Philippines declares ‘national energy emergency’ and boosts coal power as Iran war grinds on

President’s declaration allows officials to tackle fuel hoarding or profiteering, while energy secretary says country will lean more heavily on coal

The Philippines president, Ferdinand Marcos, has declared a state of “national energy emergency” as a result of the Middle East war, which his administration said posed “an imminent danger of a critically low energy supply”.

The state of emergency, which will initially last for a year, was declared just hours after the country’s energy secretary said the Philippines planned to boost the output of its coal-fired power plants to keep electricity costs down as the war wreaks havoc with gas shipments.

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Nato chief riles Europe by backing Trump’s war in Iran – Financial Times

  1. Nato chief riles Europe by backing Trump’s war in Iran  Financial Times
  2. 22 Countries Signal Readiness to Help Secure Strait of Hormuz  WSJ
  3. UK offers to host international summit on reopening strait of Hormuz  The Guardian
  4. Bahrain pushes UN-backed action for Hormuz shipping; France tables rival text  Reuters
  5. Allies are lining up behind Trump to open the Strait of Hormuz — cue the media fury  New York Post
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No Israel prosecutions for killing Palestinian civilians in occupied West Bank since start of decade

Dozens of former Israeli military, police and spy chiefs describe situation as ‘organised Jewish terrorism’

Israel has not prosecuted its citizens for killing Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank since the start of this decade, , a Guardian analysis of legal data and public records show, creating impunity for a campaign of violence.

Attacks have spurred former prime minister Ehud Olmert to call for an intervention by the international criminal court (ICC), to “save the Palestinians and us [Israelis]” from state-backed settler violence, carried out with the complicity and sometimes participation of the police and military.

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No Israel prosecutions for killing Palestinian civilians in occupied West Bank since start of decade

Dozens of former Israeli military, police and spy chiefs describe situation as ‘organised Jewish terrorism’

Israel has not prosecuted its citizens for killing Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank since the start of this decade, , a Guardian analysis of legal data and public records show, creating impunity for a campaign of violence.

Attacks have spurred former prime minister Ehud Olmert to call for an intervention by the international criminal court (ICC), to “save the Palestinians and us [Israelis]” from state-backed settler violence, carried out with the complicity and sometimes participation of the police and military.

Continue reading...

After 1,400 Years, the First Female Archbishop of Canterbury Is About to Be Enthroned – The New York Times

  1. After 1,400 Years, the First Female Archbishop of Canterbury Is About to Be Enthroned  The New York Times
  2. Kate Middleton and Prince William Step Out for Historic Ceremony Installing First Female Archbishop of Canterbury  Yahoo
  3. Watch the Installation of the Archbishop Canterbury live  ArchbishopofCanterbury.org
  4. Why Kate Middleton Received a Curtsy Before Prince William at Historic Church Service  People.com
  5. First female Archbishop of Canterbury, Schiaparelli exhibition, Swiftynomics  BBC
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Another Baltic Sea port in flames as Ukrainian drones strike major natural gas port in Ust-Luga – The Kyiv Independent

  1. Another Baltic Sea port in flames as Ukrainian drones strike major natural gas port in Ust-Luga  The Kyiv Independent
  2. Ukraine hits major Russian oil port near Finland  France 24
  3. Fire at Russia’s Ust-Luga Oil Port on Baltic After Drone Attack  Bloomberg.com
  4. Ukraine Hits Ust-Luga Oil Terminal in Largest Overnight Drone Attack of the Year  The Moscow Times
  5. Ukraine strikes facilities operated by Russian gas giant near St Petersburg  Українська правда
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Lebo M sues comedian Learnmore Jonasi claiming Circle of Life misrepresentation

Grammy winner seeks more than $20m in damages over mistranslation of The Lion King chant

A Grammy-winning South African composer who wrote and performed the opening chant in Circle of Life for Disney’s The Lion King is suing a comedian for allegedly damaging his reputation by intentionally misrepresenting the song’s meaning on a podcast and in his standup routine.

Lebohang Morake’s lawsuit accuses the Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Mwanyenyeka, known as Learnmore Jonasi, of intentionally mistranslating the chant, which launches the 1994 movie and is central to staged versions as well as Disney’s 2019 remake.

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Zolghadr, the IRGC insider at the heart of Iran’s power structure – ایران اینترنشنال

  1. Zolghadr, the IRGC insider at the heart of Iran’s power structure  ایران اینترنشنال
  2. Iran’s new security boss Mohammad Zolghadr: Why his appointment matters  Al Jazeera
  3. With top figures dead, who is now running Iran?  Reuters
  4. Israel killed another Iranian leader, but experts say that doesn't mean it's winning the war  NBC News
  5. Iran’s New Security Chief Is a Hard-Line Former Guards Commander  The New York Times
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China protests to Japan over alleged break-in at its embassy in Tokyo – Politico

  1. China protests to Japan over alleged break-in at its embassy in Tokyo  Politico
  2. China demands Japan punish military officer who breached embassy in Tokyo  Reuters
  3. Japanese Self-Defense Member Arrested After China Embassy Breach  Bloomberg.com
  4. Japanese ‘military officer’ forces way into Chinese embassy in Tokyo  South China Morning Post
  5. Japan calls GSDF officer’s break-in at Chinese Embassy ‘deeply regrettable’  The Japan Times
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Trump declares Iran war ‘won’ as Tehran denies claims of peace talk progress – The Washington Post

  1. Trump declares Iran war ‘won’ as Tehran denies claims of peace talk progress  The Washington Post
  2. Trump news art a glance: president claims victory in Iran war as US prepares to deploy more troops  The Guardian
  3. Trump Declares ‘War Has Been Won’ as He Deploys More Troops  Rolling Stone
  4. Trump Signals Retreat From Goal of Regime Change in Iran  The New York Times
  5. Trump: ‘Only fake news’ wants Iran war to keep going  The Hill
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Court blocks California effort to stop Republican sheriff’s ballot recount

Panel denies attorney general’s bid after Riverside county sheriff Chad Bianco seized 650,000 special-election ballots

A three-judge panel has denied a filing by California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, seeking a court order to stop the Riverside county sheriff’s department from continuing its recount of ballots from the November 2025 special election.

The LA Times reported that Bonta filed a petition with the fourth appellate district on Monday, writing that “the sheriff’s misguided investigation threatens to sow distrust and jeopardize public confidence” in upcoming elections.

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Court blocks California effort to stop Republican sheriff’s ballot recount

Panel denies attorney general’s bid after Riverside county sheriff Chad Bianco seized 650,000 special-election ballots

A three-judge panel has denied a filing by California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, seeking a court order to stop the Riverside county sheriff’s department from continuing its recount of ballots from the November 2025 special election.

The LA Times reported that Bonta filed a petition with the fourth appellate district on Monday, writing that “the sheriff’s misguided investigation threatens to sow distrust and jeopardize public confidence” in upcoming elections.

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