Let's Do The News! (October 12, 2018)

- The government postpones the groundbreaking of the development of war-ravaged Marawi City to October 17 to coincide with the first anniversary of the liberation of the city from lawless elements.

- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is having doubts about the passage of a measure prohibiting political dynasties in Congress amid claims the country remains a “feudal state.” The President recognized that the country’s political system has been dominated by the “power elite” that would likely oppose such anti-dynasty prohibition.

- Senators praised the appointment of Permanent Representative to the United Nations Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin Jr. as the next Foreign Affairs Secretary. Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Friday described Locsin as an “excellent choice” to replace Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano who will run for congressman in the May, 2019 midterm elections.

- The Ecumernical Patriarchate said it had agreed to recognize the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, in a move welcomed with jubilation by Kiev but condemned as “catastrophic” in Moscow.

- The death toll from the Majorca floods has risen to 12.

- A booster rocket failed less than two minutes after launching an American and a Russian toward the International Space Station on Thursday, forcing their emergency — but safe — landing on the steppes of Kazakhstan.

- The Washington state's Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty violates its Constitution. The ruling Thursday makes Washington the latest state to do away with capital punishment. The court was unanimous in its order that the eight people currently on death row have their sentences converted to life in prison. Five justices said the “death penalty is invalid because it is imposed in an arbitrary and racially biased manner.”

- Abarth introduces the new 595 lineup with five different variants with power outputs ranging from 145 to 180 HP, all Euro 6D-TEMP compliant.

2019 Fiat 595 Abarth

- Mazda introduces two new variants for the CX-5 crossover. One is the first ever SKYACTIV-G 2.5T engine and the other is a manual variant for diesel models. All models come with the updated G-Vectoring Control and updated safety tech.

2019 Mazda CX-5

- Audi is under investigation for forging chassis number and test records to cheat South Korean authorities.

- Aston Martin joins DTM in 2019 courtesy of R-Motorsport.

- Geoffrey LLC, the holding company of TOYS R US, will transfer all assets to existing secured lenders to launch a new toy wholesale venture Geoffrey's Toy Box.

- ICYMI: A World War Z sequel film is in the works.

TTFN!!!