Balay Dako, a purported “pet-friendly” restaurant, is in hot waters after what appears to be a discrimination on the staff’s part for turning away customers with Aspin, a local breed of dogs in the Philippines. a.k.a. Askal.
Ms. Lara L. Antonio posted a 1000 words post on her Facebook account regarding her encounter with the Balay Dako staff and how she and her companion where turned away because of her dog ‘Yoda’ is not a “shit tzus, labradors…” or a “golden retriever”.
Here’s a snippet of her.. now viral post;
We’ve eaten at Balay Dako before – we know it’s pet-friendly. Yoda has, in fact, been here before as well so we went there assuming everything’s okay. We get to the front of house and she hands me a paper with pet guidelines. It basically says small-medium sized dogs only and big dogs are not alllowed. It also says that dogs must be in a diaper, can’t be smelly, etc. and they will be turned away. I see “diaper” and I instantly think oh no we didn’t bring a diaper. So Mon asks the front of house, and she says it’s okay. There are diapers we can buy inside. She sees Yoda and Ari and nothing is amiss (for now).
Yoda, Ari and I are standing in front of the FOH, waiting to be seated and waiting for Mon to come out with the diapers when someone in black – staff – sees Yoda, goes inside, goes back out and then whispers something to the front of house.
Suddenly, FOH tells me that Yoda isn’t allowed inside. I ask “why”, she says “up to medium sized dogs only”. And I said huh? At this point, we’ve been standing in front of they door for over 10 minutes na, people going in and out greeting Yoda and Ari and she didn’t say anything to me. Tapos biglang she says ah bawal na yung isang dog. So I say, “she’s medium sized. We’ve been here before and no issues naman” and then !!! She said “ano pong breed niya?”
According to her Facebook profile, Ms. Lara L. Antonio is the Marketing Manager of Riot Games in the Philippines, Co-founder of Scene PH and a full-time fur-mom. It looks like those at Balay Dako, messed with the wrong fur-mom.
As of posting, Ms. Antonio’s post has more than 127K reactions and has been shared more than 61K times.
As of Saturday, September 7, the Philippine embassy in Abu Dhabi and the consulate general in Dubai said they have assisted at least 2,053 Filipinos looking to avail of the amnesty. The program, which began on September 1 and will end on October 30, seeks to help visa or residency violators legally stay in the UAE, or return to the Philippines without legal repercussions.
Here the the official announcement of Philippine Embassy in UAE;
Simula nang ilunsad ang Programang Amnestiya ng UAE noong ika-1 ng Setyembre, ang Pasuguan ng Pilipinas sa Abu Dhabi at ang Konsuladong Pangkalahatan ng Pilipinas sa Dubai ay nagbigay tulong sa kabuuang bilang na 2,053 Pilipinong nagnanais makinabang mula sa programa ng UAE na nag-aalis ng mga multa sa overstaying at absconding. Ang programang ito ay nagbibigay-daan sa mga nais magpatuloy sa kanilang pagtatrabaho sa UAE o bumalik sa Pilipinas nang walang legal na kaparusahan.
Isang malaking bilang ng mga aplikante sa Pasuguan at Konsulado ang nagpa-renew o nag-apply ng kapalit ng kanilang nawawalang pasaporte bilang unang hakbang upang ayusin ang kanilang pananatili sa UAE. Ang ilan, na matagal nang nahiwalay sa kanilang pamilya, ay nag-apply ng travel document upang makakuha ng mga exit pass at humingi ng tulong sa repatriation mula sa Migrant Workers Office (MWO) at OWWA. Bukod dito, may ilang pamilya ang humingi ng tulong sa pagkuha ng mga dokumento para sa kanilang mga menor-de-edad na anak upang maayos ang kanilang immigration status. Ang Programang Amnestiya ngayong taon ay nagbibigay ng pag-asa sa mga pamilyang Pilipino, partikular sa mga bata, na makikinabang rin sa pagkakataong ito.
Police finally captured fugitive doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy ending a grueling manhunt inside the vast Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) property in Davao City.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos announced in a Facebook post on Sunday, September 8, the arrest of 74-year-old Quiboloy’s who deems himself as the “appointed son of God” and “owner of the universe.”
After a 4-month hunt and 2,000 police later, Apollo Quiboloy is now in the police custody. BBC “In 2021, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Mr Quiboloy with sex trafficking of children, fraud and coercion and bulk cash smuggling.”
Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. also posted on his facebook account “NAHULI NA PO SI APOLLO QUIBOLOY.”
Saudi Arabia has announced a four-day holiday to celebrate its 94th National Day, which falls on September 23, 2024. This year, National Day falls on Monday, extending the weekend from Friday through Monday.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Wednesday said 15 people were reported dead due to the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Enteng.
This was disclosed by OCD Director of Operations Service Cesar Idio during a situation briefing presided over by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Camp Aguinaldo.
Meanwhile, 15 were wounded and 21 are still missing, Idio said.
This is just sad.. specially if you know that there are things that our Government can do to prevent this from happening.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, in Tangerang City, Jakarta, Indonesia.
In a statement, the DOJ said Guo was apprehended at 11:58 p.m. on Sept. 3, according to Senior Superintendent Audie Latuheru of the Indonesian Police.
The first question that they need to ask her is “Why did she try to run away/escape?” This stunt just makes her look guilty.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will push through with its scheduled P30 billion remittance to the national treasury on October 16, pending any action of the Supreme Court (SC) or Congress.
House lawmakers moved on Monday, September 2, to compel the Department of Education to release all bidding documents in relation to the DepEd Computerization Program in 2022 and 2023, when Vice President Sara Duterte was still head of the agency.
Play VideoHouse budget hearing: Sara Duterte’s DepEd accused of ‘rigged bidding’ for laptops
Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville “Jinky” Luistro introduced a motion to issue a subpoena duces tecum to DepEd, which the appropriations committee approved without objections.
A Commission on Audit (COA) report showed that the Department of Education (DepEd), under the leadership of Vice President Sara Duterte in 2023, was able to build only 192, or just 3%, of the 6,379 target classrooms.
“Only 192 (3.01 percent) out 6,379 classrooms were completed/constructed in CY 2023 due to realignments because of modifications in the projects’ design. A total of 4,391 classrooms are still under construction, and 550 are yet to undergo various stages of procurement,” the COA report said.
— Australian Ambassador, The Philippines (@AusAmbPH) September 2, 2024
New Zealand
This latest incident, with a CCG vessel ramming a 🇵🇭Philippine vessel, is profoundly troubling and fits a recent pattern of dangerous and destabilising actions in the region. 🇳🇿 New Zealand calls for de-escalation and compliance with international law, in particular UNCLOS. pic.twitter.com/lzAL5cLfyH
As a stakeholder of SCS, seriously concerned over the repeated incidents including yesterday’s collision by a CCG vessel against a 🇵🇭vessel. 🇯🇵opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. 🇯🇵stands together with 🇵🇭 by upholding rule of law at sea. https://t.co/XgfvuDQYzR
— Ambassador of Japan in the Philippines (@AmbJPNinPH) August 31, 2024
UK Ambassador Laure Beaufils
🇬🇧 is concerned about reports of yet more dangerous actions by a Chinese vessel near Sabina Shoal. UK calls once again for respect for international law, including UNCLOS, and adherence to the 2016 Arbitral Award which is legally binding on the parties. https://t.co/cztdXBQyAj
This afternoon, the Chinese Coast Guard vessel deliberately rammed and collided with the BRP Teresa Magbanua three times, despite no provocation from the Philippine Coast Guard.
MANILA, Philippines – The P5.69 billion School Based Feeding Program (SBFP) of the Department of Education (DepEd) was spoiled by the non-delivery of milk and the serving of stale, even pest-infested, bread in 2023.
State auditors identified at least 21 school divisions in 10 regions where one or all of the following were found:
Nutribuns with molds or insects
Rotten food
Unhygienic packaging
Food with doubtful dates of manufacturing and expiry
Non-delivery or delayed delivery of food items and pasteurized milk
The findings were for 2023, the first and last full fiscal year that the DepEd was under secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte, although the SBFP has been running for many years.
The SBFP is a program that provides nutritious food to undernourished students in public elementary schools. The food items that children are served include hot meals, bread, fruits, eggs, sweet potato, and pasteurized milk.
That’s ₱5.69 Billions… not millions… down the drain.
This may be a mistake, since I will be changing the website again!
Actually, I’m just reverting the website back to my original plan for the website, a web aggregator and a place where you can get a snapshot of all the news in the Philippines and around the world. If you’re a longtime visitor of the site, the early version of the site is similar to Techmeme where I just link to articles of that are interesting and informative.
Anyway, I will be going back to my original plan for the website and you may see the changes happening in the coming days. Also, in order to make the site lightweight and fast, will make an effort to publish an article with less to no images at all but will make sure that I link back to my source.
Of course, I’m always open for comments and suggestion, specially if it will greatly improve the site’s glorious purpose.
Xiaomi Saudi Arabia has announced that the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 Wifi and 4G is now available in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The two new tablets was officially announced earlier this week. Both the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 Wifi and 4G have identical specs except for the Wifi and 4G capabilities.
In a nutshell, the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 is a mid-level tablet that’s perfect for first time tablet buyers and looking for the perfect balance of performance and entertainment. Here are the pricing for the two tablets from Jarir;
Redmi Pad SE 8.7 (Wifi)
6GB + 128GB – SAR 549.00
Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G
6GB + 128GB – SAR 599.00
You can checkout the specs comparison for the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 Wifi and 4G;
Redmi Pad SE 8.7
Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G
Display
8.7″ LCD, 1340×800 resolution, 5:3 aspect ratio, up to 90Hz refresh rate, up to 600 nits (Outdoor) brightness, 84.41% screen-to-body ratio.
8.7″ LCD, 1340×800 resolution, 5:3 aspect ratio, up to 90Hz refresh rate, up to 600 nits (Outdoor) brightness, 84.41% screen-to-body ratio.
Processor
MediaTek Helio G8512nm process, octa-core Arm Cortex-A75 @ 2.0GHz/ Arm Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
MediaTek Helio G8512nm process, octa-core Arm Cortex-A75 @ 2.0GHz/ Arm Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
GPU
Arm Mali-G52 MC2
Arm Mali-G52 MC2
Storage
64GB, 128 GB EMMC 5.1, expandable up to 2TB via microSD
64GB, 128 GB EMMC 5.1, expandable up to 2TB via microSD
RAM
4GB, 6GB
4GB, 6GB
OS
Xiaomi HyperOS, Android U
Xiaomi HyperOS, Android U
Rear camera
8MP (wide), f/2.0 aperture , 1.12μm pixel size, up to 1080P 1920×1080 30fps video recording
8MP (wide), f/2.0 aperture , 1.12μm pixel size, up to 1080P 1920×1080 30fps video recording
Front camera
5MP (wide), f/2.2 aperture , 1.12μm pixel size, up to 1080P 1920×1080 30fps video recording
5MP (wide), f/2.2 aperture , 1.12μm pixel size, up to 1080P 1920×1080 30fps video recording
Audio
1 mic, dual speakers, Dolby Atmos® supported, 3.5mm headphone jack
1 mic, dual speakers, Dolby Atmos® supported, 3.5mm headphone jack
Network & Connectivity
Wi-Fi5 dual-band (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 5.3, FM band
Dual SIM + microSD, 2G (GSM)/3G (WCDMA)/4G LTE (FDD/TDD), Wi-Fi5 dual-band (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 5.3, FM band
Sensors
Accelerometer, Electronic compass, Hall sensor, IR blaster, Virtual proximity sensor, Virtual light sensor
Accelerometer, Electronic compass, Hall sensor, IR blaster, Virtual proximity sensor, Virtual light sensor
Dimensions (HxWxT)
211.58mm x 125.48mm x 8.8 mm
211.58mm x 125.48mm x 8.8 mm
Weight
373 gm
375 gm
Battery
6650mAh battery supports 18W fast charging (USB Type-C)
6650mAh battery supports 18W fast charging (USB Type-C)
Colors
Graphite Gray, Aurora Green, Sky Blue
Graphite Gray, Aurora Green, Sky Blue
اكتشف Redmi Pad Se 8.7 الذي يجمع بين خفة الوزن والأداء المتميز .
يأتي بشاشة صغيرة بحجم 8.7 إنش، ويوفر تجربة مشاهدة واضحة مع معدل تحديث 90 هرتز، كما يتوفر بإصدار 4G يناسب جميع احتياجاتك الترفيهية.
At their annual “Made by Google” event, the search giant officially unveiled the Pixel 9 Series – the latest iteration of their Pixel smartphones. The Google Pixel 9 Series consists of the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL. Spec-wise, all three phones are the same except for differences in size, battery size, RAM, and camera configurations.
Design-wsie, all three phones looks a lot like the iPhone 15, while on its back, the first think that you will notice is the huge camera bump. The front of all three Google Pixel 9 will covered by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 polished back with satin metal frame for the Pixel 9, while the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL will have a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 silky matte back with polished metal frame.
All three phones feature OLED displays with the same refresh rate of up to 120Hz, HDR support, and full 24-bit depth for 16 million colors. That said, the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro have the same 6.3-inch Actua display, the Pixel 9 Pro has the Super Actua display, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL boasts a larger 6.8-inch Super Actua display. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro share a 4700 mAh battery, whereas the Pixel 9 Pro XL utilizes a larger 5060 mAh Li-Ion battery. Google claims that all three phones can achieve up to 100 hours of battery life with Extreme Battery Saver mode enabled.
Both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL come with 16 GB of RAM, while the Pixel 9 has a slightly smaller 12 GB RAM. Similar to the RAM, the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL share the same triple rear camera configuration: a 50 MP Octa PD wide camera, a 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus, and a 48 MP Quad PD telephoto camera. In contrast, the Pixel 9 features a dual rear camera setup with a 50 MP Octa PD wide camera and a 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus.
The Pixel 9 Pro series also supports 8K video recording at 30 FPS, while the Pixel 9 is limited to 4K video recording at up to 60 FPS. The same trend continues with the front camera, as the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL offer a 42 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus (ƒ/2.2 aperture), while the Pixel 9 has a 10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus (ƒ/2.2 aperture).
On the software front, all three phones run Android 14 and incorporate Google AI features like Pixel Studio (image generator), Gemini Live, and Pixel Screenshots, an exclusive app for Pixel 9 that aids in saving, organizing, and recalling important information. Additionally, the phones feature an improved Weather app and Satellite SOS.
Google Pixel 9
Display: 6.3-inch Actua display, 1080 x 2424 OLED at 422 PPI, 20: 9 aspect ratio, Smooth Display (60-120Hz), HDR support, Full 24-bit depth for 16 million colors
Finish and protection: “Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 polished back with satin metal frame, Fingerprint-resistant coating, IP68 dust and water resistance
CPU: Google Tensor G4 with Titan M2 security coprocessor
GPU: Mali-G715 MC7
RAM: 12 GB
Storage: 125GB/ 256GB
OS : Android 14
Rear Camera: 50 MP Octa PD wide camera, ƒ/1.68 aperture, 82° field of view13
: 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus, ƒ/1.7 aperture, 123° field of view13
Front Camera: 10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 95° ultrawide field of view
Battery: 4700 mAh Li-Ion battery with up to 100-hour battery life with Extreme Battery Saver, Fast charging and wireless charging
Dimension (H x W x D): 6 inch x 2.8 inches x 0.3 inch
Colors: Peony, Wintergreen, Porcelain, Obsidian
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Display: 6.3-inch Super Actua display (LTPO), 1280 x 2856 LTPO OLED at 495 PPI, 20: 9 aspect ratio, Smooth Display (1-120Hz), HDR support, Full 24-bit depth for 16 million colors
Finish and protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 silky matte back with polished metal frame, Fingerprint-resistant coating, IP68 dust and water resistance
CPU: Google Tensor G4 with Titan M2 security coprocessor
GPU: Mali-G715 MC7
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: 128 GB/ 256GB/ 512GB/ 1TB
OS : Android 14
Rear Camera: 50 MP Octa PD wide camera, ƒ/1.68 aperture, 82° field of view13
: 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus, ƒ/1.7 aperture, 123° field of view13
: 48 MP Quad PD telephoto camera, ƒ/2.8 aperture, 22° field of view, 5x optical zoom
Front Camera: 42 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 103° ultrawide field of view
Battery: 4700 mAh Li-Ion battery with up to 100-hour battery life with Extreme Battery Saver, Fast charging and wireless charging
Dimension (H x W x D): 6 inch x 2.8 inches x 0.3 inch
Colors: Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Display: 6.8-inch Super Actua display (LTPO), 1344 x 2992 LTPO OLED at 486 PPI, 20: 9 aspect ratio, Smooth Display (1-120Hz), HDR support, Full 24-bit depth for 16 million colors
Finish and protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 silky matte back with polished metal frame, Fingerprint-resistant coating, IP68 dust and water resistance
CPU: Google Tensor G4 with Titan M2 security coprocessor
GPU: Mali-G715 MC7
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: 128 GB/ 256GB/ 512GB/ 1TB
OS : Android 14
Rear Camera: 50 MP Octa PD wide camera, ƒ/1.68 aperture, 82° field of view13
: 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus, ƒ/1.7 aperture, 123° field of view13
: 48 MP Quad PD telephoto camera, ƒ/2.8 aperture, 22° field of view, 5x optical zoom
Front Camera: 42 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 103° ultrawide field of view
Battery: 5060 mAh Li-Ion battery with up to 100-hour battery life with Extreme Battery Saver, Fast charging and wireless charging
Dimension (H x W x D): 6.4 inch x 3 inches x 0.3 inch
Colors: Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian
The Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL are available for pre-order today starting at $799, $999, and $1099, respectively. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL will be available on shelves at the Google Store and retail partners on August 22. Availability for the Pixel 9 Pro will be announced later.
Globe telecom just announced that Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 and Z Fold6 is now available thru their postpaid plans.
The new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 will be available thru their GPlan 1799; a device cash-out of ₱40,600 for the 256GB model of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 and ₱47,600 for the 512GB variants. If the cash-out is too big for you, you can available of the 0% installment for the device, which will be spread throughout the 24 months lock-in period of the plan in addition to the ₱1,799 price of the plan;
₱1,692 per month for 256GB model
₱1,983 per month for 512GB model
For the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6, this will be under the GPlan 2499 and Platinum GPlan 4999.
Under the GPlan 2499 there will be a device cash-out of ₱63,700 for the 256GB model, ₱70,700 for the 512GB and ₱83,700 for the 1TB model. Just like with the Z Flip6, you can also available of the 0% installment (in 24 months) for the device in addition to the ₱2,499 price of the plan.
₱2,654 per month for the 256GB model
₱2,946 per month for the 512GB model
₱3,488 per month for the 1TB model
As for the Platinum GPlan 4999, the device cash-out will be much smaller; ₱49,200 for the 256GB model, ₱56,200 for the 512GB and ₱69,200 for the 1TB model. If you will go to the 0% installment (in 24 months) route for the device in addition to the ₱4,909 price of the plan.
₱2,050 per month for the 256GB model
₱2,342 per month for the 512GB model
₱2,883 per month for the 1TB model
Globe will be giving freebies worth up to ₱33,765 to those who will order the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and up to up to ₱15,889 for Galaxy Z Flip6. To know more about Globe’s offering of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 and Z Fold6, you can go here.
Carlo Yulo scored a convincing 15.116 points, over Armenian Artur Davtan’s 14.966 (silver) and the 14.949 (bronze) of Harry Hepworth from UK.
“Last night I couldn’t sleep. This morning I was so sleepy.. I slept in the bus, I slept after the podium training.” Carlos Yulo said. “I slept before going to the competition area… But I did it today.”
2 DAYS IN A ROW 🥇 Carlos Edriel Yulo just made history! First Filipino athlete to win 2 Olympic gold medals. 🇵🇭 Paris really suits him! 🥹 Binabati kita Carlos – DEUX JOURS DE SUITE 👏 Carlos Edriel Yulo continue d'écrire l'Histoire à Paris en devenant le premier athlète… pic.twitter.com/siDvt6Xg06
Carlos Yulo’s first vault was a standout, earning a 15.433 points. With a top-tier difficulty score of 6.000, he flawlessly executed a handspring double front half out in pike position, setting a high bar for the competition.
His second attempt, a Kasamatsu double twist, was slightly less perfect, but he managed to control his landing and scored a respectable 14.800 points. Yulo’s final score of 15.116 points is more than enough for him to take home the gold medal.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced a new program allowing expatriate dependents holding dependent visas to find employment in the country, particularly in the healthcare and education sectors. This initiative aims to regulate the employment of dependents within the country without requiring a sponsorship transfer.
To apply for this free service, individuals can log in to the Ajeer platform, complete the required contract, and obtain a dependent’s permit. Eligibility criteria include the employer being registered and compliant with Ministry regulations, and the dependent being at least 18 years old with necessary qualifications.
The Ministry has also released a comprehensive guide outlining services provided to expatriates by various government agencies, including information on residency, healthcare, education, and more. This guide details all the services provided to expatriates by other governmental entities. The report includes services from the Ministries of Human Resources and Social Development, Interior, Health, Commerce, Education, Foreign Affairs, Municipalities and Housing, Justice, Media, Hajj and Umrah, Communications and Information Technology, Environment, Water and Agriculture, Tourism, and Islamic Affairs, as well as from the authorities of Zakat, Tax and Customs, Human Rights, Communications and Space Technology, and the Capital Market Authority, along with the Board of Grievances and the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).
Esports World Cup is still on going and will not conclude until 25th August, so the numbers are still under wraps but as of today, the Saudi Press Agency is reporting that Esports World Cup, which is currently being hosted in Riyadh Boulevard City, saw a large number of “guests and visitors from Gulf and other countries.”
There are a total of 500 clubs from different countries and more than 1,500 players participating in the Esports World Cup, the largest event in the history of the gaming and esports sector.
Amer Al-Marri, a visitor from Qatar, expressed his fondness for the distinguished and global organization of the tournament, indicating that coming from Doha along with a group of friends was specifically to attend this global event. He praised the professional level of competitions thanks to the participation of skilled players and qualified teams around the world. The visitor also expressed his admiration for the atmosphere in the Boulevard Riyadh City, through various entertainment activities and events that fit everyone’s taste.
Mohammed bin Mubarak, a visitor from Bahrain, explained that he came with his brothers and other relatives to attend the Esports World Cup. He hailed the great efforts of the Kingdom in receiving the participants and the professional and wonderful organization of the tournament, noting that Riyadh has become a global destination for tourism, entertainment, and sports.
Aside from the usual spots in Boulevard Riyadh City, tourists also explored historical and tourist sites in Riyadh.
Gigil, the ad agency behind the “Gil Tulog” campaign, said “Even as all the necessary permits and clearances were secured, our approach had resonated differently and so the campaign was immediately discontinued.” The agency ended their statement with “Our agency will be putting in place more stringent measures to ensure this does not happen again.”
Wellspring, who commissioned the marketing agency, also issued an apology saying;
We made a misstep in our campaign and we are sorry.
We recognize and deeply regret the insensitivity of our execution and we offer our sincerest apologies to the Puyat family, the Makati City government, and the public.
We have learned from this mistake and are committed to doing better.
Gigil is not new to viral videos and trending topics, since they are the company behind some of the most viral ad like the RC cola’s commercials and this Grab Ph Ad. And if you believe that there is not bad publicity, then Wellspring got their money’s worth for doing the marketing stunt no matter how short it is, they will forever be connected to Gil Tulog a.k.a. Gil Puyat Ave.
Marvel’s Kevin Feige just announced that the next two Avengers films will be directed by none other than the Russo Brothers. The announcement was made at Hall H of the San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC).
Together with the announcement of the Russo Brothers, Marvel also unveil the titles of the two Avengers films that the Russo Brothers will be directing: Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Both films will be released one year apart, on May 2026 and May 2027, respectively.
Just announced in Hall H:
The Russo Brothers return to direct Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. Only in theaters May 2026. #SDCCpic.twitter.com/oqnSwWKnYn
Anthony and Joseph Russo, collectively known as the Russo brothers, are credited with four Marvel films: Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. All four Marvel films earned a total of $6.72 billion globally, so it’s not surprising that Marvel is bringing back the Russo Brothers to lead the team for their next two Avengers films.
As always iFixit just published their latest teardown video (below) of the just announced Samsung Galaxy ZFlip 6 and ZFold 6. As commented that most of the changes on the new Samsung Foldables are just for aesthetic purpose only and the biggest changes are “under-the-hood,” like the larger battery, faster processor and a better screen.
The whole video is less than 5 mins and if you are in the mobile repair business, this is one video that do not want to miss.
Samsung’s Galaxy ZFlip6 and ZFold6 devices are on the iFixit teardown table today and if they look familiar, well… that’s because not much has changed on the outside. The Flip has a slightly more matte finish and the fold has some brighter screens and a pretty epic camera bump.
But as the majority of upgrades lurk below the surface let’s break out the pro tech and start digging into Samsung’s latest folding devices.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
Galaxy Z Flip6
Display
Main Screen
6.7-inch FHD+
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
120Hz Adaptive refresh rate (1~120Hz)
Infinity Flex Display (2640 x 1080, 22:9)
Cover Screen
3.4-inch Super AMOLED 60Hz Display
720 x 748
306 PPI
Dimension & Weight
Folded
71.9 x 85.1 x 14.9mm
Unfolded
71.9 x 165.1 x 6.9mm
Weight
187g
Camera
Front Camera
10MP Selfie Camera
F2.2, Pixel size: 1.22μm, FOV: 85˚
Rear Dual Camera
12MP Ultra-Wide Camera
F2.2, Pixel size: 1.12μm, FOV: 123˚
50MP Wide-angle Camera
Dual Pixel AF, OIS, F1.8, Pixel size: 1.0μm, FOV: 85˚
AP
Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy
Memory & Storage
12GB Memory with 512GB internal storage
12GB Memory with 256GB internal storage
Battery
4,000mAh (typical) dual battery
Charging
Wired Charging*: Up to 50% charge in around 30min. with 25W Adapter and 3A USB-C cable
Nothing CMF Phone 1 is now available in Saudi Arabia, just 10 days after the company officially announced the device.
CMF Phone 1 is out today.
Wonderful by design. With segment-leading performance, an incredible camera system, a wonderfully bright display, and a unique customisable design, it’s the ultimate daily smartphone. pic.twitter.com/vElP9bAvCA
Nothing’s CMF Phone 1 is a mid-range smartphone powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm) and Mali-G615 GPU. The 6.67” Super AMOLED display boasts a 1080 x 2400 resolution at 395ppi and has a peak brightness of 2000 nits. It also includes an under-display optical fingerprint scanner.
The CMF Phone 1 features a dual-rear camera setup: a 50 MP, f/1.8 (wide) lens and a 2 MP, f/2.4 (depth) lens. It can capture up to 4K video recording at 30 FPS and 1080p recording at 30 or 60 FPS. The front-facing camera is a 16 MP, f/2.0 (wide) lens that can record 1080p video at 30fps.
The CMF Phone 1 packs a 5000 mAh non-removable battery with 33W fast charging and supports 5W reverse wired charging. It runs Nothing OS 2.6 (powered by Android 14) and comes with 2 years of major Android updates and 3 years of security updates. You can find the full specs of Nothing CMF Phone 1 .
The phone measures 164 mm x 77 mm x 8 mm (HxWxD) and weighs 197 g. You can choose from light green, black, or orange colors.
The CMF Phone 1 is available at Jarir and Extra. It comes in two variants: 8GB RAM + 128GB storage for SAR 799.00 and 8GB RAM + 256GB storage for SAR 1,099.00.
US President Joe Biden has announced that he will be dropping out of the coming US Election this November and said that he will “focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term.” President Biden then endorses his VP Kamala Harris for President.
My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV
US President Joe Biden also posted on his social media account the official announcement after Democrats and supporters are calling for Biden to withdrawal his reelection campaign.
Here’s the full text of President Joe Biden announcement;
My Fellow Americans,
Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation.
Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.
I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.
It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.
I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.
For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.
I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.
It’s unclear what the main reason is for US President Joe Biden withdraw his candidacy for reelection, but if elected, Kamala Harris could be the first Female US President by the end of the 2024.
I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda. If you’re with me, add a donation right now.https://t.co/xpPDkCRhoZ
In a game that will go down as a major upset alert, Team USA escaped with a narrow victory over a determined South Sudan team by a final score of 101 – 100. The win, secured on a buzzer-beating layup by LeBron James, exposed some vulnerabilities for the American squad and served as a wake-up call heading into the upcoming Olympic tournament.
South Sudan came out firing on all cylinders, surprising Team USA with their aggressive defense and hot shooting from beyond the arc. The young African nation connected on 14 of their 33 three-point attempts, keeping pace with a Team USA offense that struggled to find rhythm early on.
Despite boasting a star-studded roster, Team USA looked uncharacteristically sluggish throughout the contest. Their usually potent offense sputtered, connecting on only 7 of their 28 three-point attempts. LeBron James, however, remained a constant threat, finishing the game with a team-high 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. Followed by Anthony Davis’ double-double, scoring 15 points and 11 rebounds.
With the clock winding down and South Sudan leading by a point 100 – 99, the ball found its way into the hands of the veteran leader. James, showcasing his experience and clutch ability, drove to the basket and converted a contested layup just as the buzzer sounded, sending the American bench into a frenzy.
The win, will keep USA’s undefeated record in exhibition play but raises concerns about their overall performance. Coach Steve Kerr and the rest of the coaching staff will use this game as a teaching moment, emphasizing the importance of staying focus and keeping their defensive intensity as they gear up for the Olympic Group stage this 28th of July.
Team USA’s next and last exhibition game will be this Monday, 22nd of July, against the Germany, who is the current 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Champions. Serbia and South Sudan are grouped together with the United States and Puerto Rico in the 2024 Paris Olympics Men’s Basketball Tournament Groupings.
Checkout some of the game highlights:
Rejected by Anthony Davis. The stadium is shaking.
Marvel just release the last trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine, which will be in theater this 26th of July. Marvel was careful not to give up the premise of the film even though we can see Deadpool talking to Wolverine to help him save his world.
There are a number of cameo that confirms previous reports like the appearance of an older as Laura / X-23, who we first in Logon. Then there’s Toad, Aaron Stanford, reprising his role as Pyro in X2 (2003) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), we can also see Sabretooth from X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Then there’s clip of Lady Deadpool, though, we still do not know who is playing who, since there have been speculation that Taylor Swift is Lady Deadpool, then there’s the rumor that Ryan Reynolds’ wife Blake Lively will play Lady Deadppool, then there’s this Wiki article that says Taylor Swift will be playing Dazzler. I guess we just have to watch the movie to know for sure.
Deadpool & Wolverine is written by Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Zeb Wells. The film will be in theaters this July 26th.
HONOR has officially launch the HONOR 200 Series in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to kick things up, Honor is offering preorder gifts for those who will preorder the smartphone from July 17th to July 24th.
The free gifts are HONOR Choice Watch Black worth SAR 249.00 and a 12-month Screen Protection Service (1 time) that’s valued at SAR 599.00. Aside from the free preorder gifts, you can also avail of big discounts if you will also buy HONOR Choice wearables like the Earbuds and Smartwatch.
Here are the official pricing for the HONOR 200 and HONOR 200 Pro;
HONOR 200
12GB+256GB- SAR 1,699.00
12GB+512GB- SAR 1,999.00
HONOR 200 Pro
12GB+512GB- SAR 2,699.00
Here are the full specs of HONOR 200 and HONOR 200 Pro;
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Octa-core Cortex-X4 3.0GHz with RF Enhanced Chip HONOR C1+
GPU
Adreno 720
Adreno 735
RAM
12 GB
12 GB
Storage
256 GB, 512 GB
512 GB
OS
MagicOS 8.0 (Based on Android 14)
MagicOS 8.0 (Based on Android 14)
Rear Camera
50MP Wide Camera(f/1.95 aperture, OIS
50MP Wide Camera (f/1.9 aperture, OIS)
50MP Telephoto Camera (f/2.4 aperture, OIS)
50MP Telephoto Camera (f/2.4 aperture, OIS)
12MP Ultra Wide Camera (f/2.2 aperture)
12MP Ultra Wide Camera(f/2.2 aperture)
Support for 4K (3840×2160) video recording, Digital zoom 50x, 8192×6144 pixels Image Resolution, Rear single LED flash, EIS+OIS
Support for 4K (3840×2160) video recording, Digital zoom 50x, 8192×6144 pixels Image Resolution, Rear single LED flash, EIS+OIS
Front Camera
50MP Front Camera(f/2.1 aperture) with 4k support
50MP Front Camera(f/2.1 aperture) with 4k support
8192×6144 pixels Image Resolution, Support for 4K (3840×2160) video recording, Supported 2D face unlock
8192×6144 pixels Image Resolution, Support for 4K (3840×2160) video recording, Supported 2D face unlock
Battery
5200 mAh Lithium polymer battery with HONOR 100W SuperCharge, supports up to 20V/5A SuperCharge, compatible with 11V/6A,10V/4A
5200 mAh Lithium polymer battery with HONOR 100W SuperCharge, supports up to 20V/5A SuperCharge, compatible with 11V/6A,10V/4A with supports up to max 66W Wireless SuperCharge
5G (NR), 4G (LTE TDD/LTE FDD), 3G (WCDMA), 2G (GSM), dual SIM Support (Nano and eSIM)
5G (NR), 4G (LTE TDD/LTE FDD), 3G (WCDMA), 2G (GSM), dual SIM Support (Nano and eSIM)
Network and Connectivity
Wifi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz and 5GHz), 2×2 MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct and Hotspot, Bluetooth 5.3, Infrared, GPS /AGPS/GLONASS/BeiDou/Galileo,
Wifi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz and 5GHz), 2×2 MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct and Hotspot, Bluetooth 5.3, Infrared, PC Data Sync, GPS /AGPS/GLONASS/BeiDou/Galileo, OTG Support
