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Posts tagged as “World”

Thai police arrest driver of school bus fire that killed 23   

October 2, 2024

News.az;

The bus carrying six teachers and 39 students in elementary and junior high school was travelling from Uthai Thani province, about 300 kilometres (186 miles) north of Bangkok, for a school trip in Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi provinces on Tuesday.

The fire started while the bus was on a highway north of the capital and spread so quickly many were unable to escape.

Trairong Phiwpan, head of the police forensic department, said 23 bodies were recovered from the bus.

The recovery work and confirmation of the total dead had been delayed earlier because the burned vehicle, which was fueled with natural gas, remained too hot to enter for hours.

A real tragic accident that could have been be avoided just by doing a quick checkup on the bus.

Your Guide to South Korean’s Simplified Visa Application this 2024

February 5, 2024

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of Philippines just released a simplified guide for those who wish to apply for a visa to South Korean. Check the table below for your category and see the required documents.

*Although the tables show the required documents, it’s still necessary to submit other general documents in standard visa applications. Please refer to this table carefully.

For those elected as politicians, refer to this table:

Politician

Required Documents

Coverage/Extension (Family Members)

Not Required
Senate
COE (or Certificate of Appointment)
•Parents
•Spouse
•Minor Children
•Children over 18 who are studying
•Spouse’s Parents
•ITR
•Bank Statements
•Bank Certficates
Congress
Governors
Provincial Board Members
Mayors

For elected government officials, refer to this instead:

Government Officials

Required Documents

Coverage/Extension (Family Members)

Not Required
Individuals ranking higher (including) Assistant Secretary of the Executive Branch of the Philippine Government COE MUST HAVE the following details included:

•Affiliated Organization
•Position
•Salary
•Working Period
•Parents
•Spouse
•Minor Children
•Children over 18 who are studying
•Spouse’s Parents
•ITR
•Bank Statements
•Bank Certficates
Brigadier General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines/Philippine National Police

“If the relevant information is omitted or cannot be verified due to a lack of contact with HR, disadvantages may be given to the applicant” – Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines website.

For professionals with licenses, refer to the table below. Note that not all license holders are eligible for the simplified visa application criteria, only the ones specified below:

PRC License Holders

Required Documents

Coverage/Extension (Family Members)

Not Required
Physician
•COE (Original)
•Copy of PRC ID/IBP
•Parents
•Spouse
•Minor Children
•Children over 18 who are studying
•Spouse’s Parents
•ITR
•Bank Statements
•Bank Certficates
Dentist
CPA
Pharmacist
Veterinarian
Lawyer (including Judge/Prosecutor)

For credit card holders, please refer to the card types below:

Credit Card Holders

Required Documents

Coverage/Extension (Family Members)

Not Required

BDO Gold

•Mastercard Gold Credit Card
•Visa Gold Credit Card
•JCB Gold Credit Card
•UnionPay Gold Credit Card
•Diners Club International
•American Express Cashback Credit Card
•American Express Explorer Credit Card
•COE (Original)
•Copy of Credit Card (must show ALL front details)
•Copy of Credit Card Account Monthly Billing Statements for the last 3 months
•Parents
•Spouse
•Minor Children
•Children over 18 who are studying
•Spouse’s Parents
•ITR
•Bank Statements
•Bank Certificates
BDO Elite

•Mastercard Titanium, Platinum, World Elite Credit Card
•Visa Platinum
•JCB Platinum
•UnionPay Diamond
•Diners Club Premiere
•American Express Platinum
•American Express International Dollar Charge (Platinum, Gold, Green)

Although the Embassy states that financial documents are not required, it will still be up to the applicant if they choose to submit these.

In addition to the documents outlined in the table, applicants and their family members are still required to submit a document to establish their relationship. For children over 18 who are still studying, they are required to provide scholastic documents.

Saudi Arabia to celebrate Flag Day on March 11 every year

March 5, 2023

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud announced in a royal decree that the Kingdom will celebrate March 11 every year as a special day for the Saudi flag named “Flag Day”.

Here’s the full text of the royal decree;

The decree said that this is based on the value of the national flag extending throughout the history of the Saudi state since its founding in 1139 AH corresponding to 1727 AD, which symbolizes the testimony of monotheism (There is no God but Allah) in its middle which is the message of peace and Islam on which this blessed state was based; and the sword symbolizes strength, dignity, the height of wisdom and status. For nearly three centuries, the flag is a witness to the country’s unification campaigns waged by the Saudi state, and the citizens of this country have considered it as a banner of pride and lofty out of belief in the great importance of the flag as a manifestation of the state, its strength, sovereignty, and a symbol of cohesion, coalition and national unity.

Whereas, the 27th of Dhu al-Hijjah 1355 AH corresponding to March 11, 1937 AD, is the day when the Founder late King Abdulaziz endorsed the flag in the form that we see today fluttering with its great connotations that refer to monotheism, justice, strength, development and prosperity.

Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman appointed as Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia

September 28, 2022

In a Royal Decree, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed Bin Salman have been appointed by King Salman as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s appointment was made with the exemption to the provision of Article 56 of the Basic Law of Governance, and the relevant provisions contained in the Law of the Council of Ministers.

The Royal Decree also states that Deputy Minister of Defense Prince Khalid Bin Salman will be the Kingdom’s Minister of Defense and Yousef Bin Abdullah Al-Benyan as the Minister of Education.

The King appointed Talal Bin Abdullah Al-Otaibi as assistant minister of defense.

Source: Saudi Gazette
Image: SPA

Watch Shigeru Miyamoto giving a tour of the new Super Nintendo World theme park

December 20, 2020
Watch Shigeru Miyamoto giving a tour of the new Super Nintendo World theme park

Check out a special SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ Direct, featuring roughly 15 minutes of just some of Universal Studios Japan’s new area, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.

Universal Studios Japan’s new area, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD officially opened last November 2020, where it features real-world replica of Princess Peach and Bowser’s Castle, a cafe staffed by TOADS, it also has a AR Mario Kart-themed roller coaster.

Shigeru Miyamoto also walked through the different area of the park that replicates the look and feel of the different areas of the games, like the underground area that will make you feel a smallsized Mario, and POW block and interactive blocks that when punched will give that familiar Mario coin-collecting sound.

Super Nintendo World was originally set to open before the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic that also pushed back the Olympics schedule. Super Nintendo World will be open to the public on February 4, 2021. Universal Studios also plans to open Super Nintendo World zones in Hollywood, California; Orlando, Florida; and Singapore.

United Kingdom approves Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, safe for use “next week”

December 2, 2020

UK just approve the Pfizer and BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for widespread use. BBC reports that “British regulator, the MHRA, says the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19 illness, is safe for roll out next week.”

Pfizer first reported that their mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine was 90% effective against the coronavirus then later released an update that the vaccine is “95% effective against COVID-19 beginning 28 days after the first dose.

UK government already ordered 40 million doses – which is enough to vaccinate 20 million people, with two shots each. The first 800,000 doses will be arriving in the country in the coming days and fifty (50) hospitals are on standby and vaccination centres in venues such as conference centres are being set up in preparation for mass immunizations.

Last week, Pfizer release a video thanking all the participants in their COVID-19 vaccine trial, which is a crucial part in developing the their mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine.

Source: BCC, Rappler

Moderna announces that its COVID-19 vaccine is 94.5% effective

November 17, 2020

US-based Moderna just announced that their COVID-19 vaccine, the mRNA-1273 have been found to be 94.5% effective, after its Phase 3 study, which the company is calling the COVE study. Moderna’s COVE study, have more than 30,000 participants in the U.S.

Similar to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, which was reported to be 90% effective, Moderna’s vaccine candidate is a two-dose vaccine that needs to be administer 28 days apart. Base on their reports, 95 out of 30,000 participants, have been tested positive for COVID-19, 90 cases of COVID-19 were included in the placebo group, while the other 5 cases are those who received mRNA-1273 vaccine.

Within the 90 cases in the placebo group, 11 are severe cases. Moderna futher brokedown the 95 cases which includes 15 older adults (ages 65+) and 20 participants identifying as being from diverse communities (including 12 Hispanic or LatinX, 4 Black or African Americans, 3 Asian Americans and 1 multiracial).

Moderna classed the side-effects of the vaccine as mild or moderate; On the first dose, 2.7% participants had injection site pain classed as severe; after the second dose, 9.5% of participants experience fatigue, 8.9% experience muscle pains, 5.2% have joint pain, 4.5% experience headache, 4.1% felt pain and 2% had redness of the skin at the injection site.

In a separate announcement, Moderna said that their mRNA-1273 vaccine will remain stable for 30 days at 2° to 8°C (36° to 46°F), the temperature of a standard home or medical refrigerator. It can be stored for 6 months in storage at -20° C (-4°F), 30 days in a refrigerated conditions and up to 12 hours at room temperature conditions.

Moderna will submit the findings of their Phase 3 COVE study for a peer-reviewed publication and are currently seeking regulatory approval.

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is 90% effective from its Phase 3 clinical trial

November 9, 2020

This is a press release by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech regarding the first results from Phase 3 clinical trial, which began last July 27 with 43,538 participants. Their mRNA-based vaccine candidate, BNT162b2, against COVID-19 has been found 90% effective in participants in their Phase 3 clinical trial. Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is a 2-dose vaccine, which are applied in 7 days interval.

Pfizer expect to supply up to 50 million vaccine doses by the end of 2020 and manufacture up to 1.3 billion doses in 2021. Pfizer and BioNTech plan to submit data from the full Phase 3 trial for scientific peer-review publication.

Here’s the full text of the press release;

NEW YORK and MAINZ, GERMANY, November 9, 2020 — Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX) today announced their mRNA-based vaccine candidate, BNT162b2, against SARS-CoV-2 has demonstrated evidence of efficacy against COVID-19 in participants without prior evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, based on the first interim efficacy analysis conducted on November 8, 2020 by an external, independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) from the Phase 3 clinical study. After discussion with the FDA, the companies recently elected to drop the 32-case interim analysis and conduct the first interim analysis at a minimum of 62 cases. Upon the conclusion of those discussions, the evaluable case count reached 94 and the DMC performed its first analysis on all cases.

The case split between vaccinated individuals and those who received the placebo indicates a vaccine efficacy rate above 90%, at seven days after the second dose. This means that protection is achieved 28 days after the initiation of the vaccination, which consists of a 2-dose schedule. As the study continues, the final vaccine efficacy percentage may vary. The DMC has not reported any serious safety concerns and recommends that the study continues to collect additional safety and efficacy data as planned. The data will be discussed with regulatory authorities worldwide.

“Today is a great day for science and humanity. The first set of results from our Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine’s ability to prevent COVID-19,” said Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and CEO. “We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen. With today’s news, we are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a much-needed breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis. We look forward to sharing additional efficacy and safety data generated from thousands of participants in the coming weeks.”

“I want to thank the thousands of people who volunteered to participate in the clinical trial, our academic collaborators and investigators at the study sites, and our colleagues and collaborators around the world who are dedicating their time to this crucial endeavor,” added Bourla. “We could not have come this far without the tremendous commitment of everyone involved.”

“The first interim analysis of our global Phase 3 study provides evidence that a vaccine may effectively prevent COVID-19. This is a victory for innovation, science and a global collaborative effort,” said Prof. Ugur Sahin, BioNTech Co-founder and CEO. “When we embarked on this journey 10 months ago this is what we aspired to achieve. Especially today, while we are all in the midst of a second wave and many of us in lockdown, we appreciate even more how important this milestone is on our path towards ending this pandemic and for all of us to regain a sense of normality. We will continue to collect further data as the trial continues to enroll for a final analysis planned when a total of 164 confirmed COVID-19 cases have accrued. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to make this important achievement possible.”

The Phase 3 clinical trial of BNT162b2 began on July 27 and has enrolled 43,538 participants to date, 38,955 of whom have received a second dose of the vaccine candidate as of November 8, 2020. Approximately 42% of global participants and 30% of U.S. participants have racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds. The trial is continuing to enroll and is expected to continue through the final analysis when a total of 164 confirmed COVID-19 cases have accrued. The study also will evaluate the potential for the vaccine candidate to provide protection against COVID-19 in those who have had prior exposure to SARS-CoV-2, as well as vaccine prevention against severe COVID-19 disease. In addition to the primary efficacy endpoints evaluating confirmed COVID-19 cases accruing from seven days after the second dose, the final analysis now will include, with the approval of the FDA, new secondary endpoints evaluating efficacy based on cases accruing 14 days after the second dose as well. The companies believe that the addition of these secondary endpoints will help align data across all COVID-19 vaccine studies and allow for cross-trial learnings and comparisons between these novel vaccine platforms. The companies have posted an updated version of the study protocol at https://www.pfizer.com/science/coronavirus.

Pfizer and BioNTech are continuing to accumulate safety data and currently estimate that a median of two months of safety data following the second (and final) dose of the vaccine candidate – the amount of safety data specified by the FDA in its guidance for potential Emergency Use Authorization – will be available by the third week of November. Additionally, participants will continue to be monitored for long-term protection and safety for an additional two years after their second dose.

Along with the efficacy data generated from the clinical trial, Pfizer and BioNTech are working to prepare the necessary safety and manufacturing data to submit to the FDA to demonstrate the safety and quality of the vaccine product produced. Based on supply projections, we expect to supply globally up to 50 million vaccine doses in 2020 and manufacture up to 1.3 billion doses in 2021. Pfizer and BioNTech plan to submit data from the full Phase 3 trial for scientific peer-review publication.

Joe Binden is the President elect of the United States America

November 9, 2020

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. or more popularly known as Joe Binden will be the 46th President of the United States America as the 2020 US Election comes to a conclusion.

President Elect Joe Binden secured his win after votes from the State of Georgia, Pennsylvania and Nevada have been tallied. All three states are considered as swing states that could give either candidate a big favor, in Joe Binden’s case securing the Presidency of the United States for the next 4 years.

Joining Pres. elect Joe Binden as his second in command will be VP Kamala Harris, the first female, American Vice President. A half Jamaican, half Indian woman. In her victory speech, VP Harris said “While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last, because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities,”

Inauguration of the new United States President will be on January 20th, 2021, where US Pres. elect Joe Binden takes the oath of office at noon.

GMA: COVID-19 Update in the Philippines and around the world

October 13, 2020
GMA: COVID-19 Update in the Philippines and around the world

The Philippines now has 342,816 confirmed cases with 6,332 deaths and 293,152 have recovered from the virus. NCR still have the most number of confirmed cases.

Worldwide, we not have a total of 37,838,286 confirmed cases, 1,081,295 deaths. United States (7,840,482), India (7,175,880) and Brazil (5,103,408) are the top 3 in terms of the number of COVID-19 cases.

Saudi Arabia extends curfew to 3:00 PM

March 26, 2020

Three days after imposing a curfew, Saudi government announced that the curfew will now extend to 3:00 Pm in the afternoon from the previous time of 7:00 PM.

The new curfew time took effect today, March 26, 2020, as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 1,012. There were also reports that a curfew violators have been apprehended in the Eastern region of the country.

The new curfew time will not affect the previously reported exemption like “employees of the security, military and media sectors, and workers in the sensitive health and service sectors.”

Source: Arab News

Saudi Government enforces curfew to slowdown the spreading of COVID-19

March 24, 2020

In an effort to slowdown the spread of the highly contagious novel coronavirus or COVID-19, the Saudi Arabian government has mpose a kingdom-wide curfew for 21 days, which started today, Monday, March 23, 2020.

The curfew will be for the “health and safety of citizens and expatriates” within the Kingdom. Exempted from the curfew “are the employees of the security, military and media sectors, and workers in the sensitive health and service sectors.” The Saudi government released a separate announcement providing additional information on the “Curfews’ Exceptions.” you read the full text of the announcement here.

The Saudi Government is also urging everyone to stay at home during the curfew period and not to leave unless it is extremely necessary.

The curfew was impose a day after the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reported that there have been more than 500 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Source: SPA
Image By lawepw via flickr

Arab News: Saudi Arabia now have 511 Confirmed Cases of COVID-19

March 23, 2020

There are now 511 confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In a report by Arab News, “Saudi Health Ministry spokesman Mohammed Abdelali said that 72 of the newly diagnosed people were Turkish nationals under quarantine in the holy city of Makkah after interacting with an infected compatriot.”

You can go to Arab News to read the full report.

Philippines now included in Saudi Arabia Travel Restriction

March 12, 2020

If you are coming from the Philippines, you won’t be able enter Saudi Arabia, since the Kingdom just included Philippines in their travel restriction list.

You are exempted from the travel ban if you are a health workers in as long as you take the necessary precautions and cleared enter the country.

Here are the list of countries as reported by Arab News;

Region

1. Bahrain
2. Egypt
3. Iraq
4. Kuwait
5. Lebanon
6. Oman
Syria
7. Turkey
8. UAE
ASIA

1. China
2. India
3. Pakistan
4. Philippines
5. South Korea
6. Sri Lanka

AFRICA

1. Djibouti
2. Eritrea
3. Ethiopia
4. Kenya
5. Somalia
6. South Sudan
7. Sudan

EUROPE

1. Austria
2. Belgium
3. Bulgaria
4. Croatia
5. Cyprus
6. Czech Republic
7. Denmark
8. Estonia
9. Finland
10. France
11. Germany
12. Greece
13. Hungary
14. Ireland
15. Italy
16. Latvia
17. Lithuania
18. Luxembourg
19. Malta
20. Netherlands
21. Poland
22. Portugal
23. Romania
24. Slovakia
25. Slovenia
26. Spain
27. Sweden
28. Switzerland (non-EU member)

Saudi’s Ministry of Education suspends all classes on all levels

March 9, 2020

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education suspends all classes to all levels as a preventive measures against COVID-19.

Here’s what the ministry announced from their official twitter account;

(Translated via Google Translate)

# The Ministry of Education announces the # suspension of study in all public, private, university and technical education schools and institutions in the Kingdom, from Monday 7/14/1441 AH until further notice.

There are now 11 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Kingdom, most are those who came from Iran and entered the country via the UAE.

Jordan bans online game PUBG over 'negative effects'

July 7, 2019

https://www.rappler.com/technology/news/234764-jordan-ban-pubg-july-2019

AMMAN, Jordan – Jordan on Saturday, July 6, banned the hugely popular but brutal online game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), citing its “negative effects” on the kingdom’s citizens.

Often likened to the blockbuster book and film series “The Hunger Games”, PUBG pits marooned characters against each another in a virtual fight to the death, and has become one of the world’s most popular mobile games.

US Pres. Donald Trump to North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un: “My Nuclear Button is Bigger and More Powerful”

January 3, 2018

US President Donald Trump publishes a threatening tweets to North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un regarding the United States’ nuclear weapons.

The tweet is in response to Kim Jong Un New Year’s statement saying that he wish “for peaceful resolution with our southern border.”

Then issuing a warning to the United States regarding their nuclear ambitions, “The entire mainland of the US is within the range of our nuclear weapons and the nuclear button is always on the desk of my office. They should accurately be aware that this is not a threat but a reality.”

You can watch the entirety North Korea Leader Kim Jong Un New Year’s Statement below.

It’s a welcoming development between North and South Korea but a concerning one with the United States and North Korea.

This what a starving and dying Polar Bear looks like and their Extinction

December 10, 2017

A post shared by Paul Nicklen (@paulnicklen) on

Photographer Paul Nicklen;

It’s a soul-crushing scene that still haunts me, but I know we need to share both the beautiful and the heartbreaking if we are going to break down the walls of apathy. This is what starvation looks like. The muscles atrophy. No energy. It’s a slow, painful death. When scientists say polar bears will be extinct in the next 100 years, I think of the global population of 25,000 bears dying in this manner. There is no band aid solution. There was no saving this individual bear. People think that we can put platforms in the ocean or we can feed the odd starving bear. The simple truth is this—if the Earth continues to warm, we will lose bears and entire polar ecosystems. This large male bear was not old, and he certainly died within hours or days of this moment. But there are solutions. We must reduce our carbon footprint, eat the right food, stop cutting down our forests, and begin putting the Earth—our home—first.

This is just sad!

Writing about animals is not really my cup of tea but I feel that readers of the site needs to watch this video by NatGeo photographer Paul Nicklen. It’s a video of a starving Polar Bear and according “scientists say polar bears will be extinct in the next 100 years, I think of the global population of 25,000 bears dying in this manner.”