August 8, 2013 Edition

The blasts in central and northern Mindanao are the handiwork of 3 groups that have “joined forces” to mount attacks and derail the peace process. This was disclosed by President Benigno Aquino III during a press conference in Davao City on Thursday, August 8. He did not name them but groups against the peace process include the Abu Sayyaf, remnants of the Jemaah Islamiyah, and a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. “Make no mistake about it: This is a desperate act by a small sector deadset against the attainment of peace in Mindanao,” he said in a speech. On Thursday, an encounter in Albarka, Basilan killed one soldier and left 4 wounded. On Wednesday, 3 bombs exploded in Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

Read the full story on Rappler.

A related story on the Basilan encounter is also on Rappler.

The story about the Maguindanao blast is likewise on Rappler.

Janet “Jenny” Napoles learned the tricks of the trade in the military, where she hobnobbed with generals. She started small 15 years ago, cutting a deal with the Philippine Marines for the P3.8-million purchase of 500 Kevlar helmets that the Sandiganbayan later found out to be dubious. The court in 2010 punished military officers and civilians who signed the contract. But Napoles, who encashed the checks from the Marines, got away with it.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Buses that tried to enter Manila despite a standing policy that bans those without terminals in the city or those without stickers from the local government were stopped by no less than top city officials. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno made the rounds at the border of Quezon City and Manila to make sure the buses did not get through. Bus operators said that if the city government maintained its hardline position, they would close shop in 3 months. They also decried the absence of consultation with them. Estrada however said in Filipino, “They don’t follow traffic rules and regulations. Clearly it’s disrespect.”

Read the full story on Rappler.

Former South African president Nelson Mandela marked his 2nd month in hospital as church leaders on Wednesday led prayers. The anti-apartheid icon remained in critical but stable condition at the Pretoria Mediclinic Heart Hospital where he was rushed on June 8 with a recurring lung infection. He celebrated his 95th birthday on July 18, with family members gathered at his bedside for a celebration. Pretoria Archbishop Joe Seoka asked South Africans to rally together. Using Mandela’s clan name, he said, “God is using Madiba, and his extended illness, to present to us a great challenge to unite behind the values that he represents.”

Read the full story on Rappler.

Argentine authorities on Wednesday, August 7, combed through the charred ruins of an apartment building destroyed by an explosion and fire that left at least 10 people dead. Another 62 people were injured and 13 are missing after Tuesday’s (August 6) thunderous blast caused by a gas leak in the building in Rosario, the country’s third largest city, said Santa Fe province’s health minister Miguel Cappiello. Of 26 injured people who are still hospitalized, 3 are in serious condition, including a boy aged 3 or 4, he added. The building consisted of 3 towers housing 60 apartments, many inhabited by students or young people because the rent is cheap. Rescue efforts went on through the night and continued Wednesday.

Read full story on Rappler.

The family of an African American tobacco farmer whose cancer cells were harvested without her knowledge and consent have agreed to support scientific research. Scientists harvested the cancer cells more than 62 years ago from Henrietta Lacks before she died and used them without her knowledge. This led to breakthroughs such as the polio vaccine, cloning, and invitro fertilization, among others. The cells harvested from Lacks are called HeLa, after the first letters of her first and last names. A rmember of the Lacks family said they are proud of what HeLa cells have done for science.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) wants to sell several idle real estate properties to raise about P5 billion. PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan told reporters that the company would dispose of several properties that are no longer in use as the group eyes housing its revenue-generating arms in a new property. Said properties include the 3-hectare Dansalan property in Mandaluyong City, a lot along Espana in Sampaloc, Manila, a lot in Filinvest Corporate Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa City as well as a warehouse of the defunct Pilipino Telephone Corp. (Piltel).

Read the full story on Rappler.

After a stunning victory against Qatar, Gilas Pilipinas played sub-par basketball for the most part before managing to pull a 67-55 victory against Hong Kong on Wednesday, August 7. Sluggish for the first 3 quarters, the Philippine team pushed forward as guard LA Tenorio heated up with 8 straight points. Gabe Norwood’s 5 consecutive shots gave Gilas a 63-54 lead with a little over 2 minutes left in the game. Jayson Castro and Marc Pingris put the icing on the cake. The Philippine team faces Kazakhstan on Friday at 8:30 pm.

Read the full story on Rappler.

They are the least forgetful among non-humans, scientists say. Dolphins, they found out, have a level of cognitive sophistication comparable to humans, chimpanzees and elephants. While elephants are known to have memories that stretch up to 20 years, this appears to be limited to those within the family — unlike dolphins who can remember even strangers. Scientists discovered this when they played on underwater speakers recordings of signature whistles of former companions. They found that when dolphins are familiar with the call, they are “more likely to approach the speakers for longer periods of time,” said Dr Jason Bruck of the University of Chicago. He said it is “unprecedented in the study of animal behavior to find memories this long.”

Read the full story on BBC.

Users of the Whatsapp application can now send voice messages to each other, regardless of what platform they’re on. The voice messaging function will be released on all platforms simultaneously, Whatsapp annnounced in a Wednesday, August 7, blog post. Voice messaging allows users to record their voice then send it to someone else also using Whatsapp. The creators of Whatsapp said they worked hard to “make sure that iPhone and Android devices have perfectly working Voice Messages functionality” so that users of Nokia, Blackberry and Windows Phone can enjoy “the same rich and powerful Voice Messaging experience.”

Read the full story on Rappler.