Trump vows no more attacks by Israel on Iran gas field after it ‘violently lashed out’

March 19, 2026 | 6:08 pm

IRAN-CRISIS-ISRAEL — AN IRANIAN MISSILE flies toward Israel, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, as seen from Jerusalem, March 11, 2026. — REUTERS/JAMAL AWAD TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

DOHA/RIYADH — US President Donald J. Trump said an angry Israel “violently lashed out” and attacked Iran’s major gas field, a significant escalation in the US-Israeli war, but ruled out further such attacks by Israel unless Iran retaliated.

Wednesday’s attack on the huge South Pars gas field drove oil prices higher and prompted a threat by Iran to attack oil and gas targets across the Gulf, while it fired missiles at Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The escalation heightens the unprecedented disruption of global energy supplies that has raised the political stakes for Mr. Trump, who joined Israel in attacking Iran nearly four weeks ago.

Qatar’s state oil giant QatarEnergy reported “extensive damage” after Iranian missiles hit the Ras Laffan Industrial City that processes about a fifth of global gas supply.

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed four ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh on Wednesday and an attempted drone attack on a gas facility in its east.

On Thursday, Iran again targeted Qatar’s gas facilities and its missiles also targeted the Saudi capital.

QatarEnergy “sizeable fires” and extensive damage at several of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities targeted in missile attacks early on Thursday.

Mr. Trump said the United States did not have advance knowledge of Israel’s attack, adding that Qatar had not been involved.

“Israel, out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East, has violently lashed out at a major facility known as South Pars Gas Field in Iran,” Mr. Trump posted on X on Wednesday.

“Unfortunately, Iran did not know this, or any of the pertinent facts pertaining to the South Pars attack, and unjustifiably and unfairly attacked a portion of Qatar’s LNG Gas facility.

“NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar.

“In which instance the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before.”

Earlier, the Wall Street Journal said Mr. Trump had approved of Israel’s plan to attack Iran’s natural gas field.

South Pars is the Iranian sector of the world’s largest natural gas deposit, which Iran shares with Qatar, a close US ally and host of the United States’ biggest military base in the Gulf.

Since the start of the conflict, Tehran has targeted not just Israel, but US diplomatic and military facilities across the Gulf and warned its neighbors not to host attacks on Iran.

With de-escalation nowhere in sight, Mr. Trump is considering sending thousands more US troops to the Middle East, according to a US official and three people familiar with the planning.

Those troops could be used to restore the safe passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for a fifth of the world’s oil trade.

ISLAMIC FOREIGN MINISTERS CONDEMN IRAN ATTACKS
The foreign ministers of 12 Muslim-majority countries meeting in Riyadh denounced Iran’s strikes on Gulf neighbors and called for an immediate halt.

Iran’s targeting of residential areas and civilian infrastructure, such as oil facilities, airports and desalination plants, could not be justified under any circumstances, the ministers said in a statement.

“This pressure from Iran will backfire politically and morally and certainly we reserve the right to take military actions, if deemed necessary,” Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told a press conference after the diplomats met in Riyadh.

Interceptors were seen fired from near the Riyadh hotel where the conference was held around the time the ministers gathered for the consultative meeting on the Iran war.

The United Arab Emirates shut down its Habshan gas facility after it intercepted missiles fired in what its foreign ministry called a “terrorist attack” by Iran.

More than 3,000 people have been killed in Iran since the US -Israeli attacks began on Feb. 28, the US-based Iran human rights group HRANA estimates.

Authorities in Lebanon say 900 have been killed there and 800,000 forced to flee their homes.

Iranian attacks have killed people in Iraq and across the Gulf states, and at least 13 US military service members have been killed in the war. — Reuters

US assesses China not planning to invade Taiwan in 2027

March 19, 2026 | 6:07 pm

A Taiwan flag can be seen on an overpass ahead of National Day celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan, Oct. 8, 2025. — REUTERS/ANN WANG

WASHINGTON — China does not currently plan to invade Taiwan in 2027 and seeks to control the island without the use of force, the US intelligence community said on Wednesday, striking a measured tone on one of the world’s biggest potential flashpoints.

The assessment in the intelligence agencies’ annual report on global threats comes as Beijing has stepped up pressure on Taiwan with frequent military drills, even as US President Donald J. Trump has played down the risk of Chinese military action while he is in office.

The Pentagon late last year said the US military believed China was preparing to be able to win a fight for Taiwan by 2027, the centenary of the founding of its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and was refining options to take Taiwan by “brute force” if needed.

“China, despite its threat to use force to compel unification if necessary and to counter what it sees as a US attempt to use Taiwan to undermine China’s rise, prefers to achieve unification without the use of force, if possible,” the US intelligence agencies said in the report.

The US “assesses that Chinese leaders do not currently plan to execute an invasion of Taiwan in 2027, nor do they have a fixed timeline for achieving unification,” the report said.

It reiterated previous views that the PLA was making “steady but uneven” progress on capabilities it could use to capture the democratically governed island.

Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Washington said Taiwan will continue to monitor China’s activities and “remain vigilant at all times.”

“China has never abandoned the use of force against Taiwan, and its continued military intimidation and gray-zone operations pose serious threats not only to Taiwan but also to regional peace and stability,” it said in a statement.

China’s embassy in Washington did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

Mr. Trump, who has repeatedly touted his “great relationship” with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, has downplayed the threat of the Chinese drills around Taiwan and said Mr. Xi told him he will not attack Taiwan while the US president is in office — something Beijing has never confirmed.

China views Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to take the island under its control. Taiwan rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.

PRESSURE ON JAPAN TO INTENSIFY
Despite concerns in the US and abroad about Mr. Trump’s inclination to back Taiwan, his administration in December unveiled a record $11-billion sale of weapons for the island, angering Beijing, which says such arms deals must end.

Nonetheless, some Japanese officials have worried Mr. Trump may be prepared to soften support for Taiwan in pursuit of a trade accord with China, a move they fear will embolden Beijing and spark conflict in an increasingly militarized East Asia.

Tokyo had been unnerved by muted US rhetorical support for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after her remarks last year that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could bring about a Japanese military response. Mr. Trump reportedly told her privately not to escalate the ensuing diplomatic row with Beijing.

In Wednesday’s report, the US intelligence agencies called Ms. Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan a “significant shift” for a Japanese leader, a framing that is likely to irk Tokyo just a day ahead of a delicate visit by her to the White House. Ms. Takaichi has maintained her stance was consistent with Japan’s longstanding policy. “China is employing multidomain coercive pressure that probably will intensify through 2026, aimed both at punishing Japan and deterring other countries from making similar statements about their potential involvement in a Taiwan crisis,” the report said. — Reuters

EU leaders hunt for quick fixes to energy price spike amid Iran war

March 19, 2026 | 6:07 pm

BRUSSELS — European Union (EU) leaders will attempt to find quick fixes to curb the jump in energy prices triggered by the Iran war when they meet for a summit on Thursday, but they have few easy options.

Europe’s heavy reliance on energy imports means the continent is heavily exposed to surging prices caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which some 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies normally pass.

European gas prices have increased by more than 60% since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on Feb. 28.

“This, once again, confirms the key strategy for the EU is to ensure the decarbonization of industries,” Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas told Reuters, referring to Europe’s plans to replace fossil fuels with locally produced low-carbon energy sources over the coming years.

In the short term, however, “there is no single instrument or silver bullet that would easily cope with this challenge,” he added.

Some governments are doubtful that the EU — whose 27 member states have vastly different energy mixes and national taxes on energy — can realistically offset a price spike resulting from the unprecedented disruption in global markets.

“We will not find the magic solution, unfortunately,” one EU diplomat said.

‘TARGETED TEMPORARY MEASURES’
Draft conclusions for the summit, seen by Reuters, said leaders would instruct the European Commission to “present without delay a toolbox of targeted temporary measures to address the recent spikes in the prices of imported fossil fuels.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday laid out options the EU executive is exploring. They omitted major EU interventions, instead promising tweaks to the bloc’s emissions trading system and suggesting that governments cut national taxes or increase state aid for struggling industries.

None of the options is expected to dramatically cut prices while the Strait of Hormuz effectively remains shut.

Each has potential downsides. Allowing more state aid at the member state level could deepen divides between wealthy and poor countries, while cutting energy taxes is challenging for governments racing to increase public spending on defence.

Leaders are particularly split over how to approach the emissions trading system (ETS), the EU’s most important climate change policy. Launched in 2005, the ETS forces power plants and industries to buy permits to cover ‌CO2 emissions.

Ms. Von der Leyen said the Commission would adjust a reserve regulating the ETS’ supply of emission permits to curb prices in the short term.

Ten EU leaders including Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Poland’s Donald Tusk, demanded deeper changes on Wednesday, including more free CO2 permits for industry.

A second camp of countries, including Spain and the Netherlands, oppose weakening the system.

Leaders will wrangle over what instructions to hand to the commission.

Their draft conclusions ask Brussels to bring forward a planned review of the ETS to July, “while preserving the essential role of the ETS in the climate and energy transition” — wording diplomats said not all countries supported.

The draft conclusions also set out multiple deadlines, many this year, for measures to boost the EU’s competitiveness and help it close the gap with rivals — the US and China — including an “EU Inc” plan presented on Wednesday to simplify rules on creating innovative startups. — Reuters

Thailand’s Anutin re-elected PM after crushing rival in parliamentary vote

March 19, 2026 | 6:06 pm

BANGKOK — Anutin Charnvirakul was re-elected Thailand’s prime minister (PM) on Thursday after sailing through a parliamentary vote, winning a fresh mandate that could usher in a rare period of stability for a country long plagued by political drama and turmoil.

The Bhumjaithai Party’s Mr. Anutin led from the start in what turned out to be a rout of his biggest rival, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the progressive People’s Party, the surprise runner-up last month in an election it had been widely expected to win.

Mr. Anutin becomes the first Thai premier to be voted back to office in two decades, underlining the upheaval that has dogged Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy.

In a stunning turnaround in fortunes for a party that had struggled to make its mark in Thai politics, Bhumjaithai scored a decisive election victory over its reformist rival after capitalizing on a wave of nationalism arising out of military conflicts with Cambodia last year.

OPPORTUNITY SEIZED
Much of Mr. Anutin’s success comes from his opportunism last year in seizing on the decline of the once dominant Pheu Thai party, first by abandoning its coalition government then maneuvering swiftly to form his own after a court sacked a second prime minister in the space of just over a year.

Bhumjaithai’s coalition pact with the politically bruised Pheu Thai and a motley crew of small parties stood firm in Thursday’s vote, with Mr. Anutin comfortably reaching the 251 votes needed to win re-election.

His alliance is expected to control 292 of the current 499 seats in parliament.

In the leadup to the vote, Mr. Anutin, 59, pledged to get to work immediately on forming a cabinet and solving Thailand’s problems.

“Your voices are equally heard,” he told rival lawmakers. “I’m ready to accept suggestions so I can carry out my duty as head of government. We all have the same goals — the well-being of the people.”

Mr. Anutin, a staunch royalist, has been a mainstay in Thai politics, weathering two decades of upheaval by positioning Bhumjaithai strategically between warring elites entangled in an intractable power struggle, which guaranteed its place in a succession of coalition governments.

PROSPECT OF STABILITY
Mr. Anutin’s election victory and approval by parliament gives him his first clear mandate to lead in a country with a long-stuttering economy shackled by massive household debt and facing headwinds from trade uncertainty and the fallout of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Mr. Anutin’s survival instincts and ability to straddle political divides could prove his biggest asset, some analysts say, with Bhumjaithai having been spared the wrath of Thailand’s powerful military and judiciary, the engineers of the downfall of multiple governments and parties.

Napon Jatusripitak, a political scientist at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, said that with Bhumjaithai set to hold sway over the upper and lower houses and Thailand’s axes of institutional power appearing to be behind Mr. Anutin, the prospects for medium-term stability were good.

“People have strong reasons to believe that this government can last, particularly because it’s the first time in a long while that the referee and the players are on the same side,” Mr. Napon said.

“There’s control,” he said. “And we have a highly fragmented opposition.” — Reuters

Iran considers levying transit fees on ships in Hormuz Strait, lawmaker says

March 19, 2026 | 5:55 pm

3_IEA-OIL — Tankers sail in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam governance, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. — REUTERS

DUBAI — Iran is considering a proposal to levy transit fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a lawmaker said on Thursday, a potential bid to monetize Tehran’s newfound grip over the critical waterway through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied gas passes.

Since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, Tehran has disrupted maritime transit through the strait for vessels it says are linked to its war adversaries and their allies.

According to the Iranian Students’ News Agency, the lawmaker said parliament was considering a bill under which countries using the strait for shipping, energy transit, and food supplies would be required to pay tolls and taxes to Iran.

An adviser to Iran’s supreme leader said “a new regime for the Strait of Hormuz” will follow the war’s eventual end, allowing Tehran to apply maritime restrictions on states that have sanctioned it.

“By using the strategic position of the Strait of Hormuz, we can sanction (the West) and prevent their ships from passing through this waterway,” Mohammad Mokhber said on Thursday, according to Mehr news agency. — Reuters

Philippine jeepney drivers protest as rising fuel prices cut their pay

March 19, 2026 | 5:40 pm

jeep-passenger — Some jeepneys picking up passengers in Quezon City to earn extra income before joining the transport strike on Thursday, March 19, 2026. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

MANILA — The ripple effects of the war in the Middle East are hitting home hard for Philippine jeepney driver Toni Prado, whose daily earnings have been gutted by soaring fuel prices.

He was one of thousands of jeepney drivers who took to the streets across the country on Thursday to protest a more than doubling of local diesel prices after global oil prices surged because of the US-Israel war on Iran.

“We are losing our income. What we earn just goes to paying for diesel,” said Mr. Prado.

“Before I could earn at least 1,000 pesos ($16.65) for three trips, now I only take home 200 pesos,” said the father of four. “How can I support my children? How can I send my daughter to school? How do I pay for electricity, water, and food?”

The Philippines relies heavily on Middle Eastern oil, and the surge in fuel prices is threatening to stoke inflation in the consumption-driven economy.

Like many of its Southeast Asian neighbors, Manila has taken steps such as shortening the work week and providing fuel subsidies to counter the impact of rising costs. This week, Congress granted the president emergency powers to suspend or reduce fuel taxes.

Mody Floranda, who heads the transport group leading the national strike, said those measures were not enough, and called for the repeal of a law that stripped the government of its authority to control fuel prices.

Drivers said the pain of surging diesel prices was compounded by the suspension of a fare hike that could have provided some relief.

Jeepneys, which were originally created from abandoned US military jeeps after World War Two, are a vital mode of public transport across the Philippines.

Reggie Manlapit, who has been a jeepney driver for two decades, said he needs to work longer hours but still gets less pay.

“Because of what’s happening, we work longer hours and we’re lucky if we can take home 200 pesos,” he said. ($1 = 60.0750 Philippine pesos) — Reuters

Italy’s justice referendum tests PM Meloni and divided opposition

March 19, 2026 | 5:28 pm

LEADER of Brothers of Italy Giorgia Meloni is seen at the party’s headquarters, in Rome, Italy, Sept. 26, 2022. — REUTERS

ROME — A forthcoming Italian referendum on judicial reform will test right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s political strength and could give the fragmented opposition the impetus to forge a broad alliance ahead of next year’s general election.

Italians will vote on March 22-23 on a proposal to separate the careers of judges and public prosecutors, splitting the self-ruling High Council of the Judiciary (CSM) into two bodies whose members would be chosen by lot rather than elected.

Though centred on the governance of the judiciary, the referendum has become a political showdown between the government-backed ‘Yes’ camp and the opposition, which supports ‘No’. There is no turnout quorum required to validate the vote.

Analysts say most people are likely to cast their ballots based on political preferences, paying little attention to the substance, after a bruising campaign marked by unfounded claims over the potential impact of the reform from both sides.

“Only a small minority of Italians knows much about the issue. Many will look instead to party and coalition leaders, who are all trying to mobilize their voters to win,” said Fabrizio Masia, the head of pollster EMG.

FRESH MOMENTUM TO THE LEFT
Polls published before a two-week pre-ballot blackout took effect showed the two camps neck-and-neck, with opponents of the reform gaining ground amid suggestions that many right-wing supporters may stay home out of apathy.

Ms. Meloni has ruled out resigning in the event of defeat, a move widely seen as an attempt to discourage opposition voters from turning out in large numbers in the hope of unseating her.

The coalition — which includes her Brothers of Italy party, the League and Forza Italia — remains more popular than the left, which is still struggling to forge a stable alliance around the Democratic Party and the 5-Star Movement.

“A ‘no’ win could give fresh momentum to efforts to build a center-left bloc, also causing trouble within Meloni’s ranks,” said pollster Masia.

If the reform passes, however, Ms. Meloni would receive a major boost, as she nears the end of her term grappling with the fallout from the broadening US-Israeli war on Iran and a stagnant economy.

“A government victory would strengthen its longer-term political project, also in view of the 2027 election,” said Emanuele Massetti, political science professor at Trento University.

BERLUSCONI’S LEGACY
Justice has been a divisive issue in Italy since former centre-right Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi faced dozens of trials linked largely to his business empire and often accused judges of political bias.

Mr. Massetti said the referendum was the latest chapter in a long-running confrontation between the right and the judiciary, with the issue dividing voters along left-right lines since the era of Mr. Berlusconi, who died in 2023.

The campaign has also pitted Ms. Meloni against magistrates’ union ANM, which says the reform would weaken judicial independence and increase political interference.

The government rejects that criticism, saying the reform is needed to curb the politicised election of CSM members after scandals exposed backroom deals over senior prosecutor appointments.

“The reform aims to make the justice system more modern, fair, accountable and independent, free from political pressure and from the factionalism that has damaged its credibility and authority,” Ms. Meloni told daily Il Dubbio this week. — Reuters

China offers to work with Southeast Asia on energy security

March 19, 2026 | 5:22 pm

BEIJING — China, home to the world’s biggest oil refining sector, said it was ready to work with Southeast Asia in addressing energy problems stemming from the war in Iran and called on the parties involved to immediately cease military operations.

China’s show of willingness to work with the region of more than 700 million people would be welcome relief to Southeast Asian oil importers after an order by Beijing earlier this month to ban Chinese exports of diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel.

The ban would worsen shortages and further hike prices for some of China’s strategic partner-nations in Southeast Asia, which have already been reeling from supply cuts brought on by the US-Israeli war against Iran.

“The situation in the Middle East has disrupted global energy security,” said Lin Jian, spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry, told a regular news conference when asked if Southeast Asian nations had reached out to China for help.

“The countries involved should immediately cease military operations to prevent regional instability from having a greater impact on global economic development,” said Mr. Lin.

“China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Southeast Asian countries to jointly address energy security issues,” Mr. Lin added.

Any easing of Beijing’s ban could help soothe fuel jitters in countries from the Philippines to Cambodia.

Philippine Energy Secretary Sharon Garin met with the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines on Tuesday to discuss cooperation in energy, a departure from the two countries’ arguing over maritime rights in the South China Sea. — Reuters

Top central banks strike hawkish tone as they convene in war’s shadow

March 19, 2026 | 4:38 pm

OTTAWA/WASHINGTON/TOKYO — Top central banks from the US, Canada and Japan struck hawkish tones on Wednesday, albeit to varying degrees, as the Iran war drove energy prices sharply higher amid a pivotal week of global central bank meetings.

Having battled a commodities-led inflation spike after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, policymakers are once again walking a tightrope – reining in stubborn price pressures without derailing growth.

The U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of Canada and Bank of Japan all opted to hold interest rates steady, yet their leaders made clear they are on alert, wary that rising energy prices could spark a fresh wave of inflation.

“Governing Council will look through the war’s immediate impact on inflation, but if energy prices stay high, we will not let their effects broaden and become persistent inflation,” BoC Governor Tiff Macklem said in opening remarks at a press conference after the bank kept its key rate at 2.25%.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell was equally cautious.

“In the near term, higher energy prices will push up overall inflation, but it is too soon to know the scope and duration of the potential effects on the economy,” Powell said in a press conference following the Fed’s 11-1 decision to maintain its benchmark overnight interest rate in the 3.50%-3.75% range.

Still, Powell’s reluctance to say that risks of a weakening job market posed a greater risk to the Fed’s objectives than inflation helped push market rate-cut expectations into 2027.

Brazil’s central bank was a dovish exception on Wednesday as it kicked off a long-awaited easing cycle with a cautious 25-basis-point cut in its benchmark rate to 14.75%, which is still among the highest in major economies.

The central bank decisions came after the Reserve Bank of Australia hiked rates to a 10-month high and warned of a “material” risk to inflation from the oil price spike.

Stocks slid and oil prices rose sharply on Thursday after a major escalation in the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran rattled investors, while the BOJ became the latest central bank to warn about the impact of energy costs on inflation.

BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said the central bank would not rule out a near-term rate hike if the expected hit to growth from surging oil costs proves temporary, and does not derail progress Japan was making in durably hitting the bank’s price target.

“We need to be mindful that recent developments come at a time when companies are already actively pushing up prices and wages, which suggests they could pass on costs more aggressively than after the war in Ukraine,” Ueda told a news conference.

But analysts expect the rate path for central banks to remain bumpy with no clear end in sight to the conflict that could upend global supply chains, jolt financial markets and hurt corporate sentiment.

“This latest escalation feels like a turning point for markets because the conflict is no longer just about military headlines or Strait of Hormuz closure,” said Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo in Singapore.

“It is now hitting the plumbing of the global energy system. What is unsettling markets now is the growing stagflation risk… It means this is no longer just a geopolitical story but a macro one.” — Reuters

Globe strengthens mobile network across Tarlac to keep communities connected

March 19, 2026 | 2:10 pm

Tarlac, the heart of Central Luzon, is rapidly growing with expanding schools, thriving businesses, and increasing tourism – driving a greater need for reliable mobile connectivity in the province. Residents, enterprises, and visitors are relying more on mobile services for work, learning, and entertainment, making fast and stable internet essential for everyday life.

The province is seeing significant infrastructure and development projects that are shaping its economic landscape. Major initiatives include the Capas-Botolan Road, a 68-kilometer corridor expected to cut travel time between Tarlac and Zambales from three hours to just over an hour by 2025. In Tarlac City, large-scale industrial estates and mixed-use townships are under development, alongside new manufacturing facilities and modern residential-commercial communities. Ongoing investments in Tarlac State University further enhance educational infrastructure, with laboratory refurbishments and building expansions supporting the next generation of talent.

To address this demand, Globe is accelerating network upgrades across the province in 2025 and 2026. Additional LTE and 5G sites are being deployed to deliver faster speed and more consistent mobile experiences throughout Tarlac. The new build and expansion improves coverage and capacity in key municipalities including Tarlac City, Capas, Concepcion, Gerona, Victoria, Paniqui, Mayantoc, San Jose, Moncada, Santa Ignacia, La Paz, Camiling, Bamban, San Clemente, Pura, San Manuel, Ramos, and Anao. Residents can now enjoy smoother browsing, clearer calls, and quicker uploads and downloads, enabling seamless connectivity for work, school, and leisure activities.

Joel Agustin, Head of Service Planning and Engineering at Globe, highlighted the importance of the upgrades. He said that Tarlac blends cultural heritage with modern business and lifestyle opportunities, and Globe is committed to providing seamless connectivity for everyone, whether at work, in school, or exploring the province’s tourism destinations. The new network strengthens coverage and delivers fast, reliable mobile experiences for both residents and visitors.

The enhanced network also allows customers to take full advantage of Globe’s mobile offers. Globe users can enjoy GO+99 and UNLI 5G 50, while TM subscribers can access TM EasySURF50 5G for affordable, dependable connectivity. These offers support streaming, online learning, digital entrepreneurship, and daily communication, making mobile services more accessible and convenient.

Local businesses and institutions also benefit from the network expansion. Companies gain operational efficiency, schools gain better support for digital learning, and tourists experience smoother online access for navigation, bookings, and content sharing. Globe’s continued investments are recognized by independent industry analysis. The company maintains its title as the Most Consistent Network in the Philippines according to Ookla, reflecting the reliability subscribers experience nationwide.

As Tarlac develops into a hub for commerce and tourism, Globe’s network upgrades ensure communities remain digitally empowered. By combining robust infrastructure with accessible mobile services, Globe supports the province’s progress and helps residents stay connected in an increasingly digital world.

For more information about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.

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Year 2 of GCash Run mobilizes collective push for environmental action with runners, DENR-FMB, Silliman University, sustainability partners, green merchants

March 19, 2026 | 2:00 pm

IMG_8570-3-(1)-OL — DENR, led by Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna, is building support for the second year of the GCash Run, recognizing its contributions to nation-building by restoring coastal ecosystems and expanding mangrove conservation through community-driven action. From left are GCash Public Affairs Head Atty. Gret Baltazar; GCash Impact Innovations Head for Sustainability Moya Ganzon; G-Xchange, Inc. Regulatory and Strategic Compliance Head Atty. Jorge Franco Sarmiento; DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna; GCash Public Sector National Government Accounts Manager Alda Lou Cabrera; and DENR-FMB Assistant Director Ray Thomas Kabigting.

GCash is bringing back its commitment to environmental restoration with the second GCash Run this March 2026. Set to take place on March 22, 2026, along Ayala Avenue in Makati City, the GCash Run 2026 builds on last year’s momentum by gathering thousands of participants to translate simple, everyday activities into tangible environmental impact.

A total of 40,500 grey mangrove trees are committed for planting following this event, courtesy of runners, sponsors, and partners. The initiative supports science-based mangrove restoration efforts that protect coastlines, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable communities.

Supporting national reforestation mandates

This year, GCash further strengthens the initiative by formalizing its partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources — Forest Management Bureau (DENR–FMB), aligning GCash Run with the government’s national target of planting 1.5 billion trees by 2028. The collaboration also supports mangrove restoration efforts to restore and expand the Philippines’ coastal ecosystems and strengthen the resilience of coastal communities.

“Through GCash Run, we’re making it easier for GCash users and corporate partners to take part in collective environmental action while making nation-building its core mission. Sustainability is a shared responsibility, and when we work together, every step can help create a greener future,” said Moya Ganzon, Head of Sustainability’s Impact Innovations at Mynt, the parent company of GCash.

Thousands of runners are lacing up and gearing up for the second GCash Run on March 22. A total of 40,500 grey mangrove trees will be planted through the support of runners, sponsors, and partners.

Grounded in science, implemented with local communities

GCash, through GForest, continues its long-standing partnership with Silliman University (SU) to ensure that mangrove reforestation efforts are grounded in science and implemented with local communities.

Since 2023, GCash and Silliman University have combined ecological research, site assessment, and community-based implementation in Negros Region. To date, more than 277,456 seedlings have been planted under the program, following science-based restoration methods designed to improve survival rates and long-term ecosystem recovery.

The partnership is now entering its second phase, aiming to plant 1 million mangroves and beach forest trees by 2029.

By leveraging SU’s technical expertise, the initiative ensures that tree species are selected based on site suitability, monitored for growth and survival, and implemented with meaningful community participation — strengthening both environmental outcomes and local livelihoods.

Several media partners are backing the initiative, alongside the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Silliman University, advocacy groups, event sponsors, green merchants, and other key stakeholders.

From digital action to on-ground impact

GCash Run continues to connect digital engagement with on-ground environmental action. The initiative has also drawn strong support from advocacy organizations and corporate partners.

Advocacy partners include ABS-CBN Foundation, Angat Buhay, Berdeng Kalabaw, Caritas Manila, CRIBS Foundation, One Million Lights, Team Manila, UNICEF, WWF, and Zolo.

A total of twenty eco-marketplace partners will also participate, including Cut the Craft, Wonder Home Essentials, Eco Shift Essentials, For Keeps Clean Beauty, Abel PH, Commune Cafe and Bar, Pili Ani PH, Kangkong King, Simula PH, Malingkat Weaves, Maginhawa Eco-Store, araro.gelato, Planted Bodega, and Odd Cafe.

The GCash Marketplace will showcase the convenience of GCash for Business solutions, including SoundPay, PocketPay, and EasyPOS. Runners can use these to purchase sustainable products, eco-friendly goods, and healthy food.

Event platinum sponsors are eTap Solutions, Globe, IKEA Philippines, Pay&Go, and Smart. Silver sponsors include BPI MS Insurance and Standard Insurance, and bronze sponsors include ECPay, Park Access, REV, and Singlife. Corporate Run Club partners comprise ATRAM, ECPay, eTap Solutions, Globe, STTelemedia Global Data Centres, Pay&Go, PDAX, Seapeak, and Tech Mahindra.

Official media partners, including the Inquirer Group, Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld, The Philippine STAR, PhilStar.com, Rappler, Bilyonaryo, and THEPHILBIZNEWS, are supporting this year’s GCash Run as official media partners.

GCash is encouraged by the growing support from our partners and the 12,000 runners who joined us in this shared commitment to sustainability. GCash Run shows how digital platforms, institutional collaboration, and community action can come together to create measurable environmental impact.

For more information, please visit www.gcash.com.

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Thailand’s Anutin seeks new mandate as parliament votes on prime minister

March 19, 2026 | 12:25 pm

BANGKOK — Thailand’s Anutin Charnvirakul will seek to be elected back to power on Thursday in a parliamentary vote on a prime minister that could usher in a rare period of stability for a country long plagued by political drama and turmoil.

In a stunning turnaround in fortunes for a party that had struggled to make its mark in Thai politics, Mr. Anutin’s Bhumjaithai sprang a surprise with a decisive victory in February’s election after capitalizing on a wave of nationalism arising out of military conflicts with Cambodia last year.

Much of Mr. Anutin’s success comes from his opportunism in seizing on the decline of the once dominant Pheu Thai party, first by abandoning its coalition government then maneuvering swiftly to form his own after a court sacked a second prime minister in the space of just over a year.

After the February election, Bhumjaithai has made a pact with the politically bruised Pheu Thai and teamed up with a motley crew of small parties for an alliance that would control 292 of the current 499 seats in parliament.

“The government coalition is ready to perform its duty in the legislature and executive smoothly to bring prosperity to the country,” Mr. Anutin told a press conference in parliament before the session started.

“We’ll quickly form a cabinet and give a policy statement to solve the problems of the country.”

RIVAL CHALLENGE
To be elected prime minister, Mr. Anutin, 59, needs the support of more than half of the house, or 251 votes. The vote is expected to take place later on Thursday.

Anutin was nominated for premier on Thursday morning and will go head-to-head in the vote against 38-year-old Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party, the second-placed election finisher.

It is unclear what support Mr. Natthaphong has beyond the 120 seats his party holds, or if a deal has been made with other players. He said last week his intention was to use the vote to present his party’s vision to parliament.

Mr. Anutin, a staunch royalist, has been a mainstay in Thai politics, weathering two decades of upheaval by positioning Bhumjaithai strategically between warring elites entangled in an intractable power struggle, which guaranteed its place in a succession of coalition governments.

If Mr. Anutin prevails, he would for the first time have a clear mandate to lead in a country with a long-stuttering economy shackled by massive household debt, in urgent need of structural reform and facing headwinds from trade uncertainty and the fallout of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

PROSPECT OF STABILITY
Mr. Anutin’s survival instincts and ability to straddle political divides could prove his biggest asset, some analysts say, with Bhumjaithai having been spared the wrath of Thailand’s powerful military and judiciary, the engineers of the downfall of multiple governments and parties.

Napon Jatusripitak, a political scientist at Singapore’s ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, said that with Bhumjaithai set to hold sway over the upper and lower houses and Thailand’s axes of institutional power appearing to be behind Mr. Anutin, the prospects for medium-term stability were good.

“People have strong reasons to believe that this government can last, particularly because it’s the first time in a long while that the referee and the players are on the same side,” Mr. Napon said.

“There’s control,” he said. “And we have a highly fragmented opposition.” — Reuters