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

                                      

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

- The DILG recommends declaring a state of calamity in Metro Manila due to Typhoon Carina. The typhoon continues to intensify as it reaches parts of Taiwan, according to PAGASA.

- Former UK foreign secretary and home secretary James Cleverly confirms he is running to become the next Conservative Party leader.

- Top Democrats in Congress "proudly endorse" US Vice-President Kamala Harris to run for president at the November 2024 presidential elections.

- US Secret Service boss Kimberly Cheatle steps down after admitting failures in lead up to the Donald Trump shooting.

- Radical preacher Anjem Choudary was found guilty under UK terror laws of directing the banned terror group Al-Muhajiroun.

- Donald Trump says he will end the EV mandate on day one, saying he will "save the US automotive industry from obliteration". He also plots scrapping the Inflation Reduction Act as well.

- Cadillac showcased its Soleil Concept.

Cadillac Soleil Concept

- Koenigsegg confirms that the Gemera will be offered only with a V8. The 3-cylinder TFG variant was canned for now.

- Former Ferrari team chief Mattia Binotto got poached by Audi for its Formula 1 campaign.

- The Formula 1 commission rules out points system change and sets out 2026 pre-season testing plans.

- Xiaomi showcased its SU7 Ultra track-only EV saloon featuring a new aero kit and a tri-motor setup with 1527bhp of power output.

Xiaomi SU7 Ultra

- iKON member Yunhyeong announced his military enlistment this August 13th.

- Team GB dressage Charlotte Dujardin withdraws from the Paris 2024 Olympics over a video showing an "error of judgment" in a coaching session.

- Andy Murray announced his retirement from tennis after the Paris 2024 Olympics.

- BBC boss Tim Davie apologized for complaints of abusive behavior on Strictly Come Dancing but confirmed the show would continue.

- Tampa Bay Rays' Taylor Walls says his Donald Trump gesture is unintended and he was unlikely to do it again.

- Michelle Madrigal is now married to her American fiance in Texas.

TTFN.

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

                                     

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

- Parts of Metro Manila are experiencing sudden rainfall. Residents affected by the flood are in abundance at the Del Pan Evacuation Center in Manila.

- PAGCOR vows to follow the timeline of PBBM's total POGO ban following yesterday's SONA.

- Typhoon Carina slightly strengthens. According to PAGASA, it has a strength of 140 km/h in the center has a gust of 170 km/h. It is still moving west at a speed of 15 km/h.

- US Vice-President and Democratic Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris made her first public appearance since President Joe Biden announced his dropout from the elections. Harris praised the Biden administration's "legacy of accomplishment" and secured enough Democrats to put her on track to become the party's nominee for president.

- US Secret Service chief Kimberly Cheatle faces grilling from the House committee over her agency's actions in lead up to the Trump shooting. The failed attempt to kill Donald Trump was the "most significant operational failure for decades", Secret Service chief tells US lawmakers. “The Secret Service’s solemn mission is to protect our nation’s leaders. On July 13th, we failed”. Cheatle says she takes “full responsibility” for “any security lapse of our agency”.

- A woman in her 30s has died after being attacked by a pet dog in Coventry, UK, according to police.

- Construction of the WISE Gopeing - Kuala Kangsar highway will begin this year after the signing of the concession agreement, according to Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.

- The i☆Ris documentary film will hit theaters this September 13.

- Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher James Paxton was designated for assignment.

TTFN.

Twisters (2024 film)

The 1996 disaster movie "Twister" saw a group of underdogs tracking down the most powerful storm in decades. With global warming becoming the talk of the world, it became appropriate to unleash its modern-day sequel to the 1996 blockbuster.

Twisters

Directed by Lee Isaac Chung and produced by the same folks behind the Jurassic, Bourne, and Indiana Jones series, Twisters is a modern-day chapter of the 1996 classic disaster flick where a group of storm chasers tracks down powerful tornadoes wreaking havoc across the village.

It's a shame the original cast didn't make it to this sequel, which is the biggest weakness this movie showcases, but this movie feels topical and real at the same time because it showcases the grim reality of today's world where global warming can easily trigger record-breaking storms, especially twisters. This is exactly why a modern-day take on a 1996 classic was made.

Amazingly, RAM Trucks were involved in this movie, providing their toughest trucks to withstand the world's deadliest tornadoes unleashed in this movie. Thank you, Stellantis.

Although it nearly doesn't feel like the original, Twisters showcased the grim reality of today's world thanks to global warming. If you got blown away by the 1996 original, just wait until you enjoy its present-day chapter. Be warned.

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

                                    

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

- The Department of National Defense called the recently circulated video of PH President Bongbong Marcos from a Duterte-linked group in Los Angeles "fake" and urged US authorities to investigate and find out who's behind the fake video.

- The United PUP group staged a protest at parts of the Quezon Memorial Circle ahead of today's SONA of PH President Bongbong Marcos. Other similar protests by other groups took part in parts of Metro Manila.

- As of 1100 hours local time, typhoon Carina continues to strengthen while moving northwest in the Philippine Sea at a speed of 15 km/h. According to PAGASA, the typhoon was last observed 340 km East Northeast of Casiguran, Aurora.

- The DFA condemned the Chinese MFA's statement that there was a prior notification and confirmation following its statement that the two countries agreed on a 'provisional arrangement' to conduct a resupply and rotation mission in the BRP Sierra Madre.

- Over 8.5 million Windows devices are affected by last weekend's Crowdstrike IT outage, according to Microsoft.

- US President Joe Biden announced that he is no longer up for re-election. He names Vice-President Kamala Harris to run as a Democrat challenger for the 2024 US Presidential Elections.

- Tekken 8's The King of Iron Fist Resurrection chapter was previewed as well as the return of Heihachi Mishima as a DLC character. Coming this fall 2024.

- Hwang Jun Eum is confirmed to be dating a basketball player.

- Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton, Joe Mauer, and Jim Leyland are officially inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

- LSU's Javien Toviano arrested on video voyeurism charges.

- The TV series Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis renewed for its third season. This was announced by Bong Revilla.

TTFN.

2024 NASCAR Cup Series - Brickyard 400

NASCAR invades Indy with the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Defying the recent IT crisis, this race decides which NASCAR driver will have a chance to kiss the legendary brickyard.

Beginning with Stage 1, Chase Elliott got slapped with a pass-through penalty and forced to come down pit road. As Denny Hamlin won Stage 1, Stage 2 saw debris coming out from the #15 car followed by a series of disasters with the last got William Byron, AJ Allmendinger, and Harrison Burton involved. With Stage 2 going to Bubba Wallace, the final stage saw Martin Truex Jr. getting into the wall, a collision course for Josh Berry, a restart disaster that caught Jimmie Johnson and Joey Logano in it, and a near-climax chaos that caught Daniel Hemric, Alex Bowman, and John Hunter Nemechek in it.

Screengrab from NASCAR

After the chaos-packed action in the Brickyard, Kyle Larson wins the Brickyard 400 of the NASCAR Cup Series!

The next NASCAR race is at Richmond for the Cook Out 400 on August 11. It's a long break coming up for the Paris Olympics, but the summer racing action will resume next month. Stay tuned!

NTT IndyCar Series 2024 - Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto

No IT outage can stop IndyCar from hosting an intense street racing action up north from the border with the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto.

The race begins with polesitter Colton Herta leading the grid while Christian Rasmussen and Santino Ferucci get their cars damaged, putting the race on yellow until Lap 4. Lap 5, meanwhile, saw Agustin Canapino smacked to the wall. As Graham Rahal swapped his steering wheel during a pit stop on Lap 32, Lap 54 saw pitstop issues for Josef Newgarden followed by Linus Lundqvist and Theo Pourchaire getting involved in a mess-up. Lap 57 saw Felix Roseqvist lock the brakes as he nearly crashed the car in front. With 18 laps left, Kyffin Simpson crashed into the tire barrier. With 13 laps left, the big one struck Ontario as Santino Ferucci flipped the car and caused a pile-up that caught some drivers, triggering a red flag. As Scott McLaughlin collided with the wall with just 9 laps to go, the climax is where everything's on the line.

Screengrab from IndyCar

After a disaster-packed Toronto street race, the Andretti team delivered a one-two finish on Canadian soil with Colton Herta the winner and Kyle Kirkwood finishing 2nd. Scott Dixon completes the podium with a third-place finish.

After Toronto, Alex Palou is leading with 411 points while Will Power is in 2nd with 362 points and Scott Dixon is in third with 358 points.

The next race is at the World Wide Technology Raceway for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 this August 17th.

ABB FIA Formula E S10 FINALE

The streets of London are reeling from the aftermath of the general election that saw the Labour Party taking over the parliament. Plus, there is also a global IT outage. But that doesn't stop the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from concluding its 10th-anniversary season, which will mark the end of the first phase of the GEN3 era. This event will be the perfect distraction from all the chaos!

Screengrab from Formula E

In the first part, Pascal Wehrlein of Porsche is the winner while Jaguar's Mitch Evans finished 2nd and Sebastien Buemi of Envision finished 3rd. Wehrlein's Race 1 win made him three points ahead of Evans and seven points ahead of Nick Cassidy. The fight for the title is never been this close.

As the final race of ABB FIA Formula E World Championship's 10th-anniversary celebration came; the victor was decided. Pascal Wehrlein was crowned this season's champion after finishing 2nd place behind Nissan's Oliver Rowland and ahead of Mitch Evans. Jaguar, meanwhile, was named manufacturers' champions following Antonio Felix da Costa was slapped with a five-second penalty for causing a collision with Nick Cassidy, demoting him to 14th in the finale.

What a way to conclude Formula E's 10th-anniversary celebration! From familiar tracks to new additions such as Tokyo and Misano, this season truly is the send-off for the first phase of the GEN3 era, and with the champions crowned, a new phase begins.

Formula E's 10th-anniversary celebration may be over but the next chapter of the GEN3 era begins this December 7th in Sao Paulo with the 11th season; the beginning of the second chapter called the GEN3 EVO.

See you next season!