Latest news with #Gems
The Australian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Aussie teen stars push USA to limit in U19 World Cup basketball final
Hours after the World No.2 ranked Opals franked their Paris Olympic bronze medal with a historic first Asia Cup gold, Australia's next-gen stars were busy putting a scare up Team USA. Twelve teens — one just 16 — combined to push the mighty USA, winners of 10 of 15 U19 Women's World Cup gold medals, including the past three, to an 88-76 result. The 12-point margin was in no way indicative of the tightness of the clash. The Aussies were within 2 points at quarter time, fell behind by 10 at the long break and then reeled it back to just 4 on tournament All-Star Five Gem Bonnie Deas' trey with nine to go in the last. The four premier players at the FIBA U19 Women's World Cup in 2025, featuring Australian Bonnie Deas. Picture: FIBA From there, the USA had just enough physical supremacy to hold the plucky Australians off. But even tournament MVP Saniyah Hall and fellow All-Star Five member Sienna Betts felt it was a great escape. 'I was so scared,' one was heard to say on the mic, post-game. 'They made every three,' another said, before the FIBA live feed was cut and set to private. The Gems continued to spread the load as they've done throughout the tournament, with five players in double figures and nine of the 10 players to take the floor scoring. Led by the elite Deas' 13, 11 points and 7 boards from Monique Bobongie and 11 and 5 assists out of Sienna Harvey, the Gems kept on keeping on. The Gems celebrate their silver medal at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup. Picture: FIBA But they just lacked an explosive scorer who could truly get theirs when they needed to — unlike the Americans. Hall plundered the Aussies for 25 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists, underlining why she is ESPN's top-rated college prospect for the class of 2026, while long and lean Jasmine Davidson provided the perfect foil, punching in 21 points to go with 6 rebounds and 3 dimes. The Aussie girls will be super proud to collect silver, particularly after their predecessors, in 2023, failed to make it out of the round of 16, giving rise to new hope the gap continues to close in women's basketball. Team America's dominant Saniyah Hall, who won the FIBA U19 Women's World Cup tournament MVP award. Picture: FIBA THE 12 AUSSIE TEENS WHO GAVE TEAM USA AN ALMIGHTY SCARE 4 RUBY PERKINS dob: November 21, 2007 (17) State: New South Wales Height: 172cm Club/college: California Berkeley (NCAA) Australian Gem Ruby Perkins threads the needle with stunning dish against Team USA in the FIBA U19 Women's World Cup gold medal game. Picture: FIBA Low down: An elite scoring guard who has developed into a supreme floor general. The key cog in the Gems share-at-all-costs gamestyle who marshalls her teammates with military precision and finds them in perfect positions to maximise their skills. And, if that doesn't work, she'll take you to the cup or hit a three in your face. Battled against the length, athleticism and blitzing of Team USA in the final but the unflappable Perkins will take those learnings and make the necessary adjustments through her obsessive work ethic and drive to be the best. 5 SIENNA HARVEY dob: January 20, 2006 (19) State: Victoria Height: 174cm Club/college: Washington (NCAA) Australian Gem Sienna Harvey spots an opening during the gold medal clash with Team USA at the FIBA U19 Women's World Cup. Picture: FIBA Low down: If Deas is Victoria's 1a guard, then Harvey is 1b, the two southern state dynamos having enjoyed a running battle for supremacy throughout their development pathway. Harvey's trickery lies in her proficiency with both hands and off both feet. There's not much to scout for defenders when Harvey is equally adept at going left or right — and a devastating finisher with either hand. Spent the NBL1 South season with Melbourne Tigers and will begin the next step in her basketball journey in the US. 6 BONNIE DEAS dob: May 18, 2006 (19) State: Victoria Height: 178cm Club/college: Arkansas (NCAA) Bonnie Deas was the only Australian Gem named in the FIBA U19 Women's World Cup Tournament All-Star Five. Picture: FIBA Low down: Named in the U19 World Cup All-Star Five, Deas is the do-it-all leader of the Gems who might be the best rebounder at her size in her age group in the country. Spent last season as a development player under Guy Molloy at the Sydney Flames and is committed to Arkansas. Pound-for-pound, one of the toughest players in the country, the Frankston product is simply relentless. A future Opals captain in the making. 7 PRASAYUS NOTOA dob: August 20, 2007 (17) State: Queensland Height: 183cm Club/college: Logan (NBL1) Prasayus Notoa has emerged in the green and gold over the past 18 months. Picture: IBA Low down: Dominant at nationals level, always thereabouts with junior national teams, Notoa has displayed drastic improvement over the past 18 months. Is she a big rebounding forward? A playmaking tall point guard? A scoring combo guard? It doesn't really matter — she's a damn fine basketball player, tailor made for today's world of position-less hoops. Just give her the rock and let her cook. 8 ZARA RUSSELL dob: June 23, 2007 (18) Territory: Australian Capital Territory Height: 185cm Club/college: Centre of Excellence Zara Russell has been a long-time dependable performer for Australia at junior national level. Picture: FIBA Low down: A mainstay of the junior national team program, Russell's poise, leadership and powerful frame make her a blue chip Opals prospect of the future. Hard not to think of London Olympian and green and gold three-and-D mainstay Rachel Jarry when you watch the ACT product operate. Big, strong, uncompromising and positionally versatile. Coach's dream. 9 MONIQUE BOBONGIE dob: December 27, 2006 (18) State: Queensland Height: 178cm Experience: Club/college: Canberra Capitals (WNBL) Australian Gem Monique Bobongie spots up from deep during the FIBA U19 Women's World Cup gold medal decider. Picture: FIBA Low down: Queensland's back-to-back female athlete of the year in 2023 and 2024, Bobongie is an athlete with maturity well beyond her tender years. At just 17, the young Indigenous starlet carved out a starting role in the WNBL with Canberra last season and will soon jump into pre-season training with the Caps on her return from the Czech Republic. And she's won the admiration of Opals assistant Paul Goriss, who has ordained her a national team lock: 'I see her as being a future Opal and not that far in the future. She most definitely has the attributes. She can handle the ball, she shoots the ball really well and is a smart decision maker with her passing.' 10 EMILIJA DAKIC dob: February 6, 2007 (18) State: Victoria Height: 178cm Club/college: Florida (NCAA) Emilija Dakic has committed her basketball future to the US college system. Picture: FIBA Low down: Scoring point guard with great defensive instincts, Dakic can switch on talls and smalls and loves the physical challenge of trying to stop the big units. Heads to the mighty Gators this year as a graduate of the Centre of Excellence after spending time as a training player at WNBL club Southside. 11 MADISON RYAN dob: March 31, 2009 (16) State: Victoria Height: 185cm Club/college: Sandringham (NBL1) Victorian Madison Ryan, just 16, was the youngest member of the silver-medal winning Gems squad at the FIBA U19 Women's World Cup. Picture: FIBA Low down: The baby of the bunch who doesn't take a back seat. The rangy 16-year -old wing started the Gems' tournament opener and shredded Brazil for 22 points on a wildly efficient 9-11 shooting. The 4-6 from deep in that game is an indicator of the offensive weaponry at the Victorian's command. There will be no rest for Ryan, who will just about go straight into prep for September's FIBA U17 Asia Cup with the Sapphires — led by Tom Garlepp, husband of Gems' coach Renae. 12 SITAYA FAGAN dob: March 24, 2008 (17) State: Victoria Height: 189cm Club/college: Centre of Excellence Sitaya Fagan is arguably the most talented young prospect in the Australian basketball system. Picture: FIBA Low down: Highest-potential junior in the country who possesses remarkable physical gifts and a game that is quickly catching up. With the wingspan of an eagle and the speed of a cheetah, it's no wonder the 17-year-old has 18 of the best NCAA college programs fighting each other to secure a commitment from her. Fagan is an excitement machine with the tools to one day be the best basketballer in the country, period. 13 MANUELA PUOCH dob: October 5, 2006 (18) State: Victoria Height: 184cm Club/college: Southside Flyers (WNBL) Manuela Puoch is an imposing presence in the middle for the Australian Gems and WNBL club Southside. Picture: FIBA Low down: Little big sister of WNBA draftee Nyadiew Puoch, Manuela is sublimely skilled but still working on her motor and mobility. A powerhouse in the post who eats glass for a living and loves to stretch out to the three-point line where she has no fear launching. An exciting frontline prospect who is skilled beyond her 18 years and will only get better from here. 14 MONIQUE WILLIAMS dob: August 11, 2006 (18) State: Western Australia Height: 190cm Club/college: Vanderbilt (NCAA) Monique Williams combines and intriguing basketball skillset with a highly intelligent focus on study off the floor. Picture: FIBA Low down: WA's only Gems World Cup representative is a tower of strength who has fought back from a shocking Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear, aged just 14. Williams is developing into a stretch big, showing a penchant for a sweet mid-range jumpshot, along with a desire to mix it with the tall timber under the hoop. And her on-court talents are more-than matched by her off-court smarts, the disciplined student graduated with high honours and chose Vanderbilt as much for its basketball program as its academic pursuits. 15 CALLIE HINDER dob: August 16, 2007 (17) State: New South Wales Height: 198cm Club/college: Mountain West Premier (Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, USA) Young giant Caillie Hinder looms as a future force in the middle for the Australian Opals. Picture: FIBA Low down: Only recently bobbed up on Australian junior talent radars — owing to the fact she's lived in the USA most of her life as the daughter of former Boomer and Sydney King Russell Hinder, who packed his bags for the US following the end of his playing career. Still shy of her 18th birthday and already standing nearly 200cm, Hinder casts an imposing figure over Australian basketball. With multiple division I NCAA offers to choose from, the shot-blocking machine will hone her craft in the US college system. Michael Randall Basketball journalist Michael Randall is a basketball reporter for the Herald Sun and CODE Sports, covering the NBL, WNBL, NBA and Australian senior and junior international and representative teams. @MickRandallHS Michael Randall
Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
My favourite Switch 2 game is already AU$20.95 off on Amazon — get Donkey Kong Bananza for only AU$89
Recently, I wrote an article on the things I love about my Nintendo Switch 2, and I can now add Donkey Kong Bananza to that list. Apart from being the Switch 2's first major release post-launch, it's arguably the best reason to own the new console to date. Although the game shares some similarities to its development team's previous title, Super Mario Odyssey, Donkey Kong Bananza feels like an entirely fresh approach for Nintendo, thanks to its smashable environments and layered levels, as well as the dynamic movement of its title character. Best of all, Donkey Kong Bananza is just AU$109.95 AU$89 on Amazon right now, which is a solid saving of AU$20.95 on the RRP. Pretty good way to dodge Nintendo's next-gen price hike if you ask me... Donkey Kong Bananza is the first must-have title to release for Nintendo Switch 2 since Mario Kart World, boasting a vast subterranean world that's just waiting to be smashed to pieces. Join DK and Pauline on an epic adventure in search of Banandium Gems. Use DK's fists to smash through the terrain and Pauline's singing abilities to transform DK into various animal forms. Now only AU$109.95 AU$89 on Amazon. I've only played the game for a handful of hours so far, but I'm already hooked on its core mechanic of pummelling the environment to smithereens in search of precious Banandium Gems. In fact, I'm finding it hard to move forward in the game without smashing everything in sight — I may have a problem. But don't just take my word for it — in his Donkey Kong Bananza review, my colleague Anthony Spadafora praised the game's "destructible environments and unique visuals." He also described it as "the 3D Donkey Kong game fans of the character have always wanted", though he did note that there were "some camera issues" and "far too many Banandium Gems to collect in a single playthrough." Of course, those minor quibbles shouldn't stop you from playing one of the best Nintendo games in years — especially now that it's received a sweet 19% discount on Amazon, less than a fortnight after its release. Don't own the Nintendo Switch 2 yet? You can find today's best Switch 2 prices below.
Business Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
As plans to revitalise SGX spur liquidity, companies should prioritise shareholder value and accountability
THE national effort to revitalise the local market kicked into a higher gear last week, with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announcing the appointment of the first batch of fund managers under its S$5 billion Equity Market Development Programme (EQDP). MAS said on Monday (Jul 21) that it will place a combined initial sum of S$1.1 billion with Avanda Investment Management, Fullerton Fund Management, and JP Morgan Asset Management. Participants in the EQDP are expected to focus on the mid-cap and small-cap segment of the market, and pursue fund strategies that improve liquidity and broaden investor participation. The next phase of fund manager selection under the EQDP is expected to be announced by the fourth quarter of 2025. MAS also said last week that S$50 million has been set aside to enhance the Grant for Equity Market Singapore (Gems) scheme, to support new listings and strengthen the equities research ecosystem. In addition, MAS outlined plans to better enable investors to seek recourse if they suffer losses due to market misconduct. Not surprisingly, these moves reinforced the already bullish sentiment in the market. The Straits Times Index ended last week more than 1.7 per cent higher – led by DFI Retail Group, which climbed 13.1 per cent on news of a bumper dividend payout. Other big gainers included property counters such as CapitaLand Investment (up 3.3 per cent), City Developments (up 8.1 per cent) and UOL Group (up 2.8 per cent). BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up ST Engineering, the best-performing component of the STI so far this year, was up 5.6 per cent last week amid reports of continued contract wins. Among the banks, DBS was up 4.4 per cent while UOB rose 0.4 per cent. OCBC slipped nearly 0.9 per cent. There was also a surge of interest last week in non-STI stocks that analysts expect will be pursued by fund management firms that receive EQDP funds. For instance, Maybank's list of 'potential EQDP beneficiaries' included: AEM (up 11.7 per cent), ComfortDelGro (up 13.1 per cent), Food Empire (up 8.4 per cent), Frencken Group (up 15.2 per cent), iFast (up 5.1 per cent), Nanofilm Technologies (up 17.3 per cent), Sheng Siong (up 2.9 per cent), and UMS Integration (up 4.8 per cent). Given this positive reaction, it seems to me that the EQDP could be a potent driver of the Singapore market in the months ahead. In fact, if the funds under EQDP are made available to small investors, I might invest some of my own money in them. Prioritise shareholder value There are, of course, lots of reasons to worry that liquidity created by the EQDP in the smaller-cap segment of the market will ultimately prove to be fleeting. For one thing, some of the complementary supply-side initiatives to improve the vibrancy of the local market and draw more exciting listings are not new. The Gems scheme, for instance, was originally introduced in 2019 to defray the cost of seeking a local listing, and develop the equities research ecosystem. MAS said last week that the latest S$50 million being allocated to the programme will provide additional funding for research on listed companies, and help research houses reduce the cost of distributing their work through digital media. There will also be new funding support for research on private companies with a strong Singapore presence. The idea is to stoke investor interest in these companies, and build a pipeline of potential listings. Meanwhile, listing grants under Gems will be expanded to cover Singapore Depository Receipts (SDRs), and foreign Depository Receipts with underlying Singapore stocks. The overall funding for primary listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will also be increased, while a new funding sleeve will subsidise cross-listed and feeder ETFs. These moves are aimed at broadening the investor base for Singapore equities and spurring liquidity in the local market. But why were earlier rounds of subsidies for research and new listings not more successful? Why would it be different this time around? Was a big demand-side initiative such as the EQDP the only missing piece to the puzzle? My own view is that the EQDP has the potential to make a big difference in boosting overall liquidity in the Singapore market. In the end, however, this liquidity will flow towards opportunity. Back in February, as the STI began breaching new all-time highs for the first time in nearly 18 years, this column pointed out that the robust gains charted by the index since the end of 2023 were driven by a narrow group of companies – which had been actively unlocking value and strengthening their core businesses. The key to restoring the vibrancy of the Singapore market is for more companies to similarly prioritise shareholder value. Fund managers under the EQDP should use their influence as shareholders to ensure this happens at the companies in which they are invested – even if it means running up against the vested interests of their boards and controlling shareholders. Accessibility and accountability This brings me to the idea of enabling investors to seek recourse when they suffer losses due to market misconduct. MAS said it will consult later this year on proposals to enable investors to ride on a court action or civil penalty to seek compensation. MAS will also consult on proposals to allow for representatives – such as the Securities Investors Association (Singapore), or Sias – to organise and carry out legal action on behalf of investors. In addition, MAS will consult on setting up a grant scheme to defray the costs of organising investors and taking legal action for cases involving market misconduct. While the proposals MAS has in mind may address the 'friction' investors face in taking civil action against companies, I wonder if they will be all that helpful in practice. In the case of Noble Group, for instance, the authorities only commenced investigations in late 2018, more than three years after Iceberg Research began sounding the alarm about the company's financial statements. By the time MAS imposed a civil penalty of S$12.6 million on the group in 2022, most of its value had already been lost. Unless regulators can act more quickly when trouble emerges, investors may have little to gain by trying to ride along with them and may be better off quickly selling their shares instead of seeking recourse. As for representatives taking legal action on behalf of investors, Sias said last week that it 'stands ready to act' if appointed to assist with any litigation. However, it reiterated its long-held position that it is better to engage with companies in the boardroom rather than a courtroom. 'If this time-tested approach should fail, Sias will then seek mediation at the Singapore Mediation Centre,' it added. The way I see it, Sias should not be pushed to take on a role that does not align with its philosophy. It may be more efficient for MAS to create an entity for the specific purpose of taking legal action on behalf of investors when market misconduct occurs. The appropriate forum for investors to engage with listed companies on most matters, in my view, is neither the boardroom nor the courtroom but the public square. Besides enabling investors to seek recourse when companies stumble, perhaps MAS should also push the boards and management of untroubled companies to make themselves more accessible and accountable to investors. As the EQDP spurs liquidity, this could be an important aspect of forging lasting vibrancy in the Singapore market.
Business Times
21-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
MAS appoints first 3 asset managers to inject initial S$1.1 billion into Singapore equities
[SINGAPORE] Temasek-backed Fullerton Fund Management will be among the first of three asset managers to tap a S$5 billion investment fund initiative announced by authorities earlier this year. The other two are JPMorgan Asset Management and Avanda Investment Management. A combined initial sum of S$1.1 billion will be set aside for the three asset managers under the Equity Market Development Programme, which was first announced by the equities market review group in February. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), which leads the review group, said on Monday (Jul 21) that the three managers were selected based on a range of factors. These include the alignment of their proposed fund strategies with the programme's objectives, the strength of the proposals to attract third-party capital such as foreign funds, as well as their commitment to contribute to the growth of asset management and research capabilities in Singapore. The fund strategies also have a clear focus on improving liquidity and broadening participation in Singapore equities, with significant allocation to small and mid-cap stocks, said MAS. More than 100 global, regional and local asset managers had indicated their interest in the programme, which is open to local and international managers as well as new and existing funds. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The regulator said it is currently reviewing the remaining submissions from asset managers and will announce the names of those who are selected in the fourth quarter of 2025. More funding for research Separately, MAS will also set aside S$50 million until 2028 for the Grant for Equity Market Singapore (Gems) Scheme to strengthen research on equities. Based on the Research Development Grant under Gems, each research report will receive an additional S$1,000. A further S$1,000 will be provided if the report is an initiation of research coverage or covers pre-initial public offering stage and newly listed companies. The listing grant under Gems, which defrays listing costs for issuers, will be expanded to cover Singapore Depository Receipts and foreign Depository Receipts with underlying Singapore stocks. Under the new funding sleeve, each Depository Receipt issuance will receive S$40,000. The overall funding per primarily listed exchange-traded fund (ETF) will go up from S$100,000 to S$250,000. A new funding sleeve will also support cross-listed and feeder ETFs at S$180,000 for each listing.
AU Financial Review
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- AU Financial Review
Brisbane scores coup with trilogy from a contemporary master of dance
Benjamin Millepied has made a life out of movement. The French-born dancer turned choreographer spent his early childhood in Senegal, where his father was an Olympic track-and-field coach. It was here that Millepied first understood the unshakeable connection between dance and music – elements that have remained inseparable to him today. 'Movement was part of life … a very organic way of experiencing life,' he explains on a call from Nice ahead of bringing his contemporary ballet triptych Gems to Australia.
