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Children trapped in cable car dangling over Pakistan ravine
Six children are among the eight people who have been trapped all day Tuesday in a cable car dangling over a deep valley in Pakistan, with military helicopters hovering nearby ahead of a possible rescue attempt. The children were using the chairlift to get to school when a cable broke at a height of around 1,200 feet (about 365 meters) midway through its journey in a remote, mountainous part of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. "The evening is coming nearer. Tell us why the helicopters are going back?" Gul Faraz, one of the adults stuck in the cable car, said to AFP by phone. "For God's sake help us," he earlier told local media. Several military helicopters flew reconnaissance sorties and an airman was lowered by harness to deliver food, water and medicine, Tanveer Ur Rehman, a local government official, told AFP. "This is a delicate operation that demands meticulous accuracy. The helicopter can not approach the chairlift closely, as its downwash (air pressure) might snap the sole chain supporting it," he said. Anxious crowds gathered on both sides of the ravine, which is several hours from any sizeable town. "Every time the helicopter lowered the rescuer closer to the chairlift, the wind from the helicopter would shake and disbalance the chairlift making the children scream in fear," Ghulamullah, chairman of the Allai valley area, told Geo News. 'What can they do?' The gondola broke down at around 7:00 am local time, with residents using mosque loudspeakers to alert neighborhood officials across the Allai valley. Headmaster Ali Asghar Khan told AFP by phone that the children were teenage boys and students at his government high school Battangi Pashto. "The school is located in a mountainous area and there are no safe crossings, so it's common to use the chairlift," Khan said. "The parents are gathered at the site of the chairlift. What can they do? They are waiting for the rescue officials to get their children out. We are all worried." Abid Ur Rehman, a teacher from another school in the area, said around 500 people had gathered to watch the rescue mission. "Parents and women are crying for the safety of their children," he told AFP. Syed Hammad Haider, a senior Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial official, said the gondola was hanging about 1,000 to 1,200 feet above the ground. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar issued a directive for all chairlifts in mountainous areas to be inspected and for those that are not "safety compliant" to be immediately closed. Cable cars that carry passengers and sometimes cars are common across the northern areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Gilgit-Baltistan, and are vital in connecting villages and towns in areas where roads cannot be built. In 2017, 10 people were killed when a chairlift cable broke, sending passengers plunging into a ravine in a mountain hamlet near capital Islamabad. The post Children trapped in cable car dangling over Pakistan ravine appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Better Net, more FDI
Apart from servicing the needs of global Filipinos, PLDT Global Corp. strengthens its commitment to bringing international technology solutions to the Philippines and supporting the country’s aspiration to become a hyper-scaler hub in Asia. PLDT Global is the international unit of PLDT, the largest fully integrated network in the Philippines. As demand for data and ICT services continue to drive growth for PLDT’s enterprise business, PLDT Global contributes to this upward trend by registering a significant increase in revenues from Enterprise International Private Leased Circuit, data centers and cross connect in Asia Pacific and carrier businesses. “PLDT Global remains committed to providing innovative platforms and channels to our global network of carriers and technology partners, connecting them to a huge market of potential clients not only overseas, but also in the Philippines,” said Albert V. Villa-Real, president and CEO at PLDT Global. Leveraging on PLDT’s most extensive fiber infrastructure, PLDT Global aims to open more opportunities for the country to deliver the connectivity needs of hyperscalers and foreign investors who want to locate in the Philippines — home to a huge, Internet-savvy population, and a massive market for gaming, content, and media service. As of end-March 2023, PLDT’s total fiber footprint spans over 1.1 million kilometers, consisting of over 231,000 kilometers of international fiber and over 874,000 kilometers of domestic fiber. This fiber infrastructure also supports Smart’s mobile network, covering 97 percent of the population with 3G, 4G/LTE and 5G technology. “We strive to power the nation’s economic backbone by serving the connectivity and ICT needs of our customers with our unparalleled fiber optic network infrastructure. Through PLDT Global, we hope to tap the global market and encourage more foreign direct investments to the Philippines to strengthen our position as a Tiger Cub Economy in Asia,” said Mitch V. Locsin, first VP and head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise and International Business Groups. The completion of its 11th Vitro data center in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, by early 2024 will further cement PLDT’s foothold as the country’s Data Center powerhouse as its investments in the Jupiter, Asia Direct, and Apricot cable systems will further support the hyper-scaler ecosystem for massive data capacity and high-speed connectivity. Together with Meralco, PLDT also aims to deliver world-class and sustainable data centers powered by renewable energy. The post Better Net, more FDI appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SoKor mulling 4 DPWH projects
The Department of Public Works and Highways revealed on Friday that four of its proposed infrastructure projects have piqued the interest of the South Korea-based Export-Import Bank of Korea. In a statement, DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, also the chief implementer of the country’s “Build Better More” program, said there have been talks for “enhanced cooperation” between the agency and KEXIM under South Korea’s Economic Development Promotion Facility, a loan program intended to fund large infrastructure projects. Four projects primarily in Central Luzon and Central Visayas are targeted for said funding, including a 28.82-kilometer bypass road project traversing five municipalities and flood control works on two rivers across three municipalities in Pampanga, and a detailed engineering design of a 10.6-kilometer bypass road and feasibility study on two bridges across Lapu-Lapu Coastal Road in Cebu. Loan agreements The DPWH has already partnered with KEXIM in loan agreements in the past, including the 32.47-kilometer Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island bridge project, a project under the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program with loans worth $56.6 million. Last year, the DPWH said that KEXIM has committed to funding more infrastructure projects under President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. 's ‘Build Better More’ program and has already funded feasibility studies and ongoing infrastructure works in the country. In a related development, some South Korean construction firms have expressed interest to work on the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge project during the Global Project Plaza 2023, as part of the Asian Development Bank meeting in Incheon, South Korea. Sadain said that the detailed engineering design for the project is already 85 percent complete, heading to meet a June deadline. Infrastructure works Last March, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan revealed the commencement of infrastructure works for the said bridge, which will consist of a two-channel, four-lane bridge linking Naic, Cavite, and Mariveles, Bataan, as well as two cable-stayed structures measuring 400 meters and 900 meters respectively. It is expected to cross Manila Bay, with each channel beside Corregidor Island in Bataan. ADB funded the project with a Php 175 million allocation, with target completion set within the next five years, or up until the end of Marcos’ term. The post SoKor mulling 4 DPWH projects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippine’s longest subsea cable for completion in April
The Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network has reached Zamboanga City, one of the last few stops in its rotation, putting it on track for completion by April......»»
NGCP restores damaged submarine line in Visayas
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines has increased the reliability of power transmission services between the islands of Negros and Cebu with the completion of the restoration of the damaged Amlan-Samboan submarine cable......»»
Damage on cable sets back NGCP& rsquo;s cable link project
National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said Thursday the completion of the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project is facing delays beyond the December target following the damage sustained by portions of the submarine fiber optic cable connection......»»
Globe submarine cable segment
Globe submarine cable segment.....»»
PLDT: Disputes in final terms led to aborted Sky Cable buyout
Telco giant PLDT Inc. said it failed to agree with Sky Cable Corp. on the commercial terms of their P6.75-billion merger, leaving them no choice but to call off the deal abruptly......»»
Sky-high debt a major factor in aborted cable TV merger
It was a ‘til debt do us part’ of sorts that caused the collapse of talks between telco giant PLDT Inc. and Sky Cable Corp.’s parent firm ABS-CBN, industry sources said......»»
Converge out to challenge Cignal, Sky Cable in pay TV
Pampanga-based tycoon Dennis Anthony Uy will infiltrate the pay TV segment soon to challenge the dominance of Cignal Cable Corp. and Sky Cable Corp......»»
Cable 99: Working constructively with attorneys
February 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the State Department’s famous cable, 99 State 21138 (“Cable 99”)......»»
PLDT, ABS-CBN call-off P6.75-B SkyCable deal
PLDT and ABS-CBN “mutually decided not to proceed with the sale of Sky Cable to PLDT under the sale and purchase agreement signed by and among the parties in March 2023.”.....»»
Opposition reveals some 2025 Senate bets | The wRap
The wRap highlights: 2025 elections, PLDT-Sky Cable deal, Taylor Swift in Singapore.....»»
PLDT-Sky Cable merger unplugged
Telco giant PLDT Inc. will no longer pursue its P6.75-billion buyout of Sky Cable Corp., marking the second time a deal between the two was called off......»»
Netizens react to ABS-CBN and PLDT’s about-face on Sky: ‘Parang engagement lang ni Dom at Bea’
Reactions to the 'corporate drama' between ABS-CBN and PLDT on its Sky Cable deal prompted a netizen to liken it to the recent break-up of actress Bea Alonzo and Dominic Roque.....»»
PLDT, ABS-CBN terminate Sky Cable sale
Sky Cable Corp., a subsidiary of ABS-CBN, will no longer be sold to the Manny V. Pangilinan-led PLDT Inc., both companies announced on Thursday. .....»»
PLDT’s acquisition of Sky Cable canceled
PLDT’s acquisition of Sky Cable canceled.....»»
With closure of Sky Cable, ANC offers paid subscription online in bid to stay afloat
The ABS-CBN News Channel pivots to paid subscription on YouTube as it stands to lose financial support arising from Sky Cable's closure.....»»
Eastern Communications activates submarine cable PDSCN ‘Express Route’
Eastern Communications activates submarine cable PDSCN ‘Express Route’.....»»
So long to Sky Cable
News is out that Sky Cable will sign off by month’s end, making it the second major broadcast carrier and communications conglomerate to write 30 in as many months, after CNN Philippines last January. PLDT’s purchase of the cable provider has finally been approved by the concerned agencies, so Sky pay TV will transition to Cignal while still retaining its broadband service......»»