Inquirer Breaking News

CAMBRIDGE, England --- Two laboratories in Britain and South Africa, which were at the forefront of tracking new coronavirus variants during the pandemic, have teamed up to keep the focus on genomic surveillance globally as the COVID emergency recedes. The teams said they were worried governments and funders may pull back from such surveillance, despite its potential to better monitor many infectious diseases, from malaria to cholera. "One of the big benefits that came from the pandemic was this huge global investment in infrastructure," said John Sillitoe, director of the Genomic Surveillance Unit (GSU) at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge, one of the two partners. ...

Keep on reading: COVID and beyond: Labs unite to boost genomic surveillance globally

NBA Scores, News, Schedules   DALLAS--- Another contentious Dallas-Phoenix meeting for Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic went beyond the court Wednesday night. The four-time All-Star was responsible for a fan being ejected in the third quarter after the Suns supporter yelled that Doncic was tired and needed to get on a treadmill. Phoenix beat Dallas 132-109 after outscoring the Mavericks 43-20 in the third quarter. Doncic made headlines early in the 2021-22 season when retired Hall of Fame guard Reggie Miller, a TV analyst, said during a telecast of a Mavericks game that Doncic looked overweight. Dallas coach Jason Kidd conceded as much later in the season by sayin...

Keep on reading: NBA: Luka Doncic plays role in fan’s ejection after catcalls

NBA Scores, News, Schedules MIAMI --- The Memphis Grizzlies were wildly short-handed. And the Miami Heat still couldn't handle them. Vince Williams Jr. scored a career-high 25 points, GG Jackson added 17 off the bench and the Grizzlies --- who had only nine available players because of injuries --- spoiled Terry Rozier's debut in Miami by topping the Heat 105-96 in the NBA on Wednesday night. Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jaren Jackson Jr. each scored 15 for Memphis, which led for the entire second half. John Konchar had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies. "Just be authentic to who you are, understand the reality and every single day I think our group's maintained a great ...

Keep on reading: NBA: Grizzlies hand Heat 4th straight loss, spoil Terry Rozier’s debut

SYDNEY - Australia on Thursday launched a wide-ranging review into pricing and competition in its supermarket sector as the government unveils a series of policies to improve household finances and boost its flagging popularity. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will be tasked with the 12-month inquiry, the first since 2008, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a joint ministerial statement on Thursday. The ACCC will examine how competition in the sector has changed since the last review in 2008, how prices are set across the supply chain, in particular between farms and supermarkets, and "impediments" to competitive pricing, the release said. "My ...

Keep on reading: Australia launches competition, pricing review in supermarket sector

USA Basketball says it wants the best for Draymond Green, which is why the federation does not have him in its plans for the Paris Olympics. Green's omission from the pool of 41 players who are now candidates to play for the United States at the Paris Games was explained Wednesday by men's national team managing director Grant Hill, who spoke highly of the Golden State forward's history with the national team and how he helped the Americans win Olympic gold in 2016 and 2021. But it was Green's recent history --- two suspensions for on-court conduct this season --- that Hill and USA Basketball couldn't ignore. "We all understand and certainly have great respect and sensitivit...

Keep on reading: Draymond Green not part of Paris Olympic pool

In line with the implementation of the Department of Education's MATATAG curriculum, Vibal Group will conduct around 50 learning summits across the county. The series of summits will kick off this January, at the Sisters of Mary School, Silang, Cavite. Emphasizing core competencies such as literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills, the MATATAG curriculum aligns with the educational vision of the present administration encapsulated in the mantra "Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa." With a dedicated focus on fostering competence, readiness for the workforce, and the development of active, responsible, and patriotic citizens, the MATATAG Curriculum unveils a set of impactful progra...

Keep on reading: Vibal to hold ‘MATATAG’ learning summits for private schools

NBA Scores, News, Schedules MILWAUKEE --- Doc Rivers is finalizing a deal to take over as the Milwaukee Bucks coach a day after the firing of Adrian Griffin, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Rivers and the Bucks were still negotiating on Wednesday, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because no contract had been completed. ESPN, where Rivers has worked this season an analyst, reported that Rivers has agreed to a deal in principle. ESPN's public relations department released a statement on social media from head of event and studio production David Roberts saying, "We wish Doc well and we look ...

Keep on reading: NBA: Doc Rivers finalizing deal to take over as Bucks coach

NBA Scores, News, Schedules DETROIT --- Bojan Bogdanovic scored 34 points and Jalen Duren's dunk in the final minute punctuated a late 10-2 run, helping the Detroit Pistons to a 113-106 win over the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA on Wednesday night. Bogdanovic hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 1:46 left. Duren finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, and Alec Burks scored 15 for Detroit, which snapped a three-game losing streak and won for the third time in 41 games. "Yesterday, we talked about competing, poise and execution," Pistons coach Monty Williams said. "We had done those three things, but we hadn't closed. Tonight, we closed." Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 23 ...

Keep on reading: NBA: Pistons rally past Hornets

NBA Scores, News, Schedules   SAN FRANCISCO --- Stephen Curry had 25 points and eight assists, Klay Thompson scored 24, and the Golden State Warriors won Wednesday night in their first game back after the death of assistant coach Dejan Milojevi last week, beating the Atlanta Hawks 134-112 in the NBA. The Splash Brothers shined playing for their beloved "brate" --- the word for brother in Serbian that Milojevi so lovingly used for all of the Warriors. Jonathan Kuminga made all 11 of his shots on the way to 25 points as seven Warriors scored in double figures. In an emotional pregame ceremony, the two teams stood united on one sideline near their team benches and listene...

Keep on reading: NBA: Warriors return to action after assistant coach’s death, beat Hawks

MANILA, Philippines --- Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday honored the sacrifices of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos, tagging their "gallantry as a true benchmark of heroism for every Filipino to emulate." In a statement, amid the National Remembrance of the Heroic Sacrifice of SAF44, Duterte paid tribute to the fallen heroes "who fearlessly prioritized duty and freedom above all else." READ: Marcos calls for 'kinder, gentler society' to honor SAF44 She recognized the SAF44's legacy, which she said is characterized by "unparalleled dedication, selflessness, and an unwavering love for our cherished nation and its people." "Our hearts extend a salute to the...

Keep on reading: VP Sara Duterte remembers heroism, sacrifices of SAF44

WASHINGTON --- The U.S. economy was supposed to have sunk into recession by now, dragged down by the highest interest rates in two decades and a resulting slump in borrowing and spending. Instead, the U.S. economy has kept chugging along. Even more encouraging, inflation, which touched a four-decade high in 2022, has edged steadily lower without the painful layoffs that most economists had thought would be necessary to slow the acceleration of prices. On Thursday, the Commerce Department is expected to report that the nation's gross domestic product --- the economy's total output of goods and services --- rose at an annual rate of around 2 percent from October through December....

Keep on reading: US growth likely slowed in last quarter of 2023

The Dot Property Southeast Asia Awards recognized 46 winners from across the region with leading developers Asset Wise, Capitaland and Asset World Corporation among those to be honored. Celebrations took place at the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chaophraya River as real estate industry leaders came together to commend the best of the best in what is the industry's most anticipated awards event of the year. As well as the award presentations the event saw musical performances and a magnificent riverside firework show to crown another dynamic year for the industry. The Southeast Asia real estate market currently faces challenges in the face of the global economic env...

Keep on reading: Dot Property SEA Awards 2023 honors Top Developers, Projects, and Agencies in Regional Real Estate

Gene therapy has allowed several children born with inherited deafness to hear. A small study published Wednesday documents significantly restored hearing in five of six kids treated in China. On Tuesday, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia announced similar improvements in an 11-year-old boy treated there. And earlier this month, Chinese researchers published a study showing much the same in two other children. So far, the experimental therapies target only one rare condition. But scientists say similar treatments could someday help many more kids with other types of deafness caused by genes. Globally, 34 million children have deafness or hearing loss, and genes are re...

Keep on reading: Experimental gene therapy lets kids with inherited deafness to hear

MANILA, Philippines --- Three people were killed after a bus driver lost control of his vehicle and figured in a road accident with five other vehicles in Dinalupihan, Bataan, police said on Thursday. According to the Bataan Police Provincial Office's report, 54-year-old driver Edwin Sandoval was on his way to Olongapo when his bus hit a passenger jeepney, two tricycle units, a motorcycle, and a van along Barangay Bangal around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. READ: 5 dead in car-truck collision in Batangas Police said they have yet to determine the number of injuries but revealed that all drivers and passengers involved in the accident were rushed to James Gordon Memorial Hospital for m...

Keep on reading: 3 dead in multiple vehicle crash in Bataan

Julia Barretto expressed hope that the public would give chance to her and Aga Muhlach's film "Ikaw Pa Rin ang Pipiliin Ko," in which their characters, who have a huge age gap, seemingly develop romantic feelings toward each other. The actress showed photos taken from the filming of the romance-drama movie through her Instagram page on Wednesday, Jan. 24. "Please give our film a chance," she captioned her post, adding that the film will be showing in local cinemas starting on Feb. 7.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Julia Barretto (@juliabarretto) Based on the film trail...

Keep on reading: Julia Barretto appeals ahead of release of movie with Aga Muhlach: ‘Please give our film a chance’

    JUNEAU, Alaska --- Residents of Alaska's capital were digging out Wednesday after back-to-back winter storms brought the city's snowfall totals for the month to near-record levels, leaving some parked cars buried with just side-view mirrors or windshield wipers poking out of the white stuff. So far this month, 69.2 inches (175 centimeters) of snow have been recorded at the Juneau airport. The record for January was set in 2009 at 75.2 inches (191 centimeters), said Nathan Compton, a National Weather Service meteorologist. Records date to 1936. Much of the snow so far this year has come from two storms lasting for days. One storm hit at mid-month and the ot...

Keep on reading: Alaska’s capital digs out after near-record January snowfall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05JOfPkPPqM 69-year-old fashion designer Joyce Peas Cubales proves that beauty and dreams know no age. After the Miss Universe Organization announced the removal of age restrictions for the pageant, she is now pursuing her lifelong goal of becoming a beauty queen as she joins Miss Universe Philippines-Quezon City.  ...

Keep on reading: Meet the 69-year-old fashion designer vying for Miss Universe PH-QC crown | INQStories

MANILA, Philippines --- While recording 14 fatalities this year alone, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Thursday a downward trend in dengue cases since the beginning of December last year. Based on its data given to reporters, DOH observed a 16 percent decrease in nationwide dengue cases from December 3 to 16 (8,629 cases) to December 17 to 31 (7,274 cases). "This has gone down further to 5,572 cases recorded from January 1 to 13, 2024," it noted. However, the department also mentioned that the numbers may still change due to potential late consultations and reports. Regarding the tally of dengue-related deaths, the DOH reported 14 fatalities from January 1 to 1...

Keep on reading: DOH notes decline in number of dengue cases in PH

    JERUSALEM --- A 72-year-old Israeli woman held captive by Hamas militants for nearly 50 days told an Israeli TV channel Wednesday that she was held at length in a dark, humid tunnel where she met a Hamas leader and helped pass the time with an informal lecture series by her knowledgeable fellow hostages. Adina Moshe was taken captive from Kibbutz Nir Oz, a hard-hit communal farming village, on Oct. 7. She was freed in late November as part of a deal that saw roughly 100 hostages, mostly women and children, released in exchange for a temporary cease-fire and the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Her account to Israeli Channel 12 TV comes as effort...

Keep on reading: Freed Israeli hostage reveals meeting a Hamas leader in tunnel

MANILA, Philippines ---San Miguel Corp's Backyard Bukid, initiated in 2021 to assist its service personnel during the pandemic, has grown into a vibrant urban farm at the company's head office complex, now cultivating 39 varieties of flowering plants and vegetables. The urban farm, which now includes a plant nursery and 80 garden plots, also functions as a center for employee wellness, volunteerism, and training. Replicated in several SMC facilities by San Miguel Foundation, the project has recently been expanded through a partnership with Urban Farmers PH, enhancing the diversity and variety of produce. Apart from farmyard staples such as tomatoes, okra, and ampalaya, th...

Keep on reading: SMC expands urban farming initiative