Daily News Highlights – December 13, 2015 Edition

In a landmark move to save our planet, 194 countries and the European Union have agreed on a climate change pact – the first-ever global deal of its kind. Its main aim is to keep global temperature rise this century below 2ºC, and even limit the increase to the “significantly safer” 1.5ºC. The deal is the product of nonstop negotiations at the COP21 summit in France, where French President Francois Hollande thanked delegates: “Never will I be able to express more gratitude to a conference. You can be proud to stand before your children and grandchildren.”

Find out more about the road to the climate change agreement on Rappler. 

Read the full text of the deal here.

The Philippines is no stranger to deadly natural disasters, making the landmark agreement reached in Paris all the more personal. As Emmanuel “Manny” De Guzman, head of the Philippine delegation to COP21, said: “’Victim’ is an inadequate word to capture the loss and damage visited upon us. Each body count has a name and an age … It is in this light that the Philippines welcomes the adoption of this historic accord.”

Read Rappler’s stories on the country’s reaction here and here.

Read the full text of the Philippine statement here.

Based on PAGASA’s advisory issued 11 am, December 13, Severe Tropical Storm Nona continues to gain strength as it heads to the Samar-Bicol area. Nona now has maximum sustained winds of 110 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 140kph. Parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are under signal number one.

Be informed about the latest weather updates on Rappler.

Lorena de Chavez, a woman from Iloilo who met Grace Poe, introduced herself as the senator’s aunt. De Chavez claims her older sister, Victoria Rodriguez, and Pacito Montañez – both dead – are Poe’s biological parents. She also claims that Poe has two sisters living in Guimaras, and they are all willing to undergo DNA testing.

Learn about the senator’s reaction to these claims here.

Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said neither he nor the LP paid celebrities to appear in the music video for the song “Fast Forward.” There are allegations that Roxas’ camp used government money for the star-studded music video, which features showbiz personalities like Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo.

Check out what else Roxas had to say about the controversial video in this Rappler story.

You can also read about the Roxas-Robredo tandem’s vision for decision-making, plus what they plan to do if they lose.

The Cavite provincial government will officially launch its free WiFi program on December 14 – a first among local governments. Eight cities and municipalities are included in the first phase of implementation, with the rest of the province to be covered by next year.

Find out which areas are initially covered, plus how long residents can use the WiFi, in this Rappler story. 

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines wants an ordinance that would criminalize the planting of trees beneath transmission lines in Mindanao. The NGCP said tree-planting causes problems in power delivery to the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Zamboanga City, and the rest of the grid.

Learn more about the NGCP’s concerns on Mindanao power. Here’s Rappler’s story.

The Islamic State terror group said it is behind a bombing that left 16 people dead and 54 others wounded in Homs, Syria. The vehicle used by the suicide bomber had been carrying at least 330 pounds of explosives. The attack comes just 3 days after rebel fighters and civilians were evacuated from Homs following a deal with the Syrian regime.

Get more details about the bombing here.

Hawaii, New Hampshire, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming were the only states immune to the series of mass shootings in the US this year, according to shootingtracker.com. The website also said 353 mass shootings have killed 462 people in 220 US cities as of December 2. The tally includes incidents that have killed or wounded at least 4 people.

Read more about the US mass shootings here.

Hundreds of vendors set up shop along Maginhawa Street for the now-annual Quezon City Food Festival. There were plenty of offerings – from grilled fish and churros, to milkshakes and various ice-cold drinks. Other stalls even sold clothing and art.

Take a look at Rappler’s photos of the event.