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Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
South Africa complete easy victory over Zimbabwe to win test series
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe - South Africa completed an innings and 236-run victory over hosts Zimbabwe on the third day of the second test on Tuesday to convincingly sweep the two-match series at Queens Sports Club. South Africa, who were put into bat and declared their first innings on 626-5, bowled Zimbabwe out for 220, having enforced the follow-on after skittling out the home side for 170 in their first innings. Zimbabwe were 51-1 in their second innings overnight and, although they added 92 runs in the morning session, they regularly lost wickets and were all out before tea. Seamer Corbin Bosch took 4-38 to clean up the tail, with three wickets for spinner Senuran Muthusamy. Takudzwanashe Kaitano (40), Nick Welch (55) and skipper Craig Ervine (49) offered resistance in a clash best remembered for the decision by South Africa stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder not to chase down the highest score in a test innings. Mulder was 367 not out, 34 runs away from breaking Brian Lara's 21-year-old landmark of 400 for West Indies against England, when he decided to declare the innings at lunch on the second day. With one of cricket's significant milestones in his sights, and plenty of time left in the five-day contest, Mulder's decision not to attempt to break the record was met with astonishment. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites, including Bishan and Punggol, on Aug 10 Singapore Keep citizens at the centre of public service, Chan Chun Sing tells civil servants Singapore SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue Asia As Trump plays tariffs hard ball, vexed Asean countries have little choice but to play on Singapore New Draft Master Plan could reignite developers' interest to buy land Asia Seoul scorches at 37.8 deg C, highest early-July temperature ever recorded Business Great Eastern could resume trading after delisting vote fails to pass; OCBC's exit offer lapses Multimedia 'I suspect he's cheating': She finds proof when spouses stray But the 27-year-old all-rounder, whose test batting average before the match was 26.2, felt it would be inappropriate to dislodge one of the game's greats from the record books. 'Respecting the game is really important and Lara is one of the greatest ever to play the game and deserves to keep that record,' Mulder said at a press conference after play on Monday. His knock, however, was the fifth-highest score in a test and a South Africa record. He also took three wickets and snagged three catches in the match. South Africa rested most of the team that won the World Test Championship against Australia at Lord's last month but still proved far too strong for their neighbours as they also won last week's first test by 328 runs. They have now won 10 successive test matches and next take on Pakistan away in October. Zimbabwe's next test outing is a two-match series against New Zealand in Bulawayo that starts at the end of the month. REUTERS
Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Kremlin says it was shocked by ‘tragic' death of former minister that Putin fired
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Russia's former transport minister Roman Starovoit was found dead hours after his sacking was announced. MOSCOW - The Kremlin said on July 8 that it was shocked by the sudden death of Russia's former transport minister Roman Starovoit, news of which broke hours after President Vladimir Putin had sacked him. Mr Starovoit was found dead in his car outside Moscow with a gunshot wound and the principal hypothesis is that he took his own life, state investigators said on July 7. Asked about Mr Starovoit's death, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Mr Putin had been briefed on the incident and described the news as 'tragic and sad'. Mr Peskov declined to speculate on the cause of Mr Starovoit's death, citing the ongoing investigation. 'It can't help but shock normal people. Naturally, it shocked us too,' said Mr Peskov. 'There's an investigation under way. And it is this investigation that will answer all the questions.' A presidential decree published on July 7 gave no reason for the dismissal of Mr Starovoit after barely a year in the job, though political analysts suspected it was linked to a corruption probe in the Kursk region, which he once governed. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites, including Bishan and Punggol, on Aug 10 Singapore NDP 2025: Tank that bumped into traffic light lost steering and braking power due to faulty part Singapore SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue Singapore New Draft Master Plan could reignite developers' interest to buy land Singapore AI cannot supplant learning, it must enable it: Desmond Lee Asia China warns Trump on tariffs, threatens retaliation on supply chain deals Multimedia 'I suspect he's cheating': She finds proof when spouses stray Opinion Here's what happened after some US schools started locking up students' phones Reuters could not independently confirm those suggestions, though a transport industry source, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, said on July 7 that Mr Starovoit's position had been in question for months due to questions about the same corruption scandal. That investigation centres on whether 19.4 billion roubles (S$317 million) earmarked in 2022 for fortifying Russia's border with Ukraine in the Kursk region was properly spent or whether some of that money was embezzled. REUTERS
Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Singapore stocks hold firm after latest salvo of US tariffs; STI up 0.4%
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The blue-chip Straits Times Index was up 0.4 per cent or 16 points at 4,047.86. SINGAPORE - The local bourse extended its rally on July 8, after Washington announced the first wave of new tariffs on 14 countries – which did not include Singapore. The blue-chip Straits Times Index (STI) was up 0.4 per cent or 16 points at 4,047.86. Across the boarder market, gainers outnumbered losers 321 to 197, with 1.5 billion securities worth $1.7 billion changing hands. Six Asean countries received tariff letters from US President Donald Trump – a materialisation of the tariff-rate 'differentiation' expected across the region, said OCBC Asean economists Lavanya Venkateswaran, Ahmad Enver and Jonathan Ng in a note on July 8. While the reciprocal tariffs for Indonesia and Thailand remain unchanged from those announced on Apr 2, Malaysia now faces a higher rate – a 'disappointing outcome' considering the country's negotiation efforts, the team noted. Meanwhile, the tariff on Vietnam has been lowered to 20 per cent, from 46 per cent previously. The economists added: 'It is a mixed bag of outcomes in terms of US tariffs for Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. While the tariff rates remain negotiable until implemented on Aug 1, we assess... growth risks as remaining material.' They lowered their 2025 gross domestic product year-on-year growth forecast for Malaysia to 3.9 per cent from 4.3 per cent, and to 1.8 per cent from 2 per cent for Thailand. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites, including Bishan and Punggol, on Aug 10 Singapore NDP 2025: Tank that bumped into traffic light lost steering and braking power due to faulty part Singapore SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue Singapore New Draft Master Plan could reignite developers' interest to buy land Singapore AI cannot supplant learning, it must enable it: Desmond Lee Asia China warns Trump on tariffs, threatens retaliation on supply chain deals Multimedia 'I suspect he's cheating': She finds proof when spouses stray Opinion Here's what happened after some US schools started locking up students' phones Meanwhile, they raised their projection for Vietnam to 6.3 per cent from 5.5 per cent, and maintained their forecast for Indonesia at 4.7 per cent. On the STI, ST Engineering was the top gainer, climbing 5 per cent or $0.39 to $8.21. Mapletree Logistics Trust was the biggest loser, falling 2.6 per cent or $0.03 to $1.14.
Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Straits Times
Acropolis shuts, outdoor work halted as heatwave scorches Greece
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox People cool themselves with water while visiting the Acropolis. ATHENS - Greece's top archaeological monument, the Acropolis, was partially shut on July 8 as part of emergency measures to protect visitors and workers around the country during a four-day heatwave. The Greek culture ministry said the world-renowned site would be shut till 5pm (10pm Singapore time) 'for the safety of workers and visitors, owing to high temperatures.' The four-day heatwave confirmed by meteorologists began on July 6 is the second to grip Greece since late June. Temperatures are expected to reach 42 deg C on July 8, with a maximum of 38 deg C in Athens. Similar temperatures are expected on July 9. To protect outdoor workers, the labour ministry has decreed a work stoppage from 12pm to 5pm in various parts of the country, including several islands. The stoppage mainly affects construction work and delivery riders. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites, including Bishan and Punggol, on Aug 10 Singapore NDP 2025: Tank that bumped into traffic light lost steering and braking power due to faulty part Singapore SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue Singapore New Draft Master Plan could reignite developers' interest to buy land Singapore AI cannot supplant learning, it must enable it: Desmond Lee Asia China warns Trump on tariffs, threatens retaliation on supply chain deals Multimedia 'I suspect he's cheating': She finds proof when spouses stray Opinion Here's what happened after some US schools started locking up students' phones 'Days with a heatwave make my job more difficult,' cycle-riding courier Michalis Keskinidis told AFP. 'We drink a lot of water to protect ourselves from the heat, combined with electrolytes, and take breaks whenever possible,' the 43-year-old said. The 2,500-year-old Acropolis, built on a rock overlooking the capital that offers little shade, draws tens of thousands of visitors daily. It recorded some 4.5 million visitors in 2024, an increase of over 15 per cent compared to 2023. Officials had been forced to order similar shutdowns in the past two years in heatwave conditions. Risk of fire, storms The Greek civil protection authority has warned of high fire risk in the greater Athens area, in central Greece and the Peloponnese peninsula. Greece's fire department has been dealing with up to 50 fires daily, the head of the Greek fire service officers' union Constantinos Tsigkas told state TV ERT. Elsewhere, Serbia's hydrometeorological service RMHZ warned that weather conditions could fuel more fires, after 620 fires were recorded July 7. But there are also thunderstorms expected in Serbia's northern Vojvodina region, as well as in western and central areas. RHMZ has also warned of the possibility of hail and hurricane-force gusts of wind. Croatia has already felt the impact of storms since July 7, with several of the country's regions affected. Two people were injured and hospitalised in Vinkovci after a storm knocked down a power line on a family house near the eastern town, police said. The authorities said they had taken dozens of calls over wind-related emergencies including trees blocking roads, damaged roofs and power failures. On July 8, heavy rain and gale-force winds flooded roads, knocked down trees and caused power outages at the Croatian port town of Split, the state-run HRT broadcaster reported. At the town's port, a ferry broke its moorings and hit a catamaran and a tourist excursion boat, sinking the latter. There was similar trouble further north, with storms raging in Hungary and Slovakia. In Budapest, strong winds damaged roofs, felled trees onto roads and downed power lines on July 7, with the national meteorological service HungaroMet measuring winds up to 137kmh locally. Rail traffic was severely disrupted across Hungary with full restoration of services potentially requiring weeks, according to Construction and Transport Minister Janos Lazar. In Slovakia, gale-force winds caused power outages and blew off the roof of a block of flats in the eastern town of Gelnica and fallen trees disrupted road and railway transport across the region. The country's weather service SHMU has issued a storm warning with heavy rain, wind and hail for July 8, mainly for central and eastern Slovakia. AFP
Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Precision-built high diving and open water venues at Sentosa ready for World Aquatics C'ships
SINGAPORE – Other than the integrated resort, theme parks and sandy beaches, visitors to Sentosa now have a new attraction to marvel at, following the completion of a 37m-high diving tower, the first of its kind in Singapore, ahead of the July 11-Aug 3 World Aquatics Championships (WCH) . At Palawan Green on July 7, the organisers gave the media a tour of the high diving and open water swimming facilities, which had passers-by whispering in awe and curiosity. As befitting of a daredevil sport which requires male athletes to hurl themselves off a 27m platform and female competitors to take a plunge from 20m before entering a 6m-deep cylindrical pool at speeds of up to 85kmh, the temporary high diving structure required precision engineering from its makers. Six metres from the ground, the giant pool with a 17m diameter opens at a deck that accommodates about 600 spectators when the high diving competition takes place from July 24 to 27. Marcus Ng, project director of Innovez Engineering – the firm behind the pool's construction – shared that 108 curved steel panels, weighing a total of 21 tonnes, were held together by 6,400 bolts using a digital torque wrench to form the cylindrical pool. The plates were assembled upwards one metre at a time, as the pool is gradually filled and stress-tested to ensure the water pressure does not affect the integrity of the structure. Ng, a national water polo player from 2001 to 2006, said: 'Other high diving pools are also of this shape. Instead of a rectangular pool, a circular shape is the most effective and efficient in terms of structure and material, and for us to build and tear it down fast. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites, including Bishan and Punggol, on Aug 10 Singapore NDP 2025: Tank that bumped into traffic light lost steering and braking power due to faulty part Singapore SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue Singapore New Draft Master Plan could reignite developers' interest to buy land Singapore AI cannot supplant learning, it must enable it: Desmond Lee Business ShopBack to scale up its payments business as it gets major payment institution licence Asia China warns Trump on tariffs, threatens retaliation on supply chain deals Multimedia 'I suspect he's cheating': She finds proof when spouses stray 'Every steel panel had to be exactly the same, because if one panel is off, the whole pool would fail. We also have to ensure the bolts are not screwed on too tight that the panels would crack, or too loose such that there would be leaks. And of course, we have to make sure the water is crystal clear, well balanced and clean for the divers.' Just a stone's throw away is the open water swimming venue, where a 1,500 sq m pontoon has been set up for seven lung-busting events from July 15 to 20. The pontoon for the open water diving events at the World Aquatics Championships in Sentosa. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Athletes will make six loops round the 1.66km course for the men and women's 10km races and three laps for the 5km races. The course will be reconfigured to 1.5km, 1km and 500m loops for the men's and women's 3km sprint knockout races, while there is also a 4x1.5km team event. Palawan Green will also host the July 26-27 open water swimming events for the World Aquatics Masters Championships from July 26 to Aug 22. Kenza Brouwer, assistant venue manager for Sentosa Island events at the WCH and course officer for open water swimming, said: 'In preparation for the competition, we have been closely monitoring the water conditions, including water quality tests for bacteria and water temperature. 'We want to make sure that the athletes are swimming in a safe environment. Of course, it's open water swimming, and there's only so much we can control, but we will do our best to ensure the athletes' safety. We will have contingency plans in place for all wet weather scenarios.' Mark Chay, co-chairman of the WCH Singapore 2025 organising committee, thanked the various stakeholders and government agencies for helping to get all the venues ready, with the OCBC Aquatic Centre welcoming the water polo (July 11-24) and diving (July 26-Aug 3) competitions, and the WCH Arena set to host the artistic swimming (July 18-25) and swimming (July 27-Aug 3) events. Adding that the venues will continue to be monitored and improved throughout, he said: 'We will get feedback and work on it, and we expect to touch up all the way even during the events to make sure it's a great experience for everyone. 'There are very few events bigger than this, but these will put us in good stead to host more international events. We hope to groom the next generation of athletes and also Singaporeans who are able to host such events.'
