Tiny nation makes big legal nod to recreational marijuana
Several other Latin American countries have legalized cannabis for medicinal use: Chile in 2015, Colombia in 2016 and Argentina, Mexico and Peru in 2017. Colombia authorized its industrial use and export for medicinal purposes in July while Mexican courts have decriminalized personal use. ADVERTISEMENTHowever, 18 states and the national capital Washington have legalized marijuana for recreational use. Thirty-six states and the capital, Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands have legalized marijuana for medical use. ElsewhereIn 2018, South Africa’s top court ruled that private, personal cannabis use by adults was legal.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 19, 2021 00:47 UTC
France hopes new vaccine pass will speed up vaccination amid Omicron spread
PARIS — France hopes that a planned new vaccine pass that will be required to enter public places will persuade more people to get inoculated against COVID-19 as the country faces a rapid spread of the Omicron variant, the health minister said on Saturday. Under current regulations, a recent negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination suffices. Veran said the government would ask MPs to also consider making the vaccine pass a requirement on trains and planes, and to make it mandatory to show a proof of identity along with the pass. Far-right Rassemblement National party leader Marine Le Pen said the proposed vaccine pass was akin to mandatory vaccination. Veran said he expected that next week France’s health authority will approve vaccination for children aged 5 to 11.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 19, 2021 00:05 UTC
Galvez: PH has enough jab supply
VACCINE czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Saturday that the Philippines has enough supply of Covid-19 vaccines amid the threat of the highly contagious Omicron strain. Galvez, chief implementer of the National Task Force Against Covid-19, said the new Omicron variant made the national vaccination campaign even more important. The National Vaccine Operations Center will continue to ensure that we have enough vaccine supply and administer it." Galvez urged all local government units to ramp up vaccination efforts after the Omicron variant was detected in the country. The Philippines has so far received 178,004,070 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, both procured and donated, since February.
Source:Manila Times
December 18, 2021 22:17 UTC
Death toll from Philippines typhoon passes 20
An aerial view of houses destroyed by Super Typhoon Rai in the Philippines. (AFP)At least 23 people have been killed in the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, officials said on Saturday (Dec 18), with "alarming" reports of destruction on islands that bore the brunt of the storm. Rai was a super typhoon when it smashed into the popular tourist island of Siargao on Thursday, packing maximum sustained winds of 195kmh. "Walls and roofs were torn and blown off by Odette like paper," Ms. Bag-ao said, using the local name for the typhoon. Rai hit the Philippines late in the typhoon season - most cyclones typically develop between July and October.
Source:The Standard
December 18, 2021 20:30 UTC
Case of traveling skeletons: Manila Court acquits peace consultants of murder
MANILA, Philippines—A Manila court has resolved the case of “ghosts” crying for justice and “traveling skeletons” as it dismisses the murder charges against the supposed members of the communist group responsible for their death. ADVERTISEMENTA demurrer to evidence is in effect a motion to dismiss anchored on the ground that the evidence presented is insufficient. The court also dismissed the 15 counts of murder against the following couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, Lino Salazar, Presillano Beringel, Luzviminda Orillo, Muco Lubong, and Felix Dumali. The court also noted that the testimonies of the witnesses are “palpably unreliable” due to “overwhelmingly numerous” contradictions. RELATED STORIESManila court orders arrest of CPP’s Joma, 37 others over 80s ‘purge’Red leaders arraigned for 1980s ‘purge’ killingsCourt told to proceed with hearing of murder case vs Satur Ocampo, et al.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 18, 2021 18:57 UTC
Robredo sees Odette devastation everywhere in Cebu
Robredo sees Odette devastation everywhere in CebuVice President Leni Robredo provides updates from Bohol, where she met with local officials, first responders and residents affected by #OdettePH. MANILA, Philippines — After visiting Bohol on Friday, Vice President Leni Robredo was in Cebu yesterday, witnessing first-hand the devastation wrought by Typhoon Odette as she continued to assess the needs of storm victims. Earlier, Robredo flew to Bohol to assess how her office can assist areas affected by the typhoon. Last Friday, Robredo’s spokesman Barry Gutierrez said the Vice President will also visit other areas affected by the typhoon, including Leyte, Surigao and Negros provinces. Robredo and fellow presidential aspirant Manny Pacquiao followed through with their commitment to pool resources to help those affected by the typhoon.
Source:Philippine Star
December 18, 2021 17:32 UTC
Pacman calls for help in Odette relief efforts
Pacman calls for help in Odette relief effortsResidents walk past their destroyed homes in Hernani town, Eastern Samar province on December 17, 2021, a day after Super Typhoon Rai pummelled the southern and central regions of the Philippines. Using the hashtag OdettePH on Twitter, Pacquiao made the appeal for them to work together to help the typhoon victims. The boxing champ also made a call for help to his friends and supporters who immediately responded, volunteering their aircraft to transport relief goods to the affected areas. As of press time, three planes, including a Boeing 737 and an A320 airbus, were being filled with relief goods in Manila. “We are closely monitoring the developments in Typhoon Odette and we will see what the affected communities need the most.
Source:Philippine Star
December 18, 2021 17:30 UTC
Passengers stranded in Surigao
Passengers were unable to fly to Manila on Saturday as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAAP) was still assessing the damage to the airport brought about by Typhoon "Odette" (international name: "Rai). The CAAP said the airport was temporarily closed to make the necessary repairs and ensure safety of operations. Apolonio said most airports in the provinces hit by Odette suffered problems in radio communication and power supply. Meanwhile, passengers of Cebu Pacific (CEB) that were affected by flight cancellations due to closure of airports have been informed via contact details provided in the booking. CEB management said passengers may selected their preferred option through the Manage Booking portal of the airline website (http://bit.ly/CEBmanageflight) until 30 days from date of departure.
Source:Manila Times
December 18, 2021 17:17 UTC
Suspect who slashes food stall operator with fruit knife at large
Police are now searching for a middle-age man who used a fruit knife to slash the arm of the operator of a cooked food stall at Shun Tin Estate in Sau Mau Ping on Saturday morning. The incident took place at 8.45am in the morning at the cooked food stall outside Tun Yiu House at Shun Tin Estate. The 61-year-old operator surnamed Tsang was arguing with a diner over a dispute. Then, the diner suddenly pulled out a fruit knife about eight to 10 meters long and slashed Tsang's arm. Officers are also searching for a man standing at between 1.65 and 1.7 meters with an average body build and short hair.
Source:The Standard
December 18, 2021 16:59 UTC
At least 12 killed in Pakistan gas blast
KARACHI, Pakistan — At least 12 people were killed and several more injured Saturday by a gas blast in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi, police said. Provincial police told AFP a bomb disposal squad was investigating, but “apparently the leakage of gas was the cause”. They said 12 people had been confirmed killed, and 13 were being treated for injuries. Explosions caused by faulty gas cylinders — which are used for cooking as well as in cars –- are common in Pakistan. Karachi, which is responsible for 60 percent of Pakistan’s economic output, has long endured creaky infrastructure, illegal construction, and failing municipal services.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 18, 2021 15:01 UTC
Flash flood washes away ambulance during ‘Odette’s’ onslaught
DUMAGUETE CITY — An ambulance carrying two patients was washed away by a flash flood in Bais City, Negros Oriental at the height of the onslaught of Super Typhoon Odette in the evening of Dec. 16. The driver, whom Ragay didn’t identify, decided to drive back north and planned to bring the two to the Bais District Hospital instead. The driver and the patient’s relative managed to crawl out of the vehicle and hang on to the roof of the vehicle. Bais City was placed under Storm Signal no. 4 when Odette made landfall in Negros Oriental.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 18, 2021 14:11 UTC
Jill Ejercito on chasing dream of making it in the music industry
Julienne "Jill" Ejercito, the youngest daughter of Precy Ejercito and former senator Jinggoy Estrada, sung the campaign song of her dad. "Of course I felt happy and got so excited when my mom told me that I was going to sing for my dad's campaign song. We've listened to the campaign song as sung by Jill and for a newbie singer, she did quite well. "Ang Huling Ulan sa Tag-araw" is a feel good movie that will make you laugh and cry. In all aspects, "Ang Huling Ulan sa Tag-araw" is a winner.
Source:Manila Times
December 18, 2021 14:01 UTC
Forty-six arrested at 'pay your own fine' illegal casinos and drug dens
Over 100 police officers on Friday arrested 46 persons in five illegal casinos and drug dens in Kwun Tong, where there were notices saying the company won't be paying the fine if customers get caught breaching the gathering cap. The operation, joined by officers from Kwun Tong district anti-triad unit, crime squad, special duties squad, and tactical unit, was mounted on Friday afternoon. Officers raided three illegal casinos and two drug dens located at Tsun Win Factory Building on Tsun Yip Street. Twenty-four men, including non-Chinese and 22 women, aged 17 to 77, were arrested during the operation. They were arrested for possessing offensive weapons, operating gambling establishments and drug dens, illegal gambling, trafficking in dangerous drugs, and smoking or injecting dangerous drugs.
Source:The Standard
December 18, 2021 10:51 UTC
Hateful 'kontrabida' turned dental guru
An alum of Doctor of Dental Medicine from Centro Escolar University (CEU), Dr. Jover has been an avowed dental care practitioner for the past 28 years in private practice. By the way, dental veneers are derived from porcelain veneers and dental porcelain laminates. Dental veneers are very much in vogue among Hollywood actors, according to Dr. Jover, and also among some local celebs. The full set of dental veneers according to her can range from 500 thousand to 1 million pesos or even more. Incidentally, Dr. Jover has guested in a film billed "Persons of Interest" with Allen Dizon, Dimples Romana, and Liza Lorena.
Source:Manila Times
December 18, 2021 08:01 UTC
'Odette' slightly intensifies as it moves towards Kalayaan Islands
'Odette' slightly intensifies as it moves towards Kalayaan IslandsOdette was last seen 240 km West Northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, at 4:00 a.m.MANILA, Philippines — (Updated 11:15 a.m.) Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) is barrelling towards Kalayaan Islands after making another landfall in Palawan, state weather bureau PAGASA said Saturday morning. Odette, the strongest typhoon to batter the disaster-prone Philippines this year, was last seen 380 km West Northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan or 155 km East of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan, at 10:00 a.m. The typhoon has slightly intensified with maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 190 km/h, and a central pressure of 955 hectoPascals. Odette is heading west northward at 25 kph and is forecast to pass in the vicinity of Kalayaan Islands within the day. TrackSaturday evening: 150 km nornthwest of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan (outside the PAR)Sunday morning: 395 km northwest of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan (outside the PAR)Sunday evening: 575 km northwest of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan (outside the PAR)Monday morning: 770 km north northwest of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan or 1,065 km West of Northern Luzon (outside the PAR)Monday evening: 1,070 km west of extreme northern Luzon (outside the PAR)Tuesday morning: 940 km West of Extreme Northern Luzon (outside the PAR)— with a report from Agence France-Presse
Source:Philippine Star
December 18, 2021 06:20 UTC