Canada surges from 500,000 to 600,000 Covid-19 cases in two weeks
Canada surpassed the grim milestone of 600,000 coronavirus cases Sunday, two weeks after passing half a million, underscoring the pandemic's persistence in the country during the end-of-year holiday period......»»
DFA confirms Azurin held by Canadian immigration
Former Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. was intercepted by Canadian immigration personnel upon his arrival at Langley Airport in Canada, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Wednesday. During the budget deliberation on the DFA’s proposed P23 billion for the upcoming fiscal year in the House of Representatives, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan inquired about reports of Azurin being held by Canadian immigration authorities. Responding to Libanan’s query, Nueva Ecija Representative Joseph Violago, who sponsored the DFA’s proposed budget before the plenary, positively affirmed the report. “There seems to be a misunderstanding, misinterpretation of what happened. The Canadian government expressed their regrets due to the miscommunication,” Violago said. He noted that Azurin, who resigned from his post in January, voluntarily went back home after being denied from entering Canada. In a separate statement, DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said that the Philippine government is “in touch” with Canadian authorities regarding Azurin’s case. “The Department is in touch with Canadian authorities and hopes to get a better understanding of the incident soon,” Daza told reporters in a WhatsApp message to reporters. “While our foreign service posts are ready to assist Filipino travelers, including former government officials, these cases have privacy issues surrounding them,” she added. To recall, Azurin resigned from his post in January following Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos’ appeal to the high-ranking officials of the PNP to resign from their posts as part of the internal cleansing of the organization. Abalos sought the courtesy resignation of almost 1,000 police colonels and generals to address the alleged return of ninja cops in the PNP. The post DFA confirms Azurin held by Canadian immigration appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BI releases guidelines on Philippine Nikkei-Jin
The Bureau of Immigration announced on Friday that it released new guidelines on Philippine Nikkei-Jin. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that the new guidelines, which were also approved by the Secretary of Justice, aim to address the immigration needs of Filipinos who have the status of Nikkei-Jin under Japanese law. The word "Nikkei-Jin" refers to Japanese immigrants and their offspring who left Japan and raised their families in other nations. More than 3 million Nikkei-Jins live in their adopted countries, according to data from the Association of Nikkei and Japanese Abroad; the largest of these populations are in Brazil, the USA, China, Canada, Peru, and the Philippines. The BI acknowledged in the order that Philippine Nikkei-Jin are recognized as Japanese citizens by official documents issued by the Japanese government. Tansingco also shared that a Philippine Nikkei-Jin may depart from the Philippines with or without a Philippine passport. Those who travel without a Philippine passport lose the presumption of being Filipinos for purposes of traveling outside the Philippines. In such cases, a Philippine Nikkei-Jin may travel abroad to and from Japan with a Japanese passport or travel document and a BI Order recognizing him as a Nikkei-Jin. The order would allow the Philippine Nikkei-Jin to depart from the Philippines with a deferment of payment of immigration fees. Philippine Nikkei-Jin who likewise arrive without a Philippine passport should present the same order; otherwise, applicable rules for foreign nationals will apply. However, if the Philippine Nikkei-Jin has already renounced his Philippine citizenship, then he will be treated as a foreign national, subject to the rules regulating aliens in the Philippines," clarified Tansingco. The BI chief said that the bureau recognizes the needs of Filipinos who have the status of Nikkei-Jin under Japanese law, and they are Filipinos who are likewise descendants of Japanese nationals. Hence, they see the importance of crafting specific guidelines for processing their immigration documents. The post BI releases guidelines on Philippine Nikkei-Jin appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cyber education, a must
“Digitalization is the call of today, not the call of the future, but of the present. It is here. It is needed, and it is needed today.” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted in his second SoNA his administration’s agenda for all government agencies and local government units to digitalize all their services. He called for the digitalization of payments, business registrations, issuances of permits and licenses, loan applications and revenue collections. The digitalization efforts, he stated, should be made to streamline processes for ease of doing business, combat corruption and make decisions in a data-driven and science-based manner. I commend this push for e-governance and e-commerce by the President. He is right. The digital age is upon us and we must invest in digital technology and infrastructure for our economy to be globally competitive. Cyber Education Law However, the very basic foundation needed for the government’s digitalization efforts should be the investment in human capital. We know that our labor is the country’s biggest asset and the factor that keeps our economy afloat. We export labor, remittances flow, and these in turn fund local consumption. That is why there is an urgent need for us to legislate the incorporation of cyber-education among our population and we must start with our basic education. Investing in cyber-education is not a novel idea. It is a model of development in many advanced countries. As the World Economic Forum or WEF found out in a study, countries like Israel (which currently ranks 8th in the Cyber Risk Literacy and Education Index) show that cyber-risk education and connected institutions can contribute significantly to the national economy by producing more jobs and greater innovation. It concluded that cyber-investment in human resources, i.e., prioritizing cybersecurity education earlier than most and regular assessment of cyber-risk literacy of children and youth at key points in their development and education, is an investment for the future and has been found to have led to a wealth of cyber-related innovation and economic growth among top-ranking countries. The UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Germany, France, and, recently, China, are also investing heavily in cybersecurity education. These countries recognize that cybersecurity education is essential to protecting the digital economy and both public and private digital infrastructure from cybercrimes and cyberattacks. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the need for cybersecurity education will only grow. Digitalization will positively impact Filipinos’ lives but concomitant negative issues have emerged related to Internet use. Some of the most common cybersecurity crimes and offenses in the world today continue to emerge and develop, some of which President Marcos Jr. mentioned in his speech, such as identity theft, phishing and other online scams. Current statistics also show the vulnerability of Filipino children in the digital space. A recent study claimed the Philippines is a global hotspot for Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children or OSAEC. A sharp increase in possible OSAEC cases has been recorded by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, from 1.34 million in 2020 to 3.19 million in 2021, the second highest in the world behind India. In 2018, the Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime received 579,006 cyber tips on the online sharing, re-sharing, and selling of child sexual abuse images and videos. According to the study, sexual exploitation negatively impacts cognitive functioning, as well as mental health, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression; and across the life course, it can negatively impact the physical, psychological, social, educative and economic well-being of children victims. The foregoing examples are just among the many important reasons to introduce cybersecurity education in the K-12 system. We must educate users of technology, especially children, on the potential risks they face when using internet communication tools, such as social media, chat, online gaming, email and instant messaging, to cultivate cybersecurity awareness at the primary school level. Verily, investing in cybersecurity awareness among the young population will have several positive impacts on the Philippine economy and quality of life. The post Cyber education, a must appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thousands flee Greek island fires as southern US swelters
Around 30,000 people were moved to safety on the Greek island of Rhodes where a wildfire burned on Saturday, while people in the southern United States struggled under a record-breaking heatwave. Tens of millions of people have been suffering through intense heat this summer and the world looks set for its hottest July on record. As temperature records tumble, experts have pointed to climate change driven by the burning of fossil fuels, arguing that global warming is playing a key role in the devastating heat. On the Mediterranean island of Rhodes, where a wildfire has been blazing for days, boats carried 2,000 people to safety from beaches in the east of the popular tourist island. Greek fire service spokesman Vassilis Varthakogiannis told Skai TV: "This is not a fire that will be over tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. It'll be troubling us for days." Three coastguard ships led more than 30 private vessels in the evacuation, while a Greek navy boat was heading to the area. Island officials arranged for dozens of buses to take people to safety, but where fires had cut off road access, others had to walk. Authorities have opened up gyms, schools and hotel conference centers to serve as makeshift accommodation, while firefighters battle the blaze. In Athens, the foreign ministry said it had activated its crisis management unit to facilitate the evacuation of foreign citizens due to the ongoing forest fires. Greece is fighting dozens of forest fires 11 days into a heatwave that has seen temperatures soaring above 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Meteorologists have warned it could be the longest hot spell the country has ever seen. - 80 million Americans sweltering - Across the southern United States, about 80 million Americans will swelter in temperatures of 41C and above this weekend, the National Weather Service said. The southwestern city of Phoenix, Arizona hit 46C on Saturday, extending a record-breaking streak to 22 consecutive days of highs above 43C. Tourists have been flocking to Death Valley National Park, which straddles California and Nevada, to post selfies with a temperature display outside the visitor centre. Many are hoping to see it break a world record of 56.7C, which was set in July 1913 but was likely the result of a faulty measurement, according to several meteorologists. Further north, in Canada, which has been suffering wildfires that left Montreal blanketed in smog, torrential rain hit the eastern province of Nova Scotia, cutting off roads and threatening to burst a dam. Four people were reported missing, including two children who had been in a car engulfed by flood waters. Meanwhile, nearly 1,000 active wildfires were burning across Canada, with 11.3 million hectares scorched this season by the deadly blazes. Across the border in the US state of Washington, a wildfire burned more than 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) in less than a day. - Hottest month - July 2023 is on track to be the hottest month -- not only since records began, but also in "hundreds, if not thousands, of years", said leading NASA climatologist Gavin Schmidt. The effects cannot be attributed solely to the El Nino weather pattern, which "has really only just emerged" and isn't expected to strengthen until later in the year, he added. El Nino is associated with the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. Schmidt said the trend of extreme heat was expected to persist, "and the reason why we think that's going to continue, is because we continue to put greenhouse gases into the atmosphere". The exceptional temperatures in Greece also meant key tourist sites such as the Acropolis closed during the hottest part of the day. A 46-year-old man was reported to have succumbed to heatstroke on the central Greek island of Evia after being admitted to Chalkida hospital. Staff there said cardio-respiratory failure following exposure to high temperatures appeared to have been the cause. Emergency health officials told the state broadcaster they had admitted at least 38 heatstroke patients in the last three days, while hospitals were also seeing cases of fainting and other heat-related conditions. Greece is just one of many countries battling a prolonged spell of extreme heat around the globe in recent days. burs/jj/acb © Agence France-Presse The post Thousands flee Greek island fires as southern US swelters appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
OFW assistance now with DMW
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday announced that the Department of Migrant Workers will take over the Assistance to Nationals functions for overseas Filipino workers starting the first of July. According to the DFA, the turnover of the ATN is in compliance with Republic Act 11641, which paved the way for the creation of the newly created department. “Under the said law, all assistance cases involving OFWs, including legal or medical assistance, repatriation, and shipment of remains shall now be handled by the DMW through the use of its AKSYON Fund, except in countries where there are no resident Migrant Workers Offices under the DMW,” the agency said. To ensure uninterrupted service, the public is requested to refer to the DMW all requests for assistance involving OFWs (whether documented or undocumented) situated in the following countries/territories with resident MWOs: Asia-Pacific: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, China (including Hong Kong, Macau), Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore. Middle East and Northern Africa: Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates. Europe: Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom. Americas: Canada, United States of America. OFWs from the mentioned territories who need assistance may personally, or through their relatives contact the DMW through the following hotline numbers: 87221144 or 87221155 87221155; or email addresses: repat@dmw.gov.ph, connect@dmw.gov.ph or cacdac@dmw.gov.ph. The DFA said assistance for OFWs in territories that were not part of the list will still be processed by the agency. Likewise, the agency noted that it would also continue to assist all other Filipinos worldwide who are not OFWs, including students, tourists, and dual and permanent residents. Meanwhile, the public can reach the DFA through its hotline: 88344996, email address: oumwa@dfa.gov.ph, or Facebook: htps://www.facebook.com/OFWHelpPH. The post OFW assistance now with DMW appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sunlife promotes 200 advisors
Over 200 Sun Life advisors were conferred with the Associate Wealth Planner and Certified Wealth Planner designations by the Wealth Management Center, the leading educational institution in the Philippines for financial services professionals. The designations were conferred following a comprehensive learning program that covered life insurance planning, investment planning, risk, healthcare and estate planning. Discussions, which revolved around actual cases, covered local laws that apply to succession and inheritance in the Philippines, the different tools used in estate planning, and how to manage the impact of estate taxation. To ensure that the lessons are well internalized, participants were assigned cases which they need to present and defend. They likewise underwent an exam after each module and a final revalida. Sun Life’s engagement with WMC is part of its efforts to continuously upskill its advisors, especially those looking to specialize in high-net-worth business. The two organizations have been working together since 2021, with an initial batch of advisors and employees taking their Certified Wealth Planner and Certified Estate Planner Philippines courses. The current batch bring the total number of Sun Life graduates to over 700. “We chose WMC because of their impeccable lineup of educators and thorough curriculum. Our previous collaborations have always proven to be impactful among our advisors, who have gone on to become among the most productive and committed in the field,” says Alex Narciso, president of Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc. “As such, it was no surprise that this program was, likewise, well-received, especially by those looking to grow their high-net-worth business. We look forward to seeing them apply the lessons and grow further in this profession.” The post Sunlife promotes 200 advisors appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thailand charges Canadian over Indian gangster murder in Phuket
Thai police said on Monday they have charged a Canadian man they described as a mercenary with the murder of an Indian gangster in the resort island of Phuket. Officers launched an investigation after Jimi "Slice" Sandhu -- whose nickname came from a distinctive scar on his face -- was shot and killed in February 2022. Interpol issued a red notice last year for Canadian citizen Matthew Leandre Ovide Dupre in connection with the murder. The 38-year-old was extradited from Canada and returned to Thailand late Sunday. "He is quite a key suspect and a professional mercenary. He flew in to finish his job, and did not even bring a weapon," National Police Chief Damrongsak Kittiprapas told reporters. Dupre was charged with premeditated murder, illegal gun possession, and firing a gun, a police statement said. Officials said Dupre denies all charges. Damrongsak said Dupre was a former soldier and mercenary who had worked in several countries, including Afghanistan. He had arrived directly from Canada in the Thai capital Bangkok on a special Thai Air Force flight, Damrongsak said. "It is a difficult case, no commercial flights or countries allowed the plane to refuel as they were concerned about hostage-taking," he said. Officers will continue to investigate who supplied the weapon. Canada and Thailand have an agreement to provide mutual assistance, including extradition, in criminal cases. Thai state prosecutor Intranee Sumawong said the foreign office had reassured Canadian concerns over Thailand's death penalty, under a new extradition bill. Sandhu was shot on 15 February 2022, after he flew in on a private jet from Malaysia days earlier. Police obtained CCTV footage showing two men jumping from bushes, opening fire on Sandhu, and then fleeing into the night. Sandhu's car had had a GPS tracker taped to it before the attack, the 2022 Interpol notice said. Sandhu was deported from Canada in 2016 over a string of criminal offenses, resurfacing when he was detained in India over a ketamine factory in 2018. A second man, Gene Karl Lahrkamp, also wanted in connection with the murder, died in a small plane crash in 2022, according to Canadian media. The post Thailand charges Canadian over Indian gangster murder in Phuket appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Taiwan can help
Dr. Jui-yuan Hsueh, minister of Health and Welfare in Taiwan, recently wrote to the media in the Philippines and around the world pushing for Taiwan’s participation in the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. During a detente between Taipei and Beijing between 2009 and 2016, Taiwan was invited to the WHA as an observer. However, due to rising tensions between China and Taiwan since Tsai Ing-wen was elected President in Taiwan, the country has not been invited to the WHA since 2017. Dr. Hsueh said in his letter to the media that Taiwan urges the World Health Organization and all relevant stakeholders to support Taiwan’s inclusion in the WHA as an observer, as well as Taiwan’s full participation in WHO meetings, mechanisms and activities. He wrote that “Now that the Covid-19 pandemic is abating and dialogue on strengthening health systems worldwide is accelerating, Taiwan should not be left out. Taiwan can help, and Taiwan’s inclusion would make the world healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable.” Not only Dr. Hsueh, overseas Taiwanese communities in Ireland, Canada, the United States, Italy and the Philippines also hold events urging the international society to support Taiwan’s plea. Taiwanese in San Francisco hired a pilot to fly a private jet showing a banner which says “Support Taiwan join WHA. Taiwan can help.” Those who live in Guam held a beach cleanup, which attracted more than 300 Taiwanese and locals to support this appeal. Taiwanese living in Vancouver joined the Vancouver Sun Run to drum up support for Taiwan’s participation in this year’s WHA. The presidents of Taiwan Association Inc. of the Philippines and Taiwanese Compatriot Association in the Philippines wrote to Enrique A. Manalo, secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, saying that Taiwan hopes to engage with the global health security network and work with WHO to make global health architecture more resilient, thereby promoting health emergency prevention, preparedness and response. It is noteworthy that the government and overseas Taiwanese have been fighting for the health right of Taiwanese people to be able to participate in the WHA every year since 2017 as the exclusion of Taiwan not only put 23 million Taiwanese at risk, but it also hinders the effort of the WHO to get sufficient information immediately if there is another outbreak of infections caused by another unknown pathogen in the region, like the severe acute respiratory syndrome pandemic in 2003 and the Covid pandemic. Taiwan built its universal healthcare insurance system in 1995. Since then, the government has continued to provide disease prevention and healthcare services so that people of all ages can enjoy the right to health. Nonetheless, it is little known that George Leslie Mackay, a Canadian missionary who went to Taiwan in 1872 and almost every Taiwanese knows him today, established the first Western-style hospital and first girls’ school in northern Taiwan, and Tsai Ah-hsin, Taiwan’s first female physician, was among the distinguished alumni of this girls’ school. Because of the history of accepting foreign aid in the modernization of its public health system, Taiwan finds it essential to share its experience and to advance global healthcare services to benefit people around the world. The cruel reality is that not only in the healthcare field, Taiwan is also not allowed to participate in other international organizations, such as the International Criminal Police Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization. While the Philippine National Police has been practical and worked with Taiwan to solve multiple criminal cases both in the Philippines and Taiwan, including busting a transgender kidnapping group in Metro Manila in 2022, it is still vital for Taiwan to cooperate with other countries to combat cybercrime and other cross-border crimes now that the world has basically become a global village. The post Taiwan can help appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beijing slams unacceptable COVID rules on travelers from China
The United States, Canada, France and Japan are among a number of countries that now require travelers from China to show a negative COVID test before arrival, as the country faces a surge in cases......»»
Canada surpasses 1 million COVID-19 cases
Canada on Saturday crossed the threshold of one million coronavirus cases as the country faces a third wave of infections, forcing several provinces to tighten restrictions in recent days......»»
Canada surges from 500,000 to 600,000 Covid-19 cases in two weeks
Canada surpassed the grim milestone of 600,000 coronavirus cases Sunday, two weeks after passing half a million, underscoring the pandemic's persistence in the country during the end-of-year holiday period......»»
Hard-hit nations step up measures
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Countries among the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic unveiled further measures on Friday to battle rising infections, as the number of cases worldwide passed 21 million. The US Department of Homeland Security said it was extending a ban on non-essential travel through border crossings with Canada and Mexico throughout […] The post Hard-hit nations step up measures appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
World Roundup: US, UK, Canada accuse Russia of vaccine theft
The US, UK and Canada have accused Russia of trying to steal coronavirus vaccine research as the pandemic surges across the world, with Brazil surpassing two million confirmed cases and the US notching a new daily record......»»
Russia accused of vaccine hacking as Brazil crosses 2 million cases
The US, UK and Canada have accused Russia of trying to steal coronavirus vaccine research as the pandemic surges across the world, with Brazil surpassing two million confirmed cases and the US notching a new daily record......»»
Contagious pertussis disease continues spreading in Philippines
MANILA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The contagious pertussis has continued spreading in the Philippines, where it has caused at least 40 death cases, after a province near the capital region reported an outbreak of the disease. In a social media post on Wednesday night, the Cavite government posted a resolution declaring the province under a state of calamity "due to the outbreak of pertussis" after logging 36 cases an.....»»
DOH: Pertussis cases 20 times more than last year
DOH: Pertussis cases 20 times more than last year.....»»
Cavite nagdeklara ng ‘state of calamity’ dahil sa ‘pertussis outbreak’
NASA ilalim na ng “state of calamity” ang probinsya ng Cavite. Ito ay dahil dumadami na ang mga nahahawa ng pertussis o whooping cough sa probinsya. Ayon sa provincial government, nakapagtala na sila ng 26 confirmed cases at kabaling na riyan ang anim na namatay dahil sa nasabing sakit. Narito ang datos ng Cavite kaugnay.....»»
Philippines logs 40 pertussis deaths this year
MANILA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Forty children have died of whopping cough, a respiratory infection also called pertussis, since this year, the Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) has reported. The DOH said in a statement on Wednesday that cases have continued to increase since the start of this year, recording 568 cases from Jan. 1 to March 16. "The total number of cases for the same period in 2023 was.....»»
Kaspersky Shares Cybersecurity Tips for a Peaceful Getaway during the holy week
As the holiday season approaches, the urge to unwind and kick back is natural. And it’s all too common for people to let their guard down completely when connecting to the Internet too– but shouldn’t. Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group shared its findings on identity theft cases in the country. Between November […].....»»
Pertussis or whooping cough: 40 child deaths so far this year – DOH
MANILA, Philippines — Assistant Health Secretary Albert Domingo reported on Wednesday that as of March 16 this year, some 40 children had died of whooping cough — a respiratory infection also called pertussis. An increase in new pertussis cases nationwide had been observed nationwide, with 28 cases reported from March 10 to 16. READ: What.....»»