- Atty. Harry Roque has been cited for contempt by the House Quad Committee for not responding to the subpoena and not submitting relevant documents to the committee.
- The budget of the OVP was slashed.
- A third Solaire Resort and Casino is set to be opened at Ternate, Cavite.
- PH President Bongbong Marcos will not attend the UN General Assembly, as confirmed by PCO Secretary Cesar Chavez. Instead, DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo will attend on behalf of the president.
- Public inquiry announced into Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane's murder in 1989 which involved state collusion.
- UK PM Keir Starmer warns that the NHS must "reform or die" after a government-commissioned report criticizes the state of health service.
- The McMurty Speirling broke the Laguna Seca EV lap record in 1m18.4s.
- DS Automobiles showcased the Tribute Concept which pays homage to the legendary Citroen SM.
DS Automobiles Tribute Concept
- Lucid teases its midsize EV crossover coming in 2026.
- The FIA has announced that all 10 F1 teams were compliant with the cost cap regulations through the 2023 season, despite two procedural breaches.
- Idol group momograci has announced that they will end activities of the current member line-up on November 4th, 2024. The group made their stage debut in April 2021.
- LE SSERAFIM member Hong Eunchae confirmed to leave KBS music show Music Bank. ILLIT's Minju will take over her position as presenter.
- SEVENTEEN member Jeonghan is set for military enlistment this September 26th.
- A TV cameraman said Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano MartÃnez "slapped me" after Colombia's 2-1 home win in a World Cup qualifying match.
- A'ja Wilson broke the WNBA single-season scoring record with her 940th and 941st points on a jumper just before halftime of the Las Vegas Aces' 86-75 win over the Indiana Fever.
- A dismissed TV5 program manager was subpoenaed by the NBI to answer sexual harassment allegations.
- The PH Senate has set the hearing on the case of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. "We have many questions for Apollo Quiboloy", Senator Risa Hontiveros said.
- 337 volcanic earthquakes have been recorded at the Kanlaon Volcano all night. It can be recalled that the Canlaon City LGU implemented a mandatory evacuation yesterday for residents within the 4km permanent danger zone.
- The Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP) has notified passengers of possible adjustments in travel costs when NAIA's rehabilitation begins on Sept. 14.
- US Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump faced each other in the recent presidential debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The debate lasted for 90 minutes and both sides lashed at each other on key issues such as the war on Gaza, voting rights, freedom of choice, and others.
- Former DUP Leader Sir Jeffery Donaldson pleads not guilty to sex offense charges, including rape and indecent assault between 1985 and 2008.
- What to expect in The Crew MOTORFEST's 2nd year.
- Adrian Newey has joined the Aston Martin F1 team as Managing Technical Partner.
- The new Bentley Flying Spur was unveiled. Powered by the same V8 Twin Turbo PHEV as the Continental GT, it produces 782PS, making it capable of a 0-60mph time of 3.3 seconds.
2025 Bentley Flying Spur
- Hennessey unveiled the Venom F5-M Roadster, the most powerful manual transmission-mated road car. The 1817HP Fury V8 engine is now mated to a 6-speed MT. All 12 units were already sold.
2025 Hennessey Venom F5-M Roadster
- Veteran seiyuu Emi Shinohara passed away at the age of 61. Shinohara is famed for the voice of Sailor Jupiter from the Sailor Moon franchise, Kushina Uzumaki from Naruto Shippuden, Presea from Magic Knight Rayearth, and others.
- Sony unveiled the PlayStation5 PRO, the flagship variant of the PlayStation5 console featuring PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, 2TB SSD, and big improvements from the standard PS5. Available this November 7th at the price of US$699.99, it will be offered as a digital-only console but compatible with available extras such as the add-on disc drive.
Sony PS5 PRO
- Dreamcatcher member Dami will not attend their Latin American tour due to her health.
- Former NFL running back Adrian Peterson has been ordered by a Houston judge to turn over numerous assets to pay a debt estimated at more than $12 million.
- WNBA players and their union spoke out against commissioner Cathy Engelbert's recent comments that failed to condemn racist and vitriolic behavior from fans surrounding the Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry.
- Singer Taylor Swift says she will support US Vice President Kamala Harris moments after the presidential debate. Swift praised Harris for being a "warrior".
A wrong Pennzoil Skyline GT-R JGTC machine and an outdated Aston Martin Vantage GTE popped up on Forza Motorsport's Update 11 as prize cars for completing the time-limited featured tours. Having won these cars, let's get to know about these two outdated racing machines.
First up is the #23 Pennzoil NISMO Skyline GT-R that I won from Update 11's Open Class Tour until the September 11, 2024 deadline.
The #23 Pennzoil NISMO Skyline GT-R was based on the R33 Skyline GT-R and competed in the 1998 All Japan GT Championship (JGTC). This was the last year of racing for the R33 before it was replaced by its R34-based successor.
The R33-based JGTC racer was driven by Erik Comas and Masami Kageyama, and featured an increased engine displacement from 2658cc to 2708cc, resulting in a regulated power output of 500PS. In the 1998 season, Comas took home the Driver's trophy.
Next up is the #97 AMR Vantage GTE that I won from the Road to Race Tour until the September 25, 2024 deadline.
Aston Martin unveiled its racing version of the new Vantage, the Vantage AMR, after launching the second-generation Vantage.
The Aston Martin Racing squad run by Prodrive sealed a 1-2 in the GTE Pro championship with four wins between the two factory cars entered in the 2019-20 season.
Aston Martin continued to support its privateer teams even though its factory effort was scaled back. In 2022, Aston Martin returned to the top spot in GTE racing.
In 2023, the final season for the Vantage AMR, no team managed to win a race with the turbocharged machine. However, ORT by TF secured second place at Le Mans and third in Spa, while the season closer in Bahrain saw a rostrum round-up, with D'Station finishing second and Northwest AMR third in Bahrain.
Let's give these two outdated racing machines, the #23 Pennzoil NISMO Skyline GT-R and the #97 AMR Vantage GTE, a chance to redeem themselves around Road Atlanta, which was recently added to this update. Roll the tapes and enjoy the show!
These two outdated racing machines, the #23 Pennzoil NISMO Skyline GT-R and the #97 AMR Vantage GTE, sure know how to perform in their natural habitat.
- Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte says only two people hold sway over the government budget: House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Rep. Elizaldy Co, chairperson of the powerful House appropriations committee. In a letter to the Speaker, Duterte says she has already submitted the OVP's budget plan and defers "entirely" to the House Appropriations Committee on the OVP's proposed 2025 budget.
- Residents within the 4km permanent danger zone of Mt. Kanlaon have been evacuated by the local government of Canlaon City. Classes are suspended in schools in the permanent danger zone of the Kanlaon volcano due to volcano-tectonic earthquakes.
- A Facebook post went viral where Yoda, an aspin, was not allowed into a 'pet-friendly restaurant' in Tagaytay because of his size and alleged breed. The restaurant Balay Dako released a statement about the viral Facebook post saying that they do not allow the dog Yoda to enter their restaurant due to its size and alleged breed.
- Princess of Wales Kate says in her video message that she has completed chemotherapy treatment and has a renewed "appreciation of life".
- Jailed movie producer Harvey Weinstein rushed to the hospital from prison for an emergency heart surgery.
- Apple unveiled the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16, built for Apple Intelligence. The new Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4 were also unveiled. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 and AirPods Max come in fresh new colors. The AirPods Pro 2 will be available this fall and will include hearing health features.
- Hoonigan filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to eliminate its $1.2 billion debt. Operations will continue as usual during the restructuring and all unsecured creditors will be paid. The company expects to emerge from Chapter 11 in two months.
- Dodge showcased its Hornet R/T FX1-X concept powered by a 1085bhp electric powertrain with a 0-60mph time of just 1.4 seconds and generates 2G of force.
Dodge Hornet R/T FX1-X Concept
- Na Ha Eun has left SM Entertainment and signed with a new agency.
- Jang Gyuri signs with Namoo Actors.
- A new civil lawsuit filed in Houston accuses Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault and battery in October 2020, when he was a member of the Houston Texans.
- WWE Raw reverts back to two hours this October. The change is part of its short-term extension with USA Network before the show is set to make its big move to Netflix on January 6th, 2025.
- Veteran actor James Earl Jones passed away at the age of 93. Jones is legendary for the voice of Darth Vader from Star Wars and Mufasa from Disney's The Lion King, among others.
When the Toyota GR86 and the second-generation Subaru BRZ were launched in 2021, they were expected to be the stars of the show. However, the Japanese arrival of the Chevrolet Corvette C8 stole their thunder and went on to win Japan's Performance Car of the Year award. Why?
That's an interesting but silly question. Why did the C8 Corvette win the award that was supposed to be for the second-generation ToyoBaru twin coupes? Before that, let's have a quick re-introduction of these cars.
The Toyota GR86 and the second-generation Subaru BRZ were unveiled in 2021. They are built on an improved version of the signature platform, with upgraded suspension and chassis for better cornering and traction. The flat-4 engine has been increased from 2.0L to 2.4L, resulting in more horsepower and torque.
The eighth-generation Corvette is no longer the Corvette the world knows. For the first time in its history, it's been morphed into a mid-engined supercar, a move that displeased most Corvette purists. Being the first production mid-engined car from General Motors, the C8 Corvette is powered by an all-new 6.2L LT2 V8 engine with 495HP of power and 470lb-ft of torque. Mated to a Corvette-first 8-speed Double Clutch Gearbox, it does 0-100kph in 2.9 seconds and flat-out in 312kph. It features a brand-new Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 which reads the road every millisecond and adapts in about 10 to 15 milliseconds, as well as double wishbone suspension with height adjustable capability.
The Chevrolet C8 Corvette defeated the second-generation Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 to become the 2021-2022 Japan Performance Car of the Year, the first for an American-made car to win the title.
With Horizon Mexico's smallest circuit track set in the town of Guanajuato becoming my laboratory, the second-generation ToyoBaru coupe twins joined forces to battle against the C8 Corvette. The question is, will they beat the mid-engined American monster machine? Let's roll the tape.
And here are the results...
BRZ ZD8 - 1m00.077s
GR86 - 59.526s
C8 Corvette - 55.005s
The C8 Corvette massively defeated the second-generation ToyoBaru twin coupes with such margins. It's no wonder the Japanese motoring press turned their faces away from them in favor of the Corvette.
Despite being defeated by the Chevrolet C8 Corvette in the title of 2021 Japan's Performance Car of the Year Award, both the GR86 and the BRZ are still one of the best sports cars of the early 2020s because of their affordability, accessible dynamics, and limitless tuning possibilities to turn these reasonably fast cars around. Speaking of which, it's time to reward the ToyoBaru twins for the hard work they've done today. In the spirit of Let's ¡Go!, how about a little Making Drama to spice things up? But first...
The GR86, for the first time in Horizon Mexico, is donning the role of Himitsu no AiPri's main character, Himari Aozora. Suits her personality. As for the BRZ...
My BRZ is donning the role of Himitsu no AiPri's other main character, Mitsuki Hosihkawa. When you look at them, they remind you of the two heroines from "Himitsu no AiPri" who are known for their idol activities across the metaverse. Today is "AiPriVerse Day!"
With the ToyoBaru twins versed in, the GR86 will battle against the competition in a neon-packed EventLab creation called "Neon City Race". At the same time, the BRZ takes on what's known to be an EventLab re-enactment of Malaysia's Genting Highlands, where the mountain roads evoke the drivers' Initial D fantasies. As MC AIMU would say, "AiPriVerse Day!"
Who performed better? Himari or Mitsuki?
The GR86 and BRZ are the fruits of the wonderful collaboration between Toyota and Subaru. These two cars are fit to take on the bold challenges of the Reiwa era. These cars may not live forever in the age of electrification, but the 86 and the BRZ have created an impressive legacy that will be remembered forever for many generations.
- Philippine President Bongbong Marcos attributes the arrest of religious leader Apollo Quiboloy to the efforts of the police. Last night, Quiboloy surrendered to the AFP and is currently in the custody of the PNP.
- Alice Guo says that she escaped the Philippines through the sea with a yacht. Guo says she does not know who owns the yacht.
- A low-pressure area spotted 1000km east-northeast parts of extreme Northern Luzon has a possibility of becoming a typhoon. According to PAGASA, should it become a typhoon, it will be named Ferdie.
- The DPWH warns that Baguio's Kennon Road is not passable to all vehicles due to erosion.
- Three people were killed in the shooting at the border crossing between Jordan and the occupied West Bank, according to Israeli officials.
- Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez has fled to Spain and the country is granting Gonzalez political asylum.
- Malaysia unveiled its new number plates made for EVs. The EV number plates are Euro-styled embossed designs with the Malaysian flag at the left.
- Appliance maker Sharp showcased its LDK+ electric minivan concept developed in collaboration with Foxconn.
- BLEACH Thousand-Year Blood War TV anime's third part airs this October 5th.
- The rights of the Dragon Ball intellectual property remained unresolved following the passing of Akira Toriyama, according to reports.
- MAMAMOO member Hwasa announced her September 19th comeback date.
- Jannik Sinner tops Taylor Fritz to win the US Open, his 2nd major.
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are underway, with the first round kicking off at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Quaker State 400. The Final 16 drivers will clash to advance to the Final 12.
Screengrab from NASCAR
As the green flag waved, the first playoff match of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series has officially begun. The first stage saw a fiery incident on Lap 57 when Kyle Larson got loose and hit the outside wall, collecting Chase Briscoe into the mess.
As Ryan Blaney wins Stage 1 under caution, Stage 2 gets even messy with the caution-triggering debris on Lap 115 followed by Justin Haley getting penalized for blocking and forcing Tyler Reddick below the double white line.
As Austin Cindric wins Stage 2, the final stage saw John Hunter Nemechek spinning on Lap 176, a multi-car incident on Lap 206 that got Chris Buescher, Ryan Blaney, and Martin Truex Jr. involved, a sign falls off the fence onto the track on Lap 251, and a collision mess between Noah Gragson and playoff contender Harrison Burton on Lap 260 that triggered the overtime.
After a chaotic first fight for the playoffs, Joey Logano earned his spot in the Final 12 as he won the Quaker State 400 of the NASCAR Cup Series!
The fight for the Final 12 continues with the Go Bowling at The Glen this September 15th, 2024.
