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Ferdinand Marcos Promises Oil Supply as Philippines Declares Energy Emergency
Ferdinand Marcos has pledged to secure a steady “flow of oil” for the Philippines after declaring a state of national energy emergency in response to escalating global supply disruptions linked to the conflict involving Iran.
In a televised address, Marcos assured citizens that the government is working to procure one million barrels of oil to supplement existing reserves, which currently cover about 45 days of supply. He emphasised that the country would receive multiple deliveries to stabilise fuel availability.
The Philippines—heavily reliant on imports for roughly 98% of its oil, largely from the Gulf—has been hit hard by surging global prices. The crisis has been intensified by the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, alongside disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy shipments.
Under the emergency declaration, the government now has expanded powers to directly procure fuel, regulate distribution, and ensure the steady supply of essential goods such as food and medicine. A special committee has also been established to oversee these efforts. The measures are set to remain in effect for up to one year unless lifted earlier.
Philippine Ambassador to the US, Jose Manuel Romualdez, indicated that Manila is engaging with Washington to explore options for sourcing oil, including potential exemptions that would allow imports from US-sanctioned countries.
The announcement follows sharp increases in petrol and diesel prices, which have more than doubled since late February, placing significant strain on households and businesses.
Labour group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) criticised the move, describing it as an acknowledgment of government shortcomings in managing the crisis. The group also raised concerns about provisions in the emergency order that could restrict labour actions, including strikes, warning these could limit workers’ ability to protest amid rising living costs.
At the same time, business leaders such as Manuel V. Pangilinan have backed the government’s expanded powers, noting that escalating energy costs are already affecting operations across key sectors.
Transport unions, including Piston, have announced a two-day strike, demanding measures such as fuel tax cuts, price controls, and wage increases. The planned action underscores growing public frustration over the economic impact of the crisis.
Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the country may temporarily rely more on coal-fired power plants to offset rising liquefied natural gas costs.
News
Trump Voices Fresh Frustration With Iran as War Powers Deadline Draws Near
Donald Trump has again expressed dissatisfaction with Iran as legal and political pressure grows over the administration’s military involvement alongside Israel and a key congressional deadline approaches.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said recent talks with Iran had not yet produced the progress he wanted.
“We just had a conversation with Iran. Let’s see what happens. But, I would say that I am not happy,” he said.
Friday marked the 60th day since Trump formally notified Congress of military strikes against Iran on 2 March. Under the U.S. War Powers Resolution, a president must terminate the use of U.S. armed forces within 60 days of such notification unless Congress grants formal approval or authorises an extension.
The law, passed in 1973 during the Vietnam War era to limit presidential war-making powers under former President Richard Nixon, remains central to the legal debate now facing the White House.
Pete Hegseth defended the administration’s position during Senate questioning, arguing that the ongoing ceasefire between Iran and Israel effectively pauses the legal clock.
“We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire,” Hegseth said.
However, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine challenged that interpretation, warning that the administration may be approaching a significant legal confrontation.
“I do not believe the statute would support that. I think the 60 days runs maybe tomorrow, and it’s going to pose a really important legal question for the administration there,” Kaine responded.
A senior administration official insisted that hostilities had “terminated,” stressing that a ceasefire has been in place since early April. Despite the pause in direct conflict, no long-term diplomatic agreement has yet been secured.
Iranian state media, including IRNA, reported on Friday that Tehran had sent a new proposal for negotiations to U.S. officials through intermediaries in Pakistan. Details of the proposal were not made public, and it remains unclear whether Washington has formally received it.
Trump said one reason negotiations have been difficult is that Iran’s leadership remains destabilised following the deaths of several top military commanders during the conflict.
He also revealed that he had been presented with sharply different strategic options by U.S. Central Command, ranging from a major military escalation to a negotiated diplomatic settlement.
“I was briefed with options… from ‘blast the hell out of them and finish them forever’ to ‘make a deal,’” Trump said.
Global markets have been closely watching developments, particularly after Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused major disruptions to international oil supply routes. Although oil prices eased slightly following reports of Tehran’s latest proposal, the vital waterway remains effectively closed, continuing to generate significant economic concerns worldwide.
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Trainee Bus Driver Rescued After Vehicle Plunges Into River Seine
A trainee bus driver drove a vehicle into the River Seine on Thursday morning after reportedly hitting a parked car and losing control near Juvisy-sur-Orge, officials have said.
The incident happened around 20km (12 miles) south of Paris, prompting a major emergency response involving firefighters, police officers and rescue divers.
According to the local transport authority, the driver was nearing the end of her practical training and was completing one of her final supervised driving sessions when the accident occurred.
A spokesperson for Île-de-France Mobilités said the trainee was accompanied by a lead driver, while two additional passengers were also on board at the time of the crash.
Officials confirmed that drug and alcohol tests carried out after the incident were negative, and the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The Essonne Prefecture said all four people on board were successfully rescued from the water. More than 90 firefighters, alongside divers and police personnel, took part in the recovery operation.
Juvisy-sur-Orge Mayor Lamia Bensara Reda said the driver had lost control of the bus near a station close to the riverbank before the vehicle plunged into the Seine and dragged a parked car with it.
“Everyone was quickly rescued and, thankfully, is safe and sound,” she said in a post shared on Facebook.
Witnesses described a rapid response from members of the public before emergency services arrived. A local resident, 55-year-old Elisabeth, said bystanders rushed to help and threw life rings into the river to assist those trapped in the water.
The president of the transport authority has since ordered an internal investigation into the incident to determine exactly what led to the crash and whether additional safety measures may be needed during driver training.
Local politician Claire Lejeune also commented on the incident on X, confirming that the bus had fallen into the Seine with four people on board, including the trainee driver, and praised emergency responders for their swift action.
Authorities are continuing their investigation as recovery efforts at the scene move forward.
News
Aung San Suu Kyi Moved to House Arrest as Myanmar Military Announces Sentence Change
Detained former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved from prison to house arrest, according to state media in Myanmar, marking a significant development in her years-long detention following the 2021 military coup.
The 80-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been held in custody since she was removed from office when the military seized power in February 2021. She was believed to have been detained in a military prison in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw.
A statement from military leader Min Aung Hlaing, who led the coup, said he had “commuted her remaining sentence to be served at the designated residence,” effectively transferring her from prison to house arrest.
State media also released a photograph showing Suu Kyi seated alongside two uniformed personnel, though the image did little to reassure her family.
Her son, Kim Aris, expressed strong scepticism over the announcement, saying he had no independent confirmation that his mother was alive or where she was being held.
He described the released image as “meaningless,” noting that it had been taken in 2022 rather than recently.
“So, until I’m allowed communication with her, or somebody can independently verify her condition and her whereabouts, then I won’t believe anything,” he said.
Before the 2021 coup, Suu Kyi had led Myanmar’s civilian government after her party won a historic election in 2015, following years of military-backed rule and limited democratic reforms.
She had previously spent more than 15 years under house arrest during earlier decades of military rule, becoming an international symbol of peaceful resistance and democracy. Her calm defiance and speeches delivered from her family home inspired supporters both inside Myanmar and abroad.
She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights.
Following the coup, she was sentenced to 33 years in prison on multiple charges ranging from corruption to election fraud—charges her supporters and international observers widely described as politically motivated. Her sentence has since been reduced several times.
However, Suu Kyi’s global reputation had already been significantly damaged before the coup. Her decision to defend Myanmar at the International Court of Justice against accusations of genocide over the military’s 2017 campaign against the Muslim Rohingya population drew widespread international criticism.
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