Daily News Highlights – March 31, 2015 Edition

A rocket attack on a coastal town west of Tripoli, Libya on Sunday, March 29, killed one Filipino oil worker and injured 5 others. Three other Filipino oil workers were among the 5 wounded. The 4 Filipinos were in a car when the attack on the town of Zawiya, about 40 kilometers west of Tripoli, took place. A Sudanese and a Libyan, both males, who were driving separate cars were also injured. The incident was confirmed by the Philippine embassy in Tripoli, foreign office Spokesperson Charles Jose told Agence France-Presse.

Read the full story on Rappler.

The 5^th Division of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on Monday, march 30, affirmed the freeze order on the assets of detained Senator Jinggoy Estrda. It denied his motion for reconsideration after finding enough basis for the freeze order, based on evidence presented by principal whistleblower Benhur Luy and a report of the Anti-Money Laundering Council. The freeze order prevents the transfer of funds and other wealth to another source while the case is being heard.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Andreas Lubitz, the co-pilot of Germanwings flight 4U9525 who was believed to have deliberately crashed the plane into the French Alps, had been treated for suicidal tendencies before obtaining his license. But he appeared more stable recently, German prosecutors said on Monday, March 30. Investigators who were sifting through the plane wreckage and body parts resumed their search for the second black box and hoped to identify more DNA from the 150 passengers who all died.

Read the full story on Rappler.

A related story is on the BBC.

The Department of Justice on Monday, March 30, approved the filing of tax evasion charges against Janet Napoles and her husband Jaime. Napoles is known to be the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind. The justice department found that the Napoles couple under-declared their income for several years starting 2004 up to 2012. They accumulated tax deficiencies amounting to P61.18 million and will be charged before the Court of Tax Appeals. Previously, their daughter Jeane was also charged with a P17.88-million tax evasion case.

Read the full story on Rappler.

At least 91,600 are still living in evacuation centers in Maguindanao after being forced to flee due to fighting between elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and breakaway rebel group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. The military ended its all-out offensive against the BIFF on Monday, March 30. The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Humanitarian Emergency Response Team said the number of displaced persons decreased by 10,000 individuals from the last report on March 26. Armed Forces chief General Gregorio Catapang said the military will however continue to deploy forces to “secure communities and deny the BIFF entry into their former enclaves in Maguindanao.”

Read the full story on Rappler.

Is there a relationship between virality and the emotions a story elicits? Two researchers, Marco Guerini at Trento Rise in Italy and Jacopo Staiano at Sorbonne Université in Paris found that it exists. After studying news websites Rappler and Corriere.it, they said a clear link exists between virality and specific parameters for valence (how positive or negative an emotion is), arousal (the level at which an emotion is felt – anger or sadness), and dominance or control. They also found that stories received more comments when associated with anger or happiness (high arousal), or fear and sadness (less in control), while stories got more votes when associated with inspiration or emotions where people felt more control.

Read the full story on Rappler.

The number coding scheme will be lifted starting Wednesday, April 1, until Good Friday, April 3, and on Monday, April 6, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Taking advantage of the usual exodus from the metro, the Public Works department will be undertaking road reblocking and repairs effective 12:01 am on Maundy Thursday, April 2, until noon of April 5. The MMDA also said the Pasig River ferry will be operational from Wednesday to Easter Sunday, April 5. LRT lines 1 and 2 will not be in operation from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday.

Read the full story on Rappler.

The family of Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, the Filipina on death row in Indonesia, is asking government for help after they received threats Mondaymorning, March 30. They are seeking government protection out of fear they will be tracked down by an alleged international drug syndicate that duped their daughter. Mary Jane is set to be executed in Indonesia after she was found to be in possession of 2.6 kilograms of heroin in her new luggage, supposedly given to her by her recruiter named Cristina. Mary Jane’s parents said they had been threatened in the past by Cristina to keep them silent about the alleged drug syndicate.

Read the full story on Rappler.

No need to endure long queues. Starting April 1, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will implement a fully online application process for those seeking NBI clearance. Applicants need only to register and set an appointment via any of the 3 websites: www.doj.gov.ph/nbi, www.nbi.gov.ph, and clearance.nbi.gov.ph. Afterwards, applicants may proceed to any of the 55 NBI sites nationwide for payment and biometric enrollment prior to the release of their clearance.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Has Uber become vulnerable? It might have as Motherboard reported that active Uber accounts are going on sale on the dark web for as low as $1 a piece. Another vendor, ThinkingForward, is selling these accounts for $5. Motherboard verified some of the accounts it received by contacting the users. One of them, a former Uber customer who last used the service in December 2013, confirmed his username, password, and expiry date on his credit card. Uber said in a statement it “investigated and found no evidence of a breach.” Motherboard said the scale of the breach is unclear and pointed out that this isn’t the first time Uber has had a leak.

Read the full story on Rappler.

More details are on Motherboard.