Rappler Newscast | August 5, 2014

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Missionaries infected with Ebola “dramatically improve” with secret drug. Indonesia denounces the Islamic State. 2 Azkals players quit because of their new coach

Today on Rappler.

  • American missionaries infected with the Ebola virus “dramatically improve” after being treated with an experimental drug.
  • Predominantly-Muslim Indonesia denounces the Islamic State.
  • Two of the Azkals football team’s players quit because of the team’s new coach.

 

2 US EBOLA PATIENTS IMPROVE AFTER SECRET DRUG

Two American missionaries infected with the Ebola virus “improve dramatically” after being treated with experimental drug ZMapp.
CNN reports 3 top secret vials were flown to Liberia to be used on missionaries Dr Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol.
ZMapp was developed from harvested antibodies within the blood of mice exposed to fragments of Ebola.
It has never been tried on humans, only on monkeys.
Brantly’s condition was said to be “nearly reversed” within an hour of receiving the serum.
Writebol showed significant improvement after a second dose.
World health authorities are cautious over the development.
World Health Organization spokesman Gregory Hartl says health authorities “cannot start using untested drugs in the middle of an outbreak, for various reasons.”
Doctors Without Borders says treatments and vaccines in the very early stages of development have “scientific and ethical implications.”
The group adds “As doctors, trying an untested drug on patients is a very difficult choice
since our first priority is to do no harm.”
The death toll from the deadly Ebola virus reaches 887, after 61 deaths were recorded between July 31 and August 1 in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
The World Health Organization or WHO says the total number of confirmed and likely cases from the outbreak has reached 1,603.
WHO head Margaret Chan says the response of some of the countries with reported cases is “woefully inadequate.”
She earlier said the outbreak has been “moving faster than our efforts to control it.”
In the Philippines, overseas employment agency or POEA monitors Filipinos in west African countries on a weekly basis.
POEA records show there are more than 600 Filipino workers in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.

METRO MANILA WARNED VS MONSOON RAINS AUGUST 5-8

State weather bureau PAGASA tells Metro Manila residents to prepare for heavy monsoon rain from Tuesday to Friday.
Typhoon Jose, international name Halong, enhances the southwest monsoon or habagat.
Heavy rain caused massive traffic jams in the capital and neighboring provinces Monday.
In the city of Marikina, officials raised the first alarm for the Marikina River as it reached 15 meters 10:30 pm Monday.
As of 5pm Tuesday water levels remain at 14.2 meters.
The city’s Public Information Office said only 3 out of 8 floodgates are open.
PAGASA on Monday told residents of Ilocos and Central Luzon to prepare for flashfloods and landslides Tuesday.

SALCEDA: FUNDS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION HARD TO GET

Praised for his province’s disaster risk reduction, Albay Governor Joey Salceda says getting funds to mitigate calamities and adapt to climate change has become difficult.
Salceda says his success has ironically translated to a -quote- “harder time finding funds.”
The governor, who is also co-chair of the UN Green Climate Fund adds…
he cannot rely on humanitarian aid because of Albay’s zero-casualty count during Typhoon Rammasun, locally known as Glenda.
Glenda caused widespread damage to agriculture and infrastructure.
Official estimates place total economic damage at P9 billion.
Salceda says international aid agencies won’t help unless -quote- “there are dead on the streets.”
He adds, “I cannot remove Mayon volcano, I cannot stop typhoons, and people won’t move.
We have to live and adapt to those factors.”
Albay is cited as one of the provinces with the best disaster management plans in the Philippines.
Salceda says targeting a ‘zero-casualty’ figure is not only a goal, but a way of life in Albay.

Check out Rappler’s Project Agos microsite…
a one-stop shop to help the public prepare better for disasters.  
Project Agos aims to raise awareness about climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management.
You can see what to do before, during and after natural disasters like floods and earthquakes.
Visit rappler.com/projectagos.

DRILON: ‘SPIN MASTERS’ BEHIND LP ADOPTION OF BINAY

Will Vice President Jejomar Binay be adopted by President Benigno Aquino’s Liberal Party or LP?
Senate President Frank Drilon says it has not been brought up.
Binay said in several interviews he is open to becoming the administration’s candidate in the 2016 presidential elections…
despite being the head of main opposition party United Nationalist Alliance.
Drilon, an LP stalwart says “The spinmasters are having their day.”
He says the party’s decision on its standard bearer will be influenced by Aquino’s decision.
The President is also the LP chair.
Binay made the comment after the President mentioned him in his 5th State of the Nation Address,
the time he was ambushed in 1987 along with Binay.
The President’s words sparked speculation that Aquino might endorse Binay.
Drilon maintains LP is still keen on supporting LP mate and Binay rival Mar Roxas.

SCHROCK, CAGARA ADMIT DOOLEY REASON BEHIND DEPARTURE FROM AZKALS

Two members of the Philippine national football team or Azkals quit.
Their reason? Their coach, Thomas Dooley.
Azkal standouts Stephan Schrock and Dennis Cagara announce their resignation through their social media accounts Monday night.
Schrock posted on his Facebook page: “As long as Coach Dooley will lead the team I won’t wear the jersey of Azkals again.”
Cagara echoed similar sentiments.
He tweeted “Dooley is also the reason why I won’t play for the Azkals for the moment.”
Dooley is a former American national soccer team standout.
He took over the squad last January after the exit of Hans Michael Weiss.
A source close to the team tells Rappler these issues had been “simmering for a while.”
Problems started to surface when veteran Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge was excluded from the list for the Peace Cup, which starts September 1.
Cagara and Schrock were also left out.
Schrock was the team’s hero in last year’s Peace Cup.
The source says a lot of the players “feel used, like pawns in a game.”
The source predicts other players might follow.
Dooley has yet to comment.

GAZA FALLS SILENT AS THREE-DAY CEASEFIRE TAKES HOLD

After more than 3 weeks of fighting, the Israeli army announces it is withdrawing all troops from Gaza.
The declaration comes after a ceasefire with Hamas takes effect 8 am local time or 1pm Manila time Tuesday.
The ceasefire comes after Israeli forces observed a unilateral 7-hour pause in their offensive Monday.
An Israeli spokesperson says troops still maintain a defensive position outside the Gaza border, poised to respond to any violation of the truce.
It is the second time in four days that both sides attempted a ceasefire.
Last Friday, the 72-hour truce brokered by Washington and the United Nations faltered as violence broke out just 90 minutes later.
Israel began its military operation against Hamas on July 8.
Nine days later, it sent in ground troops to destroy the network of attack tunnels.
1,800 Palestinians and 67 people on the Israeli side has died in the 3-week campaign.

INDONESIA BANS ISIS, FIGHTS IT ON VARIOUS FRONTS

Indonesia, the country with the world’s largest Muslim population, denounces the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIS, now renamed Islamic State or IS.
Officials say any ISIS presence in Indonesia is forbidden.
The government also warns pledging allegiance to the Islamic State could mean losing Indonesian citizenship.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and leaders of Indonesia’s largest moderate Islamic organizations denounce ISIS’ radical ideology.
The public denunciation is part of a multi-pronged response to a growing militant threat.
A new video uploaded in Indonesia of men speaking in Bahasa Indonesia calls on their countrymen to join IS.
The YouTube video has already been blocked in the country.
Indonesians traveling to the Middle East are also being closely monitored.
The government is working closely with religious leaders to counter the Islamic State’s message.
Minister for Politics, Law and Security Djoko Suyanto says “every effort to spread the ISIS ideology must be prevented.”
He adds, “There is no place for such ideology in Indonesia. Indonesia is not an Islamic state.
We are a country that respects plurality of ethnicity, religion, and race.”

JOKOWI GEARS UP FOR TRANSITION; PRABOWO CAMP GOES TO POLICE

Indonesian president-elect Joko Widodo or Jokowi prepares for his transition into office while rival Prabowo Subianto awaits the decision of the Constitutional Court on his petition challenging election results.
With about 11 weeks before he assumes the presidency on October 20, Jokowi created a 5-person transition team that would set short-term and medium-term priorities.
But outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says Jokowi should wait for the Court’s decision.

THAI JUNTA BANS COMPUTER GAME SIMULATING DICTATORSHIP

Thailand’s military junta on Tuesday bans a computer game allowing players to craft their own dictatorship in a fictional paradise.
Called Tropico 5, the game gives players the chance to build their own forms of government on a remote island.
Tropico 5 was made by Bulgarian game developer Haemimont.
The tagline is “Imagine a place where the people never go hungry, all work has a decent wage
and the weather is forever bright and sunny – just make sure you always vote El Presidente.”
The Thai game distributor says the ban is disappointing.
The company says the game was banned because “some parts of stories within the game affect Thailand’s situation.”
Thailand’s been under a military junta since Thai Army Chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha seized control of the government in May.

THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ

OVER P430B NEEDED FOR NEW PH AIRPORT
A study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency or JICA says the Philippines will need P436 billion or about $9.9 billion for an airport to replace the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The new airport will have a capacity of 130 million passengers and 4 runways that can handle 700,000 aircraft landings and take-offs annually.
JICA recommends Sangley Point in Cavite as a site.
The transportation department wants the new airport operational by 2027.

‘NEW SPECIES’: BOLIVIAN GOLDEN BAT
Scientists classify the golden bat Myotis midastactus as a new species.
The BBC reports the bat was named after King Midas of Greek legend and his golden touch, because of its bright golden fur.
The golden bat is believed to live only in Bolivia.

A LITTLE VIDEO GAMING WON’T HURT
A study by Oxford University suggests playing video games for less than an hour each day contributes positively to child development.
Young people who engaged in video games were better adjusted than those who did not play at all.
But those who spent more than 3 hours weren’t.
The research involved 5,000 kids aged 10 to 15 years old.

For the full top 10 visit Rappler.com’s ‘the wRap.’

SLENDERMAN SUSPECT DEEMED INCOMPETENT

A court in Wisconsin says one of the teens charged for stabbing a fellow-12 year old for fictional Internet bogeyman Slenderman is incompetent to stand trial.
CNN reports court documents reveal Morgan Geyser is “standing mute,” or refuses to enter a plea.
A psychiatrist tells the court Geyser believes she is capable of mind control and can talk to Lord Voldemort, a villain in the popular book series Harry Potter.
In her competency review Geyser displayed odd behavior like laughing inappropriately and squatting in her chair.
Another doctor reports Geyser saying she said she uses Vulcan mind control of “Star Trek” fame to condition her thoughts and feelings.
Geyser also said she thinks she can speak to Slenderman.
Both doctors say Geyser is not faking, but could be deemed competent after proper medication.
Geyser and friend Anissa Weier were arrested in May for stabbing a friend 19 times.
Geyser and Weier are charged as adults for first-degree homicide.

SANDRA BULLOCK TOPS LIST OF HOLLYWOOD’S BEST PAID ACTRESSES

Oscar-winning movie star Sandra Bullock is Hollywood’s highest-paid actress in 2013.
Forbes magazine reports Bullock’s estimated earnings at some $51 million.
A big chunk of Bullock’s earnings comes from the movie Gravity, for which she received an Oscar best actress nomination.
Next on the highest paid list is Hunger Games and X-Men star Jennifer Lawrence, earning $34 million.
Third place goes to We’re The Millers star Jennifer Aniston, who earned $31 million…
at 4th place is Gwyneth Paltrow at $19 million.
Angelina Jolie and Cameron Diaz are tied at fifth place, earning $18 million each.

– Rappler.com

Newscast Production Staff

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / WRITER Lilibeth Frondoso
DIRECTOR Rupert Ambil
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER / PUBLISHER Rodneil Quiteles
  Dindin Reyes
HEAD WRITER / PROMPTER Katerina Francisco
  Marga Deona
MASTER EDITOR / PLAYBACK Exxon Ruebe
  Emerald Hidalgo
  Jaene Zaplan
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR / CAMERAMAN Charlie Salazar
  Adrian Portugal
  Francis Lopez
  Naoki Mengua
GRAPHICS Jessica Lazaro
  Raffy de Guzman

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