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Jeepney driver Arturo Modelo of Manila says his daily earnings have collapsed to roughly one‑third of the usual 600 pesos after fuel costs surged, leaving him unable even to afford his child’s lunch money.Modelo joined a two‑day transport strike on Thursday and Friday, hoping to make a “deaf government” listen to the plight of drivers who can no longer earn a living on the road.The iconic jeepney, born from repurposed U.S. military vehicles after World War II, remains the most affordable commuter option in the Philippines, yet its operators are now bearing the brunt of a global oil shock.Last week, jeepney owners walked out, and this week the protest expanded to include bus, taxi, minibus and motorcycle‑taxi drivers. Nearly a dozen national transport groups marched to the Presidential Palace demanding price caps on petrol and diesel, the removal of fuel taxes, and stricter regulation of the oil sector.Organised under the No to Oil Price Hike Coalition, the demonstrators also blamed “American aggression” against Iran for the domestic economic distress, with union chair Jerome Adonis likening the impact to “a bomb dropped on us”.In response, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared a national energy emergency on Tuesday night – the first such declaration in the country’s history. The emergency, set to last one year, grants the government powers to accelerate fuel procurement, curb hoarding and curb profiteering.Fuel prices remain among the highest in Southeast Asia: diesel is now about $2.3 per litre and petrol close to $2 per litre in the Philippines, versus $2.7 and $2.35 respectively in Singapore, while Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand report roughly half those prices.To alleviate the burden, the administration has introduced a 5,000‑peso ($83) subsidy for motorcycle‑taxi drivers and other public‑transport workers, and disbursed 2.5 billion pesos (≈$414 million) in fuel subsidies to roughly 300,000 transport employees. Unions claim the sector employs about two million people, leaving many without aid.During the strike, picket lines appeared at 85 commuter terminals, and jeepneys were scarce on Manila’s usually congested streets. Authorities, however, argued that the action did not cripple the city’s transport network.Union leader Mody Floranda of the Piston group accused President Marcos of favouring oil companies, saying the president could issue an executive order to cap prices but has yet to act decisively.Energy officials note that 98 % of the Philippines’ crude oil is imported and that the country’s high 12 % value‑added tax, excise duties and a deregulated market – shaped by the Oil Industry Deregulation Law of 1998 – amplify price volatility. Professor Krista Yu of De La Salle University highlighted the nation’s limited refining capacity as a structural weakness.Chief economist Emmanuel Leyco warned that the law allowing industry‑driven price adjustments “is the main culprit”, especially as “half the population is poor”.Amid mounting pressure, Marcos signed legislation permitting the temporary suspension of fuel excise taxes when crude oil prices exceed a set threshold. Opposition lawmaker Renee Co urged that the 12 % VAT also be removed, calling both taxes “regressive” burdens on ordinary Filipinos.Co and other lawmakers have also filed a resolution demanding an immediate end to the U.S.‑Israel‑Iran conflict, linking regional geopolitics to the domestic fuel crisis.

England's World Cup preparations have hit a snag with several key players withdrawing from the squad due to injuries. John Stones, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Noni Madueke have all pulled out of the team's friendly match against Japan.Manager Thomas Tuchel had named an oversized 35-man squad for the current camp, with plans to trim the group before the World Cup. However, the spate of withdrawals has complicated his plans. Rice and Saka were among 11 players who joined the squad late, and their absence will be felt against Japan.Stones was due to start against Uruguay but pulled out with a calf injury. The experienced defender has made only 19 appearances for club and country this season, and his exit raises doubts about his World Cup participation.The Arsenal trio of Rice, Saka, and Madueke have all withdrawn from the squad. Madueke limped off against Uruguay with an injury and has been sent for treatment. Rice and Saka will return to their club for assessment on minor problems.The withdrawals have left Tuchel with a selection headache ahead of the World Cup. Harry Maguire and Ben White are likely to feature against Japan, while Phil Foden's participation is uncertain after he struggled against Uruguay.

The Foreign Press Association (FPA) has strongly condemned a violent assault by Israeli soldiers on a CNN crew in the occupied West Bank. The incident occurred while the crew was reporting on the aftermath of an assault by Israeli settlers and the establishment of an illegal outpost near the Palestinian village of Tayasir.The CNN team, which included photojournalist Cyril Theophilos, was detained by Israeli soldiers who aggressively targeted the crew and Palestinian civilians, pointing their rifles at them despite the journalists identifying themselves. The soldiers attempted to infringe the crew's right to film, ordering them to stop and threatening to confiscate their camera.In a disturbing escalation, an IDF soldier approached Theophilos from behind, placed him in a chokehold, slammed him to the ground, and damaged his camera. The FPA described the incident as a direct attack on press freedom, emphasizing that the use of force was excessive and dangerous.The association has called for an investigation into the incident, asserting that such behavior reflects a deeply alarming pattern of hostility toward the media and cannot be tolerated. The military has announced that the incident will be looked into, with Lt Col Nadav Shoshani stating that the soldiers' conduct does not represent the IDF and that an apology has been made.This incident is the second such event involving CNN this month, following an unprovoked assault on a CNN producer by Israeli police officers during Ramadan, which resulted in a fractured wrist. The ongoing violence in the West Bank and the surge in deadly attacks by Israeli settlers have raised concerns about the safety of journalists and the protection of press freedom in the region.

In the hallway at the Portuguese federation's base in Oeiras near Lisbon, Roberto Martínez stands with arms outstretched, embodying the warmth of welcome that has defined his coaching career. Seventy-five days before the World Cup begins, the man whose favorite goal was against Scunthorpe at Springfield Park now leads one of football's most formidable nations, with matches against Mexico and the United States serving as final preparation for the tournament.Martínez's journey to this moment defied conventional expectations. Arriving in England in 1995 as a 21-year-old unknown who didn't speak English, he recalls the cultural shock: 'You've spent your whole life learning you have to look after the ball, then you get there and the first thing they say is: 'Second ball'.' The Spanish midfielder, who would later be dubbed one of the 'Three Amigos' at Wigan, embraced the challenge with an attitude that has defined his career: 'Why not?'From his humble beginnings at Wigan, where he helped win the Third Division and Football League Trophy, Martínez has carved an extraordinary path through football. His coaching career took him through Swansea, Belgium—where he led the team to the world's No. 1 ranking—and now Portugal, where he has inherited a squad filled with exceptional talent. 'Portugal is a football school,' he explains, 'Ten million people and yet they fill the world's best dressing rooms.'Central to Portugal's World Cup aspirations is Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary forward who has given 21 years to the national team. Martínez dismisses the notion that Ronaldo's pursuit of 1,000 career goals defines his motivation, instead emphasizing the 40-year-old's unwavering commitment: 'Cristiano's attitude is always: 'I'm here for the national team, whatever you need.' The coach reveals that despite a current hamstring injury, Ronaldo's absence is merely a two-week pause before his return to action.Portugal enters the World Cup as one of the favorites, with a squad boasting captains from Manchester United, Porto, Manchester City, and four key players from European champions Paris Saint-Germain. 'Winning the Nations League was very good for us,' Martínez notes, referring to their victory against Spain, the world's No. 1 team and European champions. 'I wouldn't say there's an anxiety in Portugal to win the World Cup; I would say it's excitement, hope.'The coach's meticulous preparation extends to every detail, including playing at altitude in closed stadiums to simulate World Cup conditions. His selection process reflects both compassion and pragmatism: 'I'll choose a list of 26 and four others who know they are on standby.' This approach, he believes, creates a more positive environment when injuries occur.Martínez acknowledges the unique challenges of a 48-team World Cup spanning 50 days, noting: 'No scientific study would deny a human is changed by that.' Yet he remains optimistic, drawing inspiration from Portugal's football history and the numerological significance of 2026—sixty years since Eusébio's World Cup performance. 'It's all sixes. Let's dream. Why not?' he concludes, embodying the philosophy that has taken him from Spanish unknown to Portugal's World Cup dreamer.

Manchester City delivered a resounding statement of intent in their latest Women's Super League fixture, dismantling Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford in a derby that showcased the vast gulf between the two teams. The victory propelled City closer to securing their first league title in a decade, while simultaneously damaging United's hopes of European qualification next season.Vivianne Miedema was the star of the show, scoring twice with headers in the first half, while Kerstin Casparij added a third goal early in the second period. Lauren Hemp also hit the crossbar as City dominated throughout, with the home side fortunate not to concede more goals in a match that highlighted the disparity between the teams.Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner attributed his team's performance to fatigue following their Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich three days prior. In contrast, City has benefited from not competing in European competitions this season, allowing for crucial rest between matches. Skinner acknowledged the advantage enjoyed by City manager Andrée Jeglertz, who described his team's first-half display as "one of the best we've done this season."The result has effectively ended United's title ambitions, with Skinner's side now trailing by 11 points with only three games remaining. Chelsea's hopes of retaining their crown have also been extinguished, as they sit 12 points behind with an inferior goal difference. Arsenal remains the only mathematical challenger, though they would need City to falter significantly in their remaining fixtures.City's dominance was evident from the opening minutes, with Miedema opening the scoring from a corner just 21 seconds into the match. She doubled her tally before the break, finding herself unmarked in the penalty area as United's defense failed to deal with a cross from Casparij. Hemp struck the woodwork before a Rebecca Knaak goal was controversially disallowed, and Casparij sealed the victory with a clinical finish after the interval.With City now requiring just five points from their remaining three matches—all against bottom-four teams—the WSL title appears destined to return to the Etihad Stadium. Meanwhile, United faces an uphill battle to secure European qualification, with challenging fixtures against Tottenham and Chelsea still to come this season.

England's experimental lineup for their international friendly against Uruguay ended in a 1-1 draw, a result that did little to alleviate concerns over the team's lack of chemistry and cohesion on the pitch.Manager Thomas Tuchel had indicated that his starting XI selection would be based on training ground performances, but the team's display at Wembley Stadium suggested that chemistry and teamwork were sorely lacking.The match was marked by a disappointing performance from England, with Phil Foden and Harry Maguire among the few players showing any semblance of form. The team's lack of rhythm and patterns on the pitch were evident, with Tuchel's tactics coming under scrutiny.Uruguay's Federico Valverde equalized from the penalty spot after Ben White gave England the lead with a late goal. The draw was a fair result given the lack of quality on display from both teams.The experimental nature of England's lineup, featuring second-choice players and youngsters, raised questions about Tuchel's strategy and the depth of talent available to him. With the World Cup looming, England's form and cohesion will be crucial to their success.

Manila, Philippines, is experiencing a rare phenomenon - empty streets. For years, the city's transport congestion has been notorious, ranking worst globally in 2024, according to the TomTom traffic index. However, a 26km drive from the Manila airport to the Quezon City Hall now takes just 45 minutes, instead of the typical two hours, according to Google Maps.The reason behind this sudden change is the surge in fuel prices following the United States and Israel's joint military operation against Iran almost a month ago. This has resulted in a significant decrease in vehicular traffic, with fewer buses, jeepneys, and ride-hailing vehicles plying the streets.The impact is being felt by vendors and transport workers, such as Ruben, a 27-year-old parking attendant, who earned less than half his usual collection on a typical Wednesday. Emily Ruado, a 59-year-old paper napkin vendor, also reported a decline in her daily income from $10 to $5.The financial difficulties faced by individuals like Ruben and Emily reflect a bigger headache for the Philippines, as worries of a sharp increase in prices of basic goods and sudden loss of employment for thousands of people could quickly lead to a stagnating economy. The country's GDP growth rate of 5 percent is now becoming more unlikely.The surge in fuel prices has also exposed the acute insufficiency of Manila's limited railway network, with commuters swelling during rush hour at metro stations. This highlights the need for improved infrastructure and the multibillion-dollar infrastructure corruption scandal still roiling the country.

The documentary 'Keir Starmer: Where Did It All Go Wrong?' presents a critical analysis of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership, highlighting his historically low approval ratings and the public's perception of him as 'incompetent', 'useless', and 'weak'. The program, presented by political broadcaster Lewis Goodall, explores the reasons behind Starmer's unpopularity, including his lack of clear political strategy and vision.According to the documentary, Starmer's promise of change was a key factor in his election campaign, but little has changed for ordinary citizens. A survey conducted for the program revealed that a majority of respondents believe Starmer should resign, citing his slow pace of change and lack of a clear plan. The documentary also examines Starmer's shift to the right during his leadership campaign, which may have opened up space for the Greens to attract progressive voters.The program features interviews with various politicians, including Alan Johnson and Bridget Phillipson, who defend Starmer, while John McDonnell and Kim Johnson offer a more critical perspective. The documentary concludes by questioning whether Starmer can find the qualities needed to turn his leadership around and restore public trust.However, the article suggests that the documentary may be avoiding a deeper analysis of Starmer's ideology and the potential reasons behind his actions, including the possibility that he may be intentionally maintaining the status quo. The article also notes that Starmer's dealings with Donald Trump and his stance on Iran have been presented as positive aspects of his leadership.

George Fouracres, a name that's been making waves in the comedy and theatre scenes, has finally found a mass audience for his expansive talent with Saturday Night Live UK. This 36-year-old comedian and actor has been known to comedy- and theatre-watchers for years, particularly with his viral video '“What kind of Irish is your grandad?”' and his portrayal of Keir Starmer on the show.Fouracres' journey to stardom began as a sketch comic and solo performer. He was part of the sketch group Daphne, alongside Phil Wang and Jason Forbes, which gained success on the fringe and led to a Radio 4 series. Wang describes Fouracres as having a 'real mastery of comedic timing, tone and just pure comedic instinct'. His ability to bring characters to life has been a hallmark of his performances.Fouracres' theatre career includes playing Hamlet at the Globe and various roles at Shakespeare's Globe, including Puck, one of the Dromios, and Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor. His performance in Hamlet was described as 'a wild, wild ride' by Time Out London. Sean Holmes, associate artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe, praises Fouracres as 'a bit of a genius' with an 'incredibly alive intelligence'.His recent role as Andrew Lloyd Webber in Flo & Joan's musical was noted for its gale-force performance and sardonic joy. The Dempsey sisters praised Fouracres for bringing 'all of those different qualities to a human being'. With SNL UK, Fouracres' anarchic energy has drawn comparisons to John Belushi, the legendary originator of SNL.As seven more episodes of SNL UK are set to air, Fouracres' moment in the spotlight is just beginning. His distinctive career has already garnered attention, and fans are eager to see more of his talent on display.