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Hello Rappler readers,
President Rodrigo Duterte drops another bombshell, saying he “will not honor” international pacts on carbon emissions. An international group of judges is concerned about Duterte’s statements that seem to “encourage extrajudicial killings.” And as alleged drug dealers are killed, an Ateneo de Manila high school teacher is shot dead. Will Duterte address these issues in his first State of the Nation Address, which will be directed no less than by acclaimed filmmaker Brillante Mendoza?
In other news, thousands of passengers are stranded by the emergency closure of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport due to asphalt cracks on the runway. Senator Manny Pacquiao, boxer extraordinaire, is the top absentee in the Philippine Congress. Lawmakers push for bills to introduce a national ID system.
Across the world, anti-Donald Trump delegates launch a revolt at a Republican convention. Space X blasts off toward the International Space Station, carrying a load of supplies. The feud between pop star Taylor Swift and celebrity couple Kim Kardashian and Kanye West escalates.
Below are the big stories we think you shouldn’t miss.
President Rodrigo Duterte says he “will not honor” international agreements binding the Philippines to limit its carbon emissions. He says he wants to kick an ambassador for asking if the Philippine government would honor its commitments to reduce greenhouse gases. “That’s stupid. I will not honor that,” he says. “That was not my signature.” Ouch.
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) urges Duterte to investigate the “recent wave of unlawful killings” in the Philippines. Citing local reports, the ICJ says 136 suspected criminals have been killed between June 30 – the day Duterte was inaugurated – and July 11, while 84 people were killed during police operations, “many in an allegedly unlawful manner.”
As tension mounts over the rising number of killings, an Ateneo de Manila Junior High School teacher dies from gunshots in Marikina. Emmanuel Jose Pavia, a Math teacher, sustained two gunshot wounds to the head. The Ateneo community expresses anger and frustration over the death of Pavia, whom they describe as a good friend and a passionate teacher. Police continue to investigate the incident.
On July 25, Duterte will deliver his first State of the Nation Address. Internationally-acclaimed director Brillante Mendoza is directing the President’s SONA pro-bono. Mendoza says his role as SONA director is to capture Duterte’s message and to show how he connects with the Filipino people. He conducts an ocular inspection of the Batasang Pambansa along with Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and staff.
Thousands of passengers are affected by emergency repairs on one runway at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Monday night, leaving some flights cancelled and rerouted. The small asphalt cracks found on the runway caused debris to punch through a wing flap of one plane.. At least 28 flights are diverted to Clark International Airport – both domestic and international.
Senator Manny Pacquiao only attended one plenary session during the final leg of the past 16th Congress when he was still Sarangani representative. He was absent 22 times in plenary sessions of the House of Representatives from July 27, 2015 to June 6, 2016, the third and final regular session of the 16th Congress. Of this number, 16 were absences “without notice.” The 16th Congress’ final regular session coincided with Pacquiao’s training for his fight against boxer Timothy Bradley. The period also covered the run-up to the 2016 elections.
At least 3 lawmakers are re-introducing bills seeking to establish a national identification (ID) system for all Filipinos. The House of Representatives passed House Bill (HB) Number 12 or the Filipino Identification System Act and HB Number 523 but they were stuck at the Senate until the end of the session. Outgoing House Speaker and Quezon City 4th District Representative Feliciano Belmonte Jr says the Philippines is one of only 9 countries in the world without a national identification system. Under his proposal, the Filipino Identification System will consolidate all government-issued ID systems into one to “improve government services and limit red tape in government transactions.”
A tense Republican National Convention erupts in turmoil as delegates opposed to presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump get furious over being denied a floor vote on the event’s rules. Hundreds of delegates seeking to change the convention rules so that they could opt out of voting for Trump express disapproval after being denied the chance to debate or have a full vote on the changes.
A SpaceX rocket blasts off toward the International Space Station, carrying a load of supplies including a docking adapter that will function as a parking spot for commercial space taxis in the coming years. The first crew flights are planned for late 2017 and 2018.
After teasing about video proof that pop star Taylor Swift had given her blessing for Kanye’s The Life of Pablo track “Famous” Kim Kardashian releases evidence on her Snapchat account where Swift and West could be head discussing about the song. “Famous” contains the line “For all my Southside n*ggas that know me best / I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex.” Swift and West feuded in 2009 but seemed to have buried the hatchet in 2015, until “Famous” surfaced.
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