Let's Do The News! (September 16, 2016)

- Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday questioned Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III for going "out of bounds" in denying Senate protection for self-confessed Davao Death Squad member Edgar Matobato. Trillanes said that he will inquire if Pimentel has the authority to overrule the ruling of the Senate justice committee.

- According to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, the convicted drug lord and robbery gang leader Ampang Colangco will testify against Senator Leila de Lima at the congressional inquiry next week. President Rodrigo Duterte identified Colangco as one of the two drug lords already imprisoned but are still directing operations of their crime groups.

- Donald Trump Jr., the son of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, made headlines over his anti-semitic speech regarding the use of gas chambers to make a political attack. Meanwhile, Trump doubled down on his tax plan benefiting billionaires while he continues to refuse to release his own tax returns. Earlier, he released his medical records on the Dr. Oz show.

- Recovered from her sickness, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's back on the campaign trail at North Carolina.

- A huge meteorite weighing about 30 tons has been discovered in Argentina. Scientists say it is one of the biggest meteorites ever found in Earth. The meteorite was found in the country's northern province of Chaco. A local astronomy association unearthed it using a crane on the 10th of September. Over four millenniums ago, a meteor shower hit the area where the meteorite was found, leaving some craters.

- In case you missed last night's special announcement at the end of the Pokemon XYZ one-hour special, Pokemon Sun and Moon will become a TV anime series coming to TV Tokyo this November 2016. From new Pokemons, Team Skull, new characters, and Ash goes to school (?), life in Alola couldn't get even more exciting.

- More Resident Evil/Biohazard news! Announced at the TGS 2016, the latest 3D CGi film, Biohazard (Resident Evil) Vendetta will hit theaters this Spring 2017. Also, a new Biohazard 7 clip showcasing "the Bakers".

- Based on the new Volvo V90, the new V90 Cross Country features the same stuff as found on the normal V90, now with added ground clearance and all-weather capability as an all-wheel drive sport utility wagon.

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country

- The final Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution ever made was auctioned for $76,000 and proceeds will benefit Feeding America Riverside San Bernardino and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.

- General Motors reported that the Opel Ampera-e, the European version of the Chevrolet Bolt EV, won't be sold in the UK as a Vauxhall due to expense and risk, probably all thanks to the Brexit issue.

TTFN!!!

Audi SQ7

In the not too distant past, when the first-generation Q7 didn't had a high-performance model, they once offered a V12 variant, which is by no means one of the rarest attempts to create a V12-powered SUV, a breed unknown to many. That diesel-powered V12 Q7 was a rare breed for the privileged few and treated it to be a super SUV in its own right but sadly, like dinosaurs, it was extinct. In today's Q7, you don't expect to have a big diesel engine to be bolted to it but instead, a much milder, yet menacing, version has stepped in and it wants to capture the essence from its prehistoric predecessor, except for every single detail.

2017 Audi SQ7

2017 Audi SQ7

This is the brand new Audi SQ7 and this semi-high performance full-size crossover SUV is just one of the main reasons why performance is becoming a new normal, especially when it's diesel-powered. Sure, despite big setbacks facing today's diesel engines because of today's headlines but the new SQ7 really despises the setbacks and, in return, it does taking cases seriously on the road.

Behind its athletic styling inside and out, the SQ7 is powered by a brand new 4.0L V8 TDi engine with the world's first electric powered compressor. While it produces less than the old Q7 V12, 435HP and 900Nm compared to over 500HP of power and 1000Nm of torque, it's quicker to 100kph compared to the old Q7 V12, 4.8 seconds versus 5.5 seconds while top speed limited to 250kph, couple that to its lightweight construction, 8-speed automatic gearbox, and signature quattro permanent all-wheel drive. Although as strong as a beefed-up Russian female bodybuilder, its average fuel consumption of 7.4L/100km really means it's surprisingly frugal of a semi-high performance SUV of that size, well-fit for a family vehicle doped for perfection.

Because it's lighter and quicker than the old Q7 V12, you might think that the SQ7 handles better than the old Q7 V12 and the answer is...slightly improved. It maybe lighter compared to the old Q7 V12 thanks to its extensive use of lightweight materials as demonstrated on the normal model but there's still a hint of mildness when you drive it like a sportscar. If it gets understeer, you'll be having a big expression of dragging a very heavy object from point A to point B and when that thing drops on your foot, even when you're wearing shoes, you'll be amputated...quickly. 

Although you'll going to need a lot of force to corner it in the event of understeer, the SQ7 really ups the challenge for those who aren't afraid to say "challenge accepted" and if they get it right, the SQ7, despite the bulk, is a potent competitor compared to sports SUVs, including the Porsche Cayenne or even the Bentley Bentayga.

The price of this hunk of diesel greatness? It starts at 89,900 Euros and that's less expensive compared to the heavyweights, including the Bentley Bentayga. Despite the high-price tag, the new SQ7 really is a potent successor of the old Q7 V12, even though it has a smaller V8 diesel engine, and if drivers get things right to master this diesel behemoth on the road, feels like this day will never end and they will have more fun going places in a semi-high performance SUV that despite its size, it remains a fun family car full stop.

Photo: Audi AG

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: US and China exchanged views on new UNSC sanctions

The United States and China have begun exchanging views on the level of new UNSC sanctions against North Korea for their fifth nuclear test.

Last week, the Security Council held urgent consultations to discuss the North's nuclear test. After the meeting, they condemned the test and pledged to immediately begin working on a new resolution to impose sanctions on the North.

 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon urged the council to unite and send a strong message against the Korean Peninsula. In the meantime, South Korea has yet to find any traces of radioactivity from North Korea's latest nuclear test confirming the country remains safe from nuclear fallout.

The commission added South Korea's background radiation currently remains at the usual level of 50-300 nanosieverts per hour, apparently unaffected by the North's nuclear test.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (September 15, 2016)

- One of the witnesses from the "Davao Death Squad" claims that President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the death of supporters and bodyguards of his then political rival, former House Speaker Prospero Nograles. Self-confessed hitman Edgar Matobato said their squad kidnapped about four supporters and bodyguards of Nograles. He said Nograles and Duterte ran for city mayor six years ago.

- He also said that Senator Leila de Lima, who headed the Commission of Human Rights, was among the targets of Duterte, who was once the Davao City mayor. According to Matobato, Duterte ordered someone to ambush De Lima, who was investigating extrajudicial killings in Davao in 2009. He said his group was hiding and waiting to attack De Lima and her team who were looking at a mass grave at Laud Quarry, where the slain have been buried.

- The United States's memorandum of understanding has been reached to Israel. In the White House statement, this new 10-year security assistance MOU to Israel is the most historic part of President Barack Obama's commitment to Israel's security. It will come in effect within the next three years and the funds will be used for the missile defense system and other equipment.

- An updated statement regarding Hillary Clinton's health has been released from her doctor saying she is healthy and fit to serve as the next US president if elected. It says the candidate is recovering well from pneumonia with antibiotics and rests. She will return to the campaign trail on Thursday when she is due to speak in the battleground state of North Carolina as well as the UN General Assembly in New York next week.

- The people of Flint, Michigan, became enraged over the recent visit of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, condemned it as a photo-op that did nothing to help Flint families recover from the ongoing water crisis. What's worse, his speech, where the part goes about attacking Clinton, got interrupted by a pastor.

- Mitsubishi Motors unveiled their GT PHEV crossover concept prior to its Paris Motor Show debut next month.

- The open-top version of the Mercedes-AMG GT was launched as well as the new GT C Roadster, the open-top equivalent of the GT R. It's set to appear on next month's Paris Motor Show.

- New on THE IDOLM@STER Platinum Stars; a new DL Live, 吹き抜ける一陣の風, is now up and running and players can perform better to win a brand new, high-ranking, Wild Obsidian costume for use in-game!

 

- Of course, after the success of the live-action Resident Evil/Biohazard movies, another CAPCOM franchise will be getting a Hollywood treatment, this time it's Monster Hunter.

TTFN!!!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Chuseok holiday in S. Korea

President Park Geun-hye extended her Chuseok greetings to the Korean people today posting a video message on her Facebook page. President Park said South Korea is facing through difficulties as threats from North Korea continue to pull them back. The president added that the government is maintaining all-out national security based on strong international cooperation.

Meanwhile, in telephone talks with Seoul's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se today, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed the time was right to step up the presure on North Korea following its nuclear and missile provocations. Yun called for a quick adoption of a strong UNSC sanction against Pyongyang and stop further threats. In response, Wang Yi was quoted as saying the recent nuclear test is a violation to UNSC resolutions that damages peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula.

Then, South Korean PM Hwang Kyo-ahn urged the Coast Guard to be on alert for further threats from North Korea near the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea. He also ordered the Coast Guard to crack down on illegal fishing by Chinese boats in South Korean waters.

Later, the top diplomats from South Korea, the USA, and Japan will hold a meeting this week in New York to discuss countermeasures against North Korea's nuclear test, the foreign ministry in Seoul said Wednesday. The trilateral meeting will be held among South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, US Secretary of State John Kerry, and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. They will meet Sunday (local time) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.

Let's Do The News! (September 14, 2016)

- While Typhoon Ferdie is heading to Taiwan, a new typhoon has entered the Philippines. Called Gener, it was located 45km northeast of Itbayan, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 220kph and gusts of up to 255kph as of 0400 hours local time. Signal number 4 remains hoisted over Batanes while signal number 3 is still up over the Babuyan Group of Islands.

- President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday that he won't allow government forces to conduct joint patrols of disputed waters near the South China Sea with other countries, apparently scrapping a deal his predecessor reached with the US military earlier this year. Duterte's also considering acquiring defense equipment from Russia and China.

- Due to the hepatitis A outbreak in Hawaii because of raw scallops as a probable cause, the Philippine government has suspended distribution of seafood. Hawaii's Department of Health last month identified frozen scallops served raw at a sushi chain as the probable cause. The Hawaii outbreak has sickened over 250 people.

- Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump unveiled his new proposals for his childcare affordability plan during his rally with Ivanka Trump on his side. Trump's plan allows for a federal income tax deduction of childcare expenses for up to four children and elderly dependents. It is capped at the average cost of care in the state and is available in single-income households making up to $250,000 and $500,000 in joint-income households. The Clinton campaign denounced it as "half-baked policies leave 21st century families behind."

- According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, over 301,000 people died over the course of five years of the Syrian civil war. That includes Syrian government troops and rebels with 86,000 civilians died, including over 15,000 children and about 10,000 women.

- Ariel ditches the Atom's massive rear wing and trades it with ground effects with the new Aero-P Atom concept. Although not suitable for track racing purposes, This conceptualized Ariel Atom features a rubber skirt on the bottom of the tub where two fans create a vacuum-like effect, resulting to more drag and only operates at high speeds, the fans don't generate any drag and can create massive downforce at low speeds.

Ariel Aero-P Atom Concept

- Ken Block is back in his new GYMKHANA 9 clip, starring the Ford Focus RS RX!

- The official trailer of Fifty Shades Darker, the sequel to Fifty Shades of Grey, has arrived. The film hits theaters this Valentines Day 2017.

This Valentine’s Day, forget the past. Watch the #FiftyShadesDarker trailer. pic.twitter.com/h6jChlLmNp

— Fifty Shades Darker (@FiftyShades) September 13, 2016

TTFN!!!

Audi S4 B9

Based on the brand new and more technologically advanced Audi A4, the semi-high performance variant, the S4, in saloon and Avant versions, may have lost some of the charm points from its previous model, such as the loss of the manual gearbox and supercharger, but it's got AMG's C43 range in its crosshairs. So, is it better than before?

2017 Audi S4

2017 Audi S4 Avant

At first glance, the brand new S4 looks very identical to the normal A4 but when you notice some subtle changes on the exterior and interior to make it look semi-sporty but by stark observation, it's catered to be as elite as an honor student at a very prestigious academy. Remind you of any?

Anyway, once you're done digging out what's new, in and out, what's underneath is what matters because for the new model, the 3.0L TFSi engine loses its supercharger, resulting to become a turbocharged semi-high performance vehicle which a very average sound that makes you wanna go "hmmm". No bark though but the power output of 354PS of power and 500Nm is pretty impressive for a turbocharged engine but it's still short of power compared to Mercedes-AMG's C43. Still, could be worse, the only offering of an 8-speed tiptronic gearbox is one gear short compared to the C43's 9G-TRONIC as well. While it maybe restricted to 250kph, the 0-100kph time is now 4.7 seconds, which is vaguely the same as the C43's but get this; because the S4, like the A4, is utilized on an MQB platform like all good VW Group machines, it's 60kg less than the C43, resulting to combined fuel consumption of 7.4L/100km, compared to the C43's 7.8L/100km. How's that for a semi-high performance car?

As a light car compared to the C43, the new S4, with its signature quattro permanent all-wheel drive system, is a potent multirole that can handle through bends with mildness, even when it feels under the weather. Because it's lower than the base A4, courtesy of its sport-tuned suspension, its low center of gravity results to even better handling but it's still basically milder in body language and if you can sense its understeering woes, hope you got your painkillers ready because this going be an achy-breaky feeling.

Should you buy it? The S4 is priced at 59,300 Euros for the saloon while the Avant is priced at 61,150 Euros, competitively priced to the AMG C43 range, and while it produces less power than the C43, the S4, despite the loss of its supercharger and manual gearbox, still works like what a semi-high performance should and while this is classified as a sports car, it's still a luxury car ticking all the right touches in partial terms of endearment. Is it better than before? Don't be silly but it's a good fun finding out.

Photo: Audi AG