Federalist questions
Part 5 INDONESIA presents an interesting study for federalism. In many ways, they share an affinity with us, starting with their struggle for independence with university/student leaders like Salvador “Doy” Laurel ready to enlist in “merdeka” (independent/freedom) hostilities against Dutch colonial masters in the 1940s. Surplus Philippine weaponry smuggled to Indonesian shores for freedom […].....»»
Federalist questions
Part 6 BESIEGED with deep inter-ethnic tensions in Indonesia since its founding e.g. regions outside of Java, Aceh and Kalimantan (Borneo); historical discrimination/violence vs. the ‘Orang Tionghoa’ (Chinese descent) since 1740s; five notional separatist states struggle for independent republics — a unitary-single state under the Republic of Indonesia was the practical solution for the […].....»»
Federalist questions
Part 5 INDONESIA presents an interesting study for federalism. In many ways, they share an affinity with us, starting with their struggle for independence with university/student leaders like Salvador “Doy” Laurel ready to enlist in “merdeka” (independent/freedom) hostilities against Dutch colonial masters in the 1940s. Surplus Philippine weaponry smuggled to Indonesian shores for freedom […].....»»
Former world champ Sheamus would love to see a Pinoy WWE Superstar
Multiple-time WWE world champion Sheamus is confident that there’s no reason for the Philippines not to be able to have a representative in world’s biggest professional wrestling organization in the near future. The hard-hitting Irish brawler is in the Philippines to promote the WWE’s upcoming live event in Manila on September 20th, was able to hold a quick media Q&A session in Taguig, Tuesday afternoon, and he spoke about his journey to the WWE and what he believes it takes to get there. For the 41-year old, a Filipino WWE Superstar is definitely not out of the realm of possibility. “There’s no such thing as ‘It can’t be done” in any country or any area,” he said during the media Q&A. “There’s no doubt in my mind that somebody here in this country, in the Philippines, that wants to be come a WWE Superstar, if they go the right way about the training, they go the right way about the wrestling, and they get proper training from someone who knows what they’re doing, they don’t take unneccessary risks in the ring, I think there definitely could be, there’s no reason why, from a country like this, there’s no reason why there can’t be a WWE Superstar, man or woman, to come through here and represent this country.” Filipino-blooded wrestlers have walked through the hallowed halls of the WWE before, with Dave “Batista” Bautista and TJ Perkins being the most notable ones. Earlier this year, the WWE’s developmental brand, NXT, signed Michael Paris, a Fil-American from Chicago who now wrestles under the name ‘Joaquin Wilde’. Paris was best known as DJZ during his time outside the WWE. The WWE however, has yet to feature a full-blooded, homegrown Pinoy wrestler, and that is something that Sheamus says he would love to see. “I’d love to see someone from the Philippines represent the WWE. There should be one from every country, it’s great,” he expressed. “I really think it should be somebody from the Philippines next time, we haven’t been here in 3 years, and obviously it takes a long time to start the training process, go to the US and get the NXT vibe, but there’s no reason why like in 5 years’ time, there can’t be somebody, here from the Philippines, holding this microphone, answering your questions about their journey from here to the WWE and promoting a show that’s coming to your country in a couple of weeks.” “There’s no reason why that can’t happen,” he continued. “I’d love to see someone from the Philippines represent the WWE.” - @WWESheamus #SEASheamus pic.twitter.com/5Kf5bAKLgg — Santino Honasan???? (@honasantino) August 15, 2019 This media tour isn’t Sheamus’ first time in the country, having been part of the WWE’s live event in Manila back in 2016. As it turns out, the Irishman has a special connection with the Philippines. “Well my girlfriend’s from the Philippines,” he revealed. “The food’s amazing, the people here are amazing. I always say that what makes a great country great is the people in it. Especially in the last 24 hours, it’s the fact that everybody here is proud to be from the Philippines. Everyone’s proud of their country, everyone’s super nice, everyone’s so respectable.” .@WWESheamus has nothing but love for the Philippines #SEASheamus pic.twitter.com/q6vc2NEVOG — Santino Honasan???? (@honasantino) August 15, 2019 While Sheamus could still be on the shelf for the forseeable future, his fellow WWE Superstars from the Smackdown Live! brand will be coming to Manila this coming September 20th at the Araneta Coliseum. .....»»
'ChalkChallenge: Kathryn Bernardo & Alden Richards Answer These Burning 'What If' Questions
What if Kathryn and Alden moved to Hong Kong for good? Find out their answers here!.....»»
Team USA reshuffles roster after first scrimmage
By John Schuhmann, NBA.com LAS VEGAS -- The first week of U.S. Senior Men's National Team training for the FIBA World Cup concluded on Friday (Saturday, PHL time) with a scrimmage against the Select Team and a little bit of roster reshuffling. After the Senior Team beat the Select Team, 97-78, in the scrimmage, two players on the Senior Team were replaced by two players from the Select Team for the next phase of training camp -- three practices and an exhibition game against Spain in Los Angeles. Sent home from the Senior Team were center Bam Adebayo and forward Thaddeus Young. The 22-year-old Adebayo was one of the best rebounders in camp, but was probably a little too raw in comparison to the other bigs. Young, meanwhile, didn't provide the shooting that the remaining power forwards on the roster do. Added to the roster in their place are Marvin Bagley III and Derrick White, who impressed as members of Jeff Van Gundy's Select Team. They will join the 13 other healthy players from the Senior Team, along with Kyle Lowry (who is recovering from thumb surgery and missed all of this week's camp) and Marcus Smart (who missed the last three days with a sore left calf). From those 17 players, a 12-man roster will be selected for the World Cup. That roster doesn't need to be finalized until two days before the tournament begins on Aug. 31, a fact that USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo has brought up multiple times this week. So he and the rest of the staff clearly won't rush a final decision and it's possible that the team will take more than 12 players with it from Los Angeles to Australia, where it will play three more exhibition games before heading to China. "We're going to be patient with the rest of the squad, because we have plenty of time," Colangelo said Friday (Saturday, PHL time). "We want to make sure everyone gets a real shot, and I think the staff is sorting through all that. There's something we like about every one of the players." Both Lowry and Smart are likely to make the final roster if they're healthy, but the status of both is still very much in the air. Lowry is expected to be reevaluated by his doctor before the start of the L.A. camp, and Smart will see how he feels after a few days off. Other sure things to make the final roster are Jayson Tatum (Friday's leading scorer) and four of the five starters from the scrimmage: Kemba Walker, Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brown and Khris Middleton, though Senior Team head coach Gregg Popovich said afterward that inferring too much into the starting lineup would be "an incorrect assumption." "We're still trying to figure out how people fit together," he continued. "You don't always necessarily play your most talented guys together. It's got to be a good mix. You got to have something coming off the bench also. What we're doing now is just mixing and matching and taking a look at everybody." The status of guards De'Aaron Fox (who had 12 points and three steals), Joe Harris and White could depend on the health of Lowry and Smart. The frontline may have more questions than answers. Harrison Barnes is a pretty safe bet to make the roster, maybe leaving one roster spot between Kyle Kuzma and P.J. Tucker. Bagley is now in a competition at center with Brook Lopez, Mason Plumlee and Myles Turner, who was the Senior Team's starting center on Friday (Saturday, PHL time). "There are going to be some players that are more talented than others, but a lot of jobs have to be filled," Popovich said. "Overall, we're looking for people who are committed defensively and are totally unselfish and are willing to move the ball and move themselves at the offensive end." With the Senior Team scoring just once on is first six possessions and with the Select Team bigs feasting inside, the young guys jumped out to an 8-2 lead on Friday (Saturday, PHL time). But the Senior Team got some stops and the second unit -- Fox, Harris, Tatum, Kuzma and Lopez -- took the lead for good with a 9-0 run to close the first quarter. The Select Team scored just 28 points over the second and third periods and it was a 30-point game going into the fourth. Credit the Senior Team defense (which mixed in some 2-3 zone), though it should be noted that the Select Team was lacking shooters (it finished 3-for-26 from three-point range) and running plays that they'd seen all week. Tatum was the offensive star, scoring a game-high 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting in just 15:44 off the bench. His biggest highlight on Friday (Saturday, PHL time) was a late-third-quarter spin move to a left-handed scoop in traffic. But he has shot well most of the week, looking to be in midseason form despite not having played an NBA game in almost three months. "I just tried to come in the best shape as I could," he said. "I just tried to get in a rhythm before I got out here." Though Popovich was quick to dismiss Friday's (Saturday, PHL time) starting lineup as non-news, it's easy to see Tatum staying in that sixth man role, where he could provide some scoring punch off the bench. "He was very aggressive tonight," Popovich said. "We really like that about him and need that from him." A foundation has been set. But there's still a long way to go before this team is ready for real competition. Developing chemistry, so that the talent can really flourish within the system, takes time. "Everybody here is really talented and has a high IQ," Tatum said. "We all know how to play basketball. We did a lot of great things on the fly today, but it's going to get better with time." John Schuhmann is a senior stats analyst for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting......»»
All-Decade Team: Some names to watch in 2020s
By Sekou Smith, NBA.com Picking the best players of the past decade can be a delightful process, a walk down memory lane that highlights the best of the NBA’s best from the most recently completed era. We took care of that for you earlier this week with NBA.com's All-Decade Team for the 2010s. Data and established success provide the context needed to make a strong case when you're looking back. But you can't rely on those conventions when trying to decide what, and perhaps more appropriately, who, comes next. Questions linger for the big stars of the 2010s who would normally transition into the next decade with similar status. How will Kevin Durant look when he comes back from a season lost to an Achilles injury? What will Klay Thompson’s game look like post-ACL injury? There’s no saying how the summer’s superstar free agent and trade shuffle will impact career trajectories for older stars like Durant (going from Golden State to Brooklyn) and Russell Westbrook (going from Oklahoma City to Houston). Young stars just entering the league (or still finding their way) are bound to emerge in the coming years. On the other hand, established veterans will see the inevitable fading of their star status. That uncertain future for so many is part of what makes today’s exercise so much fun. We are peering into our crystal ball and projecting the future, identifying the stars who, a decade from now, might find their names on the best-of-the best list for the 2020s. * * * * = players who made a 2010s All-Decade Team Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks * "The Greek Freak" finished off the 2010s with his first Kia MVP and should be poised to compete for more this decade. He’s only scratched the surface of his immense potential and should be in the thick of the race for best player of the decade. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors * One half of the sweetest shooting backcourts in NBA history, Curry and his fellow Splash Brother, Thompson, could make the next All-Decade Team, too. That would require them to prove they’re still playing championship-level basketball in the Bay Area post-Durant. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers * Davis is finally positioned to chase championships and will do so as he enters the physical prime of his career. With Davis and LeBron James leading the way, the Lakers begin the next decade poised for a return to legitimate contender status. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks The reigning Kia Rookie of the Year gave us all a preview of what’s to come. Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis are the foundational players expected to fuel the Mavericks the way Dirk Nowitzki did the past two decades. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers If Embiid stays healthy, he’s good enough to challenge for the unofficial title of best player of the 2020s. His availability is the most critical component for a Sixers organization that believes it is on the cusp of championship contention. Paul George, LA Clippers * George has fully bounced back from his devastating leg injury in 2014, earning a place among the NBA’s elite by finishing third in the Kia MVP voting to close out the 2010s. The only thing left on his to-do-list is to make the championship dreams of Clippers fans a reality. James Harden, Houston Rockets * Finding a new groove alongside Westbrook will determine the Rockets’ championship fate and perhaps Harden’s legacy. Harden’s Hall of Fame status is secured. He just needs a title to complete his trophy case. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers * Could he win a Kia MVP in three different decades? LeBron has broken the mold in just about every way imaginable to this point of his career, so it would be foolish to doubt him. He’s also got a chance to add to his title haul in the next decade as well. As for Father Time … what does that matter? Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets After winning a title as the supporting star in LeBron’s homecoming story in Cleveland, Irving hopes to revisit that magic in Brooklyn once Durant is healthy again. While Irving has some repair to do to his reputation after his final season in Boston, his talent remains undeniable. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets Some would argue that Jokic (and not Embiid) finished the decade as the NBA’s best big man. The Nuggets are banking on it, as they’ve built their operation around the triple-double versatility of the 24-year-old All-Star known as “The Joker.” Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers * Leonard load managed his way to a title in Toronto but has already declared himself ready to play without limitations as he attempts to bring a championship parade to his hometown. He’s at the height of his powers right now and, with good health, will be for the foreseeable future. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers Lillard was noticeably absent from the 2010s All-Decade Team, but he shouldn’t have to worry about that happening in the 2020s. The face and soul of the franchise in Portland, Lillard knows that the next step for he and CJ McCollum is a Finals berth. Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz If the addition of veteran Mike Conley has the impact Utah’s braintrust expects, Mitchell is primed to rise any ranking of the West’s (and NBA’s) top players. Don’t be surprised if he snags a scoring title (or two) in the next decade. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics With Kyrie Irving gone, Tatum and the Celtics can get back to the performances he provided during the 2018 playoffs as a rookie. The Celtics have refused to trade Tatum for a reason. He’s got the array of skills that a team values in a wing scorer. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks Any pre-Draft trepidation about Young was overturned after his strong finish to his rookie season. A splendid passer with Splash Bros.-type range, Young will grow and mature physically into the leader of a franchise revival in Atlanta. Sekou Smith is a veteran NBA reporter and NBA TV analyst. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting......»»
Lots of questions, few answers as Team USA opens training camp
By John Schuhmann, NBA.com LAS VEGAS -- The U.S. Men's Senior National Team tipped off training camp on Monday. This was the start of a six-week process that they hope ends with the gold medal game of the FIBA World Cup in Beijing on Sept. 15. This week includes four days of practice, followed by an intrasquad scrimmage on Friday (Saturday, PHL time). Before we get into the next six weeks, let's review how we got to Monday (Tuesday, PHL time) with a much different pool of players than national team managing director Jerry Colangelo originally anticipated. The originals - Last year, there were 35 players named to the 2018-20 USA roster for a 2018 minicamp, this year's World Cup and next year's Olympics. - Of those 35, only 14 were on the 20-man training camp roster for the World Cup when it was announced on June 10. - Between June 10 and the start of camp on Monday (Tuesday, PHL time), nine of those 14 backed out. - The five remaining are Harrison Barnes, Kyle Lowry, Khris Middleton, Myles Turner and Kemba Walker. The additions - As part of the 20-player training camp announcement on June 10, six players were added to the 14 from the original 35-player list. - Since then, one of those six - Paul Millsap - backed out. - Six more players were added on July 25. - In the 10 days since then, two of those six - Montrezl Harrell and Julius Randle - backed out. - Last week, Bam Adebayo was added to the roster. - Before camp opened, De'Aaron Fox and Joe Harris were (sort of) promoted from the Select Team to the Senior Team. The absences Going back to who's not here: There are 33 players - 30 from the 2018-20 roster and three that signed up and backed out this year - who have decided not to play. That's almost three full rosters of American players, and it doesn't include any guys that were offered a spot, but declined before being named to the roster. J.J. Redick is a player that reportedly declined an invite. They can't all be lumped into one group of guys who just don't want to make the six-week commitment. Some have family business to tend to. But one reason cited by multiple players who have backed out is preparing for next season. And in that regard, the World Cup schedule, along with the travel, is not ideal. The gold medal game is Sept. 15. So players will be returning from China (on a flight of 15 hours or so) on Sept. 16. The start of NBA training camps has been pushed back one week this year, but national team players will have less than two weeks between their return and the opening of camps. Players on the Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors will have even less than that, along with a trip back to Asia for early-October exhibition games in Japan or China. Colangelo also cited the fact that the World Cup and Olympics are in back-to-back years (with an NBA season in between), instead of two years apart like they were in the past. And while this year's World Cup is toward the end of the summer, next year's Olympics start July 25, with training camp probably opening not long after The NBA Finals. (If it were the same six-week period from the start of camp to the gold medal game as it is this year, next year's camp would actually open on June 29). 17 players for 12 spots Fox and Harris aren't on the official Senior Team roster, but Colangelo said Monday (Tuesday, PHL time) that they have a chance of making the final 12-man roster for the World Cup. So that makes 17 players for 12 spots. By position, they are: PG: De'Aaron Fox, Kyle Lowry, Kemba Walker SG: Joe Harris, Donovan Mitchell, Marcus Smart SF: Jaylen Brown, Kyle Kuzma, Khris Middleton, Jayson Tatum PF: Harrison Barnes, P.J. Tucker, Thaddeus Young C: Bam Adebayo, Brook Lopez, Mason Plumlee, Myles Turner There's obviously some flexibility in there. Two point guards could play together, Mitchell could play some point guard, and all of the small forwards could play some at the four. Lowry, who had surgery on his left thumb just a few weeks ago, isn't participating in camp this week. He's hoping to be cleared to practice when the team reconvenes in Los Angeles from Aug. 13-16 for three more days of practice and an exhibition game against Spain. But right now, it's not guaranteed that he'll be able to play. With or without him, it's still a very talented group. "Thank goodness we're blessed with the depth of talent we have in this country," Colangelo said. "You find guys that want to play and you go with them." Cutting down the list from 17 to 12 won't be easy. Point guard, where Lowry has the experience (see below) and Walker is the star, may be the only position where there's a clear hierarchy. At each of the other positions, different players bring different skill sets, but it's not clear that Player A is better than Player B, who is better than Player C. The World Cup doesn't require final rosters until the day before the tournament starts (it's earlier for the Olympics), so the final decisions don't have to be made before the team flies from L.A. to Australia for three more exhibition games. "We're flexible," Colangelo said. "If we have a tough decision to make, we'll bring an extra guy or two with us." The experience Of the 17 players in camp, only three have played for the United States in an international competition on the senior level. Plumlee was on the 2014 World Cup team, and both Lowry and Barnes were on the 2016 Olympic team. And neither Plumlee (11th on the '14 team in total minutes) nor Barnes (last on the '16 team in total minutes) played integral roles. The 2010 World Cup team was similarly inexperienced - Chauncey Billups and Tyson Chandler played on the 2007 FIBA Americas team - but had four future MVPs: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook. The talent That 2010 team had seven players who had been selected in the top five in the NBA Draft. Since 1992, there have been 15 U.S. National Teams comprised of NBA players. And those 15 teams have had an average of seven top-five picks on them, with *no fewer than four. * The two teams with only four top-five picks: The 2002 team that finished sixth at the World Championship and the 2016 Olympic team that won gold in Rio. This 17-man group includes only three top-five picks: Brown (No. 3 in 2016), Fox (No. 5 in 2017) and Tatum (No. 3 pick in 2017). And it would be a surprise if Fox makes the final roster. Since 1992, the only one of those 15 U.S. teams that didn't have a No. 1 pick on it was the 2000 Olympic team, which had nine players who were selected second (4), third (1), or fifth (4). This 17-man roster includes just one player who has made an all-NBA team in the last three years. That's Walker, who was a Third Team selection this year. The opportunity With the ball in his hands Walker could be the star of this team. And he sees the roster attrition as an opportunity. "I think a lot of us are happy those guys pulled out," Walker said Monday. "This is our chance, our chance to get on the big stage and showcase our talent. It's a chance for us to do something new. It'll be a new-look team. Everybody's kind of doubting us, but I think we're hungry." When he was asked why he remained committed, Walker's explanation was pretty simple. "I love basketball," he said. "I love to play. What better opportunity can you have than to play for your country? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of us." A monstrous sacrifice Lopez has nominated himself as the player that has made the biggest sacrifice to be in Vegas, because if he wasn't, he'd be in the Scottish Highlands with the rest of his family. "I could be looking for Nessy!" Lopez said. John Schuhmann is a senior stats analyst for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting......»»
Duterte questions Cory Aquino’s agrarian reform legacy
President Duterte said there is “incongruity” in the late president Corazon Aquino’s being considered a freedom fighter and her failure to subject her family-owned Hacienda Luisita to land reform......»»
COA questions DICT s free Wi-Fi project
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – State auditors flagged the government's free Wi-Fi program, stating that the contract gave the private sector more power over the program than it legally should. A report by the Commission on Audit (COA) said that the financing terms for the Pipol Konek-Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places project granted the ........»»
Manny Pacquiao says Floyd Mayweather Jr. rematch is for the benefit of the fans
After his WBA (Super) Welterweight World Championship-clinching win over Keith Thurman in Las Vegas last July 20th, it didn't take long for Manny Pacquiao to start getting into it with rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. on social media. The two welterweight stars crossed paths back in 2015 with Mayweather getting the unanimous decision win, but it left a lot of people with a sour taste in their mouth, believing that the undefeated star played a little too safe. Since then, a rematch has been teased over and over again, and it looks like it has gotten to the now-retired Mayweather JR. It was 'Money' who fired the first jab with a post that essentially said that Pacquiao was living off his legacy. The Filipino boxing icon, while not one for too much trash talk, responded by calling Mayweather out for being at the Thurman bout. Of course, Mayweather Jr. wasn't going to let Pacquiao have the last word and responded by claiming that he was a bigger draw and higher up on the PBC totem pole. Pacquiao responded again, with another invitation for a rematch. The social media back-and-forth, while has slowed down in the recent days, could go on for a bit, as fans continue to clamor for a rematch between the two boxing greats. Whether or not it comes to fruition remains to be seen, but for Pacquiao, the ball is in Mayweather's court. In an interview with Migs Bustos of ANC Gametime, the eight-division world champion explains why he believes people continue to call for a sequel to Pacquiao vs. Mayweather. "Kasi sinasabi niya na ginagamit ko yung pangalan niya para sumikat ako. Iba naman yun, siya nga yung nanonood sa fight ko, so sabi ko para hindi na mag-tanong yung mga fans, makipag-laban siya sa akin ng rematch, kasi ako, nabo-bother din ako sa tanong ng mga fans na kailan kayo mag-rematch ni Mayweather, which is pagkaka-alam ko ay retired na siya, and ang mga fans, hindi sila satisfied sa resulta ng last fight namin with him, so I think the fans need one more, for the benefit of the fans na masagot yun mga tanong nila na paulit-ulit," Pacquiao said. Pacquiao believes that fans continue to ask for a rematch because they don't believe that Mayweather Jr. won the first match. "I think hindi naman magtatanong yung mga fans ng ganun kung naniniwala sila na talo ako. For example, do you think the fans will ask the questions kung alam nila na talo ako sa fight? Hindi naman siguro ganun." "The fans are asking over and over [for a rematch] because they don’t believe na natalo ako during the last fight," he continued. Of course, the fact still remains that Mayweather Jr. maintains that he is retired and has no desire to come back to the ring. "On my part, I have no problem with that because I’m still active in the sport. That question is for him because he’s retired, so he needs to come back and announce that he will be fighting again with me." Check out the whole interview below: .....»»
Vettel under increasing pressure heading into German GP
By Jerome Pugmire, Associated Press HOCKENHEIM, Germany (AP) — Given Sebastian Vettel's lack of form, the last place he might want to race this weekend is his home grand prix in Germany. Hockenheim serves as a painful reminder to Vettel because his title bid started to unravel at the track last year. He was leading Lewis Hamilton in the Formula One championship, and comfortably leading the race heading into the closing stages. Then, he crashed into the barriers and gifted Hamilton a win. Although the rain was falling hard it was a mistake unbefitting of a four-time world champion, especially considering he was under no pressure from Hamilton at the time. "I won't forget that race, that moment," Vettel said. "That was a mistake and it was costly. Very costly." It proved to be a turning point. Hamilton took command in the title race, just like in September 2017 when Vettel's title bid crumbled following a crash from pole position in Singapore. The errors have been piling up for Vettel, while the wins have not, and his composure remains a talking point in F1. That's all despite Vettel having 230 races and 115 podiums, including 52 wins in a career spanning 12 years. At the British GP two weeks ago, he misjudged an overtaking move and slammed into the back of Max Verstappen's Red Bull. Vettel apologized in person to the irate Verstappen, a winner in Austria the previous race, but it was yet another baffling error from Vettel. Unfortunately for Ferrari, which last won the drivers' championship with Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, these mistakes are becoming commonplace. Vettel was in contention to win the Canadian GP last month, too, but seemed to panic when Hamilton's Mercedes appeared behind him and he swerved off and back onto the track. Vettel was handed a time penalty for unfairly impeding Hamilton, costing him the win. Vettel's last victory was at the Belgian GP last August, a barren run of 18 races. "I always put myself under pressure so I can't be happy with things going wrong. The pressure I put on myself is bigger than any external factors," Vettel said Thursday. "For me it's the most straightforward way to deal with (things) myself. Because I know what I've done wrong, what I've done right. You are always your best judge." The pressure on Vettel to start delivering for Ferrari is mounting. He has one year left on his contract after this season, and questions are being asked as to whether he should be the team's No. 2 driver behind Charles Leclerc. The 21-year-old Leclerc is only in his second year in F1, having replaced Raikkonen at Ferrari after impressing with Sauber. Leclerc has not won a race, although he came close in Bahrain and in Austria, but has shown greater speed and composure than Vettel in recent weeks. Vettel, although the vastly more senior driver, leads Leclerc by only three points — with Vettel fourth and Leclerc fifth in the standings. Leclerc is aiming for a fifth straight podium finish and a third pole position of the season. By comparison, Vettel has no podiums in the past three races and four in 10 so far, with one pole position. Vettel's ongoing woes, and the ongoing debates at Ferrari, are great news for Mercedes. Hamilton's main rival is not Vettel or Leclerc, but Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas. Although Bottas started the season strongly, Hamilton leads him by 39 points approaching the halfway point of the season. Bottas, who is second overall, has not won since Azerbaijan in April. Hamilton's quest for a sixth world title, which would move him one behind German great Michael Schuamcher's F1 record, is gathering momentum. The 34-year-old British driver has won five of the past six races, and counts 80 overall as he chases Schumacher's all-time record of 91. Ferrari seems powerless to stop him. "We are trying a lot of things to make it better. The motivation is high to get the job done with Ferrari," Vettel said. "Mercedes does have an edge over everybody else. In terms of raw speed, they're the benchmark ... I want to win but also I'm realistic, coming here I don't feel we're the favorites.".....»»
Final countdown: Tokyo marks one year till 2020 Olympics
TOKYO, Japan – Tokyo on Wednesday, July 24, entered the final leg of its marathon Olympic preparations, marking a year until the 2020 Games open with officials promising a high-tech but eco-friendly event. Organizers have battled everything from fears over deadly heat to persistent questions about the cost of the ........»»
Dismay, questions as Duterte SONA reduces Marawi terror siege to a drug issue
MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte mentioned terrorism and the 2017 siege of Marawi City once in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22, and it was to pitch to Congress the reinstatement of the death penalty for “heinous crimes related to drugs, as well as plunder.”.....»»
Trump attacks Mueller ahead of testimony on Russia probe
WASHINGTON DC, USA – President Donald Trump attacked Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Monday, July 22, two days before the former FBI chief testifies in Congress – the first time he will answer questions about his report on Russian election meddling and Trump's alleged obstruction. Trump repeated his longstanding claim that Mueller's investigation ........»»
Cebu execs expect Duterte’s SONA to tackle infra, West Philippine Sea, drugs
CEBU CITY, Philippines — What does President Rodrigo Duterte have in store for Cebu and the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao? This is one of the questions that Cebuano officials wish to find answers to as they attend the 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday afternoon, July […] The post Cebu execs expect Duterte’s SONA to tackle infra, West Philippine Sea, drugs appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
WeWork shakes up commercial real estate – like it or not
NEW YORK, USA – With its free coffee, couches, and glass partitions, shared workspace startup WeWork has shaken up both office culture and commercial real estate. Brushing aside questions about its business model, the New York outfit shows no signs of slowing down and is now preparing for ........»»
Washington girds for Mueller testimony
WASHINGTON, United States – Special Counsel Robert Mueller will submit to questions for the first time Wednesday July 24 on his explosive report detailing numerous links between President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and Russian election meddling, and Trump's efforts to obstruct his investigation. The stakes are high with the next ........»»
No weight issues, Thurman insists
Keith Thurman has had enough of questions about his weight, stressing that he is good to go for the official weigh-in Friday (Saturday, Manila time) before his big clash with Manny Pacquiao here......»»
FIBA: No questions about Andray Blatche’s fitness for World Cup
As always, Andray Blatche will play a big role for Gilas Pilipinas for an upcoming FIBA tournament, this time being the 2019 World Cup in China. As always, his overall fitness will dictate just how well he’ll play. Finally in Manila, Blatche has had a week’s worth of practice with the national team. Andray is moving well and everything, but it’s quite obvious that he’s not at peak condition just yet. However, the national team is not worried about that too much. Blatche has a good six weeks of straight training to get himself in top shape. “Of course we still need to get him into game shape,” head coach Yeng Guiao said of Blatche. “But he’s been doing extra work. He’s actually been practicing by himself and also trying to get extra practice time with Rain or Shine and sa Monday, sa NLEX. There’s plenty of time to get him in shape,” he added. Blatche’s arrival has also added a big boost to Gilas’ regular practices. As a longtime member of the national team, Blatche has turned into one of the most crucial pillars for Gilas and his presence has been nothing but positive. “Wala naman siyang problem sa integration, because he’s been here and he knows 90 percent of the players,” Guiao said of Blatche. “There’s no problem with chemistry or attitude. They all get along together,” he added. — Follow this writer on Twitter, @paullintag8 .....»»
Luis balak mag-propose kay Jessy sa ilalim ng dagat?
ISA sa mga pinakaunang celebrity friends who greeted me during my birthday last Monday, July 15, ay ang napakahusay na TV host na si Luis Manzano. Nag-thank you kami kay Luis and as much as we wanted to ask him some questions, ‘di na lang namin itinuloy. Ang dami kasing arya ng netizens after his […] The post Luis balak mag-propose kay Jessy sa ilalim ng dagat? appeared first on Bandera......»»