Arizona Open Fire Shooting

One dead, four in critical condition in Arizona open fire shooting

One man was shot dead and four others were severely injured when a gunman went on a shooting rampage in Tucson, Arizona. 

Several children were also reported missing following the incident, in which the shooter was critically wounded by police.

Tucson police Chief Chris Magnus told media that the 35-year-old man opened fire on an ambulance in which the male driver was shot in the head, and a female paramedic in the passenger seat was shot in the chest and arm. The man was in critical condition and the woman was stable, he said. 

The shooter then drove to the scene of a house on fire and began shooting at firefighters and neighbours who were trying to douse the flames, Magnus said, adding that one neighbor died after being shot in the head, while a firefighter was shot in the arm, and another bullet grazed a neighbour’s head.

When a police officer encountered the suspect several blocks away, the accused rammed his SUV into the officer’s vehicle and shot at him. The officer returned fire and critically wounded him, the police chief said, adding that the motive behind the attacks was not known and an investigation was being carried out. 
The house fire revealed a “badly burned” body inside the home and “two or three” children missing. Magnus affirmed that authorities are now searching for the missing children.

Dar Al Ber Society Donates AED20 Million For 100 Million Meals Campaign

Dar Al Ber Society, one of the first charities established in the UAE, donated AED20 million to the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign aimed at providing food parcels for disadvantaged individuals and families across 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Dar Al Ber’s contribution will help provide 20 million meals to low-income communities in beneficiary countries including Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Angola, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Uganda.

Food parcels are distributed in an integrated network of collaboration between the campaign’s organizer Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the United Nations World Food Programme, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment (MBRCH), Food Banking Regional Network, and local humanitarian organizations in beneficiary countries.

Mohammed Souhil Al Muhairi, Executive Director of the Dar Al Ber Society, said: “The 100 Million Meals campaign embodies the UAE’s commitment to its core values of giving, especially during Ramadan, the month of goodness, righteousness, and charity. The UAE plays a significant humanitarian role globally, and the vision and directives of our leadership has paved the way for an effective and sustainable implementation of philanthropy.”

Al Muhairi stressed Dar Al Ber’s commitment to actively participate in humanitarian initiatives, national relief campaigns, and joint charity projects, and to rapidly respond to the country’s humanitarian efforts.

Massive donations continue to pour in from individuals, businessmen and companies inside and outside the UAE since the campaign launched on April 11. Every AED1 donated helps provide one meal for beneficiaries in targeted countries across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

The campaign is part of UAE’s contribution to global efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition, exacerbated by the outbreak of COVID-19. Today, more than 52 million people in the MENA region are undernourished, and most of them women and children.

The objectives of the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign are intertwined with the pillars on which Dar Al Ber Society was founded, aiming to reach disadvantaged groups, carry out sustainable inclusive humanitarian work, and promote solidarity in the face of crises and challenges.

The 100 Million Meals campaign is open to donations from inside and outside the UAE. Donations to the 100 Million Meals campaign can be made in four simple ways. First, through the campaign’s website www.100millionmeals.ae; second, by making a transfer to the designated bank account through Dubai Islamic Bank (AE08 0240 0015 2097 7815 201); third, by sending “Meal” on SMS to the specified UAE numbers (Etisalat and Du) listed on the website.

Russia’s Sputnik V not yet available in the UAE

Photo credit: Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/ Russian Direct Investment Fund via AP

Health authorities are still awaiting the arrival of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine to be shipped to the UAE.

According to the report of The National, health officials from the Department of Health (DOH) said this is not yet available for the general public.

The vaccine produced by Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology has been approved for emergency use by UAE authorities last January 21.

This came after the Emirates hosted a small-scale Phase 3 trial of the vaccine, which involved almost 1,000 volunteers.

According to the clinical trial data, the vaccine has 91.4 percent efficacy on day 28 after the first dose; and more than 95 percent on 42 days after the first dose.

DOH said those who volunteered to get the vaccine are being followed up for their safety for a period of six months, starting from the date of their first vaccine dose.

Volunteers gets two doses of the Sputnik vaccine with a 20-day gap between the first and the second injection.

This is the second trial in the UAE, after more than 30,000 people took part in a study for the Sinopharm vaccine.

It is expected that the study will be completed by the end of July 2021 once all the 1,000 volunteers have done their safety follow-up visits. 

Filipino, Proud United Arab Emirates Residents

Follow on Twitter

The burgeoning population of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the UAE can be attributed to the safety of the country, according to a straw poll conducted by the Filipino Times—following the release of the results of the National Happiness and Wellbeing Survey. The year-long study of the Ministry of Community Development shows that 93 percent of residents said they are ‘proud to live in the UAE’ and 8 out of 10 residents said ‘they are living a meaningful life’ in the emirates. In terms of safety,  92 percent of the 10,000 respondents aged 15 and above said they feel safe walking alone at night.

Her Excellency Hessa Essa Buhumaid, Minister for Community Development and Chairwoman of the Wellbeing Council, said that the positive response of the residents in the latest National Happiness and Wellbeing Survey reflect the UAE’s vision in spearheading initiatives that contribute to the general welfare of everyone living in the country.

“These development ideas enhance the UAE’s pioneering aspirations to achieve the best wellbeing standards through qualitative projects and initiatives launched by the national task forces, bringing together various government authorities to make great efforts in promoting people’s wellbeing, especially in the exceptional circumstances surrounding the population this year,” said Buhumaid.

Philippine Consul General in Dubai Paul Raymund Cortes said that apart from securing the well-being and safety of all those who wish to come to the UAE, the host government has also been very strategic in terms of identifying networks and policies that would enable migrants of different professions to search for economic opportunities for them in this country.

“The reputation of the UAE as a safe haven for migrants who wish to fulfill their ambitions and reach for their goals is grounded on the host government’s warm welcome to the over 9 million expats in the country,” he said.

“The UAE has also been reputed to be a hotbed of innovation which allows business and entrepreneurial acumen to develop and further grow in this country, which will in turn allow more expats to come to the UAE to enjoy these innovations and developments and be an active contributor towards these goals as well,” he added.

Welcome to the safest country

Filipinos in the UAE salute Abu Dhabi after it was named the world’s safest city for the fifth consecutive year; it is joined by Sharjah and Dubai in the top 10 list compiled by the crowdsourced data website Numbeo. These rankings are beyond just numbers; to a great extent, they foretell not only a city’s or nation’s success, but also the residents’ future. This was shown by the National Happiness and Wellbeing Survey, wherein 84 percent of the UAE population is found to be generally optimistic in life.

The Philippine Consul General added that Filipinos, along with 200 other nationalities, become determined to play an equal role in this country’s development due to the security they provide.

“When people do not feel uncomfortable with the security provided—meaning that they have strong faith in the host government and their policy towards building a safe and stable society—people become more focused on building economic opportunities and strengthening techniques and expertise that would make the lives of everyone easier, more efficient, more effective, and more attuned to helping more people,” he said.

Fair treatment 

When Anabelle Fernandez first arrived in the UAE 15 years ago, she was filled with hope and optimism that this would be her key to helping her family as the new breadwinner.

The UAE did not disappoint her. Fernandez now treats the country as her second home as she fell in love with how the UAE society treats everyone fairly without looking at someone’s country of origin, line of work, etc.

“In UAE they treat all people equally – walang mahirap o mayaman. Ever since pa naman (way back 15 years ago), napakaganda na mamuhay dito sa UAE. All you just have to do is obey and follow the rules. And life is very convenient; you can reach out for help from authorities anywhere you are,” said Fernandez.

Haven for breadwinners

Perlita Malupeng, who has been working for over two decades as a household worker in the country, also told TFT her inspiring story and gratitude for the UAE.

“Malaki na ang naitulong sa akin ng UAE sa pamamalagi ko dito – unang una na doon ay napagtapos ko sa pag-aaral ang aking anak hanggang kolehiyo. Nagkaroon na din ako ng pampundar para makabili ng sariling bahay at lupa. Bukod dito, natulungan ko din makapunta at makapagtrabaho ang aking dalawang kapatid,” said Malupeng.

Meanwhile, Robbie Tirol, a hotel staff working for nearly 10 years in Abu Dhabi, said the UAE helped him transform his dreams into reality.

“Sa nine years ko po dito sa UAE, unti-unti pong natutupad ang aking mga pangarap. Nakabili po ako ng lupa at nakapag pundar din ako ng sarili kong bahay. Patuloy ko ding nasusuportahan ang aking pamilya financially sa pagpapadala sa kanila buwan-buwan. Syempre, marami na rin akong napuntahan at nakapag-tour na rin ako sa iba’t ibang bansa mula nung dumating ako dito sa UAE,” said Tirol.

Stamp of Safety

OFW Marissa Albano said that since she began working here in 1992, she has enjoyed the pleasures of feeling safe no matter where she goes at any time of the day – a testament to the UAE’s commitment to safety.

“I think we Filipinos find happiness in UAE from the high standard of security, and police patrolling anytime of the day. We can walk freely, we can do our shopping anytime without worries. Everything about this country is full of surprises and worth living for!” said Albano.

Blessed to be here

Overseas Filipinos living in the country express their gratefulness for the UAE’s leadership, whose vision is to ensure that everyone feels the convenience and safety that will make most expatriates treat it as their second home.

“Saludo po ako sa mga pinuno ng UAE at taos pusong nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng kanilang pagsasa-ayos ng mga batas at pagpapatupad na naaayon sa kapakanan ng lahat. Dito sa UAE, panatag ka na kakampi mo ang batas ‘pag nasa tama ka,” said Malupeng.

They also underscored the importance of free COVID-19 vaccination, which is being provided by the UAE government for everyone, on an optional basis.

“Maraming salamat sa mga pinuno ng UAE at during this pandemic binigay niyo without cost yung vaccine laban sa COVID-19 at mga treatments para mabigyan nang pangalawang buhay ang ibang taong nawalan na nang pag-asang mabuhay. Patuloy niyo pong pinaparamdam sa amin na mas mahalaga ang buhay nang tao at salamat sa pagmamahal niyo sa amin,” said Fernandez.

Mon Tulfo Admitting That He Used Smuggled Covid-19 Vaccine

Mon Tulfo under investigation 

Special envoy to China and columnist Mon Tulfo is now under investigation by the Food and Drug Administration after admitting that he was vaccinated by smuggled Sinopharm vaccines.

“I now confess to the public: I had myself vaccinated—along with some government officials whose names I won’t mention here—with the Sinopharm vaccine last October,” he wrote in his column.

Tulfo said that there is no conflict of interest on him using smuggled vaccines and as an envoy to China.

“None at all. Wala akong nakitang conflict of interest dito dahil private citizen naman ako. Besides ang special envoy to China is just an honorific. Ang trabaho nyan is one peso a year. I’m not a government official. If we become technical about it, I’m not a government official. Honorific yung titulo ko,” he explained.

He also denied that he used his position to be vaccinated.

“Kaya ko na isipan na magpabakuna kasi available sa market, although smuggled nga, kaya gusto kong maka-tiyak kung effective sa akin, malamang effective sa sambayanan,” Tulfo added.

The Department of Health and Food and Drug Administration said that they will investigate Tulfo’s claims.
“Hindi po maganda na nalalaman natin na may ganitong pagpapabakuna na hindi dumadaan sa tamang proseso,” FDA Chief Eric Domingo said.