Thursday, September 20, 2018

Let's Do The News! (September 20, 2018)



- Classes in Manila were suspended on September 21 in anticipation of massive rallies to be held during the commemoration of the 46th anniversary of the Martial Law declaration.

- Senator Nancy Binay is named as the new president of the United Nationalist Alliance. UNA Secretary General lawyer JV Bautista said Binay’s appointment as the party president was the result of the UNA national leaders conference held in Makati last September 12, which was attended by almost 200 leaders of UNA nationwide.

- Former health secretary Janette Garin sues her successor, former Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial over the deaths of children who received shots of the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.

- The US-China trade war escalates further as China announces retaliatory tax increases on $60 billion worth of US imports, including coffee, honey and industrial chemicals. The increases are in response to the US announcing it will impose tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese-made goods starting next week. The tariffs will start at 10 percent, then rise to 25 percent on Jan. 1.

- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe retained his post after winning his re-election bid as leader of his ruling party, making him Japan's longest-serving premier and realize his dream of reforming the constitution. The 63-year-old conservative secured 553 votes against 254 won by former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba, a hawkish self-confessed “military geek”, in a two-horse race for leader of the Liberal Democratic Party.

- US President Donald Trump pushes on the woman accusing his SCOTUS pick of sexual assault by insisting that she testify next week if she wants to be heard. Trump echoed Republican leaders in suggesting that time is running out for Christine Blasey Ford, the California psychology professor whose allegation that she was assaulted as a teenager threatens to derail confirmation of conservative Judge Brett Kavanaugh to America’s highest court.

- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad yesterday blamed Israel for the downing of a Russian plane, which was accidentally hit by Syrian anti-aircraft fire during an Israeli missile strike.

- Volkswagen's electrification offensive begins with the showcase of their new MEB platform made specifically for electric vehicles. Their first electric car will begin production in 2020, followed by an SUV.

- Sebastien Buemi and rookie driver Alex Albon are named drivers for the new Nissan Dams racing team for FIA Formula E Season 5.

- At the recent Tokyo Game Show, the opening movie for next year's Love Live! School Idol Festival ALL STARS app game is showcased as well as the debut album for the new Nijigasaki High School Idol Club set for November 21 on-sale.

- Sony will stop making the PSVita in 2019 with no successor on sight.

- ICYMI: Transgender Angela Ponce of Spain is accepted as the official entrant of the upcoming Miss Universe pageant.

- Business tycoon and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has agreed to pay $10 million to women's organizations but will not face any other punishment stemming from what NBA commissioner Adam Silver called "disturbing and heartbreaking" allegations of harassment and violence toward female employees within the organization, the league announced Wednesday.

- The 25th James Bond 007 film has been delayed to February 14, 2020 release. Shooting will take place at Pinewood Studios in early March 2019 and Cary Joji Fukunaga is named as the film's new director.

TTFN!!!

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