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POUND-FOR-POUND — Good guy Gibbons gives Filipino boxers the chance to shine
If you’re a talented fighter nursing dreams of becoming a world champion, there is one guy you need to get in touch with. If you’re a promoter who has got a bevy of promising fighters but with no strong connections to the guys who matter in the world of big-time boxing, you have to meet the fellow who makes things happen. That dude is no other than Sean Gibbons, who heads MP Promotions and a sprinkling of other influential outfits in the United States that gives boxers from all over the opportunity they deserve. Having trouble with your boxer’s stagnant world rating? Call Sean Gibbons. Can’t seem to get the big breaks? Call Sean Gibbons. Being given the run-around by a scammer, give Sean Gibbons a call. You see, Gibbons is a do-it-all boxing man who is a big daddy to just about any major Filipino fighter. He has got a deep knowledge of the fight game since he used to fight during his heyday. But before you start conjuring up images of Gibbons battling it out with boxing’s marquee names, pinch yourself first. Gibbons never achieved greatness as a boxer. He was more of a pretender than a contender, having racked up a 14-7-3 win-loss-draw record with seven knockouts before finally calling it a day in 1996. He never even fought in Las Vegas and instead showcased his wares in obscurity, hopping into one small town and city after another. After spending his first five pro bouts in Oklahoma City, Gibbons brought his act elsewhere and in places he never knew existed: Hugo, Purcell, Waubeek. A year before he retired in 1995, Gibbons, now 56, even traveled to Germany and fought and lost by knockout to local boy Ruediger May. Two more bouts on American soil — the first in Des Moines, Iowa, and the second in Miles City, Montana — paved the way for one final stop in Denmark against Peter Madsen. Gibbons would lose that by stoppage again and decided that enough was enough. Pretty soon, Gibbons got himself doing odd jobs in boxing through a relative — uncle Pat O’ Grady — father to former world lightweight champion Sean O’Grady. “I got the boxing bug from him. I would set up the ring, help sell tickets and train fighters… I started from the bottom,” Gibbons, born in Long Beach, California, said, noting that the first fighter he trained was heavyweight Wimpy Halstead. Oftentimes, Gibbons “would jump in as one of the fighters in the card and I was able to travel the world.” He also got aligned with Top Rank and credits Hall of Fame Bruce Trampler and fight coordinator Pete Susens as his mentors and takes great pride in his close association with eight-division legend Manny Pacquiao. Gibbons actually came to the Pacquiao show rather late. But his seven-year stint working for Pacquiao was the most memorable, saying it doesn’t compare with the 35 other years of involvement with boxing. “Seven years I spent with him were better than the other 35 years,” Gibbons, who graduated from Simi Valley High, said. Gibbons revealed that after Australian banger Jeff Horn elbowed and butted and wrestled his way in carving out a controversial points win in Brisbane in July 2018, “Pacquiao had pretty much been left for dead by some people.” It was right at this time when Gibbons entered the scene as Pacquiao’s go-to-guy for meaningful fights while also providing other Filipino boxers the break they need to become successful. Gibbons didn’t disappoint and was instrumental in striking a deal for fights involving Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman that resulted in a “tremendous run.” The victory over Thurman would go down as an epic as it made Pacquiao the oldest to win a world welterweight crown in July 2019 in Las Vegas. Now that Pacquiao has sailed into the sunset, Gibbons is dedicating his time and effort to the betterment of the other talents under MP Promotions, the Pacquiao-owned company that has majority of the country’s top ring talent under contract. And this is where Gibbons wields his expertise and proof of his savvy can be seen on Jerwin Ancajas, Pedro Taduran, Rene Cuarto, Mark Magsayo and current two-belt world super-bantamweight titleholder Marlon Tapales. Also under Gibbons’ care are Jonas Sultan, Vincent Astrolabio, Jade Bornea and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist and Asian Games silver medalist Eumir Marcial. Though not every one of them managed to win a world title, Gibbons draws utmost satisfaction from the helping hand that he had extended to them. “The most satisfying thing is to change lives of the fighters and take fighters who wouldn’t normally get these opportunities.” Also, Gibbons points to Pacquiao as a reason why he was able to pull it off. “I had the name Manny Pacquiao promotions and Manny Pacquiao was behind me but the biggest, biggest key was Al Haymon and he took my word for guys like Jerwin Ancajas, Mark Magsayo, Jonas Sultan and many, many others.” And there is no stopping Gibbons from doing the same thing especially when his clients’ welfare is on the line. A few months ago, Gibbons earned the ire of a state commission and got slapped with a ban. Still, Gibbons swears it is his way of showing that he always got his clients’ back. So how does he want people to remember him? “I would like to be remembered as someone who gave his all, no regrets. Just you know, when I work with someone, I put all my heart and soul into it. I got suspended for five for screaming at referees but I would like to be remembered for a guy who always had his client, fighters and boxers’ back and that when we went at it, we gave it our all.” If you end up going to war, you’d certainly want somebody like Sean Gibbons right by your side. The post POUND-FOR-POUND — Good guy Gibbons gives Filipino boxers the chance to shine appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
McKeown becomes first woman to hold every backstroke world record
Australian Kaylee McKeown said she was "super stoked" after becoming the first woman to hold world records in all three backstroke disciplines by smashing the 50m mark. The 22-year-old clocked 26.86 seconds at the World Cup in Budapest on Friday to better the previous best of 26.98 set by China's Liu Xiang in 2018. "I am super stoked with that," said McKeown, who is a red-hot favorite to dominate in the pool at next year's Paris Olympics. "The only thing I can keep doing is training hard and keep believing in myself and believing in my coach. "I never saw myself as a sprinter so it's really nice to have that under my belt. "Next year is going to be a really tough year so the more confidence I can build, the better," she added. McKeown has held the 100m world record since June 2021 and bagged the 200m in March. She swept the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke titles at the world championships in July and also owns the Olympic 100m and 200m golds. The 50m back is not contested at the Olympics. mp/smw © Agence France-Presse The post McKeown becomes first woman to hold every backstroke world record appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The 10-year-old fashion influencer
Taylen Biggs has close to 1.5 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, a wardrobe full of designer clothes and 15 fashion weeks under her belt -- and she's 10 years old. Taylen arrived at last week's Balmain show, one of the hottest tickets of Paris Fashion Week, in a luxurious white jacket-and-skirt combo by the French label, black boots and bag by Karl Lagerfeld and her favourite Vintage Frames shades. She was followed, as always, by her cameraman. Also keeping a discreet distance was her "bodyguard", as she calls him, who also happens to be her father. "I love fashion and I love meeting new people and interviewing them and seeing what they have to say," she told AFP, before getting down to business with her microphone. Taylen, who lives in Miami, has interviewed the likes of DJ Khaled, popstar Kali Uchis and American Football star Patrick Mahomes, as well as a huge number of models, designers and fellow fashionistas. She is practically a veteran of red carpets, appearing at everything from the MTV Music Awards to the Superbowl, a regular at New York and Miami fashion weeks, and all over Milan and Paris for the past fortnight. "I really miss my family a lot," she said. "And I miss Miami. But I don't miss the food from Miami. I'm in love with the food here." Influencers are now the fashion industry's favoured form of media -- a direct line to the public and happy to trade goodies for coverage -- and age is no obstacle. Taylen's father, Josh Biggs, says he has largely given up his job as a construction contractor in Miami to work full-time as his daughter's assistant. "I travel with her everywhere she goes, I am her shadow," he told AFP. Asked if his daughter has become a business, he says: "People see her through the camera lens... but in real life, she's a child first and foremost." 'No qualms' Taylen landed her first modelling gig when she was 18 months old after her fashion-loving mother, a Colombian who came to the United States when she was 13, posted pictures of her on social media that were spotted by an advertising agency. She now runs her daughter's social media accounts and oversees home-schooling for Taylen and her two younger brothers. "We take school very seriously, it's priority number one," said her father. They worked through the summer so that Taylen could take a long break during the back-to-back fashion weeks in Milan and Paris in September. Taylen's father -- who says he has little interest in fashion -- says there is no pressure on his daughter to continue if she gets bored. "If she's ready to change and pursue a different career, then it's up to her," he said. "We will leave the fashion world in a second. There's no qualms about it." But Taylen seems to enjoy her job. "I'm really good with anyone," she said. "I'm really good with kids. I loooove children! And I really love adults -- I don't even get annoyed." The post The 10-year-old fashion influencer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES — Mananquil emerges as Phl boxing’s top power broker
When boxing promoter-manager Jim Claude Mananquil is not attending to his stable of fighters, he can be seen just before daybreak minding his family’s tuna export business in General Santos City. “This is what keeps my boxing promotion going,” said the 29-year-old Mananquil, who started promoting at the tender age of 15. Of course, Mananquil didn’t have the proper license to put up fights owing to his being a minor and somebody with a license had to pose as the promoter-on-record. But it was he who assembled all the fighters and took care of the finances, quite a feat for someone whose main weapon for staging a card was his unparalleled love for the fight game. Instead of celebrating, Mananquil had to endure 16 straight losses as most of his boxers — though solidly built — were all as raw and green as a harvested broccoli. “We got kids who had muscular bodies thinking that they would do well in the ring. But everyone lost and I was devastated,” recalled Mananquil, who manages two-belt world super-bantamweight Marlon Tapales. Born and bred in General Santos City, Mananquil fell in love with the fight game at an early age. “I looked up to, of course, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather and Zab Judah,” he said. Mananquil didn’t just like boxing. He was so obsessed with the sport that he even wanted to proceed with a professional career after a triumphant debut in 2018. “But my mom objected and told me to just get involved in boxing as long as I don’t fight.” Mananquil was already busy promoting even before he turned 20 and in just a few years he was crisscrossing the United States accompanying his boxers signed up to see action under different promoters. At one time, his boxers set up camp in Miami under a Florida-based Cuban trainer but soon found himself relocating to southern California and Las Vegas with influential American fight guy Sean Gibbons lending a hand. Just a few months ago, Mananquil had two reigning world champions: Tapales and Melvin Jerusalem. But Jerusalem’s reign as World Boxing Organization minimumweight titlist was short-lived. After winning the World Boxing Organization 105-lb title in Tokyo in January, he surrendered the championship in Indio, California, several months later. Following Jerusalem’s loss, Mananquil is now left with Tapales, who is being groomed to figure in a megabuck matchup with Japanese Naoya “Monster” Inoue sometime in December. “My responsibility is to give Marlon the very best preparation so he can win this very important fight,” Mananquil said. The odds are stacked against the southpaw but Mananquil swears nothing is impossible. ‘It’s a tough decision but I really love boxing.’ Whether that multi-million dollar showdown happens or not will be known in the coming days and weeks as both camps are going to hold another round of talks very soon in the hopes of putting a deal in place. The youngest of three kids, Mananquil admits he is torn between the family business and boxing. And if somebody’s going to put a gun to his head, Mananquil would not hesitate to make his choice. “It’s a tough decision but I really love boxing.” Coming from a well-to-do family, Mananquil went to five schools during college. Once, he tried studying in America but went home after just a few weeks, saying his heart was not there. Back in the Philippines, Mananquil enrolled at Ateneo de Davao University, Enderun College and even tried schooling in a small college in General Santos City. Likewise, he went to school at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig but wound up backing out for the nth time and returned to General Santos City. He was always on-the-go. But one thing’s clear, though. Mananquil insists his first and only love is boxing. And if that big fight down the road happens in Tokyo before the end of the year, Mananquil says that would end up becoming the highlight of his young career provided his fighter emerges victorious. But in the meantime, Mananquil will continue to look after the tuna business in the morning to assure that boxing gets the sustenance it badly needs. Right now, Mananquil is rolling with the punches as the family business and boxing seem to be blending well. And if things fall into place, there could come a time when Mananquil won’t even have to be forced to sacrifice one but winds up mastering both. The post ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES — Mananquil emerges as Phl boxing’s top power broker appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Of China’s ‘One Belt One Road’
Sometime in August 2016, I attended the formal media launch of One Belt One Road, or OBOR, in Beijing, China. I thought then that OBOR, also referred to later as Belt and Road Initiative, must be one of the most, if not the most, significant programs of President Xi Jinping, as it was attended by hundreds of print and broadcast journalists from around the world, the Philippines included. OBOR was to revive the “Silk Road” economic belt of ancient China, a land trade route carrying its finest silk and other goods to its neighboring Central Asian countries and later to as far as Europe; whereas today’s Road refers to the 21st Century land and maritime silk route to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The land route was launched, I think in 2013, while the maritime route was given a big push in 2017. Early on, China set up the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as part of the OBOR mechanism. China sank in the initial capital and was joined later by other member countries. The Philippines was the last country to join AIIB when the late President Noynoy Aquino signed its Charter in the last few minutes of 31 December 2015, and this was ratified a year later during Duterte’s term. In sum, AIIB had 106 members to start. The Philippines, if we look at the records, derived from loans and infrastructure projects, was quite slow in availing of cheap money from this BRI initiative. Indonesia, Singapore, and other ASEAN and African countries had done so for various infra projects, among these railways, dams, and ports. The small loan amount we obtained was later topped up by China in terms of gifts which came in the form of bridges, schools, medical supplies, and vaccines when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Add to that are the much-needed arms for our armed forces to get rid of the marauding Maute ISIS terrorist group in Marawi City and additional help to rehabilitate it later. Alarmed by the inroads China was making with the BRI through the land and marine infrastructure built with the billions of dollars it loaned to countries along the silk routes, the West was quick to make a big issue of it when Sri Lanka defaulted, calling China’s loans a “debt trap.” Of course, not a few of those struggling economies defaulted as the impact of the new infrastructure on their development had yet to gain traction. However, President Xi Jinping waived the interest dues. How is it for China midway to the Road’s target completion date of 2049? The BRI has covered more than 68 countries with an estimated 65 percent of the world’s population. All told, the largesse from China resulted in the reduction of dependency on the US and it created new markets for Chinese products. The US of A is fast losing its dominance. China, once wallowing in the quagmire of poverty, is now the second-largest economy in the world and growing. Will China then go beyond firing water cannons at Philippine Coast Guard vessels? This could only be answered by another set of questions. Is China willing to cut the marine silk route that passes through or close to the West Philippine Sea? Will its land route suffice to bring its products to its export markets in the event the sea lane is altogether cut off? Will the Chinese people relish going back to poverty and isolation? The answers are a big NO. So why EDCA? Why not pursue the Philippines-China joint oil exploration in the WPS as the offer stands at a 60/40 sharing agreement in favor of the Philippines? Why build more military bases when these are veritable beckons to war which we as a policy abhor? Why not take advantage of the short maritime link between China and the Philippines to enhance our economy? The price of fuel is skyrocketing. Our peso is depreciating as in a free fall. We have solutions and yet these, too have become problems. The post Of China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Faulty, defective accessories lead to road accidents—LTO
7,451 motorists were apprehended for various violation of traffic laws in the first half of 2023, the Land Transportation Office-National Capital Region (LTO-NCR) reported over the weekend. Of this numbers, LTO-NCR Regional Director Roque I. Verzosa III said. 837 individuals were found to be operating motor vehicles with faulty accessories, devices, equipment, and parts, violating the provisions of Republic Act 4136, also known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code. Thus Verzosa issued a safety advisory, urging motorists to exercise caution and refrain from driving motor vehicles with defective accessories to mitigate the risk of accidents. According to Verzosa, driving motor vehicles with faulty or malfunctioning components can pose several dangers, including: malfunctioning of headlights, taillights, or turn signals can impair visibility, reducing other drivers' ability to see your vehicle's movements and increasing the likelihood of accidents. Faulty brake systems or worn-out brake pads can hinder your ability to stop the vehicle efficiently, resulting in longer stopping distances and an increased risk of collisions. Defective steering mechanisms or suspension components can diminish your control over the vehicle, heightening the chances of accidents, particularly during maneuvers like turning or sudden lane changes. Defective airbags, seat belts, or child safety restraints may not provide adequate protection in the event of an accident, significantly increasing the risk of injuries or fatalities for occupants. Malfunctioning wiring or electrical components can give rise to electrical malfunctions, such as fires or electrical shorts, can lead to vehicle breakdowns or accidents on the road. Malfunctioning accessories such as horns, wipers, or emergency lights can impede your ability to effectively communicate or respond in emergency situations, potentially endangering yourself and others. "It is crucial to address any defective accessory promptly by repairing or replacing it to ensure your safety and the safety of passengers and other road users," Verzosa said. The LTO-NCR chief said that based on their data, another 1,055 motorists were apprehended by personnel from the Regional Law Enforcement Unit (RLEU) and the District Law Enforcement Teams (DLET) for violating other provisions of Republic Act 4136. The majority of these motorists, according to Verzosa, were issued tickets for various violations such as failure to carry OR/CR while driving a motor vehicle (154); unregistered motor vehicle (131); disregarding traffic signs (122); unauthorized mv modification (100); reckless driving (95); driver wearing slippers (81); obstruction (44); failure to provide canvass cover to cargos or freight of trucks (39); driving without a valid driver's license (34); failure to attach motor vehicle license plates (28); no CPC (Certificate of Public Convenience) carried (23); allowing passengers on top or cover of a motor vehicle (18); motor vehicles operating with unauthorized accessories, devices, equipment, and parts (17); pick and drop passenger (16); breach of franchise (15); excess passenger (14); Illegal terminal (13); motor vehicle operating with improper accessories, devices, equipment, parts (12); driving without valid certificate of public convenience (11); improper attachment of mv license plates (10); no authorization to use improvised plate (10); unregistered topload (9); and disregarding traffic officer (9). Verzosa said other motorists were apprehended due to violations of R.A. 875O (failure to wear the prescribed seat belt device and failure to require the front passenger to wear a seatbelt device); and R. A. 10054 (failure to wear the standard protective motorcycle helmet and failure to require the back rider to wear the standard protective motorcycle helmet). He said a total of 881 motorists were apprehended for failure to wear the prescribed seat belt device, which falls under R.A. 8750. On the other hand, another 343 motorists were also apprehended for failing to wear the standard protective motorcycle helmet under R.A. 10054. The post Faulty, defective accessories lead to road accidents—LTO appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Milan Melindo loses OPBF silver featherweight belt to Korean boxer Jong Seon Kang
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Milan “El Metodico” Melindo’s reign as the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) silver featherweight champion officially ended on Saturday, July 1, 2023, after he lost to Jong Seon Kang during their fight in Gwangju City, South Korea. Kang was proclaimed winner via unanimous decision after 10 rounds of back-and-forth battle […] The post Milan Melindo loses OPBF silver featherweight belt to Korean boxer Jong Seon Kang appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Riders top LTO’s violators list
The Land Transportation Office-National Capital Region reported on Tuesday that motorcycle riders topped the list of traffic violators in Metro Manila for the month of May. LTO-NCR regional director Roque Verzosa III disclosed that a total of 1,737 motorists were apprehended by their field personnel, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Philippine National Police in various regular operations for violating traffic laws in the month of May 2023. Based on their data, Verzosa said that most motorists were apprehended due to violations of Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code; R A 8750 or failure to wear the prescribed seat belt device and failure to require the front passenger to wear a seatbelt device; R A 10054 or failure to wear the standard protective motorcycle helmet and failure to require the back rider to wear the standard protective motorcycle helmet; and RA 10666 or children safety on MC act. Verzosa reported that a total of 420 motorists were apprehended by personnel from the Regional Law Enforcement Unit and the District Law Enforcement Teams for violating RA 4136. At least 193 of them are motorists who were issued tickets for various violations such as motor vehicle operating with defective accessories, devices, equipment and parts while 44 of them were cited for disregarding traffic signs, 39 for failure to carry OR/CR while driving a motor vehicle; 29 for unregistered motor vehicle; 28 for reckless driving; 18 with unauthorized motor vehicle modification and 12 does not have CPC or Certificate of Public Convenience. A total of 255 motorists, meanwhile, were apprehended for failure to wear the prescribed seatbelt device, which falls under RA 8750. On the other hand, another 57 motorists were also apprehended for failing to wear the standard protective motorcycle helmet under RA 10054. The post Riders top LTO’s violators list appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Building autonomy
Actualizing autonomy in a political government setup is no walk in the park. You do it chip by chip. It is a work in progress in the case of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM. The first issue is the attitude of the central government’s bureaucracy toward the autonomous entity in delegating part of its power to the latter. Anything less than sincerity in sharing the national power will present a hurdle for the regional government. The national bureaucrats tend toward being reluctant, if not jealous to part away with some of their powers. There will be stumbling blocks strewn along the way that might stymie the actualization process and growth of the autonomy into full-blown governance with minimum interference from the central government. Another worry is literacy about autonomous law. This brings back memory of the infancy of BARMM when a nitwit in one national department refused to sign a document downloading funds to the office of the Chief Minister because of the claim that there is no such position in our government structure. This was laughable. But it germinates the imperative of educating the bureaucrats about the BARMM and its peculiar set-up as a parliamentary form of governance oddly different from that of the national administrative design. It will take time before BARMM blooms in an asymmetrical position vis-a-vis the national government, a status imposed by the imperatives and realities of the present-day zeitgeist. In the meantime, it is the duty of the present leadership of the BARMM to celebrate and support any move that tends to strengthen the autonomy thru the full transfer of national powers to the various agencies of the BARMM. Apropos of this, it was reported recently in mainstream and social media that BARMM took over the “administration of public transit franchises” following the turnover of assets, responsibilities, and related documents from LTFRB-12 previously exercised by the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board of Region 12.” The report says that “the transfer of all assets, digital records, franchises, special permits, provisional authority, and other corresponding documents for routes under BARMM from the LTFRB-12 was deemed necessary after the BLTFRB was granted authority to oversee franchises areas within its jurisdiction. LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III led the turnover of the tasks and digital copies of franchise documents for routes under BARMM’s jurisdiction to MOTC Minister, lawyer Paisalin Tago representing the BLTFRB. Chair Guadiz, in his remarks, emphasized the full support to the BARMM leaders saying, “This day. . . represents the culmination of the centuries-dream of our brothers in the south for autonomy.” Minister Tago expressed gratitude for the historical milestone for the BARMM region saying, “This is not just a turnover of documents but also a transfer of responsibility and commitment by the LTFRB. We are grateful to the LTFRB for implementing the provision of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.” This step constitutes another building brick in the autonomous structure which will strengthen autonomy. It will no doubt benefit the riding stakeholders and enhance the delivery of public service. It helps that Minister Tago helms the BARMM’s Ministry of Transportation and Communication. He is, by any measure, a hard-working public servant and a veteran regional legislator with decades of public service under his belt. He is trailblazing programs toward modernizing the transport system and enhancing connectivity in the region. This transfer of power and other national administrative mandates to BARMM carries with it the greater challenge of proving that the nascent regional government can steer governance and lead the stakeholders to a life better than the status quo. It can prove the naysayers wrong by carrying out its mandate fully and with integrity. After all, BARMM’s credo is “moral governance” in sync with the Islamic injunction of right and morality. Comes 2025 when the BARMM leadership will face the stakeholders in a husting, the verdict will be handed down whether they were up to the challenge of an autonomous government or not. amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post Building autonomy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UK deputy PM resigns after most bullying claims upheld
UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab announced his resignation on Friday after bullying claims against him were upheld in a report, a fresh political shock for Britain's Conservatives. Raab's resignation gives Prime Minister Rishi Sunak a headache some two weeks before local elections at which the Conservatives are expected to lose seats. He is also battling to claw back a chasm of lost ground to the main opposition Labor Party before a general election next year. Raab, who stood in for former prime minister Boris Johnson as he battled Covid in 2020, had promised to quit if any claims against him were upheld. But even though he was cleared of most of the allegations, he blasted the conclusions of a lawyer-led inquiry. "Whilst I feel duty-bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry, it dismissed all but two of the claims leveled against me," he wrote in a resignation letter. "I also believe that its two adverse findings are flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government." The bar for bullying was set so low, he said, that "it will encourage spurious complaints against ministers and have a chilling effect on those driving change". Raab also resigned from his post as justice secretary, where he has had to battle a backlog in criminal cases caused by years of under-funding and disruptions caused by the pandemic. He previously served as Brexit minister and foreign secretary but was moved from that post after being criticized for failing to return from holiday as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban. Sunak, who succeeded the short-lived Liz Truss in October last year, vowed to restore "integrity, professionalism, and accountability" in government after Johnson's rollercoaster tenure. He previously sacked Nadhim Zahawi as Conservative party chairman over his tax affairs. Gavin Williamson, a former defense secretary who kept a tarantula on his desk while in charge of party discipline in parliament, quit over expletive-laden messages. Low bar Former lawyer Raab, a karate black belt, has denied bullying civil servants working for him and in his letter rejected allegations of an overbearing manner with colleagues. He insisted in his letter that ministers "must be able to exercise direct oversight with respect to senior officials over critical negotiations conducted on behalf of the British people". Not to do so, he said, would mean the loss of "the democratic and constitutional principle of ministerial responsibility". He also maintained ministers "must be able to give direct critical feedback on briefings and submissions to senior officials in order to set the standards and drive the reform the public expect of us". "Of course, this must be done within reasonable bounds," he went on. Sunak appointed senior employment lawyer Adam Tolley to look into the claims in November and he submitted his report to Sunak on eight allegations on Thursday. The report has yet to be published. But Raab said Tolley "concluded that I had not once, in four and a half years, sworn or shouted at anyone let alone thrown anything or otherwise physically intimated anyone, nor intentionally sought to belittle anyone". "I am genuinely sorry for any unintended stress or offense that any officials felt, as a result of the pace, standards, and challenge that I brought to the Ministry of Justice," he added. "That is, however, what the public expects of ministers working on their behalf." The post UK deputy PM resigns after most bullying claims upheld appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Iraq’s ancient treasures sand-blasted by climate change
Iraqi archaeological marvels that have survived millennia and the ravages of war now face a modern threat: being blasted and slowly buried by sandstorms linked to climate change. Ancient Babylonian treasures, painstakingly unearthed, are slowly disappearing again under wind-blown sand in a land parched by rising heat and prolonged droughts. Iraq, one of the countries worst hit by climate change, endured a dozen major sandstorms last year that turned the sky orange, brought daily life to a halt, and left its people gasping for air. When the storms clear, layers of fine sand cover everything -- including the Sumerian ruins of Umm al-Aqarib, "the Mother of Scorpions", in the southern desert province of Dhi Qar. Sandstorms have slowly begun to reverse years of work there to unearth the temples' terracotta facades and many priceless artifacts, said archaeologist Aqeel al-Mansrawi. Archaeologists in Iraq have always had to shovel sand, but now the volumes are growing. After a decade of worsening storms, sand at Umm al-Aqarib now "covers a good part of the site", that dates back to around 2350 BC and spans more than five square kilometers, he said. In the past, the biggest threat was the looting of antiquities at the ruins, where pottery fragments and clay tablets bearing ancient cuneiform script have been discovered. Now the changing weather and its impact on the land, especially creeping desertification, spell an additional threat to ancient sites all across southern Iraq, said Mansrawi. "In the next 10 years," he said, "it is estimated that sand could have covered 80 to 90 percent of the archaeological sites." The fabled land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers hosted some of the world's earliest civilizations, the remains of which are under threat in modern-day Iraq. The oil-rich country is still recovering from decades of dictatorship, war and insurgency and remains plagued by misrule, corruption and widespread poverty. Compounding its woes, Iraq is also one of the five countries most impacted by some effects of climate change, including drought, says the United Nations. Upstream dams in Turkey and Iraq have reduced the flow of its big rivers, and more water is wasted by Iraq's ancient irrigation system and outdated farming practices. Summer temperatures topping 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) now often batter Iraq where droughts have parched agricultural areas, driving farmers and pastoralists into crowded cities. "The sandstorms became more frequent, the wind became dustier and the temperatures increase," said Jaafar al-Jotheri, professor of archaeology at Iraq's Al Qadisiyah University. "The soil has become more fragile and fragmented because of the lack of vegetation and roots," he explained. As more farmers flee the countryside, "their land is left behind and abandoned and its soil becomes more exposed to the wind". Winds pick up "more sediment fragments that reach the archaeological sites", Jotheri said, adding that the "sand and silt cause physical weathering and disintegration of buildings". The problem is compounded by salinization, said Mark Altaweel, professor of Near East Archaeology at University College London. During extreme heat, he explained, water on the land surface evaporates so quickly that the soil does not reabsorb the crystals, which are left behind as a crust. "When it's hyper dry, the water quickly evaporates and that leaves that salt residue," he said, adding that "you can see it on the bricks". Jotheri said that salt in the earth carried by sandstorms causes "chemical weathering for archaeological buildings". Iraqi authorities insist they are tackling the complex and multi-layered problem. The government "is working to contain the sand dunes", said Chamel Ibrahim, director of antiquities of Dhi Qar province. He pointed to a plan to plant a "green belt" of trees at a cost of about $3.8 million. But Jotheri voiced doubt, saying that to keep the vegetation alive, "you need a lot of water". When it comes to climate change, he said, "we are the country facing the most and acting the least. We are at the bottom of the list in terms of acting against climate change." The post Iraq’s ancient treasures sand-blasted by climate change appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Report: Bal David quits as UST head coach
David, who played for the Tigers in 1990s where they won back-to-back championships, left his post after only six months and one UAAP season under his belt as head tactician......»»
British PM Sunak fined by police for failing to wear seat belt
LONDON – British police fined Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday for failing to wear a seat belt while he filmed a social media clip in the back seat of a moving car, a potentially embarrassing blow as he tries to revive his party’s fortunes. Sunak, who apologized on Thursday for a “brief error of judgement”, […] The post British PM Sunak fined by police for failing to wear seat belt appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Pacquiao getting WBA belt back?
When Manny Pacquiao returns to action against Errol Spence Jr. on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas, he will probably be introduced inside the ring as the WBA “super” welterweight champion......»»
Hungry Donaire out to turn back clock vs WBC bantamweight champ Oubaali
Eager to bounce back from his loss to Naoya Inoue in his last fight back in 2019, Donaire is bringing a rejuvenated version of himself to try to take the belt from the French pug......»»
Magramo endures quarantine
Giemel Magramo isn’t allowed to leave the Grand Palace Hotel, where he is quarantined, until two days before his fight against unbeaten Junto Nakatani for the vacant WBO flyweight crown at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on Nov. 6 but he’s not bothered by the restriction and the No. 1 contender from Parañaque is confident of bringing the championship belt back home......»»
Casimero locked and loaded
WBO bantamweight champion JohnRiel Casimero is in Connecticut where he’ll take on unbeaten New York-based Ghanaian challenger Duke Micah in a scheduled 12-round bout on Sunday morning (Manila time) and according to MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons, there’s no way the Ormoc slugger is coming back home to the Philippines next month without the belt strapped on his waist......»»
Scottie Thompson sees his spirit still living on in current Perpetual Altas
Even this early in his basketball career, Scottie Thompson may very well be the greatest player that University of Perpetual Help has produced. After leading the Altas' contention and winning MVP in the NCAA, the 6-foot-1 all-around weapon now has four championships and one Finals MVP under his belt with Ginebra in the PBA. For sure, he has set the standard for what Perps wants and needs from its main man. Fortunately for Las Pinas, Thompson sees himself in more than a few young talents donning the wine and gold. "Sina Razon, Peralta, sila talaga yung nakikita ko sarili ko dati. Talagang nakikita ko sa dalawang yun yung sobrang kayod, puro hard work yung puhunan," he said in The Prospects Pod. Jielo Razon is a 5-foot-11 guard who continued improving in his sophomore season while Tonton Peralta is a 6-foot-2 swingman who opened eyes in his rookie year. Those two, alongside Ben Adamos and Kim Aurin, comprise the core Perpetual hopes to ride back to the Final Four. And all of them, just like Thompson, do not necessarily do flashy and fancy things. Instead, they just do whatever it takes to help the Altas - you know, very much akin to how "Mr. Triple-Double" plays. Because of that, Thompson is only excited about what lies ahead for them - if and only if they keep at it. "Yung future nila, feeling ko magiging successful din sila basta magtuloy-tuloy lang sila. Huwag silang magbago kasi yun lang naman ang puhunan e, hard work," he said. He then continued, "At saka faith kay God. Yun lang naman pinaka-best armor mo sa career mo." --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @riegogogo......»»
Team Lakay s Geje Eustaquio open to testing himself in ONE Super Series
Team Lakay flyweight star Geje "Gravity" Eustaquio has reached the mountaintop of the division after having held the ONE Flyweight World Championship from mid-2018 to early-2019. For the 31-year old former world champion, getting his belt back remains a top priority, but he's open to trying his hand at ONE Championship's striking-only platform, the ONE Super Series. Home to some of the world's best strikers, ONE Super Series has been a successful addition to ONE's brand of martial arts action, and it's also giving their athletes a chance to shift from sport to sport. For Eustaquio, who's considered as one of the best strikers in the division, competing in kickboxing or muay thai is a welcome challenge. “It would be a privilege for me to compete in ONE Super Series among legends, but right now, I’m just focused on my MMA career and looking to get back on track," Eustaquio told ONE Championship. "It’s been a rough couple of years, but I still consider myself among the top in my division. My mind is still on the flyweight title, and that’s what I’m working towards." “But yes definitely, I want to test my striking against the best in the world," he continued. In the flyweight division, ONE's best striker is arguably reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang "The Iron Man" Jitmuangnon of Thailand, who's known for his unparalleled toughness inside the circle. "Gravity" has nothing but the utmost respect for Rodtang because of his abilities inside the ring and his personality out of it. “I think Rodtang is a tremendous athlete, and a big inspiration to many. Even though he’s the champion, he never forgets where he came from. You can still find humility in him, and I have so much respect for him,” said Eustaquio. “I think his greatest strength is his durability. His ability to walk through the line of fire, and just goad his opponents into a fight, it’s admirable. At the same time, it’s his biggest weakness. Fighters with that kind of style tend to underestimate things. In this sport, you can never predict what is coming, or how heavy or dangerous a strike could be. We’re only humans, after all, and he’s just a man," Eustaquio continued. Rodtang is scheduled to defend his title against countryman Petchdam Petchyindee Academy when ONE returns to action at ONE: No Surrender this coming July 31st. If Rodtang can remain the champion, it's definitely not outside the realm of possiblity that Eustaquio be tapped as the next challenger. “One day it would be an honor for me to share the ONE Super Series ring with this legend,” Eustaquiao said. “Or maybe, if he wants to shift over to MMA, I can put together a welcome party," he concluded. .....»»
ONE Championship: Kevin Belingon open to facing Martin Nguyen in a rematch
So far, only three people have been able to defeat reigning ONE Featherweight World Champion Martin Ngyuen throughout his impressive career. Two of those fighters - Marat Gafurov and Bibiano Fernandes - were reigning and defending champions when they beat Nguyen. The other one beat Nguyen for the vacant interim ONE Bantamweight World Championship when Nguyen was arguably at the peak of his powers as the reigning ONE Featherweight and Lightweight World Champion back in 2018. That man is none other than Kevin Belingon, who went on to become the bantamweight division’s king later that year. Belingon has since lost the championship and is coming off back-to-back defeats at the hands of bantamweight rival Fernandes. Because of that, the Team Lakay star’s main focus now is to regain the bantamweight crown. But if ONE Championship comes calling with an opportunity at Nguyen and the featherweight title however, Belingon says he isn’t one to turn down another chance at a world championship. “For me, the priority is still getting the ONE Bantamweight World Title back, but of course I am willing to challenge Martin for the belt if given the opportunity by ONE,” Belingon told ONE Championship. “Still, regaining my belt remains my top priority.” The Belingon-Nguyen matchup was undoubtedly one of 2018’s best matches, with the two stars going the full five rounds. Belingon cemented his status as the bantamweight division’s top contender with a unanimous decision win over Nguyen, who himself was hunting for an unprecedented third world championship in as many weight divisions. Since then, Nguyen has been unstoppable at featherweight, taking out former titleholder Narantungalag Jadambaa and Koyomi Matsushima to retain the featherweight championship. With Belingon already owning a victory over Nguyen, it wouldn’t be surprising for ONE to give him a shot at the featherweight throne. Belingon believes however that the sequel just be as hard, if not harder than the first meeting. “If we face each other again, I expect the same tough Martin Nguyen who I faced before, someone who hits very hard and has very good timing,” he said. If Belingon were to choose however, he says he’d prefer to face Fernandes again. “If it comes to that? I think I’d prefer facing Bibiano again," Belingon admitted. .....»»