BERNAMA – The ringgit ended lower against US dollar at the close despite the lower United States (US) consumer price index (CPI) data last night, indicating that lower inflation will enable the US Federal Reserve to reduce interest rates.
At 6pm, the ringgit slid to 4.4350/4405 versus the greenback from yesterday’s close of 4.4170/4235.
The US CPI in July came in lower at 2.9 per cent on a yearly basis from three per cent in June.
Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the ringgit has gained considerably against the greenback ever since signals for the rate cut in the US has gained momentum.
Yesterday, ringgit closed at its strongest level in 16 months after it revisited the 4.41 level.
“Plus, the anticipation for a strong second quarter 2024 gross domestic product in Malaysia to be announced tomorrow has resulted in traders to be more sanguine on the prospect of further appreciation in the ringgit.
“Nonetheless, currency movement is not linear and they are subject to market volatility as traders might want to realise some profits,” he told Bernama.
At the close, the ringgit traded lower against a basket of major currencies. It went down versus the Japanese yen to 3.0092/0132 from 3.0027/0073 at yesterday’s close, depreciated against the British pound to 5.7007/7078 from 5.6754/6838 and weakened vis-a-vis the euro to 4.8838/8899 from 4.8684/8756 previously.
Meanwhile, the ringgit traded lower against ASEAN currencies.
The local note dropped versus the Singapore dollar to 3.3657/3699 from 3.3582/3634 at Wednesday’s close and was lower against the Philippine peso at 7.79/7.80 compared with 7.75/7.77 previously.
AFP – Bryson DeChambeau, who captured his second United States (US) Open title in June, sees a chance to go lower than his stunning 12-under par 58 when the LIV Golf Greenbrier starts today.
The 30-year-old US golfer matched the lowest score on a major golf tour last year when he shot a final-round 58 with a closing birdie to win the event at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
“I don’t know how to explain it. Just kind of semi-blacked out I guess,” DeChambeau said.
“To make the 40-footer on the last hole for 58, that was just the cherry on top.
“A special place in my heart forever… probably one of the most special moments of my entire life.”
He matched the 58 fired by countryman Jim Furyk at the 2016 Travelers Championship as the lowest rounds on either the PGA Tour or LIV Golf.
DeChambeau said on Wednesday he expects 57 and maybe lower scores are out there.
“Breaking 58, I’m sure someone is going to do it at one of these times at some point,” DeChambeau said. “We’re just too good now. There’s going to be a time where everything kind of lines up.
Bryson DeChambeau. PHOTO: XINHUA
“It’s like runners breaking the four-minute mile. It was one person that broke it, and the next year there were 12 or whatever. I feel like that opens up the door.
“I believe there will be a 57 at some point, even a 56 potentially. It’s going to just get more consistent over the course of time. We’re just too good now.”
Greenbrier has offered up two other sub-60 scores in elite-level events.
Australian Stuart Appleby fired a 59 at the 2010 PGA Greenbrier Classic in the final round to win the event.
In 2019 at the PGA’s Greenbrier event, US golfer Kevin Chappell shot 59 in the second round and went on to finish level-47th.
“They’re all playing well to shoot in the 50s, but this place, it breeds that confidence in you, like you start making putts,” two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson said.
“And then it builds from there.”
Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters winner, likes the chances for a sub-60 round this week.
“These greens are so pure that if you’re hitting the ball really well and giving yourself a lot of looks, once that putter gets hot, you have an opportunity,” he said.
“There’s a decent amount of short enough holes where you’re going to have a lot of wedges. The par-5s, you’re getting to both of them with irons in your hand.”
DeChambeau, who played with a new driver last year when he made 13 birdies and only a lone bogey at the par-three eighth, birdied six of the first seven holes and the last four.
He said the 58 sparked his run to his major win this year.
“I had been struggling with my golf game, not really understanding how to get the job done,” DeChambeau said. “Just didn’t feel like I had it to win.
“That’s what jump-started me to how I’ve been playing this past year, jump-started me to winning the US Open this year and continuing to play some really stellar golf,” he added.
A person walks in front of Tokyo Stock Exchange building in Tokyo, Japan. PHOTO: AP
AP – Asian shares were mostly higher yesterday after the latest update on United States (US) inflation came in almost exactly as economists expected, and data on Japan’s economy showed relatively healthy growth.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 added 0.8 per cent to finish at 36,726.64. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.2 per cent to 7,865.50. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 0.3 per cent to 17,054.92, while the Shanghai Composite surged 1.0 per cent to 2,877.73.
Trading was closed in South Korea for Liberation Day, a national holiday.
Japan’s Cabinet Office data showed the world’s fourth largest economy grew at an annual rate of 3.1 per cent in the April-June period, marking a rebound from the contraction in the previous quarter.
The annual rate shows how much the economy would have grown or contracted, if the quarterly rate had continued for a year. Domestic demand grew a robust 3.5 per cent from the previous quarter on the back of healthy household consumption and private sector investments, as well as government investments. Exports grew a booming 5.9 per cent.
A major element of uncertainty, which focused on currency fluctuations and interest rates lately, now turned to the political sector, as Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party picks a new leader after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he wouldn’t seek reelection.
The next leader is likely to be from his party, signalling continuity in Japan’s basic pro-US, pro-business policies, but there is no clear successor. Some analysts think a younger candidate would have a better chance of getting more voter support.
The latest data for China made for a mixed picture, with retail sales for July showing an upside while property investment and manufacturing were less cheerful.
“The slowdown of investment and weak private sector and household confidence also present a strong case for stepping up fiscal stimulus. Many market participants would favour demand-side policy support,” said chief economist Greater China at ING Economics Lynn Song. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 rose 0.4 per cent to follow up on one of its best days of the year and climb within 3.7 per cent of its all-time high set last month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 242 points, or 0.6 per cent, to finish a day above the 40,000 level for the first time in nearly two weeks. The Nasdaq composite edged up less than 0.1 per cent.
Treasury yields were also relatively steady in the bond market after the US government said consumers paid prices that were 2.9 per cent higher last month for gasoline, food, shelter and other things than a year earlier.
The data should keep the Federal Reserve on track to cut its main interest rate at its next meeting in September, after keeping rates at an economy-crunching level in hopes of stifling inflation.
The two-year Treasury yield edged up to 3.95 per cent from 3.94 per cent late on Tuesday.
All told, the S&P 500 rose 20.78 points to 5,455.21. The Dow gained 242.75 to 40,008.39, and the Nasdaq composite rose 4.99 to 17.192.60.
A person walks in front of Tokyo Stock Exchange building in Tokyo, Japan. PHOTO: AP
Italy’s Jannik Sinner during his match against United States’ Alex Michelsen
at the Cincinnati Open in Ohio. United States. PHOTO: AFP
AFP – Cincinnati Masters top seeds Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek both secured opening triumphs yesterday over qualifiers, with Swiatek forced to escape an attempted second-round ambush by France’s Varvara Gracheva.
WTA world number one Swiatek needed six match points and more than two hours to escape with a 6-0, 6-7 (8/10), 6-2 victory to start the last major event prior to the United States (US) Open.
ATP number one Sinner fought off eight break points as the top seed began the Cincinnati Open with a 6-4, 7-5 triumph over US qualifier Alex Michelsen.
Swiatek ran away with the opening set in 22 minutes but could not close out when leading 5-2 in the second.
The 62nd-ranked Gracheva saved five match points and converted on her own fifth set point to take the match into a third set.
Swiatek regained her poise to finally pull out the unexpectedly tight win to reach the third round.
“It was not easy to finish in the second set,” Swiatek said. “She started playing with freedom, with nothing to lose.
“I backed down a bit and she used her chances. I’m happy I got more proactive in the third set and played more intense.”
Italy’s Jannik Sinner during his match against United States’ Alex Michelsen at the Cincinnati Open in Ohio. United States. PHOTO: AFPABOVE & BELOW: Jannick Sinner; and Iga Swiatek. PHOTO: AFPPHOTO: AFP
Swiatek said she kept her self-belief.
“I knew I had the game to win it – I did have five match points,” she said.
“It was my fault that I didn’t close it out, but that happens.
“I was able to play the third like I did at the start of the match. I don’t want any regrets.
I’m only looking forward. I’m in a peaceful place and I’m playing without expectations.”
Italy’s Sinner, who turned 23 today, has never been past the third round at the American Midwest venue but is hoping to improve on that showing this week.
Victory in just under two hours marked the 25th on hardcourt this season for Sinner, who was the first man into the third round.
The top seed has not lost before the quarter-final stage of any event since Masters 1000 Shanghai last October.
Michelsen went down with 42 unforced errors, his winner count of 14 exactly half of Sinner’s total.
“It was a tough match,” Sinner said. “I needed to start feeling the conditions and getting used to them.
“I’m very happy to be into the next round. I’ve struggled here in past years. But today I stayed positive and that helped in the win.”
Sinner, who missed the Paris Olympics with tonsillitis and went out last week in the Montreal quarter-finals, said he was not at his best.
“I’m not yet at 100 per cent, but the main goal is the US Open,” he said. “I have one week (after Cincinnati) to prepare in the best possible way.
“The matches I can play here will help at the Open.”
Sinner next plays Australian Jordan Thompson, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Sebastian Baez.
Former world number one Daniil Medvedev was ousted in his second-round match, the fourth seed falling to 22-year-old Czech Jiri Lehecka 7-6 (7/2), 6-4. Medvedev also fell in the first round last week at Montreal.
Ninth seed Stefano Tsitsipas played for the first time since splitting last week with his father as coach, with the Greek turning the tables in dramatic fashion to reach the second round 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 over Jan-Lennard Struff.
Norwegian seventh seed Casper Ruud will next face Felix Auger-Aliassime after his 6-3, 6-1 win over US qualifier Aleksandar Kovacevic.
Monday’s Montreal champion, Australian Alexei Popyrin, lost his opening match to France’s Gael Monfils 7-5, 6-3.
Dane Holger Rune beat Matteo Berrettini 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, ending the Italian’s 10-match win streak that included clay titles in Gstaad and Kitzbuehel.
Briton Jack Draper worked for more than two and a half hours to stop Spain’s Jaume Munar 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5).
Paula Badosa joined boyfriend Tsitsipas in the second round after defeating Cincinnati local Peyton Stearns 6-2, 7-5.
Washington winner Badosa next plays 13th seed Anna Kalinskaya, a 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 comeback winner against Katerina Siniakova.
ABOVE & BELOW: His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office receives in audience outgoing Kuwait Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Salah Mubarak Musleh Al-Mutairi; and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn. PHOTO: INFOFOTO
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, received in audience ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn, who is on a two-day working visit to the Sultanate at Qashr Al-Meezaan yesterday.
During the ceremony, His Royal Highness and the secretary-general touched on ASEAN’s community building efforts, including initiatives by the Sultanate covering matters pertaining to sports, climate change, youth exchange and civil service matters.
The two sides further discussed the 40th anniversary of the Sultanate’s membership in ASEAN.
His Royal Highness also met with outgoing Kuwait Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Salah Mubarak Musleh Al-Mutairi at Qashr Al-Meezaan yesterday.
The ambassador presented his letter of credence to His Majesty on February 4, 2019.
ABOVE & BELOW: His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office receives in audience outgoing Kuwait Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Salah Mubarak Musleh Al-Mutairi; and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn. PHOTO: INFOFOTOPHOTO: INFOFOTO
ABOVE & BELOW: Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar; Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah; Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof; and Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin; with ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn. PHOTO: ASEAN SECRETARIAT
ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn, who is in the country for a two-day working visit, met several Cabinet ministers and discussed matters ranging from economic, finance, environment, communications and international affairs.
The ASEAN Secretariat said Dr Kao met Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah at the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
They discussed issues related to intra-ASEAN trade, ASEAN’s digital transformation under the Bandar Seri Begawan Roadmap, as well as the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
The secretary-general also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof where they discussed issues related to ASEAN Community building and ASEAN’s external relations, as well as exchanged views on regional and international issues.
He also met Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha and discussed the progress of the transport sector, connectivity, smart cities development and digital transformation in ASEAN.
The secretary-general, meanwhile, discussed the latest developments and progress of ASEAN’s cooperation in the agriculture, forestry and tourism sectors, which play a crucial role in driving the regional economy forward as well as in promoting resilient and sustainable development with Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin.
He also held a bilateral meeting with Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar and discussed ASEAN’s Community building activities to achieve the vision of a healthy, caring and sustainable ASEAN, particularly in enhancing cooperation in tackling mental health and non-communicable diseases.
Dr Kao also held a roundtable discussion with research institutes and think tanks based in the Sultanate to discuss ASEAN’s priorities and initiatives, particularly in the areas of traditional and non-traditional security, as well as exchanged views on regional and global developments. – Azlan Othman
ABOVE & BELOW: Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar; Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah; Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof; and Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin; with ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn. PHOTO: ASEAN SECRETARIATPHOTO: ASEAN SECRETARIATPHOTO: ASEAN SECRETARIATPHOTO: ASEAN SECRETARIATMinister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha with the secretary-general. PHOTO: ASEAN SECRETARIAT
Dynamik Technologies Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Haslina Taib in a group photo. PHOTO: DYNAMIK TECHNOLOGIES
The Sultanate expanded its engagement with Borneo’s dynamic economic landscape during the Borneo Economic Forum on Tuesday in Banjarmasin, Indonesia.
The forum underscored the region’s vast potential for economic growth and connectivity, highlighting investment opportunities in key sectors, such as the green economy, tourism and renewable energy.
Discussions during the forum also focused on enhancing Borneo’s logistics and digital infrastructure, emphasising the critical role of advanced technologies in driving regional integration within the ASEAN Economic Community.
Dynamik Technologies Chief Executive Officer Haslina Taib, who is also the co-chair of the Borneo Economic Community (BEC), highlighted Brunei’s unwavering commitment to inclusive economic development.
In alignment with these goals, Haslina introduced two key BEC initiative – Karyawan Digital Borneo (KARYADI) and Trade and Economics Unified Analytics (TENUN) by Dynamik Technologies.
Dynamik Technologies Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Haslina Taib in a group photo. PHOTO: DYNAMIK TECHNOLOGIES
National Disaster Management Centre Director Colonel (Rtd) Muhd Harrith Rashidi bin Haji Muhd Jamin presents a certificate to a recipient. PHOTO: DANIEL LIM
Mukim Belait community leaders completed a two-day Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) programme with a closing ceremony yesterday.
National Disaster Management Centre Director Colonel (Rtd) Muhd Harrith Rashidi bin Haji Muhd Jamin was the guest of honour and handed over certificates to the participating community leaders comprising the penghulu, village head and members of the mukim and village consultative council across Mukim Belait.
The programme aimed at disseminating knowledge among community leaders to enhance their disaster preparedness and resilience to aid the relevant authorities as well as government agencies and departments. – Daniel Lim
National Disaster Management Centre Director Colonel (Rtd) Muhd Harrith Rashidi bin Haji Muhd Jamin presents a certificate to a recipient. PHOTO: DANIEL LIM
A 43-year-old permanent resident pleaded guilty midway through his trial in the High Court to 15 charges of sexual offences involving two of his nieces.
The defendant initially denied the charges but changed his plea to guilty midway through the trial, for the charges brought against him, including rape, sexual assault, as well as unauthorised recording of the sexual acts.
The defendant, a widower with two young sons, was in a position of trust, regularly caring for his nieces, Miss A and Miss B, who are now revealed to have been subjected to continuous sexual abuse by the defendant from a very young age.
The offences took place over several years and were only brought to light following a police report lodged by the victims’ mother in July 2022.
The defendant’s abusive actions began in 2011 when Miss A was seven years old. The abuse included forcing her into various sexual acts, which escalated over time, culminating in rape and non-consensual recordings of these vile acts.
The defendant continued to exploit Miss A until 2022, often using his position as her uncle and caretaker to intimidate and manipulate her into compliance.
In one incident, when the defendant’s wife was bedridden in the living room, the defendant brought Miss A, who was 18 at the time, into another room to sexually abuse her and recorded the act. In another incident, shortly after his wife’s death in 2022, the defendant raped Miss A while his two younger sons were in the same room.
Similarly, Miss B was also subjected to sexual abuse by the defendant from the age of seven. The defendant’s predatory behaviour towards her included two instances of rape, three occasions of forcing Miss B to commit sexual acts whilst recording these acts without her consent.
The arrest of the defendant on July 19, 2022, following the report by the victims’ mother, led to a comprehensive police investigation.
Information technology forensics on the defendant’s mobile phone uncovered numerous obscene video files and images in relation to the victims.
The defendant had been in remand since his arrest.
Judicial Commissioner Muhammed Faisal bin Pehin Datu Juragan Laila Diraja Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Kefli adjourned the case to September 14 to allow Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Fitri Kiprawi and Prosecutor Abdul Hanan bin Haji Erwan to submit on sentencing. – Fadley Faisal
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha during the event. PHOTO: JAMES KON
Some 115 University Medals, Book Prizes and Excellence Awards were presented to 103 recipients during the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Medal and Book Prize Awards ceremony at the university’s premises yesterday.
The ceremony, held in conjunction with the UBD’s 36th Convocation Ceremony, celebrated graduates and outstanding students from different fields and levels of study, while encouraging healthy competition to drive academic excellence and active contribution to the community.
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the UBD Council, attended as the guest of honour and presented awards to the recipients.
Recent Bachelor of Business (Business Administration) graduate Nur Amal Batrisyia @ Syasya binti Mohamad received the Vice-Chancellor’s Medal, an award based on the recipient’s academic merits, significant contributions and achievements in extracurricular activities as well as for demonstrating exemplary leadership skills.
The University Silver Medals – presented to the best final year students from each Bachelor’s programme – were awarded to Lim Sye Wen (Bachelor of Arts in Design and Creative Industries), Mohamad Nur-Hafizuddin Abdullah Mohamad Norajame (Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences), Nor Fatin Wafiqah binti Haji Noralimen (Bachelor of Business in Economics), Damia Hazimah binti Muhammad Asnawi (Bachelor of Health Science in Midwifery), Siti Nursarah binti Julhijjal (Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical and Process Engineering), and Muhammad Luqman bin Mohd Jaffari (Bachelor of Digital Science in Computer Science).
Meanwhile, 13 Master’s and 68 Bachelor’s degree students received the University Book Prizes for their outstanding performance.
Brunei LNG Sdn Bhd also presented Excellence Awards to 13 First Class Honours degree recipients in the field of chemical and process engineering, mathematics, chemistry and applied physics.
This year, the Chinese Ambassador Award was presented to six students – Lei Jian Ting, Anis Majidah binti Haji Azamain, Awangku Mohammad Azamuddin bin Pengiran Mohd Hardy and Teo Kai Lee received the award for Chemical and Process Engineering, while Seri Nur Adriana Abdullah Chan @ Chan Xiao Yen and Chang Ming Hui received the award for the Mandarin language.
Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Pengiran Dr Mohd Iskandar bin Pengiran Haji Petra in his remark recalled, “UBD had to switch completely to online learning after more than a year of implementing blended learning due to the first wave of the pandemic at the beginning of 2020. The group of students who were affected most were the Bachelor’s degree students from the 20B and 21B intake, who are the students with us today, especially the class of graduates 2024.”
He added, “The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the learning and lives of graduates at that time, forcing them to adapt to unprecedented challenges. However, with the perseverance, resilience, and adaptability of the graduates and students, as well as the help of technology and connectivity, Alhamdulillah teaching and learning went on successfully and smoothly. Now, the time has come for students and graduates to step forward, armed with the spirit of resilience and sustainability, to continue learning and enter the world of work.”
Attorney General Datin Seri Paduka Hajah Nor Hashimah binti Haji Mohammed Taib, Deputy Minister (Security and Law) at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Paduka Haji Sufian bin Haji Sabtu and UBD Vice-Chancellor Dr Hazri bin Haji Kifle were also present. – James Kon
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha during the event. PHOTO: JAMES KONABOVE & BELOW: Photos show the minister presenting awards to recipients. PHOTO: JAMES KONPHOTO: JAMES KONPHOTO: JAMES KONPHOTO: JAMES KONPHOTO: JAMES KON
