Remembering 2017: Top 10 motoring topics

The year 2017 has been quite a pivotal year in the motoring industry as Europe's making headlines over the topic of outlawing the sale of petrol and diesel due to their commitment to the Paris Accords. It's also a year when some of the most noteworthy racers in history are retiring from their posts, a winning manufacturer announces their departure from a popular endurance race in favor of an electric car race series, there's so much you can think about how the world of motoring change throughout the course of this year.

In this yearender, time for me to jot down the top ten bits that changed the way we think about cars in 2017.

1) Australia ended car manufacturing - Ford was the first to produce an Australian-made car but General Motors Holden became the last to produce an Australian-made car as the last Commodore rolled off the assembly line in Elizabeth, signalling the end of Holden's almost seven decades of local manufacturing and almost a century of Australian car manufacturing. Since the FX of 1948, about 7,687,675 Holdens were produced within the last 69 years, that's more than Ford's 5.9 million production figures and Toyota's 3.4 million, both of which closed their Australian factories within the past year.

2) The new king of the Nurburgring - The all new Porsche 911 GT2 RS (991.2) became the fastest production car to lap the dreaded Nurburgring Nordschleife in 6:47.25, faster than the Lamborghini Huracan Performante. For now, this is the fastest lap time to blitz the Ring. Let's see what happens next when Chevrolet tries to outdo it with their upcoming Corvette C7 ZR1 next year. All bets are off, ladies and gentlemen.

3) 70 years of Ferrari - 2017 marks the 70th anniversary of Ferrari and they've celebrated the occasion with the launch of their latest vehicles, the 812 Superfast and the Portofino.

4) Scandals plaguing Japanese car manufacturing - Japan is plagued with a tsunami of scandals surrounding the manufacturing sector. Since the Kobe Steel scandal, a handful of car manufacturers like Nissan and Subaru admitted themselves to the public due to manufacturing malpractices like for example, inspection purposes because there are some people doing inspection work slipped themselves by tampering the seals before rolling off the assembly line.

5) #Appreci88ion - The 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR series is the last NASCAR season for veteran driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. as he announced to the public that he will retire from this sport for good. Following his announcement, most of his sponsors are paying tribute to the #88. Other than Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kurt Busch is not signing up for next year's season while Matt Kenseth announces he will step away from this sport indefinitely. Danica Patrick, the only female driver in NASCAR, sadly announced her departure from being a full-time driver but she will drive for next year's Daytona 500.

6) Porsche leaves Le Mans - After their three-time victory at Le Mans, Porsche announced that they will step down from their LMP1 duties in the World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Heures du Mans endurance race, to pursue their entry in the FIA Formula E, leaving Toyota as the sole manufacturer competing in next year while dealing with privateers who are upped their ranks to compete the only ronin of the category.

7) Koenigsegg claims top speed record - Koenigsegg has smashed the top speed record for production cars when the Agera RS set a verified top speed of 277.9mph or 447kph, Faster than the Veyron Super Sport's 267.81mph and Hennessey Venom GT's 270.49mph record (although unverified). That was impressive for a small Swedish supercar maker but the battle rages on because Hennessey just unleashed the Venom F5 and its mission is to claim the Agera RS's top speed record soon.

8) Women now allowed the drive in Saudi - In a historic move, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia finally allowed women to drive on their roads, a move welcomed by feminist groups.

9) Trouble before GT - There has been some trouble happening before season two of Amazon's The Grand Tour is out. First, Richard Hammond was involved in set-related injuries such as the bike accident in the upcoming special and he was involved in a car accident in Switzerland while driving the Rimac electric supercar as seen in the first episode of this season. Then, following Hammond's accident, Jeremy Clarkson suffered pneumonia while on a holiday at Ibiza. Thankfully, both of the presenters are okay and the second series of Amazon's The Grand Tour goes on as planned.

10) Banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars - Because of some of the Europe's commitment to the Paris Accords, the one the United States has withdrawn from due to the Trump administration, a handful of European countries are banning the sale of petrol and diesel engines in favor of electrification. France, Britain, Norway, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Holland, Ireland, and Portugal are among the European countries banning the sale of petrol or diesel engines in the coming decades and it's not just Europe, some countries like South Korea, Japan, and India are among the countries proposing the ban on internal combustion.

That's it for the motoring bits, join me next time for more on this year in review.

Let's Do The News! (December 27, 2017)

- The Department of Foreign Affairs denied reports that the Philippines is in talks with Israel to move its embassy to Jerusalem.

- Former Bureau of Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon was now named by President Rodrigo Duterte the new deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense.

- Following the NCCC Mall fire last weekend, the Department of Labor and Employment is urged to enforce stricter labor inspection as demanded by the group of workers in the Business Process Outsourcing industry.

- UK's Royal Navy has escorted one of Russia's warships through the North Sea near UK waters, according to officials, despite increasing tensions between the two nations. The HMS St. Albans with 190 sailors on board was used to escort the Russian Admiral Gorshkov frigate on Monday through what British officials called "areas of national interest" on Christmas Day.

- Rebel fighters and opposition groups in Syria rejected Russia's proposed peace talks, accusing Moscow of failing to pressure its ally, President Bashar Assad, to end the conflict. In a series of statements, 40 rebel groups, including some of Syria's most prominent, as well as political opposition umbrella groups, said the talks expected next month are an attempt to "circumvent" the UN-led process, which has made virtually no progress since it began in 2014.

-A certain French children's magazine has been pulled out from newsstands after it admitted a "mistake" in writing that Israel wasn't a "real country."

- Toyota will display the Crown Modellista at next month's Tokyo Auto Salon, based on the Crown Concept as seen on the Tokyo Motor Show.



- Construction for BMW's new proving ground in Czech Republic is underway and it will be completed within the next decade.

TTFN!!!

Remembering 2017: Top 10 games

The year 2017 has been known to video game geeks as the year of the Switch because with the advent of the Nintendo Switch, the whole world's gone trending over the brand new console that allows everyone to play it at home or anywhere. It's been dominating over social media recently but the competition for high-end gaming consoles is still raging because with the advent of 4K and VR gaming, there's no telling which one will prevail whether the VR capability of the PS4 line of hardware of the powerful 4K gaming provided by the brand new XBOX One X.

In this year in review, let's time to list down the best ten video games of 2017.

1) Super Mario Odyssey - One of the most anticipated games on the recently launched Nintendo Switch, this new installment delivers a new spin on the classic adventure as Mario uses Cappy's newfound powers to control different creatures and objects. This game reminds us of Kirby in so many ways.

2) Forza Motorsport 7 - The Forza franchise ushers in the age of 4K gaming with the advent of their biggest installment to date. Forza 7 features returning tracks such as Suzuka and Maple Valley, a huge roster of cars bearing the most Porsche, Ferrari, and Lamborghini models to date, intense multiplayer gameplay, and a revamped career mode that will test the mettle to become the ultimate Forza driver.

3) Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice - British-based developer Ninja Theory became bullish about the creation of an independent AAA game that will deliver a new kind of gaming experience with Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. From its breathtaking visuals, impressive mo-cap, unbiased storyline, and everything that sets the standards to video games, no wonder Hellblade scored a lot of awards and accolades and became one of the most demanding games for PS4 and PC users.

4) Life Is Strange: Before The Storm - Set events before the original LIS game, a story-driven video game that won the hearts of many gamers who love stories, Before The Storm is a three-episode story-driven game that centers on the story of Chloe Price who forms an unlikely friendship with Rachel Amber until a family secret put their friendship to the test. The choices players made affect the flow of the story and as the story progresses, fans are getting to know what's next for Chloe and the others.

5) Pocket Monsters Ultra Sun and Moon - It's been a year since Nintendo brought us Pocket Monsters Sun and Moon for the 3DS and because they want more action in the Alola region, they've released Ultra Sun and Moon, which features a storyline different from the original games, improved Rotom Dex, more Pokemon to catch, and uncovering the truth behind Necrozma. Also, two decades of Pokemon have been injected to deliver a Pokemon adventure like no other whilst enjoying under the Alolan sun.

6) Tekken 7 - In the PS4/X1 version of Tekken 7, not only players can relieve the action from the arcade games but also delve deeper to the Mishima Saga where the battle between father and son reached its critical point as well as the tales of the fighters themselves in addition to special guest characters.

7) Uncharted: The Lost Legacy - The folks of Naughty Dog wanted more Uncharted ever since the end of A Thief's End and since 2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the Uncharted franchise, they made this; a stand-alone spin-off story set after the dramatic events of A Thief's End. In The Lost Legacy, Chloe and Nadine forged an unlikely alliance in search of an ancient artifact hidden somewhere in the Western Ghats before a ruthless warlord gets his hands on it. Despite a different main character, it still bears the same Uncharted thrills.

8) Call of Duty WWII - The Call of Duty games return to its roots with this latest installment as CoD: WWII brings players to the dramatic turn of events during the Second World War in solo player campaigns while enjoying intense multiplayer mayhem in here and in Nazi Zombies mode.

9) Assassin's Creed Origins - The Assassin's Creed franchise celebrated their 10th anniversary with the launch of their newest installment and in this game, fans witness the rise of the first Assassin named Bayek as he ventures through Ancient Egypt on his journey to bring down the tyrants and witness the birth of the Brotherhood we are familiar with.

10) BIOHAZARD 7 -resident evil-  - CAPCOM's survival horror franchise celebrated their 20th anniversary with the launch of their latest installment. In this game, Ethan Winters, trapped under the grips of the Baker household, fights his way out to uncover the truth and survive the hell he set foot. Playing this game on VR mode gave players a terrifying and punishing experience but still, it was worth the fun playing the latest installment as well as the DLCs.

And that's it for the best ten games of 2017. Join me next time for more in this year in review.

Doctor Who 2017 Christmas Special

It's the end of the era for Peter Capaldi as the 2017 Christmas Special, titled Twice Upon A Time, brings an unforgettable sendoff to the Peter Capaldi years as well as showrunner Steven Moffat as this special brings the two Doctors teaming up for one last mission when an army captain got entangled in an unexplained chain of events.

I do try to warn you people who never saw the special need to look away now because there are bits that I'm going to explain and if you don't wan't to know what happens next, I advised you to look away until you saw the rest of the special.

Doctor Who 2017 Christmas Special

The 2017 Christmas Special was one hell of a ride seeing an alpha and omega pair of The First Doctor and the Twelfth Doctor teaming up to uncover a mysterious alien force that got the captain (played by Mark Gatiss) tangled beyond time and space.

Of course, having David Bradley donning the William Hartnell role of the First Doctor is like a tribute band to a legendary rock band from a past and because of his unforgettable role in a 2013 biopic, Adventures In Space And Time, he's more than happy to reprise the First Doctor role in this special.

It's not just Pearl Mackie returning to the special as Bill Potts, in fact, some familiar faces did a brief comeback at the climax of the special such as Jenna Coleman as Clara and Matt Lucas as Nardole. What a brief reunion occured in the final minutes of the Twelfth's tenure.

Since his first adventure in 2014, the Twelfth Doctor made the world of Doctor Who a much serious stance and such serious stance made a huge mark in the history of Doctor Who. It's been quite an honor for us to become the 12th man for the Twelfth because despite his harsh character, he's been quite a valuable part of the Whoniverse and with the inception of Jodie Whitaker, the Whoniverse is heading to a brave new chapter.

Enjoyed the Twelfth Doctor's final journey? Delve more with the recent DW Fan Show webcast.

With Peter Capaldi's tenure ends and with Jodie Whitaker taking over, expect a brave new Doctor Who returning this 2018 and this year could be a pivotal year because this could be the 55th year of the show and the Thirteenth rings it rather well with such milestone. 55 years, over 700 episodes, 13 doctors, what more can you ask? Until then, see you next year.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North Korea UN ambassador demands US prove ransomware claim

Source: Associated Press

North Korea's envoy in charge of U.S. affairs at the United Nations demanded Washington provide evidence to back up its claim Pyongyang was behind the Wannacry ransomware attack, an allegation has said was a "baseless provocation" being used to generate tensions.

Pak Song Il told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from New York late Monday that Pyongyang sees the allegation as an effort to create an "extremely confrontational atmosphere."

"If they are so sure, show us the evidence," he said.

The WannaCry ransomware attack infected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide and crippled parts of Britain's National Health Service in May.

U.S. Homeland security adviser Tom Bossert wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed published last week that the U.S. administration had determined North Korea was behind the WannaCry attack. He said its finding of responsibility is based on evidence that has been confirmed by other governments and private companies, including the United Kingdom and Microsoft.

He wrote that North Korea would be held accountable.

North Korea's state-run media quickly condemned the accusation, saying Pyongyang would never tolerate such "reckless" claims. It called Bossert's claim a "grave political provocation" and vowed to retaliate.

Officials in Washington and Seoul have accused the North of launching a series of cyberattacks in recent years, including the hack on Sony Pictures Entertainment over the movie "The Interview," a black comedy about a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The North has denied those accusations as well.

Let's Do The News! (December 26, 2017)

- President Rodrigo Duterte promises a thorough investigation over the NCCC Mall fire, which left at least 37 people dead two days before Christmas. Duterte said investigators from the National Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine National Police would take charge of the investigation into the fire in the city that the President and his family has led for decades.

- The Philippines considers moving their embassy to Jerusalem, according to reports, a few days after Manila abstained from a United Nations vote calling for the United States to drop its recognition of the Holy City as Israel’s capital. The Philippines was one of the countries abstained from the UN vote to nullify US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem.

- Former health secretary Janette Garin, facing criminal charges over the Dengvaxia controversy, welcomed the World Health Organization's clarification attesting to the “true benefit of the dengue vaccine.” In a statement, she said the Department of Health (DOH) “was correct all along that the dengue vaccine provides protection and is safe to administer to address the growing danger posed by dengue.”

- US President Donald Trump hasn't done any state dinners with his visiting counterparts in his first year at the Oval Office. Trump spoke dismissively of state dinners as a candidate, when he panned President Barack Obama's decision to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping with a 2015 state visit. Such visits are an important diplomatic tool that includes a showy arrival ceremony and an elaborate dinner at the White House.

- Vietnam was sparred from the wrath of Typhoon Vinta (Tembin) that killed 160 people in the Philippines.

- Yesterday, Russian election officials formally barred Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny from running for president, prompting calls from him for a boycott of next year's vote. The Central Election Commission decided unanimously that the anti-corruption crusader isn't eligible to run.

- Audi will reportedly discontinue the R8 supercar in 2020 due to slow sales.

- Teaser for the 25th season of BBC Top Gear is now up.



- Ruby Kurosawa is now added to the Love Live! Sunshine!! figma range. It's now available to order starting at 5,833 Yen plus tax and delivery and arrives this September.



TTFN!!!

GT SPORT: Why the F40 is Ferrari's greatest hero for seven decades?

Ask me anything about which is the best Ferrari ever made over their seven-decade history and my response should be like this, the immaculate Ferrari F40, the supercar that forever known as the founding father of the 200mph supercar club which inspires today's supercars reaching the magic number.



The F40 is one of the recent additions from the GT SPORT's Christmas update and since this is Ferrari's 70th anniversary after all as well as Gran Turismo's 20th anniversary, it would be the ideal time to take a jive out of the legend that started the institution of the world's fastest supercars.



Launched in 1987, the Ferrari F40 became the world's fastest production car with a top speed of 201mph. Not 200, 201 because that prime number at the end of it really is proof that Ferrari is number one when it comes to create a car that will trounce the high-tech Porsche 959. Built to celebrate Ferrari's 40th year, it was the last car to be commissioned by the founder, Enzo Ferrari, before his death. Originally it was made for a limited run of 400 units but because this car is a whopper, about 1,315 models were produced, with the last one being produced in the year 1992.



Apart from the race-inspired exterior and the driver-focused interior has no conveniences whatsoever, the F40 is powered by  a 2.9L V6 twin-turbo engine that produces 478BHP and it can go 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds. Apart from the engine, the F40 is very light and it weighs about 1100kg thanks to the body that was composed of carbon-fiber and Kevlar.



Taking the bite out of the F40, I realized that because this car is stripped out to the core, driving this legend on the first try can be downright troublesome for me. I mean yes, the suspension's harsh, the brakes are intimidating, the ride's intimidating, everything's intimidating for me when it gets through all sorts of trouble but the more I try driving this thing, the better I realize that even the most brutal of attempts will not solve the F40's dynamic character and all I have to do is go with the flow. Having spent an hour driving the F40, now it's time for me to take a real challenge and to do that, I'm going to Brazil.



One piece of Brazil to be precise, Interlagos. It was based in Sao Paulo and it was one of the most technical racetracks in the Latin America. Don't get too distracted by the urban landscape because like I said, this track's technical in every corner and this will be the ideal time for me to see if the F40 lives up to its folklore. Time to roll the tape.



I did it in a 1:55.285 lap time, which isn't the quickest I've ever done in my whole life but still it was less than two minutes to spare, meaning that despite all the mishaps, the F40 really lives up to the legend it was set foot in Ferrari's fiery heritage.



Although what a troublesome experience I had, it's been an honor to try out the legendary Ferrari F40 in GT SPORT and man, what a way to celebrate seven decades of Ferrari and two decades of Gran Turismo by driving the legend in the latest installment courtesy of the Christmas update. Of course, there are many great Ferraris made over the last seven decades but rest assured, this legend holds a very special place in the Prancing Horse's history.