Let's Do The News! (February 3, 2024)

                                                                     

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- US strikes Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria. According to the Pentagon, it struck scores of targets in response to a drone attack that killed three American soldiers.

- Western officials are protesting over the Israel-Gaza policy. Over one million displaced Palestinians fear a new Israeli onslaught after the Israeli defense minister pledged to attack Rafah, an area once described as a "safe zone". UN human rights chief Volker Turk said that Israel's planned attack on Rafah "sets off alarm bells".

- Israeli authorities said that a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted over the Red Sea, as the Houthis continue to carry out attacks in support of Gaza.

- The murderers of Brianna Ghey who are teenagers Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe are sentenced to minimum terms of 22 years and 20 years for "brutal planned murder".

- Prime Video series The Grand Tour gets Sand Job special set to air this February 16th.

- According to reports, Volvo will stop funding Polestar and hand control to its parent company Geely.

- Lancia unveiled the Ypsilon Limited Edizione Limitata Cassina, the launch edition of the fourth-generation Ypsilon hatchback. Only 1906 units will be made and all are powered by an electric powertrain.

2025 Lancia Ypsilon

- Amna and Hamda Al Qubaisi, and Emely De Heus are returning to the F1 Academy 2024 season for MP Motorsport. Hamda will be backed by Red Bull Racing, Amna for Visa Cash App RB (formerly Alpha Tauri), and Emely De Heus for Red Bull.

- In Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner's Cup finals, the San Miguel Beermen drew first blood by beating the Magnolia Hotshots at the score of 103-95.

- Actor Jim Carrey to reprise his Dr. Robotnik role for the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie.

- TV presenter Jonnie Irwin passed away at the age of 50.

- Carl Weathers, the former NFL player turned actor famous for playing the role of Apollo Creed from the Rocky movie series, passed away at the age of 76.

- GMA's variety show TiktoClock will bring back the Tanghalan ng Kampeon singing competition as its newest segment this February 12th.

TTFN.

Argylle (2024 movie)

They say spy movies are always a good choice and in the mind of Matthew Vaughn, this newest spy thriller has it all; thrills, suspense, drama, and dark comic.

Argylle (2024 movie)

Matthew Vaughn's newest masterpiece, Argylle, is about Elly Conway, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, a spy novel author living her quiet life with her cat Alfie. What she didn't know was that her novels started to echo the operations of a real-world spy ring.

Joining alongside Howard is a powerhouse cast of celebrities such as The Witcher's Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston, Kefas Brand, singer Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, WWE legend John Cena, Samuel L. Jackson, and Sofia Boutella.

With a sleek blend of action, drama, suspense, and dark comedy, Argylle is a spy movie that can't be hidden in plain sight. It's all about everything unraveling as the opportunity arises and when the tension builds, this movie is far out the juiciest until the very end.

Once you enjoyed watching this spy flick, there's no hiding the truth that this is one of the most interesting movies to watch in the first quarter of 2024. No secret's safe with this one.

My FH5 Log: Republican Space Rangers

Wherever I see variants of the C8 Corvette grouped together, they remind me of the Republican Space Rangers from the GTA series because, even though they're space age by design, they still pack the beating heart of a trigger-happy Republican. I mean, hey. How about those Republicans?

With three variants of the 8th-generation Corvette gathered in Forza Horizon 5, it's time to get to know these variants before making the Phoenix Rumble.

First up is the starter; the C8 Corvette Stingray. Now as a mid-engined supercar, the all-new Corvette is capable of taking on the world's best sportscars with its radical styling, futuristic interior, and its newly-built 6.2L LT2 V8 engine mounted in the middle, which produces up to 495HP of power and 470lb-ft of torque, while mated to a double-clutch gearbox for the first time.

Next up is the C8 Corvette Z06, the Redneck equivalent of the Porsche 911 GT3. By using most of its know-how from the C8.R racing machine, the Corvette C8 Z06 is a track weapon capable of slithering through the road and track with its race-inspired dynamics, available Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, and the Z07 Performance Package.

Powering the C8 Z06 is a smaller but more powerful 5.5L V8 naturally aspirated engine that produces 670HP of power and while mated to a standard 8-speed AT, it does 0-60mph in 2.6 seconds.

Lastly and obviously the most controversial Corvette of all is the C8 Corvette E-Ray, the first hybrid AWD Corvette in history. The E-Ray features a 6.2L LT2 V8 engine that is mated to an electric drive unit powering both front and rear wheels, making it a four-wheel-drive supercar, a Corvette first. It produces a total power output of 655HP and while mated with an 8-speed transmission, it has a 0-60mph time of 2.5 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 10.5 seconds. The ZER Performance Package comes with high-performance Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S ZP summer-only tires as well as chassis tuning and other performance enhancements.

With three C8 variants introduced, it's time to hit the trio around the Horizon Mexico festival site to see which one is the best. Let's roll the tape.

And now the results...

C8 Corvette - 1m14.041s

C8 Corvette Z06 - 1m10.120s

C8 Corvette E-Ray - 1m11.405s

It looks like The Commander beats Butch and Dick after all. The Z06 is proven to be the most potent of the three even though this isn't its final form. 

Be it the starter Stingray, the track-focused Z06, or the hybrid E-Ray, the eighth-generation Chevrolet Corvette is truly a radical evolution of America's sports car. Even with its space-age design, it still packs the beating heart of a trigger-happy Republican who loves to use unreasonable force against the world. Hey, how about those Republicans?

Speak of the devil, looks like the international community called. Looks like they want to challenge the C8 Corvette in due process. Could this mean a new age of motoring warfare? Stay tuned.

Jujutsu Kaisen Senka Souran

The megahit anime series, Jujutsu Kaisen, has arrived at your fingertips with a tag-team fighting game where you can play as your favorite characters.

Jujutsu Kaisen Senka Souran
(PS5)

Jujutsu Kaisen Senka Souran
(Nintendo Switch)

Jujutsu Kaisen Senka Souran (Cursed Clash) is a fighting game based on the hit TV series where players get into tag-team brawls with their favorite characters.

Senka Souran features your favorite Jujutsu Kaisen characters such as Satoru Gojo, Yuji Itadori, Nobara Kugisaki, Megumi Fujishiro, Panda, Kento Nanami, and others. Each character has their own unique fighting styles and how you master them is entirely up to you. Best of all, they can be personalized to suit your tastes.

This game allows players to battle online either VS or co-op. The co-op part is where you and the others will team up against powerful enemies, especially in rush battles and survival battles.

As you enjoy kicking butts, Senka Souran features a Picture Drama mode where you will relive moments from the TV series first season as well as the movie Jujutsu Kaisen 0.

Fanatics of the megahit TV series got what they truly deserved, a cursed video game that is cursed enough to get you hooked for more because...this is Jujutsu Kaisen. Everybody loves this show and they're looking forward to playing as their favorites in this game. Are you cursed enough?

Let's Do The News! (February 2, 2024)

                                                                    

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- Aside from pursuing a formal agreement for joint military exercises and patrols, France is discussing the possible sale to the Philippines of submarines, fighter planes, and other defense hardware.

- A secret US spy program is targeting top Venezuelan executives, flouting international law. In its 15-page 2018 memo, it details a covert operation by the US Drug Enforcement Administration that sent undercover operatives into Venezuela to record and build drug-trafficking cases against the country’s leadership including Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

- The United States has approved the plan for strikes on Iran-related targets in retaliation for the killing of three US troops by Iran-made drone attacks from Jordan. According to reports, the strikes in Syria and Iraq will take place over the coming days.

- The Biden administration has sanctioned four Israeli settlers accused of attacking Palestinians in the West Bank, saying violence is at "intolerable levels".

- According to the US Central Command, two ballistic missiles launched from Houthi-controlled areas are likely towards the M/V KOI ship in the Red Sea.

- The World Health Organization predicts that global cancer rates will rise by more than 75% by 2050.

- London alkali attack suspect Abdul Ezedi was convicted of a sex offense in 2018 and later granted asylum, according to reports.

- The NEOM McLaren XE Team named Mattias Ekstrom and Cristina Gutierrez as drivers for Extreme E Season 4.

- Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is officially moving to Ferrari in the 2025 season as Carlos Sainz announced his departure.

- Andretti Autosports responds following F1's rejection of its bid to join for the 2025/2026 season. F1 world champion Mario Andretti says he's devastated by the decision.

- Mazda restarted its rotary engine development division.

- The sixth-generation Ford Explorer received a minor change for the 2025 model year.

2025 Ford Explorer ST

- Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve says he will only direct three Dune movies despite there being six books.

- The Messenger start-up digital news site was sued by ex-workers over mass layoffs without notice. Hundreds of workers at the national digital news site were laid off without severance.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (February 1, 2024)

                                                                   

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- Senator Imee Marcos told her brother, PH President Bongbong Marcos, to hold his ground and end the uproar surrounding the people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution.

- RPTV, the newest channel operated by MediaQuest, was launched after yesterday's CNN Philippines shutdown. The new channel airs TV5's Eat Bulaga, Gud Morning Kapatid, live telecasts of PBA and PVL, and others.

- Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced tough questions at a US Senate hearing on his efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation as Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican, told Zuckerberg that he has "blood on his hands".

- The International Court of Justice found Russia had violated some parts of a UN anti-terror treaty by not investigating financial support for separatist groups in eastern Ukraine ten years ago.

- The federal judge voided California's gun control laws that require background checks to buy ammunition.

- A US judge dismisses Disney's lawsuit accusing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis of retaliation.

- The United Kingdom has unveiled its DUP deal to restore the Northern Ireland government.

- The UN says eighteen million people in Sudan are facing an acute hunger crisis, with almost eight million displaced since the war between rival military factions began.

- Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were each sentenced to 14 years in jail in a graft case, coming just a day after he was given 10 years in prison in a separate case for leaking state secrets.

- Lewis Hamilton is set for a shock switch to Ferrari in the F1 2025 season as the replacement for Carlos Sainz, according to reports.

- PlayStation's State of Play live stream revealed a new Sonic X Shadow Generations game, free-to-play Silent Hill: The Short Message game, Death Stranding 2 coming 2025, and more.

- Game developer CraftEgg will be officially dissolved as parent company CyberAgent will absorb the said game developer this April 1st.

- The Seattle Seahawks named Mike Macdonald as its new head coach.

- Actor Monsour del Rosario will star in his first action movie after six years. He will star alongside Pauline Lopez and Brandon Vera in the movie Battle Ready.

TTFN.

Škoda Superb Mk4

The flagship of the Skoda family, the Superb, is now on its fourth generation, and it promises to be the most Superb ever made.

2024 Skoda Superb Combi

2024 Skoda Superb

With prices starting at 1,035,000Kč plus additional costs, the fourth-generation Skoda Superb is offered in saloon and Combi body styles, proving that this range is not down without a proper fight with its ever-diminishing race of executive saloons.

2024 Skoda Superb Combi interior

Beginning with the design, the all-new Superb dons the current signature Skoda face first debuted in the Scala while being the first production Skoda to don the updated SKODA lettering. The first of the new chapter for this Czech carmaker in this age of new normal, as they said. While the taillights look like it was stolen from Maserati's dustbin, the conservative styling remains in the new model, be it saloon or Combi. Although the new model is longer than the old one, it's got less width, height, and wheelbase compared to it, probably for parking issues.

The interior has been revamped for the new model and because Skoda is part of the Volkswagen round table, you can expect the hopeless haptic touch panels at the steering wheel as well as the 13-inch touchscreen that controls infotainment, navigation, and smartphone connectivity, climate control, the CANTON audio system with thirteen speakers, heated and ventilated seats with massage function, easy entry function, and ambient lighting, among others. Spacing aside, the new model is still as comfortable as the previous Mk3 model despite the lesser wheelbase, and with the Combi variant, you can store up to 690 liters of boot space with the rear seats present. 1920 with the rear seats folded down. That's 30 liters less than the previous Superb Combi. What a whammy.

2024 Skoda Superb

At launch, the Superb is powered by a 2.0L TDi diesel engine which produces 150ps of power and 360Nm of torque. Mated to a 7-speed AT, it does 0-100kph in 9.3 seconds and flat-out at 222kph. Fuel economy is around 5.0L/100km and CO2 emissions at 130g/km. It will be joined by petrol-powered versions later on with the most powerful version using the 2.0 TSi engine with 265ps of power output.

Despite its questionable dimensions, the all-new Superb still drives like a luxury car, which is a fitting point for Skoda's flagship. Coupled with the new DCC Plus adaptive suspension with two independently controlled valves, faster damping adjustment, and a wide range of damping characteristics, it feels so alive on the road. Add 4x4 to the mix and it keeps on going even when wet, making it a cut-price Audi A4 if you catch my drift.

The Skoda Superb Mk4 features the latest assistance systems with new ones such as turn assist and anti-collision assist. Other systems carried over from the previous model such as assisted driving, lane change assistant, and Front Assist were updated.

Although it's now shorter compared to its predecessor, the fourth-generation Skoda Superb is proof that it's still standing in the face of the ever-diminishing race of executive saloons. Thank your Skoda overloads that they still made a saloon like this as well as the Octavia.

Photo: Skoda Auto