July 31, 2014 Edition

Is the epidemic out of control? Fears that the west African Ebola outbreak could spread to other continents grew, with European and Asian countries on alert and the Doctors Without Borders warning there was no overarching strategy to handle the worst outbreak of the disease. The US Peace Corps announced it was pulling hundreds of volunteers from the three countries. Hong Kong announced quarantine measures for suspected cases, although one woman arriving from Africa with possible symptoms tested negative. The EU said it was ready to deal with the threat. The International Civil Aviation Organization has held talks with global health officials on potential measures to halt the spread of the disease.

Read the full story on Rappler.

A packed Gaza market and a UN school were the latest targets of Israeli strikes in a single day that saw the death toll from 23 days of attacks rise to 1,360. At least 17 people were killed and 200 were wounded in a packed Gaza market after a July 30 strike. Israel was supposed to observe a four-hour humanitarian lull in some sectors, to allow Gaza’s battered population of 1.8 million to go out in safety to stock up on supplies, and for medics to evacuate the dead and wounded. The deadliest strike that day was at a UN-run school in Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, with two shells hitting classrooms where dozens of Palestinians were sheltering, killing 6 children.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Unknown kidnappers on July 29 seized a Filipina nurse in the Libyan capital, held her for several hours and raped her, medics and security officials said. The report came more than a week after suspected militiamen beheaded a Philippine worker there after singling him out for not being a Muslim. A health ministry statement said the latest incident could push the Philippines government to speed up the evacuation of its citizens, 3,000 of whom work in Libya as doctors and nurses, as the country sinks further into chaos.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Malacañang submitted to Congress the proposed P2.606 trillion ($59.943 billion) budget for 2015, an amount that is 15.1% higher than the 2014 budget. Of this amount, P501.7 billion ($11.54 billion) corresponds to lump sum appropriations through the calamity fund, contingency fund, and the Internal Revenue Allotment, among others. Budget watchdogs have sought to abolish them since they are vulnerable to adjustments. Just like in 2014, social services will get the biggest chunk of the budget pie next year at P967.9 billion ($22.29 billion). Among governent agencies, the Department of Education will get the biggest budget at P365 billion ($8.41 billion).

Read the full story on Rappler.

He might not have mentioned it in his State of the Nation Address, but President Benigno Aquino III’s priority bills include the Freedom of Information bill. Malacañang on July 30 submitted to the House of Representatives its list of proposed priority laws for the second regular session of Congress. Also on the list are the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, the 2015 budget, as well as supplemental budget for programs and projects that were affected by the Supreme Court ruling that certain schemes in the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) were unconstitutional. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr explained that the priorities were made based on their impact on people and resources, as well as the political objectives they will achieve.

Read the full story on Rappler.

The Republican-led House of Representatives voted on July 31 (Manila time) to sue President Barack Obama for allegedly overstepping his powers, a move swiftly denounced by his Democratic allies as a cynical election-year stunt. By a party-line vote of 225 to 201, the House voted to resort to the unprecedented move of taking the president to court for not having stringently followed the letter of the law while implementing his signature “Obamacare” health care reform bill. Obama dismissed the suit, making it a punchline again during a speech in Kansas City, Missouri. “Instead of suing me for doing my job, I want Congress to do its job and make life a little better for the Americans who sent them there in the first place,” he said.

Read the full story on Rappler.

Rehabilitation that couldn’t begin until 3 days before the State of the Nation Address (SONA). More than 14,500 survivors still living in tents. President Benigno Aquino III omitted these details from his SONA on July 28, as he painted Yolanda-hit areas in a rosy state. Many of these homeless survivors had to face another calamity earlier in July – Typhoon Glenda (Rammasun) – which forced up to 2,600 tent dwellers in Tacloban City alone to evacuate. In his SONA, Aquino said he has signed the local rehabilitation plans for Cebu, Iloilo, Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, and Tacloban City. What he didn’t say is that he approved these plans only on July 25, or 3 days before his SONA.

Read the full story on Rappler.

From China and India to the Philippines and Indonesia, the fast-growing middle classes are looking to spend their cash by spreading their wings, leading to a boom in the Asia-Pacific region’s tourism sector. But while airlines have responded by setting up several new budget carriers and flying new routes, many airports are unable to cope, forcing governments to either expand or simply build new airports. Upgrades of existing airports could cost an additional $25 billion. International tourist arrivals in Asia-Pacific grew an annual 6.0% to 248 million last year, the strongest of any region worldwide.

Read the full story on Rappler.

A widening “disconnect” with family members in the prosperous city state is to blame for Singapore’s youth suicide rate, which showed little sign of dropping in 2013. The number of people below the age of 30 who took their own lives held steady at 100, from 101 in 2012, the Samaritans of Singapore said in a statement – still nearly double the figure of 58 in 2011. People under 30 account for an average 20 percent of the total number of those who committed suicide in the past decade. Interactions with suicidal youth have shown “a general disconnect between them and their families,” the group added.

Read the full story on Rappler.

You have 15 Filipino films to choose from starting Friday, August 1, until August 10. It’s Cinemalaya season once again, and 15 filmmakers have been given the opportunity to tell their stories. Hustisya (Justice), starring Nora Aunor and directed by Joel Lamangan is among this year’s list of movies under the Directors Showcase. The films will be shown at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Greenbelt 3, Trinoma, Alabang Town Center, and Fairview Terraces. Rappler gives you a synopsis of each film, and tells you why it’s worth the watch.

Read the full story on Rappler.