Let's Do The News! (January 31, 2025)

                             

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

- The Philippine government's stance on the West Philippine Sea remains unchanged, despite a 'provisional understanding' with China concerning the RORE mission in Ayungin, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

- An active PNP official was one of the casualties from the midair collision between an American Airlines flight and a US Army helicopter in Washington, D.C.

- US President Donald Trump says the cause of the DC air collision is pending investigation but lashed out attacks on the FAA's diversity policies. Meanwhile, according to a preliminary FAA report, staffing at the air traffic control tower at the Ronald Reagan National Airport was "not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic".

- During the company's fourth-quarter earnings call, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg addressed the impact of DeepSeek. He acknowledged that Meta is still evaluating DeepSeek's innovative approaches.

- The Bishop of Liverpool retires after sexual assault allegations.

- In Japan, 1.2 million people were urged to conserve water to save a 74-year-old man trapped in a sinkhole four days ago.

- Dubai unveiled the "Creators HQ" initiative, a groundbreaking program designed to attract 10,000 influencers and content creators to the city. The Emirati metropolis is granting 10,000 Golden Visas for content creators.

- Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed that Apple chose TSMC over Intel for iPhone chip manufacturing because "Intel just does not know how to be a foundry".

- Ford announced that it will join FIA WEC's Hypercar class by 2027.

- Renault showcased its Filante Record Concept ahead of its Retromobile exhibit debut.

- Morgan previews its upcoming six-cylinder-powered sports car.

- Outgoing FIA race steward Johnny Herbert is named Global Brand Ambassador of Lola Cars.

- Triple Eight will race Ford Mustangs from the 2026 Supercars season.

- For the first time in the Forza franchise's 20-year history, Forza Horizon 5 is coming to PlayStation5 this Spring with cross-platform multiplayer and Horizon Realms.

- The new Devil May Cry Netflix anime is coming this April 3rd.

- The Netflix TV series Squid Game's final season arrives this June 27th.

- Olympic figure skating legend Dick Button passed away at the age of 95.

- Singer Marianne Faithfull passed away at the age of 78.

- Actor Dave Coulier undergoes chemotreatment following his cancer diagnosis.

TTFN.

My FM Log: Barbaric Motorsport Work

Two BMW race cars were included in Forza Motorsport's first series update of 2025, which is unfortunately the franchise's final year. I mention this because the Forza producers have opted not to feature a single car from the 2025 model year or beyond. It's a harsh reality, but it's entirely their fault. While the world moves forward, the Forza team has essentially moved backward, and this trend has contributed to their downfall. They had their choice and they went for the other one.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, the two BMW racers that were the prize cars of Forza Motorsport's BMW Tour series update.

Let's start with the 1976 BMW 3.0 CSL, which I won by completing the Open Class Tour in this update before the deadline on February 12, 2025. We already have one 3.0 CSL race car in the game, but this new one is designed for the European Touring Car Championship, while the existing one is built for IMSA GT purposes. Anyway, some facts.

Based on the E9 3.0 CS Coupe, the BMW 3.0 CSL is one of the company's most iconic race cars when it was introduced in 1972 and nicknamed by car enthusiasts as the "Batmobile" due to its unique aerodynamic enhancements.

Under the hood lies the namesake 3.0L straight-six engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. In its racing specification, it produces around 470hp, depending on the version.

In its Group 2 configuration, it competed in the European Touring Car Championship with its drivers winning Drivers titles six times in 1973 and 1975 to 1979. In 1976, the CSL competed in its Group 5 Special Production specification, winning three rounds of the World Championship for Makes.

Next up, the 2023 BMW #96 Turner Motorsports M4 GT3 that I won from clearing the BMW Tour until February 26, 2025. At last, the latest BMW M4 GT3 arrived in the game and players can recreate its liveries as seen on Super GT, DTM, WEC, IMSA, and others where this race car is involved.

Turner Motorsports is one of the well-known teams that competed in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's GTD class. For 2023, their weapon of choice is a BMW M4 GT3 race car, based on the G82 M4.

The G82 M4 GT3 race car is made to compete in GT3-class races worldwide. Powering this race car is a 3.0L turbocharged straight-six engine producing up to 590HP of power, depending on the BoP adjustments in specific races. It is mated with a 6-speed sequential gearbox and a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis.

Driven by a mix of professional drivers, including Bill Auberlen, who is one of BMW's ace drivers, Turner Motorsports' 2023 campaign sought some podium finishes in its class. However, in the 2024 season, the #96 Turner Motorsports BMW M4 GT3's moment of fame came to fruition by winning the GTD class in Road America.

To highlight the strengths of these Bavarian racers in their racing overalls, I traveled to Daytona to test two BMW race cars. The track is still feeling the effects of last weekend's 24-hour endurance race and seems to be getting ready for this year's NASCAR season if you know what I mean.

Anyway, let's roll the tapes.

Barbaric, the BMW way. That's all I can say.

Enjoy your new rides!

Let's Do The News! (January 30, 2025)

                            

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

- Social media personality Rosmar Tan Pamulaklakin confirmed the withdrawal from candidacy for Manila councilor at the May 2025 elections.

- The Philippines is ranked 3rd for fastest-rising economies in Asia, according to NEDA.

- Senators found no direct link or relationship with POGOs in Li Duan Wang after the Senate approved granting him Filipino citizenship. According to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, he personally saw the documents submitted by Wang to the Senate and all of them are compliant with the requirements for naturalization.

- The Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) will study the possibility of investing in nuclear energy to lower electricity prices.

- At least 30 were dead in the stampede at Kumbh Mela.

- An American Airlines flight collided with a helicopter near Washington DC airport and crashed into the river. The plane that crashed into the DC river was carrying 60 passengers and four crew.

- The Chinese AI startup DeepSeek recently suffered a cyberattack, which led to significant technical problems after its rapid rise in the US App Store. As a result, the company had to restrict new sign-ups. Fortunately, DeepSeek has resolved these issues and is currently working to restore full service.

- Microsoft is investigating if a "DeepSeek-linked group" has unlawfully obtained OpenAI's data.

- Netflix users in the UK face being forced to pay the TV license fee even if they don't watch BBC, under plans being explored by officials.

- The BMW M3 CS Touring was unveiled. The first CS wagon is powered by the same 542bhp 3.0L straight-six turbo engine as its sedan and M4 equivalent while mated to an 8-speed DCT.

2025 BMW M3 CS Touring

- Maserati showcased its fully-restored 3500 GT.

- Sony Interactive Entertainment named Hideaki Nishino as President and CEO.

- Meet the winners of the 2024 SBS Entertainment Awards.

- NBA Commissioner Adam Silver floats the idea of a 10-minute quarter.

- The NFL plans for "more visible" security at the Super Bowl.

- Nebraska women's volleyball coach John Cook, who won four NCAA titles in 25 seasons with the Cornhuskers, announced his retirement.

- Sammy Acaylar, the head coach of the Perpetual Atlas Men's Volleyball team, passed away at the age of 66.

- Darryl Yap reacts to the MTRCB's statement over the review of The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma biopic movie.

TTFN.

White Delight

The Nijigasaki High School Idol Club has launched their Monthly Songs project, similar to Aqours' monthly birthday song singles. Each month, one of your favorite members will have the opportunity to shine. Kicking off this exciting project for January is Mia Taylor, voiced by Shu Uchida.

White Delight

Mia Taylor is the first member of Nijigasaki to be featured in the project. Her song for January is "White Delight." The inaugural release in the NIJIGAKU Monthly Songs lineup includes this featured track and an additional song titled "Joy is All Around."

Next month...Emma Verde.

TRACK LISTINGS:

01. White Delight

02. Joy is All Around

03. White Delight (Off Vocal)

04. Joy is All Around (Off Vocal)

Liella no Uta 3

 Drawing inspiration from a certain NHK show, Liella no Uta is a special post-show music program aired after the Love Live! Superstar!! TV series. This is where the Liella girls get their five minutes of fame over the course of 12 episodes.

Liella no Uta 3

The final set of songs as heard from the Liella no Uta post-show segment has arrived featuring all songs performed by your favorite Liella members. All of the songs are composed by Yasuhiro Obata, arranged by Yuya Mori, and lyrics by Junko Miyajima.

Margarete and Tomari perform the song "dolce" and ""11th moon" while Kinako, Mei, Shiki, and Natsumi perform "Summer Escape!!", Kanon, Keke, Chisato, Sumire, and Ren perform " ひとひらだけ", and the rest of the Liella members perform "結ぶメロディ".

Enjoy all of the songs heard from the special post-show music program and thank you for watching the final season of Love Live! Superstar!!  

Let's Do The News! (January 29, 2025)

                           

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

- Senator Raffy Tulfo defends his son Ralph who was caught using the EDSA busway.

- During the Chinese New Year celebration, a fire broke out at the Ongping corner at Alonzo Street, Binondo, Manila.

- Several senators have positively welcomed the partnership deal between Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) and Synergy Grid Corporation and Development Philippines Inc. (SGP) to acquire 20 percent of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

- The Malacañang confirmed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has certified the urgency of postponing the first-ever parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to May 2025.

- Cardiff University confirms plans to slash 400 full-time jobs amid funding shortfall.

- The Trump administration plans to slap 100% tariffs on Taiwan-made chips, raising prices for US buyers of NVIDIA GPUs, Apple iPhones, AMD processors, and more.

- The BMW iX received a minor change for the 2026 model year.

2026 BMW iX

- Genesis is ending sales of its petrol and diesel models in the UK.

- The facelifted Porsche Taycan GTS broke the Guinness World Record for drifting on ice.

- Meet the winners of the 2024 MBC Entertainment Awards.

- The MTRCB clarified that it didn't review the controversial Pepsi Paloma biopic movie.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (January 28, 2025)

                          

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

- China's use of a long-range acoustic device (LRAD) against Philippine ships in Bajo de Masinloc is a clear indication of the Chinese Communist Party's increased aggression in the West Philippine Sea, according to the Philippine Navy.

- The Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) admitted that a major challenge in effectively implementing Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) is that it does not cover out-of-school youth.

- The Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) is open to funding nuclear power projects in the Philippines.

- Food security emergency could be declared within two days, according to a PH Department of Agriculture (DA) official.

- The NEDA says the Philippines should be unfazed by the Trump administration's decision to halt foreign aid or loan assistance to the Philippines because aid from the US is only a small part of the total economy.

- Auschwitz survivors send messages to world leaders on the 80th anniversary of the camp's liberation.

- Thousands of Palestinians returned to north Gaza after the deal was reached to free Israeli hostages.

- Arctic Trucks unveiled the AT37 based on the Toyota Land Cruiser 250.

- Jimmie Johnson becomes the majority owner of the Legacy Motor Club.

- The Formula E series is hosting a rookie free practice session during the Jeddah ePrix weekend.

- Fuji TV named Kenji Shimizu as its new boss amid scandal.

- Pinoy Big Brother's Celebrity Edition Collab will simultaneously air on GMA-7 for the first time soon. The upcoming season will see celebrities from ABS-CBN's Star Magic and GMA-7's Sparkle staying inside the Big Brother house.

TTFN.