Iranian heavyweight Amir Aliakbari calls out Filipino-American champ Brandon Vera
Reigning ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon "The Truth" Vera need not look far for willing challengers. The Filipino-American heavyweight king is expected to defend his title against Indian-Canadian challenger Arjan Bhullar in the future, but already, challengers are lining up and calling the champ out. One of them is newly-signed Iranian heavyweight Amir Aliakbari. The 32-year old former World Champion Greco-Roman wrestler inked his deal with Asia-based martial arts promotion ONE Championship back in early August, and he wasted little time in making his objective in the company known. View this post on Instagram @onechampionship give me your m* f* champion i cant wait anymore. im the best ?? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ???? #fights#onefc#amiraliakbari##knockout #kickboxing #wrestling #MixedMartialArts#amiraliakbari#onechampionship #one #imthebest #WeAreONE A post shared by Amirali Akbari (@amiraliakbari60) on Aug 5, 2020 at 11:41pm PDT The 10-1 heavyweight posted a photo of himself and Vera, accompanied by a pretty strong-sounding caption. "ONE Championship, give me your m* f* champion, I can't wait anymore. I'm the best," Aliakbari wrote. Aliakbari made a name for himself competing in Japan under the Rizin FF promotion, before a stint in Russia. He has notable wins over the likes of PRIDE FC veteran Heath Herring and Geronimo Dos Santos. His lone loss came against MMA legend Mirko Cro Cop......»»
Brandon Vera nagretiro na sa MMA matapos ang 2 dekada: Thank you for all the love
NAGRETIRO na sa mixed martial arts (MMA) ang Filipino-American athlete na si Brandon “The Truth” Vera matapos ang dalawang dekada. Inanunsyo niya ‘yan mismo matapos ang laban kamakailan lang sa Iranian fighter na si Amir Aliakbari noong December 3 sa Pasay City. Natalo ang MMA legend sa first round palang ng laban dahil sa technical […] The post Brandon Vera nagretiro na sa MMA matapos ang 2 dekada: Thank you for all the love appeared first on Bandera......»»
Iranian wrestling champ eyes Brandon Vera s ONE heavyweight title
Greco-Roman wrestling world champion Amir Aliakbari of Iran has recently signed with ONE Championship. And this early, he wants a crack at Fil-Am Brandon “The Truth” Vera’s heavyweight belt......»»
Brandon Vera moves from ONE circle to big screen after retirement
Vera, 45, suffered a loss against Iran's Amir Aliakbari via TKO in the opening round of their contest in the main card of ONE Championship's return to Manila......»»
World champ Vera ready for coming year
Reigning ONE Heavyweight World Champion, Filipino-American superstar Brandon “The Truth” Vera didn’t step foot in the ONE Circle all year. It was a tough 12 months for most everyone in the world, but Vera wants to remind everyone not to look past the positives in what has been an extra difficult year......»»
New dad Brandon Vera says fatherhood a source of motivation
Reigning ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera is now a father. The Filipino-American mixed martial arts star and his wife Jessica welcomed their son Atreyu Timothy into the world back in July, and it’s given the 42-year old a renewed sense of motivation. Vera, who has been ONE’s heavyweight king since 2015, says that like winning inside the cage, words simply cannot describe the feeling of becoming a dad. “I can’t describe how Atreyu was born just like I can’t describe what it’s like to win in the ONE Circle. It’s two peas in the same pod, no words would ever do that justice,” Vera said. “There was one moment when Atreyu first came out, I was in such joy that I threw my arms up in the air and looked straight up at the ceiling and started crying and smiling, thinking, ‘Wow, this is what everyone talks about.’” Much like most fathers in the fight game, Vera says that the birth of his child has become a source of energy. “It is easier to wake up. I can agree with this statement. I feel more motivated. I get tired less. I don’t know how and why, but that happened,” Vera explained. The difference is, Vera says that he’s always had family in his mind, which isn’t necessarily the case for other new fathers. “Everybody keeps saying priorities change, I am not of that same mindset. Family has always been number one for me. I have been waiting for a long time to change diapers, feed the baby, and train with my child in the gym. All plans are still the same. We’re the World Champ, we act accordingly and we keep our title until we decide it is time for the next step.” “Honestly, I re-realize I’m a father every day I open my eyes and see him. Being a father is not only a very important path in life, it’s also a very serious one for me where my teachings and actions will and can help mold Atreyu into a person to help this world,” Vera continued. That newfound energy and motivation should come in handy once Vera makes his long-awaited return to action. The reigning heavyweight king is expected to defend his ONE Heavyweight World Championship against Indian-Canadian challenger Arjan Bhullar......»»
Bretman Rock subtly calls out Benny Blanco s negative Jollibee review
Filipino-American content creator and model Bretman Rock subtly clapped back at American record producer Benny Blanco by posting a Jollibee-related video of his own, minus the negativity......»»
Will Lin play against Gilas?
Nine-year NBA veteran Jeremy Lin is eligible to play for Chinese-Taipei against Gilas in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifying window game at the PhilSports Arena on Feb. 25. He could suit up as a naturalized “import,” having acquired a Taiwan passport in August 2020 or as a local if FIBA grants an exception like it did with Indonesian-American Brandon Jawato.....»»
US says anti-Iran strikes in Syria hit ammunition depots
The United States said Friday it sought to degrade ammunition supplies of Iranian-linked militias with strikes in Syria but insisted it did not want to widen the Middle East conflict. The Pentagon on Thursday announced air strikes on two sites in eastern Syria it said were used by Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after a string of attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. "The purpose for those two sites that we targeted was to have a significant impact on future IRGC and Iran-backed militia group operations," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Friday. "It went right at storage facilities and ammo depots that we know will be used to support the work of these militia groups, particularly in Syria." "The main goal was to disrupt that ability and also to deter -- to prevent -- future attacks," he said. The White House earlier said that President Joe Biden had relayed a direct warning to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei against militias' strikes on US troops in Syria and Iraq, where US forces are stationed as part of efforts against the Islamic State group, which also has clashed with Shiite Iran. There have been at least 14 attacks on US and allied forces in Iraq and six in Syria since October 17, a period in which 21 American military personnel suffered minor injuries and one contractor died from a cardiac incident, according to the Pentagon. The US strikes on Thursday were the first on Iranian interests since March, breaking a stretch of calm after the Biden administration opened quiet diplomacy with the US arch-enemy that led to a prisoner swap and conversations on Iran's disputed nuclear program. The October 7 assault by Hamas and Israel's retaliatory strikes have inflamed the region. Iran's clerical leaders back Hamas, while the United States is the foremost ally of Israel. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a statement Thursday, said that the strikes were "narrowly tailored" to protect US personnel. "They are separate and distinct from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, and do not constitute a shift in our approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict," Austin said. The Pentagon said Friday evening that its current assessment is the strikes did not cause casualties. 'Finger on the trigger' In new pressure, the United States -- which already considers Hamas and the Revolutionary Guards to be terrorist organizations -- said it was imposing sanctions on a Hamas official based in Iran and members of the IRGC. The Biden administration has vowed to target the finances of Hamas, which holds hundreds of millions of dollars in global assets, according to US Treasury Department estimates. Iran also has a close relationship with Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia and political movement that has repeatedly fired at Israel but has so far stopped short of opening a full second front. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Friday that he has spoken with Lebanese and Palestinian militants and they "have their finger on the trigger" if Israel expands its ground operation into Gaza. Speaking to US National Public Radio from the United Nations, Amir-Abdollahian said the militants' actions would be "much more powerful and deeper than what you’ve witnessed." "Therefore I believe that if this situation continues and women and children and civilians are still killed in Gaza and the West Bank, anything will be possible," he said. Amir-Abdollahian insisted, however, that militants would decide their own actions, saying, "We don't really want this conflict to spread out." Addressing the General Assembly on Thursday, Amir-Abdollahian said that the Palestinians "as a nation under occupation" have the "legitimate right to resist the occupation using all available methods, including armed struggle." Hamas militants on October 7 stormed out of the blockaded Gaza Strip and killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, including children, the elderly and revelers at a music festival, and took more than 220 hostages in the deadliest attack in Israel's history. Israel has struck back with a relentless bombing campaign which Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says has killed 7,326 people, mostly civilians, among them 3,038 children. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, meeting Friday with Amir-Abdollahian, urged Iran to work toward the "unconditional and immediate release of hostages held in Gaza." The post US says anti-Iran strikes in Syria hit ammunition depots appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden warned Iran leader against attacks — White House
President Joe Biden sent a message to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warning against strikes on US troops amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, the White House said on Thursday. "There was a direct message relayed. That's as far as I'm going to go," US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters, declining to say how it was delivered. Later Thursday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said US forces conducted precision strikes on two facilities in eastern Syria used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Pentagon says US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria have been attacked at least 16 times this month as tensions rise in the Middle East. It blamed "Iranian-backed militia groups." Biden told a press conference on Wednesday that he had warned Khamenei of a response if the attacks continue. "My warning to the Ayatollah was that if they continue to move against those troops, we will respond, and he should be prepared. It has nothing to do with Israel," he said alongside visiting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Iran meanwhile warned Washington at the United Nations General Assembly over Israel's campaign of air strikes and artillery against Gaza following the 7 October Hamas attacks. "I say frankly to the American statesmen and military forces who are now managing the genocide in Palestine, that we do not welcome the expansion and scope of the war in the region," Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said. "But I warn if the genocide in Gaza continues, they will not be spared from this fire." The United States has moved two aircraft carrier groups near Israel since the Hamas attacks in what it says is a bid to deter Iran and its allies from broadening the conflict. On Sunday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also ordered the activation of air defense systems in the region and notified additional forces that they may be deployed soon. There are roughly 2,500 American troops in Iraq and some 900 in Syria as part of efforts to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State group, which once held significant territory in both countries but was pushed back by local ground forces backed by international air strikes in a bloody multi-year conflict. The post Biden warned Iran leader against attacks — White House appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US police launch huge manhunt for shooter who killed at least 22
A massive manhunt was under way Thursday for a gunman who a local official said killed at least 22 people and wounded "many" more in mass shootings in the US state of Maine, the deadliest such incident this year. Police said Robert Card -- seen in surveillance footage pointing a semi-automatic weapon with an extended clip as he walked into a bowling alley in the town of Lewiston -- "should be considered armed and dangerous." Card is a certified firearms instructor and a member of the US Army Reserve, CNN reported, citing law enforcement sources. Lewiston city councilor Robert McCarthy told CNN that law enforcement had "confirmed 22 dead, many, many more injured", with local media reporting shootings had occurred at multiple locations. Swathes of Lewiston were locked down, with businesses urged to shutter and people ordered to shelter in place, as the scourge of horrifying gun violence once again ripped through an American community. Maine public safety official Mike Sauschuck said he was not prepared to give a death toll, calling it "a very fluid situation." He told reporters police were flooding the streets as they sought the gunman. "We have literally hundreds of police officers working around the state of Maine to investigate this case, to locate Mr. Card," he told reporters. Rescue vehicles rushed in from around central Maine to tend to the wounded, city councilor McCarthy said, and the two Lewiston hospitals "have called in every off-duty staff member that they could to deal with this." President Joe Biden made calls -- stepping away from a state dinner honoring Australia's prime minister -- to Maine's governor, its two senators and a local congressman to offer federal support, the White House said. Early on Thursday, armed police were seen guarding the Central Maine Medical Center, where some of the wounded were being treated. Several Maine school boards and educational institutions, including Bates College, said they would not be holding classes on Thursday, according to statements. Multiple locations Police and rescuers reportedly arrived at the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley at about 7:15 pm local time (00:15 Thursday GMT) in response to an active shooter, and then received reports of another shooting at the Schemengees Bar & Grille, according to the Sun Journal local newspaper. Police issued a number of photographs of 40-year-old Card at the bowling alley, where he appears calm and composed as he moves through the doorway with his rifle raised. "Please contact law enforcement if you are aware of his whereabouts," they said. Sauschuck said officers had located a "vehicle of interest" they had been looking for -- a white sport utility vehicle (SUV) -- in Lisbon, a town around eight miles (12 kilometers) from Lewiston, where residents had also been warned to stay off the streets. Card was not in the vehicle, reports said. Law enforcement "are investigating two active shooter events," the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Department said on social media. "We are encouraging all businesses to lock down and or close while we investigate. The suspect is still at large." Maine Governor Janet Mills said she was "aware of and have been briefed on the active shooter situation in Lewiston." CNN reported that at least 50 people were wounded in the incidents, citing multiple law enforcement sources, but said it was unclear how many of the injuries were the result of gunfire. It was unclear if initial reports of shots being fired at a third site, a Walmart distribution center, were accurate. My hometown Maine Congressman Jared Golden wrote on social media that "like all Mainers, I'm horrified by the events in Lewison tonight. This is my hometown." "Right now, all of us are looking to local law enforcement as they gain control of the situation and gather information. Our hearts break for those who are affected," he said. Distraught citizens flocked to local hospitals. "I'm just overwhelmed. I've been here trying to spread, you know, some kind of comfort, some kind of support," Cynthia Hunter, a local resident, told CBS affiliate WGME. The shooting is one of the deadliest since 2017, when a gunman opened fire on a crowded music festival in Las Vegas, killing about 60 people. Gun violence is alarmingly common in the United States, a country where there are more guns than people and where attempts to clamp down on their spread are always met with stiff resistance. The United States has recorded over 500 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a non-governmental organization that defines a mass shooting as four or more people wounded or killed. Wednesday's attack was the deadliest mass shooting in 2023 so far, according to the GVA's data. Efforts to tighten gun controls have for years run up against opposition from Republicans, staunch defenders of the constitutional right to bear arms. The political paralysis endures despite widespread outrage over recurring shootings. Lewiston is the second most populous city in Maine located some 30 miles north of the largest city, Portland. The post US police launch huge manhunt for shooter who killed at least 22 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beware of terror’s seduction
Major league media spanning the world have fallen prey to the sweet seduction of the ratings game to forget about disseminating the truth, which is what journalism is all about. Terrorist forces have proven themselves adept in the art of deception that it lured the eminent The New York Times, or NYT, with its lies. Among the most prominent American newspapers, NYT, to its credit, issued an unprecedented “editorial note” admitting that a story it ran on the bombing of a Gaza hospital “left readers with an ‘incorrect impression,’” saying that its staff should have been more careful in the initial presentation of information and in explaining what could be verified. NYT had prominently and repeatedly featured Hamas’s claim that an Israeli airstrike caused last week’s blast at Gaza City’s al-Ahli Baptist Hospital. The note it issued on Monday acknowledged that its coverage should have been more journalistically rigorous. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza immediately blamed the 17 October explosion on an Israeli airstrike amid the war that erupted when the Palestinian terror group killed over 1,400 people in Israel in its assault on 7 October. Hamas provided no evidence to back up its false claim or for its claim that hundreds had been killed, but international media, including the NYT, swallowed the claims hook, line, and sinker. Shortly after, Israel produced evidence showing the explosion was caused by a failed rocket launch from Gaza by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group, an assessment endorsed by the United States, which has said it has data that supports this. NYT admitted that its initial reports “relied too heavily on claims by Hamas and did not make clear that those claims could not immediately be verified. The report left readers with an incorrect impression about what was known and how credible the account was.” In Britain, the BBC and other media outlets were also criticized by government lawmakers for rushing to report the Hamas version of events. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the House of Commons last week, “We don’t treat what comes out of the Kremlin as the gospel truth; we should not do the same with Hamas.” In the war coverage, it must be clear there is no moral equivalence between Israel, a legitimate democracy, and Hamas, a terrorist organization that employs lies as a weapon. Media reports often frame both sides as being equivalent and engaged in a tit-for-tat. Hamas is the de facto ruler of the Gaza Strip, but major democracies consider it a terror organization. Israel, as a free and democratic sovereign state, does everything to minimize civilian casualties, while Hamas is an Iran-backed terrorist group that openly seeks the destruction of Israel and actively hunts Israeli civilians to murder or abduct. It deliberately fires projectiles into civilian areas to kill as many Israelis as possible. Israel’s military specifically targets Hamas infrastructure, such as rocket launchers and production facilities, terrorist headquarters, terror tunnels, weapons warehouses, and senior terror leaders. Israel employs a tactic known as “roof knocking,” which warns civilians to evacuate a building through text messages and phone calls before targeting it for destruction. In contrast, the American Jewish Committee said Hamas deliberately puts Palestinian civilians in harm’s way. Hamas fires rockets and stores weapons in civilian areas, including around homes, schools, offices, mosques and hospitals. Hamas staged a large-scale incursion into southern Israel on 7 October during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, where over 600 Israelis were murdered. Often, the conflict with Hamas and other terrorist groups, such as the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, is framed as a dispute between Israelis and Palestinians. Any coverage of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad must mention that both terror groups are armed, trained, and financially supported by Iran. While its origins are with the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas has been funded, armed, and trained by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps since the early 1990s. Equating Israel with Hamas would provide legitimacy to the use of terror tactics, which most nations have vowed never to consider as a subject of negotiation. The post Beware of terror’s seduction appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Negotiation not an option
The terrorist group Hamas has been playing with international sentiment using the hostages of different nationalities it seized in the 7 October act of treachery to put global pressure on Israel to implement a ceasefire. The United States thwarted a resolution at the United Nations Security Council calling for a halt in Israeli operations as the superpower cited the right of Israel to self-defense. Simply put, Hamas as a terror organization cannot demand a ceasefire with Israel, which is a legitimate state. The Israeli airstrikes have essentially crippled the capability of Hamas to pursue its terror campaign against Israel and it now needs an opportunity to regroup, hoping that it will secure help from other terror groups waiting in the wings. Crushing Hamas quickly is necessary to avert the possible participation of other foreign armed groups in the Gaza conflict. Nations that have feuded with Israel sponsor armed militants that are now aching to get an order to strike and join the battle with Hamas. Prolonging the conflict is to Hamas’ advantage as global outrage is guaranteed when civilian deaths pile up and the hostages are released one at a time. An estimated 200 people, including 30 teenagers and young children and 20 people over the age of 60, are being held hostage in Gaza, based on estimates from an Israel Defense Forces source. Among the hostages are a still undetermined number of Filipinos who mostly work as caregivers. The strategy of the terror group to win international sympathy by using subterfuge has backfired in most cases. A commentary in the Thai broadsheet, The Examiner, indicated rising awareness of the level of deception being engineered by Hamas and its supporters. According to the newspaper, comments by the Iranian Ambassador in Bangkok “demonstrate Hamas is using the 19 Thai hostages as leverage to halt the bombardment of the enclave.” Ambassador Seyed Reza Nobakhti said in Bangkok that the Hamas leader had assured the Iranian foreign minister the Thai hostages would be released, but this could not happen until hostilities ceased. “However, Hamas, which Iran funds, made it clear that the hostages were being held in Palestinian safe houses but that no place was safe in Gaza,” according to the commentary. Thailand said 19 of its citizens were seized by Hamas during the terror strike over two weeks ago. On Friday, Hamas released two American hostages, a mother and her daughter, following mediation by Qatar. The armed group said more will be released under a ceasefire. Israel has resisted calls for a halt in its offensive against Hamas, saying the release of hostages will not affect its ongoing military operations. Its target is the elimination of all Hamas infrastructure and facilities and the release of all hostages will follow. The problem, however, is that as the crisis plays out longer, and the surgical strikes to take out Hamas targets can’t be completed unless all the civilians evacuate, casualties will tend to rise and so will international indignation. Such a situation favors Hamas which will assume the role of victim, which is preposterous as it initiated the war with Israel with the slaughter of the innocents. Israel, which is now being accused in the United Nations and elsewhere of atrocities, however, had repeatedly warned residents to leave the war zone. Israel has not been remiss in urging the residents to move south, towards a safer humanitarian area. The IDF’s notices to the people of Gaza, which were intended to protect them from the strikes on Hamas, stand in contrast to the way Hamas treats its civilians, using them as shields. Since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, one of its most reprehensible deeds is endangering Palestinian civilians during its terror operations, such as by positioning rocket launchers and command centers deep in the heart of Gaza. It even fortified tunnels under UN schools. “Our war is not with the people of Gaza. It’s with a murderous organization that attacks Israelis, while intentionally endangering its residents to protect its leadership,” the IDF said. Hamas is a terror group no different from the Islamic State, which both use mayhem to attain their objective of replacing civilized existence with a fundamental Islamic empire. The post Negotiation not an option 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......»»
US government readies for imminent shutdown
The US government began Thursday to inform workers of an impending shutdown that could see millions of federal employees and military personnel temporarily sent home or working without pay, unless Congress reaches a last-ditch deal. Without an agreement, funding for much of the federal government will expire at midnight on Saturday (0400 GMT Sunday), threatening disruptions to everything from air travel to benefit payments, and – if the shutdown endures – dealing a further blow to the precarious US economy. The stand-off has been triggered by a small group of hardline Republicans who have pushed back against short-term funding deals while Congress tries to resolve a broader deadlock over calls for deep spending cuts. Some federal employees have already been informed of preparations for a lapse, according to a notice seen by AFP. A note to staff at the Department of Health and Human Services outlined how it would see "reduced staffing across nearly every division for the duration of the lapse" although many key programs will continue. The department also updated its contingency plans, adding that "pre-notified employees would be temporarily furloughed," meaning they are not allowed to work. They would receive retroactive pay after the lapse ends, the note said. Staff at other agencies were understood to have received similar notifications. In a shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal workers would be furloughed without pay, and members of the military and other employees who are deemed to be essential would continue working without a paycheck. Certain benefits like Social Security checks would not be hit, but workers who go unpaid could eventually stop showing up, impacting sectors like air travel. 'Dangerous' "If there is a shutdown in just a few days, our service members would be required to continue working but would be doing so without pay, and hundreds and thousands of their civilian colleagues would be furloughed," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said Thursday. The Treasury Department added that among other implications, "most core tax administration functions will stop" and more than half of the Internal Revenue Service staff will be furloughed. Apart from the possible lapse in funding, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) faces an added headache of a Saturday deadline for reauthorization. It remains unclear if lawmakers will pass an FAA reauthorization law separately from a spending package. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Wednesday: "There is no good time for a government shutdown, but this is a particularly bad time." "The consequences would be disruptive and dangerous," he added. In Washington, a group of young climate activists of the Sunrise Movement entered Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's office to protest against the looming shutdown. The White House warned in a statement that a lapse would leave the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster relief fund underfunded, "delaying nearly 2,000 long-term recovery projects" across the country. 'Avoidable risk' With days left to pass legislation that would keep the government running, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, said Thursday that his chamber is "pursuing bipartisanship." He accused House Speaker McCarthy of choosing to "elevate the whims and desires of a handful of hard-right extremists," with "nothing to show for it." Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate minority leader, said shutting down the government is an "actively harmful proposition." In a full shutdown, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) union estimates almost 1.8 million federal workers would go unpaid for the duration -- although receiving backpay afterward. A spokeswoman for the International Monetary Fund added in a briefing on Thursday: "We do see a shutdown as an avoidable risk for the US economy." The post US government readies for imminent shutdown appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Invasive species on the menu at London restaurant
A London restaurant is exploring whether eating invasive species such as grey squirrel, American Signal crayfish and Japanese knotweed could help fight their spread, but scientists remain skeptical. The idea behind several "invasive species supper clubs", the last of which was served on Tuesday at "zero waste" Silo restaurant in east London, is to "creatively popularize species that are detrimental to the environment", chef Douglas McMaster, who runs the establishment, told AFP. The omnipresent grey squirrels, signal crayfish and Japanese knotweed are all "forces of destruction" that squeeze out local populations, but all are edible and "delicious", he added. The invaders are the subject of a recently published report under the aegis of the UN, which gave rise to calls from experts to "wake up" to the "scourge". McMaster would like a legitimate supply chain and for the species to become "an accessible resource" for chefs. But the idea "isn't to popularise these invasive species so there's so much of a demand that we allow them to become more invasive", he stressed. "That would be a terrible thing to occur." He hopes instead to "bring back balance within the ecosystem and then we stop eating them". - 'Out of control' - But experts fear that the remedy will simply aggravate the problem. "Consuming invasive non-native species isn't something that I would encourage," Karim Vahed, professor of entomology at the University of Derby, told AFP. For Signal crayfish, which were imported in the 1970s for human consumption before escaping to colonize waterways -- to the detriment of the native white-clawed crayfish -- "there's a potential that people will even introduce them themselves if they think that they can then be collected as food". The invasive specimens also transmit a fungal infection, "crayfish plague", to which the American species are immune. And their few predators -- otters and herons -- are too few to stem their spread. "At the moment, the Signal is just spreading out of control," warned Vahed. The smaller, native crayfish, which have seen an 80-90 percent decline, are now at risk of extinction. In a small stream flowing through a park in Derby, central England, visitors can easily see the swarms of American crayfish. One of Vahed's students found the first specimen there 16 years ago and within five years the invasive species had completely replaced the native one. Simply taking the largest ones does not help contain the spread. "You're just helping the young American Signal crayfish to survive," explained Vahed. "So removing them and eating them isn't a solution." - 'Very human response' - The picture is more nuanced for Japanese knotweed, an invasive plant which can be eaten or used to brew beer. "It could potentially be a good idea," said knotweed specialist Karen Bacon, who found humor in the "very human response" of thinking "this plant is causing a problem, it is edible... let's eat it!". "But on the other hand, there are risks," added the professor, who is based at the University of Galway, western Ireland. Disturbing the plant can actually enhance its growth, she told AFP, adding that any project would need to be undertaken with experts "who understand the plant". "There is some potential in there, but it needs to be done carefully," she said. spe/jwp/bp/leg The post Invasive species on the menu at London restaurant appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US Justice Dept names special counsel to probe Biden’s son
The US Justice Department on Friday escalated its investigation into President Joe Biden's son Hunter, naming a special counsel amid allegations he engaged in illicit business deals overseas. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Delaware federal prosecutor David Weiss, who recently investigated Hunter Biden on tax and gun charges in a case that remains open. Weiss, who opened his probe in 2019, recently revealed that he was investigating Biden along other lines, and Garland said Weiss had requested special counsel status to be able to pursue his probe more widely. "Upon considering his request, as well as the extraordinary circumstances relating to this matter, I have concluded that it is in the public interest to appoint him as special counsel," Garland said. Deals in China, Ukraine Hunter Biden has come under investigation in Congress over business deals he did in China, Ukraine, and elsewhere during and after his father's 2009-2017 term as vice president. A former business associate told Congress recently that Hunter had gotten his father involved in telephone calls with his foreign partners several times. Republicans allege Joe Biden used his political position to help his son -- a claim the president denies. The move comes as Joe Biden is running for reelection, possibly in a rematch with former president Donald Trump, himself accused of felony crimes in the investigation by another Justice Department special counsel, Jack Smith. Garland gave no hint on the subject matter of Weiss' expanded probe, saying his elevation to the special counsel "reaffirms" the independence and authority of his investigation. Last month, the 53-year-old Hunter aborted a plea deal with Weiss over gun and tax charges after a judge pointed out inconsistencies in the agreement. The deal would have seen Biden avoid prison: he would have been sentenced to probation on two tax avoidance counts, and be forced into a counseling and rehabilitation program for the firearms charge. But the deal fell apart after Judge Maryellen Noreika queried why the gun charge was included in a tax case, and whether the agreement protected Biden from charges that might arise from a wider investigation of his business dealings. Biden then entered a not-guilty plea, and the two sides were expected to work out a new agreement. But in a filing in Delaware court on Friday, Weiss said those talks had reached an impasse and withdrew the offer of a plea deal. Instead, he indicated that the tax charges could be expanded to other venues. Republicans say DOJ protecting Biden There was no comment from the White House on Weiss's elevation to special counsel. In a social media post, a Trump spokesperson alleged that the Biden family had been "protected by the Justice Department for decades." "There is overwhelming evidence and credible testimony detailing their wrongdoing of lying to the American people and selling out the country to foreign enemies for the Biden Cartel's own financial gain," the spokesperson said, without offering evidence. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy indicated that the Congressional probe of Hunter Biden will continue. "This action by Biden's DOJ cannot be used to obstruct congressional investigations or whitewash the Biden family corruption," he said on social media. The post US Justice Dept names special counsel to probe Biden’s son appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden calls China ‘ticking time bomb’ over economic woes
US President Joe Biden said Thursday that China's mounting economic problems make the country a "ticking time bomb." "China is a ticking time bomb in many cases," Biden said at a private fundraising event in the western state of Utah. The Democrat pointed to the country's high unemployment an aging workforce, saying "China is in trouble." "When bad folks have problems, they do bad things," he said. Biden offended Beijing in June by describing his counterpart Xi Jinping as a "dictator," in a comment slammed as a "provocation" by China's foreign ministry. Biden insisted Thursday that he was seeking "a rational relationship with China." "I don't want to hurt China, but I'm watching," he said. The United States recently relaunched its dialogue with China, with a succession of visits to Beijing by senior American officials, including chief diplomat Antony Blinken. The aim of Blinken's trip was to turn the page on recent tensions surrounding a Chinese balloon described as a "spy" operation that was shot down by the United States in February. The post Biden calls China ‘ticking time bomb’ over economic woes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
U.S. envoy calls Texas floating barrier illegal
A floating barrier installed by Texas authorities to stop migrants crossing the border from Mexico is illegal, the United States ambassador to the Latin American country said Thursday. Ken Salazar made the remark to reporters, adding that Texas is making migration a political instead of a humanitarian and economic issue. The buoys were installed in the Rio Grande river at a popular migrant crossing point earlier in July on the instructions of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, along with large razor-wire barriers on shore. The US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Texas, saying the buoys illegally obstruct river navigation and lack federal authorization — a move welcomed by Mexico. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Tuesday that the barrier violated his country’s sovereignty. According to Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena, three-quarters of the roughly 300-meter barrier is located in Mexican territory. She said her office had sent two diplomatic notes to Washington specifying the border treaties that were being breached. WITH AFP The post U.S. envoy calls Texas floating barrier illegal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DENR’s Loyzaga meets with US-ASEAN Business Council
“Climate change adaptation is very important to us, and any contributions by way of nature-based solutions for adaptation and for disaster risk reduction are what we’d like to build our relationship with you on." This is what Environment Secretary Antonia Loyzaga told the delegates from the United States-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) when she recently met them to discuss how both organizations can work together in the fields of climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and plastic pollution. The meeting, held on July 12 in Taguig City, was a follow-through of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and US-ABC to strengthen collaboration on sustainability, climate change, green finance, and environmental protection. Loyzaga said the DENR is looking at investment in prevention or ex-ante value from the private sector, particularly nature-based solutions such as forest conservation, control of river erosion, water conservation efforts, and investment in gray and green infrastructure. “We realize that the goal of the private sector has been primarily in providing relief during disasters, which we understand is valuable but is essentially an ex-post value to the country and to the communities. We hope that the (US-ABC) can also be an advocate for adaptation and not just mitigation which are both sides of the same coin,” Loyzaga told the US-ABC delegation. The other end of the stake, Loyzaga said, would be DRR which is ultimately what would impact the country’s trajectory toward economic and social development. Loyzaga encouraged the private sector to look beyond compliance to environmental, social, and governance or ESG in terms of emissions reduction, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and pollution management. She also urged them to look to adaptation and resilience-building of the communities where they work, as well as the ecosystems that they rely on. Loyzaga likewise reminded the private sector to help “clean up whatever it is you produced and released.” She said that one of the calls of the DENR is the need for businesses to look at investment and research towards the replacement of plastic. “What we want to do is to look for ways to produce materials which are sustainable, which are biodegradable, which are affordable but have the same functionality as the packaging materials that we now are using because they are optimal in terms of the products that we produce. That investment in the chemistry that is needed, I think, is within your reach and so that is one of the big pushes,” she said. Loyzaga also expressed hope the US-ABC can help the DENR bring forward the upliftment of the informal waste sector consisting of waste pickers in dumpsites and communal waste collection points. “The sector is particularly impacted by hazardous environments because of the waste that we generate and their involvement in the solid waste management industry,” Loyzaga said. “We hope that we can share that advocacy and we look for ways to actually innovate.” She added: “Waste picking, waste collection, waste sorting is a phenomenon not just in the Philippines, but in all countries in ASEAN. And so, we’re not the only ones who have that informal sector involved in this whole circular economy. They have been locked out of the value chain but they are part of the supply chain of the circular economy.” Loyzaga has been pushing for the integration of the informal waste sector into the expanded producer responsibility or EPR system for plastic packaging waste to ensure that no one is left behind as the country transitions toward a circular economy. US-ABC is the premier advocacy organization for American corporations operating within the Southeast Asian region. Worldwide, the Council's membership of nearly 170 companies generates almost US$7 trillion in revenue and employs more than 14.5 million people. The post DENR’s Loyzaga meets with US-ASEAN Business Council appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ICTSI Argentine unit gets more port calls
TecPlata, International Container Terminal Services Inc. or ICTSI’s cargo handling operations at the La Plata Port adjacent to Buenos Aires in Argentina, received the inaugural call of Zim Integrated Shipping Services’ Patagonia Express Service. The vessel connects Argentinian trade to the United States and the Caribbean Gulf, among other destinations. ZIM’s newly launched service links Argentina to the Caribbean and the US Gulf Coast through the ports of Kingston, a major Caribbean hub, and Houston in the Gulf of Mexico. Visits every 45 days The service marked its inaugural call at TecPlata with the arrival of the 1,000- twenty-foot equivalent unit or TEU boxship Contship Key, and with its present network set up, is expected to call TecPlata every 45 days. The maritime service from La Plata to Kingston and Houston provided a reliable and efficient connection for Argentinian foreign trade, offering commercial opportunities that promote economic growth in the region. “We are pleased to receive the Contship Key at TecPlata and start this new connection with the North American gulf coast,” Juan Pablo Trujillo, TecPlata chief executive officer, said. This strategic alliance with ZIM enables us to offer new services and logistics distribution to our clients. We are confident that this service will strengthen TecPlata’s position as a strategic trade port on the East Coast of South America,” Trujillo added. TecPlata takes great pride in delivering new opportunities to clients through this service, which takes advantage of the terminal’s modern port infrastructure and world-class standard of operation. ZIM’s arrival in TecPlata further expands the connectivity of La Plata beyond the Latin America region. The post ICTSI Argentine unit gets more port calls appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»