SUMMARY
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
- [Exclusive]Nabcor execs did a ‘Napoles’ too
Former executives of the soon-to-be-abolished National Agri-Business Corporation (Nabcor) transacted with favored non-governmental organizations that helped divert P105 million (US$5 million) in public funds. The amount was part of the P300 million taken from the Agriculture department’s special fund, the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Fund, intended for rice and corn, livestock, and seeds projects. In their affidavits submitted to the justice department, Elvira Castelo, then Nabcor vice president for management and institutional services, and Rhodora Mendoza, former vice president for administration and finance, detailed how then Nabcor president Alan Javellana misused government funds. He remains at large.
Read the full story on Rappler. - Over 300 dead in Turkey mine disaster; 3 charged with manslaughter
Turkish prosecutors charged 3 people on Sunday, May 18, with reckless manslaughter over a mining disaster that ignited public anger. The explosion at the Soma mine is Turkey’s worst-ever industrial disaster. At least 25 have been detained, including the chairman of the company, Turkish prosecutor Bekir Sahiner said. The blast and fire in the Soma mine on Tuesday, May 13, sent carbon monoxide gas into the mine tunnels, killing 301 miners. Rescue operations ended Saturday, May 18, after the bodies of the last missing mine workers were found.
Read the full story on Rappler.
The story on the mining disaster when it first broke is on Rappler.
Related stories are also on the BBC. - Palace: WEF is chance to showcase PH economy
Malacañang on Sunday, May 18, said the World Economic Forum on East Asia that will be held May 21-23 in Makati City will be an opportunity to showcase one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. To be attended by over 600 leaders and delegates from business, finance and civil society sectors from 30 countries, the WEF will get to highlight Philippine economic growth, which hit 7.2% in 2013 – beyond government targets. Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said that despite the growth, much more needs to be done to expand opportunities for livelihood and social services.
Read the full story on Rappler. - Senators ask DOJ to probe Napoles husband
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel on Saturday, May 17, joined calls for the justice department and the Senate to include in their investigations Jaime “Jimmy” Napoles, husband of Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel scam. Rehabilitation Secretary Panfilo Lacson earlier identified Jimmy Napoles as the source of his version of a list of officials reportedly involved in the pork barrel scam. Pimentel said Jimmy appears to have had “personal knowledge of the ‘substance’ of the documents he gave Lacson.” He added, Jimmy Napoles should also be asked if he has “personal involvement in the scam which the documents and lists purportedly describe or prove.”
Read the full story on Rappler. - Gov’t to blame for death of detained mother’s baby?
“Persistent pulmonary hypertension” caused the death of two-day-old Diona Andrea Rosal, according to Dr Felix Lukban of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). Arrested March 27 on charges of kidnapping, murder and attempted homicide, the baby’s mother, Andrea Rosal, remains confined at the PGH. The military says Andrea – daughter of the late New People’s Army (NPA) spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal – is herself a ranking NPA leader in the Southern Tagalog region. She was 7 months pregnant when arrested. Human rights group Karapatan said Andrea did not receive timely and adequate medical care. The military refuted this, saying government provided the best hospital care
Read the full story on Rappler. - Journalists refute Inquirer
Hitting what they called an unsubstantiated report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, three broadcast journalists – Luchi Cruz-Valdes, Mike Enriquez and Korina Sanchez – denied they received cash payments from Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel scam. The paper listed news personalities who allegedly received amounts ranging from P10,000 to P2 million. The Inquirer said it got the information from a copy of the hard disk drive of Benhur Luy, principal whistleblower in the pork barrel scam. The parents of Luy reportedly came in April 2013 with the hard disk drive, whose contents, according to Luy’s lawyer Raji Mendoza, they did not know about. They were accompanied by Levito Baligod, former counsel of Luy.
Read the full story on Rappler. - Fossils of largest dinosaur discovered in Argentina
Hailed as a “true paleontological treasure,” the fossils of the largest dinosaur ever to roam the Earth were discovered in the Patagonia region of Argentina. Accidentally discovered by a farm worker in 2011, the fossils were said to be of a giant Titanosaur, a long-necked, long-tailed sauropod that walked on 4 legs and lived about 95 million years ago. Paleontologist Jose Luis Carballido said the dinosaur “weighed the equivalent of more than 14 African elephants” or about 100 tons.
Read the full story on Rappler. - New plant can clean up mining-contaminated soil
It’s a new plant species that feasts on metal. In mining sites, the Rinorea niccolifera, a nickel-eating shrub, would be valuable because it can reduce metal contamination in soil. Scientists said the newly discovered plant, first spotted in Zambales, is unique compared to other metallophytes because they can accumulate and tolerate metal elements at levels “100 times greater than those typically measured in leaves of the common non-accumulator plants” that grow in similar environments. Metallophytes thrive in rocks and soils rich in toxic heavy metals. They are useful in detoxifying metal-contaminated environments, scientists said.
Read the full story on Rappler. - ‘Forgetting’ on Google takes some time
After a European Court of Justice ruled Google should honor requests by people to delete personal data and links to deeds or criticism from the past, the Internet giant said it could take “several weeks” to figure out how it could comply with the court order. Online reports have indicated requests have come from a pedophile and a politician who want references to their past to disappear. The European Union’s top court ruled on Tuesday, May 13, that individuals have the right to ask Google to delete personal data and “be forgotten” online when their data becomes outdated or inaccurate.
Read the full story on Rappler. - Godzilla claims top spot of North American box office
On its opening weekend, classic monster movie “Godzilla” raced to the top of the North American box office, raking in US$93.2 million. A reincarnation of the 1954 classic, “Godzilla” stars Bryan Cranston and Juliette Binoche, and continues to explore the threat of nuclear disasters. “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” took in a total of $172 million since its release 3 weeks ago. It occupied the third slot in the box office, after “Neighbors” which earned $26 million.
Read the full story on Rappler.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.