May 5th, 2016 - Pope Francis presided over a prayer vigil "To Dry the Tears" in St. Peter's Basilica during the Feast of the Ascension. This event is part of the ongoing Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, which is ongoing until the 13th of November this year.
During the Prayer Vigil, the reliquary of Our Lady of Tears of Syracuse were on display inside the basilica for the veneration of the faithful. It was linked to the extraordinary phenomenon occurred in 1953, when a small plaster picture depicting the Immaculate Heart of Mary that was hanging above the bed of a young Italian married couple shed human tears.
" At the foot of every cross, the Mother of Jesus is always there. With her mantle, she wipes away our tears. With her outstretched hand, she helps us to rise up and she accompanies us along the path of hope.” - Pope Francis
The next event on this ongoing Jubilee of Mercy is on the the 27th of May, the Jubilee for Deacons.
The annual Golden Week in Japan doesn't stop car enthusiasts from across Japan to get through Fuji Speedway just to witness the Fuji Speedway leg of the Super GT 2016 season. In the GT500-class, there's another win for the #1 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R driven by Tsugio Matsuda and Ronnie Quintarelli following its season opener win, while the #3 B-MAX NDDP GT-R, driven by Kazuki Hoshino and Jann Mardenborough, is the GT300 class win in this round.
Highlights:
After the race, the committee announced that the third round of the Super GT 2016 season, to be held at Autopolis (which is near the quake-struck Kumamoto Prefecture) was suspended but the committee will continue to assess the current situation to still have an eight-round season.
A certain reporter visiting North Korea has seen crowds of people being mobilized in preparation for tomorrow's opening of the ruling Workers' Party's first congress in 36 years. They will hold its 7th congress in Pyongyang.
Reporters from Japanese news organizations arrived on Tuesday as part of a group of over 100 foreign media personnel North Korea invested for the occasion, which is intended to underscore Kim Jong Un's grip on power. National flags and billboards with words celebrating the opening were seen all over the city. Women wearing ethnic costumes and carrying flowers were seen gathered at central plaza.
They were apparently there to take part in rehearsals for celebratory events.
On Wednesday, officials invited reporters to visit the site where North Korea's first weapons factory used to stand.
- The Commission on Elections announced that its website is now restored with enhanced security features. The website went back online Tuesday and assured the public that it's a safer website due to a stronger firewall, among others.
- Liberal party presidential candidate Mar Roxas is unfazed by the endorsement of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte by the Iglesia Ni Cristo even as he vowed to continue the fight for decent governance. Despite failing to get the support from the INC, Roxas thanked them for giving him the opportunity to present his platform.
- The three ASEAN countries; the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, agreed to run coordinated patrols to boost maritime security following the kidnappings at sea of Indonesians by suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorists. The top foreign ministers and military chiefs of the three countries held talks in the Indonesian ancient royal capital city of Yogyakarta, hashing out the details of joint patrols to protect shipping in the waters between the border areas.
- A Chinese diplomat asked politicians and media outlets in the United States and the United Kingdom to spot meddling in the South China Sea dispute. Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom Liu Xiaoming said in the signed letter to The Times "The issue of the South China Sea is being ramped up by those in the US and the UK who accuse China of causing tension in the region. They proclaim the principle of free navigation and overflight but in reality their prejudice and partiality will only increase tension".
- Ohio Governor John Kasich dropped out from his Republican presidential race, leaving frontrunner Donald Trump the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party in the presidential elections following Ted Cruz's dropout.
- Last Sunday, a massive wildfire broke out in western Canada and it lasted for three days, leaving 16,000 structures burned. Firefighters are struggling to put out the fire but strong winds and dry weather are hampering their efforts.
- Another teaser for the revamped Top Gear hits the web with more cars and more Matt LeBlanc, gearing up to this month's premiere.
- Following its reveal, Volkswagen's special GTi Clubsport S lapped round the Nurburgring at 7:49.29, making it the fastest front-wheel drive car to lap round the track and it's faster than the Honda Civic Type R FK2.
- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga Kalyeserye, today marks the 42nd weeksary of AlDub and the gang are prepping up for their Italian job, while leaving Lola Nidora mope. However, Divina has other plans for the lolas as she throws them a picnic. After the picnic, there's a big announcement happening this Saturday and Lola Tinidora says it's going to be...a farewell party?! Tune in next time and find out!!!
The next-generation Ford F-150 Raptor, much like the new Ford GT and the Shelby GT350, made its early video game debut at Forza Motorsport 6 since its launch and I was one of the happy people to get a first bite out of Ford's next-gen extreme offroader before this car reaches dealerships in the Autumn of 2016.
Before taking a spin on the next-generation F-150 Raptor, let's have a quick intro. Making its world premiere at the 2015 North American International Auto Show, the next-generation Ford F-150 Raptor is the result of Ford Performance's superior off-road capability, from rock crawling to sand running.
Based on the 13th-generation Ford F-Series trucks, the new F-150 Raptor, like the normal F-150, takes advantage of advanced materials such as high-strength steel and high-strength, military grade, aluminum alloy, allows this truck to lose 500 pounds of weight compared to the old Raptor.
The new F-150 Raptor is powered by Ford's brand new 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine that produces more power and better fuel economy versus the old Raptor's V8 engine. This engine is mated with Ford's first-ever 10-speed automatic gearbox.
It is now the most capable Raptor ever made thanks to its available Torsen front differential, standard FOX Racing Shox with custom internal bypass technology that works to damp and stiffen suspension travel over rough terrain, and new shock canisters. It even comes with the all new Terrain Management System with six preset modes help the truck power through different terrain and driving conditions.
Sure, the new Raptor is an extreme offroader in its own right but here in the world of Forza Motorsport 6, it sounds too pointless because this is basically a racing game where all good cars race on tracks. Despite being too pointless here, I can hardly feel just how improved the new Raptor is aside from its miniaturized engine that delivers more than the old one but its military-grade aluminum bodywork shows just how light and durable this car is. Even though this is a major improvement than the previous model, handle with care because this is still a heavyweight juggernaut and you have to be very alert and very precise to handle even the slightest of corners.
Because this is the first truck in the world to offer a double-digit gearbox, you can really feel that ten gears in a truck is far too bulky on the shifting ratio but what are the odds? You never know until you try.
This car loves to get messy in the rough but in FM6, playing rough is not a necessity here or could it be? Because this is an all-new model, let's find out how much the new model has improved over the previous one and for that, I have to go to the Top Gear Test Track and find out.
This is going to be a fun science experiment because this is where I find proof if the all-new F-150 Raptor stacks up against the old F-150 SVT Raptor. Let's find out!
After sending these heavyweights their big run on the Top Gear Track, the results are in. The old Raptor did it in 1:41.106 while the new Raptor did it in 1:37.835, about four seconds quicker than the old one. Which means, even this truck doesn't have a spot to play rough in FM6, the new Raptor, thanks to its EcoBoost V6 engine, aluminum bodywork, enhanced dynamics, and a hunky 10-speed gearbox, this hunk of junk is no longer a hunk of junk. It's now...just a hunk. A hunk that can get through even the toughest jobs in the world of Forza.
2016 marks the 30th anniversary of the Hyundai Grandeur when the first-generation Grandeur came out in South Korea in July 1986, one of Hyundai's longest-running brands has spawned five generations and pretty soon, there's an all-new model heading its way, just to blow the birthday cake to Hyundai's longest-running saloon. So, time now for a quick history lesson.
First Generation (1986-1992) - The first ever Hyundai Grandeur is basically a South Korean version of the second-generation Mitsubishi Debonair (S10) saloon much like any other Mitsubishis in Korea sold as Hyundais in the last century such as the Grace and the Galloper. Whereas the Japanese Debonair is powered with either a 2.0L V6 or a 3.0L V6 engine mated with a 4-speed automatic, the Grandeur is powered with three engine configurations such as a 2.0L 4-cylinder, a 2.4L 4-cylinder, and a 3.0L V6 engine, mated with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.
The First Grandeur (1986)
Second-generation (1992-1986) - After the first generation, the partnership between Hyundai and Mitsubishi continues in the '90s with the Grandeur undergoing a full model change similar to the final generation Mitsubishi Debonair saloon. The design is now more modest, more luxurious, and more Korean as some say, the second-generation model offers different V6 engines from a 2.0L to a 3.5L, mated with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. The second-generation Grandeur became a status symbol for South Korea, which politicians and executives used at the time. Ironically in Japan, the Debonair was less successful and it was therefore phased out from Mitsubishi's saloon range in 1998.
The Second Grandeur (1992)
Grandeur XG (1998 - 2005) - No longer a rebadged Mitsubishi, the third Grandeur is now called the Grandeur XG and it was built originally by the engineers from Hyundai. This is the first time this generation is sold globally as the XG. It is essentially based on the EF Sonata but it's slightly longer than the EF Sonata and it comes with different V6 engines ranging from a 2.0L, 2.5L, and a 3.0L.
The Grandeur XG (1998)
Fourth-generation (2005 - 2011) - The fourth-generation Grandeur was launched in South Korea in May 2005 and it was based on the NF Hyundai Sonata. It was exported globally as the Azera. When it was first launched, it comes with a choice of a 2.4L 2.7L V6, 3.3L V6, and a powerful 3.8L V6 engine. This car underwent two facelifts and the latter, dubbed The Luxury Grandeur, features a revised front grille, interior, and engine choices such as a 2.4L 2.7L V6, and a 3.3L V6.
The Fourth Grandeur (2005)
Fifth-generation (2011 - onwards) - Before the Grandeur made a world premiere at the start of 2011, it made a surprise appearance in the Korean drama Runaway Plan B starring Rain. Since its debut, the 5G Grandeur employs Hyundai's Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy, giving it a sleeker appearance. Since this car was based on the Kia K7 (Cadenza), it offers a different choice of engines such as a Theta II GDi 2.4-litre engine, a Lambda II GDi 3.0-litre engine, and a 3.3L GDi engine. For the first time in Grandeur's history, a hybrid and diesel variant was offered. The hybrid is powered by a Theta II 2.4L engine mated with an electric motor and a li-ion battery while the diesel features a 2.2L CRDi-VGT engine.
Delegates of North Korea's ruling Worker's Party are gathering in Pyongyang, ahead of its first congress in three and a half decades. The congress, which will open this Friday, is expected to reaffirm leader Kim Jong Un's tight grip on power, four years since the assumption of the party's top post.
State-run Korean Central Television reported that trains carrying delegates from different parts of the country arrived one after another in the capital. No details have been announced on how many days the upcoming congress will last or the number of participants.
In 1980, about 3,000 delegates attended the previous congress and lasted for five days.
Observers are keeping the eye on the Korean peninsula as the reclusive state may conduct a fifth nuclear test ahead of the congress.
