Rappler Newscast | February 24, 2014

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Scam mastermind Napoles allowed medical checkup at a police hospital. US ambassador Goldberg rejects China’s 9-dash line. The Winter Olympics closes

Today on Rappler.

  • Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles is allowed medical exams at a police hospital.
  • US ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg rejects China’s 9-dash line claim in the South China Sea.
  • The $50-billion Winter Olympics closes with Russia on top of the medal tally.


Story 1: COURT OKS NAPOLES MEDICAL EXAM IN CRAME
Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles will get the medical examination she needs Wednesday at police headquarters Camp Crame instead of St Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig.
In her motion for medical examination, Napoles says she needs to take tests after an ovarian tumor and heightened CA-125 levels were discovered in her blood.
During a hearing Monday, Dr. Angelo Michael Luna of the Philippine National Police says there is -quote- “no difference” in the facilities of the Crame hospital and St. Luke’s.
Luna says the Camp Crame hospital has the facilities to conduct the medical tests Napoles requested.
Napoles is detained in Fort Sto Domingo for serious illegal detention charges.
She and her brother allegedly locked up pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy after Napoles discovered he was siphoning lawmakers funds through bogus NGOs behind her back.
Napoles also faces plunder charges connected to the scam.
Her special counsel Bruce Rivera earlier said Napoles’ medical problems started as early as October 2013.

Story 2: ‘NO SUCH THING AS 9-DASH LINE’ – US ENVOY TO PH
US ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg says China’s 9-dash line is not valid for resolving claims over disputed territories.
China uses this line to claim the entire South China Sea, but it overlaps with the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
In a forum Monday, Goldberg reiterates the statement of American diplomat Daniel Russel before the US Congress earlier this month.
It is the first time the US publicly rejected China’s 9-dash line claim in the South China Sea.
On Monday, Armed Forces chief General Emmanuel Bautista says Chinese coast guard ships used water cannons to drive away Filipino fishermen from Panatag Shoal, off the coast of Zambales.
Bautista says the incident happened last January 27.
He says the military prioritizes the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes, but adds the Philippines won’t condone violence against local fishermen.
He says, “We will assert our rights. We hope that international opinion can weigh down China.”
Chinese coastguard vessels remain in the shoal’s vicinity, along with other foreign and local fishing ships.

Story 3: QUEVEDO NAMED NEW CARDINAL, SPEAKS UP FOR MINDANAO
A Philippine archbishop joins the ranks of the Vatican elite.
Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo officially became cardinal Saturday after Pope Francis presented him and other new cardinals with scarlet-red birettas and gold rings in a grand ceremony at the Vatican.
Quevedo, the former head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, is the first cardinal from Mindanao, the Philippines’ poorest island group that suffered more than 40 years of neglect and, in Quevedo’s words, injustice.
Quevedo’s friend Fr. Eliseo Mercado says Quevedo will be like a prophet who will stand for righteousness but may end up neglected or persecuted.
He adds Quevedo espouses a correct but “unpopular” view on Mindanao.
Quevedo says his “central conviction” is that “the root cause of insurgency in the South is injustice.”

Story 4: UKRAINE ISSUES ARREST WARRANT FOR YANUKOVYCH
Ukraine issues an arrest warrant for ousted president Viktor Yanukovych.
The move caps weeks of bloody violence in the capital Kiev that led to the fall of the embattled president.
In a statement posted on Facebook, acting interior minister Arsen Avakov says a criminal case has been initiated against Yanukovych and other officials for the –quote– “mass murder of peaceful civilians.”
Opposition leaders in parliament prepare to form a new cabinet after Yanukovych fled the capital, following months of protests sparked by his rejection of a deal with the European Union under Russian pressure.
Lawmakers name Oleksandr Turchynov as interim president, while former Prime Minister and opposition icon Yulia Tymoshenko was freed from prison Saturday.
Thousands laid candles and flowers in Kiev Sunday, in mourning for nearly a hundred civilians who died in the week-long bloodshed.

Story 5: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 9, The world’s largest exhibition of mobile technology opens in Barcelona, Spain Monday and will run for 4 days.
The largest mobile and tech companies in the world converge at The Mobile World Congress to pitch ideas on how technology will shape the future.
Samsung is expected to unpack its latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5, while Nokia launches its X line – smartphones running a modified version of Android OS.
Huawei already announced the world’s fastest mobile WiFi hotspot – the E5785 – and teased a wearable device called the TalkBand.

And at number 10, The last surviving member of the Austrian musical family, the von Trapps, died February 18.
Maria Franziska von Trapp was 99 when she died in her Vermont home from natural causes.
The story of her family’s escape from the Nazis was immortalized in the movie, “The Sound of Music.”

Story 6: RUSSIA TOPS WINTER OLYMPICS AS #SOCHI2014 CLOSES
The $50-billion Winter Olympics ends Sunday with Russia topping the medal tally.
In a grand closing ceremony, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach says –quote– “Russia delivered all what it had promised.”
Russia tops the Games with 13 golds and a total of 33 medals after 17 days of competition.
Bach says an event that took decades in other parts of the world to mount was –quote– “achieved in just 7 years” under Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Story 7: OLYMPIAN MARTINEZ COMES HOME TO HERO’S WELCOME
Michael Christian Martinez became a household name the moment he carried the Philippine flag at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
After an impressive figure skating stint, he comes home to a hero’s welcome.
Jane Bracher reports.

He has no medal from the 2014 Winter Olympics, but Filipinos proudly welcome him home as a hero.
Michael Christian Martinez is the Philippines’ lone representative at the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
Competing in men’s figure skating, the 17-year old made an impression on the world stage and finished in 19th place.
He’s been given lifetime skating privileges in the rinks of top mall chain SM.
Coming from a tropical country, competing on Olympic ice was a dream come true.

MICHAEL MARTINEZ, OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATER: Skating and representing the Philippines at the Olympics was truly a dream come true. I am truly honored to represent our country at the Winter Olympics in Russia.

But before the success were the sacrifices.
Martinez lacked financial support.
He endured multiple injuries.
As he gears up for the 2018 Winter Games, Martinez now enjoys major support from the Philippine Skating Union and businessmen for the next 4 years.

HANS SY, SM PRIME HOLDINGS INC PRESIDENT: Actually, we have been quietly supporting them. We took care of some of the expenses…All I can really say right now is SM is fully prepared to support them. We will be checking on all the other details. But definitely the support will be there.

Martinez made history as the first Southeast Asian to compete in the Winter Olympics.
He inspires Filipinos
to dream big and work hard.

MICHAEL MARTINEZ, OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATER: What I have done in Sochi is the same effort and commitment that our other athletes have done in the Summer Olympics…I am extremely happy with the hero’s welcome, but let us not forget all our other athletes (who are also) heroes. I therefore share this honor and glory to all the Filipino athletes. Mabuhay ang mga Pilipino, mabuhay ang mga atleta! (Long live Filipinos, long live all athletes!)

Martinez not only brings attention to figure skating as a sport, he also puts the country on the world skating map.

JANE BRACHER, REPORTING: Martinez started dreaming on an ice skating rink much like this one, nearly a decade ago. This is where he trained for hours on end, without fanfare. Now, he returns to this rink as an inspiration and a hero. Jane Bracher, Rappler, Manila.

Story 8: THE DARK SIDE OF THE INTERNET
Ever encountered online trolls?
If you’ve seen malicious, derogatory comments online, chances are you’re looking at one.
A study says online trolls are sadistic, psychopathic, and deceitful in real life.
Researchers in Canada say online trolling “correlated positively” with the so-called “Dark Tetrad” of personality, particularly sadism.
Respondents answered questionnaires designed to assess their personalities and Internet use – including trolling.
The researchers analyzed the responses for correlations between online behavior and respondents’ tendencies to exhibit the so-called “Dark Tetrad” personality variables: narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism.
Researchers say the correlation between sadism and trolling is –quote– “so strong that it might be said that online trolls are prototypical everyday sadists.”
Online trolls make up only a small percentage of the entire online community.


– Rappler.com

Newscast Production Staff

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / WRITER Lilibeth Frondoso
DIRECTOR Rupert Ambil
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER / PUBLISHER Rodneil Quiteles
  Dindin Reyes
HEAD WRITER / PROMPTER Katerina Francisco
  Marga Deona
MASTER EDITOR / PLAYBACK Exxon Ruebe
  Emerald Hidalgo
  Jaene Zaplan
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR / CAMERAMAN Charlie Salazar
  Adrian Portugal
  Francis Lopez
  Naoki Mengua
GRAPHICS Jessica Lazaro
  Raffy de Guzman
3D GRAPHICS Sten Bautista


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