WRC 2025: Rally Islas Canarias

The legendary Rally Islas Canarias made a comeback in the 2025 World Rally Championship as the new breed of WRC drivers are going all-out in this new take on the legendary rally event spanning the Canary Islands.

Screengrab from WRC

Surviving through Canaria's technical asphalt roads and sweeping mountain passes, Kalle Rovanpera survived his way to victory at a rate of 53.5 seconds over fellow Toyota Gazoo Racing driver Sebastien Ogier. Elfyn Evans completes the podium with 23.6 seconds behind Ogier.

After Canaria, Elfyn Evans is in the lead with 109 points, while Rovanpera is in 2nd place with 66 points, and Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville, following his messy campaign, is in third with 59 points.

The next race is the WRC Vodafone Rally de Portugal this May 15-18, 2025.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South Korea Announces 5-Year Plan to Boost Animation Industry

 

The South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) announced the "2025–2030 Basic Plan for Animation Industry Promotion" on April 24, presided over by Acting President and Prime Minister Duck-soo Han.

The new plan is a long-term strategy aimed at developing animation into a high-value industry. Key initiatives include expanding industry investment, diversifying content distribution, cultivating specialized talent, and supporting overseas expansion.

To revitalize the industry, the government will establish a 20 billion won (about US$15 million) animation-focused fund this year, aiming to expand it to 150 billion won (about US$106 million) by 2029. To attract international co-productions, incentives such as partial reimbursement of domestic production costs will also be introduced.

In response to media trends, the plan emphasizes broader IP utilization. Support for producing content targeted at young adults, as well as projects optimized for streaming platforms and short-form content, will be expanded. The government will also encourage cross-adaptations with webtoons and web novels.

The government also plans to support AI-based video content production and distribution, build Korean-specific AI training data, and establish related technologies.

Education programs will also be enhanced. As demand grows for webtoon and web novel adaptations, new training programs for planning producers and professional scriptwriters will be introduced, alongside AI-based video content courses in partnership with universities and affiliated institutions.

Through this plan, the government aims to grow the animation industry's domestic market size from 1.1 trillion (about US$780 million) in 2023 to 1.9 trillion won (about US$1.35 billion) by 2030 and expand the workforce from 6,417 to 9,000 employees.

Source: Anime News Network 

Guinness Women's Six Nations 2025 SUMMARY

The 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations season promises to deliver the same excitement as in previous years. Throughout five rounds, six of Europe's top rugby teams from the UK, Italy, and France will compete fiercely for the title, with only one team ultimately being crowned champion. For the defending champions, England Rugby, the path is smooth sailing.

Screengrab from Six Nations

The England Rugby team made their statement throughout the 2025 W6N season. They've swept the entire season to nick their 11th Grand Slam title and their 13th Six Nations championship title. Their victory shows there's no stopping W6N's most powerful team.

Congratulations to the England Rugby team for winning the 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations!

Doctor Who S2E3 Episode Review

The Doctor and Belinda continue their journey in the third episode of Doctor Who Season 2, where they face hell... in The Well. Yes, there's hell in the well.

Doctor Who S2E3

HOLD IT! Before my quick review, ensure you have already watched the episode. Then, come back here when you have.

Let's Do The News! (April 25, 2025)

                                      

                                        

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

- Thousands queue for public viewing of Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica before his funeral.

- PH President Bongbong Marcos has received a report about China's potential meddling in next month's midterm elections. China denies reports.

- PH Vice-President Sara Duterte says it's too late to implement P20/kilo rice.

- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued guidelines for the proper payment of wages to workers on Labor Day, May 1. In the Labor Advisory No. 5 Series of 2025, the DOLE emphasized that employees who work on the said day are eligible to receive double pay for the first eight hours.

- Troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Armed Forces joined forces for the Cyber ​​Defense Exercise or CYDEX under the Balikatan Exercise. The activity was witnessed by representatives from the Colombian Armed Forces, United States Indo-Pacific Command, Canadian Armed Forces, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Philippine Coast Guard and AFP Cyber ​​Command’s Cybersecurity Incident Response Team.

- Indian and Pakistani forces exchange fire in Kashmir.

- AO Racing's "Rexy" and "Roxy" Porsche 911 GT3 R race cars will make a public appearance at the this Saturday at the Air|Water show at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, California.

- Renault announced that the entire R5 Turbo 3E allocation has sold out.

- Land Rover Classic revived a first-generation Defender in soft-top body style powered by a V8 engine.

- Red Velvet member Wendy signs with a new agency following her departure from SM Entertainment.

- The first round of the NFL draft saw Cam Ward in the Titans, the Giants gained Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart, Matthew Golden was snagged by the Packers, and more.

TTFN.

Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club: Tokimeki no Mirai Chizu

Let’s be honest: you do miss the Nijigasaki High School Idol Club. This is likely due to Bushiroad pulling the plug on the School Idol Festival series last year. You get it, but your love for the Nijigasaki High School Idol Club remains strong. Fortunately, Bushiroad Games has given you another opportunity to connect with the Nijigasaki girls through a new visual novel game.

Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club:
Tokimeki no Mirai Chizu

Available on the Nintendo Switch and PC via STEAM, Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club: Tokimeki no Mirai Chizu (Tokimeki Roadmap to Future) is a visual novel game that reintroduces you to the girls of the said idol club. Think of it like reliving the story moments from the defunct SIF All-Stars game, but in a different way.

A second chance to reintroduce yourself to the Nijigasaki High School Idol Club is a welcome feat for fans who truly miss them, because in this game, the player's memories with them suddenly faded away, and the girls are your only chance to remember them.

In line with typical visual novel mechanics, players have a limited amount of time to strengthen their bonds with one of the 12 characters. If they fail to do so, it will lead to a bad ending, marking a missed opportunity to connect with that character. 

Successfully maxing out the bond with a specific character will unlock the ending where your favorite from Nijigasaki performs the game's theme song, "Eternalize Love!" in 3D. Completing the storylines for all 12 characters will reward you with the ultimate bonus: a performance of "Eternalize Love!" featuring all 12 members.

Some members, like Ayumu Uehara, are easy to complete, but some, like the R3BIRTH trio of Shioriko, Mia, and Lanzhu, are honestly difficult to complete. Think you've got what it takes?

Having a Love Live! visual novel game may be awkward, but for you, the second chance with the Nijigasaki girls is worth the wait. Don't ruin the moment, please.

CAST:

Ayumu Uehara - Aguri Onishi

Kasumi Nakasu - Mayu Sagara

Shizuku Osaka - Kaori Maeda

Karin Asaka - Miyu Kubota

Ai Miyashita - Natsumi Murakami

Kanata Konoe - Akari Kito

Setsuna Yuki - Coco Hayashi

Emma Verde - Maria Sashide

Rina Tennoji - Chiemi Tanaka

Shioriko Mifune - Moeka Koizumi

Mia Taylor - Shu Uchida

Zhong Lanzhu - Akina Homoto

Let's Do The News! (April 24, 2025)

                                     

                                        

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

- The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now focusing on the angle that a sniper was responsible for the killing of Mayor Joel Ruma of Rizal town, Cagayan. According to PNP Public Information Office (PIO) Chief Col. Randulf Tuaño, Mayor Ruma was hit by a 5.56 caliber bullet in the right shoulder that penetrated the back of his body.

- The Malacañang warns candidates who will take advantage of the upcoming sale of ₱20/kilo rice in the Visayas region.

- The Philippine Navy has spotted two Chinese warships near the shores of Northern Luzon. According to the Philippine Navy, at around 9:36 a.m. Tuesday, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capabilities spotted the aircraft carrier Shandong (CV-17), one of the main ships of the Chinese Navy, sailing just 2.23 nautical miles from Babuyan Island, which is within our archipelagic waters.

- CBCP President and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David is en route to Rome to attend Pope Francis' funeral.

- Indian PM Narendra Modi vows to pursue attackers "to the ends of the Earth" after 26 killed at Kashmir tourist spot.

- Prime Video docuseries, American Thunder: NASCAR to Le Mans, will premiere on June 12. The documentary highlights NASCAR's Le Mans campaign.

- The F1 Academy Netflix docuseries, F1: The Academy, will premiere on May 28. Produced by Hello Sunshine, this seven-episode series highlights the F1 Academy 2024 season.

- The FIA has approved General Motors as the official power unit supplier of Formula 1, effective in the 2029 season.

- ExCel London extends Formula E venue deal until the end of the 2026 season.

- NASCAR announces 2025 All-Star Race format.

- The Aikatsu x PriPara crossover movie is coming this autumn.

- Tsuburaya Productions announced this year's Ultraman TV show, Ultraman Omega. Airing on TV Tokyo this July 5, the series stars Shori Kondo as Sorato Okida, the man with the Omega Slugger who transforms into Ultraman Omega.

- US pre-orders for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 have commenced after a two-week delay due to the effects of the US reciprocal tariffs. 

- Girls' Generation member Seohyun has left Namoo Actors.

- Hall of Famer Steve "Mongo" McMichael passed away at the age of 67. McMichaels is a stalwart of the Chicago Bears' famed "46 defense" of the 1980s, who ranks second in franchise history with 92.5 sacks.

- A federal judge informed the NCAA and its members that she would not approve the multibillion-dollar antitrust settlement, which is expected to reshape the business of college sports, unless they revise a proposed policy for limiting roster sizes.

TTFN.