Good morning. It might be worth waking up 2 hours earlier and walking to work as Gasoline increases by 1.4 pesos/liter and diesel increases by 1.75 pesos/liter. 😓

Local News

🚮 Turning Trash into Treasure Trouble

By Tobias Bautista

One man’s trash is another man’s… source of cancer?

The Philippine government is looking to waste-to-energy (WTE) technology to tackle its trash troubles and boost renewable energy. But scientists warn that this approach may be hazardous to health and the environment.

For years, WTE—turning waste into electricity or heat—has been a hot topic in the Philippines. The country, unique in the Asia Pacific for its incineration ban, lifted some restrictions in 2016 to allow thermal WTE, leading to heated debates.

Despite this, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is pushing WTE as a sustainable landfill alternative. But experts like Dr. Jorge Emmanuel from Silliman University argue that WTE plants release harmful pollutants like particulate matter, toxic metals, and organic compounds.

"I cannot imagine why you would call this a clean alternative," says Emmanuel. He points out that WTE plants produce toxic ash and wastewater that need special disposal methods, compounding waste management issues.

Moreover, dioxins—a group of highly toxic chemicals—are a major byproduct of WTE processes. They can cause serious health problems and linger in the environment for centuries.

So, while turning trash into treasure sounds appealing, the reality might be a bit too toxic for comfort. The Philippines' quest for a greener waste solution remains up in the air.

World News

🔮 Mortal Hamster Kombat: Iran’s Newest Hope in Hard Times

By Tobias Bautista

It's a blistering June day in Iran, and cabbies and bikers are glued to their phones at red lights. No, they’re not checking the weather—they’re obsessed with "Hamster Kombat." Amidst the usual chaos of Iranian traffic, everyone is hoping to strike it rich with this new app.

In “Hamster Kombat,” users believe they may be able to access a purported cryptocurrency associated with the game that’s still not traded publicly.

With the presidential election around the corner and the economy on a slippery slope thanks to sanctions, inflation, and job shortages, Iranians are diving headfirst into the crypto game hoping for a lifeline.

“It’s desperation,” says Amir Rashidi of the Miaan Group. The country’s once-strong rial is now about as valuable as Monopoly money, with 580,000 rials equaling one dollar. Prices for everything are skyrocketing, and the Hamster Kombat app is seen as a beacon of hope—even if nobody knows who’s behind it.

Authorities, however, aren’t amused. They claim the game is part of the West's “soft war” to distract voters. Meanwhile, Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi has declared it “haram,” warning against the app’s potential for abuse.

But for many Iranians, a bit of “Hamster Kombat” is a shot at some semblance of financial relief in an otherwise grim economic landscape.

✈ Under Pressure: Korean Airlines Mid-Air Scare

by Tobias Bautista

Here’s a travel nightmare that actually happened: Korean Airlines Flight KE189 took a nosedive—literally. After taking off from Incheon, South Korea, on June 22 with 125 passengers, the Boeing 737 Max 8 (yes, Boeing again) got hit with a pressurization fault about 50 minutes into the flight.

Cue the collective gasp as the plane dropped 26,900 feet in just 15 minutes. Imagine everyone’s worst fear playing out: kids crying, oxygen masks dropping, and flight attendants staying seated (never a good sign).

The plane made an emergency U-turn back to Incheon, landing about three hours later. Of the passengers, 15 reported hyperventilation and ear pain, and 13 ended up in the hospital. Thankfully, no major injuries were reported, but it’s safe to say some folks might swear off flying for a bit.

Korean Airlines is investigating the issue, and the faulty plane is getting a full check-up. The flight finally resumed the next morning with a different aircraft, landing safely in Taiwan 19 hours after the original departure.

Passengers described the ordeal with words like “frightening” and “never again.” One Mr. Tseng recalled the sound of children crying and feared the worst, while Ms. Hsu mentioned earaches and headaches amidst the chaos. Let’s hope their next trip involves more beach chairs and fewer oxygen masks.

Sports

🏎 Hamilton’s Next Lap: From Mercedes Podiums to Ferrari Dreams

By Tobias Bautista

Lewis Hamilton is not looking at his rear view mirror amidst his upcoming switch to Ferrari, even though Mercedes seems to have found its groove. Hamilton, who’s been with Mercedes for 12 years, celebrated a third-place finish at the Spanish Grand Prix, his first podium this season, leaving Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in his dust.

Despite Mercedes’ resurgence, Hamilton is all-in on his move to Ferrari in 2025. “I love Mercedes, but my focus is on giving my best this year,” he said. “Next year, my journey with Ferrari begins, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”

Hamilton’s stellar performance saw him overtaking Sainz, whom he’s set to replace at Ferrari, twice during the race. Not bad for a driver ready to swap silver for red.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took the top spot, with Lando Norris in second and Hamilton rounding out the podium. This marks Hamilton’s best finish since October and extends his record of 18 consecutive seasons with a podium finish.

With Ferrari on the horizon, Hamilton aims to finish strong with Mercedes. “Winning again with Mercedes would be great, but consistency and pushing the team up the ranks is the real goal,” he said.

New team, same champion mindset. Hamilton’s ready for the next chapter.

News Roundup

• Scammers need to be hired as creative heads. Most recent breakthrough: Impersonating IP-rights head in emails

• 32 Million Jollibee Group customers affected in Data Breach

• More than 1300 died in Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi due to scorching heat

• China-France satellite launched — most powerful for studying the farthest explosion of stars

• Gunmen kill 15 in Russia — a terrorist attack

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