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Homicides in Sweden hit lowest level in over a decade in 2025

MAX KLEINEN-UNSPLASH

STOCKHOLM — Sweden’s homicide and manslaughter rate fell to its lowest in over a decade in 2025, official statistics showed on Tuesday, as new tools and methods helped police to drive down the gang violence that has plagued the country for 20 years.

The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (BRA) said 84 people were killed last year, down from 92 in 2024 and well below the peak in 2020 when 124 people were killed.

“The development of the number of cases of deadly violence in 2025 represented the second straight year of decline and was at the lowest level since 2012,” BRA said in a statement.

The statistics are a welcome boost for a right-wing government, which won the 2022 election partly due to a promise to tackle gang violence that had pushed gun-related deaths to the highest level in the European Union.

The BRA added that Sweden’s deadliest mass shooting in February last year, which was not gang-related and in which 10 people were killed, had a significant impact on the statistics for 2025, alone accounting for nearly a quarter of all gun violence deaths.

Sweden is heading to the polls in September this year and crime is among the top issues for voters, even as the number of shootings in Sweden has more than halved since 2022.

Police and politicians cite new methods, additional resources, and increased powers, such as far-reaching eavesdropping legislation, as reasons behind the drop in crime.

Changes include anonymity for some court witnesses, increased electronic surveillance, tougher sentences and what are known as safety zones, where police can search people even if they are not suspected of any crime.

Police said the measures have allowed them to seize gangs’ assets and become more efficient in preventing shootings.

Gun violence remained the most common cause of violent death and claimed 42 lives in 2025, three fewer than in the preceding year. — Reuters

Pricier fuel hits Tokyo cherry blossom river cruises 

A woman smiles between the early flowering cherry blossoms in Kyoto, Japan March 13, 2020. — REUTERS

TOKYO — A few dozen tourists hopped onto a small cruise boat in Tokyo to admire the cherry blossoms lining the Meguro River — a seasonal attraction that could soon become costlier for passengers and operators alike.

The pink and white flowers that blossom in spring on cherry trees across Japan are a major draw for locals and tourists — and big business for companies such as cruise operator Tokyo Waterways. The “flower viewing” or “hanami” is the peak season of the year.

This year, though, Tokyo Waterways CEO Kazuyoshi Harada is not so upbeat because the Middle East conflict has pushed up fuel prices just as his demand is rising.

“Since fuel consumption for us peaks during the busy cherry blossom season, the price hikes have been particularly hard on us,” he said.

Most customers booked their hanami-season cruises before the crisis, so raising ticket prices from 5,000 yen ($31) was not an option, he said.

Since the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, the price of premium gasoline has surged by 20 yen per liter, or about 9%, likely adding more than 100,000 yen in expenses for the season, Mr. Harada said.

Fuel and labour costs had been on the rise even before the conflict began on February 28, and Mr. Harada’s company had in January raised the ticket price on chartered cruises by 10%.

Still, more price hikes may be unavoidable if the conflict persists, he said, noting that cruise ships had not benefited from the government’s subsidies to ease gasoline costs for cars.

The weak yen has also compounded rising prices from global inflation.

“We spent about 30% more on the hanami season (this year) as various costs have risen,” said 46-year-old Rintaro Tada, who took the 70-minute river cruise with his mother after lunching at a riverside restaurant. ($1=159.70 yen) — Reuters

Vingroup proposes scrapping LNG-powered plant plan for renewables amid Iran war, document shows 

REUTERS

HANOI — Vingroup has told Vietnam’s government it wants to ditch a plan to build the country’s largest LNG-fired power plant and embark on a renewable energy project instead, as the Iran war has boosted the risk of the fuel becoming too expensive, a document showed.

The March 25 document, which is being reported by Reuters for the first time, was sent about two weeks after US energy equipment giant GE Vernova announced it had been selected to supply gas turbines and generators for the 4.8 gigawatt liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant.

Vingroup, the country’s largest conglomerate by market capitalization but a newcomer to the energy sector, declined to comment. Vietnam’s industry ministry and GE Vernova did not respond to requests for comment.

The document is one of the first tangible signs that LNG projects might be scrapped or postponed due to the war.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also said this week that a planned LNG terminal would go ahead only if the business case stacked up.

Vingroup unit VinEnergo broke ground on the planned plant in the northern port city of Haiphong in September. Completion of the first 1.6 GW phase was slated for 2030.

SOARING PRICES, QATAR DAMAGE
LNG prices have, as of last week, soared 85% since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, closing the Strait of Hormuz – a narrow waterway that normally carries about a fifth of global LNG supplies – to most ships.

Exacerbating the outlook for LNG has been damage to liquefaction trains in Qatar, a major producer, sidelining 12.8 million tons per year of the fuel for three to five years.

Vingroup said in the document that the developments highlight “the significant risk of high fuel prices for LNG power projects”.

It added that the plant, when fully operational, would need about 5 million metric tons of LNG a year with an annual import value of around $3.5-3.8 billion, which would “create significant pressure on the economy’s foreign exchange needs.”

RENEWABLE PROJECT PROPOSED
Communist-run Vietnam is a fast-developing country with a large power-hungry industrial base, mostly composed of foreign multinationals and their suppliers manufacturing goods for export.

Its first two LNG‑powered plants came online last year. Including the first phase of the Haiphong plant, the country plans to have 16 plants by 2030 with a combined installed capacity of 24.1 GWs, which would make LNG one of its top sources of power.

Instead of the LNG-powered plant, Vingroup asked the industry ministry to consider an investment plan for a hybrid renewable energy project combined with a battery energy storage system (BESS). A BESS system stores electricity from renewable sources to maximize their use by discharging power during peak demand.

The document did not specify the type of renewable energy that would be used but estimated the costs of the BESS project at around $25 billion, saying it would be a valid alternative to the LNG-powered plant if equipped with appropriate transmission infrastructure.

It noted, however, that the cost would be nearly five times higher than the LNG-powered plant. It also urged the ministry to consider a “suitable electricity pricing mechanism”.

VinEnergo was established only in March 2025 but has launched a string of energy projects. — Reuters

Powell says Fed can ‘wait and see’ how war affects inflation

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell — FEDERAL RESERVE

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Monday said the US central bank can wait to see how the Iran war affects the economy and inflation, noting that policymakers typically look through shocks such as those from higher oil prices.

“We feel like our policy’s in a good place for us to wait and see how that turns out,” Powell said during a question-and-answer session held as part of a macroeconomics class at Harvard University.

His remarks appeared to calm financial markets that last week had reflected rising expectations the Fed may try to head off higher inflation by raising rates. Those rate hike bets have all but disappeared.

As the Iran war enters its fifth week and US gasoline prices rise to around an average of $4 a gallon, Powell acknowledged the potential squeeze between the Fed’s two mandates of full employment and price stability.

“There’s sort of downside risk to the labor market, which suggests keep rates low, but there’s upside risk to inflation, which suggests maybe don’t keep rates low,” Powell said. “You’ve got tension between the two objectives.”

But for now, he said, the Fed does not have to act even as policymakers watch carefully for signs of deteriorating inflation expectations that could signal a need to respond.

“Inflation expectations do appear to be well anchored beyond the short term,” Powell said.

The Fed left its overnight benchmark interest rate steady in the 3.50%-3.75% range earlier this month after the end of a two-day policy meeting.

In a press conference after that meeting, Powell said he would want to see tariff-driven inflation in goods prices subside before even getting to the question of whether the central bank ought to ignore any rise in inflation stemming from the war, or to respond to it with tighter monetary policy to keep inflation from accelerating.

Powell noted on Monday that inflation has been running above the central bank’s 2% target for about five years, boosted by a series of shocks: the collision of strong demand and constrained supply as the world reopened from the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, and more recently by what the Fed chief called the “much smaller” shock from tariffs.

“We’re getting now an energy shock: no one knows how big it will be. It’s way too early to know,” Powell said. Oil prices were mixed on Monday, with Brent futures trading around 0.7% lower at $111.81 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate futures gaining 2.7% to $102.36. Both benchmarks have surged since the conflict began on February 28.

‘STICK TO WHAT WE’RE DOING’
A survey released by the University of Michigan last week showed a jump in household price expectations in the coming year.

Other measures, including a widely watched market-based gauge, have been more sanguine.

Powell’s remarks were “quite textbook and quite in line with what he said before,” said Oliver Allen, senior US economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics. “The Fed is kind of in a holding pattern until we find a little more about the shape and scope and size of this energy shock that’s ahead of us.”

Powell gamely fielded a range of questions from the course’s two professors — David Laibson and Jason Furman — as well as from students in the audience, touching on concerns about private credit, the Fed’s balance sheet, the impact of artificial intelligence and his optimistic medium-term view of the US economy despite a low-hire labor market that has made it especially difficult for new college graduates to find jobs.

Asked to give advice to former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s nominee to succeed him as head of the central bank when Powell’s leadership term ends May 15, the current Fed chief demurred in the specifics.

Powell, however, did offer the observation that the Fed should resist any temptation to use its tools for anything beyond meeting its congressionally mandated goals of keeping prices steady and maximizing employment.

“We’re not trying to work against any politician or any administration, but we have to be careful to stick to what we’re doing,” said Powell, whom Trump has repeatedly attacked for keeping borrowing costs too high.

Warsh has indicated he would support cutting interest rates.

One student asked how a rate cut would affect the Fed’s ability to keep doing both of its jobs, given that inflation remains elevated amid the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration and the recent oil shock.

Powell observed that the student who lobbed the question was wearing a Boston Red Sox baseball jersey.

“That’s not something I’m going to swing at, that pitch,” Powell said. — Reuters

Oil could spike to $200 if Hormuz remains shut, Fesharaki warns

A 3D-printed oil pump jack and a map showing the Strait of Hormuz and Iran appear in this illustration taken March 2, 2026. — REUTERS

Oil may surge to $150 or $200 a barrel if the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz persists over the next six to eight weeks because of the Iran war, according to energy-market consultancy FGE NexantECA.

“Every week, 100 million barrels of oil is not going through, and every month, 400 million barrels are not going through,” Chairman Emeritus Fereidun Fesharaki said in a Bloomberg Television interview with Haslinda Amin. “So, within a period of time, these losses to the market will be astronomical.”

Oil has roared higher this month as the war between the US, Israel and Iran rocks the Middle East, with the Strait of Hormuz closed to all but a handful of vessels and Persian Gulf producers shutting-in millions of barrels of daily supply. Futures were volatile Tuesday, with a fresh attack on a tanker lifting prices, but a report of President Donald Trump telling aides he’s willing to end the campaign with the waterway still closed boosting appetite for risk.

Mr. Fesharaki dismissed the effectiveness of verbal interventions — including those from President Trump about possibly ending the conflict — saying the physical reality of supply disruptions that would ultimately drive prices. “The market will choke, and the prices will go up,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what the president says on the political front.”

The outlook from Mr. Fesharaki for potentially much higher prices echoes other recent calls, with the crisis dragging on into a second month.

Macquarie Group Ltd. has said that oil may hit $200 a barrel if the Strait of Hormuz stayed shut, while Societe Generale SA flagged scope for “credible spikes” toward $150.

Oil futures swung on Tuesday at the end of a volatile month, buffeted by a Wall Street Journal report that Trump is willing to end US military operations in Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Additional volatility was driven by another Iranian strike against a tanker in the Persian Gulf. — Bloomberg

Note: This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation.

Philippines looks to Americas for more oil supply

MODELS of oil barrels and a pump jack are displayed in this illustration photo taken on Feb. 24, 2022. — REUTERS

The Philippines said it increased its stockpile of petroleum products to 51 days, as the import-dependent nation searches the world for alternative suppliers while the war in Iran continues.

The Southeast Asian nation’s inventory of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other products stood at 50.94 days as of March 27, up from 45 days previously, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said in a briefing on Monday.

The inventory boost comes as state-owned Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) helped procure additional supplies to meet the country’s energy requirements. There were 142,000 barrels of diesel that arrived recently from Japan, and the government expects about 900,000 barrels more from sources including Malaysia, Singapore, India and Oman, Ms. Garin said.

“Hopefully we can have more country suppliers because this is the intention of the PNOC that we search for other alternative suppliers, not the supplier countries from the Middle East,” she said. “We want to explore more on the America side like Colombia, Argentina, Canada and the US.”

The Philippines, which imports almost all of its oil from the Middle East, is trying to find other sources to ease the supply crunch that has triggered the government to declare a national energy emergency.

That includes Russia from where refiner Petron Corp. has procured 2.48 million barrels of crude oil and plans to buy more from that country if the war in Iran persists. China has exported cargoes of diesel and other fuels to Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines over the weekend in what could be a signal of support despite export curbs imposed earlier this month.

Petron was able to secure Russian oil after the US issued a waiver allowing the purchase of the crude.

Ms. Garin said the Philippines, a longtime US ally, has been given a window to buy more Russian oil until April 12 under that waiver.

She said the move had clearance from all parties involved. “The primary concern of our country right now is to make sure that we have enough supply,” the energy chief added. — Bloomberg

Meta testing a new premium subscription on Instagram with stealth view on stories

MARIIA SHALABAIEVA-UNSPLASH

Instagram is testing a new premium subscription that gives paying users access to exclusive features, part of an effort to build a reliable revenue stream outside of the company’s core advertising business.

The list of subscribers-only perks include several related to Instagram’s Stories product, such as the ability to view another person’s Story without them knowing. Paying users can also create unlimited audience lists and extend a Story’s shelf-life by an additional 24 hours. Stories, one of the app’s most popular features, currently expire after 24 hours.

“Our hope from these tests is to understand what’s most valuable to people in a premium feature set,” an Instagram spokesperson said on Monday, confirming that the company is testing the premium subscriber tier in a few countries. TechCrunch, which first reported on the test, said the company is offering the subscriptions in Mexico, Japan and the Philippines, and charging just a few dollars per month.

Instagram parent Meta Platforms Inc. has tried various subscription products over the years and offers one so people can support content creators they follow. Other advertising-dependent companies, including Snap Inc. and Elon Musk’s X, have also pushed into subscriptions, which are considered complementary to ads and provide a more predictable source of revenue.

Meta is also considering premium subscriptions for Facebook and WhatsApp, the company confirmed in February. — Bloomberg

BSP sees faster inflation in March at 3.1%-3.9% 

MOTORISTS queue at a gasoline station along Norzagaray Road in San Jose del Monte on March 8, 2026. — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

By Katherine K. Chan, Reporter

Costlier fuel, electricity, rice and the peso’s weakness drove inflation past the central bank’s point target in March, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Tuesday.

In its latest month-ahead inflation forecast, the BSP said inflation likely settled between 3.1% and 3.9% in March, faster than the 1.8% clip a year ago and 2.4% in February.

At the upper end of the forecast, inflation may have accelerated to its fastest pace in over two years or since the 4.1% in November 2023. It would also match the headline inflation logged in May 2024.

Meanwhile, at the bottom end, inflation would be the fastest print in 19 months or since the 3.3% clip in August 2024.

“Inflation risks have intensified with upward price pressures arising from the significant increase in domestic petroleum prices, higher rice prices, increased electricity charges in Meralco-serviced areas, and depreciation of the peso,” the central bank said in a statement.

Still, cheaper prices of vegetables, fish and meat likely tempered price pressures during the month, it added.

Dining In/Out for Lent and Easter

Paint sugar cookies, smash chocolate eggs

THIS EASTER, dessert chef Lovely Jiao of Sugarplum Pastries invites kids and adults to elevate the celebrations with interactive season-inspired confections. Veering away from the iconic Easter bunnies, her latest collection, titled “Chicks & Cheers,” introduces a blend of pastel colors and dainty elements such as bows, laces, and cheeky hatchlings to symbolize rebirth and encapsulate the essence of sweetness. Headlining the selection is Hatch Me, a big chocolate-shaped egg adorned with white fondant details to decorate. It comes in a “nest” bag with an edible sugar cookie palette, a paintbrush, and a wooden mallet. Her tip: Once painted, let the egg sit for a bit to dry. And then smash for more surprises. Inspired by pinball maze puzzles which come in party goodie bags, the bestselling sugar cookie makes a return this season. The edible and playable Speggtacular Maze takes an egg form adorned with flowers and bows. Also included in the set are Binge Oatmeal Cookie. Also available is the all-time favorite season-inspired cookie-do set, which this year is called the Eggciting Kit. It contains three Easter-themed sugar cookies with line guides and three piping bags of icing in yellow, pink, and blue, and three chocolate-coated eggs, which, when smashed, will reveal sprinkles and trinkets to adorn the cookies with. Ms. Jiao has a culinary degree from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management and is equipped with experiences from Makati Shangri-La and F1 Hotel Taguig. For more information, visit facebook.com/sugarplumpastriesph.

The Pen marks Easter with a giant egg and more

THIS EASTER, The Peninsula Manila marks a season of renewal during a year of celebration, as the hotel commemorates 50 years at the heart of the city. Throughout Holy Week and on Easter Sunday, thoughtful experiences unfold across the hotel. Young guests can hop into Egglandia’s “Bunny’s Playground” an Easter Egg Hunt at the Rigodon Ballroom on Easter Sunday, April 5, from 2-5 p.m. (P5,500 for one child and one adult; P3,000 for each additional guest). Children ages one to 10 can enjoy the Easter Egg Hunt alongside face painting, trace-and-color stations, balloon domes, magic shows, claw machine games, and a lively bunny play area. The Easter Bunny will also make a special appearance to help children fill their baskets with hidden eggs. A festive merienda buffet will be served in the Garcia Villa Room, with prizes awarded for the best bunny and egg costumes. Meanwhile, at The Peninsula Boutique, Head Pastry Chef Annalyn Solano presents a spectacular limited-edition Golden Anniversary Chocolate Easter Egg, weighing four kilograms and hiding prizes inside. Only five eggs are available at P8,888 each, with lucky winners discovering rewards such as an overnight stay in a Premier Suite, a Champagne dinner at Old Manila, and Peninsula Afternoon Tea vouchers. At The Lobby, the beloved Afternoon Tea receives a festive Easter twist with seasonal pastries and sweets. Each set includes a limited-edition Peninsula plush toy. The special afternoon tea is served daily until April 5, 2:30 to 5 p.m., for P3,800 with tea, or go extra special with Champagne for P5,800. For a truly memorable holiday escape, the Golden Easter Stay room package invites families to celebrate with festive surprises, breakfast at Escolta, and joyful Easter activities including access to the Egglandia Easter Egg Hunt and Merienda Buffet. Rates begin at P17,050 for a Deluxe Room and P22,450 for a Premier Suite. Gather the family for a lavish Easter Sunday Brunch at Escolta, from noon to 3 p.m., featuring seasonal specialties, classic favorites, and indulgent desserts (P5,500 for adults, and P2,750 for children).

Sheraton Manila Bay unveils Easter feast

SHERATON MANILA BAY presents “The Tale of Peter & Friends,” a magical Easter island adventure. Taking place on April 5 (Easter Sunday) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the hotel’s 7th floor will transform into a vibrant island world where pirates, fairies, and Lost Boys come together for an unforgettable Easter celebration. Inspired by the spirit of childhood adventure, the event invites children to dress as pirates, fairies, or lost girls and boys as they set off on a treasure-filled journey through a series of themed activity zones. Young guests can explore a variety of interactive experiences including pirate shipwreck games, fairy obstacle courses, and egg decorating, coloring activities, and face painting. The afternoon also includes a festive lunch buffet prepared by the culinary team of Manila Bay Kitchen, along with themed beverages such as Fairy Dust Punch and Treasure Chest Cooler, specially crafted for the celebration. Families can join the adventure through a Family Bundle at P5,888 net (two adults and two kids, 11 years old and below). Additional tickets from the bundle cost P1,000 net for kids and P1,500 for adults. Individual tickets cost P1,500 net for kids and P2,000 net for adults. Special prizes will be awarded for Best Costume and Pirate-Inspired Egg Treasure Hunt Champion. Reservations are required and full pre-payment is needed to secure slots. For bookings and inquiries, guests may contact Sheraton Manila Bay at 5318-0788.

Seafood at Newport World Resorts for Lent

NEWPORT WORLD RESORTS invites guests to mark the Lenten occasions with them. Six restaurants across the property — Happy 8, Ginzadon, Victoria Harbour Café, Silk Road, the Greatroom at Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport World Resorts, and Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill Philippines — present seafood offerings. Across the first five, Lenten selections are available until April 30, while Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill Philippines extends the experience through seafood dishes featured in its 48-Minute Lunch Express Menu. Located on the third floor of the Garden Wing at Newport World Resorts, Happy 8, known for its Cantonese cuisine, serves Black Truffle & Seafood Noodles, where glass noodles and assorted seafood are wok-fried in a rich black truffle sauce. The dish is available for P913 net. Nearby, Ginzadon presents Tendon, a bowl of shrimp and squid tempura, served over warm rice and finished with a glossy tare, all for P1,400 net. Victoria Harbour Café, located on the ground floor, introduces the XO Clam Udon, where thick udon noodles and fresh clams are tossed in an XO sauce. The bowl is priced at P480 net. Silk Road, the property’s Southeast Asian restaurant, presents Thai-Style Fried Pompano for P1,350 net. Rounding out the selection, Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport World Resorts presents Pan-Fried Barramundi in Creamy Garlic Sauce, a seared fillet paired with garlic cream and fresh vegetables for P800 net. For guests looking to mark the season with something distinctly refined, Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill Philippines presents its 48-Minute Lunch Express Menu, a selection of modern British cuisine available Mondays to Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. Among the highlights are the Seared Tasmanian Salmon, served with braised lentils, kale, ikura, and herb oil, and Mushroom Risotto, finished with truffles, mushroom, and crispy parsley. The broader menu also features light starters such as Crispy Crab Cake & Caviar and Watermelon Salad, alongside a selection of hearty mains and desserts. Guests may choose any two dishes for P1,488, or any three dishes with a complimentary drink for P2,488.

Newport hotels celebrate Easter

AS HOLY WEEK gives way to Easter Sunday on April 5, Newport World Resorts’ international hotel brands offer a range of festive celebrations. The Garden Wing Café’s Easter treats include signature cakes, festive pastries, and artisanal chocolates. Available until April 5, celebrate the season with Large Chocolate Easter Egg (P4,400), Easter Carrot Cake (P2,200), Portuguese Easter Bread (P700), and more. Hotel Okura Manila invites guests to an Easter celebration featuring an exclusive spread at Yawaragi Kisetsu Buffet, complete with hands-on activities such as cupcake-making, roving cake pops, magicians, and surprises to entertain the whole family. Celebrate a fun Easter for P4,000++ for adults (ages 13 and above) and P2,000++ for kids (ages six to 12). Sheraton Manila Hotel presents the Bunny’s Spring Garden Easter as S Kitchen transforms into a Spring Garden for the occasion. From noon to 3 p.m., guests can enjoy an Easter Lunch, an Easter Egg Hunt, family activities, a costume contest, and special treats, priced at P3,600 net per person. The BunnyVerse Wonder Race at the Manila Marriott Hotel brings a high-octane twist to Easter Sunday. A Special Easter Sunday Buffet Lunch celebration at Marriott Café from noon to 3 p.m. features premium seafood alongside The Big Chef Meat Overload station, a kids’ corner, an Easter egg hunt, a magic show, cocktails and family-friendly drinks. Young racers are encouraged to come dressed in their best racing costume for a chance to win a prize. The buffet is priced at P3,888 net. Hilton Manila invites families to a lively Easter celebration with Dinoland Easter Sunday: Hop, Hunt, Roar — a day of themed activities, entertainment, and dining where dinosaurs and Easter traditions meet. Young guests step will into a prehistoric setting with a dino-themed inflatable play area, booth games, face painting, balloon twisting, a magic show, line dancing, and an Easter egg hunt, alongside meet-and-greet moments with a baby triceratops and baby raptor from Dino Crew. Packages are designed to suit families of all sizes: the Family Package (two adults and two children aged two to 12) is priced at P6,500 net, inclusive of a buffet lunch or dinner at Kusina Sea Kitchens and full access to activities. Individual Adult Packages are available at P3,500 net, and Kid Packages at P1,800 net. An Easter Activity Package for one adult and one child is also offered at P2,200 net. Holiday Inn Express Manila rounds out the resort’s Easter lineup with the Eggspress Adventure, a family event on April 5, from 3 to 5 p.m. at The Greatroom on the ground floor of the hotel. There will be an egg hunt and other festive activities. The event is available via an Overnight Stay with free breakfast and access pass for P6,899 (one adult and one child), or an access pass for one adult and one child for P1,899. For more information on Newport World Resorts, visit www.newportworldresorts.com and follow @newportworldresorts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

The Grand Hyatt Manila

THE Grand Hyatt Manila invites guests to celebrate the joy of Easter with a line-up of dining experiences, festive treats, and family-friendly activities. Up until April 5, Florentine is where one can get handcrafted chocolate eggs filled with prizes at P1,800 called the Grand Easter Egg Hunt Surprise. Guests can also enjoy Easter-themed cakes — whole at P2,500, mini at P550, and pralines in boxes of nine or 25 at P1,450 and P2,850, respectively. Special highlights include whimsical chocolate figures such as the Rabbit Astronaut, Rocket Chocolate, Teddy Bear, and Peacock Easter Egg, alongside seasonal pastries like Pistachio Crescent Croissants and Hot Cross Buns. On April 5, The Grand Kitchen hosts its Easter Sunday Lunch Buffet at P3,588 per person. Guests can savor live stations featuring Beef Salpicao, Ravioli ala Tartufa, Crepes, and Hot Cross Buns, alongside trolley service of Seafood Paella and Whole Poached Tasmanian Salmon. The buffet includes free-flowing wine, house lager, and cocktails, plus there will be a Kids Corner Activity for younger guests. From April 1 to 30, The Cellar presents Easter specials such as Grilled Red Snapper at P2,500 and Basque Seafood Stew with prawns, squid, barramundi, clams, and mussels. Guests may also indulge in Lobster Paella for P7,000 and the signature Braised Black Cod. Celebrate spring with the Sakura Afternoon Tea Set at P3,300 for two, inclusive of rosé wine or mocktails, available Monday to Thursday, March 23 to April 26. From March 30 to April 5, No. 8 China House highlights its signature Claypot Grouper Cooked on Trolley for P7,888 and good for six to eight persons, alongside its regular menu. Between April 1 to 5, Pool House offers family-style Easter Seafood Specials, including grouper, prawns, and squid prepared Filipino-style such as inihaw, prito, sinigang, adobo, and ginataan (barbecue, fried, in sour soup, braised with vinegar, and cooked in coconut milk) Guests can also enjoy Soft Shell Crab Salad with Mango Dressing and Soft Shell Crab Tacos Lime Cilantro for P990+ each, plus new pizzas starting at P695+. From April 1 to 31, The Peak Grill presents its Easter specials: Seafood Platter for P8,500 featuring oysters, hamachi, scallop ceviche, tuna tartare, prawn cocktail, and Nomad caviar; Roasted Dover Sole at P4,900; and Tasmanian Salmon Coulibiac priced at P5,850+ and good for two to three persons. Guests may also pair their meals with premium wines and champagnes, including Moët & Chandon Brut Rosé. Guests can order Easter items via Dine at Home. They can also call 8838-1234 or 7918-1234. Follow Grand Hyatt Manila on Instagram www.instagram.com/grandhyattmanilaph/ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/GrandHyattManilaPh.

Solaire Resort North

SOLAIRE RESORT North has an exclusive Easter family getaway with special offers this season. For family fun, book a room or suite at Solaire Resort North until April 5, and get a breakfast at Fresh for two adults and two children, starting at P9,500+++ per night. At Fresh, for P3,588++ per person, enjoy an Easter-themed buffet showcasing a carving station featuring roasted lamb and glazed ham, and special servings of mini burgers, fries, pasta, and Easter treats at an exclusive Children’s Corner Buffet section. This buffet transforms into an experience for the whole family with interactive activities such as an egg hunt and egg and face painting opportunities. At Red Lantern, indulge in an eat-all-you-can dimsum menu starting at P1,888++ per head. Lucky Noodles serves premium grilled seafood from tiger prawns to scallops, meant for sharing, for P2,099++ each. For more intimate gatherings, find authentic family-style Italian flavors with Finestra’s multi-course set menu for Easter lunch. From P4,000++ per person, feast on dishes from welcome platters all the way to a dessert station. A Japanese family-style buffet also awaits at Yakumi for a perfect Easter Sunday brunch, from P3,588++ each. There will also be a Pinoy Easter Family Fest at the Grand Ballroom done in partnership with JPI Entertainment. Spend the day with interactive shows and performances, and treat children to an Easter egg hunt alongside Filipino food and drinks with tickets for kids at P3,500 and for adults at P2,000 per head. For inquiries, visit sn.solaireresort.com/offers/rooms-suites/easter-sunny-escape, call 8888-8888, or e-mail sn.reservations@solaireresort.com.

Richmonde Hotel Ortigas

AT Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, try the Easter Break Escape room package, available from March 29 to April 6. It may be booked at rates starting at P3,500 net for room-only stays (except on April 4) and P5,100 net if with breakfast buffet for two. Guests staying on April 4 get a special treat with an extended Easter Sunday Breakfast Buffet served from 6 to 11 a.m. at Richmonde Cafe. The Easter Sunday Breakfast Buffet is also open for walk-in guests at P1,180 net for adults and P590 net for children ages six to 12 years old. Children five and below eat for free. Families can spend afternoons at the hotel’s Kitchen Lab, a series of hands-on activities where kids and kids-at-heart can create their own pizzas, decorate donuts, and design cookies for P350 net per person per activity, complete with themed snacks and drinks. For inquiries, call 8638-7777, 0917-859-7914 (Room Reservations) or e-mail stay@richmondeortigas.com, or log on to www.richmondehotelortigas.com.ph.

Eastwood Richmonde Hotel

AT the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, the Eastwood Café+Bar’s Favorite Filipino Eats has a Lenten Merienda Buffet on April 2 and 3 at P600 net per person, and an Easter Sunday Lunch Buffet on April 5 at P1,200 net per adult and P600 net for children, with little ones five and below dining for free. They offer popular Pinoy dishes like pancit, puto bumbong, bibingka, and halo-halo for snacks and freshly grilled meats and seafood plus more local items. Meanwhile, Easter Room packages from March 29 to April 5 start at P4,000 net (room only) and P5,600 net (with breakfast for two). For those planning a full Easter weekend, packages on April 4 and 5 are available from P6,500 net (room only) and P8,100 net (with breakfast), inclusive of two tickets to the Enchanted Garden Easter Party. Happening on April 5, 1 to 6 p.m., at the ballroom which transforms into a whimsical garden. Kids can embark on an Easter egg hunt, get creative with bracelet making, and enjoy colorful face painting and sticker tattoos, while the whole family can look forward to performances, a snack buffet, and special giveaways. Tickets to the Enchanted Garden Easter Party are priced at P1,888 net per person. For inquiries, call 8570-7777, 0917-531-6867 (Room Reservations), or 0917-821-0333 (Food & Beverage), or e-mail stay@eastwoodrichmonde.com, or log on to www.eastoodrichmondehotel.com.ph.

Richmonde Hotel Iloilo

FROM March 29 to April 5, the Richmonde Hotel Iloilo holds the Eggsclusive Easter Getaway package for both locals of Western Visayas and domestic and international travelers. Rates start at P4,200 net (room only) and P4,800 net (with breakfast for two), accommodating up to two adults and two children. On Easter Sunday, families can gather at The Granary from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Eggstraordinary Easter Lunch Buffet, priced at P1,500 net per adult and P750 net for children, with kids five and below dining for free. A festive spread and special raffle draw add to the celebration. For inquiries and reservations, call +633-328-7888, 0917-580-9642 (Room Reservations), 0917-563-3558 (Food & Beverage), or stay@richmondeiloilo.com, or log on to www.richmondehoteliloilo.com.ph.

Easterlies, High Pressure Area to prevail during Holy Week, says PAGASA

Easterlies and the High Pressure Area (HPA) are expected to prevail during the observance of Holy Week, bringing cloudy skies across the country, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Monday.

In a special weather outlook, PAGASA said that from Monday until Wednesday, partly cloudy skies due to the ridge of HPA are expected over Cagayan Valley and Ilocos Norte.

It is likewise expected over Ilocos Sur, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mt. Province, and Ifugao.

During the same period, easterlies are expected to affect the rest of the country, bringing partly cloudy to cloudy skies with a chance of brief rainshowers or thunderstorms, most likely in the afternoon or evening.

From Thursday until Saturday, easterlies are also likely to affect the entire country, bringing generally partly cloudy to cloudy skies, with chances of isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms, most likely over Mindanao and the eastern section of Visayas.

Meanwhile, throughout the forecast period, “light to moderate easterly to southeasterly winds are expected over Northern and Central Luzon with slight to moderate sea conditions,” PAGASA said.

“Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate, coming from the east to northeast, with slight to moderate seas,” it added.

No low-pressure area (LPA) was observed as of 2:00 pm, PAGASA said.

The public is cautioned to avoid outdoor activities during peak sunlight hours between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm to prevent fatigue, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion, the state weather bureau said.
It also advised the public to drink water regularly, take breaks in shaded areas, and wear light-colored clothing. PAGASA likewise recommended using hats or umbrellas and avoiding alcohol and caffeine as much as possible. — Edg Adrian A. Eva

Thousands of US Army paratroopers arrive in Middle East as buildup intensifies

PHILIPPINE STAR/ WALTER BOLLOZOS

WASHINGTON — Thousands of soldiers from the US Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division have started arriving in the Middle East, two US officials told Reuters on Monday, as President Donald Trump weighs his next steps in the war against Iran.

Reuters first reported on March 18 that Mr. Trump’s administration was considering deploying thousands of additional US troops to the Middle East, a move that would expand options to include the deployment of forces ​inside Iranian territory.

The paratroopers, based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, add to the thousands of additional sailors, Marines, and Special Operations forces sent to the region. Over the weekend, about 2,500 Marines arrived in the Middle East.

The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, did not say specifically where the soldiers were deploying to, but the move was expected.

The additional Army soldiers include elements of the 82nd Airborne Division headquarters, some logistics and other support, and one brigade combat team.

No decision has been made to send troops into Iran, but they will build up capacity for potential future operations in the region, one of the sources said.

OPTIONS FOR TRUMP
The soldiers could be used for several purposes in the Iran war, including an attempt to seize Kharg Island, the hub for 90% of Iran’s oil exports.

Earlier this month, Reuters reported there had been discussions within the Trump administration about an operation to take the island. Such a move would be highly risky, since Iran can reach the island with missiles and drones.

Reuters has previously reported the administration has discussed using ground forces inside Iran to extract highly enriched uranium, though that option could mean US troops deeper inside Iran for potentially longer periods of time, trying to dig out material that is deep underground.

The internal Trump administration discussions have also included potentially putting US troops inside Iran to secure safe passage for oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. While that mission would be accomplished primarily through air and naval forces, it could also mean deploying US troops to Iran’s shoreline.

Mr. Trump said on Monday the United States was in ​talks with a “more reasonable regime” to end ‌the war in Iran, but repeated his warning to Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz or risk US attacks on its oil wells ​and power plants.

Any use of US ground troops – even for a limited mission – could pose significant political risks for Mr. Trump, given low ⁠American public ​support for the Iran campaign and Mr. Trump’s own pre-election promises to avoid entangling the ​US in new Middle East conflicts.

Since operations started on February 28, the US has carried out strikes against more than 11,000 targets. More than 300 US troops have been injured and 13 service members have been killed as part of Operation Epic Fury. — Reuters

Unilever imposes global hiring freeze, citing Middle East war effects, memo says

REUTERS

LONDON — Dove soap maker Unilever has implemented a global hiring freeze “at all levels” that will last at least three months, citing the effects of the widening conflict in the Middle East, according to a memo seen by Reuters.

In the memo, sent to staff late last week and previously unreported, Unilever said the freeze would take effect immediately and was made with an eye on the “significant challenges” from the month-old Iran war.

Firms globally from airlines to retail are scrambling to buttress themselves from the effects of the Iran war, which has snarled global trade flows and resulted in the worst-ever disruption of oil-and-gas supplies in history. The rapid surge in energy costs is already surfacing in other markets, slowing production in industries like chemicals and plastics.

“Macro economic and geopolitical realities, especially in the Middle East conflict… bring some significant challenges for the coming few months,” Fabian Garcia, head of Unilever’s personal care business, wrote in the memo sent to staff.

“With this in mind, the Unilever Leadership Executive team has agreed a global recruitment freeze at all levels. This will be effective immediately and last for a minimum of three months.”

The London-based consumer products giant owns some of the world’s most prominent brands. While it produces most of its goods where it sells them, it buys chemicals, food, packaging, and other raw materials that are energy-intensive to create.

Unilever, in a statement, said that due to the “uncertain external environment, we have decided to put in place a temporary pause on our recruitment,” adding that it will “always adjust our plans as necessary.”

UNILEVER WAS ALREADY COST-CUTTING
The freeze comes on top of an existing cost-cutting program Unilever has had in place since 2024, meant to save around 800 million euros ($916.72 million) in costs over the next three years. The changes Unilever proposed then were expected to affect around 7,500 jobs globally, mostly office-based.

The firm’s current headcount of 96,000 is down from the roughly 149,000 people it employed in 2020.

The company has struggled to grow sales volumes across its businesses in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is now in talks to sell its foods business to smaller rival McCormick & Company, it said on March 20.

Under the proposed combination, which would mark a major shake-up under CEO Fernando Fernandez, the British group’s shareholders would likely keep a majority stake in the new entity, Reuters reported late last week.

Shares of Unilever rose 1.1% in London trading Monday. ($1 = 0.8727 euros) — Reuters

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