Inquirer Breaking News

NEW DELHI - Shares of Adani Group companies extended declines in Mumbai on Friday, with their market value now more than halved to less than $100 billion after a critical report by a U.S. short-seller last week sparked a market rout. Hindenburg Research questioned the Indian conglomerate's debt levels and use of tax havens. Adani called the report baseless and said its financials remain strong, yet the ensuing stock market crisis has sparked broader concerns of possible systemic impact. Lawmakers have called for a wider probe into the matter, and sources have told Reuters that the central bank has asked lenders for details of their exposure to the group. In one of the bigges...

Keep on reading: India’s Adani shares nosedive as investors fret about Hindenburg fallout

LeBron James continued to close in on the NBA's all-time scoring record as the Los Angeles Lakers pulled out a thrilling 112-111 victory over Indiana on Thursday. James, who entered the game needing 89 points to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league's all-time leading scorer, put up 26 points. He now needs 63 to surpass Abdul-Jabbar -- who has held the record since before James was born. The Lakers had trailed all night when James's three-pointer gave them their first lead of the contest with 2:35 to play. Teammate Anthony Davis put them up 112-111 with 35.3 seconds remaining and followed up with a big block on Tyrese Haliburton as the Lakers escaped with the win. The La...

Keep on reading: NBA: Anthony Davis, LeBron James lead Lakers rally past Pacers

  MANILA, Philippines --- A measure seeking to legalize ukay-ukay or imported second-hand garments and goods has been lodged in the Senate. Senate Bill No. 1778, filed by Senator Raffy Tulfo in late January, aims to repeal Republic Act No. 4635, which restricts commercial ukay-ukay importation. "The 'ukay-ukay' industry has evolved as part of the Filipino Culture. It goes without saying that the revenue-generating industry hasgenerated jobs for our fellow Filipinos. However, it must be regulated by the proper government agencies to ensure its compliance with applicable laws," the measure's explanatory note read. "Pursuant to the proposed bill, the P18 billion industr...

Keep on reading: Tulfo bill wants ukay-ukay legalization

James Cameron alone has made three of the top five highest grossing films at the global box office. Released in cinemas the week of December 146, 2022, "Avatar: The Way of the Water" has earned $2.128 billion in revenue, according to Box Office Mojo. This puts it in fourth place in the world rankings, just behind another James Cameron film, "Titanic" and its $2.194 billion in revenue. The first opus of the "Avatar" saga, released in cinemas in 2009, still leads the world rankings with $2.923 billion in revenue. The Russo brothers follow closely in second place with the legendary Marvel superheroes in "Avengers: Endgame" and its $2.79 billion in revenue. The sequel to the Americ...

Keep on reading: ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ on track to set more records

SYDNEY - Asian shares turned lower and the dollar regained some of its footing on Friday, as disappointing earnings from U.S. tech giants undermined sentiment ahead of a key U.S. non-farm payrolls report. Overnight, markets sensed the end of the massive global tightening cycle, after policymakers in Britain and Europe signalled their intention to pause, sending local bonds rallying and currencies lower. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased 0.5 percent on Friday, dragged down by a 0.9 percent slump in Chinese bluechips and a 1.2- percent tumble in Hong Kong's Hang Seng index. Japan's Nikkei outperformed, rising 0.6 percent. Disappointment over e...

Keep on reading: Asian stocks pull back, dollar regains footing ahead of U.S. payrolls data

MANILA, Philippines --- The United States (US) Embassy is inviting Filipino students who are in Grade 11 to join this year's College Prep Program. According to the embassy, the College Prep Program is an 18-month virtual program with "personalized mentorship and support initiative for young Filipinos interested in applying to colleges and universities in the United States." It also offers "extensive advising and resources for prospective students." Grade 11 students with "excellent grades, active participation in extracurricular activities, leadership potential, and a family income" of less than P1.25 million a year are qualified to apply for the program. Applicatio...

Keep on reading: US Embassy invites Grade 11 Filipino students for College Prep Program

WASHINGTON - U.S. job growth likely remained strong in January amid a persistently resilient labor market, but an anticipated further slowdown in wage gains should give the Federal Reserve some comfort in its fight against inflation. The Labor Department's closely watched employment report on Friday is also expected to show the unemployment rate ticking up to 3.6 percent last month from a more than 50-year low of 3.5 percent in December. It would allow the U.S. central bank, focused on wage inflation, to maintain a moderate pace of rate hikes and reduce the risk of a recession this year. Fed Chair Jerome Powell told reporters on Wednesday that "the economy can return to 2 percent i...

Keep on reading: Strong U.S. job growth expected in January; wages seen cooling

Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Electrical Engineering (BEE) and the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (IIEE) awarded SM Prime malls' Certificates of Compliance to RA 7920 or the Electrical Engineering Law and Plaque of Appreciation, respectively. Awarding ceremony was done in the SM Prime Head Office in Pasay City on January 31, 2022. The awards were received by managers and executives of the company headed by Engr. Teodoro "Boyet" S. Bautista, VP of EDD Operations and Engr. Liza B. Silerio, VP of Corporate Compliance. SM Prime was recognized for the employment of electrical engineers which even exceeded the minimum requirement of t...

Keep on reading: SM Prime awarded for Compliance

While Iceland has been home to a museum dedicated to the penis for nearly three decades, the Vagina Museum in London is much more recent. And, although it only started out in 2017, this establishment celebrating the female reproductive system has now closed its doors and faces an uncertain future. On January 30, the Vagina Museum announced on Twitter that it had been given notice to leave the premises it has occupied since last year in Bethnal Green, East London. "We've always been aware that we may be asked to leave with very short notice. We're disappointed that it has come so soon," the museum explained on the social network. As a result, the museum closed its doors to the pu...

Keep on reading: London’s Vagina Museum closes its door with an uncertain future

  MANILA, Philippines --- Militant fishers' group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday contradicted the claim of local government units (LGUs) that Manila Bay is already a "dead" body of water. "Taliwas sa sinasabi ng mga LGU, sagana pa sa iba't-ibang klaseng yamang-dagat ang Manila Bay. Katunayan, signipikanteng bilang pa ng mangingisda mula Cavite, Metro Manila, Bulacan, at Bataan ang umaasa sa pangisdaan nito," Fernando Hicap, national chairperson of Pamalakaya, said in statement. (Contrary to the claims of local officials, Manila Bay is still diverse with marine resources. In fact, a significant fishing population from Cavite...

Keep on reading: Fishers contradict LGUs’ claim that Manila Bay is ‘dead’

SINGAPORE -Oil prices were little changed on Friday, with major benchmarks headed for their second straight week of losses, as the market awaited further signs of fuel demand recovery in China to offset looming slumps in other major economies. Brent crude futures dipped 16 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $82.01 a barrel by 0445 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures slid 17 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $75.71. So far this week, Brent has dropped more than 5 percent, extending a 1- percent loss from the previous week. WTI has also fallen by nearly 5 percent, after sliding 2 percent in the prior week. Mixed signals on fuel demand recovery in China, the world's top oil ...

Keep on reading: Oil stable as market awaits signs of China demand recovery

MANILA, Philippines --- The National Economic Development Authority (Neda) Board, which is chaired by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., has approved seven "high-impact" projects under the Marcos administration. Neda Secretary Arsenio Balisacan on Friday said the approval of the projects was made during the Board's third meeting on Thursday. "These projects are expected to significantly contribute to achieving our social and economic transformation goal in the medium term," he said in a Palace briefing. Among these projects is the establishment of the University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) cancer center, which is a public-private partnership...

Keep on reading: Neda Board OKs 7 ‘high-impact’ projects

CITY OF CALAPAN --- An alleged member of the New Peoples Army (NPA) surrendered on Thursday, Feb. 2, to police in Sablayan town in Occidental Mindoro province. The Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan (Mimaropa) police regional office said in a report that Tonery Advincula Sr., 52, a member of the so-called "NPA in the Barrios," surrendered around 10 a.m. to police and the Army 76th Infantry Batallion in Barangay San Vicente. The police said Advincula Sr. belonged to the Kilusan Larangan Guerilla (KLG) of the communist Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee, which operates in Mindoro provinces Advincula, a laborer and a resident of San Vicente, will be included in the go...

Keep on reading: Alleged NPA rebel yields in Occidental Mindoro town

    MANILA, Philippines --- More than 700 aftershocks were recorded by the state seismologists as of Friday after the magnitude 6.0 earthquake which struck Davao de Oro. In its latest update, thePhilippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said there were 745 aftershocks recorded after the tremor as of 8:00 am. Phivolcs also noted that of the said aftershocks, only one was felt in the area, while the magnitude of the temblor ranges from 1.3 to 3.6. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 16 people were injured and a number of buildings destroyed due to the quake, which struck New Bataan town inDavaoDeOroon Wednesday e...

Keep on reading: More than 700 aftershocks logged after Davao de Oro earthquake

  MANILA, Philippines -- The 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck New Bataan in Davao de Oro on Wednesday left 14 schools in the area with damage, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Friday. Citing the report of its Region XI educational cluster, DepEd said it would need around P7 million to rehabilitate and reconstruct the damaged schools. The agency did not give any details as to the extent of the damage the schools sustained. DepEd spokesman Michael Poa said students affected by schools with damage will undergo alternative delivery mode or distance learning for the meantime. Temporary learning spaces will also be set up for schools with major infrastructur...

Keep on reading: DepEd: 14 schools in Davao de Oro sustain damage due to earthquake

After three years of planning and another three years of construction, Kathryn Bernardo and her family's dream home is finally nearing completion. The actress congratulated her mom Min for the milestone as the latter showed an aerial view of their new house through her Instagram page on Thursday, Feb. 2. The two-story house features large glass windows, a pool area and a spacious veranda. "Looking forward...," Min captioned her post. "Congrats mama!" Kathryn told her mom via the comments section.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Min Bernardo (@bernardomin) The...

Keep on reading: Kathryn Bernardo congratulates mom as dream home nears completion

MANILA, Philippines --- The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives has slammed the agreement to add four new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) sites in the country as it argued that the move further pushes the Philippines into the middle of the tension between the United States and China. Rep. Arlene Brosas of the Gabriela Women's Party said Friday that the expansion of US access to Philippine military bases, which brings the total Edca bases from five to nine, "practically [allows] increased US military rotational presence across the country." READ: US gets access to more PH bases "This is an alarming flashpoint in America's military expansionism in Southeas...

Keep on reading: Makabayan bloc blasts bid to expand US access to more military bases in PH

NEW YORK---With their musical dexterity and supersonic sound, JD Beck and DOMi have attracted major attention from artists ranging from Herbie Hancock to Bruno Mars, and now the jazz duo is in the hunt for Grammys glory. To watch American drummer JD Beck and French keyboardist DOMi is to submit the senses to their overwhelming speed of execution, bewildering the eye as much as the ear. "Speed is a technical resource allowing us, composers and musicians, to create a feeling and deliver an emotion," the pair told AFP in writing (they wanted to speak in one voice). "It's equally as important as articulation, dynamics, time signature and tempo, for example," they continued. "Tho...

Keep on reading: Supersonic jazz duo JD Beck and DOMi heading to the Grammys

Valentine's Day celebration may seem complex especially when it comes to deciding what to give as gifts. But don't worry, vivo got you covered with great smartphones that come with thoughtful freebies that can make you feel giddy and your loved ones happy! When you purchase any of the latest vivo smartphones worth PHP 10,000 or above from February 10, 2023, until February 19, 2023, you can get a free 24k Gold Rose Bouquet or Premium Necklace and Blue Rose Gift Box. Just imagine how much this can surprise and please your loving partners, friends, or family! Here are the instructions on how to join. Purchase a vivo smartphone worth PHP 10,000 and above SRP (vivo X80 Series 5...

Keep on reading: vivo Philippines offers a free bouquet of flowers and a premium necklace perfect for Valentine’s Day

  MANILA, Philippines --- At least two people were hurt after the human barricade that Sibuyan residents formed to stop mining operations was breached by local authorities on Friday, said environmental group Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM). Sibuyan residents have set up a human barricade due to the allegedly illegal mining operations there after the Altai Philippines Mining Company failed to show protesters the required legal documents to operate. READ: Sibuyan folk join forces, form human wall to halt mining work "Two were hurt after Sibuyonon defenders try to block mining trucks in entering the private port. Three trucks with nickel ores passed through the barricade tod...

Keep on reading: Two injured as police dispersed anti-mining human barricade in Sibuyan