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Trump says no talks with Iran unless it surrenders

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Trump says no talks with Iran unless it surrenders

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to rule out negotiations with Iran to end the escalating conflict in the Middle East, saying any potential deal would require Tehran’s “unconditional surrender.”

In a social media post on Friday, Trump said negotiations would only follow a complete capitulation from Iran and the installation of new leadership in the country.

“After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before,” Trump wrote.

His remarks came as fighting intensified across the region on the seventh day of a widening conflict involving Israel, Iran, and several Middle Eastern states.

Israeli warplanes carried out heavy airstrikes on targets in Tehran and Beirut on Friday, while Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks toward Israel and several Gulf countries hosting American forces.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that the American air campaign against Iran would “surge dramatically,” signaling a potential escalation in military operations.

The Israeli strikes in Lebanon were reported to be the most intense since a 2024 ceasefire ended the last war between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Tens of thousands of civilians have fled Beirut’s southern suburbs and parts of southern Lebanon following Israeli evacuation warnings.

The conflict has expanded to affect more than a dozen countries across the Middle East. The United States said it struck an Iranian drone carrier at sea while continuing operations against Iran’s naval forces. Earlier in the week, a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian frigate in the Indian Ocean.

U.S. Central Command chief Brad Cooper said the drone carrier, the IRIS Shahid Bagheri, had been set ablaze during the strike. The vessel, a converted container ship with a runway for drones, can reportedly travel up to 22,000 nautical miles without refueling.

Cooper also said B-2 Spirit stealth bombers dropped dozens of 2,000-pound “penetrator” bombs on deeply buried ballistic missile launchers inside Iran.

Iran continued its counterattacks Friday, launching missiles and drones toward Israel and several Gulf states hosting U.S. forces, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Qatar said it intercepted a drone targeting the Al Udeid Air Base, which houses the forward headquarters of the U.S. Central Command. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting three ballistic missiles aimed at the Prince Sultan Air Base near Riyadh.

In Bahrain, authorities said Iranian strikes targeted two hotels and a residential building, though no casualties were reported. Kuwait said its air defenses were activated when missiles and drones crossed into its airspace.

Explosions were also heard in Tel Aviv early Friday as Israeli air defense systems intercepted incoming Iranian missiles.

Officials across the region report the conflict has already caused significant casualties. At least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran, more than 120 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel. Six U.S. troops have also died in the fighting.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “some countries” had begun mediation efforts to halt the conflict but did not identify the parties involved.

Meanwhile, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, urged all sides to de-escalate the crisis.

“The world urgently needs to see steps to contain and extinguish this blaze,” Türk said.

Trump, speaking briefly at the White House, again urged Iranians to rise against their government, promising what he described as “immunity” to those who help “take back” the country, though he offered no details about what that would entail.

The U.S. president also suggested he should play a role in selecting Iran’s next supreme leader following the reported death of Ali Khamenei in the opening strikes of the war. Trump dismissed the possibility that Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, could succeed him, calling him “a lightweight.”

Iranian state media reported that a leadership council had begun discussions on convening the country’s Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body tasked with selecting the next supreme leader.

In Lebanon, Israeli forces carried out at least 11 airstrikes late Thursday and early Friday targeting southern suburbs of Beirut, sparking fires near a gas station and forcing two hospitals to evacuate patients and staff.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam criticized both Israel and Hezbollah, saying the Lebanese government and its people “did not choose this war.”

JCI San Pablo 7 Lakes to hold 78th induction ceremony, welcomes Jessa Estrellado as 2026 president

Venus L Peñaflor
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JCI San Pablo 7 Lakes to hold 78th induction ceremony, welcomes Jessa Estrellado as 2026 president

SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna — Members of JCI San Pablo 7 Lakes are set to celebrate leadership, service, and renewed commitment as the organization holds its 78th Induction Ceremonies on March 7, 2026, at 7 p.m. at the Coconut Palace Hotel.

The event will formally install Jessa E. Estrellado as the 2026 President, ushering in a new chapter of leadership for the local organization affiliated with the global leadership development network Junior Chamber International and its national arm, JCI Philippines.

Estrellado, a Cum Laude graduate of Bachelor of Science in International Tourism and Travel Management from Lyceum of the Philippines University – Manila, currently serves as Human Resources Director of El Coco Group of Companies.

She balances her professional career with family life alongside her husband, PJ Estrellado, and their four children, Zofia Paula, Paul James, Paula Maxine, and Lio Paul Estrellado.

Returning to Strengthen the Home Chapter

After ten years of active involvement in JCI beyond the chapter level, particularly in supporting national programs, Estrellado said she is now focused on giving back to her home chapter.

“My goal is to dedicate more time and effort to strengthening JCI San Pablo 7 Lakes by implementing concrete plans and initiatives that will empower members and sustain our organization’s growth,” Estrellado said.

She emphasized that her leadership vision centers on developing confident and compassionate leaders who can create meaningful impact in their communities.

“My goal is to guide every JCI San Pablo 7 Lakes member on a journey of empowerment, helping them grow in confidence, compassion, and leadership so they can elevate not only themselves but the communities they serve,” she added.

Journey, Empower, Elevate

For 2026, the chapter will carry the theme “Journey • Empower • Elevate,” aligned with the national theme of JCI Philippines under National President Patrick Maglinao, which calls on members to “Sustain the Future.”

The theme reflects the chapter’s direction for the year. “Journey” represents the organization’s mission and the collective progress of its members as they continue to grow together. “Empower” highlights the commitment to uplift members, the youth, and the wider community so they can realize their full potential. Meanwhile, “Elevate” underscores the goal of advancing sustainable initiatives, strengthening community development efforts, and promoting leadership excellence throughout the organization.

Through this vision, the organization aims to build stronger leaders, expand community programs, and sustain long-term impact in San Pablo City and beyond.

A Legacy of Leadership and Service

The 78th induction ceremony marks another milestone in the continuing legacy of JCI San Pablo 7 Lakes, a civic organization known for nurturing young leaders through community development projects, leadership training, and service initiatives.

As the new leadership takes its oath, members and supporters are expected to reaffirm their commitment to purpose-driven action, transformative service, and building a stronger future for the community.

The 78th induction ceremony marks another milestone in the continuing legacy of JCI San Pablo 7 Lakes.
After ten years of active involvement in JCI beyond the chapter level, particularly in supporting national programs, Estrellado said she is now focused on giving back to her home chapter.

Scientists explore new immune reprogramming therapies for autoimmune diseases

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Scientists explore new immune reprogramming therapies for autoimmune diseases

NEW YORK — Researchers are testing groundbreaking treatments for autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and lupus, aiming to reprogram patients’ immune systems rather than simply suppress them.

Current therapies control the immune system’s “friendly fire” but do not address the underlying problem. Patients often face a lifetime of costly medications with serious side effects, and many still struggle to keep their disease in check.

“We’re entering a new era,” said Dr. Maximilian Konig, a rheumatologist at Johns Hopkins University. These approaches “offer the chance to control disease in a way we’ve never seen before.”

One promising therapy, CAR-T, originally developed for hard-to-treat blood cancers, modifies a patient’s T cells to destroy malfunctioning B cells responsible for autoimmune attacks. Early studies in Germany and the U.S. have shown dramatic results, including drug-free remission in some patients.

Mileydy Gonzalez, 35, from New York, experienced severe lupus symptoms that affected her lungs and kidneys. After joining an experimental CAR-T study at NYU Langone Health, she gradually regained strength and energy. “I can actually run, I can chase my kid,” she said. “I had forgotten what it was to be me.”

Other approaches include engineering regulatory “peacekeeper” T cells, using lab-made antibodies called T cell engagers, and delivering instructions via mRNA to help the immune system restore balance. These therapies aim to precisely target rogue immune cells while preserving healthy ones, potentially offering long-term control or even remission.

Early successes, such as those reported by Dr. Georg Schett at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, have inspired a surge of clinical trials worldwide. While safety and long-term effects remain under study, patients like Allie Rubin, 60, who struggled with lupus for decades, report life-changing improvements after CAR-T treatment.

“The next 10 years will dramatically change our field forever,” Konig said, highlighting the potential of these innovative therapies to transform the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Iran launches new attacks and calls for ‘Trump’s blood’ as Israel strikes Iranian infrastructure

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Iran launches new attacks and calls for ‘Trump’s blood’ as Israel strikes Iranian infrastructure

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran launched another wave of attacks Thursday targeting Israel, U.S. bases, and regional countries, warning that the United States would “bitterly regret” sinking an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean. In the same period, Israel reported strikes on multiple sites in Iran and Lebanon.

Israeli authorities announced incoming missile alerts, with air raid sirens sounding in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Iranian state media reported additional strikes on U.S. installations in the region. Over the past 24 hours, Israel said it had hit 80 Hezbollah-linked targets in Lebanon and carried out attacks on long-range ballistic missile launch sites and other strategic locations in Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the U.S. Navy for sinking the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, which resulted in at least 87 Iranian casualties. “Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret (the) precedent it has set,” he wrote on social media.

Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli made one of the few clerical statements during the conflict, calling for the “shedding of both Israeli and Trump’s blood.” “Fight the oppressive America, his blood is on my shoulders,” he said, marking a rare public call for violence from a senior Shiite cleric.

The conflict, which began Saturday with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as missile and nuclear facilities, has already claimed more than 1,200 lives in Iran, over 70 in Lebanon, and around a dozen in Israel. It has disrupted global oil and gas supply chains, international shipping, and stranded thousands of travelers in the Middle East.

Regional spillovers were reported Thursday. In Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave, a drone crash near a school injured two civilians. In Abu Dhabi, six people were wounded when a drone was shot down near the Al Dhafra Air Base, which hosts U.S. forces. Qatar evacuated residents near its U.S. Embassy following a reported missile attack, and Saudi Arabia intercepted a drone near its border with Jordan.

Commercial shipping was also affected. A tanker near Kuwait’s coast suffered an explosion, though the cause remains unclear. Previous attacks have targeted the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes.

Oil prices have surged, with Brent crude rising about 15% since the start of hostilities, after U.S. stock markets rebounded briefly following earlier reports of economic stability.

Sri Lankan authorities confirmed that 32 crew members were rescued from the sunken IRIS Dena, with 87 bodies recovered. Araghchi said the vessel had a crew of nearly 130. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an American submarine had fired the torpedo.

Despite these developments, U.S. and Israeli officials report that Iranian missile and drone launches have declined after key ballistic missile sites were destroyed. Israel’s Homefront Command announced eased restrictions, allowing workplaces to reopen near shelters, though schools remain closed.

In Lebanon, Israeli strikes killed at least eight people, including two at a building in the Beddawi refugee camp and three on a coastal highway. Earlier drone strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs killed three and wounded six, targeting Hezbollah members, according to the Israeli military.

A shepherd boy walks away from an unexploded Iranian projectile that landed in an open field in the outskirts of Qamishli, eastern Syria, Wednesday, March 4, 2026.(AP Photo/Baderkhan Ahmad)

299 Pilipino mula Dubai, ligtas nang nakauwi sa bansa

Venus L Peñaflor
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299 Pilipino mula Dubai, ligtas nang nakauwi sa bansa

MAYNILA — Ligtas nang nakauwi sa bansa kahapon ng umaga ang 299 Pilipino mula Dubai sakay ng Flight EK336, na dumating sa NAIA Terminal 3, bilang bahagi ng patuloy na pagtugon ng pamahalaan sa sitwasyon ng mga kababayan sa gitna ng tensyon sa Middle East.

Sa bilang na ito, 25 ang mga OFW na agad sinalubong at inasikaso ng Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) sa pangunguna ni Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac at ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) sa pangunguna ni Administrator Patricia Yvonne “PY” Caunan, katuwang ang Department of Health (DOH) at Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Ang pagdating ng mga kababayan ay kabilang sa unang batch ng mga Pilipinong nakauwi mula sa Middle East kasunod ng patuloy na tensyon sa rehiyon. Kaagad silang binigyan ng arrival assistance sa paliparan, kabilang ang pagkain, pansamantalang tuluyan, at tulong sa transportasyon patungo sa kani-kanilang mga probinsya, pati na rin iba pang kinakailangang suporta.

Nakahanda rin ang OWWA na magbigay ng financial at reintegration assistance upang makatulong sa muling pagsisimula ng buhay sa Pilipinas para sa mga miyembro. Patuloy ang pakikipagtulungan ng OWWA, DMW, DOH, at DSWD upang matiyak ang agarang pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng ating mga Kababayang OFWs sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon sa Middle East.

Para sa mga nangangailangan ng tulong, bukas 24/7 ang OWWA Hotline 1348. Maaari ring makipag-ugnayan sa pinakamalapit na OWWA Regional Office o gamitin ang Kumusta Kabayan app para sa agarang aksyon.

Sri Lanka recovers 87 bodies after Iranian warship sunk by U.S. submarine off its coast

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Sri Lanka recovers 87 bodies after Iranian warship sunk by U.S. submarine off its coast

GALLE, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s navy recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 survivors after an Iranian warship was sunk by a torpedo fired from a U.S. submarine in the Indian Ocean off the country’s southern coast, authorities said Wednesday.

According to Sri Lanka’s government, the vessel identified as the IRIS Dena carried about 180 people when it went down. The Sri Lankan navy launched a search-and-rescue operation after receiving a distress signal, deploying ships and aircraft to the area, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament.

The incident is part of a broader U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran that has extended beyond the Middle East. U.S. President Donald Trump previously said that a key objective of the conflict was to neutralize Iran’s naval capabilities.

Speaking at a Pentagon briefing, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Iranian vessel had been struck by a torpedo fired from an American submarine.

“An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” Hegseth said. “Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo.”

A video released by the U.S. Department of Defense on the social media platform X appeared to show the moment of the strike. The footage shows an underwater explosion hitting the vessel, which then breaks apart as a large plume of water shoots into the air.

The 32 rescued crew members were taken to a hospital in Galle, a coastal city in southern Sri Lanka. Health officials said one survivor remains in critical condition, while seven others are undergoing emergency treatment and the rest are being treated for minor injuries.

Dr. Anil Jasinghe, a senior official from Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry, said the bodies of the victims were transported to the National Hospital in Galle, where a temporary mortuary was set up to handle the influx of casualties.

The IRIS Dena, one of Iran’s newer warships, was equipped with heavy guns, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes, and also carried a helicopter. The vessel had previously been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in February 2023, along with executives from an Iranian drone manufacturer accused of supplying weapons to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine.

U.S. Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of the American military’s Central Command, said at least 17 Iranian naval vessels have been destroyed since the start of the conflict.

The rare submarine strike, one of the few recorded instances of a submarine sinking a warship since World War II, underscores the escalating maritime dimension of the war involving Iran and its adversaries.

Environmental at septage fee ng SPCWD, bakit kailangang bayaran ng mga consumer

Venus L Peñaflor
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Environmental at septage fee ng SPCWD, bakit kailangang bayaran ng mga consumer

SAN PABLO CITY — Maraming customer ng water district ang nagulat nang makita ang “environmental fee” o “septage fee” sa kanilang buwanang bill. Isa sa pinaka-karaniwang tanong ng mga konsyumer: “Legal ba ito? Bakit tayo sinisingil?”

Ayon sa Republic Act No. 9275, may tungkulin ang mga lokal na pamahalaan at water districts na magpatupad ng maayos na septage at wastewater management programs upang maiwasan ang polusyon sa mga ilog, lawa, at iba pang pinagkukunan ng tubig. Sa ilalim ng sistemang ito, maaaring makipagtulungan ang local government unit (LGU) sa water district sa pagpapatupad ng sanitation programs at paglikha ng mga pasilidad tulad ng septage treatment plant, habang pinapayagan naman ang water district na maningil ng kaukulang bayarin upang matustusan ang operasyon.

Ano ang environmental o septage fee?

Ang environmental o septage fee ay karagdagang singil sa water bill na ipinapataw ng mga water district upang pondohan ang kanilang Sanitation at Septage Management Programs. Kabilang sa mga layunin nito ang regular na paglilinis at pagpapasipsip ng mga septic tank, tamang pag-treat at pag-dispose ng dumi (septage) at wastewater, at ang pagprotekta sa kapaligiran, mga ilog, lawa, at iba pang pinagkukunan ng tubig.

Sa ibang water districts, ang septage fee ay batay sa dami ng tubig na ginagamit, habang sa iba naman, tinatawag itong environmental safety fee at kasama na sa bill.

Ang San Pablo City Water District (SPCWD) haliombawa, ay nagpatupad ng environmental fee na may kwentang ₱35.20 para sa unang 0–10 cubic meters (cu.m) ng tubig. Kapag lumampas sa 10 cu.m, may dagdag na ₱3.52 kada isang cu.m para sa sobrang konsumo. Kasama na rito ang 2% franchise tax. Halimbawa, kung gumagamit ang isang customer ng 8 cu.m, ang kabuuang bayad ay ₱35.90; kung 15 cu.m, ang bayad ay ₱53.86; at kung 25 cu.m, aabot sa ₱89.76. Sa ganitong paraan, masusuportahan ng fee ang septage treatment facility at regular na desludging operations ng SPCWD.

Bakit kailangang magbayad?

Nakasaad ito sa Republic Act No. 9275 o Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, na nag-uutos sa mga institusyon, kabilang ang water districts, na magpatupad ng wastewater at septage management systems upang maiwasan ang polusyon.

Ayon sa Republic Act No. 9275 o Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, inaatasan ang mga institusyon, kabilang ang mga water district, na magpatupad ng wastewater at septage management systems upang maiwasan ang polusyon. Sa madaling sabi, hindi libre ang pag-treat ng dumi at wastewater, dahil kailangan ng pondo para sa kagamitan, treatment plant, at mga operasyon sa desludging. Pinapayagan ng batas ang mga water district na maningil ng environmental o septage fee upang masuportahan ang mga paghahanda at proyektong ito.

Ano ang sinusunod ng mga water district?

Bago ipatupad ang environmental o septage fee, karaniwang isinasagawa ng mga water district ang ilang hakbang. Kabilang dito ang public hearing upang ipaliwanag sa mga konsyumer ang planong singil, at pagpapakita kung paano gagamitin ang kolektadong pondo para sa sanitation programs. Sinisiguro rin ng mga water district na nasusunod ang mga patakaran ng Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) upang maging transparent at maayos ang implementasyon.

Legal ba ito?

Oo. Legal ito at bahagi ng mandato ng Clean Water Act. Hindi lang iniutos ng batas ang pagkakaroon ng sanitation programs, may kaakibat ding parusa para sa hindi pagsunod gaya ng multa mula P10,000 hanggang P200,000 kada araw ng violation at posibleng closure o suspension ng operasyon hanggang maitama ang kakulangan Kung seryoso ang paglabag at nagdudulot ng malaking pinsala sa kapaligiran, mas mataas ang parusa.

Bakit galit ang ilang konsyumer?

Ilang consumer ang nagtataka at nagagalit dahil sa mga bagong singil. Ayon sa kanila, hindi malinaw kung ano mismo ang kanilang binabayaran, kulang ang impormasyon bago ipatupad ang mga singil, at hindi agad nakikita ang benepisyo sa kanilang lugar.

Pinapayuhan ng LWUA at mga eksperto na mas ipaliwanag ng water districts kung paano ginagamit ang kolektadong pondo upang maiwasan ang hindi pagkakaintindihan.

Ano ang dapat malaman ng konsyumer?

Dapat malaman ng mga konsyumer na ang environmental o septage fee ay hindi singil sa tubig, kundi pondong nakalaan para sa sanitation at proteksyon sa kapaligiran. Bago ipatupad ang anumang singil, kinakailangang magsagawa ng public consultation upang malinaw sa publiko ang layunin at pamamaraan. Mayroon ding batas na nag-uutos at nagpapataw ng parusa kung ang mga programa ay hindi maipatupad nang maayos, kaya mahalaga ang tamang proseso at transparency.

CIA reportedly working to arm Kurdish forces to spur uprising in Iran

EDGARDO HERNAL
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0
CIA reportedly working to arm Kurdish forces to spur uprising in Iran

WASHINGTON AND ERBIL, Iraq — The CIA is reportedly coordinating with Kurdish groups in Iraq to arm them as part of a strategy aimed at encouraging a popular uprising against Iran’s government, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

The Trump administration has been in discussions with Iranian opposition figures and Kurdish leaders in Iraq to provide military support. Iranian Kurdish armed groups, numbering in the thousands, operate along the Iraq-Iran border, primarily within Iraq’s Kurdistan region. Some of these groups have issued public statements hinting at imminent action and urging members of Iran’s military to defect. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Tuesday that it had targeted Kurdish forces with dozens of drone strikes.

According to sources, CIA support for Iranian Kurdish groups began several months prior to the escalation of the current conflict. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump reportedly spoke with Mustafa Hijri, president of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), one of the groups recently targeted by the IRGC. Kurdish opposition officials indicated that a ground operation in western Iran could take place in the coming days, with the expectation of U.S. and Israeli support.

Trump also reportedly held talks with Iraqi Kurdish leaders to coordinate U.S. military operations in Iran, including using Iraqi Kurdistan as a potential launching ground for Kurdish forces. Iraqi officials, however, have reiterated that groups will not be allowed to cross into Iran from their territory. The Kurdistan Region’s Interior Ministry has reportedly sent Peshmerga reinforcements to the border with Iran.

While the CIA declined to comment and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that U.S. objectives do not rely on arming any particular group, analysts say the move signals an effort to “jump-start” an uprising by providing Kurdish militias with arms. Experts warn, however, that arming Kurdish forces carries risks, including undermining Iraqi sovereignty and empowering militias with competing agendas and limited accountability.

Israeli military strikes along the Iraq-Iran border are reportedly ongoing and may intensify to support potential Kurdish operations in northwest Iran. Still, U.S. intelligence assessments suggest that Iranian Kurdish groups currently lack the influence and resources to mount a successful uprising on their own, and political assurances from the Trump administration are reportedly sought before they commit.

The Kurdish population, estimated at 25–30 million across Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Armenia, has a long history of complex relations with the United States. Past collaborations, ranging from anti-ISIS campaigns to promises of political support, have left some Kurdish leaders wary of U.S. commitments, citing inconsistent policies and fear of abandonment.

Despite these concerns, Kurdish opposition groups remain opposed to the Iranian regime, which they view as oppressive and destabilizing. Analysts caution that any failed uprising could further complicate regional stability, especially if U.S. and Israeli support is withdrawn prematurely.

The CIA has maintained a presence in Iraqi Kurdistan near the Iranian border, alongside U.S. consular and military personnel in Erbil. The agency’s long history with Kurdish forces includes cooperation during the Iraq War and operations against ISIS, though previous expectations of Kurdish political gains have not materialized.

As discussions continue, the potential arming of Kurdish forces in Iran represents a significant escalation in the region and underscores the high stakes of U.S. and Israeli strategies against the Iranian government.

US submarine sinks Iranian warship off Sri Lanka as conflict widens beyond Middle East

EDGARDO HERNAL
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0
US submarine sinks Iranian warship off Sri Lanka as conflict widens beyond Middle East

An Iranian Navy frigate, IRIS Dena, sank after being struck by a torpedo fired from a United States submarine off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, marking a significant escalation in the widening conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The attack occurred in international waters about 40 nautical miles south of Galle, and officials say the IRIS Dena was returning from a naval exercise hosted by India when it went down.

At least 87 Iranian sailors were killed in Wednesday’s attack, and 32 crew members were rescued and taken to hospital, according to Sri Lankan authorities; roughly 60 others remain unaccounted for from the estimated 180 personnel on board.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the IRIS Dena was hit by a Mark‑48 heavyweight torpedo launched from an American submarine, calling it the first sinking of an enemy warship by torpedo since World War II. Pentagon footage released shows the torpedo impact causing catastrophic damage to the vessel.

The strike has raised legal and strategic concerns. Some former US officials and international law experts questioned whether the vessel posed an imminent threat at the time of the attack. Wes Bryant, a former US Air Force special operations targeting expert, said there was no clear indication the ship was actively participating in hostilities, warning that the action could represent a dangerous precedent.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Vijitha Herath, said the coastguard received a distress call at 5:08 a.m. local time and dispatched naval vessels under international search and rescue conventions. By the time rescue teams arrived, the frigate had already sunk, leaving behind an oil slick.

A senior Sri Lankan official said the Iranian embassy in Colombo indicated through diplomatic channels that it believed the ship had been targeted in a US strike. Iranian sources reportedly claimed the vessel’s defense systems may have been disabled by electromagnetic means before being hit, and another defense source suggested the ship may have been struck by two torpedoes.

The incident comes as the US‑Israeli air campaign against Iran enters its fifth day, with Washington warning that future strikes would hit targets “deeper” inside Iranian territory. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it would continue missile and drone attacks across the region.

The broader conflict is increasingly affecting regional stability. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been paralyzed for several days, disrupting critical oil and gas flows from the Middle East. The United Nations reported that at least 100,000 people fled Tehran in the first two days of fighting.

As hostilities expand beyond the Middle East into the Indian Ocean region, international observers warn that the confrontation risks escalating into a far wider global crisis. 

PCO, major newspapers nagsanib pwersa laban sa fake news

Venus L Peñaflor
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0
PCO, major newspapers nagsanib pwersa laban sa fake news

MAYNILA — Pumirma sa isang kasunduan ang Presidential Communications Office (PCO) at ilang pangunahing organisasyon ng pahayagan sa bansa upang palakasin ang kampanya laban sa fake news, misinformation at disinformation sa digital at social media platforms.

Ayon sa PCO, layunin ng kasunduan na protektahan ang publiko mula sa masamang epekto ng maling impormasyon at palawigin ang kooperasyon laban sa mga banta sa seguridad ng mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng pagsusulong ng transparency, media literacy, fact-based reporting, at responsableng information sharing.

Pinangunahan ni PCO Secretary Dave Gomez ang paglagda sa Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), kasama ang mga kinatawan mula sa The Philippine Star, BusinessWorld, BusinessMirror, Daily Tribune, Malaya Business Insight, Business Insight, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Philippine Daily Inquirer, at The Manila Times.

Ang MOU ay bahagi ng inisyatiba ng PCO na tinawag na “Oplan Fake News,” na naglalayong pagtibayin ang sama-samang pagkilos ng pamahalaan at media organizations laban sa pagkalat ng maling impormasyon.

Pinagtibay rin sa kasunduan ang commitment ng bawat panig sa pagsusulong ng tama, verified at responsableng pag-uulat kasabay ng pag galang at pinananatili sa kalayaan sa pamamahayag.

“Disinformation thrives in darkness in confusion, in distortion, in deliberate deceit. But the truth has always been like daylight. And just as a magnifying glass focuses sunlight to reveal what is hidden, this collaboration concentrates the light of verified information, sharpening clarity and exposing falsehoods. In shining that light, we dispel the shadows where fake news attempts to hide,” pahayag ni Gomez.

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