UKRAINE CONFLICT: 3/24/2022

                

The latest in the ongoing Ukraine conflict:

• PH reaffirms 'full support' for int'l court's order for Russia to end war
• Ukraine's humanitarian crisis 'tip of the iceberg': WHO
• Putin tells Europe to pay for gas in rubles

COVID-19 SITUATION: 3/24/2022

                      

The latest in the ongoing COVID-19 situation:

• DOST-VEP awaiting decision of FDA on 4th Covid-19 vax dose for elderly, immunocompromised
• Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine safe for kids aged 6-17—experts
• Yearly Covid-19 vaccination will depend on the development of the virus – expert
• Singapore to lift virus travel curbs in 'milestone'
• Covid comeback seen in parts of US as funding runs dry
• Moderna says infant Covid vaccine succeeded in trial
• Sources: NYC mandate to be rolled back Thu.

Let's Do The News! (March 24, 2022)

                      

Your daily round-up of today's news:

- The NCRPO is deploying over four thousand cops in Metro Manila as the campaign for local bets starts.

- The Professional Regulation Commission warned the public against fake PRC Facebook pages.

- The Ateneo Press denounces red-tagging and defacement of two bookstores.

- Ping Lacson quits Partido Reporma as the party expressed support for Vice President Leni Robredo.

- US Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson says she will recuse herself from the Harvard admissions case if confirmed

- The first female US secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, passed away at the age of 84.

- Sepang Circuit renews the Malaysian MotoGP contract until 2024.

- Netflix's Pacific Rim: The Black's final season is streaming this April 19th.

- Orient TV anime will return this July.

- Kang Dong Won signs with Creative Artists Agency in the US.

- Sources detailed the events behind the U.S. Center for SafeSport's accusation that U.S. Ski & Snowboard interfered with the sexual misconduct investigation.

- Thai actor Beam Papangkorn dies at the age of 25.

- Filipina teenager Bianca Bustamante is now part of the W Series, a motorsport series for female drivers.

TTFN.

My GT7 Log: The star of GT6

The next Gran Turismo star we'll be showcasing in Gran Turismo 7 is the Chevrolet C7 Corvette Stingray, the star of Gran Turismo 6.

Unveiled in 2013 as a 2014 model, the Chevrolet C7 Corvette marked a radical revolution of America's sports car that promises performance equivalent to its European rivals. Under the hood lies a newly-developed LT1 6.2L V8 engine producing 455HP of power and 460ft-lb of torque while the optional Performance Exhaust adds five more, making it the most powerful standard model ever since launch. Apart from the performance it delivers, the C7 Corvette Stingray features the most sophisticated driver tech, lightweight materials capable of delivering a near-perfect weight distribution, and a track-capable Z51 Performance Package.

Gran Turismo fanatics had fond memories with the C7 Corvette. Back in late 2012, Chevrolet offered players the chance to experience the pre-production, heavily camouflaged, test mule in GT5 before the real deal unveiled in mid-January 2013. They've challenged them to lap around the Nurburgring with the said prototype as well. Of course, I remembered the part and I barely did it in flying colors. It's a herculean task many have tried but some have made it, even me.

When the real deal made its world premiere, the Gran Turismo franchise became the first to give players the taste of the C7 Corvette Stingray and because they're so impressed, they've made it the hero car of Gran Turismo 6, the last Gran Turismo game made for PS3. There's even a modified version of the C7 Corvette, in honor of the Gran Turismo franchise's 15th anniversary, displayed at the 2013 SEMA Show as well!

Anyway, no time for being sentimental. It's time to give the C7 Corvette a quick spin in the Big Willow segment of the Willow Springs International Raceway, just to see if it still feels like the moment you drive the C7 Corvette around this track back in GT6. Let's roll the tape.

After a quick lap in the Big Willow, the C7 Corvette did it in 1:32.026. Not the best I've done but I have made America proud with this American-made sports car made to give Europeans a run for their money.

The C7 Corvette is highly remembered in motoring history as the last FR Corvette ever made. While such a decision pouted Corvette purists, rest assured that the C7 Corvette is peak Corvette at its best and its resale value is questionably outrageous by today's standards. Who knows, it could be worth more in an era where petrol-powered cars are gone for good in favor of electrification in the new normal. Whatever the reason, I'm glad that the whole world got hooked with the C7 Corvette until the very end.

What other Gran Turismo stars should I drive next? Stay tuned for more.

UKRAINE CONFLICT: 3/23/2022

               

The latest in the ongoing Ukraine conflict:

• UN chief calls Russia-Ukraine war 'unwinnable'
• Russia's G20 membership under fire from US, Western allies
• Canada's Arctic security moves to forefront after Russian invasion of Ukraine

COVID-19 SITUATION: 3/23/2022

                     

The latest in the ongoing COVID-19 situation:

• Fully vaccinated mothers could transfer Covid-19 protection to infants through breast milk—POGS
• Vaccination not required among students for face-to-face classes, DepEd says
• DepEd to release revised school safety assessment tool, final guidelines on face-to-face classes
• Ex-VP Binay: Public should remain vigilant vs COVID-19
• Several European countries lifted Covid measures too 'brutally': WHO
• Hong Kong's top scientists urge shift from Beijing's zero-Covid strategy
• S. Africa eases Covid curbs, scraps PCR tests for jabbed travelers
• Fauci does not expect major surge in COVID-19 cases in US
• Japanese gymnast Hatakeda quits at 21 over injury, pandemic
• New Zealand lifts most vaccine mandate as Omicron outbreak nears peak
• Comelec allows Robredo's office to continue pandemic programs during campaign period
• PH accepts COVID-19 vaccination certificates of Bulgaria, Iran, Panama

Let's Do The News! (March 23, 2022)

                     

Your daily round-up of today's news:

- Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana tells the Philippine Army to sustain peace gains and finish strong as the end of the Duterte administration draws near.

- Youth leaders and activists file complaints against NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Undersecretary Lorraine Bady for red-tagging Vice President Leni Robredo.

- The Pimentel-led PDP-Laban wing to use the Cusi-wing endorsement of Bongbong Marcos in Comelec petition.

- PAGASA warns the public to start conserving water now.

- The cause of the China Eastern jet crash remains unknown as the search for the black boxes continues.

- A 6.7 magnitude quake has struck off the coast of Taiwan.

- The Azores island is on the watch for a large quake and eruption as the island keeps shaking.

- The first-ever Maserati Grecale has been unveiled featuring a choice of a mild hybrid 4-cylinder engine and an MC20-derived V6 Twin Turbo for the Trofeo variant. An electric variant called Foglore will join the lineup next year.

- Ash Barty retires from tennis at the age of 25.

- Retired MMA fighter Chael Sonnen faces 11 battery charges over the December incident in Las Vegas.

- PBA player Jeron Teng engaged to courtside reported Jeanine Tsoi.

- Actress Christina Ricci is joining the cast of the Addams Family's Wednesday TV series from Tim Burton.

TTFN