Following his humiliating forfeit over his win at Mexico City, Lucas di Grassi of Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport is back for revenge as he claimed his latest win in the Long Beach ePrix of the FIA Formula E 2015-2016 season while Venturi's Stephane Sarrazin and Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport's Daniel ABT placed 3rd. Mahindra's Nick Heidfeld and Bruno Senna placed 4th and 5th respectively.
Highlights:
Onto the overall standings; Di Grassi's recent win pushed him to the top spot with 101 points while Renault e.Dams' Sebastien Buemi's in 2nd spot with 100 points, and DS Virgin Racing's Sam Bird in 3rd place with 71 points. The next race will commence on Paris, France, on the 23rd of April.
Another round, another love-hate scenario as expected on the F1 2016 season as the Bahrain GP still retains that controversial elimination-style qualifying round that drivers showed dismayed over it. Sure, officials announced that they will revert it back to its classic qualifying but didn't happened when other teams couldn't unanimously agree.
Despite retaining the worst qualifying format, the battle between the best racers on the circuit we all know is still kicking on with some flips and flops among the elite drivers fighting for the podium and once again, Mercedes' Nico Rosberg wins it all, making it his fifth win in the row in his career while Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen placed 2nd and Lewis Hamilton placed 3rd. Other racers who made it to the finish line are Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat, Romain Grosjean from Haas, Max Verstappen from Toro Rosso, Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas from Williams, and Stoffel Vandoorne from McLaren-Honda.
The next race is set at China on the 17th of April.
Recent satellite imagery from the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University shows that smoke is rising from a plutonium production facility in North Korea, raising suspicions about activities there.
The image, dated March 12, shows smoke rising from a chimney stake at the Nyongbyon nuclear complex. The researchers say the smoke was observed on 2 or 3 occassions over the partial 5 weeks. It is unknown if this means reprocessing of additional plutonoum underway at the facility or will be in the near future. But they note that US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper stated in February that North Korea could begin extracting plutonium within a few weeks or months.
Last year, North Korea said that all facilities at the Nyongbyon facility have resumed normal operations.
- The Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to file usurpation of authority and graft chargest against former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and former Special Action Force director Getulio Napenas over last year's Mamasapano incident. The two were also found liable for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
- Back to the money laundering case, RCBC ex-branch manager Maia Santo Deguito told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that the bank's president Lorenzo Tan knew about the incident. The former employee denied that she knows another businessman suspected to be the beneficiary of the bank heist, Weikang Xu. She also said she didn't deliver any funds to Solaire and didn't receive a single cent.
- Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, who's nearing on his final battle against Tim Bradley this weekend, was nearly assaulted last weekend as he emerged from lunch with a large group of family members and friends in his favorite Japanese restaurant. A certain male rushing at Pacquiao, calling him a "homophobe", as the boxer stood by the door of his sportscar at the parking area near the restaurant along Vine Street near Sunset Boulevard. The assailant was restrained by one of Pacquiao's friends in LA and then subdued by their friends.
- Vietnam has confirmed its first Zika virus infections. The nation's health ministry announced that a 33-year-old female in Ho Chi Minh and a 64-year-old female in Nha Trange were confirmed to have the virus. The two women reported having fever and headaches in late March. The younger patient is said to be 8 weeks pregnant. Health authorities are testing the patients' families and neighbors, but haven't confirmed any new infections so far.
- 60 people died from a heavy rainfall in the northern and northwestern regions of Pakistan. Police and local government officials said the death toll covers fatalities reported by Monday. Rain has caused mudslides in multiple areas of the northern mountainous region, cutting off roads.
- BBC announced the initial cast of the upcoming Doctor Who spinoff drama, Class. The new drama series will feature new artists such as Greg Austin, Fady Elsayed, Sophie Hopkins, and Vivian Oparah as one of the students at Coal Hill School and they will be joined by actress Katherine Kelly, as the new teacher in this school. Class is coming this year.
- Nico-nico-ni! Nico Yazawa completes the Love Live! School Idol Project figma range and she's now available to order starting at 5,370 Yen plus tax. Deliveries will commence this October. Or, if the figma toy of her is not suitable to your liking, fear not because a scale figure of her by FREEing is now available to order starting at 9,074 Yen plus tax. Deliveries will commence this October as well.
figma Nico Yazawa
FREEing Nico Yazawa
- Tesla Motors announced that their recently-unveiled Model 3 will have an all-wheel drive layout just like the rest of the lineup and it will come with an optional dual-motor. Last week since its unveiling, Tesla received 276,000 reservations for the Model 3.
- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga kalyeserye, Yaya Pak's starting her first day of the job as the new yaya and Lola Tinidora and Divina's trying to teach their newbie up, even with disastrous results. After her rough first day with them, Yaya Pak received a phone call but what's going on? Tune in next time and find out!!!
The South Korean National Defense Commission issued a statement that North Korea lambasted the People's Republic of China for supporting last month's UN Security Council sanctions resolution against the Communist nation.
Without singling out China, the statement indirectly blames the country for damaging a precious legacy and tradition by responding to US demands and supporting the hostile policy of the UN resolution. It came out two days after the Rodong Sinmun carried a commentary apparently critical of China.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed his readiness to collaborate with the US when he met with President Barack Obama on Thursday, saying that China will find ways to cooperate in global issues, including the denuclearization of North Korea.
- Davao city mayor and presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte received a reply from Pope Francis to the letter of apology for cursing at the pope last year. According to his assistant, a photo of the Pope's reply to Duterte was posted even if Duterte earlier said he will not release a copy of the Vatican letter until the end of next month's elections.
- The Olongapo court reduced the sentence on US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton for the murder of transgender Jennifer Laude. The court reduced his sentence to a maximum of ten years according to reports, cited "passion" and "intoxication" as mitigating circumstances for the decision.
- The annual Balikatan exercises kicks off today with the Philippines' new military assets will be put to test such as the landing craft heavy ships sourced from Australia for 726 million pesos. The first two ships arrived last August while the three remaining arrived last month. Two of the five ships will be used in this exercies.
- Foreign journalists are now allowed to visit relevant islands and reefs in the disputed South China Sea, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry official. Despite reports of rising tensions in the disputed sea, the Chinese Foreign Ministry assured that the situation in the region is stable as China is resolute on safeguarding its rights and sovereignty over the disputed waters.
- Greece starts deporting migrants to Turkey under the deal between them and the European Union to help curb mass migration into Europe. Buses carrying migrants arrived at a port on the Greek island of Lesbos Monday morning. They boarded two ship under heavy police guard and later left for Turkey.
- The Brussels Airport has been partially reopened with tightened security 12 days after the attack. The operator says three Brussels Airlines flights to Greece, Portugal, and Turkey took off on Sunday, the first day of the resumed service. On the 22nd of March, two suicide bombers detonated explosives at an airport and a subway on the Belgian capital, killing 32 people and injured 340.
- The French capital of Paris held an annual marathon under heightened security, following last November's terror attacks. Around 46,000 runners from about 140 countries took part in the 40th Paris Marathon on Sunday and ran a route that crosses the city east to west, passing scenic spots such as the River Seine, the Louvre Museum, and the Eiffel Tower.
- An indie film about a dystopian Hong Kong has won the best picture award at this year's Hong Kong Film Awards, but the state-run Chinese television didn't broadcast the ceremony. The indie film "Ten Years" features what would Hong Kong be like if its under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party ten years later. It was shown at an only theater in Hong Kong last year but it became a major hit as people apparently felt the movie is close to the reality of life in Hong Kong. Complimentary showings were held at over 30 locations, including public facities across the city, on Friday.
- Three year-old Caitlin Soleil Lucas or Courageous Caitie died on the 31st of March, 2016, due to a rare type of blood cancer and her memorial service held at the Arlington Memorial Church yesterday for the young one is a big one because it's wedding-themed...and Stormtroopers included in her funeral. Three-year old Caitie inspired millions of netizens because of her courage and cheery disposition despite battling her rare disease.
- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga kalyeserye; Lola Tinidora's settling the yayas once and for all in a game of arm-wrestling and whoever wins will be named as their new yaya. Yaya In, Yaya Glo, and Yaya Git lost the game but the winner of the game of arm wrestling with Lola Tinidora is the hard-hitting Yaya Pak! So, what will be Yaya Pak's first duty in the mansion? Tune in next time and find out!
From the first to the third of April, the entire St. Peter's Square is packed of people to attend the Jubliee for those devoted to the Spirituality of Divine Mercy, part of the ongoing Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.
During the course of the three-day event, Pope Francis urged the Catholic dioceses worldwide to set up a permanent memorial of the Year of Mercy by establishing a hostpital, home for the aged or school in an under-served area.
The Pope said the idea came to him during a meeting with a charitable organization and he decided to mention it at the vigil with participants of the Europeaqn gathering of the World Apostolic Congress of Mercy and followers of the Divine Mercy devotion.
Pope Francis said that the Divine Mercy Sunday celebration was "like the heart of the Year of Mercy" and he announced that Catholic parishes across Europe would be asked to take up a special collection on the 24th of April as a sign of closeness and solidarity with people suffering from the Eastern Ukraine conflicts.
