Let's Do The News! (December 24, 2024)

                                        

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- PH President Bongbong Marcos said he will sign the 2025 national budget on Rizal Day.

- The Games and Amusements Board revoked John Amores's professional license.

- Over 20 financial institutions responded to the PH Department of Education's call for loan payment deferral.

- The US House Committee released the ethics report into former congressman Matt Gaetz, an ally of President-Elect Donald Trump. The report finds that Gaetz regularly paid for sex and drugs while in office.

- Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York earlier this month.

- Team Penske inducted Gil de Ferran and Tim Lombardi into its Hall of Fame.

- The NCAA grants waiver to former junior college players while appealing to the Diego Pavia ruling.

- Universal Pictures announced that Christopher Nolan's next movie will be based on Homer's Odyssey. Titled The Odyssey, it will hit theaters in July 2025.

- The 80s sci-fi TV series V returns as a full-cast audio drama series from Big Finish Productions with the first volume releasing this January 2025. Annabel Baldwin, Janie Dee, and Jack Myers will be cast in the audio drama adaptation.

- Actor Garry Chalk is diagnosed with cancer.

TTFN.

What to see at the 2024 MMFF?

It's Christmas break again, which means no school until the start of the new year. Hooray! As everyone heads out for the long weekend and travels to different places, one thing should be on every vacation playlist: watching movies from the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival.

2024 Metro Manila Film Festival entries

So, what movies are showing in Philippine cinemas during the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival this Christmas Day?

- And the Breadwinner is... - Starring Maris Racal, Vice Ganda, and Eugene Domingo, this family comedy movie saw Vice Ganda as the breadwinner taking care of the family.

- Espantaho - This horror movie stars Judy Ann Santos, Lorna Tolentino, and Eugene Domingo. It centers on a mother and daughter mourning over the death of the family patriarch, only to be caught in a series of terrifying undertones.

- Green Bones - Dennis Trillo, Ruru Madrid, and Iza Calzado star in this emotional drama movie. A soon-to-be-released criminal and a corrections officer grieve over the death of the officer's sister, which complicates the prisoner's release.

- Hold Me Close - Jairus Aquino, Carlo Aquino, and Julia Baretto star in a romantic drama movie about a young man who arrives in Japan and makes a fateful encounter with a young woman who can sense feelings by touching.

- Isang Himala - Aicelle Santos, Bituin Escalante, and David Ezra star in a modern take on the cult classic Filipino movie "Himala." The story is about a young woman from a small village who becomes a beacon of hope and controversy when she is believed to have the power to heal after hearing a divine calling during an eclipse.

- My Future You - Almira Muhlach, Francine Diaz, and Seth Fedelin star in an unconventional rom-com about two lovers who met each other via a dating app, only to discover they're living 15 years apart.

- Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital - It's another horror movie in the MMFF 2024 entry list and this one stars Alexa Miro, Enrique Gil, and Jane De Leon. It features a group of celebrities trapped in the horrors of an abandoned hospital in Taiwan. Don't watch alone. You've been warned.

- The Kingdom - Vic Sotto and Piolo Pascual star in an alternate reality drama movie about what happens when the Spaniards don't invade the Philippines.

- TOPAKK - The only action thriller on the list, this movie stars Arjo Atayde, Julia Montes, and Sid Lucero. It's about a former special forces security guard on a daring rescue mission to save a woman who was held captive by a corrupt police force working for a drug cartel.

- Uninvited - Nadine Lustre, Aga Mulach, and Vilma Santos star in this revenge drama about a woman seeking revenge on a billionaire who killed her daughter.

The 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival begins on Christmas Day, December 25. During that week, all ten films will be shown in every cinema. Which film are you excited to watch?

Let's Do The News! (December 23, 2024)

                                       

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- Pandi, Bulacan Mayor Enrico Roque was released two days before Christmas.

- Congressmen who are members of the Makabayan bloc have asked the House leadership to immediately take action on the impeachment complaints filed against PH Vice President Sara Duterte.

- 15 volcanic earthquakes were recorded around the Kanlaon Volcano, according to PHIVOLCS.

- The Armed Forces of the Philippines is tightening its intel monitoring this holiday season.

- Syria's new leader says armed factions will come under state control. Turkey says there's no room for Kurds in Syria's future.

- Germany promises a thorough investigation into the Magdeburg attack.

- The MF Ghost TV anime will return for its third season soon.

- Honda, Mitsubishi Motors, and Nissan have signed an MOU “to advance discussions among the three companies.”

- JTBC gives a sneak preview of its 2025 drama lineup coming soon on the said channel

- Louise delos Reyes is now engaged to her non-showbiz boyfriend.

Let's Do The News! (December 22, 2024)

                                      

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino supported the production of new polymer bills of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

- House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez defended the allocations for aid programs contained in the 2025 national budget.

- The Regional Task Force/Inter-Agency Coordinating Cell is set to present the Contingency Plan in relation to the ongoing eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.

- Volkswagen ended production of its VR6 engine. First debuted in 1991, this engine powered cars like the Golf, Passat, and the Corrado. Over 1.87 million units were produced.

- The ONE PIECE TV anime series will return on April 6 with new episodes and will air on an evening timeslot on Sundays at 2315 hours JST. In addition, Subaru Kimura will take over the role of Franky.

- The final season of My Hero Academia will air this Autumn 2025, but before that, the Vigilantes prequel anime will air this April 2025.

- The Chainsaw Man movie's Reze Arc will hit cinemas this 2025 with Reina Ueda joining the cast as Reze.

- Meet the winners of the 2024 KBS Entertainment Awards.

- Meet the winners of the 2024 SBS Drama Awards.

- Baseball legend Rickey Henderson passed away at the age of 65.

- Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by unanimous decision in a rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (December 21, 2024)

                                     

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- A magnitude 4.4 quake hits Laoang, Northern Samar. Earlier, an M4.3 quake hits Sarangani's Balut Island.

- Five were killed and over 200 hurt when a car hit crowds at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany.

- The US House of Representatives passed a revised bill to fund the government, a crucial step to avert the midnight shutdown.

- Isack Hadjar will race for the VCARB F1 team alongside Yuki Tsunoda in the F1 2025 season.

- The second season of Jigokuraku TV anime will air this January 2026.

- The Sonic the Hedgehog 3 live-action movie premiere broke the Guinness World Record for the largest shadow project.

- The third season of the SPYxFAMILY TV anime will air this October 2025. In addition, a new stage play will run in seven cities this September to December 2025.

- Street Woman Fighter contestant Monika announced her marriage and pregnancy.

- GMA-7's Lolong TV series' 2nd season will air this January 2025.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (December 20, 2024)

                                    

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- According to PHIVOLCS, a magnitude 5.3 quake with a tectonic origin at a depth of 17 km rattled San Policarpo, Eastern Samar, early in the morning.

- The US House of Representatives failed to pass a bill backed by President-elect Donald Trump that would avert a government shutdown.

- UK Labour peer Lord Peter Mandelson is expected to be named as the new UK ambassador to the United States.

- Luigi Mangione, the suspect behind the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York, is set to be extradited from Pennsylvania to New York to face murder charges.

- The Teamsters union launched a strike against Amazon, affecting several California facilities and locations in Queens, New York; Skokie, Illinois; and Atlanta, Georgia.

- YouTube says they're cracking down videos with clickbait titles and thumbnails, starting in India. The rollout starts in the coming months.

- Suzuki previews its Solio range's minor change ahead of its Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 premiere.

- Production of the third-generation Dodge Durango range, including its V8-powered variants and the Hellcat, will continue in 2025.

- The Dan Da Dan TV anime is renewed for its second season coming this Summer 2025.

- The live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movie series is getting a fourth installment expected to hit cinemas this 2027, according to reports.

- Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto V is named Twitch Recap 2024 Global Game of the Year, racking 1.46 billion views. The upcoming GTA VI is named the "most anticipated game of 2025".

- Song Kang Ho is confirmed to make a special appearance in the second season of the Netflix original series Beef.

- Philippine girl group BINI will hold their World Tour this 2025.

- The TV variety show IT'S SHOWTIME will continue airing on GMA-7 in 2025.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (December 19, 2024)

                                   

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas presented the first complete Philippine Polymer Banknotes to President Bongbong Marcos. The new polymer banknotes feature animals instead of past Philippine Presidents.

- The Office of Civil Defense is studying the possibility of widening the Permanent Danger Zone around the Kanlaon Volcano due to flash flood threats.

- The Office of the Secretary General of the House of Representatives accepted the third impeachment complaint against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte.

- Dominique Pelicot gets a jail sentence of 20 years in French mass rape trial - as all other defendants found guilty of at least one charge. Pelicot was found guilty of drugging and raping ex-wife Gisèle and recruiting strangers to rape her.

- The leader of the HTS rebel group that ousted Syrian leader Bashar Al-Assad tells the BBC that Syria is exhausted by war and is not a threat to the West.

Apple canceled its plans for an iPhone subscription service due to software issues and regulatory concerns. However, it will continue offering the iPhone upgrade program and Apple Card monthly installments.

- Liam Lawson replaces Sergio Perez as Red Bull F1 driver joining alongside Max Verstappen.

- Doriane Pan will return to Mercedes-AMG for the 2025 F1 Academy season.

- Bianca Bustamante will make her GB3 Championship debut with Elite Motorsport in 2025.

- Valtteri Bottas will return to the Mercedes-AMG F1 team as a reserve driver.

- Sony and Kadokawa are forming a "strategic capital and business alliance" that will see Sony becoming Kadokawa's biggest shareholder by about 10% of its shares.

- Nihon Falcom founder Masayuki Kato dies at the age of 78.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (December 18, 2024)

                                  

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- Typhoon Querubin continues to move over the waters of eastern Mindanao while maintaining its strength. In today's Tropical Cyclone Bulletin No.4 of PAGASA, the eye of the storm was spotted 195 km East of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

- The PH Senate tightened its security following a bomb threat.

- PH DOJ Usec. Raul Vasquez assured that Mary Jane Veloso will first be subjected to a five-day quarantine to assess and ensure her health.

- Russia detains a Uzbek citizen recruited by Ukrainian Intelligence over the killing of a senior general in charge of Russia's nuclear protection forces.

- Luigi Mangione is charged with first-degree murder of UnitedHealthcare boss Brian Thompson by the Manhattan district attorney.

- Former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey quits as a priest after reports of the Church's handling of a sexual abuse case.

- Alisha Palmowski will drive for Red Bull Racing and Emma Felbermayr for Kick Sauber in the 2025 F1 Academy season.

- Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Motors announced that "this is not something that our company has announced" in response to reports that the three carmakers are discussing business integration.

- Honda confirms the Prelude revival will have an S+ Shift automatic gearbox.

- A live-action movie adaptation of Ya Boy Kongming! was announced and will hit cinemas this April 25th.

- Prime Video's original animated anthology series Secret Level was renewed for Season 2.

- Kim Seon Ho confirms his departure from his current agency.

- NBA commissioner Adam Silver says the league looks into critiques over 3-point volumes.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (December 17, 2024)

                                 

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- Senator Loren Legarda warned of the negative impact of the wrong move to cut the PH Department of Education budget. According to Legarda, this will have a negative impact on students and teachers, as well as putting the foundation of the country's development at risk.

- The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has issued a show cause order to ride-hailing company Move It for violating the rider cap. Based on the order, Move It is being explained regarding the allegation that it exceeded the set rider cap and failed to report the activation, deactivation, and reactivation of its riders.

The number of those affected by Kanlaon Volcano reaches 44,077 individuals, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

- After conducting a thorough review of the confiscated items, the Philippine National Police filed a new complaint against the suspected Chinese spy who was arrested in Makati City. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group yesterday filed a complaint for illegal interception and misuse of devices in violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 against the Chinese.

- Three were killed, including the juvenile suspect, while six were hurt after the shooting at Madison Abundant Life Christian School in the US state of Wisconsin, according to police.

- Prince Andrew will not spend Christmas with the Royal Family at Sandringham, according to reports. Earlier, an alleged Chinese spy linked to Prince Andrew was identified as Yang Tengbo, according to the High Court. The man accused of being a Chinese spy says claims against him are "entirely untrue".

- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost the confidence vote in parliament, triggering early elections in February.

- Formula Drift named Brazil's Ultimate Drift as its affiliate.

- Suzuki is ending production of the ZC33S Swift Sport this February. The ZC33S Final Edition was unveiled with a 2,329,800 Yen starting price.

2025 Suzuki Swift Sport ZC33S Final Edition

- The Renault 5 Turbo 3E will be available this 2026 as a limited-production model.

Renault 5 Turbo 3E

- VANNER member Hyesung was discharged from military service due to medical reasons.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (December 16, 2024)

                                

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- PH President Bongbong Marcos has put an end to the issue of a loyalty check taking place in the police and military.

- Up to 644,487 individuals in 13 municipalities and cities in Negros Occidental are at risk from the threat of lahars. This is also in the midst of the ongoing eruption of the Kanlaon Volcano and the possible formation of a Low-Pressure Area.

- Police Col. Hector Grijaldo, who was charged with contempt and ordered to be arrested by the House Quad Committee for failing to appear at its hearings several times, has been arrested and is now in the custody of the House.

- The UK government has approved the £3.6 billion sale of Royal Mail's parent company to a Czech billionaire.

- The Archbishop of York, who will soon lead the Church of England, is facing resignation calls over his abuse case failings.

- The UK has been in diplomatic contact with the Syrian rebel group that led to the overthrow of the Assad regime, says Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

- Legendary tabla player and Indian music icon Zakir Hussain passed away at the age of 73.

- A new research revealed that severe COVID-19 infection shrunk cancer tumors in lab rats.

- The Proton eMas 7 was unveiled. Based on the Geely Galaxy E5, the eMas 7 has up to 410km of driving range and a 0-100kph time of 6.5 seconds.

- TOEI's Super Sentai Series teases its 2025 installment due to be unveiled this Christmas Day.

- Kimetsu no Yaiba's Swordsmith Village Arc gets a stage play this April.

- SBS's The Fiery Priest's second season's finale was rescheduled due to the 2024 SBS Drama Awards.

- G-Dragon's new music variety show will air on MBC.

- Nebraska and Penn State are joining alongside Pitt and Louisville as the NCAA women's volleyball final four.

TTFN.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Yoon Suk Yeol says he will never succumb to impeachment

 

President Yoon Suk Yeol said Saturday that he would never succumb to the threat of impeachment, after the National Assembly voted 204-85 in favor of a motion that could eventually dethrone the incumbent president.

"I will never surrender," he said in his fifth address to the nation in the past two weeks since his imposition of martial law on Dec. 3.

"I will cherish any reprimand, encouragement and support you show to me, and I will do my best for the country until the end," he added, in a speech delivered in his official residence in Hannam-dong of Yongsan-gu, central Seoul.

Recounting past achievements such as the handling of economic problems he said stemmed from misdeeds of his liberal predecessors, a U-turn from the nuclear phaseout that led to the Czech Republic's selection of a South Korean consortium as a preferred bidder in a nuclear power plant project and a revival of trilateral ties between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo, Yoon said, "I pause my journey here for a while, but our journey with the people over the past 2 1/2 years toward the future must not stop.

Yoon also asked public officials to gather strength in difficult times and show support for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who serves as acting president for the time being.

Yoon's duty as the president was suspended at 7:24 p.m. under the National Assembly Act, hours after the parliament voted in favor of the impeachment motion. This came as a secretary in the presidential office received an original copy of the impeachment resolution delivered by representatives of the legislative body led by former three-term lawmaker and the National Assembly secretary-general Kim Min-ki.

As Yoon faces an impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court, Yoon's legal representatives will begin working to defend the 63-year-old conservative president from accusations of insurrection through his martial law imposition on Dec. 3. Presidential security will remain in place at his official residence during his trial, which is to not last for more than six months.

Yoon's spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.

Saturday's speech follows a prior one on Thursday, in which he sought to justify his attempt to wield military power to take control of the opposition-controlled National Assembly and election authorities. Yoon then claimed his martial law declaration was a high-caliber political decision by the president and it had been made within the constitutional framework.

Hundreds of wreaths with plastic flowers, presumably from Yoon's avid supporters, lined the wall outside the presidential office in Yongsan on Saturday. Ribbons on the wreaths read, "You are the patriot who saved the country," "We must protect President Yoon Suk Yeol," "Cheer up President Yoon Suk Yeol," "Justice will prevail" and "Death sentence to election fraudsters," among others.

Source: Korea Herald

Let's Do The News! (December 14, 2024)

                               

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- Senate Committee on Health Chairman Christopher "Bong" Go has warned of the threat of respiratory illnesses that the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon could pose to residents.

- Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano are pushing to establish the Virology Institute of the Philippines.

- Prince Andrew says he "ceased all contact" with an alleged Chinese spy after advice from the government and nothing sensitive was discussed.

- Francois Bayrou was named France's new prime minister as President Emmanuel Macron tries to end months of political unrest.

- Soccer player Takefusa Kubo will guest star in Doraemon's New Year Special episode.

- "Heartbroken doesn't even describe how we feel," says the wife of England rugby star Tom Voyce as tributes were poured after his death due to Storm Darnagh.

- NFL Hall of Famer and ESPN sports analyst Randy Moss was diagnosed with cancer.

TTFN.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: TV cancellations and changes for Saturday due to schedueld National Assembly Vote

 

With the National Assembly scheduled to vote on a second motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 14, many TV shows have announced cancellations and changes to their broadcast schedules.

MBC’s “Music Core” will not air on Saturday for the second week in a row. Instead, the music show will air on Sunday, December 15 at 2:05 p.m. KST. MBC’s variety show “How Do You Play?” has also cancelled its December 14 broadcast.

JTBC’s variety show “Knowing Bros” (“Ask Us Anything”) and drama “The Tale of Lady Ok” will not air new episodes on December 14. “The Tale of Lady Ok” will return on December 15 at 10:30 p.m. KST, when it will air Episode 4.

Channel A’s drama “Marry YOU” will also take the night off on December 14, with Episodes 9 and 10 now scheduled to air consecutively on December 15 at 7:50 p.m. KST.

KBS 2TV will not air Episode 2 of its variety show “Moving Voices in Germany” as previously scheduled. Instead, it will air “Moving Voices Special – From Majorca to München” during the show’s usual time slot on December 14.

Source: soompi

Let's Do The News! (December 13, 2024)

                              

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- The COMELEC is observing if they will allow online voting for persons deprived of liberty.

- The National Confederation of Labor filed a petition to suspend the printing of official ballots for the 2025 national and local elections.

- House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel find the P12 billion cut in the PH Department of Education budget for 2025 unacceptable.

- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has placed all units of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (PNP) throughout Negros Island on "high alert" due to the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano.

- Levis Fishlock, the man who tried to set fire to the hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, England was jailed for nine years, the joint-longest sentence so far after UK summer riots.

- US top diplomat Antony Blinken holds talks with President Erdogan on establishing stability in Syria.

- Kyrgyzstan wants to update its national anthem.

- Future BMW M models will feature quad-motor electric drivetrains.

- The first-ever DS Automobiles N°8 was unveiled. This electric coupe crossover is the first to use the French luxury brand's new naming scheme and its new logo. The FWD Long Range has up to 750km of driving range while the AWD Long Range has up to 350PS of power.

2026 DS Automobiles N°8

- The Lotus Emira Limited was unveiled. Limited to 12 units, it features liveries inspired by Lotus' Formula 1 heritage. It's powered by a 360HP AMG 2.0L turbo engine.

Lotus Emira Limited

- Astro Bot wins The Game Awards Game of the Year. During the award ceremony, major announcements were made such as CDPR's The Witcher 4, a new Virtua Fighter game, Tekken 8's first special guest character, Borderlands 4, Okami, Onimusha, Turok Origins, and more.

- Gakuen IDOLM@STER app game gets its PC release soon.

- The Detroit Lions revoked the season tickets of a fan who had a pregame verbal altercation with Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur at Ford Field last week.

- The body of former England rugby player Tom Voyce was found, five days after Storm Darragh.

TTFN.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: S Korea's President Yoon vows to 'fight to the end'

 

Embattled South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has defended his shock decision to declare martial law last week, saying he did it to protect the country's democracy.

In a surprise televised address on Thursday, he said the attempt was a legal decision to "prevent the collapse" of democracy and counter the opposition's "parliamentary dictatorship".

Yoon has suggested that he would not step down ahead of a second vote to impeach him in parliament on Saturday.

"I will stand firm whether I'm impeached or investigated," he said. "I will fight to the end".

The president and his allies are facing investigations on insurrection charges, and he and several of them have been banned from leaving South Korea.

On Thursday, the opposition-led parliament voted to impeach police chief Cho Ji-ho and justice minister Park Sung-jae. The two officials have been immediately suspended.

Unlike impeachment motions against presidents, which require 200 votes in the 300-strong National Assembly to be passed, other officials can be impeached with 150 votes.

In his address, his first since his apology over the weekend, Yoon denied that his martial law order was an act of insurrection, claiming that his political rivals were creating "false incitement" to bring him down.

Yoon repeated many of the same arguments that he used on the night he declared martial law: that the opposition was dangerous, and that by seizing control, he had been trying to protect the public and defend democracy.

However, Yoon added that he would not avoid his "legal and political responsibilities".

Last Saturday, an attempt by opposition lawmakers to impeach the president failed after members of his own ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote. But opposition members are set to hold another impeachment vote this weekend and have vowed to hold one every Saturday until Yoon is removed from office.

The floor leader of the PPP, Choo Kyung-ho, stepped down after the failed impeachment attempt, and on Thursday the party elected Kwon Seong-dong, a Yoon loyalist, as his replacement.

Kwon told reporters on Thursday that he would hold discussions with PPP lawmakers on whether they should continue opposing Yoon's impeachment.

Yoon's party had been hoping to convince the president to leave office early, rather than force him out.

Minutes before Yoon spoke, his party leader Han Dong-hoon appeared on television saying it had become clear that the president was not going to step aside. Han then urged members of the party to vote to remove him from office this Saturday.

The opposition tabled another impeachment motion on Thursday, setting the stage for a vote at 17:00 local time (09:00 GMT) Saturday.

If South Korea's parliament passes the impeachment bill, a trial would be held by the Constitutional Court. Two-thirds of that court would have to sustain the majority for Yoon to be removed from office permanently.

Yoon has been a lame duck president since the opposition won the April general election by a landslide - his government has not been able to pass the laws it wanted and has been reduced to vetoing bills proposed by the opposition.

Yoon also accused North Korea sympathisers of trying to undermine his government when he declared martial law on the night of 3 December.

The announcement plunged the country into political turmoil. Protesters faced off against security forces in front of the National Assembly building while lawmakers scrambled to vote down Yoon's order.

Yoon withdrew his martial law order hours after it was blocked by lawmakers.

Since then, the country has remained on edge. There have been huge protests and strikes calling for Yoon's impeachment, and the presidential office was raided on Wednesday as Yoon faces multiple investigations on charges of insurrection and treason.

Meanwhile, ex-defence minister Kim Yong-hyun, who resigned and took responsibility for announcing martial law, attempted suicide while in detention on Tuesday, officials said. He is in a stable condition.

Source: BBC News

Let's Do The News! (December 12, 2024)

                             

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla will require local governments to report any suspicious activities in their areas related to illegal POGO operations. Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. summoned the Department of Interior and Local Government, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, and PAGCOR to request an update on his order to close all POGOs in the Philippines.

- A fire destroyed part of the ACT Theater Building in Cubao, Quezon City this morning.

- Kanlaon Volcano triggered two volcanic earthquakes and emitted 7,019 tons of sulfur dioxide flux. According to PHIVOLCS, the volcano is still at Alert Level 3.

- Rebels burned the tomb of the father of ousted Syria leader Bashar al-Assad. Armed men were seen celebrating in the mausoleum.

- F1 Academy 2024 Champion Abbi Pulling is heading to the GB3 Championship this 2025.

- The FIA Extreme H World Cup was announced. The world's first hydrogen-powered racing series will replace the Extreme E offroading series and will commence this 2025.

- The 2025 TCR World Tour adds Mexico and South Korea for the first time.

- The FIA announced new WRC regulations for the 2027 season. For the 2027 season, rally cars will be based on current-generation small hatchbacks, C-segment vehicles, and crossovers, as well as concept cars with common safety cells for all. It will have a 345K euro cost cap and potential crossover with World RX.

- The Ultraman franchise's New Generation Stars compilation series returns in its third season this January 25th. Zero and Z will present this season featuring 15 years of Ultraman Zero and the best of the New Generation universe from Ginga to Arc.

- The first lineup for the 2024 MBC Music Festival was announced.

- Saudi Arabia was confirmed as the host nation of the 2034 FIFA Men's World Cup. In addition, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will host the 2030 Men's World Cup with the first three matches held in South America.

TTFN.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Joint investigation team on Yoon launched

 

A joint investigative body was formed on Wednesday to investigate President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law, amid concerns over overlapping investigations into the high-profile case that deals with allegations of insurrection of a sitting president.

The Korean National Police Agency's National Office of Investigation said it would work together with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the Defense Ministry "to leverage the strengths of each institution and eliminate confusion and inefficiencies." The joint team excludes the prosecution which has been competing with the police and the CIO to take the lead in the insurrection investigation.

The police previously declined the prosecutors' request for a joint investigation last week.

The announcement comes hours after the police arrested Korea National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Ji-ho and Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Head Kim Bong-sik without a warrant on charges of insurrection early Wednesday, detaining the top two police officials simultaneously for the first time. Both officials were placed under a travel ban as of Tuesday.

The police officials were placed under emergency arrest at 3:50 a.m. following lengthy interrogations lasting up to 11 hours for Cho and 10 hours for Kim.

Both Cho and Kim are accused of directing police officials to block access to the National Assembly when martial law was declared on Dec. 3 to prevent lawmakers from entering the parliament to repeal the martial law decree. Cho is also suspected of sending police personnel to the National Election Commission to assist the military in carrying out orders issued under martial law.

A police official told Yonhap News Agency that the emergency arrests were made considering that insurrection charges are “serious offenses which are punishable by death” and because there were “concerns regarding the possibility of evidence tampering.”

Through additional investigations, police officials plan to decide whether to request arrest warrants for Cho and Kim. Both chiefs will be released if such warrants are not filed or granted within 48 hours.

With both leading police officials absent for the time being, Lee Ho-young, the Deputy Commissioner of the KNPA, will serve as the acting commissioner, while Choi Hyun-seok, the Chief of the SMPA’s Life Safety Division, will take over as the acting head.

Source: Korea Herald

Let's Do The News! (December 11, 2024)

                            

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- PH Vice-President Sara Duterte says she has no plans to leave the country or hide in case a warrant of arrest is filed against her.

- The PH Department of Health has confirmed that most were sickened due to the effects of the Kanlaon Volcano eruption.

- Mary Jane Veloso is testifying to court against her recruiters upon her return to the Philippines.

- Luigi Mangione, the suspect behind the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York, is fighting extradition to New York from Pennsylvania. Mangione is charged with murder.

- Due to illness, Andrea Kimi Antonelli withdraws from Super Formula's winter testing in Suzuka.

- The Ford Mustang GTD lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 6m57.6s, making it the fastest US-made car to lap the Ring.

- The final production version of the Aston Martin Valhalla was unveiled. Powered by a 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine with a tri-motor setup, it produces 1065hp of power. Mated to an 8-speed gearbox, it does 0-62mph in 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 217mph. All 999 units were sold out.

2026 Aston Martin Valhalla

- McMurtry founder Sir David McMurtry passed away.

- The D4DJ franchise named Shuri Miyumi as the new voice of RONDO member Nagisa Tsukimiyama.

- Archie Alemania files a counter-affidavit for Rita Daniela's acts of lasciviousness complaint.

- Sofronio Vasquez became the first Asian to be crowned the grand winner of NBC's hit singing competition, The Voice.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (December 10, 2024)

                           

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) welcomes about 2,000 new recruits who will be deployed to various districts before their official training.

- The Malacañang remains mum on updates on the repatriation of OFW Mary Jane Veloso from Indonesia. Meanwhile, BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. is looking into whether the CIW will detain Veloso upon her arrival in the Philippines.

- Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro says Evacuating those affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano is still a hardship. Meanwhile, the PH Department of Health warns the public of potential health hazards following the Kanlaon eruption.

- The term “Polarization,” chosen as Merriam-Webster’s 2024 Word of the Year, reflects the political climate in the United States.

- Police arrested 26-year-old Luigi Mangione and charged him with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York.

- The United Kingdom paused Syrian asylum decisions with the home secretary saying the situation is "moving extremely fast" after the fall of the Assad regime.

- Devlin DeFrancesco is making his IndyCar comeback with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing as part of a multi-year deal.

- The Koenigsegg Jesko Attack smashed the Top Gear Test Track lap production car lap record in 1:10.9.

- Xiaomi unveiled the YU7 crossover.

- The Star Wars franchise casts Jeremy Allen White as Jabba the Hutt's son, according to reports.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (December 9, 2024)

                          

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) announced that it now has its own power connection. It is said to have partnered with Meralco, which built an "express feeder" that connects NAIA Terminals 1, 2, and 4 to a dedicated power circuit.

- Ousted by the Syrian rebellion, Bashar al-Assad was granted asylum in Moscow.

- US President-elect Donald Trump threatens to pull the country out of NATO. He threatened NATO moments after his visit to the Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral's reopening.

- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the downfall of Bashar al-Assad's "brutal regime" and calls for "peace and stability" in Syria.

- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says over 43K soldiers were killed in the conflict with Russia.

- Unveiled at the F1 24 finale in Abu Dhabi, the Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed comes to life with production limited to 250 units, and all units are sold out. Featuring a halo cockpit instead of the roof and glass, its 4.0L V8 BiTurbo engine produces 585PS of power and has a top speed of 315kph.

2025 Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed

- The Kimetsu no Yaiba franchise is getting a new Hinokami Chronicles game coming soon while the first of the Infinity Castle movie trilogy is coming this 2025.

- Nintendo delays its general retail launch of its Alarmo devices in Japan.

- YoonA announces her retirement from hosting the MBC Music Festival after this year.

- JYP USA responds to allegations by former VCHA member KG.

- n.SSign members Junhyeok and Eddie announced they would leave the group and their agency.

TTFN.