Let's Do The News! (September 15, 2016)

- One of the witnesses from the "Davao Death Squad" claims that President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the death of supporters and bodyguards of his then political rival, former House Speaker Prospero Nograles. Self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato said their squad kidnapped about four supporters and bodyguards of Nograles. He said Nograles and Duterte ran for city mayor six years ago.

- He also said that Senator Leila de Lima, who headed the Commission of Human Rights, was among the targets of Duterte, who was once the Davao City mayor. According to Matobato, Duterte ordered someone to ambush De Lima, who was investigating extrajudicial killings in Davao in 2009. He said his group was hiding and waiting to attack De Lima and her team who were looking at a mass grave at Laud Quarry, where the slain have been buried.

- The United States's memorandum of understanding has been reached to Israel. In the White House statement, this new 10-year security assistance MOU to Israel is the most historic part of President Barack Obama's commitment to Israel's security. It will come in effect within the next three years and the funds will be used for the missile defense system and other equipment.

- An updated statement regarding Hillary Clinton's health has been released from her doctor saying she is healthy and fit to serve as the next US president if elected. It says the candidate is recovering well from pneumonia with antibiotics and rests. She will return to the campaign trail on Thursday when she is due to speak in the battleground state of North Carolina as well as the UN General Assembly in New York next week.

- The people of Flint, Michigan, became enraged over the recent visit of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, condemned it as a photo-op that did nothing to help Flint families recover from the ongoing water crisis. What's worse, his speech, where the part goes about attacking Clinton, got interrupted by a pastor.

- Mitsubishi Motors unveiled their GT PHEV crossover concept prior to its Paris Motor Show debut next month.

- The open-top version of the Mercedes-AMG GT was launched as well as the new GT C Roadster, the open-top equivalent of the GT R. It's set to appear on next month's Paris Motor Show.

- New on THE IDOLM@STER Platinum Stars; a new DL Live, 吹き抜ける一陣の風, is now up and running and players can perform better to win a brand new, high-ranking, Wild Obsidian costume for use in-game!

 

- Of course, after the success of the live-action Resident Evil/Biohazard movies, another CAPCOM franchise will be getting a Hollywood treatment, this time it's Monster Hunter.

TTFN!!!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Chuseok holiday in S. Korea

President Park Geun-hye extended her Chuseok greetings to the Korean people today posting a video message on her Facebook page. President Park said South Korea is facing through difficulties as threats from North Korea continue to pull them back. The president added that the government is maintaining all-out national security based on strong international cooperation.

Meanwhile, in telephone talks with Seoul's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se today, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed the time was right to step up the presure on North Korea following its nuclear and missile provocations. Yun called for a quick adoption of a strong UNSC sanction against Pyongyang and stop further threats. In response, Wang Yi was quoted as saying the recent nuclear test is a violation to UNSC resolutions that damages peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula.

Then, South Korean PM Hwang Kyo-ahn urged the Coast Guard to be on alert for further threats from North Korea near the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea. He also ordered the Coast Guard to crack down on illegal fishing by Chinese boats in South Korean waters.

Later, the top diplomats from South Korea, the USA, and Japan will hold a meeting this week in New York to discuss countermeasures against North Korea's nuclear test, the foreign ministry in Seoul said Wednesday. The trilateral meeting will be held among South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, US Secretary of State John Kerry, and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. They will meet Sunday (local time) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.

Let's Do The News! (September 14, 2016)

- While Typhoon Ferdie is heading to Taiwan, a new typhoon has entered the Philippines. Called Gener, it was located 45km northeast of Itbayan, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 220kph and gusts of up to 255kph as of 0400 hours local time. Signal number 4 remains hoisted over Batanes while signal number 3 is still up over the Babuyan Group of Islands.

- President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday that he won't allow government forces to conduct joint patrols of disputed waters near the South China Sea with other countries, apparently scrapping a deal his predecessor reached with the US military earlier this year. Duterte's also considering acquiring defense equipment from Russia and China.

- Due to the hepatitis A outbreak in Hawaii because of raw scallops as a probable cause, the Philippine government has suspended distribution of seafood. Hawaii's Department of Health last month identified frozen scallops served raw at a sushi chain as the probable cause. The Hawaii outbreak has sickened over 250 people.

- Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump unveiled his new proposals for his childcare affordability plan during his rally with Ivanka Trump on his side. Trump's plan allows for a federal income tax deduction of childcare expenses for up to four children and elderly dependents. It is capped at the average cost of care in the state and is available in single-income households making up to $250,000 and $500,000 in joint-income households. The Clinton campaign denounced it as "half-baked policies leave 21st century families behind."

- According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, over 301,000 people died over the course of five years of the Syrian civil war. That includes Syrian government troops and rebels with 86,000 civilians died, including over 15,000 children and about 10,000 women.

- Ariel ditches the Atom's massive rear wing and trades it with ground effects with the new Aero-P Atom concept. Although not suitable for track racing purposes, This conceptualized Ariel Atom features a rubber skirt on the bottom of the tub where two fans create a vacuum-like effect, resulting to more drag and only operates at high speeds, the fans don't generate any drag and can create massive downforce at low speeds.

Ariel Aero-P Atom Concept

- Ken Block is back in his new GYMKHANA 9 clip, starring the Ford Focus RS RX!

- The official trailer of Fifty Shades Darker, the sequel to Fifty Shades of Grey, has arrived. The film hits theaters this Valentines Day 2017.

This Valentine’s Day, forget the past. Watch the #FiftyShadesDarker trailer. pic.twitter.com/h6jChlLmNp

— Fifty Shades Darker (@FiftyShades) September 13, 2016

TTFN!!!

Audi S4 B9

Based on the brand new and more technologically advanced Audi A4, the semi-high performance variant, the S4, in saloon and Avant versions, may have lost some of the charm points from its previous model, such as the loss of the manual gearbox and supercharger, but it's got AMG's C43 range in its crosshairs. So, is it better than before?

2017 Audi S4

2017 Audi S4 Avant

At first glance, the brand new S4 looks very identical to the normal A4 but when you notice some subtle changes on the exterior and interior to make it look semi-sporty but by stark observation, it's catered to be as elite as an honor student at a very prestigious academy. Remind you of any?

Anyway, once you're done digging out what's new, in and out, what's underneath is what matters because for the new model, the 3.0L TFSi engine loses its supercharger, resulting to become a turbocharged semi-high performance vehicle which a very average sound that makes you wanna go "hmmm". No bark though but the power output of 354PS of power and 500Nm is pretty impressive for a turbocharged engine but it's still short of power compared to Mercedes-AMG's C43. Still, could be worse, the only offering of an 8-speed tiptronic gearbox is one gear short compared to the C43's 9G-TRONIC as well. While it maybe restricted to 250kph, the 0-100kph time is now 4.7 seconds, which is vaguely the same as the C43's but get this; because the S4, like the A4, is utilized on an MQB platform like all good VW Group machines, it's 60kg less than the C43, resulting to combined fuel consumption of 7.4L/100km, compared to the C43's 7.8L/100km. How's that for a semi-high performance car?

As a light car compared to the C43, the new S4, with its signature quattro permanent all-wheel drive system, is a potent multirole that can handle through bends with mildness, even when it feels under the weather. Because it's lower than the base A4, courtesy of its sport-tuned suspension, its low center of gravity results to even better handling but it's still basically milder in body language and if you can sense its understeering woes, hope you got your painkillers ready because this going be an achy-breaky feeling.

Should you buy it? The S4 is priced at 59,300 Euros for the saloon while the Avant is priced at 61,150 Euros, competitively priced to the AMG C43 range, and while it produces less power than the C43, the S4, despite the loss of its supercharger and manual gearbox, still works like what a semi-high performance should and while this is classified as a sports car, it's still a luxury car ticking all the right touches in partial terms of endearment. Is it better than before? Don't be silly but it's a good fun finding out.

Photo: Audi AG

Yume de Yozora wo Terashitai/Mijuku DREAMER

The Love Live! Sunshine!! TV series is almost nearing its climax as fans from around the world are nearing the end of how Aqours was formed from their hardships they've faced so far. While the climax of this hit TV series is drawing near on us, two insert songs heard from past episodes have arrived in this latest maxi single CD inspired from the hit TV series.

Yume de Yozora wo Terashitai/
Mijuku DREAMER

In episode six of Love Live Sunshine, fans saw, Chika, Riko, You, Yoshiko, Ruby, and Hanamaru performing the song 夢で夜空を照らしたい while in episode nine, with the senior year gals Dia, Kanan, and Mari finally joining forces with the gang, the song 未熟DREAMER was performed at the end of that episode. These two new songs from Aqours are now yours to listen apart from your growing Aqours playlist and when you had the chance, these songs will be soon arriving in a future update of Love Live! School Idol Festival. Get your thumbs ready while you're at it.

Expect more songs inspired from the LLS TV show coming soon and before getting ready for the show's climax, best to know that you're more than welcome to be part of the Aqours fandom whenever, wherever, whatever.

TRACK LISTINGS:

01. 夢で夜空を照らしたい

02. 未熟DREAMER

03. 夢で夜空を照らしたい (Off Vocal)

04. 未熟DREAMER (Off Vocal)

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Gyeongju quake

On Monday night, the most powerful quake to date in the Korean Peninsula occurred in Gyeongju, 371 km southeast of Seoul. Gyeongju reported over 100 minor aftershocks following the magnitude 5.1 and 5.8 quakes that caused some people to evacuate their homes. Aside from that, the Korea Meteorological Administration reported 3.1 and 3.2 magnitude quakes early Tuesday. About 14 people were hurt and 642 property damage claims have been filed so far. The South Korean government will assess the situation and draw up measures for post-quake relief and rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, South Korea and the United States will beef up measures to deal against threats from North Korea following their fifth nuclear test. After a two-day Korea-US Integrated Defense Dialogue, the Ministry of National Defense and the US Department of Defense issued a joint statement that called for the North to renounce its nuclear program in a "complete, verifiable and irreversible" manner.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said Tuesday that the areas that need close ties with Japan are increasing following the latest threats from North Korea. Yun's remark came amid the two nations seeking tougher sanctions against North Korea in defiance of continued calls from the international community to stop its nuclear program. It also came after the issue of signing the General Security of Military Information Agreement was discussed during the summit meeting between President Park Geun-hye and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe in Laos last week.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (September 13, 2016)

- President Rodrigo Duterte wants the US troops to leave Mindanao right away but the United States maintained its commitment to the Philippines despite the recent statement. Duterte warned the US troops that they are in danger of being kidnapped by terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. US Department of State spokesperson John Kirby said that the US will not respond to Duterte's comments unless an official request is made. The Palace clarifies that Duterte's comments is not yet a policy.

- The pregnant victim of the deadly Davao blast died at the hospital, making her the 15th casualty in the blast. Vicenta Depalubos Asperin, 21, passed away at the Metro Medical and Research Center around 2217 hours local time. Asperin, who was six months pregnant, had been in a coma for 11 days.

- Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, daughter of late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, asked their family's critics to forgive her father. Imee made the appeal to their family's detractors in her speech on the 00th birthday of her father in BAtac City, Ilocos Norte. She said her father is only human and prone to mistakes.

- Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump opened a luxury hotel in Washington on Monday, while demonstrators gathered outside. The Trump International Hotel is a renovated former post office built in the century near the White House. It opened nearly two years ahead of schedule. Hotel officials say peak season room rates start at around 900 dollars a night and go up to 25,000 dollars. They say they are fully booked from opening night.

- Meanwhile, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who was revealed to have pneumonia following her 9/11 memorial incident, says she is feeling much better and hopes to return to the campaign trail in the next few days.

- The president of the International Paralympic Committee says that the Rio 2016 Paralympics was a complete success with over 120 world records had been registered so far in the Games. It was a great opportunity to learn about something new, and the athletes' performances frequently surprised the spectators.

- The Senate will hold a hearing next week regarding the aggressive sales tactics by Wells Fargo employees that led to a $185-million settlement package with federal and state regulators. Last week, Wells Fargo was fined with a hundred million dollars to the CFRB and fired 5,300 workers for improper sales practices five years ago. 

- General Motors announced that their upcoming Chevrolet Bolt EV will have 238 miles of range, more than what Tesla's Model 3 can do.

- Caterham honors the 60th anniversary of the Lotus Seven with this retro-inspired Seven Sprint special model, which will be limited to 60 units.

2016 Caterham Seven Sprint

TTFN!!!