The Philippines has become the first country to officially declare a state of emergency in the energy sector for one year, amid a growing global fuel shortage. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the corresponding decree, characterizing the situation as an "imminent threat" to national security. This decision comes as the country's current fuel reserves average only 45 days.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sought to reassure Australians that the country's fuel supply remains "secure" despite soaring prices and widespread reports of panic buying and petrol stations running dry since the onset of the war in Iran. Albanese told reporters on Friday, "The longer this war goes on, the greater the impact will be. But we continue to act to prepare and shield Australians from the worst of it." However, the situation on the ground appears increasingly dire, with reports of truck drivers and motorists stranded, and businesses warning that rising costs are threatening their viability.
Iranian state television reported that the country has banned its sports teams from traveling to nations it considers "hostile." This ban was announced ahead of club side Tractor SC's scheduled football match in Saudi Arabia.
▪️ Israel's main opposition leader Yair Lapid has warned that the war with Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon is taking an excessively high toll and accused the government of steering the country towards a "security disaster". In a video address late on Thursday, Lapid stated that the military "is stretched to the limit and beyond", echoing a warning delivered a day earlier by military chief Eyal Zamir, according to leaked remarks from a security cabinet meeting.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a state of emergency in the country's energy sector. This move is linked to a sharp rise in oil prices following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, which the head of state described as an "imminent threat" to the nation's energy supply.
As the war enters its 28th day, US President Donald Trump has delayed planned attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure by 10 days until April 6, claiming that peace talks are going "very well." However, Iranian officials have described the US proposal as "one-sided and unfair," highlighting ongoing tensions and the challenges in reaching a diplomatic resolution.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has unveiled a new policy under its "framework to protect the female category in Olympic sports," which excludes transgender women from competing in women's events. The committee will utilize a one-time test for the presence of the SRY gene to determine eligibility for the female category. These new rules are set to take effect starting with the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, United States.
The Sabon Gari Market in Kano, northern Nigeria, has become a major hub for trading second-hand household appliances from the US and Europe. 34-year-old cleaner Marian Shammah purchased a refrigerator here for 50,000 naira ($36), but it broke down after just one month. Shammah reported that only the top half of the refrigerator was working, while the freezer failed. This led to spoiled food and the loss of her savings.
The US Department of the Treasury announced on Thursday that, under plans to mark the 250th anniversary of the country's Independence Day on July 4, the signature of sitting President Donald Trump will be added to US currency for the first time. This move marks a precedent for a current president, as until now, US banknotes—denominated in $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100—have featured only the signatures of the Treasury secretary and the treasurer.
Iran's Ministry of Sport has prohibited national and club teams from competing in countries it labels as "hostile." In a statement, the ministry declared, "The presence of national and club teams in countries that are considered hostile and are unable to ensure the security of Iranian athletes and team members is prohibited until further notice."
The Mexican Navy has launched a search and rescue operation in the Caribbean Sea to locate two missing sailboats that were carrying humanitarian aid to crisis-stricken Cuba. The vessels departed from Isla Mujeres in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo and were bound for Havana.
Myanmar has entered the sixth year of a brutal civil war initiated by the military regime that seized power in the country in 2021. The military leadership is increasingly confident of winning, but this conflict has plunged the nation into a deep crisis. In 2021, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing ousted the elected government and detained civilian leaders, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. This power grab reversed a decade of fragile democratic transition and produced not only a military dictatorship but also a nationwide uprising.