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Helmut Lang and Ralph Lauren kick off New York Fashion Week
Amid sweltering heat and jitters over the Hollywood strike, New York kicked off its Spring-Summer 2024 Fashion Week on Friday, with heavyweights Ralph Lauren and Helmut Lang returning to the industry's flagship event with fresh ideas. American luxury brand Coach unveiled its collection of sensual translucent dresses at the New York Public Library in Manhattan on Thursday, but the event was briefly disrupted by animal rights activists. As Vogue editor Anna Wintour and Jennifer Lopez watched the show, two female protesters from the animal rights group PETA -- one covered in body paint that mimicked animal flaying and another holding a poster that read "Coach: Leather Kills" -- joined the models on the runway before security led them away. At another unofficial kick-off event on Wednesday, featuring Naomi Campbell, Doja Cat, Naomi Osaka and Gigi Hadid, the iconic lingerie label Victoria's Secret teased a film meant to showcase the brand's new and more inclusive identity after it was criticized for designing garments that objectify women. The film, entitled "The Victoria's Secret World Tour," to be released on Amazon Prime at the end of September, highlights the work of creators and artists from Lagos, London, Bogota, and Tokyo. Yellow taxi This year, New York Fashion Week will feature young talents and emerging brands, along with heavyweights such as Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Altuzarra, Gabriela Hearst, Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch, and Luar. The city will then pass the baton to London, Milan, and Paris. "New York has always been a cornerstone of Fashion Week," said Steven Kolb, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. "It really underscores how strong it is, in terms of presenting creative thinking." Under the humid heat of the New York summer, the six-day marathon kicked off Friday afternoon in Manhattan's Lower East Side with a show by Helmut Lang, who rose to fame in the 1990s and 2000s, thanks to the minimalist aesthetic of the Austrian artist. Helmut Lang, the designer, left fashion in 2005 but Helmut Lang, the brand, lives on, bought by Prada and then by the Japanese group Fast Retailing, which owns Uniqlo. The brand now returns to the runways of the Big Apple with a collection concocted by its new artistic director, Peter Do, widely considered a fashion prodigy. The show had nostalgic undertones, a bow to the 1990s when it became the first fashion brand to advertise on New York yellow taxi signs. Fewer red carpets Another brand to make its return on Friday, albeit in Brooklyn where many of the fashion shows have migrated, was Ralph Lauren, the legendary brand that defined American elegance and embodied preppy US style with an annual turnover of more than $6 billion. The brand, whose founder was born in the Bronx, has not held a show in New York since 2019. This fashion season is marked by the double strike of Hollywood screenwriters and actors seeking better compensation, which has reduced the number of red carpet previews to a minimum, thus depriving brands of a chance to dress stars and promote themselves in the process. "Certainly, the red carpet is a way to speak to the audience," said Kolb, adding that fashion shows were no less important. The "content that they create for social channels will contribute to a very loud, very visible Fashion Week," he added. The post Helmut Lang and Ralph Lauren kick off New York Fashion Week appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rolling Stones album of new songs out next month
The Rolling Stones will release their first album of new music in 18 years next month, lead singer Mick Jagger, fellow founding bandmate Keith Richards and bass guitarist Ronnie Wood announced Wednesday in London. The album, "Hackney Diamonds", is the first since the death of drummer Charlie Watts in 2019, and the first containing original material since 2005's "A Bigger Bang". "We didn't want to make just any record and put it out," Jagger, 80, told a launch event at the Hackney Empire theatre in east London, hosted by US talk show host Jimmy Fallon and livestreamed on YouTube. "I'm not saying we're big-headed about it but we're pleased with it and we hope you all like it," the octogenarian rocker said. The Stones' 24th studio album, set for release on October 20, has 12 tracks, with the single "Angry" the first to come out. Wood, 76, confirmed during the launch that superstar Lady Gaga features on another, "Sweet Sound of Heaven", adding she "sings really sweet" on it. Two of the tracks were recorded with Watts in 2019. The others feature Steve Jordan, whom Watts recommended to replace him. "Ever since Charlie's gone it's different," said 79-year-old guitarist Keith Richards of recording the new album without one of the band's founders. "He's number four, he's missing, he's up there. Of course he's missed incredibly." Already acclaimed "Hackney diamonds" is English slang for the shards of glass left scattered on the ground after smash-and-grab robberies, and refers to the historically working class east London neighbourhood. "It's like when you get your windscreen broken on a Saturday night in Hackney," Jagger joked. Throngs of people crowded outside the event venue, including those without tickets who came out of curiosity and hoping to spot the band. "I've been following the Stones since I was four years old and I'm from round here -- it's my backyard," said musician and fan Rory McGlinchey. "It's crazy that they're here!" Wearing a Rolling Stones t-shirt, he said the new release was "great news". "Can't wait," he told AFP. Critics have already hailed the release as the band's best work in many decades. Will Hodgkinson, rock and pop critic for Britain's The Times newspaper, said it is "unquestionably the best Stones album since 1978's 'Some Girls'". "Variously poignant, irreverent, anarchic and, in one gospel-tinged moment, quite spiritual, it touches on all the aspects we love about the band, glued together by the rambunctious energy they have made their own since the early Sixties," he wrote. The Daily Telegraph's music reviewer Neil McCormick said "Angry" was "their best single in four decades". The Stones also unveiled the single's typically rock'n'roll video. It sees the band playing from Los Angeles' billboards as scantily-dressed, leather-clad "Euphoria" actress Sydney Sweeney writhes to the soundtrack in the back of a convertible red Mercedes driving through the city. Teaser The Rolling Stones' last studio album was 2016's "Blue & Lonesome", which was made up of blues covers. "We've been very lazy," said Jagger. "We've been on the road most of the time." The band teased the release of the new album through a spoof advert in the local Hackney Gazette newspaper. The cryptic ad, which also appeared in sister title the Islington Gazette, referenced several of the band's best-known songs including "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", "Gimme Shelter" and "Shattered". The ad went on: "Opening our new store on Mare Street, September 2023. Our friendly team promises you satisfaction when you say gimme shelter we'll fix your shattered windows." Clues that the ad was not for a bona fide east London glass repair business included a miniature version of the band's famed lips logo to dot the letter i. The ad -- in the same font as the "Some Girls" album -- also says the firm was established in 1962, the same year the band was formed. Last year the Stones travelled through Europe for their 60th anniversary tour which featured stops in cities including Madrid, Milan and Munich, and also a performance at British Summer Time (BST) festival in London. Asked for the secret to their decades-spanning musical marriage, Jagger quipped: "not speaking too often". "How to say shut up politely," added Richards. The post Rolling Stones album of new songs out next month appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Veteran actress Angie Ferro dies at 86
Angie Ferro, an acclaimed veteran actress of stage, TV and film, has passed on, according to tributes by friends and industry colleagues posted online. She was 86. "Rest in eternal peace, our feisty talented driven theater colleague, our dearest Angie Ferro!," wrote Bohol-based theater director and musician Lutgardo Labad, a stalwart colleague of Ferro in the theater company Philippine Education Theater Association or PETA. "Patay na si Uray Hilway ng Amaya at Lola Igna. My teacher, a friend, ina ng aming teatro. Rest in peace, BB. Angie Ferro," said GMA head writer Suzette Severo Doctolero in her own Facebook post. Doctolero's tribute referenced two of the late-career projects that made Ferro a recognizable face and name to younger TV and movie watchers. In 2011-2023, she was in the cast of GMA7's blockbuster period TV series "Amaya". In 2019, at 82 years old, she was the lead star in the independent film "Lola Igna," for which she would win Best Actress in that year's Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino and garner as well a Best Actress Gawad Urian nomination. Born in Baleno, Masbate, Philippines, Ferro was in landmark films across various decades such as Celso Ad Castillo's "Pagputi ng Uwak... Pag-itim ng Tagak (1978) and Lav Diaz's "Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino" (2004). She won Best Supporting Actress at the FAMAS Awards for "Pagputi ng Uwak..." and was a supporting actress nominee in the 2005 Gawad Urian for "Ebolusyon". In October 2021, she received the Nora Aunor Ulirang Artista Lifetime Achievement Award at the 36th PMPC Star Awards for Movies. She was reported to be in critical condition in May this year, with friends and colleagues rallying for financial support because the actress had no immediate family. The post Veteran actress Angie Ferro dies at 86 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Country Garden: China’s under-pressure property giant
Concerns are mounting in China around Country Garden, a major property developer whose colossal debt raises fear of a bankruptcy that could spell wider economic turbulence, two years after the unravelling of its competitor Evergrande. Country Garden shares plunged by more than 18 percent in Hong Kong on Monday after it missed bond payments and warned of multibillion-dollar losses. Its billionaire boss Yang Huiyan has said the firm is "facing the greatest difficulties since our establishment". Here's what you need to know about Country Garden: Family business Country Garden is run by Yang Huiyan, who until recently was one of the richest women in China and Asia. Yang, now in her early forties, became a billionaire when she inherited shares from her father in 2005, two decades after he founded the company. But her fortune has dwindled since 2021 as China's real estate crisis dramatically weakened the sector. Yang, who lost nearly $29 billion in two years according to a Bloomberg ranking of billionaires, has an estimated wealth of $5.3 billion. To support Country Garden, she and her family have chipped in the equivalent of $4.9 billion in personal funds, according to the group. Real estate heavyweight The top seller of real estate in China last year, Country Garden was named in Forbes' list of the 500 largest companies in the world. Based in the southern Chinese city of Foshan, the group employed nearly 70,000 "full-time" staff members at the end of 2022, according to the most recent figures from the company, which has long been deemed financially solid. It also has operations abroad, including a gigantic real estate project in Malaysia involving artificial islands. Under pressure But recent sluggishness in the Chinese real estate market has caught up with the company. According to media reports, Country Garden was unable to make two bond payments on 6 August. It has a 30-day grace period, but if it does not pay within that time it risks default. Adding to the pressure, 31 billion yuan ($4.27 billion) in the firm's bonds are set to mature in 2024, according to rating agency Moody's. Another Evergrande? Like its competitor Evergrande, which owes more than $300 billion, any collapse of Country Garden would have damaging repercussions on the Chinese financial system and economy. It is due to publish its half-year results by the end of the month, and says it expects a net loss of 45 to 55 billion yuan (about $6.2 billion to $7.6 billion). And its situation is particularly precarious because around 60 percent of its projects are located in small Chinese cities, where property prices have fallen the most and where customers have weaker purchasing power. Country Garden announced over the weekend it would suspend trading of onshore bonds from Monday, a decision likely to cause concern in the markets as the company said that its debt was estimated at some 1.15 trillion yuan ($159 billion) at the end of 2022. Additional liabilities have brought other estimations of its overall debt as high as 1.4 trillion yuan ($193 billion), according to Bloomberg. Robotics In addition to its core focus on real estate, Country Garden has been developing robots for the catering industry since 2019. The firm has produced designs for different types of mechanized food processors, and last year it opened an expansive, fully automated restaurant in Foshan. The restaurant, which accommodates up to 600 people, is staffed by 20 robots that can prepare three types of dishes including Chinese hot pot, the firm said at the time. The post Country Garden: China’s under-pressure property giant appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Veteran journalist, book author Rene Acosta is new NPO chief
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed veteran journalist and book author Renato “Rene” Acosta as the new head of the National Printing Office, an attached agency of the Presidential Communications Office, Malacañang announced Saturday. Press Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil said that Acosta will replace Carlos Bathan as the director of the government’s official printing arm. Acosta was a fellow of the East-West Center in Washington DC and an alumnus of the US State Department’s premier professional exchange program International Visitor Leadership Program. The Philippine-based journalist has contributed stories and analyses on domestic and regional issues for renowned international think tanks, such as the Washington DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies and Oxford Analytica in the United Kingdom. Acosta had also written and edited stories for the online portal of the US Pacific Command’s Asia Pacific Defense Forum, now known as Indo-Pacific Forum. He also worked for the United States Naval Research Institute News. His book, titled “The War on Terror: How the Philippine Military and the US Broke the Axis of Terror in the Philippines,” was published and launched in Singapore by Penguin Random House. Acosta was also the “featured author” in 2019 by the Singapore Writers Festival—considered one of Asia’s premier literary events. The journalist and book author delivered lectures on the three themes during the 10-day literary feast sponsored by the Singapore Arts Council. Until his appointment, Acosta was a reporter for BusinessMirror, which he joined in its founding in 2005, and where he had been covering defense and national security issues during the past years. Acosta was a former president of the Defense Press Corps of the Philippines. He began his journalism career at the state-owned Philippine News Agency in 1989 while still a journalism student and later rose from the ranks. Acosta wrote and edited stories for wire agencies during his junior years as a reporter. He was also based and worked for a newspaper in Western Pacific. Before joining BusinessMirror from the defunct Today newspaper, Acosta briefly worked for the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines as a communication consultant, where he helped work for the removal of the country from the Priority Watch List on piracy by the US Trade Representative’s office. Acosta also founded and edited the defunct Intellectual Property Rights Review—the first newspaper in the world of intellectual property rights that was hailed by worldwide IPR advocates. The NPO, the agency that Acosta now headed, is tasked to continue to provide printing services to government agencies and instrumentalities as mandated by law. It also provides printing of official ballots and election paraphernalia which could be shared with Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas, upon the discretion of the Commission on Election consistent with the provision of the Election Code of 1987. The post Veteran journalist, book author Rene Acosta is new NPO chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Canada PM Trudeau and wife announce separation
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday that he and his wife of 18 years, Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, are separating. In a post on Instagram, the prime minister said "that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate." A statement from his office added that the couple have signed "a legal separation agreement." It said the public can expect to continue seeing them and their three children together as "they remain a close family" and both parents will be a "constant presence in their children's lives." They asked for privacy ahead of a family vacation scheduled for next week. Trudeau and his wife, a former entertainment reporter, were childhood friends and reconnected in 2003 while co-hosting a charity ball. They soon started dating and married in 2005 in Montreal. They have three children together: Xavier, 15, Ella Grace, 14, and nine-year-old Hadrien. The separation is the first for a Canadian prime minister since Trudeau's late father Pierre Trudeau, who split from Margaret Trudeau in the late 1970s and eventually divorced in 1984 during his final months in office. Sunny days, heavy storms In his 2014 memoir "Common Ground," the younger Trudeau recalled that the "dark drama" at home and his parents' eventual divorce had been hard on him. His own breakup comes as Trudeau's ruling Liberals are struggling in the polls against the opposition Conservatives ahead of elections expected before the end of 2025. Trudeau announced last week a major shakeup in his cabinet with the stated goal of strengthening his economic team ahead of that looming campaign. This involved changing more than two-thirds of his political inner circle, with seven new recruits joining the cabinet and around 20 ministers reassigned to new roles. Sophie Gregoire, 48, had been a constant presence at her 51-year-old husband's side at political events over the past decade, as he took the party from third place to form a government in 2015, and through two more winning ballots in 2019 and 2021. But she has appeared in public less in recent years, at times lamenting the struggles of marriage, saying last year in a social media post that they had "navigated through sunny days, heavy storms and everything in between." Trudeau himself has also hinted at difficulties, writing in his memoir: "Our marriage isn't perfect, and we have had difficult ups and downs, yet Sophie remains my best friend, my partner, my love. We are honest with each other, even when it hurts." On their latest anniversary in May, Trudeau posted a photo online of the pair holding hands as they drove along a remote Canadian highway in a motor home, with the caption "Every mile of this journey together is an adventure. I love you Soph." The post Canada PM Trudeau and wife announce separation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US actor Kevin Spacey cleared of UK sex offenses
Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey was acquitted on Wednesday in Britain of nine alleged sex offenses, in the latest court victory for the Oscar winner who was one of the first huge stars felled by the #MeToo movement. The star of "American Beauty" and drama series "House of Cards", who turned 64 on Wednesday, was acquitted by majority verdicts in London following a trial lasting several weeks. "I'm enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reached their decision and I am humbled by the outcome today," he told reporters outside court. It comes less than a year after a New York court dismissed a $40 million sexual misconduct civil lawsuit brought against him, and follows charges of indecent and sexual assault being dropped in Massachusetts in 2019. Spacey's once-stellar career has been halted by the various allegations of sexual offences, which first emerged in 2017 and which he has always denied. The actor told Germany's Die Zeit that he expected to mount a comeback following the acquittal. "I know that there are people right now who are ready to hire me the moment I am cleared of these charges in London," he told the German national weekly. "The second that happens, they're ready to move forward." Madness The jury in London, which began considering the charges on Monday, cleared Spacey of all nine counts that he faced, after more than 12 hours of deliberations. The alleged offences included seven counts of sexual assault, one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. They were said to have occurred in 2005 and 2008 in London, and in 2013 in Gloucestershire, western England. Jurors heard evidence from the four alleged victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons. British rock star Elton John was also among those to testify, as a witness for Spacey. The prosecution claimed he was a "sexual bully" who revelled in making others feel uncomfortable, including by aggressively grabbing men's crotches. One of victims, a former aspiring actor, said he woke up to find Spacey performing a sex act on him, suggesting the actor "drugged" him. He was accused of grabbing another man's crotch "so hard" while driving to a fundraising event, that the car nearly came off the road. Spacey, whose full name is Kevin Spacey Fowler, called the claims "madness" and a "stab in the back". He had been on unconditional bail since first being charged in Britain last year, and on Wednesday walked out of the south London court a free man. The Crown Prosecution Service said it had charged him following "a thorough investigation" by London's Metropolitan Police. "It is the role of the jury to consider the charges and we respect the decision of the court," a spokesman added. Career success Spacey enjoyed a highly successful decades-spanning career with roles such as a middle-aged father lusting after a teen in "American Beauty," a serial killer in "Se7en" and the villain in "Superman Returns". He worked as artistic director at London's Old Vic Theatre between 2004 and 2015. In 2017 he was one of the first stars caught up in the global #MeToo movement as he was accused of sexual assault by multiple young men. He was dropped from the final season of the political drama "House of Cards" and other projects. A New York court dismissed a $40 million civil sexual misconduct lawsuit brought against him in October last year. The complainant, actor Anthony Rapp, alleged the star had assaulted him when he was 14. He brought the civil case after being told it was too late to bring a criminal charge but failed to convince the jury in that case. In 2019, charges of indecent and sexual assault were dropped against Spacey in Massachusetts. The post US actor Kevin Spacey cleared of UK sex offenses appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EJK docu leads Cinemalaya 2023’s roster
For the first time since its inception in 2005, the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival has a documentary and an animated film in its roster of 10 full-length features competing for top honors, including best picture. The list of finalists in its 19th edition was formally introduced in a press conference yesterday, 5 July. It was attended by Cinemalaya Foundation president Laurice Guillen, festival director Chris Millado and competition chairman Jose Javier Reyes. Also present was Cultural Center of the Philippines artistic director Dennis Marasigan. Cinemalaya 2023 runs from 4 to 13 August. It will have screenings at the Philippine International Convention Center and Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (also known as CCP Black Box Theater). It will also have screening slots at partner venues Ayala Cinemas and SM Cinemas. 10 full-length films Maria by documentarist Sheryl Rose Andes follows the real-life story of a woman who lost her husband and child to extrajudicial killings. When This is All Over, directed by Kevin Mikhail Mayuga with elements of animation, is about the unexpected friendship that developed during a lockdown at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic between two young adults from opposite ends of the economic spectrum. Rookie, whose story revolves around volleyball players, is jointly directed by Samantha Lee and Natts Jadaone. Ang Duyan Magiting by Dustin Celestino is composed of anthology of scenes that depict war, terrorism and politics. It stars Dolly de Leon, Bituin Escalante, Agot Isidro, Miggy Jimenez, Jojit Lorenzo, Frances Makil-Ignacio, Paolo O’Hara, Joel Saracho and Dylan Ray Talon. [caption id="attachment_153740" align="aligncenter" width="525"] 'Rookie,' a volleball flick.[/caption] As If It’s True by John Rogers tackles the blurring line between real love and exploitation between a social media influencer and a struggling musician. Gitling by Jopy Arnaldo is about a young interpreter/translator working on the Ilonggo subtitles for a Japanese film who forms a friendship with the film’s Japanese director. Huling Palabas tells the story of a 16-year-old boy who finds solace in old VHS tapes to reconnect with his long-lost father. [caption id="attachment_153739" align="aligncenter" width="525"] 'ITI Mapupukaw' stars Dolly de Leon.[/caption] Bulawan Nga Usa (Golden Deer) by Kenneth dela Cruz is about a young man who tries to escape reality by going up a mountain, but ends up treading between mystery and self-discovery. Iti Mapupukaw (The Missing) by Carlo Joseph Papa is also about a young man going through a major life change but involving aliens. Lastly, Tether by Gian Arre replaces Killing Time in Manila Traffic by Paul Sta. Ana. Aside from full-length film category, there is the short film category in Cinemalaya. This year’s entries are Ang Kining Binalaybay Kag Ambahanon Ko Para Sa Imo by Kent John Desamparado; Golden Bells by Kurt Soberano, Hinakdal by Arvin Belarmino; HM HM MHM by Sam Villa-real and Kim Timan; and Kokuryo: The Untold Story of Bb. Undas 2019 by Diokko Manuel Dionisio. Also making the cut are Maudi Nga Arapaap (Last Dream) by Daniel James Magayon; Makoko sa Baybay by Mike Cabales; Sibuyas ni Perfecto (Perfecto’s Onion) by Januar Yap; Sota by Mae Tanagon; and Tong Adlaw Nga Nag-Snow sa Pinas by Joshua Caesar Medroso. The post EJK docu leads Cinemalaya 2023’s roster appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US actor Kevin Spacey due in UK court for sex offenses trial
Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey was due in a London court on Wednesday to stand trial for a dozen sexual offenses which allegedly occurred more than a decade ago. The 63-year-old star of "American Beauty" and drama series "House of Cards" is facing a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in south London. Dozens of photographers and journalists gathered outside the court from 6:30 am (0530 GMT) on Wednesday hoping to catch a glimpse of Spacey, who arrived by taxi with his legal team not long after 8.00am. Walking past the cameras Spacey looked relaxed and gave a small wave, according to an AFP journalist. Spacey has been on unconditional bail since first appearing in court in Britain last year. The actor's stellar career has been halted by large numbers of allegations of sexual offences, although he has not been convicted of any crime. Last year he appeared at London's Old Bailey court to plead not guilty to five offences against three men, including four counts of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. They allegedly took place in 2005 and 2008 in London, and in 2013 in Gloucestershire, western England. In November, prosecutors then announced seven additional charges involving another man, taking the total number of counts Spacey faces in the UK to 12. Denial The fresh counts, allegedly committed between 2001 and 2004, comprise three offences of indecent assault, three of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. Spacey, whose full name is Kevin Spacey Fowler, appeared at Southwark Crown Court in January to deny all the new charges. He spoke only to confirm his identity and to enter the not guilty pleas. None of the alleged victims can be identified under English law and reporting restrictions prevent further details being disclosed before trial. Spacey enjoyed a highly successful acting career with roles such as a middle-aged father lusting after a teen in "American Beauty," a serial killer in "Se7en" and the villain in "Superman Returns". He worked as artistic director at London's Old Vic Theatre between 2004 and 2015. In 2017 he was one of the first stars caught up in the global #MeToo movement and was accused of sexual assault by multiple young men. He was dropped from the final season of the political drama "House of Cards" and other projects. Last year a New York court dismissed a $40 million sexual misconduct lawsuit brought against Spacey. The complainant, actor Anthony Rapp, alleged the star had assaulted him when he was 14. He brought the civil case after being told it was too late to bring a criminal charge. In 2019, charges of indecent and sexual assault were dropped against Spacey in Massachusetts. In court appearances, Spacey has denied all allegations of sexual assault. The post US actor Kevin Spacey due in UK court for sex offenses trial appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Remolona new BSP head
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Eli Remolona as the new Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Malacañang announced on Friday. The Palace made the announcement through the Presidential Communications Office as the six-year term of a BSP Governor, currently held by Governor Felipe Medalla, will end in July. Marcos made has made the decision to appoint a new Governor to succeed Governor Medalla after extensive consultations with the Department of Finance, various government offices, private banks, and financial institutions, PCO added. "As the newly appointed governor, Mr. Remolona is expected to leverage his extensive knowledge and experience to guide the BSP in promoting financial stability, implementing effective monetary policies, and fostering a robust banking sector," PCO said. "His appointment ushers in a new era for the central bank, with great anticipation and confidence in his ability to steer the Philippine economy toward sustained growth and stability," PCO added. Mr. Remolona's impressive career includes a notable tenure of 14 years at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, followed by 19 years at the Bank for International Settlements. During his time at the BIS, he served as the regional head for Asia and the Pacific, where he closely collaborated with the governors of 12 leading central banks in the region. His work focused on crucial issues such as financial stability, capital market development, and asset management for Asia-Pacific central banks. A distinguished academic, Remolona also served as a Professor of Finance and Director of Central Banking at the Asia School of Business in Kuala Lumpur, in collaboration with the MIT Sloan School of Management from 2019 to 2022. He taught courses on monetary policy, money, and capital markets, and digital transformation, contributing to the education and development of future finance professionals. Remolona's expertise extends beyond academia, as he held various positions of high importance in the financial industry. Notably, he served as the Chief Representative for Asia and the Pacific at the BIS, where he led a team of 35 professionals, managed a significant budget, and oversaw policy-oriented research and financial services provided to central banks and governments in the region. Remolona has published over 5,500 citations in leading journals in economics and finance. His contributions to the field of finance are further highlighted by his role as an Associate Editor for Finance of the International Journal of Central Banking from 2005 to 2022. His journey in economics began in 1972 when he served as an economist at the Presidential Economic Staff and Development Management Staff, under Alejandro Melchor, then Executive Secretary of President Ferdinand E. Marcos. He also joined a high-level economic mission to the Philippines, advising President Ferdinand E. Marcos on structural reforms. Throughout his career, he has also worked as a consultant for esteemed institutions such as the Asian Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. Before his appointment as Governor of the BSP, Remolona served as a Member of the Monetary Board of the BSP since August 2022. The post Remolona new BSP head appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘We want to be free’: Filipinos demand right to divorce
Philippine mother-of-three Stella Sibonga is desperate to end a marriage she never wanted. But divorce in the Catholic-majority country is illegal, and a court annulment takes years. The Philippines is the only place outside the Vatican where divorce is outlawed, with the Catholic Church -- which holds great influence on Philippine society -- opposing the practice as against its teachings. Those in favor of legalizing divorce say the ban makes it difficult to escape violent or otherwise abusive spouses, or even for couples to amicably cut ties. People wanting to end their marriage can ask a court for an annulment or a declaration that the nuptials were invalid from the start, but the government can appeal against those decisions. The legal process is slow and expensive -- cases can cost as much as $10,000 or more in a country plagued by poverty -- with no guarantee of success, and some people seeking a faster result fall for online scams. "I don't understand why it has to be this difficult," said Sibonga, who has spent 11 years trying to get out of a marriage that her parents forced her into after she became pregnant. Sibonga's legal battle began in 2012, when she applied to a court to cancel her marriage on the basis of her husband's alleged "psychological incapacity", one of the grounds for terminating a matrimony. After five years and $3,500 in legal fees, a judge finally agreed. The former domestic worker's relief was, however, short-lived. The Office of the Solicitor General, which as the government's legal representative is tasked with protecting the institution of marriage, successfully appealed the decision in 2019. Sibonga said she requested the Court of Appeals to reverse its ruling, but is still waiting for an answer. "Why are we, the ones who experienced suffering, abandonment and abuse, being punished by the law?" said Sibonga, 45, who lives near Manila. "All we want is to be free." 'Dysfunctional marriages' The most powerful opponent to divorce in the Philippines is the Catholic Church, which is also against abortion and contraceptives. Around 78 percent of the country's 110 million people are Catholic, according to official census data, and many politicians are wary of contradicting the Church on sensitive social issues. But Congress has scored significant wins in recent years. A controversial birth control law was passed in 2012, despite strong opposition from the Church. And in 2018, majority and opposition parties in the House of Representatives approved a divorce bill that later stalled in the Senate. It was the first time such a proposal had got that far. Surveys conducted by polling company Social Weather Stations show a shift in Philippine attitudes towards divorce. In 2005, 43 percent of Filipinos supported legalizing divorce "for irreconcilably separated couples", while 45 percent disagreed. The same survey in 2017 showed 53 percent in favor, while only 32 percent disagreed. A group of lawmakers is now leading a fresh push to legalize divorce, with several bills filed in the House and the Senate. "We are not destroying any marriage," said Edcel Lagman, a congressman and author of one of the bills. Lagman said divorce was for "dysfunctional marriages beyond repair" and legalizing it would enable women and their children to escape "intolerant and abusive husbands". Before he was elected, President Ferdinand Marcos said the country should consider allowing divorce, but insisted it should not be easy. Annulment scams The burdensome process for getting a court order to end a marriage has spawned online scams offering to secure a quick ruling without time-consuming court appearances. AFP fact checkers found numerous Facebook posts spreading false information about the legal process for annulment in order to attract clients, underscoring a growing global trend of fraudsters profiting off disinformation. One victim told AFP she was charged the equivalent of $2,400 for an annulment service that turned out to be fake. She is now considering converting to Islam in the hope of securing a divorce under Muslim law. "I'm really trying every possible option just to be single again," she told AFP on the condition of anonymity. "Annulment takes so long, it's so expensive and it's not guaranteed, so I'm seeking a more convenient way." Family law specialist Katrina Legarda said the number of people falling for bogus services showed there was a "dire need" for new legislation. But Father Jerome Secillano, of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, said the nation should be "proud" to be the only country outside the Vatican "holding on to the traditional concept of marriage". "There will always be imperfections in a relationship," he said. Secillano said divorcing an abusive partner would "perpetuate the violence" because the perpetrator would go on to abuse their next partner. "You are not actually curing the disease itself," he said. 'I'm a sinner' Sibonga was raised a Catholic, but stopped attending church to avoid accusations of adultery. She has a long-term boyfriend, but cannot tie the knot with him until her first marriage is legally terminated. That her case has dragged on for so long is not unusual in the Philippines, where a creaky justice system can take years to resolve even minor issues. "People think that because I am still technically married, I'm a sinner," she said. "They really believe that what God has united cannot be separated. Really? Even if your husband is trying to kill you, even after everything he's done, divorce is still not allowed?" Sibonga said her relationship with her husband had been traumatic and had pushed her to attempt suicide twice. She does not want her children to marry until divorce is allowed. "I told them they can cohabitate and have as many children as they want, but I won't ever consent to them getting married," she said. "I just don't want them to end up like me." The post ‘We want to be free’: Filipinos demand right to divorce appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan’s Koji Yakusho wins best actor at Cannes
Japan's Koji Yakusho won best actor at Cannes on Saturday for "Perfect Days" by German director Wim Wenders, a touching tale about a Tokyo toilet cleaner. "I want to specifically thank Wim Wenders... who truly created a magnificent character," he said as he received the award. Yakusho, 67, appears in most scenes of "Perfect Days" as a mysterious, bookish man without friends, content to spend his spare time reading, watering his plants, taking photos, and listening to songs on his car stereo. The versatile actor's roles in over four decades of movie-making have ranged from warlords and gangsters to killers and cops -- and now an everyman who keeps the public washrooms of Tokyo pristine. He also crossed over to Hollywood for "Memoirs of a Geisha" in 2005 and "Babel" a year later. "Wim had given me very little information... There was a lot of mystery. Even today, it's a character I know almost nothing about," he said of his role, which involved almost no dialogue. "It was the first time I shot like that, over a very short period, without rehearsal," he said about working with one of the giants of European cinema. Germany's Wenders, 77, won the top prize Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1984 for "Paris, Texas". Born in 1956 in Isahaya, Nagasaki prefecture, Yakusho first worked as a town hall employee before turning to acting in 1979, after following up on an ad in a newspaper. Out of 800 candidates he was one of four selected, "and today I am the only one to be an actor", he told French media in 2003. His first big role that helped propel his career was in the popular hit "Tampopo" (1985) about the hunt for a noodle soup recipe. Since then among his notable films have been "The Eel", winner of the Palme in 1997, and "The Third Murder" in 2017. In 2009 he made his first and only feature "Toad's Oil" in which he also played the lead role. Asked what keeps him going in the trade, he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2019: "I always think I haven't got it quite right, but in the next film I'll finally nail it. "I guess that's the drug of this business for me, which has kept me going for 40 years." The post Japan’s Koji Yakusho wins best actor at Cannes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trump found liable for sexually abusing writer
A New York jury found Donald Trump liable Tuesday for sexually abusing and defaming an American former magazine columnist and ordered the ex-president to pay her $5 million in damages. The nine jurors rejected E. Jean Carroll's accusation of rape but unanimously upheld her other complaints in the closely watched civil trial, following less than three hours of deliberations. It marks the first time Trump has faced legal consequences over a string of sexual assault allegations dating back decades -- and the former leader immediately rejected the verdict as a "disgrace." Carroll, 79, sued Trump last year, alleging that he raped her in the changing room of the luxury Bergdorf Goodman store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue in 1996. The former columnist for Elle magazine also claimed that Trump defamed her when he called her "a complete con job" after she went public with the allegation in 2019. Trump, the 76-year-old frontrunner for the Republican nomination in next year's presidential election, called her case a "hoax" and "a lie." The jury determined that Carroll had proved sexual abuse -- effectively sexual contact without consent -- by a preponderance of the evidence and awarded her $2 million. The six men and three women on the jury also said Trump should pay Carroll nearly $3 million for defamation. Following the verdict, Carroll left the Manhattan federal court smiling but did not speak to reporters. "We're very happy," said her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan. Trump slammed the outcome on his social media platform Truth Social. "I have absolutely no idea who this woman is," he wrote, using all capital letters. "This verdict is a disgrace -- a continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time." Trump's 2024 campaign team said in a statement that the case was a "political endeavor" intended to derail Trump's bid to regain the White House, and that he would appeal. Carroll told the two-week-long civil trial that the assault had left her feeling "ashamed" and unable to have romantic relationships. She said it took her more than 20 years to go public because she was "frightened" by Trump. Her lawyers called to the witness stand two other women who testified that Trump sexually assaulted them decades ago. Former businesswoman Jessica Leeds said that Trump groped her in the business class section of a flight in the United States in the 1970s. Journalist Natasha Stoynoff said Trump kissed her without her consent during an interview at his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2005. Around a dozen women accused Trump of sexual misconduct ahead of the 2016 election that sent him to the White House. He has denied all the allegations and has never been prosecuted over any of them. No criminal case can stem from Carroll's lawsuit. Trump did not testify during the proceedings, nor did his defense team call any witnesses. A video of a sworn deposition he gave in October was played to the jury. In it, Trump called Carroll "a liar" and "really sick person." His lawyers argued that Carroll invented the allegation "for money, for political reasons, and for status." She filed her lawsuit under a New York law that gave victims of sexual assault a one-year window to sue their alleged abusers decades after attacks may have occurred. The burden of proof in civil proceedings is lower than in criminal trial cases when prosecutors must prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was one of several legal challenges threatening to complicate Trump's bid to regain the presidency -- although the Republican's supporters have broadly stayed loyal to their champion up until now. Last month, Trump pleaded not guilty to criminal charges related to a hush-money payment made to a porn star just before the 2016 vote -- allegedly to cover up an affair. Trump is also being investigated over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the southern state of Georgia, his alleged mishandling of classified documents taken from the White House and his involvement in the storming of the US Capitol by his supporters on January 6, 2021. The post Trump found liable for sexually abusing writer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Making the most of Philippine Summer
Despite perennially reeling from the scorching heat, Filipinos nevertheless look forward to summer to take a break from the rigors of daily life and enjoy the sun, sand and sea. The months of March to May is always a time to enjoy the outdoors, as the Philippines, being a tropical country, is replete with summer destinations that local and foreign tourists go gaga about. Topping these getaway spots, hands down is the beach. With over 7,000 islands, the country boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Among the most popular are Boracay, Palawan and Siargao — all known for their crystal-clear waters, powdery white sands and stunning sunsets. [caption id="attachment_129829" align="aligncenter" width="525"] A boy ignoring warnings not to swim in polluted Manila Bay dives in to beat the summer heat as boats prepare for the fist annual regatta, 26 May 2002, aimed at increasing public awareness on the environment. The Philippine government has been taking steps to clean-up the historic bay, famed for its breath-taking sunsets, which has become a depository for trash and industrial waste in recent years. AFP PHOTO/Joel NITO (Photo by JOEL NITO / AFP)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_129827" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Tourists relax along a beach in Boracay island in Malay town, Aklan province, central Philippines on April 7, 2018. - The Philippine tourism industry scrambled on April 6 to manage the fallout from the temporary shutdown of its world-famous Boracay island, which threw into chaos trips planned by hundreds of thousands of tourists. (Photo by AFP)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_129828" align="aligncenter" width="525"] A surfer takes advantage of the conditions at Big Wave Bay on the southern side of Hong Kong island 05 July 2001 as tyhoon 'Utor' heads nearer to the territory after lashing southern Taiwan and the Philippines. 'Utor' one of the biggest typhoons to hit the South China Sea in thirty years is expected to hit landfall in southern China tommorrow morning coming close to Hong Kong at the same time.AFP PHOTO/Peter PARKS (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_129830" align="aligncenter" width="525"] A tourist goes airborne while kite boarding in the waters of Boracay island on November 9, 2008. The white sand beach resort island is in center of controversy as investors and property owners accused the government of land grabbing following the 2006 proclamation by the Philippine government that the entire island belongs to the state. Boracay island located in central Philippines draws half a million tourists each year to its spectacular beaches, more than one sixth of tourist visitors to the country. AFP PHOTO/JAY DIRECTO (Photo by JAY DIRECTO / AFP)[/caption] Aside from the beach, summertime is a chance to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and island hopping. Tourists take advantage of the summer months to explore the natural beauty of the country. [caption id="attachment_129826" align="aligncenter" width="525"] This picture taken on October 12, 2019 shows members of Myanmar's national surfing team resting during a competition on Ngwe Saung beach in Irrawaddy division, ahead of the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines. - Competitive surfing was barely known in Myanmar a few years ago but a group of super-stoked dudes and dudettes from a local beach town are riding a wave of enthusiasm to the Southeast Asian Games for the first time ever. (Photo by Ye Aung THU / AFP)[/caption] Among the more popular hiking spots are Mt. Pulag, Mt. Batulao and Mt Pinatubo which all offer breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences. Of course, we should not forget that summer in the Philippines is also a time for festivities. One of the most celebrated festivals during this season is the Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon. The festival is held every May in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. During the event, the town is decorated with colorful kiping (rice wafers) and other agricultural products. [caption id="attachment_129831" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Children on a float made of native materials and decorated with vegetables and rice stalks parade on the streets for a contest ahead of the annual "Pahiyas" harvest festival in the town of Lucban, in Quezon province, south of Manila, 14 May 2005. During the festival, residents use native plants, vegetable products and rice paper to decorate their floats, homes and vehicles in imaginative ways. AFP PHOTO/JAY DIRECTO (Photo by JAY DIRECTO / AFP)[/caption] Another popular festival during this time is the Kadayawan Festival in Davao City. The festival is held every August and is a celebration of the city’s bountiful harvest. It is a colorful event that features street dancing, music and a parade of flowers. Whatever one fancies to beat the summer heat, there is always something to look forward to hereabouts. Whether one wants to relax, go on an adventure or celebrate, one can find it here in a paradise even tourists call paradise. The post Making the most of Philippine Summer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl volleybelles sharpen reception
The Philippine national women’s team got a first look at what it needs to address heading into the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia next month. Pitted against Japan V. League club Himeji Victorina in their first competitive scrimmage since the their formation last month, the Filipinas suffered a 21-25, 25-19, 13-25, 22-25, loss on Saturday at the Daicel Gymnasium in Himeji City in the first of their series of tune-up matches scheduled in their 15-day training camp in Japan. The national coaching staff headed by Brazilian mentor Jorge Souza de Brito took the opportunity to assess the condition, chemistry and cohesion of the squad to plot a perfect training plan needed for its mission to end an 18-year podium drought in the biennial meet set from 5 to 17 May. Philippine National Volleyball Federation national teams commission head Tonyboy Liao pointed out that the squad still needs to polish an important facet of the game. “We have to improve our reception. We saw that during the game against Himeji,” Liao, who was joined in the training camp by ranking federation officials, said. Reception has always been the weakness of the national squad despite having excellent liberos and hitters with decent floor defense. The 14-man team led by skipper Alyssa Valdez, which is looking to score a medal for the first time since winning bronze in the 2005 Manila edition, still has time to polish its game before closing camp on 28 April. Meanwhile, the PNVF led by its officials and Himeji Victorina club formally signed a friendship agreement to further strengthen their volleyball ties. “The Philippine Volleyball Federation and Victorina Himeji will continue to cooperate to share each other’s volleyball promotion and player skills enhancement programs and this is a sign of friendship,” the agreement signed by the PNVF and Himeji Victorina executives. The Nationals were warmly welcomed by host Himeji Victorina when they arrived at the Asian volleyball powerhouse nation early Friday. This is the first time that the Filipinas made their return to Japan to train since their Tokyo camp for the 30th SEA Games in Manila in 2019. They trained in Brazil last year for the pandemic-delayed Hanoi SEA Games last year. The Filipinas will face Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore in Group B of the elimination round of the competition set to begin two days ahead of the opening ceremony on 3 May at the Morodok Techo Elephant Hall. The post Phl volleybelles sharpen reception appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
COA questions ‘validity and propriety’ of Land Titling Computerization Project
The Commission on Audit has questioned the “validity and propriety” of the Land Titling Computerization Project (LTCP) of the Land Registration Authority (LRA)that lacked approval of the President and allegedly deprived the government an estimated P3.12 billion in possible income. COA has questioned the Build-Own-Operate Agreement (BOO) for the implementation of the LTCP that has so far earned for the private partner of the LRA some P21 billion in just 10 years. The audit agency’s observations are contained in the recently-released 2019 LRA annual audit report submitted to LRA Administrator Renato Bermejo by COA Director Michael Bacani. The LTCP introduced the automation of the functions and processes and standardization of the registration procedure for land registration in the country. COA said the BOO between the LRA and the Land Registration Systems Inc. (LARES) lacked the mandatory approval of the President as required under Republic Act 77198. “Other necessary documentary requirements were likewise not submitted to the Office of the Auditor, thus, validity and propriety of both the BOO and the corresponding IT service fees collected and released by LRA to Lares, Inc. amounting to more or less P20 billioin out of the P21 billion, as doubtful,” COA stated. The BOO was originally entered into by LRA with the Stradec FF Cruz and CONFAC (SUFC) Consortium, now LARES), in 2000 for the implementation of the agency’s Information Technology Network and Database Infrastructure Project. In a special audit on the contract that was conducted by COA from 2004 to 2005, the audit agency concluded that the LTCP “was not efficiently and effectively implemented and the interest of the government and the public was not adequately protected” due to the delay in its implementation. In the 2015 annual audit report, COA observed that various documents covering the BOO were not certified true copies, including the presidential approval of the agreement through then Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora. In 2019, COA sought confirmation of the presidential imprimatur of the agreement but Malacanang was not “able to provide positive confirmation on the authenticity of the presidential approval dated July 31, 2000” that was ostensibly signed by Zamora. Originally costing just P3.483 billion, the project was able to earn P21 billion, P20 billion of which was released to LARES. The LRA management took exception to COA’s doubts on the validity and propriety of the BOO agreement is”without factual and legal basis”. Officials of the agency also pointed out that all BOO Contracts are presented to the president through the National Economic Development Authority. “Since the President chairs the NEDA Board, NEDA Board approval already carries with it the president’s approval,” the LRA argued. In the same audit report, COA disclosed that the LRA has failed to incorporate amendments to the agreement with LARES for the provisions of reasonable rate of return (ROI) to ensure that “no unwarranted benefit is given to the LARES” at the expense of the public.” “Likewise the absence of a revenue sharing arrangement deprived Government of more or less P3.12 billion of possible income,” the state audit agency noted. Audit examiners stressed that LRA has continuously failed to assess the “extent of recoupment of the investment” relative to the total IT services fee imposed and collected. They said this is”detrimental to the paying public which the government ought to protect.” COA also assailed LRA for allowing the use of 12 “outdated” network switches, “causing security vulnerability and possible performance defect due to bugs.” Further, only two out of 10 software licenses were used for the project. Among the outdated software installed was the Kaspersky Security version 10.0.0.485......»»
The Country’s Most Remote Cell Site
Despite challenges due to the island’s location in the West Philippine Sea, PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc (Smart) has recently fired up its 4G/LTE service in Pag-asa Island in the municipality of Kalayaan, the country’s most remote cell site, located some 500 kilometers from the capital city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Residents of Pag-asa Island can now use mobile data to communicate with family members and loved ones via chat apps and video calls, share photos, send emails or watch videos online. In an email sent from Pag-asa Island, Smart engineer Edbert Aquitania shared a screenshot of the message he received upon firing up the LTE site: “Welcome back to the Philippines!” it said. This development marks another step towards improved communications for the people of Pag-asa, who were first connected via mobile communication in 2005, when Smart turned on its 2G service on the island. “The activation of LTE in Pag-asa island is proof of our continued commitment to give our customers access to our services, wherever in the Philippines they may be, regardless of the challenges,” said Mario G. Tamayo, senior vice president and head of Network Planning and Engineering at PLDT-Smart. Smart LTE Nation This LTE activation is part of Smart’s continuing rollout of its LTE services nationwide. To date, Smart’s high-speed broadband service is available in 93% of the country’s cities and municipalities and serves 95% of the population. This rollout is part of PLDT and Smart’s sustained investments in their network, which have totaled some Php260 billion from 2015 to 2019. Amid the regained momentum of its network rollout efforts following the easing of lockdown restrictions, PLDT has leveled up its target capital expenditures for 2020 back up to about Php70 billion. In the first half of 2020, Smart further increased the number of its LTE base stations by 10% compared to end-2019. In April, it also increased the capacity of its LTE network by reallocating its assigned 1800 Mhz frequency from 2G to 4G/LTE. As a result, 3,785 Smart base stations are now providing additional capacity for its LTE network. Smart’s mobile network is supported by PLDT’s fiber infrastructure, which provides high-capacity links to LTE base stations and is now nearly 360,000 kilometers nationwide. .....»»
Casino gaming around the globe
Gaming has always been a popular human activity. Long before land-based casinos were built, casino games existed and flourished. Bingo, for example, first appeared in.....»»
Valorant releases first nonbinary agent
Riot Games has unveiled its newest agent for first-person shooting game Valorant — Scottish troublemaker Clove......»»
Flintlock: A Classic Summer Blockbuster – The Daily Guardia
A44 Games, a New Zealand-based developer, is set to release their highly-anticipated third-person action-RPG, Flintlock: The Siege Of Dawn. The game pays homage to the.....»»