Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Let's Do The News! (August 9, 2016)


- The low pressure area off Cagayan province will likely intensify into a tropical cyclone by Friday, further enhancing the habagat affecting Luzon. PAGASA based such forecast on current data indicating the LPA's possible development into a tropical cyclone by then. It its 5 a.m forecast, the LPA was spotted at around 1,200km east of Cagayan's Aparri municipality as of 4 a.m. of the same day.

- Former President Fidel V. Ramos said that he wants to focus on points of common interest with China as part of efforts to smooth relations with Beijing rolled by the South China Sea dispute. Current leader Rodrigo Roa Duterte has asked the 88-year-old Ramos to become his special envoy to pave the way for talks with the PRC following the international arbitration tribunal last month invalidated China's claims in a case put forward by the Philippines.

- Back to the imminent burial of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, Senator Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the crimes of Marcos render him unfit for a hero's burial. Hontiveros stressed that the Libingan ng mga Bayani is designated for Filipino soldiers, war veterans and citizens considered as heroes and martyrs. Former presidents may be buried here except for those who convicted crimes. Hontiveros stressed that human rights violations committed under the late dictator's 20-year regime.

- China recently built three operational runways on the Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi Reefs in the disputed Spratly Islands, part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. Despite China's claim that it are not militarizing the disputed seas following the tribunal, rapid construction of hangars in the Spratly Islands indicate that it is ready to deploy military aircraft to these outposts.

- The Islamic State extremists have forged an alliance with the Taliban from Eastern Afghanistan and they claimed responsibility behind the suicide attack at a hospital in southwestern Pakistan that reportedly killed at least 70 people.

- A new challenger has stepped into the 2016 US Presidential Race. The new challenger is named as former CIA officer Evan McMullin, who despises both Trump and Clinton in terms of different issues and he has launched his own independent bid for the White House. Despite his slim chances to win the elections, reports say he has the support of an anti-Trump conservative organization, and could win votes from Republicans wary of the party's nominee. Also, 50 former Republican national security officials released an open letter, saying they will not support Trump.

- The president of the Russian Paralympic Committee was dismayed over the IPC decision to ban all Russian paralympians from competing at the Rio Paralympics following revelations over Russia's doping program. Vladimir Lukin said an overwhelming majority of Russian Paralympians will be banned from competing despite not being guilty of doping. He also criticized the IPC for punishing athletes before an investigation by the World Anti Doping Agency is completed.

- In Pokemon GO-related news, there was a college student in San Francisco who was fatally shot while playing the game. Police stated that the 20-year-old college student was playing the game before being shot just before 10:00 PM on Saturday near Aquatic Park. Police haven't identified or arrested the assailant. Meanwhile, a 15-year-old girl got involved in a car accident on the 12th of July while playing Pokemon Go. She borrowed her mother's phone to play and then 30 minuted later, a car crashed into her while crossing the street. In Davao, Philippines, a player of the game assisted a man suffering from heatstroke. A 29-year-old male was playing the game when he saw a man vomiting blood and in weak condition. He administered first aid and dialled the emergency number. Now, Islamic leaders from Malaysia are calling on Muslims to stop playing the game. The statement was released on Friday, a day before Pokemon GO became available to the Malaysian public. It states that Muslims should not use the app, saying that the game is harmful and could lead to gambling which is prohibited under Islamic teachings. 

- Streaming service Hulu is ceasing its free streaming service and shift entirely to a paid subscription model while moving its ad-supported free streaming to a new service by Yahoo called Yahoo View, which will carry anime, K-dramas, and movies, as well as the latest five episodes of shows from ABC, NBC, and Fox, eight days after their original air date.

- Yes, you are doomed. the Nendoroid carrying the dreadful "666" number has unleashed and it was based on Elias Ainsworth, the sorcerer who appears on the manga "The Ancient Magus' Bride", which is due for a three-part anime project with the first part hitting select theaters this Saturday. Anyone who wish to dare keeping him home can order him for 4,444 Yen (plus tax) and deliveries will be made this December. You have been warned.

Nendoroid Elias Ainsworth

Meanwhile, Rem from Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World and Deadpool now got their own Nendoroids as well. Details are on the link.

Nendoroid Rem
Nendoroid Deadpool
Orechan Edition

TTFN!!!

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