The United States is pushing for the toughest ever sanctions against North Korea in the wake of the sixth nuclear test.
It is still unclear how much cooperation the US could draw from China and Russia in eventually passing its draft resolution currently under discussion but the blacklisting of NK leader Kim Jong-un, which would be the first, would freeze his foreign assets and ban him from traveling abroad.
In addition, it calls for slapping an oil embargo on the North and mobilizing all means necessary to ban and search North Korean ships in international waters, which includes the use of military force. However, an unnamed official says China and Russia has yet to support the draft, which also aims to pull the plug on textile exports and the hiring of North Korean workers overseas, which has been a source of much-needed income for the Korean Peninsula.
- The Philippine National Police will support the National Bureau of Investigation in their examination of the deaths of Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo De Guzman. President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the NBI to investigate the deaths of Arnaiz and De Guzman since members of the police force are suspects.
- Senator Grace Poe has sought for a Senate investigation regarding the recent spate of killings of minors due to the Duterte administration's bloody war on drugs.
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- The Commission of Human Rights admitted that it fears the possibility of receiving no budget for the fiscal year 2018 following the Energy Regulatory Commission’s 1,000 peso budget.
- Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson drew attention to herself after her alleged performance at a casino hotel in Pasay City, which violates the virtues of Presidential Decree No. 1067-B (series of 1977), as amended by PD No. 1869 (series of 1983), where government officials and employees are banned from entering, staying, or playing at casinos.
- As Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful storms in history, ravaged the Caribbean and killed 13 people, a warning is issued on the US state of Florida. Also, in areas ravaged by the most powerful storm in history, danger is looming because of the incoming Hurricane Jose.
- Donald Trump Jr., the son of the US President Donald Trump, is under Senate investigation as reports circulate the President's son wanted dirt on Hillary Clinton from a Russian lawyer during last year's elections.
- 143 million people in the US are could be heavily affected in a massive Equifax data breach.
- Mazda plans to electrify all models by 2035 beginning with mild hybrid and all-electric vehicles by 2019 followed by a PHEV in 2021. In addition, Mazda plans to make autonomous driving tech standard by 2025 with the first phase slated in 2021.
- The same GSi goodness from the all new Opel/Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport, now in the new Sport Tourer variant.
- Jaguar gave the iconic E-Type a modern twist with the Zero Concept, complete with a modern interior and an electric powertrain. It was presented during the Jaguar Land Rover Tech Fest in London in addition to the Future-Type Concept, which pinpoints the future of driving.
- Jonathan Pryce from Game of Thrones will be starring alongside Sir Anthony Hopkins in the upcoming Netflix biopic film about Pope Francis, titled The Pope.
The leaders of Japan and South Korea denounced North Korea's recent nuclear test and pledged to boost their cooperation between them to tackle this international problem.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met up during a bilateral summit on the sidelines of a regional economic meeting Japanese people and the South Korean public have come to be greatly concerned due to North Korea's ongoing threats.
Two agreed to push for new UNSC sanctions against the Korean Peninsula. In response, the Japanese PM noted the two countries are working closely together to fend off North Korea's threats and believes North Korea's repeated provocations pose a very dangerous threat unlike any other.
- President Rodrigo Duterte met with the parents of the 19-year old Carl Angelo Arnaiz, who was killed by the Caloocan police. The meeting happened at the Malacanang Gold Clubhouse last September 6, pass 3pm, before Pres. Duterte attended the 60th Anniversary of the Social Security System.
- Opposition lawmakers strongly condemn President Rodrigo Duterte's pronouncement of granting the Marcos family immunity from criminal prosecution in regards to their voluntary turnover of a portion of their alleged ill-gotten wealth.
- Thousands of residents fled their homes in Nueva Vizcaya due to intensified clashes between the AFP and the New People's Army.
- Reports show that numerous lobbyists, contractors, and others who make their living influencing the government pay US President Donald Trump's companies for golf club membership, a status that can put them in close contact with the President.
- Former Californian Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's push for nonpartisan redistricting gained numerous Republican support with Ohio Governor John Kasich signing on to his amicus brief at the Supreme Court and Arizona Sen. John McCain filing a separate friend-of-the-court brief.
- Lamborghini unleashed the Roadster variant of the improved Aventador S, ahead of its Frankfurt premiere.
- Three individuals were arrested for posting One Piece manga scans before publication. According to the police, the suspects scanned manga and earned money from website ads.
- Your first look at the upcoming movie The Man Who Invented Christmas, starring Dan Stevens as Charles Dickens.
It's been half a decade since Toyota and Subaru introduced the world their compact front-engined, rear-wheel drive sports coupes sold under their respective names of Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ and as sportscars come and go by, rest assured that these affordable Asian sportscars never gone to waste even though they're not as fast as any European sportscars because what these cars are not just good-looking but also greater to drive which isn't so bad for a four-cylinder car to begin with if you're new into sportscars.
I already talked about the 86 a few moments ago so now it's the turn of its Pleiades relative, the Subaru BRZ.
The BRZ maybe Subaru's first coupe offering since the likes of the Alcyone, the SVX, and the Impreza Retna, but it's known forever as the sacrilege of the breed because of its rear-wheel drive powertrain, a treason to Subaru's four-wheel drive heritage, but I don't care if this car is a treason to Subaru's lineage because like the 86, the BRZ is a fun to drive car that knows no bounds. From its low centre of gravity, boxer-4 engine, and some basic dynamics that makes it easier to live with, the BRZ is all about giving drivers the fun they've been longing for and on weekends, it's a blast to drive.
Of course, while the BRZ and the 86 are the same beings, heritage is what separates them apart because while the Toyota 86 follows the tradition of Toyota's successful sports cars, the BRZ breaks the Subaru tradition like a village idiot in a family of geniuses. Differences aside, I'm starting to admire those Japanese sportscar heroes after being around for half a decade.
So, now that I enjoyed getting to know about the BRZ, how about a little treat for this rear-wheel drive hero?
I know, that design looks familiar to you but in an event a Hachiroku couldn't make it to future installments, the BRZ will provide the backup and with the design I made to love about it, it reflects the BRZ's personality as a machine. Wish I want to drive my special BRZ but Australia's starting to wear me out like an old man so instead...
I'm taking the BRZ at the Hot Wheels Thrilltopia for a rollercoaster drive it will never forget. The cool thing about the Thrilltopia is that with so much obstacles to conquer, it almost feels like the automotive equivalent of Ninja Warrior, the ultimate endurance challenge which tests one man's strength and spandex. The BRZ will be taking part of a challenge I line up for it and see if this car can make it or fall under the sea of disappointment.
Even though I made some improvements to make it competitive, I don't think this BRZ might have a fighting chance to survive Thrilltopia's obstacles but like everyone else, I believe in this machine. Cross your fingers for the ultimate battle of a lifetime...
The Subaru BRZ survived and won the challenge. What a day to be the ultimate Hot Wheels Thrilltopia Ninja Warrior, eh? Good show, and I think the BRZ earned it.
Call it a sacrilege or a treason on Subaru's heritage but the BRZ is all about being an enjoyable rear-wheel drive sportscar with a spritey personality and they did a really good job making a rather satisfying sportscar that caters the driver's desires. Looks like I have to give them a hearty thanks.
South Korean president Moon Jae-In arrived in Russia on Wednesday for a two-day visit for a regional economic meetings that will also include series of summit talks between the Russian and Japanese leaders.
Moon and Russian leader Vladimir Putin will later hold a joint press conference on the outcome of their talks, the second of their kind since the new South Korean leader took office in May.
The meeting was widely expected to focus on ways to deal with threats from North Korea in the wake of the sixth nuclear test last weekend.
Meanwhile, Moon is scheduled to hold a bilateral summit with his Mongolian counterpart Khaltmaagiin Battulga later in the day. On Thursday, President Moon will meet up with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for bilateral talks before attending the third Easter Economic Forum, mostly aimed at enhancing economic cooperation in the region that includes the Russian Far East.
In Washington DC, the White House says it is focused on pursuing aggressive, diplomatic, and economic measures against North Korea which do NOT include dialogue, for the time being. White House Press Secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the priority of the Trump administration was to remove nuclear weapons from North Korea and the protection of American citizens.
Sanders reaffirmed President Trump's stance that all options remain on the table and urged other countries, including China and Russia, to help deter further threats.
However, both the US and Russia clashed at the UN Security Council over new sanctions on North Korea. Speaking to reporters at the UN HQ, the Russian Ambassador for the UN said he knows the US has drafted a new sanctions plan, and said Moscow would study Washington's proposals, but stressed punitive measures along will not resolve the crisis. However, the United States is insisting on the toughest possible economic sanctions to punish the Korean Peninsula as Nikki Haley, the US Ambassador for the UN, will present the new resolution by next week.
- President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Philippine National Police to bring the media with them during their next anti-drug operations. He made the statement during the media briefing.
- Senator Richard Gordon maintained his stance that filing an ethics complaint against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV will teach the former soldier a "long due lesson." On Monday, Gordon filed an ethics complaint against Trillanes remarking the “continuous, unabated, unparliamentary acts, language, and conduct” that is causing damage to the Senate and to the people. Then, Trillanes filed a counter complaint against the Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman for allegedly being “unparliamentary and unethical.”
- President Duterte admitted that the Marcos family might seek immunity from possible prosecution before entering into a deal regarding the return of their supposed ill-gotten wealth during the dictatorship of the late strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos.
- The Duterte administration mulls building the country's first subway station which is expected to be fully operational by 2024. Construction of their Mega Manila subway will commence by 2019 and costs to build it has an estimate of over five billion dollars.
- Wildfires spread overnight throughout the Pacific Northwest region of America earlier and Seattle-area residents awoke to ash falling from the sky.
- Former president Barrack Obama says that having the Trump administration axing the DACA, which gives protection to young migrants, is wrong. Earlier, President Donald Trump axed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which badly affect some 800,000 "Dreamers", mostly Latin Americans. The House of Representatives now have half a year to scrap the DACA.
- Nissan unveiled the second-generation LEAF electric vehicle, which features an improved electric powertrain that promises 400km of electric distance based on Japan's JC08 Mode standards, new ProPilot Parking which allows the car to park by itself, and the new e-Pedal which combines acceleration and braking in one smart pedal. Sales in Japan will start in early October.
2018 Nissan Leaf
- Mini will showcase their John Cooper Works GP Concept at this month's Frankfurt Motor Show, previewing an ultra-high performance variant of the Mini hatchback.
