Let's Do The News! (March 15, 2013)

River's Diary

Right, what's the news today you spoiler-laden TARDIS journal?

Habemus Papam, Pope Francis

Well, not quite as we expected to be but the whole Catholic population welcomed the new Pope, which will effectively become the successor of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI. Not only that, we have finally witnessed the world's first Latin American Pope, hailed from Argentina. The Argentinian that was once known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, aged 76, is now Pope Francis. HABEMUS PAPAM!

Who is Pope Francis? Read the profile at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21777141

A New Chinese Leader...

As I heard, there's a new president in China that completes China's 10-yearly transition of power. The name, Xi Jinping, is China's new president who was appointed to the Communist Party's top post in November, replaces Hu Jintao, who is stepping down.

Further details: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-21781847

DW Head Honcho Caro Skinner left...

Sad news for DW fans that Doctor Who's executive producer and the right-hand woman to showrunner Steven Moffat, Caro Skinner, is leaving Doctor Who to join BBC Drama Production in London. She leaves the show in good shape, with a brilliant new run of blockbuster episodes starting on Easter Saturday.

"It has been an honour to have been a part of Doctor Who, and a privilege to have worked with Steven Moffat and Matt Smith on this extraordinary show.  I have hugely enjoyed my time in BBC Wales and would like to thank Faith Penhale, and our wonderful production team for their unending commitment and brilliance.  I will miss them all enormously, but I’m leaving Doctor Who in fine form, with the new series starting at Easter and the fantastic plans for the 50th Anniversary already underway.  I am delighted to be now returning to BBC Drama Production in London as an executive producer, and the new opportunities and projects that will bring." - Caro Skinner

Story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/articles/Doctor-Who-Executive-Producer-Moves-On

Citroën DS3 Racing Gold Mat

Citroen DS3 Racing Gold Mat

There's a new version of the DS3 Racing, the hotter version of the Citroen DS3 which was inspired from the DS3's WRC involvement. Called the Gold Mat, the special model features a matte-black body highlighted by a matte-gold roof, rear wing, mirrors, and Citroën chevron badging. It still features the same improved 1.6 turbo engine from the original DS3 Racing.

The DS3R Gold Mat is limited to 3000 units worldwide, that's three times more than the sold-out original!

Story: http://blog.caranddriver.com/2013-citroen-ds3-racing-limited-edition-hotrod-celebrates-world-rally-championship/

Toyota Corolla meets HyunA

Don't call this a CF, okay, but anyway, Toyota USA featured a two-minute clip of the Toyota Corolla with famed K-Pop personality HyunA. This clip's called My Color and it's not quite to be called a CF but watch this clip and find out...

Forza Horizon: Pre-Order Cars available for the public

Hey there! Missed one of those pre-order cars for Forza Horizon? Thinking that you've chose the wrong pre-order car or you want to have more than what you've bargain for? Guess we're in luck because announced and went on sale yesterday, those pre-order bonus cars are now available on the XBOX Marketplace for 400MSP and for that, you'll be able to complete the set of five pre-order cars and you will be thankful for that.

Cars you'll be getting, in cased you missed one, are...

Nissan 370Z - Nissan's latest incarnation of the Fairlady Z, codenamed Z34, carries the legendary Z-car tradition within its modern look, athletic stance, and its 3.7L V6 engine mated with a 6-speed manual transmission that comes with SynchroRev Match, where the gear matches the sound of the revs.

Don't be deceived by its headline

Aston Martin Virage - Aston Martin's grand tourer that slots between the DB9 and the DBS offers a perfect balance between style and performance.

Yes, really. It really is...

Volkswagen Golf VI R - The high-performance version of the sixth-generation Golf offers athletic footwork in hatchback proportions.

Waking up the neighbors, eh?

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG - AMG's halo car which is the spiritual successor of the gullwing-doored 300SL packs some elegance on design with some spartan performance.

A perfect bounty for a storage hunter

Ferrari 458 Italia - The latest V8 grand tourer from Ferrari offers exceptional balance in the performance scale and attracts a mass scale of fans everywhere.

Pretty, isn't it?

Now that you have all five pre-order cars, which of these five tickles your fancy?

Top Gear USA D-Day prepping

The boys are Prepping for D-Day

The boys of Top Gear USA are making the ultimate post-apocalypse vehicle for not much money and these guys are on a "prepping" when the end is nigh.

Cheaper than the MRAP and using the Toyota Camry (which is America's best selling car for decades) as a basis, their D-day car is loaded with some deadly contraptions (and some electric fences to spice things up) that can survive the dystopic wastelands.

Getting in, use of weapons, how fast, and failing the GPS, their dystopic Camry sure is getting interested until on the final challenge where they've been faced against The Stig in the dystopic Lincoln Town Car while looting as much supplies as possible before The Stig hunts the boys down. That was the opportunity to use its full capabilities as a hardened survival machine.

In the end, despite The Stig triggered one of two smoke mods, the boys made it at the finish line and their D-day Camry is capable when the time has come....

Tirso Cruz III, IHAW NA!

On 3/12/13's Banana NITE's Ihaw Na segment, Tito Bhoy interviews veteran actor Tirso Cruz III about being Budoy's real dad, the dad of the character Kris played on Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw, and some other stuff...

Meanwhile, Angelica Panganiban showcases some more funny pics from the internet in ETO NA POST. Funny pics such as the wet floor sign in the fountain, WANTED COOKED, and some small selection from the Banana Split inbox.

And now, top stories from KANDILA;

1) Bagong Pakulong MRT Bus, pumalpak. Naipit sa trapik. - New idea from MMDA? Put the bus in top of the MRT!

2) La Salle Lady Spikers, nasungkit ang tropeo ng UAAP Volleyball Championship. - Heh, what what? Na-SUNGKIT ang tropeo!

Let's Do The News! (March 12, 2013)

River's Diary

Right, what's the news today you spoiler-laden TARDIS journal?

New Generation Range Rover Sport teased

The all-new generation Range Rover Sport, the sport-focused brother of the new generation Range Rover has been teased on its all new video. Check out this teaser video and find out...



COMING SOON...

Kurobas death threat cancel Shadow Trickster Osaka 2 event

Well, it seems that the whole death threat issues against Kuroko no Basuke manga and anime has always been making too much headlines for the otakus. Now, this is the latest news straight out from the Kurobas death threat malarkey as Studio You, the company that organizes the Kurobas-themed Shadow Trickster dojinshi event across Japan, announced that the Shadow Trickster Osaka 2 event planned for April 7 has been cancelled. Need to remind that the first was originally scheduled for November of last year but cancelled due to numerous death theats...

Story: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-03-11/kuroko-basketball-threats-cancel-osaka-dojinshi-event

First of the NMKV venture unveiled - it's the new eK Wagon!

2014 Mitsubishi eK Wagon

2014 Nissan Dayz

The first kei car under the Nissan-Mitsubishi joint venture is non other than the all new 2014 eK Wagon and its Nissan equivalent (which will replace the Otti) the Dayz. Although details remain too little for now, both of these kei cars will be launched in Summer 2013 across Japan. Need to remind you that what you're looking up here is the third-generation eK Wagon from Mitsubishi and for this generation, it will be offered in normal version and the uber-stylish eK Custom. For its Nissan Dayz equivalent, it will be offered in the normal version and the Highway Star model which is different to the eK Custom from Mitsubishi. The 2014 Mitsubishi eK and the 2014 Nissan Dayz is the first of the NMKV joint venture.

Jeremy Clarkson in "hot water" after Australia visit

Top Gear Africa Special ending

Sure Jeremy Clarkson announced that Top Gear will return this summer but there's a baffle of news that really sends this infamous Top Gear presenter in hot water. This time, it was after his visit in Australia with James May for promoting the Top Gear Festival in Sydney. Some Aussie media warned Clarkson not to come back to Australia (ever) after he hit out at a group of photographers at a Sydney restaurant saying, “You can take them out of England, but you can’t take the convict out of them,” as they tried to photograph him with his former mistress.

Huh? Well that doesn't seem right to snap a pic of a womanizing Jeremy Clarkson. Well, guess Australia bids "good bye and good riddance" to Jeremy Clarkson as he and May left to NZ to continue the promotion (or better yet for a shooting of the upcoming 20th season)

Story: http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/top-sneer-host-should-change-gear/story-fnh4jt61-1226592986764

Kathryn Bernardo, IHAW NA!

In the March 11, 2013 episode of Banana Nite, Tito Bhoy interviews Kathryn Bernardo about how it feels about being a famed young actress, about being with Daniel Padilla, or something else from her...

Then, Krissy and Senator Merriam are back for more talks in KRISSY AND ME. This time, they're showcasing some hats for some HAT TOPIC!

Forza Motorsport 4: 2003 Renault Sport Clio V6

Paradise in the hottest hatch from the past!

There was one main reason why Renault created the first ever mid-engined hot hatchback based on the second-generation Clio (known in Japan as the Renault Lutecia) and that's because there wasn't enough room to place the 3.0L V6 so what they did here is remove the back seats and place the V6 engine midships.

The V6 engine that powers it was lifted from the Laguna while shifting was provided by a 6-speed manual gearbox. For a car with little size and big power, the Clio/Lutecia V6 comes with a specially designed struts and with the grip done by wide tires, the Clio/Lutecia V6 transformed into a road-hugging machine when it faced a corner. What's more, the V6 Clio transformed an front wheel drive car into a midship RWD rocket.

At the 2002 Paris Motor Show, a facelifted Clio V6, under the banner "Phase 2" was revealed and it comed with an improved V6 engine that generates 251HP of power, revised suspension geometry and larger 18-inch rims.

Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the Clio V6 at Series 2, Episode 5 of BBC Top Gear and when handed to The Stig, it set a lap time of 01:36.2 at the Top Gear Test Track in "very wet" condition.