THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: S. Korea's JCS says "low-ranking" soldier crossed the western border

South Korea's Joint Chief of Staff said that one North Korean soldier has made his way to South Korea this morning across the western border of the two Koreas. At 1000 hours local time, a "low-ranking" soldier appeared in front of a guard post this morning.

They say there were no gunshots, and this is the first such incident since another North Korean soldier had cross the highly guarded border of Joint Security Area last month, after receiving multiple gunshots.

Related authorities are looking into his intentions.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (December 21, 2017)

- As the Philippines reels from the aftermath of Urduja, another storm's coming up as Vinta has intensified into a tropical storm, according to PAGASA. In its 5 a.m. bulletin, the state weather bureau said Vinta is expected to hit land over the Caraga-Davao region between Thursday evening and Friday morning.

- The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital will conduct independent review on the probable cause of deaths allegedly linked to the Dengvaxia vaccine, according to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

- Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said that the Philippines' announcement to withdraw the application for a second grand from the Millennium Challenge Corporation was for policy independence as Diokno said that the president wants to implement projects without "external intervention."

- According to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, today's conflicts average more than 20 years and often involve multiple armed groups competing for control of government institutions, natural resources and territory.

- Venezuela's pro-government constitutional assembly effectively stripped three of the country's most influential opposition parties of the right to participate in next year's presidential election. The ban follows up on a threat by socialist President Nicolas Maduro to punish three of the biggest opposition groups and drew swift condemnation within Venezuela and abroad.

- Subaru has admitted investigating possible tampering of mileage readings of cars sold in the Japanese market, according to reports. About two months ago, Subaru revealed that “uncertified staff” had been making final checks on cars that were sold in its domestic market, a clear violation of regulations in Japan.

- BMW teases the X7 flagship SUV ahead of late 2018 launch.



- The close friends, relatives, and fans of the late SHINee member Jonghyun bid their farewell to him today at his funeral procession. Last Monday, Jonghyun died at his residence, with police reports ruled his death as suicide.

- The Love Live! Sunshine!! Kimi no Kokorowa Kagayaiterukai? figure lineup wraps up with the addition of Kanan Matsuura in the range. The figure is now available to order starting at 14,800 Yen plus tax and delivery and arrives this June.



TTFN!!!

THE IDOLM@STER Stella Stage

Last year, the 765 PRO ALLSTARS ushered in the new age with the Playstation4-exclusive THE IDOLM@STER Platinum Stars featuring new songs, new outfits, and new ways to toy around with the 765 PRO ALLSTARS but sadly Bandai Namco had enough with this game or because you all hated it and rather go toy around with Cinderella Girls or Million Live or Side M or binge-watch the recently concluded THE IDOLM@STER.KR all day long. However, the producers are reluctant to give up and they want to make another PS4-exclusive iM@S game that captures the essence of the classic games and here it is.

THE IDOLM@STER Stella Stage

Right, here it is. This is THE IDOLM@STER Stella Stage and this latest installment to THE IDOLM@STER video games, the girls are back where they belong; the office of 765 PRODUCTIONS. Yep, it's the very talent agency office where the idols call it home as the girls are prepared to take on a brand new challenge as the two bosses of rival talent agencies involving 765PRO's Takagi and 961PRO's Kuroi are setting up a live event called Stella Stage, where only the best idols will shine through the top of stardom. 961 Pro, although some of its powerful talents are gone thanks to the efforts of 765 PRO ALLSTARS in past installments, has unleashed their trump card; their new idol named Shiika (played by Rie Takahashi). With Stella Stage becoming the newest battleground for idols everywhere, how can our 765 PRO idols keep up with this new kind of threat and fight their way through the top of the live audience?

Using the tried and tested tactics as demonstrated on Platinum Stars, Stella Stage allows players to become the producer of 765 Production and be in charge with thirteen of their favorite idols to raise, grow bond, and elevate their way through stardom such as Haruka Amami, Yayoi Takatsuki, Makoto Kikuchi, Chihaya Kisaragi, Ritsuko Akizuki, Azusa Miura, Yukiho Hagiwara, Iori Minase, Ami and Mami Futami, Miki Hoshii, Takane Shijou, and Hibiki Ganaha. Do whatever you want with your favorite idols like you did in past games; fit them with the most potent outfits at your disposal, train them for tougher live stages, take a break with them, you can even come up with different strategies that will put them on the edge of their performance. This is serious matter because there are new ways to further improve your idols so use whatever means necessary to make them as famous as ever.

The costumes are all new in Stella Stage as demonstrated by the star outfit of this game called the "Top! Clover". Yes, the "Top! Clover" costume looks spicy to look at and apart from that, you can enjoy the brand new theme song titled "ToP!!!!!!!!!!!!!". Speaking of which, did you know that some of the DLC from Platinum Stars can be used on Stella Stage?

DLC aside, you can experience Stella Stage to the fullest with the first DLC Catalog featuring the brand new song Vertex Meister and the brand new Cosmo Girls costume with all the other songs and outfits featured in the first DLC catalog in this new game. You can expect six DLC catalogs over the coming months and love it or hate it, they'll be a blast to expand your Stella Stage experience.

LIMITED EDITION: Those who got their hands on the limited edition will be very rewarded because not only the game is featured but also comes with extras such as a pamphlet, a special drama CD, a 765PRO calendar, a 765PRO pin that fits to your neckstrap, which is included, a special box, and for those who preordered it, a special PS4 dynamic theme and a special "Another Clover" costume.

So, love it or loathe it, Stella Stage is an incredible IDOLM@STER game to play all day. No, it's a phenomenal game, absolutely phenomenal. We are delighted to have Bandai Namco back on track with the latest PS4-exclusive IDOLM@STER game but it takes time to get this game notice because they have other things in mind rather than toying with the 765PRO ALLSTARS.

Nissan Skyline V37 - 2018 minor change

2017 marks the 60th anniversary of the Nissan Skyline and the Japanese car company decided to blow the candle on one of Japan's well-respected cars in history by releasing a new model, well, what I say new, what they mean was they are giving the current V37 Skyline, the one with Infiniti badges on it for no reason, a minor change which features almost none of the bits as seen on the Infiniti Q50.

2018 Nissan Skyline

Once again, the Japanese car company continue to disappoint the Japanese public by not selling stuff that was made in Japan but sold in other countries except Japan and this latest 2018 minor change Nissan Skyline is the latest example of Japan's blatant trend. First off, with the advent of the Infiniti Q60, which is the two-door version of the Q50, which is the international name for the Skyline V37, Nissan refused to sell the two-door version despite the fact that it's made in Japan, another blatant example of Japanese cars that don't want to be Tomicanized since the Toyota Hilux, Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV4, and the one that was used to be called the Nissan Dualis. What's next? The one used to be called the Skyline Crossover? The one that is now the all-new Infiniti QX50 with the world's first variable compression turbo? The engine the Japanese too afraid to show it?

Another blasphemy is the engine because in America and Europe, the latest version of the Q50 has the new, fire-breather 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine that produces more power than the old 3.7L V6 engine it replaces. Sadly, Nissan also declined the engine as well, which is another act of cowardice for Japanese car makers these days, which involves afraid to sell global automotive stuff in their home market even though they made it there. Anyway, let's not get bogged down on Nissan's latest act of cowardice because while Nissan's too afraid to show what's new worldwide for the Japanese public, let's observe what's new on the 2018 minor change.

Of course, the 2018MY Skyline still bears Infiniti emblems but what's new in the exterior is the bumper design, set of wheels, and new rear lamps. In addition, there is now an Infiniti badge at the back of the car. Something they should have done a very long time ago.

2018 Nissan Skyline interior

On the inside, there are small changes occurred such as the steering wheel, the gear level now donning the Infiniti logo on the top, and the instrumental panel. Despite some subtle changes, it's still surprisingly as posh as its European rivals and the added wood trim adds a nice touch to the Skyline's well-proportioned interior.

Like I mentioned, Nissan declined to offer the firebreathing V6 turbo engine that the Q50 had in the world market and instead, they've retained the choice of a 3.5L V6 Hybrid and a Mercedes-Benz-sourced 2.0L four-cylinder turbo engine. This “Intelligent Dual Clutch Control” Hybrid System has been around since the Fuga and it still works as it promised, balancing performance and efficiency at the same pace. It produces a total output of 364PS of power and for honest reasons, the fuel efficiency based on JC08 mode standards is 17.8km/L.

The Mercedes-Benz-sourced 2.0L Turbo engine for the 200GT-t variant, meanwhile, produces 211PS of power and 350Nm of torque while delivering a fuel efficiency of 13km/L by JC08 mode standards. Most of the variants are mated to a 7-speed AT.

Also, the Skyline still retains the breakthrough Direct Adaptive Steering which breaks away from mechanical components and uses technology to steer with precision, delivering precise handling and quickly communicates road surface feedback to the driver, but it has been recalibrated for better adaptability.

For safety, the 2018MY Skyline now features a wide array of safety features such as Active Lane Control, Intelligent Cruise Control, Distance Control Assist, Backup Collision Intervention, Blind Spot Warning and Intervention, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, Forward Emergency Braking, and Predictive Forward Collision Warning. Couple these with an array of tech in store and the result is a much safer Skyline that you can really drive with confidence.

The 2018MY Nissan Skyline starts at 4,164,480 to 5,840,640 Japanese Yen, which sounds quite a lot but competitively priced between the European opposition. So, while Nissan set another example of their cowardly acts not to sell the Infiniti Q60 as the Skyline Coupe as well as the 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine along with it, the V37 Skyline has been upgraded to make sure it still wants to be accepted by the public even though 2017 is already the year of the Skyline. It maybe a somber way to blow sixty candles but this is just enough to cater this occassion, unless Nissan learns to break the mold and become one with the world market to sell other Skyline versions such as the coupe based on the Infiniti Q60 and the crossover based on the new Infiniti QX50. The more you know.

Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: US short of options to punish NKorea for serious cyberattack

Source: Associated Press

The Trump administration vowed Tuesday that North Korea would be held accountable for a May cyberattack that affected 150 countries, but it didn't say how, highlighting the difficulty of punishing a pariah nation already sanctioned to the hilt for its nuclear weapons program.

The WannaCry ransomware attack infected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide and crippled parts of Britain's National Health Service. It was the highest-profile cyberattack North Korea has been blamed for since the 2014 hack of Sony Pictures after it produced "The Interview," a satirical movie imagining a CIA plot to kill leader Kim Jong Un.

While that destructive attack led to leaks of confidential data from the movie studio and emails that embarrassed Sony talent, the implications of the WannaCry intrusion were altogether more serious. Homeland security adviser Tom Bossert said it was "a reckless attack and it was meant to cause havoc and destruction." He said it put lives at risk in British hospitals.

Other experts say the attack was more likely an attempt by Kim's cash-strapped government to extract money. Last year, the same hacking group was suspected in a malware attack that penetrated the Bangladesh Central Bank's computer system, stealing $81 million.

Whatever the motivation, the public declaration of blame by Washington reflects growing concern over North Korea's cyber capabilities that appear all the more threatening because of Pyongyang's scant regard for international norms. North Korea is the only country to test nuclear weapons this century and is closing in on a missile that could strike anywhere on U.S. mainland.

"President Trump has used just about every lever you can use, short of starving the people of North Korea to death, to change their behavior," Bossert told reporters at the White House. "And so we don't have a lot of room left here to apply pressure to change their behavior."

In a sign of continuing malevolent online activity, Microsoft and Facebook said Tuesday that they worked together last week to help disable hackers tied to the same hacking group that was behind WannaCry.

Under Trump, the U.S. has piled on economic sanctions against North Korea, both on its own and with wide international support. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Tuesday that the pressure campaign "will be intensified as time goes by." Experts say North Korea's access to hard cash could be further hurt by more targeting of Chinese intermediary banks and companies, but U.S. options for punishing steps are limited.

"Sanctions on North Korea really aren't going to change its behavior," said James Lewis, a technology and intelligence expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, who proposes not just targeting North Korea's revenue sources but also its government's own limited access to the internet. "Sending a carrier battle group off North Korea won't get them to stop hacking."

In January 2015, President Barack Obama responded to the Sony attack by imposing sanctions on North Korea's primary intelligence agency and a state corporation involved in ballistic missiles and arms trading, as well as on officials who worked for it. He also warned of further unidentified actions that would take place "at a time and manner of our choosing."

If any further action was taken, it was never made public.

While experts say North Korea lacks the elite capabilities of Russia or China, it has honed its cyber skills and has been accused of increasingly serious attacks.

South Korea, which said in 2015 that North Korea had a 6,000-member cyberarmy, says the North was suspected of hacking a South Korean military data center. Last year, the North was also accused of hacking the personal data of more than 10 million users of an online shopping site and dozens of email accounts used by government officials and journalists. It is also suspected of targeting South Korean banks and the operator of the nation's nuclear power plants.

"Their technical abilities are not the best out there, but they are plenty good enough to find a weak point and take advantage of it," said Benjamin Read, manager for cyberespionage analysis at online security provider FireEye.

FireEye says that in September it detected and stopped spear phishing emails sent to U.S. electric companies by a group affiliated with the North Korean government, though it did not observe the use of any method designed to compromise power supply. They also believe that North Korean hackers are targeting bitcoin exchanges to supplement the government's income.

Bossert said Microsoft and foreign governments, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan, confirmed the U.S. finding of responsibility for WannaCry. He said the U.S. seeks to partner with other nations and the private sector to prevent future attacks.

While WannaCry raised relatively little money for its perpetrators — few paid up after it proved that paying the ransom didn't unlock affected computers — its impact was vast. Government offices in Russia, Spain and other countries were disrupted, as were Asian universities, Germany's national railway and global companies such as automakers Nissan and Renault.

British hacker Marcus Hutchins disarmed the attack by identifying a "kill switch" in the code. In a twist, the FBI arrested Hutchins months later during a visit to the U.S.; he pleaded not guilty and awaits trial on charges he created unrelated forms of malware.

Let's Do The News! (December 20, 2017)

- President Rodrigo Duterte visited the wake of the policeman who was killed in a middle of a drug bust in Pasig City. Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, PNP chief, accompanied Duterte to the wake of Police Officer 3 Wilfredo Gueta, who was killed in an anti-illegal drug operation in Pasig City on December 18.

- Filipinos in Hong Kong worry they might not return home for Christmas and New Year after discovering that according to reports, air tickets bought through agency Peya Travel cannot be confirmed.

- The Malacanang declared a temporary ceasefire against the communist rebels from the 24th of December to the 2nd of January, 2018.

- Philippines' first transgender lawmaker yesterday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte's support for same-sex marriage but expressed belief that civil partnership is a more "feasible option" in the Philippine setting.

- Saudi Arabia is preparing for the biggest budget in its history, announcing yesterday record expenditures of 978 billion riyals ($261 billion) this coming fiscal year as the government forecasts a boost in revenue from the introduction of a sales tax, plans to lift subsidies further and a modest rise in oil prices.

- Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan is calling on nations to back a non-binding resolution that is expected to be brought to the UN General Assembly and seeks the cancellation of US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel.

- BMW collaborates with electric vehicle battery company Solid Power for the development of net-generation solid-state batteries, according to reports. The German automaker will assist Solid Power in advancing their technology in order to attain the performance levels required by high-performance EVs, the battery producer said.

- Another teaser for the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept has dropped and will be revealed on the 15th of January.



- Honda resurrected the Insight once again, this time as a four-door hybrid saloon to be previewed with an Insight Prototype set to be showcased on next month's NAIAS,



- NBC plans to revive the American version of the satirical British sitcom, The Office, with new and returning cast in store.

TTFN!!!

Awaken the power

The Aqours heroes and the Kazuno sisters, better known as Saint Snow, together for the first time in this latest addition to the Love Live! Sunshine!! TV anime 2nd series' music playlist and looks like Christmas will never be the same without this very special treat that brings two groups into one unique album you'd really wish to have.

Awaken the power

So, how did we get from this? Well, in earlier episodes of this series, Aqours' road to redemption begins on a trip to Hakodate, Hokkaido, where they will witness their rival duo Saint Snow's entry to the qualifiers. However, witnessing the sudden downfall of Saint Snow, there's been some drama going on around the two sides, mostly affected are Ruby Kurosawa and Leah Kazuno. Later, the First Years decided to stay at Hakodate for some time to patch things up between Ruby and Leah. With the two sides finally laid their differences aside and with everyone all set, that's where Awaken the power kicks in.

Those who got their first dibs on this new song not just in the TV series but also the School Idol Festival app game got the biggest Christmas treat they've deserved, a full version of the song where Aqours and Saint Snow performed together as one and it's great to see them join forces for this song. As a big thanks, the Saint Snow are pleased to present two songs for your listening pleasure and also, three drama parts where Sarah and Leah will explain everything you need to know from them.

Plus, for a limited time, you will get an entry for a chance to win tickets for the Saint Snow PRESENTS LOVELIVE! SUNSHINE!! HAKODATE UNIT CARNIVAL, happening at the Hakodate Arena on the 27th to the 28th of April, 2018.

Enjoy their latest offerings and keep watching the second series of the Love Live! Sunshine!! TV series every Saturday nights for more of our favorite Aqours heroes.

TRACK LISTINGS:

01. Awaken the power

02. CRASH MIND

03. DROPOUT!?

04. Awaken the power(Off Vocal)

05. 聖良と理亞をおもてなせ！

06. 聖良と理亞を波打ちぎわで！

07. 聖良と理亞を沼津の味で！