T H E
ENTERT
INMENT
Donita Rose: From cameras to spatulas
Vol. 5 No. 15
LOS ANGELES
WWW.USASIANPOST.COM
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A BALITA MEDIA PUBLICATION
Wednesday - Tuesday, January 8-14, 2016
World welcomes New Year despite terror fears By Mariano Andrade
New York, United States | AFP | Thursday 12/31/2015 – Millions welcomed in the New Year with Champagne and cheers Friday, although tightened security put a damper on festivities in Europe where Germany evacuated stations over an imminent terror threat and a huge hotel fire sparked panic in Dubai. In New York, around 6,000 police were watching over a bustling Times Square as Mayor Bill Blasio flicked the switch, sending the city’s massive glittering glass ball down in the final seconds of 2015. Colorful confetti fluttered in the cool night air as the boisterous crowd roared with glee, mirroring similar scenes of revelry which took place around the world. But after a year in which Islamic militants staged a wave of deadly attacks, sewing carnage from Paris to California, the celebrations were held in tight secu-
rity, with the New York police describing it as the biggest security operation in the city’s history. Since the Paris attacks in November, which saw Islamic state jihadists slaughtering 130 people in a series of gun and suicide attacks, Europe has been on high alert with France and Belgium cancelling their traditional New Year fireworks displays in their respective capitals. And just half an hour before the celebrations began in Germany, police evacuated two stations in the southern city of Munich
after receiving “reliable information” about a plot to carry out a suicide attack at midnight by Islamic State jihadists. Police said they were hunting “five to seven suspects” after the authorities were tipped off by a “friendly intelligence service”, which media reports suggested was French. In France, more than 100,000 police were deployed to guard celebrations, as defiant Parisians turned out on the Champs Elysees to greet 2016 in the biggest See NEW YEAR, page 12
Trump Muslim remark used in jihadist recruitment video
People watch the fireworks display to welcome the new year at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City on Friday despite the rain. Fireworks in many neighborhoods were toned down compared to previous years because of a selective ban on firecrackers.(MNS photo)
PHL New Year mayhem kills two, injures hundreds Manila, Philippines | AFP | Friday 1/1/2016 – Stray bullets and exploding firecrackers have killed two and injured hundreds in the Philippines, authorities said Friday, amid the country’s traditional riotous New Year celebrations. A drunk man died after he embraced a giant firecracker, called “Goodbye Philippines”, as it was about to explode, health secretary Janet Garin told reporters. “His jaw was shattered. He was so intoxicated he hugged the
Goodbye Philippines,” Garin said, adding the man was pronounced dead at the hospital. Eighty percent of the country’s 100 million people are Catholic but Filipino superstition dictates making ear-shattering noises during New Year’s Eve to ward off bad luck. Revellers set off firecrackers and shoot guns into the air to celebrate the December festive season. The health department listed See MAYHEM, page 12
Fewer firecracker buyers in Bocaue this year MANILA, Dec 31 (Mabuhay) – Some customers are making their last-minute fireworks purchase in Bocaue, Bulacan, hours before the New Year revelry officially begins. However, fewer customers have visited their “suki” stores in Bocaue. Some of the last-minute customers said they are buying firecrackers amid the government’s warnings because it has been a tradition in their families to light firecrackers during New Year’s Eve to wave off bad luck and bring life to their celebrations.
Some of the people buying firecrackers are reselling in their respective towns. The authorities, including the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), continue to inspect establishments selling firecrackers in Bocaue. The authorities wanted to make sure that the establishments are complying with the requirements, including the compulsary one drum of water per store. The Philippine National Police earlier warned the public of the damage that illegal firecrackers See FIRECRACKER, page 12
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Saturday 1/2/2016 – Republican White House frontrunner Donald Trump’s call for a ban on Muslims entering the US have been used by Somalia’s Shebab in a jihadist recruitment video, a US monitoring group said Saturday. The Al Qaeda-affiliated Shebab use an excerpt from Trump’s December 7 speech to try and woo Muslims in the West to wage jihad, the SITE Intelligence Group reported. In his speech, Trump proposed a “total and complete shutdown” on Muslims entering the US until the US was “able to determine and understand this problem” of Islamist violence, following the killing of 14 people by a radicalized couple in California. In the Shebab video, the Trump soundbite is preceded by a speech by the late Anwar al-Awlaki, a See MUSLIM REMARK, page 12
Three children hit by stray bullets ahead of New Year MANILA, Dec 30 (Mabuhay) – Three children have been hit so far by stray bullets ahead of the New Year. The most recent case was in Ormoc City, Leyte, following a death in Bulacan on Christmas Day. The seven-year-old child, who was not identified, fell to the ground while playing outdoors after being hit by a bullet on the right chest. Authorities are still determining what kind of gun was used. The child’s condition is condition, but still needed to undergo surgery, the report said. The investigation of the incident is still ongoing. An autopsy conducted on the remains of Lorena Cruz, the nine-year-old Christmas victim, showed that the stray bullet hit her pancreas, kidney, and several See STRAY BULLET, page 12
The Singpoli Group’s entry themed “Marco Polo: East Meets West”, depicts his travels from Venice to China. “We continue our efforts to bridge the eastern and western cultures” according to CEO Chin Hui. The main highlight of the float is the fire breathing dragon, it’s smoke emanates from the flaming purple heart in the dragon’s claw. The float was made of 85% fresh floral product. In Chinese mythology, a fire-breathing dragon symbolizes the beauty of the east. Tournament of Roses President Mike Matthiessen was also on hand and hopes the millions of parade viewers will get the float entry’s connection with the parade theme, “Find Your Adventure.” “Hopefully somebody will be inspired by Marco Polo and the float, to do something great and find their own adventure,” he said. (See story on page 6) Photo: JUN CAMACHO
Pacquiao to fight Bradley in April: Arum By Rebecca Bryan
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Wednesday 12/30/2015 – Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring on April 9 in Las Vegas to take on Timothy Bradley for a third time, promoter Bob Arum said Wednesday. Top Rank promotions chief Arum confirmed to AFP that the bout was slated for the MGM Grand. While Pacquiao has spoken this year of retiring after an April bout to pursue his political career, Arum said he would not market
the bout as Pacquiao’s last. “I’m not certain it is his last fight,” Arum said. “It may well be his last fight, it may not be his last fight. You cannot in good conscience sell it that way.” A congressman since 2010, Pacquiao announced in October that he would seek a seat in the Philippines senate in 2016. The 37-year-old, who owns a record of 57-6-2 with 38 knockouts, hasn’t fought since a May 2 unanimous decision loss to unbeaten Floyd Mayweather in their long-awaited bout that shattered See PACQUIAO, page 12
103 injured in Black Nazarene procession MANILA, Dec 31 (Mabuhay) – A total of 103 people were injured during the thanksgiving procession of the Black Nazarene. Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) Chief Johnny Yu told the media that only minor injuries have been recorded and these were immediately given first aid treatment. Meanwhile, Yu said only two devotees suffered chest pains and were given immediate medical assistance. The thanksgiving procession was supposed to start at 4 a.m. However, it was delayed due to the huge volume of devotees shoving their way to get near the replica of the revered Black Nazarene. The route of the procession started at Plaza Miranda then to Evangelista, Recto, Loyola, Bilibid Viejo to G. Puyat Streets. Next, it turned left to Z.P. Guzman, R. Hidalgo, Quezon Boulevard, back to Recto then went back to Quiapo Church. The procession took seven hours before the replica went back to church at 12:07 p.m. See 103 INJURED, page 12