Let's Do The News! (November 6, 2024)

  

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- The entire US is voting to decide who will be the next president and what will the fate of the world order be at the hands of the next US president. Voters went to the polls to vote for either US Vice-President Kamala Harris or former president Donald Trump amid his guilty verdict on the "hush money" case. In the end, Donald Trump was re-elected as President of the United States, the first in US history to win a non-consecutive term since Grover Cleveland and the first Republican leader to do so. He won 277 electoral votes while Harris got 226.

- Former PH President Rodrigo Duterte will not attend the House Quad Committee tomorrow.

- PH President Bongbong Marcos led the distribution of aid to farmers, fishermen, and families affected by Typhoon Kristine in Camarines Sur.

- Some senators want to proceed with the elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao despite the bill filed by Senate President Chiz Escudero postponing the BARMM elections until May 2026.

- Israel PM Netanyahu fired his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, saying there is a "crisis of trust" between them.

- UK's Queen Camilla cancels her appearances due to a chest infection.

- Boeing employees returned to work with an increased pay rate.

- NASCAR penalized the Trackhouse Racing, Richard Childress Racing, and 23XI Racing teams for violating the Member Code of Conduct at Martinsville. The crew chief and spotter of the #1, #3, and #23 cars, as well as a team executive of each organization, have been suspended for the season finale in Phoenix.

- Nintendo confirms that the replacement for the Nintendo Switch, due next year, is backwards compatible with most Switch games as well as Switch Online compatibility.

- Kwak Si Yang and Im Hyeon Joo confirmed their breakup.

- Baseball player Shohei Ohtani has shoulder surgery after dislocation.

- Famed illustrator Robert Alejandro passed away at the age of 61. Alejandro is a founding member of Ilustrador ng Kabataan group and once hosted a TV art show titled Art is Kool.

TTFN.

My FM Log: Big Boss

The Ford Mustang Boss 302 is undoubtedly one of the most successful muscle car racers in history, and this #15 Trans Am competitor is proof. Having won this car in Forza Motorsport's Update 13 Open Class Tour, the first of the game's Year 2 roadmap, it's time to get to know this motorsport legend.

The Mustang Boss 302 was built to directly respond to the Trans-Am racing. It was built to compete against Chevrolet's Camaro Z/28 and its racing program for the Boss 302 was spearheaded by Bud Moore Engineering and Carroll Shelby.

Driven by Parnelli Jones and George Follmer, the Boss 302 Mustang showcased successive results in the 1970 Trans-Am series. Such performance secured Ford the Manufacturers Championship, and Jones, its driver, was coronated the 1970 Trans-Am champion.

With a quick introduction done, it's time to take this #15 Mustang Boss 302 Trans Am racer on a quick lap across Laguna Seca, the track where two Boss 302s crossed the checkered flag and got away without facing disqualification due to not having SCCA emblems on it. 

It's a true story because instead of facing disqualification along with its Javelin and Barracuda competitors, the chief steward gave them a warning saying they would fine them if these cars didn't have the required banners while heading to Dallas for their next race.

Long story short but you get the point. Anyway, let's roll the tape.

I did it in 1m49.930s. Not as quick as what the drivers did but it's worth reliving the moment.

Enjoy your new ride!

Kia Sportage (NQ5) - 2025 Minor Change

The fifth-generation Kia Sportage received a minor change for the 2025 model year and what an improvement this crossover has gained having been on the road for three years.

2025 Kia Sportage

Starting at 28,360,000 Korean Won plus additional costs, the facelifted Kia Sportage is packed with a bolder exterior revision and a new interior, and by surprise, the diesel variant from the pre-facelift model was removed, leaving only a choice of a 2.0L LPG, a 1.6L turbo, and a 1.6L turbo-hybrid.

2025 Kia Sportage

The 2025 Kia Sportage features an enlarged grille and an EV3-styled nose that some people think is too obvious. In addition, they also redesigned the wheels and tail lights to further enhance the vehicle's aesthetics. The pre-facelift model's high-end Gravity variant has been replaced with the first-ever X-Line variant that features a black badging, vertical slanted front grille, a slightly longer but more macho front bumper, 19-inch wheels, premium steering wheel, and suede headlining.

2025 Kia Sportage interior

The interior has given a significant revision for the recent minor change as hinted by the new Kia steering wheel design lifted from the EV3, a slightly bigger touch screen with a next-generation infotainment system, new air vent designs, and a fingerprint authentication system, among others. 

The Kia Sportage maintains its class-leading cabin room. The longer wheelbase provides more legroom, and there is enough space for plenty of luggage in the boot.

2025 Kia Sportage

As said before, the diesel variant from the pre-facelift model was removed, leaving only a choice of a 2.0L LPG, a 1.6L turbo, and a 1.6L turbo-hybrid. The LPG and the petrol variant are mated to an 8-speed AT while the hybrid is mated to a 6-speed AT. 

The 146PS 2.0L LPG variant has a fuel economy of 8.8km/L while the 180PS 1.6L turbo petrol engine has 12.3km/L of fuel economy, and the Sportage Hybrid, now with an improved 47.7kW electric motor, gets 16.3km/L.

Underneath, the Sportage still comes with front MacPherson struts, rear multilink suspension, and front ventilated disc brakes. Come front-wheel-drive, it behaves like a normal car, but with the 4WD drivetrain, it's capable of getting things dirty, almost. Thankfully, the Sportage Hybrid can be offered with the 4WD drivetrain, so it's not afraid of going under the weather. Coupled with e-handling and e-ride, the Sportage Hybrid drives slightly well.

The 2025 Kia Sportage has eight airbags, steering wheel grip detection, and a Driver Forward Attention Warning Camera. It also has Highway Driving Assist 2, navigation-based smart cruise control, Lane Keeping Assist 2, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear side collision avoidance assist, rear parking collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, side parking distance warning, Remote Smart Parking Assist, and Safe Exit Warning.

The Kia Sportage is a common-sense crossover for those who are wise to drive one but with the latest minor change, common sense just took a slightly bolder approach in style, comfort, capability, and technology. Need to say more?

Available Colors: Snow White Pearl, Heritage Blue, Wolf Grey, Gravity Grey, Vesta Blue, Fusion Black, Shadow Matte Grey, and Jungle Wood Green.

Photo: Kia Corp.

Let's Do The News! (November 5, 2024)

 

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor, Alice Guo, will join the preliminary investigation at the PH Department of Justice related to the cases of perjury, falsification by the notary public, obstruction of justice, and use of falsified documents.

- The forces of PCG in Northeastern Luzon are on heightened alert due to Typhoon Marce.

- Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada is pushing for the construction of warehouses to store food, medicine, clean water, clothes, and other equipment needed by evacuees whenever there is a disaster.

- Cases of leptospirosis at the NCR hits over 2700.

- US Vice-President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump visit swing states in the last day of campaigning ahead of the elections. The race for the next US President is neck-and-neck.

- Tuition fees in England are set to rise for the first time in eight years. Tuition fees to rise to £9,535 next year for university students in England, with maintenance loans also going up, says Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

- UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch named Robert Jenrick as shadow justice secretary.

- Felipe Nasr will take part in the November 19 test with Team Penske's IndyCar program in The Thermal Club.

- Strictly Come Dancing contestant Amy Dowden will not return to the show this season following a foot injury.

- Music legend Quincy Jones dies at 91. Jones was a musician and producer who worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, and many others.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (November 4, 2024)

                                   

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- The Philippine Air Force continues to provide assistance to areas heavily affected by Typhoon Kristine.

- Parts of Luzon prepare for Typhoon Marce.

- The COMELEC is focused on conducting Bangsamoro Parliament elections.

- Moldova's pro-EU leader Maia Sandu is leading the tight election amid claims of Kremlin interference. She's on course for a second term.

- Spain's King Felipe VI is met by angry protesters during a visit to flood-hit Valencia.

- US Vice-President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump made last-pitch efforts to woo voters ahead of this Tuesday's presidential elections.

- Eight OPEC+ members extend oil supply cuts until the end of December.

- In Game 4 of the PBA Governors Cup Finals, Ginebra leveled the score with two wins each after beating TNT at the score of 106-92.

- Rico Gutierez and Enzo Williams are taking over Mark Reyes' position as directors of the upcoming Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre TV series.

TTFN.

2024 NASCAR Cup Series - Xfinity 500

Martinsville Speedway is the penultimate battleground of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series with the Xfinity 500. With Logano and Reddick claiming their spot for the Championship 4, which of the final two will be bound for Phoenix?

As the green flag waved, the penultimate showdown of the season begins. Stage 1 saw Christopher Bell spinning on Lap 77 on turn 2 and got Corey LaJoie in that mess. 

As Chase Elliott wins Stage 1, Stage 2 saw Daniel Suarez wrecks in turn 2 from 14th after contact from Daniel Hemric who was hit from behind by Austin Cindric on Lap 145 followed by a Lap 158 spin by Harrison Burton after being nudged by Carson Hocevar, Denny Hamlin's bad restart on Lap 165, Martin Truex Jr spinning on Lap 184, and a Lap 196 mess triggered by Carson Hocevar.

With Brad Keselowski winning Stage 2, the final stage saw a Lap 398 disaster for Hocevar followed by Kyle Busch's loose tire on Lap 407.

Screengrab from NASCAR

After a chaotic fight in Martinsville, Ryan Blaney wins the Xfinity 500 of the NASCAR Cup Series! He and William Byron complete the Championship 4!

Logano, Reddick, Blaney, and Byron. The final four contenders are now Phoenix-bound. The question is, who will be crowned the champion?

Don't miss the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship this November 10, 2024.

F1 2024: Lenovo Gran Premio de Sao Paulo

Brazil's Interlagos is the next stop of the F1 2024 season with the Lenovo Gran Premio de Sao Paulo. The rain spell in the South American superpower literally turned the tables for the drivers, better or worse, especially for Max Verstappen who tries to maintain his title hopes.

After a disastrous qualifying crash, Alex Albon was the first driver out of the race. The crash will take moments to repair and will not make it in time for the race. This leaves Franco Colapinto as the sole Williams driver at the Interlagos race.

As the lights went off, the race began with Sergio Perez spinning to last place followed by Lewis Hamilton going off-track on Lap 11. As the rain worsened, Lap 28 saw Nico Hulkenberg spinning off and the virtual safety car was triggered. Four laps later, the red flag was triggered after Colapinto crashed into the barriers.

With Hulkenberg disqualified after his Lap 28 incident, the race resumed and Ollie Bearman went spinning off on Lap 36 followed by a safety car-triggering Lap 40 incident with Carlos Sainz. As the race resumes, it becomes a chance of redemption for Max Verstappen.

Image: Formula 1

Despite starting from P17, Max Verstappen's herculean victory in Brazil proves that his title defense hopes are still alive. Behind him, Alpine delivered their best podium finishes with Esteban Ocon 2nd and Pierre Gasly 3rd.

With only three races left this season and with 62 points ahead of Lando Norris, will Max Verstappen maintain his championship status in the face of his newfound adversity?

The next race is the Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix this November 22, 2024.