Tag: Turkey

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 152

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 152

carlocarrasco

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.

Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Focus on Kevin McHale – It has been more than thirty years since Kevin McHale retired from the NBA. McHale was one of the premier power forwards of the NBA in 1980s and even though he won the Sixth Man Award and three NBA championships with Celtics (he formed the nucleus with Larry Bird and Robert Parish), he has been overlooked in discussions about the most notable power forwards of the league. McHale was also declared as one of the greatest NBA players ever. That said, now is a good time to revisit NBA history with focus on McHale and what he achieved.

#2 NiGHTS into Dreams…revisited – Way back in 1996, Sega released NiGHTS into Dreams… which was a very ambitious Sega Saturn video game made by the same key creators behind the popular Sonic games on Sega Genesis. Back in the old days, Sega was in a bind as it faced tough competition from Nintendo and Sony. That said, the company really had to make an exclusive game that is of very high quality, fun-filled gameplay and ambitious creative designs. That said, I encourage you all to watch the retrospective video about NiGHTS into Dreams… below.

#3 Ashleigh Burton reacts to The Animatrix – When it comes to entertainment in the year of 2003, The Matrix entertainment franchise really left its mark with the two hyped sequels The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions but also with the video game Enter The Matrix and the animated anthology The Animatrix. Released between the two live-action movies, The Animatrix featured several animated short stories of the Matrix universe done by different creators and each had different styles of art and visual concepts. The Animatrix also was designed to expand and explain the lore that delighted the fans while helping newcomers get oriented efficiently. As of this writing, there are several YouTube reaction videos about The Animatrix and the one that entertained me the most was that of Ashleigh Burton. Go watch her reaction video below.

#4 Japan opposes Islamic immigration – Let us be very clear here. Massive Islamic immigration is causing a lot of trouble in countries that accepted it. In Japan there is an obvious rise of criminal acts, public nuisance and other forms of problems caused by Islamist foreigners there. There were already rape acts committed by Pakistani men, a dumping of garbage committed by a man from Turkey and more. It is also obvious that the Muslim foreigners in Japan have no respect for Japanese culture, rules and social norms. As such, the Japanese opposition against the Islamist foreigners is real and only growing. Watch and learn from the video below.

#5 You, Me and the Movies react to Alligator (1980) – As a very young boy, I saw the 1980 film Alligator on a rented Betamax tape. I saw it alone during my first viewing, and later got a few friends to watch it with me on my second viewing. Alligator was one of those monster movies (AKA creature features) inspired by Steven Spielberg’s Jaws as several movie producers hoped to cash-in on the 1975 film’s popularity and the box office trends of the time. Alligator has its own charm and entertainment value, and you can discover more by watching the reaction video of You, Me and the Movies below.

#6 Woke WNBA Slammed by NBA Legends – When the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) first launched in 1997, there was excitement and hope for the development of women competing in professional basketball. Today, the WNBA remains an enduring financial failure as it never came close to the NBA in terms of mainstream importance. Worse, the WNBA has turned woke and it is very accepting towards biological males who identified themselves as women. The transgender and social justice diseases are deep in the minds of the people leading the WNBA which led to the growing madness. Recently, the WNBA’s hypocrisy has been exposed and already there were NBA legends who expressed their opinions against the screwed-up league. Watch and learn from the video below.

#7 Premium Corn Craze in Japan – Have you ever tasted corn imported from Japan? The Japanese love corn and the harvesting of corn in their country is a significant industry on its own. As such, it is not surprising that the selling of corn sourced directly from local farmers is highly pursued by locals. Japan also has several varieties of corn ensuring consumers with different tastes have something to enjoy. Watch and learn from the video below.

#8 1980s Cartoons Revisited – The way my life turned out, the 1980s will always be the most memorable decade of cartoon series (note: anime is exempted, including those that got translated for the West). The 1980s is the very decade that has significant cartoon titles like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, The Transformers, and so much more. The said decade also has its share of other animated series that failed to attract a massive audience and ended up being obscured and forgotten. To enjoy the nostalgia of 1980s cartoons, watch the videos below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Higher Residence Permit Procedure Fees for Foreigners in Japan Will Take Effect on October 1

Higher Residence Permit Procedure Fees for Foreigners in Japan Will Take Effect on October 1

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Starting October 1, the fees for residence permit procedures for foreigners in Japan will be hiked officially as a result of the approval by the Cabinet yesterday, according to an NHK World news article. This new development is part of the revision of the immigration control act of Japan and was set in motion over a month ago.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article NHK World. Some parts in boldface…

Japan’s government has decided on a series of fee increases for residence permit procedures for foreign nationals.

The move was approved at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday and will go into effect on October 1 in line with a revision to the immigration control act.

The fee to obtain a permanent residence permit will be raised from the current 10,000 yen, or about 63 dollars, to 200,000 yen, or more than 1,250 dollars. The procedure can be carried out only in person.

The current fee when renewing or changing residence status is set at 6,000 yen, or about 38 dollars, at an official counter and 5,500 yen, or about 35 dollars, online.

For a stay of up to three months, the charge at both counters and online will be raised to 10,000 yen, or about 63 dollars.

For a one-year stay, the fee will be raised to 33,000 yen, or over 205 dollars, at a counter, and 27,000 yen, or about 170 dollars, online.

The fee for a stay of five years or longer will be raised to 75,000 yen, or about 470 dollars, at a counter, and 65,000 yen, or more than 400 dollars, online.

The government says it will reduce the fees for applicants facing financial difficulties, including those designated as refugees.

Justice Minister Hiraguchi Hiroshi told reporters that the fee hikes are necessary to ensure that the policy is implemented to promote an orderly society coexisting with foreign nationals.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you convinced that there will be no stopping the hike of the mentioned fees from taking effect on October 1? Do you think the increased fees are insufficient from a financial viewpoint? Do you think this latest immigration control move by the current government can effectively alter the direction of permanent residency in Japan? Do you think people from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey and other Muslim-majority nations will be discouraged from going to Japan for work and residency?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 151

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 151

carlocarrasco

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.

Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Ashleigh Burton reacts to Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb – When it comes to movies about the Cold War and the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 movie Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb stood out with its very unique presentation backed with memorable performances by Peter Sellers and George C. Scott. The film was a satire about the Cold War tensions between America and Russia, and it gave moviegoers a unique look as to what could have happened behind the secured government offices and how each nation communicated with each other over the hotline. Kubrick’s film is so significant, it got featured in many movie reaction videos on YouTube and I had fun watching Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video. Go watch it now!

#2 Behind the Scenes Making of Resident Evil (1996) – It has been over thirty years since Resident Evil was first released and today it has grown into a multimedia entertainment franchise still driven by video game productions. Although many video game publications published a lot of articles about the original game from 1996, none of them captured the behind-the-scenes making at Capcom which the YouTube video below features. Even if you are not a Resident Evil fan, I still encourage you to watch it as you can learn a lot about the process, the hard work done by the Japanese and insight shared by Shinji Mikami.

#3 The Multi-million Dollar Theft With Fake Coupons – Over a decade ago, someone in the state of Arizona started an illegal operation using fake coupons which grew so dramatically, it became a shadow enterprise and two more people got involved. The operation of multiple fake shopping coupons robbed corporations several millions of Dollars and the one who started it got so rich she even bought herself many luxury vehicles. To find out the details about this true crime story, watch the video below and pay close attention.

#4 Austria Fought Back Against Islam – Massive immigration that includes Islamists who are obsessed with conquering new nations is very clearly dangerous and even toxic. With so many illegal aliens/immigrants and Muslims in Europe, it is clear that the future of the Europeans is looking more uncertain as time passes. Among them is Austria which boldly made changes to prioritize its own people and preserve its rich culture by pushing back hard against Islamists. Already there were Islamic scandals that were uncovered there in Austria. Watch and learn from the Fall of Nations video below.

#5 The Fall of BuzzFeed – Remember how popular BuzzFeed was? Even though a lot of people got lured by them, I never trusted BuzzFeed and I was never interested with their videos and other online gimmicks. BuzzFeed was also a very questionable participant in journalism no matter what they did to gain credibility. Fortunately for the world, BuzzFeed collapsed and deservedly so. To find out why, watch MAGAmark’s video below.

#6 Record-breaking Rainfall Hits Chiba Prefecture in Japan – Apart from being vulnerable to earthquakes which is connected with being located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan also has its share of struggles with immense rainfall and flooding. Recently, record-breaking rainfall hit Chiba Prefecture causing a lot of flood and hardship for the Japanese. If you were a constant visitor to Japan, was there ever a time when you got caught in heavy rain and flooding there? Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

#7 Role-playing Games About 1990s Anime – Believe it or not, there are indeed role-playing games (RPGs) based on anime properties that were popular in the 1990s. Of course, a lot of those anime-based RPGs were released only in Japan and some of them became playable with English translations through digital patches, emulation and fan-made translations. If you are into retro gaming, anime, RPGs and the 1990s, watch the Gaming Broductions video below.

#8 Assorted Pacific Rim Reaction Videos – When Pacific Rim was released in cinemas worldwide in 2013, I never bothered to watch it in the local cinema. Here in the Philippines, there was a lot of pre-release buzz that Manila would appear in the movie and so many local film buffs got excited. The movie eventually grossed over $400 million worldwide through theaters and a lot of people enjoyed its high-quality visuals, intense battles and the special attention to detail invested on the size and scale of the locations. The movie has been featured in several reaction videos and posted below are the entertaining ones to watch.

#9 Ranting for Vengeance Slams Video Essay Slop on YouTube – It is not a secret that YouTube is filled not only with artificial intelligence (AI) slop but also video essays made by individuals who arrogantly think of themselves as experts and wise creators. In his recent video, Ranting for Vengeance slammed the video essay slop on YouTube and explained in detail what kind of people created those videos, what their agenda and why people should not allow themselves to be influenced by them. I encourage you to watch the video below now.

#10 Shallow Focus is a Disease in Movies – There is a new trend that has influence the production of movies in Hollywood (AKA Commiewood) for many years now and it has literally become a disease which made the viewing of movies undesirable. The disease is shallow focus which occurs when the area of sharpness in front of a camera lens is very narrow which results in blurry backgrounds. Shallow focus is being abused in modern-day filmmaking and it is only getting worse. That said, I encourage you all to watch Rowan J Coleman’s video below and share it to as many film buffs as possible.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 150

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 150

carlocarrasco

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.

Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 You, Me and the Movies React to Cloak & Dagger (1984) – As some of you readers might know already, I enjoyed the 1984 movie Cloak & Dagger (starring Henry Thomas) and I also liked playing the arcade game that appeared in it as a fictional Atari 5200 game. When it comes to retro gaming, the film strongly resonates with gamers who were old enough to have seen it and played games related with Atari on console and arcades in the 1980s. As such, it is not surprising to see that there are pretty few movie reaction videos of Cloak & Dagger on YouTube. To my personal delight, You, Me and the Movies posted a reaction video of the film and it is entertaining to watch!

#2 Minty Comedic Arts’ Exclusive Interview with Superboy TV star Gerard Christopher – If you were old enough to have seen the live-action Superboy series on TV a long time ago, you would remember that actor Gerard Christopher replaced John Newton as the star. Recently, Minty Comedic Arts posted his exclusive interview with Christopher (who played Superboy in over 70 episodes) and it is not just fun to watch but also surprising and insightful. At the same time, there is a lot to learn and discover from what Gerard Christopher revealed. That said, I encourage you to watch the video below.

#3 Yakisoba in Aichi Prefecture, Japan – I enjoy the taste of Yakisoba which is Japanese noodle stir-fried dish and it is often available in Japanese restaurants in the land of the rising sun as well in other parts of the world. In Aichi Prefecture, there is a family-owned restaurant that specializes in yakisoba. The dedicated cooking, careful processes and sound business management the food joint achieved resulted in a loyal customer base. There is a lot to learn and enjoy from the video below.

#4 Street Fighter II Is Unfair to Gamers? – Here is something that must be seen. Remember how intensely popular Street Fighter II and its updated versions were back in the 1990s? The original arcade game of Street Fighter II revolutionized fighting games and turned it into a wildly popular genre for both gamers and game companies. Still, there is something about the artificial intelligence (AI) in Street Fighter II that makes it “cheat” which resulted in a lot of frustrating experiences for those who played it. Did Capcom’s game developers deliberately set something up? Watch and learn from the video below.

#5 The Death of Criticism with Spider-Man: Brand New Day – Let me ask you this…if the so-called professional movie critics and online influencers unanimously give high praise to a big-budget movie designed to make a lot of money, do you let the critical acclaim influence you into watching it and adjusting your personal standards on judging new movies? In his recent video, Ranting for Vengeance shared a warning about the death of criticism over Spider-Man: Brand New Day which opened with massive commercial success backed with acclaim from the media and a variety of personalities online. By today’s standards, there are many millions of people who got oriented with Spider-Man without ever reading the classic comic books, and there are those who use Spider-Man movies as their main references. What is telling, however, is how some people lowered their standards on judging new movies as a whole. To learn more, watch Ranting with Vengeance’s video below and pay attention to the details.

#6 Assorted Casino (1995) Reaction Videos – I missed out on Martin Scorsese’s 1995 film Casino during its theatrical run and I saw it on home video some years later. Loosely based on real-life events that happened in Las Vegas, the movie was very good with its presentation and the stylized approach on explaining the details regarding casinos and related businesses controlled by criminals. As such, it is not surprising that a lot of movie reaction videos of it were posted on YouTube and I found the most entertaining ones among them for you all to enjoy.

#7 Game Developers Who Went Woke And Ruined The Gaming Industry – I have been playing video games since I was a little boy. This current console gaming generation has been very disappointing and I can say that it is very disgusting that state of gaming deteriorated a lot over the past several years as many game developers hired Leftist activists (the woke, transgendered, social justice warriors, LGBTQ extremists, rabid feminists, racist minority members and other undesirable people) and let them make new video games that reflected their ugly agenda. Very recently, the very woke Halo Studios got away with ruining Halo with the release of Halo: Campaign Evolved. The wokeness of gaming started many years ago and its disease grew a lot through the years. As such, the woke and Leftists working in video games clearly do not care about making video games fun and they do not care about gamers in general. To understand the wokeness and the Satanic Left’s agenda through gaming, watch the video below.

#8 Tempura Onigiri and More in Japan – Recently in Japan, a new form of onigiri with tempura was released and it is gaining popularity with customers. Not only that, newer types of onigiri were being offered to customers as a result of unpredictable market forces, experimentation and the changing tastes of the customers. There is a lot to discover in the Nippon TV, and it just make you crave for onigiri.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 149

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 149

carlocarrasco

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.

Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 A Look At The Johnson County War – If you have seen the 1980 movie Heaven’s Gate, then you have been exposed to the Johnson County War which was a ranger war in the state of Wyoming that happened from 1889 to 1893. What the movie showed, however, was a historical fiction presentation and it could not be taken seriously as a reference of American history. To learn about the Johnson County War with historical attention, watch the video below.

#2 Popcorn in Bed Reacts To U-571 – Speaking of historical fiction, have you seen the movie U-571? When that movie was released in 2000, it only reminded me of other submarine movies like Das Boot, The Hunt For Red October and Crimson Tide. The movie directed by Jonathan Mostow and starring Matthew McConaughey made a lot of buzz when it opened at #1 in the American box office and that success influenced a lot of moviegoers here in the Philippines to watch it in local cinemas. I never saw U-571 but I noticed how much of an impact it had on Popcorn in Bed’s reaction video which I encourage you to watch.

#3 Japan Pushes Back Against Islam – There is a disturbing trend that has been happening in Japan that their local media and the international news organizations are not telling you…the Islamic foreigners there have been causing a series of disturbances such as occupying public spaces for Muslim prayers/gatherings, littering, rape, the construction of an illegal mosque and more. That said, there are lots of Japanese nationalists and concerned citizens who are fighting back and expressing demands and complaints to their government officials. It is clear that the Muslim foreigners there in Japan have this collective mindset of conquering Japan, violating the Japanese and gaining power under the guise of multiculturalism and political correctness. Watch the videos below.

#4 The Relevance Of The 1990s – Remember how unique the 1990s was when it comes to the evolution of technology, the marketing of products, the gradual transformation of pop culture in America and the like? There was indeed something special about the said decade which explains the driving force behind the Millennials’ nostalgia about it. To find out more, watch the video below.

#5 When Hollywood Released Two Similar Movies In 1998 – Way back in 1998, moviegoers worldwide saw two movies from Hollywood that had similar concepts about the world getting hit by something from deep space. The movies were Deep Impact and Armageddon, and they were released in the same summer box office season in America. Deep Impact was more dramatic and tried hard to be believable while Armageddon was highly exaggerated and had Michael Bay’s flair all over it. The two films were released at a time when disaster movies had a resurgence and they used computer-generated images to make realize their respective visual concepts. I find an analytical video about the two 1998 movies and I encourage you all to watch it.

#6 You, Me And The Movies React To Ghost In The Shell (1995) – There are many reasons why the 1995 anime feature film Ghost in the Shell is very significant. The adaptation of Masamune Shirow’s literary Ghost in the Shell was made with very high production values under the direction of Mamoru Oshii, the story had many futuristic concepts that became very relevant today, and it was very influential for many Hollywood filmmakers. That said, I liked how the anime feature film drew reactions from You, Me and the Movies, and their reaction video is a must-see!

#7 Casablanca Reaction Video Of EOM Reacts – There is nothing like watching a classic, black-and-white movie like Casablanca. Set in French Morocco, the story follows many characters dealing with the uncertainty of war and it is inside the nightclub and gambling den of American expatriate Rick Blaine where a lot of developments happened. The 1942 movie is memorable with its top-notch stars (Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman are phenomenal), the dramatic plot, the immersive settings and many iconic lines and moments. I have seen the movie a few times already on 4K Blu-ray format and I enjoyed watching EOM Reacts’ video of it. Go watch his video below.

#8 Soba Getting Reinvented In Japan – Soba – a Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour – is getting reinvented in Japan as the traditional shops there are struggling with the rising costs of ingredients as well as a growing shortage of successors to the operators. In an effort to stay in business while avoiding raising prices, the surviving soba restaurants (and some new ones) there are reinventing the dining experience and doing other things to preserve the traditional soba culture. Watch and learn from the video below.

#9 Ranting For Vengeance Slams Zach Cregger And His Resident Evil Movie – As some of you already know, there is another new live-action movie of Resident Evil coming out soon and the early previews showed very little connections with the Resident Evil games of Capcom. Actor Zach Cregger is the director and co-writer of the new Resident Evil movie and Ranting for Vengeance slammed him hard in his recent YouTube video. Not only that, the YouTuber also backed up his criticism on Cregger and the 2026 Resident Evil movie with facts and details that you have to see. That said, go watch his video below and pay close attention to the details.

#10 Atari Jaguar CD Revisited – While I played a lot of games of Atari (both on Atari 2600 console and arcade games) in my life, I never owned an Atari Jaguar nor its CD-ROM add-on device. Indeed, there was a time in the 1990s when Atari got back in console gaming starting with the Jaguar console that operated with games in cartridge format. A short time later, the add-on Atari Jaguar CD was released and it looked like a toilet with the lid open. To learn more about the Atari Jaguar CD, watch the retro gaming video below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Donnelly and Hayashi Rule NTT Asia Cup Subic Bay Elite Contests

Donnelly and Hayashi Rule NTT Asia Cup Subic Bay Elite Contests

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Heavy favorites Canadian Liam Donnelly and Japanese Manami Hayashi dominated the Elite Men’s and Elite Women’s divisions of the NTT Asia Triathlon Cup Subic Bay International Triathlon, respectively, yesterday.

Donnely, 26, whose latest conquest was 2025 Americas Triathlon Cup Manta, clocked 56 minutes and 16 seconds, 12 seconds clear of his closest pursuer Kazakh Daryn Konesbayov and 34 seconds ahead of dethroned titlist Japanese Takuto Oshima could only settle for the bronze medal.

Manami Hayashi, 22, successfully defended her throne convincingly with a margin of 11 seconds. No. 1 in the Asian standing and ranked No. 37 in the world, she timed 1:02: 29 to runner-up Ayame Hayashi’s 1:02:40.

Rounding out the top 5 positions included Austrian Philip Pertl (4th- 56:55) and Turk Gultigi Er (5th- 56:56) in the men’s side; and Turk Sinem Tous Servera (3rd- 1:02:53), Koreans Hye Rim Jeong (4th- 1:03:06) and Hye Rang (5th- 1:03:10) in the women’s contest.

The Top 5 finishers of the Elite Men with champion Liam Donnelly in the middle. (photo source: Triathlon Philippines)
The Top 5 of the Elite Women’s division with champion Manami Hayashi in the middle. (photo source – Triathlon Philippines)

Organized Triathlon Philippines in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), the oldest and longest running triathlon event in Southeast Asia is sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), NTT, Gatorade (official hydration partner), Western Guaranty Corporation, C-Vitt and Subic Bay Travelers Hotel (official race hotel).

Over at the NTT Asia Junior Triathlon Cup, the top 5 finishers were: men- Kazak Ramazan Ainegov (1st-1:01:55), Aussie Cooper Smeulders (2nd- 1:02:56), Korean Taul Jun (3rd- 1:033:46), Aussie Rhys Cameron (4th- 1:04:14) and local Pete Sancho del Rosario (5th- 1:04:35) and;

In the women’s- Alua Nurmuhamet KAZ (1st- 1:11:12), Kaleruya Shneider KAZ (2nd- 1:1:18), Anisha Eunice Caluya PHI (3rd- 1:11:48), Charlotte Thurston UAE (4th- 1:12:51) and Yuki Yokoi JPN (5th – 1:15:54).

The Top 5 of the NTT Asia Junior Triathlon Cup female division.
The top finishers of the male division of the NTT Asia Junior Triathlon Cup.

The third pillar of the 3-in-1 2026 SuBIT affair—the National Triathlon Championships—saw Inaki Lorbes (58:57) and Raven Alcoseba (1:04:58) emerge as champions. Completing the medalist were; silver – Andrew Remolino (1:00:01) &  Samantha Corpuz (1:11:21) and bronze- Dayshaun Ramos (1:01:35) & Mikele Katerina Jopson (1:114:37).

For more triathlon and multisport updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/TriPhil.  

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Note: This post was sourced from the official press release of the event from Triathlon Philippines.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Japanese Triathletes Defend SuBIT Crowns

Japanese Triathletes Defend SuBIT Crowns

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Takuto Oshima and Manami Hayashi, both from Japan, take a crack at extending their hold on their respective titles in the NTT Asia Triathlon Cup Subic Bay, more commonly known as the Subic International Triathlon (SuBIT), at Subic Bay Freeport Zone on May 2 (Saturday).

SuBIT’s 33rd staging carries with it the NTT Asia Triathlon Junior Cup for first time and henceforth the official Philippine National Triathlon Championships and qualifier for National Training Pool.

While Oshima (ranked #88 male in the world) and Hayashi (#36 female) will enjoy strong support from their compatriots, Oshima will face the strongest challenge from Canadian Liam Donnelly who is ranked higher by 15 notches.

Hayashi on the other hand is top-ranked among the female entries and the closest to her who are non-Japanese are Turkey’s Sinem Servera (#87) and USA’s Michelle Magnani (#91).

Organized Triathlon Philippines in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, the oldest and longest running triathlon event in Southeast Asia is sponsored by Philippine Sports Commission, NTT, Gatorade (official hydration partner), Western Guaranty Corporation, C-Vitt and Subic Bay Travelers Hotel (official race hotel).

One of the more popular triathlons in Asia, this year’s SuBIT drew 92 elite triathletes and 31 elite juniors from 24 countries including Australia, Brazil, Bahrain, Canada, Cambodia, Guam, Hongkong, Indonesia, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Qatar, Thailand, Taipei, Turkey, Ukraine, USA, Singapore, UAE, Bangladesh, Samoa and Philippines.

Looming as top bets from Southeast Asia include 2025 Southeast Asian Games champion Indonesian Rashif Amila Yaqin, also 2023 SEAG silver medalist, in the male division.

French Cambodian Margot Garabedian, 2023 SEAG gold medalist and runner-up in the 2026 Asian Beach Games aquathlon last April 24, lead the ASEAN campaign in the distaff side.        

The non-elite athletes in the field of nearly 500 will display their wares in the second day of action.

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Note: This post was sourced from the official press release of the event from Triathlon Philippines.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

NATO Slammed By Trump

NATO Slammed By Trump

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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) – an intergovernmental military alliance between more than thirty member states – was slammed by US President Donald J. Trump and labeled a paper tiger due to its cowardice as it never supported the military operations against the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran, according to a news report by Newsmax.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of Newsmax. Some parts in boldface…

President Donald Trump on Friday blasted NATO and key European allies, calling the alliance “a paper tiger” and accusing its members of cowardice for refusing to back efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz while the United States and Israel continue military strikes against Iran.

“Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.  “They didn’t want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran.

“Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices.“

Although Trump has argued the conflict is effectively over and that Iran’s military has been severely weakened, he has stopped short of formally declaring victory.

“So easy for them to do, with so little risk,”Trump wrote. “COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!“

Trump’s criticism came after Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands signaled Thursday that they were prepared to assist in keeping the vital shipping lane open.

“We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait,” the countries’ leaders wrote in a letter. “We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning.”

The letter did not specify what role those countries would play in any Hormuz security effort. The strait carries about 20% of the world’s daily oil supply, and the joint statement also voiced “deep concern” over the effect of Iranian strikes on global energy markets.

The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are NATO members.

Trump has repeatedly pressed NATO and European allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and has urged several countries to take part in the military campaign, though they have so far resisted direct involvement.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Thursday he believes the alliance and its members will ultimately reach a solution to restore passage through the strategic waterway.

“I’m confident that allies, as always, will do everything in support of our shared interest as we always do,” he said.

This development raises doubts about the credibility and relevance of NATO in the 21st century. Among NATO’s members are Spain and Turkey whose leaders openly support Islamic terrorists and hate Israel. I am surprised that Italy – led by its conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – did not get involved considering her nation’s healthy ties with Trump’s America and Israel. Let’s be clear here…a lot of European nations rely on oil tankers that pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Finally, I believe it is arrogant and wrong for NATO to ignore Iran’s attacks against other states in the Gulf such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and even Islamist Qatar.

For additional insight, watch the YouTube news videos below.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Apart from the obvious cowardice, what do you think are the other factors as to why NATO and its members stayed away from the military operations against the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran? Do you think the wicked Iranian regime has deep connections with most of NATO’s members? Do you consider NATO relevant and needed in this current century?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Charter Of The Board Of Peace Ratified By US President Trump In Davos

Charter Of The Board Of Peace Ratified By US President Trump In Davos

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The effort to transform Gaza from a region ravaged by conflict and the abuse of Islamic terrorists into a reformed place of opportunity and hope took major steps forward as US President Donald J. Trump formally ratified the Charter of the Board of Peace in Davos, Switzerland, according to the official announcement by the White House.

The historic ratification establishes the Board of Peace as an official international organization dedicated to reshaping the Gaza Strip by rebuilding it, redeveloping it and creating new opportunities for Gaza residents who have been abused and pushed around by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas for so long. There are, however, legitimate concerns and questions about the Board of Peace.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the White House announcement. Some parts in boldface…

Today, in an historic ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, President Donald J. Trump formally ratified the Charter of the Board of Peace — establishing it as an official international organization. President Trump, who is serving as the Board’s Chairman, was joined by Founding Members representing countries around the world who have committed to building a secure and prosperous future for Gaza that delivers lasting peace, stability, and opportunity for its people.

It’s another pivotal step forward in realizing President Trump’s vision of transforming Gaza from a region plagued by conflict and despair into one defined by opportunity, hope, and vitality. The Board of Peace stands ready to mobilize global resources, enforce accountability, and guide the implementation of the next critical phases of demilitarization, governance reform, and large-scale rebuilding.

President Trump: “This Board has the chance to be one of the most consequential bodies ever created, and It’s my enormous honor to serve as its Chairman… Today, the first steps toward a brighter day for the Middle East and a much safer future for the world are unfolding right before your very eyes. Together, we are in a position to have any credible chance… to end decades of suffering, stop generations of hatred and bloodshed, and forge a beautiful, everlasting, and glorious peace for that region.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “We are here today because of President Trump’s vision. If we go back just a few months ago, people thought what was happening in Gaza was impossible to solve… No one thought that that would ever come to a resolution without more fighting and more bloodshed along the way… But President Trump had the vision and the courage to dream the impossible, to believe that it was doable, and to pursue it with all of his heart.”

To see the entire White House announcement and images, click https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2026/01/president-trump-ratifies-board-of-peace-in-historic-ceremony-opening-path-to-hope-and-dignity-for-gazans/

Concerns and Questions – As mentioned earlier, there are some legitimate concerns and questions regarding the Board of Peace. Hamas itself has yet to be disarmed, and two of Israel’s enemies – Turkey and Qatar – are part of the Board of Peace.

For insight, posted below is an excerpt from the related article by Looking For The Blessed Hope. Some parts in boldface.

As part of the peace deal, President Trump proposed a “Board of Peace,” made up of world leaders who will quasi-govern Gaza while the Strip is rebuilt. That phase was to begin after conditions of Phase 1 (hostage return and disarmament) were met. In Davos, President Trump has already assembled that board and appears to be pushing the plan forward, despite Gaza’s lack of adherence to Phase 1 requirements.

So, who is on this infamous “Board of Peace,” announced today and chaired by President Trump himself? Quite frankly, it is shocking. First, there are ZERO Israeli representatives on that board. None…zero…zilch…nada! From the country that was attacked by those monsters. But guess who DID make the cut:

Several Americans close to Trump, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio (who has been a staunch supporter of Israel…let’s hope he keeps his head about him), Jared Kushner (Trump’s Jewish son-in-law/business man) and Steve Witkoff (special envoy who appears to be in the hip pocket of Qatar).

Some international bankers and investment firm billionaires, apparently there to help in the rebuilding of Gaza. Perhaps that will be advantageous, or perhaps they are there to serve their own best interests…we’ll see. Remember, this is a business deal as much (or more) than a foreign policy.)

Supposedly flaming antisemite, Turkish President Erdogan, has accepted an invitation. (If not, his Foreign Minister assuredly has.) Erdogan has publicly stated his intent to destroy Israel, and just recently said (in a conversation with Iran’s president), “Peace, stability, and security of Iran are strategic and vital importance to Turkey.” Why put an avowed Israel-hater in cahoots with the Iranian regime on the board to govern a terrorist enclave who also vows to destroy Israel? Insane!

Qatari Minister of Strategic Affairs Ali al-Thawadi is also among the board members. Qatar is the financial backbone of Iran’s proxies. They literally funded Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis in the 2-year war with Israel. What are we thinking?

For my previous blog posts regarding President Trump, Gaza and the Middle East, click here, here and here.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the Board of Peace will be able to fulfill its commitments while Trump remains as US President? Do you think Qatar and Turkey have something very sinister planned to ruin Israel while using the Board of Peace as a diplomatic shield? Do you think Trump and the Board of Peace will be able to pressure Hamas to disarm?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship all set for September 12-28, 2025 in the Philippines

FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship all set for September 12-28, 2025 in the Philippines

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The 2025 edition of the prestigious FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship is all set to be hosted exclusively by the Philippines from September 12 to 28, 2025.

The event will have the top 32 men’s volleyball teams of the world competing for the championship title. Games will be staged at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City and at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Schedules of the games will be announced soon.

The 32 teams are divided into eight pools which are arranged in the following order: Pool A: Philippines, Iran, Egypt, Tunisia; Pool B: Poland, Netherlands, Qatar, Romania; Pool C: France, Argentina, Finland, Korea; Pool D: USA, Cuba, Portugal, Colombia; Pool E: Slovenia, Germany, Bulgaria, Chile; Pool F: Italy, Ukraine, Belgium, Algeria; Pool G: Japan, Canada, Türkiye, Libya; and Pool H: Brazil, Serbia, Czechia, China.

The Philippines is the exclusive host of the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship. It is recalled that previous editions of the event were each co-hosted by multiple nations – Italy and Bulgaria in 2018, and Poland and Slovenia in 2018.

For the 2025 edition, the Philippines emerged as the successful bidder and the final decision was made following a rigorous evaluation process where the FIVB and Volleyball World found the Philippine bid to be particularly strong; with its emphasis on ensuring a continued growth of the event and the country’s commitment to the development of volleyball globally.

FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça F° stated that their organization is confident that the Philippines “will host an extraordinary World Championship that will leave a lasting legacy.”

Meanwhile, Volleyball World CEO Finn Taylor stated that the Philippines “is well-positioned to deliver an exceptional championship that will showcase the best of the sport.”

For future updates about the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship, visit https://en.volleyballworld.com/volleyball/competitions/men-world-championship/

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco