Daily News Highlights – October 7, 2015 Edition

Congresswoman Leni Robredo wants your votes but thinks it is wrong to vote for somebody out of sympathy. On her first sortie after declaring her vice presidential bid, Robredo on Tuesday, October 6, told the public in Bacolod City that they shouldn’t vote for her because she’s the widow of the later Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. The Camarines Sur congresswoman instead asked for prayers for her campaign as the running mate of Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. Negros Occidental is considered a bailiwick of Roxas. Aside from speaking to local officials, Robredo met with Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra and spoke to students at a state college in Talisay City. 

 Read the full story on Rappler.

Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II has yet to decide on the offer to be Vice President Jejomar Binay’s running mate, calling the decision “agonizing.” The 67-year-old senator, however, said he will make a decision by the weekend. “I’ve gone through worse, but I have to address an internal, personal matter that concerns my family: their reluctance, apprehension to what it will bring to our private lives,” said Honasan. Currently, Binay is the only presidential contender without a running mate less than a week before the filing of candidacies from October 12 to 16. Honasan said he needs the next few days to convince his wife, 5 children, and 5 grandchildren to support what he says is his “duty” as an official of the UNA party.

 Read the full story on Rappler.

Pope Francis reminded bishops that the Catholic Church’s stance on the indissolubility of marriage was not up for discussion at a bishop’s synod (gathering) taking place in the Vatican. The pontiff, speaking behind closed doors, raised the point after concerns among conservatives that liberals in the church were pushing for a change in Church doctrine on divorce and remarriage. Bishops from all over the world are in Rome for a synod on the family where they are expected to tackle issues such as violence against women, the Church’s approach to homosexuals, and polygamy. 

Read the full story on Rappler.

Indonesia’s disaster chief Tuesday, October 6 rejected criticism his country was not doing enough to combat the haze crisis, saying every possible resource was being deployed to fight the forest fires blanketing Southeast Asia in smog. Indonesia has come under growing pressure from its neighbors in recent weeks as thick smoke from fires on Sumatra and Kalimantan has sent pollution levels soaring in Malaysia and Singapore, where schools have been closed and major outdoor events canceled. The blazes flare annually during the dry season as fires are illegally set to clear land for cultivation. But an El Niño weather system has made conditions on track to become the most severe on record. The country has declined offers of help by Malaysia and Singapore.

Read the full story on Rappler.

When it comes to the worlds worst rankings, the Philippines is no stranger to being at the top. Here’s one more ranking to add: the country is the 3rd top dumper in the world of plastics in the ocean. According to a study by the Ocean Conservancy and the McKinsey Center for Business and Environment, the Philippines ranks next to only China and Indonesia as sources of plastics floating in the world’s oceans. The country generates 2.7 million metric tons of plastic garbage each year, 20% of which ends up in the ocean. The report says open dumpsites and irresponsible garbage hauling are some of the main causes. The report calls for more action to reduce global plastics and illegal dumping in the ocean.

Read the full story on Rappler.

The American commander in Afghanistan has admitted that the US military mistakenly struck a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders, which killed at least 10 people. Speaking before a US Senate Armed Services Committee, Gen. John F. Campbell said the strike was made in response to a call for help by Afghanistan’s military against the Taliban. A government investigation is underway. Doctors Without Borders, however, wants an independent investigation into the incident calling the airstrike a “war crime.”  

Read the full story on the New York Times.

FIFA has fined Hong Kong after fans jeered the Chinese national anthem and threw a drink at a rival player during a World Cup qualifier, the city’s football authorities said Tuesday. Fans booed the “March of the Volunteers” – the anthem they share with China – at the game against Qatar in Hong Kong last month which the home side lost 3-2. A carton of lemon tea was also thrown at a Qatari player. The Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) said it had been fined 5,000 Swiss francs (P237,464) over the “improper conduct among the supporters of its team”. FIFA had already given a warning to the HKFA after the Chinese anthem was booed at two home games earlier this year.

 Read the full story on Rappler.

On Tuesday, October 6, the National Youth Commission (NYC) and the Climate Change Commission (CCC) introduced the country’s latest effort to raise awareness on climate change – the #NowPH campaign which stands for “Not on Our Watch.” #NowPH is a youth-led campaign calling on countries to act on climate change issues. The campaign aims to gather a million pledges to prevent global warming from reaching two degrees celsius. Rappler’s MovePH is among the NYC’s and CCC’s partners for this advocacy. The signatures will then be submitted to the French Embassy, to be presented during the Paris climate talks in December 2015, where the world will come up with an international agreement towards “low-carbon and climate-resilient future.” “We will be defined by how well we survive, not by how bad we suffer,” said CCC Vice-Chairperson Lucille Sering. In 2013, the Philippines was named as the country most affected by climate change.

 Read the full story on Rappler.

Popular British automotive show Top Gear will return to television in May 2016 with a new presenter, Chris Evans, following the termination and departure of the show’s former hosts. Evans, a BBC Radio 2 presenter, said the revamped show will have its biggest-ever run of 16 episodes across two series, in contrast to the old show which aired 12 episodes. Evans also said he may not repeat the co-presenting trio style of former hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammon, and James May. “We are going to do things differently, because we have to, we want to,” he said. “They were brilliant at it, I’m not going to do that. They’re the Three Stooges, they are the Bee Gees, they are and I’m not, I’m me.” 

Read the full story in The Guardian.

Scientists have discovered a new type of mammal in Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island. The animal is a hog-nosed shrew rat, named Hyorhinomys stuempkei, and is different from other types of shrew rats, scientists say. It has a large, flat, pink nose with forward-facing nares. It also has extremely large ears, large teeth and long hind legs. Sounds like a monster? Maybe. But due to its small size, the new shrew actually appears quite cute. Scientists say it looks like it is whistling all the time. Rat haters out there might want to take a look first before passing judgement. 

See the new shrew on Rappler.