Let's Do The News (December 23, 2015)

- The Commission on Elections has unveiled the initial list of Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates for the May 2016 elections. There are 23 entries in the list but COMELEC Chairman Andres Bautista insists that the list will be revised due to the petitions for some nuisance candidates have yet to be served because they reside in remote areas.

- Yesterday, COMELEC in full session voted to uphold the rulings of its First and Second Divisions to remove Senator Grace Poe from running as president in the May 2016 elections. Despite the ruling en banc to disqualify her, Poe insists that she remains a candidate for president until the high tribunal's final ruling is out.

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- The United Nations has designated the 5th of November as World Tsunami Awareness Day. The resolution, unanimously passed by the General Assembly, was submitted by Japan and co-sponsored by over 140 nations prone to tsunamis. Starting on the 5th of November of 2016, Japan will lead international efforts to educate people about tsunami.

- Ongoing clashes between the Israelis and the Palestinians are causing the Christian holy city of Bethlehem to deter tourists this year. Since October, over 130 people have been killed in series of violent confrontations. This holy city was well known as the birthplace of Jesus Christ and The Church of the Nativity, built on His purported birthplace, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. A Christmas mass will be held at the said church on Christmas Day.

- According to prosecutors, the suspect behind the November 23rd Yasukuni Shrine blast was carrying a bag of gunpowder with him when he re-entered Japan earlier this month. The Korean male, Jeon Chang-han, was arrested on suspicion of entering the shrine for unlawful intent when he returned to Japan on the 9th of December. He had about 1.8kg of black gunpowder in his backpack when he returned to Japan, according to prosecutors.

- Ten people are killed on a plane crash just outside New Delhi, India.

- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas announced that the old 1985 banknotes can still be used until the end of 2015. According to the spokesman of the BSP, the old banknote series will be fully demonetized without value, resulting to the newer 2010 banknotes to circulate as a single currency series in the Philippines. It will come with a more secured features to protect against counterfeiting.

- Nissan officially axed the GT-R LM NISMO LMP1 racing program following their poor performance at Le Mans last June.

- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga kalyeserye, the Christmas Caroling Competition's tomorrow and the lolas and Yaya Dub are busy rehearsing for the big day. Alden, on the other hand, busy looking for costumes just for them. Moments later, Doktora Dora De Explorer arrived to give some kind of medicine for better vocals for Yaya Dub. Can't believe they're going to face tougher competition on the CCC! Will they win? Tune in tomorrow and find out!

TTFN!!!