Let's Do The News! (February 8, 2017)

- Former Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. has asked the Sandiganbayan to junk the plunder case against him in connection with his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam. He also asked the court to declare "void" all previous proceedings in connection with the case. The motion came three days before the scheduled first day of the trial of the case on Thursday.

- The Department of Justice issued an immigration lookout bulletin against 20 political consultants of the National Democratic Front following the cancellation of peace talks. The government peace panel has formally written a notice of termination of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front.

- The Department of Justice has yet to decide who among the suspects of the Jee Ick Joo murder case last year can be enrolled in its witness protection program. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the joint inquiry of the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation would need to be concluded before the DOJ could determine the people who would be admitted as state witnesses.

- US President Donald Trump said that he will take the legal case over his temporary travel ban to the Supreme Court if necessary. Trump told reporters that his administration will take the case "through the system" as his executive order is very important to ensure the country's security.

- Two players from the New England Patriots, the team that won the Super Bowl LI last Sunday, will boycott a customary visit to the White House due to their opposition against President Trump. Devin McCourty reportedly told that he did not feel that he would be accepted in the White House, "with the president having so many strong opinions and prejudices." while Martellus Bennett expressed his opposition to Trump and told reporters that he would not go to the White House and people would know why.

- 19 people are reportedly killed from a suicide attack outside the Supreme Court in Kabul, Afghanistan. Police say the apparent suicide bombing occurred in a parking lot used by court employees as they were heading home.

- The Tokyo metropolitan government and Shibuya Ward conducted a disaster drill in case of a massive earthquake struck public transport and strands vast numbers of people. The drill took place outside Shibuya Station and involved crowds of people, including foreigners, who were unable to return to their homes or lodgings,

- Japanese defense authorities are proceeding with offshore work in Okinawa to relocate a US military base in the southern prefecture. The Japanese government plans to build a new facility there to replace the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station, currently located in a densely populated district.

- A Japanese high court has upheld a four-year prison sentence for a South Korean male behind the blast in the Yasukuni Shrine in November 23rd, 2015. Public prosecutors said Jeon Chang-han took metal pipes stuffed with gunpowder into a restroom at the shrine and detonated them. The explosion destroyed the restroom's ceiling.

- The new-generation Ford Expedition full-size SUV has been unveiled prior to this week's Chicago Auto Show. It features an aluminum bodywork, 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engines, a host of safety tech, and the brand new Terrain Management System.

2018 Ford Expedition

- Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Hitachi Automotive System announced plans to establish a joint venture company for the development, manufacture, and sales of motors for electric vehicles. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding and will proceed to conduct discussions for the establishment of the new agreement set to be inked next month.

- Some of Japan's popular anime characters were named as ambassadors of Japanese culture and set to be appeared on licensed Tokyo 2020 Olympics merchandise.  Such characters are Astro Boy, Sailor Moon, Crayon Shin-chan, Luffy from One Piece, Naruto, Jibanyan from Yokai Watch, Goku from Dragon Ball Super, and Maho Girls Precure's Cure Miracle and Cure Magical.

TTFN!!!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North Korea's planning a satellite launch

North Korea's state run media said that leader Kim Jong Un plans to launch a stationary satellite as an immediate goal of the country's space development program.

The North's satellite launch are widely believed to be a cover for their intercontinental ballistic launch possibility.

It is said that Kim Jong Un has decided to develop new rockets, and they will be launched at the time and in the place decided by the Workers' Party, according to the newspaper Rodong Sinmun, as well as being a sovereign nation with a legitimate right to launch satellites.

Last September, North Korea conducted a ground test of a new engine believed to be developed for long-range ballistic missiles. Then, in January, the Korean Peninsula threatened to launch an ICBM.

Source: NHK World

Let's Do The News! (February 7, 2017)

- President Rodrigo Duterte said that TV presenter Kris Aquino appealed to him through a text message not to send her brother, his predecessor Benigno Aquino III, to jail. The said appeal came after Duterte said he is keen to reopening the investigation on the Mamasapano incident, where 44 SAF members were killed two years ago.

- Despite the president's orders for an "all-out war", peace talks between the Philippine government and communist rebels to end nearly five decades of conflict are still in their table. Last weekend, Duterte ordered scrapping a ceasefire with the New People’s Army saying the “terrorist group” was making “huge”, unacceptable demands despite government concessions. Clashes have erupted in several places and some top rebels have been arrested but Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana said talks were possible.

- A Philippine mining industry body said it will file a freedom of information request on Tuesday to press the government to release the results of a mining audit, following an order to close over half of the country's mines. DENR Secretary Regina Lopez last week ordered 23 mines to shut permanently, even though a team that reviewed an audit of 41 mines had recommended suspensions and fines for environmental violations, rather than closure, reports told.

- Over 120 people died in a avalanche that was triggered in a mountainous region straddling between Afghanistan and Pakistan but the death toll will increase later on. Heavy snow has been falling over the region since last week, blanketing the Afghan capital Kabul.

- The Israeli parliament has passed a law allowing the government to confiscate private Palestinian property in the West Bank, where Jewish settler's homes already stand. The legislation states that the government will compensate Palestinian owners of land where Jewish settlers' homes have been built, and the property will become state-owned.

- The US government has submitted additional legal briefs to a federal appeals court challenging a federal judge's ruling to enforce an nationwide block to President Donald Trump's immigration ban. Last weekend, a federal district court in Seattle suspended Trump's executive order, following a request from the State of Washington.

- A special research boat commissioned to protect the endangered river dolphins has set sail on the River Irrawaddy in Myanmar. Irrawaddy dolphins are critically endangered due to the river's poor quality and other reasons. The dolphin population is now estimated at just over 60. Research on the dolphins will be done jointly by an international non-governmental wildlife conservation group and the Myanmar government.

- The long-awaited Dodge Durango SRT has unveiled prior to this week's Chicago Auto Show debut. This high-performance version is powered by 392ci HEMI V8 engine producing 475HP of power and 470lb-ft of torque while mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox and specially-developed four-wheel-drive. It's capable of doing 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds.

2018 Dodge Durango SRT

- Citroen will showcase their C-Aircross Concept at next month's Geneva Motor Show, previewing a crossover vehicle in the lineup as well as its next-generation technology.

Citroen C-Aircross Concept

- The Playseat Car Pack for Forza Horizon 3 is coming tomorrow, featuring seven new rides such as the Aston Martin DB11, Honda Civic Type-R FK2, Vauxhall Corsa VXR, and many others.

- The stars of last year's Touken Ranbu Hanamaru anime series, Kashu Kiyomitsu and Yamatonokami Yasusada, are joining the Nendoroid Co-de lineup. These guys are ready for orders starting at 2,963 Yen plus tax and will be delivered this June.

TTFN!!!

Forza Horizon 3: The Royals

It's been a few years ever since Forza became the first and only racing game to feature Rolls-Royce starting with the Wraith, then followed by the Dawn, its open-top equivalent. With the two Rolls-Royce royalties in Forza Horizon 3 spending their lap on luxury around Down Under, how can anyone indulge with these heavyweight handcrafted royalties that appeals only to the rich and famous? Not everyone can indulge in the splendor feel of the Rolls but are you one of the privileged few who are sedated by the Spirit of Ecstasy?





The Wraith is known to be a step away from being one of the chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royces and destined to be the most exquisite grand tourer that can be driven freely for the driver with big ambitions. Apart from its dramatic artisanship that crafted its signature Rolls-Royce design inside and out, the Wraith is powered by a 6.6L V12 engine that produces 624bhp of power and 800Nm of torque, while mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. It does 0-60mph in four and a half seconds and top speed electronically limited to 155mph.

The Dawn, meanwhile, is known to be the open-top version of the Wraith and while it features the similar artisanship elements from the Wraith, it features an electronically-activated soft-top roof that silently opens or closes in just over 20 seconds at a cruising speed of up to 50kph. Although, it features the same twin-turbo V12 6.6L engine as the Wraith, the Dawn produces 61bhp less than its hardtop equivalent but it's recorded as the most powerful open-top Rolls-Royce to date. While this car is not made to outsmart against its open-top equivalent because it's less powerful and heavier, its elegance in cruising speeds is nothing to be ashamed of and the taste of grand touring with the Dawn is worth the wine and bread best served in the golden platter.

Both the Wraith and Dawn are exquisitely too royal to be playing rough or perhaps they want to join the fun here in the Land Down Under because between you and me, they're taking a leisure break from being pampered on posh European streets like kings and queens and that's why I'm here to give a little twist to these royal visitors.





To spice things up, both the Wraith and Dawn are festooned with Rolls-Royce's Bespoke customization while I handle their workout routine to get themselves ready to race against other heavyweights in the Land Down Under. For the Wraith, it's been fashioned with the Chief Inspector Morse-inspired design courtesy of the Rolls-Royce Bespoke customization process while the Dawn is catered with the Marina look that was last seen from the Pebble Beach Concours a few years ago.

So, while they're wearing Bespoke colors (spoiler alert: I replicated them from Rolls-Royce's Bespoke design), both these royal knights of Goodwood are here to show them that they can battle with pride and prestige, I think...

Time to get the cameras rolling because there's never been a knight's tale untold in the Australian Outback.


So, these Rolls-Royces may not do racing but they sure know how to battle with their pride and prestige as Goodwood's finest and they sure know how to play rough with their full deck of cards at their disposal.

After their stint, these Rolls-Royces wanted to spend some more time here and looks like I'll be keeping in touch with both the Wraith and the Dawn in case I need them but for now, I'm expecting more arrivals later as I'm passing the time here in the Land Down Under.

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

- PNP Director-General Roland "Bato" Dela Rosa clarified that the reported "Korean Mafia" who is allegedly behind the Jee Ick Joo murder case has yet to be confirmed. Dela Rosa said that they will conduct thorough investigation regarding mentioned group composed of huge crime groups targeting rich Korean nationals in the Philippines.

- Typhoon Bising has slightly intensified while already inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. PAGASA told the typhoon was last spotted 415km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

- US President Donald Trump is set to meet alliance leaders in Europe in May during a phone call with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Trump was elected on a pledge to push NATO members to increase their funding to the western alliance to ease the financial burden on the United States.

- Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is facing a threat from his ruling party as a prominent member of Australia’s government is set to defect to form his own conservative party. An opinion poll published on Monday showed that support for his coalition had slipped to the lowest since he took power 17 months ago and that his Liberal-National coalition would easily fail if an election was held now.

- Queen Elizabeth celebrates her Sapphire Jubilee on Monday, commemorating 65 years since she took the British throne. A 41-gun royal salute will take place in central London to mark the occasion.

- Scientists warned that the crop-destroying caterpillar known as the armyworm has quickly spread across mainland Africa and could reach tropical Asia and the Mediterranean in the next few years, threatening agricultural trade. The caterpillar destroys young maize plants, attacking their growing points and burrowing into the cobs.

- The new Opel/Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer has been unveiled ahead of next month's Geneva Motor Show debut. It will also be sold in Australia as the Holden Commodore Sportwagon next year.

2018 Opel Insignia Sports Tourer

- Another teaser trailer for this year's season for Top Gear is out.

TTFN!!!

Six Nations 2017 - Round 1

Rugby's Greatest Championship, the RBS 6 Nations, returns for the 2017 season with six of Europe's finest rugby teams from England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Italy sizing each other up for the Grand Slam title.

The Wales Rugby Union (WRU) are off to a great start after crushing the FIR Italia in their home turf Stadio Olimpico at the score of 7-33. It is said that after giving way to the Italians on the 1st half with seven points, Leigh Halfpenny propelled the WRU to a comeback win by scoring 30 points on the second half. No comeback win in the world of rugby is as sweeter as the Welshes.

Meanwhile, Scotland defeated the IRFU at the score of 27-22 while England Rugby won the battle against the FFR at the score of 19-16.

Highlights:


The next match is set on the 11th to the 12th of February as FIR Italia takes on IRFU, WRU takes on England Rugby, and FFR versus Scotland.

Driving Music Vol. 74

After a long hiatus, the Driving Music segment has been rebooted, retooled, and refueled in the pursuit for more driving musics, songs heard from car commercials from around the world. You thought this segment has ran out of gas for numerous reasons but oh no. It's refuelled, probably by either petrol, diesel, biofuel, hydrogen, or now electric if I may, and it's back for more!

Annually, the Super Bowl brought us a plethora of Big Game ads the world have witnessed, especially car commercials aired during Game Day. For Super Bowl LI, after the Patriots staged a successful comeback against the Falcons, time to jot down the car commercial songs heard during Game Day. Ready?

1) I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free by Nina Simone - from the 2017 Ford Go Further commercial

2) Stay Alive by Jose Gonzales - from the Michelin commercial

3) It's Alright by Matt and Kim - from the Buick Game Day commercial

4) Clouds, The Mind On The Wind (Re) by Ezio Bosso - From the Alfa Romeo USA Game Day ad

5) Move Your Body by Sia - from the Lexus USA Game Day ad

6) Holding Out For A Hero by Bonnie Tyler - from the Kia USA Niro Hero's Journey ad

7) Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf - from the Mercedes-AMG GT C Game Day ad.

...and that is it. Hope you've enjoyed the game as much as enjoying the big game ads!