ABB FIA Formula E S11 - Mexico City ePrix

Season 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship continues in Mexico City, kicking off the year 2025 with intense zero-emission action situated at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. A chance for the GEN3 EVO machines to flex their electric muscles in the Mexican setting.

Screengrab from Formula E

Oliver Rowland won the first race of the season for NISMO. He beat out two Porsche drivers, Antonio Felix Da Costa and Pascal Wehrlein, to take the checkered flag.

The next race is in Jeddah for this season's first two-parter this February 14 to 15, 2025.

Let's Do The News! (January 11, 2025)

          

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

- Donald Trump is sentenced with "unconditional discharge", avoiding jail time, fines, and probation. By the time he returns to the White House on January 20th, he will be the first sitting US President with a felony conviction.

- A night-time curfew was imposed in the fire-hit Los Angeles as the city warns of looting in residences burnt by multiple wildfires.

- The United States announced a $25 million reward for the arrest or conviction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on the day he was sworn in for his third term in rule.

- Meta terminates all of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs immediately.

- Andy Cowell assumes the role of CEO and Team Principal of the Aston Martin Formula 1 team immediately.

- PREMA Racing announced its IndyCar driver lineup, which consists of Callum Ilott, Robert Shwartzman, and reserve driver Romain Grosjean.

- GTWS winner Igor Fraga earned his full-time driver status for the 2025 Super Formula season.

- The Tesla Model Y minor change was unveiled.

2026 Tesla Model Y

- 2NE1 member Dara will host a new audition program featuring EXO member Chen, AB6IX member Park Woo Jin, and more as mentors.

- The NBA postpones its Supers-Lakers and Hornets-Clips matches in Los Angeles in the wake of the devastating wildfires.

- Bill McCartney, the coach who led the Colorado Buffaloes to their only national football title in 1990, has died at the age of 84. McCartney was a three-time coach of the year in the Big Eight Conference.

- The MLB banned two fans who interfered with LA Dodgers' Mookie Betts during a World Series game at Yankee Stadium from attending games at big league ballparks.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (January 10, 2025)

         

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

- US Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden were among the attendees at the state funeral of the late Jimmy Carter.

- The death toll from the Los Angeles wildfires is now at ten as the fires continue to engulf Hollywood. Meanwhile, over 20 were arrested over the looting of abandoned homes.

- The procession of Jesus Christ of Nazareth reached the Quiapo Church at around 0126 hours Manila time. It took 20 hours and 45 minutes before the image was returned to the church since it was released from the Quirino Grandstand at 0441 hours on Thursday.

- Manchester Airport closes runways due to "significant levels of snow" as warnings remain in place for snow and ice in the United Kingdom.

- Franco Colapinto was named reserve driver for the Alpine F1 team.

- All ten Pioneer 25 hydrogen-powered offroaders to be used in the inaugural Extreme H championship have been produced.

- General Motors named Russ O'Blenes as the boss of its new company that oversees its future Formula 1 power unit for the Cadillac F1 team. Cadillac will join the F1 grid in the 2026 season and will be powered by Ferrari race engines for the time being until its own power unit is ready to race.

- The Mazda Spirit Racing Roadster lineup made its premiere at the Tokyo Auto Salon. For the first time in this configuration since the ND Roadster's 2015 release, it's been fitted with a 2.0L engine producing 184PS of power while mated to a 6-speed manual. The limited-to-200-unit MSR Roadster 12R has 200PS of power from the said engine.

2026 Mazda Spirit Racing Roadster

- Subaru unveiled the STi S210 Prototype at the Tokyo Auto Salon. Based on the VB WRX S4, it features aero and dynamics tweaks inspired by its Nurburgring-winning race car while the FA24 DIT 2.4L boxer-4 engine gained 25PS of power compared to the normal WRX S4 while mated to the Subaru Performance Transmission, a first for an STi S model. Sales will begin this Spring and will be limited to 500 units.

2026 Subaru WRX S4 STi S210

- Hyundai showcased its IONIQ 5 N DK Edition at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

- The Skoda Enyaq range's minor change was unveiled.

2025 Skoda Enyaq

2025 Skoda Enyaq Coupe

- The next XBOX Developer_Direct presentation will be this January 23rd.

- Rugby player Stuart Hogg was sentenced after admitting domestic abuse charge.

- WWE Raw's Netflix debut averaged an audience of 2.6 million households, a 116% increase compared to the average on the USA Network last year. Meanwhile, WWE SmackDown returns to its 2-hour format in June.

- The Neri Naig syndicated estafa case arraignment was postponed.

TTFN.

My FH5 Log: Z NISMO vs The Slayer

Back in the Horizon Holidays Mix-up, I've pitted the all-new Nissan Fairlady Z NISMO RZ34 against a quartet of clunker saloons on the streets of Guanajuato's Bola Ocho. Having defeated the quartet of clunkers, the quartet warned of something powerful heading its way.

Being the only prize car of the Horizon Extreme update is a sign that the countdown to the Forza franchise's dissolution has begun. Because 2025 signals the franchise's end, here comes the worst clunker junker ever to emerge on the Horizon Mexico stage.

The Slayer is a 1965 Chevrolet C10 pickup truck that has been transformed into a mad creation by DeBerti Design. It is powered by a built 900hp LSX B15 6.2-liter Chevrolet engine with a 5-liter Whipple supercharger and 8-stack fuel injection on top, paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission. This world-famous three-time SEMA booth show truck is sure to turn heads wherever it goes. Word from the Hot Wheels HQ is that the DeBerti Slayer is set to become a Hot Wheels toy this 2025.

To demonstrate the monstrous power of the Slayer, I went to the Horizon Oval track against a pack of clunker junkers and went for broke. Let's roll the tape.

That sums up rather well.

With the stage set, our hero from last month faces off against the harbinger of Forza's end-time on the plaza. Let's get the battle started!

And here are the results...

Z NISMO - 1m36.313s

Slayer - 1m36.713s

It's a close call but our modern JDM superhero just trumped the abomination clunker but a razor-thin margin. It's a win for modern cars and this will send a clear message to the Forza producers to NEVER QUIT when it comes to featuring modern cars.

Forza Horizon 5 and Forza Motorsport (Xbox Series X|S) are two of the latest games in the Forza series. Unfortunately, it appears that the Forza franchise will be coming to an end in 2025. Why? Because Forza chose to feature old cars instead of the latest models, which is a departure from the direction of other modern racing games.

As I said, enjoy the remaining days of the Forza franchise.

Thanks for the memories, Forza.

Let's Do The News! (January 9, 2025)

        

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

- A trilateral phone call between outgoing US President Joe Biden, Philippine President Bongbong Marcos, and Japan Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru is expected this January 12th.

- Three people were hurt and were given medical assistance while in the middle of the Traslacion. The Traslacion has been going on for 12 hours since it started at 0440 hours Manila time and the estimated crowd near Quiapo Church has exceeded 192K based on the Nazareno Operations Center's records.

- The PITX is raising parking rates starting January 14 with no more flat rate and higher overnight fees.

- Los Angeles is in a state of calamity due to historic wildfires. Five people were killed in the blaze. The fire in Hollywood Hills is "rapidly expanding" and "zero progress" has been made in containing fires, according to a fire official. Celebrities like Paris Hilton lost their homes in the blaze.

- Fanatec has been the title sponsor of the SRO Motorsports Group and its signature GT World Challenge series since 2021. However, it appears that Fanatec's association with SRO Motorsports has ended.

- Sanrio's My Melody and Kuromi characters are getting a Netflix original anime this July.

- The multiplayer online game of the Transformers franchise was canceled.

- MBC responds to reports of the 2024 MBC Music Festival airing during the Lunar New Year holiday.

- Brian Matusz, a former left-handed pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles and the No. 4 pick in the 2008 MLB draft, has died at the age of 37. He spent almost his entire eight-year career with the Orioles.

- The writ of habeas data petition filed by Eat Bulaga presenter Vic Sotto against Darryl Yap over the controversial teaser of The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma biopic movie was granted by the court and set for summary hearing on January 15, 2025.

- Comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto confirms her overnight stay at the NBI HQ.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (January 8, 2025)

       

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

- The Philippine Air Force extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of two-time Southeast Asian Games Gold medalist Mervin Guarte of Oriental Mindoro. Guarte was stabbed to death yesterday at the house of the councilor in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. Local authorities are continuing the investigation behind Guarte's death.

- Representative Joey Salceda, who chairs the House Committee on Ways and Means, has called for an investigation into whether the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines violated the Anti-Dummy Law. The investigation will determine whether NGCP complies with the law, which prohibits foreign ownership of public utilities.

- California wildfires rips through a Los Angeles suburb as it spreads over nearly 3K acres, forcing thousands to flee.

- Jess Phillips says Elon Musk is putting her in danger with "disinformation" about grooming gangs.

- French far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen dies at the age of 96.

- Nearly a hundred were killed when a M7.1 quake hit the Tibetan holy city of Shigatse in China.

- BMW showcased its new-generation Panoramic iDrive, which is set to debut on next-generation models at the end of 2025.

- The AFEELA 1 from Sony-Honda Mobility will arrive in 2026 and it's available to reserve.

2027 AFEELA 1

- Honda showcased the 0 Saloon and 0 SUV prototypes before their 2026 production debut.

- KONAMI announced that the upcoming Shine Post game will be redirected from mobile to console.

- Your first look at the Netflix K-drama The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, coming this month.

- Spider-Man actors Tom Holland and Zendaya are reportedly engaged.

- Chinese actor Xing Xing was found four days after being reported missing. Xing has been returned to Thailand.

- Comedienne Rufa Mae Quinto voluntarily surrenders to the NBI.

TTFN.

Egao no Promise/Superstar!!

In the climax of the final season of "Love Live! Superstar!!", the fates of the founding members of Liella! after graduating from Yuigaoka Girls High School have been decided. The second-batch members have vowed to follow in their footsteps with Kinako Sakurakoji taking over Ren Hazuki's role as student council president. Tomari Onitsuka and Wien Margarete have decided to remain in the group, having grown fondness with their new friends. With their fates decided, Liella! has one loose end to finish: defending their title. With Liella! emerging victorious, the founding members bid their juniors farewell after graduation.

The songs heard from episodes ten and eleven from the final season of "Love Live! Superstar!!" have arrived.

Egao no Promise/Superstar!!
(Episode 10 Version)

Egao no Promise/Superstar!!
(Episode 11 Version)

Episode 10 saw the girls perform the song "Egao no Promise" and in the penultimate episode of the final season saw the full force of Liella! perform the song "Superstar!!". The full versions of these songs are yours to listen but there's more because the Egao no Promise version features the 11-member version of the song as heard from the first season, "Wish Song" while the Superstar!! version features an additional song titled "君・街・空・星".

Congratulations, Liella! You accomplished your mission and will be remembered forever.