DOHA (AFP) – World Cup holders France face Africa’s first-ever semi-finalists Morocco in tomorrow’s (4am, Brunei time) last-four clash in Qatar.
AFP Sport looks at some of the keys to the game.
ROCK-SOLID MOROCCO
Morocco have conceded just one goal in the entire tournament – an own goal in their 2-1 win over Canada in the group stage – with Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal all failing to breach a rock-solid back line.
But France boast multiple goal threats. Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud have scored nine goals between them and Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann will also ask plenty of questions.
Combination photo shows Morocco’s defender Achraf Hakimi and France’s forward Kylian Mbappe in Doha. PHOTO: AFPMoroccan players celebrate after their win against Portugal. PHOTO: AP
Morocco have a number of fitness concerns in their defence – centre-back Nayef Aguerd missed the Portugal game with a muscle injury and his regular partner, Romain Saiss, was substituted with a repeat of a hamstring injury.
Whoever Walid Regragui is able to send out will have to be fully switched on – France showed against England that even if Mbappe is neutralised there are plenty of other sources of danger.
FRANCE WARY OF COUNTER-ATTACKS
It is likely that France will enjoy plenty of possesion in the Moroccan half but they will have to guard against swift counter-attacks.
Morocco’s style is direct and while they tend to focus on the flanks, with Hakim Ziyech on the right and Sofiane Boufal on the left, they can also go long to striker Youssef En-Nesyri and then scamper forward in support.
France’s full-backs Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez can expect a busy night, while Morocco will look to take advantage of any slip-ups from centre-half Dayot Upamecano, who had some shaky moments against England.
“We are well aware of their qualities, even if they don’t often have possession,” said Kounde. “They are very efficient with the ball, they try to combine quickly and find their wide players.”
DO MOROCCO HAVE THE LEGS?
Morocco spent a huge amount of energy in their wins against Spain and Portugal and with some players carrying injuries, tomorrow’s game will be a real test of their durability and stamina.
The match against Spain went to penalties while they faced a frantic second half against Portugal.
France, in contrast, have been able to take care of their knockout games without any extra-time and should be much fresher.
Didier Deschamps’ men will seek to exploit their fitnees advantage by making Morocco work hard without the ball, switching play and forcing Regragui’s team to chase the ball, especially in the early stages.
LIONS ROARED ON
France have fewer injury concerns and more attacking weapons but Morocco will have the crowd behind them at the Al Bayt Stadium, urging them to pull off another upset.
The African side, known as the Atlas Lions, have been one of the best-supported teams in Qatar and they will benefit from huge backing tomorrow as the first Arab team to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup.
High intensity focussed electromagnetic stimulation energy (HI-FEMS) is the first aesthetic device and non-invasive body sculpting procedure that builds muscle and burns fat where it triggers muscle contractions and in respond to these contractions, the muscle recontracts itself and fat in the area begins to melt away more easily.
A treatment services product recently introduced by D’Moore de Beaute, metabolism works through these voluntary contractions of muscle and it increases volume and in number of muscle fibres.
D’Moore Beauty Consultant, Adeline shared that this non-invasive, no pain, no injection or incision treatment procedure allows clients to resume their normal daily activities immediately after the treatment.
Using a technology from Spain, the treatment is performed with the client lying or sitting down comfortably without having to undress or change into their treatment gown, she added.
Using both HIFEMS and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) for simultaneous muscle contractions in a 30-minute session can activate muscle fibres equivalent to 20,000 sit up exercise, said Adeline.
This helps burns fat in the abdomen, gluteus, arms, legs and buttocks, she said. A single 30-minute session of HIFEMS+ can also deliver thousands of extra-large pelvic floor muscle contractions equivalent to thousands of Kegel exercises, said the beauty consultant.
Adeline noted that this treatment services can be taken by both male and female while it is generally recommended to perform intensive treatment twice a week on a regular basis.
ABOVE & BELOW: The HIFEMS machine at D’Moore de Beaute. PHOTOS: LYNA MOHAMAD
The Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB) Municipal Department detected several offences at an industrial site in Tungku Link during a joint operation with several government agencies.
Enforcement officers, during Bersih Operation, fined three shops for indiscriminate dumping, dumping oil into drainage and abandoning cars.
A company was fined BND500 for dumping rubbish at the back of the building while a workshop was fined BND1,000 for spilling oil into a drain and leaving 20 cars abandoned on government land, around the industrial building and on public road.
Another shop was fined BND1,000 for dumping car spare parts, disposing oil into the drain and abandoning cars at the back of the building and on public road.
The municipal department also issued a warning letter to the premises owner in accordance with Building Control Order 2014.
ABOVE & BELOW: Photos above show enforcement officers and violations found during the operation. PHOTO: BSB MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT
The Labour Department also took action against two companies for not providing local employees service contract and foreigners working in jobs not stated in their work permits.
The Environmental Health Department at the Ministry of Health found violations of inadequate cleanliness, safety and environment health such as inappropriate rubbish disposal site attracting pests, improper disposal of oil causing pollution and open burning resulting in release of toxic chemicals that may cause respiratory illnesses.
The Employees Trust Fund (TAP) found 10 local workers not registered with TAP while the Land Department took action against two companies for abandoning cars. They were ordered to remove the vehicles from government land in accordance with Section 32, Chapter 40 of the Land Code 1909. Some workshops were also found to not meet requirements set by Land Transport Department (JPD).
Meanwhile, the BSB Municipal Department, through routine inspection found three individuals and a company violating Section 12, Chapter 30 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act for littering in Kiarong and Gadong.
Two permanent residents were fined BND100 and BND300 while a foreign national was fined BND100. A company was fined BND200.
World Ozone Day 2022 has been celebrated globally since it was first proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly as the International day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer and in commemorating the date of signing of the Montreal Protocol on September 16, 1987.
It has become a platform that highlights the need to act in collaboration, forge partnerships and develop global cooperation in ozone protection while simultaneously addressing climate challenges to protect life on earth for future generations.
This observation was shared by Permanent Secretary (Planning, Land Use and Environment) at the Ministry of Development (MoD) Dr Nor Imtihan binti Haji Abdul Razak on marking World Ozone Day 2022 in November.
The permanent secretary noted that this year, the occasion carries the theme ‘Montreal Protocol@35: Global Cooperation Protecting Life on Earth’ and the slogan ‘Ozone for All’, which reaffirm the collective obligation of all member states party to the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol to ensure that the ozone layer is restored and protected from the threat of gases that deplete the ozone layer (ozone depleting substances or ODS).
The negative effects of ozone layer depletion will increase the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that reaches the earth’s surface, and thus can have a negative impact on health such as cataracts and skin cancer.
Permanent Secretary (Planning, Land Use and Environment) at the Ministry of Development (MoD) Dr Nor Imtihan binti Haji Abdul Razak launches World Ozone Day 2022 celebration in Brunei. PHOTO: RIZAL FAISAL
The event also saw Director of Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (JASTRe) Hajah Martinah binti Haji Tamit reiterate Brunei Darussalam’s commitment to the protocol.
Since its first proclamation in 1995, the day serves as a channel for the public at large to get involved in raising awareness and take action in rehabilitating the ozone layers individually or in concert, at the national, regional and international levels.
The director said that the ozone layer serves as an important protective layer for the earth from ultraviolet rays by filtering it.
In the 1980s, a chemical was identified as ODS which thins the ozone layer which not only compromises the fertility of crops and destabilising the food chain, but also weakens the body’s immune system as well as increase risks of cataracts and skin cancer.
However, in its 35th anniversary this year, the Montreal Protocol has taken effect where the world now sees 99 per cent of ODS use being stopped and the ozone layer is expected to recover by 2060.
Since January 1, 2010, Brunei has succeeded in stopping 100 per cent of the use of CFCs as stipulated by the Montreal Protocol schedule and in the implementation of a phase-out reduction in the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) gases by 10 per cent in 2015 and 35 per cent in 2020, and it is hoped that the country reaches its next target of 67.5 per cent in 2025.
This is achievable by carrying out programmes and activities to protect the ozone layer, in collaboration with the implementing agencies such as the UN Environment Programme and the UN Development Programme.
It was also shared that in 2016, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat had reported that hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), an alternative gas used to replace ODS, is a gas with global warming potential that can result in the phenomenon.
In a joint effort to overcome climate change, the Montreal Protocol introduced the latest amendment, called the Kigali Amendment, which enforces the reduced use of HFC gas that has a high global warming potential value and encourage consumers to choose ozone-friendly, environmentally friendly products which are climate and energy efficient.
This is said to be beneficial in avoiding a global temperature rise of 0.4 degrees Celsius.
However, the newly introduced “low global warming potential (GWP)” alternative gas has flammable properties.
In Brunei a guidebook titled Guideline for Safe Handling of Low GWP (Flammable) Refrigerants was produced. The guidebook outlines the safety measures in management and handling of alternative gas. It is intended to contribute to the preservation of the ozone layer and the climate, while making sure that the safety of users are guaranteed.
The guidebook came into existence with the involvement of key main agencies that play an essential role in the development and implementation of the guidelines.
JASTRe is the national governing body for any matters relating to the environment and responsible for the planning, formulation and implementation of the Montreal Protocol, including the establishment of regulations to support ODS phase-out activities.
JASTRe not only plays a high-level role in promoting policies to push specific agendas to the MoD, but is also responsible for the reviewing and approval for any application by importers/exporters of ODS (mandatory) and ODS alternatives (voluntary) and subsequently issuing the application permits (APs).
Meanwhile, the Royal Customs and Excise Department (RCED) plays an essential role in ensuring Brunei achieve its Montreal Protocol obligations by regulating the import-export of ODS and ODS alternatives through the enforcement of the AP system.
With no less important involvement, the Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) is mandated to deal with matters pertaining to fire hazards and fire safety measures such as local transport and storage (fire certificate) which is in compliance to the Fire Safety Order, 2016.
The Department of Mechanical and Electrical Services (DME) is tasked with the vital role of assessing technicians that have completed flammable training courses that have been recognised from authorised bodies. However, the certification programme by the DME is only for refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) technicians working on government projects.
With the requirements of good quality buildings in place, the Authority on Building Control and Construction Industry (ABCi) is mandated as an authority to issue approvals for any building and construction works across all sectors. This also involves registration of products including RAC equipment upon endorsement by technical agencies.
ABCi also published the Building Guidelines and Requirements and the Industrial Development Guideline to promote good quality buildings which are structurally safe.
The Land Transport Department (JPD) ensures the licensing, safety and worthiness of the vehicles used on the road, which includes registration of car servicing and repairing workshops as being compliant to comply with requirements and standards under the LTD.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) – One is definitely staying on. One is already gone. One among the maybes doesn’t want to talk about his immediate football future while he’s on vacation.
The six teams from Asia are home after the continent’s most successful World Cup group stage ever.
Three Asian teams reached the second round, although none went further. With the Asian Cup taking place in January 2024, resolving the status of the head coaches is an immediate priority for most federations.
Five of Asia’s six representatives in Qatar had long-serving coaches in charge but only one is certain to stay.
Herve Renard signed a contract extension in May to remain in charge of Saudi Arabia until 2027. After the Green Falcons’ shocking 2-1 upset of Argentina, and coming close to a place in the last 16, Renard is safe in the Saudi job.
South Korea’s head coach Paulo Bento gestures during the match between Brazil and South Korea; and Iran’s head coach Carlos Queiroz grimaces during the match against the United States. PHOTOS: AP
There is also only one definitely departing. Paulo Bento leaves Seoul after more than four years in charge of South Korea’s national team.
He took the team to the second round after a last-minute win over his native Portugal in the last game of Group H, but his tenure ended with a 4-1 loss to Brazil.
“Although we were eliminated in the Round of 16, we still stuck to our style of play against a powerful team,” said Bento, who added that he’d decided in September to move on after Qatar.
“I will always be connected with South Korea, both in terms of my career and my personal life.”
The domestic football debate has already moved to whether the next head coach will be a Korean or a foreigner.
For the other four coaches who guided Asian teams at the World Cup, decision time is looming – be that for the coach or the federation.
Graham Arnold led Australia into the Round of 16 before a narrow 2-1 loss to Argentina.
Arnold took the job in 2018 and while Football Federation Australia (FFA) has indicated its satisfaction with his performance during a disrupted qualifying stage and at the tournament, he is yet to decide if he’ll continue.
“I haven’t thought about the future,” he said. “My contract is up and I just want to go away, have a holiday, have a break and see what happens.”
The FFA said it’s happy to give Arnold time and space to think about his future.
Japan beat Germany and Spain to top its group and progress to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the fourth time, a record for an Asian team. The Samurai Blue was disappointed not to reach the last eight for the first time, however, losing in a penalty shootout to Croatia.
Coach Hajime Moriyasu, appointed in 2018, confounded critics who thought he was too conservative to guide the team to great success.
It is expected that the 54-year-old Moriyasu will continue after he told reporters Tokyo that he wants to stay in the job.
In Iran Carlos Queiroz, appointed in August, may also stay.
Iran beat Wales but could not get a point against the United States in the last Group B game to advance to the knockout stages.
“Now we have to think about supporting the technical staff and Queiroz and think about the players and their spirit,” Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth Hamid Sajjadi said after the national team returned home. “Queiroz should be able to plan for the next Nations Cup with peace of mind, and we will do whatever we can to help.”
The worst performing of the Asian teams in Qatar was the host nation. Felix Sanchez was the longest serving coach of the six, taking the reins at Qatar in 2017, but he recorded three losses on home soil.
“Our goal is very clear, we will have a generational shift,” Sanchez said. “Some players will leave, others will come.”
It already seems to be happening. On Monday evening, the Qatar Football Association named a new-look roster for the regional Gulf Cup in January with Bruno Pinheiro, a former coach of Qatar’s youth teams, in charge.
AFP – Disgraced cryptocurrency tycoon Sam Bankman-Fried was arrested on Monday in the Bahamas at the request of the United States (US), according to US officials seeking to charge him after the spectacular collapse of his FTX platform.
The arrest comes on the eve of Bankman-Fried’s scheduled appearance at a US Congress hearing in which he was to testify under oath about the crypto exchange’s overnight demise.
The 30-year-old had in recent weeks defied legal advice and multiplied media appearances offering his version of his company’s sudden failure, usually by video link from the Bahamas where his company is headquartered.
“Earlier this evening, Bahamian authorities arrested Samuel Bankman-Fried at the request of the US government, based on an indictment filed by the southern district of New York,” said a tweeted statement from Damian Williams, lead prosecutor for the district.
According to a press release from the attorney general’s office in the Bahamas, Bankman-Fried was to be held in custody before an expected request for his extradition.
The Bahamas Prime Minister’s Office shared news of the arrest, as well as a police statement saying Bankman-Fried was arrested in the early evening at his apartment complex in the capital Nassau.
He was taken into custody without incident, the statement said.
The logo of cryptocurrency FTX, reflected in an image of former chief executive Samuel Bankman-Fried. PHOTO: AFP
As much as anyone, Bankman-Fried had embodied the apparent emergence of cryptocurrency as an above-board investment and no longer a frowned on get-rich-quick scheme shunned by the banking establishment.
His FTX platform was plugged by celebrities in advertising campaigns and the cyber whiz kid became a regular presence in Washington where he donated tens of millions of dollars in political contributions.
But after reaching a valuation of USD32 billion, FTX’s implosion was swift following a November 2 report on ties between FTX and Alameda, a trading company also controlled by Bankman-Fried. The report exposed that Alameda’s balance sheet was heavily built on the FTT currency – a token created by FTX and with no independent value.
GROSSLY INEXPERIENCED
The price of FTT plunged in early November, roiling both Alameda and FTX, where Alameda had large trading positions.
Reeling from customer withdrawals and short some USD8 billion, FTX and some 100 related entities filed for bankruptcy protection on November 11, inviting scrutiny from regulators, prosecutors and furious clients who had believed the hype about cryptocurrency.
Among the revelations, FTX is suspected of fraud for propping up Alameda with billions of dollars in customer funds that are now likely lost forever.
Questions also linger over whether Bankman-Fried engaged in market manipulation, or illegally provided inside information to Alameda.
“If convicted he could be facing the rest of his life in prison, given the dollar amount of the fraud,” a former federal criminal prosecutor Jacob S Frenkel told AFP.
“We would not see an indictment if prosecutors were not absolutely convinced that they will win a conviction,” he added.
In his media interviews, Bankman-Fried has admitted to mistakes, but has denied intent to defraud his customers.
FTX CEO John Ray, who came to the company after the debacle, told Congress yesterday that the problems arose because control was “in the hands of a very small group of grossly inexperienced and unsophisticated individuals”.
“Never in my career have I seen such an utter failure of corporate controls at every level of an organisation, from the lack of financial statements to a complete failure of any internal controls or governance whatsoever,” Ray said in prepared remarks.
The fall of FTX has caused major doubts on the long term viability of cryptocurrency and heaped stress on other platforms and entities that rode the success of Bitcoin and other currencies.
YEONCHEON, SOUTH KOREA (AP) – Jin, the oldest member of K-pop supergroup BTS, began his 18 months of mandatory military service at a frontline South Korean boot camp at Yeoncheon, a town near the tense border with North Korea yesterday, as fans gathered near the base to say goodbye to their star.
Six other younger BTS members will join the military in coming years one after another, meaning that the world’s biggest boy band must take a hiatus, likely for a few years. Their enlistments have prompted a fierce domestic debate over whether it’s time to revise the country’s conscription system to expand exemptions to include prominent entertainers like BTS, or not to provide such benefits to anyone.
With lawmakers squabbling at Parliament and surveys showing sharply split public opinions over offering exemptions to BTS members, their management agency said in October that all BTS members would perform their compulsory military duties.
Big Hit Music said that both the company and the members of BTS “are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment”.
A couple of dozen fans could be seen as a small turnout given Jin’s huge popularity.
But Jin and his management agency had earlier asked fans not to visit the site and notified them there wouldn’t be any special event involving the singer, to prevent any issue caused by crowding.
Authorities still mobilised 300 police officers, soldiers, emergency workers and others to maintain order and guard against any accidents, according to the army.
K-pop band BTS Jin shows off freshly shaven hair on the K-pop social media platform Weverse. PHOTO: AP
The Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) and the Special Force Regiment of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) is conducting a joint safety exercise at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in the capital today from 10pm to 4am the next day.
The public living at nearby areas and passing road users are urged to stay calm during the duration of the exercises.
Despite being the smallest national park in Sarawak, Niah National Park has been one of the most important and unusual attractions among local and foreign tourists, not only because it has been famously claimed as the birthplace of civilisation in the region, but also because it is the home of the limestone cave of Niah, which has much to offer and is an interesting day trip from Miri.
Being one of the oldest caves and the biggest limestone caves in the world, Niah Cave is also rich with history. Although it is well known, it has not been visited by many including Bruneians and even locals, despite being a drive away.
The Malaysian High Commission in Brunei Darussalam recently hosted a trip to Niah National Park and a tour of the Niah Cave, with invitations extended to the Sultanate’s Diplomatic Corps.
The bus ride to Niah took less than two hours and the diplomats were excited for the visit as it would be their first time stepping foot in the historical cave.
Upon arrival at the national park, they were welcomed by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) where park warden January presented a safety briefing and provided background on the Niah Cave, before the cave exploration.
Photos show members of the Diplomatic Corps in Brunei Darussalam during their trip to the Niah National Park. PHOTOS: AK ZAKI KASHARAN
The diplomats were divided into groups, with each accompanied by a park guide. After a few minutes’ walk, they stopped at the Niah Archaeology Museum.
After a tour of the museum, the trip continued to the jetty for a river boat ride to cross over to the main site of the Niah Cave. They spent about an hour taking in the scenery of flora and fauna.
There were also Iban women selling food and drinks, as well as handicrafts.
Before arriving at Niah Cave, visitors will come across Dagang Cave, a name taken after the area used to be the location of traders selling bird nests to outsiders in exchange for food and other necessities.
“Visitors need to practice caution as the climb can be slippery due to the flow of water from the top of the cave.
“Visitors also need to use torch lights after climbing into the cave, reaching a massive cave called Lobang Kuala, as the walk inside the dark area takes over 15 minutes with limited lighting.
Some 30 minutes later, the diplomats made their way back to Dagang Cave and the museum where they were hosted to lunch by the park authority before making their way back to Miri.
Before departure, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Brunei Darussalam Dato’ Raja Reza bin Raja Zaib Shah in a speech recorded his appreciation to those involved in ensuring the visit’s smooth sailing, safety and success.
He presented a souvenir to SFC who extended their assistance throughout the exploration.
The visit was also made possible with the support of Tourism Malaysia Brunei led by its Acting Director Hajah Latifah binti Dato Haji Ismail.
High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Brunei Darussalam Nahida Rahman Shumona said, “It was a well organised trip and an eye-opener. We were given a tour of the handicrafts centre and a presentation at the city hall.
“I learnt about the indigenous groups, too. It was an educational, informative and welcoming visit.”
Ambassador of Korea to Brunei Darussalam Kim Soung-eun said, “My wife and I enjoyed the familiarisation trip to Miri organised by the Government of Malaysia. In fact, it was my first visit to Miri. We found the trip to be insightful and informative as we learnt about Miri as well as Sarawak state.
“We particularly enjoyed our visit to Niah Cave. Though it was a challenging route, we were amazed by the caves and its surroundings.
“Next time I will bring my son so that he can experience the great and uncommon cave.”
Meanwhile, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Brunei Darussalam Abel Guterres expressed appreciation for the “valuable and educational trip”.
“We thoroughly enjoyed the sightseeing and activities in Miri. It was amazing and well organised,” he said.
“Timor-Leste can learn and gain experience from this familiarisation visit as our country also shares a land border with Indonesia.”
