Let's Do The News! (March 19, 2025)

                   

                                        

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

- Senate President Chiz Escudero clarifies that the ICC trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte will not affect the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Meanwhile, VP Duterte announced that former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea will not be part of FPRRD's legal team.

- British lawyer Nicholas Kaufman, the lead counsel of former President Rodrigo Duterte, vows to provide a strong defense in the former president's case.

- Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil assured that he will not allow intimidation and violence to flourish in Maguindanao, especially as the 2025 midterm elections are approaching.

- Senate President Francis Escudero has criticized Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel for his comments on the Senate's plan to shelter Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa when he is arrested by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Escudero reminded the congressman that the institutional courtesy that will be extended to Dela Rosa is the same as that given by the House in the so-called Batasan 5.

- In conjunction with the Balikatan Exercises with the Americans this year, various Philippine Navy assets will be firing missiles. Navy Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta confirmed the Navy's participation in the Maritime Cooperative Activity during the annual joint military drills.

- Two NASA astronauts that remained on the moon for nine months have safely returned to Earth. The capsule carrying the two astronauts who spent nearly a year in space splashed down off Florida coast.

- Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel has resumed combat with "full force" after deadly Gaza strikes, adding "this is just the beginning".

- The FIA tightens up rear wheel flexibility tests ahead of F1's Chinese Grand Prix.

- Donkervoort teases its next vehicle coming soon.

- Mercedes-AMG discontinued the A45.

- LEGO teams up with Pokemon for its new line of Pokemon LEGO toys coming in 2026.

- The new Cat's Eye TV anime is coming to Disney+ this September.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (March 18, 2025)

                  

                                        

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

- The Philippine Government may appoint its own lawyer to defend former President Rodrigo Duterte's arrest from the International Criminal Court in response to the joint habeas corpus cases of Duterte's children.

- The International Criminal Court is ready to compensate victims of crimes brought before it, once the accused is proven guilty. According to the ICC's video explainer, this includes monetary compensation, rehabilitation, or medical support.

- Six people reportedly died after the plane they were traveling in crashed on Roatan Island, Honduras.

- King Charles III's planned visit to the Vatican in April will still go ahead amid Pope Francis' medical condition, Buckingham Palace says.

- US President Donald Trump is laying off some of the workforce from the state-run Voice of America news network.

- The Renault 5 Turbo 3E will have 536bhp of power, a record 4,800Nm of torque, a 0-100kph of 3.5 seconds, and 270kph of top speed. Only 1980 units will be made.

2027 Renault 5 Turbo 3E

- Seiyuu Shiki Aoki goes on hiatus due to health.

- Actor Jo Jung Suk will make his special appearance in Weak Hero Class 2.

- The family of the late actress Kim Sae Ron requested an apology and filed a lawsuit against Kim Soo Hyun.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (March 17, 2025)

                 

                                        

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

- The Malacañang is disappointed by former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea's statement that former president Rodrigo Duterte allegedly disappeared while under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

- The ICC may soon allow victims of the Duterte administration's bloody war on drugs to speak in the chamber.

- The Philippine National Police is prepared to cooperate should Interpol order the arrest of Duterte allies linked to the extrajudicial killings,

- At least 31 individuals were killed while 101 others were injured, mostly women and children, in the massive military attack launched by US President Donald Trump against the militant group Houthis due to the group's bombing of ships passing through the Red Sea.

- According to the Vatican, Pope Francis is still undergoing therapy as he prepares for 2028, which will mark 15 years since his election as Pope in 2013.

- A new Battle Spirits anime series is coming soon.

- K-drama Taxi Driver returns for its third season coming soon.

- The cast of the K-drama series Field Mouse was announced.

- Kim Soo Hyun's endorsement list was shortened amid controversy with his late girlfriend Kim Sae Ron.

- A damaged wall was seen inside the TNT locker room at the MOA Arena after their PBA Commissioner's Cup Game 2 defeat by Ginebra 71-70. The series tied with 1 win each.

- LVN legend Delia Razon dies at the age of 94.

TTFN.

2025 NASCAR Cup Series - Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube

As spring approaches, the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series continues in Las Vegas for the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube. Sin City has transformed, but that doesn't stop NASCAR's most daring drivers from making things exciting.

As the green flag waved, the action in Viva Las Vegas commenced. Stage 1 saw a loose tire from the No. 19 car on Lap 34. As Austin Cindric wins Stage 1, Stage 2 gets even more intense as Alex Bowman pits over vibration issues, followed by a spin by Shane van Gisbergen on Lap 108, trouble on the restart for Kyle Busch, and Todd Gilliand gets into the wall on Lap 147. With Stage 2 going to Kyle Larson, the final stage saw a multi-car incident on Lap 195, followed by another where Ryan Blaney was the hardest to get hit. The unexpected comes into place with Noah Gragson triggers a caution with only 20 laps left.

Screengrab from NASCAR

For the first time ever, Josh Berry wins the Pennzoil 400 of the NASCAR Cup Series!

The next race is at Homestead-Miami for the Straight Talk Wireless 400 this March 23, 2025.

2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship - Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring

The 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship continues at Sebring International Raceway for the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring. With lessons learned from their Daytona campaign, these drivers and teams surely know how to keep Florida heated with intense endurance racing action.

Screengrab from IMSA

The #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 nailed its second GTP win of the season while the #43 Intel Europol Competition Oreca LMP2 07 won the LMP2 class, the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 in the GTD class, and the fan-favorite #77 AO Racing 911 GT3 R in the GTD PRO class.

The next event is the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach this April 11-12, 2025.

F1 2025 - Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix

The year 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of Formula 1, and the celebrations kicked off at Albert Park in Melbourne, despite a rainy forecast. 

This season will be the last for the current generation of F1 cars before major rule changes in 2026 when Cadillac will join the grid for the first time. 

Notably, Lewis Hamilton has made headlines by switching to Ferrari this season. Additionally, several drivers have changed teams: Carlos Sainz moved to Williams, Nico Hülkenberg is now with Sauber, and Esteban Ocon has joined Haas. 

This season also features a record number of newcomers, including Isack Hadjar for VCARB, Jack Doohan for Alpine, Gabriel Bortoletto for Sauber, Kimi Antonelli for Mercedes, and Oliver Bearman for Haas. 

The 75th anniversary season promises to be one for the history books.

Screengrab from F1

Lando Norris drew first blood by beating last year’s champion Max Verstappen to win the Australian Grand Prix while Mercedes-AMG driver George Russell completed the podium by finishing 3rd. In addition, Kimi Antonelli appealed the 5-second penalty imposed for his tangle with Hülkenberg. Isack Hadjar’s debut race unfortunately ended in shambles before it started when his car crashed on the second turn.

Norris won his first race of the season but the Mercedes-AMG team is in the offense. F1's 75th-anniversary celebration has truly begun. The next race is the Heineken Chinese Grand Prix this March 22, 2025.

2025 Repco Supercars Championship - MSS Security Melbourne SuperSprint

The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship continues in Albert Park, the venue that the Formula 1 camp will be using for the start of its 75th-anniversary celebration, for the MSS Security Melbourne SuperSprint.

Photo: Supercars

As expected, only those who were inside the track for Supercars action have witnessed it because due to international broadcast rights associated with the F1 2025's Australian Grand Prix, their usual highlights and live video coverage of the Repco Supercars Championship events are not available.

Here's the TL;DR summary. Except for the 4th and final race canceled due to rainfall, three Chevrolet drivers took the win; with Red Bull Ampol Racing's Broc Feeney for the first race, Dabble Racing's Cameron Hill in the second race, and Will Brown in the third race.

Post-Melbourne, Will Brown is leading the championship with 467 points.

The next event is the ITM Taupō Super 440 this April 10-12, 2025.