Palestinian girls mourn relatives killed in overnight Israeli strikes on the al-Mawasi cafeteria in southern Gaza's Khan Yunis at Nasser hospital. PHOTO: AFP
DEIR AL-BALAH (AP) – Palestinian medical officials said two Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least 14 people, including two children and a woman, most in an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone.
One strike late on Monday hit a makeshift cafeteria used by displaced people in Muwasi, the centre of the so-called humanitarian zone.
At least 11 people were killed, including two children, according to officials at Nasser Hospital, where the casualties were taken.
Video from the scene showed men pulling bloodied wounded from among tables and chairs set up in the sand in an enclosure made of corrugated metal sheets.
The strike came hours after the Israeli military announced an expansion of the zone, where it has told Palestinians evacuating from other parts of Gaza to take refuge.
Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltering in sprawling tent camps in and around Muwasi, a largely desolate area of dunes and agricultural fields with few facilities or services along the Mediterranean coast of southern Gaza.
Israel faces a deadline this week for the Biden administration’s ultimatum for it to allow more aid into Gaza or risk possible restrictions on United States (US) military funding.
Israel has announced a series of steps toward improving the situation, including the zone’s expansion.
But US officials recently signalled Israel still isn’t doing enough, though they have not said if they will take any action against it.
A group of eight international aid agencies said in a report issued yesterday that Israel has failed to meet the US demands.
Another strike early yesterday hit a house in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing three people including a woman, according to al-Awda Hospital, which received the casualties. The strike also wounded 11 others, it said.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on either strike.
Israel’s 13-month-old campaign in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities who don’t distinguish between civilians and militants in their count, but said more than half the dead were women and children.
Palestinian girls mourn relatives killed in overnight Israeli strikes on the al-Mawasi cafeteria in southern Gaza’s Khan Yunis at Nasser hospital. PHOTO: AFP
Oh, the joy of anime where anything – absolutely anything – can happen.
Dandadan, adapted from Yukinobu Tatsu’s eclectic manga, is a whirlwind that left me gasping, laughing and occasionally questioning my own sanity. Imagine a high school drama interspersed with spirits, aliens and one particularly bizarre hunt for golden “family jewels”. Yes, you heard that right.
I should’ve known from the first five minutes that my usual popcorn wouldn’t suffice. By the time Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura (forever ‘Okarun’ in my mind) ended up in a reality-defying battle with an elderly spirit named Turbo Granny, I was already clutching my cushion for comfort.
It’s been a while since an anime swept me into its chaotic orbit this quickly since Kaiju No 8, and with such audacity. Bear in mind though, it’s got an age rating of 17+ or 14+ and the first episode has Momo in her undergarment.
A STORY THAT SPIRALS OUT OF CONTROL (IN THE BEST WAY)
The series opens with Momo and Okarun challenging each other to prove that ghosts and aliens are real. What starts as an innocent wager spirals into interdimensional madness.
One moment Momo is showcasing psychokinetic prowess; the next, Okarun is struggling to hold onto his, let’s say, “masculine assets”, which Turbo Granny delightfully pilfers. The stakes have never been so hilariously high.
This show doesn’t just flirt with absurdity, it marries it in a whirlwind ceremony officiated by UFOs and yōkai. Every episode plunges you deeper into the weird and wonderful, where each twist makes you wonder if the writer lost a bet or found the world’s most interesting fever dream.
It’s hard not to love Momo, whose gyaru energy scream confidence, even as she navigates battles with aliens and her complicated crush (which she hasn’t fully realised in the episodes that are already out) on Okarun.
And then there’s Okarun himself, a blend of sweet and perpetually anxious, constantly under supernatural siege yet managing to stay endearing. Their chemistry is both high-school-level romantic, and a survival pact laced with awkward admiration and reluctant teamwork.
One standout is Seiko Ayase, Momo’s grandmother, a spirit medium who can put any anime’s wise mentor to shame.
With a personality as brash as her exorcism skills, she’s both comic relief and a formidable force – who knew an elderly woman with no innate powers could steal every scene she’s in?
ABOVE & BELOW: Photos show scenes from the anime. PHOTO: NETFLIXPHOTO: NETFLIXPHOTO: NETFLIXPHOTO: NETFLIXPHOTO: NETFLIX
A GLORIOUS HODGEPODGE OF ANIMATION AND SOUND
Science Saru’s animation takes Dandadan to that rare tier where sheer style meets fluid madness. Expect to see Momo and Okarun moving with an exaggerated dynamism that echoes their outlandish predicaments.
The visual transitions between comedic slapstick and eerie, pulse-pounding horror are almost too smooth. One minute you’re watching a Turbo Granny chase scene that feels like Looney Tunes on steroids; the next, you’re bracing for a jump scare with hauntingly rendered yōkai.
Kensuke Ushio’s soundtrack? A surreal cherry on top. When the creepy theme of Turbo Granny kicked in, I felt like a teenager again, sneaking a horror film at 3am on a dare. And if that wasn’t enough, the show’s opening theme Otonoke by Creepy Nuts is an absolute earworm – catchy with a dash of eerie, much like the show itself. Admittedly, I’ve caught myself repeatedly singing Dandadan Dandadan Dandadan absent-mindedly. I just love the music they put out – like Bling-Bang-Bang-Born from the Mashle: Magic and Muscles anime.
WHY IT WORKS (DESPITE ITSELF)
Dandadan works because it’s utterly fearless. It doesn’t just dip its toes into genre-mixing, it dives headfirst into a soup of sci-fi, horror and rom-com, armed with a ladle and a grin.
My favourite moment (okay, one of many) was Momo outsmarting an alien-creature hybrid with a blessed talisman in the second episode and a trick worthy of slapstick legend. It reminded me of the times I’d concoct wild scenarios during childhood games, where logic had no place and fun reigned supreme.
But it isn’t all chaos for chaos’ sake. Beneath the insanity, there’s a narrative about finding connection and bravery in unexpected places.
Watching Momo and Okarun’s relationship evolve from strangers to teammates who’d risk anything for each other felt surprisingly heartfelt, like seeing friends grow closer through absurd shared experiences. I’ll confess: I laughed when they awkwardly flirted mid-battle, but I also rooted for them as they faced giant crabs and maniacal spirits.
To put it simply, it isn’t just an anime. Somehow, it’s a reminder that sometimes you need a series that throws rules out the window and opts for sheer entertainment.
Sure, it’s not for everyone – those looking for conventional stories or minimal weirdness might flee. But if you’ve ever stayed up late telling ghost stories or wondered what would happen if Studio Ghibli, a haunted house, and an alien invasion had a lovechild, Dandadan is a must-watch.
To anyone ready to experience chaos wrapped in heart: grab that cushion, maybe a second snack, and dive into the wonderfully bizarre world of Dandadan. You won’t regret it – though you may need a moment to catch your breath – or maybe it’s best to wait ‘til the first season ends so you don’t wait too long for the next episode for come. – Izah Azahari
The OPPAV flying taxi manufactured by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and Hyundai Motors Company. PHOTO: THE JAKARTA POST/KOREA AEROSPACE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
ANN/THE JAKARTA POST – The Nusantara Capital City (IKN) Authority is advancing plans to commercialise flying taxis by 2029 as part of its smart air mobility initiative for Indonesia’s future capital.
According to IKN’s Green and Digital Transformation Deputy Mohammed Ali Berawi, this effort will help establish industries around urban air mobility and advanced air mobility (UAM-AAM), expanding Indonesia’s UAM-AAM ecosystem.
The IKN Authority is collaborating with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and Hyundai Motors Company (HMC) on the ambitious project, organised into three phases.
Phase I (2024-2025) centres on proof-of-concept and policy studies, marked by the successful trial flight of a sky taxi on July 29 over Aji Pangeran Tumenggung Pranoto Airport in East Kalimantan, demonstrating stable performance at 50-80 metres.
Phase II (2026-2028) will move toward operational implementation, with a research and development centre for UAM-AAM technologies and a business model for air mobility in Indonesia.
The phase will also include collaboration with HMC, KARI, and PT Dirgantara Indonesia for technology transfer.
In Phase III (2029), the IKN Authority plans to launch sky taxi services commercially, incorporating local companies in the supply chain.
The South Korean-designed sky taxi, which seats five and runs on a battery, aligns with Indonesia’s vision for a green, sustainable new capital.
The OPPAV flying taxi manufactured by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and Hyundai Motors Company. PHOTO: THE JAKARTA POST/KOREA AEROSPACE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
A driver charging a VinFast electric vehicle at a charging station in Hanoi, Vietnam. PHOTO: AFP
HANOI (AFP) – Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) maker VinFast will receive USD3.5 billion in new funding, the majority from its chief executive officer (CEO) Pham Nhat Vuong, parent group Vingroup said yesterday, as it struggles to break into the international market.
VinFast – Vietnam’s first homegrown car manufacturer – is aiming to compete with global EV giants such as Tesla.
It debuted on the Nasdaq in August 2023 at USD10, hitting headlines around the world as its valuation skyrocketed and then crashed. It was sitting at USD3.89 at Monday’s close.
Yesterday, Vingroup said in a press release that it plans to lend VinFast up to USD1.4 billion by the end of the year.
Vuong will also inject USD2.1 billion into the EV maker, it said, after he gave USD1 billion in April.
The move aims “to provide VinFast with sufficient financial resources to fund operations, investments, and other obligations”, the group said in a statement.
The goal is also to achieve the break-even point and cash flow balance by the end of 2026, the statement added.
VinFast said in the first 10 months of the year, it delivered 51,000 EVs to the domestic market. The company has continued “to expand its business in the US, Canada, and Europe, while rapidly penetrating new markets such as the Middle East, Indonesia, the Philippines, and India,” but did not provide further details on EVs sales there.
The company reported net losses of more than USD2 billion last year.
Vuong, Vietnam’s richest person, was appointed CEO of VinFast earlier this year. He is also chairman of the parent firm Vingroup.
The firm set a target of delivering 100,000 EVs in 2024.
A driver charging a VinFast electric vehicle at a charging station in Hanoi, Vietnam. PHOTO: AFP
A man stands outside the headquarters for Japanese company SoftBank Group in Tokyo. PHOTO: AFP
TOKYO (AFP) – Japanese tech investor SoftBank Group yesterday posted a bumper second-quarter net profit of USD7.7 billion, returning to the black after net losses in the first quarter and the previous financial year.
The company’s results often swing dramatically because it invests heavily in tech start-ups and semiconductor firms, whose share prices are volatile.
In July-September, SoftBank’s net profit totalled JPY1.18 trillion – far higher than the JPY295 billion forecast by analysts.
The figure marked a turnaround from a net loss of JPY174.3 billion in April-June, which itself was an improvement on net losses in the previous three months.
SoftBank’s bets on artificial intelligence (AI) and other tech innovations – championed by flamboyant founder Masayoshi Son – have made for rollercoaster earnings seasons.
A man stands outside the headquarters for Japanese company SoftBank Group in Tokyo. PHOTO: AFP
A flare burns natural gas at an oil well in Watford City, North Dakota, United States. PHOTO: AP
WASHINGTON (AP) – Oil and natural gas companies for the first time will have to pay a federal fee if they emit dangerous methane above certain levels under a rule being made final by the Biden administration.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule follows through on a directive from Congress included in the 2022 climate law. The new fee is intended to encourage industry to adopt best practices that reduce emissions of methane – the primary component of natural gas – and thereby avoid paying.
Methane is a climate ‘super pollutant’ that is far more potent in the short term than carbon dioxide and is responsible for about one-third of greenhouse gas emissions. The oil and natural gas sector is the largest industrial source of methane emissions in the United States (US), and advocates said reduction of methane emissions is a crucial way to slow climate change.
The rule comes hours after President-elect Donald Trump named former New York congressman Lee Zeldin to head the agency in Trump’s second term. If confirmed by the Senate, Zeldin is expected to move to reverse or loosen dozens of environmental regulations approved under President Joe Biden as Trump seeks to establish US ‘energy dominance’ worldwide.
Trump is likely to target the methane fee amid a flurry of expected actions he has promised to deregulate the oil and gas industry.
As outlined by the EPA, excess methane produced in 2024 could result in a fee of USD900 per tonne, with fees rising to USD1,200 per tonne in 2025 and USD1,500 per tonne by 2026. Industry groups are likely to challenge the rule, including any effort to impose a retroactive fee.
The rule will not become final until early next year, following publication in the Federal Register.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement that the rule will work in tandem with a new EPA rule on methane emissions imposed this year. The rule targets the US oil and natural gas industry for its role in global warming as Biden seeks to secure his legacy on fighting climate change.
The fee, formally known as the Waste Emissions Charge, will encourage early deployment of available technologies to reduce methane emissions and other harmful air pollutants, Regan said. The fee “is the latest in a series of actions under President Biden’s methane strategy to improve efficiency in the oil and gas sector, support American jobs, protect clean air and reinforce US leadership on the global stage”, he said.
Industry groups and Republican-led states have challenged the earlier methane rule in court, but lost a bid for the Supreme Court to block the rule while the case continues before lower-level judges.
Opponents argue that EPA overstepped its authority and set unattainable standards with the new regulations. The EPA, though, said the rules are squarely within its legal responsibilities and would protect the public.
Many large oil and gas companies already meet or exceed methane-performance levels set by Congress under the climate law, meaning they are unlikely to be forced to pay the new fee, Regan and other officials said.
Even so, EPA estimates that the rule will result in cumulative emissions reductions of 1.2 million metric tonnes of methane (34 million metric tonnes of carbon-dioxide equivalent) through 2035. That figure is similar to clean-air gains from taking nearly eight million gas-powered cars off the road for a year, the EPA said.
A flare burns natural gas at an oil well in Watford City, North Dakota, United States. PHOTO: AP
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell shoots a three-point basket against Chicago Bulls guard
Ayo Dosunmu. PHOTO: AP
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Donovan Mitchell scored 36 points as the unbeaten Cleveland Cavaliers came from behind once more to preserve their 100 per cent start to the season with a 119-113 victory over the Chicago Bulls yesterday.
The Cavaliers, who overcame a 14-point deficit to beat Brooklyn on Saturday, were again forced to dig deep, battling back from nine points down in the third quarter for a road victory that takes them to 12-0 for the season.
Mitchell led another fine all-round offensive performance from Cleveland, who have emerged as the surprise package of the season and are the only undefeated team in the league.
Six Cleveland players finished in double figures, with point guard Darius Garland adding 17 points and Evan Mobley 15. Caris LeVert, Georges Niang and Ty Jerome all had 12 points each off the bench.
Chicago, meanwhile, were left ruing their inability to take full advantage after pulling into an 85-76 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Instead, Cleveland came roaring back with a 9-0 run to tie the game and then pulled ahead to lead by three points heading into the fourth quarter, before closing out victory by outscoring Chicago 24-21 in the final frame.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell shoots a three-point basket against Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu. PHOTO: AP
Zach LaVine led Chicago’s scorers with 26 points while Coby White and Nikola Vucevic had 20 points apiece. The Bulls fell to 4-7 with the loss.
“We dug deep,” Mitchell said after the win. “Honestly, the bench saved us. Starters were a little fatigued and I guess teams are coming at us. But we persevered, and shoutout to the bench for that. It’s a group effort.
“For us to continue to be what we want to be, that’s what it’s going to take. It was a complete team win… every night it’s somebody different. We’re playing for each other, being selfless. We’ve got to keep it going.”
WEMBY SPARKS SPURS
In other games, French star Victor Wembanyama cut loose with 34 points, 14 rebounds and six assists to help the San Antonio Spurs to a 116-96 blowout against the Sacramento Kings.
Sacramento started brightly, moving into a 26-22 lead after the first quarter.
But San Antonio took charge in the second quarter, pouring in 38 points including seven three-pointers to move into a lead that they never relinquished thereafter.
All of San Antonio’s starters post double-digit points tallies, with Julian Champagnie adding 13 points and veteran Chris Paul 12.
THUNDER STRIKES BACK
The Oklahoma City Thunder meanwhile bounced back from Monday’s home defeat to Golden State with a gutsy 134-128 home defeat of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Oklahoma City’s defeat on Monday had been overshadowed by a gloomy injury update to towering young star Chet Holmgren, who was confirmed to have suffered a fractured pelvis after falling to the court against the Warriors.
However the Thunder showed no sign of a hangover from that loss on Monday, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander erupting for 45 points in a virtuoso performance.
Jalen Williams added 28 points while Luguentz Dort finished with 19.
In other games on Monday, the Brooklyn Nets downed the New Orleans Pelicans 107-105 on the road, while the Houston Rockets cruised past the Washington Wizards 107-92.
Germany’s Alexander Zverev hits a return to Russia’s Andrey Rublev during their match
at the ATP Finals
tennis tournament.
PHOTO: AFP
TURIN (AFP) – Alexander Zverev opened his campaign at the ATP Finals in Turin on Monday evening by dispatching Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-4 in their round-robin opener.
In the afternoon match, Casper Ruud romped through the opening set before fighting back from 5-2 behind in the second to beat an out-sorts Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 7-5.
Germany’s Zverev had last faced Russian Rublev at the same stage of the finals in 2023 and won by the same score.
Zverev, a two-time winner of this event in 2018 and 2021, moved to second in the John Newcombe group, behind Norway’s Ruud.
The 27-year-old Zverev, the recent winner of the Paris Masters 1000, has climbed back to number two in the world this season. After an injury-hit 2022 season he had briefly dropped out of the top 25 in 2023.
“I was never sure I was going to get back to this level,” Zverev said on the court in Turin.
“Second year in a row for me here. I still want to get better. I still want to improve on a few things. We’ll see how next year goes.”
Rublev held to love in his first three service games. He won a 13th straight point on serve to open the crucial seventh game, but Zverev then won the next four to break to 15.
Zverev did not allow a break point against his serve all match and converted immediately both times he had the chance. “I thought it was a very solid match from my end,” said Zverev.
“Andrey is an incredible player, but everyone who plays here is an unbelievable player.
“Against anyone here, you have to play your best to have a chance, you have to be solid, mentally strong. I feel like I did that today, I felt like I used my chances quite well and I’m obviously happy with this win.”
Earlier Alcaraz, the world number three got off to a shaky start to his maiden ATP Finals, making 34 unforced errors in an uncharacteristically errant display.
“I’m tired. I’m tired mentally,” said Alcaraz, who won the French Open and Wimbledon titles earlier this year.
“Obviously a lot of matches, really tight schedule, really demanding year with not too many days off, not too many periods for you could rest.
“Some players deal with it better than others.”
Alcaraz said he had struggled with sickness and adapting to the indoor surface.
“A few days before coming here, I got sick at home,” said the Spaniard. “I don’t like to sound like I’m making excuses but today I didn’t feel well on court.”
Germany’s Alexander Zverev hits a return to Russia’s Andrey Rublev during their match at the ATP Finals tennis tournament. PHOTO: AFP
ANN/Philippine Daily Inquirer – The Philippine economy is expected to grow by 6.3 per cent in 2025, according to a report released on Monday by BMI Research, part of the Fitch Group.
This projection is slightly higher than this year’s forecast, driven by a recovery in domestic activity and resilient demand.
BMI Research highlights that an uptick in private consumption will support growth, as inflation dropped from a high of 4.4 per cent in July to 2.3 per cent in October, which is likely to boost real household incomes.
The report also pointed to strong import performance as a sign of rising household spending and noted that labour market conditions remain stable. Recent data show a slight dip in unemployment, from 4.0 per cent in August to 3.7 per cent in September, alongside a small rise in the labour force participation rate.
However, BMI Research flagged some downside risks, particularly related to trade policy changes in the United States (US) under newly elected President Donald Trump. Trump has proposed tariffs of up to 20 per cent on all US imports, a move that could impact the Philippines, given its close trade ties with the US.
MÁLAGA (AFP) – Poland head into their first-round clash with hosts Spain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals buoyed by the presence of Iga Swiatek and dreaming of a first-ever title in the team event.
The Poles have finished bottom of their group in each of the past two years without five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek, but she will be making her debut in the revamped knockout tournament.
Swiatek has struggled for her best form since winning her fourth French Open title earlier this year, failing to reach a final.
Her WTA Finals title defence ended in the group stage last week despite winning two of her three round-robin matches and she arrives in Malaga relatively fresh after missing several competitions in recent months.
“I’m happy that I can be part of the team again, because I always wanted that every year, but with the scheduling, it was pretty tricky and kind of impossible to make it work,” world number two Swiatek told a press conference. “I’m just happy to be here, and hopefully I can play some solid matches here and stay as long as possible together with the team.”
Poland, who also have Magdalena Frech and Magda Linette in their squad, have comfortably the highest average ranking for their top three players of any team in the tournament.
The only other top-10 player scheduled to feature is Italy’s world number four Jasmine Paolini. Poland face a tricky opening tie, though, against Spain, with Swiatek set to face former world number two Paula Badosa.
