Vietnam aims to be leading chip production country by 2030
ANN/VIETNAM NEWS – Vietnam aims to become a leading country in ASEAN and East Asia in chip production, with deeper participation in the global production and supply chain by 2030, according to an expert.
Chairman of Vietnam Automation Association and former Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan said the elevation of the United States (US)-Vietnam relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership is a favourable condition to open up opportunities for the chip industry’s development in Vietnam.
He believed that with enhanced collaboration between Vietnam and the US, many large enterprises in the field of semiconductors and chips will come to the Southeast Asian nation for cooperation and investment, thereby contributing to the development of the local semiconductor industry.
According to Quan, previously Vietnam did not have a semiconductor electronic material industry, even though its rare earth reserves were estimated to be the third largest in the world. Vietnam cooperated with Japan in the mining and processing of rare earth, the market demand at that time was too low.
At present, as the market is wider, with the technological and financial support from developed countries, rare earth resources will have an opportunity to be exploited and processed, creating raw materials for the local semiconductor industry. Besides, domestic technology enterprises need to join the work as a key force to realise chip research and commercialisation.
Taking FPT as an example, he said the firm, with financial potential, strong research teams and experience in software and information technology development, could take its advantages to invest in researching, designing, testing, manufacturing and commercialising chips.
According to him, opportunities and prosperts for Vietnam in the field is bright. The country might face difficulties in technology transfer, testing and production in the first few years, but it will overcome when it catches up with the global supply and production chain.
The country must demonstrate to the world its capacity and human resources in the semiconductor industry, he said.
Jokowi urges immediate action to address smoke from forest fires
JAKARTA (BERNAMA) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo warned that smoke from forest and land fires in the country has the potential to spread widely.
He also ordered that top military and police officers, as well as the regional government take immediate action to overcome the problem.
“Indeed every fire produces smoke that can spread widely if it is carried by the wind,” said Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi.
“Every point of fire, no matter how small, must be controlled to prevent it from spreading,” he emphasised in a statement.
He commented on the increase in air pollution in neighbouring countries following the smoke from fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia. Jokowi said the temperature in the country is hotter than normal so the dry season lasts long and has the potential to increase and expand hotspots.
However, he is confident that the fire control efforts being carried out now are better compared to the forest fires in 2015. “We can still control it well here,” he said.
The peak of the dry season in Indonesia is expected to occur this month, following the increase in hot spots from August with several regions including Java not receiving rain for the past three months.
Malaysia is ready to work together to deal with the forest and land fires that are currently raging in several regions in Indonesia if necessary, according to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry.
The offer was made in an official letter sent by Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad to his Indonesian counterpart Siti Nurbaya Bakar.
The Malaysian Consulate in Pontianak donated six water pumps to the government of West Kalimantan in August for the prevention and control of forest and land fires.
In an official statement last Monday, Siti Nurbaya explained that Malaysia’s complaint about Indonesia’s haze was inaccurate.
“We have been monitoring the situation, and no cross-border haze has reached Malaysia,” she said.
Breaking the barrier
Man proves his worth in the hospitality industry despite hearing impairment.
To foster an inclusive work environment and cultivate empathy among employees, organisations and businesses should consider hiring individuals with disabilities. However, this endeavour is not without its challenges, primarily in finding suitable roles that align with their unique capabilities.
People with disabilities continue to face significant disadvantages in this regard.
These disadvantages can manifest in various ways, most notably through the negative biases held by leaders and colleagues who may doubt the ability of individuals with disabilities to fulfil their job responsibilities effectively, comparing them unfavourably to their non-disabled peers.
Fortunately, in Brunei, several businesses and government departments have taken steps towards providing equitable opportunities for people with disabilities, actively offering employment opportunities that match the capabilities of these individuals, and ensuring that they are well-suited for the tasks assigned to them.
One notable local establishment leading the way in this regard is Radisson Hotel Brunei. The general manager, Miriam Wolber, emphasised the hotel’s commitment to diversity and community support.
This commitment extends to people with special needs and disabilities, reflecting the hotel’s dedication to fostering a more inclusive and supportive workplace environment.
Abid Aimaduddin bin Md Shahrilnizam, one of their hearing-impaired employees, in an interview with the Bulletin, shared the challenges and triumphs in his industry.
Abid’s entry into the hotel industry came as a result of a recommendation from a close friend. Despite lacking any prior experience in the hospitality sector, he gave himself a chance to venture into a new field.
Reflecting on his journey, Abid said he found valuable guidance and support from friends who helped him to understand his role and responsibilities.
“In providing the best customer services despite my disabilities, the technique and strategy I applied were due to the guidance and assistance from fellow team members who are there to lend a helping hand. This includes my supervisor Pak Dadang, who gave me great support despite the struggle in the early days,” said Abid.
His current job doesn’t involve interaction with customers, he said. However, he sees opportunities to learn new things every day, including assisting in the kitchen and preparing food for hotel guests. This aspect of his job has allowed him to continuously expand his skills set and knowledge.
“One of the biggest challenges I have to face is communicating with my team, as many of them have limited knowledge of sign language, he said, adding that nevertheless, it has not deterred our sincere intentions to learn from each other”.
He also underlined the importance of accepting individual differences as it strengthens the ability to work together efficiently and harmoniously.
Sharing his own thoughts was Dadang, who said, “This is my first time having worked in Brunei for so many years, having a hearing impaired individual under my supervision. It has been a valuable experience to be able to teach him despite the communication challenges.”
Dadang said he recognises Abid’s initiative and eagerness to learn.
“Abid consistently demonstrates a strong desire to expand his knowledge and improve his work.”
Dadang took on the role of guiding and supervising Abid during his initial months on the job, ensuring that he gained the necessary skills and confidence. This support was crucial until Dadang was confident that Abid could work with minimal supervision, similar to his other colleagues.
Initially, their primary means of communication was through writing, but as time passed, even though Dadang didn’t have an extensive understanding of sign language, they developed a strong bond.
Dadang learnt to better understand Abid’s needs and intentions without the need for written communication, fostering a deeper connection between them.
“Our collaboration has been quite positive, as long as we maintain a mutual understanding, and we both fulfil our job responsibilities effectively.
“Abid’s inquisitive nature is noteworthy; he frequently asks about my tasks and seeks guidance on his own. His humility shines through in his interactions, as he easily connects with individuals from various departments, including his two fellow seniors who are also hearing-impaired,” added Abid’s supervisor.
As an international hotel, their commitment to diversity and supporting the community extends to individuals with special needs and disabilities.
“Currently, we have three team members who are hearing impaired, and they have made significant contributions to our hotel.
“One of them has been with us for over 20 years in the stewarding department, another for approximately 14 to 15 years in laundry, and the latest addition joined us in April 2022,” said Miriam.
The introduction of Abid into their team came about when they faced a shortage of staff during Ramadhan. A senior hearing-impaired staff member recommended him, and Miriam had a conversation with her executive chef about the challenges of recruiting for the demanding stewarding role. This led to Abid joining their team.
“We are genuinely pleased with the performance of all three team members. Communication has been the most significant challenge for me personally because I am not proficient in sign language.
“Therefore, the recent sign language workshop was an invaluable opportunity for me to bridge this gap,” added Miriam.
During a recent family day event at the hotel, the hearing-impaired steward took the initiative to guide Miriam through the dishes served, explaining each one. She had found this gesture truly remarkable and hopes to continue learning from them over time.
“Currently, we are in discussion to hire someone for our kitchen team. We are exploring recommendations from individuals who can connect us with more special needs individuals.
“It’s essential for us to support these individuals, as not everyone is willing to provide them with opportunities due to the extra effort required,” said Miriam.
She added, “Our current special needs team members are learning and adapting as they go. Hiring Abid in the stewarding department was made easier due to the presence of a senior team member who is also hearing impaired.”
Miriam said, “We are actively working towards expanding his responsibilities, with the possibility of him becoming the steward manager. I would be delighted if that came to fruition.”
At Radisson, the general manager said, bias is not tolerated, especially towards special needs individuals. Thus, they are treated the same way as other employees. Miriam believes hearing impairment should not make any difference in how they are treated.
“Considering our plans to hire one or two more individuals for the kitchen team, we are contemplating hosting another sign language workshop.
“Our kitchen team has yet to be exposed to sign language, so this is definitely something we will explore in the near future,” said Miriam. – Lyna Mohamad
Taming house giants
Are your houseplants going hulk? Learn the tricks to wrangle your garden giants gone wild.
Picture this: You wake up in the morning and walk outside your verandah, for your daily stroll about the garden.
There are hoyas hanging haphazardly, tendrils desperately clinging to any available support within its reach. There are also huge philodendrons standing before you, its foliage no shorter than a person’s forearm, its width covering a human head.
You’re walking through a garden full of giants and you may feel like it’s a testament to your allegedly green appendages, but then you notice a few things that don’t seem quite right. Those large philodendrons? The leaves on the bottom nodes of one are yellowing, the medium of another is bone-dry despite being watered the day before. And there’s that other one that just pushed out a leaf that is significantly smaller than usual.
In a bind
These are the symptoms of plants that are literally too big for their britches; plants that are root-bound, a condition that should be common if you’ve been gardening long enough.
As the term suggests, a root-bound plants is one that has outgrown their container, causing the roots to be tightly packed and growing in circles within the pot.
With their yellowing leaves and stunted appearance, a root-bound plant is always a sight for sore eyes.
If you are noticing any of these characteristics in your plants, then you are faced with an age-old question that every gardener faces as they mature in their plant journey. To repot or not to repot? And subsequently, to prune or not to prune?
First things first, however, good job! You’ve cared for the plant well enough for it to live and prosper that its growing size has become a point of tension in your personal life. However, repotting root-bound plants require not only care and delicate touch but also some forethought and intention.
Do you want your plants to grow bigger? Do you want them to grow bushier? Or do you want them to stay relatively unchanged? Regardless of your decision to repot or give a big prune, the root-bound plant must go through some prep in order to give it the best chance of survival in its new phase of life.
A root spa
When handling a root-bound plant, the first order of business is to examine the root ball – the dense mass of roots that have wrapped around each other inside the pot.
Try to gently loosen the outer layer of the roots, the plant’s literal threads of life. I must stress again that a little tenderness can go a long way.
Before repotting, soak the root ball in water for about an hour. This helps to hydrate the roots and makes them more pliable, easing the transition to the new pot.
Feel free to enhance the process by adding a few drops of liquid fertiliser during the soaking process, to give the plant a further boost. Opt for a mild chemical input with a slightly higher ratio of potassium. This promotes robust root growth and ensures your plant’s overall well-being.
Some tweezers, old chopsticks or even your fingers can be tools that can help you to tease apart the roots gently. Additionally, trim any long, circling roots and keep an eye out for mushy roots. They’re dead, and if not removed, they can spread diseases and cause the plant to rot.
These gentle snips actually encourage the growth of new roots. For the best results, use sharp and clean scissors or pruning shears to make those precise cuts.
Grow and steady
If you are looking to let your plants grow to a kaiju-like proportion, upgrading their pots is the logical next step.
But let’s recall my earlier advice about intentionality when repotting. It’s important to consider the desired outcome for your maturing plant. The standard and safe approach is to select a pot that’s one and a half times larger than its original one.
When plants are root-bound, their roots are densely packed, and repotting can lead to root damage, potentially causing the plant to go into shock.
Patience and gentle care are key during this critical transition. Some rudimentary gardening knowledge also helps. The essence of the ‘1.5x’ rule for repotting lies is allowing the plant the time and space it needs to heal and minimising the stress as it adapts to its fresh surroundings.
Choosing a pot much larger than the plant seems tempting, but the excess soil that comes with it will retain moisture for too long, leading to root rot. Ensuring the pot size matches your plant’s roots helps it drink water quickly and breathe properly.
This balance is vital for healthy growth so make sure to prepare a well-draining potting mix suitable for the specific plant type. A mix of potting soil, perlite and organic matter like compost or coco chips work well for most plants.
The only catch with the ‘1.5x’ repotting method is that you’ll likely find yourself back in the garden for another session in the future. Plants, once rejuvenated, tend to grow rapidly. But let me assure you, the end result – a beautiful, fully matured plant – makes every bit of effort absolutely worthwhile.
Is bushy better?
Being root-bound hampers growth and as mentioned previously, leads to the emergence of tiny ‘baby’ leaves that don’t do justice to your garden’s aesthetics.
If you find your plant in this situation, a strategic cut-and-repot is in order. Knowing where to cut is key. Ideally, trim just before the baby leaf emerges, or simply prune up to the last large mature leaf – it’s an easier marker.
Repot the remaining plant or the ‘bottom cutting’ following the ‘1.5x’ rule. When you make that strategic cut, coupled with a refreshing repot, the plant often responds by producing new shoots, or “pups”.
These can sprout from upper nodes or even beneath the soil. This natural response not only rejuvenates the plant, offering a chance at a fuller look just from one plants.
Alternatively, those nodes you’ve trimmed can be propagated to create new plants, and with a second repotting session to anticipate, the propagation becomes your secret weapon.
As you find an even larger container, these propagated plants can be combined, creating a bushy garden behemoth, possibly becoming the next stunning centrepiece of your outdoor haven. – Wardi Wasil
Bark-tastic weekend for the mighty pups
‘PAW Patrol’ leads at box office while ‘The Creator’ and ‘Dumb Money’ disappoint.
NEW YORK (AP) – After several quiet weeks in movie theatres, four films entered wide release over the weekend. PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie came out the top dog, with USD23 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates on Saturday.
The performances of all four films – PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, Saw X, The Creator and Dumb Money – told a familiar story at the box office. What worked? Horror and animated franchises. What didn’t? Originality and comedy.
PAW Patrol, from Paramount Pictures and Spin Master, had timing on its side. The film, a sequel to the 2021 PAW Patrol movie adapted from the Nickelodeon TV series, was the first family animated movie in theatres since Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was released in early August.
The first PAW Patrol, released during the pandemic, debuted with USD13 million while simultaneously releasing on Paramount+, and its success in both arenas was a contributing factor in leading Nickelodeon chief Brian Robbins to be named head of Paramount. A third PAW Patrol movie has already been green-lit.
Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, which cost USD30 million to make, added USD23.1 million in overseas sales.
Saw X, the 10th release in the long-running horror series, managed to bounce back from a franchise low with an opening weekend of USD18 million for Lionsgate. The previous Saw movie, 2021’s Spiral, starring Chris Rock, debuted with USD8.8 million and totaled USD23.3 million domestically.
But the 10th Saw doubled back on gore and brought back Tobin Bell as the serial killer Jigsaw. It came away with the franchise’s best opening weekend in more than a decade and strong audience scores.
The USD13-million production was also the widest Saw release yet, playing in 3,262 theatres. Since James Wan’s 2004 original, the Saw franchise has made more than USD1 billion worldwide.
The Creator, an USD80 million movie financed by New Regency and distributed by Disney’s 20th Century Studios, was easily the biggest film to launch in theatres over the weekend but struggled to catch on. It grossed a modest USD14 million at 3,680 theatres while adding USD18.3 million internationally.
The film, directed by Gareth Edwards, stars John David Washington as an undercover operative in an AI-dominated future. The Creator drew mostly positive reviews and a B+ CinemaScore from audiences.
Sony Pictures’ Dumb Money, expanded nationwide after two weeks of limited release but failed to ignite the kind of populist movement it irreverently dramatises. The film, directed by Craig Gillespie, came away with a disappointing USD3.5 million in 2,837 locations.
Dumb Money, starring an ensemble of Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Seth Rogen, American Ferrera and Anthony Ramos, turns the GameStop stock frenzy into a ripped-from-the-headlines underdog tale of amateur traders rattling Wall Street. While all of the weekend’s new releases were hampered by the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, Dumb Money would have especially benefitted from its cast hitting late-night shows and other promotions.
Made for USD30 million, Dumb Money wasn’t a massive bet. But it represented the kind of movie – a mid-budget, acclaimed original mostly targeted at adults – that Hollywood seldom makes anymore. As the industry enters an awards season a year after many high-profile contenders (among them Tár and The Fabelmans) failed to catch on in theatres, the results for Dumb Money may be cautionary for films queuing up.
The weekend’s other notable success came from a four-decade-old concert film.
The 4K restoration of the Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense made USD1 million on 786 screens, and surely led all movies in the number of dancing moviegoers. The Jonathan Demme film has surpassed USD3 million thus far. Indie distributor A24 promised it will “have audiences dancing in the aisles around the world for a very long time to come.”
App shows how ancient Greek sites looked thousands of years ago
ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Tourists at the Acropolis this holiday season can witness the resolution of one of the world’s most heated debates on cultural heritage.
All they need is a smartphone.
Visitors can now pinch and zoom their way around the ancient Greek site, with a digital overlay showing how it once looked. That includes a collection of marble sculptures removed from the Parthenon more than 200 years ago that are now on display at the British Museum in London. Greece has demanded they be returned.
For now, an app supported by Greece’s Culture Ministry allows visitors to point their phones at the Parthenon temple, and the sculptures housed in London appear back on the monument as archaeologists believe they looked 2,500 years ago.
Other, less widely known features also appear: Many of the sculptures on the Acropolis were painted in striking colours. A statue of Athena in the main chamber of the Parthenon also stood over a shallow pool of water.
“That’s really impressive… the only time I’ve seen that kind of technology before is at the dentist,” Shriya Parsotam Chitnavis, a tourist from London, said after checking out the app on a hot afternoon at the hilltop Acropolis, Greece’s most popular archaeological site.
“I didn’t know much about the (Acropolis), and I had to be convinced to come up here. Seeing this has made it more interesting – seeing it in colour,” she said. “I’m more of a visual person, so this being interactive really helped me appreciate it.”
The virtual restoration works anywhere and could spare some visitors the crowded uphill walk and long wait to see the iconic monuments up close. It might also help the country’s campaign to make Greek cities year-round destinations.
Tourism, vital for the Greek economy, has roared back since the COVID-19 pandemic, even as wildfires chased visitors from the island of Rhodes and affected other areas this summer. The number of inbound visitors from January through July was up 21.9 per cent to 16.2 million compared with a year ago, according to the Bank of Greece. Revenue was up just over 20 per cent, to EUR10.3 billion (USD10.8 billion).
The app, called “Chronos” after the mythological king of the Titans and Greek word for “time”, uses augmented reality (AR) to place the ancient impression of the site onto the screen, matching the real-world view as you walk around.
AR is reaching consumers after a long wait and is set to affect a huge range of professional and leisure activities.
Medical surgery, military training and specialised machine repair as well as retail and live event experiences are all in the sights of big tech companies betting on a lucrative future in immersive services. Tech giant like Meta and Apple are pushing into VR headsets that can cost thousands of dollars.
The high price tag will keep the cellphone as the main AR delivery platform to consumers for some time, said co-author of the book Reality Media on augmented and virtual reality Maria Engberg.
She said services for travellers will soon offer a better integrated experience, allowing for more sharing options on tours and overlaying archive photos and videos.
“AR and VR have been lagging behind other kinds of things like games and movies that we’re consuming digitally,” said Engberg, an associate professor of computer science and media technology at Malmo University in Sweden.
“I think we will see really interesting customer experiences in the next few years as more content from museums and archives becomes digitised,” she said.
Greece’s Culture Ministry and national tourism authority are late but enthusiastic converts to technology. The popular video game Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, which allows players to roam ancient Athens, was used to attract young travellers from China to Greece with a state-organised photo contest.
Microsoft partnered with the Culture Ministry two years ago to launch an immersive digital tour at ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games in southern Greece.
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said the innovations would boost accessibility to Greece’s ancient monuments, supplementing the recent installation of ramps and anti-slip pathways.
“Accessibility is extending to the digital space,” Mendoni said at a preview launch event for the Chronos app in May. “Real visitors and virtual visitors anywhere around the world can share historical knowledge.”
Developed by Greek telecoms provider Cosmote, the free app’s designers say they hope to build on existing features that include an artificial intelligence-powered virtual guide, Clio.
“As technologies and networks advance, with better bandwidth and lower latencies, mobile devices will be able to download even higher-quality content,” said Panayiotis Gabrielides, a senior official at the telecom company involved in the project.
Virtual reconstructions using Chronos also cover three other monuments at the Acropolis, an adjacent Roman theatre and parts of the Acropolis Museum built at the foot of the rock.
‘Fantastic’ Verstappen wins third straight Formula One title
DOHA (AFP) – Max Verstappen clinched his third consecutive world title on Saturday when he finished second behind rookie Oscar Piastri in an incident-filled sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix, describing his success as “fantastic”.
It was a fine maiden Formula One victory for Australian 22-year-old Piastri, but his feat was overshadowed by Verstappen’s achievement, the Dutchman having required only three points to take the title.
His only rival and Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez was involved in a collision and retired, making him the first “Saturday champion” since Nelson Piquet, father of his girlfriend Kelly, in South Africa in 1983.
“I don’t know what to say. Incredible year. Thank you for providing me with such a car. It has been a pleasure so far this year,” 26-year-old Verstappen told his team over the car radio.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner described the Dutchman as “phenomenal” and “out of this world”.
Piastri’s win was McLaren’s first since Daniel Ricciardo triumphed for them at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix and it was only the second time this season that Red Bull had been defeated.
Verstappen won the title with six races remaining in the season, the greatest margin since 2002 when Michael Schumacher was champion for Ferrari.
His title win enabled him to join a rare club for three-time champions alongside Jack Brabham, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna and Jackie Stewart – and an even more elite group of those to have won three in a row, Juan Manuel Fangio, Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.
“This has been a fantastic feeling and it has been a fantastic year. We have had some great races and I am super proud of the team job and it is so enjoyable to be a part of this group of people. To win three times is incredible,” added Verstappen.
He said that he had no records in sight as targets, but wanted to continue racing and winning.
“We’ll keep on pushing and doing the best we can.”
Verstappen, who will start Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix from pole position, has an unassailable 184-point lead with six races left in the season.
Piastri said: “I am very happy but that was a stressful race. We did a great job.”
His McLaren team-mate Lando Norris came home third ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell and Hamilton with the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc sixth and seventh.
Alex Albon of Williams was eighth, two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin ninth and Pierre Gasly of Alpine 10th.
Griffin goes for first PGA Tour win
JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) – Ben Griffin moved into position for his first PGA Tour victory with another bogey-free round Saturday for a 6-under 66, giving him a three-shot lead in the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Griffin already has his PGA Tour card locked up for next year, but a victory would really set him up for 2024 and the USD20 million tournaments.
Griffin got up-and-down for par on his final three holes, the last one from a bunker to the right of the 18th green. He made the 6-footer to keep his distance over Carl Yuan, who had a 67.
At stake for Griffin is a spot in the Masters, starting the year at Kapalua for The Sentry and perhaps being frontrunner for PGA Tour rookie of the year.
Griffin was at 20-under 296 and has not made a bogey in his last 37 holes, although he tempted fate a few times at the Country Club of Jackson. He hit only seven fairways and missed four greens, the most of any round this week.
“I got myself out of position on a holes, maybe made the wrong decision,” Griffin said with a smile. “But I feel like one of the strengths of my game is scrambling. And I had to do that on a few holes. Otherwise, I pretty much hit my targets all day.”
Yuan is No 151 in the FedEx Cup. Only the top 125 after the FedEx Cup Fall earn full status for 2024, and five tournaments remain after this week.
Those right behind Yuan know the feeling. Scott Stallings (No 130), Henrik Norlander (No 142) and Luke List (No 119) were tied for third, four shots behind.
Stalling matched the low score of the third round, a 65 that was helped by his 50-foot pitch from just short of the reachable 15th that he sank for eagle. He gave credit to Wesley Bryan, having watched his pitch from the rough race through the green. That made Stallings change his shot, realising how fast it is in the front.
“I was going to play a completely different shot until I saw how fast his ball was once it got past the hole,” Stallings said. “I was literally trying to check-spin it just over the edge, and obviously it got super lucky going in. But I was happy with how I executed it.”
Norlander and List each shot a 68.
Ludvig Aberg of Sweden, coming off his Ryder Cup debut in Italy, finally came to life late in his round. He made five birdies over the last eight holes for a 66, closing the gap to six shots.
Aberg is at No 136, though his card is locked in for 2024 because he finished at No. 1 in the PGA Tour University ranking as a senior at Texas Tech. Among other things, getting into the top 125 would earn him a spot in The Players Championship.
Griffin could tell the course was yielding good scores when he teed off, and he got going in the right direction quickly. He hit a tricky wedge from the Bermuda rough that rolled out to 4 feet for birdie on the second hole, and then two-putted for birdie from 35 feet on the par-5 third.
After that, he made sure he stayed in front, adding a few 12-foot birdies and his longest putt on the 13th from about 25 feet.
Griffin began his rookie year with a chance to win the Bermuda Championship, only to get surpassed late in the day and tying for third.
Ireland confirms Rugby World Cup quarterfinal
PARIS (AP) – Top-ranked Ireland blitzed Scotland, confirming a Rugby World Cup quarterfinal, by six tries and 36-14 on Saturday.
Ireland topped Pool B ahead of defending champion South Africa, which it beat 13-8 in a titanic contest two weeks ago.
This one was never close as Ireland cruised to a 17th straight win — one win behind the tier one world record — and led 36-0 before Scotland’s two tries.
The Irish have never passed the quarters and they face three-time champion New Zealand when they return to Stade de France next Saturday.
“This is where we want to be now in a quarterfinal against the toughest opposition we could get,” Ireland captain Jonathan Sexton said.
France faces the Springboks here the following day.
Underdog Scotland had to win and deny the Irish a bonus point to advance at Ireland’s expense. Instead, coach Gregor Townsend’s side slumped meekly to a record-tying ninth straight defeat against Ireland.
After only 63 seconds, Ireland was ahead. By halftime, it was 26-0 with a bonus point secured and a quarterfinal confirmed.
