ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES – Marina at Keppel Bay in Singapore reopened on Friday after being closed for nearly two weeks due to the oil spill at Pasir Panjang Terminal.
This marks the completion of the initial clean-up phase in the marina, though “more detailed cleaning, similar to other affected areas, is ongoing”, said the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Cleanup efforts are now shifting to the next phase, targeting less accessible areas such as rock bunds, and are expected to take up to three months to complete.
The reopening followed recommendations from contracted cleaners and the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation to remove the containment boom at the marina entrance. The MPA reported “minimal floating black oil” in the marina, with sufficient measures in place to minimise the spread of any residual oil.
Yachts berthed at the Marina at Keppel Bay, Singapore. PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES
SANDAKAN (BERNAMA) – More than 17 million trees of various species have been successfully planted across Sabah so far under the Greening Malaysia Campaign, which aims to plant 100 million trees nationwide over five years, starting from its launch in 2021.
Sabah’s Chief Conservator of Forests Datuk Frederick Kugan, said that in response to the campaign, the Sabah Forestry Department aims to plant 40 million trees in the state, with a target of eight million trees to be planted annually.
He said that in Sabah, 5.25 million trees were planted in 2021, followed by 5.53 million trees in 2022, and 5.13 million trees in 2023. As of June 24 this year, 1.2 million trees have already been planted.
“We have achieved 60 per cent of the annual tree planting target. Currently, Sabah is the second highest state in tree planting, with Sarawak at the top. It is also understood that this campaign has been well received, with more than 80 million trees planted nationwide so far.
A volunteer plants a tree in conjunction with the International Forest Day celebration at the Heritage Park Trail in Sabah, Malaysia. PHOTO: BERNAMA
ANN/THE STAR – A tour bus in Malaysia carrying 21 people overturned while descending from Genting Highlands yesterday morning, resulting in the deaths of two Chinese nationals on board.
The Bentong Fire and Rescue Department confirmed the 11am accident yesterday and was conducting rescue operations.
Pahang Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Dr Wan Mohamad Zaidi Wan Isa said both male victims suffered head injuries.
“Their bodies were sent to Bentong Hospital, Pahang,” he said when contacted.
It is understood that among the 21 passengers, including the driver, three are locals, while the others are Chinese nationals, consisting of seven women and 11 men.
Earlier, a 21-second video had gone viral, showing the aftermath of the accident, with several emergency responders already at the scene.
Genting Malaysia Berhad in a statement said the bus, owned by a third-party operator, was carrying 18 tourists from Yunnan, China, and was descending from Genting Highlands.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of the deceased. We wish a swift and full recovery to those injured.
“We will provide further updates as more information becomes available,” read the statement.
One of the bus crash victim being carried out of the ambulance in Pahang, Malaysia. PHOTO: BERNAMA
JAKARTA (AFP) – Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in Eastern Indonesia erupted twice yesterday, volcanology authorities said, sending thick, dark clouds into the air.
The first eruption took place at 11.04am and lasted nearly 11 minutes, according to a statement from the Indonesian volcanology agency.
The second was at 2.41pm and lasted a little over 10 minutes, spewing volcanic material 900 metres above the crater.
“Residents and visitors around Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki are prohibited from conducting any activity within the three-kilometre radius from the centre of eruption,” the agency said.
The mountain, located on the popular tourist destination of Flores island, had several major eruptions in January, prompting authorities at the time to raise the alert status to the highest level and evacuate at least 2,000 residents.
The volcano is currently at the second-highest alert level.
Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent eruptions due to its position on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, an area of intense volcanic and seismic activity.
In December last year, an eruption at one of the country’s most active volcanoes, Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, killed at least 24 climbers, most of them university students.
And in May, more than 60 people died after heavy rains washed volcanic material from Marapi into residential areas, sweeping away homes.
File photo shows a volcanic eruption from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in eastern Indonesia in January. PHOTO: AFP
NEWPORT (AP) – Hiroyuki Fujita shot a four-under 66 in the second round of the United States (US) Senior Open on Friday, taking a one-shot lead as he attempts to earn his first victory on American soil.
Fujita was at 11-under 129 at Newport Country Club. Richard Green, who shared the first-round lead with Fujita after both opened with 63s, followed up with a 67 and was one stroke back. Senior PGA champion Richard Bland shot a 64 to move into third place at right under, tied with Steve Stricker, who shot 66. Stephen Ames (68) was fifth at seven under. Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen had his second straight 67 and was among three players at minus six.
Not making the cut, which was at two over: Frank Bensel, who made back-to-back holes-in-one on numbers four and five in the morning, but finished with a 74 that left him at nine over.
“We’re going to just enjoy it,” the New York club pro said. “The original plan was to get some sleep and get ready for tomorrow, but won’t need to do that. We’re going to have a good time and kind of lay back.”
An 18-time winner in Japan, Fujita had never shot in the 60s in four previous PGA Tour Champions starts, never finished in the top 120 of a PGA Tour event or in the top 30 of a major. But he’s played a nearly flawless 36 holes on the 7,024-yard, par-70 AW Tillinghast course.
Golfers at the Newport Country Club clubhouse during the second round of the US Senior Open golf tournament in Newport, United States. PHOTO: AP & AFPHiroyuki Fujita. PHOTO: AP & AFP
“I was lucky yesterday, and I didn’t expect to play this well,” said the 55-year-old Fujita, who birdied three of his first five holes on Friday. “I didn’t expect that at all. I surprised myself a little bit. But it’s only day two, and I want to continue to play consistent and not get too high or low and see where it takes me.”
Fujita was the only player to reach 12 under during the round, making a birdie on number two, his 11th hole. But he made a four on the par-three fourth – his only bogey of the first two rounds – and then parred his way in.
Green made the turn from number 18 to number one with three straight birdies. He parred his last seven holes.
Stricker shot 66 for the second day in a row – his fourth consecutive nine at 33. But the 2019 US Senior Open champion said it was like playing a different course than in the afternoon, when the wind often does a 180-degree switch.
“We came out with soft conditions yesterday. Well, today we came out with completely the opposite wind to what we’ve seen the course in,” he said. “I haven’t seen this course in this wind before. It was a challenge. There are some holes that played a little bit easier, but some of the holes that played easy yesterday were difficult today.”
Defending champion Bernhard Langer, the 66-year-old who tore an Achilles tendon earlier this year, shot 72 and made the cut on the number. Rhode Islander Billy Andrade, who trailed by one stroke after 36 holes, shot 74 and fell out of the top 20.
“Advantage? A little bit. Sleep in my own bed, fantastic. Seeing people I haven’t seen in a long time, awesome,” Andrade said. “But when you get in the ropes and you go out there, you’ve got to hit one shot at a time and you’ve got to hit them well. If not, this place can make you look like a fool.”
MIDLAND (AP) – Grace Kim had a hole-in-one and combined with Auston Kim for eight birdies in a fourballs format Friday for a nine-under 61 and a five-way share of the lead in the Dow Championship.
The best score among those tied for the lead belonged to the Danish pair of Nicole Broch Estrup and Olympics-bound Nanna Koertz Madsen, who birdied their last two holes for a 60.
Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho of the United States (US) had a 64, the same score they had in foursomes during the opening round. The Thailand tandem of Jaravee Boonchant and Chanettee Wannasaen also had a 64, while the Taiwan duo of Ssu-chia Cheng and Wei-Ling Hsu had a 63.
The five leading pairs were at 12-under 128, leading to a wide-open weekend at Midland Country Club in the LPGA Tour’s only official team event.
Three other teams, including Charley Hull and Georgia Hall of England, were one shot behind. Lexi Thompson and Brooke Henderson were among those two behind.
Grace Kim during the second round of the Dow Championship at Midland Country Club in Michigan, United States. PHOTO: AFP
Auston Kim could not remember the par three where she and her 23-year-old Australian teammate made a bogey – rare for the fourballs format – but there was no forgetting the par-three seventh. They were only one under for the round at the time, and Auston Kim hit first to 20 feet.
Grace Kim felt enough wind that she went up one club to a three-quarter seven-iron, and it looked good all the way.
They birdied the next hole, and then had five birdies on the back nine, which did not include the lone par-five on the back.
The Danes played late in the afternoon and had a 10-shot deficit to make up when they got started. Koertz Madsen had an eagle on the par-five third hole, and the duo surged into a share of the lead with birdies on the 17th and the par-three closing hole.
Ewing and Kupcho had three birdies in their opening four holes, picked up three more birdies on the back nine and were never in serious trouble throughout the day.
Cheng and Hsu picked up a bonus shot when Cheng holed out for eagle on the par-four 12th.
US Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso and Celine Boutier opened with a 74. In fourballs, they ran off eight straight birdies for a 58 to get within four shots of the lead.
ATLANTA (AP) – The Atlanta Hawks are finalising talks to trade high-scoring Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans for a package expected to include two first-round draft picks, according to people with knowledge of the discussions.
The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been finalised on Friday night.
The Hawks are expected to receive forward-centre Larry Nance Jr and point guard Dyson Daniels in the deal, as well as first-round picks in 2025 and 2029.
The Hawks made swing player Zaccharie Risacher of France the number one overall pick in the NBA draft on Wednesday night before trading AJ Griffin to Houston on Thursday to obtain a second-round pick used to obtain rights to guard/forward Nikola Djurisic of Serbia.
The trade of Murray signals the Hawks’ offseason overhaul may just be beginning.
The backcourt combination of Trae Young and Murray produced points but no playoff success.
The Hawks finished 10th in the Eastern Conference at 36-46 this season and haven’t won a playoff series since advancing to the Eastern Conference finals in 2021.
The 27-year-old Murray averaged a career-high 22.5 points with 6.4 assists this season.
He has averaged 15.4 points in seven seasons, including five with San Antonio.
LAS VEGAS (AP) – Vinícius Júnior scored two first-half goals to lead Brazil to a 4-1 victory over Paraguay yesterday and put itself in position to advance out of Group D in the Copa America.
“Today, he played almost a perfect match,” Brazil coach Dorival Júnior said through an interpreter. “He was dynamic.”
Sávio also scored a first-half goal for Brazil and Lucas Paquetá scored on a penalty kick in the second half. Omar Alderete scored Paraguay’s goal.
There were plenty of tense moments with five yellow cards and a red handed out. Andres Cubas was sent off for a red card in the 81st minute, forcing Paraguay to play the last part of the match down a man. Yellow cards were handed to Brazil’s Wendell, Vinícius Júnior and Lucas Paquetá and Paraguay’s Fabián Balbuena and Hernesto Caballero.
The victory was quite a response for the Seleção, who opened the tournament with a scoreless draw against Costa Rica despite outshooting their opponent 18-2.
With four points, Brazil is two behind group leader Colombia, which defeated Costa Rica 3-0.
A victory or tie by Brazil against Colombia ensures one of the group’s two spots in the knockout stage.
Brazil’s Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Conmebol 2024 Copa America tournament against Paraguay at Allegiant Stadium in Nevada, United States. PHOTO: AFPBrazil’s Vinicius Junior during the Copa America Group D football match against Paraguay in Las Vegas, United States. PHOTO: APBrazil’s Andreas Pereira and Paraguay’s Hernesto Caballero fight for the ball. PHOTO: AP
Brazil also has a six-goal differential advantage over Costa Rica, so a loss likely won’t keep out the nine-time Copa America champions.
Paraguay will not advance to the next round, leading to some tense back-and-forth between coach Daniel Garnero and reporters who questioned the team’s continued struggles in this tournament. The country has won Copa America twice, but not since 1979.
Brazil has had its difficulties against Paraguay in Copa America play, having drawn in their previous five meetings.
That tied for the second-longest unbeaten streak against Brazil in this tournament, which Paraguay also was part of from 1963-83.
But Brazil won the most recent meeting, defeating Paraguay 4-0 two years ago in World Cup qualifying, and there was little doubt about the outcome of this match after two late goals broke it open in what was a contentious end to the first half.
Moments after teammate Bruno Guimarães hit the crossbar, Sávio put Brazil up 2-0 in the 43rd minute.
Both teams got into a scrum in first-half stoppage time, with Chilean referee Piero Maza handing yellow cards to Wendell and Balbuena at three-plus minutes. Then Vinícius Júnior delivered the crushing blow five minutes into first-half stoppage time.
Paraguay had its chances and even outshot Brazil 8-5, including 4-3 on goal. Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker made a tremendous save diving to his right to prevent a goal from Damián Bobodilla 15 minutes into the match.
Early in the second half, however, Alderete scored to close the deficit to 3-1.
Then 17 minutes later, Lucas Paquetá made up for a missed penalty kick in the first half by converting to give back Brazil its three-goal lead.
“We played against two world class teams,” said Garnero, referencing Paraguay’s 2-1 loss to Colombia in its opener. “It’s complicated being in my place. I’m seeing a great effort by the team. They’ve measured up, but we still need to achieve the results.”
Dorival Júnior made a bold and controversial move by deciding not to start Raphinha.
The move, with national team legend Neymar watching from the stands, clearly paid off.
Raphinha was a late-game substitute, entering the match at the 72nd minute in place of Sávio.
SEATTLE (AFP) – Boeing’s practice of aggressively pressuring suppliers on costs has damaged its own supply chain, contributing to the aviation giant’s current woes, a top union negotiator told AFP this week.
“Boeing has spent a long time, since 2012 trying to squeeze the supply chain by forcing them to cut their costs to Boeing, year over year,” said President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) for District 751 Jon Holden.
“I’m fine with efficiency,” Holden said. “What I’m not okay with is undermining the health of the manufacturing process.”
Holden’s local chapter in Seattle represents 32,000 workers, with some 30,000 at Boeing.
The union hopes for significant gains from the new contract after negotiations kicked off in March.
“Boeing went through an effort to sell off different factories, to reduce their net assets, and those factories are now part of the supply chain,” Holden told AFP in an interview, adding such moves contributed to the storied manufacturer’s current woes.
“The company looks at ways to make things more efficient, but they cut out important redundancies like quality assurance,” he said.
Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are assembled at the Boeing Renton Factory in Washington, United States. PHOTO: AFP
For months, Boeing has been dealing with production problems in three commercial jets – the 737 MAX, the 787 Dreamliner and the 777.
The company has been in crisis mode since a 737 MAX flown by Alaska Airlines was forced to make an emergency landing in January after a fuselage panel blew out.
Boeing has undertaken training programmes and other initiatives to boost quality control and reassure the Federal Aviation Administration.
Many of these efforts centre on the IAM-represented Boeing factory in Renton, Washington where the MAX is built.
Along with another union at Boeing, the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), the IAM has sought two seats on Boeing’s board of directors, an effort Boeing opposes.
SEEKING ‘SUBSTANTIAL’ RAISE
In light of Boeing’s current travails, the union wants to be able to bargain on any changes to quality management that could affect the production system.
“We never proposed those things in the past but it’s our reputation, it’s our jobs, it’s ourlivelihoods,” Holden said.
Key demands include a “substantial” salary hike of at least 40 per cent, as well as provisions for healthcare, retirement and job security.
Holden said a hefty wage hike is imperative after workers only received nominal cost-of-living support over the last eight years in spite of “massive inflation” of recent years.
The union is also seeking assurances from Boeing that it will build its next new aircraft – expected around 2035 – in the Seattle region.
“It’s job security for the next 50 years,” he said. At a congressional hearing earlier this month, Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun said of workers, “they will definitely get a raise”.
Holden said most of the major issues in the contract talks remain unresolved, meaning the two sides will be adding hours to upcoming negotiations.
The IAM plans to take a vote July 17 authorising a possible strike. To mark the event, it has rented T-Mobile Park in Seattle, the stadium for the Seattle Mariners baseball team, which holds up to 48,000.
“When we all participate in this important event, the factory will be quiet,” the union said on its website.
The current contract, in place for 16 years, expires at midnight on September 12. The union last called a strike in 2008 that lasted 57 days.
During a media visit of the Renton plant organised by Boeing this week, an AFP reporter observed a boisterous union rally with representatives wearing IAM buttons and carrying signs as they marched through the plant in a show of solidarity.
“We have a very strong leverage right now and we’re going to use it,” said Holden.
Boeing is currently engaged in talks to buy back Spirit AeroSystems, a supplier of the fuselage for the 737 MAX. The company was once part of Boeing before being spun off in 2005.
Holden welcomes the shift, saying it was “foolish” for Boeing to separate from Spirit, adding that “it’s important that they are healthy”.
GEORGE TOWN (BERNAMA) – The Malaysian government has yet to make any decision on the need to rationalise the RON95 petrol subsidy, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli’s recent statements primarily focused on targeted diesel subsidies, which the government is studying for implementation effectiveness, adding that if any members of the public feel affected, they can appeal for subsidy assistance.
“I read Rafizi’s text; he mentioned that we are focusing on diesel, which needs careful consideration for its implementation and if anyone feels they have been affected, they should submit their appeal,” he told reporters after officiating the Penang Inland Revenue Board (IRB) building in George Town yesterday.
He was responding to Rafizi’s statement during an interview with Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum in Dalian, China, on Thursday.
Rafizi had jokingly mentioned a ‘petrol surprise’ following the bulk diesel subsidy abolition.
Meanwhile, on the upcoming by-election for the Nenggiri state seat in Kelantan, Anwar said parties in the Unity Government would hold discussions on the matter.
“Nenggiri, let them discuss,” he answered briefly.
The Election Commission (EC) has scheduled the Nenggiri by-election for August 17, with nominations set for August 3 and early voting August 13.
This follows the casual vacancy for the seat after its incumbent, Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, was declared to have had his Bersatu membership revoked on June 13.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. PHOTO: BERNAMA
