#ThewRap: Things you need to know, September 8, 2016

Hello, Rappler readers!

The 2016 ASEAN Summit in Laos ends with the chairman’s statement silent on an international court’s ruling dismissing Beijing claim on the South China Sea, which a number of Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, claim parts of. Analysts say, however, that any artificial island at Scarborough Shoal could be a game-changer in China’s quest to control the South China Sea and raises the risk of armed confrontation with the United States. At home, the Supreme Court completed hearing oral arguments on petitions to stop a hero’s burial for dictator Ferdinand Marcos. At least until October 18, no burial takes place. 

Here are the big stories you shouldn’t miss:

 

China secretly building island on Scarborough – PH

Hours ahead of a meeting between Southeast Asian leaders and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Laos, the Philippines released images that claim to show Chinese ships preparing to build an artificial island on Scarborough Shoal – which Beijing denied. At the summit, the ASEAN chairman’s statement made no mention of the Hague ruling, which dismissed China’s 9-dash claim on the South China Sea. Still, ASEAN leaders “remain seriously concerned over recent and ongoing developments” in the disputed waters. 

 

No September 18 burial for Marcos 

The plan of the Duterte government and the family of dictator Ferdinand Marcos to bury him at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on September 18 was frustrated by the Supreme Court. The tribunal on Wednesday finished hearing oral arguments on petitions to reverse the President decision to allow a hero’s burial for Marcos, and extended to October 18 the existing status quo ante order on the late president’s remains, which are in his hometown of Batac, Ilocos Norte.

 

Davao explosion: Suspect’s sketch released

 

Philippine police released a composite image of the man believed to have been behind a explosion in Davao City that claimed the lives of 14 people. The suspect is male, slim, 5 feet and 7 inches tall, and roughly 30 years old. The composite image is based on the memory of eye witnesses in the blast. While the Davao region police continued to review closed circuit television footage to get a clearer image of the suspect, the local government of Davao City had anounced a P2 million reward for information that would lead to the arrest of the suspect. Rappler compiles what we know so far about the Davao blast.

 

Countries vow to clear unexploded bombs by 2030

 

More than 100 countries pledged to clear unexploded cluster munitions used in conflict zones worldwide by 2030, a new step in the unfinished battle to prevent deaths by the weapons. In a meeting in Geneva, parties to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions set their first target date for clearing the explosives which are estimated to have killed and maimed more than 50,000 people worldwide in the past half-century.

 

Apple unveils iPhone 7, Apple Watch Series 2

At the much-awaited event live streamed from Cupertino, California, tech giant Apple unveiled the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, with senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller walking viewers through the features of the two phones. Pre-orders will be accepted beginning September 9 in select territories, while a release date for the Philippine market wasn’t indicated in the presentation. Here’s a rundown of the new products’ specs. Meanwhile, Sony also unveiled the PS4 slim model, 4K and HDR-capable PS4 Pro, and Nintendo announced that Super Mario will be coming to iPhones.