- The Philippine National Police identified the personnel who was one of the casualties of the DC plane crash as PCol Pergentino Malabed. Malabed was among over 60 American Airlines passengers who died following the mid-air collision with the military helicopter at Reagan National Airport last week.
- About 287 hectares of land have been affected by the grass fire that occurred in the mountains of Carasi, Ilocos Norte.
- PHIVOLCS reported the following activities at Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island from 12:00 AM on February 2 to 12:00 AM on February 3, 2025.
- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau advised Canadians against traveling to the USA due to the Trump administration's plans to impose tariffs on Canadian goods.
- The US demands Panama to "reduce China's influence" over the canal. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Panama must act or face consequences.
- US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu are planning to discuss more on the Gaza ceasefire.
- Chase Elliott wins the NASCAR Cook Out Clash pre-season exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium.
- Polaris unveiled the new RZR Pro Factory race car.
- The Love Live! franchise teases its next project titled Love Live! Bluebird.
- Oshi no Ko TV anime returns for its third season this 2026.
- Actor Kim Sung Cheol apologizes for his recent action on social media.
- The NFC beats the AFC 76-63 in the recent NFL Pro Bowl game.
- Actress Barbie Hsu passed away at the age of 48 due to complications from influenza and pneumonia while traveling in Japan. She was well-known for her role as Shan Cai in the Taiwanese TV drama Meteor Garden.
The 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations has begun, and six of Europe's heavyweight rugby teams will clash once more for the title.
Screengrab from Six Nations
The season opener featured a match between France and Wales, where France made a strong statement on their home turf by leaving Wales scoreless, winning the game with a score of 43 points. Key contributions came from tries by Theo Attissogbe (17', 32'), Louis Bielle-Biarrey (22', 40'), Julien Marchand (54'), Emilien Gailleton (67'), and Gregory Alldritt (77'). A conversion by Thomas Ramos also played a crucial role in securing France's first victory of the season.
Meanwhile, Scotland beats Italy at the score of 31-19 while Ireland beats England 27-22.
With France, Scotland, and Ireland drawing their first blood of the season, the action continues for Round 2 this February 8-9 with Italy v Wales, England v France, and Scotland v Ireland.
The crossover SUV market is as ever-growing as superhero movies in theaters, and Toyota continues to buck the trend with the compact SUV C-HR. In Gran Turismo 7, I uncovered this mega-popular but short-lived compact crossover.
So, what's it all about the Toyota C-HR, the compact crossover that became an immediate hit on its home turf, only to get shortlived after nearly a decade?
Introduced in late 2016, the Toyota C-HR is designed to entice customers with its coupe-like styling, efficiency as an eco-car, and dynamics supposedly inspired by the Nurburgring—although many would argue this is theoretical. The styling, which takes its cues from the 2014 concept car, gives the C-HR a coupe-like look that some believe makes it a high-clearance sports car.
This subcompact SUV shares the TNGA platform of the Prius and is available with a 1.2L turbocharged petrol engine with all-wheel drive, or a 1.8L hybrid with front-wheel drive. Both choices are paired with a CVT. The model featured in Gran Turismo 7 is sadly the latter.
In 2017, the Toyota C-HR was one of the best-selling cars in Japan until the arrival of the Daihatsu Rocky-based Toyota Raize in late 2019 outsold it. As a result, the C-HR was discontinued in 2023.
A pre-production prototype raced in the 2016 Nurburgring 24-Hour Race and achieved 3rd place in the SP2T class. In 2019, GAZOO Racing Team Thailand raced two C-HRs in the SP3 class with one of them finishing 3rd in the said class while the other failed to start.
I went to the Nurburgring to see if the Toyota C-HR's dynamics, thanks to its TNGA platform and meager hybrid powertrain, can keep up with the world's most punishing racetrack, just like in the past. Let's roll the tape.
How's my driving with the C-HR Hybrid at the Nurburgring? Well, despite its weak performance, it feels too easy to drive even in the Nurburgring and I managed to post a 10m20.835s lap time. Not much but it's clear that the C-HR's TNGA platform and sporty dynamics are not too shabby for a coupe SUV of this size. Why would Toyota stop making one?
The Toyota C-HR is an unconventional crossover that serves as both a practical daily vehicle and an underappreciated performer at the Nurburgring. Although no longer with us, the C-HR proved that it can, as the commercials said, Crossover The World.
- Operatives from the NBI, PAOCC, and SEC raided the office of online lending apps in Makati that were complained about for their abusive billing practices to debtors. 117 Filipinos were arrested during the raid.
- Philippine President Bongbong Marcos expressed concern over the recent arrest of five Chinese nationals allegedly involved in espionage in the country.
-Astronomers have identified asteroid 2024 YR4, which has a slight 1% chance of colliding with Earth by December 2032. First discovered in December 2024, the asteroid is estimated to be between 130 and 330 feet wide. Scientists are actively monitoring its path and anticipate that the risk will decrease as more data becomes available.
- DeepSeek is under scrutiny in Europe after its chatbot app was removed from the App Store and Play Store in Italy. This removal occurred just one day after Italy's data protection authority expressed concerns regarding the company's methods of collecting and storing user data.
- Prince Andrew's aide informed the alleged Chinese spy that the BBC interview concerning his relationship with Epstein was "highly ill-advised," as revealed in court documents.
- Maya Weug and Aurelia Nobels are returning to F1 Academy for the 2025 season. Nobels remain in ART Grand Prix while representing Puma and Weug swapped to MP Motorsport while remaining in Ferrari's backing.
- Ford teases a Mustang Mach-E that will compete in this year's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
- The PlayStation Plus subscription service will no longer offer free monthly PS4 games starting January 2026.
- Tennis Hall of Famer Pam Shriver said that her major trophies were returned earlier this week to the Marina Del Rey, California, hotel from where they were stolen during the Los Angeles fires.
- Boxers Sweet T Kalkreuth, Robz Safar, Federico Pacheco Jr., and Good Edwards have signed contracts with Golden Boy Promotions.
- GMA-7's telemagazine Kapuso Mo, Jessica Sohoreigns as the Philippines' #1 TV show in 2024.
- Ella May Saison joins the judges' panel in the new season of TV5's Sing Galing.
From the folks that brought us the world of Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Trolls, Dragons, and The Boss Baby comes a 3DCG animated movie adaptation of the New York Times bestselling phenomenon by Dav Pilkey. Have no fear, Dog Man is...here?
Dog Man
What happens when a police officer and his dog get injured in the line of duty and then create a new breed of law enforcement that is part man and part dog? The answer is Dog Man! This character emerges from the universe created by Dav Pilkey, who is also known for the iconic Captain Underpants books. Dog Man is DreamWorks Animation's latest masterpiece, showcasing our canine cop as he protects the city from the mischief of Petey the Cat and his minion clone, Lil Petey.
Okay, this feels like a regular slapstick comedy because of the non-verbal main character saving the day with the weakness for squirrels, because deep down, it feels regular compared to past DreamWorks Animation movies.
For a character that comes from the same universe as Captain Underpants, this movie is incredibly enjoyable for the whole family. You might want to set aside your everyday worries and immerse yourself in this hilarious slapstick cartoon movie from start to finish. Overall, this film is sure to bring you some delight. It's going to be an instant classic.
The Škoda Elroq crossover marks a new chapter for Škoda. The main question is: do you want to buy this compact EV crossover that competes with the Hyundai IONIQ 5?
2025 Skoda Elroq
Priced at 799,000Kč plus additional costs, the first-ever Škoda Elroq is a new beginning for the Czech carmaker as hinted by the new design that drew first blood while offering typical promises in its class for a compact EV crossover that is cheaper to own than the Hyundai IONIQ 5.
2025 Skoda Elroq
The Elroq introduces Skoda's new design direction, as showcased in the Vision 75 Concept from 2022. Notably, it is the first model to replace the Škoda logo on the front and the steering wheel with the lettering "ŠKODA." This change reflects a broader trend in automotive design. The Elroq is sized to appeal to the lower-middle-class market, which has become increasingly common in recent years.
2025 Skoda Elroq interior
Typical Volkswagen Group interior the Elroq dons, it packs typical high-tech features some will find it daunting to master such as the augmented heads-up display, virtual cockpit, large infotainment display, and some buttons for the hazard lights and climate control. In terms of space, it's surprisingly shorter and less spacious compared to the IONIQ 5, especially the 470L boot space with the rear seats present. However, with the passenger seats folded down, it has up to 1580 liters of boot space, the same as the IONIQ 5's. On the bright side, the Elroq packs conveniences such as the automatic unlocking function, a hands-free power liftgate, an electrically unlockable towbar, a scrapper, and an umbrella.
2025 Skoda Elroq
Although the sporty design gives the Elroq a drag coefficient of just 0.26, the most aerodynamic in its class, the rear-wheel-drive electric powertrain is offered with the choice of a 55kWh, 63kWh, and 82kWh battery pack. The latter produces 210kW of electric power and 545Nm of torque, sprinting from a 0-100kph time of 6.6 seconds, and goes as fast as an everyday Japanese car. Energy consumption is around 15kWh/100km.
Driving a rear-wheel-drive crossover like the Elroq requires a certain level of confidence, and it is equipped with a variety of features that enhance the driving experience. Highlights include XDS+, regenerative braking, and progressive control.
In terms of safety, the Elroq boasts an extensive suite of driving technologies. These include Driving Assist 2.6, Predictive Cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition, Adaptive Lane Guidance, and Traffic Jam Assist. Additional safety features are the Emergency Assistant, automatic parking, saved parking maneuvers, remote parking, parking sensors with automatic braking, and a parking camera.
The vehicle also comes with a Panoramic Camera System, Front Assist, anti-collision assistant, Turn Assistant, blind spot monitoring, exit warning, proactive passenger protection, multi-collision brake, and driver fatigue detection.
The Škoda Elroq crossover represents a new chapter for Škoda. The key question is: do you want to purchase this compact EV crossover that competes with the Hyundai IONIQ 5? Despite being less spacious than its Asian rival, the Elroq is affordable and it's worth the shot, sort of. Welcome to the new normal of Škoda.
What do the Mustang and the Bronco have in common? They both feature horse emblems. Although they represent different horse breeds, driving these vehicles in Forza Horizon 5 is certainly enjoyable.
In their current generation models, the only enjoyable ones I drove in the game are the 500HP V8-powered Ford Mustang Dark Horse and the turbo V6-powered, off-road capable Ford Bronco Raptor. Like I said, they're different horse breeds but they're a lot of fun driving them.
Let's have a quick review of these machines, shall we?
Let's begin with the Bronco Raptor, the badder version of today's Bronco.
The Ford Bronco is a popular off-road-inspired vehicle that appeals to both enthusiasts and everyday drivers. In 2022, the Bronco received a significant update with the introduction of the Raptor variant, which features a range of powerful and advanced specifications that distinguish it from earlier models.
The first-ever Ford Bronco Raptor is equipped with a 3.0L EcoBoost V6 engine, delivering an impressive 418 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque. This powerhouse is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing excellent acceleration and high-performance driving capabilities. Additionally, the Bronco Raptor is designed with HOSS 4.0 technology and features FOX Live Valve 3.1 internal bypass semi-active dampers, along with specially developed 37-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires.
Now, let's recap on the Ford Mustang Dark Horse, the purist-friendly Mustang for those who want to let it loose.
Being a track-focused road car that rivals the Porsche 911 GT3, the Mustang Dark Horse's 5.0L Coyote V8 engine produces 500HP, making it the most powerful naturally-aspirated V8-powered Mustang ever made. It is mated exclusively with the TREMEC 6-speed manual gearbox with rev-matching and no-lift shifting. In addition to its track-focused dynamics, the Dark Horse features a Gen-3 MagneRide Damping System and Brembo brake system.
Do you remember the story of the Ford Bronco beating the Shelby GT500 at the Hallett Motor Racing Circuit by taking shortcuts around the track? That was a long time ago but with the dirt track in Horizon Mexico grounds, let's see if the dirt favors the Bronco despite being outpowered by the Mustang Dark Horse. No shortcuts and no corner-cutting. Just common sense with these two stallions.
Anyway, let's roll the tape.
And now, the results...
Mustang Dark Horse - 1m31.608s
Bronco Raptor - 1m33.160s
There's common sense working for you. Although the dirt track setting favors the Bronco Raptor, it looks like the more powerful Dark Horse claimed its revenge win for Team Mustang.
Whether it’s the world-proven track record of today's Ford Mustang or the off-road bravado of the current Ford Bronco, Ford is the final word in creating sensible vehicles for practical purposes everywhere. These horses are proud of the noble causes they've done.
EPILOGUE
Do you remember when I said that I still have many experiments with the Mustang Dark Horse since I drove it back in the Modern Horizons update? Sorry for the wait, but here it comes.
The Dark Horse of the Mustang stable deserves the role of...you guessed it...the Dark Horse of the AiPriVerse. I shall christen you Dark Chii...awww, too soon? I'm sorry, Chii Mamiya, but hey, it suits your personality.
Having grown respect for the Ford Bronco Raptor, I've decided to call my Bronco Raptor...Mei. As in, Mei Yoneme, one of the Liella girls. Suits her personality.
With their roles donned, both the Bronco Raptor and the Mustang Dark Horse are tackling some of the modest EventLab creations with the Dark Horse battling the odds in the EventLab re-enactment of a certain race track from a certain video game while the Bronco Raptor gets down and dirty while getting through narrow bridges. Let's roll the tapes.
Now that's what I called a Pretty Derby.
Although Ferrari is the alpha horse of the motoring realm, Ford's two horses have something that Ferrari doesn't have; individuality. The Mustang and the Bronco are the best horses Ford ever made and such lineage deserves a lot of respect.
With horses like these, the stampede will never end.
