#ThewRap: Videos you need to watch this week, October 30-November 5, 2017

Dear Rappler readers,

This week saw the exit of Ernesto Abella as Presidential Spokesperson as Harry Roque conducted his first briefing on Monday. All this while President Rodrigo Duterte was in Japan, where he met Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and, along with partner Honeylet Avanceña, paid a courtesy call to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Duterte said replacing Abella was a “personal decision.”

A pickup driver killed 8 people in New York City last Tuesday after mowing down cyclists and pedestrians, before striking a school bus in what officials branded a ‘cowardly act of terror.’ 11 others were seriously injured in the attack. 

The saga of actor Kevin Spacey’s sexual assault allegations continue, as streaming service Netflix axe him from the “House of Cards” series. The series’ production is suspended until the direction of the show is decided.

Here are the stories we think you shouldn’t miss.

How Harry Roque’s first Malacañang presscon went

The fast-talking new presidential spokesman injects his own style into the regular Palace briefing

LOOK: Duterte, Honeylet meet Emperor and Empress of Japan

Their meeting with the royal couple is the Philippine president’s last official activity in his two-day visit to Japan

Duterte on replacing Abella: ‘Personal decision’

‘I am not about to explain why I did it,’ President Rodrigo Duterte tells reporters when asked why he appointed Harry Roque to replace Ernesto Abella

Truck driver kills 8 in New York ‘act of terror’

11 others are seriously injured in the broad daylight assault and first deadly terror-related attack in America’s financial and entertainment capital since September 11, 2001 attacks

Netflix suspends ‘House of Cards’ production

Production of award-winning ‘House of Cards’ is suspended indefinitely in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against its star Kevin Spacey

Basagan ng Trip with Leloy Claudio: On Filipinos’ obsession with titles

Join history teacher Leloy Claudio as he exposes the absurd boasting behind these titles

Democracy under threat: We will shine the light, we will hold the line

‘Like many, I fear that the pendulum of democracy is swinging the other way globally, enabled by social media,’ says Maria Ressa when she accepted the National Democracy Institute’s W. Averell Harriman Democracy Award on November 2 (US time)