Let's Do The News! (February 15, 2024)

       

                                                                        

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

- The Commission of Elections has approved the “Withdrawal Form” for people who wish to take back their signatures from the People’s Initiative petition for Charter change.

- The official Philippine Coast Guard X account was retaken control after a hack.

- China condemned Taiwanese authorities after two Chinese nationals died in a boat accident while pursued by Taiwan’s coast guard. The Chinese boat was carrying four people when it capsized near the Kinmen Islands, throwing all onboard into the water, Chinese and Taiwanese authorities said.

- One person was killed and multiple children were among 21 injured after a mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory rally triggered panic among huge crowds of fans.

- Ukraine's campaign against Russia is 'extremely difficult'. The comments from Ukraine's new commander-in-chief come as a senior US official says some units have run out of ammunition.

- Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto claims victory in the Indonesian presidential election. Unofficial results show Prabowo Subianto, 72, winning nearly 60% of the vote – enough to avoid a presidential runoff – with around 85% of votes counted, according to reports. Prabowo told supporters that he and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka would govern "for all the people of Indonesia."

- The BMW i5 received a new xDrive40 variant with a dual motor setup producing 394hp of power and 590Nm of torque. The driving range is 538km on one full charge.

2024 BMW i5 xDrive40

- The fourth-generation Skoda Octavia range received a minor change for the 2025 model year with the RS model now 20bhp more powerful, producing a total power output of 261bhp.

2025 Skoda Octavia Combi RS

- The Rezvani Beast supercar was returned and it's now based on the Chevrolet C8 Corvette with a turbocharged 6.2L V8 engine producing 1000hp of power and 878lb-ft of torque while mated to an 8-speed AT, sprinting 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds. It even comes with an optional package that comes with electrified door handles, thermal night vision, gas masks, bulletproof glass, and armored body panels. Only 20 will be made with prices starting at $485,000.

Rezvani Beast

- Yoshitaka Murayama, the man behind the Suikoden RPG series, passed away. His death was announced by Rabbit & Bear Studios.

- The Nippombashi Street Festa returns after five years in Osaka this May 12.

- Variety program Jinny's Kitchen renewed for a second season, according to reports.

- The cast of Marvel's The Fantastic 4 was announced. The new version stars Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as the Invisible Woman, Ebon Moss-Bacharach as The Thing, and Joseph Quinn as the Human Torch. The movie hits theaters this July 25, 2025.

TTFN.

San Miguel wins 48th PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals

San Miguel and Magnolia locked themselves in a best-of-seven final battle in the 48th PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals.

The first two games saw San Miguel pull a dominant lead until Game 3 saw Magnolia catching up and locked in a stalemate after Game 4. As San Miguel's back in the lead after Game 5, all eyes are on the Beermen as Game 6 will decide whether the Beermen will win the title or trigger the final game should the Hotshots win.

At the close score of 104-102, the San Miguel Beermen barely defeated the Magnolia Hotshots and nab its fifth PBA Commissioner's Cup title.

Players CJ Perez, Jericho Cruz, and Chris Ross contributed to the team's winning moments with their successive three-pointers with Perez scoring 28 points off the hook. Bennie Boatwright scored 19 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists, June Mar Fajardo with 19 markers and 12 boards, and Jericho Cruz and Don Trollano combined for five triples and a total of 22 markers.

San Miguel wins
48th PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals
(Image: PBA)

Congratulations to the San Miguel Beermen for winning the 48th PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals!

How to dress as Liko or Roy

Today is Ash Wednesday but because of the latest Pokemon anime series, let's rename it Liko & Roy Wednesday because of the show's two main characters. 

To recall, the Pokemon Horizons anime series centers on two youngsters, Liko and Roy, as they set off on a globe-trotting adventure as members of the Rising Volt Tacklers, an intrepid group of brave adventurers led by Friede. Together, they unravel the secrets and save the day from the wrath of a shadowy group of evil-doers called the Explorers.

As anime convention season draws near, the call to cosplay has spiked and your interest in dressing as either Liko or Roy has been answered because today, I'll teach you how to dress as Liko or Roy from the Pokemon Horizons series.

Pokemon 2023 series

How to dress as Liko

• Start with semi-long black hair and a hairpin shaped like...you know what that symbol is. HINT: It's the same symbol in the first and original hat Ash wore in the old Pokemon anime.
• With the hair sorted, work on her outfit. She wore a bluish short-sleeved coat, a white T-shirt, and dark blue shorts with buttons. The yellow fanny pack is an optional accessory, although it's hard to find one shaped like Liko's.
• White running shoes and white socks are a must.
• OPTIONAL: A Poke Ball toy and a Sprigatito plush. Seriously, a Poke Ball is a necessity to prove that you're dressed as Liko.

How to dress as Roy

• Beginning to the top, Roy has a black cap with a red hairdo stuffed. To replicate it, you'll need a black cap, paint the cotton red, stick it, and that's your lot.
• For the outfit, Roy wears a black vest, a red T-shirt with short white sleeves, and brown shorts. Snag those clothes for your cosplay project but be warned, replicating the insignia from Roy's T-shirt can be nerve-wracking. Consult a T-shirt expert first.
• For the footwear, Roy wears sandals. Any sandal would work.
• OPTIONAL: A Poke Ball toy and a Fuecoco plush. As expected, a Poke Ball is a necessity to pass as Roy.

...and there you have it. How to dress as Liko or Roy from the Pokemon Horizons series. Dressing as one of the main characters makes you feel like you're part of the Rising Volt Tacklers, huh? Nidothing approves and so does every Pokemon fan everywhere.

Good luck!

Let's Do The News! (February 14, 2024)

      

                                                                        

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

- 44 were hurt after the second floor of the church collapsed in the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. The wounded individuals were devotees attending the Ash Wednesday mass at St. Peter Apostle Parish Church when the accident occurred, according to the City of San Jose del Monte Public Information Office

- The death toll from the Davao de Oro landslide hits 71.

- The PBBM administration abandoned its plan to merge DBP and Land Bank, a turnaround from a previous bid to create a supersized government financial institution.

- Republicans impeached US homeland security chief Alejandro Mayorkas over border crisis. Conservatives in the House of Representatives, which is narrowly controlled by Republicans, blame Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for a surge in illegal entries from Mexico that they have called a "humanitarian catastrophe."

- US President Joe Biden urged the Republican-led House to support the Ukraine aid package. The $95 billion bill has been approved by the Senate and includes aid to Taiwan, Israel and humanitarian relief for Palestinians.

- Indonesians began voting for a new president with Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto the frontrunner despite concerns over his human rights record and claims of improper support from outgoing leader Joko Widodo.

- Pakistan's two main political parties that joined forces to oust Imran Khan as prime minister in 2022 said they would form a new coalition to rule the country after an election last week failed to produce a decisive winner.

- Nine were trapped in the Turkish gold mine landslide. Hundreds of rescuers are still searching for the trapped miners.

- Daihatsu chairman Sunao Matsubayashi and president Soichiro Okudaira have stepped down and replaced by Masahiro Inoue and Masanori Kuwata, effective March 1st, amid the ongoing safety scandal that plagued the Toyota-owned compact car maker.

- Chrysler showcased its Halcyon Concept, previewing the brand's electrified future.

Chrysler Halcyon Concept

- BLACKPINK member Jennie sets a new record on the Billboard Hot 100 for the highest ranking of any female K-pop soloist. The song "One of the Girls", her collab with The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp had broken its own record for the highest-charting song by a female K-pop soloist on the Hot 100.

- The New York Knicks filed a protest with the NBA to dispute the 105-103 loss to the Houston Rockets on Monday night, according to reports. The Knicks decided to file, highlighting the NBA's Last Two Minute Report and game crew chief Ed Malloy's acknowledgments that the foul call on Knicks guard Jalen Brunson against Houston's Aaron Holiday inside the final second was incorrectly called.

TTFN.

My FH5 Log: Lynk-ed Horizon

A long time ago, Forza Horizon 5 introduced us to the world of Lynk & Co. with the 03+ saloon and its TCR equivalent, proving that the Chinese invasion of the world of Forza is far from over.

Now, two new additions to the roster are further proving my point. What are these Lynk & Co. models joining the FH5 Chinese fleet? Let's find out.

You're looking at the Lynk & Co. 05+ from the game's Chinese Stars Car Pack and the 02 Hatchback that was obtained by hitting 20 points at the Lunar New Year Storm Season Playlist. Before taking a crack at these two fresh additions from Beijing, let's get to know them.

Unveiled in late 2019, the Lynk & Co. 05 is basically the coupe-crossover version of the 01 that runs on the same CMA platform as its 01 equivalent. At launch, it was powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with a mild hybrid powertrain mated to an 8-speed AT, followed by two 1.5L 3-cylinder petrol engines with the other being PHEV.

The + variant is the high-performance version of the 05 which uses the same 2.0 4-cylinder engine from the normal model but it's been boosted to produce 265hp and 380Nm of torque while mated to an Aisin 8-speed AT with paddle shifters and 4WD, giving it a top speed of 230kph.

First launched in 2018, the Lynk & Co. 02 crossover is the brand's third offering after the 01 SUV and the 03 sedan. Like most of its equivalents, it runs on the same CMA platform and it was offered with a choice of three different 1.5T configurations and a 2.0L four-cylinder engine, mated to either a 6-speed manual, a 7-speed DCT, or an 8-speed AT, depending on the variant. Three years later, the lower and city-oriented Hatchback version was added and it comes with a more powerful 2.0L engine with 254hp of power while mated only with an 8-speed AT.

Having gotten to know about these two, it's time to take them around the festival to which one stands out. Will it be the front-wheel-drive hatchback version of the 02 crossover or the 4WD high-performance version of the 05 coupe crossover? Only one way to find out...

And now the results...

05+ - 1m29.423s

02 HB - 1m26.003s

What a no-brainer. The front-wheel-drive 02 hatchback trumped the 4WD 05+ by nearly three seconds. That's common sense to you.

The arrival of the two new Lynk & Co. models in the world of Forza, the 02 and the 05, is undeniably proof that the Chinese invasion is far from over and we are absolutely right all along. Blame the producers for kowtowing to Beijing for such cars like these. Whatever the reason, it's hard to find such fun activities with Chinese cars we don't know from the start.

As always, enjoy your new rides.

Let's Do The News! (February 13, 2024)

     

                                                                        

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

- The Bureau of Immigration joins the NBI's manhunt on an individual behind the bomb threats through e-mail against several government offices last February 12. The online threats reportedly came from a certain Takahiro Karasawa.  Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that in the BI list, there are four persons with the same names but all of them are not in the Philippines.

- EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged allies of Israel -- primarily the United States -- to stop sending it weapons as "too many people" are being killed in Gaza. This comes as US President Joe Biden appeals for the protection of Palestinians in the Rafa crossing, urging to Israel again not to carry out a big assault on the city in southern Gaza.

- A mass grave containing around 100 bodies believed to date from Afghanistan's Soviet-backed government era has been discovered in the country's eastern Khost province.

- France's foreign minister said Europe needs "second life insurance" in addition to NATO following Donald Trump's tirade against NATO over failed defense spending targets.

- A London theatre apologized after a stand-up comedian "yelled at" a Jewish audience member to leave when he refused to stand for a Palestinian flag. The incident occurred during comedian Paul Currie's performance at the Soho Theatre in London's West End on Saturday.

- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk discussed ramping up security cooperation in Europe with the leaders of Germany and France, as fears grow that Donald Trump's possible return to the White House might threaten Western solidarity against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

-Large gatherings are banned in Delhi ahead of a threatened farmers' march.

- David Malukas plans to have surgery on his fractured hand suffered while mountain biking out west last weekend.

- Ahead of the Extreme E Season 4 opener, a new team made its last-minute debut; LEGACY MOTOR CLUB IN ASSOCIATION WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON. The new team, led by NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson, consists of rallycross great Travis Pastrana and newcomer Gray Leadbetter.

- Abarth unveiled the 695 75 Anniversario limited edition. Made to commemorate Abarth's 75th anniversary, the special model features a gold scorpion livery at the roof, Abarth decals at the side, and 17-inch gold alloy wheels. Only 1,368 units will be made worldwide.

- Takara Tomy named Akio Tomiyama as its new president effective late June.

- Boxers Jamel Herring and Jackson Jon England will face each other at an April 3rd fight in Australia.

TTFN.

My FM Log: Italian Works of Art

Two Italian works of art, the Giulia Sprint GTA and the Murcielago SV, made their comeback in Forza Motorsport as prize cars in two separate limited-time tours in Update 4.0.

First up is the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA, a motorsport legend obtained after fighting through Update 4's Open Tour until February 14th.

Launched a year after the first Giulia sedan of 1962, the Giulia Sprint is the coupe version styled by Giugiaro, who was part of Bertone then. At launch, the Sprint GT is powered by a 1.6L DOHC 4-cylinder engine producing 104HP of power and 102.7ft-lb of torque.

Three years later, the lightweight GTA version was launched, featuring aluminum body panels, plexiglass rear and side windows, and a stripped-off interior which drops the weight to 745kg for the road version. The 1.6L engine was upgraded with two spark plugs per cylinder, new camshafts, and a pair of twin-barrel carburetors which bumped the power to 115hp, giving it a top speed of 185kph.

500 examples were made between 1965 and 1969 to comply with Group 2 homologation. In the 1966 racing season, the Giulia GTA scored over 200 wins with official team drivers and privateers behind the wheel.

Lastly is the Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV which was obtained by clearing the time-limited Italian Challengers tour until February 28, 2024.

The Murcielago LP670-4 SV served as the "last special edition" before production, as well as its legendary V12 engine traced back to the Miura, ended in 2010 after its near-decade-run tenure. The 6.5L V12 engine was improved to produce 670PS of power. 

It is limited to 350 cars worldwide and costs 450,000 US Dollars. However, only 186 models were built before the factory had to be reserved for Aventador production. In 2010, there was a China Limited Edition launched exclusively in China that comes with the same specs but with a middle stripe on it.

Let's give these Italian works of art around Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and see how legendary these icons are. Let's roll the tapes.

If Forza Motorsport is art, these Italian legends are masterpieces that deserve to be driven. This is the art of driving, the Forza way.

Enjoy your new rides!