Gold dream! Olympic treble defeats South Africa 3-0 and qualifies for the quarter-finals in Tokyo 2020 – El Financiero
the Mexican soccer selection Manly managed to advance to the quarter-finals in Tokyo Olympics 2020 defeating his counterpart South Africa 3-0. Its opponent in the.....»»
Beijing 2008 Olympics: one world, one dream
For the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing advocated the idea of "One World, One Dream." However, the dream of the Chinese government is not the dream of everyone. In a vast social system long known for its tight control over its population, it's difficult for controllers and the controlled to share the same ideas.It had been a dream for Beijing to host the Olympic Games ever since the International Olympic Committee (.....»»
Asian qualifying results for 2026 FIFA World Cup
BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Following are Thursday's results in Asian qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico: Group A At Doha Qatar bt Kuwait 3-0 At Abha, Saudi Arabia Afghanistan tied India 0-0 Group B At Tokyo Japan bt DPR Korea 1-0 At Yangon Myanmar tied Syria 1-1 Group C At Seoul South Korea tied T.....»»
Paris Olympic gold remains top priority for Marcial
More than winning his professional fight against Thai boxer Thoedsak Sinam on Saturday, a gold medal in the upcoming Paris Olympics is the bigger goal for Eumir Marcial......»»
Russia ‘interfering’ in global election
Russia is using its spy network, state-run media and social media to undermine public trust in elections around the world, according to a United States intelligence report released Friday that was shared with around 100 countries. “Russia is focused on carrying out operations to degrade public confidence in election integrity,” the report said, citing findings from the US intelligence community. “This is a global phenomenon. Our information indicates that senior Russian government officials, including in the Kremlin, see value in this type of influence operation and perceive it to be effective.” The assessment, which was sent in a cable to the embassies of around 100 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America, comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow over Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia engaged in a “concerted effort” between 2020 and 2022 to undermine public confidence in at least 11 elections across nine democracies, including the US, the report said. An additional 17 democracies were targeted through “less pronounced” methods involving Russian messaging and social media activity that sought to amplify domestic narratives related to election integrity, it added. Without naming the targeted countries, the report said the US government had shared with them information about the Russian operations. It alleged Russia utilizes both “covert and overt mechanisms” to influence elections. That includes influence networks managed by its security agency, the Federal Security Service or FSB, which covertly attempted to intimidate campaign workers in an unspecified European country’s 2020 election, it said. Russian state media amplified “false claims of voting fraud” in multiple elections in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America in 2020 and 2021, it added. Russia also exploited social media platforms and “proxy websites” to cast doubt about the integrity of elections in one South American country last year, the report said. “For Russia, the benefits of these operations are twofold: To sow instability within democratic societies, and to portray democratic elections as dysfunctional and the resulting governments as illegitimate,” the report said. The US recognizes its “own vulnerability to this threat,” the report said, reiterating that Russian actors sought to undermine public confidence in the 2020 election which President Joe Biden won against Donald Trump. In a media briefing, a US State Department official said Russia was encouraged to press ahead with election influence operations after its perceived success in spreading disinformation about the 2020 US election and the Covid-19 pandemic. “Russia is capitalizing on what it perceives as a relatively inexpensive success in 2020 in the United States to take this more broadly, globally,” the official said on condition of anonymity. WITH AFP The post Russia ‘interfering’ in global election appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Armenia holds drills with US amid rift with Russia
The United States and Armenia opened military drills on Monday, the latest sign of Yerevan drifting from Moscow's orbit as Russia's invasion of Ukraine reshapes post-Soviet relations. The exercises come amid mounting frustration in Armenia over what it sees as Russia's failure to act as a security guarantor amid mounting tensions with its historic rival Azerbaijan. Exercise Eagle Partner opened with some 85 US soldiers to train around 175 Armenian soldiers through September 20, according to the US Army Europe and Africa Command. Armenia's defense ministry said the exercises aimed to "increase the level of interoperability" with US forces in international peacekeeping missions. The US military said the drills would help Armenia's 12th Peacekeeping Brigade meet NATO standards ahead of an evaluation later this year. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Armenia's decision not to conduct drills with the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) alliance and instead work with the United States required "very deep analysis". "Of course, we will try to comprehend and understand all this. But in any case we will do so in close partnership dialogue with the Armenian side," he said. The United States brushed off the Kremlin critique and pointed to Russia's wars with both Ukraine and Georgia. "I think that given Russia has invaded two of its neighbors in recent years, it should refrain from lecturing countries in the region about security arrangements," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. He said that the United States has had security cooperation with Armenia since 2003 and called the latest drill "a routine exercise that is in no way tied to any other events." But Moscow last week summoned Armenia's ambassador to complain about "unfriendly steps" the country was taking. The ministry said Armenia's envoy was given a "tough" rebuke but insisted that the countries "remain allies." "It sounded more like a threat to Yerevan than a description of reality," said Gela Vasadze, an independent political analyst. "In fact, Russian-Armenian relations have reached a strategic impasse," he told AFP. 'Weakened Russia' In Yerevan, residents expressed frustration over Russia's lack of military and political support as tensions with Azerbaijan flared again. Mariam Anahamyan, 27, told AFP that Armenia had made a mistake by "pinning its hopes on the Russians". "So now let's try with the Americans. The consequences may be bad but not trying would be even worse," she said. For Arthur Khachaduryan, a 51-year-old security guard, "Russia failed to keep its commitments during the war and has even made our situation worse." He was referring to a brief but bloody conflict in 2020 for control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a separatist region in Azerbaijan. Russia brokered a ceasefire and deployed 2,000 peacekeepers to the Lachin corridor, which connects Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh. But Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently said Moscow was either "unable or unwilling" to control the passage. His government has accused Azerbaijan of closing the road and blockaded the mountainous region, spurring a humanitarian crisis in Armenian-populated towns. Pashinyan also recently claimed that Armenia's historic security reliance on Russia was a "strategic mistake". Bogged down in its invasion and isolated on the world stage, "weakened Russia is rapidly losing influence in its Soviet-era backyard", said independent analyst Arkady Dubnov. "Armenians are frustrated with Russia, which failed to help them during the Karabakh war and its aftermath," he said, adding that Moscow "also seems to be lacking a clear plan, strategy in the Caucasus". 'New allies' Nagorno-Karabakh was at the centre of two wars between Azerbaijan and Armenia. In the 1990s, Armenia defeated Azerbaijan and took control of the region, along with seven adjacent districts of Azerbaijan. Thirty years later, energy-rich Azerbaijan, which built a strong military and secured the backing from Turkey, took revenge. After the 2020 war, Yerevan was forced to cede several territories it had controlled for decades. The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh remains volatile and Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of moving troops near the region recently, raising the spectre of a fresh large-scale conflict. The European Union and United States have taken a lead role in mediating peace talks but have so far failed to bring about a breakthrough. "The Kremlin has no resources -- neither the will -- to help Armenia and is letting Azerbaijan and Turkey to pursue their objectives," Dubnov said. "In that situation, Armenia is trying to forge strong new alliances." The post Armenia holds drills with US amid rift with Russia appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Climate change ‘dystopian future already here’: UN rights chief
Climate change is sparking human rights emergencies in numerous countries, the UN rights chief said Monday, stressing the need to fight the impunity of those who "plunder our environment". Speaking before the United Nations Human Rights Council, Volker Turk pointed to recent examples of the "environmental horror that is our global planetary crisis". He described visiting Basra, Iraq, where date palms once lined canals, but now "drought, searing heat, extreme pollution and fast-depleting supplies of fresh water are creating barren landscapes of rubble and dust". "This spiraling damage is a human rights emergency for Iraq, and many other countries," he said in his address opening the 54th council session in Geneva. "Climate change is pushing millions of people into famine. It is destroying hopes, opportunities, homes and lives. In recent months, urgent warnings have become lethal realities again and again all around the world," Turk said. "We do not need more warnings. The dystopian future is already here. We need urgent action now." Turk was speaking after the G20 at the weekend failed to commit to a phase-out of fossil fuels, something he said was desperately needed. - 'Nonchalance' at migrant deaths - At a time when the ravages of climate change are forcing more and more people to leave their homes, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said he was "shocked by the nonchalance" seen towards surging numbers of migrant deaths. "It is evident that far more migrants and refugees are dying, unnoticed," he said, pointing to the more than "2,300 people reported dead or missing in the Mediterranean this year, including the loss of more than 600 lives in a single shipwreck off Greece in June." He also highlighted migrant deaths in the English Channel, the Bay of Bengal, in the Caribbean, along the US-Mexican border, and at the Saudi border, where he said his "office is seeking urgent clarification about allegations of killings and mistreatment". The UN rights chief also highlighted a wide range of other concerning situations around the world, including in Russia, Pakistan and the Palestinian territory. On China, he reiterated concerns raised in a report by his office a year ago about the situation in the far-western Xinjiang region, which cited possible crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. "As my Office highlighted a year ago, the concerns in the Xinjiang ... requires strong remedial action by the authorities," Turk said Monday, also voicing concern at "continued detention of human rights advocates". - 'Ecocide' - Turk also spoke about the situation in Lebanon, decrying a total lack of accountability for the 2020 Beirut port blast, that killed more than 220 people, urging "an international fact-finding mission to look into human rights violations related to this tragedy." And he mentioned the situation in Iran, one year after the death of Mahsa Amini in custody after her arrest for allegedly breaching the strict dress code for women. Turk voiced concern at a bill that would impose harsher penalties for breaching the dress code, and "renewed deployment of the morality police." Climate change and environmental degradation played a role in a number of the rights situations he mentioned, including in Africa's Sahel region. Turk insisted on the need to "counter the impunity of people and businesses who severely plunder our environment", welcoming a proposal to recognize "ecocide" as an international crime. Amid the towering problems facing the world, Turk decried "politics of deception". "Helped by new technologies, lies and disinformation are mass-produced to sow chaos, to confuse, and ultimately to deny reality and ensure no action will be taken that could endanger the interests of entrenched elites," he said. "The most apparent case of this is climate change." nl/apo/yad © Agence France-Presse The post Climate change ‘dystopian future already here’: UN rights chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Court to deliver verdict on hacker behind biggest leak in football history
A Portuguese court was due on Monday to deliver its verdict on hacker Rui Pinto, whose flood of "Football Leaks" revelations exposed dirty dealings in international football. It was the biggest information leak in sports history and sparked criminal investigations in Belgium, Britain, France, Spain and Switzerland. The verdict, which has been postponed several times, was due to be delivered at a hearing in Lisbon starting at 2:30 pm (1330 GMT). Pinto, 34, is charged with 89 hacking offences, and with attempted extortion, a crime punishable in Portugal by between two and 10 years in prison. He argues he is a whistleblower, whose actions exposed underhand dealings involving top football stars, clubs and agents. Between 2015 and 2018, he shared 18.6 million documents on the internet and with a consortium of European newspapers, which published details. The revelations shook the football world. They included the salaries of Lionel Messi and Neymar, an accusation of rape against Cristiano Ronaldo, alleged financial sleight of hand at Manchester City and ethnic profiling at Paris Saint Germain. Defendant and witness Pinto is both a defendant and a protected witness in Portugal. When his trial began in September 2020, Pinto told the court he had been shocked by what he had discovered and was proud of bringing it to public knowledge. But he has admitted he used illegal means to obtain documents. His alleged victims include top Portuguese football club Sporting Lisbon, the Portuguese Football Federation, lawyers, magistrates and Doyen Sports -- a Malta-based investment fund run by Kazakh-Turkish oligarchs. Pinto was arrested in Hungary in 2019 and extradited to Portugal, where he spent a year behind bars before agreeing to cooperate with the Portuguese authorities on other cases, giving them access to encrypted documents he had obtained. The French authorities have also sought his cooperation over the "Luanda Leaks", a release of 715,000 documents providing compromising information on Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos, daughter of former president Jose Eduardo dos Santos. Dos Santos, once the richest woman in Africa, has faced several court cases on charges she syphoned billions of dollars from Angolan state companies during her father's four decades in office. The post Court to deliver verdict on hacker behind biggest leak in football history 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......»»
DIABETIC NEUROPATHY: SAVE YOUR LIFE THROUGH EARLY DETECTION
Tingling, stabbing pain, numbness or burning sensation in your hands and feet? It could be peripheral neuropathy, the most common type of diabetic neuropathy — and early diagnosis is key to avoid a life of disability. [caption id="attachment_178290" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Aalok Agrawal senior vice president of P&G Health in Asia. | photograph courtesy of P&G[/caption] Neuropathy is no joke. It is a condition wherein the nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord — the peripheral nerves — are damaged or compressed. Infections, traumatic injuries, metabolic problems and inherited conditions are some of the underlying causes of PN. But the most common cause is diabetes. Unfortunately, a staggering 80 percent of patients with diabetic neuropathy were undiagnosed, as revealed by a 2020 study by Georgios Ponirakis et al. Since a patient’s PN symptoms may not seem too severe at its earliest stage, many continue about their daily lives without seeking medical attention. If the underlying cause of peripheral neuropathy is not treated, a person may be at risk of developing a foot ulcer that becomes infected. Untreated, the ulcer can lead to gangrene, and in severe cases, the foot has to be amputated. This is why P&G Health continues to advocate awareness on peripheral neuropathy. Aalok Agrawal, the senior vice president of P&G Health in Asia, India, Africa and Middle East, sat down with DAILY TRIBUNE via video conference to emphasize the need for neuropathy awareness in the Philippines. “Peripheral neuropathy is a significant public health issue that I think needs a significant amount of more awareness from both healthcare practitioners, as well as from patients themselves. It can have a significant impact on both quality of life and serious complications,” he said. “And, to that end, you know, awareness remains very low. We think 80 percent of cases are untreated and undiagnosed. And our efforts, both on Neuropathy Awareness Week as well as World Diabetes Day, are to really bring out just how critical this public health issue is and to bring it up in its awareness. Because the most important thing for collective action here is the fact that this can be managed. This is something that we can diagnose early, and early diagnosis can help improve treatment outcomes, improve quality of life and prevent serious complications.” According to Agrawal, P&G Health’s efforts are tailored across all groups, including the marginalized sector. Hence, they utilize accessible language to better communicate neuropathy to everybody. “Our efforts are tailored across all groups. Our media, for example, is very much in Tagalog in some cases in Mindanao and Visayas, and we also tend to do more local language radio,” he explained. He also shared that P&G Health, apart from gathering global health experts to discuss neuropathy in medical forums and also partnering with media to spread knowledge on neuropathy, sees the importance of pharmacists in the war against PN. “So we have a lot of engagement with pharmacists as they are the frontliners in many cases — especially for marginalized groups that may not even reach out to doctors but they would just go to a pharmacist and say, ‘I have these symptoms; would you suggest something to me?’ And again, our effort has been to educate pharmacists consistently about these risk factors, about asking the right questions, and then about being able to give some sort of first-line therapy while also hopefully referring these patients to a doctor to be able to follow up on their treatment,” he explained. He also explained that demystifying neuropathy is not a one-time event, but is an ongoing effort on the part of P&G Health. “We go quite deep into the community. We’re trying to continue to expand our outreach. We try to make our materials as widely available on as many educational platforms as possible so that we can, again, reach out to doctors who may not be able to physically attend our forum. So, you know, but I think all of the different partners in the community and in the ecosystem will be what will help us create this awareness amongst all of these different groups of patients.” He also underscores the importance of not just seeking immediate medical treatment once you experience unusual sensations on your hands and feet, but also subscribing to a healthy lifestyle to prevent or combat PN. “Diet and exercise are so critical. We’ve got to help patients and consumers understand that a healthy diet with the right combination of fruits and vegetables, a balanced diet and nutrition and exercise for 30 to 60 minutes a day are going to be super critical for us to really overcome and manage both diabetes and peripheral neuropathy. So, it really has to be a combination of lifestyle as well as some early diagnosis and treatment. I hope that we can raise that awareness together to help both the Philippines and Asian consumers in general, who are generally at high risk of diabetes. We want to make sure that the entire region can help combat this public health issue.” When asked about a person’s hesitancy in seeing a doctor for “mild” symptoms due to common reasons like health anxiety or stress over the financial costs of diagnostic tests and consultation, Agrawal gave this advice: “I think the most important thing to help manage both financially and as well from a mental reassurance standpoint is actually an early diagnosis, because, frankly, the costs of not diagnosing early are far greater. You may postpone it for a few months or a year, but then when you’re looking at these serious complications coming from peripheral neuropathy, or loss of sensation in the foot, which can become a foot ulcer and potentially lead to things like amputations and so on, that is a huge and almost unthinkable cost that anybody would have to bear,” he said. “Early diagnosis, I think, can have a very favorable outcome and, in fact, will give you reassurance as well. It can help take care of the symptoms, regenerate the nerves and prevent this from progressing further to the point where it might actually become unaffordable later to do that.” The post DIABETIC NEUROPATHY: SAVE YOUR LIFE THROUGH EARLY DETECTION appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
How coastal land reclamation can benefit cities and communities
Coastal land reclamation is increasing and will continue to grow and be a popular urban strategy in places that experience urban growth. [caption id="attachment_176366" align="aligncenter" width="1041"] Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, an artificial archipelago that houses some of Dubai’s luxury hotels, residences and entertainment venues. | Photograph Courtesy of Abid Bin Nazar.[/caption] This is according to a study, “Mapping 21st Century Global Coastal Land Reclamation,” that analyzed landsat satellite images from 2000 to 2020 to quantify spatial extent, scale and land use of urban coastal reclamation of 135 cities globally with populations exceeding one million. Key findings indicate that 78 percent of these cities have turned to reclamation to create additional land, resulting in 253,000 hectares of new land, an area equivalent to Luxembourg. Land reclamation is the process of creating new land from the sea. It’s often used in places with scarcity of land and high population density for many purposes. From Western Europe and West Africa to the Middle East, East Asia and Southeast Asia, these countries’ cities reclaim lands for port extension, residential/commercial and industrial purposes aimed at creating tourist and green spaces. “Coastal land reclamation is a forward-looking approach to urban development,” said Architect Ian Fulgar, the principal architect of Fulgar Architects. It allows cities to preserve valuable ecosystems and resources from urban sprawl by expanding spaces without encroaching on existing natural land. More importantly for architects, urban planners and modern city dwellers, it presents an opportunity to have purpose-built urban environments specifically designed to meet their needs. “Architects and urban planners can design sustainable and efficient infrastructure with a blank canvas, incorporating the latest technologies and best practices in urban planning. This approach can lead to more resilient and adaptive cities capable of mitigating the effects of climate change and other environmental challenges,” Fulgar added. Innovation, sustainability Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong are some of the world’s most notable cities with impressive urban reclamation projects. Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay are testaments to the city-state’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. The former is a luxury integrated resort famed for transforming Singapore’s coastline and city skyline, while the latter is a spectacularly unique horticultural destination that combines art, science and nature. These reclaimed land developments further boost the country’s international reputation and real estate value around the area. Coastal land reclamation has significantly changed the geography of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai features ambitious projects now known as some of the most recognizable developments in the world, like Palm Jumeirah, an artificial archipelago shaped like a palm tree when viewed from above that houses some of Dubai’s luxury hotels, residences and entertainment venues, and The World, a groundbreaking project composed of small artificial islands in the shape of a world map. Lastly, Hong Kong’s commitment to preserving art, culture and ongoing sustainable urban development is exemplified by its West Kowloon Cultural District, a 40-hectare reclaimed site along Victoria Harbour’s waterfront designated as the city’s vibrant cultural quarter where the local arts scene can interact, develop and collaborate throughout its sustainability principles. “These projects have created iconic and visually striking landscapes by pushing the boundaries of engineering and urban design. Sustainability is often at the forefront, integrating practices and technologies that minimize environmental impact and enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors,” Fulgar pointed out. “Trends and insights on global reclamation illustrate the potential of reclamation projects in addressing various urban development, environmental conservation and community well-being needs, leading to more sustainable and resilient urban planning worldwide. By adopting these lessons and focusing on sustainable growth, the Philippines can capitalize on its potential and carve a path to a brighter future,“ Fulgar added. The post How coastal land reclamation can benefit cities and communities appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China removes foreign minister Qin Gang
Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang was abruptly removed from office this week, deepening a mystery over what precisely has happened to a one-time confidant of President Xi Jinping and one of Beijing's most well-known officials. Here's what we know so far about the dramatic removal of one of China's most prominent diplomats. Who is Qin Gang? Qin, considered close to President Xi, was appointed foreign minister in December 2022. The 57-year-old spent several years at the Chinese embassy in London and is a fluent English speaker. Qin earned a reputation as a "Wolf Warrior", a nickname given to a new generation of Chinese diplomats who push back with often inflammatory rhetoric against Western criticism of Beijing. He said in 2020 that the image of China in the West had deteriorated because Europeans and Americans -- in particular the media -- had never accepted the Chinese political system or its economic rise. While serving as ambassador to the United States, Qin stepped up his visibility through public and media appearances in Washington in which he explained the Chinese position. He kept up a busy schedule after his appointment as minister, visiting Africa, Europe and Central Asia as well as hosting foreign dignitaries in Beijing. What happened to him? On Tuesday, after not being seen in public for a month, China's top lawmaking body met and removed Qin from his position. "Qin Gang was removed from the post of foreign minister," state news agency Xinhua reported, adding that President Xi "signed a presidential order to effectuate the decision." No reason has been given for his removal. But on Wednesday, the website of the Chinese foreign ministry was abruptly scrubbed of any mention of Qin. The rumor mill has gone into overdrive since Qin's disappearance, with some online claiming the diplomat's alleged affair with a prominent television anchor had landed him in hot water. And while China's foreign ministry said "health reasons" were to blame for Qin's absence, a spokeswoman later deflected further questions about the missing diplomat. "On the basis of all available evidence, it seems very unlikely this matter is only -- or at all -- health-related," China law expert Neysun Mahboubi told AFP. After weeks of "ceaseless speculation", he added, "it beggars the imagination that a primarily health-related cause would not have been clarified a lot more forcefully than we have seen." What do we know about his whereabouts? Qin has not been seen in public since June 25, when he met Russian deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko in Beijing. But it was his absence from a high-level ASEAN summit in Indonesia two weeks later that first raised eyebrows. Qin's absence left a vacuum at the top of China's foreign ministry. A visit by the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to Beijing was abruptly called off this month. And Bloomberg reported on Friday that a visit by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly was postponed due to Qin's absence. Who is representing China in his stead? Top diplomatic official Wang Yi -- who outranked Qin in China's political hierarchy -- has taken up the job of foreign minister, a job he held before Qin's appointment. Beijing insisted Monday that "China's diplomatic activities are moving forward steadily". And US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that he expects to "work well" with Wang, promising to "work with whoever the relevant Chinese counterpart is." Given Wang's experience, experts said they expect Chinese diplomacy to carry on as normal -- despite the political drama in Beijing. "I do not expect China's foreign policy to shift significantly on account of Qin Gang's exit," Ryan Hass, a Brookings scholar on China and a former US National Security Council official, told AFP. "Qin was more an implementor and articulator of China’s foreign policy than an architect of it," he added. "Wang Yi is one of the world's most experienced and recognizable diplomats. He will ably carry forward China's foreign policy." The post China removes foreign minister Qin Gang appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Missing for a month: Where is Qin Gang, China’s foreign minister?
China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang has not been seen in public for almost a month, sparking a flurry of questions over his whereabouts. Here's what we know so far about the disappearance of one of China's most senior diplomats: Qin, considered a confidante of President Xi Jinping, was appointed foreign minister in December 2022. The 57-year-old spent several years at the Chinese embassy in London and is a fluent English speaker. Qin earned a reputation as a "Wolf Warrior", a nickname given to a new generation of Chinese diplomats who push back with often inflammatory rhetoric against Western criticism of Beijing. He said in 2020 the image of China in the West had deteriorated because Europeans and Americans -- in particular the media -- had never accepted the Chinese political system or its economic rise. While serving as ambassador to the United States, Qin stepped up his visibility through public and media appearances in Washington in which he explained the Chinese position. Following his appointment as minister, he kept up a busy schedule, visiting Africa, Europe and Central Asia as well as hosting foreign dignitaries in Beijing. Whereabouts Qin has not been seen in public since 25 June, when he met with Russia's deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko in Beijing. But it was his absence from a high-level ASEAN summit in Indonesia two weeks later that first raised eyebrows. China's foreign ministry said "health reasons" were to blame for Qin's absence. But that has done little to stem an explosion of rumors online. "Everyone is concerned about something but cannot discuss it publicly," Hu Xijin, a prominent commentator with the state tabloid Global Times, said in a post on Weibo. "A balance needs to be struck between maintaining the situation and respecting the public's right to know," he said. The foreign ministry has since deflected further questions about Qin's absence. Who's representing China? Qin's absence has left a vacuum at the top of China's foreign ministry. A visit by the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to Beijing was abruptly called off this month. And Bloomberg reported on Friday that a visit by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly was postponed due to Qin's absence. Top foreign policy official Wang Yi -- who outranks Qin in China's political hierarchy -- has taken on some of his responsibilities in the meantime, travelling to Africa this week to attend a BRICS meeting on security affairs in Johannesburg. And Beijing has insisted throughout his absence that China's diplomacy is functioning as normal. But as the foreign ministry reaches a month without a visible boss, doubts will start to mount over how much it's business as usual. "When the top dog is disappeared by the state, everyone in the organization freezes," Desmond Shum, a former Chinese business and political insider and author of "Red Roulette" tweeted. "Who's going to sign on the dotted line of the minister?" The post Missing for a month: Where is Qin Gang, China’s foreign minister? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A ‘feminist diplomacy’ for France? Not quite yet
France has made "undeniable efforts" to roll out a feminist foreign policy with women holding top ministerial jobs but is still falling short in defending women's rights around the world, according to a new report. The concept aims to promote gender equality and women's rights -- particularly sexual and reproductive rights -- and France was an early adopter of "feminist diplomacy" in 2019, following similar moves by Canada and Sweden. It has resulted in a rise in the number of French women ambassadors and consuls general, who now make up nearly a third of such posts compared to just 14 percent a decade ago. But an evaluation of its progress published Monday by the High Council for Equality -- an independent consultative body -- found mixed results, with strides made at home outpacing "timid progress" abroad, council president Sylvie Pierre-Brossolette told AFP. That was "regrettable in an international context of regression of women's rights, including in democracies like the United States, Poland, and Hungary, which would... require French feminist diplomacy to be deployed as a matter of urgency," she said, referring in particular to the US Supreme Court's historic decision last year to erase abortion rights. How "feminist diplomacy" is defined and executed -- from whether it applies to trade policy or foreign aid delivery -- varies between countries that have adopted it. While Luxembourg, Spain, Mexico, Germany, and Chile have joined the ranks to embrace feminist diplomacy, according to the United Nations, pioneering Sweden, which launched the concept in 2014, abandoned the effort last year after a change in government. It's failed to become mainstream, Pierre-Brossolette said. Although France flaunts the term, "we don't give it enough importance", she added. In his second term President Emmanuel Macron appointed Catherine Colonna as minister of foreign affairs, the second woman to hold the post in French history. The top diplomat is also supported by two women who occupy two out of the three junior ministerial posts: Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, in charge of development issues, and Laurence Boone who is responsible for Europe. 'A human issue' Still, the concept "cruelly lacks an official definition, political support at the highest level of government, and the means to deploy it," Pierre-Brossolette said, noting Macron's recent speeches make no reference to the strategy. Looking at the foreign ministry as a whole, "it is still men who often hold the most prestigious posts", she said. Diplomatic sources told AFP the policy still has an impact. Colonna herself, on receiving the report, said its approach did "not always fully credit the progress we have made and the exemplary nature of our track record". But she added: "This will far from discourage us... The best response will be to act." France's initiatives overseas include aid to rape victims in Ukraine, sanctions on countries like Iran for violations of women's rights and aid focused on securing financing for women in Africa. In a separate push, French human rights artist Guila Clara Kessous launched in April the Sarah and Hajar Accords to promote women in diplomacy and women's rights in the Middle East. Signed by representatives from Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Bahrain, it replicated the 2020 Abraham Accords aimed to normalize relations between the four countries. Men need to be convinced of the necessity to include more women in diplomacy so they take "pride in defending an issue that concerns them" too, Kessous told AFP, adding that women's rights are "a human issue". With concerns over the lack of women represented in African foreign affairs, Kessous said she wants to see a similar accord launched for the continent. In France, a new strategy to "accelerate" feminist diplomacy is also in the works. "France, the country of human rights, can be an example for the world," said Pierre-Brossolette, particularly as Sweden has fallen back from the lead. "We can try to take up the torch." The post A ‘feminist diplomacy’ for France? Not quite yet appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Short film explores cooking, coming out and letting go
To commemorate LGBTQ+ Pride month, Noontime Drama, an award-winning Filipino short film on coming out, will be screened for free online and in select cinemas nationwide. Noontime Drama explores how the meticulous slow cooking of the traditional Filipino comfort food symbolizes parents coming to terms with their child’s sexuality or gender identity. The 14-minute piece follows single mother Sonia (Susan Africa) as she struggles to prepare the perfect kare-kare together with her daughter Leslie (Zar Donato) in time for a family reunion. As the tension simmers between the protagonists, unresolved issues resurface and deflection fills each conversation. [caption id="attachment_149096" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Zar Donato[/caption] The film is written and directed by creative duo Kim Timan and Sam Villa-Real, both homegrown talents from the Digital Filmmaking Program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. [caption id="attachment_149094" align="aligncenter" width="828"] ‘Noontime Drama’ filmmakers Kim Timan and Sam Villa-Real.[/caption] “I first wrote this film after having an intense outburst with my mom in 2017,” Timan admitted. “I knew that I needed to start being honest with myself so I decided to come out to her. I did it and was bombarded with conservative biblical preaching. She was my best friend and I felt betrayed.” “Over the course of the years, my perspective about her gradually changed. I realized that I need to respect her process of trying to make sense of my ‘coming out,’” she shared. “I tried to understand where she was coming from and that became the goal of the film.” A study on the frustration experienced by parents of newly out LGBTQ+ children, Noontime Drama, according to the young artist, is more of a “letting go” than a “coming out” story. “Making this film with my girlfriend and queer friends helped me cope and accept the things that cannot be changed and finally, move on from them,” Timan noted. “I know that my Mom is slowly coming to terms with who I am, and so am I with her. I know she needs time to process it the way I did.” Noontime Drama was a grantee of the 2020 CineMarya Women’s Film Festival (Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino), where it was hailed as the Best Film and Best Screenplay. It likewise nabbed the Best Short Film and Best Performer Awards at the 2021 Dreamanila International Film Festival, the Third Best Short Film at the 2021 CineKabalen Culinary Cinema. The work was an official selection at the 2021 Chennai International Short Film Festival in India, 2021 International Queer Film Festival Merlinka in Serbia, 2021 Les Femmes Underground Film Festival, 2021 Internacional Queer Film Festival de Playa del Carmen in Mexico, 2021 Pink Love LGBT Film Festival, 2021 Alvsbyn Film Festival in Sweden, 2021 KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival in India and 2021 Stockholm City Film Festival in Sweden. It likewise finished as a finalist at the 2021 Festival de films féministes de Montréal in Canada and 2021 Boden International Film Festival in Sweden, semi-finalist at the 2021 Seattle Film Summit in the USA and quarter-finalist at the 2021 Crossroads International Short Film Festival in Turkey. It has also earned an Honorable Mention at the 2021 Paris Film Festival in France. It was lauded as the Best Short Film at the 2022 CineKabalen Film Festival and was exhibited at the 2022 Cine Filipina and 2022 UP Pride Film Festival. It was a Best Short Film Nominee at the 44th Gawad Urian Awards. Noontime Drama will be screened as part of the 2023 Pelikulaya Film Festival from 23 to 30 June at the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Cinematheque Centres nationwide, online on JuanFlix: The FDCP Channel. It can also be viewed in select cinemas in Metro Manila. The short film will also be on view at the MIYERKULET Freedom Extravaganza on 30 June, 7 p.m., at the Penthouse of Fil Garcia Tower, Quezon City. The post Short film explores cooking, coming out and letting go appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Target of the right, George Soros hands reins to son
As George Soros passes control of his philanthropic empire to his son, the legendary investor and democracy advocate remains subject to unrelenting and often anti-Semitic attacks from the right. Under the transition, Soros, 92, will hand the reins to his 37-year-old son Alexander Soros, according to a Wall Street Journal interview with both men. The shift comes as the elder Soros remains one of the far right's favorite targets. He has been baselessly blamed for propagating migrant crises in Europe and on the southern border of the United States, as well as for orchestrating mass protests against police brutality after the 2020 killing of George Floyd. Soros's army of haters has included right-wing politicians like Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, the media figure Tucker Carlson and Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk, who tweeted in May 2023 that Soros "wants to erode the very fabric of civilization" and "hates humanity." Soros is known for his financing of the Open Society Foundations, which has supported reforms to liberalize economies, establish governance norms, protect minorities and refugees, and promote freedom of expression. These endeavors followed some wildly successful investment decisions, as in 1992 when Soros bet against the British pound shortly before it was devalued. A leading British newspaper dubbed Soros "the man who broke the Bank of England" over a move that allowed him to pocket $1 billion. The episode won Soros' respect in the financial world, but he also became a much-feared figure among government finance ministers. Progressive causes Born in August 1930 in Budapest, Soros's Jewish family used false papers to pass as Christian during the Nazi occupation of Hungary in 1944 and 1945. "I learned at an early age how important it is what kind of political regime prevails," Soros said in 2019. After the establishment of communism in Hungary, Soros left for London in 1947, obtaining degrees from the London School of Economics before moving to New York in 1956. Soros launched his own speculative fund in 1970, a step in building his wealth to an estimated $6.7 billion, according to Forbes; the figure does not include the $18 billion Soros transferred to his foundations in 2017. He began steering some of his wealth to philanthropy in 1979, backing Black students in apartheid-era South Africa and political dissidents in Central Europe. His activities expanded considerably after the end of the Cold War. In the United States, for example, Soros has supported the progressive side on a host of hot-button issues, including criminal justice reform, same-sex marriage, and the decriminalization of marijuana. A father of five, Soros studied in London under his mentor Karl Popper, a champion of open society and fierce critic of totalitarianism. Intensifying criticisms As Soros broadened his support of politically progressive candidates and philanthropic endeavors in the 2010s, he was met with more virulent criticism, often tinged with anti-Semitism. In 2018, following attacks by the nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Soros shuttered the Budapest branch of the OSF and moved staff to Berlin. Later that year, Soros was named Person of the Year by the Financial Times, a recognition of his role as "the standard bearer of liberal democracy and open society." But the newspaper also alluded to the ugliness of Soros's legion of haters, noting, "There are so many anti-Semitic conspiracy theories targeting Mr. Soros that it is difficult to keep count." In terms of his record in finance, Soros has experienced setbacks in addition to glory. He lost money in the 1987 stock market crash and in the 1998 Russian currency crisis. He has also found himself in the crosshairs of the law. In 2002, Soros was convicted of insider trading in France for trades of Societe Generale, and in 2009 in Hungary, in a market manipulation case. Soros's funds have continued to speculate, with investments running the gamut from new technologies to housing to physical commodities. But Soros has also spoken of the need for strict regulation of markets. Soros has described his efforts as a kind of responsibility. "My success in the financial markets has given me a greater degree of independence than most other people," he wrote in 2011. "This obliges me to take stands on controversial issues when others cannot." The post Target of the right, George Soros hands reins to son appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Double trouble
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over the weekend sounded the alarm that the Philippines will have to brace for the one-two punch coming from the El Niño and La Niña weather phenomena. Marcos said that despite the severe drought brought about by the El Niño, the country is also preparing for the extreme opposite, of the intense rainfall associated with the La Niña. The La Nina “brings its own set of problems” like flooding, Marcos said, adding that, “this requires the participation of every Filipino. For the water shortage presently being felt, the Chief Executive asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government to monitor the compliance of local government units in cracking down against the wasteful use of water. He cited in particular, “car washes, golf course irrigation and swimming pool refilling” that people may, on their own, limit as their contribution to saving precious water. Metro Manila mayors, for their part, said this week that they will come up with proposals on how to address the water shortage in the “next week or two,” including the possibility of water rationing. Being a tropical country, the Philippines is vulnerable to the effects of El Niño and La Niña — the first, a climate pattern that occurs every two to seven years when the Pacific Ocean warms up and touches off droughts and crop failures in unirrigated farmlands. La Niña is El Niño’s anti-thesis, occurring when the Pacific Ocean cools down, leading to extended rainfalls, floods and, consequently, landslides. Marcos’ plea for Filipinos to do their best in easing the effects of both weather conditions is not to be taken lightly as the Philippines has experienced both El Niño and La Niña in recent years. In 2015, the country had a severe El Niño event, along with countries like Australia, Indonesia and Africa, that led to widespread droughts, crop failures, food shortages and price increases. Five years later in 2020, the Philippines experienced a La Niña event that led to widespread flooding and landslides. This resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people, and it also caused billions of pesos in damage. True enough, the effects of El Niño and La Niña are not evenly distributed around the world. Still, such events are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, experts agree. For example, Australia is particularly vulnerable to droughts caused by El Niño, while Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to floods caused by La Niña. As El Niño and La Niña are not going away, countries like the Philippines have no choice but to apply measures to mitigate their effects, including investing in renewable energy, diversifying the agricultural sector, improving water management, and building climate change-resilient infrastructures. Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are not affected by El Niño and La Niña. By investing in them, the Philippines can reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, which are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Likewise, the Philippines, being heavily reliant on rice production, which is a water-intensive crop, needs to diversify its agricultural sector to make its food supply more resilient to climate change. Improving water management needs no explanation and it is something that can be done by all sectors and individuals. Not so when it comes to building climate-resilient infrastructure, an undertaking that needs government support and guidance. Here, they may be a need to revise the country’s Building Code to build structures that are resilient to floods, landslides, and typhoons. As the Philippines braces for El Niño and La Niña, it is important for the government and the people to work together to mitigate the effects of these climate patterns. By doing so, the country can build a more resilient future and protect its people from the impacts of climate change. The post Double trouble appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Air strikes shake Khartoum as Sudan rivals agree 1-week ceasefire
Air strikes and artillery exchanges shook the Sudanese capital Saturday and armed men ransacked the Qatari embassy as the country's warring generals kept up their struggle for control even as they agreed to a brief humanitarian pause. With heavy fighting raging in Khartoum, the rival sides struck a deal on a seven-day ceasefire beginning the evening of May 22, the United States and Saudi Arabia said Saturday in a joint statement after talks in Jeddah. The ceasefire "shall remain in effect for seven days and may be extended with the agreement of both parties," it said. Multiple announced truces have been violated since fighting broke out five weeks ago, which the Saudi foreign ministry acknowledged in a statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency early Sunday. "Unlike previous ceasefires, the Agreement reached in Jeddah was signed by the parties and will be supported by a US-Saudi and international-supported ceasefire monitoring mechanism," it said. It said subsequent talks "will focus on additional steps necessary to improve security and humanitarian conditions for civilians such as vacating forces from urban centers, including civilian homes, accelerating removal of impediments to the free movement of civilians and humanitarian actors, and enabling public servants to resume their regular duties." The power struggle between regular army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy-turned-rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who heads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, erupted into fighting on April 15. The conflict has killed hundreds of people, most of them civilians, and displaced more than one million. The United Nations has warned of a fast-deteriorating humanitarian situation in Africa's third-largest country, where one in three people already relied on aid before the war. Saturday's ceasefire announcement comes two weeks after representatives of the warring generals first gathered in Jeddah for talks. By May 11 they had signed a commitment to respect humanitarian principles and allow in badly needed aid. But UN aid chief Martin Griffiths told AFP on Thursday that there had been "important and egregious" violations of that agreement, which fell short of a ceasefire. On Friday, Burhan sacked Daglo, giving his title of vice president of the ruling Sovereign Council to former rebel leader Malik Agar, and appointed three allies to top jobs in the military. A former rebel leader who signed a peace deal with Khartoum authorities in 2020, Agar said in a statement Saturday he was determined to try to "end the war" and press for negotiations. He also addressed Daglo directly saying "Sudan's stability can only be re-established by a professional and unified army". Integration of the RSF into the regular armed forces has been the main bone of contention between Daglo and Burhan. The force, which traces its origins to the notorious Janjaweed militia recruited in the early 2000s to crush a rebellion by ethnic minority groups in Darfur, is highly mobile but has a reputation for being ill-disciplined. Its fighters have been accused of widespread break-ins and looting, including at diplomatic missions and aid group offices. On Saturday, Qatar's embassy was the latest diplomatic mission to be attacked, drawing condemnation from Doha. "The embassy staff had previously been evacuated and... none of the diplomats or embassy staff were subjected to any harm," the ministry said. It renewed calls for "an immediate halt to the fighting". Qatar did not specifically identify Daglo's RSF as responsible but a statement from the pro-Burhan authorities put the blame squarely on the paramilitaries. The embassies of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey have also come under assault in recent weeks. Saturday's attack came a day after Arab leaders meeting at a summit in Saudi Arabia urged Sudan's feuding generals to halt the fighting. Although the main fighting is being played out in Khartoum, the violence has also spread to the war-ravaged western region of Darfur, where the RSF has its roots. In South Darfur capital Nyala, fighting since Thursday has killed 22 people forcing civilians to flee for safer areas as shells crash on their homes, the bar association in Darfur has said. On Friday, the UN aid boss Griffith said he was allocating $22 million in emergency funds to help Sudanese fleeing the violence. The funds will help relief efforts in Chad, the Central African Republic, Egypt, and South Sudan where Sudanese have sought refuge, he said. The United States promised $103 million for Sudan and neighboring countries to support displaced people. The post Air strikes shake Khartoum as Sudan rivals agree 1-week ceasefire appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Next five years set to be hottest period ever: UN
It is near-certain that 2023-2027 will be the warmest five-year period ever recorded, the United Nations warned Wednesday as greenhouse gases and El Nino combine to send temperatures soaring. Global temperatures are soon set to exceed the more ambitious target set out in the Paris climate accords, with a two-thirds chance that one of the next five years will do so, the UN's World Meteorological Organization said. The hottest eight years ever recorded were all between 2015 and 2022 -- but temperatures are forecast to increase further as climate change accelerates. "There is a 98-percent likelihood that at least one of the next five years, and the five-year period as a whole, will be the warmest on record," the WMO said. The 2015 Paris Agreement saw countries agree to cap global warming at "well below" two degrees Celsius above average levels measured between 1850 and 1900 -- and 1.5C if possible. The global mean temperature in 2022 was 1.15C above the 1850-1900 average. The WMO said there was a 66 percent chance that annual global surface temperatures will exceed 1.5C above pre-industrial levels for at least one of the years 2023-2027, with a range of 1.1C to 1.8C forecasted for each of those five years. ' Uncharted territory' While this does not mean that the world will permanently exceed the Paris benchmark, "WMO is sounding the alarm that we will breach the 1.5C level on a temporary basis with increasing frequency", said the agency's chief Petteri Taalas. "A warming El Nino is expected to develop in the coming months and this will combine with human-induced climate change to push global temperatures into uncharted territory. "This will have far-reaching repercussions for health, food security, water management and the environment. We need to be prepared." El Nino is the large-scale warming of surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. The weather phenomenon normally occurs every two to seven years. Conditions oscillate between El Nino and its opposite La Nina, with neutral conditions in between. The WMO said earlier this month that the chances of El Nino developing were 60 percent by the end of July and 80 percent by the end of September. Typically, El Nino increases global temperatures in the year after it develops -- which in this cycle would be 2024. Despite the cooling influence of La Nina conditions over much of the past three years, the warmest eight years on record have all been from 2015 onwards, with 2016 the hottest. Heat gets trapped in the atmosphere by so-called greenhouse gases, which are at a record high. The three major greenhouses gases are carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Temperatures rising since 1960s Global land and sea mean near-surface temperatures have increased since the 1960s. The chances of temperatures temporarily exceeding 1.5C above the 1850-1990 average have risen steadily since 2015, a year when they were considered close to zero. Britain's Met Office national weather service is the WMO's lead center on yearly to 10-yearly climate predictions. While there is a 66-percent chance that one year between 2023 and 2027 will exceed the 1.5C threshold, there is now a 32 percent chance that the entire five-year mean will do so, the Met Office said. "Global mean temperatures are predicted to continue increasing, moving us away further and further away from the climate we are used to," said Met Office expert scientist Leon Hermanson. Temperatures in 2023 are likely to be higher than the 1991-2020 average in almost all regions except for Alaska, South Africa, South Asia and parts of Australia, the WMO said. Parts of the South Pacific Ocean are likely to be cooler than average. The post Next five years set to be hottest period ever: UN appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chocolate giants in pay fail for Ghana farmers: Oxfam
The world's biggest chocolate makers are failing on promises to improve pay for farmers in major cocoa producer Ghana despite strong profits, the charity Oxfam said in a report on Thursday. It said earnings for US companies Hershey, Mars and Mondelez in addition to Italy's Ferrero and Swiss peers Lindt and Nestle had increased since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, a period when inflation has soared. At the same time, an Oxfam survey of more than 400 cocoa farmers in Ghana -- the second-largest global producer of the commodity -- found their net incomes had fallen by an average of 16 percent since the same period. For women, the average drop was 22 percent, it added. "There's big money in chocolate -- but definitely not for farmers," said Oxfam International's interim executive director, Amitabh Behar. "Cocoa farmers work extremely hard, under grueling conditions, yet can't always feed their families." The charity claimed that up to 90 percent of Ghanaian cocoa farmers do not earn a living income, "meaning they cannot afford enough food or other basics such as clothing, housing and medical care. "Many of the 800,000 farmers in the country survive on just $2 a day," it added. 'Everything to help' Responding, Nestle said that while it "cannot influence the farm-gate prices due to the cocoa-trade structure in Ghana" the company does "everything we can to help cocoa-farming families close the living income gap". It told AFP that it strives also to help improve incomes for farmers in Ivory Coast, the world's biggest producer of cocoa. Ivory Coast and Ghana, both situated in West Africa, together produce about two-thirds of the world's cocoa. Ferrero said farmers in the countries receive a cash premium on top of the commercial price for cocoa. "We have been among the first companies to fully support the Living Income Differential," it said in a statement. Ivory Coast and Ghana introduced the LID in 2019 to fight poverty among cocoa farmers in the global $130-billion chocolate market. But their trade boards say the scheme is being undercut by buyers who depress the price of another premium based on bean quality. Mars, which said it was the first major manufacturer to publicly support the LID, added that its direct financial support to cocoa farmers goes beyond the poverty-fighting initiative. "We also work on diverse initiatives... with women and their families in cocoa growing communities to improve their livelihoods." Oxfam's Behar said chocolate giants needed "to put their money where their mouth is". "They must rid themselves of their colonial legacy of extracting raw materials and keeping farmers in poverty while making astronomical profits for their rich shareholders," he added. Some of the companies identified in the report had yet to respond to AFP. The post Chocolate giants in pay fail for Ghana farmers: Oxfam appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Puerto Rico itinanghal na Mister Gay World; PH bet umabot sa Top 7
NASUNGKIT ni Jose Lopez ang unang panalo ng Puerto Rico sa Mister Gay World contest sa pagtatanghal ng patimpalak sa Artscape sa Cape Town, South Africa, noong Okt. 15 (Okt. 16 sa Maynila). Humakot din siya ng parangal sa unang live na pagtatanghal ng patimpalak mula nang pumutok ang COVID-19 pandemic noong 2020. Tinanggap niya […] The post Puerto Rico itinanghal na Mister Gay World; PH bet umabot sa Top 7 appeared first on Bandera......»»