on the roots of the problem. "Knife crime isn't just a law-and-order issue, it's a social issue," Patrick Green, president of the Ben Kinsella Trust, told AFP. The anti-knife crime charity is named after a London teenager murdered in 2008. "When you start to unpick knife crime, you start to look at social deprivation, poverty, the lack of social mobility, mental health probation for young people," Green said. 'Awful weapons' Youth knife violence is more prevalent in Britain than many other European countries, he noted. "It's difficult to determine why exactly," Green added. London mayor Sadiq Khan's office blamed the austerity policies of successive Tory governments in power since 2010, which it argued have "decimated youth services" in the capital and beyond. As many as 130 centers offering sports and arts activities in the city have closed over that period, its statement noted. The pandemic and the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, driven by decades-high inflation, are also seen as contributing to the problem. Following the recent knife crime deaths in the capital, the Labour mayor urged the Conservative government in a letter "to speed up the legislation so we can ban these awful weapons as soon as possible". "The proposals also need to be toughened up to close the loopholes that could still allow the sale of these weapons," Khan added. He also wrote this month to London's 500 secondary schools reiterating that wand metal detectors to screen pupils for weapons were available, as well as police officers to deliver knife crime prevention talks. His opposition Labour party -- well ahead in polls for over a year -- has pledged to spend up to £100 million if it wins power in an election expected next year on a "Young Futures" program. It would fund new youth mentors and mental health hubs in every community, youth workers in schools set up for troubled students and hospitals, alongside wide-ranging public sector reforms. The post England, Wales grapple with growing teen knife violence appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
JPMorgan Chase to pay $75 mn to settle Epstein-linked sex trafficking suit
JPMorgan Chase announced Tuesday that it will pay $75 million to settle a US Virgin Islands' (USVI) lawsuit that accused the bank of facilitating Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring. The big US bank, which previously reached a $290 million settlement with Epstein's victims, also announced an agreement with former JPMorgan executive Jes Staley for an undisclosed sum. These cases together resolve the bank's remaining litigation over its embarrassing long-running association with the late Epstein. The agreement with the USVI came a few weeks ahead of a scheduled trial in New York that likely would have bruised both sides. While the USVI accused JPMorgan of turning a "blind eye" to Epstein's conduct due to profit concerns, the bank levied essentially the same charge against USVI, saying the government helped Epstein obtain visas that allowed him to bring victims to the island. The settlement, which must be approved by a US court, includes $30 million to support USVI charitable organizations, $25 million to enhance USVI law enforcement to combat human trafficking and $20 million in attorneys' fees. JPMorgan did not admit liability as part of the settlement, but the "firm deeply regrets any association with this man, and would never have continued doing business with him if it believed he was using the bank in any way to commit his heinous crimes," the bank said in a statement. "JPMorgan believes this settlement is in the best interest of all parties," the bank said. The USVI had originally sought $190 million in damages for the bank's role in enabling Epstein's sex crimes, including in the Virgin Islands, where he had a residence. The USVI said JPMorgan "knowingly, negligently, and unlawfully provided and pulled the levers through which recruiters and victims were paid and was indispensable to the operation and concealment of the Epstein trafficking enterprise," according the original complaint. Bank hits back The bank hit back forcefully, saying in a May legal filing that the USVI government was "complicit in the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein." Under a "quid pro quo" relationship with top USVI officials, Epstein "gave them advice, influence, and favors," JPMorgan said in the filing. "In exchange, they shielded and even rewarded him... looking the other way when he walked through USVI airports accompanied by girls and young women." US Virgin Islands Attorney General Ariel Smith said Tuesday the agreement would prevent human trafficking in the future. "This settlement is an historic victory for survivors and for state enforcement, and it should sound the alarm on Wall Street about banks' responsibilities under the law to detect and prevent human trafficking," Smith said. "We are proud to have stood alongside the survivors throughout this litigation, and this settlement reflects our continued commitment to them," Smith said. The USVI press release listed a number of "substantial commitments" by JPMorgan to combat human trafficking, including informing law enforcement of perpetrators and terminating customers' accounts if there is credible evidence of wrongdoing. But a JPMorgan spokesperson said the bank has not changed or fortified its policies due to the accord. "There are no new commitments. Our controls, compliance, risk, and other functions are always improving, and we are continually investing to become even better," said JPMorgan's Trish Wexler. "We have always worked closely with law enforcement to help combat human trafficking, and we will continue to look for ways to invest in advancing this important mission." The post JPMorgan Chase to pay $75 mn to settle Epstein-linked sex trafficking suit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PNP tags 246 ‘areas of concern’ ahead of BSKE
Some 246 "areas of grave concern" are initially being monitored for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on 30 October, the Philippine National Police said Monday. In a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said these areas are classified under the red category of the election hotspot list and are mostly from Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. These would be put under the control of the Commission on Election. “The poll body has the authority to augment security forces in these areas,” she added. The PNP also categorized other hotspot areas under green, yellow, and orange lists. Green refers to areas that do not have security concerns and are generally peaceful and orderly. Fajardo said there are 1,100 villages under the yellow list which are “areas of concern” due to having a history of election-related incidents in the last elections, possible employment of partisan armed groups, occurrence of politically motivated election-related cases, and having been previously declared under Comelec control. The PNP also listed 1,248 villages under the orange list refers to “areas of immediate concern” where there is a serious armed threat. Fajardo said the PNP and the military will soon convene the National Joint Security Control Center to reconcile their records regarding the election hotspot list. The recommendation on the hotspot list would be then submitted to the Comelec en banc for final approval. The post PNP tags 246 ‘areas of concern’ ahead of BSKE appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AI ‘no substitute’ for fashion designers’ creativity
AI is transforming the fashion world but the fast-growing technology will never be a replacement for designers' "original creativity", according to the head of a pioneering project. Fashion innovator Calvin Wong has developed the Interactive Design Assistant for Fashion (AiDA) -- the world's first designer-led AI system. It uses image-recognition technology to speed up the time it takes for a design to go from the first sketch to the catwalk. "Designers have their fabric prints, patterns, color tones, initial sketches and they upload the images," Wong told AFP. "Then our AI system can recognize those design elements and come up with more proposals for designers to refine and modify their original design." Wong said AiDA's particular strength was its ability to present "all the possible combinations" for a designer to consider, something he said was impossible in the current design process. An exhibition at Hong Kong's M+ Museum in December featured collections by 14 designers developed using the tool. But Wong stressed it was about "facilitating designers' inspiration" not "using AI to take over a designer's job, to take over their creativity". "We must treasure the designer's original creativity," he added. Wong heads up the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design (AidLab), a collaboration between Britain's Royal College of Art (RCA) and Hong Kong Polytechnic University where he is a professor in fashion. 'Transformational' RCA vice chancellor Naren Barfield predicted the impact of AI on the fashion industry would be "transformational". "The impact is going to be huge from the ideation and conception stage through to prototyping, right the way through to manufacture, distribution, and then ultimately recycling," he said. So-called personalization is already being used to improve customer experience with better product recommendations and more effective searches, helping shoppers find what they want quickly and easily. But as the technology evolves so too is the range of highly specialized tools being developed. AiDA was just one of the AidLab projects being showcased in the British capital ahead of London Fashion Week, which started on Friday. Others included the Neo Couture project which aims to use advanced technologies to digitally preserve the specialized skills and techniques used by couturiers. With the UK fashion industry facing a skills shortage, it is creating an AI-assisted training system to help teach couture skills. Another project aims to increase sustainability to reduce the estimated 92 million tonnes of clothing that end up in landfills each year. One potential use of the AI Loupe project is to help designers overcome the problems of using so-called deadstock fabric. Designers can photograph leftover fabric and then use the tool to get the missing details to assess its suitability for their designs. "It uses the camera as your index, the material is the QR code that brings the information," said project researcher Chipp Jansen. Retain control The future of AI in fashion design, however, is not clear-cut. New York brand Collina Strada's founder Hillary Taymour this week admitted that she and her team used the AI image generator Midjourney to create the collection they showed at New York Fashion Week. Although Taymour only used images of the brand's own past looks to help generate its Spring/Summer 2024 collection, looming legal issues could keep AI-generated clothes off the catwalks for now. "In terms of fashion designed by AI, I would expect to hear from designers that there are questions of intellectual property rights," said Rebecca Lewin, a senior curator at London's Design Museum. "Because whatever comes back will have been scraped from published images and to get that regulated will need a lot of work." The RCA's Barfield said the area would be tricky but he expected it to be resolved through test cases and legislation. "I don't know how fast (AI) will be transformational but if it gives companies a competitive advantage I think they'll invest and take it up quickly," he said. The only thing currently holding companies back was the "massive investment" in infrastructure required, he said. "But once they've done that they can take the plunge then they will be making savings on material waste and productivity," he added. As for designers' fears that it might become a substitute for the human creative process, he said the key was who controlled the decision-making. Using a "genetic algorithm" where you started with one design and used the software to generate successive ones the computer could produce 1,000 varying looks, something that might take weeks to draw, he said. On the other hand, if the designer retained control AI could offer huge benefits by hugely speeding up the process "without necessarily making the decisions for them", he added. The post AI ‘no substitute’ for fashion designers’ creativity appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PNP logs suspected election-related incidents
The Philippine National Police on Tuesday announced that it has already logged eight suspected election-related incidents ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections slated on 30 October. PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said that the cases — including shootings and stabbings — were recorded in the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Soccskargen. She added that the incidents will be validated within 10 days by the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council using its parameters to determine if these can be considered as ERIs. “First, we have to determine whether the victim or the suspect is an incumbent official running in the BSKE. We also check whether these are Commission on Elections officers or family members of candidates or identified political supporters of a candidate. Another thing is we would check if these would affect the electoral process,” Fajardo said. “In the past, there were incidents that qualified as ERI because these happened during the election period. Another parameter is if the incident may somehow create a form of political tension that may eventually affect the electoral proceedings,” she added. Fajardo disclosed that out of the eight incidents, one has been validated which happened in Libon, Albay where the victim Alex Repato, reelectionist captain of Barangay San Jose, was shot dead by still unidentified assailants in his house during the first day filing of Certificate of Candidacy last 28 August 2023. Meanwhile, police are looking into another incident where a candidate was allegedly prevented from filing his CoC in Malabang, Lanao del Sur. “We have to understand this area under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. There are special geographic areas we also have to monitor the presence of some threat groups. These are some of the factors we are seriously considering studying to make sure that the deployment we are going to make is right,” Fajardo said. The post PNP logs suspected election-related incidents appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Clarkson, Gilas itching for elusive win as Gilas heads to FIBA World Cup classifications
Ahead of the classification round in the FIBA World Cup, Gilas Pilipinas is “super motivated,” guard Jordan Clarkson said......»»
Sydney’s former HIV epicenter close to ending transmission: research
The Inner Sydney district, once the epicenter of Australia's HIV epidemic, is very close to becoming the first place in the world to reach the UN's target for ending transmission of the virus, researchers said on Monday. UNAIDS has set a goal of ending AIDS as a global health threat by 2030, which includes reducing the number of new HIV cases by 90 percent compared to 2010. In inner Sydney, new infections among gay men dropped by 88 percent from 2010 to 2022, researchers announced at the International AIDS Society's HIV science conference being held in the Australian city of Brisbane. Andrew Grulich, an epidemiologist at the University of New South Wales who presented the research, told AFP that "we're very nearly there" some eight years ahead of the 2030 target. Just 11 new HIV cases were recorded in inner Sydney last year, "an extraordinarily small number of infections for what was the heart of the Australian HIV epidemic," Grulich said. Gay men make up an estimated 20 percent of the male population in inner Sydney, and they represent the large majority of the city's HIV cases. Grulich said that several areas in the UK and Western Europe have also seen rapid drops in new HIV cases. But "I don't think anywhere has gotten close to 90 percent," he added. Since Sydney has "virtually" already reached the target, that shows that it is a feasible goal, he said. - Community was 'completely devastated' - However, Grulich emphasized that this does not mean that HIV is close to being eliminated in the city of more than 5.2 million people. "HIV can only be eliminated if we have a vaccine and a cure," he said. And the drop in new HIV cases was far less precipitous in other parts of Sydney. In the city's outer suburbs, new cases have only fallen by 31 percent since 2010, the researchers found. This disparity was due to a much rate higher of HIV testing and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) -- which reduces the risk of transmitting HIV during sex -- in the inner city, Grulich said. He said another cause for progress was that around 95 percent of HIV-positive people in Australia are now on antiretroviral treatment, which suppresses the level of the virus in the blood. Another study announced at the AIDS conference, which was published in The Lancet journal, said that people on antiretrovirals who have low but detectible levels of HIV have almost zero risk of sexually transmitting the virus to others. The Sydney research, which has not been peer-reviewed, was based on data from the New South Wales health department as well as annual surveys taken by gay men about their use of antiretrovirals, PrEP and testing. Grulich said the progress in inner Sydney was particularly significant because "this was a community that was completely devastated in the 80s and 90s -- a few thousand men died in these areas". dl/pvh The post Sydney’s former HIV epicenter close to ending transmission: research appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pandemic era over
The vicious coronavirus-2019 is considered defeated in the country after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. issued Proclamation 297 lifting the “state of public health emergency.” Malacañang on Saturday said the President issued the proclamation on Friday but it was made public through a statement released by the Presidential Communications Office only on Saturday. The proclamation states that “all prior orders, memoranda, and issuances that were effective only during the State of Public Health Emergency shall be deemed withdrawn, revoked or canceled and shall no longer be in effect.” The directive provides that all emergency use authorizations or EUA issued by the Food and Drug Administration on vaccines shall remain valid for one year from the date of the lifting of the State of Public Health Emergency “for the sole purpose of exhausting the remaining supply of vaccines.” Go pleads for health workers For his part, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said: “We respect the President’s decision to lift the state of public health emergency. We trust that it was arrived at after careful consideration of the present health issue and the need to finally open up the economy.” Go, nonetheless, said he was appealing to the government to release the remaining arrears due to healthcare workers, including Covid-19-related allowances and unpaid death benefits. The senator said the obligations should be fulfilled “with or without the state of public health Emergency.” Align with new normal Marcos’ order also enjoined all agencies to ensure that their policies, rules, and regulations shall take into consideration the lifting of the state of public health emergency and to amend existing or to promulgate new issuances, as may be appropriate. Former president Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation 922 declaring a State of Public Health Emergency all over the country in March 2020. Proclamation 922 also stated that the public health emergency would remain in force until lifted or withdrawn by the president. WHO sees downtrend The International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization highlighted the decreasing trend in Covid-19 deaths last May. It also reported a decline in Covid-19-related hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions, as well as the high levels of population immunity to SARS-CoV-2. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus concurred with the advice of the committee that Covid-19 was now an established and ongoing health issue, which no longer constituted a public health emergency of international concern. The WHO likewise advised a transition to the long-term management of Covid-19. Stay vigilant For Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, the pronouncement is a “positive step forward,” and he agreed that the conditions no longer warrant the continuance of the public health emergency status. “It is crucial to recognize that while the state of public health emergency is lifted, we must remain vigilant and proactive in our approach to health and safety,” he said. Herbosa likewise stressed the importance of maintaining health awareness and adhering to health protocols to protect one from potential health risks. IATF to disband The Department of Health said the Inter-Agency Task Force would convene for a final meeting to formally conclude the public health emergency. Herbosa gave the IATF a pat on the back for its “exemplary performance” and “unwavering commitment,” and so too the medical front liners who demonstrated resilience and heroism throughout the challenging period. “Their dedication to safeguarding public health had been instrumental in reaching this critical milestone,” he said. “Let us embrace this positive development with gratitude and determination, knowing that by working together we shall prevail against any challenges that may lie ahead,” he added. Covid cases on Friday brought the total infection caseload to 4,171,063, with 234 new cases. Active cases, however, dropped to 5,278 from 5,431, the lowest since 29 April 2023, while seven new deaths and 380 new recoveries were logged. @tribunephl_Lade @tribunephl_eao The post Pandemic era over appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nuclear arms spending, arsenals swell as global tensions grow: studies
The world's nuclear powers, and China in particular, increased investment in their arsenals for a third consecutive year in 2022 amid swelling geopolitical tensions, two reports showed Monday. The world's nine nuclear-armed states jointly spent $82.9 billion on their arsenals last year, with the United States accounting for more than half of that, according to a new report from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute meanwhile released a report showing that the total number of nuclear warheads held by Britain, China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia and the United States was down to 12,512 at the outset of this year, from 12,710 at the start of 2022. While some of that included older warheads scheduled to be dismantled, SIPRI said that 9,576 were in "military stockpiles for potential use" -- 86 more than a year earlier. "We are approaching, or maybe have already reached, the end of a long period of the number of nuclear weapons worldwide declining," SIPRI director Dan Smith told AFP. 'Beginning to tick up' Pointing to the stockpile of usable nuclear warheads, Smith said that "those numbers are beginning to tick up", while adding that they remain far below the more than 70,000 seen during the 1980s. The bulk of the increase was in China, which increased its stockpile from 350 to 410 warheads. India, Pakistan and North Korea also upped their stockpiles and Russia's grew to a smaller extent, from 4,477 to 4,489, while the remaining nuclear powers maintained the size of their arsenals. Russia and the United States together have almost 90 percent of all nuclear weapons. "The big picture is we've had over 30 years of the number of nuclear warheads coming down, and we see that process coming to an end now," Smith said. $157,664 every minute The higher spending reported by ICAN appeared to back that up. ICAN, which was awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, found that spending on nuclear weapons had risen three percent from 2021, marking the third consecutive annual increase. The $82.9 billion spent amounted to $157,664 for every minute of 2022, it said in its report entitled "Wasted: 2022 Global Nuclear Weapons Spending". Washington spent $43.7 billion, which was slightly less than a year earlier but was still far ahead of all other countries, the report showed. China was next in line with $11.7 billion spent, followed by Russia at $9.6 billion -- both marking an increase of around six percent from 2021. India meanwhile showed the most drastic spending jump, dishing out $2.7 billion -- 21.8 percent more than a year earlier -- while Britain raised its spending level by 11 percent to $6.8 billion. The report also highlighted how arms companies involved in the production of nuclear weapons received new contracts worth just under $16 billion last year, and in turn spent $113 million lobbying governments in the United States and France alone. Globally, nuclear-armed countries have contracts with companies to produce nuclear weapons worth at least $278.6 billion, continuing in some cases through to 2040, it said. Diplomatic setbacks Researchers at SIPRI also noted that diplomatic efforts on nuclear arms control and disarmament had suffered setbacks following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year. Russia has for instance suspended participation in New START, a Cold War-era treaty that limits warheads and allows verification by both sides. At the same time, Smith said the increase in stockpiles could not be explained by the war in Ukraine, as it takes a longer time to develop new warheads and the bulk of the increase was among countries not directly affected. China has also invested heavily in all parts of its military as its economy and influence have grown. "What we're seeing is China stepping up as a world power," Smith said. The post Nuclear arms spending, arsenals swell as global tensions grow: studies 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......»»
Artificial intelligence and the legal practice
The Sony World Photography Awards of 2023 chose the entry of Boris Eldagsen to receive the first prize in its creative open category. Yet this German artist refused to accept the award. According to a CNN news article, this was because what he submitted was generated by an Artificial Intelligence or AI program. AI can be defined as the simulation of human intelligence by software-coded problem-solving shortcuts. The topic of AI has recently generated buzz. If before it was only a theme of futuristic movies, now the concept is materializing in present-day reality. AI has not only affected the industries of manufacturing, media, and transportation, it has now found its way into the field of law. OpenAI, a San Francisco-based AI research laboratory, launched ChatGPT in late 2022. This is a chatbot, which is an application that can imitate real-world and human-like functions. Some of these functions cover what comprises much of a lawyer’s work — drafting pleadings, reviewing contracts and writing memoranda, among others. Since the possibilities for the development of AI are endless, one cannot help but weigh the pros and cons of using it. In an interview with Reuters, Suffolk University Law School Dean Andrew Perlman thought that much like conducting research in Westlaw and LexisNexis, first-year law students should learn about using ChatGPT as a tool in their legal research and legal writing classes. However, just like any creation undergoing development, AI is far from being perfect. According to a recent national daily news article, an American lawyer is facing controversy when the court document he submitted cited six false cases generated by ChatGPT. He claimed that he was unaware that the AI program may produce fake content. As a result, he will be facing a sanctions hearing. This is not the first time that AI has generated misleading content. Fake photos of former US President Donald Trump being arrested, as well as fake photos of Pope Francis wearing a puffer jacket, went viral on the Internet. With the plethora of information accessible online, it is getting harder to detect what is true and it is getting easier to fabricate what is false. In an article published on the official website of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo revealed in a virtual meeting that the Court had proposed the use of AI for improving court operations. The proposal aims to build on the areas of preparation of transcripts of stenographic notes and digitalization of judgments that were already rendered. Since it has been established that AI can further progress as a powerful tool, it begs to answer the question, “What lies ahead for us in the legal practice?” As a new lawyer, I regularly use electronic legal research tools like CD Asia. Compared to the traditional way of going to the library, electronic tools greatly save time. How much more effort can be saved when one uses AI that can produce output by simply typing an instruction? It is my humble opinion, however, that while AI programs indeed promise cost-cutting benefits, there is nothing wrong with sticking to our old ways of diligently doing our legal work, especially when AI research programs are still problematic. We must err on the side of caution when using Artificial Intelligence because the stakes are high when we talk about what we represent before the courts. Putting myself in the shoes of clients, it would also be disconcerting if the lawyers they hired were charged for work that was only generated by an AI tool. Artificial Intelligence truly has its potential in legal practice. But pertaining to the core of what lawyering is and what the profession means, nothing beats our human touch. (Atty. Kristine Arlyce R. De Guzman just became a Member of the Philippine Bar in 2023. She received her Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law. She is currently an Associate at the Aranas Cruz Araneta Parker & Faustino Law Offices.) The post Artificial intelligence and the legal practice appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PNP: Trust the process
Philippine National Police Chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. appealed to the public to trust the PNP’s built-in mechanisms in disciplining its erring personnel following the recent involvement of certain police officers in criminal activities that have put the institution’s integrity in a bad light. “The PNP, as an organization founded on professionalism, is more than equipped to undertake administrative investigation and, if the circumstances warrant, render punitive actions against its personnel involved in criminal activities,” Acorda said. He added that the mechanisms are designed to ferret out the truth and the same process would also allow PNP officers under probe a venue to defend themselves against charges. Acorda assured the public that the PNP would be transparent and impartial in all its internal personnel investigations. “Regardless of rank or position, all PNP personnel who are formally charged administratively will have to subject themselves voluntarily to these processes,” Acorda said. “Formal hearings and deliberations will be done in all cases before a final verdict is rendered,” he added. Acorda stressed that the PNP’s Internal Affairs Services and the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group are part of the built-in mechanisms within the organization designed to deal with erring personnel involved in criminal activities. At the same time, Acorda said all disciplinary measures against erring cops should start from the level of all ground commanders. Meantime, the PNP is intensifying efforts in intelligence monitoring against barangay officials who may have or have involvement in illegal drugs. PNP public information office chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan disclosed that it is part of the police’s efforts to ensure the conduct of safe and peaceful Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections. He added that strengthening the operations against barangay officials involved in the illegal drugs is vital in raising public awareness of people seeking government posts involved in these illegal acts. Maranan said this will also help the PNP reduce incidents of violence ahead of the polls as drug syndicates are known to use their money in supporting candidates sympathetic to their business. The post PNP: Trust the process appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hundreds of millions of life years lost to pandemic: WHO
Nearly 337 million life years were lost in the two first years of the Covid-19 pandemic, as millions of people died prematurely, the World Health Organization said on Friday. The UN health agency's annual world statistics report also showed a swelling threat from non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. The most dramatic finding, based on data up to 2022, was the estimate of how many years of life Covid had taken, WHO said. The pandemic has wreaked global devastation and officially killed nearly seven million people, with the true figure believed to be closer to 20 million. The WHO report lays bare how the virus itself and the broader impact of the crisis abruptly cut short the lives of millions of people. While the WHO officially registered 5.4 million Covid deaths in 2020 and 2021, its excess mortality data shows around 14.9 million people actually likely died due to the crisis over that period. Even more striking, perhaps, it said the statistics show that during those two years alone, Covid resulted in the loss globally of 336.8 million years that otherwise would have been lived. "It's like losing 22 years of life for every excess death," Samira Asma, WHO's assistant chief for data and analytics, told reporters ahead of the launch. Off-track "Significant inequities underpin the distribution of Covid-19 cases and deaths, as well as access to vaccinations," the report said. The WHO warned that the pandemic had helped throw off-track many health-related indicators that had been improving for years. During the first two decades of the century, the world saw significant improvements in maternal and child health, with deaths falling by one-third and one-half respectively. The incidence of infectious diseases like HIV, tuberculosis and malaria also declined significantly, as did the risk of premature death from NCDs. Global life expectance rose from 67 years in 2000 to 73 in 2019. But after the pandemic hit, existing inequalities in access to high-quality health care, routine immunizations and financial protection deepened, among other things sending the long improving trends on malaria and TB in the opposite direction. 'Stark message' And while the world still enjoys health progress overall, the share of deaths caused each year by NCDs has grown, the study showed. In 2000, around 61 percent of global deaths annually were linked to NCDs. By 2019, almost 74 percent were. "If this trend continues, NCDs are projected to account for about 86 percent of the 90 million annual deaths by mid-century," WHO said in a statement. "The report sends a stark message on the threat of noncommunicable diseases, which take an immense and increasing toll," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. The findings, he said, show the need for "a substantial increase in investments in health and health systems to get back on track towards the Sustainable Development Goals." NCD deaths were increasing despite a reduction in exposure to many health risks, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption and unsafe water and sanitation, WHO said. Exposure to other risks like air pollution however remained high, it said. The report warned in particular that the prevalence of obesity was growing with no sign of reversal. The post Hundreds of millions of life years lost to pandemic: WHO appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jerusalem tensions run high ahead of far-right Israeli rally
Jerusalem police and residents were bracing for extremist ministers and their supporters to rally on Thursday in an annual flag-waving march commemorating Israel's capture of the Old City. Palestinians in Jerusalem, who tend to close their shops and are banned from the social hub of Damascus Gate to make way for the marchers, view the parade as provocative. In the late morning, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Jerusalem celebrations were being held "3,000 years after being established by King David, 75 after it was re-established as the capital of the reborn state of Israel, and 56 years after being reunited". Two of his extreme-right cabinet members, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, are expected to attend Thursday's rally, one of the events marking what Israelis refer to as Jerusalem Day. Following the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel annexed east Jerusalem and its Old City in a move never recognized by the international community. Thursday's rally takes place days into a ceasefire that ended deadly cross-border fighting with Islamic Jihad militants in Gaza. Thirty-three people including multiple civilians were killed in the blockaded Palestinian enclave and two in Israel, a citizen, and a Gazan laborer. Militant group Hamas which rules the coastal territory said ahead of the march it "condemns the campaign of the Zionist occupation (Israel) against our Palestinian people in occupied Jerusalem". Two years ago, after weeks of violence in Jerusalem in which scores of Palestinians were wounded, a war between Hamas and Israel erupted during the march. 'Acquiescence' to extremists Some 2,500 police officers were securing the march, which begins in the western part of the city at 4:00 p.m. (1300 GMT), proceeds through the Old City, and ends at the Western Wall plaza. On Thursday morning, an AFP journalist saw tourist groups walking through the historic gateway, while Palestinians sold bread from a stall and opened their shops before the afternoon shutdown. Later in the day, the vast majority of shops in the Old City were closed, with Palestinian resident, Abu al-Abed, 72, saying he wanted "to go home". The marchers "are harmful, they're walking and start to hit the doors of the shops and the doors of our houses," he told AFP. Scuffles between Jewish and Palestinian youths were taking place as early marchers arrived in the Old City, with police saying that in some cases forces "were required to act to prevent friction and provocations". Prior to the march, dozens of Jews -- including at least three lawmakers from Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and a minister from Ben-Gvir's Jewish Power faction -- visited Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site. Jews, who call it the Temple Mount and revere it as their religion's holiest site, are allowed to visit but not pray. One of them, Tom Nissani, was sitting at Jaffa Gate with an Israeli flag, awaiting the march. "It's our capital city, we have to show it, to enjoy it, to fight for it", the 34-year-old West Bank settler who works for an organization promoting Jewish presence on the Temple Mount told AFP. "Israel is not stable enough to be naive about the capital or the whole country, we still have to fight... many forces that are trying to prevent us from making roots in the land of Israel," he said. Transport Minister Miri Regev, from Netanyahu's Likud, was among Israelis waving flags at Damascus Gate hours before the official rally. A spokesman for Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas warned Israel "against insisting on organizing the provocative flag march". Pushing ahead with the parade "confirms the acquiescence of the Israeli government to Jewish extremists", spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Wednesday. Since last year's rally, Israel's leadership has taken a marked shift to the far-right. Ben-Gvir, the country's national security minister who is expected to attend, was convicted in 2007 of supporting a terrorist group and inciting racism. Far-right ally Smotrich holds the finance portfolio along with some powers in the occupied West Bank and also has a history of inflammatory remarks about Palestinians. The post Jerusalem tensions run high ahead of far-right Israeli rally appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
No brushing aside hypertension — experts
Health experts have reminded Filipinos of the importance of monitoring their blood pressure ahead of National Hypertension Awareness Month in May. In a public briefing, Philippine Society of Hypertension president Dr. Dolores Bonzon and PSH vice president Dr. Alejandro Diaz warned of rising hypertension-related deaths. “In 2019, 10.8 million people (around the world) died due to hypertension and its complications, including stroke and heart attack, which are also among the top 10 leading causes of mortality in our country,” Bonzon said. Diaz added that the prevalence of hypertension has been rising in the Philippines, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Many people have not had the chance to have their blood pressure measured or receive treatment, which has contributed to the increase in hypertension cases,” he said. He encouraged all Filipinos aged 18 and above to participate in the May Measurement Month survey by scanning the QR code provided and inputting their blood pressure and pulse rate readings. “Hypertension awareness through blood pressure screening during May Measurement Month has increased to over 30 percent, which shows the program’s effectiveness,” he said. Aside from consuming salty foods, stress is also a contributing factor to hypertension, the experts warned. Dr. Diaz advised the public to adopt healthy lifestyle habits, such as reducing salt intake, exercising regularly, and managing stress. “Preventable deaths due to hypertension can be avoided through medication and lifestyle changes,” he said. Meanwhile, the Department of Science and Technology–Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) said the prevalence of hypertension among Filipino adults aged 20 years old and above has significantly declined from 2018 to 2019. This is despite the increase in the prevalence of hypertension among Filipino adults of the same age from 2013 to 2015. DOST-FNRI noted that controlled hypertension is more common among females, who have a higher level of attention to healthcare and adherence to prescribed medications. Additionally, adults with higher educational attainment tend to have a higher rate of controlled hypertension than those with lower educational status, as they have better access to anti-hypertensive medications. The post No brushing aside hypertension — experts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PM Imran Khan’s arrest sparks clash, protest call
Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was arrested Tuesday sparking a clash between his supporters and police, plus a call for protest. Khan was arrested during a court appearance in the capital Islamabad for one of dozens of cases pending since he was ousted from office last year. “Imran Khan has been arrested in the Qadir Trust case,” the official Islamabad police Twitter account said, referring to a graft case. Local TV stations showed chaotic scenes outside the court as hundreds of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party supporters clashed with security officers. Officials from PTI immediately made the call for protest against his arrest, which comes a day after the military warned him against making “baseless allegations” after he again accused a senior officer of plotting to kill him. At a weekend rally in Lahore, Khan repeated claims that a senior intelligence officer Major-General Faisal Naseer was involved in an assassination attempt last year during which he was shot in the leg. The military’s Inter-Services Public Relations wing said in a statement that “this fabricated and malicious allegation is extremely unfortunate, deplorable and unacceptable.” “This has been a consistent pattern for the last year wherein military and intelligence agencies officials are targeted with insinuations and sensational propaganda for the furtherance of political objectives,” it said. Pakistan’s government has said the assassination attempt was the work of a lone gunman, who is now in custody and who confessed in a video controversially leaked to media. Khan rejects those findings and insists authorities have refused to accept his attempts to file a so-called first information report with police identifying the real culprits. Khan repeated his allegations in a video statement released ahead of his court appearance Tuesday, saying that “there is no reason for me to fabricate the facts.” ISPR said it reserved the right to “take legal course of action against patently false and malafide statements and propaganda.” Khan faces dozens of charges that were brought against him since he was ousted — a tactic analysts say successive Pakistan governments have used to silence their opponents. Pakistan’s military, the world’s sixth largest, holds undue influence over the nation. It staged at least three coups since the country gained independence in 1947 and ruled for more than three decades. The post PM Imran Khan’s arrest sparks clash, protest call appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»