Voters in Republika Srpska, the Serb-majority entity of Bosnia
and Herzegovina, headed to the polls on Sunday for a snap
presidential election.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) across
2,211 locations both within Republika Srpska …
Voters in Republika Srpska, the Serb-majority entity of Bosnia
and Herzegovina, headed to the polls on Sunday for a snap
presidential election.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) across
2,211 locations both within Republika Srpska and abroad. Voting
will run until 7 p.m. (1800 GMT). According to Bosnia’s election
commission, more than one million citizens are registered to vote.
The first preliminary results are expected before midnight,
according to the Anadolu Agency.
Six candidates on the ballot
The Central Election Commission confirmed that six contenders
are competing for the presidency following the removal of Milorad
Dodik from office.
The frontrunner, according to analysts, is Sinisa Karan — the
minister for science, technology and higher education — who enjoys
the backing of Dodik’s Union of Independent Social Democrats
(SNSD).
He is joined on the ballot by Dragan Djokanovic of the New
Policy Union, Branko Blanusa of the Serbian Democratic Party,
Nikola Lazarevic of the Ecological Party of Republika Srpska, and
two independent candidates, Igor Gasevic and Slavko Dragicevic.
Background to the snap vote
The election was triggered after months of political crisis
centred on Milorad Dodik, known for his separatist rhetoric and
repeated challenges to Bosnia’s constitutional order.
Dodik openly refused to recognise the Office of the High
Representative (OHR) — created under the Dayton Peace Agreement —
and rejected the authority of the current High Representative,
Christian Schmidt.
In June 2023, under Dodik’s leadership, the Republika Srpska
National Assembly voted to stop publishing Schmidt’s decisions in
its Official Gazette. Schmidt annulled those moves, invoking his
powers to block legislation seen as threatening the state’s
integrity.
Dodik doubled down on his claims that Republika Srpska would
eventually “secede from Bosnia and Herzegovina.” Prosecutors
charged him with failing to comply with OHR decisions, seeking a
prison term. In December 2023, he received a one-year prison
sentence and a six-year ban from political office, later converted
into a fine.
Bosnia’s Central Election Commission subsequently voted
unanimously to remove him from the presidency, paving the way for
the current snap election.
Jobberman Nigeria, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has successfully boosted the career prospects of over 1,000 young people across Edo S…
Jobberman Nigeria, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has successfully boosted the career prospects of over 1,000 young people across Edo State with a career clinic programme.
The event held in Benin City was attended by job seekers, entrepreneurs, and career professionals for one-day intensive learning, networking, and opportunity creation.
The participants, which described the clinic as life-changing, noted that it has equipped them with the new skills, clarity and renewed confidence to take charge of their careers and businesses.
The theme of the programme was, ‘Your Career Compass: Gain Clarity in Work and Business.’
In his opening remarks, Innih Ikhide, head of Youth Engagement and Learning at Jobberman Nigeria, said the Career Clinic as an opportunity to gain clarity, purpose, and practical strategies for their business.
Ikhide, who noted that nothing “will change if you don’t take action,” added that the world of work was changing fast while clarity is no longer a luxury but a necessity.
He expressed the optimism that the next wave of transformative stories would come from among the participants.
While sharing an inspiring story, he opined that “Life is 10 percent of what happens to you and 90 percent on how you respond to it.”
Ikhide, who appreciated the attendees for coming, said that the future of an in dividual depended on how he or she positioned him/herself.
In her keynote address, Isimeme Whyte, founder of Genius Hub, challenged the participants to embrace technology, think entrepreneurially, and position themselves as solutions to the problems around them.
According to her, “The calibre of young people I met in Benin City genuinely inspired me. They are not waiting for handouts; they’re hungry for knowledge, for connections, for a fair chance.
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“This generation has everything it takes to redefine Nigeria’s future, and I am honoured to have played a small part in encouraging them along that path,” she said.
In his good will message, Kerimu Shehu Kelly, Managing Director of the Edo State Skills Development Agency (EdoJobs), while commending the initiative, noted that the state government has seen the tremendous efforts of Jobberman.
Kelly assured that the Edo State government would collaborate with the Jobberman to make the event more robust, especially for the marginalised in the future.
He opined that when the government and the organisation work together, more young people who are in need of jobs and businesses opportunities can be reached.
Osayuwamen Aladesulu, Jobina Arinze, Kevwe Modupe and Chika Ike-Ojumwu, some of the experts at the programme provided practical guidance that resonated deeply with the attendees.
On his part, Kingsley Eromesele, chairman of the Edo State Deaf People Association, thanked Jobberman for the event.
“I was happy the organisers took persons with disabilities into account. The sessions were accessible and valuable. I hope Jobberman will organise more events like this and include us even more.”
Also, Rejoice Aghoghore, a graduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) who owns an accessories business, said the panel session gave her some clarity on what to do to address her worries and promote the business.
“I was wondering how to move on now that I have finished school, and the panel session gave me some clarity on what to do to put myself out there and promote my business. I feel more confident about the path ahead”, she added.
The Edo Career Clinic reinforced Jobberman’s commitment to ensuring young Nigerians have access to the skills, connections, and opportunities they need to build dignified and fulfilling careers.
The programme included three intensive breakout sessions led by Esohe Esther Idehen on Interview Etiquette and Personal Branding, John lyoha on Entrepreneurship Development, and Ibrahim Odion on Digital Customer Engagement strategies.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul together with ministers and officials concerned attend a ceremony for the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation to combat technology-related crimes at Government House on Nov 6. Chanat Katanyu
The government has stepped up its campaign against scam networks, setting up two committees to intensify enforcement.
The first is the committee on the prevention and suppression of technology-related crimes, chaired by the prime minister himself. The second is the Finance Ministry’s “Connect the Dots” team, which coordinates with multiple agencies to trace money flows and pursue cross-border scam syndicates.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who also serves as interior minister, also presided over the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation to combat technology-related crimes. Fifteen state agencies joined the agreement, which commits them to share information and report joint progress.
While authorities insist they are cracking down harder than ever, the opposition People’s Party (PP) argues the government’s efforts are deemed superficial and problems show little sign of easing.
The Bangkok Post spoke to the government spokesman and political analysts to see if the issue is being driven by political pressure ahead of the general election or reflects a genuine attempt to dismantle entrenched scam networks.
Govt defends its record
Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said the scam issue has now become heavily politicised, with opposition figures trying to link the problem to networks allegedly connected to Agriculture Minister Capt Thamanat Prompow, chief adviser of the Klatham Party.
He said state agencies have already seized more than 30 billion baht from scam operations, yet critics have already made up their minds and continue to insist the government is only catching small players.
Police nationwide have been ordered to prioritise scam cases after the government declared the issue a top priority, he said, adding there are around 7,000 cases. “But critics say there is no progress, which is not true. It has become politicised,” he said.
Mr Siripong said the accusation will linger unless authorities arrest the major financiers and admitted there is insufficient evidence to implicate those figures repeatedly named by the opposition, leaving the government “trapped.”
Shady networks and their financiers such as the Prince Group and foreign businessman Benjamin Mauerberger, also known as Ben Smith, have been accused by opposition politicians of being behind the operations.
Mr Siripong said the Bhumjaithai Party maintains a strict internal rule of “no grey money,” when asked about criticism that grey businesses exert influence over the government.
Scam crimes remain a serious threat that affects the public directly, but political attacks overshadow the actual progress made by law enforcement, he said.
“If we can’t get to the figures they claim are linked to the networks, we will continue to be attacked until a House dissolution. But we believe we have recovered more losses than the government two years ago. Compensation to victims will begin by the end of the year,” he said.
Asked whether a planned no-confidence debate would be a fair test of the government’s performance on combating scams, he said the outcome would depend more on political alliances. He said Pheu Thai would avoid harshly attacking Capt Thamanat while the PP would target him, making the debate a war of words between the two parties rather than a scrutiny of the government’s anti-scam efforts.
Siripong: Issue now heavily politicised
Structural problems
Olarn Thinbangtieo, a political scientist at Burapha University, said scam networks were a structural problem, and the intense efforts underway do not address the deeper causes of the scam industry.
He said scam networks have grown for years using cross-border money laundering, investments and influential figures. They are tied to the country’s economic, political and social systems, so to solve this problem, the structure must be dismantled, he said.
He said previous governments fixed small parts instead of dismantling the network possibly because scam operations are linked with business figures and politicians. He is sceptical the government can break the cycle because the efforts will affect business groups, state officials and political elites. “It’s like hurting your own body. No government has been able to do it,” he said.
Mr Olarn also criticised the PP for not pushing enough with its scrutiny, saying it only focuses on political point-scoring and keeping the momentum going ahead of the elections rather than exposing full networks.
He said Thailand has effectively become a centre of scam operations because the problem is embedded in the system and the government itself is one of the elements that make real reforms difficult. As with narcotic problems, authorities may catch only small operators while being unable to reach the masterminds, said Mr Olarn.
He added that if the Bhumjaithai Party were to expel Klatham, which is under attack for alleged links with scam networks, it could gain political credit and win more public support.
“Even so, it would still be a political fix rather than a structural solution,” he said.
Olarn: Scam networks a structural problem
Global cooperation needed
Stithorn Thananithichot, a political analyst at Chulalongkorn University, said scam networks have become a global problem and no country can tackle them alone. Still, he said the Thai government must show clearer action and decisive enforcement. He said the public needs to see real results including asset seizures from major operators and prosecutions of those who provide cover for the networks.
“It can’t just make daily announcements about arrests which involve small players. Authorities must do something clear, and it must involve bigger targets. Even if all agencies say they are fully cooperating, the question remains is what comes next?” he said.
He added the scam issue has become too politicised with critics believing that politicians, police and civil servants now part of the problem. Mr Stithorn said the scam economy is linked to parts of the formal economy through money laundering that turns grey income into legitimate-looking investments. Thailand can only achieve real progress through international cooperation, as scammers operate from multiple countries.
Asked whether raising the scam issue will help opposition parties, he said the PP stands to benefit the most.
“After backing Bhumjaithai to form the government, their voter base was unhappy. Their strong stance against grey money helps rebuild support,” he said.
He said a planned no-confidence debate will likely target individual ministers rather than the prime minister. The PP is expected to avoid attacking him directly because the party wants to keep to the terms of its memorandum of agreement ahead of the election while saving the strongest attacks for the election campaign, said Mr Stithorn.
Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes suffered a major blow following a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday.
Pep Guardi…
Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes suffered a major blow following a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola’s side fell behind to Harvey Barnes’ second-half opener before Ruben Dias equalised for the visitors. But Barnes struck again for Newcastle with a contentious winner that stood after a lengthy VAR check for a potential offside involving Bruno Guimarães.
Guardiola insisted City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had been fouled in the build-up to Barnes’ second goal, and he was also angered by a rejected first-half penalty appeal from Phil Foden.
The City boss stormed onto the pitch at full-time to confront referee Sam Barrott, though he later played down the outburst, saying, “Everything is fine.”
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“It happened in the Bournemouth game, and it happened today again. It is what it is after VAR decided. They know perfectly,” Guardiola said, hinting at frustration over the decision. “You see, Donnarumma complained, and that is because something wrong happened.”
Despite an eventful contest, he admitted City were not at their best: “It was an entertaining game; we both had chances, and then there was a momentum shift, and ultimately we couldn’t win.”
Man City’s fourth league defeat of the season leaves them third, four points behind leaders Arsenal, who host Tottenham on Sunday.
The result also gave Eddie Howe his first Premier League victory against Guardiola’s side, easing the pain of Newcastle’s back-to-back defeats to West Ham and Brentford before the break.
Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.
MANILA, Philippines — La Salle gained an inside track to the Final Four, essaying a crucial 87-82 comeback win over reigning champion and erstwhile red-hot UP in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Green Archers, who trailed by as many as 16 points, staged a telling 9-0 rally in the last four minutes and held on in the clutch to check a costly three-game slump that endangered their Final Four chances for a 7-6 slate and solo fourth place.
La Salle, which welcomed Mason Amos back from an MCL injury in the first round, now holds its own fate amid a logjam featuring Adamson (6-7), Far Eastern U (6-7) and Ateneo (5-7).
La Salle handed UP its first loss in the second round for a 10-4 finish. NU, at 11-2, will end up at No. 1.
Far Eastern U also stayed in hunt for a Final Four seat after fending off cellar-dweller University of the East, 84-77.
The Tamaraws led by as many as 16 points but had to weather the Red Warriors’ late storm for their second straight victory. The Red Warriors bowed winless in 14 games.
MANILA, Philippines — After months of preparation, it’s all systems go for the Trillion Peso March on Nov. 30, with protest actions to be held simultaneously in various parts of the country, according to organizers.
In an interview over dzBB, Trillion Peso March Movement spokesman and 1Sambayan convenor Howard Calleja, said that aside from the rally at the People Power Monument on EDSA, mobilizations would also be held in Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo and Cebu.
“A lot has happened in these two months. A lot of revelations. So, we feel that the anger of the people is getting bigger and bigger. It’s not going away. The reaction of the government is slow,” Calleja said.
The first Trillion Peso March was held on Sept. 21, coinciding with the commemoration of the 53rd anniversary of martial law.
“This will happen from 10 o’clock onwards because we will have a Mass at EDSA Shrine,” Calleja said.
He said the Catholic Church-backed rally on Nov. 30 will not call for the resignation of President Marcos.
“Our advocacy is for accountability, transparency and good governance. What we are saying is what we want to happen here (is) imprison those that are involved in corruption and return the money or restitution,” Calleja said.
He noted that while the Bureau of Customs was able to sell the Discaya cars for P30 million, it was small compared to the P3 billion lost because of corruption.
“That’s (Marcos’ resignation) not our call because we don’t want to change people. What we want is to change our system because corruption is systemic. There are also many issues of corruption against the Vice President. So, if we just change it to (something) more corrupt, nothing will happen,” Calleja said.
He said the Philippine National Police estimated that at least 80,000 to 100,000 joined the first Trillion Peso March.
“So, now we expect to exceed 100,000 or more here in EDSA, but I said this would be ongoing and simultaneous in other places. So, let’s see how many hundreds of thousands this will reach. We don’t know if it will reach a million,” Calleja said.
Prelude to November 30
Meanwhile, the Catholic Church will be holding a mobilization today, Nov. 23, at the EDSA Shrine, according to the Clergy For Good Governance.
In an interview with dzMM, Clergy For Good Governance member Fr. Joel Saballa said the activity coincides with the 100th anniversary of Christ the King.
“There are many individuals who act as if they are kings, so the priests agreed that why not highlight this and have a big celebration. This will take place in different parts of the country. In all Catholic churches, chapels, and cathedrals, there will be gatherings like this,” Saballa said. The event starts at 2 p.m. today, he added.
“We will go around the whole EDSA Shrine and back to the Galleria, and return to the cathedral. After that, around 4.30 p.m., we will have a mass to be led by our Cardinal Ambo, Kalookan Bishop and CBCP (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines) president (Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David),” Saballa said.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned that Africa’s ambition to compete in an artificial intelligence-driven global economy is under …
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned that Africa’s ambition to compete in an artificial intelligence-driven global economy is under serious threat unless governments, operators, cloud providers, and technology leaders urgently close the continent’s widening compute, data, and algorithmic divides.
Speaking at the Africa Hyperscalers high-level virtual forum, Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said Africa is at a decisive moment where digital infrastructure will determine whether the continent becomes a creator of AI innovation or remains a passive consumer of technologies built elsewhere.
Delivering the keynote address titled “AI-Ready Africa: Building the Compute, Cloud and Connectivity Foundations for the Next Digital Leap,” Maida described AI as part of the basic infrastructure of competitiveness, just like roads, power and ports.
He warned that without strategic investment in compute power, local data systems, and Africa-relevant models, the region risks being locked out of the next industrial shift.
“We risk being stuck as AI consumers, not AI creators. The countries that build the right foundations will unlock new productivity, new jobs, and new opportunities. Those that fail will simply consume other people’s innovations instead of shaping theirs,” he said.
Maida highlighted three critical gaps: The compute divide, driven by limited high-performance computing and data centre capacity; the algorithmic divide, in which African languages, environments and contexts remain largely absent from global AI models; and the data divide, where sensitive datasets are often fragmented, inaccessible, or governed offshore.
He reiterated the NCC’s commitment to expanding national connectivity, encouraging cloud adoption, strengthening cybersecurity, promoting open-access frameworks, and enabling the local development of trusted, interoperable datasets. “The digital future is a shared future,” he emphasized, calling for deeper collaboration between regulators, operators, hyperscalers and infrastructure providers.
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The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) echoed this urgency. Its president, Tony Emoekpere, said AI is no longer aspirational in telecoms, pointing to opportunities in predictive maintenance, customer engagement, network optimisation and operational intelligence. But he warned that progress will stall without stronger industry coordination and investment in next-generation networks.
A keynote panel featuring leaders from MTN Nigeria, Tizeti, NITDA, IHS Towers, Vertiv, and Open Access Data Centres explored the practical foundations that must be built to support AI-ready networks.
For instance, Bukola Ajayi, MTN’s general manager for Architecture and Enterprise IT, stressed that energy and connectivity remain decisive enablers. “If you don’t have connectivity, you can’t even talk about AI,” she said, adding that AI-era data centres require high availability, liquid cooling, and far more resilient power systems.
Vertiv’s Wilson Eigbadon noted that Africa is entering a period where data centres will have to bring their own power, citing the rise of gas corridors and decentralised energy solutions as potential stabilisers.
IHS Towers’ Mike Salem underscored that no company or country can build AI infrastructure alone, arguing that Africa’s progress depends on an ecosystem approach: “Collaboration is not optional.”
Talent development also emerged as a pressing priority. Dotun Adeoye, co-founder of AI in Nigeria, warned that despite Nigeria’s youthful population, with 63 percent under 25, the continent will fall behind if it does not rapidly train the next generation of AI engineers and infrastructure specialists. “No matter how much we talk about infrastructure or data, we will need local talent to drive this,” he said.
With support from Vertiv and ATCON, the Africa Hyperscalers forum offered a rare multi-sector assessment of the infrastructure, governance and investment frameworks needed to prepare the continent for AI at scale. Participants agreed that closing Africa’s compute, data and algorithmic gaps is now a matter of urgency, and will define the continent’s competitiveness for decades to come.
Royal Ibeh is a senior journalist with years of experience reporting on Nigeria’s technology and health sectors. She currently covers the Technology and Health beats for BusinessDay newspaper, where she writes in-depth stories on digital innovation, telecom infrastructure, healthcare systems, and public health policies.
President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has attributed the North’s sluggish economic growth and rising insecurity to decades of inconsistent gov…
President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has attributed the North’s sluggish economic growth and rising insecurity to decades of inconsistent government policies and prolonged electricity shortages, warning that the region risks deeper crises unless leaders urgently reset its development path.
Speaking at the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Silver Jubilee Dinner and Award Night in Kaduna, Dangote said repeated attempts to industrialise the North collapsed largely because government policies shifted without warning, eroding investor confidence and stalling long-term projects.
He recalled commissioning Arthur Andersen — now part of KPMG — to examine why once-prominent northern industrialists, including top textile operators, failed despite their strong early performance. The findings, he said, pointed squarely to policy inconsistency.
“Imagine you are about to score a goal and someone suddenly tells you the goalpost is behind your back. That is how unpredictable government policy has been,” he said, adding that such uncertainty crippled industries that could have anchored northern growth.
Dangote identified the power crisis as the second major constraint. He said the Dangote Group avoids connecting any of its Nigerian plants to the national grid because electricity supply remains unreliable and inadequate for industrial operations.
“The only two countries where we connect to public power are South Africa and Ethiopia. Without electricity, you cannot have growth, no matter how hard you try,” he said, describing power shortages as one of the biggest barriers to reviving manufacturing in the region.
He added that rising interest rates and the high cost of capital have further weakened the manufacturing sector, noting that industrial ventures in Nigeria are almost impossible without significant self-funding — a reality that limits new entrants.
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Dangote urged northern political leaders to craft a coherent, long-term economic plan built around three pillars — education, industry and agriculture — aligning with a strategy earlier proposed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
He said the North has enough land and population strength to become West Africa’s agricultural hub but remains far from that potential because of poor planning and inconsistent investment.
According to him, insecurity across the region — including banditry, youth unemployment and economic displacement — is the cumulative result of years of neglect.
“All the issues we are facing today would not be happening if we had done the right things. Every one of us shares the blame, myself included,” he said.
Dangote called on political and business leaders to confront the region’s challenges collectively, saying northern Nigeria must urgently prioritise industrial growth if it intends to tackle insecurity and create sustainable jobs.
He noted that while the ACF’s 25th anniversary was a milestone worth marking, the moment should also serve as a sober reflection of the crossroads the region faces.
“If we don’t resolve these issues, they will consume every one of us, whether we are guilty or not,” he warned.
The Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of 41 Federal Unity Colleges across the country following heightened security concerns and the…
The Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of 41 Federal Unity Colleges across the country following heightened security concerns and the need to forestall potential threats to students and staff.
The directive, issued by Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, mandates principals of all affected schools to shut down operations without delay. The order was conveyed through a circular signed by Binta Abdulkadir, Director of Senior Secondary Education, on behalf of the Minister.
According to the circular, the decision follows recent security challenges in parts of the country and is aimed at preventing any breaches that could endanger school communities.
The ministry listed the affected institutions, which span several states across the federation, including colleges in Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, Kogi, Yobe, Jigawa, Gombe, Ekiti, and others.
Principals of the affected schools have been directed to enforce an immediate shutdown, while the Ministry reassured stakeholders of its commitment to safeguarding the lives of students and staff across all federal institutions.
The Ministry urged full compliance from school heads.
“CLOSURE OF FORTY-ONE (41) FEDERAL UNITY COLLEGES;
“Sequel to the recent security challenges in some parts of the country and the need to prevent any security breaches, the Honourable Minister of Education has approved the immediate closure of the listed Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) with immediate effect.
“Principals of affected Colleges are to ensure strict compliance. Please, accept the warm regards of the Honourable Minister,” the circular read.
This comes amid rising wave of attacks on schools in northern Nigeria, heightening fears about student safety and reigniting calls for stronger protection of learning environments, especially in rural communities.
Mark Striegl has received newfound payment and recognition after an impressive performance on the Netflix reality series “Physical: Asia.” The longtime mixed martial artist, and Philippine sambo athlete caught the attention of the public with two wins in the series. Still, he remains unaffected and unaltered, generous with his time and accepting requests for interviews and photographs.
“At first, when they first contacted me, I thought it was a joke,” Striegl laughs. “I actually thought maybe it’s a scam or something. Because I was a fan of the first two seasons. Once I started talking to them, I was, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s real.’ So it’s game on, and I gotta prepare.”
All contestants were brought to South Korea earlier in the year, and were dismissed once their teams were eliminated. Everyone signed a non-disclosure agreement, requiring them not to discuss any aspect of the competition. In addition, they produced promotional content for Netflix.
The most difficult part was not knowing what to prepare for, since the challenges were not immediately made known. Mark simply decided to get in the best shape he possibly could, knowing that the exercises would push everyone to their limits. He counts the ball wrestling event against Thailand’s Sunny Wechokittikorn as the toughest challenge, wherein both of them nearly passed out due to exhaustion.
The combat sambo fighter was also pleasantly surprised to see a lot of the athletes that he looked up to in the competition itself.
“It was totally a trip,” says Striegl, who was born in Japan and has been in combat sports since he was eight. “Robert Whittaker is here, all of these star athletes. Yushin Okami, the team captain of Japan. I trained with him years ago when I was 17 years old. He gave me my first black eye.”
While making the rounds of various media. Striegl is now training in Metro Manila for the Asia Oceania Sambo tournament mid-2026. He enjoys all the creative content online after he won the hanging challenge. He cites the artwork of him dangling in a jeepney and MRT train car as his favorites. For his part, he constantly posts videos of scam combat coaches, which he calls “bullshido,” putting a humorous take on all the fake masters online. He remains the chill, friendly guy who enjoys life, and always gives it his best.
