The upcoming Brunei Premier Futsal League (BPFL) 2024/2025 organised by Yakin Football League with the support of the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD) will be a platform to showcase talents of futsal players not limited to the national setup but also all levels of the futsal community.
Chairman of FABD Futsal Competition Standing Committee Pengiran Haji Kamarunsalehin bin Pengiran Haji Kamis highlighted this during the official launch of the BPFL and manager’s meeting at the Theatre Hall, FABD House last night.
Eight local clubs will participate in the BPFL, the second tier of the futsal division, namely FC Phosphor; Syahkampong; Royal Brunei Police Force Sports Council (MS PPDB); PES; Brunei Darussalam Sports School Council (MS SSBD); Street United Futsal Club; Hars Elite FT; and Siveredz FC.
Yakin Football League General Manager Jasiswandy bin Jasni, in his capacity as the Chairman of the BPFL 2024/2025 Division 2 Championship launch event stated that the tournament will provide an opportunity to all coaches to improve playing strategy of teams which is hoped to unearth new talents that can be further elevated into a higher level.
He added that the BPFL will be a vehicle to produce energetic, efficient, disciplined and practical players with pure values besides fostering closer relations among participating clubs and players.
The official launch of the BPFL 2024/2025 Division 2 Championship also witnessed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing between Yakin Football League with Seni Kreatif Production and ‘Shoot.By.Bling’. – Fadhil Yunus
Chairman of the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam Futsal Competition Standing Committee Pengiran Haji Kamarunsalehin bin Pengiran Haji Kamis during the official launch and manager’s meeting of Brunei Premier Futsal League. PHOTO: FADHIL YUNUS
In a demonstration of their commitment to environmental sustainability, 20 volunteers from Baiduri Bank, under their Baiduri Cares initiative, participated in the Reef Ball Fabrication Programme organised by LAUT Brunei. This activity was a follow-up to the bank’s sponsorship of the inaugural Ocean Week Brunei in June.
The programme began with a marine conservation talk by Poni Divers Marketing Manager Donna Baltazar. The volunteers participated in fabricating 14 reef balls, converting raw materials into structures that promote marine ecosystem health. In recognition of their efforts, Baiduri Bank was presented with a token of appreciation received by Assistant Manager of Corporate Communications and Brand and Corporate Social Responsibility Lead at Group Strategic Marketing and Communications Muiz bin Dato Paduka Haji Adnan. All volunteers were also awarded certificates, certifying them as reef ball fabricators.
According to a press release, Baiduri Bank is looking forward to the upcoming Reef Ball Discovery programme with Poni Divers and LAUT Brunei. This initiative will involve deploying reef balls and conducting coral planting activities at Pelong Rocks, Serasa.
Volunteers fabricating a reef ball. PHOTO: BAIDURI BANK
At Politeknik Brunei’s (PB) 10th Convocation Ceremony, the accomplishments of several graduates were celebrated as they shared their inspiring journeys to success.
Despite their diverse fields of study, a common thread of perseverance, family support, and a strong belief in hard work and self-discipline united their stories.
One of the graduates, Mohammad Rayyan bin Haji Mohd Sufian, who completed a Level 5 Diploma in Business Studies (Marketing), expressed his immense relief at receiving his award.
“Alhamdulillah, I felt relieved. Balancing both my business and studies for the past three years has been a challenge, so finally completing the course feels amazing,” he said.
Mohammad Rayyan, the founder of a business specialising in grilled chicken meat products, plans to devote himself fully to his business now that he has graduated.
Reflecting on his path to success, Rayyan emphasised that there was no secret formula.
“Believing in yourself and putting in the necessary hours is key. Consistency and hard work really do pay off.”
Grateful for his support system, he expressed deep appreciation to his family, especially his mother, who he said was his “backbone of support”. He also thanked his lecturers for their guidance.
Mohammad Rayyan’s advice to future graduates: “It’s about putting in the hours and staying disciplined. At the end of the day, everything I have is thanks to Allah the Almighty, so Alhamdulillah for everything.”
PHOTO: ENVATOMohammad Rayyan bin Haji Mohd Sufian. PHOTO: JAMES KONPHOTO: ENVATOPHOTO: ENVATOABOVE & BELOW: Noreen Adreena binti Haji Awang Besar; Abdul Wafi Hakim bin Abdul Hakim; and ‘Ain Batrisyia @ Ain Nadiah binti Muhammad Nur Adile. PHOTO: JAMES KONPHOTO: JAMES KONPHOTO: JAMES KON
For Noreen Adreena binti Haji Awang Besar, a Level 5 Diploma graduate in Thermal Power Plant Technology, her experience at PB has been equally fulfilling.
“I feel deeply and utterly satisfied and fulfilled with my studies as well as my experience,” she shared.
During her internship at Hengyi Industries Sdn Bhd, she gained valuable insight into the professional world, especially in working with diverse teams.
Noreen Adreena is currently pursuing a degree in General Engineering at Universiti Brunei Darussalam.
Noreen Adreena stressed the importance of effective time management.
“Having proper and clear time management will go a long way in reaching your goals. It helps you complete tasks on time, reduces stress, and keeps you motivated.”
She also acknowledged the role her lecturers and friends played in making her time at PB manageable.
“It’s about having good people around you to motivate and drive you to achieve your goals,” she said. Her advice to others? “Stay focused, enjoy the journey, and believe in yourself.”
Abdul Wafi Hakim bin Abdul Hakim, a Level 5 Diploma graduate in Information Systems, expressed “indescribable excitement” at completing his course.
Abdul Wafi Hakim’s project, Drop N Go, won the Innovation Award, marking a significant achievement in his academic journey.
Reflecting on his time at PB, he credited the institution for his success.
“I’m quite proud of myself for completing this, and I’m thankful to Politeknik Brunei for the opportunity,” he said.
Wafi offered a light-hearted piece of advice for fellow students: “Avoid studying with an empty stomach! A full stomach boosts my concentration, and during my time here, I became obsessed with cooked chicken feet.”
He acknowledged the support of his family, especially his parents, and his final-year project group, who helped him through both the good and bad times.
Abdul Wafi Hakim plans to continue his studies in software development at Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB).
‘Ain Batrisyia @ Ain Nadiah binti Muhammad Nur Adile, who completed her Level 5 Diploma in Health Science (Paramedic), described her graduation as a rewarding experience after years of effort.
A self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie and risk-taker, she chose paramedic studies because she wanted to push herself beyond her comfort zone.
“I love to challenge myself, and being a paramedic is a good fit for me,” she said. “There’s no secret to success. It’s just grit – going up against the odds, day and night, and believing that you can. Even when people doubted me – whether because I’m small, short, or simply female – I always prove them wrong.”
‘Ain Batrisyia is now looking forward to applying for positions at several places to gain job experience.
Her advice for students? “Be active in class, ask questions, and help others. I’ve learned the most by teaching and helping my peers.”
Each of these graduates, though from different disciplines, demonstrated the power of determination, hard work, and support from their loved ones.
Whether in business, engineering, information technology, or healthcare, their stories are united by a shared belief that success is not defined by shortcuts or secrets, but by consistent effort and resilience. – James Kon
KOTA KINABALU (ANN/THE STAR) – Frequent road collapses in Sabah’s Kiulu, a popular rural tourism destination an hour from Kota Kinabalu, have caused tour operators to incur losses of MYR200,000 due to cancellations and have disrupted local access.
The latest landslide along the hilly Kiulu road, at the foothills of Mt Kinabalu, has even forced schoolchildren to navigate dangerous collapsed sections.
Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai raised concerns about the economic and social impact of these frequent landslides, urging swift action to prevent further disruption.
As Sabah’s Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment, he emphasised that quick repairs are essential to restore access and support the local tourism industry.
“Tour operators in Kiulu are experiencing a significant downturn, as travel agents have categorised the area as high-risk following the landslides.
“Cancellations have impacted a range of outdoor activities, and if repairs are not completed promptly, the financial consequences could worsen,” he warned during a visit to the affected areas.
He has urged the Public Works Department (JKR) and their contractors to regularly monitor the roads in Kiulu to immediately respond to signs of potential landslides or earth movements.
He said two key roads, Jalan Tamparuli-Kiulu near Kampung Malangang and Jalan Kiulu-Lawa Mandau near Kiulu, bore the brunt of the landslides, severely disrupting the community.
Bangkuai said repairs would take two weeks during a site visit with the department to assess the situation at Jalan Tamparuli-Kiulu.
He added that he contacted Deputy Chief Minister III and state Works Minister Datuk Shahelmy Yahya to assist in expediting repairs.
Kiulu Tourism Association president Mejin Maginggow, who was with Bangkuai at the site, said that the longer the repairs take, the more significant the losses for the tourism industry, which relies heavily on nature-based activities.
BANGKOK (ANN/THE NATION) – Thailand’s controversial landing fee has been rebranded as a “travelling tax” and is set to take effect around mid-2025, initially targeting air travellers, the Tourism and Sports Ministry announced.
On October 23, Minister Sorawong Thienthong confirmed that the tax proposal would be submitted to the Cabinet for approval by the first quarter of 2025.
Once cleared, the tax is expected to be enforced within six months. The fee, known locally as Kha Yeap Pan Din (fee for stepping on Thai soil), was provisionally approved in February 2023 and will charge 300 baht (USD 8.88) for air arrivals and 150 baht (USD 4.44) for land or sea entries.
Sorawong said the money would be used to buy insurance for foreigners and the remainder added to the tourism development fund.
The fund will support the improvement of tourist attractions, including building facilities for the disabled and toilets for tourists.
He said the ministry is working on an application to be used to collect the tax, which will be linked to the system of the Krungthai Bank.
The current insurance coverage amount will remain the same, which is no more than 60 baht from the 300 baht per person travelling tax.
Insurance payout in case of death is set at one million baht, and a maximum of 500,000 baht for injuries.
This amount is on top of the insurance that foreign tourists buy themselves. The insurance under the new travel tax will cover a stay in Thailand for no more than 30 days, which is applicable to around 87 per cent of foreign arrivals, the minister said.
He added that after the first phase, the Cabinet may consider adjusting the tax for arrivals via land and sea channels to the same rate as for air travellers to avoid accusations of unequal treatment.
Sorawong added that the travelling tax will not be levied on cross-border merchants, who will need to show a border pass when crossing to and from neighbouring countries.
(ANN/CHINA DAILY) – London’s Jerwood Hall hosted a captivating fusion of traditional Chinese opera and Western classical music with Ein Heldenleben: Cai Lun (A Hero’s Life: Cai Lun), a performance inspired by the inventor of paper.
Directed by renowned Chinese theatre artist Chen Xinyi, known for her “symphony poetry drama” style, the production, which debuted this month, blended Eastern and Western traditions to tell Cai Lun’s story.
The Fidelio Orchestra, led by conductor Raffaello Morales, performed Richard Strauss’s 19th-century tone poem Ein Heldenleben, a continuous musical movement that echoed the heroism of its subject.
The production showcased a unique cultural dialogue, seamlessly uniting two artistic worlds in an unforgettable celebration of history and innovation.
Although Cai Lun’s greatest contribution to civilization was his invention of paper, it was his life as an imperial court eunuch during the time of Emperor He of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), and the court intrigues in which he found himself involved, that caught Chen’s imagination.
“He’s a giant of China, whose invention changed civilisation and advanced cultural progress. But he also experienced misfortune that evoked my sympathy — he is a super dramatic character,” she adds.
PHOTO: ANN/CHINA DAILY
With biographical details hard to come by, Chen says that the piece is “inspired by his life, not a portrait of it — it’s theatre, not a history story”.
Combining a story with music written hundreds of years ago and thousands of kilometers apart may seem unlikely, but Chen says that as soon as she heard Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life) and understood what it was about, the pairing came together.
The performance is divided into six segments that illustrate the hero’s journey through life and the triumphs and adversities he encountered along the way, which Chen said matched Cai’s story.
“In 2019, I was rehearsing an opera at the National Theatre of China and at the end of the day, I was exhausted,” she says.
“The orchestra manager came and said, ‘there’s a performance tonight of something called The Hero’s Life, you have to hear it’. I said no but he ended up pushing me there in a wheelchair.
“When I got to the venue, I felt like sleeping but as soon as the music started, I began to get visions of Cai Lun, and then I read the program and saw the titles of the different sequences following the hero’s journey, and I could see how they fitted together.”
Combining Chinese theatre and Western music is a practice Chen has been exploring for the last 20 years, with eight of her symphony poetry dramas having been performed previously, but this was her first time performing in the United Kingdom — something she had long wanted to do.
“This country is the home of William Shakespeare, who I admire greatly, and there is the connection between him and the great playwright Tang Xianzu, who emerged in China at the same time,” she explained.
“Then, about 200 years ago, Europe saw the rise of symphonic music at the same time as China saw the rise of Peking Opera, which is a special art form that uses characters to express emotions in the same way that symphonic music does, so these are two great performance styles that I love to bring together, and London is a city where I particularly wanted to do it.”
NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian authorities have shut schools, evacuated hundreds of thousands of people and cancelled trains in parts of the country as rescue teams braced on Thursday for a tropical storm brewing in the Bay of Bengal.
Tropical Storm Dana is expected to intensify, bringing wind speeds of 100-110 kph (62-68 mph) and gusts up to 120 kph (74 mph), as it pushes toward the country’s eastern coastline, where it is set to make landfall late Thursday and early Friday, according to the Indian Meteorological Department.
Climate scientists say severe storms are becoming more frequent in South Asia. Global warming driven by planet-heating gases has caused them to become more extreme and unpredictable.
A surfer enters the Bay of Bengal at Konark beach in Puri district of Odisha state, on India’s eastern coastline, where Tropical Storm Dana is expected to make landfall late on Thursday and early into Friday, according to the Indian Meteorological Department, India, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. PHOTO: AP
The storm is expected to affect most parts of the eastern state of Odisha, which saw strong winds and rain on Thursday morning. Authorities have closed schools, cancelled more than 200 trains, suspended flights and warned fishermen not to venture out to sea.
Downpours also began lashing areas of neighbouring West Bengal state, where some districts are also likely to be hit, prompting officials there to be on high alert.
Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi told the Press Trust of India news agency that around 300,000 people have been evacuated from vulnerable areas, adding that three districts were likely to be severely affected. Authorities plan to evacuate over 1 million people from 14 districts. Several teams of aid and rescue workers have also been deployed to the state, which is prone to severe cyclones and storms.
“The government is fully prepared to tackle the situation. You are in safe hands,” Majhi said.
India’s eastern coasts have long been prone to cyclones, but the number of intense storms is increasing along the country’s coast. Last year was India’s deadliest cyclone season in recent years, killing 523 people and costing an estimated USD2.5 billion in damage.
A total of 882 graduates from Politeknik Brunei (PB), comprising 388 male and 494 female students, celebrated their achievements on Thursday at the institution’s Class of 2024 Convocation Ceremony.
The ceremony marked the completion of their three-year courses, culminating in the award of Level 5 Diplomas. Graduates hailed from five of PB’s key schools: the School of Business, School of Information and Communication Technology, School of Science and Engineering, School of Health Sciences, and School of Petrochemical.
These diplomas hold official recognition by the Ministry of Education through the Brunei Darussalam National Accreditation Council.
The convocation was held in two sessions – morning and afternoon – reflecting the growing number of graduates.
The morning session was attended by the Minister of Education, Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohammad Salleh, as the guest of honour.
In his welcoming address, PB’s Acting Director, Lim Kian Boon, who also served as the Chairman of the Executive and Working Committee for the 10th Convocation, highlighted the institution’s progress.
“Since Politeknik Brunei’s establishment, we have proudly produced 5,543 graduates across various diploma programmes, including commerce, ICT, science and engineering, health sciences, and petrochemicals,” he stated.
He noted that, for the Class of 2024, a total of 882 graduates had successfully completed their studies in 32 programmes across PB’s five schools.
This year’s ceremony included the graduation of the first cohort in nine new programmes – one from the School of Information and Communication Technology, two from the School of Health Sciences, and six from the School of Petrochemical.
He also highlighted that the graduation rate for the Class of 2024 reached an impressive 97.4 per cent, reflecting an increase from the previous year.
Reflecting on PB’s recent developments, Lim shared that the graduate employment rate for the Class of 2023, measured six months post-convocation, stood at 63.2 per cent, with 32.5 per cent of graduates pursuing further studies.
“These achievements underline Politeknik Brunei’s role as a key provider of high-quality, skilled, and competitive human resources for both the public and private sectors,” he added.
He also emphasised PB’s commitment to equipping students with workplace-ready skills, citing a survey of employers who hired graduates from the Class of 2022.
The survey indicated a 96 per cent satisfaction rate with the job performance and quality of the graduates 12 months into their employment, underscoring PB’s efforts in preparing students for professional success.
Aligning with the Ministry of Education’s Strategic Plan 2023-2027, Politeknik Brunei has been working on initiatives under its own five-year development plan (2021-2025).
Lim noted that these efforts are aimed at contributing to the nation’s broader objectives, including the vision of Wawasan Brunei 2035.
In support of the hospitality sector, Politeknik Brunei has also fostered partnerships with nine industry players.
“These collaborations have led to the successful development of the Level 5 Diploma Apprenticeship in Hospitality & Management Operations,” Lim said, highlighting the Dual-System Apprenticeship Model that combines academic learning with practical on-the-job training (OJT) to enhance graduates’ skills and competencies.
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of awards by the Minister of Education to the distinguished graduates.
Notable attendees at the morning session included Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy (Fiscal) Pengiran Datin Seri Paduka Hajah Zety Sufina binti Pengiran Dato Haji Sani, in her role as the Chairman of the PB Board of Governors, alongside other members of the board.
The afternoon session commenced with a student procession, followed by the arrival of the guest of honour Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Muhammad Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid.
The Minister then presented awards to graduates, bringing the day’s celebrations to a meaningful close.
Sppech by Acting Director of Politeknik Brunei, Lim Kian Boon. PHOTO: RAFI ROSLIGuest of honor handing out a certificate to a graduating male student. PHOTO: RAFI ROSLIGuest of honor handing out a certificate to a graduating female student. PHOTO: RAFI ROSLIPoliteknik students in a photo with their certificates. PHOTO: RAFI ROSLIPoliteknik students during the graduation. PHOTO: RAFI ROSLI
PORTLAND, Ore (AP) — Stephen Curry had 17 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds before sitting for the fourth quarter, and the Golden State Warriors opened the season Wednesday night with a 139-104 rout of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Buddy Hield had 22 points off the bench for the Warriors, who missed out on the playoffs last year.
Portland led by as many as nine points in the opening quarter, but the Warriors pulled ahead and led 62-50 at the break. Curry had a 3-pointer to open the second half and Golden State led by as many as 37 points the rest of the way.
Portland was led by Scoot Henderson with 22 points off the bench. Shaedon Sharpe didn’t play because of a shoulder injury.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after scoring a basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
