Let's Do The News! (September 10, 2025)

             

                                        

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

- The PH Department of Justice released a subpoena for Atong Ang, Gretchen Barretto, and 60 others in connection with the chaos of the missing sabungeros.

- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended his decision to fire Gen. Nicolas Torre III as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), after he openly disobeyed the directive of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM).

- UN officials have convened at the UN General Assembly Hall for the 80th session of the General Assembly. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and other attendees are discussing the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as the potential impact of Donald Trump's return to the White House on global stability. More to be discussed at the September 23rd Global Debate.

- A mass burial of Roman elites from the third to the fourth century was discovered in Albania.

- The recent Apple event unveiled a barrage of new products such as the iPhone 17 range, the iPhone Air, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple AirPods Pro 3, among others.

- The Ferrari 849 Testarossa was unveiled. Serving as the replacement for the SF90 range, the 849 is available in coupe and Spider. Both are powered by a 1050HP 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo PHEV powertrain.

2026 Ferrari 849 Testarossa

- Hyundai showcased the IONIQ CONCEPT 3 at the IAA Mobility, previewing an all-electric replacement to the Veloster.

Hyundai IONIQ CONCEPT 3

- A special McLaren 750S JC96 edition was unveiled, made in honor of the Team Goh F1 GTRs that competed in the 1996 JGTC season.

McLaren 750S JC96 Edition

- Jason Fuchs was tapped to be the writer of the live-action My Hero Academia movie.

- Haru Urara, the infamous Japanese racehorse with the worst losing streak of 113 that became an inspiration for the character from the Uma Musume franchise, passed away at the age of 29.

- The NFL defended its decision to eject Jalen Carter, serving as a suspension for spitting.

- Baseball player Wander Franco, who was found guilty earlier this year of sexually abusing a minor, was detained by the police and admitted into a clinic in the Dominican Republic for mental health issues.

TTFN.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Controversial 'Suk-yeol Yoon Train' Cartoon to Return at Bucheon International Comics Festival After 3 Years

 

The satirical cartoon Suk-yeol Yoon Train, which sparked controversy in 2022 for its portrayal of former Korean President Yoon and his wife, will return to public exhibition at the Bucheon International Comics Festival for the first time in three years.

The Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (KOMCA) announced on September 3 that the 28th Bucheon International Comics Festival will take place from September 26 to 28 at the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon. This year's program includes a special showcase of past winners from the Student Comics Competition, featuring works from 2021 to 2025. Among them is the 2022 Gold Prize winner, Suk-yeol Yoon Train.

The cartoon depicts a train with Yoon's face at the front, piloted by a figure widely interpreted as his wife, Kim Keon-hee. Passengers inside the train include prosecutors wielding swords, while startled citizens appear to flee from its path.

When the cartoon was first displayed at the 2022 Bucheon International Comics Festival, it became a flashpoint of political controversy. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a stern warning to the agency, withdrew sponsorship recognition, and significantly reduced government subsidies. As a result, the work was excluded from exhibitions for the past two years.

The reinstatement marks the cartoon's first public display since the suspension.

Suk-yeol Yoon declared martial law on December 4, 2024. Yoon cited opposition party resistance to his governance as the reason for the declaration. Following the declaration, President Yoon attempted to abolish the National Assembly and arrest opposition lawmakers and media figures. He was impeached earlier this year.

Source: Anime News Network 

Let's Do The News! (September 9, 2025)

            

                                        

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

- Philippine President Bongbong Marcos announced an independent commission for the flood control scam within 48 hours.

- Residents of Cagayan, Batanes, and Isabela have been warned of possible falling debris from China's rocket launch.

- The local governments of Manila and Quiapo Church began preparations for next year's Traslacion.

- Four people were killed and several others were hurt after a shooting attack in Jerusalem.

- French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou was ousted by a confidence vote, plunging France into a fresh political turmoil.

- US Congress Democrats released a birthday note that President Donald Trump allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump denies the accusation, calling it a "fake thing".

- The Polestar 5 was unveiled.

2026 Polestar 5

- Cupra showcased its Tindaya Concept at the IAA Mobility 2025, previewing the brand's new compact EV crossover based on the Skoda Epiq and Volkswagen ID.CROSS.

Cupra Tindaya Concept

- The sixth-generation Renault Clio was unveiled.

2026 Renault Clio

- Skoda showcased its Vision O concept, previewing the next-generation Octavia.

Skoda Vision O Concept

- The Lexus IS's third minor change was unveiled and will go on sale this 2026. The rear-wheel-drive IS350 will be mated to an 8-speed AT, while the 4WD IS350 will be mated to a 6-speed AT, and the IS300h hybrid will be mated to a CVT.

2026 Lexus IS

- Mercedes-Benz teases the C-Class minor change with its light-up grille from the Electric GLC.

- The Indy NXT development racing series from IndyCar will be getting major changes for the 2026 season.

- The BanG Dream! franchise announced a new Yume Mita TV anime coming this 2026. The new anime features the franchise's Mugendai Mewtype band.

TTFN.

My GT7 Log: The R35 GT-R's Final Stage

The third and final facelift of the Nissan GT-R R35 marks the final evolution of Japan's longest-running supercar, which has been tearing down the world's roads and tracks since its 2007 Tokyo Motor Show world premiere. Although it's sad to witness the end of the R35's reign, it's time to have one last drive with the R35's final form on Gran Turismo 7.

What is the third and final minor change to the Nissan GT-R?

Released in 2023, this final evolution of the Nissan R35 GT-R features a redesigned front view that replaces the previous facelift's V-Motion grille with a smaller grille, along with a boxy air intake that enhances its aggressive appearance. The vehicle also includes new fog lamps shaped like the Arena logo.

The engine specifications remain unchanged. In the standard GT-R, the VR38DETT 3.8L Twin Turbo V6 engine delivers 570 PS of power and 637 Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission. The fuel economy remains at 7.8 km/L.

The vehicle's dynamics have been slightly improved, offering better downforce, enhanced cooling, and reduced drag.

What better way to say goodbye to Japan's longest-running supercar in history than by taking it for one last drive around the Nürburgring? Instead of just a lap around the iconic Nordschleife like most people do, I chose to tackle the entire 24-hour layout, which combines the GP Track with the Nordschleife. Now that's a fitting farewell to Godzilla himself. Let's roll the tape.

I must admit, it's not my best attempt, but I gave the R35 GT-R the ultimate farewell it deserves. Like a true soldier, it saw it through to the end.

This marks the end of an era for what I consider the best Japanese sports car of the Heisei period: the Nissan GT-R R35. Since its world premiere at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, it has dominated the world's best roads and tracks. The GT-R has made appearances in films such as Fast and Furious 6, Elysium, and the live-action Gran Turismo movie. It even surpassed the Bullet Train and challenged Jeremy Clarkson to an exhilarating experience at Fuji Speedway. This encapsulates everything about the R35 GT-R, from its inception to its farewell.

Though its reign may have ended, Nissan has assured fans that the GT-R will return in the future. Ivan Espinosa, the current CEO of Nissan, stated, "To the many fans of the GT-R worldwide, I want to say that this isn't a goodbye to the GT-R forever. Our goal is for the GT-R nameplate to one day make a comeback."

Arigato, R35 GT-R.

Let's Do The News! (September 8, 2025)

           

                                        

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

- A total lunar eclipse was witnessed in most of Asia, Russia, the Middle East, and parts of Europe.

- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba steps down following his party's defeat at the general elections.

- PHIVOLCS has recorded about two volcanic earthquakes around the Kanlaon Volcano and four earthquakes around Mt. Bulusan within the last 24 hours.

- The last-ever Extreme E race, The Final Lap in Saudi Arabia, will be this October 4 to 5, 2025, before the transition to the all-hydrogen Extreme H.

- The Porsche 911 Turbo S 992.2 was unveiled. The turbocharged engine is now upgraded to produce 701bhp of power.

2026 Porsche 911 Turbo S

- The electric variant of the Mercedes-Benz GLC was unveiled.

2026 Mercedes-Benz Electric GLC

- Skoda previews its newest EV compact crossover called the Epiq in its concept form before production.

- Volkswagen showcases its ID.Cross Concept in the IAA Mobility 2025, previewing its entry-level EV crossover.

- The Monaco Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar until 2035 via a renewed agreement. Also, Pierre Gasly has signed a four-year extension with Alpine.

- The Super Sentai TV show, No.1 Sentai Gozyuger, casts Yuki Sasamori as Assam, a shadowy character who exploits Ryugi Bakugami's expulsion from the previous episode to seize his position as the new Gozyu Tyranno. The series enters its third phase.

- The Love Live series' AiScReam special unit announced a new song to be used as the theme song for the Love Live Official Trading Card Game. It was announced at the recent Topping Live concert.

- Carlos Alcaraz defeated Hannik Sinner to win the US Open for the second time and his sixth Grand Slam.

TTFN.

FIA WEC S13 - Lone Star Le Mans

Ah, Texas, the Lone Star State, is recognized as a Republican stronghold that played a significant role in propelling Donald Trump back to the presidency, creating controversy on the global stage. While Trump may have altered the USA's position in the world, the organizers of the 2025 World Endurance Championship seemed to overlook this context and proceeded with the Lone Star Le Mans endurance race, held at the Circuit of the Americas, a revered venue for the F1 US Grand Prix. 

Screengrab from WEC

Although marred by the rainy weather that triggered the red flag, causing a lengthy delay mid-race, that didn't stop until the winners were named.

After a delay-punched endurance race in the Lone Star State, the #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 of Kevin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, and Matt Campbell is the winner of the Lone Star Le Mans endurance race. As for the LMGT3 class, the winner goes to the #95 United Autosports 720S GT3 EVO after the #54 Vista AFCorse 296 GT3 demoted to P3 after contact with the #77 Mustang GT3. It's the first WEC win for the McLaren 720S GT3 EVO machine.

The next race is the 6 Hours of Fuji on September 28, 2025. Japan is on full alert with this race.

Honda Prelude BF1

After 24 years, the Honda Prelude has returned as a hybrid sports car that emphasizes comfort over performance, aiming to be a coupe worthy of your time.

2026 Honda Prelude

The all-new Honda Prelude starts at 6,719,800 Japanese Yen, plus additional costs. This model is a three-door version of the Civic e:HEV FL4 and aims to revive the front-wheel-drive coupe genre, which has been largely forgotten in recent years. Currently, it is the only front-wheel-drive coupe available for purchase.

2026 Honda Prelude

The sixth-generation Prelude first appeared in concept form at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show (formerly known as the Tokyo Motor Show). Nearly every detail from its concept version has been retained, including the high-tech Honda lettering that was first seen on the now-defunct Honda e, as well as the nostalgic Prelude badge taken from the fourth-generation model produced between 1991 and 1996. One notable aspect of this new Prelude is its hammerhead front design, which has been influenced by designs from Toyota or Ferrari.

2026 Honda Prelude interior

The interior of the sixth-generation Prelude closely resembles that of modern Hondas. While it is technically a 2+2 seater, the rear seats are impractical for passengers, as it's nearly impossible to fit comfortably in the back. As a result, the only practical uses for these rear seats are to store your belongings, transport a dog, or secure a baby seat if you have an infant. For a real kicker, the rear seats that are deemed impossible for human comfort can be folded down to accommodate two travel cases or two golf bags.

2026 Honda Prelude

The Honda Prelude BF1 uses a similar 2.0L SPORTS e:HEV hybrid powertrain from today's Civic. With the dual motor setup joining forces with the 2.0L Atkinson cycle direct injection engine, it produces a combined 203PS of power and 315Nm of torque. That's more than what you get from a Civic Hybrid.

Yes, it's mated only to a CVT gearbox, boo, but Honda provided the Prelude's CVT gearbox with the S+ Shift system that activates its 8-speed Manual Mode operated via paddle shifters. When enjoyed with either GT or Sport Mode, the Prelude acts like a performative male that likes to show off. Not performance, performative like a performative man.

To add some performative character to the Prelude, it features dynamics inspired by the FL5 Civic Type R. The vehicle includes dual-axis strut front suspension, specially designed adaptive dampers, and blue Brembo four-piston aluminum front calipers. Need to say more, performative speedo boys?

The Honda Prelude BF1 comes standard with Honda Sensing, a suite of ADAS such as Collision Mitigation Braking System with Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning, Road Departure Mitigation incorporating Lane Departure Warning, Driver Attention Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, Blind Spot Information System, Auto High-Beam Headlights, Traffic Jam Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition System, Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keeping Assist System.

While the sixth-generation Honda Prelude may not be a worthy successor to its predecessors or the cult classic CR-Z, it aims to be a performative hybrid sports car that emphasizes an engaging driving experience, catering to drivers who appreciate a relaxed yet spirited approach on the road.

Available Colors: Moonlit White Pearl, Meteoroid Gray Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, and Flame Red.

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.