Walid Lachkar in action during the tournament.PHOTOS: JAMES KON & BRUNEI DARUSSALAM WUSHU FEDERATION
Brunei Darussalam wushu exponent Yee Sean Lim secured a bronze medal in the Girl’s Taijijian ‘A’ event during the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex yesterday.
The wushu sensation amassed a total of 9.083 points behind eventual gold medallist China’s Yilin Zhang who posted a score of 9.243 points and silver medallist Chinese Taipei’s Yu Tzu Liu who managed 9.150 points.
Yee, who took bronze in the Girl’s Taichi Sword event during the previous edition in Tangerang, Indonesia two years ago, added to her country’s overall medal tally of three gold medals, three silver and one bronze.
Her podium finish ensured the country’s consistent showing in the championship having won a medal every day since it was opened last Wednesday.
Meanwhile in the Boy’s Nangun ‘A’ event, Abel Wee Yuen Lim finished ninth out of 19 entrants while Quintus Ming Jun Yii was placed fifth in Boy’s Nangun ‘B’. In the afternoon session, Walid Lachkar competed in the Boy’s Gunshu ‘A’ event and finished in seventh spot. – Fadhil Yunus
Walid Lachkar in action during the tournament. PHOTO: JAMES KON & BRUNEI DARUSSALAM WUSHU FEDERATIONBronze medallist Yee Sean Lim with her coaches in a group photo PHOTO: JAMES KON & BRUNEI DARUSSALAM WUSHU FEDERATION
DPMM FC and Hougang United FC players during a Singapore Premier League match. PHOTO: SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE
DPMM FC head coach Jamie McAllister has called for improvement after his charges relinquished a two-goal lead during the 2-2 draw with Hougang United FC in the Singapore Premier League at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore on Friday.
The Gegar Gegar men enjoyed a rapid start as Julio Cruz converted a 13th minute penalty before an own goal from Ismail Salihovic two minutes later added a two-goal cushion.
However, the visitors conceded in the second half with Stjepan Plazonja halving the deficit before Dejan Racic scored deep into stoppage time. The head coach said, “We got ourselves two-nil up, a commanding lead really but in the second half we took a step back, stopped doing the right things and made bad decisions.”
He continued, “So I just had a good chat with the lads there. They know how they feel. It’s frustration and we got to keep on improving.”
Meanwhile his opposite number Hougang United FC head coach Marko Kraljevic said, “We start the game with mistakes and we were 2-0 down.”
He further added, “It was a shock to the players. As we were down by two goals, we must start attacking but also watch out our opponents who are quick in counter attack.
“We came strongly in the second half and we need to score the first goal so everything can get moving.”
The former Balestier Khalsa FC boss concluded, “We could have finished the game (with a win) but we didn’t have time.” – Fadhil Yunus
DPMM FC and Hougang United FC players during a Singapore Premier League match. PHOTO: SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE
Jannik Sinner during a media conference. PHOTO: AFP
MONTREAL (AFP) – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said Saturday that it has lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the case of tennis world number one Jannik Sinner.
“WADA is seeking a period of ineligibility of between one and two years,” it said in a statement, after the Italian twice tested positive for the banned substance clostebol in March but was cleared to carry on playing.
The 23-year-old Sinner, who recently won the US Open and is currently in action in Beijing, has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Last month, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said that Sinner had been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive earlier in the season.
The ITIA accepted his explanation that the drug entered his system when his physiotherapist used a spray containing it to treat a cut, then provided massage and sports therapy to the player.
The global anti-doping body said in its statement that it lodged its appeal against the ruling to CAS, the top court in sport, on Thursday.
“It is WADA’s view that the finding of ‘no fault or negligence’ was not correct under the applicable rules,” it said.
It added: “WADA is not seeking a disqualification of any results, save that which has already been imposed by the tribunal of first instance.
“As this matter is now pending before CAS, WADA will make no further comment at this time.”
Clostebol is an anabolic agent prohibited at all times by WADA.
AP – It’s often said there is a thin line between love and hate, but is it OK to sometimes hate your long-term partner? If you ask actress Jamie Lee Curtis, it’s practically necessary.
Asked about the secret to her 40-year marriage to actor Christopher Guest, she recently said the key includes patience, perseverance and “a really good dose of hatred”.
“All of a sudden you literally want to hate each other. And then the next day, it’s a pretty, sunny day, and the dog does something cute or your child does something cute, and you look at each other and you’re like, ‘Aw, gosh’,” Curtis told Entertainment Tonight after picking up an Emmy Award for her role in The Bear. “And you’re on another track.”
Relationship experts say it’s normal for couples to experience moments of what feels like genuine hatred. The difference between couples who last and those who don’t can lie in how they handle their emotions in those moments.
“Hating the person you love is the most common thing in the world,” said Jane Greer, a marriage and family therapist and author of Am I Lying to Myself? How to Overcome Denial and See the Truth. “We think we’re supposed to love our partner all the time unconditionally, but that’s not the way it works.”
A couple sits by the lake in Cismigiu park, in Bucharest, Romania. PHOTO: AP
Yes, you should ‘sweat the small stuff’
Stereotypical annoyances, like leaving the toilet seat up or cluttering the floor with shoes, accumulate when left unaddressed, said Terri Orbuch, a sociology professor at Oakland University and author of “Five Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great.”
To prevent pet peeves from growing into a bigger problem, it’s important to “sweat the small stuff,” said Orbuch, who in her research has followed hundreds of couples over the course of 36 years.
“What starts out as a small, irritating habit becomes, ‘You’re not listening to me. You don’t love me. Maybe we’re not right for one another, and I hate you,’” she said.
Criticizing an issue in the moment, however, isn’t the best approach, Orbuch said. Find a good time and situation to discuss it: away from kids and not right after work, just before leaving for the day or while tired in bed.
Be specific
Orbuch recommended opening the discussion with positives, then using what she called an XYZ statement. For instance, give examples that show you know they are a great partner overall, such as being a wonderful friend or being good to your mother. Then, follow with: when you do X (throw your clothes on the floor) in situation Y (instead of in the hamper), I feel Z (frustrated).
Then follow with: “Can we talk about that?”
Calling out a specific behavior helps your spouse or partner process the issue better than if you had accused them of having a character flaw, such as, “You’re such a slob.”
“We box that person in where they don’t know what to say or what to change to alleviate the frustration,” Orbuch said.
When you can, highlight the loving moments
Greer said a great way to help hateful moments dissipate faster is to build up a reservoir of positive emotions. Take note not only of aspects of your partner that you adore, but also why they make you feel good.
If your partner gives you flowers, for example, instead of simply thanking them, let them know how you felt when you received them. Saying you appreciate the flowers because it showed they had listened to something you needed helps to reinforce those positive emotions, she said.
“When you’re feeling the love, it’s important to label it,” Greer said. “It’s important to say, ‘You know what, I’m having a love-you moment.’”
Used dirty heap of crockery in sink before washing
For illustration only. PHOTO: ENVATO
ANN/THE STAR – Some 101 pupils at a public primary school here came down with food poisoning.
Perak Health director Dr Feisul Idzwan Mustapha said one has been warded at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital while 62 received outpatient treatment and others showed mild symptoms.
“The pupil who was hospitalised is stable. The department received a notification about the food poisoning incident on Wednesday at about 8am,” he said in a statement.
“Five pupils had then experienced diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach ache and fever, and received treatment at two health facilities here.
“Further investigations conducted by the Kinta Health Office found that there were 96 more cases,” he said, adding that some 1,054 people, including teachers and other school support staff were also exposed.
Dr Feisul Idzwan said the department has sent 10 clinical samples, five environmental samples and three swab samples taken from the food operator to a laboratory to be analysed.
“Based on our initial investigation, it is suspected that the cause for the food poisoning was a chocolate drink and fried chicken dish that were prepared in the school canteen kitchen.
“An evaluation was also conducted at the premises on September 25 and found it to be dissatisfactory, with a rating of 67.8 per cent,” he said, adding that the canteen has been ordered to be closed for 14 days under the Food Act.
“A compound notice was also issued due to an offence related to the wearing of accessories while preparing food,” he added. Dr Feisul Idzwan said the people are advised to always have a habit of practising food safety.
“They should look, smell and taste the food before consuming it. “All food handlers are to adhere to the Food Act and Food Hygiene Regulations to prevent incidences of food poisoning,” he added.
Panda fans (R) queue for the gates to open on the last day of viewing before two pandas are sent back to China after 13 years, at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on September 28, 2024. Thousands of thankful, sobbing fans flocked to Tokyo Ueno Zoo on September 28 to bid an emotional farewell to the pair of beloved, ageing pandas before their imminent return to China. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP)
Panda fans queue for the gates to open on the last day of viewing before two pandas are sent back to China after 13 years, at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo. PHOTO: AFP
TOKYO (AFP) – Thousands of thankful, sobbing fans flocked to a Tokyo zoo Saturday to bid an emotional farewell to a pair of beloved pandas before their imminent return to China.
Sporting T-shirts, hats and sun umbrellas featuring the black and white bears, visitors shed tears, took selfies and eagerly waved at Ri Ri and Shin Shin on the panda couple’s penultimate day at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoological Gardens.
More than 2,000 panda lovers formed long queues outside the zoo Saturday morning, some having spent the whole night there armed with picnic blankets and camping chairs.
Among the most committed was Mayuko Sumida, 44, who said she had arrived around 10 pm the previous night, carrying with her panda-shaped key rings.
“I’m overwhelmed,” she said after admiring the two for the last time.
“They are the best duo that brings comfort and smiles to me.”
The mammals are immensely popular around the world, and China loans them out as part of a “panda diplomacy” programme to foster foreign ties.
The pandas Ri Ri and Shin Shin arrived at Ueno Zoo in 2011 and were due to stay until February 2026, but Japan and China agreed it would be better for the 19-year-olds to return to their home country in light of their declining health.
They will be transported back to China on Sunday.
Shin Shin relaxes in her enclosure on the last day of viewing before she and another panda, Ri Ri, are sent back to China. PHOTO: AFP
‘Emotional support’ pandas
On Saturday, strict crowd control measures were in place at the zoo to escort fans away after giving them just a few minutes to adore and photograph the pair through the glass.
Ri Ri and Shin Shin were “like the sun to me” and “always gave me emotional support”, Machiko Seki, who like other fans wore black to avoid window reflections ruining their pictures, told AFP.
“When I look at their smiles, whatever worries me just goes away… I can’t be more grateful for them,” the woman in her 50s said, shedding tears.
The pair gave birth in 2017 to cub Xiang Xiang – the zoo’s first baby panda since 1988, who became a massive draw – as well as twins in 2021.
Many fans cried when Xiang Xiang was returned to China last year, and her departure was broadcast live on local television.
Michiyo Matoba, 61, has been coming to see Xiang Xiang’s parents almost every week.
“Ri Ri loves climbing trees so I hope he will enjoy those mountains of China as much as he likes, and the glutton Shin Shin will hopefully start eating to her heart’s content after regaining her health”, she said.
Despite the panda diplomacy, relations between the two countries have soured in recent years following Beijing’s growing maritime assertiveness.
Politics, Matoba said, doesn’t taint her love for the animals.
“Just like pandas, I hope Japan and China can be friends,” she said.
There are an estimated 1,860 giant pandas left in the wild, mainly in bamboo forests in the mountains of China, according to environmental group WWF.
There are about 600 in captivity in panda centres, zoos and wildlife parks around the world.
A trader in Kota Kinabalu selling mangoes to Korean tourists. PHOTO: THE STAR
ANN/THE STAR – Negotiating skills can make or break a sale, more so if you can speak the language.
In Sabah’s seafood and dive haven of Semporna, local traders have learned basic Mandarin with some even conversing in Korean as tourism activities pick up and visitor arrivals from China and South Korea increase.
From learning basic numbers for prices to even mastering the art of negotiating with visitors, traders are allowing foreign tourists to bargain just like how they would do back in their own home countries.
As Chinese tourists are known for their bold negotiating tactics, local traders at the markets and jetties have also learned to be loud and firm with their customers.
“A deal works both ways and as long as they make sense and do not make us lose money, we are open to bargains and negotiations,” said a Bajau trader at the Semporna fish market near the Kahanga market.
He said speaking Chinese was not much of a challenge for them actually because local Sabahans also speak Chinese and they learned from their friends in the markets as well.
Chinese visitors often throng local markets to buy lobsters, fish, prawns and other seafood products.
But learning to speak Korean or other foreign languages just to make sales is actually quite impressive.
This is also seen in many of the seafood, handicraft and souvenir traders around Sabah, such as in Kota Kinabalu.
Many travel blogs and social media platforms have showcased how these traders use basic and “broken” Korean to speak to their customers.
Among these sites are Travelholic Korea on TikTok, showing mango sellers at the Anjung Kinabalu and along the vendor stretch near the market conversing in Korean to tourists.
The Sabah Information Department has also shared similar videos on its social media platforms, showing how tourism activities have not only boosted economic growth but also allowed traders to learn other languages to cater to the needs of their foreign customers.
BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 27: Vehicles drive through high water on NC Highway 321 on September 27, 2024 in Boone, North Carolina. Rains from what was Hurricane Helene have dropped more than a foot of rain across much of the region. Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Vehicles drive through high water on NC Highway 321 in Boone, North Carolina. PHOTO: AFP
CEDAR KEY (AFP) – At least 44 people died across five US states battered by powerful storm Helene, authorities said on Friday, after torrential flooding prompted emergency responders to launch massive rescue operations.
Roads, homes and businesses were underwater – many of them destroyed – after Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane near the Florida state capital Tallahassee overnight and surged north.
As darkness settled over the region Friday, more than 4.2 million customers were without power across 10 states, from Florida up to Ohio, according to tracker poweroutage.us.
And while Helene weakened to a tropical storm and eventually a post-tropical cyclone, it has continued to wreak havoc with heavy rains that the National Hurricane Center said would result in “catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding.”
Carts are seen in a flooded parking lot in Boone. PHOTO: AFP
In Cedar Key, an island city of 700 people just off Florida’s northwest coast, the full destructive force of the hurricane was on view. Several pastel-colored wooden homes were completely destroyed, victims of storm surge and ferocious winds.
“I’ve lived here my whole life, and it breaks my heart to see it,” said Gabe Doty, superintendent of Cedar Key’s water and sewer district. “We’ve not really been able to catch a break around here.”
Up to 12 inches of rain was forecast in the Appalachian mountains, with isolated spots even receiving 20 inches.
In South Carolina at least 20 people have died, including two firefighters, officials said. Among the deaths were six residents of Spartanburg County, according to county coroner Rusty Clevenger.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s office confirmed 15 people were killed in his state, including an emergency responder. Kemp warned that the city of Valdosta had identified 115 heavily damaged structures with multiple people trapped inside.
Florida’s toll stood at seven. Governor Ron DeSantis said the damage from Helene exceeded that of hurricanes Idalia and Debby, which both hit the same Big Bend region southeast of Tallahassee in the last 13 months.
Two women play with a ball in a flooded street at a Watauga County Park in Boone, North Carolina. PHOTO: AFP
“It’s a real gut punch to those communities,” DeSantis told Fox News.
In Perry, near where Helene slammed ashore bearing winds of 140 miles per hour, houses lost power and the gas station was flattened.
“I am Floridian, so I’m kind of used to it, but it was real scary at one point,” said Larry Bailey, 32, who sheltered in his small wooden home all night with his two nephews and sister.
Four hundred miles to the north in the Tennessee town of Erwin, a dramatic rescue operation unfolded, as more than 50 patients and staff were trapped on a hospital roof as floodwaters raged around them, local television footage showed. Helicopters were deployed in the rescue.
In neighbouring Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin confirmed one fatality related to Helene. “This storm is not over,” he warned in a video message.
It looks bad
With typhoon Yagi battering Asia, storm Boris drenching Europe, a deadly new hurricane damaging Mexico’s Acapulco and extreme flooding in the Sahel, September so far has been an unusually wet month around the world.
Scientists link some extreme weather events to human-caused global warming. “Helene traveled over exceptionally warm ocean waters in the Gulf of Mexico,” Andra Garner, a climate scientist at Rowan University in New Jersey, told AFP.
“It’s likely that those extra warm ocean waters played a role in Helene’s rapid intensification.”
“Storm surges are getting worse,” Garner said, “because our sea levels are rising as we warm the planet.”
Curtis Drafton, a search and rescue volunteer in Steinhatchee, Florida, raised similar concerns as he tackled the aftermath of Helene and its destructive storm surge.
“We have got to start wondering: is this the new normal? Is it going to happen every year?” the 48-year-old told AFP.
Some residents in Atlanta resorted to bailing water out of ground-floor windows with buckets, while near Tampa in Florida, boats were stranded in gardens.
In the impact zone, residents had been warned of “unsurvivable” storm surge.
President Joe Biden and state authorities had urged people to heed official evacuation warnings before Helene hit, though some chose to stay in their homes to wait out the storm.
Vice President Kamala Harris said she and Biden “will continue to monitor the situation closely,” adding the administration has mobilised 1,500 personnel to support impacted communities.
The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Deanne Criswell said “over 600 rescues” have been conducted.
USA's Tommy Paul hits a return against Czech's Tomas Machac during their men's singles match at the Japan Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on September 28, 2024. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)
TOKYO (AFP) – Fifth seed Tommy Paul became the latest top player to make an early exit at the Japan Open when he lost 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to Tomas Machac in the second round on Saturday.
The American’s departure means only two of the eight seeds are still standing in Tokyo.
Top seed Taylor Fritz, number three Casper Ruud, fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and number seven Frances Tiafoe all lost in the first round.
Tommy Paul hits a return against Tomas Machac during their men’s singles match at the Japan Open tennis tournament. PHOTO: AFP
Hubert Hurkacz, seeded two, was beaten by Britain’s Jack Draper in the second round.
Paul joined them after letting the Czech Republic’s Machac back into a match that the American looked to have total control of.
“Even the not-seeded players here are great,” said the 23-year-old Machac, who has a world ranking of 34 and is looking to win his first career title.
“I’m just happy that I’m in and I just try to believe as much as possible.”
Paul won five straight games in the first set but Machac came roaring back in the second and dug in when he found himself 3-0 down in the final set.
He will play Australia’s Christopher O’Connell or American Alex Michelsen in the quarter-finals.
Tomas Machac hits a return. PHOTO: AFP
“I feel great,” said Machac.
“First set he was better, second set I found my rhythm. In the third set I was playing unbelievable so I’m super-happy with my performance.”
