Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Let's Do The News! (March 8, 2017)

- The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of charges against former Budget Secretary Florencio ‘Butch’ Abad in connection with the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program amounting to US$ 72 billion. According to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, they found probable cause to press charges against Abad for violating Article 239 or the Usurpation of Legislative Powers of the Revised Penal Code.

- The Commission of Appointments approved yesterday a new set of rules, including the so-called three-strike policy that has long been considered but never actually introduced in the body. According to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, the rule would effectively force the hand of the commission to decide on the fate of the appointees, thus eliminating the long-standing practice of a President to reappoint people regardless of the number of times they are bypassed.

- Senator Leila de Lima is facing nine criminal and administrative cases – from involvement in drugs to financing the Abu Sayyaf – that prove she is being persecuted by the Duterte administration, according to her lawyers.

- With President Duterte approved the National Broadband Plan, expect the country's internet speeds to improve soon.

- The Philippines cries afoul over the depiction of the Philippine President in bect week's episode of the hit TV drama series, Madam Secretary. Titled "Break in Diplomacy", this episode sees the main character punching the Philippine President.

- US President Donald Trump signed testerday the revised, yet still controversial, executive order banning wntey to the United States by citizens in Iran, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, and Somalia. Iraq is now removed in the blacklist and it will go in effect this March 16.

- McLaren unveiled the 720S, the first of the next-generation Super Series, powered by a new 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine profucing 720PS of power. Following the unveiling, Slightly Mad Studios announced that the 720S will be featured in Project CARS 2.


- Tata Motors' Tamo Racemo sportscar has been unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. While shorter than today's Mazda Roadster and drawing inspiration from European sportscars, the Racemo is powered by a turbocharged 187 hp 1.2L three-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. It may not come until 2018 with limited to 250 units made, it's accessible to all because it's a free DLC car in the Forza Horizon 3 game for XBOX One and Windows 10 PC.

- The Fittipaldi EF7 Vision GT, designed in collaboration with Pininfarina and F1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi, has been unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. Not only it will come in GT Sport but it will be physically available to the motoring public in very limited numbers. It is powered by a naturally-aspirated V8 which sends drive to the rear wheels via an integrated gearbox, suspension and braking system developed by HWA AG.


- Reports told that the Nintendo Switch 
has sold an estimated 330,637 units in Japan in the first three days of the release.

TTFN!!!

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