MANILA, Philippines — Makati Mayor Abigail Binay has put up a program to serve as a help desk for her constituents, the city government announced on Friday. The 'Tik-Talk with Mayora Abby' program will kick off on March 27. 'The Help Desk is intended to serve as a channel for residents to raise their questions, comments, and concerns about the city's services, policies, and programs. We want to create a direct line of communication with Makatizens so that we can address their concerns more effectively,' Binay said in a statement.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1740941/mayor-binay-launches-help-desk-to-address-constituents-concerns

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A Myanmar protester residing in Japan uses a flag with an image of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a rally to mark the second anniversary of Myanmar's 2021 military coup, outside the Embassy of Myanmar in Tokyo, Japan February 1, 2023. REUTERS FILE PHOTO The Supreme Court in military-ruled Myanmar has rejected appeals against six corruption convictions for the jailed former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, according to media reports. Suu Kyi, in detention since the military toppled her government in a 2021 coup, faces 27 years in prison.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1842779/myanmar-supreme-court-rejects-jailed-suu-kyi-appeals

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Posted Yesterday, 09:08 PM Ubuntu now provides expanded security maintenance (esm) updates for the packages in main/universe repositories through 'Ubuntu Pro' service. With it, you can get 5 years more (total of 10 years) security updates support for Ubuntu LTS. Meaning Ubuntu 22.04 support until 2032, Ubuntu 20.04 support until 2030, and Ubuntu 18.04 support until 2028. Enable Ubuntu Pro to get 5 Years More Security Updates in Ubuntu 22.04,20.04,18.04 That's kinda cool. I think I still prefer a rolling release.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/785574/enable-ubuntu-pro-to-get-5-years-more-security-updates/

#bleepingcomputer

KYIV — The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group said on Wednesday his forces had taken full control of the eastern part of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, scene of one of the bloodiest battles of the year-long war. If the claim is true, it would mean Russian forces control nearly half the city in their costly push to secure their first big victory in several months. Ukrainian defenders remained defiant, however. Last week they appeared to be preparing for a tactical retreat from Bakhmut, but military and political leaders are now speaking of hanging on to positions and inflicting as many casualties as possible on the Russian assault force.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1740078/russians-claim-control-over-eastern-bakhmut-ukrainians-defiant

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commemorating merchANT navy DAY Australia's wartime history is filled with stories of ordinary Australians who served our nation in extraordinary ways. Today we reflect on the crucial role that Australian and Allied merchant mariners played in wartime, facing various dangers while carrying out their duties under the most trying of circumstances. While some merchant ships were equipped with limited defensive capabilities during the Second World War, most vessels remained unarmed, leaving them vulnerable to attacks from enemy surface ships, aircraft, submarines and mines.

https://www.miragenews.com/minister-keogh-commemorating-merchant-navy-day-1076810/

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PHNOM PENH—Noelito Jose put up a brave front before victory slipped from his grasp to settle for a silver medal in fencing at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games. Singapore's Jian Tong Si To used his quickness to the hilt and defeated Jose, 15-11, in the finals of the men's epee individual contest at the Chroy Changvar Convention Hall here. Jose, who arranged the title clash with To by toppling Singapore's Simon Renjie Lee in the semifinals, duplicated his medal output during the Hanoi SEA Games last year.

https://sports.inquirer.net/509664/sea-games-2023-noelito-jose-bags-fencing-silver-for-ph

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Much of the world's natural coastline is protected by living habitats, most notably mangroves in warmer waters and tidal marshes closer to the poles. These ecosystems support fisheries and wildlife, absorb the impact of crashing waves and clean up pollutants. But these vital services are threatened by global warming and rising sea levels. Neil Saintilan Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Recent research has shown wetlands can respond to sea level rise by building up their root systems, pulling carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the process .

https://www.miragenews.com/over-1500-coastal-ecosystems-to-drown-if-world-1074965/

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Apollo Currency ( APL ) traded down 0.2% against the U.S. dollar during the 24-hour period ending at 16:00 PM ET on August 26th. One Apollo Currency coin can currently be purchased for $0.0001 or 0.00000001 BTC on popular cryptocurrency exchanges. In the last seven days, Apollo Currency has traded down 7.7% against the U.S. dollar. Apollo Currency has a market capitalization of $2.78 million and $494,008.96 worth of Apollo Currency was traded on exchanges in the last day. Here's how other cryptocurrencies have performed in the last day: Avalanche (AVAX) traded 0.

https://www.dailypolitical.com/2023/08/26/apollo-currency-apl-price-tops-0-0001-on-major-exchanges.html

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CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC decreased its stake in shares of ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF ( BATS:SMDV – Free Report ) by 58.1% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,325 shares of the company's stock after selling 14,294 shares during the period. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC owned approximately 0.07% of ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF worth $630,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

https://www.dailypolitical.com/2023/08/03/proshares-russell-2000-dividend-growers-etf-batssmdv-shares-sold-by-cfs-investment-advisory-services-llc.html

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Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage boy missing from the state's Central Coast. Nathanael Pancrazi, aged 14, was last seen at a home on the Pacific Highway, Ourimbah, about 10pm last Saturday (19 August 2023). When he was unable to be located or contacted, officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District were notified. As part of inquiries, police have established that Nathanael was at Broadway Shopping Centre on Bay Street, Glebe, about 2.15pm yesterday (Tuesday 22 August 2023).

https://www.miragenews.com/police-appeal-to-locate-central-coast-teenager-1070123/

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India's government is proposing legislation to replace a British colonial-era law dealing with sedition charges. The provision on sedition — actions that are intended to encourage people to be or act against a government— was instituted by the British in 1860 to repress India's freedom fighters. India won independence from the British colonialists in 1947 but continued to use the sedition law. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's critics accused his government of using the sedition charge to label dissenting citizens as disloyal toward the country.

https://www.mymotherlode.com/news/world/3207628/india-to-replace-british-colonial-era-sedition-law-with-its-own-version.html

#mymotherlode

Sancocho may be ubiquitous across Latin America, but no two recipes are the same. That's because the primary ingredients of this hearty soup – meat, vegetables and tubers – are as broad and as varied as Latin America itself. Perhaps that's why the name of the dish is so generic; sancocho is derived from the Spanish verb sancochar , meaning to cook in liquid. Nevertheless, when you look at the different countries where the dish is made, you'll find sancocho recipes vary based on regional ingredients, seasoned to comfort local palates.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230915-sancocho-a-panamanian-chicken-and-vegetable-soup

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Forum Financial Management LP increased its holdings in shares of Dimensional International Core Equity 2 ETF ( BATS:DFIC – Get Rating ) by 154.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 6,099,360 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 3,700,307 shares during the period. Dimensional International Core Equity 2 ETF accounts for about 4.5% of Forum Financial Management LP's investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th biggest holding.

https://www.dailypolitical.com/2023/04/01/forum-financial-management-lp-has-136-32-million-stake-in-dimensional-international-core-equity-2-etf-batsdfic.html

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U.N. special rapporteur for North Korea's human rights will visit South Korea next week to meet Seoul officials as well as defectors from the reclusive regime, ...

https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2023/09/103_358331.html

#koreatimes #northkoreahumanrights

photo: WFP/ Michael Tewelde, Food distribution to refugees in the Kebribeyah refugee camp, Ethiopia Somali Region. ROME - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has begun rolling out food distributions to nearly 900,000 refugees in Ethiopia, following a full revamp of the safeguards and controls in its refugee operations. Families living in refugee camps across five regions, including new arrivals who have fled from Sudan, are receiving food parcels for the first time since WFP paused food distributions in June 2023, following reports of large-scale diversions.

https://www.miragenews.com/wfp-restarts-food-distributions-to-ethiopian-1099970/

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NIWA has launched a $5 million per year package of new projects aiming to tackle some of New Zealand's most pressing challenges, including responding to and preparing for extreme weather events. NIWA already undertakes extensive research in forecasting, climate change and extreme weather, natural hazards, atmospheric science and Māori environmental research. This new investment will allow NIWA to double down on efforts in these areas. The new package includes an additional $2.3 million per year for extreme weather-related research, including forecasting impacts from extreme weather and also to support climate change resilient infrastructure development.

https://www.miragenews.com/extreme-weather-research-gets-boost-1068745/

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US troops returning to former bases in the PhilippinesHanjin shipyard that would cater to American navy ships, is pictured at the former US largest overseas naval base in Subic, Zambales province, Philippines, 02 March 2023 (issued on 06 March 2023). Philippine Defense chief Carlito Galvez Junior announced that Manila and Washington agreed on US troops access to four new bases and allow increase its military footprint in the country under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). EPA/FRANCIS R.

https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/091/0009410230?sid=104

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Dolly de Leon and Kathryn Bernardo finally met each other, almost a month after they announced their upcoming movie together, 'A Very Good Girl.' The award-winning actresses bonded over dinner along with director Petersen Vargas, who will helm the dark comedy film, as seen on Star Cinema's Instagram page on Friday, April 21. They were also joined by Carmi Raymundo, the creative manager for 'A Very Good Girl.' In a separate Instagram post, De Leon can be seen welcoming Bernardo with a hug when the latter arrived at the restaurant.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/499910/look-dolly-de-leon-kathryn-bernardo-bond-in-fun-casual-meetup

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First Merchants Corp grew its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips ( NYSE:COP – Free Report ) by 7.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 37,791 shares of the energy producer's stock after buying an additional 2,512 shares during the quarter. First Merchants Corp's holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $3,749,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of COP.

https://www.dailypolitical.com/2023/07/09/first-merchants-corp-buys-2512-shares-of-conocophillips-nysecop.html

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MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday marked the celebration of Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) as an occasion where Filipinos are called on to honor fallen heroes, and embody bravery in 'rising above the unconquerable challenges of nationhood.' In her Day of Valor message to the public, Duterte recalled the Battle of Bataan and its 'indelible mark' of Filipino patriotism, courage and resilience even amid adversity. 'Today's Day of Valor is a firm reminder of the indomitable Filipino spirit that is able to selflessly endure the most grueling situations for the sake of liberty and in the name of our cherished freedoms,' said Duterte.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1754239/vp-saras-araw-ng-kagitingan-message-honor-fallen-heroes-embody-bravery

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