May 30, 2013 Edition

Defying economists’ expectations, the Philippine economy grew 7.8% in the first quarter of 2013, the highest so far under the Aquino administration. In a press briefing on Thursday, May 30, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) said the faster-than-anticipated growth was driven by the strong performance of the manufacturing and construction sectors. The first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth was the country’s highest quarterly growth since the second quarter of 2009, when the economy expanded by 7.9%.

Read the full story on Rappler. 

The Philippines was one of the most improved countries in the region in the 2013 World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) ranking. The country improved 5 notches to 38th out of 60 countries worldwide on the back of strong macroeconomic fundamentals and upbeat investor confidence. In 2012, the country ranked 43rd out of 59 countries. Among its peers in the Asia-Pacific, the Philippines, with its score of 63.146, bested Indonesia and India which ranked 39th and 40th, overall.

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The incubation period of the SARS-like virus that has killed 27 people globally, mainly in Saudi Arabia, may be longer than previously thought, requiring longer quarantine, a study said Wednesday, May 29. The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) may have an incubation – the period between infection and symptoms – of 9 to 12 days, longer than the one-to-nine day period previously observed. This finding had “important implications for the duration of the quarantine required to rule out infection among contacts” of the patient, said the study in The Lancet medical journal.

Read the full story on Rappler. 
Find more context on the virus’ death toll on Rappler.

The Commission on Audit (COA) has blacklisted Pangkabuhayan Foundation Inc, a bogus non-governmental organization (NGO) that managed to get a total of P194.97 million from the pork barrel of at least 3 senators and a party-list congressman. In its 2012 audit report on ZNAC Rubber Estates Corp (ZREC), an attached agency of the agriculture department, COA said the legislators have been informed not to grant further financial assistance to the NGO. Pangkabuhayan Foundation was found to have submitted false documents to liquidate government funds received in 2009 and 2010. Disbursements to Pangkabuhayan Foundation were supposedly for agricultural development and livelihood projects of the legislators.

Read the full story on Rappler. 

Ousted Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona seems to be enjoying his enforced retirement. On the eve of the first year anniversary of his removal as chief justice, Corona said he spent the past year “getting invited often to small gatherings and lunch or dinner discussion groups” to share his views and experiences, and serving as a wedding sponsor. He even manages to play the piano and go to the gym. “My wife sometimes quips that it seems I am as busy as ever. She thought that retirement would slow me down. But it looks like being idle and taking things easy are not yet in sight for me,” he said. Corona is facing only one case of tax evasion by the Department of Justice (DOJ) but other cases may be filed in the future. “We have moved on with our lives, convinced that ‘tough times don’t last but tough people do,’” said Corona.

Read the full story on Rappler. 

Taiwan is preparing to launch a fourth cyberwar unit, a local newspaper reported Wednesday, in response to what it claims is a growing security threat from Chinese hackers. The new unit is scheduled to open on July 1 and will work to counter cyber attacks on government websites, said the Taipei-based newspaper United Evening News. It will bring to four the number of Taiwanese military units assigned to cyberwar and information-related tasks, added the paper.

Read the full story on Rappler. 

Two French men said “I do” on May 29 in France’s first official gay marriage in the southern city of Montpellier. Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau walked into the town hall room before the ceremony to the sound of Nat King Cole’s song “Love”. The high-profile ceremony comes after months of protests in France over a bill allowing same-sex marriage and adoption. The bill was signed into law on May 18 but opponents have vowed to fight on. Tens of thousands converged on Paris Sunday for a demonstration that ended in violence. Up to 100 police were called in to monitor the marriage in Montpellier — known as the “French San Francisco” for its gay-friendly reputation. France is now the 14^th country to recognize gay marriage.

Read more on Rappler. 

Using the Internet to spy and steal sensitive data is standard practice by all countries, according to the security chief of controversial Chinese telecoms giant Huawei. The comments published Wednesday, May 29, follow allegations that Chinese hackers gained access to secret designs for a slew of sophisticated US weapons programs, and stole the blueprints for Australia’s new intelligence agency headquarters. John Suffolk, a former chief information officer with the British government and now head of security operations at Huawei, said he was not surprised by claims of international hacking. Confirming a Washington Post story, US officials said Tuesday that Chinese hackers had breached networks containing designs for an array of advanced US weapons projects, from stealth-fighter jets to missile defense systems.

Read the full story on Rappler. 

GMA News executive and anchor Jessica Soho has acknowledged the public apology of comedian Vice Ganda aired over rival network ABS-CBN. However, the veteran journalist, repeated that rape jokes are not funny and that the issue is not about her. “I acknowledge the public apology given by Vice Ganda, by way of his TV program. I sincerely hope and pray that this was done with the purest intentions and determination to put this issue behind us,” said Soho. Vice Ganda has come under attack both online and offline for a series of jokes he performed at a recent concert that made fun of the journalist.

Read the full story on Rappler. 

A 22-year old man from North Carolina will go to prison for tweeting threats against the life of President Barack Obama. Donte Jamar was sentenced to six months of prison on May 29 He will also live under a year of supervised release once out of prison. Jamar was arrested in September 2013 after threatening to kill the president via his Twitter handle, @DestroyLeague_D. In the United States, it is illegal to threaten the president online and offline.

Read the full story on Mashable.