Monday, October 7, 2024
26 C
Brunei Town

Search finds 49,000 pieces of China Eastern plane

BEIJING (AP) – Chinese officials said yesterday that the search for wreckage in last week’s crash of a China Eastern Boeing 737-800 is basically done and that more than 49,000 pieces of debris had been found.

Flight MU5735 plunged from 29,000 feet into a mountainside in China’s Guangxi region, killing all 132 people on board. The impact created a 20-metre-deep crater, set off a fire in the surrounding forest and smashed the plane into small parts scattered over a wide area, some of them buried underground.

The director of aviation safety for the Civil Aviation Administration of China Zhu Tao said at a news conference in the nearby city of Wuzhou that important parts including the horizontal stabiliser, engine and remains of the right wing tip had been recovered after nearly 10 days of searching, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

The investigation into the cause of the crash faces several challenges including that the plane plunged without warning, air traffic controllers got no reply from the pilots after it started falling and the pieces of debris are so small.

More than 22,000 cubic metres of soil were excavated and 49,117 pieces of the plane found, said official with the Guangxi government Zhang Zhiwen. The search was made more difficult by rain and muddy conditions in the remote and steep location.

Rescuers carry a piece of plane wreckage at the site of the plane crash in Tengxian County, southern China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. PHOTO: AP

The two “black boxes” – the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder – have been found and sent to Beijing for examination and analysis. Zhu said a preliminary investigation report would be completed within 30 days of the March 21 crash.

A team of United States investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and advisors from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration have been granted visas to travel to China to take part in the investigation, under longstanding international agreements.

Engine manufacturer CFM will support the investigation but not send anyone to China, the NTSB said, correcting an earlier announcement that company representatives would be part of the travelling team.

The China Eastern flight, with 123 passengers and nine crew members, was headed from the southwestern city of Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, to Guangzhou, a major city and export manufacturing hub near Hong Kong in southeastern China.

Qatar’s World Cup gets real as Doha hosts tournament draw

DOHA (AFP) – The countdown towards the most controversial World Cup in history really begins today as the draw for Qatar 2022 takes place in Doha, less than eight months before the start of the tournament itself.

As pandemic restrictions ease, some of football’s biggest names will be there for the draw at a Doha convention centre among the skyscrapers of the city’s West Bay district, as holders France and their rivals find out who they will face in the group stage of the first World Cup to be held in November and December.

The dust has still not settled on qualifying, with final matches in the North, Central American and Caribbean zone only concluding late on Wednesday and three berths to be decided in play-offs in June.

Seedings for the draw are based on the latest FIFA world rankings published yesterday, and the seven highest-ranked qualifiers, including France, are in Pot One along with the host nation, despite Qatar being one of the lowest-ranked participants.

The tiny Gulf state of under three million people stunned the planet when it won the right to host the World Cup at a vote in 2010, leading to accusations of vote-buying – which were hotly denied – and questions over the country’s suitability.

People outside the countdown clock for the 2022 World Cup at the seafront of the Qatari capital Doha. PHOTO: AP

The obvious issue was the extreme heat in June and July, when the World Cup is traditionally held, and so the decision was taken to move the tournament to the northern hemisphere winter.

Then there has been the criticism of the working conditions of hundreds of thousands of migrant labourers in the country, including those who built the stadiums. That led to the threat from some countries of a boycott.

“It’s ridiculous that we are going to play in a country, how does FIFA say it? To develop football there? It’s about money, commercial interests, that’s the main motive of FIFA,” said Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal recently.

The chief executive of Qatar’s World Cup Supreme Committee, Hassan al-Thawadi, called Van Gaal’s comments “ridiculous”, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino is fully embracing Qatar’s World Cup.

“It will not only be the best World Cup ever, but also a truly unique one,” claimed Infantino, who has even temporarily moved to Doha. “I have never seen a country so ready to host the World Cup as Qatar.”

China’s factory activity shrinks as COVID-19 hits economy

BEIJING (AFP) – China’s factory activity shrank in March, official data showed yesterday, as the country’s worst COVID-19 outbreak in two years brought sporadic lockdowns and factory closures.

The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) – a key gauge of manufacturing activity – slid to 49.5, just below the 50-point mark separating growth from contraction, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.

It was the first contraction in five months and was lower than expectations from economists polled by Bloomberg.

The fall comes as authorities struggle to stamp out coronavirus outbreaks with restrictions and lockdowns on key manufacturing hubs such as Shenzhen in the south and Changchun in the northeast.

“Recently, clustered outbreaks have occurred in many places in China,” NBS senior statistician Zhao Qinghe said in a statement yesterday. “Coupled with a significant increase in international geopolitical instability, the production and operation activities of Chinese enterprises have been affected,” he added.

Employees work on an assembly line producing speakers at a factory in Linquan county, Fuyang city. PHOTO: AFP

Cases drop below 700, four caught on last night of Ops Peralihan

James Kon & Izah Azahari

Brunei Darussalam reported 686 new COVID-19 cases yesterday – 615 from antigen rapid test results uploaded to the BruHealth app and 71 from 1,546 RT-PCR laboratory tests performed in the past 24 hours, said Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar during a press conference yesterday.

This raises the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 134,412. There are seven cases classified as Category 4 and no cases in Category 5. The minister said 1,260 cases have recovered, making the total number of active cases to 4,974.

He said 98 active cases were in isolation centres and hospitals while 4,876 were undergoing home self-isolation.

As of Wednesday, the minister said 61.3 per cent of the total population of the country has received three doses of the vaccine.

Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham said at the start of Ramadhan, the daily press conference on updating the situation of COVID-19 Infections will be held at 2pm every working day and at 4pm every Friday, Sunday and Public Holiday.

Also in attendance at the press conference was Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong.

Meanwhile, during the final night of movement restrictions, enforcement personnel caught four individuals breaking the stay-at-home directive.

Md Akmal Hisyamddin bin Bini, Md Yasr bin Md Yusof, Aznil Ashraf Hussin and Syairazi Sunarto violated the directive in Brunei-Muara District.

The movement restriction directive requiring the public to stay home from midnight to 4am under Operasi Peralihan, ended today, six months after measures were rolled out.

ABOVE & BELOW: Aznil Ashraf Hussin and Syairazi Sunarto

ABOVE & BELOW: Md Akmal Hisyamddin bin Bini and Md Yasr bin Md Yusof. PHOTOS: RBPF

Israel raids West Bank, two Palestinians killed in gun battle

JERUSALEM (AP) – Israeli forces raided a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank yesterday, setting off a gun battle in which two Palestinians were killed and 15 were wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Videos circulated online showed smoke rising from the centre of the Jenin refugee camp as gunfire echoed in the background. Others appeared to show Israeli soldiers and Palestinian gunmen moving through the narrow streets.

The raid came two days after a wave of attacks in recent days that have left a total of 11 people dead.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said 17-year-old Sanad Abu Atiyeh and 23-year-old Yazid al-Saadi were killed. It said 30-year-old Nidal Jaafara was shot and killed near the West Bank town of Bethlehem, apparently referring to the stabbing incident.

The Israeli military said troops came under fire after entering Jenin to arrest suspects. It said one soldier was wounded and evacuated to a hospital for treatment.

Palestinian gunmen shoot in the air during the funerals for Sanad Abu Atiyeh and Yazid al-Saadi in Jenin. PHOTO: AP

The Jenin refugee camp was the scene of one of the deadliest battles of the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising. In April 2002, Israeli forces fought Palestinian militants in the camp for nearly three weeks. Twenty-three Israeli soldiers and at least 52 Palestinians, including civilians, were killed, according to the United Nations.

The Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the occupied West Bank and coordinates with Israel on security matters, appears to have had little control over Jenin in recent years.

Israeli forces operating in and around the city and refugee camp often come under fire.

The recent wave of violence brought the Palestinian issue back to the fore at a time when Israel is focussed on building alliances. There have been no serious Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in more than a decade.

Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian leaders have held a flurry of meetings in recent weeks, and Israel has announced a series of goodwill gestures.

They hope to avoid a repeat of last year, when clashes in Jerusalem set off an 11-day Gaza war, but the recent attacks have sent tensions soaring. After a Security Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Israel nevertheless decided to carry on with plans to ease restrictions on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

Liverpool, Man Utd to clash in Bangkok

BANGKOK (AFP) – Liverpool and Manchester United will meet in a high-profile friendly in Bangkok in July, the clubs said yesterday, as Premier League teams resume lucrative pre-season tours which stopped when Covid hit.

After the July 12 clash in the Thai capital, Cristiano Ronaldo and his United team-mates will fly to Australia for two more friendlies, including a clash with Crystal Palace, at the 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Before the pandemic shut down overseas tours, usually to Asia and the United States, they were a regular money-spinner for Premier League sides – even if managers don’t like the travel, hot weather and sometimes questionable pitches.

“It will be the same players as you see now with a few additions if transfer deals happen,” said legendary United striker Andy Cole, predicting the two sides’ historic rivalry would continue in Bangkok.

“I’m not sure it will be played like a pre-season friendly,” he said.

The clash between United and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, currently nipping at the heels of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, at the Rajamangala National Stadium has been dubbed the “Red War” by Thai media and fans.

Both clubs have a strong following in Thailand, with Liverpool shirts and logos especially visible – the Anfield outfit’s official Thai language Facebook page has more than 38 million followers.

Former Liverpool defender Phil Babb said he expected Klopp to bring a full-strength squad.

But with tickets ranging from USD150 to USD750 many ordinary Thai fans have complained of being priced out of seeing their heroes play in the flesh.

Former football players Andy Cole and Phil Babb during a press conference in Bangkok. PHOTO: AFP

Bridges, Ball help Hornets to 125-114 win over Knicks

NEW YORK (AP) – Miles Bridges scored 14 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and LaMelo Ball had 20 points and 15 rebounds to help lead the Charlotte Hornets past the New York Knicks 125-114 on Wednesday night.

Kelly Oubre Jr chipped in 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting, including four 3-pointers. Terry Rozier added 15 points for the Hornets, who have won eight of their last 11 games.

Charlotte improved to 40-37 and clinched a spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.

“This is not where we ultimately want to end up. I’m proud of this group,” Hornets coach James Borrego said. “For us to clinch a play-in spot, to be at 40 wins right now… to be in this position speaks volumes to their commitment, their growth, their togetherness, their fight, resiliency.”

The victory moved Charlotte with a half-game of idle Brooklyn for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference play-in race. The Hornets lost to Indiana in the play-in opener last season.

Charlotte Hornets’ Cody Martin (C) drives past New York Knicks’ Julius Randle during the second half of an NBA basketball game in New York. PHOTO: AP

“The goal is to play after the regular season,” Oubre said. “For us to get a minor win and clinching a play-in spot is growth, but we have to continue to stay locked in for what’s to come.”

Evan Fournier scored 30 points, going 6 for 8 from long distance, RJ Barrett added 25, and Julius Randle chipped in 21 for the Knicks, who had their four-game winning halted.

The loss dropped the 11th place Knicks to 34-43, and 5 ½ games behind the Atlanta for the 10th spot in the East. New York’s magic number for elimination is two.

“You’re not eliminated until you’re eliminated,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said.

Charlotte had its 12-point lead in the fourth quarter cut to 109-105 after three-point play from Randle with 3:39 remaining.

Bridges then took over and outscored the Knicks 14-5 over a span of almost three minutes.

The Hornets forward hit a 3-pointer and converted a PJ Washington pass for a windmill baseline dunk that made it 114-106. Bridges later followed Fournier’s basket with a layup off a pass from Ball, extending the lead to 119-108.

“I just watch great players take over in the fourth quarter all the time, Bron, Kobe, KD, those type of guys. And that is where the real players show up,” Bridges said. “You could score as many points as you want in the first, second and third, but once that fourth quarter comes around, every shot matters.”

Oubre had 13 points and Ball and Bridges each had 11 in the first half as the Hornets shot 24 for 48 (50 per cent) and led 58-55 at halftime.

Bridges still holds a grudge against the Knicks for failing to select him in the 2018 draft.

New York chose Kevin Knox II as the ninth overall pick before the Los Angeles Clippers took Bridges 12th and immediately traded him to Charlotte for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had gone a pick earlier.

In 12 career games against the Knicks, Bridges has averaged 15.1 points and 6.3 rebounds.

“So every time I come in, I want to make a point of why they should have drafted me back then,” he said. “I don’t know, I just try to be aggressive every time I come here and show them what I can do and it’s been working out.”

Group donates BND12,000 to 12 mosques

Azlan Othman

In conjunction with the holy month of Ramadhan and to gain multiple blessings from Allah the Almighty, the Amal Jariah Group donated a total of BND12,000 to 12 mosques.

Each mosque received BND1,000, handed over by the Head of Amal Jariah Group Datin Hajah Misnah binti Haji Daud in a ceremony yesterday.

Head of Amal Jariah Group Datin Hajah Misnah binti Haji Daud handing over a donation to a mosque representative. PHOTO: AZLAN OTHMAN

Uganda further eases COVID-19 restrictions as cases drop to near zero

KAMPALA (XINHUA) – Uganda’s Ministry of Health further eased COVID-19 restrictions as the east African country’s positive cases are consistently dropping to near zero.

The ministry has stopped retesting of incoming travellers from the east African region provided they arrive with test results from their point of departure.

Ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyoona told Xinhua that the suspension took immediate effect.

“Uganda will recognise COVID-19 PCR results from the East African Community (EAC) state laboratories that were jointly accredited by EAC for COVID-19 testing. Travellers should come with COVID results taken within 72 hours,” the ministry said in a statement.

EAC member countries include Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.

On Tuesday, the Democratic Republic of Congo was also admitted to the community.

The ministry said COVID-19 PCR results were currently not required for fully vaccinated travellers including truck drivers to cross the land border entry points.

Ugandans receive Pfizer vaccinations at the Kiswa Health Centre III in the Bugolobi neighbourhood of Kampala, Uganda. PHOTO: AP

Ainebyoona noted that PCR tests would be maintained for travellers who come in through the country’s airport, Entebbe International Airport.

The ministry has also integrated COVID-19 vaccination into routine immunisation at most of the health facilities in the country. Previously there were special COVID-19 vaccination exercises across the country following an increase in the number of cases.

The number of medical personnel recruited to manage the pandemic has also been reduced as cases have dropped and there is no money to pay the health workers’ wages, according to the ministry.

“Following the reduction of cases of COVID-19 in the country, coupled with budgetary constraints, it has been decided to scale down the number of health workers under Emergency Response to COVID-19,” the ministry said in a recent circular to hospital heads.

Those affected by the scale down are health workers on non-gratuity contracts who were deployed in COVID-19 treatment centres.

The ministry directed managers of referral hospitals and other government medical facilities to mainstream the management of COVID-19 into the main structure to ensure continuity of service delivery in hospitals.

The ministry in July last year recruited hundreds of health workers as the country faced a virulent second wave of the pandemic. The new recruits were beefing up the existing workforce, which was overwhelmed by the surging number of cases.

The country then imposed second lockdown efforts to reduce the rapid spread of the pandemic. The first lockdown was imposed in March 2020 when the country registered the first COVID-19 case.

The country in January fully reopened the economy after close to two years of restrictions.

Ministry of Health figures as of March 30 showed there were only two cases admitted to health facilities, with only 14 daily cases being registered.

Cumulatively, the country has registered 163,892 infections with 3,595 deaths and 100,167 recoveries. The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 18.6 million.

H&M sees boosted sales but Russian closures start to weigh

STOCKHOLM (CNA) – Swedish clothing giant H&M said yesterday its revenue increased in the first quarter, but its closure of Russian stores has started to impact growth.

Hundreds of Western companies have halted their operations in Russia following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, with a slew of retailers, including H&M rival Zara, shutting down stores.

H&M has closed 185 stores and stopped online sales in Russia.

H&M said its global sales between March 1 and 28 rose by six per cent in local currencies compared to the same period last year. But excluding Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, sales increased by 11 per cent, the company added.

In the first quarter, which preceded the closures, H&M said sales rose 23 per cent to SEK49.2 billion. In local currencies, the increase was 18 per cent.

Its net profit bounced back in the black in the December-to-February period at SEK217 million following a net loss of 1.1 billion for the same quarter a year earlier. Prior to the war, the pandemic had weighed on the company’s performance.

“In addition to the general consequences of the pandemic such as disruptions and delays in the supply chain, some of our major markets were impacted by a new wave of the pandemic in the first quarter,” Chief Executive Officer Helena Helmersson said.

“Despite this we saw a recovery of sales in physical stores compared with last year, while online sales continued to perform well,” she added.

H&M is among hundreds of Western companies, including retailers, that have closed shops in Russia following Moscow’s invastion of Ukraine. PHOTO: AFP
1...6,8586,8596,860...7,615Page 6,859 of 7,615

Social Media

Category

Site Links

About Us

Borneo Bulletin is the leading English daily in the country. It was first published by Brunei Press. Today, Borneo Bulletin has become the foremost source of information on local and foreign affairs, and the region’s business news.

© 2013 Borneo Bulletin Online - The Independent Newspaper in Brunei Darussalam, Sabah and Sarawak

ns5006141