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Philippines Ferry Inferno Kills 31 Passengers, 230 Rescued, 7 Missing

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Philippines Ferry Inferno Kills 31 Passengers

Authorities in the Philippines reported on Thursday that at least 31 people died and 230 were rescued after a fire engulfed a ferry in the southern Philippines.

According to the Manila Times, a fire broke out on a ferry in the southern Philippines and raged for eight hours, killing at least 31 of the approximately 250 passengers and crew.

Many more than 200 people who survived the fire jumped off the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 and were rescued from the dark sea by the coast guard, navy, a nearby ferry, and local fishermen, according to Basilan Gov. Jim Hataman. He said rescuers were still looking for at least seven missing people on Thursday.

The burned ferry was towed to Basilan’s shoreline, where the bodies of 18 of the 31 victims were discovered in a budget section of the passenger cabin, according to Hataman.

“These victims died on board due to the fire,” Hataman said over the phone. He speculated that more people not on the manifest may have been on the ferry.

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On the other hand, the ferry’s captain told coast guard officials that he attempted to run the burning ferry aground on the nearest shore so that more people could survive or be rescued, according to regional coast guard commander Rejard Marfe. He estimated that the fire raged for about eight hours.

The ferry was traveling to Jolo town in Sulu province from the southern port city of Zamboanga when it caught fire near midnight off the coast of Basilan, according to Hataman. At least 23 passengers were injured and hospitalized.

“Due to the commotion caused by the fire, some passengers were roused from their sleep.” “Some people jumped off the ship,” Hataman explained.

According to Marfe, the steel-hulled ferry could accommodate up to 430 passengers and was not overcrowded. According to the manifest, the plane carried 205 passengers and a 35-person crew. In addition, for their protection, it had a security contingent consisting of four coast guard marshals and an unspecified number of soldiers who were not listed on the manifest, according to Marfe.

Officials are investigating whether the 33-year-old ferry was seaworthy, if passengers weren’t on the manifest, and whether the crew properly guided passengers to safety.

Because of frequent storms, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding, and sporadic enforcement of safety regulations, sea accidents are common in the Philippines, particularly in remote provinces.

The ferry Dona Paz sank in December 1987 after colliding with a fuel tanker, killing over 4,300 people in the world’s worst peacetime maritime disaster.

Korean Air A330 Overshoots Runway in Cebu, Philippines

Korean Air A330 Overshoots Runway in Cebu, Philippines

Geoff Thomas is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills and deep understanding of SEO, he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Thomas' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.

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Katie Ledecky Hopes For Clean Races At Paris Olympics In The Aftermath Of The Chinese Doping Scandal

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PARIS — Katie Ledecky is looking for clean Olympic races. On Wednesday, Hope had pretty much reached her limit.

The American swimmer hopes to add to her six gold medals as she competes in the 400, 800, and 1,500 meters at the Paris Games. Her program starts with the heavy 400 on Saturday, featuring Ariarne Titmus and Summer McIntosh.

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Katie Ledecky | ESPN Image

Katie Ledecky Hopes For Clean Races At Paris Olympics In The Aftermath Of The Chinese Doping Scandal

The 27-year-old Katie is competing in her fourth Summer Olympics, but the first since a doping scandal involving almost two dozen Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned chemical before the Tokyo Games — yet were permitted to compete with no consequences. The controversy has raised serious worries regarding the effectiveness of anti-doping initiatives.

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Katie Ledecky | Vogue Image

“I hope everyone here is going to be competing clean this week,” Ledecky claimed. “But what truly counts is, were they training cleanly? Hopefully this has been the case. Hopefully, there has been worldwide testing.”

The International Olympic Committee has expressed concern over the ongoing US investigation into possible doping by Chinese swimmers. While awarding the 2034 Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City on Wednesday, the IOC urged Utah officials to do whatever they could to stop the FBI investigation.

“I think everyone’s heard what the athletes think,” Katie added. “They seek transparency. They want more answers to the remaining questions. At this point, we are here to race. We are going to race whoever is in the lane next to us.

“We are not paid to conduct the tests, so we trust those who follow their regulations. That applies both today and in the future.

 

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Katie Ledecky | ESPN Image

Katie Ledecky Hopes For Clean Races At Paris Olympics In The Aftermath Of The Chinese Doping Scandal

SOURCE | AP

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London Heatwave Alert: High Temperatures Set to Soar to 29C Next Week

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London Heatwave Alert High Temperatures Set to Soar to 29C Next Week

As the summer holidays begin, London may experience an official heatwave with temperatures reaching up to 29 degrees Celsius.

The Met Office predicts a long period of sunny and dry weather for London after a soggy spring and summer.

After a cloudy day on Saturday, temperatures are expected to reach 27C on Sunday, with lots of sunlight.

On Monday and Tuesday, temperatures are forecast to peak at 29 degrees Celsius. Monday is forecast to offer more sunlight, while Tuesday may see some gloomy weather.

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Temperatures are expected to remain in the high 20s next week, with lows of approximately 18C.

According to the Met Office, a heatwave is “an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity.”

In the United Kingdom, a heatwave is proclaimed when daily temperatures meet or surpass a certain level for at least three consecutive days.

In London, the heatwave threshold is 28 degrees Celsius.

The Met Office reported that the UK is experiencing hotter and wetter weather on average due to climate change.

The UK experienced its warmest May and April on record this year, despite damp and dismal conditions in many areas.

According to the Met Office’s State Of The UK Climate 2023 report published on Thursday, the UK experienced historic levels of extreme weather last year.

In the United Kingdom, 2023 was the second warmest year on record, bringing storms, flooding, strong heatwaves, and rising sea levels; only 2022 was warmer.

It was 0.8°C higher than the average from 1991 to 2020, and 1.66°C higher than the 1961 to 1990 average.

However, 2023 will be a “cool year” in comparison to 2100, based on the planet’s warming trajectory.

The government’s plan to adapt to the hazards presented by climate change is currently being challenged in the High Court by campaigners who allege the Tory administration’s July 2023 National Adaptation Programme (NAP) fails to adequately address 61 concerns.

Source: The Standard

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Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy is a Heart-Risk-Reducing Product.

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Wegovy
Hollie Adams | Reuters

(VOR News) – The European Union’s medical regulator has granted approval to Wegovy, a blockbuster weight loss treatment manufactured by Novo Nordisk, in order to expand its application to include the reduction of major heart events in overweight or obese adults.

In order to expand the scope of the medication’s applicability, this authorisation was granted. The purpose of obtaining this approval was to broaden the medicine’s application.

The Danish pharmaceutical company announced on Thursday that the European Medical Agency has formulated a “positive opinion” regarding the label’s expansion.

The agency made this determination after conducting a comprehensive examination of the results of a SELECT study that was subjected to rigorous monitoring. Other applications of the substance are facilitated by this conclusion.

The SELECT experiment, which was financed by Novo Nordisk and published in August 2023.

Wegovy and Ozempic contain semaglutide as the active ingredient.

Reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events by twenty percent when compared to a placebo. The researchers arrived at this conclusion. This realisation was the outcome of the researchers’ investigation.

The notion that the European Medicines Agency label for Wegovy should be amended is a significant step forward for patients who are coping with cardiovascular disease and obesity, according to Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president and director of development at Novo Nordisk.

The company’s statement, which was disclosed, indicated that the recommendation to update the label is a substantial advancement.

It is evident that Wegovy has the potential to save lives by reducing the likelihood of significant adverse cardiovascular events, as evidenced by the findings of the SELECT research. An additional benefit of participating in this exercise is that it helps individuals effectively manage their weight, which is a benefit in and of itself.

The company also stated that the label update incorporates data from the SELECT trial, which showed a 15% reduction in the risk of death from cardiovascular causes and a 19% reduction in the risk of death from any cause when compared to situations in which a placebo was used in conjunction with the product.

The SELECT trial was conducted in the United States, according to the company. Furthermore, the organisation disclosed that the SELECT investigation was conducted in the United States of America.

It is anticipated that the label amendment will be implemented within the next month, as per the statement issued by Novo Nordisk.

Wegovy has also been approved for use in the United States.

Similarly, the UK medical regulator has taken similar actions. The United Kingdom on Tuesday granted its clearance for the use of Wegovy to reduce the risk of significant cardiac difficulties or strokes in adults who are overweight or obese, such as heart attacks or strokes.

The Food and Drug Administration of the United States of America granted sanction for the medicine to be used in specific applications during the month of March.

This resulted in a rise in the number of distinct applications for the highly popular treatment, which coincides with the sector’s increasing level of competition.

On Thursday, Roche, a global pharmaceutical company with its headquarters in Switzerland, announced that its Wegovy competitor weight reduction tablets will be incorporated into a collection of pharmaceuticals designed to mitigate the adverse effects of obesity.

The pharmaceutical collection will encompass a diverse selection of weight loss medications.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Schinecker, conveyed his satisfaction with the exceptional early-stage trial results of the two potential weight-reduction pharmaceuticals that the company is currently developing. In addition, he asserted that these medications demonstrated the “best in disease potential.”

In making this assertion, Schinecker was alluding to the fact that the medications exhibited the “best in disease potential.” He also stated that they will be a part of a more comprehensive portfolio that is intended to set the Swiss company apart from its competitors in the growing obesity therapy market.

This adds insult to injury. This strategy will be implemented in order to distinguish the Swiss company from other businesses in the market.

SOURCE: CNBC

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