New year mishaps, AirAsia update, ‘thriftier’ Filipinos | The wRap

Today on Rappler.

• A stampede in China and a fire in the Philippines greet 2015. 
• Relatives of AirAsia crash victims give DNA samples to help identify bodies recovered in Indonesia. 
• A Nielsen study says Filipinos were thriftier in 2014. 

NEW YEAR MISHAPS IN SHANGHAI, QUEZON CITY
New Year celebrations turn into tragedy in some parts of the world. A stampede in Shanghai kills 35 people after chaos broke out in the festivities in China’s financial hub shortly before midnight. 42 people were injured. In the Philippines thousands of residents of an informal settler community in Quezon City lose their homes to a fire that kills at least one, and leaves at least 3 injured. Residents say the fire may have been from a firecracker.

AIRASIA UPDATE: DNA SAMPLES, MEDICAL DATA
Indonesian police take DNA samples and medical data from dozens of relatives of the AirAsia crash victims to help identify the bodies. As the weather clears Thursday, rescuers promise an “all-out effort” to search for bodies from AirAsia flight QZ8501. The US, Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia join attempts to locate the plane’s fuselage. The plane crashed during a storm Sunday near the island of Borneo, en route from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore. Seven bodies have been retrieved so far from the plane, which carried 162 people. The Malaysian budget airline crash comes at the end of a disastrous year for Malaysian air travel after the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 and the shooting down of MH17 over Ukraine.

SENIANG DOWNGRADES INTO LOW PRESSURE AREA
Tropical depression Seniang – international name Jangmi – weakens into a low pressure area. State weather bureau PAGASA lifts all storm warning signals. The National Risk and Reduction Management Council says the death toll remains at 53. In western Visayas, two expired food packs are accidentally delivered to Seniang survivors. The expired noodles were leftovers from the relief goods for Super Typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan survivors. Officials admit the noodles were distributed by accident, “without checking the condition of their contents.” Social welfare secretary Dinky Soliman reminds regional offices of the “immediate distribution of relief goods” before they expire.

KIM JONG-UN OPEN TO ‘HIGHEST-LEVEL’ TALKS WITH S. KOREA
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un says he is open to the “highest-level” talks with South Korea. In his New Year message, Kim says Pyongyang will –quote– “make every effort to advance dialogue and negotiations” with Seoul. South Korean media say Kim is referring to a summit with South Korean President Park Geun-Hye. North Korea recently hosted a rare union of relatives separated by the conflict. But a series of minor clashes along the border renewed tensions, stalling efforts at formal talks.

FILIPINOS ‘THRIFTIER’ IN 2014 AMID CONSUMER WOES
To buy a house, start a business, and ensure their children’s future these are goals making Filipinos live more frugally in 2014. A study by global information firm Nielsen says Filipinos are now more careful with their money. They name 3 major concerns over the first half of the year: health, job security, and work-life balance. Filipino consumers also worry about the increase in utility bills and  their parents’ welfare.

For the full stories, click on the links on your screen.
And for those of you watching on mobile, the links can be found on the titles on the article.

– Rappler.com

Production Staff