Dolphins only half-asleep
BY KIM ATIENZA Have you ever wondered how animals under water sleep? Dolphins, for example? According to One Kind Planet, dolphins have to consciously think to breathe, even when they’re sleeping. These water animals shut only half their brain down at a time and sleep with one eye open. This is known as unihemi-spheric […].....»»
Miyerkules Santo half-day ra
Miyerkules Santo half-day ra.....»»
Philippines-European Union FTA talks resume in H2
The Philippines and the European Union (EU) are looking to resume formal negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) in the early part of the second half of the year, according to the Department of Trade and Industry......»»
Panghulan s Hail Mary shot lifts Top Flight past Arellano in NBTC Division 2 finals
Joey Panghulan’s last-gasp half-court heave towed Top Flight Sports Canada into the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Division 2 finals over the Arellano Braves, 87-84, Friday afternoon at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City......»»
Italy court clears man who tried to strangle sleeping wife
ROME—A court in Italy has acquitted a man who tried to strangle his wife while asleep, ruling that he was suffering from a sleep disorder, media reported on Thursday. His wife had to bite him to wake him and stop the attack, which happened in January 2021, the court in Brescia, in Italy’s northern Lombardy.....»»
Pinaghirapan ko yan : Arci Muñoz loses P500K from stolen debit card
Actress Arci Muñoz revealed that her debit card was stolen while she was asleep during her flight from Japan to South Korea. .....»»
Arci Muñoz says credit card stolen during flight, used in Vietnam, Indonesia
Arci Muñoz narrated how a man stole her credit card while she was asleep on a business-class seat during an international flight as she lamented that the “world is not a safe place.” The actress gave an account of her bad experience while on a flight from Japan to the Philippines with Korean Air airlines, through a video on.....»»
‘Terrible nightmare’: OFWs recount Hamas attack on Israel
Two Overseas Filipino Workers shared on Monday their traumatizing experience during the attack of Hamas militants on Israel. Teresita Malapo, 35, a resident of Baao, Camarines Sur and a caregiver for eight years, said they were about to go to church in Jerusalem when they heard a siren. “On Saturday morning, we were about to go to church in Jerusalem because most of the time, we go to church every day off. Suddenly, we heard a siren. After a while, there was news that rockets were being launched from Palestine. We were all shocked." She added that a simple bang of the door made her feel nervous because of the bombings. “That feeling that you always hear something, and your feeling of nervousness is increasing. When a door closes, you think something has exploded. In Israel, there is an explosion anytime of the day. It explodes even without a siren. When there’s a bombing, our house or bomb shelters vibrates,” she lamented. Meanwhile, Gerald Caniban, 35, a resident of Iloilo City and a caregiver for five years, said he was asleep when he was awakened by a phone alert and heard a siren. “It was an overwhelming experience because of what happened on 7 October. I was staying in Tel Aviv that morning, I was with my girlfriend when we heard the alert on my phone. It was Saturday, our day off. Then after a few minutes, we heard a siren all over Tel Aviv,” Caniban said. “It was a terrible nightmare. Israel didn’t expect Hamas to attack. In my personal experience, I don’t have peace of mind. Even if you’re asleep, it’s like you’re awake because you might hear a siren anytime. Then I got sick for a week thinking that there was something that would come again. So even when I’m lying down, I still watch the news. That’s what makes me nervous that something worst might be coming,” he said. A total of 25 OFWs, including a four-month-old infant, arrived on Monday afternoon at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, as the third batch of repatriates via Etihad Airways EY424. The repatriates were received by Department of Migrant Workers Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac, DMW Undersecretary Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, TESDA Director Cariza Dacuma, Congressman Ron Salo, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Mary Melanie Quino, Department of Social Welfare and Development Director Mirmamel Laxa and Department of Health Director Bernadette Velasco. According to Allones, two of the repatriates are in need of psychosocial assistance. Cacdac said a total of 16 caregivers and nine hotel workers were in the third batch of repatriated OFWs, which he said were predominantly women. The post ‘Terrible nightmare’: OFWs recount Hamas attack on Israel appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
59 OFWs seek Lebanon exit
At least 59 Filipinos in Lebanon have expressed a desire to be repatriated amid the escalating tension between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon said Monday. Hezbollah is another Islamist militant group that controls the southern part of Lebanon. It has launched rockets into the northern part of Israel, which has fired back. “On Sunday morning, when we held our meeting with Filipino community leaders, we received 59 applications,” Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Raymond Balatbat said in a television interview. This developed as the Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, placed Lebanon under Alert Level 3, or voluntary repatriation. According to the DFA, there are an estimated 17,500 Filipinos in Lebanon, 67 of them residing on its southern border. Balatbat said only three of the 67 Filipinos on the southern border have asked to be repatriated. Since the surprise attack by the Palestinian Sunni-Islamic extremist group Hamas on Israel on 7 October, which left 1,400 Israelis dead, scores of foreigners have also been killed, including four Filipinos. Meanwhile, a total of 24 overseas Filipino workers, comprising the third batch of repatriates from Israel, arrived Monday afternoon at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. The repatriates — 21 women and three men — came from Israel via Abu Dhabi on board Etihad Airways flight EY424. Migrant Workers Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac assured all the repatriates of support from the government to ease their displacement and facilitate their reintegration. Two Filipinos shared on Monday their traumatizing experience during the attack of Hamas in Israel. Tersita Malapo, 35, of Baao, Camarines Sur, a caregiver for eight years, said she and other Filipinos were about to go to church when they heard a siren. “On Saturday morning, we were about to go to church in Jerusalem because we go to church every day off. Suddenly, we heard a siren. After a while, there was news that rockets were being launched from Palestine. We were so shocked,” Malapo said. She said that because of the bombings a loud noise like the banging of a door made her nervous. “That feeling that you always hear something, your feeling of nervousness is increasing. When a door slams, you think something has exploded. In Israel, there is an explosion anytime of the day. It explodes even without a siren. When there’s a bombing, our house and bomb shelter vibrates,” she said. Gerald Caniban, 35, of Iloilo City, a caregiver for five years, said he was asleep when he heard the sirens. “It was an overwhelming experience. I was in Tel Aviv that morning. I was sleeping with my girlfriend when we heard the alert on my phone. It was Saturday, our day-off. After a few minutes, we heard sirens all over Tel Aviv,” Caniban said. He said he did not have peace of mind and described the situation as a terrible nightmare. The post 59 OFWs seek Lebanon exit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Medics recount shocking toll of child deaths in Gaza war
Eight sleeping children killed in one strike, doctors fighting but failing to save an unborn child -- such were the stories recounted by Gaza medics on Thursday as Israel stepped up its air strikes. Gaza's Hamas-run government said that children made up 1,524 of the 3,785 people killed since Israel launched a relentless barrage on Gaza in retaliation for the October 7 Hamas attacks. Grief-stricken parents carrying the bodies of children in white shrouds through Gaza streets have become a familiar sight since the war started. Doctors say they are fighting a losing battle against a lack of medicines, water and fuel to keep hospitals running. Eight children aged between two and five were among 10 people from the same family killed in an air strike on a house in the city of Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza, early on Wednesday, relatives said. "The children were asleep when they destroyed the house," their 67-year-old grandfather, Abu Mohammad Wafi al-Bakri, said. Father escaped Diyala, Ayman, Hamada, Zaher, Uday, Jamal, Nabil and Acil all came from one extended family and all slept on the ground floor. It took an hour after the raid to find their bodies, rescuers said. "None of my children were linked to Palestinian organisations and no men were in the house at the time," said Jihad al-Bakri, father of three of the children. He had left his home an hour before the missile hit to try to find water. At Najjar hospital in Rafah, doctors mourned the unborn child of a woman killed by a missile strike early on Thursday. Arij Marwan al-Banna, seven months pregnant, and her daughters, Sarah and Samya, both aged under 10, were killed on the spot, medical sources told AFP. Banna had fled to her parents' house from northern Gaza after Israel warned its 1.1 million people to head south. Doctors operated but could not save her child. She was posthumously named Fatima and her tiny body bag placed atop that of her mother, doctors said. The Israeli military said on Thursday it had carried out hundreds of air raids in 24 hours, targeting Hamas military infrastructure. Terrified Gaza residents have flocked to the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, the only possible escape route from the besieged territory, but it has remained closed. Scores of people waited forlornly about 100 metres (yards) from the crossing hoping that it would reopen to let aid in and refugees out. US President Joe Biden announced after visiting Israel on Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to let some food, water and medicines into Gaza. He said some deliveries could be made on Friday. Wary inhabitants kept away from the gates fearing that they would again be a target for Israel's relentless strikes after the crossing was hit four times last week. "I have been waiting for three days with my family in a house 10 minutes away. We are ready with our bags but we just don't know if or when the crossing will open," said Mohammed, a 40-year-old working for an Italian group. Majed, 43, who works for a German organisation, told AFP: "I came on my own this morning. If the crossing opens, I will get my wife and family -- they're ready." He estimated there were about 400 foreigners, dual nationals and employees of international organisations waiting near Rafah. The Hamas government media office said it had no details on aid deliveries. It said the crossing's head of operations, Fuad Abu Btihan, had been killed in the Israeli strikes. Israel intensified its air strikes after Biden flew home and clouds of black smoke again rose over Gaza City. "It's been tough for three nights, but tonight was the hardest," 60-year-old Umm Mohamed Abu Ziada told AFP. The post Medics recount shocking toll of child deaths in Gaza war appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Whole family gone’: families identify victims of Hanoi fire
Hundreds gathered outside a morgue in western Hanoi Wednesday, waiting to hear if their families and friends were victims of a devastating apartment fire that killed more than 50 people. The fire in the 10-storey building, which had only one exit and wire-barred balconies, started as residents fell asleep on Tuesday night. Neighbours and residents of the building in the capital's southwest said they heard screaming as people struggled to escape the flames and thick smoke. Police said 56 people were killed and 37 injured, while state media reported that three children were among the dead. At the morgue in a military-owned hospital, officials appeared at the entrance every half hour to announce through a loudspeaker that there was another victim for families to identify. Holding out a photo on a mobile phone or simply describing the dead, medical workers asked desperate relatives if they recognised their loved ones. Cries broke out each time a match was found. Authorities tried to prevent families talking to journalists, but one man, who did not give his name, said his daughter had died and feared his wife had also perished. "I lost my daughter, who was staying with her mother," he said through tears. Unsure where his wife was, he told AFP: "I guess she did not make it either." One group of five women, sitting on the floor outside the morgue, said their "whole family had gone". "They were our children and grandchildren," they said. 'So much suffering' Elsewhere in the morgue, families who knew their loved ones had died sat waiting for hours to collect the bodies. One man, who gave his name as Dung, said his two young cousins, a man and a woman, were among the dead. They had come from their home in nearby coastal Thai Binh province to study. "They were at university here. Our family bought them this small apartment. "We are waiting here to bring back them back to our home province for burial, but we don't know when they are going to release the body." State media reported that Hanoi would provide around $1,500 to families for each adult who had died. Compensation would also be given for those who had lost a child. The apartment block, which is down a narrow alley in a residential area of the capital, was home to several young families. Many had come from other provinces to work or to study. Around 150 people lived in the building, which had no emergency ladder on the outside. Survivor Tran Thi Lien, 65, who bought her second-floor apartment in the block eight years ago, told AFP that residents had requested better fire safety equipment many times. "They still did not do it," she said. "When people die like this... it causes so much suffering." The post ‘Whole family gone’: families identify victims of Hanoi fire 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......»»
Meditate to clear the mind, feel sense of ease
In John Aguilar’s third and latest book, Methods to Greatness, the author wrote about the importance of nurturing and nourishing the soul based on his interview with Nameeta Dargani, the founding member and president of Art of Living Foundation Philippines. Dargani, in turn, led a meditation session at the book’s recent launch held in an upscale shopping mall. The term meditation, according to United States National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, “refers to a variety of practices that focus on mind and body integration.” These meditative practices are used to “calm the mind and enhance overall well-being.” Some of them involve “maintaining mental focus on a particular sensation,” such as breathing, a sound, a visual image or a mantra, which is a repeated word or phrase. Dargani, who’s been practicing meditation for 18 years now, shares how she got into it and why she stayed. “Someone told me it would help with my back pain,” she tells DAILY TRIBUNE in an email interview. “It did so much more than that!” These days, she meditates at least once a day in the mornings after doing her yoga practice and breathing techniques that she learned in the Art of Living course she attended in 2005. She also likes to meditate in the evenings for 15 to 20 minutes before her day ends. “The benefits were instant and cumulative shortly after I took the Art of Living course,” she recalls. Art of Living Foundation is touted as one of the largest non-profit organizations in the world. It operates more than 10,000 centers in over 150 countries, offering various educational and self-development programs in meditation, yoga and other tools that help eliminate stress, as well as create a deep sense of inner peace, happiness and well-being. “My mind got clearer,” she adds. “I was getting things done more efficiently with better focus and attention. I felt an overall sense of ease and joy. A lot of my fears and insecurities faded away. After tasting these benefits, I decided it made a lot of sense to incorporate breathing techniques and a meditation practice into my daily routine.” Dargani understands why many people can’t focus, get too distracted or tend to fall asleep when attempting to meditate. “This is why breathwork is so helpful,” she points out. “In particular, the Sudarshan Kriya (SKY Breath) technique taught in the Art of Living course. Working with the breath gives the mind something to do and focus on. It very naturally leads you to a state of meditation.” She then shares a “great tip” she learned in the Art of Living Meditation program: “When you sit for meditation, you mentally say to yourself: ‘I am nothing, I want nothing, I do nothing.’ Only for the duration of the meditation, and then all the labels and desires can come back after that!” “For me, this strategy really works and helps me to let go and drop everything that’s going on in my life so that I can just sit and be present with the experience,” she says. “Apart from this, the usual guidelines are to sit with your spine erect, your back can be rested if needed on a chair. It’s really important to be comfortable so that you can transcend the body level.” In the Philippines, Dargani explains, the foundation has “touched the lives of thousands of people from all backgrounds and walks of life,” including corporates, youth, prison inmates, military, PNP, victims of trauma and the general public.” It regularly offers both online and offline programs. Visit www.artofliving to learn more and contact Lorna Nasayao at 0917-8484898 for inquiries. The post Meditate to clear the mind, feel sense of ease appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Oh, Napoli!
NAPLES, Italy — This is a city you won’t expect to be in Europe... especially in Italy. Many tourists shy away from this gritty area of the country situated on the Gulf of Naples simply because it does not boast of Rome’s romantic allure. Instead, wandering around Naples — especially in the Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Quarters) — would make you wonder if you’re really in Europe or in some not-so-picturesque section of Manila or Jakarta. [caption id="attachment_178845" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Naples’ Quartieri Spagnoli or Spanish Quarters.[/caption] A colleague who went ahead of me for a few weeks didn’t enjoy the visit so much. “Tondo vibes,” she warned me, laughing, referring to that depressed and dirty part of Manila. Still, it didn’t deter me from going, knowing that there are treasures hidden somewhere and my gut telling me Naples is simply misunderstood. Besides, I used the city as my base for exploring Pompeii, which is just a short train ride away. Well, she was right about saying that Naples is, you know, not your usual Italian city oozing with pomp and pageantry. To feel the pulse of the city, I stayed at the Spanish Quarters, an 800,000-square meter-neighborhood that had a reputation for being a bad area to find yourself in regardless of the time of day. Having grown up in Manila and going to places even hardcore individuals try to avoid, what I saw here didn’t compare to the squalor back in my homeland. It looked like Forbes Park compared to what I have seen in the Philippines and Indonesia. So, I stayed up a bit late, drank quite a number of tasty Italian beers and walked around the “bad neighborhood.” In the morning and in the evening, I took a walk and dined and shopped. There were no troublemakers to be concerned about and my daily strolls took me to the city’s jaw-dropping sites and majestic churches. For three days, Naples brought a smile to my face. Tondo vibes? Nah. While the Eternal City is head and shoulders above in terms of well-known attractions and must-see spots, it does not mean travelers have all the reason not to experience what it has to offer. Finest pizzas Oftentimes tagged as the jump-off point to the ancient ruins of Pompeii, a mere 24 kilometers by rail, Naples is a haven for food lovers. It was here that pizza was invented while being watched over by the once-violent Mount Vesuvius in the backdrop. But don’t get me wrong. If you think that you have tasted the finest pizza in the world by sampling the bestsellers being peddled by premium fast-food outlets, then you should be more than willing to try the original pizza that is being sold here. [caption id="attachment_178847" align="aligncenter" width="1536"] Pizza Margherita cooked the old-fashioned way.[/caption] It’s not the usual thin and crispy crust you often wolf down whenever somebody’s celebrating his or her birthday at the office. It’s more than that. [caption id="attachment_178846" align="aligncenter" width="1536"] Napoli staples. Pizza Napoletana, a cold brew and your favorite cola.[/caption] The pizza being baked here — known as Pizza Napoletana — is of a different kind and usually has two flavors: Margherita and Marinara. And they’re almost identical. Margherita has pomodoro, fior di latte, olio, basilico (tomato, fior di latte cheese, oil and basil) and Marinara has pomodoro, origano, aglio, olio (tomato, oregano, garlic, oil). After devouring one huge serving of the €5 Margherita at the renowned L’ Antica Pizzeria da Michele, where Julia Roberts dined and shot Eat, Pray, Love, I took a walk once again and ran into the Bulso di Pulcinella (Bust of Pulcinella). [caption id="attachment_178843" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Julia Roberts took a bite of the renowned Pizza Napoletana during the filming of ‘Eat, Pray, Love.’[/caption] According to legend, one has to rub the statue’s nose for good luck and that’s exactly what I did. [caption id="attachment_178848" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Rub his nose for good luck. | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF AUDREY GIONGCO[/caption] Medieval structures If you love old — and ancient churches —there’s a lot within this lovely area. At almost every corner, there’s a medieval church that is very Instagrammable. But what stood out was the one I visited one balmy morning when residents were either still soundly asleep or just about getting ready to start another day. The Chiesa del Gesu Nuovo (New Jesus) completed in the late-1700s, is undoubtedly the city’s most beautiful church despite its sober facade. [caption id="attachment_178849" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The main altar of Gesu Nuovo, said to be Naples’ most beautiful church.[/caption] Aside from the Gesu Nuovo, worth visiting as well are the Naples Cathedral (Cattidrale di San Gennaro), Basilica di Santa Chiara and the Girolamini. Definitely, by the time you are done, you will be famished. Head to the nearest pizzeria and get the Margherita and pair it with a small bottle of cola zero zuccheri or the ubiquitous Nastro Azzurro in the green bottle. Salute! Would I make a return trip? You bet! The post Oh, Napoli! appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Actor Kevin Spacey calls sex assault case against him ‘weak’
Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey on Friday spent a second day in the witness box at a London court, denying sexual assault charges and claiming the prosecution case against him was weak. The two-time Oscar winner, 63, is on trial accused of sexually assaulting four men dating back more than 20 years, including when he was artistic director at London's Old Vic theatre. The prosecution has claimed he was a "sexual bully" who reveled in making others feel uncomfortable, including by aggressively grabbing men's crotches. Spacey began giving evidence at Southwark Crown Court in south London on Thursday, calling himself a "big flirt" but denying any aggressive behavior. On Friday, he was questioned about one man who alleged that he drugged him and performed a sex act on him while he was asleep at his London flat. The "American Beauty" and "The Usual Suspects" actor said the pair were "consensually together in a romantic situation", rejecting claims that the alleged victim was asleep when he was assaulted. Lawyer Christine Agnew told him: "Well, that is the prosecution case." Spacey replied: "And it's a weak one." The defense case is that the complainants, who cannot be named as they have anonymity for life under English law, have exaggerated or fabricated their claims. Spacey described himself as an "affectionate person", saying he had "consensual interactions" with two of the complainants, but accepted he "definitely misread" signs from one other. His alleged victims "did not let me know" if they went further with him than they intended, he told the court, suggesting they may have regretted it later. One, who alleged that Spacey grabbed him in the crotch "like a cobra", may have been motivated by "money, money and then money", he suggested. Spacey denies 12 charges concerning four men, including sexual assault and indecent assault, which are alleged to have occurred between 2001 and 2013. On Thursday, he told the court his world "exploded" when he was first accused of sexual assault by US actor Anthony Rapp in the United States. "There was a rush to judgement and before the first question was asked or answered I lost my job, I lost my reputation, I lost everything in a matter of days," he said. Rapp's allegations were found not proven last year. The post Actor Kevin Spacey calls sex assault case against him ‘weak’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
25 dead after bus catches fire in India
At least 25 people were killed and eight others injured after a bus caught fire overnight on an expressway in western India on Saturday, police said. The bus was traveling to the city of Pune when it hit a pole and overturned after midnight, causing its diesel tank to catch fire, senior police officer Baburao Mahamuni told AFP. "There were about 30-35 people in the bus. Twenty-five people have died and eight others are injured," he said. The injured, including the bus driver, have been admitted to a hospital near the site of the crash in Maharashtra state, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of India's financial capital Mumbai. Police said they had launched an inquiry into the crash. "The priority at this moment is to identify the bodies and hand them over to their family members," local media quoted police superintendent Sunil Kadasane as saying. Images showed the bus engulfed in flames and later the charred remains of the vehicle overturned on the highway. Three children were among the dead, a police officer told reporters. "Deeply saddened by the devastating bus mishap in Buldhana," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter. "My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives. May the injured recover soon." Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said he felt "deep grief" over the accident and pledged compensation of 500,000 rupees ($6,100) to the families of those killed. Accidents are common on India's vast network of roads, which are poorly maintained and notoriously dangerous. The main causes are excessive speed, not wearing helmets -- sales of two-wheelers far outstrip those of cars -- and not using seatbelts. India accounts for 11 percent of the global road death toll despite having just one percent of the world's vehicles, according to a World Bank report released in 2021. The same report estimated 150,000 car crash fatalities in India annually, or one person every four minutes. It added that road crashes cost the Indian economy around $75 billion each year, with medical expenses and loss of income driving many accident survivors into poverty. In May, at least 21 people died when a bus veered off a bridge in India, reportedly after the driver fell asleep at the wheel. And last October, at least 31 people were killed after a bus carrying wedding guests veered off the road and fell into a deep gorge in northern India. The post 25 dead after bus catches fire in India appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Coping with jet lag
As travel restrictions have lifted and people are traveling again, physicians are now able to attend conferences in person for continuing medical education. These meetings usually last three to four days, with an additional day or two for travel, and this does not allow much time to adjust to a new time zone. We each have an internal body clock, or a circadian rhythm, that tells us when to stay awake and when to sleep. The normal pattern gets disrupted when you travel quickly across more than two zones in an east-west or west-east direction. This temporary disturbance in sleep is commonly termed as jet lag, since it is mostly related to air travel. When you travel from east to west (i.e. Manila to San Francisco) this prolongs your body clock and adds hours to your day, and it is usually easier to get over your jet lag. Many find that jet lag is worse if you travel from west to east as this runs opposite your body clock and you “lose” hours. You can leave San Francisco on a Monday morning and arrive in Manila midday on a Tuesday, but your internal clock is still on San Francisco time and thinks it’s 8 p.m. on Monday. It can take about a day to recover for each time zone crossed. Fortunately, here are steps you can take to help prevent or minimize jet lag. [caption id="attachment_145513" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF unsplash/suhyeon choi | The air inside an airplane cabin is drier and being dehydrated worsens jet lag.[/caption] Get some rest before your trip. Starting out already sleep-deprived before your trip can make jet lag worse. Make gradual adjustments ahead of time. If traveling from Manila towards the western hemisphere, try to go to bed one hour later for successive nights for a few days before your departure. So, if you usually sleep at 9 p.m., two days before your trip sleep at 10 p.m. and then at 11 p.m. the next day, which is the day before your planned departure. Sleep for the usual number of hours and wake up later. And if traveling home to Manila or eastward, go to bed and wake earlier for a few days before departure. Stay hydrated. The air inside an airplane cabin is drier and being dehydrated worsens jet lag. [caption id="attachment_145512" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF unsplash/quokka bottles | STAY hydrated.[/caption] Avoid alcohol on the plane. Alcohol can help you fall asleep but you may not get good quality sleep. A hangover can also make jet lag worse. Synchronize with your destination while on the plane. Change the time on your watch to the time of your destination as soon as you board the plane. Sleep on the plane if it’s nighttime at your destination, using earplugs and eye masks to block out noise and light. Take short naps (20 minutes) at other times. Stay on your new schedule. When you arrive try not to nap and only sleep during the local nighttime. Regulate your exposure to bright light. In general, get exposure to sunlight during waking hours and dim the lights when it’s time for bed. But if you’ve traveled more than eight-time zones to the east, avoid bright light and wear sunglasses in the morning, and get as much sunlight in the late afternoon for the first few days. If you have traveled west, avoid sunlight a few hours before dark for the first few days. [caption id="attachment_145511" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF pexels/jason toevs | Regulate your exposure to bright light.[/caption] Use caffeine properly. It’s okay to have some coffee in the morning but avoid caffeinated beverages after noon. Jet lag often does not need treatment, but melatonin can sometimes be used to help you sleep once you get to your destination, taken at least one hour and up to three hours before your desired time of sleeping. Talk to your doctor about the right dose for you, and also if you have to adjust the timing of any other medications you may be taking, particularly if these are maintenance medications that need to be taken at particular times. The post Coping with jet lag appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sogod accident: 2 injured after SUV driver falls asleep
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Two persons were injured in a vehicular accident that happened along the national highway in Barangay Liki in Sogod, Cebu on Sunday morning, June 11. According to the police, the accident happened after the driver of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) fell asleep, encroached the opposite lane of the national highway, […] The post Sogod accident: 2 injured after SUV driver falls asleep appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
‘Live Bountifully’ with These Five Supplements
Compared to the period before the Covid-19 pandemic happened, people are now more attuned to their health. As a way to achieve a healthier, better version of themselves, many have adopted new changes in their lifestyle, from eating better to exercising more to improving their sleeping habits. Factors such as schedule and stress can make one’s journey to wellness challenging. Getting and adding the essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs to be at its best every day with Nature’s Bounty will embrace a healthy lifestyle. For 50 years, it has been a trusted partner by people around the world in making better choices for their health. The #1 brand in USA Mass Pharmacies uses the latest science and finest ingredients to create high-quality and affordable products that do more to enhance your wellness routine. “At Nature’s Bounty, we’re serious about supporting your health through our products that are backed by science. We want more for our consumers, which is why we never settle when it comes to making wellness solutions that work harder and are formulated to be stronger and protect you longer,” Dr. Jimmy Bautista, Medical & Scientific Affairs manager of Nestle Health Science, shared. In the Philippines, the brand recently launched five supplements that are non-GMO and contain no artificial flavors, colors and sweeteners to enable more Filipinos to live bountifully. Influencers and members of the media were invited to reconnect with nature and their bodies through a yoga session led by Yoga Manila and learn more about Nature’s Bounty products and their health benefits from Dr. Jimmy Bautista, Medical & Scientific affairs manager of Nestle Health Science; and Moe Javier, marketing lead of Nestle Health Science. One of the 20 amino acids that help the body build protein, which is vital in repairing cells and making new ones, is L-Arginine. Available in a 1000mg, 30-count bottle, L-Arginine supports healthy blood flow, vascular function, wound healing and heart health. Often referred to as the “sleep hormone,” Melatonin helps you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer to improve the quality of sleep. The quick-dissolve melatonin comes in a natural cherry flavor with no artificial ingredients and helps promote a tranquil sleep so you can wake up feeling refreshed, revitalized and ready for the day. If you want to look good and feel good, L-Carnitine can assist in boosting the body’s fat metabolism and supports heart health. The supplement is laboratory tested and guaranteed quality also plays an essential role in making fatty acids available for muscle tissue, which improves exercise performance and recovery. Ginkgo Biloba comes in easy-to-swallow capsules that are convenient to take daily and can help you achieve a sharper mind and memory by supporting effective brain function and mental alertness and addressing mild memory impairments associated with aging. Fish Oil that contains omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA is considered “good” fat that aids in maintaining triglyceride levels within a normal range and reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. Purified to eliminate mercury to get only the purest ingredients, fish oil is odorless and enteric coated to minimize fishy burps. The post ‘Live Bountifully’ with These Five Supplements appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pupil started deadly Guyana dorm fire over confiscated phone: source
The weekend school dormitory blaze that killed 19 minors in central Guyana is believed to have been started by a disgruntled pupil angry at having her mobile phone confiscated, a government source told AFP on Tuesday. Sunday's inferno gutted the building in the regional capital of Mahdia, which housed girls aged 11-12 and 16-17. Some are still hospitalized. An official police report confirmed that "a female student is suspected of having set the devastating fire because her cellular phone was taken away." The government source, speaking anonymously, said the teenage pupil in question had admitted to the arson attack and was under police guard at the district hospital in Mahdia. Police are seeking advice on whether to charge her, the official said. On Monday, Guyana Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken had already stated that investigators believed the fire was "maliciously set." According to the government source, students aren't allowed to have phones in the dormitory. After the staff took away the girl's phone, she "threatened the same night that she will burn down the building and everybody heard her," the government source said. The official said that minutes later the girl went to the bathroom area and sprayed insecticide on a curtain before lighting a match. Several pupils had recounted the same version of events, the official said. The girls were locked in for the night, and a house mistress told police that in her panic she could not find the front door key. The building had metal bars on the windows preventing pupils from escaping through them. The house mistress "locks up every night at nine o'clock to ensure the girls don't get away from the building," the official said. "According to the female students, they were asleep and were awakened by screams," said the police report. Despite efforts by other students to extinguish the blaze, the official said the fire quickly swept through the wooden ceiling and eventually engulfed the entire building. Some pupils, including the girl who allegedly started the fire, managed to escape when some men broke down a door. "Upon checking, they saw fire/smoke in the bathroom area, which quickly spread in the building, causing several students to receive burns to their bodies and smoke inhalation, while several managed to escape," the police report said. The police report said there were 57 pupils in the dormitory, which was "a one-flat concrete building measuring about 100 feet by 40 feet, with several windows, all grilled, and five doors." Firefighters did not arrive on the scene until 25 minutes after the fire took hold. The house mistress' son apparently also died in the fire. Thirteen young girls and a boy died in the building, while five more pupils died later at the hospital. As well as the dead, around 20 children were taken to hospital. Seven remain hospitalized, with two in critical condition, according to a hospital source. Six autopsies performed so far revealed the minors died from smoke inhalation and burns, according to the police. The other 13 unrecognizable bodies were being transported to the capital, Georgetown, for DNA testing to confirm their identities. National security advisor Gerry Gouveia said that a forensic team from Barbados had arrived in Guyana to help with the identification. Another team from the United States is expected. Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said that Cuba also offered to provide medical support. Guyana, with a population of 800,000, is South America's only English-speaking nation. It is a former Dutch and British colony, which recently discovered it holds the world's largest per-capita oil reserves. The post Pupil started deadly Guyana dorm fire over confiscated phone: source appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Of warm summer nights and cool, soft sleep fabric
Sleep is a luxury, and it’s the reward waiting for you at the end of a long, demanding hard day’s work. When we finally sink into our beds and lay our weary heads and shoulders on our pillows, we yearn for nothing more than to drift into a restful slumber that will recharge us physically and mentally so that we wake up refreshed and full of energy. In our desire for a good night’s sleep, the myths, tips and tricks have most likely outnumbered the actual hours of naps that we’ve clocked in. Finding the right temperature, setting up just the right amount of light and even playing soothing sounds or spraying calming scents are efforts. But the secret to the best sleep ever is as close to you as a second skin. Think fabric. Linen & Homes has developed sustainable bedding woven from 100-percent cooling bamboo viscose. The result: lightweight sheets that are three times softer than cotton sheets. And while you slide into your buttery sheets, here are more benefits from bamboo. They’re naturally cooling. Bamboo fibers regulate your body’s temperature and even the temperature around you. They do not retain heat, so you stay cool. Its moisture-wicking properties mean it is breathable, which reduces hot flashes and night sweats. They’re sustainable. Bamboo is an eco-friendly alternative fiber source — it grows faster and can still reproduce after a harvest, requiring less water. They’re hypoallergenic and anti-microbial. Both are great features when you have sensitive skin! It is free from allergens, dust mites, and bacteria. The anti-microbial properties also mean the bamboo plant does not need pesticides, so that’s zero chemicals for you to worry about. Dream suite If you haven’t already, it’s time to switch and sleep in sustainable fabric. At the Linen & Homes Dream Suite, their new showroom along Perea Street in Legaspi Village, Makati City, you can go ahead and see and feel the attainable luxury and quality of the sustainable fabric that goes into each of their products. Run your hands across the smooth sheets and pillowcases, feel the buttery soft blankets between your fingers and even try on a weighted blanket to see if it’s for you. The beds are inviting and set up entirely in their range of products — from the covers to the mattress toppers and protectors. In another corner, you’ll also find sleepwear — pajamas, loungewear and robes made to feel soft yet durable and with the perfect amount of stretch for the luxuriously comfortable sleep that you deserve. And even towels are also made from 100-percent eco-friendly bamboo terry, loomed to 700 grams per square meter, so it’s a perfect combination of softness, durability and absorbency. All this, as if to say even the art of getting ready for bed — a nice bath, comfy clothes — is the perfect lead-up to falling into soft sheets and fast asleep. The venue was created as a haven for all things sleep — conducive enough to try the fabric, you can sit on a corner of the bed and find yourself inching your way up to the pillows. You can mix and match the colors and prints, decide on softness, smoothness, and weight, and choose sleepwear to complete the experience. The post Of warm summer nights and cool, soft sleep fabric appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»