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Taoiseach Simon Harris said he also wanted to tell Nikita Hand, a hair colourist from Drimnagh, that her case had prompted an increase in women coming forward to ask for support. Ms Hand, who accused the sportsman of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, won her claim against him for damages in a civil case at the High Court in the Irish capital on Friday. The total amount of damages awarded to Ms Hand by the jury was 248,603.60 euro (£206,714.31). Mr McGregor said in a post on social media on Friday that he intends to appeal against the decision. That post has since been deleted. Speaking to the media on Saturday, Mr Harris said he told Ms Hand of the support she has from people across Ireland. “I spoke with Nikita today and I wanted to thank her for her incredible bravery and her courage,” he said. “I wanted to make sure that she knew how much solidarity and support there was across this country for her bravery. “I also wanted to make sure she knew of what the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre had said yesterday – that so many other women have now come forward in relation to their own experiences of sexual abuse as a result of Nikita’s bravery.” The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said the case has had a “profound effect” on the people the charity supports, and that over the first 10 days of the High Court case, calls to its national helpline increased by almost 20%. It said that first-time callers increased by 50% compared to the same period last year, and were largely from people who had experienced sexual violence who were distressed and anxious from the details of case and the views people had to it. Mr Harris said: “I wanted to speak with her and I wanted to wish her and her daughter, Freya, all the very best night, and I was very grateful to talk with Nikita today. “Her bravery, her courage, her voice has made a real difference in a country in which we must continue to work to get to zero tolerance when it comes to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. “I don’t want to say too much more, because conscious there could be further legal processes, but I absolutely want to commend Nikita for her bravery, for her courage, for using her voice.” Justice Minister Helen McEntee praised Ms Hand’s bravery and said she had shown “there is light at the end of the tunnel”. She said: “I just want to commend Nikita for her bravery, for her determination and the leadership that she has shown in what has been – I’ve no doubt – a very, very difficult time for her and indeed, for her family. She added: “Because of wonderful people like Nikita, I hope that it shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel, that there are supports available to people, and that there is justice at the end of the day.” Ms Hand said in a statement outside court on Friday that she hoped her case would remind victims of assault to keep “pushing forward for justice”. Describing the past six years as “a nightmare”, she said: “I want to show (my daughter) Freya and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served.” During the case, Ms Hand said she was “disappointed and upset” when the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided not to prosecute the case after she made a complaint to the Irish police. In a letter to her in August 2020, the DPP said there was “insufficient evidence” and there was not a reasonable prospect of conviction. Ms Hand asked the DPP to review the decision, saying she felt she was being treated differently because one of the suspects was famous. Asked about the DPP’s decision not to prosecute, Mr Harris and Ms McEntee stressed the importance of the DPP’s independence on whether to prosecute. “There are obviously structures in place where the DPP can meet a victim and can outline to them their reasons for not taking the case,” Mr Harris said. “But there’s also always an opportunity for the DPP in any situation – and I speak broadly in relation to this – to review a decision, to consider any new information that may come to light, and I don’t want to say anything that may ever cut across the ongoing work of the DPP.” Ms McEntee stressed that there should “never be any political interference” in the independence of the DPP’s decisions. “I have, since becoming minister, given priority to and enabled a new office within the DPP to open specifically focused on sexual offences, so that this issue can be given the focus and the priority that it needs,” she said.PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the completion of the new P200-billion integrated solar and battery storage facility of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) in Nueva Ecija will not only generate thousands of jobs, but also help meet the country’s renewable energy target. “By leveraging our abundant solar resources, the Terra Solar Project will help stabilize our power supply, reduce energy costs, and contribute significantly to our target of 35 percent renewable energy share in the power generation mix by the year 2030,” Marcos said at the groundbreaking for the Meralco Terra Solar (MTS) project. It is billed as the world’s largest integrated solar and battery storage facility. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Meralco Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan co-led the groundbreaking ceremony, alongside leaders from Meralco, Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGen), SP New Energy Corporation (SPNEC), and Actis. RE capacity In a statement, Meralco said the country’s renewable energy capacity already stands at 29.7 percent. Located in the Municipality of Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija, the MTS will produce 3,500 megawatts of solar power for the Luzon grid and have 4,500 megawatt-hours of battery energy storage once it becomes fully operational in 2027. Marcos said the project will become the largest solar plant and battery storage facility. “This project will energize over 2 million households and reduce carbon emissions by more than 4.3 million metric tons annually,” Marcos said. He said it will also generate over 10,000 jobs and generate nearly P23 billion in financial benefits. The President assured everyone that the government will extend the necessary aid to Meralco for the completion of the project. “We are working towards a steady and reliable power supply that will meet the demands of today and continuously fuel our ambitions for tomorrow. Projects like Terra Solar bring us closer to that vision,” Marcos said. “I call on all the government agencies—national, local, and private sector entities—to fully support this endeavor by ensuring its timely completion,” he added. “Today we take a leap towards the future driven by innovation and sustained by our collective hope for a cleaner and greener Philippines. We stand together at the site of what will become the largest integrated solar and battery storage facility in the world—the Terra Solar Project. This landmark project will put our country on the map as a leader in renewable energy,” President Marcos Jr. said during the ceremony. “The Terra Solar power project is designed to address two critical challenges of our time: the surging demand for electricity and the pressing need to shift to renewable and sustainable sources of energy,” he added. The $4 billion (over P200 billion) MTerra Solar Project will involve 3,500 megawatts peak (MWp) photovoltaic (PV) capacity, complemented by a 4,500 megawatt-hours (MWhr) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity. Its first phase covers 2,500 MW. The project will be located in five towns—Gapan, General Tinio, , Peñaranda, and San Leonardo all in Nueva Ecija, and San Miguel, Bulacan. Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla commended TSPI and partner, Actis, for their commitment to the Philippine energy sector. “This major investment in solar and energy storage technology is a crucial step toward achieving our goal of increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix, reducing our carbon footprint and addressing electricity demand in Luzon. It not only enhances our energy security and resilience but will also contribute to our broader economic development by creating jobs and promoting sustainable growth,” Lotilla said. During the construction phase until its long-term operations, the project is expected to create significant jobs across various sectors, including engineering, construction, manufacturing, maintenance and management of solar plant, battery storage systems, and the associated transmission infrastructure. “This will provide a much-needed boost to the economy, offering employment opportunities to skilled workers and contributing to the development of local communities,” Lotilla added. This milestone project aligns seamlessly with the government’s goal of achieving a 35-percent renewable energy mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. As of late 2023, the country’s installed renewable energy capacity stands at almost 30 percent of total energy mix, underscoring the urgency for stakeholders to accelerate efforts toward a greener energy future. The MTerra Solar Project is set to deliver clean solar energy under a 20-year, 850 MW mid-merit power supply agreement to Meralco. The initial block of 600 MW is slated for delivery by February 2026, while the remaining 250 MW will follow in February 2027. This not only conforms with the Renewable Portfolio Standards of the Department of Energy (DOE) but also reinforces Meralco’s pledge to source 1,500 MW of its power supply requirements from renewable energy. TSPI earlier entered into a strategic partnership with UK-based Actis for a 40-percent interest in the project valued at $600 million (approximately P34 billion)—the largest foreign direct investment for a greenfield infrastructure project in the Philippines to date. Recently, TSPI awarded the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for the project to China Energy Engineering Corporation (Energy China). It also tapped engaged Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corp. (Miescor) to link the flagship solar development to the Luzon power grid.Growing careers in China’s pet industry boom
Chicago (4-7) at Detroit (10-1) Thursday, 12:30 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL odds: Lions by 10 1/2. Against the spread: Bears 6-4-1; Lions 9-2. Series record: Bears lead 105-78-5. Last meeting: Bears beat Lions 28-13 in Chicago on Dec. 10, 2023. Last week: Vikings beat Bears 30-27; Lions beat Colts 24-6. Bears offense: overall (26), rush (22), pass (29), scoring (T-22). Bears defense: overall (17), rush (20), pass (13), scoring (8). Lions offense: overall (2), rush (4), pass (6), scoring (1). Lions defense: overall (17), rush (20), pass (13), scoring (8). Turnover differential: Bears plus-9; Lions plus-9. QB Caleb Williams. The No. 1 overall pick from the NFL draft in Detroit has looked more comfortable the past two games with Thomas Brown as offensive coordinator. Williams was regressing in the weeks leading up to Shane Waldron’s firing. He threw for 340 yards and two TDs last week in his fourth straight turnover-free game and fifth in a row without an interception. RB David Montgomery. He has run for a TD in each of the past three games and has rushed for 11 scores this season. In 25 games with the Lions, he has 24 rushing TDs. In 60 games with the Chicago Bears from 2019 to 2022, he ran for 26 scores and had 4,849 yards from scrimmage. Montgomery was slowed by a shoulder injury last week, but is expected to play. Detroit's running game against Chicago's defense. The Lions have a rushing TD in an NFL-record 25 straight games. Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are the first RBs on a team to have at least 10 TDs on the ground in consecutive years. The Bears are ranked 20th against the run, a relative weakness that may be pivotal in Detroit. Bears G Ryan Bates (concussion) and DB Elijah Hicks (ankle) were on the injury report Tuesday after both players missed last week’s game. ... Lions CB Carlton Davis (knee/thumb), OT Taylor Decker (knee) and PR/WR Kalif Raymond (foot) are not expected to play. Chicago ended a three-game losing streak in the series last year. ... The Lions started their tradition of playing on Thanksgiving on Nov. 29, 1934, with a 19-16 loss to the Bears. ... Chicago has beaten Detroit three straight times on Thanksgiving, sending Lions fans home unhappy in 2021, 2019 and 2018. ... The Bears will play the Lions on the holiday for the 20th time, trailing only Green Bay's 22 appearances in Detroit on Thanksgiving. Chicago has dropped five straight for the first time since losing the last 10 games of the 2022 season. ... The Bears have lost three games on the final play during their skid. They lost on a Hail Mary at Washington in Week 8, had a game-ending FG blocked by Green Bay and watched as Minnesota’s Parker Romo made a 29-yard FG last week. ... The Bears are 5-18 in one-possession games under coach Matt Eberflus, including a 2-5 mark this year. ... Eberflus, in his third season, is 14-31 overall and 1-3 against Detroit. ... WR DJ Moore caught seven passes for a season-high 106 yards and a TD against Minnesota. That gave him 14 receptions for 168 yards the past two games after being limited to 13 catches for 104 yards over the previous four games. ... Cairo Santos has had three FGs blocked this season, including one in each of the past two games. The three blocked FG are the most for Chicago in a single season since it also had three blocked in 2012. ... The Bears will host Detroit in Week 16. ... Buffalo and Pittsburgh are the two teams in the NFL with a better turnover differential than Detroit and Chicago. ... Detroit has lost seven straight games, including three times to Chicago, and 16 of its past 20 games on Thanksgiving and the Bears have won four in a row on the holiday. ... The Lions lead the NFC with a 10-1 mark and are tied with Kansas City for the NFL's best mark. ... Detroit has won 10 of its first 11 games for the first time since 1934 and has a chance to be 11-1 for the first time in franchise history. ... The Lions can clinch a spot in the playoffs with numerous scenarios including a win over Chicago along with losses by San Francisco, Arizona, Seattle and Tampa Bay. Montgomery may be a little more motivated, going against his former team. He has been held without a rushing TD in just two games this season. The Bears are week against the run and Montgomery is as strong as any back in the league. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL