Life on Mars: simulating Red Planet base in Israeli desert
AFP PHOTO Israeli astronaut Alon Tenzer prepaers his spacesuit before starting a training mission for planet Mars at a site that simulates an off-site station at the Ramon Crater in Mitzpe Ramon in Israel's southern Negev desert on October 10, 2021. AFP PHOTOMITZPE RAMON, Israel: Inside a huge crater in Israel's sun-baked Negev desert, a team wearing space suits ventures forth on a mission to simulate conditions on Mars. Visually, the surrounding desert resembles the Red Planet with its stony wilderness and orange hues, though thankfully not in terms of atmospheric conditions. NASA envisions the first human mission to Mars will launch in 2030. "I believe the very first human to walk on Mars is already born and we are the ship-builders to enable this journey."
Source:Manila Times
October 11, 2021 11:48 UTC
Moreno’s camp hits #WithdrawIsko: He is the winnable, qualified bet
MANILA, Philippines — Supporters of Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso have shot down the #WithdrawIsko movement on social media, asserting that the actor-turned-politician has no reason to drop out of the 2022 presidential race because he is the “winnable” and “qualified” candidate. Moreno and Ong will run for president and vice president, respectively, next year under the Aksyon Demokratiko party. The Manila City mayor also poked fun at “#WithdrawIsko,” asking if critics were referring to the withdrawal of his salary. But aside from political parties, Moreno’s campaign team said that labor sectors and other trade unions also back Moreno’s candidacy. “Mayor Isko’s supporters come from established political parties that included the Nacionalista Party, PDP-Laban, National Unity Party, Lakas-CMD, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, Nationalist People’s Coalition, and the Liberal Party,” Moreno’s campaign team said.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 11:48 UTC
PH Navy’s first ever surface-to-air missiles delivered
The missiles were delivered at the Subic Bay International Airport on Friday (Oct. 8), the Navy said in a statement. The Navy said the missiles will bolster air warfare capability and will boost maritime operations of the two warships. “Surface-to-air missiles are among the primary weapons of FF150 and FF151 that bolster the PN’s air warfare capability,” Navy public affairs chief Cdr. The Rizal-class warships were built by South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries and were delivered to the Philippines in 2020 and early 2021. The Navy is also expecting surface-to-surface missiles from South Korea’s LIG Nex 1 in early 2022.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 11:26 UTC
Merck seeks FDA authorization for Covid treatment pill
This handout photo obtained May 26, 2021, courtesy of Pharmaceutical company Merck shows capsules of the experimental antiviral drug Molnupiravir. Merck has submitted the application for molnupiravir, which it said earlier this month was shown to reduce hospitalizations by 50 percent. It said it was working "with regulatory agencies worldwide to submit applications for emergency use or marketing authorization in the coming months." "That is what our teams have done by submitting this application for molnupiravir to the FDA within 10 days of receiving the data," he added. Of the patients who received molnupiravir, 7.3 percent were hospitalized by day 29, compared to 14.1 percent of those on a placebo — a relative risk reduction of around 50 percent.
Source:Manila Times
October 11, 2021 11:15 UTC
Jake Cuenca rapped for disobedience, reckless imprudence – police
MANILA, Philippines — Actor Jake Cuenca is facing complaints of disobedience and reckless imprudence over a road accident in Mandaluyong City over the weekend, Eastern Police District (EPD) Director Brig. Kanina po, by way of regular filing, nasampahan ng Disobedience and Reckless Imprudence si Jake Cuenca.” Bacay said. Earlier, by way of regular filing, Disobedience and Reckless Imprudence complaints were lodged against Jake Cuenca.) Previous reports indicated that Cuenca on Sunday allegedly fled a road mishap that involved a police vehicle in Mandaluyong City. READ: Paulo Avelino defends Jake Cuenca on Mandaluyong road incident issueINQUIRER.net tried to seek PNP’s comment on Avelino’s assertions but has yet to receive a response on the matter.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 10:30 UTC
Legarda wants stronger Mental Health Care Act implementation amid rising suicide rates
MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker has sought a more robust implementation of the Mental Health Care Act (MHCA) after official numbers showed suicide incidents increasing by more than half in 2020. According to her, despite improving awareness about mental health in recent years, it is still one aspect often neglected by authorities and society. “Adding to the woes of those who are suffering from mental health illnesses is the shortage of qualified mental health professionals as well as the stigma being associated with it,” she said. “This mental health intervention would usher in a new chapter in mental health care policy and service delivery in the Philippines as it would integrate mental health in all health services and policy initiatives,” she added. READ: CHR wants greater attention, budget for mental health amid pandemicREAD: On World Suicide Prevention Day, CHR warns of brewing mental health pandemicREAD: Mental health of students, teachers a ‘big challenge’ amid pandemic – DepEd chiefSubscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 10:07 UTC
DOH says 36 more die due to COVID, lowest since Aug 16; toll now at 39,660
The logged 36 additional fatalities – lowest since August 16 – were significantly lesser than the tally of deaths reported in the past few days which were consistently above 100. No death cases, however, were recorded on October 5 and 6 due to technical issues in the DOH’s repository of COVID-19 data called CovidKAYA. ADVERTISEMENT“The 36 deaths reported reflecting the actual death counts based on today’s list. No backlogs nor technical issues were encountered in today’s extraction,” explained the DOH when asked whether the lower number of deaths meant another technical issue. The total 39,660 death cases account for 1.48 percent of the total 2,674,814 confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide as of October 11.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 09:22 UTC
Negros Occidental groups form coalitions for Robredo presidential bid
BACOLOD CITY––The Negros for Leni (N4L), composed of private sector organizations and civil society, has been created in Negros Occidental to support the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo. A planters association and two cooperatives announced Sunday, Oct. 10, their support for the presidential bid of Robredo. At least 25 youth organizations in Negros also issued a statement of support for Robredo’s presidential bid. The Negros Youth for Leni, an alliance of youth organizations and leaders, believes that a Robredo presidency will help Filipinos heal from the COVID-19 pandemic, corrupt governance, and national division, the N4L statement said. A group of alumni, students, and faculty from Augustinian schools also issued a statement of support for Robredo’s presidential run in 2022.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 07:52 UTC
China lodges stern representations with Australia on Taiwan comments
BEIJING — The Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday that China has lodged stern representations with Australia over “inappropriate” comments by former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott about Taiwan. Abbott last week visited Taiwan, which is claimed by China, in a personal capacity, met Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, and told a security forum that China may lash out with its economy slowing and finances “creaking”. ADVERTISEMENT“The relevant words and actions by the Australian politician go against the One China Principle and send a seriously wrong signal,” Zhao Lijian, a spokesman at the Chinese foreign ministry, told a regular media briefing. We have made stern representations to Australia.”RELATED STORIESTaiwan applies to join Pacific trade deal days after ChinaAustralia ‘will always be Australia,’ PM responds to China grievancesSubscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy PolicyRead Next
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 07:30 UTC
Shrieking fans, mostly women, chase Isko in Bacolod
BACOLOD CITY––Shrieking fans met last Saturday, Oct. 9, Manila mayor and Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso at the Manokan Country in this city. Moreno, a former movie actor, stepped out of the Manokan Country eatery to greet his fans, mostly women, who chased him for selfies. On a borrowed private plane, a source said Moreno made brief stops Saturday in this city, Cebu City, and Angeles City in Pampanga. Moreno met with Bomber Zayco, a cousin of Kabankalan Councilor Miguel Zayco, the district chair of Aksyon Demokratiko, who is running for vice mayor of Kabankalan City, and a member of the Yanson family, the source said. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy PolicyRead Next
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 07:30 UTC
Philippine president congratulates journalist Maria Ressa on Nobel Prize
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s office on Monday congratulated journalist Maria Ressa for winning the Nobel Peace Prize, calling it “a victory for a Filipina” for which it was happy to see. READ: Filipino journalist Maria Ressa one of two 2021 Nobel Peace Prize awardees“Of course it is true there are individuals who feel Maria Ressa still has to clear her name before the courts,” he said, in the first comment on Friday’s award from Duterte’s camp. It was the first Nobel Peace Prize for the Philippines and the first for journalists since the German Carl von Ossietzky won it in 1935. A journalist who claims a chilling effect should not be a journalist,” he added. According to the Nobel Prize organizers, Ressa and Muratov were recognized for their “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.”EDV/KGASubscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 07:18 UTC
India, China trade blame for break down in border talks
Thousands of Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in a high-altitude face-off in India’s Ladakh region since last year, despite the two militaries holding more than a dozen rounds of talks to diffuse the situation. Long said he hoped India would not “misjudge the situation” and would work with China to maintain peace in the area. Deployments by the two sides were enhanced after clashes in June 2020, when 20 Indian soldiers were killed when soldiers fought with iron rods and stones in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley. China also suffered an unspecified number of casualties, in the first combat losses for both countries on the border in 45 years. The two countries, which fought a border war in 1962, have over-lapping claims to large areas of territory along the frontier.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 07:07 UTC
UK police: no further action over Prince Andrew, Epstein allegations
LONDON — British police said on Monday they would be taking no further action after conducting a review of evidence relating to sex crime allegations against Queen Elizabeth’s son, Prince Andrew, and the late U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein. She also said Andrew, 61, abused her at Epstein’s mansion in Manhattan, and on Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The British royal, the ninth in line to the throne, has always denied those allegations or having any relationship with Giuffre. The Sunday Times had reported this week that London police had spoken to Giuffre regarding her allegations. Last week, lawyers for Andrew, the queen’s second son, were given permission to examine a confidential 2009 agreement between Epstein and Giuffre which they hope will absolve him from all liability in the case.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 06:56 UTC
Madagascar prays for rain as UN warns of ‘climate change famine’
This is the fourth year that drought has devastated Aly’s home in southern Madagascar. Climate change is battering the Indian Ocean island and several U.N. agencies have warned in the past few months of a “climate change famine” here. “Climate change strongly impacts and strongly accentuates the famine in Madagascar,” President Andry Rajoelina said while visiting the worst-affected areas earlier this month. Half a million children are expected to be acutely malnourished in southern Madagascar, 110,000 severely so, the U.N. Children’s Fund says, causing developmental delays, disease and death. Nutriset, a French company that produces emergency food Plumpy’Nut, opened a plant in southern Madagascar last week.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 06:56 UTC
AstraZeneca drug cocktail succeeds in late-stage study to treat COVID-19
AstraZeneca’s experimental COVID-19 antibody drug cocktail succeeded in reducing severe disease or death in non-hospitalized patients in a late-stage study, the British drugmaker said on Monday. The drug, called AZD7442, reduced the risk of developing severe COVID-19 or death by 50% in patients who had been symptomatic for seven days or less, meeting the main goal of the trial. ADVERTISEMENT“An early intervention with our antibody can give a significant reduction in progression to severe disease, with continued protection for more than six months,” said Mene Pangalos, executive vice president, biopharmaceuticals R&D at AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca is also developing the drug cocktail as a therapy to protect people who do not have a strong enough immune response to COVID-19 vaccines. It requested emergency approval from U.S. regulators for its use as a prevention drug last week.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 06:45 UTC