Rain, floods in Philippines leave 32 dead, others missing
Manila (AP): Heavy rains and floods that devastated parts of the Philippines over the Christmas weekend have left at least 32 dead and 24 missing, the national disaster response agency said on Thursday.
More than 56,000 people were still in emergency shelters after bad weather disrupted Christmas celebrations in the eastern, central and southern Philippines.
Images from the southern province of Misamis Occidental showed rescuers carrying an elderly woman on a plastic chair as they waded through a flooded street.
Some residents in the province were seen hanging on to floaters as coast guard rescuers pulled them across chest-deep floods using a rope.
Eighteen of the 32 deaths were reported in the Northern Mindanao region, while 22 of the 24 missing were from Eastern Visayas in the central Philippines and the eastern Bicol region, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.
Most of the deaths were from drowning while among the missing were fishermen whose boats capsized, the agency said.
Over 4,000 houses were damaged by the floods along with roads and bridges, and some areas were without power or water, the agency reported.
A shear line the point where warm and cold air meet triggered rains in parts of the country, the state weather bureau said.
It forecast light to heavy rains in the next 24 hours for some of the same areas affected by the floods.
Death toll from heavy rains, floods and landslides in Philippines rises to 25 pic.twitter.com/sgrothX0kl
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CEO’s Rs 14 lakh Louis Vuitton dog suitcase triggers social media debate
New Delhi: An Indian CEO has triggered widespread debate on social media after reportedly spending Rs 14 lakh on a Louis Vuitton suitcase designed for his dog. Ajay Thakore, CEO of Doctor Multimedia, shared a video on Instagram showcasing the extravagant purchase, which has since drawn mixed reactions.
In the video, Thakore is seen entering a Louis Vuitton store, stating, "I think my dog has something to pick up." He then reveals the "Bone Trunk," a bone-shaped, hard-shell suitcase complete with a varnished wooden tray and two bowls. The video’s caption read, "Aspen's always spending money like there's no tomorrow. $20k Louis Vuitton bone trunk."
The post quickly went viral, with many users expressing shock and disbelief. Some criticized the CEO’s indulgence, questioning the morality of spending such a large sum on a pet accessory when pressing issues like poverty and animal welfare exist. Comments ranged from disbelief to sharp criticism, with one user remarking, "Imagine how far $20k would go at an animal rescue." Others viewed it as a reflection of societal excess, calling it a "grotesque illustration of what's wrong in society."
However, Thakore also found support from some users, who defended his right to spend his wealth as he pleased. One commenter noted the irony of criticism coming from people who indulge in expensive gadgets, writing, "It's funny how many condemn this spending yet think nothing of buying an $800 iPhone without considering charity."
