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CCN Philippines to shut-down this 31st of January 2024

After all the reports, CNN Philippines has confirmed that the network will shutdown its operations on all media platforms this January 31, 2024. The company released their official statement on all their social media accounts as well an official statement published on cnnphilippines.com.

Here’s the full text of CNN Philippines’ official statement;

It is with deep regret that the management of Nine Media Corporation (NMC) announces the discontinuation of its news and production operations on all media platforms, branded as CNN Philippines (CNNPH), effective 31 January 2024. The decision follows significant financial losses sustained over the past years, despite rigorous efforts to adapt and innovate in a rapidly evolving and challenging media landscape.

We are aware of the impact of this closure on our valued employees and talents, we assure all affected staff will be provided with severance packages.

We express our deepest appreciation to our dedicated team for their unwavering commitment over the years that has elevated CNNPH as a trusted source of news and information in the Philippines.

With the conclusion of CNNPH’s operations, we would like to extend our profound gratitude to our partner, CNN Worldwide/Turner Broadcasting Corporation for their support and understanding.

To our loyal viewers, thank you for giving us purpose. We are honored to have served you.

Again, we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to our employees, partners, and stakeholders. Thank you for the trust.

It’s unclear what will happen to its employees and talents, but it will be a big blow to the country’s “the future of journalism in the Philippines”, as well as the news media landscape.

Suzuki Philippines officially a launches the new Jimny 5-door

It’s official! The Jimny 5-door will be available in the Philippines, as Suzuki Philippines officially launch the New Jimny 5-door on January 25, 2024 at The Cove, Okada Manila.

The new Jimny 5-door is basically the 5-door version of the company 3-door Jinmy that we all know and love. The Jimny 5-door will have two variant; GL and the GLX, both have the same specs except that the GL will be sporting a 5-Speed Manual transmission, while the GLX will have 4-Speed Automatic transmission.

This is how Suzuki Philippines describe the new Jimny 5-door;

EXTERIOR

The New Jimny 5-door seamlessly incorporates all the practical and functional design elements of the Jimny. Its sturdy square body not only conveys off-road capability and durability but also contributes to the driver’s situational awareness. The upright A-pillars and flat clamshell bonnet improve visibility through the front windshield, while the dipped lines of the driver and passenger windows extend visibility from the side. The 5-door model boasts chrome accents on the front grille, a distinctive feature that accentuates the grille’s unique 5-slot design. Additionally, features such as the signature round headlamps and 15-inch dark-metallic alloy wheels further enhance the overall robust exterior styling.

INTERIOR

The theme of practicality and functionality extends seamlessly to the interior. Meticulously designed to balance aesthetics and functionality, the sleek black interior avoids unnecessary colors or decorations to minimize distractions, allowing the driver to focus on navigating the vehicle. Horizontal lines on the instrument panel and vertical lines in the meter cluster and center console panels assist the driver in gauging the vehicle’s angle, especially in challenging terrains such as rough or mountainous terrains.

The rear seat has undergone enhancements, featuring thicker seat cushions to provide better seating posture and comfortably accommodate two adults. Positioned directly above the rear passengers, the rear seat lamp ensures improved lighting, while the rear seat power window switches are conveniently located in both the rear doors and the front console box for easy control from both rows.

The extended wheelbase of the 5-door model has resulted in an expanded luggage area. Although the luggage box from the 3-door model has been removed, the lowered floor height and increased depth of the luggage area now offer a spacious 211L of luggage capacity (with the rear seatback raised). Enhancements include a luggage area lamp illuminating the entranceway for user-friendly access, and the removal of the toolbox for simplified loading and unloading of luggage. Similar to the 3-door model, the luggage area in the 5-door model comes equipped with an accessory socket.

SAFETY

Safety is paramount in the New Jimny 5-door GLX variant, featuring SRS front airbags for both the driver and seat passengers, as well as side airbag and curtain airbags for occupants in both the front and rear seats. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with a reverse parking camera and sensors to enhance overall safety awareness.

PERFORMANCE

The Jimny 5-door features a powerful 1.5L engine, tuned for off-roading adventures. With a 340 mm longer wheelbase than the 3-door model, it maintains crucial off-roading features— ALLGRIP PRO, a sturdy ladder frame, exceptional approach, breakover, and departure angles, 3-link rigid axle suspension with coil spring and part-time 4WD with low-range transfer gear. Built for authentic off-road ruggedness and agile maneuverability, it serves as the ideal companion for global adventurers and wilderness professionals.

The New Jimny 5-door offers monotone color options for the GL and GLX variants, including Jungle Green, Celestial Blue Pearl Metallic, Arctic White Pearl, and Granite Gray Metallic. The GLX Two-Tone variant, on the other hand, is available in Sizzling Red Metallic – Bluish Black Pearl and Chiffon Ivory Metallic – Bluish Black Pearl.

Price

The New Jimny 5-door is available in all Suzuki Auto Dealerships nationwide with the following SRP:

  • Jimny 5DR GL MT – ₱1,558,000
  • Jimny 5DR GLX AT – ₱1,698,000
  • Jimny 5DR GLX AT – TWO TONE – ₱1,708,000

Here are your 2024 NBA All-Star Game Starters

NBA has finally announced this year’s All-Star Game Starters. The TNT crew (Shaq, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson) even had a segment in their show to announce the 10 All Star starters.

Eastern Conference starters

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo*
  • Joel Embiid
  • Jayson Tatum
  • Tyrese Haliburton
  • Damian Lillard

Western Conference starters

  • LeBron James*
  • Kevin Durant
  • Nikola Jokic
  • Luka Doncic
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

* = denotes team captain

Starters for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game were selected by fans, current NBA players and a media panel. Fans accounted for 50% of the vote, while players and media accounted for 25% each.

This year, the league will revert back to the EAST vs West format, which means that title CAPTAIN will just be for formality and each players will team up for their respective conference in the 73rd NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 18 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the home court of the Indiana Pacers.

Sofia Vergara’s Acting Chops in Netflix’s Griselda

Sofa Vergara’s new Netflix Series Griselda follows the story of a Colombian woman who comes to the United States as she leads her double life as the Godmother of Cocaine and a mother to three kids.

Sounds cliche? The big twist is that this series is based on a much darker story. Griselda Blanco did exist, and her family still lives

Griselda Blanco’s journey from Colombia wasn’t easy – she grew up in an extremely abusive household. There are accounts of her by an outdated Britannica. The encyclopedia purportedly showed that she helped in a kidnapping when she was just 11 years old. 

Blanco died on September 3, 2012, when she was gunned down by a motorcycle rider – a method she employed herself onto her enemies.

The big screen has featured the infamous Colombian drug leader before. Catherine-Zeta Jones’ portrayal in the movie Cocaine Godmother (2017) received praise amidst a rushed plot and a few factual inconsistencies.

In the exclusive interview with Sofia Vergara by Entertainment Tonight, the actress spoke about snorting fake cocaine, aside from her unrecognizable transformation.

The Blanco family has filed legal action to stop the release of the series, to which the director responded “lightheartedly”.

USA Basketball announces the 41-members of the 2024 Men’s USA National Team Player Pool

USA Basketball, which is headed by USA Basketball executive director Grant Hill, just announced the 41-man pool for the 2024 Paris Olympics. After falling to Canada in the last FIBA World Cup 2023, which was held in Manila, USA Basketball will be fielding veterans and a newly naturalized American to win a fifth consecutive Olympic gold in Paris this summer.

The players named in the 41-player pool for the 2024 Men’s USA National Team are some of the biggest names in the sports, headlined by LeBron James, last played in the Olympics in 2012, and Stephen Curry, who has never played in the Olympics; and Joel Embiid, a Cameroon national but became a U.S. citizen in 2022.

In a tweet by the USA Basketball, all 41 players selected to the 2024 Men’s National Team Player Pool have a combined 13 Olympians, 22 World Cup participants, 24 Senior National Team gold medals and 18 Junior National Team gold medals, one of the most decorated player pool the USA Basketball have assembled.

Here are the complete list of the 41-player pool:

  1. Bam Adebayo – Miami Heat
  2. Jarrett Allen – Cleveland Cavaliers
  3. Paolo Banchero – Orland Magic
  4. Desmond Bane – Memphis Grizzlies
  5. Scottie Barnes – Toronto Raptors
  6. Devin Booker – Phoenix Suns
  7. Mikal Bridges – Brooklyn Nets
  8. Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics
  9. Jalen Brunson – New York Knicks
  10. Jimmy Butler – Miami Heat
  11. Alex Caruso – Chicago Bulls
  12. Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors
  13. Anthony Davis – Los Angeles Lakers
  14. Kevin Durant – Phoenix Suns
  15. Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves
  16. Joel Embiid – Philadelphia 76ers
  17. De’Aaron Fox – Sacramento Kings
  18. Paul George – Los Angeles Clippers
  19. Aaron Gordon – Denver Nuggets
  20. Tyrese Haliburton – Indiana Pacers
  21. James Harden – Los Angeles Clippers
  22. Josh Hart – Chicago Bulls
  23. Tyler Herro – Miami Heat
  24. Jrue Holiday – Boston Celtics
  25. Chet Holmgren – Oklahoma Thunders
  26. Brandon Ingram – New Orleans Pelicans
  27. Kyrie Irving – Dallas Mavericks
  28. Jaren Jackson Jr. – Memphis Grizzlies
  29. LeBron James – Los Angeles Lakers
  30. Cam Johnson – Brooklyn Nets
  31. Walker Kessler – Utah Jazz
  32. Kawhi Leonard – Los Angeles Clippers
  33. Damian Lillard – Milwaukee Bucks
  34. Donovan Mitchell – Cleveland Cavaliers
  35. Chris Paul – Golden State Warriors
  36. Bobby Portis – Milwaukee Bucks
  37. Austin Reaves – Los Angeles Lakers
  38. Duncan Robinson – Miami Heat
  39. Jayson Tatum – Boston Celtics
  40. Derrick White – Boston Celtics
  41. Trae Young – Atlanta Hawks

The 41-player pool will then be reduced to 12-member team for the Paris Olympic Games, which will be announced as early as May or during the NBA Playoffs.

Watch the Trailer for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba To the Hashira Training

Demon Slayer Season 4 is in the works after a successful Season 3. The trailer is already out for the 1-hour Episode 1 special in preparation for Season 4. The creative team behind the series is UFOTABLE, who are also responsible for the hit anime series such as Fate/Stay Night and God Eater.

We will get to see a development to Tanjiro’s journey after his encounter with the Upper Rank demon Hantengu. The ending of the Swordsmith Village Arc shows shows a major breakthrough with Tanjiro’s sister. Nezuko finally “conquers the sun” after Tanjiro makes a critical decision of killing a fleeing demon.

It’s a cliffhanger for sure, and although an anime adaptation of the manga is still in the works, the next series will focus on Tanjiro’s training with Himejima in Season 4.

The movie will act as a prelude to Season 4, and we might get to see more of Tanjiro’s character development while under the tutelage of the Rock Hashira. There will be even more demon appearances (and ultimately more fights), for which the anime series has received praise – both for its visual and sound design.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba To the Hashira Training will premiere next month worldwide.

Watch the New Trailer for Avatar The Last Airbender

Netflix’s new and upcoming series Avatar The Last Airbender will premiere on February 22 this year.

The new Avatar of the four elements will be played by half-French, half-Filipino Canadian actor Gordon Cormier (Lost in Space). Anne with an E actress Kiawentiio Tarbell will be playing Katara, while Ian Ousley plays her brother Sokka. Dallas Liu will be playing Aang’s archnemesis (for the first few seasons, at least), and Elizabeth Yu will act as the power-crazed firebender Azula.

The trailer for the series will differ from the M. Night Shyamalan movie released in 2010, with the main difference being the coverage of the events. The 2010 movie showed select scenes in the first season of the animated series. The highlights of the film were Episodes 19 and 20, The Siege of the North.

This time, however, fans of the much-beloved children’s show will see all important characters and events from Episode 1 until 20 of Book 1:Water.

New Instagram Feature to Urge Teens on Healthy App Usage

Instagram’s daily active users reach a whopping 2 billion people a month and it’s no surprise that Meta is rolling out an update to encourage people to use less of the app. While it may seem counterintuitive for the company to reduce app usage, this is part of their effort to make the popular social media platform less detrimental to its users.

In the new update, the Quiet Mode feature will give “nightime nudges” on Instagram Reels or on Direct messages when the app detects that it’s been active for ten minutes late at night. On their most recent blogpost under “Giving Teens and Parents More Ways to Manage Their Time on Our Apps” dated June 27, 2023, the post says:

Update on January 18, 2024 at 3:00AM PT:

Sleep is important, particularly for young people, so we’re launching new nighttime nudges that will show up when teens have spent more than 10 minutes on Instagram in places like Reels or Direct Messages late at night. They’ll remind teens that it’s late, and encourage them to close the app.

Most phones have built-in health and wellness features to reduce screen time and app usage. But this does not guarantee teens are putting their phones down. In a literature review done by Neza Stiglic and Russell M Viner, they found out that higher screen times are associated with obesity and depressive symptoms.

Not just for kids

The company also has made Quiet Mode available to adults. Meta’s approach to focusing on providing better experiences for its younger users also extends to adults. The feature turns on automatically for app users below an age threshold. For adults engaged in activities like driving or working, Quiet Mode shuts off all notifications. It also sends an automated reply in the Direct Messages.

If a person is in Quiet Mode, other users will be able to see it. The feature changes the activity status to let other users know that the person isn’t actively on Instagram. The feature may affect content creators’ ability to engage with their followers. However, users can turn off Quite Mode anytime in the app.

Instagram also packaged another feature with the recent update. Users can filter out certain topics or emojis to ensure a more streamlined app content experience.

In addition to the rollout, Instagram also updated Parental Controls, allowing parents to monitor the app usage of children. This update lets parents access account settings, including privacy settings. Parents will then be notified of any changes or updates that have been made by the user.

Watch the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked January 2024 Event with this Official Replay from Samsung

Welcome to the era of mobile AI. Come see how Galaxy AI can empower you. Live on January 17, 2024.

00:00 Galaxy Unpacked
02:48 Opening Keynote: TM ROH
08:38 New way to get things done
21:50 Circle to Search with Google
35:08 New way to create
37:34 The Artful Awakening: The Wonder of Camera Innovation
49:29 New way to play
54:09 Design & Durability
59:50 Sustainability
64:20 New way to manage health
71:31 Closing

Galaxy Unpacked 2024 in a Nutshell

The biggest highlight of the event is Galaxy AI. Multitasking has never been easier thanks to Samsung’s collaboration and use of Google’s Gemini on the device.

Feature #1: Live Translation

Several keynote speakers introduced separate features for the phone. The first feature is a live translation option, allowing users of the Galaxy S24 series to instantly understand what their contacts are saying.

The Live Translate feature has long been available with Google Assistant, but it turns out that the Galaxy S24 series will be the first set of devices to take advantage of the feature without phone users having to switch between apps.

These are the supported languages for now:

  • Chinese
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Hindi
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Polish
  • Portuguese
  • Thai
  • Spanish
  • Vietnamese

Feature #2: Photomoji

There are better ways to encapsulate a response to a friend’s weekend getaway suggestion. Emojis, for example. The Photomoji feature on Samsung Galaxy S24 allows creation of stickers and emojis straight from their photos without the need for third-party apps.

Feature #3: Chat Assist

If pictures aren’t your thing, the Galaxy S24 also makes it possible to rewrite your texts to a more appropriate tone. Say you want to communicate with a Gen Z male teen, the Galaxy S24 lets you choose from several text responses.

Feature #4: Transcript Assist

Recording meetings is a hassle since you have to identify different speakers. This hurdle is minimized by Transcript Assist’s ability to provide you with a transcript, all the while detecting who’s speaking at each turn.

Feature #5: Notes Assist

A stylus is pretty to use with any Galaxy device, but it doesn’t exactly make your handwriting any better. That’s why Notes Assist is there to make your handwriting cleaner. Notes Assist also formats the content in whatever way you like. Formatting will become a thing of the past as AI does it for you.

Feature #6: Circle to Search

There’s also a new way to search on the Galaxy S24 series. Circle to Search is Google’s first gesture operated search method, all without having to manually input it onto a search bar. You can simply draw on an existing image, text, or video, and results will be delivered on the same screen of the currently used app.

However, all this sounds intrusive. That’s why Samsung allows users to choose what information is being processed by AI online. 

Feature #7: Camera and Image Post-Processing

In their partnership with Instagram, Samsung Galaxy’s S24 series will be the first device to have HDR enabled by default. With regards to content creation and social media posts, it’s now easier to edit photos with the help of Generative AI. All edited pictures will have a watermark, though.

The camera is packed with more power, and a video demo by Mr. Beast shows the camera’s stunning clarity on a 10x optical zoom. Other features were also shown during the event.

Feature #8: Share with anyone with Quick Share.

If you’re still using Bluetooth to share files, you’re missing out on Samsung’s Quick Share function. The update is it’s compatibility with a multitude of devices so you only have to press one button to share to other phones. Or PC’s. or TV’s.

Feature #9: Pro-visual Engine.

Gaming-wise, the Galaxy S24 series’ NPU can handle the heaviest. The addition of Ray Tracing make the experience more immersive, as told by guest and streamer Pokimane.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 series will be available for pre-order starting January 17 until the end of the month. Check out the price list below.

  • Galaxy S23 FE – $599 ($699 in the US)
  • Galaxy S23 – $699
  • Galaxy S24 – $799
  • Galaxy S24+ – $999
  • Galaxy S24 Ultra -$1299

Source: Samsung Newsroom

Tina Fey’s Mean Girls Revenge Party Almost Didn’t Make It to Netflix

Tina Fey is back with a new spin on the popular teen comedy movie. This time, Cady Heron, the role formerly held previously by Lindsay Lohan, will be taking on “new” friends and enemies.

In this remake of a musical remake of the film, Angourie Rice (Every Day, Honor Society) will take on Lindsay’s mantle as she goes through the hellscape of high school, aptly represented by a trio of ladies called “The Plastics”.

Fey’s new take on the film is a combination of the Tony nominated Broadway musical and the first film. The comedian-actress who also worked as SNL’s senior writer aims to capture the popularity of the first movie. In a separate interview, she talks about how she approached Paramount and their initial disbelief to her pitch.

Fey further elaborates that the movie isn’t purely comical, and that there will be moments the audience can connect to the characters.

Tina Fey also makes an appearance in the movie. Mean Girls Revenge Party is streaming on Netflix.

Watch Tina Fey’s interview from TODAY below:

Complete list of the 75th Emmy Awards Winners

The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards just concluded, with Succession and The Bear dominating the Emmys, each snagging six major wins. The Bear topped the charts with 10 awards overall, including Creative Arts Emmys. While Beef reigned in the Limited Series category with five awards, several other shows shined: Last Week Tonight, Abbott Elementary, Black Bird, Dahmer, The Daily Show, Elton John’s Farewell, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and The White Lotus.

Here are the complete list of winners in this years Emmy;

  1. BEST DRAMA SERIES – “Succession”
  2. BEST COMEDY SERIES – “The Bear”
  3. BEST LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE – “Beef”
  4. BEST COMEDY ACTOR – Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”
  5. BEST COMEDY ACTRESS – Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”
  6. BEST DRAMA ACTOR – Kieran Culkin, “Succession”
  7. BEST DRAMA ACTRESS – Sarah Snook, “Succession”
  8. BEST ACTOR, BEST LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE – Steven Yeun, “Beef”
  9. BEST ACTRESS, BEST LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE – Ali Wong, “Beef”
  10. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA – Matthew Macfadyen, “Succession”
  11. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA – Jennifer Coolidge, “The White Lotus”
  12. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY – Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”
  13. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY – Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”
  14. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE – Paul Walter Hauser, “Black Bird”
  15. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE – Niecy Nash-Betts, “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”
  16. BEST DIRECTING, DRAMA – Mark Mylod, “Succession”
  17. BEST DIRECTING, COMEDY – Christopher Storer, “The Bear”
  18. BEST DIRECTING, LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE – Lee Sung Jin, “Beef”
  19. BEST WRITING, DRAMA SERIES – Jesse Armstrong, “Succession”
  20. BEST WRITING, COMEDY – Christopher Storer, “The Bear”
  21. BEST WRITING, LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE – Lee Sung Jin, “Beef”
  22. BEST WRITING, VARIETY SERIES – “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”
  23. BEST TALK SERIES – “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah”
  24. BEST SCRIPTED VARIETY SERIES – “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”
  25. BEST VARIETY SPECIAL (LIVE) – “Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium”
  26. BEST REALITY COMPETITION – “RuPaul’s Drag Race”

Did any of your favorite program won the Emmy? Tell us what you think about the winners and the awards show.

Watch the Official Trailer Spaceman featuring Adam Sandler

Six months into a solitary research mission to the edge of the solar system, an astronaut, Jakub (Adam Sandler), realizes that the marriage he left behind might not be waiting for him when he returns to Earth. Desperate to fix things with his wife, Lenka (Carey Mulligan), he is helped by a mysterious creature from the beginning of time he finds hiding in the bowels of his ship. Hanuš (voiced by Paul Dano) works with Jakub to make sense of what went wrong before it is too late. Directed by Johan Renck and based on the novel Spaceman of Bohemia, the film also stars Kunal Nayyar, Lena Olin, and Isabella Rossellini.

Spaceman is coming to Netflix on March 1.

Lego Polaroid now on Sale for PHP 5,999.00

After leaking and being announced last year, the Lego Polaroid is now available for PHP 5,999.00.

The Lego Polaroid is made up of 516 pieces and includes many of the design features that made the original OneStep Camera so popular among fans, captured in a unique display model with functional features. Also included alongside the camera is a buildable Polaroid Time-Zero Land Film pack and three LEGO Polaroid illustrated ‘photos’.

If you’re a photographer, whether a professional or hobbyist, the Lego Polaroid is a addition to your collection. It is currently available in all Bankee Bricks retail stores in the Philippines and online.

Watch the Chicago Bulls’ Inaugural Ring of Honor Ceremony 2024

For those who missed the ceremony, here the inaugural class to Chicago Bulls’ Ring of Honor on Friday, January 12th. According to NBA, “The Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor will recognize and celebrate past players, coaches and front office members who made outstanding contributions and helped define the organization throughout its history.”

The inaugural class of Ring of Honor are the following;
Artis Gilmore, Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan, Johnny “Red” Kerr, Dick Klein, Jerry Krause, Toni Kukoc, Bob Love, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Jerry Sloan, Chet Walker, Tex Winter, and the 1995-96 team, which went 72-10 and won the 1996 NBA Championship.

They’re the players, coaches and staff from the 1995-96 team:
Players: Randy Brown, Jud Buechler Jason Caffey, James Edwards, Jack Haley, Ron Harper, Michael Jordan, Steve Kerr, Toni Kukoc, Luc Longley, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, John Salley, Dickey Simpkins, and Bill Wennington

Coaches: Jim Cleamons, Phil Jackson, John Paxson, Jimmy Rodgers, and Tex Winter

Staff: Ivica Dukan, Clarence Gaines, Jr., Erik Helland, Jerry Krause, John Ligmanowski, Chip Schaefer, Jim Stack, and Al Vermeil

Here’s the Chicago Bulls’ Inaugural Ring of Honor Ceremony 2024;

Warriors win over Bulls behind the Splash Brothers

The Golden State Warriors got a much needed win to stop their two game losing streak. The Warriors were carried by the Splash brothers, scoring 57 of their 140 points. Both started slow; Steph Curry was scoreless in the 1st qtr and just 6 points in the entirety of the first half, while Klay Thompson scored just 5 points, he 2 of 8 from the field in the 1st half.

But in the 3rd qtr, Thompson made all of his 5 shot from beyond the arc, helping the Warriors build a 16 point lead early the 2nd held, he ended the game with 30 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Steph Curry on the other hand took over in the 4th, scoring 13 points, 3 from the three-point line and made 9 assists with just one turn over. He finished the game with 27 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists.

Together with the Splash Bros; Saric, Wiggins, Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis played a big part in the game. Saric started the game and scored 12 points, 7 rebs, 6 assists and 2 steals; Wiggins added 17 points, 5 rebs and 8 assists; Kuminga and Jackson-Davis, added 24 points and 13 points, respectively. It was a total team effort for the Warriors.

The Chicago Bulls was lead by Demar DeRozan who scored a team high of 39 points, 7 rebs and 5 assists, while Coby White and Zach Lavine added 25 points a piece.

During the halftime break, Chicago Bulls recognized 13 franchise luminaries as well as the 1995-96 championship team during the inaugural Bulls Ring of Honor class. The Bulls said that will add to the Ring of Honor every two years, with the next class being revealed in 2026.

  • Golden State Warriors will continue their four-game road trip in Milwaukee on Saturday night.
  • Chicago Bulls will face the San Antonio Spurs at on Saturday night.

Netflix adding two One Piece story arcs this January 2024

A great news for One Piece fans to start the year, Netflix just announced that they will add two One Piece arc in the streaming platform this January 2024. First is the addition of “One Piece: Marineford” arc then by 13th of January, the “One Piece: Egghead” Arc be available, at least in the Philippines.

One Piece: Marineford arc is one of the two story arc of the 14th season of One Piece, which mainly adapts the 56th to 59th volumes of the material from the One Piece manga by Eiichiro Oda. The second arc is called the ”Post-War”, from the 59th to 61st volumes of the manga. 14th season of One Piece have 60 episodes.

The “One Piece: Egghead” Arc on the other hand is the 21st and latest season of the One Piece anime television series, it adapts material from the “Egghead” arc, from the rest of the 105th volume onwards of the manga by Eiichiro Oda. The “One Piece: Egghead” Arc is also known as the Future Island Arc.

Ahsoka Season 2 in Development

It’s confirmed, there will be Ahsoka Season 2. This was mentioned in their announcement of “The Mandalorian & Grogu” film.

Considering where Ahsoka season 1 concluded, we can assume that the cast of the 1st season will return to reprise their role; Rosario Dawson (Ahsoka Tano), Natasha Liu Bordizzo (Sabine Wren), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Hera Syndulla), Ivanna Sakhno (Shin Hati), Eman Esfandi (Ezra Bridger), Genevieve O’Reilly (Mon Mothma) and Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn. We can also expect some cameo by Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader.

The 1st season of Ahsoka is available on Disney+.

The Mandalorian & Grogu Film Announced

Here’s something for fans of the Mandalorian & Grogu, since the duo will be shifting from being a series in our TV and mobile devices to the movie theaters. The Mandalorian & Grogu Film will be directed by Jon Favreau, and produced by Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, and Dave Filoni, The Mandalorian & Grogu will go into production in 2024.

via Starwars.com;

“I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created,” said Favreau. “The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.”

“Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have ushered into Star Wars two new and beloved characters, and this new story is a perfect fit for the big screen,” added Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm.

Aside from the planned “The Mandalorian & Grogu” film, Lucas films previously announced the development of new film that will follow Rey (Daisy Ridley) as she attempts to rebuild the Jedi Order following the events of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.”

All three seasons of “The Mandalorian” can be streamed on Disney Plus.

Source: Starwars.com

Apple Vision Pro to launch this February 2024

After 7 months of waiting, Apple has finally launch the Apple Vision Pro, at least in the US, which will be available on Friday, February 2nd, pre-orders for the device will begin Friday, January 19th. The Apple Vision Pro is priced at $3,499 and is Apple’s first new major product category since the Apple Watch in 2015.

The Apple Vision Pro is a compact pair of glasses that lets you navigate, interact, and enjoy content in a spatial way. It features a custom micro-OLED display, a 3D camera, Spatial Audio, and a dual-chip (M2 and new R1 chip) system with advanced technology and design. The device is designed to blend digital content with the physical world, using visionOS, the world’s first spatial operating system. It offers an infinite canvas that transforms how you use the apps you love, allowing you to arrange apps anywhere and scale them to the perfect size, making the workspace of your dreams a reality. You can browse the web in Safari, create a to-do list in Notes, chat in Messages, and seamlessly move between them with a glance. The device also has augmented reality capabilities, but can also switch to virtual reality seamlessly by using the dial on the headset.

The Apple Vision Pro is Apple’s first 3D camera. You can capture magical spatial photos and spatial videos in 3D, then relive those cherished moments like never before with immersive Spatial Audio. Your existing library of photos and videos looks incredible at remarkable scale. And panoramas wrap around you — making you feel like you’re standing right where you took them. You can also take spatial videos with iPhone 15 Pro, then view them on Apple Vision Pro.

Apple Vision Pro will be available starting at $3,499 (U.S.) with 256GB of storage. Pre-orders for Apple Vision Pro will begin on Friday, January 19, at 5 a.m. PST, with availability beginning Friday, February 2.
Apple Vision Pro will be available at all U.S. Apple Store locations and the U.S. Apple Store online.

ZEISS Optical Inserts — Readers will be available for $99 (U.S.), and ZEISS Optical Inserts — Prescription will be available for $149 (U.S.).

Apple Vision Pro comes with a Solo Knit Band and Dual Loop Band — giving users two options for the fit that works best for them. Apple Vision Pro also includes a Light Seal, two Light Seal Cushions, an Apple Vision Pro Cover for the front of the device, Polishing Cloth, Battery, USB-C Charge Cable, and USB-C Power Adapter.

Xiaomi SU7 announced with 800km range and ultrafast charging

Ahead of the CES 2024, Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi announced the Xiaomi SU7 and Xiaomi SU7 Max, the company’s entrant to the EV market. The EV sedan looks like the Porsche’s Taycan and will be available in two model, the rear wheel drive SU7 and SU7 Max, which features a dual motor AWD.

Here are the notable features of the Xiaomi SU7;

  • 101kW CATL cell battery
  • 800 km CLTC recharge range
  • 800v HyperCharge Ultrafast charging
    •  up to 220km range in just 5 minutes of charge
    • up to 510km in just 15 minutes of charge
    • Xiaomi EV Modena Architecture
    • Xiaomi Pilot autonomous system
  • Xiaomi Hyperengine
  • Colors: Aqua Blue, Mineral Gray and Verdant Green

Xiaomi did not provide any details regarding the price and with an availability this 2024.

Checkout some of the shots that Xiaomi released via their social media accounts.

You can watch the SU7 launch event below;

Warriors fell to the Raptors, powered by RJ Barrett’s 37 points game (133-118)

The Raptors gave the Warriors one of their worst loss of the season, behind RJ Barrett’s 37 points game. This is the 4th game of Barrett as a Raptor, who are 3 – 4, since trading OG Anunoby to the Knicks to get RJ Barrett, last Dec. 31st.

This is basically how the game was; the Raptors made 15 of their 33 three-points shot, lead by RJ Barrett, who made 5 of his 8 threes, despite having a great game from Klay Thompson with his 25 points, the Warriors are 14 for 46 from behind the arc with Steph is 0 of 9 from the three-point line, scoring only for 9 points. All Warriors starters are negative in the +/- column.

Aside from Barrett, Chris Boucher scored 17 points and 9 rebounds from the bench, with Pascal Siakam adding 16 points with 6 rebounds and 6 assists. The Raptors were never threaten in the game and at one point, their lead ballooned to 27 points.

Here are highlights of RJ Barrett;

Raptors will be visiting the Lakers on Tuesday night, while the Warriors will be hosting the NO Pelicans on Wednesday night.

NBA reinstate Draymond Green are being suspended for 12 games

Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green have been reinstated by the NBA after being suspended for 12 games. The announcement was made from the league’s PR account (NBA Communications.

Last 14th December, Draymond Green was “suspended indefinitely for striking Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face”, prior to the suspension, Green already received a 5-game suspension for “headlocking” Minnesota center Rudy Gobert.

Green can be back in the lineup during their Toronto game this Sunday but according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, he will “need approximately a week to ramp up for a game return.”

The Golden State Warriors are 7-5 without Green and it’s been a rollercoaster ride for the team considering he is the leading defensive and facilitator of the team. The reinstatement of Green is a welcoming news for the Warriors as well as its fans, as we approach the half-way mark of the season and a chance of Golden State to make a run for the playoffs.

Netflix release first look trailer of Arcane Season 2

After teasing fans of the series last November 2023, Netflix released the first look trailer for the 2nd season of Arcane.

Arcane is based on the popular multiplayer online battle arena game League of Legends, was developed and released by Riot Games in 2009.

The Arcane season 1 was constructed by co-creators Christian Linke and Alex Yee and was produced by the French animation studio Fortiche in partnership with Riot Games. Both Fortiche Studios and Riot Games will remain as the producer of the series. Voice Actors of season 1 will be returning; Hailee Steinfeld as Vi, Ella Purnell as Jinx, Katie Leung as Caitlyn, and probably a rest of the voice-cast.

Season 1 of Arcane is now available on Netflix.

TAPE’s noon time show is now called “Tahanang Pinakamasaya”

In the wake of the Marikina City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 273 ruling, Television and Production Exponents (TAPE) Inc. has now changed the name of it’s noontime show to “Tahanang Pinakamasaya.”

Lead by Paolo Contis and Isko Moreno, the show’s Jan 6 episode started by acknowledging the court decision and that the production company (TAPE inc.) and network (GMA) would follow court’s ruling even though TAPE plans to file an appeal.

TVJ on the other hand, started their show by singing the “Eat Bulaga” theme song while wearing red t-shirt with the show’s name on,

TVJ, meanwhile, celebrated their victory by singing the “Eat Bulaga” theme song while wearing t-shirts that bore the show’s name on today’s episode of their noontime show on TV5.

“Eto ang totoo. Eto ang tinadhana. Eto ang tunay na ‘Eat Bulaga,'” said Vic Sotto before they officially start the show.

TAPE changing the name of their noontime show to “Tahanang Pinakamasaya” will give everyone in the company including the show’s hosts a fresh start and at the same time removing the elephant in the room of using the Eat Bulaga name.

TVJ wins trademark ownership of the “Eat Bulaga” against Television and Production Exponents (TAPE) Inc.

In a video posted on different social media platform, Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon announced that the trio won the legal battle against the Television and Production Exponents (TAPE) Inc. over the trademark ownership of the “Eat Bulaga” name.

Tito Sotto, who is reading the dispositive portion of the ruling, explained that Marikina City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 273 has ruled in favor of the trio regarding the copyright infringement and unfair competition case they had filed against the company back in June last year.

Here’s text of what Tito Sotto read from the ruling;

Wherefore, judgment is hereby rendered in favor of the plaintiffs (TVJ) against the defendants (TAPE and GMA Network)

Permanently enjoining defendants Television and Production Exponents (TAPE) Inc. and GMA Network Inc. from;
1 – Using the trademarks “EB” and “Eat bulaga”, including all the logos associated with the subject parts in its shows, programs, projects or promotions.
2 – Using the EAT BULAGA jingles/ song or any part thereof in its shows, programs, projects or promotions.
3 – Airing and broadcasting a playback of any and all recorded episodes of the EAT BULAGA show prior to 31st May 2023, its segment or any portion thereof in all channels and platforms.

Here the full video of TVJ’s announcement;

The ruling comes after the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) cancels that trademarks registration of TAPE Inc. for ‘Eat Bulaga’ and ‘EB’.

In an article published on GMA News website, TAPE counsel Atty. Maggie Garduque commented on ruling;

“Yes, I already saw the decision dated Dec 22, 2023 but released by the court this January.”

“Initial reaction, among others, we were surprised that the court ruled on trademark and trademark infringement when the case pending in court is copyright infringement. We will definitely file an appeal to this decision,” Garduque said.

“There is nothing in the decision which states that since there is injunction issued to tape, TVJ can now use the trademark EB and Eat Bulaga especially that the trademark ownership is still under appeal before the IPO,” he added.

Malacañang declared January 9th as a Special Non-Working Holiday in the City of Manila in observance to the Feast of the Black Nazarene

Malacañang just declared that Tuesday, 9th of January will be a Special Non-working day for the City of Manila to give way to the thousands, if not millions of devotees, who will celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene also known as the Traslación.

A little background from Wikipedia;

The Feast of the Black Nazarene commemorates the anniversary of the translation or the transfer of the image from its original location at a church in modern-day Luneta Park to Quiapo. The image was brought to the Church of San Juan Bautista in Bagumbayan (now Luneta) until May 31, 1606, by Augustinian Recollect priests. In 1608, the icon was enshrined at the Recollect church of San Nicolás de Tolentino in Intramuros. It was moved to the Saint John the Baptist Church, which is now commonly referred to as the Quiapo Church, on January 9, 1787. The “solemn transfer” eventually became the date of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

Samsung partners with Hyundai to connect Smarthome to your EV

Samsung and Hyundai just announced that signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on January 3 to develop solutions for future lifestyles that fully integrate the smart home and connected cars.

The two S.Korean-based company are developing “the next-generation smart home” to connect Samsung’s SmartThings with Hyundai and Kia’s connected cars, including EVs, to develop the “Home-to-Car” and “Car-to-Home” services as well as an integrated home energy management service.

This means that the “Home-to-Car” and “Car-to-Home” services connect the smart home with in-vehicle infotainment systems, allowing for remote control in both directions. Using Samsung’s SmartThings platform, users will be able to perform a variety of actions pertaining to their cars while at home, like remote starting them, controlling air conditioning, opening and closing windows and checking their battery charging status. And from EV cars, users can control of home appliances such as TVs, air conditioners and EV chargers will also be possible.

“This is an opportunity to make the connected car’s Car-to-Home and Home-to-Car services more convenient in various fields,” said Haeyoung Kwon, Vice President of Hyundai and Kia’s Infotainment Development Center. “We plan to accelerate our technology development to continuously make global Hyundai and Kia customers’ journeys meaningful.”

Steph’s 36 points powers the Warriors win over Magic (121-115)

After three straight losses, the Golden State Warriors got a timely win from the Orlando Magic before they face the defending champs, the Denver Nugget, in a rematch for their Christmas day Matchup.

It was a close game until the last 4 minutes of the game, no team has lead for more than 10 points in the game, until Steph took over late in the game. Curry scored and helped the Warrior score 13-straight-points in a span of four minutes late in the game to secure the win for the Dubs. Steph Curry lead the team in scoring with 36 points, 6 assists and 4 steals. Jonathan Kuminga added 19 points, with his 6 rebs and 4 assists, Klay Thompson chipped-in 15 points, 3 of which are from beyond the arc.

Sophomore Paolo Banchero lead the Magics with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists, while Franz Wagner added 25 points and Goga Bitadze with his 13 points.

The Warriors will host the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, 4th of Jan, while the Magic will go to Sacramento on Wednesday, 3rd Jan.