Philippine Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa is fighting at least seven court cases amid friction with the government over the news site Rappler, which she founded. AP
Philippine Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa is fighting at least seven court cases amid friction with the government over the news site Rappler, which she founded. AP
Philippine Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa is fighting at least seven court cases amid friction with the government over the news site Rappler, which she founded. AP
Philippine Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa is fighting at least seven court cases amid friction with the government over the news site Rappler, which she founded. AP

Philippines orders news site Rappler to close but founder Ressa says 'business as usual'


  • English
  • Arabic

Philippine Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa has vowed to keep her news company Rappler running after authorities ordered it to shut down.

On Wednesday, the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission confirmed the "revocation of the certificates of incorporation" of Rappler, accusing it of breaching "constitutional and statutory restrictions on foreign ownership in mass media".

The move comes a day before President Rodrigo Duterte is due to leave office.

Ms Ressa has been a vocal critic of Mr Duterte and the deadly war against drugs he launched in 2016. Since then, she has faced a series of criminal investigations and online attacks against her and Rappler.

Rappler said the decision "effectively confirmed the shutdown" of the company and promised to appeal, describing the proceedings as "highly irregular".

But Ms Ressa said the news site would continue to operate as they followed the legal process.

"We continue to work, it is business as usual," she told reporters.

"We can only hope for the best" under Mr Duterte's successor Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Ms Ressa said.

Rappler has had to fight for survival as Mr Duterte's government accused it of flouting laws against foreign ownership of media when securing funding, as well as tax evasion.

It has also been accused of cyber libel, a criminal law introduced in 2012 ― the same year Rappler was founded.

Mr Duterte has attacked the website by name, calling it a "fake news outlet" over a story about one of his closest aides.

  • Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte holds a Galil sniper rifle next to outgoing National Police Chief Ronald Bato Dela Rosa during a handover ceremony in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Manila. Reuters
    Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte holds a Galil sniper rifle next to outgoing National Police Chief Ronald Bato Dela Rosa during a handover ceremony in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Manila. Reuters
  • Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a news conference at the Asean Summit in Manila, the Philippines. Duterte lashed out at Justin Trudeau after the Canadian prime minister raised concerns about human rights abuses under the country’s drug war. Bloomberg
    Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a news conference at the Asean Summit in Manila, the Philippines. Duterte lashed out at Justin Trudeau after the Canadian prime minister raised concerns about human rights abuses under the country’s drug war. Bloomberg
  • Rodrigo Duterte chats with partner Honeylet Avancena while waiting for leaders to arrive to attend the opening ceremony of the ASEAN summit in Manila on April 29, 2017. AFP
    Rodrigo Duterte chats with partner Honeylet Avancena while waiting for leaders to arrive to attend the opening ceremony of the ASEAN summit in Manila on April 29, 2017. AFP
  • Rodrigo Duterte saluting a soldier wounded by an explosion, during a visit to a military camp in Jolo, Sulu province, southern Philippines. Twin bombings hit a Sunday mass at Jolo Cathedral in the Mindanao region of the southern Philippines on January 27. EPA
    Rodrigo Duterte saluting a soldier wounded by an explosion, during a visit to a military camp in Jolo, Sulu province, southern Philippines. Twin bombings hit a Sunday mass at Jolo Cathedral in the Mindanao region of the southern Philippines on January 27. EPA
  • Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte pose for a group photo on the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN summit in Singapore, 2018. AFP
    Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte pose for a group photo on the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN summit in Singapore, 2018. AFP
  • Rodrigo Duterte salutes at Lieutenant General Rolando Joselito D. Bautista and Major General Macairog Sabeniano Alberto, during a change of command ceremonies of the Philippine Army at a military camp in Taguig, south of Manila, Philippines. EPA
    Rodrigo Duterte salutes at Lieutenant General Rolando Joselito D. Bautista and Major General Macairog Sabeniano Alberto, during a change of command ceremonies of the Philippine Army at a military camp in Taguig, south of Manila, Philippines. EPA
  • Rodrigo Duterte gestures next to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad after Philippines' Manny Pacquiao beat Argentina's Lucas Matthysse during their world welterweight boxing championship bout at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur. AFP
    Rodrigo Duterte gestures next to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad after Philippines' Manny Pacquiao beat Argentina's Lucas Matthysse during their world welterweight boxing championship bout at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur. AFP
  • King Abdullah II of Jordan talks with Rodrigo Duterte as they review the guard of honor at the Royal Palace in Amman, Jordan, September 6, 2018. EPA
    King Abdullah II of Jordan talks with Rodrigo Duterte as they review the guard of honor at the Royal Palace in Amman, Jordan, September 6, 2018. EPA
  • Rodrigo Duterte inspects a Catholic church damaged by explosion in Jolo, Sulu province, southern Philippines, 28 January 2019. EPA
    Rodrigo Duterte inspects a Catholic church damaged by explosion in Jolo, Sulu province, southern Philippines, 28 January 2019. EPA
  • Rodrigo Duterte with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono during a meeting in Davao city, Philippines. EPA
    Rodrigo Duterte with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono during a meeting in Davao city, Philippines. EPA

The news portal is accused of allowing foreigners to take control of its website through its parent Rappler Holdings' issuance of "depositary receipts".

Under the constitution, investment in media is reserved for Filipinos or Filipino-controlled entities.

The case springs from the 2015 investment from the US-based Omidyar Network, which was established by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar.

Omidyar later transferred its investment in Rappler to the site's local managers to stave off efforts by Duterte to shut it down.

Ms Ressa, who is also a US citizen, and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October for their efforts to "safeguard freedom of expression".

She is fighting at least seven court cases, including an appeal against a conviction in a cyber libel case, for which she is on bail and faces up to six years in prison. Rappler faces about eight cases, Ms Ressa said.

The International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ) has urged the Philippine government to reverse its order to shut down Rappler.

"This legal harassment not only costs Rappler time, money and energy. It enables relentless and prolific online violence designed to chill independent reporting," ICFJ said on Twitter.

Mr Marcos Jr, the son of the Philippines' former dictator who presided over widespread human rights abuses and corruption, takes over from Mr Duterte on Thursday.

Activists fear Mr Marcos Jr's presidency could worsen human rights and freedom of speech in the country.

THE BIO

Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old

Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai

Favourite Book: The Alchemist

Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail

Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna

Favourite cuisine: Italian food

Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman

 

 

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Defending champions

World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack

FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
%3Cp%3EFeatherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Abdullah%20Al%20Qahtani%20v%20Taha%20Bendaoud%0D%3Cbr%3EBantamweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Ali%20Taleb%20v%20Nawras%20Abzakh%0D%3Cbr%3EBantamweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Xavier%20Alaoui%20v%20Rachid%20El%20Hazoume%0D%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Islam%20Reda%20v%20Adam%20Meskini%0D%3Cbr%3EBantamweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Tariq%20Ismail%20v%20Jalal%20Al%20Daaja%0D%3Cbr%3EBantamweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Elias%20Boudegzdame%20v%20Hassan%20Mandour%0D%3Cbr%3EAmateur%20Female%20Atomweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Hattan%20Al%20Saif%20v%20Nada%20Faheem%0D%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Maraoune%20Bellagouit%20v%20Motaz%20Askar%0D%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Ahmed%20Tarek%20v%20Abdelrahman%20Alhyasat%0D%3Cbr%3EShowcase%20Featherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Mido%20Mohamed%20v%20Yazeed%20Hasanain%0D%3Cbr%3EShowcase%20Flyweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Malik%20Basahel%20v%20Harsh%20Pandya%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.

Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital

Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

Bio

Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind. 
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.

Updated: June 29, 2022, 10:49 AM