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Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Sabalenka douses Raducanu fire to reach fourth round
LONDON - Aryna Sabalenka looked shaken and stirred on Friday as it appeared she would become the most high-profile name to join the mass exodus of Wimbledon seeds before her survival instincts kicked in to secure a 7-6(6) 6-4 third-round win over Emma Raducanu. Wimbledon fans are no strangers to floodlit blockbusters featuring British home favourites, with Andy Murray providing plenty of late-night thrills under a closed Centre Court roof during his stellar career. On Friday, it was Raducanu's turn to provide all the drama as she surged to a 4-2 lead in the first set and was again up 4-1 in the second. The 22-year-old kept her Belarusian opponent guessing with her breathtaking shot-making that earned her a break in the fifth game to the delight of the 15,000-strong crowd who roared on every Raducanu winner and cheered on every Sabalenka error. Although Sabalenka, the sole survivor among the top six women's seeds, gained back the break, she was left shell-shocked when she missed seven set, and break, points at 5-4 on Raducanu's serve, with the Briton serving her way out of trouble. At the eighth time of asking, in the tiebreak, Sabalenka finally silenced the crowd when she produced a stop volley to bag the set, her achievement being greeted by only a smattering of applause. Raducanu, who has spent a long time in the tennis wilderness following her remarkable win at the U.S. Open in 2021 as a qualifier, wanted to prove that she was back to her best by following up her win over 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova with victory over Sabalenka. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PAP has begun search for new candidates; PM Wong hopes to deploy them earlier ahead of next GE Singapore 20 retired MPs spoke up on many issues in Parliament, helped successors prepare for new role: PM Wong Singapore $3b money laundering case: 9 financial institutions handed $27.45m in MAS penalties over breaches Singapore Banks tighten vigilance and processes following $3b money laundering case Asia JB petrol station shooting: Dead man with bullet wounds dumped at hospital Singapore Trilateral work group formed to address allegations of foreigners illegally taking on platform work Singapore Power distribution system in renewal project may be linked to Bukit Panjang LRT disruption: SMRT Singapore Rise in number of scam e-mails claiming to be from Cardinal William Goh: Catholic Church When she surged into a 4-1 lead in the second, and was one point away from taking a 5-1 lead, it seemed that she might pull off one of the most improbable wins against an opponent who has contested the last three Grand Slam finals. But it was not meant to be as Sabalenka turned on the power to win the last five games and extinguish Raducanu's hopes of reaching the fourth round for the third time, with the Briton netting a service return on match point. The top seed will next face Belgium's Elise Mertens. REUTERS
Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Straits Times
JB petrol station shooting: Dead man with bullet wounds dumped at hospital
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox JOHOR BAHRU - A violent robbery attempt at a petrol station in Iskandar Puteri in Malaysia's Johor state has taken a deadly turn, with one man later found dead at Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA). The incident unfolded around 12.10am on July 3, when four masked men, each armed with a machete, attempted to ambush a vehicle parked at the petrol station near the Second Link Expressway. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the brazen attack, which has gone viral on social media, showed the men smashing the windows of a parked car. In response, one of the car's passengers fired several gunshots, forcing the attackers to flee. Three suspects ran back to their getaway vehicle, while the fourth escaped on foot. Johor police chief Commissioner M. Kumar confirmed the discovery of a body at HSA about an hour later after the robbery attempt. 'At approximately 1.40am, hospital staff alerted police to the presence of a man's body with multiple gunshot wounds. CCTV footage showed two men leaving the body at the hospital entrance in a dark-coloured vehicle before driving off,' he said in a statement on July 4. Datuk Kumar added the deceased was later identified as a 42-year-old local man from Sungai Petani, Kedah, with a criminal record with four priors. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PAP has begun search for new candidates; PM Wong hopes to deploy them earlier ahead of next GE Singapore $3b money laundering case: 9 financial institutions handed $27.45m in MAS penalties over breaches Singapore Banks tighten vigilance and processes following $3b money laundering case Singapore Seller's stamp duty hike surprises some amid moderating property market, but is ultimately prudent Singapore Trilateral work group formed to address allegations of foreigners illegally taking on platform work Singapore Power distribution system may be linked to Bukit Panjang LRT disruption: SMRT Singapore Rise in number of scam e-mails claiming to be from Cardinal William Goh: Catholic Church Singapore Tourism bump from Lady Gaga concerts raked in up to estimated $150m for Singapore economy He also said that a post-mortem confirmed the man died from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen. When asked if the victim was one of the attackers in the attempted robbery, Mr Kumar said police were still investigating the matter. He added that following initial investigations, police arrested three men in Dang Wangi, Kuala Lumpur, at around 7pm on the same day. 'The suspects, two Malaysians and one Indian national, aged between 30 and 40, were nabbed by a joint team from the Johor police headquarters and Iskandar Puteri district police,' he said. Mr Kumar added police also made several seizures during the arrest, including an upper receiver of a Glock 19 pistol, a licensed firearm permit, and six rounds of 9mm bullets, bullet casings and a black coloured car believed used in the incident. 'One of the suspects works as a licensed personal bodyguard, and preliminary checks show he has a firearm licence. 'However, police are investigating whether the weapon was used according to legal protocols,' he said, adding that the suspects were being remanded for seven days until July 10 to assist in the investigations. Mr Kumar said the police were investigating the incident under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, Section 148 of the same Act for rioting with weapons and Section 39 of the Arms Act 1960 for discharging a firearm outside a licensed shooting range. He added that further investigations are ongoing to establish the connection between the deceased and the suspects, as well as to trace other individuals involved in the attack. Mr Kumar urged the public to refrain from speculation or sharing misinformation about the case on social media. 'This is an isolated incident. There is no broader threat to public safety, and Johor remains secure,' he said. Mr Kumar urged those with information related to the case to contact the Johor police hotline at 019-2792095 or the operations room at 07-2212999. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Neeraj Chopra aims to give Indian athletics a boost with Classic meet
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox BENGALURU - Former Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra believes his eponymous javelin competition could be the catalyst that transforms India's athletics landscape, as the country prepares to host a world-class field event on Saturday. The inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic will feature an impressive lineup including 2016 Olympic gold medallist Thomas Rohler, 2015 World champion Julius Yego, and Chopra himself alongside domestic talent. "I never dreamt of this event as I had always thought of representing India and winning medals. Apart from the medals, I now feel that I have given something to India and its athletes," Chopra told reporters on Friday ahead of the meet in Bengaluru. Chopra, who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and silver at the 2024 Paris Games, believes "the event is just the start for many more international competitions to come to India" and has grander ambitions beyond Saturday's meet. "We see so many competitions in Germany - A, B, C category, similarly I wish to see at least five to six such world-class competitions in India as well," the 27-year-old said. Chopra breached the 90-metre mark with a 90.23 throw at the Doha Diamond League in May, while Yego holds the African record at 92.72m and Rohler's personal best stands at 93.90m. While the javelin throw may appear straightforward to the untrained eye, Rohler said it comes with unique pressures. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PAP has begun search for new candidates; PM Wong hopes to deploy them earlier ahead of next GE Singapore $3b money laundering case: 9 financial institutions handed $27.45m in MAS penalties over breaches Singapore Banks tighten vigilance and processes following $3b money laundering case Singapore Seller's stamp duty hike surprises some amid moderating property market, but is ultimately prudent Singapore Trilateral work group formed to address allegations of foreigners illegally taking on platform work Singapore Power distribution system may be linked to Bukit Panjang LRT disruption: SMRT Singapore Rise in number of scam e-mails claiming to be from Cardinal William Goh: Catholic Church Singapore Tourism bump from Lady Gaga concerts raked in up to estimated $150m for Singapore economy "Any 90-metre throw has a huge impact on the body ... So it's really tough. We have to do the training for the impact and also for the technique. Doing it again and again is a mental challenge," the German said. "It's about dealing with the pressure from the outside. In 2012, you won the Olympic Games with 84m," he added, referring to the mark by Keshorn Walcott of 84.58 that secured gold. "Now people expect you to throw 90m, and if you don't do it, people ask you, was it a bad day? "We need to see that the percentage of people in the world who have ever thrown over 90m is so small. If you look at a huge cricket team and if we talk about the top players, it's the same as comparing them to 90m in javelin." The field will also showcase India's emerging talent - Sachin Yadav, Rohit Yadav, Sahil Silwal and Yashvir Singh - competing alongside international stars in what Chopra hopes will soon become a regular occurrence. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Japan's ‘hikikomori' finding voice through self-determination
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A Japanese magazine called Ship was launched in April 2025. It is planned, edited and published by people who have experience either as or with social recluses. Japan is home to some 1.5 million 'hikikomori', the Japanese term for individuals who withdraw from society and self-isolate, often in their elderly parents' homes. A new quarterly Japanese magazine, called Ship – planned, edited and published by people who have experience either as or with hikikomori – was launched in April 2025 . The publication seeks to shake up society to allow social recluses to live happily, by giving voice to those who have previously suffered in silence. The national government, meanwhile, has also established new support guidelines that emphasise the 'autonomy' of hikikomori and encourage dialogue that respects their choices. Ms Rika Ueda, 53, a member of the quarterly's publishing team, went through a spell as a hikikomori in her 20s. 'I took refuge away from society,' she said of that time. After graduating from college, Ms Ueda changed jobs two dozen times. She was a part of Japan's Employment Ice Age generation consisting of those who struggled to enter the workforce in a decade-long period from the mid-1990s. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $500 in Child LifeSG credits, Edusave, Post-Sec Education Account top-ups to be disbursed in July Singapore PAP questions Pritam's interview with Malaysian podcast, says politics should stop at water's edge World Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash in Spain Sport Liverpool star Diogo Jota dead at 28: What you need to know about the footballer Business 60 S'pore firms to get AI boost from Tata Consultancy as it launches a new innovation centre here Singapore Scoot launches flights to Da Nang, Kota Bharu and Nha Trang; boosts frequency to other destinations Singapore Electrician who bit off part of coworker's ear during fight gets 6 months' jail Asia 4 dead, 30 missing after ferry sinks on way to Indonesia's Bali Young graduates as well as those who lost their jobs due to the collapse of the bubble economy suffered economic and societal hardship when they were unable to secure stable employment. Adding to the difficult environment, discrimination against women was also rampant, characterised by overwork, power harassment and the reduction of part-time and temporary staff. Given these challenges, Ms Ueda's inclination towards social withdrawal deepened. Ms Ueda said each time she became unable to move forward, she felt like 'a nobody in this society '. Her mother blamed herself for 'not being able to put her daughter on the right track in life ', and both shut themselves off from the outside world. One day, at a family gathering in Tokyo, Ms Ueda was shocked to hear a man who was also a shut-in talk about his experiences of feeling like society had become his enemy. Similarly, Ms Ueda had suppressed her feelings while harbouring distrust for anyone outside those close to her. 'I wasn't the only one ', she thought, and the understanding that she was among others facing the same struggles gave her a feeling of redemption. The quarterly is edited by people affected by hikikomori, parents and supporters who met at hikikomori-related events and family meetings around the country. Ship is an acronym for Social, Human Rights, Inclusive, Peer – a reflection of the group's values. The special feature of its inaugural issue in April 2025 was Breaking Down Preconceived Notions. The content included personal stories from individuals and their families, as well as interviews with experts, and explored the background of the difficulties people face in life, such as prejudice, lack of understanding and peer pressure. According to a Cabinet Office survey published in 2023, there are an estimated 1.46 million people between the ages of 15 and 64 who are socially withdrawn in Japan. Despite various triggers and circumstances, government support has until recently emphasised independence through employment and other means, and there have been many cases where individuals have been driven into a corner by a uniform response to the problem. Feeling like there is no way out, some, particularly those who fall under the banner of the '8050 problem' – referring to a situation where parents in their 80s are financially and emotionally supporting hikikomori adult children in their 50s – have turned to shady businesses that remove shut-ins from their homes, often by force, at the request of parents. These operators are known as 'hikidashi-ya' – translating literally to 'one who pulls (someone) out'. It is believed they purport to take social recluses to 'rehabilitation centres ' and charge exorbitant fees for the service. There have been a number of civil court decisions in various parts of the country that have gone against them. In January 2025 , seven men in their 20s to 40s who lived in the Kanto region among other areas successfully claimed in a class action suit that they were forcibly taken from their homes and confined in a facility in Kanagawa Prefecture by a firm purporting to support the 'independence of social recluse '. The same month, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced a new guideline for use at local government offices, called The Hikikomori Support Handbook: A Compass for Supporting Hikikomori. It states that employment and social participation are merely a means to an end, and that the goal should be autonomy to allow people to decide how they want to live their lives focused on dialogue, including with family members. The Tokyo-based network that publishes Ship held a series of events in May 2025 – a total of 10 lectures introducing the perspective of shut-ins – featuring specific examples from the newly published support handbook. 'Dialogue means not forcing the 'right' answer on the other person, ' Ship's Ms Ueda said. 'I want to make it possible for everyone to feel that it is okay to value their own voice in the rough and tumble of society, and not have their voices silenced.' KYODO NEWS
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
China denies military base ambitions in Pacific Islands, focus instead on improved livelihoods
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox China's embassy spokesman said the claims about China setting up a military base in the Pacific are false narratives. – China's embassy in Fiji on July 3 denied that Beijing wanted a military base or sphere of influence in the Pacific Islands after Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said islands were trying to cope with a powerful China seeking to spread its influence. 'The claims about China setting up a military base in the Pacific are false narratives,' China's embassy spokesman said in a statement. 'China's presence in the Pacific is focused on building roads and bridges to improve people's livelihoods, not on stationing troops or setting up military bases.' Mr Rabuka said on July 2 that his country has development cooperation with China but is opposed to Beijing establishing a military base in the region. In any case, China did not need a base to project power in the region, he added. China tested an intercontinental ballistic missile in September 2024 that flew over Fiji to land 11,000km from China in the international waters of the Pacific Ocean. 'If they can very well target an empty space, they can very well target occupied space,' Mr Rabuka told the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia. Washington became concerned about China's ambition to gain a military foothold in the Pacific Islands in 2018 when Beijing sought to redevelop a naval base in Papua New Guinea and a military base in Fiji. China was outbid by Australia for both projects. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $500 in Child LifeSG credits, Edusave, Post-Sec Education Account top-ups to be disbursed in July Singapore PAP questions Pritam's interview with Malaysian podcast, says politics should stop at water's edge World Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash in Spain Sport Liverpool star Diogo Jota dead at 28: What you need to know about the footballer Business 60 S'pore firms to get AI boost from Tata Consultancy as it launches a new innovation centre here Singapore Scoot launches flights to Da Nang, Kota Bharu and Nha Trang; boosts frequency to other destinations Singapore Electrician who bit off part of coworker's ear during fight gets 6 months' jail Asia 4 dead, 30 missing after ferry sinks on way to Indonesia's Bali The concern resurfaced in 2022 when China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands, prompting Washington to warn it would respond if Beijing established a permanent military presence. In November 2024, the outgoing US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell urged the Trump administration to keep its focus on the region because China wanted to build bases in the Pacific Islands. The Chinese embassy spokesman said Fiji and China respect each other's sovereignty. 'China has no interest in geopolitical competition or seeking the so-called sphere of influence,' the statement added. China has established a police presence in the Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Vanuatu. REUTERS
