Let's Do The News! (April 4, 2017)

- The Bayan Group strongly condemns the mass arrest of over 30 members of Kadamay in Tandang Sora, Quezon City, last Monday night. Secretary-General of the group, Renato Reyes, said the arrest of families, including 16 minors and eight senior citizens was overbearing. He added that the arrested individuals only returned to their previous homes, a year after a demolition.

- A Palace official confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte fired Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mike Sueño due to "Trust and Confidence" issue. The official added that the recent ouster serves as warning to other Cabinet members and government officials.

- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will name their new chief next month to replace Governor Amado Tetangco, Jr.

- US President Donald Trump donates his first-quarter salary to the National Park Service.

- Meanwhile, Senate Democrats secured enough votes to block the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the US Supreme Court, setting the stage for a "nuclear option".

- A blast in a St. Petersburg train carriage that killed 11 people and injured 45 was the work of a suspected suicide bomber with Islamist ties, according to reports. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was in the city when the blast struck, visited the scene of the explosion late on Monday night and laid a bunch of red flowers at a makeshift shrine to the victims.

- Infiniti teases the QX80 Concept for this month's New York Auto Show, previewing the next generation of Infiniti's flagship full-size SUV.

- Actor and Chief Operating Officer of TPB, Cesar Montano, asserts his responsibility as father to Diego Loyzaga despite gaffes from his son. Last February, Diego draw flak against his father by ranting him via Instagram. Diego is Cesar's son to actress Teresa Loyzaga.

- Actor Marc Abaya says he's unfazed over the rape scene with Janine Gutierrez in an episode of GMA's TV drama series, Legally Blind.

TTFN!!!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North Korea free to take part in 2018 Games

North Korea can participate in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics if it wishes to do so, according to Seoul's Unification Ministry.

North Korean athletes need approval from Seoul to enter the South as the 1950-53 Korean War ended with a truce, not a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas technically in a state of war.

The comments comes after PyeongChang governor Choi Moon-soon said on Sunday that a North Korean sports official had told him the North want to join the Games.

A North Korea sports delegation is currently in South Korea to take part in an international ice hockey competition in Gangneung, which will host some events during the 2018 Games. Meanwhile, Seoul has approved a trip to North Korea by the South’s women’s soccer team to take part qualifiers for the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

Tensions between the two Koreas are escalating following the North's plot to do another nuclear test late last month, to coincide with the United Nation's Nuclear Ban Treaty talks.

Source: REUTERS

Let's Do The News! (April 3, 2017)

- The opposition are against the proposal to postpone the barangay elections this October. According to Ifugao Representative Teddy Baguilat, the statements of President Rodrigo Duterte is not enough to postpone the elections.

- A lit candle allegedly caused a fire in Leroy street, Pacao, Manila, that burned houses of about 20 families. According to Senior Inspector Erik Sabiano of the Manila Fire Bureau, the fire originated from the house of a certain Carla Tejedor.

- Indonesia aims to finish up preparations for the 2018 Asian Games within this year, according to VP Jusuf Kalla said, shrugging off concerns over a corruption probe and construction delays.

- The Japanese government said that it was sending its ambassador back to South Korea almost three months after recalling him over a statue commemorating Korean women forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War Two. Two years ago, the two countries agreed that the issue of “comfort women”, would be “finally and irreversibly resolved” were met.

- Study shows that babies cry more in Britain, Canada, Italy and Netherlands than in other countries, while newborns in Denmark, Germany and Japan cry and fuss the least.

- The new Mega Man (Rockman) cartoon series has pushed its airing to next year or later on Cartoon Network.

- Started since April Fool's Day and ends on the end of June, THE IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls is holding a Twitter reply campaign in collaboration with Snickers.

TTFN!!!

2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup - STP 500

It's the first Sunday of April and the action at the 2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup continues at the Martinsville Speedway where history is mixed with a case of victory and defeat for the NASCAR drivers and to add a twist to this race, the winner gets a grandfather clock.

In this race, Brad Keselowski's #2 Ford race car made history as for the first time since 15 years ago, when Kurt Busch won at NASCAR's oldest and smallest premiere series track in a Roush Fenway Racing Ford, the car maker scored a win at the 526-mile oval track in Martinsville, Virginia. After all that lead-swapping between him and Kyle Busch during the last 64 laps of the race, it's almost a photo finish as the spectators get.

This is Keselowski's 23rd win in his career and a first on this track but he's 34 points behind leader Kyle Larson and 30 behind second-placer Chase Elliott, who finished third.

Next race is at Texas Motor Speedway on the 9th of April for the O'Reilly Auto Parts 500.

Top Gear S24E05

The all-new Ford GT supercar made its explosive TV debut on the fifth episode of BBC's Top Gear and Matt LeBlanc gets his hands on this turbocharged American supercar that is a rewrite of the modernized take of Ford's legendary Le Mans racer.

Meanwhile, Chris Harris and Sabine Schmitz goes on a head-to-head battle in the toughest challenge of all; a buggy race across the wild Californian desert. 

Then, cyclist-turned-racing driver Sir Chris Hoy is the Star in a Reasonably Fast Car. 

And the the presenters are trying to dig in with an electric concept car they got interested with; a Nissan BladeGlider concept.

FIA Formula E 2016-2017: Mexico City

It maybe April Fool's Day in Mexico but for the drivers of the FIA Formula E Championship, they're not fooling around because this race is no laughing matter as the Mexico ePrix leg of this season shows that fooling around in Mexico for April Fool's Day is NOT an option for them as they are showing some serious business against the competition. So much for that emoji steering wheel prank they pulled on the crowd.

Behind this insane match from start to finish, Lucas Di Grassi became a major plot twist for this season because not only he ended Sebastien Buemi’s three-race winning streak, but to narrow the championship lead down to just five points. Dramatic, isn't it?

Highlights:



The next race is at Monaco on the 13th of May.

Bubble Gang 2017 Summer Special #BGSummer2017

It's summer again and it's that time for the year again as Bubble Gang starts the first half of their two-part 2017 Summer Special in Pradera Verde Villas at Lubao, Pampanga! So, what's up for the first half of the summer special?

- Excuse me gags

- A lifeguard at the inflatable pool

- Swimming lessons

- Another Buhay ng Bakla Session

- Istambay, Istambay Sa Languyan, Ang Mga Sexy ay Naglabasan, Ang Gusto Nila Ay Kaibigan, At Kasama Dito Sa...SWIMMINGAN?!

- TINDA by FUD

- Security Check with the ladies

- The Baket List examined

- Toying with a new drone

- Basa-basa pik!

And that's it for Part 1 of the Bubble Gang 2017 Summer Special. Check back next week for the latter half of the special!

Forza Horizon 3: The Elemento of Surprise

I maybe fooling around on April Fool's weekend but this prize car I got is no April Fool joke but rather a superfast track toy from Lamborghini that deserves a welcoming home gift in the world of Forza as I got my hands on the ultra-expensive track-only Lamborghini Sesto Elemento on this weekend's Forzathon event.

So, Sesto Elemento. Haven't seen it for quite a while since our last encounter with this machine a few years ago. It's Italian for Sixth Element and it refers to Carbon to the Periodic Table of Elements because this Gallardo-based track-only machine makes extensive use of carbon fiber materials from 3D design through simulation, validation, production and testing - all in a state-of-the-art industrial process that stands for the very highest quality standards. It's powered by the same V10 engine from the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, producing 570PS of power output and it's capable of going from 0-100kph in 2.5 seconds, faster than the Aventador. Well, that's all I know about this car but it's good to have this bull back on the grid.

As part of honoring most Forzathon-exclusive prize cars, this Sesto Elemento wants to take a wild run around the Outback. Problem is, someone turned its high-speed fun run into a rough-and-tumble slapstick comedy.

I'd say, I'd really wish I wouldn't do that again when I got an ultra-fast prize car like the Sesto Elemento.

Let's Do The News! (March 31, 2017)

- The Government Peace Panel is prepared for the next round of peace talks that will take place in The Hague, Netherlands this April. Labor Secretary Silvestre ‘Bebot’ Bello III revealed that the government will not declare a unilateral ceasefire before the scheduled negotiations.

- The whole Philippines practices everyone to "duck, cover, and hold" in an annual earthquake drill as means of preparation in case of a strong earthquake struck the West Valley Fault.

- China's First Lady, Peng Liyuan, will be alongside President Xi Jinping for their US visit next week to meet up with US President Donald Trump in Florida.

- Five people are reported dead and 40 are injured in an explosion in northwest Pakistan.

- Japan's whaling fleet has returned from its Antarctic hunt in the name of scientific research with a  take of over 300 minke whales, which prompted complaints from Australia.

- After its North American debut, Kia's first high-performance saloon, the Stinger, has premiered at the Seoul Motor Show and it will be on sale this summer.

2018 Kia Stinger

- The Love Live School Idol Festival app game is teasing new characters for their Perfect Dream Project.

TTFN!!!

Mazda New Flair (MJ55S)

2017 Mazda Flair

With the new Suzuki Wagon R launched a few months ago, Mazda is no stranger to them as they borrowed one for their brand new Flair kei car currently available at their nearest Mazda dealership across Japan.

As the story is similar to the latest Suzuki Wagon R, the base XG variant has a front face reminiscent of a Ford F-150 while the XS variant features a more Vellfire-esque front face. Sadly though, the Custom Style variant, which is based on the Wagon R Stingray, is out of the question, leaving only the base variants where the XS variant is the stylish variant of the new Flair range, which sounds very weird to us.

Like the new Wagon R, the new Flair features a Mild Hybrid technology setup, which comes with an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a li-ion battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient 660cc engine. Along with the new platform we're familiar with, fuel efficiency has gone up to 33.4kmpl.

For safety purposes, the new Flair comes with a dual camera brake support system, which detects the vehicle and pedestrians from about 5kph in the speed range of about 100kph, and to avoid collisions, the automatic braking feature triggers with the alarm and then it stops. It even comes with a lane departure warning function, and a stagger alarm function, among many others.

The new Flair starts at 1,177,200 Japanese Yen.

Photo: Mazda Motor Corporation

Aikatsu! Photo on Stage!! EP 03

Aikatsu! Photo on Stage!! EP 03

For the latest single inspired by the Aikatsu Photo on Stage app game, another set of three new songs as heard from the app game based on the hit children's franchise from Bandai.

First song in this latest Photokatsu single is 夢のレセプション by Waka and Risuko from STAR☆ANIS. Then, Miki and Miho from AIKATSU☆STARS! (note; the group, not the TV show) will do a song titled ときめきマタドール∞, and lastly, Risuko, Yuna, and Remi from STAR☆ANIS will perform Star Heart. Those three new songs were heard from the app game and yours to listen anytime you like.

TRACK LISTINGS:

01 夢のレセプション

02 ときめきマタドール∞

03 Star Heart

04 夢のレセプション（off vocal）

05 ときめきマタドール∞（off vocal）

06 Star Heart（off vocal）

Countdown for Brexit negotiations has begun

Last Thursday, Prime Minister Theresa May officially triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, beginning the two-year countdown for Britain's exit from the European Union with major problems in store for possible negotiations between the UK and the EU.

According to PM May, she triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, putting Britain on track to leave the European Union within 2019 and there will be numerous issues in store between the UK and the EU following its imminent departure from the bloc.

Last year, 51.9% of the voters voted LEAVE while 48.1% of the voters voted REMAIN in a historic referendum that changed Britain forever.

What's at stake in the countdown for Brexit is the future relations between Britain and the EU in terms of diplomacy, defense, economy, and others.