- China is eyeing a positive outlook of possible post-arbitration talks with the Philippines, with both countries to discuss “temporary arrangements” pending final settlement of their maritime dispute. China’s ministry of foreign affairs announced Beijing’s readiness to talk even as it called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations not to take sides on the issue related to arbitration.
- The Islamic State militants claimed responsibility from the recent terror attack in Nice, France that left 84 dead and more than 200 wounded. The attack occured when a truck ran over dozens of crowds during Bastille Day celebrations and then opened fire until he was gunned down by policemen. The assailant identified to be Tunisian and he was once arrested for violence but unclear of his terrorist links.
- Jeep created a WWII-themed Wrangler concept in honor of Jeep's 75th anniversary.
- Mercedes-Benz bids farewell to the CLS-Class with their Final Edition on saloon and shooting brake variants, packed with special treatments inside and out.
- Actress Liza Soberano hits back at a certain netizen questioning her absence during the premiere night of loveteam partner Enrique Gil's movie Dukot.
- Here's your first teaser image of the upcoming season of BBC's Sherlock.
Since their first split-screen encounter in the 16th of July, 2015, the love team of Alden Richards and Yaya Dub was born as well as the birth of the AlDub Nation. For fifty-two weeks, we've seen most of their Kalyeserye antics for better and for worst and so are the characters from the so-called Kalyeserye.
Here we are, the 16th of July, 2016, marks the first anniversary of AlDub and the Eat Bulaga gang have thrown the biggest Kalyeserye celebration to date. Celebrations aside, today's the day when Yaya Dub's identity was finally revealed to the world as well as her real name, which turned out to be, yep, Maine Mendoza.
At least this anniversary celebration is one heck of a ride for us so, HAPPY 1ST ANNIVERSARY, ALDUB! Congratulations!
Speaking of which, oh no! Lola Nidora's got kidnapped! Where are they taking Lola Nidora at? Keep watching Eat Bulaga for more Kalyeserye antics!
June 15, 2016 - A faction of the Turkish military attempted to over the government after dark, deploying tanks and attack helicopters at both capital city Ankara and the largest city Istanbul. Some soldiers temporarily seized the offices of the state-run media where they forced an announcer to read out a statement declaring they have seized power as well as curfew declaration. Even the Turkish branch of CNN were unsafe from this short-lived uprising as well.
Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on his supporters to take on the streets on Istanbul, where they overpowered the coup soldiers, even they're trying to called on everyone to stay indoors.
As dawn approaches, the coup plotting to overthrow the government came to a premature end and the Turkish leader announced that the coup is over, but fighting in the capital city is still going on.
Based on the reports, over 1,500 were arrested, over 90 were killed, and 1,150 injured in the failed coup attempt.
This isn't the first time Turkey faced serious coup attempts by the opposition. In 1960, military officers rebelled against the autocratic administration by detaining senior officials and assuming control of the government. The following year, they shifted the administration back to civilian rule with a general election. Two decades later, small political parties were engaged in bitter fighting and high inflation was causing economic and social upheaval. Top military officials seized power and detained the whole government. In 1982, they created a new constitution that strengthened the authority of the president and the administration was transferred to civilian rule a year later.
Well, that was an unexpected day for teleserye lovers because three endings have occured on the same day; two by ABS-CBN (My Super D and We Will Survive) and one by GMA (Poor Señorita).
In the My Super D finale, to save Dodong's friends and family from the hands of his rival Tony (known as supervillain Zulu), Dodong, as Super D, is on a race against time to settle things once and for all in a one-sided deathmatch but Zulu's powers were too powerful to be defeated by Super D and took Dodong's divorced wife, Nicole, hostage. Unable to bear this, Super D gave up his blue gem, the source of his powers, to Zulu. With Super D's real identity exposed, Zulu thinks he won the fight and with the people became very angry to Tony, his rage was unleashed. With Dodong resurfaced, he demonstrates that his love for people is his only power that grants him to be Super D and with Tony removed his red gem, the real fight begins. After taking multiple beatings by Tony, Dodong strikes back and defeated Tony once and for all. With the world back to normal, Dodong and Nicole are finally back together and they're now one happy family again. Then, Super D made his final address to the public before Dodong and his son Dennis returned the two gems to the cave where it was founded. That concludes the tale of Super D.
On the We Will Survive finale, with Maricel finally recovered fron her long comatose, everything's finally settling in, even for the love of her life, Pocholo. Later, after the baptism of Wilma's newborn baby, Pocholo wants to have a wedding with Maricel but the friends got other plans; a double wedding that shouldn't fail like last time. Day before the wedding, the two friends are recalling their bitter moments and seems that these two finally settling in. The next day, Maricel and Wilma finally got the double wedding they've deserved. This concludes the story of We Will Survive.
In the Poor Señorita finale, with Deborah got hit by the car, the kids are doing their best to help her, despite being the root cause of Rita's problems. With Rita reconciled with her mother after days of trouble, Rita faces trouble as her office is planted with a bomb and everyone's in trouble, even for Rambo who tries to search for Rita. With Rita escaped, she returns back to the office to save Rambo. The bomb explodes but the two escaped. Rambo survived but Rita's in critical condition. Meeting with her father from heaven, Rita's love with the orphaned kids she treated not just friends but as part of the family is proof that she's a good person, therefore she surrendered her fate with her father. Days passed by, everything's back to the way things were, even for the kids and friends of Rita. However, Rita makes her comeback, delighting everyone. This concludes the story of Poor Señorita.
Three endings, two stations, one day. How's that for timing?
- Former Vice President Jejomar Binay and his son, dismissed Makati Mayor Junjun Binay have posted bail for the criminal charges filed against them. The Office of the Ombudsman earlier indicted the former VP for graft, malversation of public funds and falsification of public documents in connection with the anomalous construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.
- President Rodrigo Duterte asks former president Fidel V Ramos to fly to China to begin talks with Chinese officials, two days after an international tribunal ruled that Beijing's expansive territorial claim in the South China Sea has no legal basis. Duterte said last night the interest of the Philippines and its allies would be considered as they strive to settle the territorial row through diplomacy.
- The Department of Tourism is set to negotiate with the Miss Universe organizers after getting the approval of President Duterte for the Philippines to host next year's pageant. DOT Undersecretary Kat de Castro said they will be in talks with Miss Universe president Paula Shugart and her team, who are arriving this weekend.
- 84 people were killed in a truck attack in the French resort city of Nice. The truck ran down people who had gathered for Bastille Day celebrations on Thursday night. Reports quoted officials as saying the truck drove two kilometers through the large crowd. The driver identified as a 31-year-old man of Tunisian descent who had been investigated for violence and use of weapons but authorities have no information linking him with terrorism. The truck zigzagged at a speed of 50km per hour before stopping at an area where upscale hotels are located. The driver was killed by the policemen.
- Back to the Race to the White House, presumptive Republican presidentiable Donald Trump has reported decided to name Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate. Democratic presidentiable Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, is stepping up efforts to pick her running mate in the lead-up to the Democratic Party convention later this month.
Despite having held talks over the phone, South Sudan president Salva Kiir and vice president Riek Machar failed to resolve an impasse. Fighting between government troops and opposition forces flared up earlier this month. Although the fierce fighting has subsided in recent days, the situation remains precarious.
- New British PM Theresa May has appointed pro-,anti-Brexit campaigners to key Cabinet posts, in an apparent bid to seek domestic reconciliation. May finished important Cabinet appointments on Thursday, one day after she became prime minister.
- Pokemon Go has established a new US record as the most popular smartphone game. Developed by Nintendo and Niantic Labs, Pokemon Go has about 21 million active daily users, surpassing the previous record of 20 million set by Candy Crush, according to sources.
- A PHEV variant of the flagship BMW 7-Series was added with three variations such as the BMW 740e iPerformance, BMW 740Le iPerformance and BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance. All models come with a 4-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo engine and an electric motor, capable of combined power output of 326HP and promises 2.2 - 2.0 litres per 100 kilometres of fuel economy.
No, not what it seems but the Ghibli I'm referring now is Maserati's 4-door saloon, the Ghibli. Italian's take on BMW's 3-Series, Mercedes' C-Class, and Audi's A4.
As you recall, you may have drove this car in Forza Horizon 2 as a special machine that was part from the Fast & Furious car pack as Deckard Shaw's Ghibli from Furious 7. Now, I'm driving a totally normal Ghibli model, in the high-end S model with four-wheel drive and a 3.0L V6 engine that produces 404HP of power, mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox.
Upon driving the Ghibli S Q4, I have doubts that this car is as grippy as any other four-wheel drive cars get because by normal, most of the power goes to the front wheels, but I was wrong because Maserati has been very keen on tackling its four-wheel drive powertrain very seriously since the Quattroporte and as a result, it behaves like a rear-wheel drive car by default but when necessary, it can transfer half of the power to the front. As a result, I have a luxury four-door saloon that has the sophistication of a luxury German saloon but with the feel of an Italian sports car. How fun is that. Sounds like the Italian flair really get the job done for the Ghibli, although I don't find its twin-turbo V6 engine to be more exciting even when it injects a lot of power on it. Sure, the turbocharging's all nice and easy but when it comes to excitement, it never really makes the grade for it.
In general, the Ghibli S maybe born from the company that makes grand tourers like the GranTurismo but for having fun...let's demonstrate it when I drive this car round Monza.
Then, I'm going to look for another Ghibli to make a point and looks like I found one...
What you're looking at is a limited-edition Ghibli Cup, a road-legal version of the car that was once used in Maserati's one-make race series in the mid-90's. With its 2.0L twin turbo engine producing 330PS of power, the Ghibli Cup has the strongest power output per litre compared to the Bugatti EB110 and Jaguar XJ220. Sounds cool but let's find out how does the old Ghibli and the new Ghibli face themselves off...
And now the results...
Ghibli Cup - 2:26.647
Ghibli S - 2:23.443
So, what can I say, for a four-door saloon with a four-wheel drive, the Ghibli S Q4 sure knows how to tackle a track with precision but despite its fast result, it's all serious business for the Ghibli as I'm sure why would anyone didn't mind about the hidden potential beneath Italy's 3-Series fighter. It maybe fast enough to handle a corner but for excitement, you'd better off with the old Ghibli Cup instead because with such reputation, no other motorsport-bred Maserati comes close than the legend.
However, if you wanted a saloon that balances luxury and performance, consider the Ghibli a job well done for you.
Mazda has been given the third-generation Axela (3 in world markets) some major updates for the 2017 model year and while there are few cosmetic treatments offered in its design, apart from its revised front grille, there have been big changes on the inside such as the addition of the 1.5L SKYACTIV-D diesel engine as seen on the Demio and CX-3 and the brand new SKYACTIV-VEHICLE DYNAMICS tech that will change the way how it handles.
How does Mazda's brand new G-Vectoring Control work on the new Mazda Axela? The G-Vectoring Control varies engine torque in response to steering inputs, subtly controlling lateral and longitudinal acceleration forces, which works like a traction control but it modulates the throttle to optimize vertical control on each wheel, making the car's dynamics more refined than the previous model. Pretty soon, this new technology will be applied in any other SKYACTIV Mazdas, even the next-generation CX-5 due very soon. In short, G-Vectoring Control delivers a healthy balance of response and stability depending on the load of the wheels.
Apart from its clever vehicle dynamics, the 2017 Axela features a similar SKYACTIV-D 1.5L diesel engine as seen on the Demio and CX-3. This engine produces 105PS of power and 270Nm of torque and it was mated with a 6-speed SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic gearbox only. Fuel economy is around 21.6km/L based on JC08 Mode standards, .2km/L more efficient than the 2.2L diesel engine mated with a 6-speed manual and let's hope Mazda's honest about these figures.
But if you have fears about unfair diesel, don't worry because the Axela can still be offered a SKYACTIV-G 1.5L petrol engine or the sedan-exclusive SKYACTIV-HYBRID variant which comes with a 2.0L petrol engine and a hybrid powertrain sourced from Toyota, delivering a 30.8km/L fuel economy fit enough for your next barkada trip.
Other features in the new Axela include optional i-ACTIV all-wheel drive, e-LOOP, i-Stop, i-DM, i-ACTIVSENSE safety systems, and many more.
Should you buy it? The new 2017 Axela starts from 1,760,400 to 3,310,200 Yen. That's a small price bump compared to the previous one but is it worth buying it? You'll never know until you tried the newly improved model packed with new dynamics that will make driving a little more interesting.
- In the aftermath of the South China Sea ruling that heavily favored the Philippines over China, Senator Ralph Recto on Thursday said that the "no gloating" policy of Malacanang over the recent arbitration case win is the best step to take. The senator said that curbing enthusiasm over the arbitral tribunal's favorable decision is a mature and reasoned reaction contrary to the tantrums thrown by other countries.
- Senator Migz Zubiri urged his fellow government officials and employees to take drug tests following his voluntary drug test. Zubiri said government officials should "walk the talk", adding he was shocked that government officials and employees have tested positive for drug use. On Wednesday, Zubiri subjected himself to a test for drug use with a private laboratory under contract with the Senate.
- The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft charges against former Vice President Jejomar Binay over alleged irregularities in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II, which has been said to be overpriced. The Ombudsman also filed similar charges against dismissed Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay and 22 others in February over alleged irregularities in the bidding and procurement for the construction of the 2.2 billion peso building.
- The US Republican Party is deeply divided less than a week before it nominates its candidate for president. Senior officials from previous Republican administrations suggest they will not vote Donald Trump. The billionaire is expected to be officially nominated at the Republican National Convention in Ohio, which runs from the 18th to the 21st of July.
- Japanese Emperor Akihito has expressed his intention to abdicate and hand over his position to Crown Prince Naruhito in the future. Sources say the 82-year-old Emperor conveyed the intention to Imperial Household Agency officials. He is still conducting a number of duties including his constitutional functions.
- Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer will personally inspect the first 1,000 DB11 units produced and will come with a bespoke inspection badge bearing his signature.
- She came from 2034 and now yours to preorder, here's your chance to preorder Aquamarine's Haru Kasukabe figure from the futuristic idol rhythm app game Tokyo 7th Sisters in her H-A-J-I-M-A-R-I-U-T-A-!! attire. You can order her figure right now for 11,500 Yen plus tax and deliveries will commence this May 2017.
Haru Kasukabe H-A-J-I-M-A-R-I-U-T-A-!! ver.
- Fans of The New Prince of Tennis are going to love this as the Nendoroid of the series' main character Ryoma Echizen has unveiled. You can preorder him right now for 3,889 Yen plus tax and it will be delivered this October.
Despite a drizzly rainy weather down at Silverstone, that didn't stop the knife-edge rivalry between the aces of Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, from fighting each other to the finish line, where in the end, Hamilton wins the race. That was a great day for a homegrown hero but another star in the race is Red Bull rookie Max Verstappen, who struggles to keep up against Rosberg even with transmission problems that hindered the German ace but ended on third place due to a ten-second penalty post-race.
Onto the total standings; the gap between Rosberg, who still leads with 168 points, and Hamilton, second place with 167 points, is now decreased to just one point, meaning it's too close to call for these two. Kimi Raikkonen from Ferrari, meanwhile, is now placed 3rd with 106 points.
South Korea and the United States picked the mountainous southern town of Seongju as the site for the THAAD deployment. The Defense Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that "South Korea and the US' joint working group have proposed the Seongju area in Gyeongsangbukdo province and that the countries' defense ministers have approved it." The ministry said the placement of the THAAD system in Seongju would help more firmly secure the safety of South Koreans in one half to two third of the South Korean territory while dramatically increasing the capacity to defend key state facilities as well as the alliance forces. It said in selecting the final location, the joint working group considered military effectiveness and resident safety as top priorities and conducted comparative studies, on-site inspections and simulations. The latest decision came after the allies announced their decision to deploy the THAAD system in South Korea by the end of next year at the latest.
- Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, who spearheaded the arbitration case against China, hailed the ruling of the United Nations' Permanent Court of Arbitration. Earlier this year, Del Rosario retired from his post. He released a statement Tuesday evening as a private Filipino citizen following the international tribunal's ruling which favors the Philippines over China to the West Philippine Sea.
- The Malacanang on Wednesday welcomed the results of the latest Social Weather Stations survey which showed that eight out of ten Filipinos have much trust to President Rodrigo Duterte. The nationwide survey conducted from June 24 to 27 showed that 84% of the 1,200 respondents had faith on Duterte.
- China warned other countries Wednesday against threatening its interests in the South China Sea while at the same time extending an olive branch to the new Philippine government, after the tribunal that heavily favored the Philippines by stating China has no legal basis for its expansive claims there.
- Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders officially endorses presumptive Democratic presidentiable Hillary Clinton during a joint rally in New Hampshire on Tuesday. Sanders concede his defeat in the Democratic nomination race and he described Clinton as the best candidate to fix the country's problems and stop Donald Trump in the November 8th elections.
- US President Barack Obama has called for unity in his country as he attended a memorial service in Dallas, Texas where a black male killed five police officers. Obama said the events have left people angry and hurt. He said it is as if the deepest fault lines of US democracy have suddenly been exposed.
- Two passenger trains crashed head-on in southern Italy on Tuesday. Local media reports say over 20 people were dead. The crash occurred on a single-track line in the Puglia region.
- Forza Motorsport 6's Turn 10 Select Car Pack, now available to download at the XBOX Live marketplace, features two of franchise's first; a semi-truck called a 2015 Mercedes-Benz #24 Tankpool24 Racing Truck and the tiny 1957 BMW Isetta 300 Export, among many others picked by the producers.
- The brand new Nissan Serena minivan was unveiled and its set to be available this late August 2016. The new model will be the first to use an autonomous driving feature called "ProPilot", which works similar to Tesla's Autopilot.
2017 Nissan Serena
- The MTRCB summoned execs from noontime show Eat Bulaga over Senator Tito Sotto's "victim-shaming" on the July 9 episode's "Juan For All, All For Juan" segment where netizens bashed him over the female winner in the segment's Sugod Bahay.
