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Jazz pull away in 4th quarter, beat Timberwolves 120-108

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Donovan Mitchell scored a season-high 39 points and the Utah Jazz beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-108 on Friday night.

Mitchell added six rebounds and five assists in his return from a two-game absence due to a back strain. With both Mike Conley and Joe Ingles sidelined, he handled point guard duties in his first game back and shot 57 per cent from the field, including six of 11 from 3-point range.

Bojan Bogdanovic added 24 points and 12 rebounds, Jordan Clarkson chipped in 20 points and Rudy Gobert added 14 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks.

Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards scored 26 points in his return after a six-game absence due to health and safety protocols. Malik Beasley added 22 points for the Timberwolves.

Minnesota was short-handed offensively with both Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell still sidelined due to health and safety protocols.

After Patrick Beverley hit a go-ahead 3-pointer a minute into the fourth quarter, the Jazz scored 22 unanswered points to pull away from the Timberwolves. Mitchell ignited the run with back-to-back baskets and scored 12 points during the outburst. Gobert and Mitchell finished it off with back-to-back baskets that gave Utah a 113-92 lead with 5:51 left.

Utah built a 13-point halftime lead, going up 63-50, by knocking down 3-pointers and repeatedly getting to the free throw line.

The Jazz made seven outside baskets – with four coming from Mitchell – and shot 54 per cent from the perimeter before halftime. Utah also shot 22 of 26 on free throws in the first half. Bogdanovic and Gobert each had eight free throw attempts, equaling Minnesota’s total free throw attempts in the first two quarters.

Minnesota rallied in the third quarter and erased Utah’s lead. Jaden McDaniels capped a 12-2 run with a go-ahead jumper that gave the Timberwolves a 79-78 edge. Edwards and Naz Reid each scored a pair of baskets to fuel the spurt.

Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic loses control of the ball. PHOTO: AP

Filipino community remembers national hero

The Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam, together with Filipino community representatives, paid tribute to Philippine national hero Dr Jose Rizal at the embassy grounds in the Diplomatic Enclave on Thursday to commemorate the 125th anniversary of his martyrdom.

Philippine Chargé d’Affaires Pete Raymond V Delfin led the flag-hoisting and wreath-laying ceremonies, followed by a brief programme.

Newly-appointed Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Marian Jocelyn R Tirol-Ignacio, who arrived in the Sultanate the previous day and underwent quarantine procedures, delivered a virtual message in her first official event with the Filipino community.

Themed ‘Rizal: For Science, Truth and Life’, the Philippine ambassador underscored the relevance of Dr Rizal’s life and example today, and cited his steadfast sense of purpose and patriotism as a vital guidepost for the present generation in confronting the challenges brought forth by the pandemic.

The event concluded with a screening and brief discussion of Rizal’s Pen, a short film about a young man discovering the relevance of Jose Rizal’s writings to present-day Philippine realities, followed by a fellowship breakfast among embassy personnel and Filipino community members.

Staff of the Philippines Embassy in Brunei Darussalam and the Filipino community representatives paying tribute. PHOTOS: PHILIPPINE EMBASSY
Philippine Chargé d’Affaires Pete Raymond V Delfin leading the wreath-laying rites

Heavy rains in northern Tanzania leave one dead, 100 homeless

DAR ES SALAAM (XINHUA) – Heavy downpour and strong winds have demolished more than 20 houses leaving one person dead and some 100 others homeless in Tanzania’s northern district of Handeni in Tanga region, an official said on Friday.

The rains and strong winds that hit Kwamatuku village on Thursday also destroyed infrastructure, including electric cables and roads, said Handeni District Administrative Secretary Mashaka Mgeta.

Mgeta said a girl, who was selected to join secondary education in January 2022, was swept away as she tried to cross over a flooded ravine on her way back from her family’s farm.

Mgeta, who visited victims of the torrential rains, said the government is assessing the loss caused by the rains before it provides relief supplies to those in dire need. He said the government is also working hard to restore the damaged infrastructure.

People crossing a river between Pangani and Tanga town with the help of a rope in Tanzania. PHOTO: XINHUA

Johor latest Malaysian state to be hit by floods

KUALA LUMPUR (CNA) – Johor became the latest Malaysian state to be hit by floods, with the number of evacuees rising steadily yesterday.

Over than 1,000 people have been evacuated as of 4pm. Nearly 20 relief centres have been set up in two districts – Segamat and Tangkat – after a continuous downpour since Friday night.

Besides Johor, the number of residents evacuating from floods in Pahang, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan also continued to rise yesterday as the four states brace for more heavy rain.

An orange alert has been issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department, forecasting rain in those states until tomorrow.

Three rivers in Johor – Sungai Segamat, Sungai Muar and Sungai Tangkak – have already exceeded dangerous levels, according to State Health and Environment Committee Chairman R Vidyananthan.

A man salvages items from his house after it was submerged in floodwaters in Shah Alam, Selangor. PHOTO: AFP

The waters in another three rivers in Pahang and two in Negeri Sembilan have also risen to dangerous levels, according to the Drainage and Irrigation Department’s InfoBanjir portal.

Floods in Malaysia have displaced tens of thousands of people since December 17 after unusually heavy rainfall caused flooding in several states.

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said yesterday authorities are focussing on seeking comprehensive long-term solutions to the flood problem.

This will be the main agenda of the National Disaster Management Committee once the post-flood operations are completed, he said. The work is expected to involve state governments, government ministries and agencies, as well as experts in related fields.

“We will seek out and discuss whatever modules that are suitable to resolve this problem, and if it cannot be implemented simultaneously throughout the country, focus will be given to districts or areas at high risk of flooding,” said Ismail Sabri after presenting aid under a flood relief programme in Pahang. “A long-term plan involves huge costs but it helps to reduce the costs incurred by the government each time it floods. So far, we have spent RM1.4 billion (USD335 million) on aid alone and this amount is expected to increase because we have not yet received the full report on damage,” he said.

Ismail Sabri said the plan for long-term solutions was discussed during the time of the Barisan Nasional government, but it was not continued.

Potential measures include more flood mitigation projects, deepening rivers and other waterways such as in Kedah and building projects like Kuala Lumpur’s SMART Tunnel for flood management in high-risk urban areas such as Shah Alam in Selangor, he said.

“For low-lying areas that are prone to flooding, we can revisit the flood resettlement programme implemented in the 1970s. This calls for discussions with state governments to identify suitable high grounds and the federal government can help in terms of allocations,” said Ismail Sabri.

The prime minister said solutions adopted by other countries could also be considered if suitable for Malaysia, including the “sponge city” concept used in China to help slow the flow of floodwaters or the river dikes of the Netherlands.

Indonesia bans coal exports over domestic supply worries

JAKARTA (AFP) – Indonesia, the world’s biggest exporter of coal used in electricity generation, yesterday said it has banned January exports of the fuel in a move aimed at safeguarding its domestic power supply.

Rising demand for electricity in the country risks widespread blackouts unless more supplies are diverted to power stations, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said in a statement.

Indonesia exports the majority of its coal but mandates that producers must set aside minimum amounts to supply the nation’s power plants.

The decision comes against a backdrop of surging demand, as post-pandemic economic growth across the world drives electricity needs that cannot be met from less-polluting alternatives.

The International Energy Agency last month said global demand for coal, the world’s biggest source of greenhouse gases, hit a record in 2021 and would be sustained into 2022, threatening plans set out at last year’s COP26 climate change conference to cut emissions.

Last January, Indonesia exported almost 30 million tonnes of coal, according to the Central Statistics Bureau.

The export ban was imposed after coal miners failed to meet the so-called Domestic Market Obligation (DMO), under which they are obliged to supply at least 25 percent of a mine’s approved production plan at a maximum sales price of USD70 per metric tonne – less than half the global benchmark price.

The temporary export ban would prevent almost 20 power plants providing a total of 10.9 gigawatts of power from shutting down, a senior official at the ministry, Ridwan Jamaludin, said in a statement yesterday.

The government would re-evaluate the policy after January 5, he said.

“We can’t let the companies’ disobedience to comply with the DMO disrupt the investment climate and the national economy,” he said.

Indonesia has pledged to stop building new coal-fired power plants from 2023 and to be carbon neutral by 2060.

Coal being unloaded from a barge at the Suralaya coal power plant in Indonesia. PHOTO: AFP

Special new year meal for staff

Lyna Mohamad

Mulia Hotel treated its employees to specially prepared meals and drinks to welcome the new year during an event at the hotel’s Goldiana Café on Friday.

They also brought home a box of chocolate each.

The treats served to appreciate the employees’ hard work throughout 2021, particularly during the outbreak.

The event was held in full adherence to the Ministry of Health’s standard operating procedures.

PHOTO: LYNA MOHAMAD

Singapore to ease COVID-19 measures for non-VTL travellers

SINGAPORE (CNA) – Singapore will ease COVID-19 measures for travellers outside the vaccinated travel lane (VTL) arrangement, the Singapore Ministry of Health (MoH) announced on Friday.

From 11.59pm on January 7, 2022, non-VTL travellers from category 2 to 4 countries will no longer need to take on-arrival COVID-19 tests.

Travellers from category 2 and 3 countries are required to serve stay-home notice for seven and 10 days respectively.

Those from category 4 countries need to serve 10 days at a dedicated facility.

The earlier requirement for on-arrival tests “was to pick up the Omicron cases early, as the variant was new, and we wanted to learn more about it”, said MoH in a press release.

Travellers queuing for PCR tests at Changi Airport, Singapore. PHOTO: CNA

“As we have gathered more information on the Omicron variant, we have further assessed that OATs (on-arrival tests) for non-VTL travellers… are no longer required,” it added.

They will have to test negative on a PCR test at the end of their notice period, “further reducing the risk of onward transmission”, said the ministry.

Travellers from Hong Kong, Macao and China – places under category 1 – who are not required to serve stay-home notice will still need to take a PCR test on arrival.

VTL travellers will continue to be required to take COVID-19 tests up till day seven of their arrival. This enhanced measure will be extended by four weeks from its initial cut-off date of January 2 until January 30.

As of Thursday, Singapore has detected 912 imported Omicron cases, 685 of whom were detected through the enhanced testing regime for VTL travellers.

“The enhancement has proven effective in detecting imported Omicron cases amongst VTL travellers and reducing onward transmission,” said MoH.

“As the global situation evolves, we will continue to adjust our border measures in tandem with our roadmap to becoming a COVID resilient nation,” it added.

Airstrike kills 12 troops by mistake

SANAA, YEMEN (AP) – An airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition has mistakenly hit a camp of allied Yemeni pro-government forces, killing at least 12 troops, Yemeni military officials said on Friday.

The strike, which took place on Thursday in the province of Shabwa, also wounded at least eight Yemeni troops, the officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media.

There was no immediate comment from the coalition, an ally of the forces of Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki did not respond to numerous calls and messages from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Yemen has been torn by civil war since 2014, when Iran-backed Houthi rebels overran the capital of Sanaa and much of the country’s north. In 2015, the coalition intervened to halt the rebels and restore the internationally recognised government to power. However, the war has slogged on for years and created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

At the scene of the strike, several bodies were burned and three military vehicles, some of which carried automatic rifles, were destroyed, said two local residents who asked not to be identified by name, fearing reprisal.

Friendly fire incidents where Saudi-led coalition airstrikes have hit allied ground forces have happened on occasion during Yemen’s conflict.

In the past months, fighting has escalated between the Houthis and Yemeni government forces around the central city of Marib and the coastal city of Hodeida.

The coalition has also increased its airstrikes on Sanaa and other rebel-held areas in Yemen in recent weeks.

Yemeni troops taking positions at the frontline in the southeastern province of Shabwa, Yemen. PHOTO: AP

Gilgeous-Alexander scores 23, Thunder beat Knicks 95-80

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned from a one-game absence to score 23 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat a depleted New York Knicks team 95-80 on Friday night.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA Western Conference Player of the Week, sat out Wednesday’s loss at Phoenix with ankle soreness, but played a team-high 34 minutes. Aaron Wiggins scored 13 and Ty Jerome had 11 points.

The Thunder came into the game giving up 108.2 points per game. The Knicks’ total was the lowest for an Oklahoma City opponent all season.

Gilgeous-Alexander credited the team’s mindset in posting their best defensive performance of the year.

“Every night we try to make the paint difficult for teams,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We know that’s where the best shots are generated. I think that was the main focus tonight. And we executed it.”

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots between New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin (1) and guard Miles McBride (2). PHOTO: AP

RJ Barrett had 26 points and Immanuel Quickley scored 11 for the Knicks, who were without Julius Randle and Kemba Walker.

It was a special night for Thunder assistant coach Mike Wilks, who took over this week for coach Mark Daigneault, who is in the NBA’s health and safety protocol. Wilks got his first win and after the game, Thunder players showered him with water and awarded him with the game ball.

Wilks said it was certainly memorable to get the victory on New Year’s Eve.

“Everybody in the organisation contributed to this,” Wilks said. “Our coaching staff did a phenomenal job. And the players came out and played the right way. So glad we came out on top tonight.”

The Knicks led by as many as nine in the first quarter behind quick starts from Mitchell Robinson and Evan Fournier. But Jerome made a 3-pointer in the final minute of the first quarter to give Oklahoma City its first lead, 23-20, and never trailed the rest of the way.

Jerome opened the second quarter with another 3-point basket, then fed Theo Maledon for another 3 to complete a 9-0 run.

Oklahoma City went up by 10 in the second quarter, but Barrett completed a drive just before halftime to make it 51-49 in favor of the Thunder.

New York scored six straight to open the fourth quarter to cut the Thunder lead to 74-71, but Oklahoma City responded with a 7-0 run to push the lead back to double digits.

Vietnam jails fifth activist for social media posts

HANOI (AFP) – A court in Vietnam on Friday handed a five year jail term to an activist for social media posts criticising the government.

Former middle school teacher Le Trong Hung is the fifth activist to be imprisoned in the last two weeks by the communist state, which tolerates virtually no opposition to its rule.

The 41-year-old campaigned as an independent for the country’s national assembly election in May, but was rejected as a candidate by the authorities.

He was arrested in March and tried on Friday for “making, storing, distributing or propagating information and documents aimed at opposing the socialist republic of Vietnam”.

According to lawyer Ha Huy Son, Hung was given a five-year jail term and a five-year probation order at a trial in Hanoi lasting just half a day.

Past state media reports said Hung had used social media to “publish writing or livestream the distortion and disparagement of the government”. Human Rights Watch called on Vietnam to release Hung “immediately and unconditionally”.

“Imprisoning activists like Le Trong Hung who dare to run as independent candidates for Parliament shows what a charade Vietnam’s elections are,” the organisation’s Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson said in a statement.

Vietnam’s hardline administration often moves swiftly to stifle dissent, jailing activists, journalists and any critic with a large audience on Facebook.

Vietnamese activist Nguyen Van Tuc was sentenced to 13 years’ jail for “attempting to overthrow the state”, just days after six of his colleagues were also handed heavy jail terms. PHOTO: AFP
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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.

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

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