Thousands of flights worldwide scrapped as Omicron hits Christmas weekend travel

More than 6,000 flights have been cancelled worldwide over the long Christmas weekend and thousands more were delayed, a tracking website reported Saturday, as the highly infectious Omicron variant brings holiday hurt to millions. 

Compounding the travel chaos in the United States, severe weather in the country's west is due to wreak havoc on roadways and other routes there although it may well bring a white Christmas weekend to northwest cities Seattle and Portland.

According to Flightaware.com, nearly 2,800 flights were scrubbed around the globe on Saturday, including more than 970 originating from or headed to US airports, with over 8,000 delays as of 0130 GMT.

On Friday, there were around 2,400 cancellations and 11,000 delays, while Sunday cancellations have already surpassed 1,100.

Pilots, flight attendants and other employees have been calling in sick or having to quarantine after exposure to Covid, forcing Lufthansa, Delta, United Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines and many other short-staffed carriers to cancel flights during one of the year's peak travel periods.

"Help @united flight cancelled again. I want to get home for Christmas," one exasperated traveler from the US state of Vermont tweeted to the airline early Saturday.

Flightaware data showed United cancelled around 200 flights on Friday and nearly 250 Saturday -- about 10 percent of those that were scheduled.

A scramble to reroute pilots and planes and reassign employees was underway, but Omicron's surge has upended business.

"The nationwide spike in Omicron cases this week has had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operation," United said in a statement Friday.

"As a result, we've unfortunately had to cancel some flights and are notifying impacted customers in advance of them coming to the airport," the airline said.

Similarly, Delta scrapped 310 flights Saturday and was already cancelling several dozen more Sunday, saying it has "exhausted all options and resources -- including rerouting and substitutions of aircraft and crews to cover scheduled flying."

"We apologize to our customers for the delay in their holiday travel plans," the company said.

The cancellations added to the pandemic frustration for many people eager to reunite with their families over the holidays, after last year's Christmas was severely curtailed.

Chinese airlines accounted for the highest number of cancellations, with China Eastern scrapping more than 1,000 flights, over 20 percent of its flight plan, on Friday and Saturday and Air China also grounding about 20 percent of its scheduled departures over the period.

- 'Treacherous' snow conditions -

According to estimates from the American Automobile Association, more than 109 million Americans were scheduled to travel by plane, train or automobile between December 23 and January 2, a 34 percent increase over last year.

But most of those plans were made before the outbreak of Omicron, which has become the dominant strain in the United States, overwhelming some hospitals and healthcare workers.

The state of New York announced Friday that it recorded 44,431 new daily positive Covid tests, a record, while new cases surged nationwide as well.

On the weather front, while unseasonably warm temperatures were bathing eastern states, the National Weather Service announced winter storm warnings including a deep freeze for significant parts of the west. 

"Anomalously cold conditions and a barrage of Pacific moisture results in prolonged periods of mountain snow and coastal/valley rain, some of which may fall heavy at times," the NWS said in an advisory.

An eye-popping two to four feet (61 to 122 centimeters) of snow was forecast to fall this weekend, with higher accumulation in some spots, in the northern and central Sierra mountains of California and Oregon.

Travel will be "treacherous to at times impossible" from the Sierras to the central Rocky Mountains at the weekend due to whiteout snow conditions, the NWS added.

Agence France-Presse

Spain to adopt mask-wearing outdoors amid record virus surge

MADRID (AP) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is convening a special Cabinet meeting Thursday to pass a law by decree that makes it mandatory to wear masks outdoors, amid a record surge in COVID-19 cases.

Sánchez announced at a meeting with the leaders of regional governments Wednesday that he was consenting to their appeals to extend mask-wearing rules, his office said. A decree-law does not require a debate and vote in parliament before taking effect.

He also announced a raft of other measures, including an offer to deploy the armed forces to help the regions step up their vaccination rollout and put military hospital beds at their disposal if they are needed.

Sánchez said he is targeting 80% of the 60-69 age group to have received booster shots by the end of next week, among other goals.

Also, COVID-19 tests for professional use will temporarily be placed on sale at pharmacies, amid a reported shortage of tests, and medical teams will be reinforced with retired staff and specialists who earned their qualifications outside the European Union.

Furthermore, fully vaccinated people won’t need to quarantine if they have been in contact with an infected person - a measure that seemed to be aimed at avoiding the shortages of essential personnel.

Spain on Tuesday officially recorded almost 50,000 new cases of coronavirus. That’s higher than last January, when a surge placed the national health system under severe strain.

Spain is reporting almost 700 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over 14 days, more than double the accumulated cases before last year’s Christmas holidays. The omicron strain has soared from 5% of new cases in Spain to 47% within one week.

Still, vaccinations are credited with sparing many people from the virus’s worst effects. While last January some 30,000 COVID-19 patients were in the hospital in Spain, now it’s fewer than 8,000.

Sánchez told the Spanish parliament Wednesday that 90% of the target population 12 and over is fully vaccinated.

He told lawmakers: “Don’t worry, families will be able to celebrate Christmas. Spain has prevailed.”

-Associated Press-

A furry Christmas in Seoul

An employee dressed in a Santa Claus costume plays with cats at the Catgarden, which opened in 2016 to take in rescued cats due to failed adoption, in Seoul, South Korea on Monday. South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs recorded a 3.7 percent increase in abandoned pets in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. 

-reuters-

Mariah Carey first to score #1 hit in 4 different decades

NEW YORK — Pop diva Mariah Carey has had a long list of hits over the years, but her classic holiday song has helped her make history as the first artist to top the Billboard charts in four separate decades.

"All I Want For Christmas Is You" is number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week dated January 4, 2020, based on sales, radio airplay and streaming data -- its third week atop the rankings.

That means Carey has had a number one single in the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.

The bubbly, ubiquitous holiday tune was first released in 1994 and gained new fame after its inclusion on the soundtrack for the 2003 film "Love, Actually."

But it only topped the charts for the first time in late 2019, thanks to a change in Billboard's rules as to what can be included on the top songs list.

Carey dropped a new video for it -- which counts towards Hot 100 placement -- and released the song as a stand-alone CD single for the first time.

It is her 19th number one hit, according to Billboard, putting her just one song behind The Beatles' overall record of 20 top songs.

The singer -- who will not confirm whether her age is 49 or 50 because she says "time is not something I acknowledge" -- was low-key about her history-making achievement.

"Yaaaaaaaaay!!! WE. DID. IT," Carey wrote on Twitter, with a stream of champagne and party emojis. 

"But.... what's a decade?"

Agence France-Presse 

Christmas continues

Children enjoy a ride at the Times Square Food park at the Araneta City, Cubao on Friday. Various food stalls and rides are set up at the park for visitors to enjoy this holiday season.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Christmas typhoon Ursula kills at least 21

MANILA - A typhoon that struck the central Philippines over Christmas has killed at least 21 people, disaster agency officials said Friday.

Typhoon Ursula (international name Phanfone) hit the Philippines late Tuesday with winds of up to 120 kph and gusts of 150 kph, bringing heavy rain and flooding.

More than 58,000 people were evacuated from their homes before the storm, which caused widespread property damage, and more than 15,000 were stranded at ports when ferries were suspended. Scores of flights were cancelled.

Most of the fatalities were reported in Eastern and Western Visayas, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Two others were injured while 10 people remain missing.

The typhoon affected 185,168 persons and damaged 55 schools, according to NDRRMC.

It also cut power in 147 cities and town in Regions MIMAROPA, VI, VII, and VIII.

The typhoon left the Philippines on Wednesday night and was out over the South China Sea, moving west.

An average of 20 typhoons hit the Philippines each year, with storms becoming fiercer in recent years. - with a report from Reuters

source: news.abs-cbn.com

'We're all family now': Protesters gather for free Christmas dinner in Hong Kong

HONG KONG - Hundreds of anti-government protesters and their supporters gathered outside a tiny restaurant in Hong Kong for an unconventional Christmas dinner, sharing paper plates piled high with food under neon street signs.

"Hong Kongers are more united this Christmas (than) in previous years," said Glory, the 31-year-old owner of Kwong Wing Catering, as he dished out noodles, fried chicken, and pasta from silver trays.

"Actually there is no Christmas atmosphere (this year), but there is a strong sense of unity," he said. All of the food on offer on Wednesday was free and prepared by the restaurant or donated by several sponsors.

Outside the eatery, hundreds of customers, many of them off-duty protesters, waited in line as tourists and other shoppers crowded the popular Tsim Sha Tsui area.

Jeanette, a 22-year-old university student, slurped bubble tea and pudding with her friend Yoyo as they discussed their holiday plans.

They would normally spend Christmas with their families, but felt this year had to be different. Both women said they had been involved in peaceful protests since the summer.

"We're all family now," said Jeanette, looking around at all of the other supporters eating around her.

"We're here because we want to support this shop, which has supported so many teenagers and protesters on the front line," said Yoyo between mouthfuls of pudding.

Kwong Wing Catering is one of many businesses that are part of the so-called "yellow economy" across Hong Kong that are known for their support of the pro-democracy campaign. Colorful post-it notes with words of support from customers decorated the restaurant's windows.

One of the chefs scheduled to cook at the eatery became a sort of folk hero after cooking for besieged student protesters at Polytechnic University in November.

He was supposed to cook for his supporters on Wednesday, but was arrested by police earlier in the week, according to the restaurant's Facebook page. It was not immediately clear why the chef had been arrested.

Hong Kong has been embroiled in anti-government protests since June which show no signs of abating.

Black-clad protesters marched through Christmas-decorated shopping malls across Hong Kong on Wednesday as police fired tear gas and pepper spray to disperse crowds.

The protesters are angry about what they see as an encroachment by China on the wide ranging autonomy Hong Kong was guaranteed under a "one country, two systems" framework which governs the former British colony.

China rejects such complaints.

Ivan, a 20-year-old university student, said he waited for an hour and a half to receive his hot meal.

"I feel very comforted that someone is willing to cook a meal for us," he said, adding that Hong Kong still had a "festive" atmosphere despite the protests and clashes with police.

"I just got tear-gassed yesterday so I think it's very special."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Trump says it was an 'honor' to appear in 'Home Alone 2'

PALM BEACH, United States- Long before taking up residence in the White House, Donald Trump appeared in "Home Alone 2" -- a turn on the big screen he described as an "honor."

Trump spoke with deployed members of the military on Tuesday, and one asked him about his appearance in the Christmas film.

"I was a little bit younger, to put it mildly... It turned out to be a very big hit, obviously. It's a big Christmas hit, one of the biggest," said Trump, who had just acquired the Plaza Hotel in New York, where several scenes for the 1992 film were shot.

"It's an honor to be involved in something like that," said the president, who appeared briefly in the movie.

In the film, little Kevin -- played by Macaulay Culkin and again separated from his parents -- struggles to find his way through the gilded hotel.

He stops a man in a long black overcoat and red tie to ask him for directions to the lobby.

"Down the hall and to the left," replies Trump.

Actor Matt Damon claimed in a 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the businessman would allow films to be shot in his buildings as long as he received a part.

Trump is thus -- most of the time playing himself -- in the credits of some 20 films and series, including "Zoolander" and "Sex and the City."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

For Noche Buena, you’ll want to try this Bacolod lechon stuffed with lemongrass and batuan

Lechon is the star of all festive Filipino tables and for Noche Buena. It almost always steals the thunder from Christmas ham, and rightly so. A whole roasted pig, with its shiny caramel colored skin, once cracked, releases steam and a delicious aroma that wafts through the air. Its skin is crisp and savory; its meat, succulent and sinewy. Lechon is celebratory. It’s tradition.

I grew up in Manila, thinking that there was only one type of lechon, stuffed with tamarind leaves and aromatics, served with liver sauce made from scratch. As attention turned to the country’s regional cuisines, different versions started coming to the fore. The most well-known is Cebu lechon which uses a different set of aromatics dominated by spring onions and excludes liver sauce. Now recognized as a generic term, Cebu lechon no longer has to be flown in from Cebu. It is prepared and cooked in different parts of the Philippines and touted as Cebu lechon. However, lesser known Bacolod lechon is competing for space on the table, with Sabroso Lechon taking the cudgels for the culinary charge.

What exactly is Bacolod lechon anyway and what makes it different from the Cebu or Tagalog variety? Simply put, what distinguishes one from the other is flavor. It is all about what is stuffed in the hog. In the Bacolod version, the main aromatics are lemongrass or tanglad and batuan, a fruit found mainly on the island of Negros. It is used as a souring agent in Bacolod cuisine, its flavor distinct from other more mainstream souring agents like green tamarind used in Philippine cuisine. Jonathan Co, Commissary General Manager of Sabroso Lechon, describes its flavor thus, “Our lechon has a tangy, lemon-y aroma and flavor because of the tanglad and batuan. It is what makes it different from other lechon.”

If you haven’t tried Negrense-style lechon or don’t realize that it’s available in Manila, you can order from Sabroso Lechon, which boasts the tag line “Bacolod’s Flavorful Lechon.” This Manila-based business was launched in 2008 when Charlie Sabroso and his friend Manolo started cooking lechon using a Bacolod recipe. They began by roasting only on weekends, taking orders for whole, as well as by the kilo; and delivering personally to family and friends. As word of mouth grew their market, they opened their first outlet at the corner of E. Rodriguez Sr. and Tomas Morato Avenues in Quezon City. Ten years later, ownership changed hands.

Sabroso Lechon was bought by Fruitas Holdings Inc. in 2018, on the initiative of Lester C. Yu, founder and currently Chief Executive Officer and President of the group. Juneil Torio, Investor Relations Officer explains, “The decision to acquire Sabroso Lechon was made because, aside from the lechon being delicious, the product is present in the lives of Filipinos.” The publicly-listed company counts Fruitas Fresh from Babot’s Farm, Black Pearl, Johnn Lemon, Buko Loco, Buko ni Fruitas, De Original Jamaican Pattie, The Mango Farm, Munifico Pizzeria, Shou La Mien, and Sabroso Lechon, among its most notable brands.

Since its acquisition, in just over a year, Sabroso Lechon has grown from two original branches to 18 stores in the greater Manila area and even in Boracay and Caticlan in Aklan. Future plans include adding more branches in the metropolis to make Sabroso Lechon more accessible to the market.

Sabroso continues to use the original lechon recipe and except for reducing the salt, the secret blend of tanglad, batuan purée, and other aromatics remains unchanged. Improvements in the process, however, have been made, from the supply chain to delivery. Only native pigs, grown in backyards and small farms from four provinces—Quezon, Marinduque, Cagayan, and Mindoro— are used. The hogs are then transported to Manila and slaughtered in the San Juan Slaughterhouse; and because of the recent African swine flu, strict implementation of submission of permits from the Department of Agriculture and National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) is being done. The carcasses are then put in cold storage at the Sabroso commissary in Quezon City.

All lechon are cooked to order. Preparation involves rubbing the hog inside and out with the secret purée, stuffing the cavity with fresh lemongrass, then allowing it to marinate for two to three hours. It is then roasted in mechanized pits that can accommodate up to 90 hogs. The number of turns per minute is pre-programmed, the lechon roasting rotisserie-style over charcoal embers, cooking time dependent on the size and weight of the pig. It is worth mentioning that Sabroso uses only charcoal that carries a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) permit and meets a specific minimum burning time. No chemicals are used to kindle the charcoal.

The cooked lechon is allowed to rest for up to 30 minutes and during this period, “grooming” takes place. The “grooming” process is an innovation of the new owners to ensure that the skin is as perfect as possible.

It takes 6 to 8 hours for the lechon to be ready, from start to finish. On a normal day, deliveries commence at 8 am with the last lechon being dispatched at 5 pm. However, during the Yuletide season, the last lechon is delivered at 11 pm on December 24 and December 31 only, just in time for the Noche Buena table.

Jonathan Co describes the operations, “We are professionalizing the way we cook lechon. All personnel are required to wear uniforms, hairnets, and masks in the production area. No smoking, no eating, and no loitering is allowed. Because of our production standards, institutions such as international luxury hotels, among them the Shangri-La hotels group, The Peninsula Manila, and Marco Polo Ortigas order daily.” Sabroso employs experienced lechoneros from Bacolod, its regular plantilla augmented with seasonal roasters for 30 days.

Sabroso lechon comes in different sizes—De Leche, Regular, Medium, Large, XLarge, XXLarge—and is served with a rich sauce that does not include liver. Sabroso also recently introduced a boneless Lechon Belly using the same Bacolod recipe.

Sabroso is still accepting orders for Noche Buena. To order, call the hotline (0920) 123-9999 or send a message through Viber or via Sabroso Lechon on Facebook. You can also visit Sabroso Lechon branches at Robinsons Magnolia, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, National Book Store Quezon Avenue, Farmers Dampa, Uno Cinquenta 150 Maginhawa Street Lifestyle Park, 233 Katipunan Avenue Cubao, E-Rodriguez Sr. GYY Building, Fairview Terraces, Market! Market!, Le Village the Lifestyle Park, Puregold Q.I Central, Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes Parañaque, Trinoma Foodchoices, Landmark Trinoma Foodcourt, Landmark Trinoma Complex, Landmark Alabang Foodcourt, Sabroso Food Centre Caticlan, and Gaisano Boracay.

Photos by Chris Clemente

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Young Filipino-Canadian sells handmade jewelry to help local charity

RICHMOND, British Columbia - While other kids are busy asking for gifts this Christmas, 5-year old Estella Bañez is doing something else.

She’s selling handmade earrings, necklaces and bracelets to help a local charity.

“I like OMB, it stands for Oh My Bling,” said Bañez.

Bañez worked on her beads after school in the past months and made 300 pairs of earrings, 40 bracelets and 50 necklaces for sale.

They were showcased at a recent fashion show and launch party where proceeds go to the Richmond Christmas Fund that help local families in need.

“Toys, gift cards, baskets… it’s really tough when everybody seems to be happy during holidays with families and a lot of them don't have support or financial means to do so,” said Kaye Bañez, Estella's mom.

The kindergartener started the project last year in honor of her lola who passed away.

She donated $200 then and wanted to give bigger this year.

Friends and family came to support the project.

"It’s important to give back whenever we can," said Chantal Wu.

Many of them were inspired by the little girl who wanted to bring cheer to the community.

Read more on Balitang America:

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Santa Claus is surfin’ to town

Carlos Bahia, dressed as Santa Claus, surfs at the Maresias beach in Sao Sebastiao, hometown of World Surf League Champion Gabriel Medina, Sao Paulo state, Brazil on Sunday. Christmas, one of the biggest festivities in Brazil, is celebrated during summer time in the country. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com 

Walmart withdraws Christmas cocaine sweater

WASHINGTON - It wasn't the type of white powder that makes Christmas complete -- American retail giant Walmart has withdrawn a festive sweater that celebrates cocaine.

The sweater depicts Santa Claus with straw in hand, and three white lines laid out on a table before him.

"Let it snow" is written underneath, in a slang reference to cocaine.

The description of the product, marketed by a third-party vendor on Walmart's Canadian site, was explicit.

"The best snow comes straight from South America," it said. "Santa really likes to savor the moment when he gets his hands on some quality, grade-A, Colombian snow."

A Walmart spokeswoman told AFP on Tuesday that the sweaters were withdrawn from the site over the weekend, and have never been sold in the chain's stores.

She was unable to say how long the sweaters were offered for sale.

The sweaters "do not represent Walmart’s values and have no place on our website," the company said in a statement, apologizing "for any unintended offence this may have caused."

leo/jm/bgs

Agence France-Presse

7-foot parol shines bright in LA's Grand Park

LOS ANGELES - It’s beginning to look at lot like Christmas in downtown Los Angeles where Grand Park kicked off its Second Annual Winter Glow celebration, featuring lights and interactive art installations throughout the 6-acre public space.

The star of this year's holiday display is a 6-foot-9 inch Philippine Christmas lantern or parol designed by local Filipino-American artists Lakandiwa De Leon of Kidlat Woodworks and Alfie Ebejo known in the community as “Alfienumeric”.

“It’s a little scary because you have to produce something that rises to level of everything else here because you’ve got a lot of amazing sculptures here but I think we were trying to focus on something that was just us, that we felt comfortable with, that we were expressing who we were,” said De Leon.

"You're making a parol but can you pay homage to Los Angeles so we’re like we gotta represent the diverse communities of Los Angeles but also make it fundamentally Pinoy like how do you do that? The process was very fun," added Ebojo.

While people can enjoy art installations that represent various cultures, they’re also treated to international music, including Filipino songs, curated by Joel Quizon.

“I’m really grateful to do that and pull from my experience as a Filipino immigrant so it’s not just Filipino music but it kind of represents the theme of life and aspects of light and the healing aspect," said Quizon.

Winter Glow at Grand Park is free and open to the public. The lights will turn on nightly from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. when the park closes every night until Christmas Day.

On January 31st, the park will kick off 2020 with its annual New Year’s Eve countdown celebration.

Read more on Balitang America:

source: news.abs-cbn.com

The latest GoPro, Curry’s latest kicks, and more gift ideas | The ANCX 12 Days of Christmas

For Day2 of our holiday unboxing countdown, we have the latest iPhone, basketball star Stephen Curry’s freshest sneaks, the newest GoPro, and the Xiaomi Redmi Air Dots.


While all it takes, really, is some sincerity and good intention to make a gift great, sometimes it isn’t rocket science. So let us break it down for you. From toys for the big boys to creature comforts for the mancave, here is a list of things we wouldn’t mind seeing under our tree. Happy holidays!


iPhone 11

Apple’s latest go-to phone has a new dual‑camera system, major upgrades to water-resistance, glass strength and processing speed, and high quality video.

PHP 49,980 (PHP 39,984 through Shopee’s 12/12 Sale)

Shopee.com


UnderArmour Curry 7

The latest pair that carries the NBA star’s name features reinforcement in key areas for more comfort, stability, and mobility.

PHP 7,995

Underarmour.com.ph


GoPro Hero8 Action Camera Black Edition

This features a built-in directional mic, an HDMI-out port for easy playback, and two cold-shoe mounts to attach lights, mics, or LCD screens.

PHP 23,990 (PHP 22,071 through Shopee’s 12/12 Sale)
- An extra 8 percent off with GADGETZONE8 voucher upon checkout​

Shopee.com


Original Xiaomi Redmi Airdots Bluetooth Earphones

These simple in-ear pieces make use of Bluetooth 5.0, and a hands-free mic, and is IPX4 waterproof.

PHP 3,288 (PHP 898 through Shopee’s 12/12 Sale)

Shopee.com

source: news.abs-cbn.com

KFC logs promise to make homes smell like fried chicken

The sights and sounds of the holiday season are familiar to us all: snow falling gently outside, stockings overflowing with gifts, “White Christmas” playing softly in the background.

Now imagine that scene, except the whole house smells like Kentucky Fried Chicken.

That’s the vision of holiday cheer that KFC is hoping to sell this month, with the release of a branded log designed to create a “warm fried chicken-scented fire” on the hearth.

When KFC launched the logs in 2018, the chain sold its entire supply online in three hours, according to a company representative. This year, the logs are on sale at Walmart for $18.99, in what the retailer describes as a limited-time deal. KFC would not say how many logs are available.

KFC has been pitching the scented logs as an environmentally sustainable alternative to firewood: The chain designed the product in a partnership with Enviro-Log, a company that makes firewood substitutes from recycled waxed cardboard.

In a statement, KFC’s chief marketing officer in the US, Andrea Zahumensky, said the chain had received “weekly calls from hopeful fans” desperate for the return of the log. “We hope you’ll cuddle up with your family or friends with a bucket of our world-famous fried chicken and a warm fried chicken-scented fire this holiday season,” Zahumensky said.

The release of the scented log marks a fitting conclusion to a busy year of fried-chicken marketing. In August, a seemingly innocuous post on Twitter by the Popeyes social media team set off the “chicken sandwich wars” as Chick-fil-A and other chains jockeyed to assert their products as the best. And in five hours on a Tuesday at the end of August, KFC sold its entire test supply of chickenless fried chicken developed by plant-based meat company Beyond Meat.

Nor is this the first time that a fast-food chain has attempted to cash in on Christmas. McDonald’s is offering a branded Christmas sweater. Dunkin’ is selling peppermint-scented wrapping paper.

The unveiling of the scented logs drew immediate ridicule on Twitter from critics who called it a new low in Christmas marketing. “Hoping also to find a candle that smells like someone cooking salmon in the staff microwave,” one user said. (KFC has offered a scented candle in the past, but it smelled like gravy rather than microwaved fish.)

Still, the new product has at least one important advantage over homemade alternatives, according to Walmart. The log, the retailer’s website states, is significantly less wasteful than “burning actual fried chicken.”

But Walmart also urges caution: While the burning log may smell like fried chicken, it would be inadvisable to attempt to eat it.

“Please,” the website said, “do not put your face directly into the fire.”


2019 The New York Times Company

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Noche Buena price watch: 'Premium' may rise, cheaper brands steady

MANILA — The retail price of some premium Christmas food items like ham will likely increase, as higher manufacturing costs offset lower pork prices due to the African swine fever outbreak, the trade department said.

Manufacturing costs rose 30 to 60 percent, which could push the prices of premium fare for Noche Buena by 2 to 9 percent. Some traders also imported meat requirements for Christmas hams, said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

Prices of cheaper products did not move, Lopez told DZMM.

"Takot din silang maipasa ang presyo kasi walang bibili e saka baka lumipat sa ibang brands," he added.

(They're also afraid to increase prices because consumers might not buy or patronize other brands.)

The DTI is inspecting markets daily to ensure that chicken prices do not exceed P180 per kilo as consumers switch to poultry from pork.

African swine fever does not affect humans despite causing hemorrhagic fever in pigs that almost always ends in death. An outbreak of the virus in parts of Rizal and Bulacan provinces has prompted authorities to cull around 7,000 hogs.

Pork accounts for 60 percent of meat consumption in the Philippines, the world's 8th biggest pork producer by volume, with its swine industry estimated at P260 billion, the Department of Agriculture earlier said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Iraqi Christians celebrate Christmas one year after Islamic State defeat

BAGHDAD - Iraqi Christians quietly celebrated Christmas on Tuesday amid improved security, more than a year after the country declared victory over Islamic State militants who threatened to end their 2,000-year history in Iraq.

Christianity in Iraq dates back to the first century of the Christian era, when the apostles Thomas and Thaddeus are believed to have preached the Gospel on the fertile flood plains of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates.

Iraq is home to many different eastern rite churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, traditionally a sign of the country's ethnic and religious diversity.

But war and sectarian conflict shrank Iraq's Christian population from 1.5 million to about 400,000 after the US-led invasion in 2003. Following the onslaught of Islamic State in 2014 and the brutal three-year war that followed their numbers have fallen further, though it is not known exactly by how much.

In Baghdad, Christians celebrated mass on Tuesday morning -- declared a national holiday by government -- in churches decorated for Christmas. Once fearful, they said they were now hopeful, since conditions had improved.

"Of course we can say the security situation is better than in previous years," said Father Basilius, leader of the St George Chaldean Church in Baghdad where more than a hundred congregants attended Christmas mass.

"We enjoy security and stability mainly in Baghdad. In addition, Daesh was beaten," he said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.

Iraq declared victory over the militants more than a year ago, but the damage done to Christian enclaves on the Nineveh Plains has been extensive.

In Qaraqosh, a town also known as Hamdaniya which lies 15 km (10 miles) west of Mosul, the damage is still visible.

At the city's Immaculate Church, which belongs to the Syrian Catholic denomination and has not yet been rebuilt since the militants set it on fire in 2014, Christians gathered for midnight mass on Monday, surrounded by blackened walls still tagged with Islamic State graffiti.

Dozens of worshippers prayed and received communion, and then gathered around the traditional bonfire in the church's courtyard.

Before the militant onslaught, Qaraqosh was the largest Christian settlement in Iraq, with a population of more than 50,000. But today only a few hundred families have returned.

Faced with a choice to convert, pay a tax or die, many Christians in the Nineveh Plains fled to nearby towns and cities and some eventually moved abroad.

Some have since returned, Father Butros said, adding: "We hope that all displaced families will return." (Reporting by Reuters Video News; writing by Raya Jalabi Editing by Gareth Jones)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Last-minute Christmas shopping? Consider gifts that will last for years

Former US President George H.W. Bush passed away in November but he made the headlines anew just three weeks after he was buried when a charity disclosed that he secretly sponsored a Filipino child for 10 years!

Bush not only gave $38 monthly towards Compassion International’s program, he also wrote letters to Timothy and even sent gifts to encourage the boy’s love for drawing.

If you haven’t finished with your Christmas shopping, why not take inspiration from Bush and consider giving gifts that make meaningful and lasting impact?

Consider these gift ideas that keep on giving, and you could be spreading holiday joy for your family and friends and people who need help year round.

#1 The Gift of Noche Buena

Online food service company Honestbee recently launched Bee Giving, Bee Kind, allowing its customers to order food baskets that will be delivered to Childhope Philippines. The food baskets range in cost from P375 to P500, and you can order as many baskets as you want and schedule the delivery to the designated charity.

Childhope Philippines in turn will pass on these food baskets to the families and street children under their care, for their Noche Buena feast, or Christmas meals, or even for Media Noche come New Year’s Eve.

To get started, log on to www.honestbee.ph and create an account which will take less than two minutes. You can give generously from the comforts of your home or office, and so conveniently too.

#2 The Gift of Hope

Childhope Philippines champions the cause of children who work and live on the streets. They are present in 15 areas in 6 cities of Metro Manila, and reaches out to 1,000 to 1,200 street children every year. You can support their projects with a one-time donation, or you can sign up for a recurring contribution.

With just P200, you can sponsor one street education session. You can also give P250 for one child to get basic school supplies, or P500 which will allow Childhope Philippines to provide basic medicine and vitamins for one month to a child and monitor his or her health.

If you can commit to monthly donations, your P800 to P2,000 can ensure that one child will be able to attend formal school, as it will cover their monthly allowance. You can choose to sponsor children in the elementary level or youth attending high school or college. Point your browser to www.childhope.org.ph for more information including bank details where you can deposit your donation.

#3 The Gift of Health

With over 60 years of providing assistance to Filipino children, the United Nations Children's Fund or UNICEF is a familiar institution to most donors. They implement a wide range of programs from education to disaster risk reduction, and commits to spend 75% of every donation received directly for its beneficiaries.

You can also choose to donate once or monthly to support various programs including one focused on providing Oral Rehydration Salts, or ORS to save children suffering from acute diarrhea. In remote and poor areas where families have little or no access to safe drinking water, the ORS packet can spell the difference between life and death for a child suffering from diarrheal dehydration.

A one-time gift of P400 can provide 16 children suffering from severe diarrhea with ORS treatment in combination with zinc supplements. Zinc supplements prevent the recurrence of diarrhea in the next 2-3 months after the first episode.

Or if you feel you can do more, please consider a one-time contribution of Php800 or more which can help provide a shallow well and water pump for one community so that residents can have access to safe, drinking water. Visit www.unicef.org/philippines for more information on the many ways you and your donation can help.

#4 The Gift of Light

In this age of modern day conveniences, it’s hard to imagine families with no access to electricity, let alone light at night. This would mean parents cannot work or do chores around the house, the kids cannot study, the list simply goes on.

If you want to figuratively and literally bring light to Filipino families with limited or no access to electricity, you can contact Liter of Light or Isang Litrong Liwanag, and support them in their mission to provide affordable and sustainable solar light. Their first lighting solutions, introduced to Typhoon Haiyan survivors, were plastic bottles filled with water and bleach which illuminates when hit by the sun. Soon after, they found ways to bring solar panels to communities to extend their lighting solutions to street lights and lamps.

They also welcome volunteers to teach marginalized communities how to use recycled plastic bottles and locally sourced materials to illuminate not just their homes, but also businesses, and streets. Go to www.literoflight.org for more information.

#5 The Gift of One Hour

Did you know that you can gift one hour of your annual salary towards helping various projects on education, health & nutrition, and child welfare & development for Filipino children in need?

With Children’s Hour, you can sign up to donate at least one hour of your earnings once a year and no amount is too small. With P50, you can help strengthen a child’s participation in class with one nutritious meal. With P100, you can give a child the right and access to having a name through a birth certificate. For over 20 years, this charity has been committed to making sure your one hour’s pay can make a real difference.

* * *

One of the best things about living in the Philippines is the many ways you can extend a helping hand. No matter your budget or even lack of one, you can still help as volunteers are welcome by most charities in nearly all of our 7,100 islands. Big or small, there’s a difference only you can make, and this holiday season is as good as any time to start.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Pope gives Rome homeless Christmas gift of new clinic in Vatican

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has given the homeless a Christmas gift of a new clinic in St. Peter's Square where they can get free medical help, the Vatican said on Saturday, announcing his latest move to help Rome's destitute.

The Rome Catholic charity Caritas estimated late last year that there are more than 16,000 homeless in Rome and their number congregating near the Vatican has grown visibly in recent years, especially at night when they cluster under arcades to sleep.

The new clinic with 3 visiting rooms will be open 3 days a week and will be staffed by volunteer doctors from the Vatican medical services and Rome hospitals.

Foot specialists will be available once a week. Charities say homeless people suffer particularly from foot ailments because they rarely remove their socks and shoes, and also wear ill-fitting shoes, causing ailments such as fungal infections, blisters and calluses.

The new clinic replaces an older temporary one nearby, also set up by the 82-year-old Francis. He has also opened facilities where the homeless can bathe and get haircuts.

When it is not serving the homeless, the new clinic, built on the premises of the old Vatican post office, will serve as a first aid station for pilgrims and tourists.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Salmonella outbreak linked to raw turkey leaves over 200 sick across U.S.

More than 200 people from across the United States have fallen ill, 84 of them hospitalized, from an ongoing salmonella outbreak linked to raw turkey products that prompted a second voluntary recall on Friday, the US government said.

The latest food-safety advisory from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta came as millions of Americans planned their Christmas holiday menus, updating a notice for contaminated turkey issued in early November.

Since then, 52 more people in 26 states and the District of Columbia have become sick from salmonella-tainted turkey, bringing the total number of documented cases to 216 in 38 states and the district. 

One death from the outbreak, which began in October, was reported in California, the CDC said.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has reported an additional 22 turkey-related salmonella infections in 4 provinces - British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and New Brunswick - believed to be linked to the US outbreak.

The common strain of salmonella associated with the illnesses has been identified in various raw turkey products, including ground turkey, turkey patties, live turkeys and raw turkey pet food, indicating it may be widespread in the turkey industry.

No single supplier has been identified.

Minnesota-based Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales LLC on Friday voluntarily recalled more than 164,000 pounds of ground turkey products. The company had recalled more than 91,000 pounds in mid-November over the same outbreak.

With the exception of the recalled Jennie-O brand ground turkey, the CDC said it was not advising consumers to avoid eating properly cooked turkey products or for retailers to stop selling raw turkey products.

Anyone can become sick from salmonella bacteria, but young children, the elderly or people with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of serious illness.

Symptoms, which typically appear 12 to 72 hours after ingesting the bacteria, include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Most people recover within a week.

Infection can best be prevented by thoroughly washing hands after handling poultry, by cooking turkey to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, and by thawing frozen turkeys in the refrigerator rather than at room temperature, the CDC said. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com