Belgian Carnival town renounces UNESCO title over racism row

BRUSSELS --- The famed Belgian Carnival town of Aalst wants to renounce its place on the U.N. cultural heritage list, saying it is sick of widespread complaints that this spring's edition contained blatant anti-Semitism. Town officials say the float objected to, with stereotypical depictions of hook-nosed Jews sitting on piles of money, was trying to make a joke and they contend no one should try to muzzle humor of any kind during the three-day Carnival. Aalst mayor Christoph D'Haese said Sunday that city officials "have had it a bit with the grotesque complaints and Aalst will renounce its UNESCO recognition." UNESCO, Jewish groups and the European Union have condemned the floa...

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Lobster catch headed for decline, not crash, scientists say

PORTLAND, Maine --- A pair of studies by Maine-based scientists suggest the U.S. lobster industry is headed for a period of decline, but likely not a crash. Lobster fishermen have brought in record hauls this decade, a period in which Maine catches that previously rarely topped 70 million pounds (32 million kilograms) have routinely soared above 120 million pounds (54 million kilograms). The new studies, both published with University of Maine scientists as lead authors, show a fishery in which warming waters off Maine have changed the dynamics of the lobster population. Noah Oppenheim, author of one of the studies, said his model projects the lobster catch in the Gulf of Maine...

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SEA Games: Delos Reyes gives PH 1st medal of day in men’s duathlon

Joey delos Reyes kicked off the Philippines' second day campaign with a silver medal in men's duathlon Monday in 30th Southeast Asian Games. Delos Reyes fell second to Indonesia's Jauhari Johan, who copped the gold medal, in the grueling run-bike-run race in Subic. Thailand's Nattawut Srinate settled for bronze. The Filipinos are looking for another strong performance on Monday after getting a significant lead in the medal table in Day 1. Meanwhile, Asian women's elite champion Monica Torres is shooting for the gold in women's duathlon....

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China’s offer to Duterte: A phone that can’t be hacked

MANILA, Philippines --- China made another offer to President Rodrigo Duterte but this time, it's not a loan or an oil exploration deal. Duterte has revealed that China offered him to have a mobile phone that can't be hacked, but he refused. Duterte made the admission in an interview over GMA 7's Unang Hirit on Monday as he was asked about China's possible shut down of the country's power transmission system as Beijing owns 40 percent stake in the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). "I will ask China now. I'd like to address myself, respectfully to President Xi, what could be the reason because I do not believe that they will do. But if there is, what could ...

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Senate wants P20M budget for breathalyzers to curb drunk driving

MANILA, Philippines --- The Senate has allocated P20 million for the procurement of breathalyzers under its version of the proposed P4.1 trillion national budget for 2020, Senator Grace Poe said Monday. "You can have as many trained traffic enforcers on the road, but without the breathalyzers, their hands are tied in effectively apprehending violators," Poe said in a statement, referring to drunk drivers.   "Kung may aksidente at lasing ang driver, hindi pwedeng sasabihin lang ng enforcer na amoy alak ang driver. Hindi ito titindig sa imbestigasyon o sa korte," she added.   (If there's an accident and the driver is under the influence of alcohol, the enforcer can...

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Duterte: Proper use of P6-B budget could’ve avoided SEA Games hosting flaws

MANILA, Philippines -- Shortcomings and mistakes in the Philippines' hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games could have been avoided if the P6 billion budget for the biennial games was "correctly" used, President Rodrigo Duterte said.   "Well, I am not attributing it to anybody, but you know, it's a huge fund and there oughtnot to have problems," Duterte said in an interview on GMA 7's Unang Hirit aired Monday morning.   Even days before the opening of the SEA Games, the country's hosting of the athletic meet was marred by logistical problems and issues concerning transportation, food and accommodations of foreign and local athletes.   ...

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SEA Games: PH dancesport plucks 4 gold medals so far

Dancesport added to the Philippines' medal haul early, plucking four gold medals in different categories so far in 30th Southeast Asian Games at Royce Hotel in Clark. The pair of Mark Jayson Gayon and May Joy Renigen danced their way to the top prize in Standard Waltz and Slow Foxtrot categories to get the Filipinos' campaign going. Meanwhile, Sean Mischa Aranar and Ana Leonila Nualla ruled the Tango and Viennese Waltz events. Their golden performances hiked the country's gold medal tally to seven as of posting....

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