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‘Araneta is more than ready’ — Omega after Nontshinga reclaims IBF world title
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Omega Sports Promotions has already sent a letter of intent to the International Boxing Federation (IBF) to challenge African Sivenathi Nontshinga who reclaimed the world light flyweight title. Nontshinga scored a 10th-round technical knockout against erstwhile champion Adrian Curiel of Mexico in their much-anticipated rematch that happened in Oaxaca, Mexico on.....»»
Koronadal battles against swine fever
KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews / 13 December)—The city government is pushing for the downgrading of the area to surveillance zone for the African swine fever (ASF) as it continues efforts to clear the city from the dreaded animal disease. Based on the updated ASF zoning status from Nov. 7 to Dec. 1 issued by the Bureau […].....»»
Rice sufficiency a pipe dream?
An Indian agricultural economist advised the government to secure investments in rice farmland abroad as it believes the Philippines’ goal of rice self-sufficiency through domestic production is impossible. Dr. Samarendu Mohanty, former principal scientist at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, said the country has smaller arable land to grow enough rice to satisfy consumer demand for the commodity amid its expanding population. “In other countries, they have arable land. The Philippines doesn’t have it because the country is an island nation,” he said during the recent 6th International Rice Congress in Pasay City. “You can take all the measures to expand productivity here, like having certified seeds and fertilizer, but I don’t think you’ll be self-sufficient with the population you have,” Mohanty added. The agricultural economist said the solution is to invest in farmland abroad under a backward linkage method. This distributes inputs from the farm sector to the non-farm sector, which includes agrochemicals, processing, and trading. “You need to find a country where this can be done legally and where there is land and water. Many African countries — Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar — have bigger land the Philippines can invest in and get back the supply to the country,” Mohanty explained. “There’s an Indian company producing rice in Africa and exporting it somewhere else. The Philippines cannot invest in land in India because of land restrictions,” he added. ‘Out of luck’ According to the World Economic Forum, India is the world’s second-top rice producer after China. However, India and other countries recently announced they would limit their rice exports as consumer demand and commodity prices have risen in their local markets. “If you have to address it through imports and the exporting countries have food restrictions, then you’re out of luck. But if you have backward linkages, you can be assured that your rice was produced in Vietnam or another country. Nobody can take that away because that’s your investment,” Mohanty said. He said the government must create policies and conduct discussions with its foreign counterpart and business community abroad to negotiate investments in external rice production. “The government has to facilitate that. The private sector will enter if there’s assurance from the government that they can bring back rice to the country,” Mohanty explained. He said India will resume rice exportations in May next year, with the country’s total production of at least 135 million tons. A portion amounting to 25 million tons is usually left as surplus. The Indian embassy in Manila said on 18 October that India allocated 295,000 metric tons of rice to the Philippines, the biggest share of its non-basmati white rice export, following its bilateral talks with the Marcos administration in August. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla said the two governments and the private sector will still discuss the rice imports’ price terms. She, however, was optimistic that the rice imports would help stabilize the prices of the commodity in the domestic market. Mohanty said India will likely export more rice in the future. “There’s a green revolution happening in the eastern part now. I expect India to have more than 30 million tons of surplus,” he said. The post Rice sufficiency a pipe dream? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ASF outbreak declared in Tabuk
A state of animal health emergency due to an African swine fever outbreak has been declared in Tabuk City in Kalinga......»»
PSID exhibit showcases cross-cultural designs
The Philippine School of Interior Design-Ahlen Institute Inc. resumes its tradition of showcasing the works of its graduating students through a public exhibition three years after being interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Batch 2023’s Phusion exhibit opened last 2 October at the Greenfield Tower in Mandaluyong City and will run every day until the end of the month. “The residential spaces you enter feature cross-cultural design,” the institute’s dean, Dr. Carol Peña, said in her message to exhibition-goers. “Through this theme, PSID-Ahlen aims to showcase how culture influences interior design — and conversely, how interior design exemplifies culture — through the creative adaptation of various design elements and the reimagination of layout.” At the press launch held last Thursday, DAILY TRIBUNE had a walk-through with exhibit guide Jade Vinco, a fourth-year student on the publicity and promotions committee. The exhibit, which serves as the final requirement for graduation, has 12 booths divided among 44 students with a maximum of five members per grouping. For inspiration, each group was given a client, either solo or a couple, representing the mixed cultures they would be fusing to create a unique design for a pre-assigned house area. The students shouldered their expenses with some help from sponsors. [caption id="attachment_193559" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Per Ankh’ Antoinette Nicole Mercado, Joana Mannel Lipana, Katrin Miriel Araja, Janiz Karen Adlawan and Katrina Marie Balkin. | PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOCELYN VALLE FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE[/caption] Filipino x Egyptian: ‘Per Ankh’ Antoinette Nicole Mercado, Joana Mannel Lipana, Katrin Miriel Araja, Janiz Karen Adlawan and Katrina Marie Balkin chose to name their booth from the ancient Egyptian symbol per ankh, meaning “key of life.” But they came up with a very contemporary and homey take on the melding of cultures between a newlywed couple, one Filipino and the other Egyptian, as their clients. Thus, the choices and placements of cultural references — (from the Philippines) Malakas at Maganda, the Bulul and (from Egypt) pyramid pharaoh — look like personal belongings rather than museum pieces. The writings in hieroglyphics (meaning “ikaw at ako, habangbuhay”) and Baybayin (meaning “ikaw ang tahanan”) also make complementary effect. Another well-thought-out cultural fusion is exemplified by the pair of Egyptian interlocking chairs with cushions made of Maranao malong and a backrest in solihiya. [caption id="attachment_193561" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Buhay Ubuntu’ by Sofia Pascual, Cheska Mendoza, Sophia Chelsea Yling and Chloe Carpio.[/caption] Filipino x South African: ‘Buhay Ubuntu’ Sofia Pascual, Cheska Mendoza, Sophia Chelsea Yling and Chloe Carpio discovered the Philippines has many things in common with South Africa. The acacia tree, for instance, is where animals hide in safaris. That’s why they chose a dining set made in solid acacia wood and had it shaped round so their clients, a retired couple, could have a “personal dining experience with their guests.” They also took note of the similarities of Bahay Kubo to the traditional Tswana and Sotho huts in South Africa. Thus, the thatched roofs are made from synthetic materials. The other materials, though, are natural as both cultures utilize what they can find from their surroundings. [caption id="attachment_193562" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘FILLENIUM’ by Michelle Bagro, Rovina Manuel, Rosana Bandola and Romeo Gabriel Conge.[/caption] Filipino x American: ‘Fillenium’ Michelle Bagro, Rovina Manuel, Rosana Bandola and Romeo Gabriel Conge felt challenged designing a kitchen for their client, a Filipino-American in his 20s with a partner who’s a chef. The American influence is so prevalent that they had difficulties zeroing in on just one aspect. They finally decided to focus on the Hollywood Regency style born during the golden era of the world’s movie capital from the 1920s to the 1950s. Thus, the bold colors, specifically blue, with metallic accents and, of course, the iconic black-and-white tiles. A giant pair of kutsara’s tinidor serves as a centerpiece for some Pinoy reference and perhaps humor. [caption id="attachment_193550" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Relajarse’ by Maui Severino.[/caption] Filipino-Nicaraguan: ‘Relajarse’ Maui Severino opted to singlehandedly conceptualize the booth she’s named after the Spanish word for “relax.” She has an actual client — her aunt, a nurse married to a Nicaraguan and currently based in Hawaii. The bathroom she designed comes with a walk-in closet. It also has gold accents because “gold is Nicaragua’s main export.” Then there are Filipino elements, such as solihiya cabinets and closets, as well as ceilings made of abaca. Plus, the potted Monstera Deliciosa plants. It feels like being transported into Central or Latin America. Filipino x Brazilian: ‘A Diversao’ Irish Monique Cube, Reichel Alessandra Baytan and Chey De Guzman confessed to breaking away from their usual muted colors to vibrant hues in designing the den for their client. They then chose Brazilian elements with an organic connection with nature and colors inspired by the Amazon. From the Filipino side, they decided to use natural elements and materials. Thus, the padded walls and banig ceilings also serve as sound absorbers as their clients love music and to party. Filipino-French: ‘L’Amour du Monde Entier’ Alma Marie Lacman, Glovelle Palileo, Kristin Dominique Ramos and Sophia Ejercito designed a decidedly fused Filipino and French design for their client, a supermodel now married to a French national. They mixed the airiness and spaciousness of the French design with the Filipino references. Check out the Luna painting and the Banaue Rice Terraces. Filipino x Scandinavian: ‘Lagom’ Stephen Michael Chan, Maria Beatriz Guiterrez, Nicolette Lee and Carl Lois Mico cleverly and beautifully melded Filipino and Scandinavian elements to create an inviting and exciting dining area. There are mixed dining chairs, including a bench inspired by the bangko. For drama, there’s an accent wall, where, at first glance, “medyo nakatago pa ang accessories,” and then the Filipino elements are revealed. Then there’s a daybed at the back because Filipinos love to have a siesta after a meal. Filipino-English: ‘A Bachelor’s Tavern’ Regine Calupitan, Marielle Marzan, Izabela Galanto and Ailene Carino designed a British kitchen for their client, a Filipino-English rugby player. Thus, the choice of the Chesterfield furniture, which the aristocrats prefer because their clothes don’t get creased. The ambiance also resembles a pub but is elevated. Filipino-Italian: ‘Semantika’ Jana Loise Cruz, Sophia Denise Ignacio and Jeyna Francesa Meria were inspired by their clients’ love story that started in the heart of Milan in designing a romantic and opulent bathroom. They chose accent pieces highlighting both cultures’ craftsmanship and went for an open layout. There’s a bathtub because Italians supposedly love long baths and a garden outside to invite nature in. [caption id="attachment_193555" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘YAKKA’ by Kharen Urbano, Franchesca Eunice Co, Kristine Sempio and Kat Calloy.[/caption] Filipino-Australian: ‘Yakka’ Kharen Urbano, Franchesca Eunice Co, Kristine Sempio and Kat Calloy designed an office-cum-den that can be used for a studio condo unit. There’s a working station for the client who runs his own business. Then there’s a spot for relaxation with a hammock to boot! They also used wildlife and Outback inspirations and an original artwork echoing the Great Barrier Reef. [caption id="attachment_193557" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘PearL of the Orient Meet Prosperity’ by Victor Flores, Kaila Laido, Sophia Serrano and Jade Vinco[/caption] Filipino-Japanese: ‘Peart of the Orient Meet Prosperity’ Victor Flores, Kaila Laido, Sophia Serrano and Jade Vinco decided on a round concept for the bedroom they designed for their client. They explained that there’s a round shape in both the Philippine and Japanese flags. The number eight is also considered in Japanese culture. [caption id="attachment_193564" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘KANLUNGAN’ by Karen Cabalquinto, Isobel Merici Dator, Erica Leona Chua and Sheina Rose Gina[/caption] Filipino-Persian: ‘Kanlungan’ Karen Cabalquinto, Isobel Merici Dator, Erica Leona Chua and Sheina Rose Gina opted for a Filipino name to call their booth as it perfectly describes the coziness of the bedroom they designed for their client, who has two kids. They said having a bedroom with two sections in Iran is customary, so they did exactly that. They also used Persian floral patterns and other elements, Filipino elements, such as mahogany wood and Bulacan pattern furniture. The post PSID exhibit showcases cross-cultural designs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Palawan still ASF-free
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – Amid the recent outbreak of African swine fever in an island barangay in Palawan, the province’s veterinary chief said Friday that it is able to maintain its status as a “dark green zone” and can transport swine stocks to other parts of the country. The swift containment efforts of the disease, supported by vigilant surveillance conducted by the Provincial Veterinary Office and various provincial government offices, was the reason for sustaining its status as a free zone. ProVet officer-in-charge Dr. Darius Mangcucang explained that the color code shows that Palawan maintains its status as an “ASF-free zone” according to the national plan for prevention and control zoning established by the Department of Agriculture. “When we say ‘dark green zone,’ it means we are still ASF-free. Although we had an ASF incursion, the good thing is that we were able to contain it immediately. It didn’t spread beyond Barangay Cocoro,” said Mangcucang, adding that even Magsaysay remains free from ASF. His explanation followed the receipt of a letter from the Bureau of Animal Industry within the DA which supported ProVet’s request to retain Magsaysay town and the entire province in the “dark green zone,” given that the ASF case in Barangay Cocoro had been effectively isolated. In addition to reaffirming Palawan’s ASF-free status, Mangcucang highlighted that the BAI had also bestowed Magsaysay and Cuyo with Recognition of Active Surveillance for ASF certificates. The recognition was granted after blood samples collected from the swine populations in these two municipalities between 18 and 19 September tested negative for the disease. He emphasized that this successful testing was the basis for the BAI’s confirmation of Palawan’s ongoing status as ASF-free. The post Palawan still ASF-free appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
18 migrants killed in Mexico bus crash
A bus carrying migrants overturned in southern Mexico on Friday, leaving at least 18 passengers dead and 27 injured, authorities said -- the latest fatal road crash involving US-bound migrants. The dead, three of them minors, were from Venezuela and Haiti, according to a statement from the prosecutor's office in Oaxaca state. The accident happened at around dawn on a highway linking Oaxaca and the neighboring state of Puebla, it said. The injured were taken to hospital for treatment, it added. Images released by state authorities showed the wreckage of the bus lying on its side on a highway winding through hills. Thousands of migrants from different countries have been traveling across Mexico in buses, overcrowded trailers and atop freight trains in an attempt to reach the US-Mexican border. They run the risk of fatal accidents, kidnapping by criminal groups and extortion by corrupt officials. More than 8,200 migrants have died or disappeared in the Americas since 2014, most of them while trying to reach the United States via Mexico, according to the International Organization for Migration. The US-Mexican border is the "world's deadliest migration land route," with 686 deaths and disappearances in 2022, the IOM said last month. On Sunday, at least 10 Cuban migrants were killed and 25 injured when a cargo truck carrying them overturned in the southern state of Chiapas. In early August, at least 18 people died and 23 were injured after a bus carrying local passengers and migrants from countries such as India, the Dominican Republic and some African nations plunged into a ravine in the state of Nayarit. And in December 2021, 56 mostly Central American migrants were killed and dozens injured when a people smugglers' truck carrying around 160 people overturned in Chiapas. The Mexican government has admitted to being overwhelmed by the number of migrants crossing its territory, the vast majority of whom are from Central America, Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti. Mexican authorities said they detained more than 189,000 migrants last month, while the US border patrol has reported 1.8 million apprehensions between October 2022 and August 2023. Senior US and Mexican officials pledged Thursday to redouble their efforts to tackle irregular migration through measures such as modernizing border security, increasing legal avenues and addressing the root causes. The two countries were committed to expanding "safe, orderly and lawful pathways for migrants" but with "strict consequences" for those who enter the United States illegally, US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said after talks in Mexico City. The post 18 migrants killed in Mexico bus crash appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dumaguete City to host national history conference, gathering of historians
Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental will host this year’s National Conference of Local and National History, slated for 19 to 21 October. Organized by the Philippine National Historical Society, the oldest historical organization in the country founded in 1941, the three-day event will feature 21 paper presentations. It is on its 44th staging and second onsite since 2019. Theme for this year is “Retropolis: Discoveries and Rediscoveries in Philippine History.” Papers to be presented include “Looking for Philippine Art and Artifacts in Spain” by Regalado Trota Jose, formerly of the University of Santo Tomas Archives; “More than Gold: World Treasures in the Philippines” by John Crossley of Australia’s Monash University; “Philippine Sites Inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List” by Ivan Anthony Henares of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines; “A Digital Repatriation of a Lost Archive of the Spanish Pacific: The Library of The Convent of San Pablo (Manila, 1762)” by Cristina Juan of the School of African and Asian Studies, University of London; “The Pulangi and Agusan Rivers in Mindanao History, 1599-1648: A Water-Based Perspective” by Jihan Bacug and Sharon Bulaclac of the Mindanao State University (MSU)-Marawi; “Kudarat and Dutch Links In Caraga Affairs, 1629-1651” by Kimberly Apatan-Lusay and Zizzle Dawn Abecia-Sayson of MSU-Marawi; “The Bell of Taraka: Understanding the Ranaw-Dutch Relations in the 18th Century” by Tirmizy Adbullah and Ruholla Alonto of the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage; “When Iligan Finally Stood Alone” by Rey Luis Montesclaros of MSU-Iligan; “Occupation and Resistance: The Guerrilla Movement in Tarlac, 1942-1945” by Marcelino Macapinlac Jr. of De La Salle University; “Bayonets and Bloodshed: Japanese Atrocities in Dumaguete during the Second World War” by Justin Jose Bulado of the Negros Oriental State University; “Glimpses of the Japanese Interregnum in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi” by Calbi Asain of MSU-Jolo; “Who were the Panuypuyes?Resistance and Retreat in the Seventeenth-Century Northern Luzon” by João Paulo Reginaldo of University of the Philippines (UP)-Baguio; “Bricks, Heritage, and Identity-Making: The Social Biography of Cagayan Ladrillos” by Aldous Tracy Rubio of UP-Baguio; “Spanish-American Encounters in Las Piñas, 1898-1899” by Cecilia Tangian of MSU-Iligan; “Makalilisang Gutom: A Social History of Hunger in Cebu, 1899 to 1929” by Ophelynn Cano of Cebu Normal University; and “Establishing the Early History of Rabies Virus in the Philippines” by Ian Alfonso of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. The post Dumaguete City to host national history conference, gathering of historians appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hog farmers receive huge boost
The Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas on Friday announced that it has granted P120-million financial assistance to a group of pork producers. DA-7 regional director Angel Enriquez said that the funds are intended to repopulate swine breeder stocks in the region, stressing the importance of Central Visayas as the second largest producer of hogs in the country. Enriquez led the turnover of assistance to Rolando Tambago, the president of the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines at the DA-7 compound in Mandaue City. Tambago, on the other hand, expressed his gratitude to DA-7 for the cash grant as he disclosed that 12 farms under the Central Visayas Pork Producers Cooperative will be benefited. “This fund has the potential to produce 5,300 pigs per month, which means we can add 63,000 pigs to our inventory every year,” Tambago said. “Imagine if this is implemented in every province in every region, this will solve the shortage problem.” The African swine fever was first detected in Carcar City in southern Cebu on 1 March and was again detected in 12 more local government units in Cebu province. This resulted in neighboring provinces banning the importation of hogs, pork meat and pork by products from Cebu. The ban forced Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to pursue legal measures against the Bureau of Animal Industry culling and color-coding policy. The cash grant came from the DA’s Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion, a recovery and repopulation program for the hog sector affected by the ASF. DA’s National Livestock Program is spearheading INSPIRE in collaboration with livestock attached agencies, DA regional offices, local government units, and other stakeholders such as farmers’ cooperatives and association. The post Hog farmers receive huge boost appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Federal charges for five police over beating death of African American
Five police officers already charged in the murder of Tyre Nichols, a young African American who died after being beaten, now face federal indictment, the Justice Department announced Tuesday. Videos showed the officers, who are all Black, repeatedly kicking and punching Nichols during a traffic stop close to his home in the US city of Memphis on January 7, three days before he died in hospital. "The country watched in horror as Tyre Nichols was kicked, punched, tased, and pepper sprayed," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a brief video statement posted online. The department said the five officers, who have been fired, "willfully deprived Nichols of his constitutional rights," resulting in "bodily injury and the death of Nichols." A federal grand jury in Memphis, located in the US South, on Tuesday charged the five former officers with federal civil rights, conspiracy, and obstruction offenses, the Department of Justice said. The officers -- Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin III, and Desmond Mills Jr. -- have already been charged by state prosecutors in Tennessee with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping, official misconduct, and "official oppression." They have pleaded not guilty. Nichols, 29, was stopped by the five, who were members of a special police anti-crime squad called the Scorpion Unit, for an alleged traffic violation, according to police. He was beaten viciously by the officers, in scenes recorded in body camera and security camera footage that triggered outrage when made public later that month. Vice President Kamala Harris attended Nichols' funeral in February and Nichols' family members were invited to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in Washington several days later. The post Federal charges for five police over beating death of African American appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Morocco’s strongest quake on record: what we know
Rescuers in Morocco were scrambling Sunday to reach people trapped under the rubble after a powerful earthquake that killed more than 2,100 people and decimated entire villages. Here's what we know so far: Strongest-ever in Morocco A 6.8-magnitude quake, according to the US Geological Survey -- the strongest in the North African country's history -- struck Friday at 11:11 pm (2211 GMT) in an area of the Atlas mountain range 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of the city of Marrakesh. It was also felt in the coastal cities of Rabat, Casablanca and Essaouira, as well as Agadir which in the 1960s had to be completely rebuilt after a devastating tremor. Historic city hit Friday's quake caused damage in the tourist hotspot of Marrakesh which is famed for its sprawling medina, or old town, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site of ochre-coloured palaces and markets. The city's 12th-century ramparts partially collapsed. Fearing their homes might collapse too, some residents spent the past two nights camped out on the vast Jemaa el-Fna square. Atlas villages crumple The worst destruction took place in the remote villages of the High Atlas, in the provinces of Al-Haouz and Taroudant. The mud-brick villages of Tafeghaghte and Moulay Brahim, near the quake's epicentre, were almost completely destroyed, AFP reporters witnessed. In Tafeghaghte alone, some 70 victims out of a population of around 100 people were buried on Saturday. Deaths mount The quake killed at least 2,122 people and injured 2,421 others, many of whom are in critical condition, according to the latest figures from Morocco's interior ministry. Most deaths were recorded in Al-Haouz province, with 1,351, followed by Taroudant where more than 450 lives were lost. Four French nationals were killed, according to Paris. Rescue underway The race is on to get teams with heavy-lifting equipment into the worst-hit areas including hard-to-reach mountain villages. The Moroccan Red Crescent and army are leading the rescue effort. Caroline Holt of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said on Saturday that "the next 24 to 48 hours will be critical in terms of saving lives". Spain has sent 56 rescue workers along with drilling equipment and four search dogs after an official request from Morocco. Other countries are waiting for an invitation to be able to intervene. European Union members, Britain, the United States, Turkey and Israel -- which established ties with Rabat in late 2020 -- have all expressed solidarity with Morocco and offered help. Three-day mourning Morocco on Saturday proclaimed three days of national mourning, following a meeting presided by King Mohammed VI. The post Morocco’s strongest quake on record: what we know appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Race to find survivors as Morocco quake deaths top 1,300
Morocco's deadliest earthquake in decades has killed more than 1,300 people, authorities said Saturday, as troops and emergency services scrambled to reach remote mountain villages where casualties are still feared trapped. Authorities declared three days of national mourning, but the Red Cross warned that it could take years to repair the damage. The 6.8-magnitude quake struck late Friday in a mountainous area 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of the tourist city of Marrakesh, the US Geological Survey reported. With strong tremors also felt in the coastal cities of Rabat, Casablanca and Essaouira, the quake caused widespread damage and sent terrified residents and tourists scrambling to safety in the middle of the night. "I was nearly asleep when I heard the doors and the shutters banging," said Ghannou Najem, a Casablanca resident in her 80s who was visiting Marrakesh when the quake hit. "I went outside in a panic. I thought I was going to die alone." In the mountain village of Tafeghaghte near the quake's epicentre, virtually no buildings were left standing. The traditional clay bricks used by the region's Berber inhabitants proved no match for the rare quake. In the late afternoon, soldiers continued to search through debris, but most survivors headed to the cemetery where loud screams punctuated the last rites as some 70 villagers were laid to rest. "Three of my grandchildren and their mother were killed -- they are still under the rubble," villager Omar Benhanna, 72, told AFP. "Just a while ago, we were all playing together," he added. It was the strongest-ever quake to hit the North African kingdom, and one expert described it as the region's "biggest in more than 120 years". "Where destructive earthquakes are rare, buildings are simply not constructed robustly enough... so many collapse, resulting in high casualties," said Bill McGuire, professor emeritus at Britain's University College London. Updated interior ministry figures on Saturday showed the quake killed at least 1,305 people, the vast majority in Al-Haouz, the epicentre, and Taroudant provinces. Another 1,832 people were injured, including 1,220 in a critical condition, the ministry said. Civil defence Colonel Hicham Choukri who is heading relief operations told state television earlier the epicentre and strength of the earthquake created "an exceptional emergency situation". After a meeting chaired by King Mohammed VI, the palace announced three days of national mourning, with flags to fly at half-mast on all public buildings. 'Unbearable' screams Faisal Badour, an engineer, said he felt the quake three times in his building in Marrakesh. "There are families who are still sleeping outside because we were so scared of the force of this earthquake," he said. "The screaming and crying was unbearable." Frenchman Michael Bizet, 43, who owns three traditional riad houses in Marrakesh's old town, told AFP he was in bed when the quake struck. "I thought my bed was going to fly away. I went out into the street half-naked and immediately went to see my riads. It was total chaos, a real catastrophe, madness," he said. Footage on social media showed part of a minaret collapsed on Jemaa el-Fna square in the historic city. An AFP correspondent saw hundreds of people flocking to the square to spend the night for fear of aftershocks, some with blankets while others slept on the ground. Houda Outassaf, a local resident, said she was "still in shock" after feeling the earth shake beneath her feet -- and losing relatives. "I have at least 10 members of my family who died... I can hardly believe it, as I was with them no more than two days ago," she said. The regional blood transfusion centre in Marrakesh called on residents to donate blood for the injured. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation announced that a Cup of African Nations qualifier against Liberia, due to have been played on Saturday in the coastal city of Agadir, had been postponed indefinitely. Significant damage likely "We heard screams at the time of the tremor," a resident of Essaouira, 200 kilometres (125 miles) west of Marrakesh, told AFP. "Pieces of facades have fallen." The USGS PAGER system, which provides preliminary assessments on the impact of earthquakes, issued a "red alert" for economic losses, saying extensive damage is probable. The Red Cross said it was mobilising resources to support the Moroccan Red Crescent, but its Middle East and North Africa director, Hossam Elsharkawi, warned: "We are looking at many months if not years of response." Foreign leaders expressed their condolences and many offered assistance, including Israel with which Morocco normalised relations in 2020. Neighbour and regional rival Algeria announced it was suspending a two-year-old ban on all Moroccan flights through its airspace to enable aid deliveries and medical evacuations. US President Joe Biden said he was "deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation". Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed "deep grief for the victims" and hope that "the Moroccan government and people will be able to overcome the impact of this disaster". In 2004, at least 628 people were killed and 926 injured when a quake hit Al Hoceima in northeastern Morocco, and in 1960 a magnitude 6.7 quake in Agadir killed more than 12,000. The 7.3-magnitude El Asnam earthquake in Algeria killed 2,500 people and left at least 300,000 homeless in 1980. The post Race to find survivors as Morocco quake deaths top 1,300 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Stop blockade, Moscow told
The president of the European Council Charles Michel has demanded an end to Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian seaports. “This must stop,” Michel told reporters in India’s capital of New Delhi, ahead of a G20 summit. “Ships with grains need to have safe access to the Black Sea,” he said, noting that the United Nations initiative had initially delivered 32 million tons to the market, “especially to developing countries.” Michel also slammed Moscow for attacking Ukrainian seaports hosting grains silos and warehouses. “Over 250 million people face acute food insecurity worldwide, and by deliberately attacking Ukraine’s seaports, the Kremlin is depriving them of the food they desperately need,” Michel added. Russia’s blockade to prevent grain ships sailing in and out of Ukraine was lifted under last year’s UN-brokered deal called Black Sea Initiative. Russia pulled out of the grain agreement in July after claiming that it had failed to fulfil the goal of relieving hunger in Africa. Moscow then stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s export hubs and shipping infrastructure. The Kremlin also asked Turkey to help Russia export its grain to African countries without any involvement from Ukraine. Missile strike Meanwhile, Russian missiles struck cities in central and eastern Ukraine Friday killing one person and injuring dozens of others, officials said. In the central city of Kryvyi Rig, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown, a missile attack on a police building killed a policeofficer, Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said. “Rescuers of the State Emergency Service pulled out three more from under the rubble. They are in serious condition,” he said. Photos he shared from the scene showed smoke spewing from the ruins of the building as rescue workers carried an injured person to an ambulance. Over 40 people were injured, the head of the city administration Oleksandr Vilkul said. At least three people were injured after Russia also struck the city of Sumy in northeast Ukraine, officials said, while one man was injured by a rocket attack on Zaporizhzhia in the southeast. “Over the past 24 hours, 93 enemy attacks on 29 towns and villages of the Zaporizhzhia region have been recorded,” Yuriy Malashko, head of the local administration, said. WITH AFP The post Stop blockade, Moscow told appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ukraine ‘liberates’ village, missile kills 2
Ukraine’s defense minister announced Monday the recapture of a village from Russian occupiers and the death of two people from a missile strike. “Robotyne has been liberated. Our forces are advancing southeast of Robotyne and south of Mala Tokmachka,” Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Malyar said on television. Both settlements are in the Zaporizhzhia region, which the Kremlin claimed to have annexed last year despite not having military control over it. Malyar also said that Ukrainian troops were advancing south of Bakhmut and that they had recaptured one square kilometer there over the last week of fighting. She also acknowledged a Russian push to take back territory in the northeast of Ukraine, describing fighting in the Kharkiv region as “very intense” over the past week. The battlefront gains were marred by a Russian missile strike overnight on an industrial facility in the central region of Poltava that killed two people and wounded several others. “The Russians carried out a missile attack on the village of Gogoleve... in the Poltava region,” presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on social media, adding that the victims were employees of an oil facility that was hit. On Sunday, a second civilian cargo ship that left the port of Odesa had reached safe waters, despite warnings from Russia that such vessels may be considered military targets. “The second vessel has reached Romanian waters after successfully navigating through our temporary Black Sea corridor,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media. He said the ship — a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier called PRIMUS — was carrying steel destined for the African market. In Russia, air defenses in the Lyubertsy district southeast of the capital “destroyed a drone flying towards Moscow,” the city’s mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on Telegram, without naming an attacker. “There were no casualties or damage, according to initial reports. Emergency services are on the scene.” Two other drones were destroyed by air defenses over the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine, it added. WITH AFP The post Ukraine ‘liberates’ village, missile kills 2 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Florida gunman driven by racial ‘hate’ kills 3: authorities
A gunman in Jacksonville, Florida driven by racial hatred shot dead three Black people in a discount store Saturday before killing himself after a standoff with police, authorities said. "He targeted a certain group of people and that's Black people. That's what he said he wanted to kill. And that's very clear," Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters told a news conference about the gunman, who was white and in his early 20s. According to the sheriff's office, the shooter, who has not yet been identified, entered the Dollar General store wearing a tactical vest, armed with an AR-style rifle and a handgun. Manifestos discovered by the gunman's family shortly before the attack "detail the shooter's disgusting ideology of hate," Waters said, and at least one of the guns had hand-drawn swastikas on it. The shooting took place near Edward Waters University, a historically Black college in the southern US state. The FBI would investigate the shooting as a hate crime, said Sherri Onks, the bureau's special agent for Jacksonville. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis decried the "horrific" shooting and called the gunman a "scumbag." "He was targeting people based on their race, that is totally unacceptable," said DeSantis, who is competing to be the Republican party's candidate for the 2024 White House race. "This guy killed himself rather than face the music and accept responsibility for his actions and so he took the coward's way out.” The shooting was the latest in a spate of gun violence this weekend in the United States. Mass shootings have become disturbingly common across the United States, with easy access to firearms in most states and more guns in the country than citizens. Earlier in the day at least seven people were hospitalized after a mass shooting at a Caribbean festival in the northeast city of Boston, police said. Meanwhile, two women were shot at a baseball game in Chicago the night before. That same night a 16-year-old was shot dead and four others hurt after an argument erupted at a high school football game in Oklahoma, local police said. The Jacksonville shooting comes after a self-declared white supremacist killed 10 Black people in a live-streamed shooting rampage at a supermarket in the US state of New York in May 2022. Payton Gendron planned the attack for months, targeting Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo because of the large African-American population in the surrounding neighborhood. He pleaded guilty to the killings in November. Saturday's shooting in Jacksonville is five years to the day after a mass shooting in the city when a gunman at a video game tournament killed two and wounded several others before killing himself. nro/acb © Agence France-Presse The post Florida gunman driven by racial ‘hate’ kills 3: authorities appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ASF invades Cocoro Island
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — The Provincial Veterinary Office here disclosed on Friday that the African swine fever has reached the region and caused an outbreak on Cocoro Island, a barangay in the fifth-class municipality of Magsaysay in the easternmost side of the province. Palawan PVO officer-in-charge Dr. Darius Mangcucang, in an interview, revealed that Cocoro has recorded approximately 300 swine mortalities as a result of African swine fever and confirmed that out of the six blood samples collected from the domesticated pigs that survived on Cocoro Island, five of them were positively identified as having ASF. The results were according to laboratory evaluations conducted by the Bureau of Animal Industry. He also stressed that measures have been put in place to isolate the area and prevent the disease from spreading as the PVO is already enacting measures to control the situation. Meantime, community leaders are taking steps to restrict the movement of pigs and pork products from the island, while surveillance is also focused on monitoring the transportation of pork into the town. “We can manage the situation on the island as long as there is cooperation from the community. The barangay officials are monitoring closely as they have received directives from their leaders,” Mangcucang said. As an alternative to culling, given that all domestic pigs on the island have already succumbed to ASF, Mangcucang said they already initiated a disinfection procedure and used lime on the burial sites. The method aims to confine the virus and is anticipated to last for approximately three months, according to his estimation. “The pigs might all be gone, there’s no need for culling anymore. What we’ll do instead is disinfection. We’ll place lime on the sites where the pigs were buried by the farmers and residents, in order to contain the virus,” Mangcucang said. The PVO, in collaboration with the Philippine National Police and local municipal authorities, has also established checkpoints in all entry areas to Magsaysay. He said their endeavors include continuous monitoring, gathering of blood samples, and conducting quarantine assessments. Governor Victorino Dennis Socrates, in a statement issued by the Provincial Information Office, assured the public of swift governmental response as collaborative endeavors with various government agencies are in motion to tackle the crisis while citizens are urged to adhere to guidelines to halt ASF’s progression to other parts of the province. “This incident is being closely monitored, and appropriate measures are being taken in collaboration with other government agencies, while simultaneously urging the public to adhere to the government’s implemented policies to prevent further spread of ASF to other parts of the province,” Socrates said. The PVO also appealed to residents to cooperate by refraining from purchasing meat products online and to avoid feeding pigs with potentially contaminated swill or uncooked food. In case of any suspicious pig deaths or symptoms, residents are urged to promptly inform the veterinary office or the Municipal Agriculture Office. The post ASF invades Cocoro Island appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Southern Leyte swine fever infection confirmed
TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Agriculture in Eastern Visayas has confirmed the viral spread of African Swine Fever in Southern Leyte after laboratory tests found blood samples randomly taken from hogs in Padre Burgos town positive for the infection. The DA regional field office said reports of unusual deaths of hogs exhibiting ASF-like symptoms started the last week of June, prompting the Municipal Agriculture Office of Padre Burgos and Southern Leyte Provincial Veterinary Office to investigate. The DA regional office said the new ASF infection is an isolated case, as the overall trend of ASF cases in the region shows the infection is on the decline. The DA regional office is continuing to investigate the case to determine the extent of the viral spread, although initial information shows the infection seems limited to Barangay Tangkaan of the said municipality. “Based on the initial investigation, it is believed that possible transmission of the virus resulted from either the transport of infected live hogs from neighboring municipalities that still have active cases of ASF, swill feeding, and poor biosecurity,” the DA regional office said in a statement. The DA assured the public that a technical team has been deployed upon the confirmation of the cases, and continues to conduct proper preventive measures against the spread of the virus. The agency said it is closely monitoring the area and its neighboring communities for possible transmission. The DA advised the public not to be alarmed and to help stop the spread of the disease by observing the protocols so that the farmers and hog raisers will be able to continue with their livelihood. ASF is a highly contagious and fatal disease that affects pigs. There is no known cure for ASF, and the only way to prevent it is to implement strict biosecurity measures. The DA has urged the public to report any unusual deaths of hogs to the MAO or PVO. The post Southern Leyte swine fever infection confirmed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Of China’s ‘One Belt One Road’
Sometime in August 2016, I attended the formal media launch of One Belt One Road, or OBOR, in Beijing, China. I thought then that OBOR, also referred to later as Belt and Road Initiative, must be one of the most, if not the most, significant programs of President Xi Jinping, as it was attended by hundreds of print and broadcast journalists from around the world, the Philippines included. OBOR was to revive the “Silk Road” economic belt of ancient China, a land trade route carrying its finest silk and other goods to its neighboring Central Asian countries and later to as far as Europe; whereas today’s Road refers to the 21st Century land and maritime silk route to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The land route was launched, I think in 2013, while the maritime route was given a big push in 2017. Early on, China set up the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as part of the OBOR mechanism. China sank in the initial capital and was joined later by other member countries. The Philippines was the last country to join AIIB when the late President Noynoy Aquino signed its Charter in the last few minutes of 31 December 2015, and this was ratified a year later during Duterte’s term. In sum, AIIB had 106 members to start. The Philippines, if we look at the records, derived from loans and infrastructure projects, was quite slow in availing of cheap money from this BRI initiative. Indonesia, Singapore, and other ASEAN and African countries had done so for various infra projects, among these railways, dams, and ports. The small loan amount we obtained was later topped up by China in terms of gifts which came in the form of bridges, schools, medical supplies, and vaccines when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Add to that are the much-needed arms for our armed forces to get rid of the marauding Maute ISIS terrorist group in Marawi City and additional help to rehabilitate it later. Alarmed by the inroads China was making with the BRI through the land and marine infrastructure built with the billions of dollars it loaned to countries along the silk routes, the West was quick to make a big issue of it when Sri Lanka defaulted, calling China’s loans a “debt trap.” Of course, not a few of those struggling economies defaulted as the impact of the new infrastructure on their development had yet to gain traction. However, President Xi Jinping waived the interest dues. How is it for China midway to the Road’s target completion date of 2049? The BRI has covered more than 68 countries with an estimated 65 percent of the world’s population. All told, the largesse from China resulted in the reduction of dependency on the US and it created new markets for Chinese products. The US of A is fast losing its dominance. China, once wallowing in the quagmire of poverty, is now the second-largest economy in the world and growing. Will China then go beyond firing water cannons at Philippine Coast Guard vessels? This could only be answered by another set of questions. Is China willing to cut the marine silk route that passes through or close to the West Philippine Sea? Will its land route suffice to bring its products to its export markets in the event the sea lane is altogether cut off? Will the Chinese people relish going back to poverty and isolation? The answers are a big NO. So why EDCA? Why not pursue the Philippines-China joint oil exploration in the WPS as the offer stands at a 60/40 sharing agreement in favor of the Philippines? Why build more military bases when these are veritable beckons to war which we as a policy abhor? Why not take advantage of the short maritime link between China and the Philippines to enhance our economy? The price of fuel is skyrocketing. Our peso is depreciating as in a free fall. We have solutions and yet these, too have become problems. The post Of China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bontoc town bans pigs, pork products entry
BAGUIO CITY — The local government of Bontoc town in Mountain Province announced that it is temporarily banning the entry of hogs and pork products from the lowland municipalities amid reported cases of the African swine fever in other areas, particular in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur. In a public advisory, Bontoc Mayor Jerome Tudlong Jr. warned residents of the town to be aware of ASF cases logged in backyard farms of Cervantes and is said to be fast spreading in nearby areas. “To prevent further spread of this disease and to help protect the livelihood of our swine raisers against the re-infection of ASF in our municipality, the entry of live swine/pigs, pork, locally processed pork products and by-products from the said area is hereby temporarily suspended,” Tudlong said. To recall, the hog disease was earlier detected in a barangay in Cervantes last July this year, which prompted other towns of Ilocos Sur to safeguard their borders to ensure that no pigs or pork products can enter their areas of responsibility. On 24 July 2023, the provincial government of Benguet issued a temporary ban of entries of hogs and swine products from Cervantes. In the first week of August, Abra Province and Bauko, Mountain Province did the same. Checkpoints were setup in the boundaries of Ilocos Sur and nearby provinces. On 12 August, three hog traders were intercepted transporting 11 pigs from Cervantes. The post Bontoc town bans pigs, pork products entry appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dinagat eyes state of calamity amid ASF rise
BUTUAN CITY — The local government of Libjo in Dinagat Islands is recommended to be placed under a state of calamity as a consequence of the continued increase of African swine fever cases. The recommendation was pushed by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council led by Libjo Mayor Melody Llamera Compasivo to the Sangguniang Bayan a day earlier. “The people in the municipality are alarmed by the rising cases of ASF. A solution to deter the further spread of the ASF is necessary,” said the MDRRMC’s statement. The state of calamity proposal was approved by both the MDRRMC members and the 16 barangay chairpersons of the town. “Based on the data provided by the Municipal Agriculture Office, six barangays in the town are already affected by the ASF,” the statement said. As of 7 August, some 163 heads of hogs were already culled in the affected barangays as a measure to stop the spread of the disease to other villages. The MDRRMC has suggested the installation of footbath checkpoints at the entry points of barangays that have not yet been impacted by ASF. Also, the council proposed that the sale of live hogs and pork by-products should only be permitted in barangays that have not yet been impacted by the disease. The Libjo SB is expected to make the declaration during its regular session this week. In other developments, the ASF has also invaded the Antique Swine Production and Artificial Insemination Center in Sibalom town. Public Health Division of the Provincial Veterinarian chief Dr. Marco Rafael Ardamil explained that the ASPAIC is the source of the piglets being dispersed by the provincial government for the sugar migrant workers and other Antiqueños requesting livelihood projects. ASPAIC in Barangay Pangpang used to have 62 hogs but one boar died on 26 July, while 61 others, including eight sows, eight gilts, two boars, 19 weanling pigs and 24 piglets, were depopulated on 2 August. Ardamil said he immediately did a necropsy and submitted a blood sample for testing to the Department of Agriculture Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory after the incident on 26 July. The post Dinagat eyes state of calamity amid ASF rise appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»