Derelict destroyer
Since being invaded by Russia in February 2022, Ukraine has become a testing ground for the most advanced but untested weapons and other military hardware. After anti-missile systems, attack drones, cluster bombs, and portable anti-tank missile launchers, the battle tanks of Russia and the United States would next be pitted against each other. The US is reportedly delivering M1A1 Abrams tanks soon after its Ukrainian crews have completed their training. How it will fare in combat against the Russian T-14 Armata remains to be seen. The US touts the M1A1’s armor-piercing shells and its depleted uranium armor. It has a range of 426 kilometers, a top speed of 72 kilometers per hour, and a 120mm smoothbore gun. Some military analysts, however, regard the Armata as superior to the M1A1 and even Britain’s Challenger-2 and Germany’s Leopard-2 tanks, which are currently being used in Ukraine. The T-14 has a nearly 500-km range, speeds of 80 to 90 kph, and a 125mm smoothbore cannon. While Abramses and Armatas will see action on the battlefields of eastern Ukraine, a tank in another country got embroiled in another kind of battle — a legal one. An old model Israeli battle tank, the Merkava Mark 2, was involved in controversy after it was stolen from a military firing zone. Police found the decommissioned tank near the Haifa suburb of Nesher on 20 September. Four men were arrested on suspicion of stealing it. The main suspect, Ben Zion Raviv, 43, and a resident of Migdal Haemek, argued in a court hearing that he thought the tank was a derelict and was free for the taking. “The tank is all rusted, its chains are crushed, as if it had flipped over. I wouldn’t call it a tank. I don’t think I did anything illegal,” Raviv told the judge, according to The Times of Israel. The tank was stripped of weapons and mobility systems years ago and was being used as a “stationary vehicle for soldiers’ exercises” in a firing zone that is at times open to the public for hiking, TTI quoted the military as saying. Raviv said he called for a crane and mover, which brought the tank to a scrapyard. It was later returned to the Tel Saki memorial site. The post Derelict destroyer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
No torpedoing submarine plan
Mere days had passed after the Department of National Defense signaled a reboot of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Modernization Program when France and South Korea came knocking on the door to offer to develop our submarine force. For an archipelagic country like the Philippines, the versatility and stealthiness of submarines make them ideal for a variety of missions, including intelligence gathering, deterrence, and actual combat. They can, likewise, protect valuable maritime assets and patrol sea lanes without being seen. If the Philippines’ plan to acquire submarines comes to fruition, it will send a strong message to the international community that it is committed to defending its sovereignty and maritime rights, which are currently being violated with impunity by China in the West Philippine Sea. Last 14 September, French Ambassador-designate Marie Fontanel-Lassalle paid Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. an introductory call to reiterate her country’s support for a credible defensive posture by the Philippines in the Indo-Pacific region. According to reports on the meeting between the envoy and Teodoro, an offer by French defense manufacturer Naval Group to fill the Philippines’ shopping list for two to three submarines had been refreshed, including building a base for the modest fleet in Subic Bay. The Philippine Navy had previously announced that Subic Bay would be its preferred location for the submarines that the Philippines has been planning to acquire since the Ramos presidency, a push that was put on hold by the Asian financial crisis in 1997. As early as 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic put everything on hold, Filipino naval and defense officials had reviewed and found worthy of consideration the Scorpene diesel-electric submarine manufactured by France’s Naval Group. France, however, would have to fight it out with other bidders like Spain and South Korea, with the latter stepping up its push to supply the vessels that operate primarily under water. Last week, executives from South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean were in Manila to make a formal pitch for their newest Jang Bogo-III submarine. The Korean offer, like France’s, was a mere update, at the center of which is a 77-meter, 2,800-ton diesel-electric submarine with a beam of 9.7 meters. It boasts the latest propulsion system and lithium-ion battery technology that would allow it to operate longer. Of course, acquiring submarines is not a cheap proposition. However, it is a necessary investment for the Philippines’ national security. Experts have maintained that, in the long run, it will be cheaper to build a submarine force than to maintain a large surface fleet. As Teodoro moves for the “re-horizoning” of the AFP Modernization Program, the Marcos administration may want to start from scratch any negotiations for military equipment that had been made during the two previous administrations. That is as it should be as the Philippines must choose the best updated and re-priced proposals from several countries. As the submarine acquisition will demand a huge capital outlay, it is a must that the country shops wisely, not necessarily for the cheapest, but for what would fill its strategic and defensive needs. The acquisition process should be fully transparent and fair as it would involve taxpayer money, if not more foreign loans. The acquisition of submarines — just like the purchase of planes, ships and tanks — by the Philippines would also necessitate investments in training and infrastructure to support the new force. With increasing challenges from China in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines is being compelled by exigencies to put into motion Horizon 3 of the AFP Modernization Program to bolster its external defense capabilities. There would be those who would oppose more military expenditures, but the Philippines, located as it is in one of the most problematic areas of the world, must be wise to prepare for its security. With the jets and surface ships that the country had procured under Horizons 1 and 2, having a few submarines is the logical next stop for a country of over 7,000 islands surrounded by water. Any decision on which submarines to acquire should be based on a thorough assessment of each proposal’s technical capabilities, cost effectiveness, and the long-term benefits they offer to the Philippine Navy. Transparency in the acquisition process is paramount to ensure that the chosen submarines meet the country’s defense needs while adhering to its budgetary constraints. The post No torpedoing submarine plan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Barrier removal BBM’s call — PCG
Dismantling the floating barrier that China installed at Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc is a matter for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to decide, a Philippine Coast Guard official said yesterday. Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said they had reported the discovery of the 300-meter barrier to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, or NTF-WPS. “Should the NTF-WPS recommend to the President the actions to be taken, the PCG, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and even the Armed Forces of the Philippines would comply,” Tarriela said. Tarriela was apparently reacting to the call made by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri for the PCG to remove the barrier as it poses a danger to Filipino fishermen and keeps them from the shoal’s rich fishing grounds. Tarriela, however, said the PCG had yet to consult with Mr. Marcos and other officials of the national government on what to do about the barrier. The PCG said three China Coast Guard inflatable boats backed by a Chinese maritime militia vessel installed the floating barrier. Also on Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs vowed to press the Philippines’ sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal. “We will take all appropriate measures to protect our country’s sovereignty and the livelihood of our fisherfolk,” the DFA said. “Bajo de Masinloc is an integral part of the Philippines over which we have sovereignty and territorial jurisdiction according to UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea),” the DFA said. In 2012, Chinese and Philippine vessels faced each other in a standoff at the shoal, which was defused when the Philippines withdrew its ships, which China did not do with its ships despite an agreement to do so. China has since maintained control of the shoal even after a 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration deemed the shoal to be part of the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. The landmark ruling, which also dismissed as illegal China’s claim to nearly the entire South China Sea, arose from a case filed by the Philippines before the arbitral court in 2013. China, however, has refused to abide by the ruling. “The 2016 Arbitral Award affirms it (Bajo de Masinloc) as a traditional fishing ground for Filipino fisherfolk,” the DFA pointed out. “China’s reported installation of barriers and its negative impact on the livelihood of Filipino fisherfolk or any other activity that infringes on the Philippines’ sovereignty and jurisdiction in Bajo de Masinloc are violations of international law, particularly UNCLOS and the Arbitral Award,” it added. The installation of the barrier was roundly criticized by European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron, who described it as “deeply concerning.” In a tweet, Veron said the “floating barrier is dangerous, detrimental to the livelihood of Philippines fishermen, and disregards the peace-driven objectives of UNCLOS.” The post Barrier removal BBM’s call — PCG appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Anti-Covid drug may have led to virus mutations: study
An anti-Covid drug widely used across the world may have caused mutations in the virus, researchers said on Monday, but there was no evidence that the changes had led to more dangerous variants. Pharmaceutical giant Merck's antiviral pill molnupiravir was one of the earliest treatments rolled out during the pandemic to prevent Covid becoming more severe in vulnerable people. The drug, which is taken orally over a five-day course, works mainly by creating mutations in the virus with the goal of weakening and killing it. However, a new UK-led study has shown that molnupiravir "can give rise to significantly mutated viruses which remain viable," lead author Theo Sanderson told AFP. Sanderson, a geneticist at London's Francis Crick Institute, emphasised that there is no evidence that "molnupiravir has to date created more transmissible or more virulent viruses." None of the variants that have swept the world were due to the drug, he added. But "it is very difficult to predict whether molnupiravir treatment could potentially lead to a new widely circulating variant which people don't have prior immunity to," he added. Mutational signature For the study, which was published in the journal Nature, the researchers sifted through databases of more than 15 million genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the Covid disease. The researchers used this data to track changes in how the virus mutated during the pandemic, finding signs of a particular "mutational signature" in patients they believe is linked to molnupiravir. In 2022, as the drug was prescribed in huge numbers, there was a significant increase in patients who had this mutational signature, the study found. This signature was more commonly found in countries where the drug was widely prescribed, such as the United States, UK, Australia and Japan. But in countries where it was not approved, including Canada and France, it was rarer. Merck refuted the study, saying the researchers had relied on "circumstantial associations" between where and when the sequences were taken. "The authors assume these mutations were associated with viral spread from molnupiravir-treated patients without documented evidence of that transmission," Merck said in a statement sent to AFP. Sanderson rebuffed this claim, saying the researchers had used "several independent lines of evidence to identify with confidence that molnupiravir drives this mutational signature". That included a separate analysis of treatment data in England, which found that more than 30 percent of mutation events involving the signature were in people who had taken molnupiravir. However, just 0.04 percent of people in England were prescribed the drug in 2022, the study said. Other anti-Covid drugs do not work in the same manner, so would not cause these kinds of mutations, Sanderson said. 'Incredibly important' Experts not involved in the study seemed to side with the British researchers. Stephen Griffin, a virologist at the UK's University of Leeds, said it was an "incredibly important, well-conducted piece of research". Jonathan Ball, a virologist at the University of Nottingham, said the research showed a "strong link" between molnupiravir and the occasional, limited spread of highly mutated genomes. "What isn't clear is if any of the transmitted viruses contained mutations which would change how they would behave -- for example if they were more or less transmissible, more pathogenic or less susceptible to our immunity," he added. The experts emphasised that molnupiravir is not dangerous to people who are currently taking the drug. They also did not call for the drug to be abandoned altogether. Molnupiravir is already being used by itself "less and less" as its effectiveness had waned against vaccinated people who are not at risk, Griffin said. While the existing research might suggest that molnupiravir should no longer be prescribed by itself, "it shouldn't be discarded and could still be valuable if we were to use it in drug combinations," he added. Sales of molnupiravir, sold under the brand name Lagevrio, topped $20 billion last year. However sales fell 82 percent in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year, according to Merck. The post Anti-Covid drug may have led to virus mutations: study appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DMW, DoJ get Alpha ‘scam’ probe going
The Department of Migrant Workers or DMW yesterday vowed to endorse to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution the complaints of about 400 Filipinos allegedly duped of about 3,000 euros each (roughly P181,000) by Italy-based “immigration consultancy” firm Alpha Assistenza SRL. Accompanied by DAILY TRIBUNE’s Usapang OFW, 18 of the complainants narrated to DMW for hours their and their sponsors’ harrowing experiences in losing their hard-earned money to Alpha Assistenza co-CEOs Krizelle Respicio and Frederick Dutaro. Usapang OFW broke the “massive scam” in an episode that aired on 21 September that was, thereafter, followed by a series of articles that exposed the alleged modus operandi of the owners of the firm who boasted of close ties with a Philippine official in Italy. The paper has reached out to the official and is awaiting his response to the complainants’ claim that his office has been sitting on the complaints filed by their sponsors in Italy. As this developed, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told DAILY TRIBUNE and Usapang OFW that he would personally look into the complaints upon receipt of the DMW’s endorsement to the DoJ. The DoJ oversees the National Bureau of Investigation, as well as the government’s prosecutorial service. At the DMW, Directors Geraldine Mendez and Eric Dorig Dollete of the agency’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau said that, aside from endorsing the complaints to the DoJ-NBI, they would also organize a fact-finding mission to Italy. Mendez and Dollete added that they would mobilize DMW’s Migrant Workers Office and Assistance-to-Nationals unit in Italy even as they assured the complainants of legal assistance. Several senators have expressed dismay over what may turn out to be one of the biggest illegal recruitment cases in the country, with a couple of lawmakers planning to call an investigation into the matter. DivinaLaw had pledged to look into the complainants’ plight. With an average fee of 3,000 euros paid by each of the complainants to Alpha Assistenza, the total amount the 400 “victims” could recover may amount to 1,200,000 euro or P72,367,182.40 at the exchange rate prevailing as of 25 September. Lawyers interviewed by TRIBUNE said the complaints may amount to a syndicated crime, the exact nature of which, they said, would be borne by the facts that must be established by investigating agencies like the NBI. The complainants said they had brought to the attention of various government agencies as early as July the purported use by Alpha Assistenza of fake work permit documents that resulted in their visa applications being denied. They also noted “irregularities” in the handling of their visa applications by the Philippine Interactive Audiotext Services Inc., or PIASI, including at least one instance of fees being paid in a coffee shop on the ground floor of the building where the PIASI office is located. [caption id="attachment_188905" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Bogus, too? A purported letter from the Italian Embassy explains why the visa application was denied on account of fake supporting documents. The letter, however, looks dubious as the name of the applicant was handwritten and not typed.[/caption] PIASI is the third-party service provider accredited by the Italian Embassy in Manila. The complainants had told Daily Tribune that they were afraid for their relatives and friends currently working in Italy who had sponsored them in good faith. The sponsors face the possibility of being thrown out of the country, they said, just because they (job seekers) were provided fake documents by Alpha Assistenza. Eight of the 18 complainants told DMW that their passports were still with an Alpha Assistenza agent despite their visas already having been denied. “(The agent) took our passports, telling us that she would be the one to represent us in the processing of our papers. We have been asking her to return our passports but it has been more than a month, and we still don’t have them,” one victim recounted. They also questioned the authenticity of the visa denial documents that they had received from PIASI as their names were merely handwritten in what appeared to be “fill-in-the-blanks” letters. Meanwhile, two OFWs in Italy interviewed by DAILY TRIBUNE said one of two Italian lawyers featured by Alpha Assistenza on its Facebook page as officials of the company is suing Respicio for making the false claim. They said that the Italian supplier of the video wall used during the Philippine Independence Day celebration in Italy had also complained of being paid only about half of the 26,000 euros owed him. The post DMW, DoJ get Alpha ‘scam’ probe going appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM urged to appoint full-time DA chief
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should appoint a “full-time and competent alter ego” to lead the Department of Agriculture, said Senator Francis Escudero on Monday. In a radio interview, Escudero lamented that the DA chief should address the challenges confronted by the agricultural sector with “urgency” including the administration’s campaign against rice smuggling and hoarding. “If that’s really important, it should have a full-time and dedicated secretary and not just a part-time one,” he lamented. While he understands the President’s desire to hold on to the position in a bid to “personally oversee” the sector, Escudero stressed that “there are too many national issues and concerns that Marcos has to attend to as head of state.” “The President’s intention was good. But the problem is, he has only one body, two hands and his 24 hours is for ours, too,” he added. Escudero further pressed the need to focus on resolving woes related to the agricultural sector, particularly rice smuggling and hoarding — which is mainly blamed for the high prices of rice in the markets. Also, Escudero reiterated his call to the government to expose the names of people, not just the trading companies, involved in rice smuggling and hoarding in the country. He said filing the appropriate charges must also be filed against them. The Bureau of Customs reported Saturday that it has seized P31.5 billion worth of smuggled goods, including agricultural products, from January to September this year. The majority of the items seized by the bureau were counterfeit items such as shoes, bags and clothes. The smuggled agricultural products were logged at P3.3 billion. Despite this huge amount of seizure accomplishments by the BoC, Escudero previously lamented that there were no charges filed against any individual involved in the smuggling. The post PBBM urged to appoint full-time DA chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Son of a gun
What is it about carrying around a firearm that transforms a Dr. Jekyll into a Mr. Hyde? Lately, the public has been treated (if that is the right word) to a slew of spectacles showing ordinary citizens involved in gun-toting road rage incidents. There would be a traffic altercation, it would turn confrontational, one person would alight from his vehicle, pull out a gun and point it at his adversary to intimidate him. Unfortunately for these “kawawang” cowboys (to borrow the song lyrics of the late Fred Panopio), they forget that the entire population these days is armed with phone cameras. Their gung-ho attitude is caught on camera and posted online, going viral among a population looking for sensational footage. Worse for the bully, since there are a lot of reelectionist senators, such videos invariably trigger a Senate inquiry supposedly in aid of legislation, never mind if our country already has strict gun laws. This would inevitably give the anti-gun advocates another chance to restate their mantra of “guns are evil,” disregarding the fact that firearms are inanimate objects that do not spontaneously pull their own triggers without human intervention. Those like us who are in favor of the right to carry arms — under the proper legal regulations, of course — would then counter with our own mantra: “Guns don’t kill; people do.” The debate is monotonously repeated every time there are morons such as that bald Gonzales character, who unlawfully use guns. The call for a total gun ban to address the issue is a knee-jerk reaction by jerks. For every a-hole who pulls out his gun out of pique, there are tens of thousands like me who have never used their firearm even under pressure. I believe that the safeguards now in place for applicants for gun licenses have been effective in filtering out the vast majority of psychos who cannot handle the perceived “power” born out of carrying a gun. To call for a firearms ban just because some weirdos out there abuse their privilege to carry guns is like calling for a total ban on cars simply because there are a few drivers who get into accidents due to their lack of driving skills. In this connection, I have been wondering why my proposal to test drivers’ IQs, and if it is low, to put a notice on their cars saying “Warning: Stupid Driver” (much like the notice on beginners’ cars, “Warning: Student Driver”) has fallen on deaf official ears. My best friend, Dr. Francis Aquino, a psychology major before becoming an anesthesiologist, once told me that those who swagger around, gun in hand, are covering up for something. The psychoanalytic term he used was “compensation.” It may be for lack of parental affection when an infant, lack of wealth or power, a timid nature, or even — seriously — a small penis. Doc Francis added that sometimes those who drive the biggest cars or pack a gun with the longest barrel are those with the smallest dicks. Well, I drive a compact car and have a snub-nose revolver, so draw your own conclusions. Reminds me of that famous quote from Mae West: “Is that a gun in your pants, or are you just happy to see me?” Levity aside, a legal gun-carrying citizen should always possess the proper mindset when lugging around his weapon for protection. He should be aware of the multitude not only of the online hatred that he will be getting when he unlawfully unholsters his firearm and uses it to threaten someone but of the legal problems he will face afterward. And then there is the possibility of encountering someone who also has a gun, or who has armed bodyguards, in which case the resulting shootout will definitely result in casualties, both on the part of the combatants and, worse, of innocent bystanders. In this case, one might end up being a dead son of a gun. The post Son of a gun appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Golden Tigresses, Lady Falcons chalk up SSL wins
University of Santo Tomas completed a Pool C sweep as Adamson topped Pool B with wins over separate foes on their way to the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championship Season 2 playoffs......»»
Quimbo: OVP’s P125-M confidential funds spent in 11 days, not 19
Vice President Sara Duterte's office spent P125 million in confidential funds in 2022 in merely 11 days— not 19 days--- as initially claimed by some opposition lawmakers. The revelation came during the sponsorship debate of CoA's P13.36 billion budget for 2024, during which Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, the agency's budget sponsor, told lawmakers that the multimillion-peso CF granted to the OVP by the Office of the President had been spent in just 11 days. The P125 million CF was part of the P221.42 million contingent fund of the OP transferred to the OVP in 2022. "Madam Speaker, the truth is that I was also surprised when I read the news that it was spent within 19 days and I asked about the CoA and I looked at the various reports, but it was not spent within 19 days but 11 days, Madam Speaker," Quimbo said. Confidential funds are used for discreet costs associated with surveillance operations carried out by civilian government agencies in support of their mandate or operations. The OVP submitted its liquidation report in January 2023 and was issued an audit observation memorandum or AOM on 18 September 2023 by state auditors, said Quimbo, citing the CoA. Government agencies have only 15 days to respond to an AOM. The CoA, meanwhile, pledged that Congress will be furnished a copy of the full report on 15 November 2023 as the audit is still ongoing. OVP spokesperson Reynold Munsayac, however, brushed off the claim and told reporters that the agency has yet to receive the AOM from COA. Gabriela Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas, who has been an opponent and critic of the CF, appeared surprised by Quimbo's revelation, questioning how the OVP managed to spend that massive fund in less than two weeks. "It's hard to imagine spending that in 11 days because if it's for surveillance, how many reward payments will reach P11 million per day?" Brosas stressed. Quimbo, meanwhile, responded, "I hope you will support me in my call for this creation of a special oversight committee," that she said will look into how CIFs are used properly and judiciously. Under the current system, only the President, the Senate President and the House Speaker have access to information pertaining to CIFs. The multi-million fund shift of OP to OVP has sparked intense debate in Congress, with opposition claiming it was unconstitutional since there was no line item in the OVP's 2022 budget on confidential funds in the 2022 General Appropriations Act. Then Vice President Leni Robredo, who prepared the 2022 budget of the OVP, said there was no line item for confidential funds in the budget they crafted. The Department of Budget and Management defended the legality of such transfer in a letter sent to Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, chair of the House committee on appropriations, last week. Co has yet to provide a copy of the letter to House reporters. The post Quimbo: OVP’s P125-M confidential funds spent in 11 days, not 19 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Escudero urges Marcos to appoint full-time DA chief
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. should appoint a “full-time and competent alter ego” to lead the Department of Agriculture, said Senator Francis Escudero on Monday. In a radio interview, Escudero lamented that the DA chief should address the challenges confronted by the agricultural sector with “urgency” including the administration's campaign against rice smuggling and hoarding. “Kung mahalaga talaga iyan, kailangang may full-time at dedicated na kalihim at hindi part-time lamang (If that's really important, it should have a full-time and dedicated secretary and not just a part-time one,” he lamented. While he understands the President's desire to hold on to the position in a bid to "personally oversee" the sector, Escudero stressed that “there are too many national issues and concerns that Marcos has to attend to as head of state.” “Maganda ang intensyon ng Pangulo. Ang problema ay iisa lang ang katawan niya, dadalawa lamang ang mga kamay niya at ang 24 oras niya ay 24 oras din nating lahat (The President’s intention was good. But the problem is, he has only one body, two hands and his 24 hours time is for ours too),” he added. Escudero further pressed the need to focus on resolving woes related to the agricultural sector, particularly rice smuggling and hoarding, which are mainly blamed for the high prices of rice in the markets. Also, Escudero reiterated his call for the government to expose the names of people, not just the trading companies, involved in rice smuggling and hoarding in the country. He said appropriate charges must also be filed against them. The Bureau of Customs reported Saturday that it has seized P31.5 billion worth of smuggled goods, including agricultural products, from January to September this year. The majority of the items seized by the bureau were counterfeit items such as shoes, bags and clothes. The smuggled agricultural products were logged at P3.3 billion. Escudero had previously lamented that no charges have been filed against any individual involved in the smuggling of goods into the country. The post Escudero urges Marcos to appoint full-time DA chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pirates rally, raid Blazers
The Lyceum Pirates completed a 13-point comeback to stun last season’s finalists College of Saint Benilde Blazers, 85-81, to kick off their NCAA Season 99 campaign Sunday evening at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City......»»
A vision for MPBL
The owner of the reigning Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League national champion has several great ideas to catapult the league to a higher level. Vicente “Bong” Cuevas III, patron of the fourth season MPBL rulers Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, has been studying how to strengthen the sustainability of the association......»»
Eagles soar past Cardinals
Ateneo ushered in a new era with a bang, carving out a 25-23, 25-20, 35-33 win over Mapua in the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championships Season 2 yesterday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan......»»
Taylor Swift turns out for Chiefs game stoking Kelce romance rumors
Pop star Taylor Swift added fuel to the rumors around her possible relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce when she was seen watching him in action alongside the Super Bowl winner's mother on Sunday. Swift attended the Kansas City Chiefs' home game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday and was seen in the Kelce family box with the tight end's mother, Donna. The 12-time Grammy award-winning singer was filmed wearing a red and white Chiefs jacket and cheering alongside Donna Kelce -- who gained nationwide attention when both her sons featured in last season's Super Bowl. Travis Kelce won his second Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs in February while older sibling Jason ended up on the losing side with the Philadelphia Eagles. Travis Kelce said this week on ESPN's Pat McAfee Show that he had invited Swift to attend a game. "I threw it out there. I threw the ball in her court. You know, I told her, 'I've seen you rock the stage in Arrowhead, you might have to come see me rock the stage in Arrowhead and see which one's a little more lit,'" he said. "We'll see what happens in the near future," added the 33-year-old Kelce, who is widely considered one of the best tight ends in NFL history. The post Taylor Swift turns out for Chiefs game stoking Kelce romance rumors appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Garbage caused Saturday floods, says MMDA
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Sunday reported that a significant amount of improperly disposed garbage caused flooding in several areas in the National Capital Region amid the heavy rains on Saturday. MMDA general manager Procopio Lipana disclosed that MMDA personnel recovered garbage — such as plastics and even a plywood plank — that blocked a drain near EDSA-Camp Aguinaldo. “We obtained a huge amount of garbage despite the continuous cleaning of storm gutters,” said Lipana in a radio interview. “Aside from the large amount of garbage blocking the drainage, the heavy rain came down suddenly, and our drainage system has become inadequate,” he added. The MMDA chief reiterated that the agency planned to create a 50-year drainage master plan for Metro Manila to address perennial flooding during the rainy season, adding that drainage systems in the region’s cities need to be aligned and enlarged to accommodate the larger volume of water. Pending this master plan, the MMDA appealed to the public to properly dispose of their garbage to mitigate the flooding in Metro Manila. The post Garbage caused Saturday floods, says MMDA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
U.S. backs probe on Sikh’s slay
An American official has supported a call by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for India to cooperate in the investigation of a Sikh leader’s assassination in Vancouver in June. “We want to see accountability. And it’s important that the investigation run its course and lead to that result,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in New York, where he was taking part in the United Nations General Assembly. “We would hope that our Indian friends would cooperate with that investigation as well,” Blinken said, referring to Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, who was wanted in India for alleged terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder, was shot dead by two masked assailants. Blinken’s statement came four days after Trudeau linked Indian intelligence agents to the murder of the activist campaigning for the creation of a Sikh homeland called Khalistan. New Delhi insisted it had nothing to do with the killing, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “completely rejected” the accusation when earlier raised privately by Trudeau. Following Trudeau’s bombshell, Sikh leaders in Canada demanded justice for Nijjar’s killing. “We want a full investigation that brings to justice the people involved in this assassination, including those who pulled the trigger and the ones who plotted this assassination,” Harkirt Singh Dhadda, a lawyer and prominent member of the Sikh community in the Toronto area, said. Nijjar’s son also demanded the arrest of his father’s killers. “Hopefully, you can take this a step further and get specific individuals,” Balraj Singh Nijjar told reporters. Jaskaran Sandhu, co-founder of Baaz News, a website for the Sikh community, warned that “if the government doesn’t take a strong stance and send a strong message, all it declares to the world is that it’s open season on our citizens.” Jagmett Singh, the leader of the left-wing New Democratic Party and a Trudeau ally said Trudeau’s announcement confirms suspicions that India was interfering in the democratic rights of Canadians. Canada must also put an end to intelligence sharing with New Delhi, Sikh officials said. Since 2018, the two countries have established cooperation on counter-terrorism activities which commits them to financial, judicial and police cooperation — an agreement eyed warily by 770,000 Canadian Sikhs today. WITH AFP The post U.S. backs probe on Sikh’s slay appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Western powers fighting Russia’
Russia’s foreign minister has accused Western powers of “de facto” fighting against his country through their military support for Ukraine. “You can call it anything you want, but they are fighting with us, they are straight-up fighting with us,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists at the United Nations on Saturday. Westerners are “de facto fighting against us, using the hands and bodies of Ukrainians,” Lavrov added, pointing to the billions of dollars in Western military equipment provided to Kyiv since Russia attacked last year. Last week, United States President Joe Biden met with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington after the two spoke at the UN General Assembly in New York. Biden announced in a press conference with Zelensky more US military aid to Ukraine, including the delivery of M1 Abrams tank this week. Lavrov also claimed that US and Britain are giving intelligence support and Western military advisors are present in Ukraine. Lavrov’s statement came on the same day Kyiv announced a missile attack on Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, killing senior naval commanders. Agence France-Presse has not been able to verify the information from Kyiv. Russia has said one of its servicemen is missing after the attack. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone strike hit an administrative building in the center of Russia’s southern Kursk city, authorities said Sunday. A second shipment of Ukrainian wheat also reached Turkey via the Black Sea on Sunday, according to maritime traffic monitoring sites, despite Russian threats to attack boats heading to or from its neighbor and enemy. The Palau-flagged bulk carrier Aroyat — laden with 17,600 tons of wheat — left the port city of Chornomorsk on Friday bound for Egypt. The post ‘Western powers fighting Russia’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Joey de Leon pinagmumura ng netizens dahil sa ‘lubid’ joke sa ‘E.A.T.’, MTRCB kinalampag: ‘Galaw, galaw Lala Sotto!’
BARAG na barag ang veteran TV host-comedian na si Joey de Leon sa netizens matapos magbitiw ng insensitive joke sa programa nilang “E.A.T.” sa TV5. Trending ngayon sa social media ang komedyante dahil sa pagbibiro niya sa episode ng kanilang noontime show nitong September 23, na may konek sa suicide. Nangyari ito sa segment na.....»»
A public servant named ‘Bayani’
Call it trite, but the late parents of Bayani “BF” Fernando really named their son in Tagalog word that means a “hero.”.....»»
Rice price cap may be lifted after harvest, Marcos hints
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday said the government could ease the price cap he imposed on rice once the cost in the market stabilizes, which he hopes would happen after the harvest season. “We’re harvesting now and when that comes in, I think we will see that prices will go down,”.....»»