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Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Thursday, January 13, 2022 brought to you by Wilcon Depot, the country's leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer. Shop conveniently 24/7 with Wilcon online store. Just go to shop.wilcon.com.ph.

READ: 'Repeated boosters not a viable strategy'

World Health Organization or WHO experts warned on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) that repeating booster doses of the original Covid vaccines is not a viable strategy against emerging variants and called for new jabs that better protect against transmission.

READ: New variant to displace Delta in PH ‒ WHO

The WHO believes that the Omicron variant of Covid-19 will replace Delta as the prevailing variant in the Philippines.

READ: Omicron to hobble global growth ‒ World Bank

Global growth will "decelerate markedly" this year, but the Omicron variant of Covid-19 that is spreading rapidly worldwide could make the situation worse and exacerbate labor shortages and supply chain snarls, the World Bank warned on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in other news....

READ: DoJ indicts doctor tagged in Pizzaro slay

The Department of Justice or DoJ filed murder charges on Wednesday against Dr. Ramon Pangan, the alleged killer of retired Court of Appeals associate justice Normandie Pizzaro in 2020.

READ: Comelec junks Cusi's petition

On Wednesday, the Commission on Elections or Comelec denied for lack of merit the petition filed by the PDP-Laban wing, headed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, to reopen the filing of certificates of candidacy and postpone the printing of ballots for the May 9 national elections.

READ: DoLE to give cash aid to displaced workers

The Department of Labor and Employment or DoLE will give a one-time cash assistance of P5,000 to displaced workers in Metro Manila and other provinces under Alert Level 3.

READ: Schools to decide on face-to-face classes

The Commission on Higher Education said the decision to resume physical classes will be made by higher education institutions, based on the situation on the ground.

READ: 'No vax, no ride' policy enforced in NCR

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade ordered the wide enforcement of "no vaccination, no ride/no entry" policy in the National Capital Region or NCR.

In regional news,

READ: CEZA staff vow support for Lambino

The officers and staff of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority or CEZA expressed their "undivided and unwavering support" to Secretary Raul Lambino, CEZA administrator and chief executive officer, amid the charges filed against him at the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon.

In world news,

READ: Technique that stops pancreatic cancer found

Researchers at the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health at the University of Porto announced on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) the discovery of a technique that prevents the progression of pancreatic cancer.

READ: Oceans warming at record level ‒ report

The world's oceans are hotter than ever before, continuing their record-breaking temperature streak for the sixth straight year, according to a new report on global ocean warming in 2021.

In business,

READ: World Bank hikes PH growth outlook

The World Bank sees faster growth this year for the Philippine economy, owning to government and household spending.

And in sports,

READ: Grizzlies stun Warriors for 10th straight win

Ja Morant scored 29 points, including five in the final minute, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Golden State warriors 116-108 for its 10th straight win on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

Yen Makabenta, Antonio Contreras and Edcel Lagman are the featured columnists on the front page of The Times.

Makabenta accuses

READ: Disjointed DoH reporting on PH pandemic situation

Contreras calls out

READ: Punishing the innocent

Lagman criticizes

READ: The feeble defense of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In The Times editorial, it is declared that

READ: A firm stand against Myanmar junta is long overdue

Read all about it.

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With Aric John Sy Cua, Paolo Dimaapi and Christian Maghanoy, this is Dafort Villaseran reporting. Happy New Year!