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    Late surge keeps Henley ahead of Matsuyama at Sony Open

    HONOLULU (AP) – Russell Henley had the lowest 36-hole score of his career on a course where he won his first PGA Tour event, and he knew better to expect everything to fall into place.

    He did just enough yesterday in the Sony Open, particularly over the final hour when he made key putts for birdie, par and one bogey.

    That led to a three-under 67 and a two-shot lead over Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, who took only 25 putts and isn’t quite sure how some of them went in.

    Matsuyama had a 63, his 12th consecutive round in the 60s this season dating to the CJ Cup in Las Vegas.

    “I figured it wouldn’t be quite as easy as the first two days,” said Henley, who opened with rounds of 62-63. “It’s just not how golf works typically. I wasn’t planning on making bogeys, but definitely wasn’t expecting to shoot eight under again. But at the same time, I felt really good about my game all day. I never really got too nervous or too ahead of myself.”

    He had chances to panic.

    Henley misjudges his lie in thicker than usual rough for Waialae just left of the fairway on the 13th hole, came up short of the green in more rough, dumped the next shot in a bunker and had to had a six-foot putt just to salvage bogey.

    Russell Henley during the Sony Open golf tournament at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. PHOTO: AP

    “That was a nice save instead of making double,” Henley said. “Had some nice holed putts down the stretch. I’m really thankful and happy with how I putted.”

    Henley regained the lead with a 12-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole. He kept it by avoiding a long three-putt on the 16th, making a comebacker from eight feet. He made a 15-footer on the 17th to create a cushion.

    He was a 18-under 192 and will be paired with Matsuyama, as popular in Honolulu as any stop on the PGA Tour outside Japan.

    Matsuyama will be going for his second win his season – he won the Zozo Championship outside Tokyo last fall – and the eighth of his career, which would tie him with KJ Choi of South Korea for most wins by an Asian-born player.

    This is hardly a two-man race at Waialae, a course with a history of players coming out of the pack with something in the low 60s, and such a score is certainly possible in these conditions.

    Seamus Power of Ireland birdied his last two holes for a 65, leaving him four shots behind, along with Matt Kuchar (67) and Adam Svensson of Canada (65) and Haotong Li of China, who was in the mix until a tough finish.

    Li was one shot behind with four holes to play. But then Henley birdied the 15th, and Li made a mess of the 16th hole, which bends to the left round houses and out toward the Pacific, the big “W” of palm trees behind the green.

    Li went way left off the tee. He went way right with his shot, some 20 yards beyond the 17th tee. He hacked out short and chipped long and took two putts for a double bogey.

    That left him four shots behind, but he didn’t lose his sense of humour.

    With his tee shot on a decent line off the tee at the par-3 17th, Li said loud enough for the gallery to hear, “Hole-in-one, please.” No such luck. He missed a birdie putt from just inside 15 feet, finishing with a long two-putt birdie and still had hope.

    Lucas Glover (64) and Kevin Kisner (65) were five shots behind.

    So much depends on Henley, won the Sony Open in the first tournament of his rookie season in 2013. That was his only victory in the five times he has had at least a share of the 54-hole lead. Even so, his putting stroke and his comfort at Waialae figures to help.

    “Russell seems to be the guy when he gets out in front and is playing well and confident, he seems to rise to the occasion,” Kisner said. “I think he’s going to be a tough competitor to try to beat.”

    Matsuyama looked up to the task, especially late in his round. He knocked in a 40-foot birdie putt on the 13th, and then holed a 15-footer for par on the next hole.

    He laid well back off the 15th tee with a 4-iron, a smart move because he was in the right side of the fairway with a large tree blocking his way to the pin on the right of the green. He had an 8-iron and enough room to sent it over the tree to 15 feet for another birdie.

    “Putting was a strong point today. Even my missed putts found the hole,” Matsuyama said through an interpreter. “I was lucky today.”

    Cambodia’s trade with Japan extends growth in 2021

    THE STAR – Bilateral trade volume between Cambodia and Japan topped USD1.700 billion in 2021, marking a small increase of 0.49 per cent from more than USD1.692 billion a year earlier, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Commerce.

    Last year, Cambodian exports to Japan were worth USD1.094 billion, up by 3.61 per cent over 2020, and imports were USD607 million, down by 4.68 per cent year-on-year, the figures show.

    This means that the Kingdom’s trade surplus with Japan widened to USD0.49 billion in 2020, from USD0.42 billion a year earlier.

    Without mentioning concrete figures, Cambodia Chamber of Commerce vice-president Lim Heng told The Post on January 13 that although the increment in trade between the two countries last year was small, Japanese investment in the Kingdom had increased considerably.

    Many Japanese companies today are investing in Cambodia’s special economic zones (SEZ), especially in Phnom Penh and Koh Kong province, spanning virtually all fields, he said, commenting that a potential bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan would reinforce diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries.

    The Post understands that the ministry has set up a working group to study the feasibility of an FTA with Japan.

    Heng put forth that a number of conducive factors will act as a tailwind for trade with Japan and other countries, including new investment laws and regulations, bilateral and regional FTAs, and Cambodia’s various tariff preferences and beneficial arrangements granted by trading partners.

    “Several Japanese firms have also been mentioning this ‘Japan Plus One’ policy, which implies that if they open up shop in Vietnam or Thailand, they’ll set up here in Cambodia too,” he said.

    Hong Vanak, director of International Economics at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, remarked that trade between the two countries has remained on a positive trend during COVID, with exports to Japan largely unimpeded by the knock-on effects of the pandemic.

    “With an FTA, investment and trade with Japan would get a significant boost, and in particular, prompt more Japanese investors to turn to manufacturing in Cambodia to raise exports to Japan, and other countries as well,” he said.

    Japanese investors in Cambodia tend to prefer sectors such as retail, supermarkets, services and restaurants, although a great number have delved into tourism, hotels, banking, construction and real estate.

    The ministry listed footwear and apparel, and electrical and electronic components as key Cambodian exports to Japan; and vehicle engine parts, agricultural machinery, electronics and home appliances as major imports.

    Head-turning birds

    Ihtisham Kabir

    THE DAILY STAR – We all have our notion of “good-looking” when it comes to people.

    This idea extends to other creatures. In case of birds there are three levels of looking good. First, some bird species are simply prettier than others. Second, several birds of the same species can have varying attractiveness. Finally, an individual bird’s looks can change from month to month.

    Still, when we see a bird we focus on identifying the species and perhaps observing its behaviour. When I put on my photographer’s hat, however, I must think of the final result: the bird’s photograph. So I pay attention to the bird’s looks. A photogenic bird increases the likelihood of a better photograph.

    From species to species, colour is the most appealing feature of birds. There are countless variations of avian colours and associated patterns.

    Some of the world’s spectacularly colourful birds are in Central and South America. Birds such as Resplendant Quetzal, Cock O’the Rock and Sunbittern are justifiably famous for their exquisite plumage. They draw a large number of admiring bird photographers.

    With their glittering bodies, hummingbirds of the Americas are also attractive.

    Photographers go through great lengths – setting up multiple flashes around feeders, for example – in order to photograph the plumage of these birds in flattering light.

    In Australia, colourful parrots and finches are exciting. Papua New Guinea has birds of paradise. These attractive birds are not seen outside Australasia.

    In Bangladesh colourful species occur in forests and include minivets, sunbirds, leafbirds, flycatchers, green magpies, parrots and trogons. All but one of the kingfishers are startlingly colourful. The country is also blessed with many woodpeckers including flamebacks, easily spotted in the city.

    Besides colour, appendages make birds attractive: the large, colourful beaks of toucans, the casques over the beaks of hornbills; the improbable crown of the Cock o’the Rock, the elaborate tail feathers of birds of paradise, and the long streamers of Tropic birds for example.

    In some species males are more colourful than females. These include most ducks, sunbirds and some forest birds.

    Males and females of yet other species are equally attractive, but in different colours.

    For example, Scarlet Minivet males are brilliant red while females are bright yellow.

    Birds of prey have their own attraction stemming from the power and stealth they radiate. Their eyes, beaks, talons as well as powerful wing-beats add to this charisma of power.

    Some raptors also have beautiful patterns, for example the white dots seen on a red Greater Spotted Eagle.

    An individual bird can go from attractive to unattractive within a year. Some males look their most appealing during breeding season. For example, Red Munia becomes bright red early in its breeding season, gradually turning grey-brown as the season progresses.

    The Purple Sunbird sports a bright yellow-orange circle on its shoulder during breeding season. But after breeding it takes on a drab “eclipse” plumage. Some birds moult feathers when they can look distinctly dishevelled.

    My fondness for avian colour notwithstanding, I suspect that a majority of the world’s bird species are shades of brown, beige or grey, collectively known as “LBJ” or little brown jobs. Are they not worth photographing then? Of course they are! But the photographer must work harder for a more attractive photograph. For example, photographs of any bird in action can be dramatic. Catching the interaction of two or more birds can also yield an interesting picture.

    Viral tribute for a good cause

    AP – The late Betty White was a tireless lifetime advocate for animals, from caring for those without homes to launching her own weekly TV show, The Pet Set, dedicated to her celebrity friends and their pets.

    Her most far-reaching contribution, though, may be yet to come: Today, fans of White are poised to donate to animal welfare charities and shelters as part of what’s been dubbed the #BettyWhiteChallenge. And animal welfare nonprofits are gearing up to capitalise on the viral tribute to the star of The Golden Girls and Hot in Cleveland on what would have been her 100th birthday.

    “I’ve had many conversations with Betty about animal welfare, and I know she’s looking down from heaven and really smiling,” said Robin Ganzert, who leads American Humane, an animal welfare organisation that White was involved with for more than 60 years.

    “She’ll be smiling on her birthday,” she said. “And she’ll be smiling about the lives she’s changed.”

    It isn’t exactly clear who started the #BettyWhiteChallenge on social media shortly after White’s death on December 31.

    However it began, the idea – to donate USD5 to a local animal rescue organisation in White’s name on her birthday – quickly took off and drew support from celebrities like actors Mark Hamill and George Takei on Twitter.

    Betty White accepting the legend award at the TV Land Awards at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, California; and a man walking a dog past a new mural of the late actor Betty White by artist Corie Mattie in Los Angeles. PHOTOS: AP

    Traffic to American Humane’s website spiked after White’s passing. Ganzert said donations, too, have increased. The nonprofit is waiting to reveal by how much until more gifts flood in, including sizable donations it’s expecting from some donors.

    During the decades in which White was involved with the organisation, she made fundraising appeals and served on its board and as a presenter and judge on its televised show featuring “hero” dogs. During tapings of The Pet Set in the early 70s, Ganzert said, White would have American Humane representatives on set to ensure that animals were safe. In 2012, the nonprofit honoured her with its highest award, the National Humanitarian Medal.

    Ganzert would also give White a photo book each year of the animals the organisation helped.

    “She kept those out on her coffee table,” Ganzert said. “And (it) always touched me whenever we would visit.”

    Best Friends Animal Society, a Utah-based animal welfare organisation, has raised USD25,000 in donations made in White’s name, according to the group’s Chief Mission Officer Holly Sizemore.

    The group has promoted the #BettyWhiteChallenge broadly across its social media channels to drum up support both for its work and other organisations.

    “That’s the beauty of animal welfare,” Sizemore said. “There’s something for everyone to support. There’s so much good work happening and so much opportunity, particularly right now, to make the world a better place for people and animals.”

    Sizemore hoped that today will bring plenty of donations and attention for animal welfare.

    “What an incredible opportunity to honour Betty White’s legacy – to come together as a nation and celebrate something that she was so passionate about, her love for animals,” she said.

    Maintaining that connection with #BettyWhiteChallenge donors is the main test for animal welfare nonprofits after today. Viral fundraising efforts can bring in a stream of money, but experts said donations tend to drop off quickly.

    Chief Strategy Officer of the fundraising firm MissionWired, Sarah Newhall said charities can best capitalise on these moments if they already have a strong foundation in place to engage new donors – whether through emails, a website, social media or other methods.

    “What it allows them to do is really use that tent-pole moment to get in front of an audience they might not otherwise have gotten,” Newhall said. But, she added, retaining these donors can be an uphill battle because the push to give is tied to one day, and the motivation to one person. Animal groups might also become overshadowed by other organisations soliciting donations during Martin Luther King Jr Day, which also falls today.

    North Shore Animal League America, a no-kill animal rescue and adoption organisation, plans to engage new #BettyWhiteChallenge donors through a mix of social media appeals and invitations to visit its adoption centre in Port Washington, New York, said the organisation’s Senior Vice President of Operations Joanne Yohannan. It is also dedicating its next 100 animal rescues to White in honour of her 100th birthday.

    The organisation has received a donation from the Hallmark Channel in honour of White, part of a tribute that also includes a Golden Girls marathon and her Hallmark movie The Lost Valentine today.

    “It’s about raising awareness for the plight of homeless animals and what can be done to help them, including volunteering and adopting,” Yohannan said.

    Protesters clash with Greek police over university eviction

    THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) – A protest march by 1,500 far-left activists in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki turned violent on Saturday towards its end, when some protesters threw firebombs and rocks at riot police, who responded with stun grenades and tear gas.

    Police prevented the marchers from reaching their intended destination, the campus of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Thirty people were detained, of whom 27 will face charges, police said.

    The march was the culmination of a week of protests over the New Year’s Eve eviction of activists who had occupied a room at the university’s biology department for 34 years.

    The occupation did not disturb the department’s functioning and the room had become an activity hub. The department decided it needed the room to expand its library and police broke through a locked door into the room, which was empty at the time.

    Activists re-occupied the room on January 10 but were evicted in a new police operation the following day. Fifteen people were arrested and their trial has been scheduled for Friday.

    Riot policemen run through flames from petrol bombs during a rally in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, Greece. PHOTO: AP

    Geena Davis says an older actor thought she was ‘too old’ to be his romantic interest

    Richa Liz Mathew

    CNA – Academy award-winning actress Geena Davis (pic below, AP) recently opened up about her multiple encounters with ageism in an interview with Allison Kugel on the Allison Interviews podcast.

    She revealed she was once denied a role because “a certain male actor” thought she was “too old to be his romantic interest” despite her being “20 years younger than him”.

    “It’s very strange and so prevalent,” she said, of the issue of ageism in Hollywood.

    “You know what it is? Women peak in their 20s and 30s, and men peak in their 40s and 50s as far as actors go. So the male stars of the movies want to appear to be younger than they are, or they want to appeal to younger people, so they always want a co-star who is really young,” she said.

    “That is why that happens and that is why women don’t get cast very much after 40 and 50. It is because they are felt to be too old to be a romantic interest.”

    Davis, who turns 66 on January 21, is a staunch advocate for women and is the founder and chair of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. Since its founding in 2004, the non-profit research organisation engages film and television creators to increase the percentage of female characters and reduce gender stereotyping in media made for children 11 years and under.

    A step in the right direction

    WASHINGTON (AFP) – Good news for senior felines hoping to get a spring back in their step.

    The United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday approved its first treatment to control pain associated with osteoarthritis in cats, which is also the first monoclonal antibody drug approved for any animal species.

    These lab-grown proteins have grabbed headlines during the pandemic for preventing high-risk people with COVID from getting severely ill.

    Not all monoclonal antibodies target pathogens however. Some that are approved for humans with cancer perform other functions, like tagging cancer cells so the immune system can recognise them better and fight them.

    Solensia, the new injectable drug approved for cats, works by attaching itself to a protein called nerve growth factor (NGF) that is involved in the regulation of pain.

    When frunevetmab, the active ingredient in Solensia, binds to NGF, it prevents the pain signal from reaching the brain.

    A cat is wrapped in a towel and held in the arms of a Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) employee at an HRA animal shelter in Washington, DC. PHOTOS: AP
    A senior cat resting

    “Advancements in modern veterinary medicine have been instrumental in extending the lives of many animals, including cats,” said Director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine Steven Solomon in a statement.

    “But with longer lives come chronic diseases, such as osteoarthritis,” he added.

    Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones wears thin. Eventually the bones in a joint rub against each other, causing pain and lessening joint movement, and at times leading to bone spurs.

    The condition is thought to affect 60 per cent of cats aged six years and up, and 90 per cent of cats older than 12.

    Because cats are not good at directly conveying their symptoms, researchers asked their owners about their animals’ level of impairment doing activities like jumping onto furniture, using their litter box, or grooming, and compared their abilities to before they developed osteoarthritis.

    The owners were then asked to assess their cats’ response after receiving treatment.
    Overall, the cats in the treatment group had better assessment scores than those who received placebos during randomised clinical trials.

    Side effects of the drug, which is injected under the skin by a veterinarian once a month, included vomiting, diarrhoea, injection site pain, scabbing on the head and neck, dermatitis and pruritus (itchy skin).

    The effects were mild and didn’t require stopping treatment. Zoetis, the drug’s maker, said it should not be used in breeding cats or in those that are pregnant or lactating. It also should not be taken by humans.

    Zoetis declined to comment on its cost but said it would be priced “competitively”.

    Community answers call for blood donations

    Lyna Mohamad

    Amid blood banks running low on vital supplies, the community comes forward to answer the call for replenishment.

    Yesterday, Filipino community members and their local and Indonesian friends donated blood at Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital Blood Donation Centre.

    The group’s spokesperson, Allan Rodriguez, said, “The initiative was initially scheduled for last month. The plan was postponed due to the ongoing vaccination drive in the country. Some members were also worried about the spike in new cases.

    “We practiced social distancing and took the antigen rapid test (ART) provided by the hospital before making the donation,” he added.

    Thirty-eight of the group’s 42 donors donated blood, with the others unable to do so due to
    health issues.

    Filipino community members donate blood. PHOTO: LYNA MOHAMAD

    Zimbabwe opt to bat against Sri Lanka in first ODI

    KANDY, SRI LANKA (AFP) – Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine won the toss and elected to bat in their opening one-day international against Sri Lanka yesterday.

    Debutant Takudzwanashe Kaitano has been added to the Zimbabwe team and Ervine said he wanted to take advantage of what looked like decent batting conditions.

    “Wicket looks really good for batting, and we think we want to try and make best use of that and get through that initial new ball spell,” Ervine said at the toss.

    “It took us one or two days to get used to the heat and humidity, but we’re happy with our preparations.”

    Sri Lanka, led by Dasun Shanaka, have handed fast bowler Chamika Gunasekara his international debut.

    “We would have batted first as well. We had a good preparation over the last week, and in the LPL (Lanka Premier League),” said Shanaka.

    “There are five changes from the last time we played an ODI with Chamika Gunasekera debuting today.”

    The three-match series offers crucial Super League points needed for an automatic qualification for the 2023 50-over World Cup.

    The top eight teams will get a direct entry into the tournament.

    Sri Lanka is currently placed seventh while Zimbabwe is bottom in 13th spot.

    Zimbabwe’s Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Regis Chakabva run between the wickets during a match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. PHOTO: AFP

    Tonga volcanic eruption caused significant damage

    WELLINGTON (AFP) – A massive volcanic eruption in Tonga that triggered tsunami waves around the Pacific caused “significant damage” to the island nation’s capital and smothered it in dust, but the full extent was not apparent with communications still cut off yesterday.

    The eruption on Saturday was so powerful it was recorded around the world, triggering a tsunami that flooded Pacific coastlines from Japan to the United States (US).

    The capital Nuku’alofa suffered “significant” damage, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, adding there had been no reports of injury or death but a full assessment was not yet possible with communication lines down.

    “The tsunami has had a significant impact on the foreshore on the northern side of Nuku’alofa with boats and large boulders washed ashore,” Ardern said after contact with the New Zealand embassy in Tonga.

    “Nuku’alofa is covered in a thick film of volcanic dust but otherwise conditions are calm and stable.”

    Tonga was in need of water supplies, she said: “The ash cloud has caused contamination.”

    There has been no word on damage in the outer islands and New Zealand will send an air force reconnaissance aircraft “as soon as atmospheric conditions allow”, the country’s Defence Force tweeted.

    “We’re working hard to see how we can assist our Pacific neighbours after the volcanic eruption near Tonga.”

    Tonga has also accepted Canberra’s offer to send a surveillance flight, Australia’s foreign office said, adding it is also immediately prepared to supply “critical humanitarian supplies”.

    The US was “deeply concerned for the people of Tonga”, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, pledging support for the island nation.

    A 1.2-metre wave swept ashore in the Tongan capital with residents reporting they had fled to higher ground, leaving behind flooded houses, some with structural damage, as small stones and ash fell from the sky.

    “It was massive, the ground shook, our house was shaking. It came in waves. My younger brother thought bombs were exploding nearby,” resident Mere Taufa told the Stuff news website on Saturday.

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    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.

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