Health workers plead for benefits ahead of SONA
Health workers plead for benefits ahead of SONA.....»»
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......»»
AI ‘no substitute’ for fashion designers’ creativity
AI is transforming the fashion world but the fast-growing technology will never be a replacement for designers' "original creativity", according to the head of a pioneering project. Fashion innovator Calvin Wong has developed the Interactive Design Assistant for Fashion (AiDA) -- the world's first designer-led AI system. It uses image-recognition technology to speed up the time it takes for a design to go from the first sketch to the catwalk. "Designers have their fabric prints, patterns, color tones, initial sketches and they upload the images," Wong told AFP. "Then our AI system can recognize those design elements and come up with more proposals for designers to refine and modify their original design." Wong said AiDA's particular strength was its ability to present "all the possible combinations" for a designer to consider, something he said was impossible in the current design process. An exhibition at Hong Kong's M+ Museum in December featured collections by 14 designers developed using the tool. But Wong stressed it was about "facilitating designers' inspiration" not "using AI to take over a designer's job, to take over their creativity". "We must treasure the designer's original creativity," he added. Wong heads up the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design (AidLab), a collaboration between Britain's Royal College of Art (RCA) and Hong Kong Polytechnic University where he is a professor in fashion. 'Transformational' RCA vice chancellor Naren Barfield predicted the impact of AI on the fashion industry would be "transformational". "The impact is going to be huge from the ideation and conception stage through to prototyping, right the way through to manufacture, distribution, and then ultimately recycling," he said. So-called personalization is already being used to improve customer experience with better product recommendations and more effective searches, helping shoppers find what they want quickly and easily. But as the technology evolves so too is the range of highly specialized tools being developed. AiDA was just one of the AidLab projects being showcased in the British capital ahead of London Fashion Week, which started on Friday. Others included the Neo Couture project which aims to use advanced technologies to digitally preserve the specialized skills and techniques used by couturiers. With the UK fashion industry facing a skills shortage, it is creating an AI-assisted training system to help teach couture skills. Another project aims to increase sustainability to reduce the estimated 92 million tonnes of clothing that end up in landfills each year. One potential use of the AI Loupe project is to help designers overcome the problems of using so-called deadstock fabric. Designers can photograph leftover fabric and then use the tool to get the missing details to assess its suitability for their designs. "It uses the camera as your index, the material is the QR code that brings the information," said project researcher Chipp Jansen. Retain control The future of AI in fashion design, however, is not clear-cut. New York brand Collina Strada's founder Hillary Taymour this week admitted that she and her team used the AI image generator Midjourney to create the collection they showed at New York Fashion Week. Although Taymour only used images of the brand's own past looks to help generate its Spring/Summer 2024 collection, looming legal issues could keep AI-generated clothes off the catwalks for now. "In terms of fashion designed by AI, I would expect to hear from designers that there are questions of intellectual property rights," said Rebecca Lewin, a senior curator at London's Design Museum. "Because whatever comes back will have been scraped from published images and to get that regulated will need a lot of work." The RCA's Barfield said the area would be tricky but he expected it to be resolved through test cases and legislation. "I don't know how fast (AI) will be transformational but if it gives companies a competitive advantage I think they'll invest and take it up quickly," he said. The only thing currently holding companies back was the "massive investment" in infrastructure required, he said. "But once they've done that they can take the plunge then they will be making savings on material waste and productivity," he added. As for designers' fears that it might become a substitute for the human creative process, he said the key was who controlled the decision-making. Using a "genetic algorithm" where you started with one design and used the software to generate successive ones the computer could produce 1,000 varying looks, something that might take weeks to draw, he said. On the other hand, if the designer retained control AI could offer huge benefits by hugely speeding up the process "without necessarily making the decisions for them", he added. The post AI ‘no substitute’ for fashion designers’ creativity appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The Advantage of Adopting the Right Digital Tools for your Business
Amid the uncertainty in customer behaviors and trends from the crisis, this much is clear: updating the business for a digital-first world, led by purpose, is now a must for almost every company. To do so, they must determine where new business value exists in the new normal, what digital business models will capture it, and which tools and behaviors will support the adaptability and resilience that these models require. On this section, we talked to the creators behind the award-winning platform made for businesses like yours. The Digital Advantage Companies need an understanding of 3rd Platform technologies to capitalize on improved decision-making and to deliver enhanced, customized experiences to stakeholders. The rapid acceleration of 3rd Platform technology adoption means that corporates need to actively be looking for ways to improve their operational efficiency and customer service, otherwise, they will be in danger of falling too far behind digitally-native competitors to ever catch up. Efficiency Past recessions show that controlling costs by improving operational efficiency—a task for which digital solutions are perfectly suited for—is more effective in sustaining businesses through financial turbulence than traditional cost-cutting measures alone. The biggest efficiency play is automation. Streamlining operations and automating manual processes result in greater speed, less waste and more focus on revenue-generating activities. The economics of automation is simple: the same work is performed faster and with fewer mistakes, while human capital resources can be redeployed to higher-value tasks or to fill critical gaps. Convenience Company bank accounts are available in any device, the only things you need are internet connection and a few taps on the screen. This brings about an increase in customer satisfaction as they are able to constantly keep track of their account balances and manage the information on their personal profile (i.e. add new mailing address, e-mails, telephone numbers, etc.). In addition to this, there is no need to go to the bank to get checks as they can be instantly sent via email. 24/7 Reliability Online banking services are available 24/7 all year round, even on weekends. There is no need to line up and wait for the bank to open in order to conduct certain operations. This is a huge advantage that comes with digital solutions Security With all the recent news about data breaches, you might be wondering about the security of mobile and online banking. Security is top priority for banks when choosing whether or not to offer online banking. All banks use “Pentagon-grade” encryption technology and sophisticated firewalls. Mandatory security upgrades are required by bank regulators, so you can be confident that keeping your information secure is one of your bank’s utmost priorities. As digital transactions increase and productivity grow, companies must take proactive steps to protect their data privacy and security and adopt models that give them governance over their data. Today’s Platform Driven Solutions Self-service account management, bills payment and electronic fund transfers are considered the basic banking functions that each business should have. Account management allows viewing of account balances and transaction history without going to the bank. All these were made easy and accessible, by just logging into UnionBank’s The Portal app. Bills Payment, on the other hand, gives businesses access to a large list of billers. They can pay their water, electricity, telco, and other utilities online. BIR ePayment is also available, allowing users to pay taxes online. If the company is an accounting firm, they can also pay for their client’s taxes on The Portal app. Electronic fund transfers save companies time and reduce their risk exposure. Just upload the batch crediting file on the platform and it automatically disburses it to their recipients. Clients can also set up their recipients in UnionBank Business Banking so they receive email and SMS notifications every time they are credited. All these are made possible without stepping inside a branch. Batch Electronic Funds Transfer is also now made available for UnionBank Transfers and PESONet. This enables the streamlining of bulk account to account transfers to another UnionBank account or to other bank accounts. This has highlighted the ease and convenience of going digital to corporate clients versus processing transactions through the traditional way of banking over-the-counter or paying via cheques. Going beyond the basic functions of a normal digital banking tool, The Portal’s self-enrollment feature allows businesses to conveniently self-enroll their nominated accounts and users through the simple enrollment steps. Once completed, access to The Portal is granted and clients may enjoy the convenience of processing their funds transfer instructions online. In addition, there is an option to initiate the enrollment of the beneficiary accounts individually or in bulk. This can be essential for clients that need a payee maintenance feature to ensure that the initiated transactions are only credited to enrolled account. With the convenient, hassle-free and straight-through processing in The Portal, businesses can easily push fund transfers in the comfort of their own homes or offices. This pandemic serves as a widespread test case for the effectiveness of these digital solutions, many of which will be permanent fixtures and lead to long-term changes for many businesses. Organizations that embrace digital solutions have greater resiliency in the face of adversity and are way ahead of the competition, which will enable them to recover faster and pivot from playing defense to chasing growth. While many believe it is too idealistic to have a good workplace culture and excellent compensation, many jobseekers significantly consider these two factors when applying for a job, according to two studies. The 2021 Employee Experience Survey by Willis Towers Watson reported that 89 percent of respondents believe a positive employee experience is a crucial driver of engagement, while a 2023 survey from the online recruitment platform JobStreet found that 53 percent of Filipino job seekers would like to know the salary range offered while still in the recruitment process. Aside from great benefits and compensation, employees in the IT industry pointed out that a good work culture and environment, as well as training programs, are the top priorities of job seekers. Vanessa Liwanag, business development director at Yondu, acknowledged the company’s role in her growth, “Yondu has helped me develop my leadership, decision-making, and communication skills through its effective leadership training programs. The company also helped me grow personally because of its hybrid setup. This allows me to have a work-life balance. I can still care for my family and health while contributing to the organization.” Leather, who specializes in securing networks from vulnerabilities, noted that training programs are essential as trends continuously evolve. IT professionals need to keep up in order to be efficient. Steph, a software solutions engineer, echoed this, adding that since the industry is highly competitive and fast-paced, getting equipped with the right skills and knowledge is essential. Grace, a malware researcher, said that one advantage in the IT field is that since it’s a broad industry, there is always much to learn and room for improvement. Yondu, an IT solutions company wholly owned by Globe, offers all these benefits and compensation, a good working environment, and training programs to Yondudes, a nickname for its employees. Competitive pay and benefits are OK for Yondu as the company ensures this through regularly benchmarking market data and best practices. There are also tailor-fitted rewards programs according to talent segments. Yondu also ensures its employees remain competitive and well-equipped by industry standards through various training, reskilling, and upskilling programs to hone their skills in the constantly changing tech industry. Despite the fast-paced sector continuously evolving, Yondu still values work-life balance and provides programs to support Yondudes’ well-being further. “What sets Yondu apart from other organizations is its genuine focus on understanding and supporting its employees,” said Javen Babac, lead application support specialist at Yondu. “The company recognizes that employees perform their best when they feel valued and supported, and this philosophy sets Yondu apart by fostering a positive and inclusive work environment. The organization’s commitment to understanding its employees and providing the necessary resources demonstrates its dedication to employee well-being and sets a strong foundation for professional growth and job satisfaction.” The post The Advantage of Adopting the Right Digital Tools for your Business appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tech giants form AI group focused on ensuring safety
Four US leaders in artificial intelligence announced Wednesday the formation of an industry group devoted to addressing risks that cutting edge versions of the technology may pose. Anthropic, Google, Microsoft and ChatGPT-maker OpenAI said the newly created Frontier Model Forum will draw on the expertise of its members to minimize AI risks and support industry standards. The companies pledged to share best practices with each other, lawmakers and researchers. "Frontier" models refer to nascent, large-scale machine-learning platforms that take AI to new levels of sophistication -- and also have capabilities that could be dangerous. "Companies creating AI technology have a responsibility to ensure that it is safe, secure, and remains under human control," Microsoft president Brad Smith said in a statement. "This initiative is a vital step to bring the tech sector together in advancing AI responsibly and tackling the challenges so that it benefits all of humanity." US President Joe Biden evoked AI's "enormous" risks and promises at a White House meeting last week with tech leaders who committed to guarding against everything from cyberattacks to fraud as the sector grows. Standing alongside top representatives from Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Inflection, Meta, Microsoft and OpenAI, Biden said the companies had made commitments to "guide responsible innovation" as AI spreads ever deeper into personal and business life. Ahead of the meeting, the seven AI giants committed to a series of self-regulated safeguards that the White House said would "underscore three principles that must be fundamental to the future of AI: safety, security and trust." In their pledge, the companies agreed to develop "robust technical mechanisms," such as watermarking systems, to ensure users know when content is from AI and not humans. Core objectives of the Frontier Model Forum include minimizing risks and enabling independent safety evaluations of AI platforms, the companies involved said in a release. The Forum will also support the development of applications intended to take on challenges such as climate change, cancer prevention and cyber threats, according to its creators. Others pursuing AI breakthroughs were invited to join the group. "Advanced AI technologies have the potential to profoundly benefit society, and the ability to achieve this potential requires oversight and governance," said OpenAI vice president of global affairs Anna Makanju. "It is vital that AI companies -– especially those working on the most powerful models –- align on common ground and advance thoughtful and adaptable safety practices." Text The post Tech giants form AI group focused on ensuring safety appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pandemic era over
The vicious coronavirus-2019 is considered defeated in the country after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. issued Proclamation 297 lifting the “state of public health emergency.” Malacañang on Saturday said the President issued the proclamation on Friday but it was made public through a statement released by the Presidential Communications Office only on Saturday. The proclamation states that “all prior orders, memoranda, and issuances that were effective only during the State of Public Health Emergency shall be deemed withdrawn, revoked or canceled and shall no longer be in effect.” The directive provides that all emergency use authorizations or EUA issued by the Food and Drug Administration on vaccines shall remain valid for one year from the date of the lifting of the State of Public Health Emergency “for the sole purpose of exhausting the remaining supply of vaccines.” Go pleads for health workers For his part, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said: “We respect the President’s decision to lift the state of public health emergency. We trust that it was arrived at after careful consideration of the present health issue and the need to finally open up the economy.” Go, nonetheless, said he was appealing to the government to release the remaining arrears due to healthcare workers, including Covid-19-related allowances and unpaid death benefits. The senator said the obligations should be fulfilled “with or without the state of public health Emergency.” Align with new normal Marcos’ order also enjoined all agencies to ensure that their policies, rules, and regulations shall take into consideration the lifting of the state of public health emergency and to amend existing or to promulgate new issuances, as may be appropriate. Former president Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation 922 declaring a State of Public Health Emergency all over the country in March 2020. Proclamation 922 also stated that the public health emergency would remain in force until lifted or withdrawn by the president. WHO sees downtrend The International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization highlighted the decreasing trend in Covid-19 deaths last May. It also reported a decline in Covid-19-related hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions, as well as the high levels of population immunity to SARS-CoV-2. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus concurred with the advice of the committee that Covid-19 was now an established and ongoing health issue, which no longer constituted a public health emergency of international concern. The WHO likewise advised a transition to the long-term management of Covid-19. Stay vigilant For Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, the pronouncement is a “positive step forward,” and he agreed that the conditions no longer warrant the continuance of the public health emergency status. “It is crucial to recognize that while the state of public health emergency is lifted, we must remain vigilant and proactive in our approach to health and safety,” he said. Herbosa likewise stressed the importance of maintaining health awareness and adhering to health protocols to protect one from potential health risks. IATF to disband The Department of Health said the Inter-Agency Task Force would convene for a final meeting to formally conclude the public health emergency. Herbosa gave the IATF a pat on the back for its “exemplary performance” and “unwavering commitment,” and so too the medical front liners who demonstrated resilience and heroism throughout the challenging period. “Their dedication to safeguarding public health had been instrumental in reaching this critical milestone,” he said. “Let us embrace this positive development with gratitude and determination, knowing that by working together we shall prevail against any challenges that may lie ahead,” he added. Covid cases on Friday brought the total infection caseload to 4,171,063, with 234 new cases. Active cases, however, dropped to 5,278 from 5,431, the lowest since 29 April 2023, while seven new deaths and 380 new recoveries were logged. @tribunephl_Lade @tribunephl_eao The post Pandemic era over appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Super Junior adds more fan benefits ahead of July fan party
More fan benefits await E.L.F.s as K-pop group Super Junior gears up for their upcoming "fan party" at the Araneta Coliseum this July 21......»»
UN talks aim to harness AI power and potential
The United Nations is convening this week a global gathering to try to map out the frontiers of artificial intelligence and to harness its potential for empowering humanity. The UN hopes to lay out a clear blueprint for the way forward for handling AI, as the development of the technology races ahead the capacity to set its boundaries. The "AI for Good Global Summit", being held in Geneva on Thursday and Friday, will bring together around 3,000 experts from companies like Microsoft and Amazon as well as from universities and international organizations to try to sculpt frameworks for handling AI. "This technology is moving fast," said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, head of the International Telecommunication Union, the UN's information and communications technology agency that convened the summit. "It's a real opportunity for the world's leading voices on AI to come together on the global stage and to address governance issues," she told reporters. "Doing nothing is not an option. Humanity is dependent upon it. So we have to engage and try and ensure a responsible future with AI." She said the summit would examine possible frameworks and guardrails to support safe AI use. Listed participants include Amazon's chief technology officer Werner Vogels, Google DeepMind chief operating officer Lila Ibrahim and former Spain football captain Iker Casillas -- who suffered a heart attack in 2019 and now advocates for AI use in heart attack prevention. They will be joined by dozens of robots, including several humanoids like Ai-Da, the first ultra-realistic robot artist; Ameca, the world's most advanced life-like robot; the humanoid rock singer Desdemona; and Grace, the most advanced healthcare robot. Benefiting humanity? The Geneva-based ITU feels it can bring its experience to bear on AI governance. Founded in 1865, the ITU is the oldest agency in the UN fold. It established "SOS" as the Morse code international maritime distress call in 1906, and coordinates everything from radio frequencies to satellites and 5G. The summit wants to identify ways of using AI to advance the UN's lagging sustainable development goals on issues such as health, the climate, poverty, hunger and clean water. Bogdan-Martin said AI must not exacerbate social inequalities or introduce biases on race, gender, politics, culture, religion or wealth. "This summit can help ensure that AI charts the course that benefits humanity," UN chief Antonio Guterres said. However, while AI proponents hail the technology for how it can transform society, including work, healthcare and creative pursuits, others are worried by its potential to undermine democracy. 'Perfect storm' "We're kind of in a perfect storm of suddenly having this powerful new technology -- I don't think it's super-intelligent -- being spread very widely and empowered in our lives, and we're really not prepared," said serial AI entrepreneur Gary Marcus. "We're at a critical moment in history when we can either get this right and build the global governance we need, or get it wrong and not succeed and wind up in a bad place where a few companies control the fates of many, many people without sufficient forethought," he said. Last month, EU lawmakers pushed the bloc closer to passing one of the world's first laws regulating systems like OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot. There is also growing clamor to regulate AI in the United States. ChatGPT has become a global sensation since it was launched late last year for its ability to produce human-like content, including essays, poems and conversations from simple prompts. It has sparked a mushrooming of generative AI content, leaving lawmakers scrambling to try to figure out how to regulate such bots. Juan Lavista Ferres, chief data scientist of the Microsoft AI For Good Lab, gave an example of how AI could be used "to make our world a better place". He compared the more than 400 million people diagnosed with diabetes, a major cause of blindness, with the small number of ophthalmologists. "It's physically impossible to diagnose every patient. Yet we and others have built AI models that today can take this condition with an accuracy that matches a very good ophthalmologist. This is something can even be done from a smartphone. "Here AI is not just a solution, but it's the only solution." The post UN talks aim to harness AI power and potential appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EU moves closer to launching digital euro
The European Union (EU) on Wednesday took its first significant step towards launching a digital version of the euro, a controversial project that has been questioned by politicians and banks. From China to the United States, Jamaica to Japan, more than 100 central banks worldwide are exploring or preparing to put in place digital currencies as electronic payments grow, changing the way people spend their money. The move to create a digital version of the single currency began in 2020 when European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde suggested the idea and her Frankfurt-based body launched a public consultation. The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, published a proposal on Wednesday that will be the legal foundation on which the ECB could launch a digital euro. The currency would be available to individuals living in the euro area and for visitors. It would offer an additional payment option for citizens to use online and offline with their digital wallets, thus ensuring as much anonymity as coins and banknotes. The final law must be backed by the EU's 27 member states and the European Parliament. Digital euro enthusiasts say it will complement cash and ensure the ECB does not leave a gap later filled by private -- usually non-EU -- players and other central banks. "Given that the euro is already the world's second most-traded currency, it is not an area where can afford to stay behind the curve. We need to move ahead with a digital currency," commission vice president Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters. Critics question the need for a digital euro and banks warn of major risks, while the ECB's own study found the public was concerned over payment privacy. The ECB and the commission "have yet to make a compelling case of why we need the digital euro and what added value it will deliver," German MEP Markus Ferber said. Benefits 'outweigh' costs The commission's proposal argued that the digital euro's "long-term benefits... outweigh its costs" and warned, "the costs of no action can potentially be very large". Lagarde said in March that the digital currency was important for resilience and to "safeguard European payment autonomy". Many means of payment are "not necessarily European", she noted, adding it was "very unhealthy to rely on one single source of payment". US giants Visa and Mastercard currently dominate the global card payment market. Others argue, however, that the bloc's plans spell trouble unless the EU takes necessary other steps. Banks have warned of the risk of bank runs as customers could hold their funds in digital euro accounts and wallets, moving them away from the banks' balance sheets. "To shield banks from the risk of deposit flight and to limit the negative impact on banks' ability to finance the economy, it is important to set appropriate and firm limits in holdings and transactions," the European Banking Federation said on Wednesday. The proposal indicates there will be a limit to how much money people can keep in digital euros. ECB officials have suggested a cap of 3,000 euros ($3,300). The digital currency will be granted "legal tender" status, meaning it must be accepted as payment. But there would be exceptions, including for small businesses that do not accept any form of digital payment. The ECB is set to give the formal green light to a digital euro in October and the expectation is it would be available from 2027 onwards. The ECB welcomed the commission's proposal, which it said offered "private intermediaries appropriate economic incentives to distribute the digital euro as they do other digital means of payment while preventing excessive fees for merchants". Privacy concerns The ECB has a difficult battle to win over Europeans. A public consultation showed that the number one priority when it comes to the digital euro is privacy. To calm people's fears, the ECB has stressed it would not attempt to control how people can spend digital currency or use it for surveillance, as critics claim is the case in China. "This is not a Big Brother project for online payments," the EU's financial services commissioner, Mairead McGuinness, said during a press conference in Brussels. "With the digital euro, the data privacy will be the same as for existing private digital means of payment. For offline payments, the data privacy will be even higher." The commission's proposal said the digital euro "will be designed so as to minimize the processing of personal data by payment services providers" and the ECB. The post EU moves closer to launching digital euro appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fierce Tribune, year’s best paper
As a publication that adheres to the truth and goes the extra mile outside of its comfort zone to fulfill it, Daily Tribune was cited as Outstanding Newspaper of the Year during the Rotary Club of Manila’s 2023 Pro Patria Journalism Awards ceremony yesterday. According to the Awards committee, Daily Tribune’s recognition stems from its exposure of anomalies and irregularities both in the public and private domain while keeping true to its mantra, “Without Fear, Without Favor.” Given distinction along with the Daily Tribune were “Executive Session,” of the Manila Broadcasting Company’s DZRH, which was named Talk Show of the Year, while GMA 7’s Integrated News program was conferred the TV News Reporting Award. “The Daily Tribune was chosen due to investigating and reporting fairly and truthfully to enable citizens to be vigilant and participatory in forming collective censure and judgment to influence responsible acts and shape the national discipline,” the citation read. The Daily Tribune was feted by RCM as Newspaper of the Year in 2017 and 2021. [caption id="attachment_145142" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Winners all Sharing the honors during the Rotary Club of Manila’s Pro Patria Journalism Awards ceremony were (from left) RC Manila Pres. Hermie Esguerra, Willie Fernandez (Daily Tribune, Newspaper of the Year), Ed Javier (Panelist, Executive Session, Talk Show of the Year), Deo Macalma (Station Manager, DZRH for Executive Session), former Congressman Jonathan dela Cruz (Panelist, Executive Session), Sen. JV Ejercito (Panelist, Executive Session), Usec. Brigido Dulay (Panelist, Executive Session), Paolo Capino (Panelist, Executive Session) and RC Manila Journalism Awards 2023 chairman Amado Valdez.[/caption] ‘Icons Series’ Daily Tribune’s president Willie Fernandez received the award with a message using an analogy. He likened the recognition to “The Icons Series” in the world of golf to highlight the resilience of the staff. The Icons Series involves matches where competitors are known greats in different sports but who are also passionate about golf. “They are athletes in their own field, who are described as having ‘reached the pinnacle of their own discipline.’ Yet they want to be ‘tested outside of their comfort zone in a pressure environment’,” Fernandez said. He credited the achievement of the daily broadsheet — which is celebrating its 23rd anniversary on 30 June — to its men and women who uphold truth, fairness, goodwill, cooperation, and shared benefits, which are also the character traits of Rotarians. “We hope to continue doing our part — serving our country and fellowmen in our own fairway, so to speak, swinging our club and aiming true,” he said. Fernandez related how the Daily Tribune defied the prognosis of many that newspapers were in their death throes by turning the paper into an omni-media organization with a vital presence in the digital realm, thus it is able to provide more timely and meaningful information to more audiences. “I am humbled and at the same time amazed that in our 23 years as a title, and the last five years striving for excellence beyond our comfort zone, we have been named Pro Patria Newspaper of the Year. I take pride in having stayed true to the Daily Tribune’s DNA of independence. Through four administrations, we boldly reported on issues that many times put our lifeblood at risk,” Fernandez said. Journalism at its best According to RCM president Hermie Esguerra, the 2023 Pro Patria Journalism Awards stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of the Rotary Club of Manila in recognizing outstanding journalists who share our commitment to truth, fairness, and well-being to humanity.” “Today, we honor those who demonstrated their relentless pursuit of excellence in their craft. These journalists have exemplified the highest standard of integrity, fearlessness, and responsibility in their work. We applaud their unwavering commitment to the truth and their profound impact on our society,” Esguerra said. Accepting the accolade for the “Executive Session” were hosts Edwin Eusebio, Paulo Capino, Ed Javier, Jonathan dela Cruz, Justice Undersecretary Brigido Dulay representing Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Deo Macalma representing Ambassador to the UK Teodoro Locsin Jr., and Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito. Panelists of the Executive Session were feted for demonstrating “unparalleled excellence” in journalism with the enriching dialogue that they bring to each episode. It dives deep into current affairs and pressing issues presenting insightful and diverse discussions. For GMA Integrated News, the award was accepted by Oliver Amoroso, Senior Vice President and Head of the GMA Integrated News, Regional TV, and Synergy, on behalf of Atty. Felipe Gozon, chairman of GMA Network Inc. “I am here speaking on behalf of the two other awardees — GMA Network, Inc. and Executive Session of DZRH — for this year’s Rotary Club of Manila Pro Patria Journalism Awards for tri-media,” Fernandez said. “I feel a little like a valedictorian in a graduating class, delivering a common message of gratitude, of hope, and of inspiration.” “For us, this recognition is proof of our passion for the work we do, and simply the kind of boost we need to push forward and forge ahead, as they say, in spite of the difficulties we may encounter,” the Daily Tribune president said. Fernandez also congratulated GMA Network Inc. for its “manner and style of reporting with a built-in system of checks and balance that will ensure the delivery of news and events without bias and partiality, fear and accommodation of the powerful and vested interest.” [caption id="attachment_145139" align="aligncenter" width="525"] It’s a euphoric moment for the Daily Tribune after it was cited as the Outstanding Newspaper of the Year during the Rotary Club of Manila’s 2023 Pro Patria Journalism of the Year Awards ceremony at New World Hotel, Makati City yesterday, 15 June. With Daily Tribune President Willie Fernandez (3rd from left) and Vice President Chingbee Fernandez (2nd from left) are (from left) Editor-in-Chief Gigie Arcilla, Executive Editor Chito Lozada, Managing Editor Dinah Ventura, Editor-at-Large Gibbs Cadiz, Marketing Director Komfie Manalo, and writer Raffy Ayeng.[/caption] Not about people... The RCM Journalism Awards was conceptualized in 2021 by Dean Amado Valdez and the late RCM president Bobby Joseph, with the club’s commemoration of Philippine Independence, which Dean Valdez, the chairman of RMC Journalism Awards 2023, said, “It has become a tradition and will last for as long as the Rotary Club of Manila stays.” “This year’s Pro Patria Journalism Awards is not just about people, but about the philosophy of delivering the news, the concept of integrated news reporting on television, and a mechanism to ensure that there is fair reporting,” Valdez said. He added: “The essence of journalism is a journalist who goes around to get positive news; the news that restores the confidence of the people, and for the ability of the government to protect them from threats; telling the people about economic opportunities, infrastructure; strides in education; personal achievements of individuals and citizens that bring honor to the country. “ “These are the stuff that makes great journalism and the stuff that deserves the Pro Patria Journalism Awards,” he said. The post Fierce Tribune, year’s best paper appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Artificial intelligence and the legal practice
The Sony World Photography Awards of 2023 chose the entry of Boris Eldagsen to receive the first prize in its creative open category. Yet this German artist refused to accept the award. According to a CNN news article, this was because what he submitted was generated by an Artificial Intelligence or AI program. AI can be defined as the simulation of human intelligence by software-coded problem-solving shortcuts. The topic of AI has recently generated buzz. If before it was only a theme of futuristic movies, now the concept is materializing in present-day reality. AI has not only affected the industries of manufacturing, media, and transportation, it has now found its way into the field of law. OpenAI, a San Francisco-based AI research laboratory, launched ChatGPT in late 2022. This is a chatbot, which is an application that can imitate real-world and human-like functions. Some of these functions cover what comprises much of a lawyer’s work — drafting pleadings, reviewing contracts and writing memoranda, among others. Since the possibilities for the development of AI are endless, one cannot help but weigh the pros and cons of using it. In an interview with Reuters, Suffolk University Law School Dean Andrew Perlman thought that much like conducting research in Westlaw and LexisNexis, first-year law students should learn about using ChatGPT as a tool in their legal research and legal writing classes. However, just like any creation undergoing development, AI is far from being perfect. According to a recent national daily news article, an American lawyer is facing controversy when the court document he submitted cited six false cases generated by ChatGPT. He claimed that he was unaware that the AI program may produce fake content. As a result, he will be facing a sanctions hearing. This is not the first time that AI has generated misleading content. Fake photos of former US President Donald Trump being arrested, as well as fake photos of Pope Francis wearing a puffer jacket, went viral on the Internet. With the plethora of information accessible online, it is getting harder to detect what is true and it is getting easier to fabricate what is false. In an article published on the official website of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo revealed in a virtual meeting that the Court had proposed the use of AI for improving court operations. The proposal aims to build on the areas of preparation of transcripts of stenographic notes and digitalization of judgments that were already rendered. Since it has been established that AI can further progress as a powerful tool, it begs to answer the question, “What lies ahead for us in the legal practice?” As a new lawyer, I regularly use electronic legal research tools like CD Asia. Compared to the traditional way of going to the library, electronic tools greatly save time. How much more effort can be saved when one uses AI that can produce output by simply typing an instruction? It is my humble opinion, however, that while AI programs indeed promise cost-cutting benefits, there is nothing wrong with sticking to our old ways of diligently doing our legal work, especially when AI research programs are still problematic. We must err on the side of caution when using Artificial Intelligence because the stakes are high when we talk about what we represent before the courts. Putting myself in the shoes of clients, it would also be disconcerting if the lawyers they hired were charged for work that was only generated by an AI tool. Artificial Intelligence truly has its potential in legal practice. But pertaining to the core of what lawyering is and what the profession means, nothing beats our human touch. (Atty. Kristine Arlyce R. De Guzman just became a Member of the Philippine Bar in 2023. She received her Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law. She is currently an Associate at the Aranas Cruz Araneta Parker & Faustino Law Offices.) The post Artificial intelligence and the legal practice appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dominating 5G speeds
Leading digital solutions platform Globe emerged as the fastest 5G mobile network for the first quarter of 2023 in Makati City, a key business hub in the Philippines. Based on Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® Q1 2023 data, Globe edged out its closest competitor with a median download speed of 171.814 Mbps from January to March this year. Makati City is an important financial center in the Philippines, hosting the headquarters of majority of the Philippines’ top 1,000 companies as well as multinational corporations operating locally. 5G’s faster speeds, higher bandwidth, and more stable internet connection offer big corporations numerous benefits, including enhanced mobility, new business opportunities, and improved customer experience. These can give enterprises a competitive edge and help them stay ahead of the curve in today’s fast-paced market. As of the first quarter of 2023, Globe deployed 66 new 5G sites in 74 cities and towns across the Philippines. This expanded its 5G outdoor coverage to 97.21% of the National Capital Region and 90.28% of key cities in Visayas and Mindanao. Globe also logged 4.3 million devices in its 5G network as of March 2023. “With 5G, we are opening doors to endless possibilities and opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and development. We believe that everyone deserves to experience the benefits of 5G, and we are committed to making this a reality for all our customers,” said Globe Chief Transformation and Customer Experience Officer Rebecca Eclipse. As a leading provider of 5G connectivity, Globe has always been committed to providing a #1stWorldNetwork to Filipinos, in line with its commitment to economic growth and development under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Its efforts were rewarded with the Ookla® recognition as the Most Reliable Mobile Network for four straight quarters — from the second quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2023. Based on Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® Q1 2023 data, Globe dominated the industry anew after obtaining the highest All Technology Consistency Score of 83.39 percent in the first quarter of 2023, an improvement from 83.13 percent in the fourth quarter of last year. It also topped All Technology Availability with a higher score of 93.18 percent in the first quarter from 92.38 percent in the previous quarter. The post Dominating 5G speeds appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Humans must stay in control of AI, European trade union chief warns
No employee should be "subject to the will of a machine", European trade union chief Esther Lynch has warned, calling for regulation to ensure humans remain in control as artificial intelligence technology advances at breakneck speed. In the same way that European Union treaties protect health and safety in the workplace, rules are needed to guarantee "the human-in-control principle" when it comes to AI, Lynch said in an interview ahead of a major gathering of union representatives in Berlin. "We need to be guaranteed that no worker is subject to the will of a machine," Lynch told AFP, a scenario she said would be "dystopian". Lynch, general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation since last December, will head the four-day ETUC Congress that kicks off in the German capital on Tuesday. The event, held every four years, brings together hundreds of union officials from more than 40 countries to discuss topics ranging from workers' rights to the future of work, environmental protection, inequality and cross-border union cooperation. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are among the speakers scheduled to address the congress. 'Not just the 1 percent' Ever since the wildly popular AI chatbot ChatGPT burst onto the scene late last year, debate has been swirling about how the technology will upend the world of work, potentially transforming many jobs along the way. While supporters point out that AI tools can take over automated or repetitive tasks and free up staff to do more creative work, sceptics worry about job cuts, data protection and losing a human element in some decision-making processes. Lynch, 60, said AI regulation was one of the topics she would be discussing with the EU's Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit during the congress. With every technology there's "a positive side and a negative side, and the same will be true of AI," the Irish woman said. "What we have seen is that whenever you involve workers and their unions in the introduction of technology... the outcomes are better." The EU is currently debating a draft text calling for curbs on how artificial intelligence can be used in Europe, bringing the bloc a step closer to an AI law. It is "critically important" that AI is introduced "in a way that works for working people rather than against them", Lynch said. "It can't be the case that only the top one percent take all of the benefits of AI, and leave everybody else not benefiting from the productivity gains that will come from AI," she went on. "We need to make sure that where parts of jobs or whole jobs or whole industries are displaced, that there are other quality jobs created." Inflation costs Division of wealth will be a key theme at the congress as employees across Europe feel the pain from a cost-of-living squeeze as a result of high inflation. Lynch said while workers were struggling to make ends meet, many companies had benefited from rising prices and enjoyed higher profits and dividend payouts. "Europe's top 1,200 companies' dividends increased by 14 percent" last year, she said, whereas wages only rose by four percent on average. "So it's quite clear who's driving inflation. It's not working people," Lynch said. The European Central Bank's series of interest rate hikes, aimed at cooling inflation, were only worsening the inequality, she added. Higher borrowing costs "aren't the solution for treating dividends in a fairer way," according to Lynch. "The solution for that is: tax those dividends and then redistribute the wealth," she said. The post Humans must stay in control of AI, European trade union chief warns appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Of warm summer nights and cool, soft sleep fabric
Sleep is a luxury, and it’s the reward waiting for you at the end of a long, demanding hard day’s work. When we finally sink into our beds and lay our weary heads and shoulders on our pillows, we yearn for nothing more than to drift into a restful slumber that will recharge us physically and mentally so that we wake up refreshed and full of energy. In our desire for a good night’s sleep, the myths, tips and tricks have most likely outnumbered the actual hours of naps that we’ve clocked in. Finding the right temperature, setting up just the right amount of light and even playing soothing sounds or spraying calming scents are efforts. But the secret to the best sleep ever is as close to you as a second skin. Think fabric. Linen & Homes has developed sustainable bedding woven from 100-percent cooling bamboo viscose. The result: lightweight sheets that are three times softer than cotton sheets. And while you slide into your buttery sheets, here are more benefits from bamboo. They’re naturally cooling. Bamboo fibers regulate your body’s temperature and even the temperature around you. They do not retain heat, so you stay cool. Its moisture-wicking properties mean it is breathable, which reduces hot flashes and night sweats. They’re sustainable. Bamboo is an eco-friendly alternative fiber source — it grows faster and can still reproduce after a harvest, requiring less water. They’re hypoallergenic and anti-microbial. Both are great features when you have sensitive skin! It is free from allergens, dust mites, and bacteria. The anti-microbial properties also mean the bamboo plant does not need pesticides, so that’s zero chemicals for you to worry about. Dream suite If you haven’t already, it’s time to switch and sleep in sustainable fabric. At the Linen & Homes Dream Suite, their new showroom along Perea Street in Legaspi Village, Makati City, you can go ahead and see and feel the attainable luxury and quality of the sustainable fabric that goes into each of their products. Run your hands across the smooth sheets and pillowcases, feel the buttery soft blankets between your fingers and even try on a weighted blanket to see if it’s for you. The beds are inviting and set up entirely in their range of products — from the covers to the mattress toppers and protectors. In another corner, you’ll also find sleepwear — pajamas, loungewear and robes made to feel soft yet durable and with the perfect amount of stretch for the luxuriously comfortable sleep that you deserve. And even towels are also made from 100-percent eco-friendly bamboo terry, loomed to 700 grams per square meter, so it’s a perfect combination of softness, durability and absorbency. All this, as if to say even the art of getting ready for bed — a nice bath, comfy clothes — is the perfect lead-up to falling into soft sheets and fast asleep. The venue was created as a haven for all things sleep — conducive enough to try the fabric, you can sit on a corner of the bed and find yourself inching your way up to the pillows. You can mix and match the colors and prints, decide on softness, smoothness, and weight, and choose sleepwear to complete the experience. The post Of warm summer nights and cool, soft sleep fabric appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
No FTAs during Biden’s term ‘understandable’— Pascual
Following the pronouncement of United States Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai that a bilateral free trade agreement or FTA between the United States and the Philippines was unlikely as the Biden administration was more focused on its Indo-Pacific Economic Framework or IPEF initiative, Trade Secretary Fred Pascual said on Wednesday that the decision of the world’s superpower is understandable. “She cannot say otherwise because their President (Biden) has already made the pronouncement that there will be no FTAs during his term. So, she is just voicing that, and we understand the discussion on this, and we understand where she is coming from,” Pascual told reporters in an ambush interview at an event in Taguig City. “But it will not prevent us from further pushing (for an FTA),” the Trade chief insisted. On Tuesday night, Ambassador Tai told selected Philippine media that in terms of a more “traditional” FTA, their government is not currently negotiating any such agreements with trading partners in particular because they don’t want to see that traditional FTA being appropriate for the types of challenges and opportunities that they are facing right now. Phl gov’t to push for U.S. GSP renewal Further, Pascual said if the US government is not yet ready for an FTA, then the government will resort to the renewal of the US Generalized System of Preferences or GSP, which lapsed in December 2020. “We want that (US-GSP) to be renewed. We are currently using the platform of the IPEF to push for this formalized trade relations between the Philippines and the US,” Pascual said. On Tuesday, Pascual said he and Ambassador Tai held a wide-ranging and “productive meeting,” reaffirming their shared commitment to deepening the US — Philippines bilateral trade relationship and strengthening ties in the Indo-Pacific region, in the presence of the US Ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay Carlson. Ambassador Tai and Secretary Pascual are looking ahead to the upcoming IPEF Framework negotiating round, and Tai acknowledged the Philippines for the constructive feedback it has provided and noted the tangible economic benefits of the Trade pillar. Pascual clarified that “IPEF is a framework and not a trade agreement that does not cover market access or tariffs but provides a way of addressing process constraints.” In May 2022, the United States launched the IPEF with Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. IPEF discussions The IPEF launch began discussions of future negotiations on the following pillars, namely trade, supply chains, clean energy, decarbonization, infrastructure, and tax and anti-corruption. The IPEF is designed to be flexible, meaning that IPEF partners are not required to join all four pillars. “There will be agreements on certain rules, the rules of the game, and these are the things that are being negotiated. We have a working group on trade, and there are other groups for supply chain, environment, and governance. Tariff and market access has a separate forum,” Pascual said. The post No FTAs during Biden’s term ‘understandable’— Pascual appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Netflix subscribers at record high, password crackdown coming
Netflix on Tuesday said that its number of subscribers hit a record high 232.5 million in the first quarter of the year and that its nascent ad-supported tier was faring well. The streaming television giant reported a quarterly profit of $1.3 billion, in line with expectations, but said it had delayed a broad crackdown on sharing of account passwords "to improve the experience for members." Netflix said it expects to begin rolling out its options for paid password sharing this quarter instead. "It's clear that the company wants to manage any fallout from the new strategy," said Third Bridge analyst Jamie Lumley. That means some membership and revenue benefits resulting from the move were postponed, Netflix said in a letter to shareholders. Netflix has dabbled with "borrower" or "shared" accounts in a few markets, but plans to roll them out in the United States and elsewhere this month, co-chief executive Greg Peters said in a streamed earnings interview. Netflix said it is taking time to make sure subscribers have seamless access to the service away from home or on various devices such as tablets, TVs or smartphones. "We learned from this last set of launches about some improvements we can do," Peters said. "It was better to take a little bit of extra time to incorporate those learnings and make this transition as smooth as possible for members." And while a new ad-subsidized subscription tier at Netflix is in its early days, engagement is above initial expectations and Netflix has seen "very little switching from our standard and premium plans." Market tracker Insider Intelligence forecast that Netflix will bring in $770 million in ad revenue from the new tier this year, and that revenue figure will top $1 billion next year. As growth at Netflix cooled last year, the Silicon Valley-based streaming company focused on creating a lower-priced subscription tier with advertising. Netflix also set out to nudge people watching for free with shared passwords to begin paying for the service without alienating subscribers. "This account-sharing initiative helps us have a larger base of potential paying members and grow Netflix long term," said co-chief executive Ted Sarandos. For the first time ever, US adults will spend more time this year watching digital video on platforms such as Netflix, TikTok and YouTube than viewing traditional television, Insider Intelligence has forecast. The market tracker expects "linear TV" to account for less than half of daily viewing for the first time ever. "This milestone is driven by people spending more and more time watching video on their biggest and smallest screens, whether it's an immersive drama on a connected TV or a viral clip on a smartphone," Insider Intelligence principal analyst Paul Verna said in a release. Netflix and YouTube are "neck and neck" leaders when it comes to digital video audience attention, according to Insider Intelligence. Netflix planned to continue spending about $17 billion annually on shows and films, with that amount perhaps climbing after next year. "Netflix subscriber growth shows that the streaming wars are still on," said analyst Lumley. "The company is ahead of where it was this time last year but still clearly facing the pressure from all the players in this crowded space." The post Netflix subscribers at record high, password crackdown coming appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pascual awaits IPEF rounds
The country’s Trade chief Fred Pascual is looking forward to the rounds of negotiations for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity or IPEF, seen by the United States government as advancing resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and competitiveness for its partner economies, including the Philippines. On Tuesday, DTI-Director of Bureau of International Trade Relations Angelo Salvador Benedictos said the Philippines is looking forward to being included in IPEF, as the country is about to renew the expired US Generalized System of Preferences, a separate trade scheme that ushers’ duty-free importation of select goods from eligible developing countries. Earlier, Pascual said he and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai held a wide-ranging and “productive meeting,” reaffirming their shared commitment to deepening the US — Philippines bilateral trade relationship and strengthening ties in the Indo-Pacific region, in the presence of the US Ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay Carlson. Constructive feedback Ambassador Tai and Secretary Pascual looked ahead to the upcoming IPEF Framework negotiating round, and Tai acknowledged the Philippines for the constructive feedback it has provided and noted the tangible economic benefits of the Trade pillar. In May 2022, the United States launched the IPEF with Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The IPEF launch began discussions of future negotiations on the following pillars, namely trade, supply chains, clean energy, decarbonization, infrastructure and tax and anti-corruption. The IPEF is designed to be flexible, meaning that IPEF partners are not required to join all four pillars. On the other hand, Ambassador Tai, during his meeting with Pascual, highlighted the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting in Detroit as an opportunity to demonstrate that resiliency, sustainability, and inclusivity are core values in trade policy. They also noted the importance of identifying opportunities to enhance the resilience of supply chains and helping micro, small, and medium enterprises participate in the global economy. Lastly, Ambassador Tai and Secretary Pascual touched on several bilateral trade topics and highlighted the importance of the US – Philippines Trade and Investment Framework and instructed their teams to engage the TIFA working groups and they look forward to holding the next meeting soon. FTA more preferred than GSP During his talk at the launch of the US-Philippines Economic Impact Study by the Ateneo School of Government on Monday, Director Benedictos maintained that the Philippine government prefers a free trade agreement as they “believe this is a more permanent mechanism compared to GSP.” “When both sides are ready this will probably happen,” he added, as the US is the Philippines’ 5th largest source of investment in 2022 amounting to P5.06 billion. Records showed that in January 2023, the US was among the top three sources of foreign direct investments and the country’s top source of cash remittances. The post Pascual awaits IPEF rounds appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Germany ends nuclear era as last reactors power down
Germany switched off its last three nuclear reactors on Saturday, exiting atomic power even as it seeks to wean itself off fossil fuels and manage an energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. While many Western countries are upping their investments in atomic energy to reduce their emissions, Germany brought an early end to its nuclear age. It's "the end of an era," the RWE energy firm said in a statement shortly after midnight confirming the three reactors had been disconnected from the electricity grid. Europe's largest economy has been looking to leave behind nuclear power since 2002, but the phase-out was accelerated by former chancellor Angela Merkel in 2011 after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. The exit decision was popular in a country with a powerful anti-nuclear movement, stoked by lingering fears of a Cold War conflict and atomic disasters such as Chernobyl in Ukraine. "The risks of nuclear power are ultimately unmanageable," said Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, who this week made a pilgrimage to the ill-fated Japanese plant ahead of a G7 meeting in the country. Anti-nuclear demonstrators took to the streets in several German cities to mark the closures. Greenpeace, at the heart of the anti-nuclear movement, organized a celebratory party at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. "We are putting an end to a dangerous, unsustainable and costly technology," said Green MP Juergen Trittin. In front of the Brandenburg Gate, activists symbolically slayed a model dinosaur. Initially planned for the end of 2022, Germany's nuclear exit was delayed as Russian gas supplies dwindled. Germany, the largest emitter in the European Union, also powered up some of its mothballed coal-fuelled plants to cover the potential gap left by gas. The challenging energy situation had increased calls domestically for the exit from nuclear to be delayed. Germany had to "expand the supply of energy and not restrict it any further" in light of potential shortages and high prices, the president of the German chamber of commerce Peter Adrian told the Rheinische Post daily. Friedrich Merz, leader of the opposition CDU party, said the abandonment of nuclear power was the result of an "almost fanatical bias". Meanwhile the conservative daily FAZ headlined its Saturday edition "Thanks, nuclear energy," as it listed benefits it said nuclear had brought the country over the years. Outside observers have been similarly irked by Germany's insistence on exiting nuclear while ramping up its coal usage, with climate activist Greta Thunberg in October slamming the move as "a mistake". As expected, the Isar 2 reactor in the southeast of the country, the Neckarwestheim facility in the southwest and Emsland in the northwest were disconnected from the electricity network before midnight. Earlier, Guido Knott, CEO of PreussenElektra, which operates Isar 2, said it would be "a very moving moment" to power down the reactor. The three final plants provided just six percent of Germany's energy last year, compared with 30.8 percent from all nuclear plants in 1997. "Sooner or later" the reactors will start being dismantled, Economy Minister Robert Habeck told the Funke group ahead of the scheduled decommissioning, brushing aside the idea of an extension. The government has the energy situation "under control", Habeck assured, having filled gas stores and built new infrastructure for the import of liquefied natural gas to bridge the gap left by Russian supplies. Instead, the minister is focused on getting Germany to produce 80 percent of its energy from renewables by 2030. To this end, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for the installation of "four to five wind turbines a day" over the next few years -- a tall order given that just 551 were installed last year. But the current rate of progress on renewables could well be too slow for Germany to meet its climate protection goals. Despite planning to exit nuclear, Germany has not "pushed ahead enough with the expansion of renewables in the last 10 years", Simon Mueller from the Agora Energiewende think tank told AFP. To build enough onshore wind capacity, according to Mueller, Germany now has to "pull out all the stops". The post Germany ends nuclear era as last reactors power down appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Health workers plead for benefits ahead of SONA
Health workers plead for benefits ahead of SONA.....»»
Locsin: South China Sea ruling a North Star that benefits the world
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday night asserted that Manila's arbitral in the West Philippine Sea is "final" and "benefits the world" ahead of its fifth anniversary next month. .....»»
Philippines logs 40 pertussis deaths this year
MANILA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Forty children have died of whopping cough, a respiratory infection also called pertussis, since this year, the Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) has reported. The DOH said in a statement on Wednesday that cases have continued to increase since the start of this year, recording 568 cases from Jan. 1 to March 16. "The total number of cases for the same period in 2023 was.....»»