#ThewRap: Things you need to know, September 2, 2016

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#ThewRap: Things you need to know, September 2, 2016
Hello! Here are the stories you shouldn't miss this Friday.

Hello, Rappler readers!

Two disasters – one, an explosion at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and two, a powerful quake in New Zealand – rock the day. In local news, on account of a full schedule, President Rodrigo Duterte has declined to meet, on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit in Laos, with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Given recent skirmishes, many will probably try to read into that. And if you’re wondering about the latest death count on the war against illegal drugs, it’s now over 2,000.

Be up to speed with the news. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss:

Duterte can’t meet with Ban Ki-moon in Laos

Schedule is packed. No time to meet. This is essentially the explanation of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Charles Jose for President Rodrigo Duterte’s decline of a request for a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Laos. The President is already meeting with 9 ASEAN heads of state and two other leaders had requested meetings with him. Sorry! 

 

Powerful quake jolts New Zealand

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake generated a small tsunami in the eastern coast of New Zealand before dawn of September 2. Fortunately no significant damage or injuries were reported. Coastal residents had to evacuate to higher ground after several aftershocks – close to 6.0-magnitude – came in succession for many hours. They returned home 3 hours later.

 

War on illegal drugs: Death toll now over 2,000

How many have died in the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs”? Easily over 2,000 in a span of two months. Philippine National Police (PNP) data presented during a budget hearing at the House of Representatives on Thursday, September 1, showed that 2,446 people have been killed since the aggressive campaign against illegal drugs began on July 1. Officials of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency also told a House hearing no list of supposed drug personalities came from them. Not all the names came from the PNP either. So where did they come from?

 

SpaceX rocket explodes at Kennedy Space Center

A blast on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral in Florida. This was during a static test fire of SpaceX Falcon 9, an unmanned rocket of SpaceX, a company led by internet entrepreneur Elon Musk. There were no reported injuries or threat to the general pubic.

 

DOJ ends probe into laundered Bangladesh money

Remember the money laundering investigation involving Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) and the $81 million stolen from Bangladesh Bank? The justice department is ending its probe into the charges filed against RCBC officials, casino junket operators, and executives of remittance company Philrem Service Corporation. A resolution may be forthcoming this month.

 

Duterte to Abu Sayyaf: We’re ready for retaliation

“What you can dish out, I can do better 10 times. I have an army, I have planes,” President Rodrigo Duterte warned the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf on Wednesday, August 31. The tough-talking Duterte has ordered the deployment of 2,500 soldiers to Jolo, Sulu, bailiwick of the bandit group that has resorted to hostage-taking to raise funds.

 

Here’s how to spot those fake accounts on social media

Fakery seems to be in vogue on social media nowadays. Arm yourself against trolls, spammers, and social media what-have-yous. Know the most common signs of these social media pretenders. For starters, pay attention to the faces and names. Do you know them personally? And yes, check their follower counts. Don’t be conned.

 

 

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