Pope appoints first African American cardinal
Pope Francis created 13 new cardinals on Saturday---including the first African-American--putting his personal stamp on the body that will one day choose his successor......»»
Unang African American na cardinal niluklok
Kinumpirma ni Pope Francis ang 13 bagong cardinal, kabilang ang unang African American na nakahawak ng nasabing posisyon. The post Unang African American na cardinal niluklok first appeared on Abante......»»
‘Hands off our war!’
Israel’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Ilan Fluss, stressed yesterday that his country does not want the United Nations to interfere in its war against the extremist group Hamas, which killed at least 1,400 people, mostly Israeli civilians, in an unprecedented attack last 7 October. In a roundtable discussion with DAILY TRIBUNE editors and reporters, Fluss accused the UN of having a long-standing anti-Israel bias as he brushed aside a UN Security Council call for a “humanitarian pause” in the conflict. The UN was founded 78 years ago to the day today, on 24 October 1945. “We’re in a war against Hamas, which is like the war in Afghanistan (following the 11 September 2001 or 9/11 terror attacks against the United States),” said Fluss, describing the attack by Hamas as second only in barbarity to what Israelis faced during the holocaust. Hitler’s Nazi Germany exterminated about six million European Jews from 1941 to 1945 during the Holocaust in World War 2. The genocide would spur the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. “We will make sure that there’s no humanitarian crisis as much as possible, and we are trying hard to minimize the casualties there,” he said, explaining that the airstrikes in the Gaza Strip are targeting well-known Hamas enclaves. Israel, with about 300,000 soldiers and armor massed at its border with Gaza, has expressed an intent to launch a ground offensive to rout Hamas, without occupying the territory it left in 2005. Fluss pointed out that civilians in Gaza are being warned in advance of the attacks, with pleas made for them to relocate to its south, away from the fighting. War on terror “Our objective in this war is to ensure that Hamas will no longer be able to attack Israel like it did. We will remove their capability in a war that is solely against Hamas and not the Palestinians,” Fluss said. The envoy stressed that Israel is not against delivering humanitarian aid to the civilians in Gaza, while stressing Israel’s right to protect its citizens against terrorist groups like Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and the Hezbollah in Lebanon. Fluss said that nobody, not even the UN, can stop Israel from a war that it did not start, one that was “forced on us” by Hamas with the latter’s massacre of innocent Israelis, including women and children. Enemies of Israel He explained that while the Philippines enjoys recognition by all countries, Israel has for decades, if not centuries, been trying to be recognized as a state with the right to exist peacefully. But Fluss lamented that the UN has been passing resolutions — at least 20 every year — “which are anti-Israel, (resolutions) that take the Palestinian narrative.” “There is no recognition of the Israeli narrative. The bias against Israel in the UN is well-known,” he said. He said that the UN and its agencies, like the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, otherwise referred to as the UN Relief and Works Agency or UNRWA, have allowed themselves to be used by the enemies of Israel. Fluss cited as an example the use by Hamas of UNRWA facilities, supplies and even marked vehicles in attacking Israel. UNRWA had been accused in the past of perpetuating destabilizing events in order to have a perpetual supply of refugees to justify its existence and funding. It has over 18,900 staff working in 138 countries. Israel, as the lone Jewish state in the UN, is ranged against an automatic majority of countries that support the Palestinian initiatives. The Arab League has 22 members in the UN, while the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has 57 members. It may be recalled that a number of Arab countries had banded together to wage wars against Israel, including in 1948 during its founding. The UN has also accommodated Palestinians many times in the past. In October 1974, or 14 years before the Palestine Liberation Organization nominally forswore terrorism, the UN General Assembly voted to invite it to send a spokesperson to take part in its deliberations. No one who was not a representative of a government — except the Pope, and even he was the head of a quasi-state — had ever before been granted such a privilege. The vote to extend the invitation was overwhelming, 105 to 4, with only the United States, Israel, and two Latin American governments opposed. The assembled delegates heard Yasser Arafat proclaim the necessity of getting at the “historical roots” of the issue, namely, “the Jewish invasion of Palestine [that] began in 1881,” and addressing it with a “radical antidote,” rather than “a slavish obeisance to the present.” Expulsion try In 1975, the foreign ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference were determined to have Israel expelled from the UN. The PLO lined up support for this move at a meeting of the African states while training its sights on a ministerial meeting of the NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) scheduled a month later, in August 1975, in Lima, Peru. Washington then objected. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger delivered a major speech on the subject, with a thinly veiled warning that the United States might turn its back on the United Nations. In addition to Washington’s hard line, the drive to expel Israel was also slowed by disarray within the Arab’s ranks. The most decisive factor that disrupted the expulsion move was the surprising position of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, who announced his opposition to it because “Israel must be present at the United Nations if it is expected to comply with its resolutions.” Israel’s enemies soon came up with an alternative that again targeted Israel through a resolution of the General Assembly, echoing Arafat and Soviet propagandists who declared Zionism to be “a form of racism.” In 1982, the body declared that Israel “is not a peace-loving member state and that it has not carried out its obligations under the Charter.” Likewise, the UN General Assembly has voted each year on 70 to 100 resolutions, including from 15 to 20 resolutions pejorative to Israel. Of all General Assembly resolutions that criticize a particular country, three-quarters apply to Israel. The relentless recitation of UN declarations reinforces the conviction in the Arab world that all right lies on the Arab side and that Israel is irredeemably evil. The post ‘Hands off our war!’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PSID exhibit showcases cross-cultural designs
The Philippine School of Interior Design-Ahlen Institute Inc. resumes its tradition of showcasing the works of its graduating students through a public exhibition three years after being interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Batch 2023’s Phusion exhibit opened last 2 October at the Greenfield Tower in Mandaluyong City and will run every day until the end of the month. “The residential spaces you enter feature cross-cultural design,” the institute’s dean, Dr. Carol Peña, said in her message to exhibition-goers. “Through this theme, PSID-Ahlen aims to showcase how culture influences interior design — and conversely, how interior design exemplifies culture — through the creative adaptation of various design elements and the reimagination of layout.” At the press launch held last Thursday, DAILY TRIBUNE had a walk-through with exhibit guide Jade Vinco, a fourth-year student on the publicity and promotions committee. The exhibit, which serves as the final requirement for graduation, has 12 booths divided among 44 students with a maximum of five members per grouping. For inspiration, each group was given a client, either solo or a couple, representing the mixed cultures they would be fusing to create a unique design for a pre-assigned house area. The students shouldered their expenses with some help from sponsors. [caption id="attachment_193559" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Per Ankh’ Antoinette Nicole Mercado, Joana Mannel Lipana, Katrin Miriel Araja, Janiz Karen Adlawan and Katrina Marie Balkin. | PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOCELYN VALLE FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE[/caption] Filipino x Egyptian: ‘Per Ankh’ Antoinette Nicole Mercado, Joana Mannel Lipana, Katrin Miriel Araja, Janiz Karen Adlawan and Katrina Marie Balkin chose to name their booth from the ancient Egyptian symbol per ankh, meaning “key of life.” But they came up with a very contemporary and homey take on the melding of cultures between a newlywed couple, one Filipino and the other Egyptian, as their clients. Thus, the choices and placements of cultural references — (from the Philippines) Malakas at Maganda, the Bulul and (from Egypt) pyramid pharaoh — look like personal belongings rather than museum pieces. The writings in hieroglyphics (meaning “ikaw at ako, habangbuhay”) and Baybayin (meaning “ikaw ang tahanan”) also make complementary effect. Another well-thought-out cultural fusion is exemplified by the pair of Egyptian interlocking chairs with cushions made of Maranao malong and a backrest in solihiya. [caption id="attachment_193561" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Buhay Ubuntu’ by Sofia Pascual, Cheska Mendoza, Sophia Chelsea Yling and Chloe Carpio.[/caption] Filipino x South African: ‘Buhay Ubuntu’ Sofia Pascual, Cheska Mendoza, Sophia Chelsea Yling and Chloe Carpio discovered the Philippines has many things in common with South Africa. The acacia tree, for instance, is where animals hide in safaris. That’s why they chose a dining set made in solid acacia wood and had it shaped round so their clients, a retired couple, could have a “personal dining experience with their guests.” They also took note of the similarities of Bahay Kubo to the traditional Tswana and Sotho huts in South Africa. Thus, the thatched roofs are made from synthetic materials. The other materials, though, are natural as both cultures utilize what they can find from their surroundings. [caption id="attachment_193562" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘FILLENIUM’ by Michelle Bagro, Rovina Manuel, Rosana Bandola and Romeo Gabriel Conge.[/caption] Filipino x American: ‘Fillenium’ Michelle Bagro, Rovina Manuel, Rosana Bandola and Romeo Gabriel Conge felt challenged designing a kitchen for their client, a Filipino-American in his 20s with a partner who’s a chef. The American influence is so prevalent that they had difficulties zeroing in on just one aspect. They finally decided to focus on the Hollywood Regency style born during the golden era of the world’s movie capital from the 1920s to the 1950s. Thus, the bold colors, specifically blue, with metallic accents and, of course, the iconic black-and-white tiles. A giant pair of kutsara’s tinidor serves as a centerpiece for some Pinoy reference and perhaps humor. [caption id="attachment_193550" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Relajarse’ by Maui Severino.[/caption] Filipino-Nicaraguan: ‘Relajarse’ Maui Severino opted to singlehandedly conceptualize the booth she’s named after the Spanish word for “relax.” She has an actual client — her aunt, a nurse married to a Nicaraguan and currently based in Hawaii. The bathroom she designed comes with a walk-in closet. It also has gold accents because “gold is Nicaragua’s main export.” Then there are Filipino elements, such as solihiya cabinets and closets, as well as ceilings made of abaca. Plus, the potted Monstera Deliciosa plants. It feels like being transported into Central or Latin America. Filipino x Brazilian: ‘A Diversao’ Irish Monique Cube, Reichel Alessandra Baytan and Chey De Guzman confessed to breaking away from their usual muted colors to vibrant hues in designing the den for their client. They then chose Brazilian elements with an organic connection with nature and colors inspired by the Amazon. From the Filipino side, they decided to use natural elements and materials. Thus, the padded walls and banig ceilings also serve as sound absorbers as their clients love music and to party. Filipino-French: ‘L’Amour du Monde Entier’ Alma Marie Lacman, Glovelle Palileo, Kristin Dominique Ramos and Sophia Ejercito designed a decidedly fused Filipino and French design for their client, a supermodel now married to a French national. They mixed the airiness and spaciousness of the French design with the Filipino references. Check out the Luna painting and the Banaue Rice Terraces. Filipino x Scandinavian: ‘Lagom’ Stephen Michael Chan, Maria Beatriz Guiterrez, Nicolette Lee and Carl Lois Mico cleverly and beautifully melded Filipino and Scandinavian elements to create an inviting and exciting dining area. There are mixed dining chairs, including a bench inspired by the bangko. For drama, there’s an accent wall, where, at first glance, “medyo nakatago pa ang accessories,” and then the Filipino elements are revealed. Then there’s a daybed at the back because Filipinos love to have a siesta after a meal. Filipino-English: ‘A Bachelor’s Tavern’ Regine Calupitan, Marielle Marzan, Izabela Galanto and Ailene Carino designed a British kitchen for their client, a Filipino-English rugby player. Thus, the choice of the Chesterfield furniture, which the aristocrats prefer because their clothes don’t get creased. The ambiance also resembles a pub but is elevated. Filipino-Italian: ‘Semantika’ Jana Loise Cruz, Sophia Denise Ignacio and Jeyna Francesa Meria were inspired by their clients’ love story that started in the heart of Milan in designing a romantic and opulent bathroom. They chose accent pieces highlighting both cultures’ craftsmanship and went for an open layout. There’s a bathtub because Italians supposedly love long baths and a garden outside to invite nature in. [caption id="attachment_193555" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘YAKKA’ by Kharen Urbano, Franchesca Eunice Co, Kristine Sempio and Kat Calloy.[/caption] Filipino-Australian: ‘Yakka’ Kharen Urbano, Franchesca Eunice Co, Kristine Sempio and Kat Calloy designed an office-cum-den that can be used for a studio condo unit. There’s a working station for the client who runs his own business. Then there’s a spot for relaxation with a hammock to boot! They also used wildlife and Outback inspirations and an original artwork echoing the Great Barrier Reef. [caption id="attachment_193557" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘PearL of the Orient Meet Prosperity’ by Victor Flores, Kaila Laido, Sophia Serrano and Jade Vinco[/caption] Filipino-Japanese: ‘Peart of the Orient Meet Prosperity’ Victor Flores, Kaila Laido, Sophia Serrano and Jade Vinco decided on a round concept for the bedroom they designed for their client. They explained that there’s a round shape in both the Philippine and Japanese flags. The number eight is also considered in Japanese culture. [caption id="attachment_193564" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘KANLUNGAN’ by Karen Cabalquinto, Isobel Merici Dator, Erica Leona Chua and Sheina Rose Gina[/caption] Filipino-Persian: ‘Kanlungan’ Karen Cabalquinto, Isobel Merici Dator, Erica Leona Chua and Sheina Rose Gina opted for a Filipino name to call their booth as it perfectly describes the coziness of the bedroom they designed for their client, who has two kids. They said having a bedroom with two sections in Iran is customary, so they did exactly that. They also used Persian floral patterns and other elements, Filipino elements, such as mahogany wood and Bulacan pattern furniture. The post PSID exhibit showcases cross-cultural designs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
18 migrants killed in Mexico bus crash
A bus carrying migrants overturned in southern Mexico on Friday, leaving at least 18 passengers dead and 27 injured, authorities said -- the latest fatal road crash involving US-bound migrants. The dead, three of them minors, were from Venezuela and Haiti, according to a statement from the prosecutor's office in Oaxaca state. The accident happened at around dawn on a highway linking Oaxaca and the neighboring state of Puebla, it said. The injured were taken to hospital for treatment, it added. Images released by state authorities showed the wreckage of the bus lying on its side on a highway winding through hills. Thousands of migrants from different countries have been traveling across Mexico in buses, overcrowded trailers and atop freight trains in an attempt to reach the US-Mexican border. They run the risk of fatal accidents, kidnapping by criminal groups and extortion by corrupt officials. More than 8,200 migrants have died or disappeared in the Americas since 2014, most of them while trying to reach the United States via Mexico, according to the International Organization for Migration. The US-Mexican border is the "world's deadliest migration land route," with 686 deaths and disappearances in 2022, the IOM said last month. On Sunday, at least 10 Cuban migrants were killed and 25 injured when a cargo truck carrying them overturned in the southern state of Chiapas. In early August, at least 18 people died and 23 were injured after a bus carrying local passengers and migrants from countries such as India, the Dominican Republic and some African nations plunged into a ravine in the state of Nayarit. And in December 2021, 56 mostly Central American migrants were killed and dozens injured when a people smugglers' truck carrying around 160 people overturned in Chiapas. The Mexican government has admitted to being overwhelmed by the number of migrants crossing its territory, the vast majority of whom are from Central America, Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti. Mexican authorities said they detained more than 189,000 migrants last month, while the US border patrol has reported 1.8 million apprehensions between October 2022 and August 2023. Senior US and Mexican officials pledged Thursday to redouble their efforts to tackle irregular migration through measures such as modernizing border security, increasing legal avenues and addressing the root causes. The two countries were committed to expanding "safe, orderly and lawful pathways for migrants" but with "strict consequences" for those who enter the United States illegally, US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said after talks in Mexico City. The post 18 migrants killed in Mexico bus crash appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dumaguete City to host national history conference, gathering of historians
Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental will host this year’s National Conference of Local and National History, slated for 19 to 21 October. Organized by the Philippine National Historical Society, the oldest historical organization in the country founded in 1941, the three-day event will feature 21 paper presentations. It is on its 44th staging and second onsite since 2019. Theme for this year is “Retropolis: Discoveries and Rediscoveries in Philippine History.” Papers to be presented include “Looking for Philippine Art and Artifacts in Spain” by Regalado Trota Jose, formerly of the University of Santo Tomas Archives; “More than Gold: World Treasures in the Philippines” by John Crossley of Australia’s Monash University; “Philippine Sites Inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List” by Ivan Anthony Henares of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines; “A Digital Repatriation of a Lost Archive of the Spanish Pacific: The Library of The Convent of San Pablo (Manila, 1762)” by Cristina Juan of the School of African and Asian Studies, University of London; “The Pulangi and Agusan Rivers in Mindanao History, 1599-1648: A Water-Based Perspective” by Jihan Bacug and Sharon Bulaclac of the Mindanao State University (MSU)-Marawi; “Kudarat and Dutch Links In Caraga Affairs, 1629-1651” by Kimberly Apatan-Lusay and Zizzle Dawn Abecia-Sayson of MSU-Marawi; “The Bell of Taraka: Understanding the Ranaw-Dutch Relations in the 18th Century” by Tirmizy Adbullah and Ruholla Alonto of the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage; “When Iligan Finally Stood Alone” by Rey Luis Montesclaros of MSU-Iligan; “Occupation and Resistance: The Guerrilla Movement in Tarlac, 1942-1945” by Marcelino Macapinlac Jr. of De La Salle University; “Bayonets and Bloodshed: Japanese Atrocities in Dumaguete during the Second World War” by Justin Jose Bulado of the Negros Oriental State University; “Glimpses of the Japanese Interregnum in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi” by Calbi Asain of MSU-Jolo; “Who were the Panuypuyes?Resistance and Retreat in the Seventeenth-Century Northern Luzon” by João Paulo Reginaldo of University of the Philippines (UP)-Baguio; “Bricks, Heritage, and Identity-Making: The Social Biography of Cagayan Ladrillos” by Aldous Tracy Rubio of UP-Baguio; “Spanish-American Encounters in Las Piñas, 1898-1899” by Cecilia Tangian of MSU-Iligan; “Makalilisang Gutom: A Social History of Hunger in Cebu, 1899 to 1929” by Ophelynn Cano of Cebu Normal University; and “Establishing the Early History of Rabies Virus in the Philippines” by Ian Alfonso of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. The post Dumaguete City to host national history conference, gathering of historians appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Not a fan of Donald
With a parting shot at his former boss Donald Trump, General Mark Milley resigned as the top US military official on Friday. He said that no soldier had ever taken an oath to serve a “wannabe dictator.” On his final day as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Milley delivered a shocking reprimand that perfectly exemplified how the US military has been drawn into the increasingly combustible political landscape since the Trump administration. Milley did not specifically mention Trump during a lavish military ceremony for his leaving, but it was clear who he was criticizing. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and President Joe Biden were both present. Milley remarked of American soldiers “We don’t take an oath to a king, or queen, or a tyrant, or a dictator.” And we don’t swear an oath to a would-be autocrat. Air Force General Charles “CQ” Brown, the second African American to hold the position of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will take Milley’s place. Milley, a barrel-chested army veteran with four decades of service, has held numerous high-level leadership positions and numerous foreign deployments. But he had his most difficult task when Trump gave him the career apex position of senior military advisor to the president in 2019. Milley oversaw the daunting withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, special operations in Syria, and a sizable program to support Ukraine in its valiant struggle against Russian invasion during a four-year term that will continue under Biden starting in 2021. Crisis after crisis Milley told AFP last month that during his tenure as chairman, “it was one crisis after another.” However, under Milley’s tenure at the head, the military became embroiled in an unusually high number of politicized incidents. Senior Republicans have regularly attacked what they allege are “woke” leftist practices inside the ranks, even as the Biden administration has pushed for measures such as renaming bases named after Confederate generals in the Civil War. And even that was not as dangerous as the delicate predicament Milley was in before and after the 2020 presidential election, when Trump, in a first-ever political nightmare for the United States, refused to concede loss. According to the book “Peril” by Bob Woodward, at the height of the crisis following the invasion of the US Capitol by Trump supporters on 6 January 2021, Milley discreetly called his Chinese counterpart to reassure Beijing that the US was “stable” and had no intention of attacking China. With AFP The post Not a fan of Donald appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pope appoints 21 new cardinals to fill highest ranks of Church
Pope Francis on Saturday elevated 21 clergymen from distant corners of the world to the rank of cardinal, saying diversity was indispensable to the future of the Catholic Church. Under sunny skies and with a crowd that filled half of Vatican City's grandiose, colonnaded St Peter's Square, the 86-year-old pope welcomed the new, so-called "Princes of the Church" -- one of whom could one day become the successor to the current pontiff. "The College of Cardinals is called to resemble a symphony orchestra, representing the harmony and synodality of the Church," said Francis, seated under a canopy before the gathered cardinals on the steps of St Peter's Basilica. "Diversity is necessary; it is indispensable. However, each sound must contribute to the common design," said the Argentine Jesuit. The choice of the new cardinals, who include diplomats, close advisers and administrators, is closely watched as an indication of the priorities and position of the Church. One of them could also one day be elected by his peers to succeed Francis, who has left the door open to stepping down in the future should his health warrant it. Saturday's ceremony, known as a consistory, is the ninth since Francis in 2013 was named head of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics. One by one, the scarlet-clad cardinals knelt before the pope, who bestowed on them the two symbols of their high office: a scarlet four-cornered cap known as a biretta, and a cardinal's ring. To some, a grinning Francis uttered an encouraging "Bravo!" or "Courage!" as he shook their hand. Eighteen of the 21 newly made cardinals are under the age of 80 and thus currently eligible to vote as "cardinal electors" in the next conclave, when Francis' successor will be decided. They are among 99 cardinal-electors created by Francis, representing about three-quarters of the total That has given rise to speculation that the Church's future spiritual leader will be cast in the same mold as Francis, preaching a more tolerant Church with a greater focus on the poor and marginalized. Bishops taking action Throughout his papacy, Francis has sought to create a more inclusive, universal Church, looking past Europe to clergy in Africa, Asia and Latin America to fill the Church's highest ranks. With his latest roster of cardinals, Francis has again looked to the world's "peripheries" -- where Catholicism is growing -- while breaking with the practice of promoting archbishops of large, powerful dioceses. "He is looking for cardinals who correspond to the times. These are people who have all taken a step away from the Church of the past, who positively ensure a break," an informed observer of the Holy See who asked to remain nameless told AFP ahead of the ceremony. The array of cardinals represent "a richness and a variety of experience, and that's what the Church is all about," the Archbishop of Cape Town, Stephen Brislin, told AFP Thursday before his elevation to cardinal. "The Church encompasses all people, not just a certain group of people," he said. There are three new cardinals from South America, including two Argentinians, and three from Africa, with the promotion of the archbishops of Juba in South Sudan, Tabora in Tanzania, and Cape Town's Brislin. Asia is represented by the Bishop of Penang in Malaysia and the Bishop of Hong Kong, Stephen Chow, who is seen as playing a key role in seeking to improve tense relations between the Vatican and Beijing. Diplomats and managers Some of the new cardinals, like Chow, have experience in sensitive zones of the world where the Holy See hopes to play an important diplomatic role. The list includes the Holy Land's top Catholic authority, Italian Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the first seated Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem to be made cardinal. "Jerusalem is a small laboratory, interreligious and intercultural, and that's a challenge that the whole world is facing at this point," Pizzaballa told AFP. Also promoted was the apostolic nuncio, or ambassador, to the United States, France's Christophe Pierre, whose decades-long diplomatic career includes posts in countries including Haiti, Uganda and Mexico. Francis also tapped top administrators in the Curia, the Holy See's government. His new choices include Claudio Gugerotti, the Italian prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches; Argentina's Victor Manuel Fernandez, whom Francis recently named head of the powerful Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith; and Chicago-born Robert Prevost, a former missionary in Peru who leads the Dicastery for Bishops. Following the ceremony, the new cardinals were congratulated by members of the public at the Vatican's sumptuous Apostolic Palace. The post Pope appoints 21 new cardinals to fill highest ranks of Church appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Federal charges for five police over beating death of African American
Five police officers already charged in the murder of Tyre Nichols, a young African American who died after being beaten, now face federal indictment, the Justice Department announced Tuesday. Videos showed the officers, who are all Black, repeatedly kicking and punching Nichols during a traffic stop close to his home in the US city of Memphis on January 7, three days before he died in hospital. "The country watched in horror as Tyre Nichols was kicked, punched, tased, and pepper sprayed," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a brief video statement posted online. The department said the five officers, who have been fired, "willfully deprived Nichols of his constitutional rights," resulting in "bodily injury and the death of Nichols." A federal grand jury in Memphis, located in the US South, on Tuesday charged the five former officers with federal civil rights, conspiracy, and obstruction offenses, the Department of Justice said. The officers -- Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin III, and Desmond Mills Jr. -- have already been charged by state prosecutors in Tennessee with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping, official misconduct, and "official oppression." They have pleaded not guilty. Nichols, 29, was stopped by the five, who were members of a special police anti-crime squad called the Scorpion Unit, for an alleged traffic violation, according to police. He was beaten viciously by the officers, in scenes recorded in body camera and security camera footage that triggered outrage when made public later that month. Vice President Kamala Harris attended Nichols' funeral in February and Nichols' family members were invited to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in Washington several days later. The post Federal charges for five police over beating death of African American appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DNA evidence clears US man of rape charge 47 years later
A US man who served seven and a half years in prison for a rape he did not commit has been cleared nearly five decades later thanks to new DNA evidence, authorities said Tuesday. Leonard Mack, now 72, was arrested in 1975, in Greenburgh, New York state, after the rape of a teenage girl, who had been walking home from school with another girl. Police announced a search for a Black suspect in the mostly white neighborhood and shortly after picked up Mack, who is African American. After a campaign by the Innocence Project, DNA evidence not available at the time has "conclusively excluded 72-year-old Mr. Mack as the perpetrator and identified a convicted sex offender, who has now confessed to the rape," the Westchester County prosecutor's office said in a statement. "This is the longest wrongful conviction in US history known to the Innocence Project to be overturned by DNA evidence," the district attorney's office said, citing Mack's "unwavering strength fighting to clear his name for almost 50 years." According to the National Registry of Exonerations, 575 wrongly convicted people have been cleared based on new DNA tests since 1989 -- 35 of them while waiting for execution. Researchers say that Black suspects are far more likely to be the subjects of wrongful convictions than innocent white people. Although Black people account for only 13.6 percent of the total US population, more than half of the 3,300 people whose convictions were overturned between 1989 and 2022 were Black, the National Registry of Exonerations said. Reacting to his exoneration, Mack said: "I am finally free." The post DNA evidence clears US man of rape charge 47 years later appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Florida gunman driven by racial ‘hate’ kills 3: authorities
A gunman in Jacksonville, Florida driven by racial hatred shot dead three Black people in a discount store Saturday before killing himself after a standoff with police, authorities said. "He targeted a certain group of people and that's Black people. That's what he said he wanted to kill. And that's very clear," Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters told a news conference about the gunman, who was white and in his early 20s. According to the sheriff's office, the shooter, who has not yet been identified, entered the Dollar General store wearing a tactical vest, armed with an AR-style rifle and a handgun. Manifestos discovered by the gunman's family shortly before the attack "detail the shooter's disgusting ideology of hate," Waters said, and at least one of the guns had hand-drawn swastikas on it. The shooting took place near Edward Waters University, a historically Black college in the southern US state. The FBI would investigate the shooting as a hate crime, said Sherri Onks, the bureau's special agent for Jacksonville. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis decried the "horrific" shooting and called the gunman a "scumbag." "He was targeting people based on their race, that is totally unacceptable," said DeSantis, who is competing to be the Republican party's candidate for the 2024 White House race. "This guy killed himself rather than face the music and accept responsibility for his actions and so he took the coward's way out.” The shooting was the latest in a spate of gun violence this weekend in the United States. Mass shootings have become disturbingly common across the United States, with easy access to firearms in most states and more guns in the country than citizens. Earlier in the day at least seven people were hospitalized after a mass shooting at a Caribbean festival in the northeast city of Boston, police said. Meanwhile, two women were shot at a baseball game in Chicago the night before. That same night a 16-year-old was shot dead and four others hurt after an argument erupted at a high school football game in Oklahoma, local police said. The Jacksonville shooting comes after a self-declared white supremacist killed 10 Black people in a live-streamed shooting rampage at a supermarket in the US state of New York in May 2022. Payton Gendron planned the attack for months, targeting Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo because of the large African-American population in the surrounding neighborhood. He pleaded guilty to the killings in November. Saturday's shooting in Jacksonville is five years to the day after a mass shooting in the city when a gunman at a video game tournament killed two and wounded several others before killing himself. nro/acb © Agence France-Presse The post Florida gunman driven by racial ‘hate’ kills 3: authorities appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Govt wants to improve trade with Peru, establish better ties with Ethiopia
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wanted to improve ties between the Philippines, Peru, and Ethiopia, Malacañang said on Wednesday. The Chief Executive made the remarks as he accepted the credentials of new ambassadors Cecilia Zunilda Galarreta Bazán (Peru) and Dessie Dalkie Dokamo (Ethiopia) at a ceremony at Malacañan Palace in Manila earlier this week. When Marcos accepted the Peruvian envoy's papers, he said it was important for the two countries to work together more, especially now that the pandemic is over. "It is imperative that we all work together. No matter how big or rich or strong a country is, I don't think a single country can manage this by themselves," he said. "Simply because of the way we operate, the way we work, the way we live. We are dependent on many things outside of our own country. I think that's one of the lessons that Covid taught us," he added. The President said that the crisis caused countries to look for new ways to do business after the food supply chain and other necessary goods were interrupted. Bazán agreed with Marcos when he said that countries need to work together to solve problems more effectively in a world where everything is linked. She also said that the Philippines is still an important trade partner for Peru, especially in 2022, when the Philippines sold $36.3 million worth of goods to Peru and bought only $2.9 million worth of goods from Peru. Its major exports to the South American country are chemicals, electronics, tuna, and other manufactured goods made from non-metallic minerals. Marcos, on the other hand, said that he would also like to make better ties with Ethiopia. "I think the whole world is very excited about --- how most of Africa is positioned in terms of --- now coming and emerging… as a major economy, as they already are,” President Marcos said. On the other hand, Dukamo told Marcos that Ethiopia is an emerging economy in East Africa with a lot of trade and investment possibilities. "It’s geographically located bridging the Middle East and the rest of Africa and also Western countries. So, if Filipino businessmen come and invest in Ethiopia, it’s possible to take advantage of the African market,” Dukamo said. The post Govt wants to improve trade with Peru, establish better ties with Ethiopia appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos appoints CHEd execs
The Commission on Higher Education announced on Wednesday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed three new officials of the agency, which included a former president of a state university in Iloilo. The President appointed Iloilo Science and Technology University President Raul Muyong, Corinna Frances Cabanilla and Dr. Christine Ferrer as Directors IV of CHEd. “I congratulate and welcome our three new CHEd officials. They all come with impressive academic credentials and expertise that will help CHEd implement its mandates and priorities under the Marcos administration,” said CHEd chairperson Prospero de Vera III. Muyong earned his Doctor of Education degree major in Educational Management from the West Visayas State University in March 1997; Master of Science in Industrial Education major in Educational Management from Western Visayas College of Science and Technology in April 1991; and his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education degree from the same institution in April 1986 where he graduated as Magna Cum Laude. He is a two-term President of ISAT U and is responsible for the rapid improvement of ISAT U particularly in science and technology programs, including impressive performance in the licensure examination in Electronics Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Cabanilla, on the other hand, serves as director-in-charge of the local graduate scholarship programs of CHEd that provides opportunities for faculty members to finish their masters and doctoral degrees. She is also the Representative of the CHEd chairman in the Philippine-American Educational Foundation which sets the policy direction and implementation of Fulbright Scholarships for Filipinos, CHEd representative for the Department of Science and Technology National Technical and Selection Committee on Science and Technology Scholarships. She was originally connected with the UP NCPAG Center for Policy and Executive Development. The post Marcos appoints CHEd execs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Huge mass in Lisbon ahead of pope’s arrival for ‘Catholic Woodstock’
A sea of flag-waving pilgrims from around the world packed a Lisbon park on Tuesday for an open-air Mass that kicked off a week-long jamboree of Catholic youth on the eve of the arrival of Pope Francis. Lisbon's patriarch, Cardinal Manuel Clemente, delivered the homily at the service held at the hillside Eduardo VII Park with sweeping views of the Portuguese capital and the Tagus River. "Lisbon welcomes you wholeheartedly," he told the crowd as pilgrims waved national flags in the air. Local authorities expect some 300,000 people to attend the opening Mass of World Youth Day, which is actually a week of religious, cultural, and festive events held every three years in a different city. Francis is set to arrive in Lisbon on Wednesday morning to join the event, which has been dubbed the "Catholic Woodstock". The 86-year-old pontiff is by Church standards the most liberal pope in decades and is very popular with young people. During his papacy, he has tried to create a more compassionate church, reaching out to the gay community and talking frankly to youngsters about abortion, divorce, and gender identity. "Pope Francis is open to young people," said Cristina Kelly, a 39-year-old who came from Brazil, just before the start of the Mass. "He called on us and we came. People need that today, for young people to be called to God," she told AFP. 'Recharge spiritual battery' In Portugal, the pope has a typically packed schedule for his five-day visit, despite having spent nine nights in hospital after undergoing hernia surgery in June. Francis, the first Latin American pope, is due to make 11 public pronouncements and hold numerous meetings, and on Saturday will visit the shrine of Fatima north of Lisbon. Church organizers expect one million faithful will attend the event's closing mass which will be delivered by the pope on Sunday at a waterside park on the outskirts of Lisbon. Images of the pope were on display on banners across the city as well as on screens on automatic bank machines along with the message: "I am with you". A Lisbon pastry shop is even selling cookies with the image of the smiling pontiff wearing a crucifix. "My goal is to recharge my spiritual battery because sometimes, as young people, we let it run low," Xochilt Cecilia Velis, a 24-year-old from El Salvador, told AFP in central Lisbon. World Youth Day is part of the Vatican's efforts to galvanize young Catholics at a time when secularism and disgust over clerical child sex abuse cause some faithful to abandon the Church. Meeting with abuse victims The gathering comes as the Portuguese Catholic Church is reckoning with its legacy of clerical sexual abuse. A report released in February by an independent commission determined that at least 4,815 children had been abused by clergy members in Portugal since 1950. The inquiry -- similar to audits elsewhere in Europe and the Americas -- concluded that the Church hierarchy "systematically" tried to conceal the abuse. Pope Francis is scheduled to meet privately with abuse victims during his visit but the date of the encounter or other details has not been released. Initially scheduled for August 2022, but postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Lisbon World Youth Day is the 16th international edition of what has become the largest gathering of Catholics worldwide. Church organizers said there are pilgrims registered to take part in this year's event from every country in the world except the Maldives. A brainchild of the late Pope John Paul II, the event started in 1986. The current one is the fourth presided over by Pope Francis, who became head of the Catholic Church in 2013. The last three events took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2013, in Krakow, Poland in 2016, and in Panama City, Panama in 2019. The post Huge mass in Lisbon ahead of pope’s arrival for ‘Catholic Woodstock’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Catholic Woodstock’ kicks off in Lisbon ahead of Pope arrival
The world's largest Catholic gathering, a week-long religious festival known as World Youth Day, kicks off in Lisbon on Tuesday, a day before Pope Francis arrives on his first foreign trip since recent surgery. Around 300,000 people are expected to attend the opening mass at 7:00 pm (1800 GMT) at the hillside Eduardo VII park, which offers sweeping views of the Portuguese capital and the Tagus river. The 86-year-old pontiff is set to arrive in Lisbon on Wednesday morning to celebrate World Youth Day, a week of religious, cultural and festive events held about every three years in a different city. He has a typically packed schedule for his five-day visit to Portugal, despite having spent nine nights in hospital after undergoing hernia surgery in June. Francis, the first Latin American pope, is due to make 11 public pronouncements and hold numerous meetings, and on Saturday will visit the shrine of Fatima north of Lisbon. Church organizers expect one million faithful will attend the event's closing mass held by the pope on Sunday at a waterside park on the outskirts of Lisbon. Images of the pope were on display on banners set up across the city as well as on screens on automatic bank machines along with the message: "I am with you". A Lisbon pastry shop is even selling cookies with the image of the smiling pontiff wearing a crucifix. "I think it is going to be amazing experience to be in the same spot as the pope," said Barbara Weisz, a 19-year-old student from the United States, part of a group of 37 youths who came from a San Diego parish. "It is a great feeling to be among so many young people who share your beliefs," she added as the group, who wore matching red t-shirts, gathered in the lobby of their hotel before going sightseeing before attending the opening mass. World Youth Day, which has been dubbed the "Catholic Woodstock", is part of the Vatican's efforts to galvanize young Catholics at a time when secularism and disgust over clerical child sex abuse cause some faithful to abandon the Church. In recent days groups of event volunteers, decked out in their distinctive yellow T-shirts, could be seen outside of churches in Lisbon to welcome pilgrims who have flocked to the city. "It is a special moment that you should experience at least once in your life," said Samuel Navarro, a 19-year-old student from Spain. - Meeting with abuse victims - Pope Francis is expected during his visit to meet privately with victims of sexual abuse by members of the Portuguese clergy. A report published in February by an independent commission found at least 4,815 children were sexually abused by clergy members -- mostly priests -- since 1950. The inquiry, based on testimony from over 500 victims, concluded that the Church hierarchy in Portugal "systematically" tried to conceal the abuse. "I know (the meeting) will take place... but I don't know where it will happen or how many people will take part," Lisbon's patriarch, Cardinal Manuel Clemente, told a news conference Monday. "There is a total commitment on the part of the Portuguese Church to settle this issue," he added. Around 16,000 members of law enforcement, civil protection and medical staff are being deployed for the pope's visit, officials said. Initially scheduled for August 2022, but postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Lisbon World Youth Day is the 16th international edition of what has become the largest gathering of Catholics worldwide. The brainchild of late Pope John Paul II, this year's event is the fourth presided over by Pope Francis, who became head of the Catholic Church in 2013. The last three events took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2013, Krakow, Poland in 2016 and Panama City, Panama in 2019. lf-tsc/ds/yad © Agence France-Presse The post ‘Catholic Woodstock’ kicks off in Lisbon ahead of Pope arrival appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tony Bennett, last of classic American crooners, dead at 96
Tony Bennett, the last in a generation of classic American crooners whose ceaselessly cheery spirit bridged generations to make him a hitmaker across seven decades, died Friday in New York. He was 96. Raised in an era when big bands defined US pop music, Bennett achieved an improbable second act when he started winning over young audiences in the 1990s -- not by reinventing himself but by demonstrating his sheer joy in belting out the standards. And then at age 88, Bennett, in 2014 became the oldest person ever to reach number one on the US album sales chart through a collection of duets with Lady Gaga -- who became his friend and touring companion but only one of a long list of younger stars who rushed to work with the singing great. Bennett's publicist, Sylvia Weiner, announced his death. Likened since the start of his career to Frank Sinatra, Bennett first tried to distance himself but eventually followed much of the same path as other crooners of yore -- singing in nightclubs, on television, and for movies, although his attempts to act ended quickly. His gift proved to be his stage presence. With a welcoming smile and dapper suit, he sang with gusto and a smooth vibrato in a strong, clearly enunciated voice, which he kept in shape through training from the operatic Bel Canto tradition. Starting with his recording of the film song "Because of You" in 1951, Bennett sang dozens of hits including "Rags to Riches," "Stranger in Paradise" and, in what would become his signature tune, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," which landed him two of his career's 19 Grammy Awards. But the British Invasion led by The Beatles initially took a toll on the singer, whose music suddenly sounded quaint and antiquated. He nearly died of a cocaine overdose in 1979 before sobering up and eventually reviving his career. "When rap came along, or disco, whatever the new fashion was at the moment, I didn't try to find something that would fit whatever the style was of the whole music scene," Bennett told the British culture magazine Clash. "I just stayed myself and sang sincerely and tried to just stay honest with myself -- never compromising, just doing the best songs that I could think of for the public. "And luckily it just paid off." Singing as hardscrabble youth Tony Bennett -- his stage name came after advice from showbiz A-lister Bob Hope -- was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in the Astoria neighborhood of New York's Queens borough. His father was a struggling grocer who immigrated from southern Italy's Calabria region, to which his mother also traced her ancestry. He showed early promise as an entertainer, singing at age nine next to legendary New York mayor Fiorello LaGuardia when he ceremonially opened the city's Triborough Bridge, now known as the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. But his father's death at age 10, at a time when the United States was still struggling to exit the Great Depression, led him to leave school and earn money through jobs including singing at Italian restaurants and caricature painting, which remained a lifelong side career. During World War II, Bennett was drafted into the 63rd Infantry Division and was sent to France and Germany. But he was demoted after cursing out an officer from the South who objected to Bennett dining with an African American friend in the then racially segregated army. As punishment, Bennett spent his tour of duty digging out bodies and shipping them. But after the Allied victory, Bennett found an unexpected break into music as he waited with fellow troops in Wiesbaden, Germany to return home. With the city's opera house still intact, a US Army band performed a weekly show to be broadcast on military radio across Germany. Taken on as the band's librarian, Bennett was quickly impressed with his voice and was made one of four vocalists. "During this period in the army, I enjoyed the most musical freedom I've ever had in my life," Bennett later wrote in his autobiography, "The Good Life." "I could sing whatever I wanted, and there was no one around to tell me any different," he wrote. Outspoken against racism and war When he returned to the United States, he took formal singing lessons through the GI Bill, which covered educational expenses for returning troops. His experiences made Bennett a lifelong liberal. He became especially enraged in the 1950s when he played in Miami with jazz pioneer Duke Ellington, who was not allowed to attend a press party due to segregation at the hotel. In a then risky move for a popular entertainer, he accepted an invitation from singer Harry Belafonte to join civil rights icon Martin Luther King in the 1965 march from Selma, Alabama in support of equal voting rights for African Americans. He later wrote in his memoir that the hostility of the white state troopers reminded him of Nazi Germany. He was also an outspoken opponent of war, at times raising controversy. "The first time I saw a dead German, that's when I became a pacifist," he told popular radio host Howard Stern days after the 11 September 2001 attacks. Late in life, still cool Bennett was married three times and had four children including Antonia Bennett, who has followed his path as a singer of pop and jazz standards. But his son Danny Bennett was most instrumental in his father's career, aggressively courting MTV and other players in the pop world as a manager for his father. By the early 1990s, Bennett -- his style and look little changed from the 1960s, except for more gray hair -- was appearing in music videos on MTV and singing warm-up at concerts by alternative rock giants such as Smashing Pumpkins and Porno for Pyros. Proof that Bennett was back came in 1993 when he presented a prize at the MTV Video Music Awards alongside the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who hailed his cool factor and playfully sang part of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." His career only kept building and a decade later, he released three successful albums of duets. On one of them, "Body and Soul," he sang with Amy Winehouse in her last recording before she died in 2011 at age 27. He marked his 90th birthday with a star-studded concert at New York's Radio City Music Hall, which was turned into a television special and album. The title was taken from a song popularized by Bennett: "The Best Is Yet to Come." Bennett toured the United States and Europe into his final decade, playing his last public performance before the coronavirus pandemic halted touring in New Jersey on 11 March 2020. Soon after, he revealed he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016. He had kept his condition quiet for years. Upon turning 95, Bennett played two more birthday concerts, again at Radio City Music Hall, with Lady Gaga -- shows billed as his farewell to New York. He then canceled the remainder of his 2021 tour dates on "doctors' orders." "And let the music play as long as there's a song to sing / And I will stay younger than spring," he crooned during the first of his farewell shows, in a rendition of his ballad "This Is All I Ask." "You've been a good audience," Bennett said prior to his encore. "I love this audience." The post Tony Bennett, last of classic American crooners, dead at 96 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Diamonds are for now: Botswana reach new deal with De Beers
Botswana has reached an eleventh-hour deal with diamond giant De Beers after months of tense negotiations that saw the continent's top producer threatening to cut ties with the storied company. The Botswana government and Anglo-American, the majority owner of De Beers, have reached an "agreement in principle", the two sides said in a statement issued late Friday. The agreement provides for a new 10-year agreement to sell the rough diamonds produced by Debswana -- a joint venture equally owned by the government and De Beers -- and a 25-year extension of its mining licenses. The agreement also gives Botswana an increased 30 percent of diamond production for sale via the state-owned Okavango Diamond Company, progressively increasing to 50 percent in the final year of the contract, De Beers said in a separate statement on Saturday. No value was given for the agreement. The previous 2011 sale agreement between the southern African country, one of the continent's richest, and the world's largest diamond company by value, was extended exceptionally until June 30, 2023, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Under terms negotiated by the two sides in 2011, De Beers received 90 percent of the rough diamonds mined, while Botswana had 10 percent to sell itself. In 2020, Botswana's share was hiked to 25 percent. President Mokgweetsi Masisi had threatened to cut ties with the company if the latest talks proved unfavourable for his country. "If we don't achieve a win-win situation each party will have to pack its bags and go," he said in February. The country turned up the heat the following month by announcing it would soon conclude an agreement to take a 24 percent stake in the Belgian diamond manufacturer HB Antwerp. Last year, De Beers obtained about 70 percent of its rough diamonds from Botswana. Diamond mining accounts for a third of the landlocked country's GDP. str-cld/pvh/jj © Agence France-Presse The post Diamonds are for now: Botswana reach new deal with De Beers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bill Gates meets Xi Jinping in Beijing
Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates met President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday, after his foundation pledged $50 million to help Chinese efforts to battle malaria and tuberculosis. The rare sit-down between the Chinese head of state and one of the world’s richest men comes a day after the latter’s Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced the renewal of a collaboration with the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute, a Beijing-based group set up by him, the Beijing municipal government and Tsinghua University, according to Agence France-Presse. “You are the first American friend I have met in Beijing this year,” Xi told Gates in Beijing, China’s state-run People’s Daily reported. “We have always placed our hopes on the American people and hoped for continued friendship between the peoples of the two countries,” Xi added. Gates, in turn, said he was “very honored to have this chance to meet” and excited to be back in China, according to a recording shared by state broadcaster CCTV. Gates added, “I’m hopeful China can play an even bigger role in addressing the current challenges, particularly those facing African countries.” Gates last visited China in 2019, where he met with first lady Peng Liyuan to discuss his foundation’s work in human immuno-deficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome prevention. The post Bill Gates meets Xi Jinping in Beijing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
$6M raised to preserve Nina Simone’s childhood home
An art auction and New York gala have raised nearly $6 million to preserve and restore the childhood home of soul music legend and civil rights activist Nina Simone, organizers said Tuesday. The twin events brought in some $5.88 million -- far more than the original $2 million organizers hoped to raise to restore the rural North Carolina abode. "The new funding will meaningfully advance our project goals to complete the full restoration of the house and landscape," said Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. "With this investment, we are well on our way to opening the doors to visitors in 2024." Four US artists -- Julie Mehretu, Ellen Gallagher, Rashid Johnson and Adam Pendleton -- bought the dilapidated rural home in 2017 for $95,000. They've since worked with Leggs' organization, as well as tennis star Venus Williams, to raise money to turn the house into a cultural and historic site. The online auction, with works donated by British painter Cecily Brown and American artist Sarah Sze, was organized by Pace and Sotheby's. Among the 11 works for sale, Mehretu's ink-and-acrylic "New Dawn, Sing (for Nina)" fetched $1.6 million. Simone, whose songs found renewed resonance during the Black Lives Matter protests of recent years, had a complex, often difficult relationship with the United States, where she was born in 1933, during the era of racial segregation. Born Eunice Waymon, she spent the first years of her life in the three-room house in Tryon, in the rural southeastern state of North Carolina, with her parents and siblings, and began playing the piano at age three. But her dream of becoming a classical concert performer was shattered when she was rejected by Philadelphia's prestigious Curtis Institute of Music, an ordeal she attributed to racism. In the 1960s, Simone was active in the civil rights movement, including through rousing speeches and song. Her "Mississippi Goddam," was a response to a 1963 fire in an Alabama church started by members of the Ku Klux Klan. Three days after the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968, she performed "Why? (The king of love is dead)." Simone eventually left the United States and lived her last years in the south of France, where she died in 2003. The post $6M raised to preserve Nina Simone’s childhood home appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Black Republican throws hat in pres’l derby
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott has launched his bid for the White House, hoping to become the first Black conservative president. In his speech before cheering supporters in his hometown of North Charleston, on Monday, the 57-year-old said the threat of Democrats, President Joe Biden and radical left to the American way of life prompted him to run for the highest office of the land. “You see, they’re attacking our American values, our schools, our economy, and our security. But not on my watch. Not on my watch. That won’t work. I can’t stand by while this is done to America,” Scott said. Coming from a poor single parent household, Scott faces a daunting task of overtaking frontrunner Donald Trump. Scott’s support languishes under two percent, an average of 54 points behind the former president. Other Republican candidates include Trump’s first United Nations ambassador, Nikki Haley, ex-Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and talk radio host Larry Elder, the first African-American to enter the race. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is also expected to announce his candidacy on Wednesday. The post Black Republican throws hat in pres’l derby appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Black bet vies for Republican nomination
A second African-American Republican is taking a crack at the United States presidency. US Senator Tim Scott’s presidential run was revealed in a Federal Election Commission filing and the 57-year-old reportedly plans to hold his official launch in his home town of North Charleston, South Carolina, on Monday. Scott has spent recent months visiting the states considered crucial to gaining early momentum in the Republican nominating contest, where he has underlined his Christian faith and the conservative values he learned growing up in a poor, single parent household. He has also played up his unique perspective as the only Black on the Republican side of the US Senate. Scott’s intention brings to six the number of Republican White House aspirants. The list includes frontrunner Donald Trump, ex-United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, former South Carolina and ex-Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, talk radio host Larry Elder and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is expected to launch his own presidential bid next week. Elder is the first African American to enter the race. The post Black bet vies for Republican nomination appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»