February 15, 2015 Edition

Stressing it was not an “overkill,” a Muslim rebel commander said his troops retaliated against an elite police force in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, because they thought the policemen’s attack was part of a clan war or rido.

MILF commander Haramen’s statements, in an interview with MindaNews Friday, February 13, come as criticism over the lack of coordination – between the SAF and the MILF, and between the SAF and the PNP – continues to hound the Mamasapano operation.

Read more on Rappler.

At least two people were killed and 6 injured in shootings in the Danish capital Saturday night, February 14, with one attack targeting a cultural center that was hosting a debate on Islam and free speech. The second incident, close to Copenhagen’s main synagogue in the city center, saw one person shot in the head and two policemen also injured, police said in a statement early Sunday, February 15.

It was not confirmed if the two incidents, which come just weeks after a series of bloody Islamist attacks in Paris that left 17 people dead, were related.

Read more on Rappler.

In the recent surveys by pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS), results show that some Filipinos are becoming less satisfied with the state of their love lives. Based on the last 3 years of its survey on love (2011, 2012, and 2014), a declining trend in the happiness with the status of their love lives is noticeable in responses through the years. The results also show that since the 2011 survey, more and more are feeling they could be happier with their love lives.

Read more on Rappler.

Couple walking while holding hands image from Shutterstock

An agreed ceasefire in Ukraine went into effect Sunday, February 15, under a cloud of mistrust, after fighting raged until the last minute and Kiev and the US accused Russia of fueling a final push by rebels to gain territory. President Petro Poroshenko ordered troops to abide by the truce from midnight local time (2200 GMT), in line with a deal reached in Minsk earlier this week with the leaders of Russia, Germany and France.

But in comments broadcast live on television, the Ukrainian leader added that the peace process was already “threatened” by pro-Russian separatists who have surrounded Ukrainian forces in the battleground town of Debaltseve.

Read more on Rappler.

Negotiators in Geneva adopted a climate blueprint on February 13, a symbolic milestone in the fraught UN process that must culminate in a universal pact in Paris in December. Assembled over the past 6 days, the 86-page draft plan for limiting manmade global warming was gavelled through at the close of six days of talks, prompting applause from delegates.

“The task of this session has been achieved,” UN climate chief Christiana Figueres told reporters ahead of the closing.

Read more on Rappler.

In a landmark study, scientists have estimated that millions of tons of plastic waste go into the sea worldwide every year, with middle-income nations – including the Philippines – shown to be among the top contributors. Between an estimated 4.8-12.7 million metric tons of garbage goes into the sea annually, and the top contributors are China, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

If the trends the researchers saw in their study hold up in the next few years, we can expect mismanaged waste to increase further.

Read more on Rappler.

A condom maker in Manila on Saturday, February 14, found their Valentine’s Day giveaway challenged by a church group who tried to persuade people to swap the contraceptives for chastity and chocolates. A colorful flower market in Manila became the unlikely battleground over the use of contraception in the Catholic-dominated Southeast Asian country as the church group countered the free condoms with chocolates and sweets – complete with printed messages encouraging chastity.

Read more on Rappler.

Photo of hand with condom from Shutterstock

Photo of assortment of chocolates from Shutterstock

According to a study by media researchers, many news organizations fail to do enough to separate fact from fiction, and often help unverified rumors and reports to go viral online. “Rather than acting as a source of accurate information, online media frequently promote misinformation in an attempt to drive traffic and social engagement,” said the study led by Craig Silverman, a research fellow at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University.

While news organizations have always dealt with unverified information, practices at some websites may accelerate the dissemination of fake news, said the report, “Lies, Damn Lies and Viral Content.”

Read more on Rappler.

Web browser image courtesy of Shutterstock.

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have reportedly agreed on terms for a May 2 fight that will likely end up as the richest fight in boxing history, according to a report by respected boxing reporter Gareth Davies in The Telegraph. Pacquiao has “completed his contractual agreements,” according to a source cited from within Pacquiao’s camp, and is now waiting for Mayweather to sign off on his end and announce the fight.

Read about the terms of the historic fight on Rappler.com

Neil Perez, the police officer who caught everyone’s attention after joining Misters of the Philippines 2014, won the title of Mister International 2014 at the pageant in Ansan, South Korea, on Saturday, February 14. Aski Pascual, media coordinator of Misters of the Philippines confirmed the good news that Neil won the pageant.

The representative from Lebanon, Rabdi El Zein was 1st runner up followed by Tomas Dumbrovsky from the Czech Republic who was 2nd runner-up.

Read more on Rappler.