Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Let's Do The News! (December 31, 2024)

 

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

- The PH Department of Health (DOH) recorded 163 firecracker-related injuries based on data released yesterday, December 30.

- Russia and Ukraine carry out a major prisoner swap with at least 300 people set free.

- The United Nations warned of climate breakdown after a "decade of deadly heat".

- Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations were canceled due to concerns over weather including high winds.

- The boss of Jeju Air says the firm is cutting flight numbers to increase safety following South Korea's air crash.

- The Ariel Atom 4R lapped the Top Gear Test Track in 1m13.7s.

- Seiyuu Ai Fairouz is limiting some work activities due to PTSD a few months ago.

- Seiyuu Riho Iida announces her pregnancy.

- Live broadcast of the 39th Golden Disc Awards was canceled in observing a week of mourning for the plane crash victims.

- Hollywood celebrities Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have reached a divorce settlement after eight years.

TTFN.

My FH5 Log: Koenig Specials - No Jokes Around

2024 marks Koenigsegg's 30th anniversary and what better way to celebrate 30 years of Spirit of Performance by driving the best of Koenigsegg in Forza Horizon 5. Let's end the FH5 Koenigsegg history lesson with the Jesko, the current-generation megacar.

The Jesko, named after the father of founder Christian von Koenigsegg, represents the next step in Koenigsegg's quest for speed, building on the legacy of the legendary Agera. It is equipped with a re-engineered V8 twin-turbo engine that generates up to 1,600 horsepower and 1,500 Nm of torque when using E85 fuel. This power is paired with a custom 9-speed Light Speed Transmission, which offers the advantages of a dual-clutch gearbox without the added weight. In addition to its impressive power, the Jesko boasts the most advanced aerodynamics and track-focused dynamics, making it suitable for racetracks and everyday driving. It does 0-100kph in two and a half seconds and has a top speed of 483kph.

In its Absolut variant, the Jesko set four speed records: a 0-250 mph time of 19.20 seconds, a 0-250-0 mph time of 28.27 seconds, a 0-400 kph time of 18.82 seconds, and a 0-400-0 kph time of 27.83 seconds. The Attack variant, shown here, broke the Laguna Seca production car lap record with a time of 1 minute and 24.86 seconds. It recently set a new production car record at the Top Gear Test Track, finishing in just 1 minute and 10.9 seconds.




To prove the Jesko's worth, I've invited the Hennessey Venom F5 and the Rimac Nevera for a one-lap shootout outside the Stadium. Let's roll the tape.


Here are the results...

Venom F5 - 1m03.764s

Jesko - 1m01.678s

Nevera - 1m00.978s

The Jesko narrowly lost to the all-electric Croatian hypercar, the Rimac Nevera, after defeating the all-American monster machine, the Hennessey Venom F5. I have no idea what am I going to say to Christian von Koenigsegg about this. After all, he did speak to the bosses of Hennessey and Rimac about these monster machines. Frank conversation, perhaps.


For 30 years, Koenigsegg has forever rewritten the rules of speed and power from the CC8S to the Jesko. As cars continue to evolve, so is Koenigsegg as its pursuit of speed never ends, whatever it takes.

Here's to three more decades of speed, Koenigsegg!

Monday, December 30, 2024

Porsche Macan XAB

The Porsche Macan has entered its second generation and with a huge shock, the baby Porsche SUV was reborn as an all-electric crossover, a first for Porsche.

2025 Porsche Macan

Priced over 80,700 Euros plus additional costs, the all-new Porsche Macan is morphed into an all-electric crossover much to the dismay of the owners of the previous-generation ICE-powered model. Although the move is blasphemous, it promises to be as cool as its predecessor. So, what are the key details?

2025 Porsche Macan
2025 Porsche Macan interior

Beginning with the exterior, the all-new Macan mimics the design of the Taycan, something you would expect from the Porsche family, although the rear view can be easily mistaken for a Toyota Crown Crossover when you squint your eyes hard enough. Either way, its coupe silhouette is one of the main details of the all-new Macan.

The new interior of the Porsche Macan is similar to the Taycan and the Cayenne Mk3 minor change. It has a high-tech dashboard with a curved 12.6-inch driver's display, a 10.9-inch center screen, and an optional 10.9-inch panel for the front passenger. There are still some physical buttons for things like climate and volume control. Asked about the space, the all-new Macan, despite its electric powertrain, has up to 540 liters of boot space with the rear seats folded and an additional 84 liters of frunk storage that can be accessed by waving your hand at the Porsche emblem."

2025 Porsche Macan
2025 Porsche Macan

Being the first to run on the all-new Premium Platform Electric Platform, the XAB Macan uses an 88v electrical architecture similar to the Taycan as well as the 100kWh lithium BMC battery,. The Macan 4 model with its 408PS power and a top speed of 220kph is good for 613km on one full charge while the range-topping Macan Turbo, with its 639PS power output, has a 0-100kph time of 3.3 seconds and flat-out in 260kph, 10 more than a typical German luxury sedan, and the driving range is good for 591km on one full charge.

On a straight line, the all-new Macan still has the "puncha yo buns" attitude and it's still a buff baby that can dance like a man, shake-a its fanny, shake-a Macan. A tough tootin' baby that can "puncha yo buns". It may only weigh nearly three tons but it's not a bad crossover to drive, although you could use some of your painkillers following that understeering drama with this one.

Transforming the Macan into an all-electric crossover is controversial by Porsche standards, but it remains the powerful vehicle that performs exceptionally. Come tarmac, gravel, or snow, from Eifel to Berlin, this Porsche is too macho to be ignored. It's still the buff baby that can dance like a man.

Photo: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Seoul to Inspect All Boeing 737-800 Aircraft in Country following Jeju Air Crash

 

The government said Monday it plans to conduct a safety inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by domestic airlines following a Jeju Air Co. plane crash that claimed 179 lives the previous day.

In Sunday’s Jeju Air crash in the southwestern county of Muan, it is believed that all three landing gears had failed to operate properly. The aircraft involved in the accident was a Boeing B737-800.

A transport ministry official said the government plans to thoroughly examine whether various regulations of the Boeing model are being properly followed by airlines, which would check their aircraft utilization rates, flight inspections and maintenance records.

The Boeing 737-800 is widely operated by domestic low-cost carriers. Jeju Air operates the largest number of this model, with 39 aircraft in its fleet. Other operators include T’way Air with 27 aircraft, Jin Air with 19 and Eastar Jet with 10.

The ministry, in particular, plans to conduct rigorous safety inspections of Jeju Air following repeated landing gear issues.

Earlier in the day, a separate Jeju Air flight of the same aircraft model made a return after taking off from Gimpo International Airport due to a landing gear issue that was found similarly in Sunday’s crash. It was of the same Boeing B737-800 model involved in the accident.

“We plan to implement rigorous aviation safety inspections in response to the (landing gear) incidents,” Joo Jong-wan, aviation policy chief at the transport ministry, said during a briefing at the Sejong government complex.

Joo noted that Jeju Air was known for its high aircraft utilization rate, which some observers have pointed to as a possible factor in Sunday’s crash.

Following the landing gear issue reported on Monday, the ministry dispatched safety inspectors to the company to investigate the latest case.

Meanwhile, one of the two flight recording devices recovered from the crash site has been found with external damage, according to Joo. It has been transported to Gimpo International Airport for further analysis.

The ministry official also said the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board will participate in the investigation into the crash. Boeing and engine manufacturer CFM International have also been approached for cooperation.

Source: Yonhap/Korea Bizwire

Let's Do The News! (December 30, 2024)

                                            

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

- Two earthquakes hit parts of Ilocos Norte, one at Bangui with M5.8 and the other at Burgos with M5.6, according to PHIVOLCS.

- Philippine President Bongbong Marcos has signed into law the 2025 National Budget.

- Due to the temporarily limited capacity of the Biliran Bridge, which is causing disruptions in the transportation of products, essential supplies, and even the travel of people to the area, which is already having an impact on the economy there, the province of Biliran has now been placed under a "state of calamity."

- Former US President Jimmy Carter passed away at age 100. Carter won a Nobel Peace Prize after leaving the White House.

- A KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 737-800 made an emergency landing at Oslo Torp Sandefjord Airport on December 28, after experiencing a landing gear failure.

- BLEACH's Thousand-Year Blood War TV series will return with its fourth and final season soon.

- SNK establishes its new studio dedicated to The King of Fighters franchise ahead of the fighting game series' 30th anniversary.

- Former Johnny's and Associates members filed a lawsuit in the US about the late founder's sexual abuse.

- In the wake of the Moan plane crash, MBC canceled its live broadcast of the 2024 MBC Drama Awards while SBS canceled its 2024 SBS Entertainment Awards.

TTFN.

Sunday, December 29, 2024

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: 179 feared dead in worst aviation disaster in South Korea

 

A tragic plane crash at Muan International Airport on Sunday morning has claimed at least 124 lives as of 3:30 p.m., with authorities warning the death toll could rise to 179 in what is South Korea's worst domestic aviation disaster to date.

The Jeju Air flight 7C2216, a Boeing 737-800, carrying 181 passengers and crew, was attempting to land when it veered off the runway. Two minutes after the pilot called mayday, the plane collided with the perimeter fence and burst into flames, according to the Transport Ministry.

According to the Jeonnam Fire Services Headquarters Wednesday, most of those onboard were likely deceased, leaving two survivors, which are reported to be crew members, one male and one female. The passengers on the crashed plane included 173 South Koreans and two Thai nationals, according to authorities.

No additional survivors had been found among the passengers, and the condition of the wreckage suggested that hopes for more survivors were slim, fire authorities said in a briefing to families of those on board.

The aircraft's fuselage was completely destroyed in the crash, making the identification of victims extremely difficult. Rescue teams were continuing their efforts to locate the remains of missing passengers, while temporary mortuaries had been set up to house the bodies recovered.

Many of the remains were severely damaged, complicating the process of identification, authorities added.

President of Jeju Air Co Ltd. Kim E-bae expressed his sympathy and apologized to the passengers who lost their lives and their bereaved families in the aftermath of the tragic crash of a Jeju Air flight at Muan International Airport, pledging full cooperation with the government to uncover the cause of the accident.

Taking responsibility as the airline’s top executive, Kim added, “Regardless of the cause, I deeply feel my responsibility as CEO. Jeju Air will do everything in its power to expedite recovery efforts and provide full support to the families of the victims.”

Kim stated that the cause of the crash remains unclear and emphasized that the airline is awaiting official investigation results from government authorities. “At this point, it is difficult to determine the cause of the accident, and we must wait for the official findings from the relevant government agencies,” he said.

A Jeju Air representative also noted that the crashed aircraft, a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800, had no prior history of accidents. The airline was working to identify the precise cause of the crash and clarify the circumstances surrounding it, the representative said.

Meanwhile, Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance designated Muan as a special disaster zone.

Choi emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting the extensive loss of life and the urgent need for a coordinated response. “The government has activated the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and will deploy all necessary resources. We will officially declare Muan as a special disaster zone to ensure effective relief and recovery efforts,” he stated.

The designation of a special disaster zone, as outlined under the Framework Act on Disaster and Safety Management, allows for enhanced administrative, financial and medical support in affected regions. This includes emergency relief, disaster recovery plans, and financial aid for victims and their families.

Under this designation, joint investigation teams comprising disaster management agencies will conduct assessments and draft a recovery plan tailored to the severity of the disaster. These measures aim to expedite both immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation for affected individuals and communities.

Authorities remained focused on recovery operations and the identification of victims as investigations into the cause of the tragedy continue. Some 720 officials, including personnel from the airport, fire fighters, police, military and coast guards were deployed to the scene.

The aircraft departed from Bangkok at 1:30 a.m. and was scheduled to land in Muan at 8:30 a.m. During its first landing attempt on runway No. 1, the plane failed to land and performed a go-around, a flight maneuver where a pilot chooses to abort a landing and return to the air to fly round and try again.

On its second attempt, the landing gear malfunctioned, leading to an emergency belly landing near the runway's end, according to authorities. A belly landing, also known as a gear-up landing, is an emergency landing where an aircraft lands on its underside, or belly, without its landing gear fully extended.

Unable to decelerate fully, the plane struck airport perimeter fences at speed, resulting in its destruction and instant fire, according to the authorities.

Emergency personnel, including 80 firefighters, were immediately deployed to the site. The fire was first controlled within 43 minutes, and rescue efforts began from the rear of the aircraft. Two survivors were rescued, but authorities feared that more dead would be discovered as they continued to search the wreckage.

Initial investigations pointed to a "bird strike" as the likely cause of the landing gear malfunction. This occurs when an aircraft collides with a flock of birds or when birds enter the engine.

Source: The Korea Herald

YEAR IN REVIEW: 20 things we learned in 2024

As 2024 approaches its end, it's time for my annual YEAR IN REVIEW, where I will outline the 20 biggest news we learned throughout the year.

1) Donald Trump's re-election - Unfazed by controversies, two failed assassination attempts, and a guilty verdict regarding the "hush money" case, Donald Trump became the first Republican President in the US to win two non-consecutive terms. The world's greatest fear has been confirmed as Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress will undo what the Biden administration did.

2) Starmer becomes UK PM - In July 2024, the Labour Party officially won the 2024 UK General Election after reaching 326 seats. As a result, Keir Starmer became the new British Prime Minister, replacing Conservative Rishi Sunak. Labour won more than 400 out of the 650 seats in the Commons, while the Conservatives won only 110. The Lib Dems made big gains, while the SNP lost most of their seats.

3) Global IT Outage - On July 19, 2024, a faulty update to CrowdStrike's Falcon Sensor security software caused a widespread outage affecting over 8.5 million Windows devices.

4) Harrods Scandal - Harrods, a British luxury department store, faced a major scandal regarding sexual abuses done by its late owner, Mohamed Al Fayed. Over 250 people are seeking compensation claims, alleging historical sexual assault by the late tycoon.

5) 25 Years of SpongeBob - 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of Nickelodoen's megahit cartoon show, SpongeBob SquarePants. The SpongeBob franchise's 25th-anniversary celebration featured SpongeBob and Patrick hosting not just Super Bowl LVIII, where the Kansas City Chiefs crowned champions, but also the 2024 Kids Choice Awards alongside character Sandy Cheeks. It also packs special episodes, a collaboration with Wendy's to create a real-world Krabby Patty, Star Wars legend Mark Hamill to voice The Flying Dutchman in next year's SpongeBob movie, and more.

6) The end of Old Eat Bulaga - On January 5, 2024, a court ruled that TAPE, Inc. and GMA Network did not have the right to use the Eat Bulaga or EB trademark. As a result, the Eat Bulaga! variety show that Filipinos knew was rebranded as "Tahanang Pinakamasaya!" while the TV5 EAT... variety show was renamed as "EAT...BULAGA!" Two months later, Tahanang Pinakamasaya officially ended its broadcast run.

7) Robert Downey Jr returns to MCU - On the final day of the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con, actor Robert Downey Jr. made a shocking comeback to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was announced that RDJ will play Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday movie. The news was met with mixed reactions from fans. Some are excited to see Downey Jr. take on a new role in the MCU, while others are disappointed that he won't be returning as Iron Man. However, Marvel Studios is not afraid to take risks.

8) Alice Guo's POGO problem - Alice Guo stripped off her Bamban, Tarlac mayoral position because of her involvement with the Bamban POGO hub. Guo went hiding following the revelation until she was caught by Indonesian authorities at Tangerang. Guo faced charges of graft and corruption, among others.

9) F1 2024 - The F1 2024 season marked the end of Lewis Hamilton's career as a Mercedes-AMG driver as he made the switch to Ferrari for the 2025 season. Not only that, it marked the end for Zhou Guanyu's F1 journey while Valtteri Bottas will return to Mercedes-AMG as a reserve driver. As Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the World Champion title, it was the McLaren team that won its first Constructors Championship title in 26 years.

10) Paris 2024 Olympics - The Paris 2024 opening ceremony did not take part at a stadium for the first time in Olympic Summer Games history. Instead, it was held in the Seine River. During the course of 17 days, the United States scored 40 golds out of 126, China with 40 golds out of 91, and Japan with 20 golds out of 45. In conclusion, the US and China ended the Paris 2024 rivalry in an honorable draw in terms of gold medals but the real winner goes to Team USA for scoring the most medals in the Paris 2024 Olympics with 126 medals.

11) The downfall of the Assad regime - The reign of Syrian leader Bashar Al-Assad ended when the former Al-Qaeda affiliate Islamist group stormed Syria and sent Al-Assad packing, only to end up in Russia for asylum. The HTS Islamist group that took over Syria promises to bring change to the war-torn country and bring down those who are loyal to Assad.

12) Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment - Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial rule prompted the National Assembly to nullify it and triggered the impeachment case against the South Korean leader. They failed in the first attempt because the ruling party boycotted it but in the second attempt, 204-85, the National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon Suk Yeol.

13) The murder of the UHC boss - In Early December, the boss of the United Healthcare insurance company was killed in New York City, triggering a manhunt for the gunman behind it. The gunman was revealed as 26-year-old Luigi Mangione and police arrested him and charged him with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

14) Sayonara, Toriyama-sensei - Akira Toriyama, the creator of the Dragon Ball series, passed away at the age of 68. The news shocked the anime world as it anticipates the airing of the latest Dragon Ball series, Dragon Ball DAIMA, which made its world television premiere last October 11, 2024.

15) The deadliest typhoons hit the Philippines - The Philippines was hit by several deadly typhoons this year, including Super Typhoon Leon (Kong-Rey), Typhoons Marce (Ynixing) and Nika (Toraji), and Super Typhoons Ofel (Usagi) and Pepito (Man-Yi). These storms caused catastrophic damage in Luzon provinces, especially those that were already hit by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. The typhoons caused heavy floods, landslides, and storm surges, affecting over 15 million people and displacing over 600,000.

16) One For The Road - Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May have been butting heads for over two decades. Their final Grand Tour adventure, "One For The Road," signals the end of the world's most undesirable but desirable threesome. After over two decades, the days of seeing Clarkson, Hammond, and May butting each other came to a complete end. From Top Gear to The Grand Tour, driving and rambling across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, they have cemented themselves as the greatest motoring trio that ever existed. Now that they've fully served their purpose, it's hard to imagine what's next for them after their final Grand Tour.

17) Spain floods - Massive rainfall caused Spain to be hit by historic floods with over 200 people dying.

18) The Diddy Scandal - In mid-September 2024, hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs was arrested in New York City on unspecified federal charges. Diddy faced trial over sex trafficking charges. Diddy denied bail after pleading not guilty to charges. Over 100 people are suing Sean "Diddy" Combs alleging rape, assault, and sexual exploitation.

19) World's fastest convertible - Bugatti's W16 Mistral smashed the open-top road car speed record with 282mph top speed.

20) AMG ONE beats previous Nurburgring record - The Mercedes-AMG One hypercar re-attempted its Nurburgring Nordschleife time attack and set a new production car lap record in 6m29.090, beating its previous 2022 record.


As the saying goes, "The end of one nightmare is just the prelude to the next." So, what will the year 2025 bring us? Whatever it is, we should brace ourselves for impact and turbulence. Until then, let's all have a happy new year.