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New York Times buys The Athletic for USD550M

AP – The New York Times Co is buying sports news site The Athletic for USD550 million, the latest move in its strategy to expand its audience of paying subscribers as the newspaper print ads business fades.

The Times, unlike many local news outlets, has thrived in the past several years. It gained millions of subscribers during the Trump presidency and the pandemic, keeping it on track for its previously stated goal of 10 million by 2025.

As of the most recent quarter, The Times had nearly 8.4 million. It has been diversifying its coverage with lifestyle advice, games and recipes, helping it counter a pullback from the politics-driven news traffic boom of 2020.

“We are now in pursuit of a goal meaningfully larger than 10 million subscriptions and believe The Athletic will enable us to expand our addressable market of potential subscribers,” said New York Times Co CEO Meredith Kopit Levien in a news release on Thursday.

It’s one of The Times’ largest-ever acquisitions. The company spent USD1.1 billion on the Boston Globe in 1993 and USD410 million for About.com in 2005, both of which it later sold for less.

Digital media outlets have been consolidating recently to help them compete for online ad revenue with tech giants like Google and Facebook. German media conglomerate Axel Springer bought Politico; Vox Media is buying Group Nine Media, owner of Thrillist and animals site The Dodo; BuzzFeed bought HuffPost.

San Francisco-based The Athletic covers national and local sports – more than 200 teams, according to The Times. It was founded in 2016 and has 1.2 million subscribers. Its website says it has over 400 editorial employees, making it a major acquisition for The Times, which has more than 2,000 editorial employees.

A sign for The New York Times hangs at the entrance to its building. PHOTO: AP

Belgium cocaine haul jumps in key port

ANTWERP, BELGIUM (AFP) – The amount of cocaine seized in Europe’s key port of Antwerp jumped more than 36 per cent to a record of nearly 90 tonnes last year, Belgian officials said yesterday.

The amount “is, of course, frightening, a little bit”, Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem told AFP in the port after presenting the figures.

He put the sharp rise down to “an international increase in the drugs traffic” and information from Operation Sky – a vast, Belgian-led law enforcement operation carried out last year based on wiretaps of drug traffickers who thought they were using secure communications.

Belgium’s customs service said 65.5 tonnes of cocaine had been seized in 2020 compared with 89.5 tonnes last year.

Belgium is now the main point of entry for cocaine into Europe, ahead of Spain and the Netherlands, Customs Service Chief Kristian Vanderwaeren said.

The top three source countries were Panama, Ecuador and Paraguay, he said.

Officers also seized 11.71 tonnes of hashish and 1.35 tonnes of heroin last year, Vanderwaeren added.

“What worries us the most is the heroin… which comes from Pakistan and especially Afghanistan with the Taleban,” he said.

The officials stressed that scrutiny of the port was being stepped up to detect the drugs being smuggled in inside containers. A specialised detection team has been set up, the number of drug-sniffing dogs increased and five giant X-ray scanners been brought in to screen containers.

Shipping containers are offloaded in the Port of Antwerp, Belgium. PHOTO: AP

Samsung Electronics forecasts 52.5pc jump in Q4 profits on record sales

SEOUL (AFP) – Samsung Electronics expects operating profits for the fourth quarter to soar 52.5 per cent, the South Korean tech giant said in a statement yesterday, spurred by record sales.

The world’s biggest smartphone maker forecast 2021 fourth-quarter operating profits at around KRW13.8 trillion (USD11.5 billion), up from KRW9.05 trillion in the same quarter last year.

The firm was boosted by record sales in the quarter, estimated at KRW76 trillion, up 23.5 per cent on-year, according to the statement, which added that the forecast reflected a one-time bonus payment to employees.

A spokeswoman told AFP annual sales in 2021 were also expected to be the highest ever.
The operating profit estimate was below analysts’ estimate of KRW15.2 trillion, according to Bloomberg News.

“A continued price growth in memory chips that ran three consecutive quarters until October last year has boosted Samsung’s profit margins,” said Park Sung-soon, an analyst at Cape Investment & Securities.

“The most significant source of income for Samsung lies in the memory chip business.”

Samsung Electronics did not provide details yesterday on the performance of its various divisions. The firm is expected to release its full results on January 27.

Samsung’s flagship mobile phone store on Nanjing Road pedestrian Street in Shanghai, China. PHOTO: AFP

Analysts and investors are also keeping an eye on the impact of the citywide Covid lockdown in Xi’an, China, which is home to a Samsung semiconductor plant.

Samsung said last week that it had to “temporarily adjust operations” at the Xi’an facilities, without detailing how that would impact production.

While the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on the world economy, it has helped many tech companies boom.

Pandemic-driven working from home has boosted demand for devices powered by Samsung’s chips, as well as home appliances such as televisions and washing machines.

Analysts had also expected the firm to benefit from the traditionally lucrative holiday season.

The world’s biggest memory chip maker, Samsung Electronics has aggressively stepped up investment in its semiconductor business as the world battles chip shortages that have hit everything from cars and home appliances to smartphones and gaming consoles.

In November, it announced a new microchip factory in Texas, a USD17 billion investment. The plant is expected to be operational by the end of 2024.

It joined rivals TSMC and US firm Intel in expanding chip manufacturing capacity in the United States, which sees the sector as an area of strategic competition with China.

The firm is also investing in the development of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and 5G/6G communications.

Samsung Electronics is the flagship subsidiary of the giant Samsung group, by far the largest of the family-controlled empires known as chaebols that dominate business in South Korea.

The conglomerate’s overall turnover is equivalent to around one-fifth of South Korea’s gross domestic product.

Paul, Suns beat Clippers to improve to NBA-best

AP – Chris Paul had a triple-double with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists to help the short-handed Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Clippers 106-89 on Thursday night.

The Suns became the first team in the NBA to win 30 games this season and moved a game ahead of Golden State for the best record in the NBA.

They’ve won three straight and four of five.

Cam Johnson added a career-high 24 points, and Jalen Smith – the second-year forward whose playing time has drastically increased recently because of the Suns’ COVID-19 issues – had another good game with 19 points and 14 rebounds.

The 36-year-old Paul had his 17th career triple double. The 13 rebounds were a career high in his 1,128th regular-season NBA game.

Devin Booker shot just five of 22 from the field and finished with 11 points. He was 0 of 7 on three-pointers.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker shoots. PHOTO: AP

Suns coach Monty Williams said centre Deandre Ayton, forward Jae Crowder and JaVale McGee have all cleared the league’s COVID-19 protocols, but were held out of the game as they work their way back into shape. Guard Landry Shamet is still in the protocol.

The Clippers dropped below .500 with the loss at 19-20 despite a season-high 26 points from former Suns forward Marcus Morris Sr Reggie Jackson added 16.

The Clippers were missing guards Luke Kennard and Xavier Moon, along with centre Ivica Zubac, because of COVID-19 protocols.

KNICKS 108, CELTICS 105

RJ Barrett banked in a three-pointer at the buzzer to lift New York past Boston.

Evan Fournier scored a career-high 41 points, and the Knicks overcame a 24-point, second-quarter deficit. The teams will finish the home-and-home set tonight in Boston.

Jayson Tatum scored 36 points for Boston. He tied it on a long step-back jumper with just over a second to play. The Knicks inbounded after a timeout, and Barrett banked in the long-distance shot for the victory.

Julius Randle added 22 points for New York, Immanuel Quickley had 16, and Barrett 13. The Knicks didn’t lead until there were just over two minutes left.

Dennis Schroder added 20 points for Boston, and Jaylen Brown had 16.

PELICANS 101, WARRIORS 96

Brandon Ingram broke out of a shooting slump with 32 points and New Orleans beat depleted Golden State to snap a three-game skid.

Golden State’s Stephen Curry was ruled out after hurting his left quad during a loss a night earlier in Dallas. Draymond Green was out with a sore hip.

Andrew Wiggins scored 21 points for Golden State.

GRIZZLIES 118, PISTONS 88

Ja Morant had 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists and Memphis built an early lead and coasted past Detroit for its seventh straight victory.

Dillon Brooks finished with 18 points, and Tyus Jones and rookie Ziaire Williams added 14 points apiece for Memphis, a season high for Williams.

Saben Lee led the Pistons with 14 points.

Yayasan hands over financial assistance

Rokiah Mahmud

Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (Yayasan) handed over financial assistance amounting to BND39,700 to several recipients in a ceremony held at Yayasan Headquarters in Jalan Menteri Besar yesterday.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin as member of Board of Directors for Yayasan and Chairman of the Yayasan Assistance Review Committee presented the donations.

Yayasan contributed financial assistance of BND15,000 to Brunei History Association (PESEBAR) to publish Buku Kesultanan Brunei: Dari Pelbagai Perspektif. PESEBAR President Dr Muhammad Hadi bin Muhammad Melayong received the donation.

Youth Da’ie Volunteer Body under the Youth Religious Programme Secretariat of the Islamic Da’wah Centre received BND14,700 to help fund the Da’ie Empowerment Programme. Youth Da’ie Deputy Chairperson Siti Hurul-Ain Diyana binti Haji Abdul Majid @ Vienna received the contribution.

Yayasan also contributed financial assistance of BND10,000 to two families whose house collapsed at Kampong Pandai Besi ‘A’ on December 25 last year.

ABOVE & BELOW: Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin presents contributions to Brunei History Centre President Dr Muhammad Hadi bin Muhammad Melayong; and Youth Da’ie Deputy Chairperson Siti Hurul-Ain Diyana binti Haji Abdul Majid @ Vienna. PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR

ABOVE & BELOW: Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports presents donations to representatives of two families

Five-year-old might have started deadly Philly blaze

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Investigators are looking into whether a five-year-old who was playing with a lighter set a tree on fire, sparking a conflagration that killed 12 family members in a Philadelphia rowhome, officials revealed on Thursday.

That disclosure was included in a search warrant application as city and federal investigators sought to determine the cause of the blaze, the city’s deadliest in more than a century, which took the lives of three sisters and several of their children early Wednesday.

Spokesperson for District Attorney Larry Krasner Jane Roh confirmed the contents of the search warrant, which was first reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Fire officials provided few details at an afternoon news briefing, declining to say how many people escaped the blaze or speculate on a possible cause, adding the fire scene was complex. Officials also did not say where the fire began, calling it part of the investigation.

“I know that we will hopefully be able to provide a specific origin and cause to this fire and to provide some answers to the loved ones and, really, to the city,” said Matthew Varisco, who leads the Philadelphia branch of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Family members gather by the Bache-Martin School for a vigil to honour the victims of a rowhouse fire in Philadelphia. PHOTO: AP

ATF specialists and other investigators took photos and combed through the charred, three-storey brick duplex owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority, the city’s public housing agency and the state’s biggest landlord.

In a statement at a Thursday night vigil, relatives said the matriarch of their family had lost three daughters and nine grandchildren in the blaze. The daughters were identified as Rosalee McDonald, Virginia Thomas and Quinsha White.

There were two survivors, the family said. Temple University Hospital said one was in
stable condition.

Healthy, comforting and easy to make

Ellie Krieger

THE WASHINGTON POST – this recipe checks all the boxes for the kind of food I want to usher me into the new year. It’s healthful and comforting (yes, it’s possible to have both!) and it’s convenient – easy to pull together, make ahead and reheat.

It’s a better-for-you spin on a familiar favourite, baked ziti, made with whole-grain pasta (although regular pasta would be fine if you prefer it), packed with vegetables – sautéed mushrooms, broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes – and made cheesy and creamy with a more healthful than usual balance of part-skim ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan.

Baked until bubbly inside and melty and golden on top, it’s the kind of dish that’s like a cozy spot in the sun on a cold day.

This recipe makes eight to 10 servings, so it is an easy cook-once-eat-twice situation for most families.

When I’m just cooking for my husband and myself, rather than baking it all at once in a nine-by-13-inch pan, I divide the batch into two eight-by-eight-inch baking dishes and place one, tightly covered, in the freezer to double the dinner-at-the-ready payoff.

It’s an easy win to start 2022.

Three Cheese Pasta and Vegetable Bake. PHOTO: THE WASHINGTON POST

THREE CHEESE PASTA AND VEGETABLE BAKE

Active time: 35 mins | Total time: 1 hour 15 mins
8-10 servings

Storage Notes: Refrigerate for up to four days, or cover tightly and freeze for up to three months.

INGREDIENTS
– One pound whole grain or regular penne pasta, or other tube shaped pasta
– Two tablespoons olive oil, plus more for brushing the pan
– One pound baby bella (cremini) mushrooms, sliced
– Six cloves garlic, thinly sliced
– One bag frozen broccoli, defrosted (may substitute with five cups blanched fresh chopped broccoli)
– Seven sun-dried tomatoes, soaked in hot water for 10 minutes, drained and thinly sliced (about 1/3 cup)
– One teaspoon dried basil
– 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
– 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
– 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
– One container part-skim ricotta cheese
– Four cups marinara sauce
– One cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
– 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
– Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for serving (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook for two minutes less than suggested in the package directions. Drain and return the pasta to the pot.

Meanwhile, position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees. Brush a nine-by-13-inch ovenproof dish with oil.

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil until shimmering.

Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until their liquid evaporates and they begin to brown, about eight minutes.

Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until aromatic, two minutes more.
Add the broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt and pepper and stir to combine.

Add the vegetables to the drained pasta in the pot, along with the ricotta and marinara, and stir to combine well.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish and evenly spread it out.

Sprinkle the top with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, and cover the dish loosely with foil.

Bake for 15 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted.

Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Economic reality casts uncertain future for Chinese SL

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AP) – The news last February that defending Chinese Super League (SL) champion Jiangsu FC was ceasing operations set the tone for a depressing year for football in the world’s most populous country.

It wasn’t a memorable campaign as China Daily, an English-language publication wrote on December 29.

“Shandong Taishan savoured winning its fifth Chinese Super League title over the weekend, however the news barely caused a stir on social media amid dwindling interest in the financially stricken domestic game,” the paper explained.

The spending spree on famous foreign stars that started in 2011 and reached a peak of over USD400 million in the winter of 2016-17 when Chinese Super League clubs collectively spent more than any other in the world, has well and truly ended.

Instead of South American and European internationals, clubs are left with debts and uncertain futures.

Brazilian striker Alex Teixeira poses for photos upon his arrival in China in 2016. PHOTO: AP

On February 28, retail giant Suning, which also owns a majority stake in Inter Milan, pulled the plug just three months after Jiangsu won its first championship.

“Even though we are reluctant to part with the players who have won us the highest honours, and fans who have shared solidarity with the club, we have to regretfully make an announcement,” a Jiangsu FC statement said.

“From today, Jiangsu Football Club ceases the operation of its teams.”

Most of the 16 teams in China’s top tiers are backed financially by property developers meaning that the downturn in China’s real estate market has had on-field consequences.The biggest company involved in football is Evergrande which took over Guangzhou in February 2010.

Significant investment in the team saw it win eight Chinese and two Asian championships by the end of the decade. In June however, Evergrande announced debts of over USD300 billion.

The team subsequently lost its star players as well as coach Fabio Cannavaro. According to reports, the company is considering selling its club.

In October Hebei FC, owned by China Fortune Land Development, revealed it was struggling. “Since 2020, Hebei FC has run into unprecedented difficulties,” the club said. “It is true that the club cannot pay water and electricity bills and travel expenses.”

The global pandemic has made the situation worse and not just because it has hit the bottom line of owners. In 2020, games were played in empty stadiums and while a limited number of fans were allowed at various points of the 2021 season, all games took place in either Guangzhou or Suzhou, reducing the revenue of clubs with sponsors and broadcasters also looking to reduce their investments.

The decision to suspend the league season from August to December to help the national team in qualification for the 2022 World Cup pushed the league further to the margins.

It was also ineffective as the local league will not receive a boost from China reaching its first World Cup since its 2002 debut.

The team has won just one out of six qualifiers so far and in November coach Li Tie left his position.

Amid all the gloom, it was perhaps fitting that Shandong Taishan, the last champion before the spending took off, has returned to the top now it has stopped.

Hong Kong orders about 170 party-goers to quarantine

HONG KONG (AP) – Hong Kong authorities ordered about 170 people, including several officials, to be quarantined at a government facility yesterday after they attended a birthday party where two guests later tested positive for the coronavirus.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam expressed disappointment on Thursday that government officials had attended the large party during the Omicron outbreak, saying it did not set a good example for the public.

Fears of a new virus cluster were sparked when the two guests tested positive.

Yesterday, health authorities said all guests at the January 3 party would be classified as close contacts and be sent to mandatory quarantine.

The city has been racing to control the Omicron variant, with authorities locking down multiple residential buildings for mass testing and sending hundreds of people into quarantine.

About 170 guests attended the birthday party, including about nine government officials and nearly 20 lawmakers.

“We now think that every person who had gone to the party is now a close contact.

“Therefore, our quarantine work is specifically aimed at the people who have attended the party,” said head of the communicable disease branch at the Center for Health Protection Chuang Shuk-kwan.

Orphans, underprivileged students receive donation

Lyna Mohamad

The Women’s Bureau and Economic Bureau of Panchor Mentiri Village Consultative Council (MPK) held a donation presentation ceremony yesterday.

The donations for orphans and underprivileged students was held at the residence of MPK Kampong Panchor Mentiri Deputy Chairperson Haji Mohd Eddie Hardey bin Haji Ibrahim.

RPN Kampong Panchor Mentiri Acting Village Head Helmi bin Haji Ahmad, the guest of honour, also presented the donations.

The event began with a recitation of Doa Selamat followed by the presentation of donations.

RPN Kampong Panchor Mentiri Acting Village Head Helmi bin Haji Ahmad presents a donation. PHOTO: LYNA MOHAMAD
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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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