Latest news with #MajaSmiejkowska
The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Golf-Dominant Scheffler cruises to British Open title
Golf - The 153rd Open Championship - Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, Northern Ireland, Britain - July 20, 2025 Scottie Scheffler of the U.S. putts on the 10th green during the final round REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (Reuters) -American Scottie Scheffler delivered a command performance to win his first British Open title by four shots after a closing 68 at Royal Portrush on Sunday. The world number one, four clear of the field overnight, picked up three early birdies before his only significant error when he failed to get out of a bunker at the first attempt on the way to a double-bogey at the eighth hole. Scheffler was never seriously threatened, however, as he claimed his fourth major crown and second of the year after winning the PGA Championship in May. The 29-year-old finished on 17 under par, with Harris English and Chris Gotterup completing an all-American top three. (Reporting by Ed Osmond, editing by Toby Davis)
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Dominant Scheffler cruises to British Open title
Golf - The 153rd Open Championship - Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, Northern Ireland, Britain - July 20, 2025 Scottie Scheffler of the U.S. putts on the 10th green during the final round REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland - American Scottie Scheffler delivered a command performance to win his first British Open title by four shots after a closing 68 at Royal Portrush on Sunday. The world number one, four clear of the field overnight, picked up three early birdies before his only significant error when he failed to get out of a bunker at the first attempt on the way to a double-bogey at the eighth hole. Scheffler was never seriously threatened, however, as he claimed his fourth major crown and second of the year after winning the PGA Championship in May. The 29-year-old finished on 17 under par, with Harris English and Chris Gotterup completing an all-American top three. REUTERS
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
UK to lower voting age to 16 in landmark electoral reform
FILE PHOTO: A voter ID information sign is displayed at a polling station during the general election in London, Britain July 4, 2024. REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska/File Photo LONDON - The British government said on Thursday it planned to give 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all UK elections in a major overhaul of the country's democratic system. The government said the proposed changes, which are subject to parliament approvals, would align voting rights across the UK with Scotland and Wales, where younger voters already participate in devolved elections. "We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy," Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said in a statement. Turnout at the 2024 general election was 59.7%, the lowest at a general election since 2001, according to a parliamentary report. According to the House of Commons library, research from countries that have lowered the voting age to 16 shows it has had no impact on election outcomes, and that 16-year-olds were more likely to vote than those first eligible at 18. Labour, whose popularity has fallen sharply in government after being elected by a landslide a year ago, had said it would lower the voting age if elected. The reforms would also expand acceptable voter ID to include UK-issued bank cards and digital formats of existing IDs, such as driving licences and Veteran Cards. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore Singapore HSA launches anti-vaping checks near 5 institutes of higher learning Singapore $7,000 fine for eatery chain involved in ByteDance food poisoning case Singapore Bicycle wheel-inspired care model used to improve trauma outcomes in central S'pore Life 11 new entries on Singapore's Bib Gourmand list, including three re-entries at Old Airport Road Singapore NEA monitoring E. coli at Sentosa beaches after elevated bacteria levels delay World Aquatics events Singapore 15 under police probe for sharing Singpass credentials used in scams To tackle foreign interference, the government said it also planned to tighten rules on political donations, including checks on contributions over 500 pounds ($670) from unincorporated associations and closing loopholes used by shell companies. REUTERS
The Star
15-07-2025
- Climate
- The Star
Golf-Schauffele starting with blank canvas for Open defence
Golf - The 153rd Open Championship - Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, Northern Ireland, Britain - July 14, 2025 Xander Schauffele of the U.S REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (Reuters) -Xander Schauffele is super-excited at the prospect of trying to defend his British Open title at Royal Portrush this week but says he will have to come up with a different plan to the one that took him to victory 12 months ago. "I think a blank canvas is a great place to start. You can paint many different pictures to win a tournament. You've just got to do the right one," the American told reporters on the County Antrim coast on Tuesday after practice. The 31-year-old produced a blemish-free final-round of 65 at Royal Troon last year to win his second major title to go along with his gold medal from the Tokyo Olympics. He was the third American in four years to win golf's oldest major but while that experience will hold him in good stead for the days ahead, he said Portrush's Dunluce Links will throw up a completely new test of his renowned links golf skills. "It's an interesting thing just because my thoughts of playing really well were at Royal Troon," he said. "Coming here, I feel like I'm trying to re-learn this golf course, get comfortable with certain sight lines, some blind tee shots. If I can get myself in the mix, that's when I think I would have an advantage. That's where my biggest edge would be. "I can lean on experience at other points in time, but I think the most fun and the biggest advantage I would have is coming down the stretch if I can get close to that lead." With the perils of a links course's sloping greens, cavernous bunkers, knee-deep rough and the wild weather associated with Britain's coast, it is hardly surprising that defending the title is treacherous. The last player to do so was Ireland's Padraig Harrington in 2008 and Schauffele knows the luck of the draw and getting lucky with the weather could be vital this week. "This week is a pretty good example of having to deal with a wave. There's typically a good wave and a bad wave in an Open Championship," he said. "You just keep your fingers crossed that you're in the good wave and try and play well. "If you're not, fight for your life and make the cut and then try and do something on the weekend." For a player who grew up in San Diego, it might be surprising how he has embraced the challenge of links golf. But he said 16-hour trips in the car with his dad as a youngster helped him learn to be creative. "We drove up to Bandon Dunes from San Diego. It took about 16 hours. I was 13 years old," he said. "We played three or four days in a row. I think it was just Pacific Dunes and Bandon Dunes at the time. We got the real weather. My rain gear stopped working. It was that much wind and rain. "I had a blast. As much as it was nice to look forward to a hot shower at the end of the day, I had so much fun for some reason trying to figure out how to play golf in that weather." With wind and rain expected to batter Portrush at times over the next five days, he will draw on those experiences again. (Reporting by Martyn HermanEditing by Toby Davis)
Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Straits Times
UK warns British travellers to Israel: Situation could escalate quickly
Passengers queue for the assistance with self check-in machines at Heathrow Terminal 3 in London, Britain, August 22, 2023. REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska/ File Photo LONDON - Britain on Friday updated its travel guidance to Israel, saying the situation could escalate quickly following Israeli strikes against nuclear and military facilities in Iran. "The situation could escalate quickly and could pose significant risks, including missile fire," an update on the government's website said. The same warning was added to its advice for the occupied Palestinian territories. Britain also re-issued its travel advice for other countries including Iran, Iraq, Saudia Arabia, Egypt and Syria to include a warning on the risk of wider escalation. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
