Let's Do The News! (April 14, 2025)

                                  

                                        

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

- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is ready to remove the exemption from the distribution of aid to Local Government Units involved in vote buying. According to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, they are already monitoring many incidents of vote buying as the elections approach, such as the vote buying that is taking place in Quezon City.

- The Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores are to be placed in 67 more postal offices in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, Malacañang says.

- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) will deploy additional personnel at Ninoy Aquino International Airport this Holy Week.

- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. strongly condemned the recent road rage incidents in the country and the harassment and intimidation by a Russian-American vlogger.

- The Kanlaon Volcano recently spewed ashes this late morning, according to PHIVOLCS.

- The Expo 2025 in Osaka commenced yesterday with about 80 pavilions for visitors to enjoy.

- The Not Very Grand Tour, a compilation series highlighting the best of The Grand Tour airs on Prime Video this April 18th.

- BTS member Jin confirms his Spring comeback.

- Boy group ENHYPEN confirmed their June comeback after their Coachella performance.

- Petro Gazz wins the PVL All-Filipino Conference title after defeating Creamline.

TTFN.

2025 NASCAR Cup Series - Food City 500

The Last Great Coliseum, Bristol, is the next stop for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series with the Food City 500 as drivers are going "beast mode" in this Palm Sunday oval racing action.

As the green flag waved, Palm Sunday racing action commenced. As Kyle Larson wins Stage 1, Stage 2 saw Brad Keselowski nudged Denny Hamlin followed by Ryan Blaney nudging Keselowski from behind but no chaos erupted. That could have been...something. With Larson bagged Stage 2, the final stage saw trouble for Alex Bowman saying he was "blowing up". The rest is history.

Screengrab from NASCAR

With the action in Bristol done, Kyle Larson wins the Food City 500 of the NASCAR Cup Series!

The next race is the Jack Link's 500 in Talladega Superspeedway this April 27, 2025.

NTT IndyCar Series 2025 - Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

The most iconic street racing event on the US West Coast is celebrating its 50th anniversary, with IMSA and IndyCar participating in the Golden Jubilee of Long Beach street racing. Let's focus more on the IndyCar side as drivers are going all-out in this Palm Sunday racing action to wrap up Long Beach's Golden Jubilee celebration.

Screengrab from IndyCar

Kyle Kirkwood won the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, defeating Alex Palou, while Christian Lundgaard secured third place on the podium.

After Long Beach, Alex Palou maintains his lead with 142 points, 34 points ahead of Kyle Kirkwood, while Christian Lundgaard is in 3rd with 96 points.

The next race is at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Sonsio Grand Prix this May 10. Indy Month is coming...

F1 2025 - Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

Formula 1's 75th anniversary celebration continues at the Bahrain International Circuit with the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. This race also marks Oscar Piastri's 50th start. Additionally, spectators have the opportunity to see F1 legend Jackie Stewart perform an exhibition lap in his championship-winning Tyrrell to support his charity.

Screengrab from F1

Oscar Piastri celebrated his 50th Formula 1 race in style by defeating George Russell from Mercedes to win the Bahrain Grand Prix. Lando Norris, despite receiving a penalty for overshooting his grid box, managed to secure third place. 

This is good news for McLaren, as the team maintains its lead in the Constructors' Championship. Norris currently sits at the top of the driver standings with 77 points, three points ahead of Piastri.

The next race is the STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this April 19, 2025.

Autobacs Super GT 2025 Series Round 1

The 2025 season of the Autobacs Super GT has officially begun, with Okayama serving as the starting point for this new season. As Toyota bids farewell to the GR Supra this year, it remains uncertain whether this will be the last time the GR Supra GT500 machines compete. Nevertheless, this season is expected to be a memorable one.

In the season opener, three GR Supra machines dominated the podium. The winner was the #1 au TOM'S GR Supra, followed by the #14 ENEOS X PRIME GR Supra in second place, and the #39 DENSO KOBELCO SARD GR Supra in third. 

In the GT300 class, the race was led by the #65 LEON PYRAMID AMG, which took first place. The #26 ANEST IWATA RC F GT3 secured second place, while the #56 REALIZE NISSAN MECHANIC CHALLENGE GT-R finished in third.

The next race is at Fuji Speedway this May 4, 2025.

2025 Repco Supercars Championship - ITM Taupō Super 440

The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship arrives in Taupō, bringing the Camaros and Mustangs together for a showdown on the island during the ITM Taupō Super 440.

Screengrab from Supercars

Ford dominated the entire Taupō race weekend, with Matthew Payne winning the first and third races while Chaz Mostert claimed the second.

Post-Taupō, Will Brown remains in the lead with 651 points while Cam Waters is in 2nd with 617 points, and Payne's in 3rd with 605 points.

The next event is the Snowy River Caravans Tasmania Super 400 this May 8 to 11, 2025.

2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship - Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

The most iconic street racing event on the US West Coast is celebrating its 50th anniversary, with IMSA and IndyCar participating in the Golden Jubilee of Long Beach street racing. Let's focus more on the IMSA side, where GTD and GTP cars clash in the Long Beach Grand Prix's Jubilee Year.

Screengrab from IMSA

Porsche achieved a double victory at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 won in the GTP class, while the legendary #177 AO Racing 911 GT3 R, affectionately known as Rexy, claimed victory in the GTD class.

The next race is the Monterey Sportscar Championship in Laguna Seca this May 9-11, 2025.