UAE partnership gives boost to Philippines’ energy transition/node/2587128/world
UAE partnership gives boost to Philippines’ energy transition
Philippines' Department of Energy Undersecretary Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara and Masdar’s Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi sign an implementation agreement in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 15, 2025. (Department of Energy)
UAE partnership gives boost to Philippines’ energy transition
Coal still accounts for over half of Philippines’ power generation
Cooperation with Masdar will provide up to 1 GW of clean power by 2030
Updated 20 January 2025
Ellie Aben
MANILA: The Philippines is on track to achieve its energy transition goals following a $15 billion renewable energy deal with UAE’s state-owned energy firm Masdar to develop solar, wind and battery energy storage systems.
Manila has been working to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and aims to increase the share of renewable sources in the energy mix from around 22 percent currently to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
The deal with Masdar, which was signed last week in Abu Dhabi, will provide up to 1 gigawatt of clean power by 2030, with plans to scale up to 10 GW by 2035, according to the Philippines’ Department of Energy.
“This collaboration will significantly advance our goal of achieving 35 percent renewable energy in power generation by 2030,” Philippine Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said in a statement.
The new partnership followed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s inaugural visit to the UAE last November, which saw the two countries signing various new agreements, including in investment, artificial intelligence and energy transition.
The deal with Masdar will not only increase energy security in the Philippines but also deliver “significant economic benefits” for the country as it creates new jobs and drives technology transfer, Lotilla said.
“Together, we are positioning the Philippines as a regional leader in sustainable energy.”
The project also marks Masdar’s entry into the Philippines’ renewables market.
The Southeast Asian nation has been exploring clean and sustainable options to generate power as the country regularly suffers outages and faces high tariffs. Coal is the main source of electricity in the Southeast Asian state, accounting for more than half of its power generation.
LONDON: The Ramadan Tent Project has returned to one of London’s iconic landmarks, Shakespeare’s Globe, to host for the second time an iftar for nearly 500 people seated in a meticulously rebuilt 17th century theater.
For the past 12 years, the Ramadan Tent Project charity has organized iftar events with a dedicated message of “turn strangers into friends” at some of the UK’s most iconic and loved landmarks, including Trafalgar Square, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Wembley Stadium.
This Ramadan, the RTP’s first iftar event last week welcomed 350 people into Windsor Castle, for the first time in the royal estate’s 1,000-year history, to break their fast in St George’s Hall, which traditionally hosted banquets for heads of state.
Every year, it seems we are creating new history, but at the same time, we are building new bridges, and that’s the most important thing
Omar Salha, founder of Ramadan Tent Project
In 2023, the RTP organized an open iftar at Shakespeare’s Globe for the first time. It was a different experience compared to this week’s event, as the organizers entertained the audience in the gallery from the creaky wooden thrust stage, which has an open roof, without the help of microphones. Since its launch in 1997, directors of the Globe have debated whether to cling to Elizabethan-era conditions or use modern technology.
Fortunately, microphones and spotlights were used during this week’s iftar. However, attendees and media were instructed to take close-up pictures of the interior to avoid capturing images from the “Macbeth” set, which is set to launch this week on March 13.
People from London, visitors from Scotland, Cambridge, Sheffield, and even a family from South Africa attended the event. (Arab News/Bahar Hussain)
The long queue for the open iftar on the south bank of the River Thames attracted people from London and visitors from Scotland, Cambridge, Sheffield, and even a family from South Africa.
Omar Salha, the founder and CEO of Ramadan Tent Project, told Arab News that the most rewarding experience of putting the open iftars for over a decade is “seeing the smiles on people’s faces, the joy, the spirit and the energy in these events.”
He said the charity was grateful for its increasing support and the generosity of King Charles III, who opened his royal castle for British Muslims to host an iftar.
“Every year, it seems we are creating new history, but at the same time, we are building new bridges, and that’s the most important thing,” he added.
This open iftar is a moment of extending and reaching in friendship, connection, and community
Stella Kanu, CEO of Globe Theatre
Sajeda, one of the first in line, waited for the event to start outside the Globe’s unmistakable thatched roof, white plaster facade, and timber frames, looking at the River Thames. She told Arab News that she attended one of the RTP’s open iftars when they were small and organized in a park in central London.
“You didn’t have to register online then,” she said. “It is always a very enjoyable (iftar) because you see the multicultural aspect of it ... you can see Asians, white people, British and non-British and everyone, so it’s like a melting pot of multi-cultures.”
A blog post on the RTP’s website mentions that Shakespeare employed Muslim characters to challenge Elizabethan ideas of race and identity of his time, most notably through the character of Othello in a play carrying the protagonist’s name.
Stella Kanu, the CEO of Globe Theatre, told Arab News that she hopes the RTP’s iftar becomes a recurring event in the venue’s calendar.
“(This) open iftar (is) a moment of extending and reaching in friendship, connection, and community,” she said. “That’s everything about the Globe and what Ramadan is trying to encourage us to think about in those moments of introspection, prayer, and hope.”
The crowd performed the Maghreb prayer in one of Shakespeare's Globe halls. (Arab News/Bahar Hussain)
The crowd enjoyed some poetry before the Maghreb call to prayer, marking the fasting day’s end. They waited nearly an hour for everyone to finish the Maghreb prayer, which took place in two groups before they were served a delicious meal of chicken or aubergine with chickpeas, pilau rice, and yogurt prepared by the restaurant Comptoir Libanais.
For a moment, everything seemed as though “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players.” People remained seated in the gallery while eating, gazing at the stage, a replica of the original damaged in fire in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, at a site 230 meters from the current Globe.
At the event, Rayyan and Ayaan, two brothers from London, told Arab News that breaking their fast with people from many different backgrounds and nationalities was “something really special.” Shakirah, an aspiring actress, said she will remember the RTP’s iftar for the community spirit, meeting new people, and bonding with family in a historical place like the Globe.
A home away from home: Saudi students enjoy special London iftar
Annual ‘Ftoorna Yajmana’ Ramadan event aims to strengthen bonds among overseas Saudis
‘Seeing everyone smiling and sharing their food … it was amazing, ’ organizer tells
Updated 10 March 2025
Bahar Hussain
LONDON: Saudi students in London captured the spirit of Ramadan and forged friendships as part of a special iftar held in the first week of the holy month. The event was part of the “Ftoorna Yajmana” (Our Iftar Brings Us Together) initiative, organized by the Saudi Club in London in collaboration with UCL and Imperial student societies.
Held at Nunn Hall in the UCL’s IOE Building, the iftar welcomed a large group of students, scholars and community members, offering them the chance to break their fast in a warm and familiar setting. Students were encouraged to bring and share their own iftar meals, creating a true spirit of generosity and cultural exchange.
Capturing the Ramadan spirit without family The gathering was more than just a meal; it was a space where students could experience the spirit of Ramadan despite being away from their families. Fozan Al-Farshouty, president of the Saudi Club in London, highlighted the importance of such events in strengthening bonds within the Saudi student community.
“As you can see from this beautiful gathering, I wanted to create a space where Saudi students could feel a sense of home, connect with each other and strengthen our community bonds while embracing our cultural traditions, especially in this holy month. We needed to reduce the homesickness and stay connected more with each other,” he said.
Voices from the community Attendees from various academic backgrounds shared their experiences, highlighting the significance of communal gatherings during Ramadan.
Dr. Rahaf Al-Shahrani, a DClinDent student at Queen Mary University, described how meaningful it was to spend iftar with fellow Saudis: “Being here surrounded with the other Saudis in London, it means a lot. It brings the spirit of being with the family and surrounded by people who share the same culture, the same fasting. So, yeah, it makes me feel really good.”
Abdulaziz Hussain, an events management and tourism student at the University of Westminster, said that the event offered an emotional and cultural connection to home.
“Having iftar in London is the closest thing to our homes. Being surrounded with fellow Saudi students, it means a lot to us and it keeps the spirit of unity and Ramadan going. It’s a nice thing and a good tradition; it happens every year,” he said.
Firas Al-Turki, an MBA student at UCL, said that the initiative captured the essence of Ramadan: “Such initiatives really make you feel like you’re at home. You see your fellow colleagues, your fellow Saudis, seeing familiar faces, praying together after iftar; doing all these things together in a crowd really brings us back to home and we get that Ramadan spirituality.”
Beyond the meal, the event became a celebration of culture and tradition. Amani Al-Shihri, vice-president of the Saudi Club in London, said that the gathering was about more than just food.
“As a Saudi student club in London, we arranged this event so we can get together, and it’s not just about the food; it’s about sharing our culture and keeping our religious ties strong, even when we’re studying abroad,” she said.
“Seeing everyone smiling and sharing their food and telling everyone ‘Oh, you have to try my dish!’— it was amazing.”
Building lasting connections The evening featured a diverse spread of homemade Saudi and Middle Eastern dishes, along with international delicacies, reflecting the multicultural nature of the gathering. In addition to the iftar meal, attendees enjoyed board games, adding a fun and interactive element to the night.
The hall was beautifully decorated with Ramadan-themed decorations, creating a warm and festive ambiance. A large screen displayed videos and photos of Saudi Arabia and the holy city of Makkah, reminding attendees of home and the spiritual essence of Ramadan.
As the call to prayer marked the start of iftar, the hall was filled with an atmosphere of warmth, gratitude and unity. After the meal, the event fostered discussions on Ramadan traditions, academic journeys and ways to support one another in both personal and professional life.
With Ramadan now in full swing, the “Ftoorna Yajmana” initiative continues to serve as a bridge between students, offering them a meaningful space to celebrate, connect and embrace the essence of the holy month.
Man who scaled London’s ‘Big Ben’ clock tower appears in court
Clutching a Palestinian flag, Daniel Day, 29, scaled 25 meters (82 feet) up the building, officially known as the Elizabeth Tower, at about 7:20 a.m. on Saturday
Updated 10 March 2025
Reuters
LONDON: A man who climbed part way up the ‘Big Ben’ clock tower at London’s Palace of Westminster early on Saturday and stayed there all day as part of a pro-Palestinian protest, appeared in court on Monday.
Clutching a Palestinian flag, Daniel Day, 29, scaled 25 meters (82 feet) up the building, officially known as the Elizabeth Tower, at about 7:20 a.m. on Saturday, remaining there for 16 hours until agreeing to come down, his lawyer and prosecutors told London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
He was subsequently charged by police with climbing and remaining on the tower which created “a risk or caused serious harm to the public,” and also trespassing on a protected site.
Prosecutors said Day’s actions had led to serious disruption in that area of central London with roads closed and buses diverted, and the cancelation of parliamentary tours had cost 25,000 pounds ($32,300).
Day’s lawyer said he would plead not guilty to the first charge, saying his action was designed to spread awareness regarding the situation in Gaza and Britain’s response to it.
The second charge of trespass requires the authorization of the attorney general, and so the case was adjourned until March 17 for a decision to be made.
Day, from a seaside town in eastern England, was remanded in custody, with his supporters clapping and shouting “Hero” and “Free Palestine” as he was led away.
Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker of parliament’s House of Commons, which is also located in the Palace of Westminster, said he had asked for a review of the incident.
Social media platform X outage appears to ease, Downdetector shows
Social media platform X was down for thousands of users in the US and the UK
There were over 16,000 incidents of people reporting issues with X as of 6:02am ET
Updated 10 March 2025
Reuters
Social media platform X is down for thousands of users in the US and the UK, according to outage tracking website Downdetector.com.
There were more than 16,000 incidents of people reporting issues with the platform as of 6:02 a.m. ET, according to Downdetector, which tracks outages by collating status reports from a number of sources.
X did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Downdetector's numbers are based on user-submitted reports. The actual number of affected users may vary.
Tanker, cargo ship collide off UK coast causing blaze and casualties
Thirty-two casualties have been brought ashore with ambulances waiting to take them to hospital in the port town of Grimsby
Vessels involved are the US-flagged chemical tanker Stena Immaculate and Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong
Updated 10 March 2025
Reuters
LONDON: A tanker and container ship collided off the northeastern coast of England on Monday causing a huge fire on at least one of the vessels and leading to numerous casualties.
Authorities mounted an emergency response, and the coast guard agency said a helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft, lifeboats and nearby vessels with fire-fighting capability had all been called to the incident to help.
Thirty-two casualties have been brought ashore with ambulances waiting to take them to hospital in the port town of Grimsby, the chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East said via email. It was not clear how severe their condition was.
The vessels involved are the US-flagged chemical tanker Stena Immaculate and the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong, according to shipping industry sources.
The BBC cited the chief executive of Stena Bulk, Erik Hanell, as confirming that all the crew on the tanker had been accounted for.
Television images from the BBC showed at least one vessel ablaze with clouds of black smoke billowing into a grey sky.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a lifeboat service working on the emergency response, said: “There were reports that a number of people had abandoned the vessels following a collision and there were fires on both ships.”
The collision took place in a busy stretch of waterway with traffic running from the ports along Britain’s northeast coast to the Netherlands and Germany, shipping industry sources said.
Stena said its tanker was operated by US logistics group Crowley. The tanker was one of just 10 enlisted in a US government program designed to supply the armed forces with fuel.
Maritime analytics website Marine Traffic said the 183-meter-long Stena Immaculate was anchored off Immingham, northeast England, when it was struck by the 140-meter-long Solong, which was en route to Rotterdam.
Two shipping sources said the Stena Immaculate was at anchor at the time of the incident.
Ship insurer Skuld of Norway would only confirm that the Solong was covered with it for protection & indemnity, a segment of insurance that covers environmental damage and crew injuries or fatalities.
Solong’s manager, Hamburg-based Ernst Russ, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The United Nations shipping agency, the International Maritime Organization, said it was aware of the situation.
