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April 3 (Reuters) – Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing was elected president on Friday after breezing through a parliamentary vote, formalising his grip on political power in the war-torn nation five years after he ousted an elected government in a coup.  His carefully choreographed journey from top general to civilian president follows a lopsided election in December and January that was won in a landslide by an army-backed party and derided by critics and Western governments as a sham to perpetuate military rule behind a veneer of democracy.  The 69-year-old general has had a torrid time in power since he toppled the administration of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021 and put her under arrest, sparking widespread protests that morphed into nationwide armed resistance against the junta.  On Friday, lawmakers from the dominant Union Solidarity and Development Party and the military’s quota of appointed armed forces legislators coalesced to back Min Aung Hlaing, with the former commander-in-chief winning…

Washington/Cairo, April 3 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. “hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran”, reiterating vows to increase the ferocity of attacks on its infrastructure, as dozens of countries sought ways to restart vital energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.  Nearly five weeks after it started with a joint U.S.-Israeli aerial assault, the war in Iran continues to spread chaos across the region and roil financial markets, raising the pressure on Trump to find a quick resolution to the conflict. Trump has stepped up his rhetoric in recent days as negotiations conducted via intermediaries with new leaders in Iran show limited signs of progress and pessimism at home about the war grows. The U.S. military “hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran. Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants,” Trump wrote on social media late on Thursday, adding that Iran’s leadership “knows what…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang has dismissed online rumors claiming a so-called energy lockdown. “Fake news,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a Viber message to reporters on Friday, April 3. The alert in question, which falsely carried the Department of Energy logo, urged the public to prepare power banks, solar equipment, flashlights, food, and other essentials. Castro had already clarified during a March 27 press briefing that no energy lockdown was being planned, as the government continues to secure additional fuel supplies. On Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported that the Iranian government has granted safe passage for Philippine-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a move expected to ensure steady delivery of oil and fertilizer supplies to the country. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has placed the Philippines under a state of national energy emergency through Executive Order No. 110, amid rising prices and supply risks due…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Iranian government has assured the “safe, unhindered, and expeditious passage” of Philippine-flagged vessels, energy resources, and Filipino seafarers through the Strait of Hormuz, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. In a statement, the agency said Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro secured assurance from Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, during a phone conversation on Thursday, April 2. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global trade, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. Lazaro said the development was vital for the Philippines’ energy security, given the country’s heavy reliance on imported oil.  “These assurances from Iran will greatly facilitate the steady delivery of critical oil and fertilizer supplies to the Philippines,” the DFA said. The agency added that Manila and Tehran reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining excellent bilateral relations and “lasting peace through continued dialogue and diplomacy.”…

Washington, U.S/Cairo, Egypt – Hopes for a swift end to the Middle East war faded on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump vowed more aggressive strikes on Iran, disappointing investors hoping for clearer signals of a way out of the month-long conflict. Stocks slid, oil prices surged and the dollar gained after Trump said military operations would be intensified in the next two to three weeks, offering no concrete timeline for ending hostilities that have sparked global energy supply chaos and threatened to send the world economy into a tailspin.  “I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly, very shortly,” Trump said in a Wednesday evening primetime speech. “We’re going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong.” Trump also suggested the war could escalate if Iranian leaders…