KUALA LUMPUR (BERNAMA) – Proton has unveiled its solar power initiative at its Tanjung Malim plant to help the national carmaker reduce its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 11,536 tonnes a year while generating utility cost savings.
Proton’s solar power facility has a footprint of 23.4 acres and involves a car park housing 2,880 cars, which is also used as a transit point for cars produced at Tanjung Malim before being distributed nationwide, a statement from the national car maker said.
This parking lot bi-facial solar panel facility, the biggest in Malaysia, is covered by 20,544 bi-facial solar panels, named as such because they can generate energy from direct sunlight on top as well as those reflected from the ground, and from cars parked underneath the panels.
The cars are also protected from the elements because they are shaded. The combined power generated is 12 megawatt peak (MWp), enough to meet up to 25 per cent of the plant’s power consumption.
Built and commissioned by Pekat Group and its associate MFP Solar, the solar panel facility is able to generate 9MWp.
“It allows Proton to potentially save up to MYR4.39 million a year on its energy bill with a further saving of MYR1.46 million available via the 3MWp generated by the factory roof-mounted panels,” the statement said.
The company launched its first Proton Green Wheel and Green Policy back in 2015, comprising five phases involving energy management system; energy efficiency; waste and water management; renewable energy via solar energy plant; and digitise all of Proton’s energy data on a cloud server to introduce artificial intelligence and big data analysis.
Over a five-year period from 2015-2020, these initiatives saw MYR20 million in savings in energy bill, equivalent to 55,000 MWh savings and a reduction of over 40,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
JAKARTA (AFP) – Indonesia will remain impartial as the rotating chair of the Group of 20 (G20), the country’s top diplomatic negotiator said yesterday, following mounting calls that Russia be barred from the forum’s meetings.
Dian Triansyah Djani made the statement after Russia’s ambassador to Indonesia confirmed on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin planned to attend the November heads-of-state summit in Bali.
Western nations are assessing Russia’s membership in the G20 major economies over its invasion of Ukraine, which has prompted a refugee crisis in Europe and roiled global markets.
“We will remain as an impartial chair and will find solutions for any issues that may arise,” the country’s G20 co-sherpa said at a briefing with journalists.
Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said yesterday that letting Putin sit with other world leaders at the same table for this year’s G20 summit would be “a step too far”.
And former United Kingdom (UK) prime minister David Cameron called on Western countries to boycott the leaders’ summit if the Russian president was going, in an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal this week.
But some other G20 members are likely to veto a ban, and China already insisted Russia was an “important member” of the group.
Djani confirmed that the invitations to “save the date” for the leaders’ summit were sent to all G20 members, including Moscow, on February 22 – two days before Russia’s invasion.
“Indonesia always builds its diplomacy based on rules of procedures and past precedents, including in hosting the G20,” he said.
He further underlined that Indonesia would focus on economic issues and global recovery given that the “G20 was the premier international economic forum”, implying that the invasion would largely be kept off the agenda.
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – The Gambia, the outsiders who took Africa by storm this year when reaching the Cup of Nations quarter-finals, edged Chad 1-0 early yesterday in their first step toward reaching the 2023 finals.
The Scorpions left it late in Yaounde with United Arab Emirates-based forward Steve Trawally scoring in the 89th minute to win the preliminary round first leg.
The Gambia, a small west African country surrounded by Senegal, made a spectacular Cup of Nations debut two months ago, beating Mauritania, Tunisia and Guinea before losing a last-eight clash with hosts Cameroon.
Before tackling Chad, Belgium-born The Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet warned his players to avoid become “one-tournament wonders”.
“We want to qualify for the 2023 and 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 World Cup,” said the coach who has guided national teams in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. He cited the example of Madagascar, newcomers who stunned Nigeria when reaching the 2019 Cup of Nations quarter-finals in Egypt only to miss out on the latest edition.
Chad hosted The Gambia in the Cameroon capital because the landlocked central African does not have a stadium that meets international standards.
The Gambia are also affected by a Confederation of African Football (CAF) clampdown on venues with sub-standard pitches, dressing rooms or facilities and will stage the return match on Tuesday in Morocco.
Mauritius are the only nation among the 10 in the preliminary round who have been permitted to play at home.
The Indian Ocean country face danother island nation, Sao Tome e Principe, and will stage both legs in Saint-Pierre as their opponents have conceded home advantage.
South Sudan scored four second-half goals to defeat Djibouti 4-2 in ancient Egyptian Mediterranean city Alexandria. Tito Okello gave the Sudanese a 54th-minute lead by converting a penalty having been fouled and after Djibouti levelled, Rashid Toha, Okello and William Gama netted for the winners.
Djibouti completed the scoring in added time, but face a massive task in Uganda on Sunday if they hope to survive an early exit.
Eswatini all but sealed a place in the 48-nation group stage, which kicks off during June, by punishing sloppy Somalia defending to triumph 3-0 in Dar es Salaam.
Bonginkosi Dlamini reacted quickest to a low cross for the only first-half goal and Fanelo Mamba chipped the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper to double the lead midway through the second half.
Sandile Gamedze completed the rout three minutes from time, firing a low shot into the corner of the net in the Tanzanian commercial capital.
Seychelles goalkeeper Alvin Michel saved a Lehlohonolo Fothoane penalty in a 0-0 draw against Lesotho in Saint-Pierre.
A 26-year-old local man yesterday pleaded guilty at the Magistrate’s Court to a charge for possessing smuggled cigarettes at his home.
Muhamad Khairul Afiq bin Awang Tinggal was ordered to settle a BND13,000 fine, or serve 13 months’ jail in default.
The Customs prosecutor revealed in court that the defendant had kept 12 cartons and seven packets of a variety brand of cigarettes at home in RPN Kampong Meragang on December 4, 2021.
Magistrate Nur Eleana Dato Seri Paduka binti Haji Hairol Arni further heard that customs officials conducted the inspection at 9.49pm and determined the cigarettes were smuggled.
The court ordered the seized cigarettes to be forfeited to the state.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Beyoncé, Billie Eilish and other nominees for best original song will perform at Sunday’s Oscars, the show’s producers announced on Tuesday.
Beyoncé will perform her nominated song Be Alive from King Richard, and Eilish and her brother and co-writer Finneas will perform No Time To Die from the James Bond film of the same name.
Sebastián Yatra will perform Dos Oruguitas, the nominated song from Encanto written by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Reba McEntire will sing writer Diane Warren’s Somehow You Do from the film Four Good Days.
Van Morrison, who wrote and sings the nominated song Down to Joy from Belfast, will not be able to make the show because of his touring schedule. The song will not be performed.
The original song Academy Award goes to the songwriter, not the artist who performs it, and whoever wins this year will get their first Oscar. That includes Beyoncé, a 28-time Grammy winner, who co-wrote Be Alive with Dixson.
Warren was nominated this year for the 13th time, but is still seeking her first win.
Miranda will join the elite ‘EGOT’ club of winners of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony should Dos Oruguitas win. The song was tapped as the Oscar submission from Encanto before another Miranda-penned song from the Disney movie, We Don’t Talk About Bruno, became a runaway hit.
The Oscars are returning to Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre after the pandemic sent the show to Union Station for a smaller, more intimate ceremony last year.
Finneas O’Connell (L) and Billie Eilish poses for photographers upon arrival for the World premiere of the new film from the James Bond franchise ‘No Time To Die’, in London. PHOTO: AP
THE WASHINGTON POST – The word “smothering” doesn’t always have the best connotation. (See: relationships or preventing someone from breathing). But when it comes to cooking, it’s something I crave when in need of solace.
Basically a stovetop braise, smothering is a technique most often associated with chicken – but can be used with other types of animal proteins as well as vegetables – where the braising liquid is thickened to form a luscious gravy. And that gravy is the true star of the dish.
“The gravy could be a meal on its own if you do it right,” chef and cookbook author Adrienne Cheatham said.
Smothering’s exact origins are unknown. The earliest reference I found in print is a recipe To Smother Young Chickens in Lettice Bryan’s The Kentucky Housewife, originally published in 1839.
Some attribute it to Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole cuisines, where étouffée translates to ‘smothered’. In South Carolina’s Lowcountry, “stew chicken” is nearly identical to what others know as “smothered chicken”.
Smothered Chicken. PHOTOS: THE WASHINGTON POST
I consider it a quintessential soul food dish and a staple of Southern cuisine at large, and regardless of what you call it or where it’s from, this much is certain: The dish is full of comfort.
I tend to think of the dish more as a technique than an exact recipe, as each individual has their own preferences for the cut of chicken to use, whether it is dredged in flour before browning, which vegetables to include, and more.
Follow my recipe below for what I consider to be a classic version of the dish, or use the steps that follow as a jumping off point to create your own smothered chicken.
Step 1: Season and brown the chicken. Growing up, I remember my mother frequently buying packages of whole, cut-up chickens to cook with, but I would caution against that today.
While, technically speaking, you can use whatever cut of chicken you have on hand, “You really want to use bone-in dark meat, preferably thighs or thigh and leg quarters,” Cheatham said. With chicken breasts – “Blasphemy!” Cheatham exclaimed – you’ll need to reduce the cooking time compared to dark meat, and as a result, you won’t get the same depth of flavour.
To season the chicken, I opt for garlic powder and smoked paprika (in addition to salt and pepper) in the recipe below. Cheatham is a fan of celery seed powder. You can use your favourite store-bought spice blend or create your own.
Another point of contention is whether to dredge the chicken pieces in flour before searing.
The smothered chicken I remember eating in my youth was basically fried chicken with gravy.
While the flour coating gives the gravy something to really hold onto, I wanted to limit the amount of oil that would otherwise be required. Eliminating this step streamlines the recipe without much change in the result. Not dredging also means you can render the fat from the chicken as it browns, thus reducing the need for additional oil even further.
Step 2: Saute the vegetables. Once the chicken is browned and set to the side, vegetables are added to the pan to form the base of the gravy. I like the simplicity of onion and garlic.
The two sides of Cheatham’s family used either the “trinity” (onions, celery and green bell pepper) or onions, celery and mushrooms. She prefers the trinity, but is not beholden to it, and will use various vegetables she has on hand.
Step 3: Build a roux. After the vegetables have cooked down some, sprinkle them with flour before adding liquid to form the gravy. I like my gravy full bodied, so I call for more flour than some recipes, but you can reduce it if you prefer a thinner consistency. And while all-purpose flour certainly gets the job done, Cheatham recommends Wondra, a type of instant flour that dissolves easily, eliminating any worry about lumps.
Step 4: Add liquid and braise the chicken. You can use chicken stock and a splash of vinegar as the braising liquid. For a creamier gravy, add some form of dairy or stir in a can of cream of mushroom or chicken soup. A couple sprigs of thyme help flavour the braising liquid in the recipe below. Sage and bay leaves are also common, but soy sauce, Dijon mustard or Worcestershire sauce can add extra pizazz. Lastly, let it simmer on the stovetop until the chicken is tender and the gravy is full of flavour. (Though you could also braise it in the oven, if you wish.)
There are as many iterations of smothered chicken as there are cooks, and you can’t go wrong once you have the basic steps and fundamentals down. However, one thing just about everyone will agree on is that it’s always a good idea to serve it with rice to sop up the gravy.
SMOTHERED CHICKEN
Active time: 45 minutes | Total time: one hour 15 minutes
Four to six servings
Storage Notes: Refrigerate leftovers for up to three days.
INGREDIENTS
– Two tablespoons vegetable oil
– One and a quarter teaspoons fine salt, divided, plus more to taste
– One teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more to taste
– Half teaspoon garlic powder
– Half teaspoon smoked paprika
– Three pounds chicken leg quarters, patted dry (can substitute thighs and/or drumsticks) (see NOTES)
– Two medium yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced
– Three to four cloves garlic, minced or finely grated
– Three tablespoons all-purpose flour
– One cup unsalted or low-sodium chicken stock
– Two to three sprigs fresh thyme
DIRECTIONS
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil until shimmering. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix one teaspoon of salt, the pepper, garlic powder and paprika until combined. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture all over the chicken.
Working in batches, if needed, so as to not overcrowd the pan, place the chicken in the skillet, skin side down, and sear until nicely browned, four to eight minutes. Flip the chicken and cook on the other side until browned, about five minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter or rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining chicken, if needed.
Add the onions and the remaining quarter teaspoon of salt to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to brown, about eight minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring regularly, until fragrant, about one minute. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and cook, stirring regularly, until lightly browned, about two minutes.
Add the braising liquid (chicken stock and a splash of vinegar), scraping up any stuck-on bits from the bottom of the pan. Add additional stock and thyme, stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet, partially cover, and cook, adjusting the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer, until the chicken is fully cooked (an instant-read thermometer should register at least 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the chicken without touching the bone) and tender, about 30 minutes. Taste, and season with salt and/or pepper, as desired. Discard thyme sprigs and serve.
NOTES: If using leg quarters, you can cut each quarter into thighs and drumsticks for more servings.
TOKYO (AP) – The scandal at a top Japanese brokerage widened as the vice president of SMBC Nikko Securities was arrested yesterday and the company was charged with stock manipulation.
The arrest of Toshihiro Sato on charges of violating securities regulations followed arrests earlier this month of four other employees of the Tokyo-based company on the same charges.
The company and some employees are accused of propping up stock prices by putting in massive buy orders, prosecutors said.
Those arrested earlier denied wrongdoing, saying they were just carrying out normal procedures, according to Japanese media reports. Sato’s comments were not immediately available, but the arrest highlights how Tokyo District Prosecutors suspect the top echelons of the company were involved in unlawful stock dealings.
SMBC Nikko did not return calls requesting comment. The company’s CEO Yuichiro Kondo apologised at a news conference earlier this month about the scandal. He said the company was investigating internally to prevent a recurrence.
ZURICH (AFP) – Clutching her baby, Alona Shevchenko’s eyes well up with tears as the plane lifts off from Krakow.
“I am alone,” she said. “I finally feel we are in safety, but I do not know what awaits us.”
The 29-year-old is among some 90 Ukrainian refugees – nearly all women and children – being flown to Switzerland as they escape the violence in their conflict-torn country.
The plane has been chartered by Swiss millionaire Guido Fluri, who said experiences from his own troubled childhood instilled a visceral sense of obligation to help those uprooted and in crisis.
“If I can help, I help,” said Fluri, who spent time in foster care as a child, having been taken from his mother who had him young and later developed schizophrenia.
“When you are fortunate later in life, you have to learn to take responsibility for people who are suffering,” he told AFP as the all-but-empty A320 plane headed towards Krakow in Poland to pick up the Ukrainian passengers.
“For me, it is an obligation.”
This is the second such flight the real estate mogul and philanthropist organised since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
On March 8, he flew in 150 people from Krakow to Switzerland, while he has bussed around 80 others to the wealthy Alpine country.
A Ukrainian refugee holds his sleeping child in a bus after landing at Zurich Airport from Krakow in a plane chartered by a Swiss millionaire. PHOTOS: AFPSwiss millionaire Guido Fluri plays with a young Ukrainian at Krakow Airport before flying to ZurichABOVE & BELOW: Ukrainian refugees rest in a plane from Krakow to Zurich; and Ukrainian refugees exit a plane
The transfers are being organised with help from associations in cooperation with Swiss, Polish and Ukrainian authorities, and Fluri said he expected to bring in around 400 people in total.
“We will help for as long as it is possible. Money is not a main concern,” he said.
Upon arrival in Krakow, the youthful 55-year-old, wearing jeans and a worn leather jacket, walked eagerly towards the waiting area, flanked by his wife Tania, his 20-year-old son Samuel and 14-year-old daughter Luisa.
They greeted the exhausted-looking passengers, handing the children stuffed toy birds in the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag, and asking the names of the many cats and dogs held in cages and on laps.
“I am a bit excited, and scared,” 35-year-old school English teacher Olga Titkova told AFP.
Her mother and grandmother remained behind in Pryluky, east of Kyiv, which had so far been spared in the conflict, but with shelling just kilometres away.
“It is not safe to stay… I have three kids, so I should save their lives,” she said, glancing anxiously over at the young children clambering on their father, one of only three men in
the group.
Titkova, whose cream-coloured mask accentuated the dark circles under her eyes, said she hoped to return home, but only if Ukraine wins the war.
“I want to live in a free country. I want my kids to be free.”
Once settled on the plane, the refugees listened as a Ukrainian translator told them about their destination, and joined in shouts of ‘Slava Ukraini’, or ‘Glory to Ukraine’.
As the plane took off, they burst into loud applause.
“I hope Switzerland can offer me a comfortable life,” said Olena, a 45-year-old arts teacher from Chernigiv, near the Belarusian and Russian borders, which suffered heavy shelling.
“I left behind a beautiful house, a beautiful life,” she said.
Sitting next to her, her 15-year-old son said he had been looking forward to starting high school next year, but “now I have no plans”.
When the plane lands in Zurich, double-decker buses take the refugees to accommodation in various locations.
Two dozen are shuttled about an hour away to a former children’s home in Mumliswil-Ramiswil in Solothurn canton, where Fluri spent time as a foster child.
His foundation later bought the building and turned it into a memorial to children like him, removed from their families.
After helping serve the exhausted travellers a meal of soup and bread, Fluri noted “the relief on their faces”.
It was a powerful emotional experience, he said, to “help bring people to safety who have fled, who have feared death, been shot at”.
Over 3.6 million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began, according to the United Nations (UN).
Nearly 13,000 made it to Switzerland, with regional authorities estimating hundreds of thousands could arrive by the end of the year.
At the Mumliswil-Ramiswil house, Shevchenko balanced a crying child, Yegor on her lap.
“The trip was very, very long,” she said.
She recalled how strong she felt in her old life as a Kyiv police officer.
“Now I am afraid. I cry a lot.”
She worries about her husband, also a police officer now defending the Ukrainian capital, and her parents, her brother and dog, all left behind.
“I am very afraid for Kyiv. They are bombing houses. I don’t know which house will be next.”
LONDON (AP) – Authorities said 29 people were taken to the hospital with breathing difficulties on Wednesday after a “high quantity of chlorine gas” leaked in a swimming pool at the London sports complex that hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics.
The London Fire Brigade said around 200 people were evacuated after the chlorine gas was discharged inside the Aquatics Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London due to a “chemical reaction”.
The brigade said it took 29 people to the hospital and assessed another 48 people at the scene.
Most of those affected reported minor breathing difficulties, it said.
The fire service declared a “major incident” and sent a large team of emergency workers including 13 ambulance crews and members of its hazardous area response team.
Surrounding roads were cordoned off and the public was denied access to the park.
