Daily News Highlights – April 28, 2015 Edition

An Indonesian court on Monday, April 27, did not accept Mary Jane Veloso’s second case review request. The court stipulation stated that a case review can only be filed once. The only time a second one can be accepted is if there were contradicting decisions between criminal, administrative, or civil courts. Veloso’s lawyers had said the second request was stronger than the first as it argued on substance – that Mary Jane was a human trafficking victim and not a drug courier. Earlier that day, Philippine president Benigno Aquino III appealed for Veloso’s release, but Indonesia’s Joko “Jokowi” Widodo indicated that he will turn it down, citing the “supremacy of the law.” Veloso is set to be executed on Tuesday, April 28.

Read more about Veloso’s case and Widodo’s statement on Rappler.

A massive earthquake hit large parts of Nepal and triggered an avalanche that hit the base camp of Everest on Saturday, April 26, killing thousands and leaving thousands homeless. They now need help. Since Saturday, international humanitarian organizations and aid groups have travelled to the area and promised to extend assistance during the emergency struggle. The needs of several areas are already being assessed and addressed immediately. Oxfam, the Red Cross, and the United Nations World Food Program are among those on the ground.

Read more for the complete list of organizations helping out in Nepal on Rappler.

Southeast Asian leaders warned at a regional summit Monday that Chinese island-building efforts in the disputed South China Sea risk undermining “peace, security and stability” in the region. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member-states Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei claim parts of the sea, which is rich in energy reserves, fishery resources, and is a vital conduit for much of world trade. Beijing says nearly all of it is “indisputable” Chinese maritime territory. Satellite photos released earlier this month provided fresh evidence of the scale of the Chinese program.

Read more on Rappler.

Broadcasting giant GMA-7’s dismissal of its staff in regional stations despite being financially robust is callous, heartless, and appalling, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said in a statement on Monday. NUJP regarded the network’s claim of “strategic streamlining” to justify the layoffs as a “play on words” that “belies the grim reality that almost all employees in regional news desks of the network will lose their jobs.” On Friday, April 24, a representative from GMA-7 in Manila came to Bacolod to inform the regional office’s staff that their last day of work was also on that day. At least 20 employees were laid off. GMA-7 Cagayan de Oro, on the other hand, had its last local broadcast last Friday. Staff members said they will have a final meeting on Wednesday. There are at least 40 employees in GMA-7 Northern Mindanao.

Read more on GMA-7’s mass layoffs on Rappler.

Rioters looted stores and pelted police with rocks in Baltimore on Monday, April 27, after the funeral of Freddie Grey, an African American man whose death while in police custody reignited outrage over US police conduct towards blacks. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency in the port city of 620,000 and activated the National Guard as rioters prowled in small groups, ransacking shops and trashing police vehicles. Some cars were set on fire. 

Read more on the Baltimore riots on Rappler.

President Barack Obama spared no one at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. The skit saw Obama deliver politically correct lines as “anger translator” comedian Keegan-Michael Key delivered the unalloyed truth. Obama talked about campaign fundraising: “Hillary will have to raise huge sums of money too.” Key: “She goin’ get that money. She goin’ get all the money. Khaleesi is coming to Westeros,” refering to a character in HBO’s “Game of Thrones” who’s out to win the throne. He also pokes fun at an issue that has dogged his presidency, the Secret Service’s security lapses. Obama said the agency has come up with a “fool-proof way to keep people off my lawn.” He showed a photoshopped picture Sen. John McCain with a broom. To keep the drones away, he showed Vice President Joe Biden with a baseball bat. Obama also did not spare any punches when he referred to an incident where Vice President Joe Biden got touchy-feely with Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s wife. “Those Joe Biden shoulder massages, they’re like magic. You should try one. Oh you have?”

Read more on CNN.

Although he will be working in Manny Pacquiao’s corner on May 2 (May 3 in Manila), trainer Freddie Roach gave a straight-from-the-heart analysis of his valued fighter’s chances against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Roach believes Pacquiao has the leverage in punching power as the Filipino boxer has scored 38 knockouts out of his 57 victories, but also said Mayweather is faster than his ward. He also added that while Pacquiao has the heart, Mayweather has superior ring IQ. But Roach affirms that Pacquiao has the ability to set the tone of the marquee match-up. “Manny Pacquiao has the left hand, and he is very dangerous,” he said. “When he hits you with that, the fight will be over.” 

Read and watch Freddie Roach’s analysis on Rappler.

Tech giant Google pledges to give €150m or $163 million to European news start-ups over the next three years. BBC reports the funds will support startups’ efforts to earn money from their own online coverage. The Financial Times and The Guardian are among those backing the initiative, while those critical of Google, including Robert Murdoch’s News Corp, are not. Startups that accept funds from Google may need to declare their conflict of interest when reporting on the tech giant. The European Union recently accused Google of abusing a monopoly position in online search. This, and other contentious issues may likely make waves in European media over the coming months.

Read more on Google’s initiative on BBC.

Here’s one reason to follow theoretical physics, according to the great physicist Stephen Hawking – and it has to do with ex-One Direction band member Zayn Malik. “My advice to any heartbroken young girl is to pay attention to the study of theoretical physics,” Hawking, who  appeared via hologram from the United Kingdom at the Sydney Opera House Saturday, April 25, said, “because, one day, there may well be proof of multiple universes.”  Hawking added, “In another universe, Zayn is still in One Direction” and the heartbroken girl should comfort herself with the thought that “in another possible universe, she and Zayn are happily married.”

Read more on Hawking’s musings on One Direction on Rappler.

Two reel-life vampires get married in real life on Sunday – Ian Somerhalder of The Vampire Diaries fame and Nikki Reed of Twilight. In a report from People the couple, who are big animal lovers, asked their guests to donate to their animal rescue charity instead of giving gifts. The couple were first spotted together in July 2014. They got engaged in January. This is Somerhalder’s first marriage, and Reed’s second. She was previously married to American Idol musician Paul McDonald. Somerhalder was in a relationship with another Vampire Diaries actress Nina Dobrev before Reed.

Read more on Somerhalder and Reed’s wedding on Rappler