Here are today’s headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
- DICT urges Zuckerberg to address fake news, deepfakes on Facebook - Intrusions of big fishers in municipal waters rose in 2024 – conservation group - CBS cancels Stephen Colbert’s late-night show, calling decision financial - Pacquiao, Barrios brace for all-out war after cordial face-off - Trailblazing Alex Eala admits conscious effort to represent Philippines in best way possible
00:06DICT chief Henry Aguda urges Mark Zuckerberg to act against fake news and deep fakes on Facebook.
00:19Commercial fishing intrusions in municipal waters rose by 10.5%.
00:24The U.S. TV network CBS cancels the late show with Stephen Colbert.
00:30Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios brace for an all-out war over the Mexican-Americans' WBC welterweight title.
00:38And Alex Ayala aims to represent the country in the best way possible.
00:44Department of Information and Communications Technology chief Henry Aguda urges Meta CEO and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg
00:51to take action against the spread of fake news, deep fakes, and other harmful content to protect Filipino users on the platform.
00:57In a radio interview on July 17, Aguda said he sent a letter urging Zuckerberg to act faster in addressing harmful content.
01:06He also requested Meta to set up more content moderation teams in the Philippines as he believes this will decrease delays in removing disinformation and other toxic content on Facebook.
01:15At a house hearing on online disinformation in April, Meta representatives said users are responsible for what they post.
01:23They also pointed to Facebook's Community Standard, which bans disinformation and adds labels on AI-generated content.
01:30Aguda says that if Meta and Zuckerberg failed to act on harmful content, the government might consider suspending Facebook in the country.
01:37Rappler has reached out to Meta for comment.
01:42Data from an illegal fishing monitoring platform shows commercial fishing intrusions in the 15-kilometer municipal waters went up by 10.5% from 2023 to 2024.
01:53There were 31,843 intrusions in 2024, up from 28,822 in 2023.
02:01Conservation Group Oceana Philippines says most of these were seen in key areas like Zamboanga City, Cuyo, Palawan, San Pascual, Masbate, Tongkil, Sulu, Languyan, Tawi-Tawi, Pagbilaw, Quezon, and Carles, Iloilo.
02:16Oceana Vice President Rose Liza Aizma Osorio says,
02:20Our fishing communities, already among the country's poorest, now face emptier seas and shrinking livelihoods due to rampant illegal commercial fishing.
02:28A bigger concern is the 5% drop in the total fisheries output in 2024.
02:34The Philippine Statistics Authority reports, maritime municipal fisheries were hit hardest, falling by 8.8% from 879,960 metric tons in 2023 to 802,770 metric tons in 2024.
02:49The PSA adds that the 2024 fisheries output was the lowest since 2005.
02:54Senator Kiko Pangilinan filed a resolution on July 8, urging the Senate to investigate the impact of allowing commercial fishing companies to operate in municipal waters.
03:07CBS Network announces The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the most-watched late-night show on U.S. television and known for its satire of President Donald Trump, will end in May 2026.
03:17The show will be retired after 10 years on air.
03:25CBS says in a statement,
03:26Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, is seeking approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission for an $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media.
03:47This month, Paramount agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by Trump over an interview with Kamala Harris aired in October.
03:56Meantime, a Reuters poll shows President Trump's approval rating on immigration dropped to 41% in recent weeks, the lowest since he returned to the White House.
04:05The same poll showed that 41% of people also approved of his overall job performance.
04:11In an earlier poll, his approval rating on immigration was slightly higher at 43%.
04:16Only 28% of the respondents agreed that, quote,
04:19immigration arrests at places of work are good for the country, while 54% disagreed.
04:24Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios are set to battle for the Mexican-American's WBC welterweight belt on July 19 or Sunday, July 20, Philippine time.
04:36The two appeared friendly during their face-off on Wednesday, July 16, at the studio ballroom of MGM Grand.
04:42Pacquiao was warm and cordial when he looked up to Barrios, who is 6 inches taller at 6 feet.
04:47At 46 years old, the Filipino icon had been through 72 ring wars.
04:52For 24 years, I cannot imagine that I am still fighting here in this arena.
04:59I've been a challenger for many times, and the same feeling, like I'm excited, excitement to get the belt to win the fight.
05:12Barrios, age 30, says he's ready for the war.
05:14I believe I'm in my prime right now.
05:17I've been preparing for 12 rounds of non-stop action.
05:22And, you know, because I know the style that he brings when he steps into the ring.
05:29And, but yeah, you know, I'm looking, you know, to test him in every way come Saturday.
05:36Log on to Rappler.com for our coverage of the fight.
05:39Alex Ayala says she makes it a point to represent the country in the best way possible.
05:45I do my best to behave as well as I can because I know that, especially in the international tennis scene, I'm kind of what comes to mind when they think of Filipinos.
05:57So, I really do my best.
06:00I know that a lot of people look up, a lot of the youth look up to me.
06:03And, you know, I just want to represent us in a way that Pinoy's would be glad to be represented.
06:12There's always going to be a flag next to your name.
06:15It's always going to relate to your identity.
06:18So, I think it's so important.
06:19And a part of loving yourself is loving where you come from and being proud of it.
06:25Ayala put the Philippines on the tennis map as she enjoys what has been a historic year in her career.
06:29Currently ranked 56th in the world, she competed in her first WTA final in the Eastburn Open in June and became the first Filipino in the Open era to see action in the Wimbledon main draw.
