THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: AFP preps to evacuate Filipinos in Guam, amidst North Korea missile threat

Sourced from DZRH News:

The Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) is prepared to evacuate Filipinos residing in Guam in case North Korea pushes through with its threat to launch a missile attack at the U.S. territory.

AFP Spokesman Brigade General Restituto Padilla explained that they will be rendering all their airplanes and vessels for Filipinos who choose to go back to the Philippines if ever calamity strikes.

“Magpo-provide po kami ng lahat ng available transportation by air at by sea na maaring maging sakayan ng ating kababayan na nais lumikas.” says Gen. Padilla.

While the Philippines is not originally part of the verbal tussle between the United State and North Korea, AFP General Padilla assured that they remain fully prepared for any eventuality.

Let's Do The News! (August 16, 2017)

- UBER Philippines, yesterday, filed a motion for reconsideration with the LTFRB and will be resuming and continuing operations until the motion is resolved.

We’ve filed a motion for reconsideration with the LTFRB and will be resuming and continuing operations until the motion is resolved. pic.twitter.com/CNqXc9cjhw

— Uber Philippines (@Uber_PH) August 15, 2017

-  A lawmaker has asked the House appropriations committee to deffer the proposed 27.12 billion peso budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnulfo Teves Jr., expressed his deep disappointment over the agency’s lack of action towards environmental issues he raised last year. Specifically the destructive effects of mining in the region of Negros Oriental.

- President Rodrigo Duterte is already prepared with a "plan B" if Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año is banned from being the next DILG secretary. Gen. Año was set to assume his post at the DILG last June, but was postponed  due to the Marawi City crisis.  On October 26, the AFP Chief is also set to retire.

- Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee Senator Richard Gordon and Senator Tito Sotto III agree that there isn’t enough evidence to prove that Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte is affiliated with the 6.4 billion pesos worth of smuggled shabu from China.

- Yesterday, Iraq forces began air strikes on Tal Afar, a town under Islamic State control west of Mosul, according to reports. Iraqi authorities had said Tal Afar, 80 km (50 miles) west of Mosul, will be the next target in the war on the Islamist militant group that swept through swathes of Iraq and Syria in 2014.

- Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. With increasing threats from the Trump administration and Republican attorney general, the program has never been in more jeopardy. DACA provides almost 800,000 immigrant youth across the United States with educational and job opportunities.

- BMW will unveil the Z4 Concept at this month's Pebble Beach Concours. The German luxury car company chose to retain the name for the next-generation sports car that will share the same basis as Toyota's Supra successor.



- Zagato has more work to be done with the Aston Martin Vanquish as they unveiled the special Vanquish Zagato Speedster and the Shooting Brake. Like the coupe and Volante, both are powered by a 592HP 6.0L V12 engine, refined adaptive damping, and improved dynamics while incorporating bespoke Zagato styling cues. The Speedster will be limited 28 units but all are sold out. The Shooting Brake, meanwhile, will be limited to 99 units made.

2018 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Speedster

2018 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato
Shooting Brake

- Actors David Tennant and Michael Sheen are set to appear to a TV adaptation of the novel titled Good Omens, according to reports.

- Actress Barbara Hershey is set to appear in next year's season of The X-Files

- 007 actor Daniel Craig confirms his return on the 25th Bond film coming this late 2019.

Daniel Craig to return as 007 in Bond 25. The actor confirmed he would play James Bond for the fifth time to @colbertlateshow https://t.co/M7QuirMRqf

— James Bond (@007) August 16, 2017

TTFN!!!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: President Moon pledges to prevent war during ceremonial visit

South Korean president Moon Jae-in attended the ceremony celebrating the 72nd anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, along with 3,000 attendees, more importantly the surviving heroes who fought for Korean independence, who were recognized for their sacrifices.

President Moon delivered a speech during the ceremony where he once again thanked the fighters and that Korea will never forget their sacrifice and emphasized that the country will pay due respect to its heroes.

Referring to the rising tensions in recent days sparked by the aggressive rhetoric between the North Korea and the United States, President Moon stressed the government's firm principle to protect the national interests of South Korea and no war should occur on the Korean Peninsula ever again.

Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he will watch the United States' actions "a little more", after consulting his army officials on a plan to attack Guam. The state-run media reported that Kim was briefed on the specific details on the missile strike.

He's quoted to have said the North will carry out their "important decision" as declared--should the US continue its "reckless, provocative actions on the Korean Peninsula."

South Korean and US officials have been working to ease tensions, emphasizing the use of sanctions and diplomacy, rather than military measures. However, should it fail, US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis warned that an attack on Guam could very quickly escalate into war.  He added the US military is prepared to take out any missiles heading toward its territory.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (August 15, 2017)

- Senator Grace Poe criticizes the LTFRB's decision to suspend ride-sharing service UBER on Philippine roads. In her statement released to the public, Poe calls the LTFRB decision to suspend Uber is "both cruel and absurd." The ruling disenfranchises close to 200,00 riders a day with the imposition of a blanket suspension against Uber along with all its accredited vehicles for a month. Poe calls the suspension order a defiance of their commitment to provide solution to the issues surrounding TNVS operations that will be for the benefit of the riding public.

- Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairperson Richard Gordon undermined the courtesy resignation of two Bureau of Customs officials amid the controversy involving the 4.6 million pesos worth of smuggled Shabu shipment from China.

- Indian PM Narendra Modi urged everyone to reject religious violence after numerous attacks against minorities sparked debate about whether a surge of Hindu nationalism is undermining the country's secular ideals. In a speech from the ramparts of Delhi’s Red Fort marking the 70th anniversary of India’s independence, Modi also listed his government’s achievements, including a fight against corruption.

- US President Donald Trump authorized an inquiry into China's alleged theft of intellectual property in the first direct trade measure by his administration against Beijing, but one that is unlikely to prompt near-term change. Trump broke from his 17-day vacation in New Jersey to sign the memo in the White House at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

- Actor Ryan Reynolds said that and crew were “heartbroken, shocked and devastated” at the death of a driver in a motorcycle stunt in Vancouver that went wrong. Vancouver police confirmed the death of a stuntwoman on the set of the Deadpool sequel but gave no further details and din't release her name.

- Following Jake Zyrus' breakup with Alyssa Quijano, the transgender singer who used to be Charice seems to have found a new love interest with nutritionist and fitness instructor Shyre Aquino.

- BMW will unveil the all new M5 on the 21st of August.

- After Lugia and the three legendary birds appeared on Pokemon GO as part of the time-limited special raid battles, the long-awaited arrival of the legendary Genetic Pokemon Mewtwo will be a warning shot to everyone as it is set to arrive in time-limited raid battles soon. Better be prepared.

TTFN!!!

2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup - Pure Michigan 400

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup series returns at Michigan International Speedway for the Pure Michigan 400 race of this season and as the boys saddle up at NASCAR's fastest track to date, late-summer thrills never felt so alive in there.

In the 60th lap of the race, Brad Keselowski nabbed his fourth stage win of the series after clearing stage one. In Lap 117, the #15 Toyota suffered mechanical woes and it was therefore out of the race. In Lap 120, Martin Truex Jr. cleared stage two of the race. In Lap 138, the #5 car crashed through the wall and the #19 car couldn't escape from a colliding  #5. In Lap 185, the #22 Ford's right front tire got blown and on Lap 195, the #95 car of Michael McDowell spun out of control.

With the restart occurred, Kyle Larson battled his way through first place and he's done it, nabbing his third Michigan win in his career. He's really something there and he's special, I can tell.

Next race is on Bristol Motor Speedway for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race on the 19th of August.

Let's Do The News! (August 14, 2017)

- Dr. Renante Decena from the  Provincial Veterinary Office of Negros Occidental guaranteed Negrenses that the province is safe from bird flu. Even though Pampanga, where the outbreak occurred, is too far from the said province, Decena noted that they will keep tabs on all poultry farms in the province.

- Meanwhile, former Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo said that the discovered bird flu virus is only an isolated case in the town of San Luis, Pampanga. He promptly remarked that only two barangays were reported to be affected by the avian bird flu. So the need to declare the incident as an ‘outbreak’ in the entire region of Pampanga seemed rather obscure, says Pelayo.

- The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms is expected to pass the proposed postponement of the Sangguniang Kabataan and Barangay elections supposedly scheduled on October today, to give officials another year to serve.

- A Catholic priest who was abducted by the Maute terror group is alive, according to the recently escaped captives. One of the escapees said that Father Teresito Suganob is being forced to make bombs for the said Islamist militants. Info shows that there about 46 civilians hostages being held by the Maute.

- The head of an Indian hospital were over 60 children died in recent days has been suspended, as officials traded blame over cash shortfalls that led to supplies of medical oxygen being cut. The government of Uttar Pradesh state, run by India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), suspended the head of the state-run BRD Medical College, Rajeev Misra, late on Saturday and ordered an investigation.

- A number of solidarity rallies assembled across the United States in the wake of the deadly white supremacy rally held in Charlottesville, Virginia. About 19 people were hurt in one killed when a car rammed into a crowd of counter-protesters at the "Unite The Right" rally organized by white nationalists in Charlottesville last Saturday. Events in response to Saturday's violence erupted in New York, Seattle, Chicago, Baltimore, and other major cities Saturday night through Sunday.

- Infiniti will showcase their Prototype 9 Concept at this month's Pebble Beach Concours, combining modern-day zero-emission powertrain with beautifully-sculpted, retro-racing looks.



- Singer Vehicle Design collaborates with Williams for a 4.0L 500HP naturally aspirated, air-cooled Porsche 911 engine, catered for a certain client.



- Yo-Kai Watch Busters 2 is announced and it's coming on the Nintendo 3DS at the end of the year.



TTFN!!!

Top Gear America - Life on the Go

The recent episode of Top Gear America is all about people movers driven by breadwinners and soccer moms alike every day.

With a budget of three grand, the boys are buying RVs for an adventure of a lifetime. Tom Ford bought a second-hand Dodge van while Antron Brown bought a second-hand Chevy Silverado pickup with an RV bit on it. However, Bill Fichtner trumped them both by renting a brand new, F-350-based, Earthroamer XV-LTS recreational vehicle for the weekend and getting himself cozied like a boss while Wookie and Brown are struggling to live with the RV life.

Then, Antron Brown has his first dibs on Toyota's "swagger wagon", the Sienna, and also the track-day weapon equivalent, the Sienna R-Tuned Concept, approved by The Stig and his family. Yes, The Stig has a family in case you're wondering. Family matters aside, The Stig drove it and lapped it round the track in 1:15.62.

Tom Ford, meanwhile, gets his chance to meet up with the famed 911 junkie, Magnus Walker.

Comedian Russell Peters is this week's celebrity guest and he set a lap time round the SpeedVegas track in 1:31.22