Let's Do The News! (January 3, 2024)

                                             

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

- PHIVOLCS detected increased seismic activity in Mt. Bulusan. Phivolcs said 110 were volcano-tectonic earthquakes associated with rock fracturing beneath the southern flanks at depths of two to six kilometers, and the other six were low-frequency tremors associated with the movement of volcanic fluids.

- Manila Water revealed its desludging schedule for January 2024. Its desludging caravan will go around Barangay Amihan, Malaya, Socorro, and Vasra in Quezon City; Barangay Sta. Cruz, Bambang and Bagong Katipunan in Pasig City; Barangay Rizal and South CEMBO in Makati City; Barangay 773, 774, 777, 785, and 810 in the City of Manila; and Barangay Barangka Ibaba and Namayan in Mandaluyong City.

- Japanese investigators are beginning to investigate last night's collision of two airplanes at Tokyo's Haneda airport, weeks after the global airline industry heard fresh warnings about runway safety. All 379 people aboard a JAL Airbus A350 have escaped after a collision with a Japan Coast Guard plane that killed five or six crew.

- The death toll from the Japan New Year's Day quake hits 62.

- Harvard University President Claudine Gay steps down after coming under ferocious attack over plagiarism accusations and her response to anti-Semitism on campus amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

- Israeli drone strikes killed deputy Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri on Beirut's Dahiyeh, a stronghold of Hezbollah, signaling the conflict between Hamas and Israel could be expanding to engulf more of the region.

- A missing Chinese exchange student in Utah was found alive after he was a victim of what they're calling a "cyber-kidnapping". The Riverdale Police Department said Kai Zhuang, 17, was reported missing Thursday by his high school. His parents in China had contacted the school after they received a ransom photo of their son – and had sent $80,000 to bank accounts in China “due to continuous threats from the kidnappers,” according to a press release issued Sunday.

- A 13-year-old male beat the game Tetris for the first time in 34 years. "Blue Scuti" Gibson was the first to hit Level 157 before the game's "final kill screen", a jargon for the corrupted screen that prevents players from progressing once they reach a specific point.

- CJ ENM announced its 2024 Visionary picks who present new visions to K-entertainment with their originality. The list includes author Kang Full, director Kim Yong Hoon, Ryu Seung Ryong, Monika, Song Hye Kyo, Stray Kids, and Uhm Jung Hwa.

- New K-pop boy group TWS unveiled their profile film ahead of their debut song Sparkling Blue.

- Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper was fined $300,000 by the NFL for what the league called his "unacceptable conduct" during Sunday's 26-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

- A video distributed by the NFL reminded its teams that players bear the burden of ensuring they have properly reported as eligible receivers -- a clear response to last weekend's chaotic finish in the Dallas Cowboys' 20-19 victory over the Detroit Lions.

- Singer-actor Janno Gibbs drew flak over his New Year celebration in Japan days after the death of Ronald Valdez.

TTFN.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Lee Jae-myung: South Korea opposition leader stabbed in Busan

 

Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost the presidential elections in 2022, was stabbed on the left side of his neck on Tuesday morning.

The attacker was arrested at the scene.

Mr Lee sustained a 1cm laceration and was treated in the hospital while conscious, reports said. Police said his wound was not life-threatening.

The attacker who appeared to be a man in his 60s to 70s, reportedly approached Mr Lee asking for an autograph, before suddenly lunging forward to stab him.

His weapon was about 20cm to 30cm (7.8 to 11.8in) long, Yonhap reported.

The man has been silent about both his identity and motive, the South Korean news agency said, citing police officers.

Videos of the attack posted on social media show Mr Lee first collapsing into the crowd and then onto the ground, while several people try to restrain the attacker. Photographs after the incident show Mr Lee lying on the ground with his eyes closed as someone presses a handkerchief to the side of his neck.

Yonhap said he was airlifted to hospital in a helicopter.

A spokesman of Mr Lee's Democratic Party of Korea said medical staff suspected injury to his jugular vein, which carries blood from the head to the heart. Mr Lee would have to undergo surgery as they were concerned about further bleeding, the spokesman, Kwon Chil-seung, said.

"After being transferred to Seoul National University Hospital, we plan to operate quickly. We strongly condemn the attack and consider it a clear act of democracy destruction," he said.

Mr Lee, 59, currently holds a seat in Incheon in South Korea's legislature. He is widely expected to run for a seat in the next general election, which will take place in April.

He narrowly lost the 2022 presidential elections - by a mere 0.73% difference in votes - to current President Yoon Suk Yeol, making it the closest presidential race in South Korean history. He is widely expected to stand in the next presidential elections in 2027.

Since then he has been indicted on corruption and breach of trust charges, with prosecutors accusing him of allowing private developers to profit illegally from a property project while he was mayor of Seongnam, a city of 1 million people to the south of Seoul. Mr Lee has denied those charges, calling them politically motivated.

In September a court dismissed a request from the prosecution for him to be held in custody while he awaited trial on the charges. Prosecutors are still investigating him on a number of other cases linked to corruption while he was in office.

The court's order came three weeks after Mr Lee began a hunger strike to protest Mr Yoon's foreign and domestic policies. Mr Lee had to be hospitalised because of the strike.

There have been a number of past cases of South Korean politicians being physically attacked with weapons.

In March 2022, Mr Lee's predecessor Song Young-gil was attacked with a blunt object while campaigning for Mr Lee. He survived with some head injuries.

In 2006, conservative party leader Park Geun-hye, who later became president, was attacked with a knife which left a scar on her face.

Source: BBC

Let's Do The News! (January 2, 2024)

                                             

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

- One of the "strongest" meteor showers of the year will showcase lights from up to 120 meteor showers per hour under a "clear, dark, and moonless" sky, according to PAGASA. The Quadrantid meteor shower, an annual "major" meteor shower observed beginning on December 12, will continue until January 12.

- Philippine President Bongbong Marcos assures the country's "high-level political commitment" to exit from the Financial Action Task Force's grey list. Marcos made the statement as he reiterated his directive to concerned government agencies to comply with international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards so the country can finally exit from its FATF status, which put the Philippines into an "increased monitoring" by the FATF.

- 30 people were reportedly killed when a magnitude 7.6 quake hit Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture on New Year's Day, as of now. Efforts are ongoing to assess the extent of the earthquake's damage that destroyed several houses and facilities in the area.

- The Israeli Supreme Court annulled the controversial judicial reforms that triggered nationwide protests last year against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

- The teenager who was stabbed to death in north London on New Year's Eve was named by police as Harry Pitman. A 16-year-old boy was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and taken into custody.

- Actress Lee Naeun denies dating rumors with Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in.

- Soulful jazz legend Les McCann dies at the age of 88. McCann released more than 60 albums but was arguably best known for his 1969 Montreaux Jazz Festival performance of the protest song "Compared to What."

- Boy band Green Day bashed "MAGA Agenda" during their "American Idiot" performance on the New Year's Eve event. The tweak has generated backlash from Trump supporters on social media.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (January 1, 2024)

                                            

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

- Philippine President Bongbong Marcos promised that his administration would "build better and more" this 2024. In his videotaped New Year’s message to Filipinos, the Chief Executive vowed that the government’s New Year’s resolution would be to provide better public service to Filipinos, especially those facing challenges in their lives.

- The Philippines has secured PhP800b state assets with disaster insurance. In a statement, Treasury Officer-in-Charge Sharon P. Almanza said the National Indemnity Insurance Program is now in effect, with coverage provided by the Government Service Insurance System.

- The PH Department of Energy has cornered at least six passing bids from one investor-group for the energization of unserved and underserved microgrid sites covering designated areas in Cebu, Quezon, and Palawan.

- Campaigning Australian journalist John Pilger, known for criticizing Western foreign policy, died at the age of 84.

- Danish Queen Margrethe II made her surprise abdication announcement during her New Year address. Queen Margrethe II reigned Denmark for 52 years.

- Daihatsu's complete production halt following the additional fallout from its safety test scandal could lose over 100 billion Yen as Japan's transport ministry started its own investigation, according to reports. Daihatsu resumed production and shipments from Indonesia and Malaysia.

The anime series Oshi no Ko tops the anime category as well as the music category for its theme song "Idol" at the 2023 Yahoo! Japan Search Awards.

- Amazon Prime Video will start running ads in the US this January 29, according to reports. Prime Video will offer an ad-free subscription tier for an additional $2.99 per month on top of the base subscription fee.

- Manny Pacquiao announced a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. happening this year.

- Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper was caught on video during a 26-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars apparently throwing a drink in the direction of Jaguars fans from his open-air suite at EverBank Stadium.

TTFN.

Chevrolet Blazer EV

Before the roaring twenties, Chevrolet brought back the Blazer name for their Camaro-inspired crossover that behaves...like pretty much most crossovers do. Now, the fully-electric Blazer takes center stage, giving prospects plenty of choices to work out with this...crossover.

2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV

With prices starting at 56,715 US Dollars plus additional costs, the first-ever Chevrolet Blazer EV is part of General Motors' electric propagation to beat Tesla at its own game. Although the results aren't typical yet, this fully electric Blazer sparks plenty of unanswered questions but there's one question that deserves to be answered; what's it for?

2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV interior

Beginning with the styling, the Blazer EV's exterior design shares nothing in common with its ICE-powered equivalent, perhaps Chevrolet wanted the EV version to have a different approach compared to its ICE version or perhaps they want to coexist until the times demand that one of them has to go, probably the one with the ICE in it. Still, despite all the developments, the Blazer EV is progressive by design, and as for the interior, the diagonal displays give drivers the impression of driving a sports car, except it isn't. It's a fully electric crossover built for daily purposes as long as the battery charge decides where to go next and when.

2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV

Running on the hallmark Ultium platform and powered by an 85kWh battery pack, the Blazer EV's electric powertrain produces 288hp of power output for AWD variants and has an EPA-estimated driving range of 279 miles in one full charge. Later variants such as the rear-wheel-drive RS can get up to 324 miles while those who demand more will have to wait until Spring 2024 for the SS variant with Wide Open Watts performance mode, unleashing all 557 horsepower at its disposal, sprinting from 0-60mph in under four seconds.

Of course, being a crossover, the Blazer EV is nothing near exciting to drive almost everywhere but it's about as civilized as most EVs should be. As for safety, the Blazer EV comes standard with Chevy Safety Assist consisting of Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Following Distance Indicator, and IntelliBeam Auto High Beams. It even comes with the rather controversial Super Cruise technology giving autonomous driving through 400,000 miles of compatible roads in the US and Canada. Yes, you can really let AI do almost all of the driving for you. Scary.

Calling the Blazer EV one of the most important models in General Motors' electrification push is a risky gamble but living consistently with its petrol-powered equivalent is like living with a rock and a hard place for commoners like us. This is the new normal we live in and the Blazer EV fits like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle.

Photo: General Motors

Mazda New Flair Wagon (MM94S)

Following the launch of the third-generation Suzuki Spacia range, it didn't take long for Mazda to borrow one for its Flair Wagon equivalent.

2024 Mazda Flair Wagon

Starting at 1,541,100 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, the third-generation model features two different styles to choose from such as the all-familiar normal Flair Wagon and the stylish Flair Wagon Custom Style.

Apart from the revamped exterior design, the renewed interior features a wide array of convenient features such as the multi-use flap, independent rear seat slide, rear seat slide straps, and a personal table for rear passengers, not to mention lots of compartments to place, giving these new models plenty of uses in various situations. 

The third-generation Flair Wagon's Mild Hybrid technology features an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a lithium battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient R06D 660cc engine. Thanks to this fuel-efficient measure as well as the HEARTECT platform, the all-new Spacia has 25.1km/L of fuel economy based on WLTC Mode standards.

The Flair Wagon Custom Style's turbo variant features Power Mode, which makes it more responsive on slopes or when merging onto the highway. It sounds great but the fuel economy is around 21.9kmpl.

For safety, the all-new Flair Wagon comes with a suite of safety features such as a Lane Departure Warning function, wandering alarm function, high beam assist, sign recognition function provided by its optional Omni-directional monitor camera package, advanced car departure notice function, dual sensor brake support, false start suppression, brake support, backward error start suppression, and more.

If you want a third-generation Spacia but the nearest dealership is a Mazda, this is your answer.

Photo: Mazda Motor Corporation

Third-generation Suzuki Spacia

The Suzuki Spacia range is all-new for its third generation as Japan's most fuel-efficient kei minivan has been reloaded with new ways and means to keep its crown.

2024 Suzuki Spacia

2024 Suzuki Spacia Custom

Starting at 1,530,100 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, the all-new, third-generation Suzuki Spacia continues to maintain its crown as Japan's most fuel-efficient kei minivan while donning its new and exciting ways and means to keep it afloat in the midst of the new normal.

2024 Suzuki Spacia interior

2024 Suzuki Spacia Custom interior

In Spacia tradition, the third-generation model features two different styles to choose from such as the all-familiar normal Spacia and the stylish Spacia Custom that is now highly reminiscent of a Solio Bandit from a long time ago. Whichever Spacia you're on, you'll be greeted with redesigned looks that show not just proof of maturity but also how far the Spacia has gone since the first-generation model came out a decade ago.

The renewed interior features a wide array of convenient features such as the multi-use flap, independent rear seat slide, rear seat slide straps, and a personal table for rear passengers, not to mention lots of compartments to place, giving these new models plenty of uses in various situations. 

2024 Suzuki Spacia

The third-generation Suzuki Spacia's Mild Hybrid technology features an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a lithium battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient R06D 660cc engine. Thanks to this fuel-efficient measure as well as Suzuki's HEARTECT platform, the all-new Spacia has 25.1km/L of fuel economy based on WLTC Mode standards. It's still the most fuel-efficient kei minivan ever made and Suzuki still keeps its laurel intact. 

The Spacia Custom's turbo variant features Power Mode, which makes it more responsive on slopes or when merging onto the highway. It sounds great but the fuel economy is around 21.9kmpl.

For safety, the all-new Spacia comes with the latest version of SUZUKI SAFETY SUPPORT, which is a suite of safety features such as Lane Departure Warning function, wandering alarm function, high beam assist, sign recognition function provided by its optional Omni-directional monitor camera package, advanced car departure notice function, dual sensor brake support, false start suppression, brake support, backward error start suppression, and more.

The competition tried messing with the Suzuki Spacia and they failed. The Spacia is still the most fuel-efficient kei minivan ever made and in this third-generation form, the title stands. With its all-new look, convenient interior, and improved efficiency, this is the Suzuki Spacia reloaded for the new normal.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation