Let's Do The News! (March 3, 2026)

                        

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

- Three American fighter jets that crashed in Kuwait were hit by "apparent friendly fire," according to the US military.

- US President Donald Trump spoke at the White House for the first time since the US launched the offensive in Iran.

- Israel ordered its troops to advance in Lebanon and strike Iran's capital, as Tehran hit the US embassy in Saudi Arabia.

- Philippine President Bongbong Marcos is seeking emergency powers to cut the fuel excise tax in case Dubai crude prices hit the $80/barrel mark due to ongoing clashes in the Middle East.

- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung made his state visit to the Philippines with his First Lady, Kim Hea Kyung. Jae Myung met the Philippines' Bongbong and Liza Marcos at Malacanang.

- The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms has approved the “substitute bill” for the Anti-Political Dynasty. It received 20 votes from committee members, while four were against.

- Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima, elected to replace Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice as House Senior Deputy Minority Leader.

- The Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo concept was unveiled, and it will soon arrive in the Gran Turismo franchise.

Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo Concept

- Kyoto Animation President and Co-Founder Hideaki Hatta dies at 76.

- Cover Corp. is suing a VTuber for copyright infringement.

- Singer BoA establishes her own agency named BApal Entertainment.

- Floyd Mayweather announced another exhibition match, this time against Mike Zambidis on June 27 at the Telekom Center in Athens.

- The International Paralympic Committee bans the Ukrainian team from wearing uniforms featuring the map of Ukraine at next week's Winter Paralympics.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (March 2, 2026)

                       

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

- US President Donald Trump warns, "there will likely be more US deaths" after three service members were killed in the Iran conflict.

- Oil prices drastically increased following the US-Israel joint assault on Iran.

- Israeli forces clash with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon as the Middle East conflict worsens.

- The United Kingdom has agreed to the US request to use British bases to destroy Iranian missiles "at source," according to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

- The Philippine National Police (PNP) has closed all Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the country following the escalating tensions in the Middle East. According to the PNP, this is part of their preparations against the possible “spillover effect” of the conflict in the region to ensure that the country remains safe from any threat.

- Senator Raffy Tulfo assures that he will not run for the 2028 presidential elections. However, he will run for the senatorial race yet again.

- The House Committee on Justice dismissed the first impeachment complaint against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte for violating the one-year prohibition period – 22 members of the Committee voted in favor and 10 voted against.

- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that there are about 2.4 million Filipinos in the Middle East. Senators assure the safety of OFWs and tourists stranded in the Middle East.

- The Bulusan Volcano has recorded higher seismic activity according to PHIVOLCS.

- The FIA is revising compression ratio tests from June.

- Bushiroad announced the renaming of Tokyo's Hikosen Theater to Starlight Theater in honor of the Revue Starlight franchise. The renaming goes into effect on October 1, 2026.

- The Seasons named Sung Si Kyung as its new presenter.

- TV5 has reportedly canceled the teleserye sequel to the 2024 movie The Kingdom due to budget issues.

TTFN.

2026 NASCAR Cup Series - DuraMax Grand Prix

The famous Circuit of the Americas became the battleground for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series with the DuraMax Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne. It's the first road course event of the 2026 season, and this race is about to make history...literally.

As the green flag waved, NASCAR's COTA campaign began. Ross Chastain won Stage 1, while Conor Zilisch spun during Stage 2 but kept fighting. Ty Gibbs won Stage 2, leading to a historic final stage.

Screengrab from NASCAR

Never in the history of NASCAR has a driver had a three-win streak in a season until now. Tyler Reddick became the first driver in history to sweep the first three races of any Cup Series season!

The next race is at Phoenix Raceway for the Straight Talk Wireless 500 this March 8, 2026.

NTT IndyCar Series 2026 - Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

The arrival of March could only mean one thing: it's the month of racing comebacks, and IndyCar is one of them. The 2026 season kicked off in the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

The first 100 laps of the 2026 season are packed with unforgettable moments; this season opener delivered. The opening lap saw a crash that got Santino Feruccio, Sting Ray Robb, and Mick Schumacher. Lap 12 saw David Malukas sustaining front left damage after hitting the wall, while Lap 24 saw Will Power throwing in the towel for the damaged rear suspension following his collision. Lap 40 saw Scott Dixon lose a wheel.

Screengrab from IndyCar

After an intense season opener, Alex Palou drew first blood by beating Scott McLaughlin and Christian Lundgaard to win the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. It's deja vu from last season for Palou with his first win of the new season.

The next race is at Phoenix, Arizona, for the Good Ranchers 250 this March 7, 2026.

Let's Do The News! (March 1, 2026)

                      

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

- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed by the joint US-Israeli military strike. This was confirmed by US President Donald Trump. Trump hailed the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei as justice not just for Iranians but for all of America and other countries.

- The Gulf cities of Dubai, Doha, and Manama were hit by recent attacks following the Iran strike. Iran unleashed retaliatory strikes on the Gulf cities.

- The PH Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines said they are ready to help Filipinos affected by recent clashes in the Middle East.

- Over 200,000 students at around 400 public schools were affected by the seismic activities of the Kanlaon Volcano.

- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is watching the situation in the Middle East following clashes in Iran.

- The DSWD is urging Meta to take action to combat the online selling of children.

- South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung delivered his March 1 Movement speech, calling for both South and North to end the "era of confrontation".

- The new BanG Dream! MyGO!!!!!/Ave Mujica sequel anime airs this January 2027.

TTFN.

Toyota bZ4X Touring

The first-ever Toyota bZ4X Touring is here, offering the same capabilities as the regular bZ4X but with the bigger boot space for more adventures.

2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring

2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring

Starting at 5,750,000 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, the first-ever Toyota bZ4X Touring may be more costly to own than its main rival, the MGS5-based MGS6, but in terms of quality, it stands out.

2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring

2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring interior

At first glance, the Touring variant resembles the recently facelifted bZ4X released last year. However, it features an extended wheelbase and a unique rear design to set it apart. The Touring variant is 140 mm longer and 20 mm taller, with overall dimensions of 4,830 mm in length and 1,670 mm in height. These changes increase the load compartment capacity by more than a third, adding an extra 148 liters for a total capacity of 600 liters. Sadly, like the normal bZ4X, no yoke. Boo...

The bZ4X Touring, like the standard model, features an upgraded electric powertrain with a 74.7 kWh lithium-ion battery (gross capacity). The front-wheel-drive version has a targeted maximum output of 224 PS, while the all-wheel-drive bZ4X Touring boasts an impressive 380 PS, making it the most powerful battery electric vehicle (BEV) offered by Toyota.

Asked about range, the front-wheel-drive model is good for 734km while the 4WD model with Subaru's X-MODE is good for 690km.

Despite its added boot space, the bZ4X Touring performs like a typical crossover for daily driving. It benefits from features like Rack and Pinion steering, front struts, rear double wishbones, and ventilated disc brakes. While it may not provide the exciting ride one might hope for, it remains pleasant to drive and feels quite conventional.

In terms of safety, the bZ4X Touring is equipped with a variety of safety features, including Pre-Crash Safety, a Blind Spot Monitor, and Advanced Parking Assistance, among others.

The bZ4X Touring is the newest member of the bZ4X series that offers the same capability as its shorter equivalent but with a bigger boot to store. This is the most capable bZ4X ever made for all walks of life, whether for business or leisure. Although more expensive than the MGS6, its high quality of Toyota-ism is what made this bZ4X Touring a standout.

Available Colors: Crystal White Pearl, Magnetite Grey Metallic, Crystal Black Silica, Crystal Black Silica x Brilliant Bronze Metallic, and Crystal Black Silica x Crystal White Pearl.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Daihatsu e-Hijet Cargo and e-Atrai

Daihatsu may be late to the EV market, but their first-ever e-Hijet Cargo and e-Atrai are proof that Daihatsu is embracing the trend of electrification.

2026 Daihatsu e-Hijet Cargo and 2026 Daihatsu e-Atrai

The business-friendly e-Hijet Cargo starts at 3,146,000 Yen, while the casual-oriented e-Atrai begins at 3,465,000 Yen, plus additional costs. Although both models are similar to the standard Atrai and Hijet kei vans that were introduced five years ago, they stand out due to their electric powertrains.

The e-Hijet Cargo and e-Atrai are equipped with Daihatsu's first-ever e-SMART ELECTRIC system. In this setup, the power supply unit and lithium-ion battery are positioned in the middle of the vehicle, while the e-axle powers the rear wheels. This system generates 47 kW of power, 126 Nm of torque, and provides a driving range of up to 257 km. Charging time is approximately 6 to 12 hours at home, or about 50 minutes at public fast-charging stations.

In terms of drivability, both the e-Atrai and e-Hijet Cargo offer a comfortable riding experience, even when carrying heavy luggage. They are notably quiet, stable, and provide a flat driving feel, enhancing overall comfort and reducing fatigue. Additionally, they come equipped with Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) capability, which can be useful during power outages.

Like their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts, the e-Hijet Cargo and e-Atrai feature Smart Assist, which includes 14 advanced active safety features to ensure safety on the road.

With the first-ever e-Hijet Cargo and e-Atrai, Daihatsu has joined the list of carmakers embracing the electrification route, although some say it's a little too late for this. Still, it's better late than never for Daihatsu to showcase to the Japanese public how these kei EV vans can be used for business and leisure. The more you know.

Photo: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.