- China is still yet to respond to Philippine President Bongbong Marcos' challenge to stop harassment in the West Philippine Sea in exchange for the return of the Typhoon launcher to the United States.
- Senate President Chiz Escudero says that the impeachment rules to be used in the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in June will be drafted while the Senate is on recess.
- The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Bullying Law, reviewed by the Department of Education (DepEd) following the increasing cases of bullying in schools nationwide.
- US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court over "baseless" accusations against Israel.
- Nissan pulled out of the merger talks with Honda, according to reports. Nissan doesn't want the car company to become Honda's subsidiary.
- Long-time Formula E race directorScot Elkins is retiring after the upcoming Miami E-Prix.
- Dark Horse Comics confirms layoffs amid the split of parent company Embracer Group into three companies last year.
- The new Smurfs movie is coming this July 18th with Rihanna voicing the role of Smurfette.
- A live-action movie adaptation of the Bakugan franchise is in the works.
- K-Pop girl group NewJeans have officially renamed NJZ amid their standoff with ADOR.
- Fantagio's rookie boy group LUN8 adds Fantasy Boys contestant Yuma.
- Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter of baseball star Shohei Ohtani, is sentenced to 57 months for theft.
- The late actress Barbie Hsu's ashes arrived in Taiwan. No memorial service will be held.
The third-generation Dodge Challenger is no doubt the biggest upset in the muscle car market. When it was launched in 2008, it was an underdog. But it soon became a rising star, even a top contender in the muscle car market. In 2015, it became a real force to be reckoned with when the Hellcat variant was added. So, how did they do it? Let's find out.
The one that propelled the Dodge Challenger to the top of the muscle car food chain is the Challenger SRT Hellcat.
Powered by a supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 engine, it's the most powerful engine ever made by FCA (now Stellantis). Dodge claims it can produce over six hundred horsepower, but it has been verified to generate 707 HP, the most powerful V8 engine ever made in a production car.
With the red key fob engaged, all of the power from its supercharged V8 engine is unleashed. To withstand the monstrous power output, a specially designed 8-speed automatic gearbox is developed to manage the extra power and torque. Thanks to its potent engine, the SRT Hellcat can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds and reach a top speed of 199 mph.
Fast forward to the early years of the US of A under the Trump administration, the Dodge Challenger's status as the apex predator of the muscle car food chain was cemented by this; the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon.
The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is a special-edition Challenger SRT that made supercars cowered in fear because of the supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 engine producing up to 840HP of power and the fastest 0-60mph time of any production sportscar, 2.3 seconds to be precise. It was well known for breaking every world record in history, especially the fact that it was the first production car in the world that can do the longest wheelie as verified by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Thanks to the insights gained from the Dodge Challenger Demon, the team at Dodge aimed to develop the flagship variant of the third-generation Challenger. They incorporated all the knowledge from the Hellcat, Demon, and Redeye into this model. The result is the Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock, which I won in the final series update of FH5 titled "Midnight Muscle." This car is the second-to-last exclusive vehicle in the game, just so you know.
The Challenger Super Stock was unveiled during Dodge's Fourth of July celebration in 2020. This model is based on the Hellcat Redeye but features an additional 10 horsepower on its supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 engine, bringing its total to 807 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque. Equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission, the Super Stock can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.25 seconds. It achieves a quarter-mile time of 10.5 seconds at a speed of 131 mph, with a top speed of 168 mph (tire-limited).
With the Challenger Hellcat lineage taken care of, it's time to find out which of these three Hellcats is the fastest as the main festival grounds struck midnight. Let's roll the tape.
And now the results...
Challenger Hellcat - 1m17.411s
Challenger Demon - 1m16.693s
Challenger Super Stock - 1m15.025s
What a hell-raising shocker, ladies and gentlemen. I thought the Challenger Demon had the upper hand but it's the less-powerful Challenger Super Stock that emerged victorious. No wonder they made the Super Stock the range-topper of the third-generation Dodge Challenger.
As I mentioned before, during my time in Hell's Paradise, Dodge's reign of terror on the streets with their Hellcat lineup has come to a dramatic end. From the introduction of the Challenger SRT Hellcat to the emergence of the ultimate Challenger Demon, Dodge has established itself as the motoring industry's knight of the apocalypse. As the brand transitions into the electrified era, we can be certain that its audacious legacy will not be forgotten. Dodge has rewritten the rules of performance with a mix of passion and adrenaline.
EPILOGUE
I have grown to respect the range-topper of the final-generation Dodge Challenger, which just gave me a devilish idea. After a platter of Devil's Food Cake, here she is, in her devilish glory.
I shall now call you "Aroma", after the Gaarmagedon member from PriPara, Aroma Kurosu. The devil's in the details, devi!
Under Aroma's spell, let's find out if the Devil Cookie crumbles, and to find out, I went to an EventLab creation devilishly called "Devil's Rush Raceway SS", packed with unforgiving elevations worthy of its name. Don't crumble for me, Devil Cookie. Aroma is on your side.
The elevation really is "hell" but Devil Cookie's harder to crumble, thanks to Aroma's thingamajigs.
The third-generation Dodge Challenger is celebrated by Mopar enthusiasts as a major highlight of the muscle car era, thanks to the incredible power of its Hellcat engine. With the fury of the Hellcat roaring to life, this car has left an indelible mark on the asphalt, embodying the spirit of performance and excitement.
I said this before and I'll say it again. See you in hell, Dodge.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy of South Korea has temporarily blocked the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool. This marks the first government-imposed restriction on DeepSeek. Following the ministry's decision, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense also implemented similar measures. The ban was imposed over concerns that DeepSeek collects excessive training data, potentially creating security vulnerabilities and increasing the risk of information leakage.
According to government and information technology (IT) industry sources on February 5, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy prohibited the use of DeepSeek within its internal networks. State-owned enterprises, such as Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Korea Plant Service & Engineering (KEPCO KPS), which handle nuclear power plant operations and power transmission facility maintenance, respectively, have also banned the use of DeepSeek. This marks the first case of restricting DeepSeek in the South Korea public sector.
The bans by the ministry, KHNP, and KEPCO KPS appear to be due to security concerns. DeepSeek has been criticized for its potential to leak data and its weak personal information protection measures. Ha Jung Woo, head of Naver Future AI Center, stated, "It is already well known there is a high risk of personal information leakage," adding, "All user data from DeepSeek-operated chatbots and apps are stored in Chinese databases." A ministry official explained, "The Personal Information Protection Commission has raised concerns at the government level about DeepSeek’s data collection and processing practices, which remain unresolved. As a precaution, DeepSeek has been blocked from use in our internal network." A KEPCO KPS representative added, "Nuclear power plants are classified as top-level national security facilities, so we need to be cautious about the possibility of key information being collected by AI systems hosted on Chinese servers." A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed, "We have taken necessary measures, including blocking access to DeepSeek."
Beyond South Korea, other countries are also moving to ban DeepSeek. On the previous day, the Australian government prohibited the use of DeepSeek on government systems and devices. Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated, "DeepSeek poses unacceptable risks, and this immediate ban is for the protection of national security and national interests." Italy’s data protection authority, Garante, issued a ban on DeepSeek on January 29, citing its lack of transparency in handling personal data. Taiwan has also prohibited its government agencies from using DeepSeek, while Japan, the UK, and the Netherlands are considering various regulations regarding its use.
As governments worldwide restrict DeepSeek, private companies are reacting sensitively and reinforcing their security measures. In South Korea, Kakao, LG Uplus, and Line Yahoo (a joint venture between Naver and SoftBank Group) have instructed their affiliates to prohibit the use of DeepSeek for business purposes.
Kakao has partnered with OpenAI (company behind ChatGPT) and plans to integrate its technology into Kakaotalk. In addition, the company has prohibited all employees from using DeepSeek’s AI services.Analysts suggest that this move aims to prevent potential data leaks and strengthen its alliance with OpenAI, DeepSeek’s rising competitor. Kakao recently notified its employees that "the use of DeepSeek for internal business purposes is strictly prohibited."
This decision appears to be a response to concerns that DeepSeek collects not only users’ names and birthdates but also keyboard usage patterns and audio data for AI training.
At the same time, Kakao’s strategic partnership with OpenAI seems to have influenced this decision. As the first South Korean company to form an alliance with OpenAI, Kakao is working on joint product development. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who visited South Korea on February 4, attended the 'Kakao AI Media Day' event and stated, "I have a long-term appreciation for Kakao and share their AI vision."
An industry insider noted, "With DeepSeek emerging as a strong competitor in the AI market dominated by OpenAI, Kakao appears to be aligning itself with OpenAI." Given that Kakao is integrating OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its new AI service, "Kanana," the company likely considered data protection risks in making this decision.
Line Yahoo has also recently informed its headquarters and major affiliates, including Line Plus, IPX, and Line Games, that DeepSeek is prohibited for business use. A company representative stated, "This decision was made as a precautionary measure against security risks."
On the same day, LG Uplus issued an internal security notice prohibiting the use of DeepSeek. The company has banned employees from accessing DeepSeek through its internal network for business purposes and has advised staff to refrain from using it on personal computers until its security stability is verified.
Meanwhile, China appears to be countering this trend with aggressive policies and government-backed initiatives. The Chinese government has allowed domestic companies to utilize the personal data of its 1.4 billion citizens for AI training, while also providing research and development (R&D) funding and tax incentives. As a result, Chinese AI firms like Alibaba, Tencent, and DeepSeek are joining forces to strengthen their technological capabilities in a bid to challenge the U.S. in the AI sector.
- US President Donald Trump withdrew the country from the UN Human Rights Council and halted funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Last year, the US exited the Human Rights Council and cut off financial support to the agency that assists Palestinian refugees, following accusations from Israel that it was aiding and abetting Hamas militants.
- Australia, Italy, and Taiwan became the first countries to ban Chinese AI firm DeepSeek, citing security concerns.
- The Malacañang has yet to react to the House of Representatives' approval of the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. Meanwhile, the Senate plenary was not allowed to mention that the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte had been received.
- Philippine President Bongbong Marcos extended PNP chief Rommel Francisco Marbil's term by four months. Based on a memorandum dated February 4, 2025, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, it is stated that the President approved the extension of Marbil's service in the government beyond the compulsory retirement age of 56.
- Belgian police hunt for gunmen in Brussels underground.
- The UK government has decided to demolish the Grenfell Tower, according to Deputy PM Angela Rayner in front of the bereaved relatives and survivors. Seventy-two people died when the tower block in west London caught fire in June 2017.
- Zhou Guanyu has been named reserved driver for the Scuderia Ferrari F1 team.
- The inaugural Trans Am Hall of Fame will be inducted this February 21st during a celebratory dinner at Sebring.
- Volkswagen teases its upcoming ID.ONE EV city car.
- Filming for the second season of the ONE PIECE Netflix show is complete.
- Netflix previews over 20+ K-dramas and films coming this year, including the final season of Squid Game coming this June.
- AHOF, the boy group formed from the Universe League grand finals, is set to make its official debut in the first half of 2025.
- The PBBM administration praised the Bureau of Internal Revenue's digitalization to speed up the process of registering businesses.
- The government is set to remove the U-turn slot on C5 road to ease traffic in the area, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
- The COMELEC and the PNP are discussing Oplan Katok for the May elections. COMELEC reminded candidates to comply with the guidelines outlined in the filing of statements of contribution and expenditures while the PNP is tightening security ahead of the elections.
- The Commission on Higher Education urges the University of Cabuyao president to clarify their “English-only policy”.
- US President Donald Trump suggests the US should "take over" Gaza in a joint news conference with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. The two leaders held a joint White House news conference.
- Around 10 people were killed in a shooting on a school campus in Sweden.
- Aston Martin unveiled its Valkyrie AMR-LMH race car that will compete in this year's WEC and IMSA under The Heart Of Racing banner. Harry Tincknell and Tom Gamble will compete for the WEC Hypercar class while Marco Sorensen and Alex Riberas will compete in the IMSA GTP class.
- Sauber is establishing its new technical center in the UK.
- The new Anne Shirley TV anime will air this April 4th.
- The SpongeBob universe's Plankton spin-off movie hits Netflix this March 7th.
- The Dallas Mavericks have offered refunds to fans who have canceled season tickets in the wake of the trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, according to reports.
- The son of NBA legend Michael Jordan was arrested in central Florida and charged with cocaine possession.
For the 2025 model year, Toyota's super hot hatchback, the GR Corolla, has received a much-needed change that promises to make observers burn with jealousy. This update promises to be better than before.
2025 Toyota GR Corolla
Now starting at 5,680,000 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, the Toyota GR Corolla minor change has more oomph than the first time the world encountered Toyota's super-hot hatchback hero, which became the spectacular antithesis of the Corolla lineage.
2025 Toyota GR Corolla interior
The exterior design resembles the pre-facelift model; however, it now includes the new front bumper design introduced in last year's facelifted GR Yaris. This updated design replaces the fog lamps with larger corner air inlets to improve cooling capacity. The interior remains similar to the previous model, but it now features a darker finish on the trim and switches for a sportier appearance.
Customers can choose the SPORT Package, which includes black and red seat upholstery with red perforations, as well as synthetic leather featuring black and red stitching.
2025 Toyota GR Corolla
The updated GR Corolla still has the G16E-GTS 1.6L 3-cylinder turbocharged engine, which produces 304PS of power but 30Nm more torque than before, producing 400Nm of torque. In addition to the updated 6-speed manual gearbox, the GR Corolla can now be equipped with the available 8-speed Gazoo Racing Direct Automatic Transmission. No matter which gearbox you're on, the GR Corolla packs a power-to-weight ratio of 6.7kg/kw.
Asked about the fuel economy, the manual variant has 12.4km/L while the new automatic variant has 10.4km/L based on WLTC mode standards.
The team at Toyota Gazoo Racing dedicated valuable manpower to recalibrating the GR Corolla, drawing on their experience from the Super Taikyu Series. As a result, the updated GR Corolla features improved dynamics, including increased rigidity through additional braces and bolts. This enhances vehicle stability during acceleration and control while turning, as well as improves steering responsiveness. Additionally, the sport-tuned suspension and brakes contribute to a more exhilarating driving experience.
The GR Corolla is equipped with the signature GR-FOUR Active Torque Split 4WD System, featuring a Torsen Limited Slip Differential (LSD) for improved cornering and stability on various surfaces, including tarmac, gravel, and snow. When the car is set to Track Mode, its dynamics become more engaging, resembling those of the GR86 or GR Supra.
Additionally, the Drive Mode Select feature allows you to choose a driving mode that suits your style. One notable option is the secret EXPERT MODE, which can be activated by selecting either SPORT or CUSTOM mode and briefly pressing the VSC OFF button. EXPERT MODE is specifically recommended for track use, so use it wisely.
As a general rule, the GR Corolla is limited to a top speed of 180 kph on normal roads. However, when you arrive at the circuit, you can activate Circuit Mode, which disables the speed limiter and provides special instrument displays, including engine RPM and LED indicators.
With a slightly new look, improved torque, an upgraded 8-speed automatic transmission option, and enhanced dynamics, the minor changes to the Toyota GR Corolla make it even better than before. These improvements are sure to appeal to performance enthusiasts who have a desire for speed. This is the GR Corolla that the world wants, so don’t look back.
Available Colors: Super White II, Platinum White Pearl Mica, Precious Metal, Precious Black Pearl, and Emotional Red II.
- Retired Major General Isagani Nerez was named by the PBBM administration as the new chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
- The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), opposes the P200 wage hike.
- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), completes maintenance work on Davao City Diversion Road.
- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), addresses 106,000 worker concerns in 2024.
- The Trump administration delays imposing tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods for a month following conversations with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.
- China announces retaliatory tariffs of 10-15% on certain US imports, as the Trump administration's levies on Chinese goods came into effect.
- A 14-year-old girl was found guilty of attempted murder after she stabbed two teachers and a student at a school in Ammanford, Wales.
- Cisco utilized algorithmic jailbreaking techniques to evaluate DeepSeek R1 against 50 random prompts from the HarmBench dataset. The results were concerning, as DeepSeek R1 did not successfully block any harmful prompts.
- The all-new AudiA6 range will be unveiled this March 4th, signaling a rollback on Audi's naming strategy.
- A 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 R was auctioned for £42.75 million.
- A significant U.S. shareholder of Fuji Media Holdings Inc. has demanded the resignation of Hisashi Hieda, stating that the long-time executive is ultimately accountable for the series of issues affecting the company's broadcasting subsidiary.
- Patrick Mahomes commented on Luka Doncic's shocking move from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.
- The MLB fired umpire Pat Hoberg for shared betting accounts.
- Actress Lee Joo Sil passed away at the age of 80. Joo Sil played Jung-ho's mother in the Netflix phenomenon Squid Game.
- Funeral arrangements for the late Meteor Garden actress Barbie Hsu are planned by her family. Meanwhile, Jerry Yan and Ken Zhou of F4 from the TV series pay tribute to Barbie Hsu.
