May 23, 2013 Edition

The Department of Justice will remove online libel in its proposed version of the controversial Cybercrime Act, whose constitutionality is expected to be decided on by the Supreme Court in June. Justice Assistant Secretary Geronimo Sy said at the 3rd Regional Cybercrime Conference on Thursday, May 23 that there will be no online libel in the department’s “enhanced” version of the law, which they would endorse to the next Congress once it opens in July. Criminalizing online libel is one of the most contentious provisions of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.  Sec 4(c) 4 of the law defines libel as “the unlawful or prohibited acts of libel as defined in Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, committed through a computer system or any other similar means which may be devised in the future.”

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Had Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes Jr listened to him, the messy elections could have been avoided, former Comelec Commissioner Augusto Lagman said Wednesday, May 22. In an open letter tha circulated on the same day, Lagman said Brillantes ignored his recommendations on how to implement the automated elections. Among others too, Lagman said he recommended that project management of the automated polls be bidded out because the Comelec had inadequate IT-preparedness.

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“Don’t lose heart.” This was the message of President Benigno Aquino III to his chosen senatorial candidates who lost in the recently concluded elections. In his speech during a thanksgiving party on Wednesday night, May 22, Aquino said, “Filipinos need people like you who are as willing to serve. I hope you will not lose heart.” It was a message to the 3 Team PNoy candidates who did not make it – former senators Jun Magsaysay and Jamby Madrigal, and former Akbayan party list representative Risa Hontiveros. Madrigal was absent at the event held at the historic Club Filipino, where Aquino proclaimed his senatorial slate about 8 months ago.

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Two men were arrested following an attack on a London man who run over then hacked to death. CNN reports that video was recorded by someone after the attack, where one of the two men, wielding a knife and meat cleaver, was making political statements before walking back to the downed man and talking to the second attacker. Policemen fired at the attackers upon reaching the scene, wounding both. The two were then taken to separate hospitals for treatment.

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Read more on the BBC and CNN.   

Al Jazeera reports that the cost of the damage from the recent Okalahoma tornado, which killed 24 and destroyed thousands of homes, could be greater than US$2 billion. According to Oklahoma Insurance Department spokeswoman Calley Herth, that figure is based on visual assessments of the disaster area, which stretches more than 27 kilometers.

Read the full story on Al Jazeera.  

SM Prime Holdings Inc, the country’s largest mall developer and operator, refuted claims by the Bases Conversation Development Authority (BCDA) that SM Aura was illegally built. Cora Guidote, vice president of SM Prime’s parent firm, SM Investments Corp, tossed the issue back, saying, “It’s an issue between Taguig and BCDA. The BCDA has to deal with the local government. How can we deal with them when we’re just a 3rd party?” she asked. BCDA is tasked to transform former military bases, including the Fort Bonifacio area in Taguig where SM Aura is located, into productive use. The local government awarded SM Prime a long-term lease contract good for 20-30 years, Guidote said. The company has poured in about P3.5 billion into the project.

Read the full story on Rappler. 

An FBI agent shot a Florida man alleged to have ties with one of the Boston bombing suspects. 27-year-old Ibragim Todashev  was shot when he became violent while being interviewed by the FBI. He was reportedly a friend of deceased bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev, with whom he shared an interest in mixed martial-arts fighting. Tsarnaev and his brother Dzhokar were the suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing incident in April that killed 3 people and wounded over 260 close to the finish line of the race. Tsarnaev died in a shootout with the police while his teenage brother was captured and still remains in custody.

Read the full story on Rappler. 
A related story is on BBC. 

The Philippines has become a candidate for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a seal of global approval that payments and receipts involving extractive industries — mainly mining – are properly disclosed. In a press briefing on Wednesday, May 22, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace was informed by Presidential Assistant on Climate Change Secretary Elisea Gozun that the Philippines’ candidacy was approved by the international board. EITI, launched by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2002, is an international multi-stakeholder group that sets global standards for those involved in extractive industries by reporting how much the company pays while the government acknowledges how much its receives. The people of a country can then review the figures.

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Direct flights between Philippines and Brazil may start soon after the air negotiating panels of both countries inked an air agreement. Up to 7 flights a week can be mounted by airlines designated by each government between any point outside of Manila and any point in Brazil, including Sao Paolo, according to the text message of Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) executive director Carmelo Arcilla to reporters on Wednesday, May 22. This is the first air pact between the Philippines and Brazil, South America’s largest country. Opening the route is part of efforts to make the Philippines a hub for flights between Latin America and Asia.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Different blood types have different nutritional needs and immunities. Naturopathic doctor Elmie Ragas said, “If you eat foods not for your blood type, you get only around 25% benefit.” For instance, blood types O and B are better off eating food with warm colors, while blood types A and AB benefit more from food with neutral colors and the cooler hues of green and blue. The blood type principle is also applicable to exercise, massage and other lifestyle practices, Ragas said. For instance, blood types A, AB, and B benefit from moderate pressure massage, while Os get the most out of hard massages.

Read the full story on Rappler.