FH3 Blizzard Mountain: Ghost of SPECTRE's past

The Blizzard Mountain has full of references festival-runners can come up with their near-endless imagination, and with the year 2017 signals the 55th anniversary of the James Bond films, it will take a lot of time before the franchise returns with new and exciting ways to keep the tales of the legendary British spy alive and well. In the meantime, festival-runners who are fans of the Bond films can picture so many Bond references to come up with and nothing is more so that revisiting the snowy ghost of SPECTRE's past, the Range Rover Sport SVR.

In the movie, a group of SPECTRE goons captured Dr. Madeleine Swann and then pursued by Bond in a snow plane at a snowy Austrian landscape. Sadly, there's no snow plane chasing you down and this isn't Austria, which is easily confused for Australia. This is Blizzard Mountain but driving the SVR as seen in the film is as close as you can get from the SPECTRE goons.

It has the same supercharged 5.0L V8 engine as seen from the Jaguar F-Type R and it produces 550HP of power and 502ft-lb of torque. Now a V8 engine like this sounds unfriendly to heretic environmentalists and polar bears alike but when you listen to it, it roars like a beast on the cold winter night and those who experienced it after the snow plane sequence on SPECTRE can have a clear expression of what's like to drive one of the cars reserved for SPECTRE. Now we're like living in a life of international crime with this one unless Bond can gut us out in the open.

Speaking of which, while the Range Rover Sport balances legendary Range Rover offroad capability with track-honed performance that upsets the little hatches, the SVR pushes the envelope on the other side. I presumed that the SVR is a track-focused Land Rover that trades its offroad capability to track-minded characteristics but seeing one in SPECTRE in action, it defies the point I made, knowing that despite its track-honed capabilities that lapped the Nurburgring in a blistering fast lap time for SUVs, it's still a Range Rover and I shall demonstrate it, knowing that I'm on a double dare that I can win this race with no studless tires equipped. I know it's hard to drive through Blizzard Mountain without it but by relying on the Range Rover's Terrain Response, I am trying to see if this Range Rover Sport lives up to its name or die trying.

Heh. It's worth the slippery risk but it feels like finding the lost remote nearby in the first try but I've been warned that if I keep this up, I'm in for some serious trouble until I find the answer to the hardest question. It's like setting the remote-finding challenge to the hardest level, if you know what I mean.



Still, with the Range Rover and the Range Rover Sport, the Brits know how to make a legendary offroader that conquers almost all odds on and off the road with its ever-evolving capabilities that shaped these SUVs into the ones we're familiar with since the first Range Rover was born.

In a place like Blizzard Mountain, a winter wonderland full of so many Bond references you can imagine all in the name of 007's 55th anniversary, reminiscing the snowy scene from SPECTRE in the Range Rover Sport SVR is the best thing to do for Bond fans elsewhere.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Senior diplomats held talks in Washington

Senior diplomats from South Korea, the US, and Japan held a talk in Washington on Thursday local time. The three assessed the results of UN Security Council resolutions 2270 and 2321, and vowed to continue working together on the implementation of independent sanctions as well. Meanwhile, speaking ahead of his departure from office, US Secretary of State John Kerry warned the new administration of North Korea. He said it should keep increasing the pressure on North Korea in order to get the regime to comply with its international obligations.

South Korea's National Security Council chief Kim Kwan-jin will visit the US for security talks with the incoming Donald Trump administration. In a press release, the presidential office said Kim's four-day visit starts Sunday. Talks will center around security policies ranging from North Korea to bilateral relations. The meeting is held with hopes of reaffirming the importance of further developing the alliance and continuing to coordinate, based on the common understanding of the severity and urgency of the North Korea nuclear issue.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (January 6, 2017)

- President Rodrigo Duterte visited and toured the Russian warship docked in Port Area, Manila, on Friday after almost a week of vacation. The two ships from Russia's Pacific Fleet docked at Manila South Harbor on Tuesday. The president has expressed stronger ties with the Russian Federation and the warships' visit will bolster their cooperation.

- The Commission of Elections should release a report of its investigation into the breach of voters' data, according to a Palace official. The poll body should release the report, if any, to maintain its credibility and uphold the integrity of the electoral process, according to Presidential Communications Office Secretary.

- A high-ranking Bureau of Corrections official has resigned, claiming he was about to take a leave due to a pending investigation into his alleged involvement in the New Bilibid Prison illegal drug trade. In a text message to reporters, BuCor Deputy Director Rolando Asuncion said that Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II had asked him to take a leave. He said the message was relayed through BuCor Director Benjamin Delos Santos, due to a pending investigation.

- Top intelligence officials got a chance to hit back against the broad attacks Donald Trump has lobbied against them, a day ahead of their briefing with the president-elect on Russia's interference in the 2016 election. Trump, earlier, supported claims by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange that the Russians didn't interfere with the elections.

- The gunman behind the New Year's Day attack at a bar in Istanbul, according to the Turkish government, may be an ethnic Uyghur. The Uyghurs most live in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Central Asian nations and Turkey. Many of them are Muslims. But Deputy Veysi Kaynak did not comment on the suspect's nationality.

- Toyota will launch the all-new Prius PHV in Japan this February.

- A facelifted Subaru WRX will be featured at this year's North American International Auto Show, featuring a new exterior design, new interior design, and other updates.

2018 Subaru WRX STi

- The Shutokou Battle roars back to smartphones with Genki's brand new smartphone app game, Shutokou Battle Extreme, due to launch this year. Pre-registration is now opened with in-game rewards in store for the players, including bonus cars such as the Suzuki Alto Works, Honda S660, Toyota 86, and the Nissan GT-R R35.

Shutokou Battle Extreme

- Disney's Tangled the Series will air on Disney Channel this March.

TTFN!!!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Second hearing on the President Park impeachment case

The second hearing of the Park Geun-hye impeachment case is underway. The National Assembly's legal team is questioning Yoon Jeon-chu, who assisted President Park at her residence. While the questions are focused on finding out the nature of her job, Yon testified that she was in charge of the president's personal affairs from time-to-time. However, there are allegations that she acted as private secretary to the president's longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil.

Choi appeared before the Seoul Central District Court for the first formal hearing held Thursday. She was present as a defendant for numerous charges, including abuse of power and attempted fraud. Denying all allegations against her, Choi said there are many parts that are unfair to her, President Park Geun-hye's former aides An Chong-bum and Jeong Ho-seong also attended the hearing on suspicions of collaborating with Choi. They made their first public appearance since they wete taken into detention late last year.

The independent counsel team was also busy continuing its investigation into the Choi Soon-sil corruption scandal. The team questioned three key figures on Thursday, one of whom is Professor Namkoong Gon. He is accused of using his position to have CHoi Soon-sil's daughter Chung Yoo-ra admitted to Ewha Womans University. Another one is former presidential senior secretary for health and welfare Kim Jin-soo, who is alleged to be involved in supporting a controversial merger between Samsung C&T and Cheil industries in 2015. Lastly, newly appointed Vice Culture Minister Soong Soo-keun is being grilled over allegations over the so-called blacklist, which contains cultural figures who were deemed critical of the government. Meanwhile, the justice ministry says it sent extradition requests on Thursday afternoon to both the foreign affairs ministry of Korea and to the Danish government.

Seoul's defense ministry stressed that South Korea will deploy THAAD this year as scheduled. The statement comes in the wake of a trip to China by a group of South Korean lawmakers from the main opposition Democratic Party. The lawmakers are said to have discussed THAAD with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Wednesday, who repeatedly said the deployment plan should be halted.

Source: Arirang News

Ssangyong Korando C (2017 minor change)

The Ssangyong Korando C crossover has been around the block for half a decade since its 2011 launch and followed by a minor change in 2013. For the second time, in this 2017 model year, Ssangyong's midsize crossover has been facelifted again to ensure its freshness while ringing the new year for the small South Korean car company that currently runs deep under Indian ownership.

2017 Ssangyong Korando C

2017 Ssangyong Korando C interior

For its latest minor change, the 2017 Korando C now features a redesigned front face that looks vaguely similar to the VW Tiguan for numerous reasons this crossover never understands why the rear view has been slightly revised. On the inside, it's been mildly revised with a brand new instrumental cluster that displays the car's information in real-time as well as the new steering wheel design, 7-inch color display, and Infinity Premium Surround Sound system for a clearer sound quality equivalent to what luxury cars had.

The new Korando C is now powered by the e-XDi220 diesel engine, which produces 178PS of power and 40.8kg-m of torque, while mated with a 6-speed gearbox, either manual or automatic. Apart from that, it's the first in class to offer a 180-degree safety camera while its combined use of the front and rear sensors and the rear camera has greatly improved to sense blind spots during parking or low-speed driving. Sounds handy for the unsung crossover that has been improved to keep it fresh for the new year.

The facelifted 2017 Korando C now starts at 22,430,000 Korean won for the entry-level KX model up to 28,770,000 for the range-topping DX variant. The Extreme Edition, meanwhile, starts at 26,490,000 Won, and it comes with special HID headlights, a blackened front grille, 18-inch wheels, and an LED lighting package.

Photo: Ssangyong Motor Company

Let's Do The News! (January 5, 2017)

- The leader of the Khilafa Islamiya Philippines terrorist group, Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, also known as Abu Shareefa Al-Filibini, was killed in an encounter with police past 0100 hours local time in a beach resort in Kiamba, Sarangani. Police agents who cornered Maguid attempted to subdue him but he resisted and pulled out a gun, prompting them to immediately neutralize him.

- The National Privacy Commission found COMELEC Chairman Juan Andres "Andy" Bautista criminally liable for the breach on the database last year. Long before the May 2016 elections, the COMELEC website was hacked, leaking the data of voters.

- President Rodrigo Duterte has named dancer and blogger Mocha as one of the board members of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. Her appointment was confirmed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

- Australian boxer Jeff Horn, who was one of the shortlist of Manny Pacquiao's next opponents, said he's looking forward to fight wit the legendary Filipino boxer. Horn, age 28, is the no.2 contender to Pacquiao's WBO welterweight championship and Top Rank chief Bob Arum planning to hold Pacquiao's next fight outside the US, probably Australia to be next.

- New UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and US President-elect Donald Trump made their first phone conversation. A spokesperson said the two had a very positive discussion on US-UN relations and the Secretary-General will look forward to work alongside Trump after his inauguration.

- Yukiya Amano will serve as director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the third time unopposed. Amano is set to finish his second term in his position by the end of November 2017.

- A 105-year-old Frenchman set a new world record for cycling the furthest distance in one hour for riders aged 105 and older. Robert Marchand rode over 22.5km at an indoor venue on the outskirts of Paris on Wednesday. 

- Tesla began their battery production at their Gigafactory, which officially opened last July. The batteries will be sued in the Powerwall 2 and Powerpack 2 electricity storage devices, as well as the upcoming Model 3 car. The first batteries will go into the storage devices, with Model 3 battery production beginning in the second quarter of 2017.

- Kia will launch the all-new, third-generation, Morning compact hatchback on the 17th of January.

2017 Kia Morning

- Disney Channel's hit TV series, Girl Meets World, ends with the series finale episode titled "Girl Meets Goodbye" on the 20th of January. Time to bid farewell to Maya and Riley's life and times of growing up.

TTFN!!!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: SoKor's top security policy of 2017

South Korea's top security policy of 2017 is to continue pressuring North Korea over its nuclear weapons program. 

The South Korea foreign affairs and unification ministries presented their plans for the New Year on Wednesday during a briefing towards Prime Minister and acting president Hwang Kyo-ahn. One of the key points surrounding North Korean issue. The ministries said South Korea will continue to limit North Korea's access to funds through an export cap on its coal and minerals, as stated in the recently adopted UN Security Council resolution. Also, they will cooperate in bringing unilateral sanctions on North Korea from other nations.

Responding to the Korean Peninsula's threats, they will continue to prepare the ground work for reunification.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Han Min-koo said its military will set up a special infiltration brigade focused on paralyzing Pyongyang's wartime command structure. He added the military will focus this year on countering North Korea's threats and the deployment of the US advanced missile defense system THAAD will be installed as planned in the middle of the year. 

Then, the second hearing on President Park Geun-hye's impeachment trial will be held on Thursday morning. Key witnesses are set to be summoned to the hearing, including the president's personal secretaries. President Park is reportedly reviewing the possibility of defending herself in person, although she didn't appeared at the first hearing.

The Danish High Court has rejected Chung Yoo-ra's appeal against the extension of her detention in the country. Chung, who was arrested on Sunday on charges of illegal stay, is the daughter of the woman behind the scandal, Choi Soon-sil. The High Court said Tuesday local time that the district court's decision to extend the detention period for the 20-year-old was legitimate and reasonable, adding that it will stick with its decision to extend her confinement.

Deputy National Security Adviser Co Tae-yong will be making a three-day visit to the United States this week to meet his counterpart, Anthony Blinken, and they will focus on how the latest UNSC resolution is being carried out and how to further counter North Korea's threats.

Source: Arirang News