DSWD called out for P83-billion unused funds
The vice chairman of the House committee on appropriations on Friday appealed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to spend over P83 billion in unused funds for typhoon victims before their validity expires at the start of 2021......»»
BDO funds 28 green projects from P52.7 billion bond proceeds
Around 28 green projects benefitted from the first ASEAN sustainability bond issuance of BDO Unibank Inc. in January 2022, bolstering the bank’s sustainability commitment......»»
PLDT-Sky Cable merger unplugged
Telco giant PLDT Inc. will no longer pursue its P6.75-billion buyout of Sky Cable Corp., marking the second time a deal between the two was called off......»»
Cliffhanger
One of the challenges of operating a convenience store is theft by shoplifters. In the United States alone, the losses of small city retail stores were estimated at over $94 billion in 2021, Bloomberg reported. Washington State recorded the highest retail store losses from theft in the country, according to the National Retail Federation. Local stores have installed security cameras, motion sensors, and inventory control systems to help prevent shoplifting, an NRF survey showed. It remains to be seen if such high-tech security measures work, but location and size are definitely effective in discouraging shoplifters for one remote convenience store in China. The tiny wooden store at the Shiniuzhai Scenic Area in the Chinese province of Hunan is only two square meters. Opened in 2018, the store recently trended online after a popular military blogger with 889,400 followers posted on the popular Chinese social network Weibo a photo with the caption: “The most inconvenient convenience store,” CNN reported. Few customers are served by the store but not because of its limited offerings. It just so happens to be located along a route less traveled called via ferrata. The pathway for climbers consists of steel bars driven into the mountainside to serve as steps and metal anchors for fastening climbing ropes. In any case, the store is convenient for adventurers summiting the mountain, as they can get a water refill or buy a beverage for hydration while perched on the side of a vertical cliff. At the same time, the store looks inconvenient for its sole attendant as it hangs halfway to the top of the cliff, 120 meters from the ground, with its floor supported only by steel brackets bolted to the cliffside. Moreover, restocking requires the storekeeper to pull up supplies from the ground with a rope, according to Oddity Central. To others, inconvenient is an understatement for the store hanging from a cliff. Scary should be a more accurate description......»»
Restore P6 billion slashed from SUC budget, Senate asked
eachers and students of state universities and colleges yesterday called on the Senate to restore the P6 billion slashed from SUCs’ budget for 2024 and instead realign some P9 billion in confidential and intelligence funds of several government agencies to the education sector......»»
China bolsters ‘patriotic education’ with new law
China has adopted a new law strengthening so-called patriotic education, state media said, the latest step in President Xi Jinping's drive to reassert the Communist Party's ideology in the country's classrooms. A crackdown on the highly lucrative world of for-profit private tutoring in 2021 was also seen as part of efforts to reassert ruling party control over the education system. The moves banned tutoring firms from hiring overseas teachers, with critics saying it was cutting off Chinese children from outside influences. The new law, which comes into effect on January 1 and was approved on Tuesday, will "strengthen patriotic education in the new era" and seek to impart a "patriotic spirit" in China's youth, according to state-run news agency Xinhua. A Xinhua commentary hailing the law's adoption by Beijing's top lawmaking body said that education had been "facing challenges" recently. "Some people are at a loss about what is patriotism," the commentary read. It attacked "the influences of some social thoughts, such as historical nihilism" -- a term often employed by Beijing's leadership to condemn accounts that run contrary to official rhetoric about the party. The law contains provisions already included in other legislation, the commentary said, including those banning "insulting the national flag and distorting or denying heroes' deeds and spirit". Zhao Leji, China's top lawmaker, said the law would help the country in "forging a mighty force" to build a "strong" nation, Xinhua reported. Education has long been used by the Communist Party to boost its legitimacy in the eyes of China's 1.4 billion people. Much of its narrative centers on its role in conquering absolute poverty and asserting China's position in a hostile international climate. But conspicuously absent are detailed discussions of the party's role in instigating China's bloody Cultural Revolution and Great Famine, in which millions died. The post China bolsters ‘patriotic education’ with new law appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Govt. to boost agri, fishery sectors
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday underscored the need to address the systemic issues plaguing Philippine agriculture for years due to the longstanding neglect of this sector. During his speech at the 70th anniversary of the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) in Quezon City, Marcos Jr said the welfare of farmers and fisherfolk has been forgotten for decades, dating back to the inception of agricultural reform during his father and namesake's tenure. "We have a significant amount of work ahead of us because we need to fix the entire agricultural system that has been neglected for a long time, perhaps since the start of agricultural reform, during (the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s) time," Marcos Jr. said. "Now, many changes have occurred, the world has changed, and it has revolved several times. Therefore, we need to examine the needs of our farmers and fishermen to improve their lives because we often hear that we need to increase our yield, improve our harvest, and our productivity," he added. The latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that agricultural production in the country decreased by 1.3 percent during the year's second quarter. The figures unveiled by the PSA showed that the production value in agriculture and fisheries, calculated at constant 2018 prices, totaled P427.69 billion, a decline from the P433.10 billion recorded during the same period the previous year. Minimum wages for agricultural laborers in the Philippines vary by region, ranging from P306 in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to P573 in the National Capital Region. These wage rates, determined by tripartite boards, differ based on the specific region. “But let's not forget that the livelihood of our farmers and fishermen should also be taken care of and improved because that is our goal for all our farmers and fishermen,” Marcos said. Marcos emphasized the pressing need for his administration to boost the agricultural sector, with more than P92 billion set aside for upcoming agri-fisheries projects next year. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture has allotted P4.73 billion to improve large-scale agriculture and fishery mechanization and modernization, aiming to decrease post-harvest losses and cost-effectively enhance farmers' yields. However, the President underlined the enormity of the task ahead and called upon the public for their support and collaboration. "So, this is a massive task. That's why we need your help because the government alone cannot do all of this. We need your diligence, we need your advice because you are the ones facing the problems in agriculture that we are going through now,” Marcos said. “Rest assured, your government is here to do everything in its power to assist our farmers in producing a bountiful harvest, catching enough fish for our fellow citizens, and selling these products at prices affordable to our people,” Marcos added. The post Govt. to boost agri, fishery sectors appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Israel aims to crush Hamas but vague on Gaza’s post-war future
Israel is determined to crush Hamas but has said little about what would replace its rule in Gaza after the war, with observers expecting Washington will play a decisive role. "One thing is clear: the Gaza Strip will not be ruled by Hamas once this war is over," Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy told AFP as Israel's military steps up strikes in preparation for a widely-expected ground offensive. In the wake of the 7 October attacks, when militants from the Palestinian Islamist movement began a deadly cross-border assault that has killed 1,400 people, Israel has laid out just one objective: "Destroying Hamas". Since then, it has embarked on a brutal retaliatory bombing campaign, which Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says has now killed more than 5,000 people. Despite four previous wars with Gaza's Hamas rulers -- in 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2021 -- Israel has never before threatened to completely overthrow the movement which rules this tiny territory of 2.4 million people. The territory, which has been languishing under an Israeli and Egyptian blockade since Hamas took control in 2007, has since October 7 suffered a spiraling humanitarian crisis, largely deprived of water, food and other basic supplies and more than a million people displaced. Although Israel withdrew its soldiers and settlers from Gaza in 2005, ending an occupation that began in 1967, the international community considers it responsible for the tiny territory's primary needs -- energy, food and medicine. 'Handing over the keys' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called it a "do or die" war. And his government is hoping to end all responsibility for Gaza as part of a "new regional reality" it hopes will emerge after the war. After the current air strikes and action inside Gaza, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said a "third phase" would involve "the removal of Israel’s responsibility for life in the Gaza Strip, and the establishment of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel". But no minister talks about Gaza's future government. And nobody has raised the possibility of a new Israeli occupation of the enclave, the military and financial burden of such an eventuality being too high to bear. "We are discussing possibilities with our partners," said government spokesman Levy. Israel wants to "hand over the keys" to a third party, a foreign ministry source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. According to Eitan Shamir, a former Israeli government security specialist and now director of Jerusalem's Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, Washington will have a decisive say in Gaza's future. The US, he said, already has an "overview" role in Israel's action against Hamas. "The favourite option of the Americans and Israelis would be an international structure with Palestinian Authority, with Saudi funding, for example," Shamir told AFP, saying it could include US and European administrative help. Regional players silent US President Joe Biden has given Netanyahu strong support, visiting Israel last week and warning other regional players not to get involved while lining up almost $15 billion in military aid, even if he has warned Israel against letting its "rage" go too far. But Washington has also not been clear about how it sees Gaza's future. "Something needs to be found that ensures Hamas can't do this again but also doesn't reverse to an Israeli governance of Gaza which they do not want," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CBS television on Sunday. "There are different ideas out there about what could follow and all of that needs to be worked, even as Israel is dealing with the current threat." The Israeli foreign ministry source raised Egypt as a possible saviour, although Cairo has resisted decades of pressure to take a greater role. Egypt and Jordan are deeply concerned about the war unleashing a new flood of Palestinian refugees. No Arab or Muslim state has so far proposed an intervention. One option supported by Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid is for Mahmud Abbas' Palestinian Authority to take control. The authority already cooperates with Israel in running parts of the occupied West Bank, but the ageing Palestinian leader has faced growing criticism since the war began. But a report by the International Crisis Group said there was "little hope that the already deeply unpopular PA could return to Gaza on the back of an Israeli invasion and not be treated as an enemy. "Moreover, it is not clear that Israel would want the West Bank and Gaza under a single authority," the think tank said. The post Israel aims to crush Hamas but vague on Gaza’s post-war future appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PCSO ask lawmakers to toughen laws vs illegal lottery firms
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Mel Robles, called out lawmakers on Monday to toughen the law against Illegal lottery firms. Robles personally led the filing of charges at Mandaluyong Prosecutors Office against individuals behind the four firms engaged in unauthorized online lottery operations. “I am calling out the attention of the lawmakers to toughen the law. Maybe others see that they can handle the penalty but we’ll see. Even if it’s light, we will still pursue the cases against them,” Robles said. Robles added that PCSO is losing billions of pesos in revenue because of illegal operations perpetrated by the suspects. “We are serious about this. We will prosecute and imprison everyone associated with this illegal operation to stop them,” he said. The PCSO stated that PayMaya reportedly remitted billions to a company operating an illegal online lottery. “A payment platform, like PayMaya, reported that they were able to remit about P4.7 billion to a company that was operating the Illegal lotto. It is also included in the complaint affidavit,” he said. The criminal complaints were filed against four companies, Eplayment Corporation, Paymero Technologies Limited, GlobalComRCI International, and Blockchain Smart-Tech Co. I.T. Consultancy. The complaints were prompted by an investigation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation, which revealed that the mentioned companies were responsible for the ownership, operation, and administration of Pakilotto and Surelotto. The companies reportedly misused the PCSO’s name, logo, and various lottery games, soliciting and accepting bets from the public through their unauthorized mobile application and websites. Robles said that based on their investigation, they have found out that the alleged suspects for Illegal online lottery are operating in the cities of Quezon and Cebu. “We found out one in NCR, in Quezon City, the other is in Cebu,” he said. PCSO reported that Eplayment, which operated under the now-defunct website ‘Pakilotto’, was soliciting and accepting bets from the public at an inflated price of P30 per ticket, a 50% markup compared to the standard P20 lotto ticket. Meanwhile, Surelotto, a similar mobile app, sold tickets online for P25, a 25% increase from the regular lotto price. Prizes of smaller denominations are allegedly directly deposited into the winner’s registered bank account, while jackpot prizes require winners to visit the Surelotto office in person. The complaint-affidavit states that the owners, directors, and/or officers of Paymero, Eplayment, GlobalComRMCI, and Blockchain, as owners, operators, and/or administrators of Pakilotto and Sukilotto, have committed Usurpation of Authority under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code, a violation of R.A. No. 1169, as amended, and a violation of Presidential Decree No. 1602, as amended by Republic Act No. 9287, in connection with Executive Order No. 13, Series of 2017. Robles emphasized that PCSO remains fully committed to preserving the integrity and legitimacy of its lottery games, ensuring fair treatment and protection for the public. The post PCSO ask lawmakers to toughen laws vs illegal lottery firms appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The Israel-Hamas military balance
Israel has one of the best-resourced militaries in the world, heavily supported by Washington. In Hamas, it faces a highly trained armed group with powerful regional allies. With both sides poised for an Israeli ground offensive in the wake of the deadly attack on Israel by Hamas on 7 October, here is an overview of their military resources. Israel The Israel Defense Forces number 169,500, of which 126,000 are army, according to Britain's International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). On top of that, it has 400,000 reservists, of which 360,000 have been mobilized since the Hamas attack. Israel also has some of the most technologically advanced defenses in the world, including the "Iron Dome" anti-missile system. IISS says it has around 1,300 tanks and other armored vehicles, 345 fighter jets, and a vast arsenal of artillery, drones, and state-of-the-art submarines. Though not a declared nuclear state, Israel's nuclear weapons cache is an open secret and the Arms Control Association puts its number of warheads at 90. US ally Washington provides $3.8 billion per year to Israel in military aid under a 10-year agreement running until 2028. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday that he had activated deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery and additional Patriot battalions "throughout the region". He added that he had put "an additional number of forces on prepare-to-deploy orders ... to increase their readiness and ability to quickly respond as required." Washington had already delivered increased munitions to Israel and deployed two aircraft carriers to the eastern Mediterranean -- the USS Gerald Ford, the world's largest warship, and the USS Eisenhower -- to deter not just Hamas but also its allies Iran and the Lebanese Islamist movement Hezbollah. The US military on Tuesday ordered 2,000 personnel to prepare for deployment to the Middle East as a show of force. Hamas Hamas has a diverse arsenal built up over many years. Its armed forces, called the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, numbers 15,000 men according to IISS, though it notes that Arab media have put the figure at 40,000. They have heavy weapons obtained from across the Middle East -- particularly Iran, Syria, and Libya -- and have also sourced handguns and assault rifles from China and other regions. It also has a variety of locally made, improvised explosives and Western sources say enough drones, mines, anti-tank guided missiles, grenade launchers, and mortar shells to hold out for a long period, though precise figures are unavailable. The majority of its rockets are also locally manufactured and technologically rudimentary. Hezbollah There have already been exchanges across the border between Israel and Lebanon, where the Iran-backed Hezbollah is based. "Hezbollah can tie up IDF resources without having to fully commit to the fight, instead relying on occasional rocket or missile strikes to prevent the Israelis from growing complacent and forcing the IDF to commit manpower and materiel along the northern border," said the Soufan Center, a US think tank. In 2021, the group claimed to have 100,000 fighters. The Institute for National Security Studies, an Israeli think tank, says the number is half that. "Most Hezbollah militants are not full-time fighters but rather engage in militant activity as and when required by the group's commanders," according to Elliot Chapman of the British defense analysis firm Janes. Hezbollah mobilized 40,000 men at the outbreak of Syria's civil war, he noted. INSS says the group's arsenal counts 150,000 to 200,000 rockets and missiles, including "hundreds" of precision rockets. "Strategically, Hezbollah's rocket arsenal is the group's most significant capability for fighting Israel," Chapman said. Iran Since its Islamic revolution in 1979, Iran has made support for Palestinians one of the pillars of its ideology. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned Sunday that "The region is like a powderkeg ... I warn the United States and its proxy (Israel) that if they do not immediately stop the crime against humanity and genocide in Gaza, anything is possible at any moment and the region will go out of control". Western analysts minimize the threat of Iran becoming directly involved and point rather to its support from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Huthi rebels in Yemen -- a so-called "axis of resistance" of Israel's enemies. Raz Zimmt, of INSS, said Iran currently had "no interest in Hezbollah engaging in an all-out war" that might threaten such a key "strategic asset". But he added that Tehran's hand could be forced by "an Israeli ground invasion, and especially Israeli military success, which will threaten the very survival of Hamas and/or its ability to maintain effective control over the Gaza Strip". The post The Israel-Hamas military balance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar: Scaling the realms of social responsibility
There is something quite riveting about Ana Margarita “Ginggay” Hontiveros-Malvar. Her gaze direct, her rhetoric fluid, she shares stories of immersing in conflict areas, of being in Leyte post-“Yolanda” and in Marawi post-violence, and within the same conversation, of her corporate hat within the “power, banking, food, land and infrastructure sectors.” Not so much as a vein mars her refined features. If not for those eyes, which reveal a depth of thought and feeling, hers would likely be a face some might take as just another classic beauty. Then again, her relationship with similarly strong-minded women cannot be discounted. She says, from the get-go, that she would rather not talk about herself or her sisters (Risa, the senator, and Pia, the broadcast news personality). Unlike them, she took the private route, but now unwittingly finds herself in the limelight. The Aboitiz Group, for which she handles a vital role, has many exciting things to share, Ginggay says. Smiling, she proceeds to rattle off some of these pillars — in education (“to create future leaders” who are solutions-oriented), in climate action and in enterprise and jobs. “For over 35 years, we’ve delivered probably over 5,000 CSR (corporate social responsibility) projects, spread over all the business units all over the Philippines. We’ve partnered with something like 600,000 individuals and organizations and we’ve invested the amount of P5.1 billion in all these different programs. We’re trying now to reevaluate what it is that’s next for Aboitiz Foundation, and then how we can serve our stakeholders better, and what are some of the things that we want to scale. Maybe to create a bigger impact in the country, help the country more, I think is what we want to do.” In the pipeline toward this goal of creating a bigger impact on development, Aboitiz Foundation is seeking more collaboration — “more conversations between organizations that are doing a lot of work already here in the country, and probably having a stronger voice and then putting that voice out there,” she enthuses. Clearly, Ginggay is in her element in the world she inhabits — at the heart of an “old legacy conglomerate,” her words, that now sees the need to transform along with the climactic times. “I lead a department called Reputation Management. We cover brands, media, corporate communications, sustainability — the ESG (environmental, social and governance) journey for the Aboitiz Group. We provide strategy, direction, governance and then very recently, just this year, we have our CSR arm which is called Aboitiz Foundation. It was recently also placed under us. Because at the end of the day, Aboitiz Foundation is like the big ‘S’ in our ESG — it’s really all about the social impact, the social good that we want to continue,” Ginggay tells the DAILY TRIBUNE in an interview on Pairfect. Ginggay is currently vice president for Reputation Management and Sustainability at Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., a holding company of the Aboitiz Group. For the Aboitiz Foundation, meanwhile, she works to help “scale its impactful programs for systemic change.” The mother of two is also communications lead for the Philippines’ Private Sector Advisory Council and team leader for APEC Business Advisory Council, which are areas where the visionary leader, Aboitiz Group chief executive officer Sabin Aboitiz, holds key roles. Grateful her children are adults now, Ginggay keeps her nurturing side on overdrive with her current responsibilities. “Aboitiz is a group,” she emphasizes. “And as a family of organizations, our priority has always been about people. That’s always been our passion, whether it’s the well-being of our own employees or the well-being of communities where we have our businesses. It’s really always been about people. “We don’t feel it’s right that a business does well and then the community that it’s in doesn’t. It cannot be like that — it has to go hand in hand. So, we’ve always been like that. Very people-centric. I think what we’re trying to change now in our transformation or evolution is to see how can we use more of technology and innovation and balance it with our people-centric approach. So maybe we can be a little bit faster, be better, be more data-driven in the kinds of things that we’re doing,” she says. And has her heart always been in this kind of work — one she freely admits is demanding and sometimes even emotion-driven? “My dad was pretty laidback. And he usually let us do what we want to do as long as you know, like, please do well in school, and things like that,” Ginggay recalls. “My mom was very attentive to us and she just wanted to make sure that aside from doing well in studies, you also had to do well in something else. And then, very ingrained, I think, in our DNA, I think as a family also, is that aspect of service, whether it’s public service, or you know, just service in general — whether it’s to your community or to your family, or your immediate set of, I suppose, stakeholders. So, it’s almost been like part of my DNA or something like that, or probably my character as well.” With so much on her plate, and a daily grind that consists of steering various teams to ensure the conglomerate is moving toward its goals smoothly, Ginggay makes sure she takes time — even just 30 minutes a day, she says — disconnecting from it all and connecting with herself. “Our days are very fast — they are jam-packed with schedules, meetings, a lot of stakeholder engagement activities,” she says. “There’s a lot of collaboration also that goes on between our team and the rest of the business units in the Aboitiz Group, and then a lot of meetings as well with the board just to check in on directions and things like that. It’s very fast-paced. It’s very demanding. It takes a lot of time and I think a lot of commitment… and this is what I see from all our team leaders and team members — people are really passionate about what they do. I think that’s important.” For Ginggay, certainly, such passion is necessary to lead the company toward its goals including “delivering on communications and brand that are integral to the transformation of the group into the Philippines’ first techglomerate.” Techglomerate, she explains, “is a dream in Aboitiz Group, something that we have really been working hard on for the past few years. We kind of coined the term from ‘technology’ and ‘conglomerate,’ putting it together — and it is really about trying to be more technologically advanced but we also want to incubate exciting businesses which are more in the techspace or, say, data science. To incubate all these new companies and hopefully lead in certain industries… and I think at the end of the day we realized we have a much greater responsibility to the country.” And what’s next? “We realized that to stay ahead, we also need to transform… and I suppose that transformation should happen first and foremost at the level of the person. We’re also really focused on building a new kind of culture for the Aboitiz Group, still very much rooted in our core values of responsibility, innovation, teamwork, integrity. But now, probably trying to imbibe more of the behaviors like being more entrepreneurial, trying to be more articulate, being better storytellers, being more open to new things, being more data-driven in our decisions, you know, and a lot of other things that we’re trying to do in terms of helping to develop this new culture.” In her capacity as first vice president at Aboitiz, as well as in her other roles — senior adviser for Agripreneurship at Go Negosyo, for example — Ginggay keeps her “eye on the prize” no matter what challenges come along. This “multi-disciplined, results-oriented and multi-awarded leader,” as she is described in the Women of the Future, may prefer to keep herself below the radar, but Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar will certainly not stay unnoticed. The post Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar: Scaling the realms of social responsibility appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Mind-blowing’: Astronomers spot most distant radio burst yet
Eight billion years ago, something happened in a distant galaxy that sent an incredibly powerful blast of radio waves hurtling through the universe. It finally arrived at Earth on June 10 last year and -- though it lasted less than a thousandth of a second -- a radio telescope in Australia managed to pick up the signal. This flash from the cosmos was a fast radio burst (FRB), a little-understood phenomenon first discovered in 2007. Astronomers revealed on Thursday that this particular FRB was more powerful and came from much farther away than any previously recorded, having travelled eight billion light years from when the universe was less than half its current age. Exactly what causes FRBs has become one of astronomy's great mysteries. There was early speculation that they could be radio communication beamed from some kind of extraterrestrial, particularly because some of the signals repeat. However scientists believe the prime suspects are distant dead stars called magnetars, which are the most magnetic objects in the universe. Ryan Shannon, an astrophysicist at Australia's Swinburne University, told AFP it was "mind-blowing" that the ASKAP radio telescope in Western Australia had spotted the radio burst last year. 'Lucky' "We were lucky to be looking at that little spot in the sky for that one millisecond after the eight billion years the pulse had travelled to catch it," said Shannon, co-author of a study describing the find in the journal Science. The FRB easily beat the previous record holder, which was from around five billion light years away, he added. The pulse was so powerful that -- in under a millisecond -- it released as much energy as the Sun emits over 30 years. Shannon said that there could be hundreds of thousands of FRBs flashing in the sky every day. But around a thousand have been detected so far, and scientists have only been able to work out where just 50 came from -- which is crucial to understanding them. To find out where the latest radio burst -- dubbed FRB 20220610A -- came from, the researchers turned to the Very Large Telescope in Chile. It found that the signal originated from a particularly clumpy galaxy that may have been merging with one or two other galaxies, which could in turn have created the bizarre magnetar. Shannon emphasised that this was just the team's "best hunch". FRBs have been detected coming from unexpected places, including from within our own Milky Way galaxy, so "the jury's still out" on what causes them, he said. Aside from trying to uncover the secrets of FRBs, scientists hope to use them as a tool to shed light on another of the universe's mysteries. Where's the matter? Just five percent of the universe is made up of normal matter -- what everything you can see is made out of -- while the rest is thought to be composed of the little understood dark matter and dark energy. But when astronomers count up all the stars and galaxies in the universe, more than half of that five percent of normal matter is "missing", Shannon said. Scientists believe this missing matter is spread out in thin filaments connecting galaxies called the cosmic web, however it is so diffuse current telescopes cannot see it. That's where fast radio bursts come in. They are "imprinted with the signature of all the gas they travel through", Shannon said. Some FRB wavelengths are slightly slowed down when travelling through this matter, giving scientists a way to measure it. This could allow them work out how much matter is in the cosmic web -- and therefore, the total weight of the universe. For the record-breaking FRB, Shannon said the team had noticed signals of "extra materials" the burst had passed through on its journey through the universe. But to use this information to get a proper measurement of the universe's weight, hundreds more FRBs will likely need to be observed, he added. With much more advanced radio telescopes expected to go online soon, astronomers hope that will happen relatively quickly. Liam Connor, an astrophysicist at the California Institute of Technology not involved in the research, told AFP that future radio telescopes will find tens of thousands of FRBs, allowing scientists to weigh all the matter "across cosmic epochs". The post ‘Mind-blowing’: Astronomers spot most distant radio burst yet appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
COA flags BIR, SSS over lapses in wage subsidy program
The Commission on Audit has called out the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Social Security System over lapses in the implementation of the P51-billion Small Business Wage Subsidy Program, resulting in failure to assist 41 percent or 717,442 target employees who were unable work due to strict community lockdowns at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020......»»
War in Israel a new front in US election campaign
The surprise Hamas assault on Israel has opened up a new front in the US election campaign as Republicans accuse President Joe Biden of being soft in his defense of Israel and in his handling of Iran. "I think this is a great opportunity for our candidates to contrast where Republicans have stood with Israel -- time and time again –- and Joe Biden has been weak," Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, said Saturday on Fox News. Americans will choose a new president and control of Congress in November 2024, with Biden, 80, seeking another term in a race that looks likely to pit him against former president Donald Trump as the Republican candidate. Trump used the stunning Hamas attack by land, sea, and air at dawn Saturday to target Biden. “The Israeli attack was made because we are perceived as weak and ineffective and with a very weak leader,” he said. Other Republican presidential hopefuls, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence, also dismissed Biden as weak. US stands with Israel A stern-faced Biden gave a short speech from the White House on Saturday to stress firm US support for Israel. "Today, the people of Israel are under attack, orchestrated by a terrorist organization, Hamas," Biden said. "In this moment of tragedy, I want to say to them and to the world and to terrorists everywhere that the United States stands with Israel. We will not ever fail to have their back." Republicans zeroed in on a recent decision by the Biden administration to release $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue frozen in South Korea in exchange for the release of five Americans who were being held prisoner in Iran. Tehran is the main sponsor of Hamas, which the United States and other countries classify as a terrorist group. Senator Rick Scott, for instance, said that in unfreezing that money -- it was transferred to a bank account in Qatar for use only for humanitarian purposes -- the United States had in effect financed the Hamas attack, which won praise from Iran. That charge angered the White House, which called it a "shameful lie" and insisted that the money was tightly controlled in how it could be used and none of it had been spent. A senior administration official speaking to reporters on Saturday accused Republicans of spreading disinformation. Help from congress The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed it was too early to say whether Iran was directly involved in Hamas' large-scale attack, but that there was "no doubt Hamas is funded, equipped and armed by Iran and others." Aside from the 2024 election, the Republican attacks pose political problems for Biden. The United States already provides billions of dollars a year for Israel but Biden will need Congress if he wants to send more now that Israel has declared itself at war with Hamas. That means Biden has to work with the Republicans, who are blocking passage of a yearly budget. Making matters worse, the House of Representatives is in chaos and limbo now because of the ouster of its speaker, Kevin McCarthy, last week in a revolt by a handful of far right Republicans. The White House would also like the Senate to approve Jack Lew soon to be the new American ambassador to Israel. His nomination was announced more than a month ago. This will require goodwill from the Republican minority in that chamber. The post War in Israel a new front in US election campaign appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go shows full support to Filipino athletes in 19th Asian Games
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, articulated his deep sense of pride for Filipino athletes participating in the 19th Asian Games being held in Hangzhou City, China, from 23 September to 8 October. The senator personally traveled to China to show his full support for the Philippine delegation early this week. He also attended live competitions, including the recent match between Gilas Pilipinas and Iran at Zijingang Gymnasium, Zhejiang University on 3 October. “Nakapanood din tayo ng ilang live competitions, gaya na lang ng nakaraang laban ng Gilas Pilipinas kontra sa Iran," he said. “Masarap talaga ang pakiramdam bilang isang Pilipino dahil muling nagwagi ang pambato natin sa basketball na Gilas Pilipinas,” he shared. Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, expressed his appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to the athletes, coaches, national sports associations and staff, as well as the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission and other agencies who worked hard to support the Philippine delegation. "Bilang chair ng Senate Committee on Sports, taus-puso kong pinupuri at pinasasalamatan ang mga manlalaro nating ibinibigay ang lahat para itaas ang bandera ng Pilipinas sa ginaganap na kumpetisyon," he said. Meanwhile, Go also congratulated Gilas Pilipinas for their historic win over China in the semifinals on October 4, which secured their spot in the gold medal match against Jordan. He praised Justin Brownlee for his clutch performance that led the team to a stunning comeback from a 20-point deficit. The senator also expressed his excitement for the upcoming gold medal match between Gilas Pilipinas and Jordan. He said he will be cheering for the team as they aim to win the country’s first-ever Asian Games gold in basketball. The match is scheduled for 6 October. Go then lauded jiu-jitsu fighter Margarita "Meggie" Ochoa for winning the second gold medal for the Philippines on 5 October. Ochoa defeated Balqees Abdulla of the United Arab Emirates in the final match of the women's –48 kg division. She joined pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena as the country's gold medalists in this edition of the Asian Games. “Samantala, ang boxer na si Eumir Marcial ay pasok na rin sa Asian Games finals matapos niyang ma-knockout ang Syrian boxer na si Ahmad Ghousoon sa men's 80kg weight class nitong October 4. Dahil dito, haharapin ni Eumir sa finals si Tanglatihan Tuohetaerbieke ng China para sa gold medal. Pasok na rin si Eumir sa 2024 Paris Olympics,” Go also mentioned. As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also been a strong advocate for increased funding for sports programs. He revealed that last year's proposed budget for the Philippine Sports Commission was approximately P200 million. However, he pushed for an additional P1 billion, thereby significantly enhancing the financial support for athletes in international competitions. "Dahil dito, nakapagbigay tayo ng pinansyal na suporta para sa mga atletang lumahok sa mga international competitions," he added. This move paved the way for the provision of financial support for athletes participating in international competitions, including the recent 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia and the ongoing Asian Games in China. Go also emphasized the importance of grassroots sports development, saying, “Tinututukan din natin ang grassroots sports development upang mahubog ang mga kabataan nasaan man sila sa bansa na nagnanais na sumabak sa mga pambansa at pandaigdigang palaro.” In line with this, he highlighted his role as the author and co-sponsor of RA 11470, which established the National Academy of Sports in New Clark City, Tarlac. "Ang NAS ay nagbibigay ng de-kalidad na edukasyon at sports training sa mga batang may potensyal na maging world-class athletes," he added. Additionally, Go filed SBN 423, or the Philippine National Games (PNG) Act, to institutionalize a national platform for athletes, especially the youth, to showcase their talents. "Sa pamamagitan ng PNG, mas maraming talento ang mabibigyan ng pagkakataon na makilala at mapabilang sa ating mga national team," he said. The senator also continues to support the implementation of sports clinics, community leagues, and the provision of sports equipment in rural areas. "Sabi ko nga palagi, ‘get into sports and stay away from drugs!’" he advised. Go called on all Filipinos to continue supporting and praying for all athletes competing in the Asian Games and other competitions. "Ang kanilang tagumpay ay tagumpay ng buong sambayanang Pilipino! Laban, Pilipinas! Ipakita natin ang puso ng Pilipino na lumalaban hanggang dulo!" he exclaimed. "Go, go, go for the gold!" he cheered. As of 5 October, the Philippines has two golds, one silver, and nine bronze medals in the ongoing Asian Games. The post Bong Go shows full support to Filipino athletes in 19th Asian Games appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Half of finance work could be AI by 2030
Dear Editor, The G.M.A. Integrated News unveiling of A.I. sportscasters Maia and Marco last 24 September captivated many people during the start of the National Collegiate Athletic Association or NCAA Season 99. This groundbreaking introduction sparked intense discussions on social media about Artificial Intelligence’s potential implications on journalism’s future. People expressed a mix of excitement and apprehension, highlighting the need for further exploration and understanding of AI’s role in shaping the field of journalism. As Artificial Intelligence advances at an unprecedented rate, it is not only in journalism where AI can automate work. According to McKinsey, by 2030, approximately half of the finance work could be automated. This automation will bring opportunities and challenges, as AI can streamline processes and improve efficiency. The finance areas that have already started to be automated are the banking and financial institutions, risk assessments, credit scoring, customer service, and market sentiment analysis. In banking and financial institutions, an AI called KAI-GPT can auto-detect risks, generate insights, and make financially literate recommendations. Launched on 31 May 2023, KAI-GPT is the world’s first banking-specific large language model designed to address the industry’s unique accuracy, transparency, trustworthiness, and customization needs. The KAI-GPT provides a human-like, financially literate response. Westpac, Australia’s first bank and oldest company serving more than 12 million customers, is in the process of implementing KAI. Meanwhile, in risk assessment, the tool DataRobot AI can simulate potential fraud scenarios and detect credit risks, fraud risks, and market volatility. Using predictive and generative DataRobot AI improves the technical ecosystem in Financial Services. Sanlam, Africa’s largest non-banking financial institution, uses DataRobot AI, resulting in more streamlined and transparent solutions, driving critical business value levers such as sales and client retention. In the finance area of credit scoring, the Personetics and AIO Logic can detect risk, determine rates, and structure customer loans. Personetics serves over 140 banks and financial institutions across 30 global markets, reaching 135 million banking customers. United Overseas Bank, a Singapore-based Banking and Financial Services organization with 24346 employees and revenues of $9790000.00 billion, uses Personetics. AIO Logic is well known as an AI for Automated Payment Management, Automated Balance Management, Automated Accounting, Complex Structures, Automated Invoicing, Automated Reporting and Analytics. These two credit scoring AI can also assess customers’ creditworthiness and set credit limits. In customer service, robo-advisors, chatbots, and virtual assistants provide a conversational system fit for financial planning assistance. Robo-advisors offer financial advice and limited human interaction, which appeal to Generation Z, who have virtual interactions with advisors and are increasing interest in novel assets like cryptocurrency. The AI is now also in market sentiment analysis, and Bloomberg G.P.T. shows how to automatically analyze news, articles, social media and other classified textual data. Launched on 30 March 2023, Bloomberg GPT is a significant language model with 50 billion parameters trained explicitly on a wide range of financial data. It can perform market sentiment analysis and even help manage investment portfolios. These advancements in AI technology have the potential to significantly streamline and automate many tasks in the finance industry, reducing the need for human intervention. The applications of generative AI in Finance will be widely seen in regulatory compliance and reporting, financial forecasting, portfolio optimization, anti-money laundering and algorithmic trading. However, it is essential to note that while AI can enhance efficiency and accuracy, it is not a substitute for human expertise and judgment. Human oversight and decision-making will still be crucial in navigating complex financial landscapes and ensuring AI technologies’ ethical and responsible use. Still, job displacement in finance may occur, and the need to upskill the workforce is now paramount. Arnel Lopez Cadeliña arnelcadelina@gmail.com The post Half of finance work could be AI by 2030 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
What are attoseconds? Nobel-winning physics explained
The Nobel Physics Prize was awarded on Tuesday to three scientists for their work on attoseconds, which are almost unimaginably short periods of time. Their work using lasers gives scientists a tool to observe and possibly even manipulate electrons, which could spur breakthroughs in fields such as electronics and chemistry, experts told AFP. How fast are attoseconds? Attoseconds are a billionth of a billionth of a second. To give a little perspective, there are around as many attoseconds in a single second as there have been seconds in the 13.8-billion-year history of the universe. Hans Jakob Woerner, a researcher at the Swiss university ETH Zurich, told AFP that attoseconds are "the shortest timescales we can measure directly". Why do we need such speed? Being able to operate on this timescale is important because these are the speeds at which electrons -- key parts of an atom -- operate. For example, it takes electrons 150 attoseconds to go around the nucleus of a hydrogen atom. This means the study of attoseconds has given scientists access to a fundamental process that was previously out of reach. All electronics are mediated by the motion of electrons -- and the current "speed limit" is nanoseconds, Woerner said. If microprocessors were switched to attoseconds, it could be possible to "process information a billion times faster," he added. How do you measure them? Franco-Swede physicist Anne L'Huillier, one of the three new Nobel laureates, was the first to discover a tool to pry open the world of attoseconds. It involves using high-powered lasers to produce pulses of light for incredibly short periods. Franck Lepine, a researcher at France's Institute of Light and Matter who has worked with L'Huillier, told AFP it was like "cinema created for electrons". He compared it to the work of pioneering French filmmakers the Lumiere brothers, "who cut up a scene by taking successive photos". John Tisch, a laser physics professor at Imperial College London, said that it was "like an incredibly fast, pulse-of-light device that we can then shine on materials to get information about their response on that timescale". How low can we go? All three of Tuesday's laureates at one point held the record for shortest pulse of light. In 2001, French scientist Pierre Agostini's team managed to flash a pulse that lasted just 250 attoseconds. L'Huillier's group beat that with 170 attoseconds in 2003. In 2008, Hungarian-Austrian physicist Ferenc Krausz more than halved that number with an 80-attosecond pulse. The current holder of the Guinness World Record for "shortest pulse of light" is Woerner's team, with a time of 43 attoseconds. The time could go as low as a few attoseconds using current technology, Woerner estimated. But he added that this would be pushing it. What could the future hold? Technology taking advantage of attoseconds has largely yet to enter the mainstream, but the future looks bright, the experts said. So far, scientists have mostly only been able to use attoseconds to observe electrons. "But what is basically untouched yet -- or is just really beginning to be possible -- is to control" the electrons, to manipulate their motion, Woerner said. This could lead to far faster electronics as well as potentially spark a revolution in chemistry. "We would not be limited to what molecules naturally do," but instead could "tailor them according to need," Woerner said. So-called "attochemistry" could lead to more efficient solar cells, or even the use of light energy to produce clean fuels, he added. The post What are attoseconds? Nobel-winning physics explained appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ukraine military to collapse without U.S. aid, experts warn
Defense and national security experts are sounding the alarm on the cutting of United States assistance to Ukraine’s military after the US Congress passed a stopgap budget law without funding for Kyiv. “It would be devastating for the Ukrainians” if US aid is halted, Mark Cancian, a senior advisor at the national security think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, said. “The Ukrainian military would weaken and then ultimately perhaps collapse,” though it “might be able to just hold on on the defensive,” Cancian said. The United States has committed more than $43 billion in security aid since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 — over half the total from all Western donors. It has supplied a vast arsenal to help Kyiv fight to regain territory seized by Russia, ranging from small arms ammunition and artillery rounds to vehicles, sophisticated rocket launchers, tanks and mine-clearing equipment. “Militaries in conflict need a continuous flow of weapons and supplies and munitions to replace what’s destroyed and gets used up,” Cancian said. The European Union is prepared to stand by Ukraine “for as long as it takes” and the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell reiterated this during the gathering of the bloc’s foreign ministers in Kyiv on Monday. Dozens of countries — especially in Europe — have provided military aid to Ukraine, and while they could increase support, picking up all the slack left by Washington would be a major long-term challenge. It would require a “years and decades-long effort to get Europe to a place where (it) could fully replace the US as a kind of military power, or a defense industrial power,” James Black, assistant director of the defense and security research group at RAND Europe, said. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin — who played a key role in forging an international coalition to back Ukraine, and then in coordinating assistance — called over the weekend for Congress to take action. Lawmakers should make good on “America’s commitment to provide urgently needed assistance to the people of Ukraine as they fight to defend their own country against the forces of tyranny,” Austin said in a statement. “America must live up to its word and continue to lead.” WITH AFP The post Ukraine military to collapse without U.S. aid, experts warn appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beyonce ‘Renaissance’ film to hit theaters in December
Beyonce over the weekend wrapped her much-touted Renaissance World Tour, a 56-show performance epic promoting her lauded album that pays homage to dance and disco. And it's on to the next one for the 42-year-old megastar, with her latest project "Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce" now slated for release December 1. It's not the first time Beyonce has released elaborate visual companions to her music. She called both her 2013 self-titled album and 2016's "Lemonade" visual albums. She's also released concert films, documentaries, and 2019's "Homecoming," which chronicled her headliner sets at Coachella. But this time she's shifting away from DVD or streaming-only releases, opting for a theatrical release a la Taylor Swift, whose Eras Tour concert film is poised to rule the box office when it is released later this month. Based on surveys conducted by the company QuestionPro, by the time both Swift and Beyonce have finished their blockbuster tours, they're expected to have generated a combined $9 billion in economic activity just in North America. According to a statement from concert promoter Live Nation, Beyonce's global run earned $579 million. Beyonce's film tracks her artistic journey over the course of her tour and is also expected to include behind-the-scenes footage of her and her family, including husband Jay-Z and their three children. "When I am performing, I am nothing but free," Beyonce says in the trailer for her film. "My goal for this tour was to create a place where everyone is free, and no one is judged." The post Beyonce ‘Renaissance’ film to hit theaters in December appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
What are attoseconds? Nobel-winning physics explained
The Nobel Physics Prize was awarded on Tuesday to three scientists for their work on attoseconds, which are almost unimaginably short periods of time. Their work using lasers gives scientists a tool to observe and possibly even manipulate electrons, which could spur breakthroughs in fields such as electronics and chemistry, experts told AFP. How fast are attoseconds? Attoseconds are a billionth of a billionth of a second. To give a little perspective, there are around as many attoseconds in a single second as there have been seconds in the 13.8-billion year history of the universe. Hans Jakob Woerner, a researcher at the Swiss university ETH Zurich, told AFP that attoseconds are "the shortest timescales we can measure directly". Why do we need such speed? Being able to operate on this timescale is important because these are the speeds at which electrons -- key parts of an atom -- operate. For example, it takes electrons 150 attoseconds to go around the nucleus of a hydrogen atom. This means the study of attoseconds has given scientists access to a fundamental process that was previously out of reach. All electronics are mediated by the motion of electrons -- and the current "speed limit" is nanoseconds, Woerner said. If microprocessors were switched to attoseconds, it could be possible to "process information a billion times faster," he added. How do you measure them? Franco-Swede physicist Anne L'Huillier, one of the three new Nobel laureates, was the first to discover a tool to pry open the world of attoseconds. It involves using high-powered lasers to produce pulses of light for incredibly short periods. Franck Lepine, a researcher at France's Institute of Light and Matter who has worked with L'Huillier, told AFP it was like "cinema created for electrons". He compared it to the work of pioneering French filmmakers the Lumiere brothers, "who cut up a scene by taking successive photos". John Tisch, a laser physics professor at Imperial College London, said that it was "like an incredibly fast, pulse-of-light device that we can then shine on materials to get information about their response on that timescale". How low can we go? All three of Tuesday's laureates at one point held the record for shortest pulse of light. In 2001, French scientist Pierre Agostini's team managed to flash a pulse that lasted just 250 attoseconds. L'Huillier's group beat that with 170 attoseconds in 2003. In 2008, Hungarian-Austrian physicist Ferenc Krausz more than halved that number with an 80-attosecond pulse. The current holder of the Guinness World Record for "shortest pulse of light" is Woerner's team, with a time of 43 attoseconds. The time could go as low as a few attoseconds using current technology, Woerner estimated. But he added that this would be pushing it. What could the future hold? Technology taking advantage of attoseconds has largely yet to enter the mainstream, but the future looks bright, the experts said. So far, scientists have mostly only been able to use attoseconds to observe electrons. "But what is basically untouched yet -- or is just really beginning to be possible -- is to control" the electrons, to manipulate their motion, Woerner said. This could lead to far faster electronics as well as potentially spark a revolution in chemistry. "We would not be limited to what molecules naturally do," but instead could "tailor them according to need," Woerner said. So-called "attochemistry" could lead to more efficient solar cells, or even the use of light energy to produce clean fuels, he added. The post What are attoseconds? Nobel-winning physics explained appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LNG a vital transition fuel, says Aboitiz Power
Industry players and government regulators should harness cost-effective liquefied natural gas or LNG as the so-called "transition fuel" in the near term to gradually displace coal and complement the variability of renewable energy. Speaking at a recent energy forum, Aboitiz Power Corp. Chief Finance Officer Liza Montelibano reiterated that the transition to clean energy should be gradual and well thought out. Otherwise, it will result in higher power prices. Montelibano pointed out that utilizing the present supply of natural gas, which is relatively cleaner than burning coal, to buy time and keep the grid stable while renewable and low-carbon technologies are being developed. “The realistic pace to do transition is underscored by the available technology that allows you to do it reliably and affordably. Given what is available today, we believe what is realistic is a practical and gradual approach that will allow for technology development,” Montelibano said. Locally, the Malampaya project is the only local facility that uses indigenous natural gas to reduce the country's oil imports. It has been powering up to 20 percent of Luzon’s total electricity requirements. It supplies natural gas to power four power generation plants in Batangas with a combined capacity of 2,011 megawatts or MW. Meanwhile, several projects, including First Gen Corp.'s integrated LNG and regasification terminal in Batangas province, are underway to easily bring in low-cost LNG from abroad into the country. The LNG facilities are a significant source of fuel diversification to complement the efforts of the Malampaya consortium to optimize the sustainability of the remaining indigenous gas in the Malampaya-Camago reservoir. The government set the target of a 35 percent share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix by 2035 and increased it further to 50 percent by 2040. However, it is still notable that despite an aggressive stance on clean energy utilization, the Philippines still heavily relies on coal. AboitizPower, which presently has the largest and most diversified local renewable energy platform in terms of installed capacity under its operational control, aims to support the government's goal by investing P190 billion until 2030 to have a portfolio of 9,200 MW evenly split between renewable energy and thermal sources. Close to 1,000 MW of renewable energy projects — including wind and solar farms and more geothermal capacities — are currently in the company's pipeline. The post LNG a vital transition fuel, says Aboitiz Power appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»