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Researchers say Indonesia's captive energy plants are a threat to the transition from fossil fuels to renewables.
Researchers said that efforts to decarbonise Indonesia’s power sector are at risk due to a faster-than-expected increase in the number?of off-grid coal plants?and a lack transparency when it comes to reducing their emissions. Indonesia's captive power plants are built by industries for their own use. They have grown rapidly in recent years due to the growth of the nickel industry in the country. According to a report from the Global Energy Monitor and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, it is difficult to monitor and implement plans to reduce emissions. Lucy Hummer, a GEM researcher, said that it is "impossible to plan the replacement of coal plants with renewable alternatives" without first understanding what coal capacity is currently planned and existing. The report said Indonesia underestimated the number captive coal plants in the pipeline. Its total capacity, including those currently under construction and at the planning stages, is now more than 31 gigawatts. This figure is higher than a 2024 Estimate the cost Secretariat of Just Energy Transition Partnership, a 2022 accord signed by Indonesia with a number developed countries in order to?help it finance its move away from fossil fuels. Indonesia, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world and top thermal coal exporter, has committed to achieving net-zero emission by 2060. It also pledged not to commission any new coal-fired plants. The captive power sector is exempt from the pledge as long as they commit to reducing emissions by 35% within 10 years. CREA and GEM stated that there are currently "no public evidence" or monitoring frameworks available to verify the plants' emission reductions. They said that this could signal a "wavering commitment and a diminished will." Captive power plants had been excluded from Indonesia's JETP program. A non-binding report published in November estimated that Indonesia would require $31 billion to start their transition to renewables by 2030. (Reporting and editing by David Stanway; Fransiska Nanangoy)
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Divers will be deployed to search for the missing after the sinking of a Philippine ferry
The Philippine Coast Guard is deploying divers to search on Tuesday for the remaining missing passengers. A vessel carrying more than 300 people capsized while en route to Sulu province in the south, leaving 18 dead. The Department of Transportation also suspended Aleson Shipping's entire passenger fleet, the operator of the sunken ship, noting that the company had been "involved" in 32 maritime accidents. PCG reported that 316 people were rescued and 10 are still missing after the MV Trisha Kerstin 3, which sank on Monday shortly after midnight while en route from Zamboanga to Jolo in Sulu Province, sank. Investigations are still ongoing to determine the cause of this sinking. Aleson Shipping has a network that covers Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago and other islands. Captain Noemie Cayabyab is a PCG spokesperson. He said that the number of people aboard the vessel had been reduced from 359 to 344 after verifying 15 people who were listed in the manifest did not board. PCG stated that the vessel's authorised passenger capacity is 352. The PCG stated that it is not yet ready to draw any conclusions as to why the ferry sank. The Philippines is a country of over 7,000 islands, with a patchy record in maritime safety. (Reporting and editing by Matthew Lewis in Manila, Karen Lema)
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Rescue efforts underway after Philippine ferry sinks with 18 victims
The Philippine Coast Guard reported that search and rescue operations were continuing on Tuesday to find 10?people who are still missing following a passenger boat capsize off the coast of a'southern Philippine province. Captain Noemie C. Cayabyab is a PCG spokesperson who said that the?total number of people onboard had been re-evaluated to 344 from an earlier figure of 359 after verifying 15 people listed in the manifest did not board the vessel. Cayabyab, a reporter, said that the number of passengers rescued was still 316. The accident happened at 1:50 am (1750 GMT), on Monday, while the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 was en route to Jolo province in Sulu after departing Zamboanga. The PCG stated that the vessel's passenger capacity is 352. The PCG stated that it is not yet ready to determine why the ferry sank. The Philippines is a country of over 7,000 islands, with a patchy record in maritime safety. (Reporting and editing by Matthew Lewis in Manila, with Karen Lema reporting from Manila)
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The National Assembly of France has approved the ban on social media for under-15s
France's National Assembly backed legislation on Monday to ban children below 15 years of age from social media, amid increasing concerns about online bullying and mental illness risks. The bill proposes to ban under-15s from "social networks" and "social network functionalities" embedded in broader platforms. It reflects the growing public 'angst' over social media and its impact on minors. The bill was approved by 116 votes to 23. The bill now goes to the Senate for a final vote before it is sent back to the lower house. President Emmanuel Macron blamed social media for the violence that young people are committing. He wants France to follow Australia's example, which implemented a?world first ban on under-16s using social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube in December. The FRENCH Ban would follow in Australia's footsteps Macron wants to ban the use of the term "sex" by the end of September, the beginning of the new academic year. "We are setting a boundary in the society with this law and saying that social media is not innocent," said centrist lawmaker Laure?Miller to the chamber when she presented the bill. She continued, "Our children read less, sleep less and compare themselves more." This is a fight for the minds of our children. The ban on social media in Australia is being studied by countries such as Britain, Denmark and Spain. The European Parliament called on the European Union (EU) to set a minimum age for children to be able to access social media. However, it is up to each member state to impose an age limit. In France, there is a broad public and political support for limiting minors' access to social media. Thierry Perez, a lawmaker from the far-right, said that the bill was a response to 'a health emergency. Perez said: "Social media allows everyone to express themselves but at what cost? PUBLIC SUPPORT According to the European Union law, platforms would be required to verify their age and block access for young teens. It can be challenging to enforce such bans. The Australian government admitted that the implementation of the ban would be difficult after children who claimed to be younger than 16 years old flooded social media with messages boasting about their ability to continue to use networks. The French legislation extends the existing ban on smartphone use in junior and middle school to high schools. In 2024, a Harris Interactive survey showed that 73% of respondents supported the ban on social media for those under 15 years old. The opinions of teenagers in Paris were divided. Some teens said that they were aware of the dangers of social media. Some felt that a total ban would be excessive.
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Winter storm snarls US travel, forces mass flight cancellations
As freezing rain and heavy winter snowfall disrupted travel, airlines were forced to cancel or delay thousands of flights on Monday. FlightAware data shows that as of Monday, more than 4,300 flights had been delayed and over 5,300 canceled, following the cancellation of 11,000 flights on Sunday, the largest daily total since pandemic. Cirium data indicated that as of 8:20 am ET, 14% of flights were canceled. The U.S. National Weather Service has said that a low pressure system south of New England will move eastward over the Atlantic Ocean on Monday. This is expected to bring heavy snowfall to the Northeast, and freezing rain to sections of the Mid-Atlantic. AccuWeather experts say the winter storm that is affecting more than twenty-two U.S. States will cause economic losses between $105 billion to $115 billion. AccuWeather says the storm will be the most expensive severe weather event since wildfires in the Los Angeles area. American Airlines was the biggest disruptor on Monday with almost 900 cancelled flights and 600 delayed. They were followed by Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, and Republic Airways. Thousands of travel plans were also affected by the disruptions. Social media was used by passengers to ask for clarification on flight schedules. United Airlines announced that it would start restoring flights on Monday and expected significantly fewer cancellations. FlightAware reported that it had 282 cancellations by Monday morning. More Disruption Likely Federal Aviation Administration issued an advisory stating that weather-related restrictions, such as snow, freezing rain, and low visibility were affecting major hubs, such as Boston, and the New York area airspace. If conditions worsen, the agency warned that ground stops and delays could be implemented at airports such as LaGuardia International, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and Washington Dulles International International in the afternoon. The interconnected nature of airline operations can make it difficult to restore the normal flight schedules when cancellations occur. HotelPlanner, an online booking site for hotels, reported that "the cancellation rates of both USA and Canada have increased by 36% during the storm Fern and in the days leading up to it." Storms also affected cargo operations. The?parcel-delivery giant UPS said severe weather could have disrupted service in some areas, and warned that further impacts would be felt on its air network including its Louisville, Kentucky hub. Last week, CSX and BNSF announced that they too were preparing for disruptions in operations due to the storm. THOUSANDS ARE POWERLESS AFTER ROADS ARE BATTLED The storm also caused road traffic to be hampered. The Federal Emergency Management Agency warned that conditions on the road could be dangerous as strong winds, ice and blizzard conditions spread. Tennessee reported the most power outages among the states of Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. PowerOutage.us data shows that as of the early morning hours of Monday, more than 820,000 customers had no electricity. AIR TRAVEL IS DISRUPTED American Airlines released a separate statement saying that operations are still strained following the winter storm which disrupted five out of nine hub airports. This included its largest base in Dallas-Fort Worth where freezing temperatures, ice and snow halted all flights. The airline noted that teams from the carrier are working round-the-clock with airport authorities, contractors, and federal agencies in order to safely restore normal operation.
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New Airbus commercial CEO signals production focus, backs bigger A220
The new CEO of Airbus' Jet Division pledged to increase production of models, including the A350 wide body jet. He also appeared to support a larger variant of the regional A220. Lars Wagner, who took over as Airbus' head core unit in January, spoke at the Airline Economics Conference for the first time since his appointment. Wagner stated, "The way that I see it, right now, is firstly, there are many issues that we have to address in order to?manage the ramp-up." Airbus is struggling to produce 75 narrow-body aircraft per month, and has slowly increased production of large jets. Wagner's second objective is to evaluate competing engine technologies, and to balance fuel efficiency with durability in order to develop the next generation of narrow body aircraft that will be developed over the next decade. The airlines claim that engine manufacturers have "met their promises" to reduce fuel consumption, but at the cost of increased wear and tears. This has led to maintenance bottlenecks. Wagner stated, "I believe we must first solve the durability issue." John Plueger (CEO of Air Lease Corp) and the former head MTU Aero Engines, a German engine manufacturer, exchanged views with each other on stage. Plueger complained that getting aircraft delivered was the biggest problem. A220 NOD Wagner asked the leasing veterans what they would like to see next. Plueger suggested that a larger version of A220 Regional Jet could have a place in the market, and Wagner replied "me too". Airbus' head of manufacturing, AeroCap, said earlier that he did not see a demand for this type of aircraft. Wagner seemed to be listening carefully to the influential and sometimes critical Dublin finance audience, but he avoided committing to a specific strategy. He said, "Being humble - I've been in this job for four weeks." Peter Barrett, CEO of SMBC Aviation, was asked what message he would like to send to his new supplier. He replied: "I've told him this privately, and I am happy to announce it publicly." He said that both?Airbus & Boeing have made improvements, but are still not at the level they should be. "We understand the challenges COVID brought... but at the end, we are contracting for many years and millions of dollars of equipment. You need predictability and performance." (Reporting and editing by Tomaszjanowski, Kevin Liffey, Diane Craft, and Padraic Halpin)
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European shares rise with a focus on earnings and monetary policy
The European share market ended the day higher, boosted by gains in financials ahead of earnings reports from major banks due later this week. The pan-European STOXX 600 was volatile for the majority of the session, but closed at 609.83 points with a 0.2% gain - its best in more than a week. The banks led the gains in each sector with a 1% increase. Data compiled by LSEG Thursday shows that earnings for several major lenders, including Germany's Deutsche Bank or Britain's Lloyds, are due this week. Earnings in the financial sector are expected to increase 4%. When sector heavyweights such as Microsoft and Apple in the U.S. report their results in the coming week, they will be looking for any signs of AI monetisation. "Risk assets are likely to make a lot of progress early in the new year. However, this can change once corporate earnings and data become available. This is probably the biggest vulnerability at this time," said Jeremy Batstone Car, European Strategist at Raymond James. Traders were still recovering from the U.S./EU trade tensions that erupted last week over a dispute about Greenland. They also weighed in on long-term consequences of U.S. Tariffs being used to bargain for a non-related issue. The prices of gold and silver, which are considered safe havens, soared. Mining stocks rose 1.6%, reaching their highest level since June 2008. Ryanair, which reported its third-quarter earnings on Monday, lost 2.3%. Danone, a French food and drink company, fell?2.3% after touching its lowest level in a full year due to the recall of specific baby formula batches on certain markets. Airbus fell 2.1%. Guillaume Faury, the CEO of Airbus, warned staff in an internal memo seen by that they must be prepared to adapt to new geopolitical threats. A 1.6% decline in defence stocks also limited gains. Puma, a sportswear manufacturer, grew 16.9% after a Friday 14% drop. The Federal Reserve will announce its interest rate decision this week. It is likely that the?Fed will leave borrowing rates unchanged, although concerns over its independence may be at the forefront. Globally, speculation about a?potential Japanese intervention in the currency markets was rampant, which lifted yen against the dollar to a 2-month high. This sentiment also weighed down on the euro which fell by 0.7% and hit its lowest level in over a month against the yen. (Reporting from Niket Nishant in Bengaluru, Avinash and Johann M Cherian; editing by Mrigank and Arun Koyyur.)
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After a deadly snowstorm, millions of Americans face bitter cold days after digging out.
On a bitterly chilly Monday, tens of millions of Americans were digging themselves out of a monster snowstorm that had dumped up to a foot of heavy snow in parts of the east of the United States. The storm caused 18 deaths, and thousands of flights were cancelled. Roads were icy and covered with snow from?New York, Massachusetts and Texas in the northeast down to North Carolina and Texas in the south. At least 25 governors have declared states of emergencies. Residents in some southern states experienced winter conditions not seen for decades. Inches-thick ice brought down power lines and trees. At least 18 deaths were attributed to the storm in multiple states. Authorities reported that a 16 year old girl from Frisco, Texas died on Sunday in a sledding crash. Another youth in Saline County in Arkansas died while being pulled over ice and snow by an ATV when it hit a tree. Local media reported that three people in Pennsylvania died shoveling snow. Authorities in Austin, Texas said that a person who was trying to find shelter at an abandoned gas station died from apparent hypothermia. Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City, said that at least five people had died from exposure to cold in the city. He urged residents to call 911 if they see anyone in need on the streets. The National Weather Service said that while the storm system drifted away from the East Coast and into the Atlantic Ocean on Monday, an Arctic air blast was coming in from Canada, prolonging the sub-freezing temperature for several days. Allison Santorelli is a NWS Weather Prediction Center meteorologist. She said, "This storm has left the East Coast, but there are still some snow squalls." The big story is the extreme cold that will last into early February. Forecasters reported that almost 200 million Americans, from the Canadian border down to the Gulf of Mexico were on some type of extreme cold alert. Lubbock in Texas had a minimum temperature of minus four degrees Fahrenheit on Monday (-20 degrees Celsius), and New York City and Boston were all expected to have temperatures below zero for most of this week. According to PowerOutage.us' tracking website, nearly 800,000 customers in the Southeast U.S., including homes and businesses, were without power due to the cold, including 246,000 people in Tennessee. More than 12,500 U.S. flight cancellations were made on Sunday, the worst day for air traffic since the COVID-19 Pandemic began in 2020. As of 9:15 am on Monday, approximately 3,900 flights?towards or from the United States were already canceled. FlightAware, a tracking website, reports that ET (1 415 GMT) is the time. Sean Duffy, the U.S. Transportation secretary, told CNBC that he hoped airports would be "back to their normal state" by Wednesday. SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN Many roads and highways became dangerously slippery due to the mix of ice, snow and freezing rain. Ryan DuVal drove his vintage firetruck through Tulsa's icy streets on Sunday, searching for anyone in need of help. He said, "I saw the need to get people out of cold." "You can just cruise around the streets and offer someone a ride if you see them. If they accept, that's great. If they don't, I can warm them in the truck and get them some water, food, or something." Residents of Bonito Lake in New Mexico were shoveling after 31 inches snow. Santorelli reported that Central Park in New York City received 11.4 inches of snow, while Logan Airport at Boston had 18.6 inches. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she mobilized National Guard troops to New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley in order to help with the state's emergency response. Mamdani, who announced that the schools would be closed for a remote day of school, quipped, "I know this may disappoint some, so feel free to throw me a snowball if you see me." Even with the snowstorms and disruptions, many people enjoyed the weather, especially in Washington DC where on Sunday a large crowd gathered for an impromptu snowball battle in Meridian Hill Park. Children zoomed down a steep slope beneath the dome of the U.S. Congress on sleds that families brought to Capitol Hill. (Reporting Bureaus: Writing by Peter Graff, Joseph Ax and Nick Zieminski; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Nick Zieminski and Nick Zieminski).
US overhauls FAA to improve safety oversight
The Trump administration announced on Monday that it will be restructuring the Federal Aviation Administration. It will also create a new office for safety oversight to consolidate five different units.
The decision?comes? a day before Tuesday's National Transportation Safety Board is scheduled to criticize FAA for failing to act in near-miss situations at an hearing to determine probable cause of a January 2025 collision between a Army helicopter and American Airlines passenger jet that resulted in the deaths of 67 people near Reagan Washington National Airport.
The FAA stated that the "new aviation safety office" was part of its strategic plan for improving hiring and training, as well as identifying potential hazards. It said that the overhaul would not lead to a reduction in staff.
Both parties of Congress have questioned why the FAA did not act on the 'close calls' involving helicopters near Reagan Airport before the fatal crash.
The NTSB reported last year that there have been more than 15,000 incidents between commercial aircraft and helicopters near Reagan with a lateral separation distance less than one nautical mile (1.85km) and a vertical separation less than four hundred feet (122m). This includes?85 close calls during this period.
Jennifer Homendy, Chair of the NTSB, said that in August, the FAA ignored warnings regarding serious safety issues.
The FAA, as part of its restructuring efforts, is creating and implementing an FAA-wide process for safety risk management.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford is in charge of a $12.5 Billion rehabilitation?of U.S. Air Traffic Control. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wants another $19 Billion to finish the job.
Early in May, the FAA banned the Army from helicopter flights around the Pentagon following a close call on May 1, which forced two civilian aircraft to abort their landings.
The FAA will also be moving into the Transportation Department's main office in Washington. Reporting by David Shepardson, Washington; editing by Sonali Paul
(source: Reuters)