Philippine News

March 5 ------ US President Donald Trump said that settling Russia’s war against Ukraine remains “very high” on his list of priorities, even as he launched a fresh attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over US military aid and weapons stockpiles. Trump made the remarks during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House, where he was asked about the status of efforts to end the war. “Regarding Russia and Ukraine – where is it on my priority li

March 5 ------ President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Ukrainian defense, intelligence, and military officials to discuss the fallout of ongoing US-Israeli military action in the Middle East. In a social media post, Zelensky said that the meeting’s agenda included “the challenges for Ukraine and our partners, as well as our capacity to help protect lives, prevent the war from expanding, and stabilize global markets.” Iran’s neighbors have borne the brunt of its response to the

NEW YORK, March 4 ------ Global oil and gas prices jumped on as the United States-Israeli war on Iran halted energy exports from the Middle East, with Tehran attacking ships and energy facilities, closing navigation in the Gulf, and forcing production stoppages from Qatar to Iraq. The benchmark Brent crude oil settled up US$3.66, or up 4.7 per cent, at US$81.40 a barrel, its highest settlement since January 2025. European gas prices soared as much as 40 per cent before paring

ISTANBUL, March 4 ------ The widening conflict between Israel, the United States, and Iran has led to sweeping airspace closures across the Gulf, disrupting global air traffic through some of the world’s busiest transit hubs. Over the past two decades, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha have developed into central transfer points linking Europe and the Americas with Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The current airspace restrictions are disrupting that role, triggering ripple effects across

March 4 ------ President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is ready to share its air defense expertise with Middle Eastern countries but will not transfer weapons that remain in short supply domestically. Speaking March 3, after a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), Zelensky said he remains in constant contact with representatives of Middle Eastern states interested in Ukraine’s experience countering missile and drone attacks. According to Zelensky, Kyi

March 4 ------ EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will discuss “energy security” with Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky, Brussels said, as Hungary is locked in a row with Kyiv over a blocked oil pipeline. Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of deliberately dragging its feet on reopening the Druzhba pipeline, which Kyiv says was damaged by Russian strikes in January. Orban, one of the few leaders in the European Union who is close to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, has b

TOKYO, March 3 ------ The yen and euro were broadly lower as the widening Middle East conflict focused attention on countries dependent on energy imports and how central banks may respond to inflation pressures. The dollar benefited from safe-haven demand as the U.S. and Israeli air war against Iran spilled out into neighboring countries. The euro steadied after sliding more than 1 per cent as doubts swirled about when oil shipments from the region would be restored. Japanese

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 3 ------ The war in the Middle East spiraled further as Israel and the U.S. pounded Iran. Tehran and its allies hit back against Israel, neighboring Gulf states, and targets critical to the world’s production of oil and natural gas. The intensity of the attacks, the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the lack of any apparent exit plan set the stage for a prolonged conflict with far-reaching consequences. Safe haven

March 3 ------ The United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund (URIF) concluded its first two months of operations, receiving 138 investment applications through its portal. Following a review by the Project Sourcing Committee on the website of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, 22 projects have been selected for further processing, and 8 reached a high level of readiness. The fund, established under the minerals deal signed in April 2024 between t

March 3 ------ The National Assembly of Quebec unanimously adopted a Motion in support of Ukraine proposed by the Premier of Quebec, François Legault, and representatives of all political parties on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This Motion provides: “THAT the National Assembly of Quebec recalls that, for four years, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had terrible human and material consequences; THAT it reaffirms its full solid

PALM BEACH, United States, March 2 ------ Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader since 1989 and sworn enemy of the West, was killed in the opening salvo of a massive US and Israeli attack, President Donald Trump said, as he urged the overthrow of the Islamic Republic. Cheers could be heard on Tehran's streets after reports first emerged from Israel of the death of Khamenei, as plumes of black smoke hovered over the district where he usually resides, witnesses told AFP.

SYDNEY, March 2 ------ Oil prices surged and investors stampeded to the safety of bonds and gold as military conflict in the Middle East looked set to last weeks, just as markets had been spooked by AI and banking fears. Brent jumped 9 per cent to $79.42 a barrel, while U.S. crude climbed 8.6 per cent to $72.61 per barrel. Gold rose 1.4 per cent to $5,350 an ounce. [O/R] Military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran showed no sign of lessening, while the Arab natio

March 2 ------ President Volodymyr Zelensky has advocated for regime change in Iran during his Sunday evening address amid the US’s ongoing military operations against the Middle Eastern nation. On Saturday, the US and Israel launched “Operation Epic Fury,” including strikes against targets across Iran that US President Donald Trump said were part of a campaign to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Iranian state media confirmed on Sunday that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamen

March 2 ------ Three years into Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, with Trump’s ascension to power, the United States of America reneged on its promise to help Ukrainians defending their families and homes “as long as it takes” against a full-scale military attack by a police state intent on wiping their country off the map. Engineered by President Donald J. Trump and a Congress controlled by his allies, the almost-overnight cancellation of US backing to a Ukrainian nat

TOKYO, March 1 ------ Japan will invite young and mid-level defense officials from Pacific Island countries starting in fiscal 2026, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said. Koizumi unveiled the initiative in a lecture he delivered at a meeting in Tokyo with defense ministers from 14 Pacific island nations, including Fiji and Papua New Guinea. In light of China's growing presence in the South Pacific, he emphasized the need for cooperation between Japan and the island

LONDON, March 1 ------ An AI productivity boom, if it materializes, may help buy major economies more time to clean up their strained public finances, economists say, although it won't do the heavy lifting. The stakes couldn't be higher. Debt is above 100 per cent of output across most rich economies and set to rise given ageing population costs, interest bills, and pressure to spend more on defense and climate change. U.S. policymakers are already optimistic about AI-driven

February 28 ------ Oil prices inched down and were on track for a weekly decline after the United States and Iran extended nuclear talks, easing concerns about potential hostilities that could disrupt supply, while OPEC+ may resume output hike at its Sunday meeting. Brent crude futures lost 5 cents to $70.70 a barrel by 0331 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 1 cent to $65.20. For the week, Brent was heading for a 1.8 per cent decline, while WTI was set to fall arou

February 28 ------ Anthropic said it would not accede to the Pentagon’s request to eliminate safeguards from its AI systems, despite threats to deem the company a “supply chain risk” and remove it from the Department of Defense’s systems, putting a $200-million contract at risk. The Pentagon’s dispute with Anthropic stems from the AI startup’s refusal to remove safeguards that would prevent its technology from being used to target weapons autonomously and conduct surveillance

GENEVA, Switzerland, February 27 ------ Iran and the United States began indirect talks in Switzerland on Thursday, a last-ditch effort to avert war following the biggest American military buildup in the Middle East in decades. The Oman-mediated discussions follow repeated threats from Donald Trump to strike Iran, with the US president on Feb. 19 giving Tehran 15 days to reach a deal. The US and Iranian delegations arrived at the venue at the Omani ambassador’s residence amid

COPENHAGEN, February 27 ------ Denmark will hold a parliamentary election on March 24, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, seeking to capitalize on a surge in support for her defiant stance against US pressure over Greenland. Frederiksen has spent recent months rallying European leaders against US President Donald Trump's renewed interest in annexing the Arctic island, an effort that opinion polls suggest has bolstered her popularity after public dissatisfaction ove