Here's a recap of the things you might have missed last December:
COMELEC EXCLUDES GRACE POE FROM PRESIDENTIAL BID
Grace Poe may have been disqualified to run for the 2016 race after Commission on Elections (Comelec) second division voted to cancel her Certificate of Candidacy. The petition filed by lawyer Estrella Elamparo argued that Senator Poe did not meet the minimum residency requirements to run for president as state in the 1987 Philippine constitution was agreed upon by the Comelec’s 2nd division. Poe said she is “disappointed” in the decision but she will still continue the fight and appeal her case. The senator is also facing 3 other disqualification cases.
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-2-2015-edition/comelec-disqualifies-grace-poe
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-2-2015-edition/comelec-disqualifies-grace-poe
DUTERTE ON CURSING THE POPE, “SLIP OF THE TONGUE”?
Rodrigo Duterte said he would withdraw his bid for presidency if the body asks. This was after the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) reprimanded the candidate for ill gesture against Pope Francis in one of his interviews. Duterte added that his use of cursing was “a slip of the tongue” and that his anger was actually directed to the government and not to the Pope due to the traffic jams it caused during the Papal Visit.
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-2-2015-edition/
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-2-2015-edition/
SC HALTS “NO BIO NO BOTO” POLICY
The Supreme Court’s (SC) spokesman Theodore Te issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) to the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) “No Bio, No Boto” (No Biometrics, No Vote) policy on Tuesday, December 1. This temporarily ordered the Comelec not to deactivate the registration of 2.5 million voters who failed to have their biometrics taken for the 2016 elections. The TRO was filed by militant groups and other petitioners arguing that the policy will prohibit millions of voters who were unable to have their biometrics registered on time. The Comelec clarified on November 3 that voters with incomplete biometrics data will be allowed to vote in May 2016.
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-2-2015-edition/
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-2-2015-edition/
GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION TACKLED IN COP21
More than 150 government leaders and heads of state converged in Paris to launch COP21 which opened the UN Conference on Climate Change. The meeting comprises two weeks of high-level climate change talks with the aim of getting nations to sign a long-term deal to reduce global carbon emissions. Some of the speakers were from the world's biggest emitters of greenhouse gases. Others represented countries that are on the receiving end of global warming.
Source: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/newsroomtokyo/aired/20151201.html
Source: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/newsroomtokyo/aired/20151201.html
MISS PHILIPPINES UNIVERSE CROWNING MIX-UP
Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach was crowned Miss Universe 2015 on Sunday, December 20 (Monday, December 21 in Manila) at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. The moment was not only hers to enjoy as a mix-up occured. First runner-up, Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez, was announced as the winner by host Steve Harvey. After a few minutes Harvey went back the stage to take back the said announcement which was a "horrible mistake" on his part. Second runner-up was Miss USA, Olivia Jordan.
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-21-2015-edition/philippines-pia-wurtzbach-is-miss-universe-2015
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-21-2015-edition/philippines-pia-wurtzbach-is-miss-universe-2015
CHINA ADOPTS FIRST COUNTER-TERRORISM LAW
China adopted its first counter-terrorism law on December 27. The early drafts of the bill attracted strong criticism for provisions which may tighten media controls and threaten the intellectual property of foreign firms. The formulation of the law comes as Beijing wants to seriously act upon ethnic violence in its Xinjiang region. Its hard-hitting campaign would try to tighten control over political rebellions online and on the ground. However, the details of the bill were not immediately available for public viewing. The bill was approved by the standing committee of the rubber-stamp legislature the National People's Congress.
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-28-2015-edition/china-adopt-counter-terrorism-law
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-28-2015-edition/china-adopt-counter-terrorism-law
FILIPINOS CAMP OUT ON DISPUTED ISLAND TO SUPPORT PH CLAIMS
Almost 50 young Filipinos camped out on a remote Philippine-held island in the West Philippine Sea to make a stand against China's claim to most of the waterway. This was reported by officials on Sunday, December 27. The government had opposed the landing which was initiated by a former navy officer and let these people to stay there. However, President Benigno Aquino III's communications secretary, Herminio Coloma Jr. said on the same day that it understood the group's intentions.
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-28-2015-edition/
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-28-2015-edition/
CHINA ENDS ONE-CHILD POLICY
China finally ended its one child policy on December 27 in its attempt to cope with an ageing population and decreasing number of workforce. With the signing into law of this bill, it now allows all married couples to have a second child. The change will take effect from January 1, 2016. The plan was earlier announced on October by the ruling Communist Party.
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-28-2015-edition/
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-28-2015-edition/
IRAN OFFICIAL CALLS FOR OPPOSITION TO 'DISCRIMINATORY' US VISA RULES
A top Iranian parliamentary official has written to his counterparts in Europe, China and Russia calling on them to oppose "discriminatory" new US visa regulations. A bill passed by Congress this month bans citizens from 38 European countries from traveling to the United States without a visa if they have previously visited Iran, Iraq, Syria and Sudan since 2011. It also requires a visa for citizens of those countries if they are dual nationals of any of the 4 target nations. Tehran says the new regulations fly in the face of its landmark nuclear deal struck with major powers, including the United States, in July.
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-28-2015-edition/
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-28-2015-edition/
POE REMAINS AS OFFICIAL CANDIDATE FOR 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
It was a holiday gift for Senator Grace Poe as the Supreme Court overruled the Comelec second division's decision on cancellation of Poe's certificate of candidacy for president. The senator called it a "just and compassionate decision," adding that she is confident the high court will uphold foundlings' rights and "look into the facts" of her residency. The Comelec, meanwhile, said it will comply with the SC ruling.
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-29-2015-edition/
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-29-2015-edition/
OVER 50 KILLED IN NIGERIA
A two-day wave of attacks in northeastern Nigeria left more than 50 people dead. The attacks, blamed on terrorist group Boko Haram, started on Christmas – just days before the Nigerian government's December 31 deadline to end the insurgency.
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-29-2015-edition/over-50-killed-in-nigeria
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-29-2015-edition/over-50-killed-in-nigeria
FRANCE HAILS RAMADI'S LIBERATION FROM ISIS
French President Francois Hollande congratulated Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi after the Iraqi army liberated Ramadi town from the Islamic State. Hollande called it "the most important victory yet" against the terror group.
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-29-2015-edition/over-50-killed-in-nigeria
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-29-2015-edition/over-50-killed-in-nigeria
SWS: 92% OF FILIPINOS HOPEFUL FOR 2016
Despite the political controversies and natural disasters that rocked the Philippines in 2015, most Filipinos are entering 2016 with hope, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. The survey, conducted from December 5 to 8 with 1,200 adult respondents, showed 92% of Filipinos are hopeful about 2016, while 8% are entering the coming year with fear. The latest figure is just one percentage point lower than the 93% who entered 2015 with hope. The number of Filipinos who are entering the new year with fear also rose slightly. Last year, 6% of respondents reported entering 2015 with fear.
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-30-2015-edition/sws-filipinos-hopeful-2016
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-30-2015-edition/sws-filipinos-hopeful-2016
FILIPINO EXECUTED IN SAUDI ARABIA
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that a 35-year-old Filipino was executed in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, December 29, due to murder with robbery charges. The convicted Filipino, Joselito Lidasan Zapanta, was a father of two. Jose said Zapanta “was convicted for murder with robbery on April 13, 2010, by the Riyadh Grand Court.” The Filipino “was sentenced to death after the family of the victim refused to execute an affidavit of forgiveness (tanazul) in exchange for blood money.
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-30-2015-edition/filipino-executed-saudi-arabia
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-30-2015-edition/filipino-executed-saudi-arabia
IRAN, DAYS AWAY FROM NUCLEAR DEAL IMPLEMENTATION
Iran said Tuesday, December 29, it had entered the final days of completing its commitments under a landmark international deal to curb its atomic program after it shipped low-enriched uranium to Russia. Iran's atomic energy agency affirmed that 11 tons of uranium materials were sent to Russia on Monday, a move US Secretary of State John Kerry said was "significant progress" under the July 14 nuclear agreement between Iran and 6 major powers. By doing so Iran has now vastly depleted a stockpile of uranium that, were it enriched to higher purities, could have been used in developing a nuclear weapon, a goal the Islamic republic has denied pursuing.
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-30-2015-edition/iran-day-away-nuclear-power-implementation
Source: http://www.rappler.com/thewrap/daily-news-highlights-december-30-2015-edition/iran-day-away-nuclear-power-implementation