Typhoon Dodong (Noul) slammed into the northern tip of the Philippines May 10, prompting almost 3,000 people in Northern Luzon to flee their homes and knocking out power in Cagayan. It has since weakened, and the state weather bureau said the typhoon will be out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday, May 12. It’s expected to move north towards Japan, the government weather station said.

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The manufacturer of the Philippines’ election counting machines has been barred from supplying 23,000 additional machines for the 2016 elections. The Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) decision is crucial since the poll body is dealing with a major setback: a Supreme Court ruling that might render the Philippines’ existing counting machines useless. The Comelec also needs to lease additional machines because it expects more voters in the 2016 presidential race. Smartmatic can however still appeal Comelec’s decision.

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PH, Japan to hold war games in South China Sea

The Philippine Navy would hold a joint exercise with Japan in the South China Sea with two warships from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Jesus Millan stressed that this is a regular port call on the part of Japan, but that both navies agreed to hold exercises and practice “this code of unplanned encounters at sea.” The exercise will take place just outside the former US naval base of Subic, off the archipelago’s west coast. The Japanese vessels would be leaving Subic while a Philippine ship was heading there under the training scenario.

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Cristina Sergio, the alleged illegal recruiter of Mary Jane Veloso, has been casually telling female villagers in the town of Nueva Ecija that if ever they want to work as domestic helpers, she can help them find a job – anywhere. Now detained, Sergio’s life is beginning to unravel: her lies, her secrets and the ways she apparently duped Filipino women to work abroad. Sergio’s arrest, along with Manila’s diplomatic initiatives, prompted the Indonesian government to stay the execution of Veloso, who was arrested, convicted and sentenced to die in Indonesia on drug charges. Rappler’s Aries Rufo and Michael Bueza investigate the life of Sergio.

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Read the conclusion of the series on Rappler.

While European Union (EU) defense ministers agree that the sharing of intelligence would help stop human traffickers behind the flow of migrants from North Africa, they said they need “coercive action” under the mandate of the United Nations. Ministers from France, Germany, Poland and Spain met a day before EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini briefs a special UN Security Council meeting on the bloc’s plans to stem the influx of migrants, thousands of whom have died in their efforts to reach Europe.

The EU is looking to the Security Council for endorsement of a plan which could involve destroying boats operated by traffickers.

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Cuban president Raul Castro met with Pope Francis at the Vatican May 10, thanking the pontiff for his role in brokering the recent rapprochement between Havana and Washington. The first South American pope played a key role in secret negotiations between the United States and Cuba, which led to the surprise announcement in December that the two countries would seek to restore diplomatic ties after more than 50 years of tensions. Castro offered the pontiff a painting by Cuban artist Kcho inspired by the plight of illegal immigrants stranded at sea.

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The Philippines’ Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said it will publish later this week new categories of public transport conveyances to allow app-based services such as Uber and GrabCar to operate in the country. The new categories seek to modernize transportation services, and usher in the conveniences offered by technological innovation especially with increasing demand for these services, the DOTC said. Under this, a “TNC” is defined as an organization that provides pre-arranged transportation services for compensation using an Internet-based technology application or a digital platform technology to connect passengers with drivers using their personal vehicles.

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Getting relief to the worst-hit villages of Nepal after the April 25 earthquake continues to be a huge challenge. Many are in remote mountainous terrain that is only accessible by helicopter or on foot. Unfortunately, even some helicopters couldn’t get in. On May 10, Nepal’s government denied entry to 3 British military helicopters sent to help the earthquake relief effort because of fears they could damage buildings when landing. The Chinook helicopters, which arrived in New Delhi last week en route to the quake-hit country, were apparently too big to land. Previously, the US was criticized for sending large Osprey helicopters, which experts say are ill-suited to Nepal’s mountainous terrain.

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It’s a special coffee machine made for astronauts. ISSpresso is a project of Italian coffee company Lavazza and engineering firm Argotec, according to CNN. And over the weekend, Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti became the first astronaut to sip espresso while in orbit. She used a regular coffee capsule and put it in the machine that uses a special system of pipes. NASA said ISSpresso isn’t much larger than the typical espresso machine we mortals find on Earth, CNN said.

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How do you take down a perennial champion that produces highly competitive athletes thanks to its enormous pool of resources? This is what Davao Region (Region XI) hopes to achieve in the near future: to become Palaro’s champions and end the decade-long winning streak of young athletes from the National Capital Region (NCR). “It will require continuing reforms,” Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario said in Tagum City, the host of this year’s Palaro. Del Rosario explained how the private schools of Manila are always a step ahead, even against the private schools of provinces. He noted that NCR hosts the best private schools in the country. NCR emerged as champions in this year’s Palaro with 98 gold, 67 silver and 71 bronze medals.

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