No, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao isn’t taking on Russian President Vladimir Putin, but hold that thought… Starting with Russia, official results give a win to Putin’s United Russia party in the country’s parliamentary election despite a drop in support. With 98% of ballots counted, officials say United Russia has nearly 50% of the vote – about 6% down on last time. There are allegations of large-scale vote-rigging to consider, and analysts say falling living standards, allegations of corruption, and the jailing of critic Alexei Navalny are factors behind falling support for Putin. Meanwhile in the Philippines, former boxing world champ/senator Manny Pacquiao has announced his candidacy for president in the country’s 2022 elections. He’s a popular figure who has pledged to campaign against poverty and corruption, but he will face an uphill battle to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte’s successor, whoever that might be…