Newsletter: Halsey new album, The Great Impersonator, out now

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GRAMMY® nominated, genre-blending artist Halsey released her highly anticipated 5th studio album, The Great Impersonator. Listen HERE. Earlier this year, Halsey previewed the album through her releases, “I Never Loved You”, “Ego”, Lonely is the Muse”, “Lucky” and "The End".

Newsletter: Ateneo student builds chemical purity tester from LEGO

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Using simple circuitry, polarizing film, and LEGO® toy bricks, an undergraduate physics student from the Ateneo de Manila University recently built an improvised polarimeter that can optically assess the purity of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and other chiral substances. The device has potential applications in classrooms as a learning tool, and may pave the way for more cost-effective means to monitor the quality of some consumer products.

The Ateneo de Manila University Department of Physics’ Photonics Laboratory’s polarimeter setup, built mostly out of LEGO® toy bricks, polarizing film, and cheap off-the-shelf electrical components. SOURCE: Felicidario and delos Santos.

Polarimeters are invaluable laboratory instruments that can help infer the purity of a chemical by measuring the angle of rotation of polarized light that passed through the test sample. However, laboratory-grade polarimeters are prohibitively expensive, with a high-end model costing over $11,500 and a commercial manual polarimeter priced at over $1,200. This makes their acquisition and use difficult if not impossible for small laboratories and classrooms in developing countries like the Philippines. 

Newsletter: Addison Rae releases highly anticipated single “Aquamarine” with dazzling new video

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Pop superstar, songwriter, actress and cultural phenomenon Addison Rae has released her highly anticipated single “Aquamarine” via Columbia Records with a dazzling new music video available for streaming on all digital platforms today. Listen to the new song here and watch the Sean Price Williams directed video, which was creative directed by Interview Magazine Editor-in-Chief Mel Ottenberg, here.

Newsletter: Gyukatsu-Motomura Boracay: Bringing Japan's Viral Sensation to Paradise

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The wait is finally over! The VIRAL GYUKATSU that took Japan by storm has arrived on the shores of the world-famous Boracay Island. Gyukatsu-Motomura Boracay (GYUKATSU もと村 BORACAY), a culinary gem under Ikigai International Restaurant OPC, is proud to announce its upcoming grand opening, bringing an authentic taste of Japan to this tropical paradise.

Newsletter: Kaspersky expands Kids Cyber Resilience Project in APAC, Middle East and CIS

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Kaspersky is announcing the expansion of its Kaspersky Kids Cyber Resilience Project to Vietnam, in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, and is launching it in the Middle East and CIS countries. This initiative is designed to equip children and teenagers with essential cybersecurity skills, fostering a safer digital experience for the younger generation in an increasingly interconnected world.

The Kaspersky Kids Cyber Resilience Project focuses on raising awareness among children, parents, educators, and NGOs about online threats. It also stresses the importance of digital hygiene, practical ways to enhance online security, and enjoy technology. Through interactive workshops, online courses, and other activities, the program encourages responsible digital behavior, helping kids develop the resilience needed to navigate the internet safely. Launched in Singapore in March 2023, the initiative has successfully run in a number of other countries in APAC — the Philippines, Malaysia, and India — to date.

Newsletter: Bullet Dumas, Shirebound, Dicta License, The Ridleys, Munimuni, Ena Mori and more to headline GNN Year-End Party

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The Manila-based events production caps off a great year in live music

GNN (Gabi Na Naman Productions), an events and multimedia company, wraps up 2024 with an inaugural party that celebrates a festive year in live music.

Newsletter: RITA ORA WILL HOST THE 2024 MTV EMAs

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The rumours are true: MTV today confirmed that Rita Ora will host the 2024 MTV EMAs. Returning to the MTV EMA stage to a packed-out audience at Manchester’s Co-op Live on Sunday, November 10, critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter Ora will soon become the show’s first three-time host. 

Newsletter: Sean Archer explores complicated adolescent life in debut EP, BANDA KA NANG BANDA

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The EP was co-produced by Sean Archer with Rico Blanco, and was mixed by Angee Rozul

Sean Archer marks his official debut with the release of his first EP, BANDA KA NANG BANDA, under Sony Music Entertainment.

Newsletter: Dulaang UP: “Nanay Bangis” fiercely opens this November 2024!

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Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas is staging Nanay Bangis as its first offering for its 47th theatre season this November 15 to December 1, 2024. Directed by J. William Herbert Sigmund Go and adapted by Rody Vera from Bertolt Brecht’s “Mother Courage and Her Children,” Nanay Bangis is the story of a mother who loses her children to the conflict between the MNLF and the Philippine army from 1971 to 1981. 

Newsletter: New single “She’s My HERO” Japanese Version is out now

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wasurene, a groundbreaking music project known for its unique approach to storytelling through music, has released its seventh track “She’s My HERO” today. The project follows a distinctive process in which the creator/writer interviews a subject “Anoko” to explore their personal thoughts and experiences, and writes a song based on the insights gathered. Once the song is crafted, an artist performs it, giving voice to the subject’s story in a deeply authentic and meaningful way. 

Newsletter: PLDT, La Union barangay team up for disaster preparedness

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PLDT engineers assigned at the company's La Union Cable Landing Station shared practical disaster preparedness tips with residents of Brgy Baccuit Sur in Bauang, La Union, to help the community safeguard their homes and families during emergencies.

Leading integrated telco network PLDT Inc (PLDT) and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) are expanding their disaster preparedness expertise to the barangay level as part of the company's push to help boost the country's culture of resilience.

Newsletter: Launch event: Behavioural Insights Project Expands Regional Efforts to Combat Plastic Pollution

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Phase II of the "Breaking the Plastic Habit in ASEAN" project was successfully launched on 18 October 2024 at the ERIA office in Jakarta.

Newsletter: Kaspersky uncovers new Grandoreiro light variant

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Despite the arrest of important operators in early 2024, Grandoreiro continues to be used by its partners in new campaigns. Kaspersky Global Research and Analysis team (GReAT) has discovered a new light version focused on Mexico targeting around 30 banks. These findings are to be highlighted at the Security Analyst Summit (SAS) 2024. Remaining one of the most active threats globally, Grandoreiro accounts for around five percent of banking trojan attacks this year.  Mexico is one of the most targeted countries by Grandoreiro variants, including the new light version, seeing 51,000 recorded incidents this year.

After assisting an INTERPOL-coordinated action, which has led to Brazilian authorities arresting operators behind a Grandoreiro banking trojan operation, Kaspersky discovered that the group’s codebase has been split into lighter, fragmented versions of the trojan, to continue its attacks. Recent analysis has identified a specific light version focused primarily on Mexico, which has been used to target approximately 30 financial institutions. The creators likely have access to the source code and are launching new campaigns using the simplified legacy malware. 

Newsletter: From Vision to Viral: How Ricka Raga's Genius Made GYUKATSU もと村 BORACAY the Island's Hottest Culinary Sensation

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In the heart of the Philippines' paradise island, a culinary revolution is brewing. Gyukatsu もと村 Boracay, is set to redefine the gastronomic landscape of this tropical haven. At the helm of this exciting venture is none other than Ricka Raga, the brilliant brand expert and creative mastermind who has been entrusted not just with the brand's identity, but with steering its entire marketing strategy as the newly appointed Chief Marketing Officer of Ikigai International Restaurant OPC.

Newsletter: Ateneo researchers probe mechanical properties of stardust

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New research from the Ateneo de Manila University could pave the way for more durable versions of silicon carbide (SiC), a semiconductive ceramic material found mostly in space that has applications in everything from computer chips to spaceships.

A long exposure of the night sky above Malita in Davao Occidental, Philippines, reveals a handful of meteors—possibly made of silicon carbide. PHOTO: Arman Alcordo Jr. / Pexels.com