Usa

Abena Appiah of the US was crowned Miss Grand International while the Philippines’ bet Samantha Bernardo finished 1st runner-up. Guatemala’s Ivana Batchelor placed 2nd runner-up, Indonesia’s Aurra Kharishma was 3rd runner-up and Brazil’s Lalae Guedes 4th runner-up. The ceremony originally set for October 2020 was staged on Saturday night at the Show DC Hall in Bangkok, Thailand. In the first Q&A segment, the Top 5 candidates were given the question, “With the current Covid-19 situation, what would you choose? Shutting down the country for the safety of the people, knowing that the country’s economy will be deeply affected, or opening up the country to keep the economy running and taking the risk of Covid-19 infections and consequences?” Bernardo answered, “I will always choose the people. Because without its people, a country will never be a country. We will never be the Philippines without Filipinos; you will never be Thailand without Thais. So, it is a must that we ... » Learn More about Miss USA crowned Miss Grand International 2020

LOS ANGELES • Olympic gold medallist Aly Raisman lashed out on Monday night at a settlement put forward by USA Gymnastics for the Larry Nassar abuse scandal, describing the proposals as "offensive" to survivors of the jailed team doctor's crimes. In an interview with NBC television's Today morning news show, she accused the organisation of attempting to prevent release of details which would show how he was able to abuse athletes for years. Her criticism followed reports last month that a tiered settlement system would be used to pay damages to Nassar's victims, with payments ranging from US$82,550 to US$1.25 million (S$115,000 to S$1.74 million). However, attorneys for the hundreds of women who were abused have said the deal is insufficient, arguing it releases too many parties from further claims, including the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and former USA Gymnastics chief Steve Penny. "It shows they don't care," Raisman said. "They're just trying to push it ... » Learn More about USA Gym abuse settlement offensive: Raisman

NEW YORK (AFP) - A proposed USA Gymnastics tiered settlement system would pay some sexual assault victims of former US team doctor Larry Nassar only US$82,550 (S$115,800), according to multiple reports on Saturday (Feb 22) detailing the payment plans. Simone Biles, expected to be among the stars of this year's Tokyo Olympics after winning four gold medals at Rio in 2016 and 19 world titles including a fifth all-around crown last year, would be among 66 gymnasts to receive the top-level settlement amount of US$1.25 million. An attorney for hundreds of victims of Nassar's abuse says the total US$215 million settlement offer is insufficient and releases too many people from further claims, including the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, former USA Gymnastics chief executive Steve Penny and former national team directors Bela and Martha Karolyi. A disclosure statement filed with the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana was outlined in reports by the Orange ... » Learn More about Outrage as USA Gymnastics sex assault deal pays some victims only US$82,550, say reports

(Reuters) - United States Olympic hopefuls said they were ready and willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, as the three-day Team USA virtual media summit kicked off on Wednesday, a year after the deadly pandemic forced a delay to the Tokyo 2020 Games. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC)reiterated that it would not require athletes to get a shot to compete in Tokyo, but will encourage them to do so, as Japan enters what appears to be a fourth wave of the pandemic. Perry Baker, a 34-year-old rugby athlete who featured in the 2016 Rio Games, said after some initial doubts he was motivated to get the vaccine out of concern not only for others' safety but to help ensure his Olympic dreams stay on track. "All the hard work that we’ve put in after these last 10, 12 months and we don’t want to get there (and) we can’t play because we haven’t been vaccinated or whatnot, whatever the case may be," Baker told reporters. "So yes, I will be getting vaccinated." ... » Learn More about Team USA athletes signal readiness for COVID-19 vaccine

Bangkok – Miss Grand United States of America, Abena Appiah, placed as the first-place winner at the Miss Grand International pageant held in Bangkok yesterday, March 27th, 2021. The world-class grand beauty pageant had delighted all beauty fans around the world. Regardless of the global Covid-19 pandemic, a total of 63 beautiful Miss Grand contestants from all over the world had agreed to participate in the contest in Thailand. The final round held at Show DC Hall of the capital attracted a lot of attention from beauty pageant fans. The audiences who gathered at the event were made to comply with strict health measures in line with public health restrictions to prevent Covid-19. A large group of fans from Thailand and around the world had also been watching the event through online broadcasting. One of the highlights is when the top 10 finalists expressed their attitudes on the concept of ‘Stop The War & Violence’. A short speech was given, demanding peace and ... » Learn More about Miss Grand USA wins the Miss Grand International held in Bangkok on Saturday night

There are many ways to prevent disasters. We may be vulnerable to natural hazards and the effects of climate change, but we do not have to be helpless. We must be in control, we must be proactive and we must take urgent action. We must focus on managing the risks rather than managing disasters. When we reduce disaster risks and we are all prepared, informed and equipped, these natural hazards like typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis and storm surges will not turn into disasters. Disaster risk management should not be carried out only right before calamities happen. Local government units (LGUs) should be at the forefront of the planning, preparation and execution of the plans to provide an effective “first line of defense” against disaster risks. Funds should be sufficiently allocated. Cooperation among local and national governments, businesses, the academe, youth and other members of the community is imperative. We must let science work for our communities. The best solutions ... » Learn More about Make climate change mitigation and disaster prevention a way of life

NEW YORK: Investors are turning their attention to prospects that higher taxes could threaten the rally in U.S. stocks as President Joe Biden's administration moves forward with its agenda and seeks ways to pay for its spending plans. In recent days, investors have focused on a rise in bond yields that has pressured share prices, though indexes remain close to their record highs. Nevertheless, some worry that at least a partial rollback of the corporate tax cuts that fueled stock gains during the Trump era could eventually drag on equities, whose valuations have already grown rich by some measures. "It is an issue," said Quincy Krosby, chief market strategist at Prudential Financial. "It's going to be talked about as it becomes a reality. But the market's focus right now is clearly on getting to the other side of this pandemic." The S&P 500 has gained more than 4per cent this year, with Biden's newly passed US$1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan providing the latest ... » Learn More about Wall Street Week Ahead: Investors got the stimulus boost, but now face tax worries

Get set for SWEEP! In celebration of International Women's Month, SportPhil organizes its first international virtual… Posted by Sport Management Council of the Philippines, Inc. – Sportphil on Sunday, February 28, 2021 No less than the United Nations has cited how the COVID-19 pandemic has seriously undermined access and opportunities to sport and physical activity – impacting much more the vulnerable sectors like women and girls. Amid the struggles in the pandemic in the country, renowned women sport leaders, coaches and entrepreneurs from here and abroad will be coming together to cap international women’s month during the country’s first online international sports conference for Sport for Women’s Empowerment and Employment Program (S.W.E.E.P.) from March 24 to 26, 2021 via Attendify. “Women empowerment through sports has been our advocacy since 2014. The mission of S.W.E.E.P. is to capacitate teachers, coaches, and sport professionals in the unique aspects of ... » Learn More about SWEEP: Women leaders on game-changing sports in the new normal

WASHINGTON  - A federal grand jury charged four leaders of the far-right Proud Boys with conspiring to block Congress from certifying US President Joe Biden’s election on the day of a deadly assault on the Capitol, according to court papers unsealed on Friday (April 2). The indictment alleges that Ethan Nordean of Washington, Joseph Biggs of Florida, Zachary Rehl of Pennsylvania and Charles Donohoe of North Carolina conspired to encourage members of the group to attend the Stop the Steal protest in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6. All four defendants in the superseding indictment released on Friday are the leaders or organizers of Proud Boys chapters in their respective states, the indictment says. It says they worked to obtain paramilitary equipment used for the attack on the US Capitol, dismantled metal barriers set up to protect the building, and communicated using handheld radios and encrypted messaging applications. [[nid:517673]] It also says the effort included soliciting ... » Learn More about US charges Proud Boys with conspiracy in Capitol assault that turned deadly

Maj Gen Intarat Yodbangtoey, former president of the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association, talks with reporters at a briefing earlier this year. (Post File Photo) LONDON: The troubled International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has appointed its third interim president in as many days, with Michael Irani taking over from Maj Gen Intarat Yodbangtoey of Thailand. Intarat had replaced American Ursula Papandrea in the role after an emergency meeting of the executive board on Tuesday. The future of weightlifting as an Olympic sport is at risk, warned Irani, chairman of the medical committee and former chair of the anti-doping commission. “I do not intend to stand as a candidate for the IWF president position in the future, so I will be able to focus fully on the reforms leading up to a clear and transparent IWF Congress,” said Irani, 71. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday it was “very worried” by the replacement of Papandrea, the way the decision had ... » Learn More about Intarat out after just one day at IWF