Rappler Newscast | February 19, 2014

STORY 1: AQUINO: ONLINE LIBEL WON’T CURB FREE SPEECH

President Benigno Aquino says criminalizing online libel won’t suppress freedom of expression.
On Wednesday, Aquino expresses support for the Supreme Court’s decision ruling online libel constitutional under certain conditions.
It only applies to the original author and not netizens who share or react to a defamatory post.
Netizens and media groups protested the online libel provision but Aquino says it does not make sense to exempt the Internet from libel just because it is a different medium.
He adds, “Let me repeat: if what you said is true, then why would you be unnerved by the issue of libel?”
While critics say the ruling is a huge step back for freedom of expression Senators Chiz Escudero and Sonny Angara say Congress’ next move should be to decriminalize libel, meaning remove the prison penalty.
Under the Revised Penal Code, people found guilty of libel will be fined and imprisoned for 6 months for every count of libel committed.
International groups urge the Philippines to decriminalize libel, saying the prison penalty is excessive and violates freedom of expression.

STORY 2: SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE DAY

More netizens are expressing what they think about the Supreme Court’s ruling on the cybercrime law.
The law continues to divide public opinion – outrage from critics, praise from supporters.
“Penance” says the cybercrime law is oppressive, and adds:  “The first step in removing a democracy is to remove freedom of expression.  
After that settles in, the takeover is nice and easy.”
Zach Pagkalinawan sees the pros and cons. He says: “The Cybercrime Law on the whole is good, but the libel provision clearly violates the fourth section in Article 3 of the Constitution which basically says no law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech.”
But Arvin Penetrante supports the Court’s ruling. He says: “This law is definitely a step forward for the Philippines in the internet era…
For the people that say this law limits your freedom or right to expression, please remember that your rights end when the rights of others begin.”

STORY 3: PH 3RD MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRY FOR JOURNALISTS IN 2013

Bad news for journalists in the Philippines.
They’re working in the 3rd most dangerous country in the world according to a report by London-based International News Safety Institute.
In 2013, 14 journalists died in the Philippines.
This places the country just behind Syria – the deadliest country for two years in a row – and Iraq.
Last year, a separate report by the Swiss-based Press Emblem Campaign ranked the Philippines the 7th most dangerous country for reporters in 2012.
Unresolved media killings remains a concern in the Philippines the 2009 massacre of 58 people, including 32 journalists, in Maguindanao remains unresolved.
The report says more print journalists were killed in 2013 than any other medium.
The report also says more journalists died during peace time compared to those covering armed conflict.

STORY 4: CA CONFIRMS GENERALS TAGGED IN HUMAN RIGHTS CASES

The Commission on Appointments or CA confirms the promotion of 2 generals tagged in human rights cases.
Major General Eduardo Año, chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is tagged in the 2007 disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos.
the group arrested in February 2010 that the military said are New People’s Army members.
But several groups say they were health workers training poor villagers.
Senator Sonny Trillanes defends the 2 generals’ confirmation, saying the issues against them were already discussed.

STORY 5: 2013 ONE OF HOTTEST YEARS

2013 is one of the hottest years on record, the World Meteorological Organization says. But aside from experiencing warmer temperatures, what does that mean for us?
KD Suarez reports.

The World Meteorological Organization says the past year was among the warmest years on record.
2013 was the 6th warmest year since 1850 and the 4th hottest without the El Niño phenomenon.
The planet’s surface temperatures were above average compared to the averages from the past decades.
Climate scientists say this shows an underlying trend: The Earth is getting warmer.

GEMMA NARISMA, PH.D., REGIONAL CLIMATE SYSTEMS, MANILA OBSERVATORY: The global warming is something that translates into climatic changes. That’s where the connection is. When the world warms up, there will be changes in the climate that includes changes in extreme weather events.

But a warmer planet doesn’t just mean we’ll be sweltering in the heat.

Extreme heat and cold will likely be more common – symptoms of a planet falling ill.

GEMMA NARISMA, PH.D., REGIONAL CLIMATE SYSTEMS, MANILA OBSERVATORY: The planet is having a temperature. Because you get complications. And you don’t just get high fever; certain systems in your body will shut down.
And when those systems shut down, then your whole functioning of your body, nag-iba na (your body changes.)
And that’s where scientists are right now. If you have a globally warmer world, what systems will shut down?

It’s bad news for the Philippines.

Extreme weather events, such as Super Typhoon Yolanda, might become more frequent.
Although the connection between super typhoons and global warming is still being studied, science points towards that link.

GEMMA NARISMA, PH.D., REGIONAL CLIMATE SYSTEMS, MANILA OBSERVATORY:
Modeling studies also show that warmer sea temperatures do feed that formation and strengthening of tropical cyclones. In fact, that’s one of the reasons that scientists believe that there’s likelihood that typhoons will be stronger because of the warmer seas.

For a population always bearing the brunt of storms and extreme weather events, the best defense is education, preparation, and adaptation.
KD Suarez, Rappler, Manila.

Global Warming image from Shutterstock

Effect of Global Warming on a city image from Shutterstock

STORY 6: POLICE, PROTESTERS WAGE ‘WAR’ IN KIEV AFTER DEADLY CLASHES

The unrest in Ukraine’s capital gets bloodier.
Flames cover the main protest camp in Kiev late Tuesday as police storm it during the deadliest day of violence in three months of protests.
TV news crews broadcast the chaos in the capital’s Independence Square…
Protesters throw rocks and Molotov cocktails against riot squads fighting back with stun grenades and water cannons.
At least 11 die in the clashes, while more than 150 people are injured.
It is the bloodiest day since protests started against President Viktor Yanukovych in November after he ditched a trade pact with the European Union or EU under Russian pressure.
The EU, United States and United Nations are among those urging an end to the violence.

STORY 7: TURKEY GOV’T TIGHTENS CONTROL OVER INTERNET

Turkey president Abdullah Gul signs a controversial law that will tighten government control over internet use.
The Internet bill, which opposition groups say infringes on citizens’ freedom, sparks concern over the state of democracy in the country.
Under the bill, regulatory body Telecommunications Communications Presidency can demand Internet providers block pages considered insulting or intrusive.
Although supporters of the law say the new restrictions protect individual rights, critics say it stifles freedom of expression and dissent.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan denies accusations of online censorship.
He says the proposed Internet curbs aim to stop coup attempts.
Erdogan adds, “The Internet will not be censored, freedoms will not be limited.”

Story 8: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ

At number 2, Thai police attempting to clear a protest camp retreat after shots were fired Tuesday.
It’s not clear who fired the shots, but police claim protesters had weapons.
The clashes leave at least one policeman dead and and at least 44 people hurt.
Thai authorities promise to clear intersections used as protest camps ‘slowly’ and ‘peacefully’ …
but protesters reject their demand to leave the area surrounding the office of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
An anti-government spokesman says, “The government cannot work here anymore.”
In December last year, protesters attempted a shutdown of the capital Bangkok.

At number 7, the developer of the addictive puzzle game Candy Crush announces plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange.
King Digital Entertainment says it has yet to determine the number of shares to be offered and the price range.
The highly addictive game records some 700 million sessions a day and racks up daily sales of $850,000.
The game can be played for free, but players can pay for in-app extras to help them pass the game’s 500 levels.

And at number 10, Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling will publish her second crime novel in June under the pen name Robert Galbraith.
“The Silkworm,” scheduled to be released on June 19, will be a follow-up to “The Cuckoo’s Calling.”
The new novel follows private detective Cormoran Strike in another adventure with his assistant Robin Ellacott.
The first book was published in April 2013 to critical acclaim but low sales.
In July, Rowling was outed as Galbraith, spiking sales by an astonishing 41,000 percent in a week.

For the full top 10 visit Rappler.com’s ‘the wRap.’