POWERFUL voices. Freedom and peace. With human resilience, we have broken through with the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, we have also seen multiple wars that exemplify the worst of humanity, such as Russia and Ukraine, Israel-Palestine, and tensions between China and the Philippines that remain. I take the unbiased ground of intergenerational peace and healing for all.
TOKYO — All 379 passengers and crew of a Japan Airlines (JAL) plane miraculously escaped from a fire following a collision with a coast guard aircraft at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Tuesday, but local media said most of the coast guard plane crew had died. The coast guard said the collision involved one of its planes that was headed to Niigata airport on Japan’s west coast to deliver aid to those caught up in a powerful earthquake that struck on New Year’s Day, killing at least 48 people. ADVERTISEMENTFive of the six crew of the coast guard aircraft have died, public broadcaster NHK reported. A coast guard spokesperson earlier said five of the crew were unaccounted for but that the captain had escaped. Footage and images shared on social media showed passengers shouting inside the smoke-filled cabin and running across the tarmac away from an evacuation slide.
BEIJING: The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturing sector was 49 in December, down from 49.4 the previous month, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Sunday. A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction.
Labor group says 2023 wage hike not enough for worker’s daily expensesMANILA, Philippines — A labor group expressed its dismay over the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)'s pronouncement that there will be no salary adjustments this year. In a statement on Tuesday, labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said that the wage increments in the previous year were barely enough to cover the daily expenses of workers. The labor group said that the minimum wage for workers should be adjusted to the “changing needs.”“Under the Wage Rationalization Act, the regional wage boards must issue wage increase orders motu proprio or upon the petition of workers at least each year,” KMU also said in a statement. The current daily minimum wage in the National Capital Region, the highest minimum wage in the Philippines, ranges from P573 to P610. But in no way should it use this as an excuse and pass the burden of the inefficiency of monitoring to the workers,” the labor group said in a statement.
Rafael Nadal begins first singles match in almost a yearSpain's Rafael Nadal reacts during his men's singles match against Austria's Dominic Thiem at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on January 2, 2024. BRISBANE – Rafael Nadal began his first singles match in almost a year at the Brisbane International Tuesday against Dominic Thiem, kick-starting what could be the Spaniard's farewell season. The 37-year-old has not played singles since a second-round loss at the Australian Open last year, undergoing two rounds of hip surgery. However, the Austrian has won their past two encounters at the ATP Tour Finals in 2020 and the Australian Open the same year. Nadal won both his opening service games to love against former US Open champion Thiem.
Chief Secretary, Eric Chan Kwok-ki, announced on Tuesday that they have plans to set up a coordination committee and discuss extending the open hours of border crossings with the mainland for future large-scale events. City-wide criticism was caused by the unfortunate situation of a large number of passengers waiting for cross-boundary transportation after the New Year's countdown and fireworks display. Relevant government departments, together with representatives from the Tourism Board, MTR Corporation, and Kowloon Bus, held a meeting with the transportation industry on the matter this afternoon. Chan spoke to the media after government officials had a meeting with representatives from the tourism and transport sectors on improving cross-border travel arrangements. He said the government will also discuss with mainland authorities the possibility of keeping railway links open later and stepping up train services on special occasions.
MAUMERE, Indonesia: More than 2,000 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters amid heightened activity in a volcano in southern Indonesia, a local official said on Tuesday. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in East Nusa Tenggara province has erupted several times in recent weeks, including one on Monday that spewed volcanic ash that rose 1.5 kilometers (4,800 feet) from its peak, the country's Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation said.
A Japan Airlines aircraft was engulfed in flames at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Tuesday after a collision with a Coast Guard aircraft, with the airline saying that all 379 passengers and crew had been evacuated. A spokesman of Japan Airlines said the aircraft is Flight 516 from New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido to Tokyo's Haneda Airport. Separately, the spokesman of Airport Authority Hong Kong said at least five flights operating between Hong Kong International Airport and Haneda Airport are affected. The airline has also suspended check-in procedures for flights UO628 and UO624, which were scheduled to depart from Hong Kong at 7.50 pm and 11.55 pm respectively until further notice. (NHK, TBS, Reuters, AP and AFP)(Updated at 7.49pm)Read More:HK passenger recalls 'terrifying' crash and fire escape at Tokyo's Haneda airportFive Coast Guard crew dead as planes collide at Tokyo's Haneda airport
THE world population grew by 75 million people in 2023. There will be more than 8 billion people this new year, according to figures released by the US Census Bureau last December 28.
Persistence pays off as Japan warms up for Asian Cup with winThailand's Nico Mickelsen (right) tries to defend against Japan's Mao Hosoya (center) during the New Year’s Day international football friendly match between Japan and Thailand at the National Stadium in Tokyo on January 1, 2024. TOKYO – Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu hailed his team's persistence after they warmed up for this month's Asian Cup with a 5-0 friendly win over Thailand in Tokyo on Monday. Japan will start as one of the favorites to win the Asian Cup in Qatar, and Moriyasu warned that they will need to show the same spirit when the tournament kicks off on January 12. Moriyasu fielded an inexperienced lineup missing several overseas-based players against a Thailand side that is also heading to the Asian Cup. Japan have been drawn in Group D at the Asian Cup and will face Indonesia, Iraq and Vietnam in the first round.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
