SPNEC breaks ground for world’s largest solar project
SPNEC breaks ground for world’s largest solar projectMANILA, Philippines — SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC) has broken ground for the Terra Solar development in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, touted as the world’s largest solar project. The Terra Solar project will consist of 3,500 megawatts of solar panels and 4,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery storage, with an estimated cost of P200 billion. The project will be larger than India’s Bhadla Solar Park and China’s Golmud Solar Park, currently the world’s largest solar farms at over 2.2 gigawatts (GW). The Terra Solar project will be owned through SPNEC’s 100 percent-owned subsidiary, Terra Solar Philippines Inc.SPNEC said accelerated work on the project comes with the completion of the P15.9-billion investment of MGen Renewable Energy Inc. (MGreen) in the company last Dec. 27. Proceeds of the MGreen investment will be used primarily for the 3,500-MW solar and 4,000-MWh battery project.
Source:Philippine Star
January 02, 2024 00:56 UTC
Takanakuy, the Andean 'fight club' that clears the air for a new year
Lima: The fighting begins and ends with a hug, part of a singular ritual that has residents of the Peruvian Andes punching and kicking in a year-end fight competition known as Takanakuy. Before the dueling starts in an open-air arena, male fighters remove their elaborate headgear -- stuffed birds, foxes or even goat heads worn as symbols of strength or to bring good luck.
Source:Manila Times
January 01, 2024 22:10 UTC
Reports of people trapped in lifts, fire alarms after Tsing Yi substation catches fire
A substation located on Nga Ying Chau Street in Tsing Yi caught fire on Monday, resulting in a number of reports of persons stuck in lifts and automatic fire alarms being triggered. The incident happened at around 3.17 pm. According to photos online, white smoke could be seen billowing from the substation, with witnesses saying an explosion was heardIt was learned that at least 19 shut-in-lift cases were reported across the city due to the incident. CLP Power is looking into the matter and following up on the situation. The Fire Services Department made a special announcement on voltage dip in New Territories and advised the public who are being affected to stay calm.
Source:The Standard
January 01, 2024 20:34 UTC
Over 100 SK execs warn Marcos of looming transport crisis with PUV modernization
Over 100 SK execs warn Marcos of looming transport crisis with PUV modernizationDifferent transport groups held a noise barrage against the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) modernization program during the second state of the nation address of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., on July 24. MANILA, Philippines — More than 100 Sangguniang Kabataan officials have signed a unity statement opposing the government’s franchise consolidation plan for public utility vehicles (PUV), warning that the franchise consolidation requirement would lead to a mass transport crisis among millions of commuters. Kabataan Partylist told reporters in a message on Sunday that 111 officials have signed the statement. The youth leaders also urged Marcos to review the PUV modernization program and “either set aside or completely revoke” the deadline for franchise consolidation to "avert an impending transport crisis." “Though government information insists on progress in terms of franchise consolidation, ground reports paint a different picture — one that ensures that existing policies will neglect the conditions of the transport industry,” the statement added.
Source:Philippine Star
January 01, 2024 16:05 UTC
Fireworks-related injuries jump to 231 after New Year celebrations; one baby hit by piccolo
Fireworks-related injuries jump to 231 after New Year celebrations; one baby hit by piccoloRevellers watch as fireworks light up the sky ushering in the New Year at Rizal Park, in Manila on January 1, 2024. MANILA, Philippines — The number of fireworks-related injuries doubled overnight after the New Year festivities, according to the Department of Health on Monday, with at least 116 new cases nationwide, including an 11-month-old baby injured by an illegal firecracker. This brings the total number of firecracker-related injuries to 231 since the health department began its monitoring in December 2023 — higher than the total number of cases recorded by this time last year. Nearly half of all injuries (49%) were from Metro Manila, followed by Central Luzon (27%) and Ilocos Region (24%). A mix of legal and illegal firecrackers caused the injuries, which included kwitis, 5-Star, boga, piccolo, among others.
Source:Philippine Star
January 01, 2024 16:04 UTC
Massive earthquake jolts Japan, residents rush to evacuate coast
TOKYO — A powerful earthquake struck central Japan on Monday, triggering warnings for residents to evacuate some coastal areas, knocking out power to thousands of homes and disrupting flights and rail services to the affected region. ADVERTISEMENTThe Japan Meteorological Agency has issued tsunami warnings for the coastal prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama, marking the first major warnings since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan. Russia also issued tsunami warnings in its far eastern cities of Vladivostok and Nakhodka. “Run!” flashed a bright yellow warning aired on NHK advising residents in specific areas of the coast to immediately evacuate their homes. Another quake, known as the Great Hanshin Earthquake, hit western Japan in 1995, killing more than 6,000 people, mainly in the city of Kobe.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 01, 2024 08:21 UTC
New Year's Eve sweeps across the globe, but wars cast a shadow on 2024
New Year's Day arrived to cheers from tens of thousands of beaming people in Times Square who were showered with confetti and hugs after watching the descent of the lighted ball marking the birth of 2024 with hope for some, even as the world's ongoing conflicts subdued celebrations and raised security concerns across the globe. The march of midnight from time zone to time zone brought the new year first to places like Australia, where more than 1 million people watched a pyrotechnic display centered around Sydney's famous Opera House and harbor bridge — a number of spectators equivalent to 1 in 5 of the city's residents. It would be another 16 hours before New York reached 2024.
Source:Manila Times
January 01, 2024 07:20 UTC
The good news
The good newsAnd now for the good news of 2023:The pandemic is over; in May, the World Health Organization lifted the declaration of COVID-19 as a global health emergency. It’s been a good year for the person who reportedly gave that knee-jerk advice to Mr. P20-a-kilo rice. The year 2023 has been generally good for Marcos 2.0, based on his still high survey ratings. Let’s hope his chosen replacement, fishing tycoon Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr., will provide some good news in the ailing agricultural sector this 2024. Perhaps a Supreme Court ruling institutionalizing the reforms will be among the pieces of good news in 2024.
Source:Philippine Star
January 01, 2024 03:57 UTC
After wars, chatbots, Barbie, world rings in 2024
SYDNEY — Jubilant crowds here will bid farewell to the hottest year on record on Sunday, closing a turbulent 12 months marked by clever chatbots, climate crises, and wrenching wars in Gaza and Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENTIn Sydney, the self-proclaimed “New Year’s capital of the world,” more than a million partygoers are expected to pack the city’s foreshore. Even before nightfall, tens of thousands of people gathered at vantage points around the city’s iconic Harbour Bridge, defying uncharacteristically dank weather. The last 12 months brought “Barbiegeddon” at the box office, a proliferation of human-seeming artificial intelligence tools, and a world-first whole-eye transplant. Russia’s is just one of several pivotal elections scheduled, with 2024 looming as the year of the ballot.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 01, 2024 02:18 UTC
ASEAN foreign ministers urge peace, restraint amid South China Sea tensions
A Philippine boat was "rammed" by a Chinese coast guard ship during a resupply mission on December 10, the Philippine coast guard said, in the latest such confrontation in the disputed South China Sea. MANILA, Philippines — Top diplomats of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed concern over escalating tensions in the South China Sea and called on all parties involved to engage in peaceful dialogue. In a statement Saturday, ASEAN foreign ministers said they "closely follow with concern the recent developments in the South China Sea that may undermine peace, security and stability in the region." ASEAN and China have been negotiating over a South China Sea Code of Conduct, but the process has been slow. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, encompassing waters and islands close to its neighbors' shores.
Source:Philippine Star
December 31, 2023 21:50 UTC
Marcos urges Filipinos to help shape a 'meaningful' transformation in 2024
Marcos urges Filipinos to help shape a 'meaningful' transformation in 2024MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday called on Filipinos to embrace a collective spirit and participate in shaping the future of the country. “As we welcome 2024 with great optimism, I call upon every Filipino from every corner of the world to contribute to the future of our beloved motherland,” Marcos said in a message released on New Year’s Eve. “Let us embody the spirit of solidarity through acts of kindness, volunteerism, and compassion, knowing that each of us is a catalyst for our country’s meaningful social transformation,” he added. A survey released by the Social Weather Stations last week suggested that 96% of adult Filipinos are welcoming 2024 with hope, marking a one-point rise from last year and mirroring the pre-pandemic sentiment in 2019. Meanwhile, only three percent of adult Filipinos are entering the coming year with fear, down by two points in 2022.
Source:Philippine Star
December 31, 2023 20:28 UTC
Security Council holds emergency meeting on attacks in Belgorod, Russia
A senior UN political affairs official condemned attacks against the Russian city of Belgorod, located near the Ukrainian border, as he briefed the Security Council at an emergency meeting convened on Saturday afternoon. Belgorod is located in Russia east of the border with Ukraine. Unsplash/Petr Magera
Source:Manila Times
December 31, 2023 18:05 UTC
Cathay flight from Japan delayed after woman gets on board without permission
Cathay Pacific confirmed on Sunday that a flight from Japan to Hong Kong had been delayed last week after a woman who did not have a valid boarding pass and passport managed to board the plane. The flight giant said the incident happened on the CX521 flight, which was scheduled to arrive in Hong Kong from Narita International Airport last Thursday (Dec 28). The cabin crew found a female passenger constantly switching seats and could not show her passport and boarding pass. The flight eventually arrived in Hong Kong over an hour late. The airline expressed its apology for the inconvenience caused and emphasized that the safety of passengers and crew is the company's top priority.
Source:The Standard
December 31, 2023 17:01 UTC
Elderly man killed after being struck by garbage truck in Hung Hom
An elderly man was pronounced dead at the hospital after being struck by a garbage truck in Hung Hom on Sunday noon. Around noon today, a garbage truck passing through Man Yue Street, located in Hung Hom, struck an 86-year-old elderly man crossing the road. Paramedics were alerted to the scene and rushed him to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he was later declared dead. Police arrested the 42-year-old garbage truck driver, surnamed Choi, on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after a preliminary investigation. It is understood that the elderly man, surnamed Lam, lived in Hung Hom Estate and was heading to a nearby eatery to get a free meal before the accident.
Source:The Standard
December 31, 2023 16:29 UTC
Google to settle $5-B lawsuit
SAN FRANCISCO: Google has agreed to settle a consumer privacy lawsuit seeking at least $5 billion in damages over allegations it tracked the data of users who thought they were browsing the internet privately. The object of the lawsuit was the "incognito" mode on Google's Chrome browser that the plaintiffs said gave users a false sense that what they were surfing online was not being tracked by the Silicon Valley tech firm.
Source:Manila Times
December 31, 2023 04:40 UTC