Rappler Newscast | January 15, 2014

Story 1: IGNORE CHINA’S FISHING RULES, PH MILITARY CHIEF TELLS FISHERMEN
Philippine military chief General Emmanuel Bautista tells local fishermen to ignore China’s new fishing rules requiring foreigners to seek permission before fishing in the South China Sea.
Bautista says –quote– “We will ignore the fisheries law of China.”

GEN. EMMANUEL BAUTISTA, PHILIPPINE MILITARY CHIEF: Should we give in to threats, intimidation, terror, violence of any armed group? We should stand up for our rights.

The Philippine government criticized the new rules, saying they reinforce “China’s expansive claim” over the sea under the 9-dash line.
The Philippines earlier raised the maritime dispute to an international tribunal, but Bautista says the military is prepared for –quote– “any eventuality.”

Story 2: PH SEEKS MORE US NAVY SHIPS AMID CHINA THREAT
The Philippines wants to acquire two more navy ships from the United States to boost its maritime protection in the middle of tensions with China.
The funds to boost maritime defense will come from the $40 million military assistance pledged by US Secretary of State John Kerry in December.
Military chief Gen Emmanuel Bautista says the Philippines needs six more frigates to guard its long coastline effectively.
The Philippines has already acquired two refurbished American frigates in the past two years, which now lead patrols in the South China Sea.

Story 3: NEW IN GOV’T: OPEN DATA, CASHLESS PURCHASES
The government launches what it calls its most significant good governance initiatives aimed to improve transparency and accountability.
On Wednesday, President Benigno Aquino launches the new Cashless Purchase Card or CPC system for government agencies and an Open Data portal to make government information readily available to the people.
In his keynote speech at the government-organized Good Governance Summit, Aquino says his administration’s focus is to improve processes.

BENIGNO AQUINO, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT: Many of these are rooted in systems and processes that, while they may have served their purpose at one time, are badly outdated. Even worse, they are susceptible to abuse, which could lead to inefficiency, wastage, and opportunities for the unscrupulous to steal from the nation’s coffers.

The CPC System is the government’s response to alleged conversion of funds in the military, which involved billions of pesos.
The cashless purchase cards permit instant liquidation.
The military, the Commission on Audit and the budget department will test the cards in the first quarter of 2014.
If successful, it will be rolled out in other government agencies next year.
Aquino says the cards will also collect real data that will help the government understand which programs need the most funding.
Aside from the CPC system, Aquino also introduces the Open Data portal, an online platform that collates all relevant data of government.

Story 4: COA TO AGENCIES: RETURN P2.3-B BONUSES
The Commission on Audit or COA wants officials and employees of 31 government-owned-and-controlled corporations or GOCCs to reimburse the government for P2.3 billion.
COA says the 31 GOCCs paid bonuses and benefits to employees –quote– “without or in excess of legal basis or proper authority” in 2012.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or Philhealth tops COA’s list, with P1.65 billion it paid in unlawful stipends.
Another COA audit report noted the Philhealth governing board approved 22 allowances and benefits without getting approval from the President’s office.
Including regular salaries and other benefits, the “personal services” tallied for the year reached P2.825 billion, around P150 million higher than in 2011.

Story 5: THAI OPPOSITION PROTESTERS THREATEN TO CAPTURE PM
Thai opposition protesters occupying central Bangkok threaten Tuesday to take Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra captive and close down all government offices in an increasingly bold bid to force her from office.
The protesters, backed by the kingdom’s royalist establishment, want Yingluck to resign to make way for an unelected “people’s council” that would oversee reforms to curb the political dominance of her family.
But Yingluck’s supporters say the rallies threaten Thailand’s fragile democracy.
They want the dispute to be settled at the ballot box on February 2.
For the third day, protesters occupy major roads in an attempted shutdown of Bangkok.
On Wednesday, two people are injured in a shooting at a rally, while a small blast shakes a house owned by the opposition leader’s family.
Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban accuses the government of orchestrating the attacks.

Story 6: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 6, Egyptians vote in a referendum on a new constitution that’s likely to launch the presidential bid of the army chief who overthrew President Mohamed Morsi.
An Islamist coalition led by Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood urged protests and a boycott of the two-day vote.
The charter did away with much of the Islamist-inspired wording of Morsi’s constitution, but it gave the military more powers, granting the army the right to appoint the defense minister and to try civilians for attacks on the armed forces.

At number 7, Filipina caregiver Rose Fostanes wins the Israel edition of the popular reality TV talent show ‘X-Factor’.
Rose had been one of the favorites to win the reality show’s first season, with performances regularly praised by the show’s judges.
For her final performance, she sang “My Way” by Frank Sinatra, and Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You” in a duet with her mentor Shiri Maimon.

And at number 8, The popular gaming console PlayStation 4 is now officially available in the Philippines.
Manufacturer Sony says about 1000 consoles have been sold since it began accepting pre-orders in December 2013.
The device is priced from between P25,000 to just under P27,500.

Story 7: 4K, WEARABLE, HIGH TECH CARS AT CES 2014
We take a peek into the future as new, exciting technology debut at the Consumers Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Josh Villanueva reports.

There was a lot on display at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Considered to be the largest tech event of the year.
3 central themes stood out: 4K or 4 times HD was the biggest hit.
While 4K TVs have been around for a while, Korean rivals Samsung and LG both unveiled 105 inch curved televisions.
Both manufacturers also showed off bendable 4K TV’s that could transform from flat to curved.
And if TV’s are not your thing Sony showed off a 4K projector that can project images onto your wall from as near as 22 inches away.
LG also showed off a 4K computer monitor for photographers and video editors.
Of course what use is a 4K display if you don’t have 4K content.
ZTE unveiled the nubia 5S the latest smartphone that can shoot 4K video.
And for those wanting a bit more, Sony unveiled a 4K Handycam.
The pro-sumer device comes with a 1-inch sensor and should be available for just under $2000 in the first quarter of 2014.
Wearables were also a big trend.
Pebble showed off a steel watch – the first wearable we’ve seen in a while that looks like a legitimate accessory.
The Jaybird-Reign is smart enough to know if you are either walking, running, cycling or swimming.
It knows when you’re sleeping and when you’re awake.
It’ll tell you when’s the best time to workout and when you should be skipping the gym.
And there was Sony’s Core based Smartband.
The core is a removable tracking chip that can be worn in a variety of ways.
Coming this March Sony’s Smartband is the first of many wearables planned in Sony’s new LifeLog platform.
High-tech cars also took center stage at the world’s favorite gadget show.
Toyota showed off the FCV Concept Car.
Coming in 2015 the four-seat sedan runs on hydrogen fuel cells.  
Hydrogen mixes with oxygen in the air to produce horse power that allows this car to go from 1 to 100 kph in 10 seconds.
Audi demoed a self-driving car that will wake you up if you fall asleep.
We spotted BMW’s first electric car the i3 all over Vegas.
The self-parking car integrates with the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch.
For now the smart watch can access the car’s battery level and control things like locking the doors and honking the horn.
Ford also showed off a prototype for solar-powered car. The Ford C-MAX Solar Energi has phovoltaeic panels built into its roof and a canopy that serves as a magnifying glass to boost the absorption of solar power.
Josh Villanueva, Rappler, Las Vegas.