Let's Do The News! (July 7, 2016)

- Typhoon Butchoy has slowed down as it continues to move closer to Taiwan, according to PAGASA. The eye of the storm was located 160km Northeast of Itbayat, Batanes with max sustained winds of 205 kph and gusts of up to 240kph. It is forecasted to move west northwest at 17kph and expected to leaver the PAR on Friday.

- The Philippine National Police on Thursday revealed that they are part of solving possible human rights violations committed by policemen during anti-drug operations. A certain lawmaker, earlier, filed a resolution calling on the House of Representatives to investigate extrajudicial killings and summary executions of suspected drug violators and criminals. Since Duterte's inauguration, at least 30 drug suspects have been killed and over 900 drug users and pushers have surrendered.

- The PDP-Laban party asked the Supreme Court to junk COMELEC's resolution granting the Liberal Party's request to extend the deadline of the submission of statements of contributions and expenditures. The party is the second to file a petition questioning COMELEC's decision to extend the deadline of the filing of SOCE.

- The death toll from Sunday's Baghdad terror attack by the Islamic State has reached 250, which makes it the deadliest since the beginning of the Iraqi War in 2003. An Iraqi Health Ministry reported that 250 people were killed about 200 others were wounded when a car bomb exploded in a largely Shia district in the Iraqi capital last weekend. The war 13 years ago deepen religious animosity between Shia and Sunni Muslims int he country.

- Former UK PM Tony Blair said he accepts responsibility for the decision of his country to take part in the Iraq War since 2003. Blair says it was the hardest decision he took in his 10 years as prime minister and expressed more sorrow, regret, and apology than people may ever know.

- The investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server during her tenure as Secretary of State has ended without any charges. US Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced that she accepted the FBI's recommendation. The FBI on Tuesday recommended that no criminal charges be brought in the case while saying Clinton was careless in handling classified information.

- The Spanish court has sentenced Argentinian soccer superstar Lionel Messi to 21 months in prison for defrauding tax authorities of 4.6 million dollars. The court on Wednesday found Messi guilty of tax evasion by using companies in overseas tax havens. He was also fined of 2.3 million dollars.

- The Harry Potter-spinoff movie, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, is set to hit theaters this Autumn but J.K. Rowling said she has completed script for its upcoming sequel. The first film is the first of the Fantastic Beasts trilogy.

- Former SexBomb girl Sugar cries for help over her legal battle with her estranged husband. A video of her asking for help went viral, following the child abuse complaint filed by her estranged husband Kristofer Jay Go. Since last year, Sugar filed a complaint against her husband for violating the RA 9262 law or Anti-Violence Against Women and Children act of 2004.

- Following their crushing defeat by the New Zealand basketball team and their hopes to be part of the Rio Olympics ended in shambles, GILAS Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin stressed the need to play more tune-up games for the national team in future endeavors, especially if it expects to be successful in the world of basketball.

- Today marks the 51st weeksary of AlDub.

FIA Formula E 2015-2016 FINALE

The two-part London finale at the 2015-2016 season of the FIA Formula E Championship really ends this season with a major twist unheard of in the world of motorsports as Sebastien Buemi and Lucas di Grassi ended up not finishing the last race but thanks to the "fastest lap" tiebreaker, Buemi wins and he is named as the FIA Formula E 2015-2016 champion.

That was quite a twist in the world of motorsports when everyone noticed that two top drivers ended up in a crash but settled in a fast lap tiebreaker to determine this season's champion.

Highlights:

And that concludes this season of the FIA Formula E Championship and for the upcoming 2016-2017 season, there will be big changes for this championship as well as the addition of the questionable RoboRace. Wonder how will the next season unfolds for the future of zero-emission motorsport like this? Only time will tell...

Let's Do The News! (July 6, 2016)

- Typhoon Butchoy has intensified further as it maintained its speed and direction as of 1100 hours local time, according to PAGASA. Butchoy packed maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230kph while its estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to heavy within the 550km diameter of the typhoon. Signal No. 1 was issued over the Batanes Group of Islands.

- President Rodrigo Duterte extended his greetings to Filipino Muslims as they commemorate Eid'l Fitr, the annual feast which marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month. In his message to Filipino Muslims, Duterte describe this year's Eid'l Fitr as "timely and relevant" given the change of leadership.

- Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said the three police generals linked to illegal drugs have reported to him and have already been turned over to the NAPOLCOM for formal investigation.

- Onto the race to the White House for the November 2016 elections, US President Barack Obama has joined presumptive Democratic presidentiable Hillary Clinton on her campaign for the first time at a rally in North Carolina on Tuesday. Clinton praised Obama, saying he was the president who knew how to keep America safe and strong. Republican presidentiable Donald Trump, meanwhile, harshly condemns Clinton over her controversial email scandal. Trump referred to the FBI's decision not to file charges against her for using a private email server while she was secretary of state, which the agency called her handling of classified information "extremely careless". Of course, the FBI says it will not press criminal charges against Clinton over her e-mail scandal following last week's interview because the agency did not find clear evidence that they intended to violate the law and there was no "intentional misconduct".

- Brazil has increased security in venues to be used in the Rio 2016 Olympics and other public spaces before next month's games are open. Justice minister Alexandre de Moraes spoke at the Olumpic security forces' launch ceremony before 1,000 personnel.

- Although the Islamic holy month of Ramadan has ended, countries remain on high alert following multiple terrorist attacks during the month. During the holy month, deadly attack were carried out in countries including Turkey, Bangladesh, and Iraq.

- Aston Martin unveiled the AM-RB 001 hypercar in collaboration with Red Bull Racing. Combined with ultra-lightweight materials as well as its V12 engine, it claims to have an impossible 1:1 power-to-weight ratio, just like the Koenigsegg One:1. Deliveries will commence this 2018.

 

- An open-top version of the Ferrari LaFerrari hybrid hypercar has been uncovered prior to its Paris Motor Show debut this fall. Before its announcement, all of the units have been officially sold out.

TTFN!!!

F1 2016: Austrian GP

Photo: Getty Images

Despite a rainy weather in Spielberg, Austria, the rivalry between Mercedes-AMG's F1 aces, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, heated the Austrian GP of the F1 2016 season and as demonstrated by their last-lap contact between them at the finish line, it's anyone's guess how long will this cat-and-mouse game will last until the end of term. Of course, with Hamilton winning the Austrian GP following Rosberg's "incident", the gap between them is now reduced to 11 points in the overall standings. Following Hamilton's win, Red Bull rookie Max Verstappen taste another podium finish after holding off Kimi Raikkonen to secure third place while Sebastian Vettel's 2nd place finish is not too shabby for Ferrari, either.

The next race is set at Great Britain on the 10th of July.

Juno probe successfully reached Jupiter

After a five-year journey, NASA's Juno probe has successfully reached Jupiter.

Launched in August 2011, Juno completed entry into Jupiter's orbit at around 0353 hours UTC, making it the second probe to enter Jupiter since the Galileo in 1995. It will orbit Jupiter over the next 18 months and conduct observations from an altitude of 5,000km - the closest a probe has reached the planet's surface.

With Juno, NASA scientists will be able to discover more about the planet Jupiter.

Further reading: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/36710768

*Creative visualization

Let's Do The News! (July 5, 2016)

- A typhoon named Butchoy has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility Tuesday afternoon. Although not expected to make landfall, the typhoon is expected to enhance due to habagat in the next few days. The eye of the typhoon, according to PAGASA, was located at 1,440km east of Baler, Aurora.

- President Rodrigo Duterte named the five high-ranking officials from the Philippine National Police allegedly involved in illegal drugs. During his speech at the Philippine Air Force's 69th anniversary, Duterte warned officials involved in illegal drugs and named PNP Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr., former NCR Police Office chief Director Joel Pagdilao, Western Visayas regional director Chief Superintendent Bernardo Diaz, Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio, and retired police general Vic Loot.

- Vice President Leni Robredo, meanwhile, will hold a leadership position in the Liberal Party as stated by the rules of the political party. Robredo said the LP has yet to meet formally after President Duterte's first SONA on the 25th this month.

- Onto the Brexit aftermath, UKIP leader Nigel Farage, one of the spearheaders of the successful campaign to leave the European Union in the referendum last month, says he is stepping down from his position. Farage told reporters that he has done his bit, and couldn't possibly achieve more than he did in the referendum. He will remain as a member of the European Parliament and continues to work with other European lawmakers skeptical of the EU.

- Onto the Istanbul airport attack, Turkish authorities suspect a network of former Soviet extremists may be behind the attack. Reports told that the organizer behind the attack was Akhmed Chatayev from Chechnya, southern Russia. He is believed to be a leader in the Islamic State group.

- People across the United States of America have celebrated Independence Day under maximum security against potential attacks. Traditional festivities such as fireworks displays and parades are held every year on the 4th of July in honor of America's independence from British tyranny from 1776.

- The iconic Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst will be having a second layout to the Eastern part of the track soon. The Bathurst Regional Council has secured the land needed to make the proposal. The project is expected to cost 50 million dollars, not including the cost of securing the 32-hectare plot of land.

- Cardcaptor Sakura's 20th anniversary celebration continues with two new Nendoroid Co-de variants of Sakura Kinomoto, They're both available to order for 2,778 Yen plus tax and arrives this November.

- Jyushimatsu and Todomatsu from Osomatsu-san joins the Nendoroid range. They're now available to order starting at 3,241 Yen plus tax and deliveries will start this November.

TTFN!!!

The Cute Wall (Volume Fourteen)

Now, the moment of truth is time because it's now time to do...THE CUTE WALL!



It's back, ladies and gents, and today's CUTE WALL is a very special one.

What special?

What? Don't know anything?

No. What is it?

Because of this!

Wait...are these Aqours?!

Aqours it is and who saw the pilot episode of the new Love Live Sunshine anime? Raise your hands...

(audience raising hands)

That's a lot because almost anyone around here watched the new show and I think they're getting warmed up for the Aqours craze.

Yeah, the same way what...μ's did five years ago. So, whose Aqours member should we go first? Chika Takami?

Correct. Chika Takami it is. So, any thoughts about her?

Chika is...um...what can you say about her anyway?

For me, Chika is like Honoka but with a million times more manageable, in my mind.

(audience laughing)

Like Honoka, do you really think Chika's going to be the cutest of the Aqours members?

For me, yes. And I know where to put our new favorite school idol girl in this wall.

Where? Is it...NAKAKA...

Nailed it. It's NAKAKAGIGIL.

(audience laughing, then applause)

All righty, then. So, who's next?

Riko Sakurauchi. The former Tokyo girl who now resides to Uchiura and you can really tell that she used to reside from Tokyo is on her...

(static)

~MINOR TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. PLEASE STAND BY...~

I see. But did you notice more about her when Chika saw her took her clothes off?

(audience murmuring)

Hey. What's up with them?

When Riko took her clothes off and showed off her...um...swimsuit, the fans got their pants wet during bedtime. No. That's only the first episode because pretty soon, there's one Aqours members that will surely wet their pants once and for all during bedtime and that someone really is You.

Me?!

Not you, You Watanabe. The diver of a swim club. If you see You wearing her speedo, that's where the fans' reactions really kicked in as they'll going to wet themselves in bed upon remembering her. Believe it or not, You Watanabe in her speedo is a million times more bedwetting than...(ahem)

Kanan Matsuura in her wet suit?

(audience laughing)

I know that sounds disgusting but she's kinda cute in a normal sort of way while she's not in her speedo.

Same thing goes to Kanan, right?

Not sure about that but oh well.

Hey. Now that we mentioned Riko, You, and Kanan, care to guess where we should put them?

Riko? Well, I'll put her on...NOT CUTE.

(audience laughing)

Seriously?

Uh-huh. You? CUTE for her.  As for Kanan, CUTE!

(audience laughing)

Who's next?

Dia. Dia Kurosawa.

And who is she?

She's the student council president, just like my beloved Elichika.

(audience laughing)

Sadly, unlike Eli Ayase, Dia's quite an aggressive person that you couldn't count on even when she's part of Aqours for one main reason that I can't tell you about it and believe it or not, she has a sister named...

Ruby?

Correct. Ruby is...ahem, a rather opposite of her big sister Dia. She may be timid but she's very reluctant to take things seriously. She's a great friend of Hanamaru Kunikida, a member of a choir band.

Hanamaru looks kinda friendly and nice, by the way, and I agree with the chemistry between Hanamaru and Ruby because they look kinda cute when they're together.

For freshmen students like them, they're quite admirable, I'll give you that.

So, where will you put them?

It's a CUTE for Ruby and Hanamaru. As for Dia...NOT CUTE.

(audience laughing)

NOT CUTE?!

I don't like Dia's personality. Her aggressive demeanor is not well suited enough to be called cute so it's a NOT CUTE for me.

Who's next?

The rich girl. Mari Ohara.

Mari Ohara?

Yes. She's a rich girl whose father is a foreigner and runs a hotel business. You can really tell Mari's the rich girl just by noticing her personal mode of transport.

Judging by her appearance, I'm glad Aqours had a member who is a rich girl just like Maki Nishikino.

Yes, but Maki and Mari are typically different because Mari's got...class. She's classy and elegant, unlike Maki Nishikino, who often gets her hand sweaty on different situations.

(audience laughing)

But whatever the heck Mari is, let's seal her fate in the CUTE spot just in case. So, with eight of the Aqours members had their spots on the wall, that leaves us with...oh no.

What's wrong?

Our worst nightmare.

What is it?

Yoshiko Tsushima.

(audience laughing)

Oh my...

(audience murmuring)

What's wrong with them?

These guys noticed just how scary Yoshiko...er...Yohanne is and why we called her Yohanne because she wanted to be called Yohanne the little devil rather than her real name because some say, she's the walking disaster.

More like a walking time bomb if you ask?

Shhh....You're trying to make it worse. Ever seen her hand pose when they do jankenpon? That's not paper that Yohanne did...that's just...I can't tell what's what but it's got to be scary.

(audience laughing)

Shhh... (whispering) Where should we put this demon in the wall?

(Whispering) Tell you what. To avoid any mishaps that this little devil's going to cause on us, we have to seal her in...the SERIOUSLY NOT CUTE position.

(Whispering) Okay.

TIME FOR THE RECAP!

SERIOUSLY NOT CUTE:

Raichu

Whisper

Minion

Nico Yazawa

Takane Shijou

Azusa Miura

Makoto Kikuchi

Anzu Futaba

Croagunk

Touma Amagase

Shota Mitarai

Hokuto Ijuin

Teru Tendo

Kaoru Sakuraba

Tsubasa Kashikawa

Kyouji Takajou

Minori Watanabe

Kyosuke Aoi

Yusuke Aoi

Shiki Iseya

Haruna Wakazato

Hayato Akiyama

Jun Fuyumi

Natsuki Sakaki

Rui Maita

Chio Hazama

Jiro Yamashita

Treecko

Jill Valentine

Rebecca Chambers

Claire Redfield

Ada Wong

Ashley Graham

Sheva Alomar

Helena Harper

Sherry Birkin

Moira Burton

Natalia Korda

Osomatsu

Karamatsu

Choromatsu

Ichimatsu

Jyuushimatsu

Todomatsu

Miyabi Fujiwara

Risa Shirakaba

Rin Kurosawa

Mia Fey

Rayfa Padma Khura'in

Buttercup

*Yoshiko Tsushima

NOT CUTE:

Dopey

Kwazii

Minion

Amethyst

Rin Hoshizora

Hibiki Ganaha

Minami Nitta

Ranko Kanzaki

Miku Maekawa

Kion

Fuli

Beshte

Bunga

Ono

Pierre

Scraggy

Bulbasaur

Squirtle

Cyndaquil

Turtwig

Sumire Hikami

Juri Kurebayashi

Nono Daichi

Hime Shiratori

Tsubasa Kisaragi

Yuzu Nikaido

Yozora Kasumi

Maya Fey

Pearl Fey

Ema Skye

Trucy Wright

Kay Faraday

Athena Cykes

Blossom

Mirai Kasuga

Shizuka Mogami

Tsubasa Ibuki

Shiho Kitazawa

Umi Kousaka

Julia

Megumi Tokoro

Yuriko Nanao

Serika Hakozaki

Anna Mochizuki

Kana Yabuki

Nao Yokoyama

*Riko Sakurauchi

*Dia Kurosawa

CUTE:

Pichu

Plusle

Minun

Pachirisu

Emolga

Dedenne

Mokona

Mog

Catbug

Bashful

Froakie

Fennekin

Harukasan

Stuffy

Tunip the Vegimal

Minccino

Piplup

Sylveon

Queen Delightful

Axew

Jibanyan

Minion

Serena's Pancham

Umi Sonoda

Eli Ayase

Hanayo Koizumi

Maki Nishikino

Nozomi Tojo

Miki Hoshii

Yukiho Hagiwara

Iori Minase

Ritsuko Akizuki

Anastasia

Kanako Mimura

Chieri Ogata

Miria Akagi

Rika Jougasaki

Kirari Moroboshi

Riina Tada

Rin Shibuya

Mio Honda

Komasan

Komajiro

Grizz

Panda

Ice Bear

Clefairy

Jigglypuff

Chansey

Eevee

Tepig

Snivy

Chikorita

Charmander

Totodile

Torchic

Mudkip

Chimchar

Hinaki Shinjo

Madoka Amahana

Kokone Kurisu

Nina Dojima

Yume Njino

Rola Sakuraba

Laala Manaka

Bubbles

*You Watanabe

*Kanan Matsuura

*Ruby Kurosawa

*Hanamaru Kunikida

*Mari Ohara

NAKAKAGIGIL!!!:

Pikachu

BMO

Bijou

Poof

George

Happy

Chespin

Doc McStuffins

Mabel Pines

Sofia

Cottonee

Minion

Oshawott

Star Butterfly

Honoka Kousaka

Kotori Minami

Haruka Amami

Yayoi Takatsuki

Chihaya Kisaragi

Ami Futami

Mami Futami

Uzuki Shimamura

Noibat

Togepi

Squishy

Ichigo Hoshimiya

Aoi Kiriya

Ran Shibuki

Akari Ozora

Braixen

*Chika Takami