M6.4 quake hits Taiwan, kills 5

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A powerful M6.4 quake struck the southern part of Taiwan, toppling down a 16-floor apartment complex, killing five people as of now, and injuring hundreds. Reports told that thirty people are feared to be trapped in the rubble.

Among the victims died in the rubble were a 10-day old baby girls and a 40-year-old male who were pulled dead from the building by rescue workers. There was also a woman who died after being hit by a falling water tank at another site with no details immediately available of the other two deaths.

The quake struck at depth of 10 kilometers around the early hours and 39 kilometers northeast of Kaohsiung, the second-largest city of Taiwan and an important port. It was reported to have a 6.7 magnitude but was downgraded to 6.4. A tsunami was not expected.

17 years ago, there was a powerful 7.6 quake struck Taiwan and killed over 2,400 people.

Report: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/5-dead-in-taiwan-quake/2493414.html

#BGFixedMarriage

On the February 5, 2016 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Fixed marriage gags.

- Hugot lines for the Chinese New Year.

- This guy wants to be health-conscious.

- The stupidity of being judgmental is examined.

- The boys are getting pervy at a female office worker...

- Angry taxi drivers staging a protest.

- An inheritance goes awry over the truth.

- The extra guy's back to make another appearance.

Friends actor Matt LeBlanc joins Top Gear

Photo: BBC

A familiar Friend is joining the rebooted Top Gear alongside incoming presenter Chris Evans as Friends actor Matt LeBlanc, who once set the fastest lap time in Star in a Reasonably Priced Car since early 2012 in a Cee-apostrophe-D and hosted the "Top Gear: The Races" special episodes, is joining the worldwide hit motoring show as Chris Evans' co-host.

With the Friends alum actor joining alongside radio DJ Chris Evans, we can expect more on what's going to be in the rebooted Top Gear when it premieres this May 2016. Expect more reports coming soon on who's going to be next in the brand new Top Gear.

URL: http://www.topgear.com/car-news/top-gear-tv/matt-leblanc-joins-top-gear

Let's Do The News! (February 4, 2016)

- The United States is collaborating with the government to monitor potential threats by the Islamic State militants in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Speaking at the Pandesal Forum in Quezon City, the US Ambassador said the rhetorical support of the Abu Sayyaf, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and Ansar al-Khalifa to ISIS might become a major threat to the nation.

- The Malacanang Palace officials defend President Benigno Aquino III over the non-passage of top priority bills. According to one official, the Aquino Administration made efforts to push for the enactment of the priority bills, including the Freedom of Information and anti-dynasty bills. The House of Representatives will be adjourned on the 5th of February and has yet to pass both of these bills.

- Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is willing to allow foreign businessmen to lease land in the Philippines for 40 years via the 1987 Constitution. During a meeting in Makati City, Duterte said he's fine with the 70 to 30% arrangement in favor of foreign businessmen.

- Two Democrat rivals for presidency Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders started a word war in a New Hampshire town hall over who best embodies progressive values ahead of next week's first-in-the-nation primary,

- The World Health Organization says that the Zika virus has spread to 32 countries and territories, warning the public to cover up to avoid infection with the mosquito-borne virus. The WHO advises the public to minimize skin exposure and better yet, use insect repellants. Right now, health authorities in the US and Thailand reported Zika infections the WHO has yet to be confirmed.

- An explosion occurred in a Daallo Airlines jetliner shortly after takeoff from the airport in Mogadishu, Somalia. One person believed to be blown out and killed while two others are hurt.

- The Opel/Vauxhall Mokka crossover has been facelifted with a new look, new features, and new engine choices including "Whisper Diesel" engines.

2017 Opel Mokka X

- Action star Vin Diesel confirmed that the ninth and tenth installment of The Fast and the Furious franchise is due on 2019 and 2021. The eighth installment is due next year and it's the first of the three-film finale.

- Twenty-four lots as seen on 007: SPECTRE are officially unveiled in the Christie's Auction. Apart from the Aston Martin DB10 driven by James Bond actor Daniel Craig in the film, there are other items on bidding such as a Q's laptop used by Ben Whishaw, a SPECTRE clapperboard signed by Daniel Craig, steel nails worn by Dave Bautista, and one of Oberhauser outfits tailored by Christoph Waltz. Bidding starts from the 16th to the 23rd of February at Christie's. Proceeds will go to Doctors Without Borders, other charitable organizations, and the United Nations Mine Action Service. Check out the list:

http://www.christies.com/zmags/?ZmagsPublishID=65647a22&SaleTitle=&SaleId=0&GUID=&JumptoLot=

TTFN!!!

US Toyota officially discontinues Scion brand

2016 Scion iM

The US division of Toyota Motor Corporation has officially announced that they are killing off the youth-oriented Scion brand for good, effective in the second half of this year.

As a result, the recently launched Demio-based iA and the iM (which is an Americanized Auris) as well as their FR-S sportscar will be rebranded as Toyotas while the tC front-wheel drive sports coupe will be discontinued. The C-HR concept as seen in last year's LA Auto Show will be sold as a Toyota when in production form.

The main reason for Scion's demise is because of customer feedback, stating that younger buyers wanted something practical apart from the styling and features Scion offered.

Scion was launched in 2003 as a youth-oriented brand for Toyota and their first models are the xA and the xB, which is basically first-generation Toyota ist and bB sold to North American markets. It was later joined by a Scion-original sports coupe, the tC. Through the years, Scion has offered the xD (basically a second-generation ist), the second-generation xB (based on the Corolla Rumion), the second-generation tC, the iQ, the FR-S (basically a Toyota 86), and recently; the Demio-based iA and the Auris-based iM.

Report: http://www.autoblog.com/2016/02/03/toyota-closes-scion-brand/

SMB wins 2016 PBA PH Cup

Screengrab: Sports5 Youtube page

At the seventh and the final game of the 2016 PBA Philippine Cup, held at the Mall of Asia Arena last night, the San Miguel Beermen and the Alaska Aces are on their last do-or-die match to claim the coveted title.

At the score of 96-89, the San Miguel Beermen made a historic comeback from a 0-3 hole to win the best-of-seven title series. Thanks to the efforts of the team's finest including Chris Ross, Arwind Santos, and June Mar Fajardo, their latest win marks the 22nd in the franchise history. The team now scored three of the last four championships in the PBA.

Chris Ross was named as the team's MVP after scoring 21 points, five rebounds, and five assists while June Mar Fajardo, who recovered from his knee injury that went AWOL in the past four games, scored 21 points.

Highlights:

Congratulations to the San Miguel Beermen. You made HIS7ORY.

Further reading:

1) http://www.philstar.com/sports/2016/02/04/1549548/beermen-overcome-aces-complete-pbas-greatest-comeback

2) http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/553906/sports/basketball/san-miguel-beer-completes-historic-comeback-to-win-2016-philippine-cup

3) http://pba.inquirer.net/66658/66658

Let's Do The News (February 3, 2016)

- The Congress has ran out of time to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law, sparking concerns that possible conflicts in Mindanao may occur, according to officials. The officials of the House of Representatives had until today to deliberate the BBL before going on a three-month hiatus at the end of the week. The long-delayed bill has become the top priority of a peace deal signed by the largest Muslim rebel group in the south and the government of President Benigno Aquino III, whose term ends in June.

- The Commission of Elections First Division trashed all the disqualification cases charged against presidentiable Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Most of the DQs rejected are those filed by University of the Philippines Student Council Chair John Paulo delas Nieves, broadcaster Ruben Castor, nuisance candidate Elly Pamatong and former senatorial candidate Rizalito David.

- The Philippines remains free of the Zika virus, according to the Department of Health as it announced preventive measures to the public should cases turn up in the country. According to DOH secretary Janette Garin, the Philippines is not on the list of affected countries but the aedes aegypti mosquito -- similar to the ones that carrying dengue, Chikungunya, and yellow fever --- is still in the open so the government takes precautionary measures to deal with it. There was once a report that a Filipino contracted the virus in Honduras which the Department of Foreign Affairs is into it.

- The top officials at the Syrian peace talks in Geneva are split over the inclusion of the top member of the Army of Islam, which named as a terrorist group by the Syrian and Russian governments. 

- Following the Republican's Ted Cruz, Hillary Clinton barely won the Iowa Caucuses as the presidential candidate for the Democrats after a three-way contest.

- The launch plan regarding the so-called satellite by North Korea comes as the global community is preparing fresh sanctions against the Korean Peninsula over its recent nuclear test. North Korea told the International Maritime Organization and other international organizations that they will be launching a satellite between the 8th and 25th of February. There's a possibility that the so-called satellite launch maybe set to the 16th of February, the birthday of former leader Kim Jong-Il.

- Renault's Alpine will unveil its first new model for the revived brand on the 16th of February.

- Ford Motor Company will put their upcoming 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor, armed with a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 and a 10-speed gearbox, in some off-road endurance racing. Its offroad racing debut will take place at the Parker 425 in Arizona on the 4th to the 7th of February,

- The 7th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition takes place at the Seaside Drive, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay, Metro Manila, every Saturday from the 13th February to the 19th of March, 2016.

TTFN!!!