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MLB roundup: Giolito, White Sox down A’s in opener

LUCAS GIOLITO took a perfect game into the seventh inning and the Chicago White Sox used three home runs for a 4-1 victory over the host Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of their American League first-round playoff series on Tuesday.

Making his postseason debut, Giolito retired the first 18 batters he faced until Tommy La Stella lashed a single up the middle to lead off the seventh inning and break up the perfect-game bid.

Giolito (1-0), who threw a no-hitter against Pittsburgh on Aug. 25, became just the fifth pitcher in major league history to take a perfect game into the seventh inning of a postseason game. He wound up allowing one run on two hits in seven-plus innings. Giolito walked one and struck out eight.

Closer Alex Colome worked a 1-2-3 ninth for the save, closing a game in which the White Sox got solo homers from Adam Engel and Yasmani Grandal as well as a two-run shot from Jose Abreu.

ASTROS 4, TWINS 1
Jose Altuve walked with the bases loaded in the ninth inning to force in the go-ahead run and Michael Brantley followed with a two-run single as Houston beat Minnesota in the opening game of an American League wild-card series in Minneapolis.

It was a continuation of playoff misery for the Twins, who absorbed their major-league-record 17th consecutive postseason loss.

Altuve’s two-out walk against reliever Sergio Romo (0-1) came after shortstop Jorge Polanco threw wildly to second baseman Luis Arraez on what would have been a routine inning-ending forceout. Framber Valdez (1-0) threw five innings of two-hit shutout relief for the win.

RAYS 3, BLUE JAYS 1
Blake Snell took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and Manuel Margot homered as Tampa Bay held off Toronto to win Game 1 of their American League wild-card series in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Tampa Bay scored a run on a fourth-inning wild pitch and got a two-run homer from Margot — who hit only one in the regular season — in the seventh to extend the advantage to 3-0.

Snell (1-0) finished with 5 2/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit ball and tied the team’s postseason record with nine strikeouts. Alejandro Kirk broke up the no-hit bid with a leadoff single in the sixth, and Snell exited after retiring the next two batters. He walked two. Pete Fairbanks pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save. — Reuters

Djokovic crushes Ymer to start French Open campaign

PARIS — Novak Djokovic got his quest for an 18th Grand Slam title back on track as he commenced his French Open campaign with a drama-free (6-0 6-2 6-3) victory over Mikael Ymer on Tuesday.

Little over three weeks since Djokovic was defaulted in the US Open fourth round for hitting a line judge with a ball, he was a model of self-control as he outclassed the young Swede.

Had Court Philippe Chatrier been packed with fans rather than just a smattering on Tuesday because of the COVID-19 restrictions, Djokovic might have expected some heckling from the sometimes fickle post-lunch French audience.

Instead, it was as gentle a return to the Grand Slam spotlight as the 33-year-old top seed could have wished for as he charmed the tiny audience with his silky repertoire.

The first set took only 20 minutes as Ymer struggled to even lay a glove on the 2016 champion.

Djokovic did drop serve early in the second set when an attempted drop shot fell short, but there was no tetchy response this time—just an ironic chuckle.

The Serb then led the applause for Ymer when the 22-year-old ran back to retrieve a lob-volley and played a showreel between-the-legs winner Nick Kyrgios would have been proud of in the sixth game.

But it was one-way traffic as Djokovic polished off the second set with his trademark clean hitting.

The 80th-ranked Ymer, facing a world number one for the first time, stuck manfully to his task in the third set and Djokovic became a little sloppy as he handed back a service break with a double-fault after which he flexed his hand.

Djokovic glared at someone in the crowd in the following game, but refocused to reel off the last three games for victory and set up a clash with Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis.

Djokovic was odds-on to win the US Open, with Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer absent, and move within one Grand Slam title of the Spaniard and two behind the Swiss who is not in Paris.

The script was ripped from his grasp though when a frustrated swipe at a ball resulted in it accidentally hitting a female line judge on the throat.

Since that humiliation, however, Djokovic has rebounded to win the Rome title and with the damp Parisian clay playing more like a slow hardcourt, it looks tailor-made for the Serb to end 12-time champion Nadal’s Roland Garros domination. — Reuters

Danish teenager Tauson shocks Brady in first round

PARIS — Teenage Danish qualifier Clara Tauson caused a shock as she saved two match points to beat American 21st seed Jennifer Brady (6-4 3-6 9-7) in the opening round of the French Open on Tuesday.

The powerful 17-year-old, making her main draw debut in Grand Slams with a ranking of 188, played fearless tennis to edge out the recent US Open semi-finalist.

She was on the brink of defeat at 5-6 in the decider when she saved two match points, then squandered three of her own when serving at 7-6, the last one when her attempted drop shot hit the tape and fell agonisingly back on her side.

But the third, youngest player in the draw behind Coco Gauff and wildcard Elsa Jacquemot refused to buckle under the pressure and broke Brady again before clinching victory on her fifth match point with a well-placed serve.

Comparisons with former world number one and fellow Dane Caroline Wozniacki are understandable, although Copenhagen native Tauson plays a more aggressive style of game, as she demonstrated with 48 winners to Brady’s 39.

She will face another American next in the shape of Danielle Collins and is clearly revelling on the big stage.

“Of course, I am surprised I am in the second round of the French Open, but I feel like I have the game to be here right now,” this year’s Australian Open junior champion said.

“Jen was in the semi-finals of the US Open, so I was just grateful to be there and just happy that I could play a girl like her on a big court.” — Reuters

AboitizPower ER 1-94 benefits give Cebu LGUs boost in pandemic response

AboitizPower’s direct remittances to various Cebu local governments and barangays have reached P40.6 million as of end-September, not only providing more funds for development but also a much-needed boost in their respective pandemic responses.

Through the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Regulations 1-94 (ER 1-94) program, AboitizPower and its partners have directly downloaded a total of P15.8 million to Cebu Province, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Toledo City as well as host barangays within these localities.

Another P24.8 million from Cebu-based AboitizPower-led generation companies, accumulated as of 2019, has also been remitted by the DOE to the beneficiaries.

While the ER 1-94 funds are primarily meant for the electrification of areas or households, development and livelihood programs, reforestation, watershed management, health, and environmental enhancement initiatives, a recent circular now allows the use of these shares to help mitigate the effects of the coronavirus.

Brgy. Bato in Toledo City, the host beneficiary of Therma Visayas, Inc. (TVI), has almost used up its P4.24 million shares after distributing relief goods to 3,200 families and 2,400 households.

“This really goes a long way for a barangay, especially now with COVID-19. We already finished our first and second tranches of relief distribution and because of the ER 1-94 remittances, we will be able to extend up to a fourth tranche,” Brgy. Bato Captain Rosalio “Otam” Cereno said.

The Toledo City government, whose financial benefits amount to P5.39 million, is planning to use all of its shares in the fight against COVID-19. Part of the plan is to buy disinfecting equipment, personal protective gear, testing kits, agri-fishery inputs, relief goods, and to pay for the housing of frontline workers, among others.

“The city is very grateful for the assistance from Therma Visayas and AboitizPower, especially on the ER 1-94 funds given to the City of Toledo. TVI is the first to extend their assistance to the city and rest assured that we will be transparent with all the funds that they have given to the city and those that we planned to do with the assistance,” Toledo City Mayor Marjorie “Joie” Perales said.

Lapu-Lapu City, on the other hand, has already used over P750,000 of its shares to buy disinfectant for local isolation facilities. Meanwhile, Brgy. Ibo, the host community of East Asia Utilities Corp. (EAUC), also plans to use a portion of the benefits to purchase anti-flu vaccines for its residents.

“The transfer of the ER 1-94 funds was timely as it allowed the city to purchase alcohol and disinfectants, which were some of the items that the city did not have any existing budget allocation,” Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan said.

The ER 1-94 Program is a policy under the DOE Act of 1992 and the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), which stipulates that host communities will get a share of one centavo for every kilowatt-hour (P0.01/kWh) generated by power plants operating in its area.

With the new circular covering ER 1-94 funds, host LGUs can now use these shares to help manage the effects of the new virus, in accordance with the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which includes the facilitation of mass testing by providing and constructing facilities, as well as acquiring proper medical testing kits.

Cash tidal wave gives Asia best ever third-quarter share sales

Investors—both retail and institutional—have shown a voracious appetite for deals. Image via QuoteInspector / CC BY-ND 4.0

With the pandemic disrupting holiday plans, many bankers and investors seem to be keeping themselves busy with deals. That, along with buoyant markets and abundant liquidity, has pushed equity sales in Asia to their best third-quarter on record.

Companies in the region have raised $120 billion through initial and follow-on share sales since July 1, the most ever for the third quarter, data compiled by Bloomberg show. First-time share sales have also hit an all-time high, thanks to a jump in so-called “homecoming listings” by US-listed Chinese firms seeking a trading foothold in Hong Kong.

Deal activity has been fueled by the mammoth liquidity pumped into the financial system by global central banks, as they look to cushion the world economy from the effects of the virus outbreak. A benign market backdrop has also helped. Stocks have climbed steadily from March lows despite continuing negative headlines about the pandemic, with the MSCI Asia Pacific Index setting a new 2020 high on Aug. 31.

“When the market pulled back, everyone anticipated a continuation, but it rebounded extraordinarily quickly,” said Aaron Arth, head of Asia ex-Japan financing group at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. “Many investors didn’t participate in that upside, so a very attractive place to try and make up some of that performance is in the new market issuances.”

That said, bankers aren’t seeing a let-up in deal activity as 2020 draws to a close

The initial share sale of Jack Ma’s Ant Group—which could be the world’s biggest-ever IPO—is among the most-anticipated transactions of the fourth quarter. The fintech giant could raise as much as $35 billion through a dual listing in Hong Kong and Shanghai as soon as October.

FEAR OF MISSING OUT
Meanwhile, Chinese companies have continued to dominate the Asian ECM space, accounting for 66% of total issuance in the third quarter. The eight biggest listings were by Chinese firms, including a $7.5 billion Shanghai offering by the nation’s largest chipmaker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., and Yum China Holdings Inc.’s $2.2 billion homecoming listing in Hong Kong.

Investors—both retail and institutional—have shown a voracious appetite for deals.

Bottled water giant Nongfu Spring Co. emerged as Hong Kong’s hottest IPO for mom-and-pop investors, with its retail subscription rate the highest on record for the city’s IPOs over $1 billion. Two Chinese electric-carmakers pulled off billion-dollar U.S. IPOs in August that were priced above their indicative ranges. One even sold more shares than initially planned.

“You have a fear of missing out among investors,” said Gregor Feige, head of emerging Asia ECM at JPMorgan Chase & Co. “You don’t want to miss that next, huge market-defining IPO.”

RECORD AUGUST
Holidays typically make August a quiet month for equity capital markets in Asia, but a surge in share sales meant this August was the busiest ever.

And while fears of a pickup in market volatility around November’s U.S. presidential election had several firms rushing to complete their transactions, bankers say there are still deals planned for the remainder of the year.

“Some transactions scheduled for 2021 have accelerated into 2020 on the back of strong liquidity and favorable secondary market performance,” said Anvita Arora, co-head of APAC ECM at Bank of America Corp. “The market is less-fundamental driven and very liquidity-driven right now.” — Julia Fioretti/Bloomberg

Google says 3% of paid apps non-compliant on Play store tax

OAKLAND, Calif., — Alphabet Inc.’s Google on Monday sought to rebut criticism that it enforces its 30% tax on sales of paid apps arbitrarily, saying the just over 3% of paid apps that are out of compliance must follow the rules within a year.

The announcement follows lawsuits last month by Fortnite video game maker Epic Games accusing Google and Apple Inc of anticompetitive conduct by requiring that their payment systems be used in apps, so that they can collect a portion of sales. The companies are defending the allegations.

App stores are a fast-growing business for Google and Apple, as their main business—search ads and iPhone sales, respectively—flatten out.

Google said under 3% of developers with apps on its Play store sold digital goods over the last 12 months, and nearly 97% comply with its payment system policy. — Paresh Dave/Reuters

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a flying paramedic

LONDON — Paramedics in England’s remote, rugged Lake District region have been testing a jet suit that gets them to people in danger or distress in a fraction of the time it would take to travel by car or on foot.

In scenes reminiscent of a James Bond movie, test pilot and suit inventor Richard Browning hovers and moves a few meters above the rough terrain with the help of small jets mounted on his arms and back.

“Who knows what the future holds but this is a start we are very proud of,” Mr. Browning said.

Developed by UK-based Gravity Industries, the technology drastically reduces response times in rough terrain, potentially saving lives.

“The potential is just huge,” said helicopter paramedic Andy Mawson. “The first flight in Cumbria from a jet suit that is going to save lives and ease suffering—an incredible moment.

“It’s absolutely astounding how quickly we’re going to be at somebody’s side that needs us.”

In one test simulation, a 10-year-old girl had fallen from cliffs and sustained a serious leg injury.

After receiving the coordinates of the casualty, Mr. Browning, dressed as a jet suit paramedic, set off across rocky hills and picturesque scenery to successfully reach the girl in only 90 seconds.

The paramedic could then assess her injuries and provide treatment at the scene.

It would have taken 25 minutes for responders on foot to navigate the same terrain, the company said.

The suit has a record speed of 32 miles per hour (51 kph) and a maximum altitude of 12,000 feet (3,658 meters).

The Lake District in northern England is an area popular with novice hikers, despite its harsh terrain and fast-changing weather systems.

According to the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, the number of incidents requiring emergency responses in 2019 was 584. — Bloomberg

New Philippine tax adds more pain to pandemic-hit online casinos

Online casinos are already reeling from months of shutdown amid the pandemic-induced lockdown, with 40% of operators still closed. Image via BagoGames / CC BY 2.0

China-centric online casinos in the Philippines will incur more losses and more are expected to shut after a pandemic relief law imposed a new tax on the industry, a gaming authority official said.

The law, signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte earlier this month, imposes a 5% franchise tax on offshore gaming operators’ gross bets. That’s a change from the current franchise tax imposed on gross gaming revenue, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) assistant vice-president Jose S. Tria, Jr. said.

“This new formula will surely result in serious losses for Philippine offshore gaming operators,” Mr. Tria said in a mobile-phone message. “We expect them to close shop.”

Online casinos are already reeling from months of shutdown amid the pandemic-induced lockdown, with 40% of operators still closed, based on a list from the gaming authority. Demand for office spaces could take a “short-lived” hit as offshore gaming operators leave, the Philippine central bank said. — Andreo Calonzo/Bloomberg

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine appears safe, shows signs of working in older adults — study

Overall, the team found that in older adults who received two injections of the 100 microgram dose 28 days apart, the Moderna vaccine produced immune responses roughly in line with those seen in younger adults.

CHICAGO — Results from an early safety study of Moderna Inc.’s coronavirus vaccine candidate in older adults showed that it produced virus-neutralizing antibodies at levels similar to those seen in younger adults, with side effects roughly on par with high-dose flu shots, researchers said on Tuesday.

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, offers a more complete picture of the vaccine’s safety in older adults, a group at increased risk of severe complications from COVID-19.

The findings are reassuring because immunity tends to weaken with age, Dr. Evan Anderson, one of the study’s lead researchers from Emory University in Atlanta, said in a phone interview.

The study was an extension of Moderna’s Phase I safety trial, first conducted in individuals aged 18–55. It tested two doses of Moderna’s vaccine—25 micrograms and 100 micrograms—in 40 adults aged 56 to 70, and 71 and older.

Overall, the team found that in older adults who received two injections of the 100 microgram dose 28 days apart, the vaccine produced immune responses roughly in line with those seen in younger adults.

Moderna is already testing the higher dose in a large Phase III trial, the final stage before seeking emergency authorization or approval.

Side effects, which included headache, fatigue, body aches, chills, and injection site pain, were deemed mainly mild to moderate.

In at least two cases, however, volunteers had severe reactions.

One developed a grade three fever, which is classified as 39°C or above, after receiving the lower vaccine dose. Another developed fatigue so severe it temporarily prevented daily activities, Mr. Anderson said.

Typically, side effects occurred soon after receiving the vaccine and resolved quickly, he said.

“This is similar to what a lot of older adults are going to experience with the high-dose influenza vaccine,” Mr. Anderson said. “They might feel off or have a fever.”

Norman Hulme, a 65-year-old senior multimedia developer at Emory who took the lower dose of the vaccine, said he felt compelled to take part in the trial after watching first responders in New York and Washington State fight the virus.

“I really had no side effects at all,” said Mr. Hulme, who grew up in the New York area.

Mr. Hulme said he was aware Moderna’s vaccine employed a new technology, and that there might be a risk in taking it, but said, “somebody had to do it.” — Julie Steenhuysen/Reuters

Touchless lattes and self-service kiosks: office break rooms go virus-proof

Out with grimy microwaves and sticky coffee machines with worn-out buttons, in with stylus pens, QR codes, no-touch water coolers and mobile apps that pick what brew the machine will make for you.

From the headquarters of Ford in Dearborn, Michigan, and Goldman Sachs in New York, to Fedex facilities across the United States, workers are returning after months of lockdowns to the new reality of social distancing, hybrid remote and office work schedules, and strict hygiene protocols.

The break room, where employees used to get their daily fix of caffeine and office gossip, is a big part of that reboot as coffee companies, such as Keurig Dr. Pepper, Lavazza, and Nestle roll out new technology for the COVID-19 era.

Nestle says it has worked with manufacturers to add a function to its coffeemakers that lets users make a selection just by hovering a finger over the menu and has been delivering those to clients since June.

Lavazza lauched a new model in September that works with a mobile app to whip up those cappuccinos and lattes without having to touch the machine.

US coffee machine manufacturer Bunn has chosen a different approach, retrofitting its machines with a QR code that lets users order drinks through a webpage.

Last year, supplying offices with beans and brewers was a $5.7 billion business in the United States alone, according to research firm Packaged Facts. Coffee companies, which saw lockdowns wipe out so-called professional sales that also include the hospitality industry, bet they can revive that business by addressing workers’ and employers’ concerns.

DASH FOR AN APP
Lavazza had a new brewer slated to debut at a trade show in May, but started redesigning it to add a touchless function when the pandemic struck in March, Bruce Williamson, vice-president of innovation and marketing at Lavazza Professional said.

“We had to very quickly use the weeks (we had) preparing for an app.”

Mr. Williamson said a survey of about 170 consumers across the United States Lavazza commissioned in August validated its decision. It showed 40% of employees expected to leave the building less often to get a drink and to rely more on office supplies, but were nervous about infection risks.

“What they are telling us is… ‘I’m going to come back to the office but I’m nervous about touching the machine.’”

Employers, suppliers, and designers are also experimenting with a one-stop service that allows office workers to refuel without going outside, while those working remotely can do it from the comfort of their home.

K-cup pod maker Keurig is supplying coffee for “mini-marts” set up to replace office cafeterias and offering fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat, coffee, and other staples. It has also signed deals with several companies that have classified K-cup pods and brewers essential work items and pay for their deliveries to staff working remotely, said  Phil Drapeau, the company’s general manager for the ‘Away from Home’ business.

Ford said more than 100,000 people out of its global workforce of 190,000 have returned to its facilities since May, but cafe service remains suspended and it offers pre-packaged meals and beverages instead. The carmaker is also testing onsite grocery kiosks selling locally sourced dairy, produce, and meal prep kits.

Goldman Sachs told Reuters that 15% of its New York workforce is back with standard precautions in place—mandatory masks in all areas except employee desks and limits on the number of people in conference rooms and common areas.

RETHINK AND RECALIBRATE
Surveys and official guidelines suggest offices will fill up only gradually and might even never return to pre-pandemic capacity.

GoodFirms, a Washington, DC-based research firm, said this month its international survey of 168 businesses showed nearly a third of workers had already returned and nearly 60% wanted to do so, but more than half remained concerned about their safety.

A makeover of office catering was important for addressing such concerns, says Alicia LeBeouf, marketing and retail strategy executive at food service company Canteen, which counts FedEx, Pinterest, Target, and UPS among its clients.

Buffets and chefs preparing meals on-demand are replaced by grab-and-go food stations at Verizon and UnitedHealth Group Inc.; contactless coffee machines get rolled out at Microsoft Corp; fridges get pedal-operated doors at Mohawk Industries and individually wrapped plastic utensils replace cutlery.

At several FedEx facilities, Canteen has replaced card payment terminals at its grab-and-go stations with Canteen’s “Connect & Pay” app, which allows consumers to scan and pay with their mobile device, and access nutritional information on products.

The layout also needs to change, says Tom Vecchione, workplace strategist at New York architecture firm Vocon. The company is knocking down doors and removing screens for its clients to create more spacious common areas that make social distancing easier while replacing chairs with stools to discourage people from lingering for too long.

Canteen’s Ms. LeBeouf said employers were banking on workers coming back, but they would not be returning to the same office they left before the pandemic.

“We’ve had to recalibrate and … rethink everything.” — Nivedita Balu and Siddharth Cavale/Reuters

Globe calls for support to vulnerable communities amid the pandemic

Support Walang Iwanan Alliance through Globe Rewards points

Despite this debilitating COVID-19 pandemic that affects many countries around the world, Globe continues to find ways to empower every Filipino to help provide support to the marginalized and most vulnerable communities in the country, starting with Metro Manila.

Globe has partnered with Walang Iwanan Alliance, a new citizen-led initiative that seeks to mitigate the effects of poverty and hunger among communities amid the current situation. This is part of Globe’s ongoing initiatives to assist those whose means of livelihood were gravely affected by COVID-19.

“We’re already well into the sixth month of community quarantines and still, many don’t see yet the end of this pandemic in sight, thus, Globe does not stop helping the government and the rest of the nation in combating the lack of access to healthcare, education and livelihood, particularly among disadvantaged communities. More and more Filipinos are in need of support so we hope that those who can still share their points will still do so,” says Joey Kilayko, Head of Globe Rewards.

The most basic problem among the disadvantaged communities when it came to the direct effects of COVID-19 was not just about the threat of the virus but about having food on the table for their family, especially the children, since many heads of families are unable to work due to the community quarantine.

According to the latest surveys conducted by SWS, hunger incidence doubled in early July to around 20% of the population, particularly in Metro Manila. With a 15 million population, this means about three million are experiencing involuntary hunger.

“Many people are still hungry as their means of livelihood disappeared because of the lockdowns, and the number is still growing. As many businesses closed shop, it meant lesser chances for employment. No work means no money to buy food, and no food means families go hungry. It’s a simple and basic equation but a hard and bitter pill to swallow,” Jose Ma. Montelibano, Spokesperson of Walang Iwanan Alliance, pointed out.

The partnership between Globe and Walang Iwanan Alliance does not seek to solve the hunger problem but to mitigate it by empowering every Filipino to contribute in providing food to those who badly need it. The aim is to help 100,000 families with two rounds of meal support.

Walang Iwanan Alliance will take care of identifying the most vulnerable communities within the National Capital Region (NCR) and then coordinate with the local government units and affected barangays for efficient distribution.

Initial target areas in NCR are mostly the densely populated ones with identified vulnerable and underserved communities, which includes, Mandaluyong, Parañaque, Quezon City, Pasig (plus adjacent portions of Marikina City), Pateros, Caloocan and Manila.

Globe will support 5,000 families starting with Mandaluyong and Parañaque – two of the seven identified areas by Walang Iwanan Alliance. Globe also enjoins its subscribers to donate their Globe Rewards points to Walang Iwanan Alliance starting September 17, 2020. Each point donated is equivalent to Php1. The amount collected will then be used to buy meals worth approximately Php25 each or PhP875 per family of five, good for 1 week of meal support. To donate, open or download the Globe Rewards App through this link http://glbe.co/GRewardsApp and click on the Walang Iwanan Alliance badge to redeem with points.

Walang Iwanan Alliance is more than just a simple feeding program but a platform that supports and expands existing efforts, including distribution by barangays. By optimizing existing networks and consolidating inputs (donations) and outputs (feeding of vulnerable communities), the Alliance can reach economies of scale to give it a fighting chance to mitigate the hunger that the 3 million people currently feel.

As a purpose-led organization, Globe combines innovation with the power of collaboration to achieve inclusive and sustainable development for all. The company commits to contribute to ten (10) UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability.html.

For more about Globe Telecom, visit www.globe.com.ph.

Giant robot moving in Japan harbor entrances millions on Twitter

TOKYO — Videos showing an 18-meter robot in the Japanese harbor city of Yokohama have entranced the Twitterverse, pulling in more than 6 million views in the past week.

The robot is the centerpiece of the Gundam Factory Yokohama, a tourist attraction that was due to open in October, but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The park operator said on Tuesday it will open on Dec. 19.

The videos, shot by a telephoto lens from Twitter user @yoshi115t, show what appear to be motion tests of the white robot that dwarfs boats speeding by in the background. The 25-tonne Gundam makes a walking motion as it exits a storage area, before kneeling and then raising its right arm to point toward the sky.

The park’s Gundam-Lab will feature an exhibition area and cafe, while the Gundam-Dock Tower will allow visitors to view the robot’s face and body.

Mobile Suit Gundam debuted in Japan in the late 1970s as a cartoon about enormous battle robots piloted by humans. The series spawned multiple spinoffs and toys while gaining a worldwide following.

The Gundam franchise is operated by Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. Engineering company Yaskawa Electric Corp and industrial robot maker Nabtesco Corp are among companies making parts of the giant Gundam in Yokohama, according to the attraction’s website. — Reuters

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