Let's Do The News! (November 22, 2023)

                              

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

- The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that 17 Filipino seafarers were held captive by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

- The PH House of Representatives and the MMDA's free rides program have been extended until Friday. The House had deployed last Monday five buses offering free rides to Filipinos affected by transport group PISTON's strike, which was supposed to end today. However, Manibela announced its own transport strike from today until Friday, leading to the free ride extension made by the PH House and the MMDA.

- The Armed Forces of the Philippines stressed that the joint patrol by the Philippines and the United States in the West Philippine Sea is not meant to escalate tension with China.

- Israel has approved a ceasefire with Hamas that includes the release of some 50 hostages.

- The UK National Living Wage will rise to 11.44 pounds per hour from April and will be extended to 21-year-olds for the first time.

- The BBC announced that the hit motoring TV show Top Gear will be put on hiatus "for the foreseeable future" following last year's on-set accident with presenter Freddie Flintoff. Other Top Gear-related activities will continue amid the TV show's hiatus.

- The new Renault Master commercial van was unveiled. Because of its improved aerodynamics from its new design, the e-TECH electric powertrain is now good for 410km of driving range.

2024 Renault Master

- Hyundai's Porter II truck received a new Smartstream LPG 2.5 turbo engine for the 2024 model year. The said engine mated to a 5-speed AT and 2WD produces 159PS of power and 30.0kgf-m of torque. Mated to a 6-speed MT with a choice of 2WD and 4WD, it produces 138PS of power and 26kgf-m of torque.

2024 Hyundai Porter II

- Kabuki actor Ichikawa Ennosuke was given a suspended sentence. Ennosuke was arrested on suspicion of assisting his parents' suicide.

- Comedian Kim Byung Man announced his divorce after 12 years.

- RIIZE member Seunghan will take an indefinite hiatus from activities.

- LeBron James became the first NBA player to score 39,000 points, overtaking the all-time record set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

- G-Dragon's nail samples returned negative and announced strong legal action against malicious posts.

- The Conmebol World Cup qualifier match between Brazil and Argentina got delayed after clashes between fans and police in the stands in Rio de Janeiro.

TTFN.