Daily News Highlights – January 20, 2016 Edition

Oral arguments on Senator Grace Poe’s petition to stop the Commission on Elections from barring her presidential bid began on Tuesday, January 19. During the first round, Supreme Court justices raised doubts about whether Poe fulfills the 10-year residency requirement to seek the country’s top post.

Here is a wrap of the first round of oral arguments on Poe’s case.

Read more about questions on Poe’s citizenship, use of her passport, and the rights of foundlings like the senator.

It appears the word war between Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and administration standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II is far from over. Duterte just described Roxas as the “most incompetent Filipino ever to aspire for the presidency.” The two presidential candidates were once friends, but are now fierce election rivals.

Check out Duterte’s latest statements here.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is worried there would be blackouts in Mindanao on May 9, 2016, election day. This is in light of the recent attacks on power transmission facilities down south. The Comelec said security concerns such as violence, vandalism, and trespassing could make handling the polls more complicated, “especially if you’re looking at a situation where there is darkness.”

Here is the full story on the Comelec’s concerns.

A measure initiating reforms in the heavily criticized Sangguniang Kabataan is now a law. President Benigno Aquino III signed the SK Reform Act, which lawmakers said is the first-ever law to have an anti-political dynasty provision.

Get details about the new law in this Rappler story.

The Philippine National Police said nearly P70 million have been released to families of the 44 elite policemen killed in the Mamasapano clash last year. Most, if not all, of those slain during the clash were breadwinners of their families. Promotions were also awarded to the 44 cops posthumously.

Take a look at the breakdown of the pensions and benefits.

The Islamic State group confirmed the death of British extremist “Jihadi John,” the executioner appearing in videos of Western hostages being beheaded. ISIS said he was killed in a drone strike in Syria last November, and described him as a “martyr.”

Read the full story on the death of “Jihadi John.”

The International Monetary Fund expects the world economy to grow by only 3.4% in 2016, citing China’s economic slowdown, a stronger US dollar, falling oil prices, and political turmoil. The forecast is 0.2 percentage points below what the IMF predicted last October.

Here is the full story on the IMF forecast, including the risks that countries must watch out for.

The countdown has begun for Manny Pacquiao’s farewell fight with Timothy Bradley in April. Pacquiao, who is running for senator in the May elections, said he is ending his boxing career because he wants to help the Filipino people.

Find out what else Pacquiao said as his press tour kicked off.

The Philippines, Italy, and Serbia will host the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament set for July 4 to 10. Last year, the Philippines’ basketball team had missed out on an outright spot to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro after it finished second in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship. But it earned the right to participate in the qualifiers.

Check out which countries are included in the FIBA OQT.

World-renowned Japanese band One OK Rock performed their well-loved hits for Filipino fans in a concert at the Mall of Asia Arena. They sang fan favorites, like “Stuck in the Middle,” “Clock Strikes,” and “The Last Dance,” plus songs from the Rurouni Kenshin movies, such as “Beginning,” “Heartache,” and “Mighty Long Fall.”

Watch clips of the One OK Rock concert here.