Let's Do The News! (October 28, 2015)

- A US defense official says that they will continue navigating their naval vessels in waters off Chinese-made islands in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Yesterday, the US government confirmed that their destroyer passed within 12 nautical miles of the Subi Reef, one of the seven reefs reclaimed by China.

- Last Monday, a powerful M7.5 quake struck Afghanistan, killing less than 300 people and injured over 1,600, according to the Pakistani government. The quake struck not just in northern Afghanistan but also wide areas in countries including Pakistan, India, and Uzbekistan. Right now, emergency workers are conducting SAR operations in affected areas. The Taliban is also conducting SAR as well.

- According to a nationwide poll in the US, business tycoon Donald Trump has fallen from the top spot in the race for the Republican Party's presidential nomination, beaten by former neurosurgeon Ben Carson.

- According to the head of the International Olympic Committee, refugee athletes are more than welcome to take on next year's Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Until now, qualified refugee athletes weren't able to participate in Olympics because they couldn't represent their home country and its national Olympic committee, but the IOC decided to allow refugee athletes to participate and live in the Olympic Village alongside the other athletes, and march with the Olympic flag in the opening ceremony.

- Senator Grace Poe apologized the public over her perception that she dropped former Senator Ping Lacson from her senatorial slate in next year's elections.

- Rugby organizations unveiled the official logo for the 2019 World Rugby Cup in Japan.

- Tekken 7 is coming on the Playstation4 and PlaystationVR! This was announced during the Paris Games Week's PlayStation conference. Finally! Reunited with its rightful console with new and exciting ways to bring the latest installment in Bandai Namco's hard-hitting fighting franchise to everyone.

- Gran Turismo Sport is announced and it's coming to the Playstation4 with a beta access coming this 2016. GT Sport features a new step in the fastest-selling racing simulator franchise with partnership with FIA, turning this game into a competitive sport in its own right. Players can represent their home nations or represent their favorite car manufacturer.



- The title of the upcoming Sherlock special episode is titled "The Abominable Bride" and, for the first time ever, it will be aired on the same day on BBC One in the UK, and on PBS in the US, New Year's Day 2016.

TTFN!!!

007: SPECTRE

007: SPECTRE

This is by no means one of the most aggressive Bond films to date and Daniel Craig gave everything he got to show that his tenure as James Bond is on his ultimate peak in this 24th installment of Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 films.

Set in events after 2012's SKYFALL, a cryptic message sends Bond on a path to a confrontation with the sinister organization known as SPECTRE. This organization was known for threatening global stability so memorably in past Bond films like Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Thunderball, and You Only Live Twice, and for this film, viewers have a glimpse to check out the hidden world of the evil organization Bond's after. Thing is, they're nothing more of a cult bent on using the art of ethnic cleansing to rid of everything that stand in their own way...which is kinda villainous.

In addition to returning cast such as Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomie Harris as Moneypenny, and Ben Whishaw as Q, SPECTRE introduces two Bond girls in the films such as Lea Seydoux and Monica Bellucci as well as Bond villains such as Christoph Waltz and former WWE superstar Dave Bautista, among many others in store. Looks like the cast is like a mixture of brains, beauties, and brawns but nothing is more so than the cars featured in the film.

Aston Martin DB10

Jaguar C-X75 Bond Concept

Back in 2002, in Pierce Brosnan's final Bond film, Die Another Day, there was an epic car chase between the Aston Martin Vanquish and the Jaguar XKR, driven by a North Korean spy Zao (Rick Yune), on a frozen lake in Iceland. Fast forward 13 years to now and the battle between the two British carmakers in the world of Bond is back and this time, in the form of two one-off machines on a nighttime chase in Rome. There was this Aston Martin made exclusively for the film, the DB10, and then the Jaguar C-X75 Concept, with some modifications suited for Dave Bautista's character in the film, Hinx. Ain't Bond cars grand? That epic car chase between the two will keep cinemagoers hanging until the part where the Aston burns the Jag. That's one thing kids might remember and doing it at home until their mama caught them and telling them to head straight to the toilets.

Anyway, the film's storyline pushes to its aggressiveness and so is Craig's because most of the classic Bond moments cinemagoers want are all blended in with some interrogation, some torture, some escape plans, some suggestive themes, and the suspense that keeps on building until the keystone pops. Although, there are some few kinks that need to be worked out, the Bond formula is all in to bring SPECTRE a burning desire to put all spy films of 2015 into shambles but not most of it.

As for the music, well, we love the opening theme "Writing's On The Wall" by Sam Smith because it sounds so dramatic as every good opening Bond theme should be but it's the BGMs in the film that some might feel pleased because it matches the tone to every scene of the film very perfectly and acoustically tuned for perfection.

SPECTRE may not be one of the best films of 2015 but it's definitely one of the best action films of the year and with all that explosive stuff going on, I'd expect that every action junkie who saw that film head back home and start making some noises similar to the film until his mama come here and send him straight to the toilets. Sorry, personal experiences, but this is definitely a must-watch Bond movie before your mama send you to the toilets.

My rating: 5 out of 5. 

FIA Formula E 2015-2016 - Beijing

The second season of the FIA Formula E kicked off in Beijing, China. Looks like the new season promises to be more exciting than ever with improved powertrains, more locations than before, new and returning teams, and many more in store for the 2015-2016 season.

At the end of the first round of this new season, Sebastien Buemi from e.dams placed first followed by ABT Schaeffler's Lucas di Grassi, who placed 2nd, and Nick Heidfeld from Mahindra, who placed 3rd.

Race highlights:



The next race is set at Putrajaya, Malaysia, on the 7th of November, 2015.

F1 2015: US GP

Image: Getty Images

It was a wet and wild action happening at Austin, Texas, probably because of the rainy weather due to the weakened Hurricane Patricia, but that rainy weather is one heck of a equalizer for the best of Formula One racers gunning to the top podium at this season's US Grand Prix.

In the end, Mercedes'  Lewis Hamilton scored ten wins for this season after placing first in the race, followed by his teammate Nico Rosberg, who placed 2nd, and Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, who placed 3rd. Among the other racers survived and finished are Daniil Kvyat, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel (despite a ten-spot grid penalty given for using a fifth engine and dropped to 13th), Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg from Force India, Felipe Massa from Williams, Max Verstappen from Toro Rosso, Fernando Alonso from McLaren, and Romain Grosjean from Lotus.

Onto the overall standings, Hamilton's first place lead improved with 327 points followed by Vettel with 251 points and Rosberg with 247 points.

Only three races remaining for this season and the next race will be in Mexico on the 1st of November.

Report: Toyota may not sell new RAV4 to Japan at all

Japan won't be getting this latest-generation RAV4 at all...

When the fourth-generation Toyota RAV4 was sold in the world market, we have kept wondering why this latest-generation model isn't sold in Japan, even though its latest facelifted model offered a hybrid model fit for the Japanese consumers. Sadly though, looks like Japan won't be getting this latest-generation RAV4 at all because there's a report told that Toyota will stop selling the RAV4 to the Japanese market this Spring. Take note that only the third-generation RAV4 was still available in Japan as of now.

It is expected that it will be replaced by a new compact crossover derived from the C-HR Concept in a few months' time.

Report: http://www.nikkan.co.jp/news/nkx0420151027aaba.html

Let's Do The News! (October 27, 2015)

- Reports shown that a US Navy vessel begun patrolling within 12 nautical miles of artificial islands built by the People's Republic of China in the South China Sea. A USS Lassen destroyer approached within 12 miles of the Chinese-made islands in the disputed Spratly Islands on Tuesday.

- US President Barack Obama and his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widowo, have agreed to strengthen their maritime security cooperation. It is Joko's first visit to the US since assuming office last year. The two sides confirmed they would cooperate more closely in the development of naval equipment and supply of military materials.

- The World Health Organization warns the public that the consumption of processed meat increases the risk of cancer, and red meat is also likely to cause the disease. Experts said that each 50 gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 percent, compared with those who don't consume such foods. Red meat, including beef and pork, was classified as probably carcinogenic.

- Former comedian Jimmy Morales is named as the new president of Guatemala following his electoral win in Sunday's presidential elections. Morales gained 67% of the votes, beating former first lady Sandra Torres with 33% of the votes.

- Over two thousand sheep have been led by shepherds through the streets of Madrid, the capital city of Spain, as part of an annual migration. Every year, the sheep are herded to the south of the country with warmer grazing lands.

- Actress and presenter Amy Perez was saddened over the sudden changes in TV5's entertainment department where she used to belong. Last August, TV5 reportedly undergoing major retrenchment by closing some of its departments including their entertainment department for the next few months. The network offered special voluntary separation program to employees as well. When Amy Perez used to worked with TV5, she's the presenter of shows such as Face To Face, Untold Stories Mula Sa Face To Face, Sapul Sa Singko, Ang Latest, and Good Morning Club, before she returned to ABS-CBN.

- The cast of the upcoming film, My Bebe Love, began their pictorials.

- Actress Angel Locsin confirms that ABS-CBN has chosen a new actress that will replace her on the role of one of the Philippines' legendary superheroes, Darna. Locsin is now under medication to treat the injury she has acquired in training to play the superhero.

- Over 41 million tweets about last Saturday's AlDub event are recorded! This is still a new world record for the most number of tweets at Twitter, eclipsing last year's World Cup match.

TTFN!!!

Daniel Craig's involvement in the world of James Bond

Daniel Craig

007: SPECTRE, the 24th James Bond film, from Albert R. Broccoli's EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment, might signal the end of Daniel Craig's tenure as James Bond, and despite all rumors, we enjoyed Craig's role as James Bond as well as the more topical, realistic approach to the Bond movies he's been through. To commemorate the latest Bond flick, which will hit British cinemas now and soon the rest of the world, let's jot down Daniel's involvement in the world of James Bond.

Casino Royale (2006) - This is Daniel Craig's first outing as James Bond in the film Casino Royale, based on the very first Bond book written by Ian Fleming highlighting Bond's first mission as a 00 Agent. Spanning from Madagascar, Miami, Montenegro, to Venice, Bond's mission is to track down a terrorist named Le Chiffre, played by Mads Mikkelsen (the guy who became Dr. Hannibal Lecter on TV) as he organizes a high-stake poker game at Casino Royale. Throughout his first assignment, he encounters Vesper Lynd (played by Eva Green), a member of a Financial Action Task Force who became Bond's love interest until her untimely death in Venice.

Quantum of Solace (2008) - Daniel Craig's second Bond film picks up where Casino Royale left off. Desperate to find out who blackmailed Vesper, Bond is on a race against time to unmask the organization behind it until he pinpoints an eco terrorist named Dominic Greene (played by Mathieu Amalrio) who has links to the organization Bond's after. Bond is later accompanied by a Bolivian agent named Camille Rivera (played by Olga Kurylenko) who seeks revenge against General Luis Medrano, who murdered her family in the past.

SKYFALL (2012) - Probably known to be one of the most successful Bond films to date, SKYFALL pits Bond to a race against time as he takes on a sadistic terrorist named Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) while M (Judi Dench) tries to prove her innocence to the court following Bond's latest assignment ended in failure and the exposure of agents worldwide. This film introduces Ralph Fiennes as Mallory, the new Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee (who became the new M at the end of the film following the death of the former M in the film), Ben Whishaw as Q, and Naomie Harris as Eve (later known as Miss Moneypenny at the end). It also sees the return of the iconic Aston Martin DB5, as seen on Goldfinger.

SPECTRE (2015) - The latest Bond film evoked memories of the ruthless evil organization that had threatened global stability so memorably in past Bond films like Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Thunderball, and You Only Live Twice. In addition to returning cast such as Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomie Harris as Moneypenny, and Ben Whishaw as Q, SPECTRE features a stark and powerful cast such as Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Monica Bellucci, and former WWE superstar Dave Bautista (who will be the villain driving a Jaguar C-X75 in the film's nighttime car chase against Daniel Craig, as Bond, in an Aston Martin DB10).