Let's Do The News! (December 16, 2016)

- The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the immediate release of convicted road rage killer Rolito Go. Go, a construction magnate, was convicted for killing De La Salle University graduate Eldon Maguan in a much publicized road rage incident 25 years ago. The third division of the high court affirmed the decisions of the Court of Appeals and the Regional Trial Court for the release of Go. Ordering the Bureau of Corrections to release Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco agreed Go's sentence has been shortened from 2022 to 2013 due to good conduct.

- According to Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., the United Nations Special Rapporteur must demand an apology to the Philippines over harsh reports on extrajudicial killings. Yasay said that Agnes Callamard had jumped into conclusions about the extrajudicial killing cases in the Philippines. Yasay added that Callamard's statement has been on of the basis of the United States on refocusing its assistance to the Philippines.

- With reports told that most of China's artificial islands in the South China Sea are ow weaponized, the Chinese government stressed that it is within its sovereignty to build facilities in the area. Ignoring the words of the arbitral tribunal's ruling favoring the Philippines

 claims, the Chinese Foreign Ministry repeated that Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea are China's inherent territories.

- Germany has deported 34 Afghan asylum-seekers following the European country's strict rules on accepting refugees to ease public concern about security. A flight chartered by the German government landed in the Afghan capital Kabul, carrying deportees who had failed to meet requirements for a refugee status.

- A senior White House official has suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin was personally involved in the alleged hacking of US Democratic Party servers in the lead-up to the US presidential election. The US Government announced in October that the Russian government was responsible for a cyber-attack in June that led to leaks of party officials' e-mails, accusing them of trying to influence the outcome of the presidential election.

- Syrian rebels have begun withdrawing from the northern city of Aleppo. The evacuation agreement with Russia was reached after President Bashar al-Assad's forces regained control of most of the city.

- Startup luxury electric car company Lucid Motors showcased the Air Concept, a luxury electric saloon that promises 400 miles of electric range. It previews their maiden model of the company, due in 2018.

Lucid Air Concept

- Up-and-coming electric car company Faraday Future got sued for ten million dollars over late payments to supplier.

- The Kia Niro hybrid crossover sets an arbitrary Guinness World Record for fuel mileage with 76.6 miles per gallon.

TTFN!!!