De’Aaron Fox works out with assistant coach. PHOTO: AP
AP – De’Aaron Fox had 28 points and six assists in his return after missing two weeks with an ankle injury, and the Sacramento Kings gave coach Mike Brown his 400th career victory with a 132-120 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers yesterday.
Fox made an immediate impact in his first game back, scoring the first points of the night on a driving layup 11 seconds into the game. A first-time All-Star last season, Fox later scored on a reverse and sank a three-pointer to help the Kings to a 33-25 lead.
Fox came out strong again in the second quarter, then went cold late before giving Sacramento’s offence another spark in the third quarter. He had eight points, including an emphatic one-handed dunk off a bounce pass in the key from Malik Monk.
De’Aaron Fox works out with assistant coach. PHOTO: AP
An electronic board showing a currency exchange rate along a street in Tokyo, Japan. PHOTO: AFP
LONDON (AFP) – Stock markets struck a mixed note yesterday as caution prevailed before key United States (US) inflation data, which could spell major implications for the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate plans.
London stocks edged lower as official data showed United Kingdom (UK) wages rose faster than inflation, reigniting concerns that British interest rates could remain at multi-year highs for longer than thought, or even increase further.
Official data, however, is expected to reveal today a sharp fall in British annual inflation.
In the eurozone, Frankfurt and Paris gained approaching the half-way stage, after a similarly mixed showing in Asia. Wall Street’s three main bourses provided a tepid lead as traders bided their time before the closely watched consumer price index (CPI) report, as well as other key figures including retail sales and jobless claims.
Oil prices won further support from an upbeat market outlook from the OPEC cartel of crude producers, while the dollar wavered.
An electronic board showing a currency exchange rate along a street in Tokyo, Japan. PHOTO: AFP
ON EDGE OF SEATS
“Investors are on the edge of their seats, waiting for the latest scoop on US inflation data to take a fresh direction in both stock and bond markets,” added SwissQuote analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya.
CPI is forecast to have hit 3.3 per cent in October, down from 3.7 per cent in September, according to a Bloomberg survey of economists. But that is still well above the Fed’s two per cent target.
A number of Fed decision-makers are also lined up to make speeches, which will be pored over for their views on the central bank’s best course of action as they try to bring prices under control without tipping the economy into recession. There is a general consensus that they have already hit their peak in terms of rates, having brought inflation down from more than nine per cent last year, though officials have left the door open to another hike.
“Investors are fully aware that fluctuations in inflation, especially top-side beats, are an ongoing risk to markets,” said analyst Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management.
“It is too early to completely dismiss the possibility of a hike in December (or January).”
Other analysts pointed out that policymakers have reasserted their determination to bring inflation to heel and would keep borrowing costs elevated for some time, even if they do not lift again.
Meanwhile, there are hopes that this week’s upcoming meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping could ease tensions between the economic superpowers and give a much-needed boost to markets.
Nikola Vucevic watches as Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks. PHOTO: AP
AP – Giannis Antetokounmpo had 35 points and 11 rebounds and Bobby Portis also had a double-double in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 118-109 victory over the Chicago Bulls yesterday.
Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard returned to action after missing two games with a calf injury, though he shot just three of 17 while scoring 12 points. The Bucks lost both games they played without the seven-time all-NBA guard.
The Bulls were playing for the second straight night after beating the Detroit Pistons 119-108 at home on Sunday.
Bobby Portis had 19 points and 10 rebounds, both season highs.
Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton scored 13 points to enable him to overtake Michael Redd for fifth place on the Bucks’ career scoring list.
Nikola Vucevic led the Bulls with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Zach LaVine scored 20, Coby White 16, Patrick Williams 13 and DeMar DeRozan 11. DeRozan shot just three of 14.
Milwaukee scored the game’s first nine points and outscored Chicago 35-18 during an opening period that ended with a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Antetokounmpo, the 500th of his career. Chicago missed 16 of its first 19 field-goal attempts.
The Bulls chipped away at that 17-point deficit and finally took their first lead on an Andre Drummond putback with 5:15 left in the third. The lead changed hands three more times over the next minute or so, with a Portis basket putting Milwaukee back ahead for good.
Portis’ basket started a 12-0 run that helped the Bucks regain a double-digit advantage at 81-70. The Bucks carried an 83-74 advantage into the fourth quarter and didn’t allow the lead to drop below eight.
Nikola Vucevic watches as Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks. PHOTO: AP
President of the long-haul airline Emirates Tim Clark. PHOTO: AP
DUBAI (AP) – Long-haul carrier Emirates signaled yesterday it will hold off on a major purchase of Airbus A350 aircraft over concerns about their Rolls Royce engines, marking a major blow for the European manufacturer as it hopes to close the sale during the Dubai Air Show this week.
Emirates President Tim Clark’s comments to journalists at the show came the day after his airline announced a USD52 billion purchase with Airbus’ rival Boeing Co, while its sister airline FlyDubai bought another USD11 billion of aircraft from Boeing.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines said it was buying 31 aircraft from Boeing, including 20 737 MAX aircraft in a sign of renewed confidence in the single-aisle aircraft by the carrier after it suffered a deadly crash in 2019 with the airplane that led to its worldwide grounding.
Airbus has yet to strike a major deal at the show, which comes as global airlines like Emirates have bounced back from the lockdowns of the coronavirus pandemic with increased global demand for travel.
In his comments to journalists at the Emirates chalet on the runway of Al Maktoum International Airport, Clark raised concerns about the maintenance required for the Rolls Royce engines on the A350.
“If the engine was doing what we want it to do… then it would re-enter the mix of assessment for our fleet plan,” Clark said.
President of the long-haul airline Emirates Tim Clark. PHOTO: AP
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Prolific Liverpool scorer and Egypt captain Mohamed Salah will be among the stars in action this week when 2026 World Cup qualifying in Africa kicks off with two matchdays.
His two Premier League goals against Brentford at the weekend raised his total to 200 in English football, and he is now set to shine against Group A rivals Djibouti and Sierra Leone.
Salah was the second highest ranked African in the Ballon d’Or last month behind Napoli and Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen, who misses the first matchdays due to an injury.
Omar Marmoush of Eintracht Frankfurt and Mostafa Mohamed of Nantes are other Egyptians who have been scoring regularly in major European leagues this season.
Djibouti, who face Egypt in Cairo tomorrow, are among the weakest African national teams and have twice suffered eight-goal hidings in World Cup qualifiers.
Sierra Leone will be handicapped at having to stage a home fixture against Egypt on Sunday in Liberia because they lack an international-standard stadium.
Egypt have won the Africa Cup of Nations a record seven times, but struggle in World Cup qualifying, reaching the finals only three times, compared with eight appearances by Cameroon.
The strongest challenge to Salah and his teammates could come from Burkina Faso, ranked 10th in Africa, five places below Egypt.
Guinea-Bissau and Ethiopia are the other Group A contenders.
Nigeria must do without Osimhen, one of the favourites to win the CAF Footballer of the Year award next month, and injured AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
Shrimp processing at a factory of Sao Ta Food JSC. PHOTO: VNN
ANN/VIET NAM NEWS – Less than positive business results in the nine months of 2023 have caused many businesses to lower the year’s target, with some expecting losses.
The general picture of business results showed that the headwind of global economic recession has significantly affected the Vietnamese business environment.
Most pillar industries, such as bank, real estate, construction materials, fertilisers and exports, continue to struggle and even face negative business performances, leading some to promptly adjust the yearly business plans.
In particular, the seafood exporter Sao Ta Food JSC has decided to lower its 2023 business targets after announcing its third quarter financial statements.
The company adjusted its total revenue target to VND4.87 trillion (USD200 million), down 25 per cent from the previous forecast, while profit after tax decreased by 25 per cent to VND300 billion.
Shrimp processing at a factory of Sao Ta Food JSC. PHOTO: VNN
Sao Ta did not detail the reason and said that the adjustment will be presented in its latest General Meeting of Shareholders report.
Similarly, Vietnam National Textile & Garment Group (Vinatex) plans to lower its 2023 revenue target from VND17.5 trillion to VND16.5 trillion, a decrease of six per cent.
Its profit before tax target was adjusted down to VND370 billion from VND610 billion, equivalent to a fall of 39 per cent. The change in financial results of the textile producer reflects a less bright picture in 2023.
After nine months, Vinatex posted a net revenue of nearly VND12.2 trillion and profit after tax of over VND197.8 billion, a decrease of 14.08 per cent and 81.6 per cent year-on-year, respectively. Net profit reached about VNĐ37 billion, down 94 per cent.
With the new plan submitted to shareholders, Vinatex achieved 70 per cent of the revenue target and 78 per cent of the year’s profit plan.
In the steel industry, after recording consecutive losses, Vietnam Steel Corporation (VNSteel) also asked shareholders to adjust the production and business plan for 2023, reducing its profit before tax expectation to VND1 billion from VND52 billion. Meanwhile, others remained unchanged.
Screengrab shows a Saints Rugby Football Club player seen kicking an Oldham Rugby club player who was lying motionless on the ground. PHOTO: CNA
CNA – Two players were sent off after a brawl broke out during a rugby match between Oldham Rugby Club and Saints Rugby Football Club recently.
A video of the 5.30pm game in the Singapore Rugby Union National Rugby League showed both sides challenging for a high ball in the second half.
Two players collided in the air, with neither getting the ball, and both men crashed onto the ground. While the Saints player was trying to get on his feet, the Oldham player lay motionless.
Another Saints player can be seen shouting and pointing at the Oldham player on the ground, before a third Saints player kicks his opponent.
A brawl broke out between both sides, with players pulling and shoving each other. In the video, an Oldham player can be seen punching a Saints player. The Oldham player who was on the ground was attended to by medical staff before he was stretchered off with an oxygen bag.
After the fight was broken up, the Saints player who kicked his opponent and the Oldham player who threw a punch shook hands and spoke to each other.
The referee sent both players off.
Screengrab shows a Saints Rugby Football Club player seen kicking an Oldham Rugby club player who was lying motionless on the ground. PHOTO: CNA
Virat Kohli celebrates with teammate KL Rahul. PHOTO: AP
MUMBAI, INDIA (AP) – After winning nine straight games to finish atop the standings, India faces fourth-place New Zealand at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium today in the first Cricket World Cup semifinal.
Based on the host team’s perfect record going into the semifinal, and the parochial home crowd, New Zealand will have to rise above expectations to advance to Sunday’s final against either Australia or South Africa.
As the historic stadium gets ready to host the match, the tournament’s promotional tag line comes in to play. “It takes one day” – the slogan has been everywhere since the World Cup went into a marketing overdrive a few months ago – in television and digital promotions, on merchandise and memorabilia, and at the tournament venues. At the Wankhede, it is hard to miss the same banners adorned everywhere.
In pursuit of its third title, India set the benchmark – it easily beat Australia and Pakistan, then trounced England and South Africa. Perhaps its biggest challenge came from New Zealand at Dharamsala, but Virat Kohli’s 95 helped navigate past it.
India changed its combination when allrounder Hardik Pandya was ruled out with an ankle injury, and it ploughed on unbeaten. This was achieved through dominant performances with both bat and ball and playing in nine venues. Kohli leads the run charts with 594 runs in nine games. Skipper Rohit Sharma is fourth with 503 runs – his strike-rate is the highest for any opener who has featured in all nine games. Four of India’s six primary batters have posted hundreds in the tournament.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah is fifth in tournament bowling with 17 wickets. Mohammed Shami has blitzed his way through batting lineups to pick up 16 wickets at a remarkable average of 9.56 in just five games. Ravindra Jadeja is just outside the top 10 with 15.
New Zealand has the onerous task of facing the rampant home team in the playoffs. The New Zealanders opened with four consecutive wins before a loss to India at altitude sparked a run of four losses. They stopped that slide to win against Sri Lanka and qualify for a fifth successive World Cup semifinal.
Virat Kohli celebrates with teammate KL Rahul. PHOTO: AP
Trucks near the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing in Dorohusk, Poland. PHOTO: AFP
WARSAW (AFP) – Polish trucking representatives said on Monday that the latest talks with Ukrainian officials had failed to end a dispute over what they call unfair competition from the neighbouring country’s businesses.
The hauliers say the easing of EU access rules in the wake of the war in Ukraine has led to an influx of Ukrainian competition, taking a serious toll on their earnings.
In response, Polish truckers began blockades last week of three major border crossings.
On Monday, some of the protesting truckers met with representatives of the Ukrainian and Polish governments.
“We have not reached an agreement. The Ukrainian side does not take our demands into account,” Rafal Mekler, a leader of a protest in the border town of Dorohusk, said on social media.
Polish transportation companies want to reinstate the use of EU entry permits for Ukrainian trucks, a system waived by the bloc following the war.
A Ukrainian official said on Monday his side would not “back down” and called on Polish truckers to end the blockade immediately. “The absurdity of the demand is that the Polish protesters are not addressing their government, but want Ukraine to apply to the EU for permits,” he added.
Polish truckers are also criticising an electronic registration system for leaving Ukraine once deliveries are complete, resulting in long waits that Mekler said could reach 11 to 12 days.
Trucks near the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing in Dorohusk, Poland. PHOTO: AFP
A joint roadblock operation in Kampong Luagan Timbaran in Tutong District uncovered several offences yesterday.
The operation from 8.30am to 10.45am involved personnel from the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), Land Transport Department (JPD), Royal Customs and Excise Department (RCED) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), according to the RBPF. Six traffic violations and 21 fines were issued following inspection on 130 vehicles. Among the offences were expired driving licence, worn out tyres and expired vehicle insurance.
The JPD issued 13 fines for five offences while five individuals were detained by the RCED for the illegal possession of cigarettes and vapes. The NCB found two violations for controlled drug consumption. – James Kon
ABOVE & BELOW: Photos show enforcement personnel manning the roadblock. PHOTO: RBPFPHOTO: RBPF
