Outbreak surpasses 16,000
According to the World Health Organization, the current outbreak surpasses 16,000 cases with nearly 7,000 deaths from these cases. The United Nations’ health agency issues its latest numbers, focusing on how Ebola has affected Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone — the three countries where the vast majority of cases have occurred.
The WHO and other health agencies say the scale of the Ebola outbreak is likely significantly worse than even the current high numbers indicate, because many people died before they could be diagnosed and many contracted the disease in remote areas without ready access to health care.
Expecting first child
Jessica Hall is expecting her first child with her HGTV designer husband Kyle Carlson.
We’re expecting our first baby on May 25th. We’re beyond happy and so ready for this baby! It took a lot of practice but it definitely paid off — my husband didn’t mind!
Hall, who admits “nausea has been intense,” has been leaning on mom of two Wilkinson during her first pregnancy.
Kendra’s been awesome and given me some hand-me-downs! She even gave me her breast pump.
Japan: 6.8 magnitude
A strong earthquake shakes central Japan’s Nagano region injuring several people and collapsing a building in area village, the country’s Kyodo News Agency reports, citing firefighters. Reports of the intensity of the quake, centered in the Nagano area at 10:08 p.m., differ. The Japan Meteorological Agency reports it is a 6.8 magnitude temblor; the U.S. Geological Survey says it is magnitude 6.2.
Meester, Brody marry
Meester and Brody tie the knot only three months after news of their engagement surfaces. The former OC star leaves a boxing gym in Los Angeles with a ring just showing on his wedding finger. Multiple sources are said to have confirmed the couple’s ‘super secret’ wedding.
DRC is Ebola-free
The World Health Organisation has confirmed that the Democratic Republic of Congo is Ebola-free, as 42 days have passed since the last case in an outbreak that killed at least 49 people. The DRC outbreak, which began in August, involved a different strain of Ebola from the one that has claimed more than 5400 lives in west Africa.
UN health agency:
The Democratic Republic of Congo is now considered free of Ebola transmission.
Wild
In this drama, directed by Jean-Marc Vallee, Witherspoon plays Cheryl Strayed, a woman who decides to hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail alone, as a way to heal herself, following her divorce, the death of her mother, and years of reckless, destructive behavior. Co-starring Gaby Hoffmann and Laura Dern.
The grief, the divorce; the sex scenes were the hardest thing for me to do, honestly so hard. I’ve never had to do anything like that in my entire life. I had to do all the parts of the movie, the parts that made me feel uncomfortable too, because it is about emotional honesty.
The Babadook
In this thriller, directed by Jennifer Kent, Davis plays Amelia, a mother struggling to discipline her ‘out-of-control’ six-year-old son after the death of her husband. Samuel, her son, dreams of a monster that is coming to kill them both. Co-starring Daniel Henshall, Noah Wiseman and Tim Purcell.
I think a lot of women and mothers will recognise themselves in the film. So many mothers think they are bad mothers – all of us do make stupid mistakes sometimes, and speak in some appalling way to our child, and often know instantly what a profound mistake that we have made.
The Imitation Game
In this thriller, directed by Morten Tyldum, Cumberbatch plays Alan Turing, the genius British computer scientist. He cracks the German Enigma Code which helps the Allies win WWII. Co-starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode.
Not many people know the whole story, that he invented the computer, broke the Enigma code, was prosecuted for being a homosexual and underwent a year of oestrogen injections before dying in 1954. The irony and sickness of it was extraordinary! He wasn’t shouting from the rooftops or trying to start a cause, he was just a man who was gay. He’s such a quiet hero.
Interstellar
In this science-fiction drama, directed by Christopher Nolan, McConaughey plays Cooper, a former NASA pilot and engineer. Cooper leaves his family to explore another galaxy to find a potentially habitable planet, carrying with him the seeds of human life in an effort to save mankind. Co-starring Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain.
At the heart of it, I saw this character, a father who had children, who had a choice, the most extreme circumstances: to go off, live a dream — not only a personal dream but also something that could also salvage humanity.
The Sleepwalker
In this drama, directed by Mona Fastvold, Ellis plays Christine. When Christine arrives at her sister’s secluded family estate, tensions rise and as the days grow darker and the nights more disturbing, Kaia is forced to confront her sister. Co-starring Gitte Witt and Christopher Abbott.
I think from the outside world, Christine certainly is seen as very detached and those around her say she seems like her, you could say, lens on the world is cracked or morphed. She definitely has a different purpose of motivation. So I guess throughout the film, she does look a little mysterious to outsiders, and even to the people closest to her.
Diem Brown dies at the age of 32
DiemBrown dies at the age of 32 after a lengthy battle with cancer. MTV pays tribute to its reality star in the following statement:
MTV is tremendously sad to hear the news that Diem Brown has lost her long battle with cancer. We send our deepest condolences to her family and friends. Diem was a true fighter and brought passion to everything she touched. We will miss her.
It's with a heavy heart, we say goodbye to our longtime friend @DiemBrownMTV: http://t.co/8TDfDg1dlb Our thoughts are with her loved ones.
— The Challenge (@TheChallenge) November 14, 2014
Clinical drug trials to start next month
Clinical trials of experimental Ebola treatment will start next month in West Africa as the regional death toll from the deadly virus surpasses 5,000.
One trial will treat infected patients with the antiviral drug brincidofovir at a medical center in the Liberian capital of Monrovia. In a second trial, patients will get the antiviral drug Favipiravir in the southern town of Gueckedou in Guinea. A third trial in the Guinean capital of Conakry will focus on giving patients blood transfusions from Ebola survivors, a method recommended by the World Health Organization.
Doctors Without Borders:
This is an unprecedented international partnership which represents hope for patients to finally get a real treatment against a disease that today kills between 50 and 80% of those infected.
Fury
In this drama, directed by David Ayer, Pitt plays Don ‘Wardaddy’ Collier. Out-numbered, out-gunned, and with a rookie soldier thrust into their platoon, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany. Co-starring Shia LaBeouf and Logan Lerman.
If we were ordered to do push-ups, I was first on the ground. In class, I studied hard. I never whined, bitched or complained. The other guys had to know I was working as hard if not harder than they were.
The Homesman
Lee Jones directs this drama and plays as George Briggs. Briggs and Cuddy transport three women to Iowa through the harsh Nebraska territories. Their voyage is marked by stark beauty, psychological peril and constant threat. Co-starring Hilary Swank, Grace Gummer and Miranda Otto.
He is willing to help a woman who believes she can get across Nebraska in a wagon with three insane women as passengers. The truth is he agrees to help her out because she rescues him from a very dangerous situation, and so he is indebted to her, even though she finds out that she wouldn’t have made it on her own.
Foxcatcher
In this drama, directed by Bennett Miller, Carell plays John du Pont, the schizophrenic millionaire who infamously shot and killed his friend and Olympic gold-medal wrestler Dave Schultz before locking himself in his mansion as police officers negotiated his surrender for two days. Co-starring Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo.
I thought about who he was as a little kid, the environment he grew up in. He was very sheltered. He essentially grew up in this enormous estate with his mother, who by all accounts was not the most warm person … At his core, he was a very lonely person.
Dumb and Dumber To
In this comedy, directed by Bobby Farrelly and Peter Farrelly, Jim Carrey plays Lloyd Christmas. Lloyd joins Harry on his wacky road trip to find his long-lost daughter. Co-starring Jeff Daniels and Rob Riggle.
There are a couple of things with Lloyd. You wack the tooth out, and you think really selfishly. You just go, “Mine! Mine! Mine!,” in your mind. Also, there’s the love between the characters. That’s important. You can get away with anything, as long as there’s real love between the characters.
UK joining airstrikes
British lawmakers meeting in emergency session approve a motion Friday to participate in airstrikes against ISIS targets in Iraq. The 524-43 vote comes after Prime Minister David Cameron tells Parliament that the country has a “duty to take part” in international efforts to combat the extremist group. Cameron says:
This is not a threat on the far side of the world but one which menaces European nations directly.
Suffering from discomfort
Kim Jong Un is suffering from “discomfort,” state media has said in the first official acknowledgement of ill health after a prolonged period out of the public eye. Kim has not been photographed by state media since appearing at a concert alongside his wife on Sept. 3, fuelling speculation he is suffering from bad health. An expert on the North Korean leadership says:
Based on his gait, it appears he has gout – something (due to) diet and genetic predisposition that has affected other members of the Kim family.
Taliban offensive
A Taliban offensive in eastern Afghanistan leaves an estimated 100 civilians dead or wounded, including some women and children who were beheaded, a provincial deputy governor says. The insurgents beheaded at least 15 people, including women and children. Mohammed Ali Ahmadi:
We only have local police forces and a small number of Afghan National Army personnel fighting a huge number of well-armed Taliban in the area.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
In this action-adventure directed by Jonathan Liebesman, Fox plays April O’Neil who helps the four ninja turtles defeat the sinister Shredder and stopp him in seizing control of New York City. Co-starring Will Arnett and William Fichtner.
She’s more of a leader when she explores her relationship with the turtles instead of just the human companion that gets dragged along on the adventure. It’s more representative of a modern woman.
