Some 20,097 underprivileged individuals nationwide were bestowed with personal gifts (Kurnia) with the consent of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
More details in Thursday’s Borneo Bulletin.
LONDON (AP) – King Charles III’s wife has been officially identified as Queen Camilla for the first time, with Buckingham Palace using the title on invitations for the monarch’s May 6 coronation.
Camilla, who until now has been described as queen consort, is given equal billing on the ornate medieval style invitations that will be sent to more than 2,000 guests and were unveiled on Tuesday.
More details in Thursday’s Borneo Bulletin.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) – South Korea this month will begin weekly tests of sewage produced by its major cities and towns to track the spread of COVID-19 and identify future waves.
Officials at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said on Wednesday that wastewater surveillance will potentially provide a cheaper and more sustainable tool in the country’s pandemic response. They said it could also improve the detection of other outbreaks, such as influenza, norovirus or drug-resistant bacteria.
More details in Thursday’s Borneo Bulletin.
As the festive season draws closer, the joyful atmosphere being felt throughout the nation will also be shared equally by 20,097 underprivileged individuals across all districts that were all bestowed with personal gifts (Kurnia) with the consent of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izaddin Waddaulah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
The personal gift which comes in the form of cash comes timely as the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration nears, bringing great meaning and joy to all the recipients comprising those with special needs, orphans, the poor, those facing financial hardships, and those who receive monthly welfare assistance.
This marks the fourteenth such ceremony, which clearly illustrated the generosity and concern of His Majesty for the plight of the underprivileged and His Majesty’s wish that they are given equal attention, especially in terms of alleviating them from their hardship.
For the Brunei Muara District, the ceremony took place at the Istana Nurul Iman on Wednesday with personal representative of His Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, presenting His Majesty’s personal gifts to a total 1000 recipients for Brunei-Muara District.
Meanwhile, in the Belait District, His Majesty’s personal representative in a ceremony held at the Pusat Insani Seria Hall was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik.
In the Tutong District, His Majesty’s personal representative in a ceremony held at the Tutong Community Hall was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.
His Majesty’s personal representative to grace the ceremony in the Temburong District was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel. The ceremony was held at the Mukim Bangar Community Hall.
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump conspired to illegally influence the 2016 election through a series of hush money payments designed to stifle claims that could be harmful to his candidacy, prosecutors said Tuesday in unsealing a historic 34-count felony indictment against the former president.
The payments, said Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy, were part of “an unlawful plan to identify and suppress negative information that could have undermined his campaign for president.”
Trump, stone-faced and silent as he entered and exited the Manhattan courtroom, said “not guilty” in a firm voice while facing a judge who warned him to refrain from rhetoric that could inflame or cause civil unrest.
The next court date is December 4, though it is not clear if he will be required to appear.
The broad contours of the case have long been known, but indictment contains new details about a scheme that prosecutors say involved payoffs to two women, including a adult film star, who said they had extramarital sexual encounters with him years earlier, as well as to a Trump Tower doorman who claimed to have a story about a child he alleged the former president had out of of wedlock.
The arraignment, though largely procedural in nature, amounts to a remarkable reckoning for Trump after years of investigations into his personal, business and political dealings.
The case is unfolding against the backdrop not only of his third campaign for the White House but also against other investigations in Washington and Atlanta that might yet produce even more charges.
Trump, his lips pursed in apparent anger, entered the courtroom shortly before 2:30 p.m. He left court about an hour later, also without commenting. All told, the typically verbose Trump spoke only about 10 words during the entire proceeding.
Before the arraignment, he narrated his feelings in real time, describing the experience as “SURREAL” as he traveled from Trump Tower to lower Manhattan to face a judge.
The day’s schedule, with its striking blend of legal and political events, represents the new split-screen reality for Trump as he submits to the dour demands of the American criminal justice system while projecting an aura of defiance and victimhood at celebratory campaign events.
Wearing his signature dark suit and red tie, Trump turned and waved to crowds outside the building before heading inside to be fingerprinted and processed. He arrived at court in an eight-car motorcade from Trump Tower, communicating in real time his anger at the process.
“Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse,” he posted on his Truth Social platform. “Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can’t believe this is happening in America. MAGA!”
Afterward, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche told reporters that it was a “sad day for the country.”
“You don’t expect this to happen to somebody who was president of the United States,” he said.
Trump, who was impeached twice by the US House but was never convicted in the US Senate, is the first former president to face criminal charges. The nation’s 45th commander in chief was escorted from Trump Tower to the courthouse by the Secret Service.
“He is strong and ready to go,” Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina told The Associated Press. Earlier, Tacopina said in a TV interview that the former president wouldn’t plead guilty to lesser charges, even if it might resolve the case. He also said he didn’t think the case would make it to a jury.
New York police said they were ready for large protests by Trump supporters, who share the Republican former president’s belief that the New York grand jury indictment and three additional pending investigations are politically motivated and intended to weaken his bid to retake the White House in 2024. Journalists often outnumbered protesters, though.
Trump, a former reality TV star, has been hyping that narrative to his political advantage, saying he raised more than $8 million in the days since the indictment on claims of a “witch hunt.” His campaign released a fundraising request titled “My last email before arrest” and he has repeatedly assailed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, egged on supporters to protest and claimed without evidence that the judge presiding over the case “hates me” — something his own lawyer has said is not true.
Trump was scheduled to return to his Palm Beach, Florida, home, Mar-a-Lago, on Tuesday evening to give remarks. At least 500 prominent supporters have been invited, with some of the most pro-Trump congressional Republicans expected to attend.
A conviction would not prevent Trump from running for or winning the presidency in 2024.
The investigation is scrutinising six-figure payments made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. Both say they had sexual encounters with the married Trump years before he got into politics. Trump denies having sexual liaisons with either woman and has denied any wrongdoing involving payments.
The arraignment unfolded against the backdrop of heavy security in New York, coming more than two years after Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in a failed bid to halt the congressional certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s win.
Trump was defiant ahead of his arraignment. He used his social media network to complain that he was going to court in a heavily Democratic area, declaring, “KANGAROO COURT” and “THIS IS NOT WHAT AMERICA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE!” He and his campaign have repeatedly assailed Bragg and even trained scrutiny on members of Bragg’s family.
Despite that, the scenes around Trump Tower and the courthouse where Trump will stand before a judge did not feature major unrest. Police tried to keep apart protesters supporting the former president and those opposing him by confining them to separate sides of a park near the courthouse using metal barricades.
Rokiah Mahmud
His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik, Chairman of the Committee of Governors of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (Yayasan) attended a Tahlil ceremony at the Royal Mausoleum yesterday for Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam and Al-Marhumah Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Bendahara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman, the late parents of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, and for His Majesty’s late son Al-Marhum His Royal Highness Prince Haji ‘Abdul ‘Azim.
On arrival, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik was greeted by Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman and Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof as members of the Committee of Governors of Yayasan; Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yusof as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yayasan and Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar as Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yayasan.
The recitation of Surah Yaasiin, Tahlil and Doa Arwah was led by Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar.
His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik poured Ayeng asah-asahan (scented water) on the tombs of Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Al-Marhumah Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit and Al-Marhum His Royal Highness Prince Haji ‘Abdul ‘Azim.
The ceremony is part of Yayasan’s annual religious activities in Ramadhan.
Members of the Yayasan Board of Directors; members of the Board of Trustees of the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Al-Muhtadee Billah Fund for Orphans; Yayasan officers and staff; and residents of RPN Kampong Bolkiah ‘A’ and ‘B’ were also present.
Rokiah Mahmud
His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik, Chairman of the Committee of Governors of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (Yayasan), attended the 30 Times Khatam Al-Quran ceremony in conjunction with Yayasan’s 30th anniversary at An-Naura Hall of the Yayasan Complex in the capital yesterday.
On arrival, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik was greeted by Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman and Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof as members of the Committee of Governors of Yayasan, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yayasan, Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar as Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yayasan and Permanent Secretary (Planning, Land Use and Environment) at the Ministry of Development Dr Nor Imtihan binti Haji Abdul Razak as the Acting Managing Director of Yayasan.
The ceremony commenced with the recitation of Takhtim led by Yayasan Officer Ahmad Rithaudin bin Haji Sabtu.
Some 30 officers and staff of Yayasan completed 30 Juzuk of Al-Quran recitation.
Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar led the recitation of Doa Khatam and Doa Selamat, as well as mass Maghrib prayer.
James Kon
Some 2,131 traffic accidents were recorded in 2022 with 359 cases causing injuries and 19 with fatalities taking away 20 lives.
Statistics showed the highest demographic group involved in road incidents with casualties is male aged 18 to 38.
Some 79 per cent of accidents causing deaths were due to negligence and driver errors such as driving over speed limit, not following traffic rules and driving under the influence. Eleven per cent of accidents were caused by bad vehicle conditions such as faulty brakes and steerings while five per cent were due to poor road conditions and five per cent due to other factors.
Some 62.5 per cent of road accident fatalities were due to not using seatbelts.
These figures from last year were shared by the National Road Safety Council (MKKJR) in a statement yesterday.
Other statistics included 16,402 traffic offences recorded from 1,568 operations conducted by Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF).
Some 1,202 offences were also recorded during 247 operations by the Land Transport Department (JPD).
Five of the top 10 offences recorded by the RBPF were 2,657 cases of using sun shades obstructing view, 2,247 for illegal parking, 1,925 for unauthorised modification, 1,149 for not using seatbelts and 810 for having expired driving licences.
MKKJR is working with government agencies, the private sector and associations to organise road safety programmes.
Among the initiatives are awareness programmes to share traffic incident statistics and driving ethics through mass media, government facilities and websites as well as Friday sermons.
MKKJR also visited road accident hotspots, particularly those with fatalities as well as mosques to make road safety improvements. The council also took actions such as road repairs and infrastructure improvements based on information gathered from the public during roadshows organised by the Information Department.
Among the works carried out with the Public Works Department (JKR) were construction of Lugu flyover, closure of U-turns, upgrading a steel bridge to concrete, resurfacing Jalan Kumbang Pasang and Jalan Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha, replacing road signs, repainting roads and installations of signboards.
The public with information on traffic offences can contact Darussalam Line 123 or WhatsApp to 8333123.
Lyna Mohamad
The Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department (BDMD) at the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) officially opened its Weather Radar Building which houses the new Brunei Darussalam Doppler Weather Surveillance Radar System.
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha officiated the event held in conjunction with World Meteorological Day 2023.
Acting Director of BDMD Rokiah binti Haji Angas, as organising chairperson of the event, gave a speech followed by the launch of the building and radar system by the minister.
These two projects to upgrade the weather radar network were under the 11th National Development Plan (RKN 11) to improve the weather observation systems in the Sultanate.
It was also part of MTIC Strategic Plan 2025 (MTIC 2025) aiming to achieve 90 per cent accuracy in aviation weather warnings by 2025. The new radar will increase the capability to monitor and analyse weather developments in real time improving the accuracy of forecasts and issue earlier advisories and warnings for the country.
The new radar uses state-of-the-art system – dual polarisation weather radar system using S-band capable of scanning a distance of 250-kilometre radius with exceptional sensitivity and enabling the monitoring of a wide range of weather phenomena with high data quality and high resolution.
Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan and Legislative Council (LegCo) members were in attendance.
Permanent Secretary at the MTIC Ir Haji Mohammad Nazri bin Haji Mohammad Yusof, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Infocommunications) at the MTIC Haji Hairul Mohd Daud bin Haji Abdul Karim and Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary ( Transport) at the MTIC Haji Mohd Salihin bin Haji Aspar were also present.
Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary and guests toured an exhibition showcasing the weather radar system and Brunei WX app.
DHAKA (AFP) – Hundreds of Bangladeshi firefighters battled an inferno that raged through a popular clothing market in the capital Dhaka yesterday and blanketed the city’s oldest neighbourhoods in black smoke.
No fatalities have been reported so far, but shop owners and fire officials told reporters that the famous Bongo Bazar and three adjacent markets had been almost completely gutted in the dawn fire.
Tempers flared as the morning wore on with a group of shop owners hurling rocks at firefighters, angered by the time it was taking to bring the blaze under control.
“We dispersed them,” police spokesman Faruq Ahmed said, adding that around 450 officers had been deployed to keep order and stop looting.
Fire services chief Main Uddin told reporters that 600 firefighters from across the city brought the blaze under control after battling it for more than six hours, while hundreds of spectators watched from a nearby overpass.
“An enthusiastic crowd and a lack of water” along with high winds had made it difficult to combat the fire, he said.
Uddin added that Bongo Bazar, built mainly from timber and tin to house hundreds of small stalls, was designated a fire risk in 2019 and had been repeatedly issued warning letters since then.
Police inspector Bacchu Mia said at least 11 people had been injured in the fire, including five firefighters, but none were in a critical condition.
Owners said the four markets housed thousands of clothing shops in one of Dhaka’s busiest precincts, home to the country’s most prestigious university and its national police headquarters. Built in the 1980s, Bongo Bazar is a popular destination for cut-price Western fashion brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, selling clothes that were produced in the city’s garment factories but failed to meet export standards.
Distraught shop owners told reporters the blaze had left them destitute ahead of Aidilfitri, marking the end of Ramadhan and the country’s biggest religious celebration.
“I borrowed BDT1.5 million (USD14,200) to buy Aidilfitri clothing,” one business owner said. “I’ve lost everything.”
Building fires and explosions due to leaking gas cylinders, faulty air conditioners and bad electrical wiring are frequent in Bangladesh.
