WASHINGTON (AFP) – England’s David Skinns fired a course-record 12-under par 60 on Thursday to grab the lead at the PGA Sanderson Farms Championship.
The 42-year-old Briton, ranked 149th in the world, missed a nine-foot par putt on his final hole, the par-4 ninth at Mississippi’s Country Club of Jackson, to miss out on a 59.
“It’s hard not to be a little bit disappointed because how many nine-footers are you going to get to shoot 59?” Skinns said. “I’m sure I’m not going to get many.
“I really want to just look back on how kind of in control mentally I felt, how I kept attacking. Wasn’t really thinking about the future at all, which is kind of the thing I’m going to take away from today.”
Skinns, seeking his first PGA victory, opened at 10 with back-to-back birdies, added birdies at 14-17 and the second through fifth holes then added birdies at seven and eight.
“It was just one of those dream days where I was never really in a bad spot,” Skinns said. “Those are the ones that you turn around and you’re 7-under, you’re like, wow, I didn’t feel like I did too much. Great to see a couple go in that maybe some days don’t.”
Skinns settled for a career-low round and took his missed chance for 59 in stride.
“Just broke way more than I thought,” Skinns said. “But there were a lot out there I got right, so I’m going to focus on the ones I got right.”
ROME (XINHUA) – Microsoft announced plans to invest EUR4.3 billion (USD4.74 billion) in Italy to develop infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud-based data centres.
The announcement came after a meeting in Rome between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and visiting Microsoft President Brad Smith.
The investment, the largest ever for Microsoft in Italy, is expected to enhance the country’s position as a digital hub in the Mediterranean. It dovetails with Italy’s priorities to capitalise on the benefits of AI technologies during its presidency of the Group of Seven (G7) countries.
According to Italian media reports, last week at the United Nations General Assembly held in New York, Meloni held individual meetings with the leaders of other major tech giants, including those from Alphabet and Open AI.
Microsoft said in its statement that the new data centres will be based in northern Italy’s Milan.
Australia’s James O’Connor is tackled by Argentina’s Emiliano Boffelli. PHOTO: AP
WELLINGTON (AFP) – Former Wallabies playmaker James O’Connor signed for New Zealand Super Rugby powerhouse Canterbury Crusaders yesterday, with the club calling him “world-class”.
The 34-year-old fly-half, who made 64 appearances for Australia, struggled with injuries last season, which saw him largely relegated to a mentoring role at the Queensland Reds.
He opted out of a new contract with the Australian side, sparking interest from the 14-time Super Rugby champions who had their worst campaign in more than 20 years last season.
“When we heard he was available we reached out as we thought we could offer him something new and challenging,” said Crusaders coach Rob Penney, who called O’Connor a “world-class and ambitious athlete”.
“We have two exciting and talented 10s in Rivez (Reihana) and Taha (Kemara), and James brings a level of maturity that we believe will complement them exceptionally well.”
O’Connor said he was excited to test himself in a new environment.
“My whole career I’ve heard so much about the Crusaders culture and innovation,” he said.
“So to experience it first hand and learn a new way of playing the game is something I’m really looking forward to.”
Australia’s James O’Connor is tackled by Argentina’s Emiliano Boffelli. PHOTO: AP
ABOVE & BELOW: An employee selects the high quality corks at the Amorim cork factory in Mozelos near Santa Maria da Feira, north of Portugal; and cork harvesting in progress. PHOTO: AFP
MOZELOS (AFP) – Portugal, the world’s leading cork producer, is finding new uses for the material, from footwear to furniture, as demand for bottle stoppers wanes.
Producers highlight the environmentally friendly properties of cork, which is lightweight, recyclable, waterproof and fire-resistant, to encourage its use in diverse settings.
Cork is obtained by stripping the bark of cork oak trees every nine years in a careful process that allows the tree to regenerate and grow, making the industry naturally sustainable.
The material has “a negative carbon footprint because it comes from a tree that captures CO2 day and night”, CEO of the world’s largest cork producer Corticeira Amorim, Antonio Rios de Amorim, told AFP.
The push to diversify comes with the reducing demand for cork bottle stoppers, which have long faced competition from cheaper plastic stoppers and screw tops.
“Periods of slowdown must be used to question what we do,” said Amorim, whose ancestors founded Corticeira Amorim 154 years ago in the northern village of Mozelos, about 30 kilometres south of second city Porto.
ABOVE & BELOW: An employee selects the high quality corks at the Amorim cork factory in Mozelos near Santa Maria da Feira, north of Portugal; and cork harvesting in progress. PHOTO: AFPPHOTO: AFPABOVE & BELOW: Employees select high quality corks; and using a forklift to stack boards of cork. PHOTO: AFPPHOTO: AFP
Thanks to cork’s cell-like structure, the material is elastic and highly impermeable, making it suitable to make shoes as well as ties, pants and other clothes.
Furniture designers are also increasingly drawn to the material.
British designer Tom Dixon has called it a “dream material” and put out a range of dark cork furniture that includes tables, stools and shelves using cork from Portugal.
The Lisbon metro in 2020 replaced the fabric lining on all seats of its train fleet with cork, an easier to maintain material.
Builders have been drawn to the material because of its unique thermal insulation and sound absorption properties.
Cork is also finding its way into space. It is used in thermal protection coating on booster rockets because of its resistance “to strong variations in temperature”, said Amorim.
Making bottle stoppers, however, remains the main activity for Portugal’s cork industry, which employs around 8,000 people.
Corticeira Amorim makes some six billion cork bottle stoppers per year, almost all of them for export mainly to Chile, France and the United States.
It accounts for 70 per cent of the global market share for cork stoppers and posted sales of EUR985 million (USD1 billion) in 2023, slightly lower than in the previous year.
Cork is made from the bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber) found in countries of the Mediterranean basin.
Portugal is home to about a third of the world’s total area dedicated to this tree – more than any other country – and accounts for nearly half the world’s supply of cork.
There are also plantations in France, Spain, Italy. Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.
In the province of Ribatejo around 80 kilometres east of Lisbon, cork oaks stretch as far as the eye can see.
The bark is removed from the tree in summer using traditional methods handed down from generation to generation.
It is a highly precise technique “that takes several years to learn”, said Nelson Ferreira, a 43-year-old cork bark harvester, adding he takes great care not to damage the tree.
The bark is then taken to Corticeira Amorim’s factories in the north of Portugal where it is steam-treated, cut into smaller pieces and then fed into machines that punch out stoppers.
The preservation of cork oaks is crucial for Portugal, which has made them a protected species since it takes an average of 40 years for a tree to start producing cork that can be used by cork makers.
File photo shows 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 at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. PHOTO: INFOFOTO
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 will attend the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane, Laos from October 8 to 11.
Laos, as the Chair of ASEAN this year, carries the theme ‘ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience’, focusing on intensifying ASEAN cooperation across the three Community pillars; promoting infrastructure connectivity; narrowing the development gap; promoting greater economic integration and people-to-people exchanges.
It also emphasises further strengthening ASEAN’s relations with its external partners, while maintaining ASEAN’s relevance and centrality in the evolving regional architecture.
This year’s summits will gather the leaders of ASEAN and Timor-Leste, along with ASEAN Dialogue Partners, to push forward collective action in implementing the priority areas and key deliverables of ASEAN under Laos’ Chairmanship to enhance the region’s connectivity and resilience.
In response to emerging regional and global challenges, discussions will emphasise on ASEAN’s common goals and interests towards the promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in the region, such as sustainable and inclusive development; digital transformation; climate change; ASEAN’s Community-building efforts, ASEAN external relations, as well as regional and international issues of mutual importance.
File photo shows 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 at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. PHOTO: INFOFOTO
The Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB) has directed its licensee, Remittance@Seconds, to cease receiving money from the public for the purpose of remittance, effective from yesterday.
The central bank announced the action, “pursuant to its powers under Section 54 of the BDCB Order, 2010”, in a press release yesterday.
It said Remittance@Seconds failed to comply with several conditions of their remittance business license set by the BDCB, which include allowing unauthorised personnel to conduct remittance business on Remittance@Seconds’ behalf. The business was also found to have inadequate resources, internal controls and appropriate procedures to safeguard the best interests of their customers.
The directive will be in place until BDCB is satisfied that the appropriate and proper measures have been taken by the business to rectify the deficiencies.
Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) said it is aware of a growing number of scams involving fake job advertisements being circulated via social media platforms.
“These fraudulent schemes are targeting job seekers by presenting them with seemingly legitimate job opportunities, but the actual intention is to access personal and financial information,” the bank said in a press release yesterday. “The public is urged to remain cautious and vigilant when encountering such offers.”
BIBD said scammers typically approach individuals through job postings or direct messages, offering fake employment opportunities.
Once engaged, victims are asked to download and install an APK file for software which may be capable of stealing personal data or compromising the security of their devices.
Victims may also be directed to a fraudulent website that is a clone of BIBD’s NEXGEN Wallet login screen. Victims are asked to input their banking credentials, supposedly for ‘salary’ purposes.
Another tactic is for victims to receive a one-time password (OTP), which the scammers request to be shared under the pretext that it is required to process their application or salary.
BIBD advised the public to follow safety measures including not downloading or installing files from unknown or unverified sources; only accessing BIBD services via the official NEXGEN Wallet app or through the bank’s website; and never disclosing banking details, login credentials or OTP to third parties.
“BIBD urges all customers to help spread the word about these fake job offers and scams. Sharing this information with family, friends, and colleagues can help protect others from falling victim to these fraudulent schemes,” the bank added.
ABOVE & BELOW: Michelle Wong Su Heng; Nur Hafikah binti Haji Bakri; and Mohd Firdaus bin Mohd Salleh. PHOTO: BIBD
The Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) Advocating Life-Long Learning for an Aspiring Future (ALAF) programme continues to be a life-changing initiative for students across the Sultanate, supporting their academic journeys and enabling them to pursue higher education and meaningful careers.
As the bank celebrates Teacher’s Day, BIBD shines a spotlight on several ALAF scholars and alumni who shared how the programme, along with the guidance of their teachers, has shaped their futures.
Michelle Wong Su Heng, a 2024 graduate of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) with a Bachelor of Arts in English Studies, is now working as an English teacher at Chung Ching Middle School.
“I’ve been a part of the programme for almost 10 years now and it has never failed to aid me financially in my educational journey. My pursuit of higher education would have taken longer without these financial aids, as I would have spent a few years after my ‘A’ levels working to earn enough money to have the funds for it. Without the programme’s support, I probably wouldn’t have discovered my desire to teach as well. That is why, if I had to describe the programme and the effect it has on my life in one word, it would be: life-changing.”
In conjunction with Teacher’s Day, Michelle said, “I would like to thank all the teachers who have taught me when I was in Muhammad Alam Primary School, Anthony Abell College, Sayyidina Ali Secondary School, and UBD.”
ABOVE & BELOW: Michelle Wong Su Heng; Nur Hafikah binti Haji Bakri; and Mohd Firdaus bin Mohd Salleh. PHOTO: BIBDPHOTO: BIBDPHOTO: BIBD
On being part of the ALAF family, she said, “To be part of the ALAF family means knowing and believing that there will be people and organisations (both government and private) kind enough to provide support to students across the country who need it.
“I hope the current ALAF students will always remember to show gratitude to the individuals who have extended a helping hand. I hope they will continue to excel in their studies and make BIBD ALAF proud!”
Nur Hafikah binti Haji Bakri, who graduated from Al-Azhar University, Cairo, in 2022 with a degree in Syariah Islamiah, is another inspiring alumna of the ALAF programme. She is currently a Syariah Research Officer in BIBD’s Syariah Division and reflected on her journey: “Ever since I joined ALAF, it helped me with my studies until my degree. It has taught me a lot of things through programmes and workshops to develop new skills. I didn’t have to worry about my school necessities because ALAF provided everything I needed.”
Other recent graduates of the ALAF programme include Hong Hui Qin, who graduated from Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) in 2023 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and is now employed in the oil and gas sector, and Hazmi bin Haji Juli, who also graduated from UTB in 2023 with a degree in Civil Engineering and is currently participating in the i-Ready programme at an engineering firm.
Siti Nurul Izzah Adila binti Arfian, an ALAF scholar who is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) at Monash University, Australia, expressed her gratitude for the role ALAF has played in shaping her academic journey, saying, “The programme has been instrumental in shaping my academic journey, providing financial support and guidance that helped me reach my educational goals. Studying abroad has been a transformative experience, exposing me to diverse cultures and academic perspectives.”
Mohd Firdaus bin Mohd Salleh, ALAF scholar pursuing a Bachelor of Economics and Management Sciences at the International Islamic University Malaysia, said, “Alhamdulillah, BIBD ALAF has done so much for me, including financial support, tuition, and school necessities. It has been a blessing. Without them, I would not have been able to secure this scholarship to continue my studies for a better future.”
Currently, nine ALAF scholars are studying at university, with four pursuing their studies overseas.
Five former ALAF students have completed their studies and are now employed in various sectors.
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha and German Ambassador to Brunei Darusssalam Gerda Winkler cut the cake to commemorate the 34th Day of German Unity and the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and Brunei. PHOTO: JAMES KON
The Embassy of Germany in Brunei Darussalam held a reception to celebrate the 34th Day of German Unity and the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and Brunei on Thursday.
German Ambassador to Brunei Darusssalam Gerda Winkler in her welcoming speech said the diplomatic ties were established on January 30, 1984, just four weeks after Brunei gained independence. The first (non-resident) German Ambassador Dr Wolfram Dufner handed in his letter of credence on May 2 1984, and Brunei’s first (non-resident) Brunei Ambassador to Germany Pengiran Haji Jaya received approval on September 9, 1984.
She said, “The next step was opening embassies: Germany opened its embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan on March 14, 1985, and Brunei opened its embassy in Bonn on October 15, 1990.”
She emphasised the strong and reliable partnership between Germany and Brunei, noting shared values regarding a rules-based international order, multilateralism and free trade. 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 has met with three German Federal Presidents and three Federal Chancellors over the years, reinforcing their diplomatic ties. She added, a delegation from the German Parliament visited Brunei as part of the Parliamentary Friendship Group for ASEAN member states. This marked the first visit of the ASEAN Friendship Group to Brunei since 2007 and served as an important contribution to the 40th anniversary celebration.
She said in terms of cooperation, “Germany and Brunei have a long history of cooperation, such as the joint venture between Lürssen Shipyard and Darussalam Assets Sdn Bhd for operations at Muara Naval Base. The Royal Brunei Air Force’s recent acquisition of Eurocopters H145M, replacing the Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BO 105, will further strengthen these ties.” She further highlighted the long-standing relationship between Brunei and German universities, noting that many Bruneian students are currently studying in Germany and that this area could see further development.
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary Pengiran bin Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha was present at the event. The event concluded with the minister and Ambassador Winkler cutting a cake to commemorate the celebration. – James Kon
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha and German Ambassador to Brunei Darusssalam Gerda Winkler cut the cake to commemorate the 34th Day of German Unity and the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and Brunei. PHOTO: JAMES KONGuests at the event. PHOTO: JAMES KON
ABOVE & BELOW: Photos show members of the public during the Mazda Customer Weekend. PHOTO: RAFI ROSLI
The public is welcome to visit Grand Auto Sdn Bhd’s showroom to test drive a range of Mazda models and participate in a fun-filled family experience featuring activities and food vendors at the Mazda Customer Weekend which ends today.
The event is organised by Grand Auto, the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles in the Sultanate. Attendees will have the chance to test drive and receive a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf voucher.
Onsite sales consultants will answer questions and help customers find the perfect Mazda for everyone’s needs. – James Kon
ABOVE & BELOW: Photos show members of the public during the Mazda Customer Weekend. PHOTO: RAFI ROSLIPHOTO: RAFI ROSLIPHOTO: RAFI ROSLIPHOTO: RAFI ROSLI
