Philippine News

KYIV, April 1 ------ Ukraine signed a 10-year defense agreement with Bulgaria, a major arms manufacturer, covering production of drones and other weapons, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced. The Ukrainian leader said he was "very pleased" with the deal, signed during a visit to Kyiv by Bulgaria's interim Prime Minister, Andrey Gyurov. The agreement covers "joint production, on the territory of our countries, of various types of weapons, including drones," Zelensky said at

April 1 ------ Ukrainian drones attacked Russia’s major Baltic export hub of Ust-Luga overnight on March 30-31, marking the fourth strike on the port in just seven days. Leningrad Region Governor Alexander Drozdenko said Russian air defenses shot down 38 drones but confirmed the port sustained damage. He did not provide details on what was hit. Previous strikes on March 25, 27, and 29 had already disrupted operations at Ust-Luga, which handles crude oil, naphtha, fuel oil, je

JERUSALEM, Undefined, March 31 ------ Israel's parliament approved a bill that would allow the execution of Palestinians convicted on terror charges for deadly attacks, a move that has been criticized as discriminatory and immediately drew a court challenge. Sixty-two lawmakers, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, voted in favor and 48 against the bill, championed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. There was one abstention and the rest of the la

TOKYO, March 31 ------ One month after the United States and Israel began attacking Iran, concerns are growing in Japan that soaring crude oil prices could lead to even higher food and other prices, putting additional strain on businesses and households. Iran's de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil chokepoint, has driven up crude oil prices, hitting businesses such as farms, "sento" public bathhouses, and public transportation operators. Dubbed the "blood of

KYIV, March 31 ------ Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected reports that the government may suspend the payment of salaries for soldiers and state workers because of a blocked European Union loan. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, an ally of Russia's President Vladimir Putin, has blocked an EU loan of 90 billion euros ($115 billion) ahead of a national election in April. The first 45 billion euros was meant to be disbursed this year but Zelenskyy said urgent sp

KYIV, March 31 ------ Ukraine on Monday signed a 10-year defense agreement with Bulgaria, a major arms manufacturer, covering production of drones and other weapons, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced. The Ukrainian leader said he was "very pleased" with the deal, signed during a visit to Kyiv by Bulgaria's interim Prime Minister, Andrey Gyurov. The agreement covers "joint production, on the territory of our countries, of various types of weapons, including drones," Zelen

March 30 ------ Oil prices extended gains on Monday after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis launched over the weekend their first attacks on Israel since the start of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, widening the conflict in the Middle East. Brent crude futures jumped $3.16, or 2.81 per cent, to $115.73 a barrel by 2205 GMT after settling 4.2 per cent higher on Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was at $102.77 a barrel, up $3.13, or 3.14 per cent, following a 5.5 per cent gain in

SEOUL, South Korea, March 30 ------ North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed a test of an upgraded solid-fuel engine for weapons capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, and called it a significant development boosting his country’s strategic military arsenal, state media reported. While the test was in line with Kim's stated goal of acquiring more agile, hard-to-detect missiles targeting the U.S. and its allies, some experts speculate North Korea's claim may be an exaggeratio

March 30 ------ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv was working on reaching an agreement with countries in the Middle East on supplies of diesel, the type of fuel most in short supply in the country. Zelensky was speaking to a Ukrainian television interviewer while on a tour of Middle Eastern countries. Earlier, he said Ukraine and Saudi Arabia had signed an agreement on defense cooperation that lays the foundation for future contracts, technological coopera

KYIV, March 30 ------ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he discussed a possible security partnership with Jordan’s King Abdullah over defending against drone attacks amid rising tensions over the Iran conflict. “We discussed a possible partnership in the security sphere and the overall situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram. Zelensky is seeking support from Gulf states for Ukraine’s war against Russia as Western military aid fa

TOKYO, March 29 ------ Japan's government is set to announce plans to temporarily lift restrictions on coal-fired power plants as it seeks to ease an energy crunch caused by the Middle East war, media reported. The Japanese industry ministry will announce its proposal to boost the use of coal by rolling back rules that were aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions, Jiji Press and other Japanese media reported, citing unnamed sources. Power suppliers have previously been requ

ISTANBUL, March 29 ------ A new global report has found that only 13 countries met safe air quality standards in 2025, as pollution levels worsened worldwide due to climate-related factors and continued reliance on fossil fuels. According to the World Air Quality Report released by Swiss monitoring firm IQAir, just 14 percent of cities globally recorded air pollution levels within the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended limits for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), do

HONG KONG, March 28 ------ The dollar pushed higher toward multi-month peaks as investors sought safety in the shadow of an intensifying Middle East war and mounting doubts over any path to de-escalation. Markets were on edge following another rollercoaster week as U.S. President Donald Trump again extended a pause on strikes against Iran's energy facilities into April, even as Washington and Tehran offered starkly conflicting accounts of diplomatic progress. The Pentagon is

March 28 ------ The near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a global energy crisis. Countries around the world are struggling to cope with rising prices. Ways to cut demand vary and include: rationing fuel, working from home, and avoiding air travel With 20% of the world's oil unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, crude oil prices touching $100 a barrel, and 400 million barrels of emergency oil reserves already on the market, countries across the globe

NEW YORK, March 27 ------ Oil prices jumped, and equities slid as hopes for a peace deal between the United States and Iran wavered, with US President Donald Trump threatening to "obliterate" the country even as he claimed negotiations to end the conflict were ongoing. Markets had been buoyed at the start of this week by Trump saying that strikes targeting Iran's energy infrastructure would be postponed, adding that the two sides were in peace talks. But uncertainty over the

LOS ANGELES, USA, March 27 ------ A Los Angeles jury found Meta and Alphabet’s Google negligent for designing social media platforms that are harmful to young people, in a $6 million verdict that will serve as a bellwether for numerous similar cases. The jury found Meta liable for $4.2 million in damages and Google for $1.8 million, small amounts for two of the world’s most valuable companies with annual capital spending over $100 billion each. The Los Angeles trial is meant

KYIV, Ukraine, March 27 ------ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia for an unannounced visit, as the war in Iran spurs interest among Gulf countries in Ukrainian arms technology. “Arrived in Saudi Arabia. Important meetings are scheduled," Zelensky wrote on social media. "We appreciate the support and support those who are ready to work with us to ensure security." Kyiv has sought to leverage its expertise in downing Russian drones to help Gulf natio

March 27 ------ The Iran war has deflected global attention from Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbor Ukraine as Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II enters its fifth year and an emboldened Kremlin undertakes a spring offensive. The past week showed that neither side is easing up. Russia on Tuesday fired almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at Ukraine in one of the war’s biggest bombardments. The following day, Ukraine launched almost 400 drones in the largest rep

TOKYO, March 26 ------ Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi agreed with leaders of Malaysia and the Philippines to cooperate in easing tensions in the Middle East. Takaichi reached the agreement in separate phone talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Japanese leader emphasized the need to work with the international community to ensure safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transport waterway that has

SYDNEY, Australia, March 26 ------ Australia banned visitors from Iran, saying war in the Middle East increased the risk they would refuse to fly home once their short-term visas expired. For the next six months people travelling on Iranian passports will be barred from visiting Australia for tourism or work, the Home Affairs department said. "The conflict in Iran has increased the risk that some temporary visa holders may be unable or unlikely to depart Australia when their