Education plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of any nation. The quality of education depends significantly on the caliber of its educators. After all, as it has been widely said, the quality of education cannot exceed the quality of teachers. This has been emphasized in a recent World Bank report pointing to poor teacher quality as a major factor in our country's dismal performance in international education assessments. The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EdCom II) was convened this year, emerging as a crucial institution mandated to conduct a comprehensive national assessment and evaluation of the Philippine education sector by virtue of Republic Act No.

https://opinion.inquirer.net/166825/edcom-ii-and-the-future-of-teacher-quality

#inquirer

Motorsport Gol Gol's Sam Pretscherer in action at the Blueberry hill, hill climb in Casterton. Picture: Casterton News A GOL GOL young gun climbed to the top in Casterton on April 1 competing in and winning his first Hill Climb at Blueberry Hill. Against a field of 70 riders, Sam Pretscherer managed to finish first in all three of the events which included the 250cc and under class, the over 250cc class and the prestigious top-10 shootout, for which he won $3000.

https://www.sunraysiadaily.com.au/motorsport/6132131/sam-is-boss-of-hill-climb-at-blueberry-hill

#sunraysiadaily

Nicholas Company Inc. trimmed its stake in Visa Inc. ( NYSE:V – Get Rating ) by 0.0% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 266,170 shares of the credit-card processor's stock after selling 100 shares during the period. Visa accounts for approximately 1.2% of Nicholas Company Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest position. Nicholas Company Inc.'s holdings in Visa were worth $55,299,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company.

https://www.dailypolitical.com/2023/05/15/nicholas-company-inc-reduces-holdings-in-visa-inc-nysev.html

#dailypolitical

Bat influenza A viruses use MHC-II for cell entry; this study shows that highly conserved amino acids within MHC-II are key for infection and provide an explanation for the ability of these viruses to target MHC-II from a broad range of vertebrates, including humans

https://www.miragenews.com/bat-influenza-viruses-exploit-mhc-ii-for-cell-1042231/

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Global shipments of personal computers (PCs) fell by 29 percent in the first quarter of 2023 due to weak demand, excess inventory and a deteriorating macroeconomic climate, with Apple Inc taking the largest hit, market research firm IDC said. In the report published Sunday, the International Data Corp (IDC) said global PC shipments numbered 56.9 million in the first quarter of this year, down from 80.2 million in the same period last year. The shipments extended a similar year-on-year decline of 28.

https://business.inquirer.net/395184/global-pc-shipments-slide-in-q1-apple-takes-biggest-hit-idc

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FERRY RIDE TO MALAYSIA The MV Prince Khalil, a fast craft, starts plying the route between Bongao, the capital town of Tawi-Tawi, and Lahad Datu in Sabah, Malaysia, in September. Officials are still preparing for the launch of the wooden-hulled cargo ship called 'kumpit' to ply the same route in the next few weeks. —TAWI-TAWI GOV. YSHMAEL SALI FACEBOOK photo DAVAO CITY—Smuggling and incidence of human trafficking are expected to go down along the country's southern backdoor with the opening of a new sea route that would formally link the capital town of Bongao in Tawi-Tawi province and Lahad Datu town of Sabah in Malaysia, an official of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1842847/trafficking-smuggling-seen-to-ease-as-tawi-tawi-sabah-link-opens

#inquirer

Earth Hour 2023 in BerlinThe Brandenburg Gate is illuminated moments prior the switch off of its illumination and the beginning of the so called Earth Hour in Berlin, Germany, 25 March 2023. Landmark buildings across Germany turn off their lights for one hour to take part in the Earth Hour movement as a sign of their commitment to the planet. Earth Hour is an annual event, organized by the WWF World Wide Fund for Nature, in which lights are switched off in major cities around the world to draw attention to energy consumption and its environmental effects.

https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/091/0009421736?sid=104

#naver

DEI ( DEI ) traded 0.1% higher against the U.S. dollar during the one day period ending at 13:00 PM Eastern on April 8th. DEI has a market cap of $1.44 billion and $81.22 worth of DEI was traded on exchanges in the last 24 hours. In the last seven days, DEI has traded 9.3% lower against the U.S. dollar. One DEI token can now be purchased for $0.25 or 0.00000887 BTC on cryptocurrency exchanges. Here's how similar cryptocurrencies have performed in the last 24 hours: Dogecoin (DOGE) traded up 0.

https://www.dailypolitical.com/2023/04/08/dei-price-down-9-3-over-last-7-days-dei.html

#dailypolitical

Temperatures in parts of Greece expected to mount to 43 degrees celcius this Thursday. Firefighters in the country continue to battle wildfires west of Athens, and the EU is dispatching teams to help. FRANCE 24's Nicholas Rushworth tells us more.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/greece-heatwave-wildfires-raze-forests-spur-evacuations/video/db7315c152812bd7941d4b9aae93e0ae

#theaustralian

MANILA, Philippines — Carolyn Arguillas — a veteran journalist and journalism professor who served as MindaNews' editor-in-chief until June 1 — has been conferred the 2023 Outstanding Peace Journalism Award from the Luxembourg Peace Prize. Now MindaNews' special reports editor and head of its Publications, Archives, and Library, Arguillas was awarded the peace prize for her contribution 'towards a better reporting and understanding of Mindanao.' 'With her unwavering commitment to journalism ethics and her contributions to constructive and inclusive media coverage, Carolyn has become an influential figure in the pursuit of peace in the Philippines,' wrote the Schengen Peace Foundation, the awarding body of the Luxembourg Peace Prize.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1787523/fwd-mindanao-veteran-journalist-wins-international-peace-prize

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Solana ( SOL ) traded up 3.6% against the U.S. dollar during the 24-hour period ending at 23:00 PM E.T. on June 16th. During the last seven days, Solana has traded 7.1% lower against the U.S. dollar. Solana has a total market capitalization of $6.11 billion and approximately $233.64 million worth of Solana was traded on exchanges in the last day. One Solana coin can currently be bought for approximately $15.31 or 0.00058324 BTC on exchanges. Here's how other cryptocurrencies have performed during the last day: KILT Protocol (KILT) traded down 0.

https://www.dailypolitical.com/2023/06/16/solana-sol-reaches-24-hour-trading-volume-of-233-64-million.html

#dailypolitical

Jordan Poole saved 19 of his team-high 33 points for the fourth quarter, Stephen Curry broke a late tie with two of his 29 and the Golden State Warriors overcame a 46-point performance by Joel Embiid to topple the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 120-112 on Friday night in San Francisco. Klay Thompson chipped in with 21 points for the Warriors (39-36), who won their third straight overall and ninth in a row at home to maintain their No. 6 position in the Western Conference playoff race. Tobias Harris had 23 points and Tyrese Maxey 21 for the 76ers (49-24), who led by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter despite the absence of James Harden, out with a sore Achilles.

https://sports.inquirer.net/502455/nba-warriors-overcome-joel-embiid-76ers

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Mount Sinai Queens today announced the opening of a new cardiac catheterization lab that will provide rapid and comprehensive care to hundreds of heart patients every year for life-threatening emergencies and scheduled cardiac procedures. The first cardiac catheterization lab in Astoria, it will transform treatment for patients in the growing communities of western Queens by vastly improving access to cardiac care in the borough and beyond. Click here to watch a video on the new Cath Lab Atul Kukar, DO, has been named the Director of the Mount Sinai Queens Catheterization Lab and leads a team of 14 specialists including interventional cardiologists, nurses, and technicians.

https://www.miragenews.com/mount-sinai-queens-unveils-new-cardiac-cath-lab-1044769/

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By AP News Published Sep 22, 2023 11:43 am MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minneapolis officials intend to transfer two city-owned properties to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa, which plans to build an addiction treatment center at the site. Mayor Jacob Frey announced the plan Thursday to sell the two parcels to the Red Lake Band for $1 each, noting the Native American community is disproportionately affected by addiction. 'We're partnering directly with a community that has been disproportionately harmed,' Frey said.

https://www.mymotherlode.com/news/national/3232732/minneapolis-plans-to-transfer-city-property-to-native-american-tribe-for-treatment-center.html

#mymotherlode

Heartland Bank & Trust Co acquired a new stake in Stryker Co. ( NYSE:SYK – Get Rating ) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 4,043 shares of the medical technology company's stock, valued at approximately $1,154,000. Stryker accounts for approximately 0.9% of Heartland Bank & Trust Co's investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business.

https://www.dailypolitical.com/2023/06/26/heartland-bank-trust-co-acquires-shares-of-4043-stryker-co-nysesyk.html

#dailypolitical

Opposition leader makes irrational demands in tug-of-war with prosecution Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung's hunger strike is irrational and unjustifiable.He suddenly declared he would go on an indefinite hunger strike on Thursday, just a day before the National Assembly opened its regular session.Whenever he opens his mouth, out come concerns about the livelihoods of the public. But in the Assembly, where the party he leads holds a legislative majority, he behaves like he does not care.

https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/044/0000249652?sid=104

#naver

MANILA, Philippines — While currently at-large, former Maimbung, Sulu vice mayor Pando Mudjasan has not come out in the peripheral areas where his men and government troops figured in a deadly gunfight that foiled his arrest for murder and other criminal charges, Philippine National Police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said Tuesday. 'Sa ngayon po, ang information pa rin po ng ating commander-on-the-ground ay nandoon pa rin po siya sa peripheral areas sa kung saan nangyari nga po yung firefight between sa government forces at sa grupo nga po ni Mudjasan,' Fajardo said in an ambush interview on Tuesday.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1793927/pnp-still-tracking-down-ex-maimbung-town-vice-mayor-in-sulu-after-gunfight

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Armbruster Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Schwab International Equity ETF ( NYSEARCA:SCHF – Get Rating ) by 0.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 139,290 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 1,197 shares during the quarter. Schwab International Equity ETF comprises 1.2% of Armbruster Capital Management Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest position. Armbruster Capital Management Inc.

https://www.dailypolitical.com/2023/05/28/armbruster-capital-management-inc-purchases-1197-shares-of-schwab-international-equity-etf-nysearcaschf.html

#dailypolitical

The next green energy revolution may begin below our feet. That's the idea behind a new CU Boulder effort that will explore the possibility of coaxing hydrogen from rocks to provide clean energy around the globe. The three-year project is supported by a new grant from the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment . Researchers will drill into the Earth to kick-start the production of a commodity known as "geologic" hydrogen, a potential source for sustainable power. "There's been a huge growth of companies in recent years who are zooming around the globe looking for existing subsurface deposits of geologic hydrogen that they can tap into," said Alexis Templeton, a professor in the Department of Geological Sciences who leads the project.

https://www.miragenews.com/new-project-to-explore-stimulating-geologic-1086509/

#miragenews

click to enlarge Daria Bishop Menghan Wang of Montpelier showing her freshly foraged bounty A late April nature walk in Burlington's Intervale started out unexpectedly high-tech. As the 18 participants gathered, Duncan Murdoch, the 's natural areas stewardship coordinator, asked them to scan a QR code with their phones. Everyone stared at their screens for a few minutes reading the 's ethical foragers pledge . The pledge states that "foraging for highly nutritious food and medicine is encouraged" on the roughly 350 acres of floodplain land managed by the nonprofit.

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/spring-foraging-in-burlingtons-intervale-beyond-ramps-and-fiddleheads/Content?oid=38142248

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