Since US President Donald J. Trump returned in 2025, there were significant revisions in America’s health standards with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) serving as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. One of the revisions tackled the dietary health guidelines which in turn created new opportunities in America that coconut oil exporters of the Philippines can capitalize on, according to a news report by the Philippine Star.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of the Philippine Star. Some parts in boldface…
Coconut oil exporters are upbeat that demand for the prized commodity in the US will increase after Washington revised its dietary health guidelines, promoting the consumption of healthy fats.
United Coconut Association of the Philippines (UCAP) said the latest 2025-2030 US Dietary Guidelines reflects a “symbolic” shift in Americans’ diet as it represents an “inverted” food pyramid, putting fats at the top.
Prior to the change, saturated fats, including coconut oil, have been demonized based on the prevailing Lipid Heart Theory claiming that saturated fats and cholesterol are the root causes of heart disease, said UCAP chairman Marco Reyes.
He pointed out that previous dietary guidelines, particularly the 2020-2025 edition, had explicit warnings on the consumption of fats, including coconut oil and recommended consumers to shift to vegetable oil instead.
But in the latest guidelines, such an explicit warning has been removed with the only discouraging factor to coconut oil remaining is the limit stated on the consumption of saturated fat, Reyes said.
The latest dietary guidelines emphasized that saturated fat consumption must not exceed 10 percent of total daily calories. Furthermore, consumers are advised to eat healthy fats which it noted are plenty in whole foods like meats, eggs, among others.
However, coconut oil is not categorically stated as part of the healthy fats. Despite this, Reyes noted that demand for the commodity will still increase since there are no more explicit warnings against coconut oil.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the latest health guidelines of America will actually lead to stronger demand for coconut oil from the Philippines?
Japan’s long-time population problems continued as the number of new children born in 2025 reached only 705,809, according to a news report by Kyodo News. The figure, which includes foreign residents, is the lowest since the counting of newborn children started in 1899.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…
The number of children born in Japan in 2025 fell from a year earlier to 705,809, the fewest since data became available in 1899 and hitting a new low for the 10th consecutive year, health ministry data showed Thursday.
The figure, which includes foreign residents, was down from 2024 by 2.1 percent, or 15,179 births, as the country faces a rapidly graying population and increased anxiety over child-rearing due to the higher cost of living amid inflation. The pace of decline, however, slowed from a year earlier.
In addition to economic anxiety, more people appear to be choosing to marry and have children later in life, or not to marry at all, due to a shift in priorities, experts say.
Population decline showed no signs of abating, with the natural decrease — subtracting the number of births from deaths — hitting the highest ever at 899,845, according to preliminary data released by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research had projected that the number of births, including those of foreign residents in the country, would not drop below 710,000 until 2042.
In separate data released by the ministry in June last year, the number of babies born to Japanese nationals in 2024 fell to 680,000, dropping below 700,000 for the first time.
The 2.1 percent decrease shown in the latest data — compared with 5.0 percent in 2024 — likely partially reflects a second straight year of increasing marriages in 2025, up 1.1 percent to 505,656.
The number is still far below the more than 600,000 marriages Japan had seen annually until 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted normal patterns of social interaction.
“We haven’t been able to turn the trend, unfortunately,” a senior government official said at a news conference on Thursday.
Among the few bright spots for the country’s 47 prefectures, Tokyo and Ishikawa, in central Japan, saw an increase in birth numbers.
The change in Tokyo, where the figure rose by 1.3 percent in the first increase in nine years, could be the result of an influx of people into the capital along with the child-rearing support orchestrated by the metropolitan government, experts say.
Ishikawa’s case is seen as a rebound from a decrease in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula in January 2024.
The remaining 45 prefectures continued to see births decline, with the steepest drop of 8.7 percent in Shimane followed by decreases in Yamagata, Aomori and Nagano.
Rural regions have seen their populations decrease as people opt to leave for schools and jobs. Few municipalities have found a winning formula to reverse the trend.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? What do you think the government led by Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae should do to stop the population decline? Do you think allowing more foreigners to legally migrate into Japan is the answer?
Even though it has been severely damaged by the joint forces of the United States and Israel, the Islamic terrorist state of Iran continued to retaliate by launching missiles and drones not only at American and Israeli forces, but also on sovereign nations in the Middle East such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Islamist Qatar and more. As such, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae condemned Iran for the destruction it committed, according to a news article by Nippon TV.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of Nippon TV. Some parts in boldface…
Amid continued tensions surrounding the situation in Iran, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae spoke on the phone with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on March 5 and told him she condemns Iran’s actions.
Officials said that at the start of the roughly 20-minute conversation, Merz provided an overview of the international situation, taking into account events including his summit meeting with US President Donald Trump.
In response, Takaichi told Merz that she condemns Iran’s actions, including attacks that have extended to civilian and diplomatic facilities and resulted in civilian casualties. The two leaders agreed to work together to de-escalate the situation as quickly as possible.
Ahead of the phone call, Takaichi met with visiting UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Al Jaber at her office.
In the talks, Takaichi asked for cooperation from the United Arab Emirates in safeguarding Japanese nationals and maintaining a stable supply of oil to Japan.
Officials said Jaber expressed his intention to cooperate in areas such as ensuring the safety of Japanese citizens.
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, there have been disruptions in logistics, with tankers becoming stalled near the Strait of Hormuz.
Japanese automaker Toyota Motor is said to be considering reducing its production of vehicles bound for the Middle East.
According to sources, Toyota has notified parts manufacturers and other relevant entities about the possibility that it may reduce the number of vehicles produced. Toyota has not disclosed details of its production plans or whether it uses the Strait of Hormuz.
But last year, the company exported about 320,000 vehicles, including Land Cruisers, to Middle Eastern countries.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran is just days away from totally collapsing as the United States and Israel keep on pounding them with military weapons? Do you think the wicked government of Iran is paying any attention to the Prime Minister of Japan? Why do you think the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran deliberately targets civilians with missiles and drones? Did you notice a lot of people in your local community who openly support the Islamic terrorist state of Iran?
As the Islamic terrorist state of Iran – which lost its demonic Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – kept on firing missiles and drones at several locations in the Middle East in retaliation to the joint US-Israel military operations, a Filipina worker in Israel got killed by an Iranian missile and already the embassies of both the Philippines and Israel expressed their condolences to the victim’s family, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Israel’s embassy in the Philippines has expressed its condolences to the family of the Filipina caregiver who was killed during an Iranian missile attack on Tel Aviv amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Mary Ann Velasquez de Vera, 32, from Basista, Pangasinan, lost her life when a missile struck her apartment on March 1, according (to) the Israel Embassy in Manila. Before this, she was still assisting her patient to safety while she, herself, was already injured.
“Mary Ann, like so many overseas Filipino workers in Israel, exemplified resilience, compassion, and quiet strength,” the Israeli Embassy in Manila said.
“She was identified by her husband, who is also an overseas Filipino worker in Israel, and their family,” it added.
“Israel joins in the profound sorrow of her family and the Filipino community. We mourn together and honor Mary Ann’s memory with dignity and respect. May her soul rest in peace,” it also said.
The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv also conveyed its condolences to the bereaved family through a phone call made by Ambassador Aileen Mendiola to her husband. Mendilola assured him of the Philippine government’s full assistance.
In a separate news report by GMA News, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh confirmed that the Jewish state has committed to providing lifetime support to the family of the victim. Under under Israeli law, the families of individuals injured or killed during a conflict — whether Israeli citizens or foreign nationals — are entitled to lifetime benefits.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines should suspend diplomatic ties with the Islamic terrorist state of Iran? Do you think the terrorist regime of Iran should be held accountable for attacking civilians with missiles and drones so indiscriminately? How long do you think the conflict in the Middle East will last? Are you hoping that Trump’s America, Israel and all the affected nations of the Middle East will band together to end the Islamic terrorist government of Iran? Did you notice any Islamist in your local community expressing support for Iran and Islamic terrorists?
Now that the demonic Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been eliminated, the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran decided to attack not only America forces and Israel but also other Arab states with missiles and drones which easily caused travel and economic disruptions on the rest of the world. In response to what happened, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae urged Iran to solve its conflict with America and Israel diplomatically, according to a news report by Kyodo News. She also demanded Iran to stop destabilizing the region.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday urged Iran to seek a “diplomatic solution” amid an escalation in the Middle East conflict following U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Tehran.
At a parliamentary committee meeting, Takaichi demanded Iran stop any actions that “destabilize the region” including its nuclear weapon development, which she said is “absolutely unacceptable,” as well as attacks on its surrounding countries.
“We will work in coordination with the international community toward an early deescalation of the situation and continue to make every necessary diplomatic effort,” Takaichi said, without expressing her view on the weekend bombardment launched by the United States, Japan’s close security ally, and Israel.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said at the Diet session that no Japanese casualties in Iran have been reported so far, while the government is preparing for a possible evacuation operation for Japanese nationals in the region.
About 200 Japanese citizens live in Iran and 7,700 reside in total in the nations that have been attacked by Iran’s attacks, Motegi added.
The Japanese Embassy in Israel is planning to operate a bus for an evacuation as early as Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press conference. Organizing a large-scale evacuation in Iran is difficult, however, because airports are closed and land routes are dangerous, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Due to its heavy reliance on the Middle East for crude oil, Japan, a resource-poor country that has traditionally maintained friendly ties with Iran, has a vital interest in stability in the region.
The Japanese government is watching the situation around the Strait of Hormuz, an oil shipping route vital for Japan, with the U.S. and Israeli strikes prompting Iranian attacks on other Gulf nations in addition to Israel.
At this stage, the Japanese stock market fell down by 2% over growing concerns about the global economic outlook following the joint US-Israel attacks on the terrorist state.
In what looked like a desperate series of moves, the Islamic terrorist government of Iran launched even more missiles in the Middle East causing more damage, injuries and deaths. Iran made it clear it does not care about the civilians in the region and they are willing to hit the Arab states recklessly. US President Donald J. Trump released a new video message telling the oppressed people of Iran to take back their country.
For updates about what happened lately, watch the videos below.
Let me ending this post by asking you readers to pray to the Lord for victory, for the protection of the American and Israeli forces, for the safety of civilians everywhere, for the end of the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran to happen soon, and for the liberation of the oppressed Iranian people. Pray to Him to also bless US President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as their respective administrations. Pray to God for more peace and stability in the Middle East.
Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!
In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads from the 1980s to the 1990s focused mainly on role-playing games (RPGs) from the East and the West. This is the RPG Special!
For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s to the 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.
With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…
1. Dragon Warrior II Print Ad
The art style used made this one looked similar with Dungeons & Dragons.
When Dragon Quest was released in America titled as Dragon Warrior, its sales there came nowhere close to what it sold in Japan. The game, however, sold enough copies to convince Enix to bring the sequel Dragon Warrior II (Japanese title: Dragon Quest II) to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in America and they came up with an ad that had obvious Western-style artwork to emphasize the fantasy elements. By comparison, the Japanese version of the game used the distinct art of Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball Z). Back in those days, there was this belief that Toriyama’s art style would not be effective in promoting the game in America.
2. Breath Of Fire Japanese Print Ad
This is how Breath of Fire looked like in Japanese print media.
In 1993, Capcom officially broke into the Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) genre with Breath of Fire on the Super Family Computer (Super Famicom). The print ad they came up with for the Japanese market showed several characters – including Ryu and Nina who would later become recurring characters as sequels were released – with designs that had elements of anime and manga styles blended which contrasted the gritty and realistic approach of Western fantasy art. The ad made it clear to readers that new adventures in a fantastic world await them. The game achieved enough commercial success in Japan which convinced Capcom to make a sequel (plus more in the years that followed).
3. Phantasy Star II North American Print Ad
The 3-page ad showcasing Phantasy Star II and many other games.
After selling a good amount of copies of the original Phantasy Star worldwide on the Sega Master System, Sega knew they were on to something. They confidently produced the sequel Phantasy Star II for their brand-new Sega Genesis console in 1989 and aggressively promoted it in America with a daring 3-page print ad. If you look closely, majority of two of the pages were used to promote Phantasy Star II with screenshots (including a big one with a TV), the text description and the console. The spaces below allowed Sega to promote their many other games in convenient fashion. The result is huge success for Sega as more than 1.6 million copies of Phantasy Star II were sold worldwide. Sega would go on to make even more Phantasy Star games.
4. Estopolis Denki II Japanese Print Ad
Estopolis Denki II print ad in Japan.
When Estopolis Denki was released on the Super Famicom in Japan, sold enough copies to justify not only bringing the game to Western markets as Lufia & The Fortress of Doom but also the production of a follow-up titled Estopolis Denki II. To promote it, Taito made a Japanese print ad that had a captivating art style (with the characters looking more realistic and a floating land that had a gritty touch), some screenshots and the promise of fantastic adventures. While the game’s title sounded like a sequel, its story was actually set in the past. Estopolis Denki II would be released in the West as Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals.
5. Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals North American Print Ad
Clearly Natsume did not have any game critics quotes to use to promote Lufia II.
When the first Lufia RPG was released in America on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), it became a commercial hit finishing as the top SNES game in the February 1994 sales chart. The sequel Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals was published by Natsume in America in 1996 and they daringly called it “The Ultimate Role Playing Game!” in its print ad utilizing the official artwork of a major character, two screenshots and descriptive text giving readers an idea on what to expect. This ad strongly relied on the visual elements while the first game’s American print ad (made by Taito) emphasized the critical acclaim received.
6. Chrono Trigger North American Print Ad
A lot of Dragon Ball Z fans recognized the art style of Akira Toriyama here.
Chrono Trigger, the JRPG that had the dream team creators of Hironobu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy creator), Yuji Horii (Dragon Quest creator) and Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball Z creator) behind the production, was easily the most ambitious game SquareSoft released in 1995. As part of the marketing strategy for the North American market, Square came up with a 2-page ad that had Toriyama’s art as the dominant image while using the remaining space for screenshots, the description and the SNES box cover placed strategically. Such a creative visual design was eye-catching and even memorable. Chrono Trigger became a huge commercial and critical hit in the West and it has long been regarded as a classic JRPG.
7. Secret of Evermore North American Print Ad
The creepy red images overshadowed the promotion of Secret of Evermore in America. Some readers might have been scared away by this ad.
Still in 1995, Square released Secret of Evermore for the SNES. Unlike most of Square’s RPGs, Secret of Evermore was developed by an American team in Washington state which explains why the game has a very distinct tone and strongly Western art style (note: the gameplay was patterned after that of Secret of Mana). To promote the game, Square came up with a very odd-looking 2-page print ad that had two dominating red images – eyes of a man on top and the front of a dog below) that felt like a forced approach to emphasize the game’s concept of the hero (a teenager boy) and his loyal dog (a very capable fighter). They used the remaining space for screenshots (which made gamers believe it was a sequel to Secret of Mana), the game box cover and a not so helpful text description. In my view, this print ad was a marketing misfire and Square could have produced hand-drawn art of the hero and his dog instead of the creepy red pictures.
8. Star Ocean: The Second Story North American Print Ad
A really odd-looking print ad.
The Star Ocean JRPG franchise of Enix had its first game released in Japan only. That first game on Super Famicom sold a lot of copies which led to the production of the sequel Star Ocean: The Second Story. By the late 1990s, Enix itself had a partnership with developer tri-Ace on the Star Ocean games. Somewhere along the way, Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) secured the publishing rights of Star Ocean: The Second Story for not only America but also in other parts of the world. For the American market, Sony came up with a very odd-looking 2-page print ad that had a mail service form on the left. The form emphasized the concept of being away for a long time (reflecting the science fiction and extensive fantasy adventuring of the game itself) which incidentally was the eye-catcher of the ad. The other half of the page showing the game’s title, screenshots and detailed text description got overshadowed. This is another marketing misfire.
9. The Legend of Dragoon North American Print Ad
The movie poster-inspired print ad is memorable to look at.
Given how success Sony was with selling PlayStation consoles worldwide and how massively successful the Final Fantasy RPG franchise of SquareSoft was, it was not surprising that they decided to make their very own big-budget and exclusive JRPG with the intention to succeed and possibly establish a franchise. The result was the PlayStation-exclusive game The Legend of Dragoon which was made with a budget of $16 million and lasted three years in development. The game was released in Japan in late-1999 and sold at least 280,000 copies (note: majority of that in its first week of sales). In preparation for the June 2000 launch in America, Sony produced a print ad that had a very strong movie poster vibe showing what looked like painted art of the characters with vivid colors in the background and the title on the lower part. If you look closely, the credits were deliberately stylized over the way movie posters showed credits. While the game was not the massive hit Sony hoped for, it went on to become a million-seller and a great majority of its sales were from America. By today’s standards, the movie poster-like ad used to promote The Legend of Dragoon is memorable and an inspired piece of marketing work.
After decades of hatred towards the West, killing a lot of people and empowering Islamic terrorists, the head of the Islamic terrorist state of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been eliminated during the powerful airstrikes unleashed by Israel and America, and no less than US President Donald J. Trump confirmed it, according to a Newsmax report.
Even the Islamic regime’s own official media confirmed the death of their leader. Those who are loyal to the wicked Khamenei are openly grieving while the Iranians who craved for freedom are celebrating. The dead Ayatollah ruled Iran for decades and he was clearly a mass murderer, a human rights violator and committed so many other acts of evil comparable with what other evil dictators did. Khamenei is also the 2nd dictator to fall down during this current term of President Trump.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Newsmax report. Some parts in boldface…
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint Israeli-U.S. airstrikes early Saturday, President Donald Trump said.
“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Iranian state media confirmed the Supreme Leader’s death.
“This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS,” Trump continued.
“He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do,” Trump added.
“This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.“
The president cited reports that many Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, security, and police forces “no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us.”
“As I said last night, ‘Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!'” Trump wrote.
“Hopefully, the IRGC and Police will peacefully merge with the Iranian Patriots, and work together as a unit to bring back the Country to the Greatness it deserves,” he continued.
“That process should soon be starting in that, not only the death of Khamenei but the Country has been, in only one day, very much destroyed and, even, obliterated,” Trump wrote.
“The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!”
Previously, Newsmax correspondent Zach Anders reported that Khamenei was killed, and Newsmax later confirmed the Iranian leader’s death.
In a televised address Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel eliminated Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders, senior regime officials, and senior nuclear officials.
He added that in the coming days, “we will hit thousands of targets of the terror regime.”
“There are growing indications that [Khamenei] is no longer alive,” Netanyahu said, according to The Jerusalem Post. He did not provide additional details.
Netanyahu’s comments came after Israel and the U.S. launched attacks on Iranian military targets in what Israel has dubbed Operation Roaring Lion and the U.S. has called Operation Epic Fury.
Israel’s Channel 12 News reported that Netanyahu was shown an image of Khamenei’s body after Iranian authorities recovered it from his compound in Tehran, The Times of Israel reported.
Israel carried out a massive strike on the compound in the opening salvo of attacks on Iran early Saturday.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter updated American officials that Israel had succeeded in killing Khamenei, a source familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel, confirming earlier reporting by Axios.
Khamenei, 86, became Iran’s highest authority in 1989 following the death of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Israel long viewed Khamenei as a destabilizing force in the Middle East, citing his backing for terrorist groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
He had been the target of several assassination attempts since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Most notably, on June 27, 1981, a bomb exploded during a speech at a mosque in Tehran, severely injuring him and permanently paralyzing his right arm, according to The Jerusalem Post.
At this stage, the Islamic terrorist government of Iran has been severely weakened and are still operating, even vowing to keep retaliating against America and Israel. The Islamic regime already launched missiles at American facilities in Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait which only showed how evil they are and how much they disregard human life.
The Iranians who were oppressed by their government and want to be free now have new opportunities to band together again and put even more pressure on the remnants of the weakened terrorist regime. Already there are several reactions and developments that happened as a result of the currently successful (and powerful) US-Israel military operations on the terrorist state of Iran. Watch the videos below.
Let’s be clear here. Khamenei was a demon and he led the Islamic terrorist state of Iran since 1989. Many times has the demonic Ayatollah declared death to America and Israel, and he openly hated Western democracy and norms. That said, the elimination of Khamenei has opened up new opportunities for the oppressed Iranians to stand up and oppose once again the remaining Islamic government forces, and take their country back. Those loyal to Khamenei can decide if they want to keep on serving the weakened regime or surrender themselves to live on with immunity.
Will regime change happen in Iran? If it does, it will alter the balance of power in the entire Middle East and cause the remaining Islamic terrorists to stop or move out of the region.
Let me ending this post by asking you readers to pray to the Lord for victory, for the protection of the American and Israeli forces, for the safety of civilians everywhere, for the end of the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran to happen soon, and for the liberation of the oppressed Iranian people. Pray to Him to also bless US President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as their respective administrations. Pray to God for more peace and stability in the Middle East.
A lot has happened so much over the past several hours. Israel and the United States attacked the Islamic terrorist state of Iran destroying several government and military sites. This was the result of the wicked Iranian government constantly refusing to make a deal with America during the rounds of negotiations they had. The Iranian government never intended to make a deal at all and all they did was wasting everyone’s time which they (and their cowardly Ayatollah) thought they were buying time for themselves.
The “no deal” tactic of the Islamic terrorist regime led to the combined Israel-America military operations against Iran. I am sure the Ayatollah and his officers are regretting their moves.
For insight, watch the speech of US President Donald Trump in the YouTube video posted below. Watch it entirely and pay close attention to the details.
Now, watch the YouTube videos below for a clear view of what happened over the past several hours. Don’t rely on the corrupted mainstream news media. You can trust TBN Israel and CBN News.
For insight, the joint US-Israeli military operations against Iran is not about total annihilation at all. It’s about crippling the wicked Islamic terrorist regime (in power since 1979) and liberating the millions of Iranian people who have long been brutalized by their own government. It is also about holding the regime accountable for its decades-long record of sponsoring terrorists, murdering people, causing regional instability, extensive human rights violations and more.
The Islamic terrorist regime has to fall down and it will be up to the freedom-hungry Iranians to band together to set up a new government and take part in reforming or modernizing their society and economy.
As mentioned earlier, so much has happened over the past several hours. The compound of Ayatollah Khameni got destroyed and according to The Jerusalem Post, the so-called supreme leader of Iran has been cut off from contact. It remains to be seen if the evil Ayatollah survived as of this writing. At the same time. It has been reported that Iran’s Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour are believed to have been killed in Israeli attacks. The headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was hit hard as well. Already, the people of Iran are celebrating the joint Israel-America strikes against the regime.
Of course, the evil regime retaliated by launching a heavy missile barrage across Israel. According to The Jerusalem Post report, there was a total of 125 missiles launched against Israel in the first barrage. 35 of those missiles entered Israel airspace while the rest were intercepted.
Going back to the pure evil of the Iranian regime, Iranian missiles were fired at Gulf Arab states in retaliation. Even Qatar – which has a government and the Islamic terrorist news network Al Jazeera – was a target of Iran. Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Bahrain were also Iranian missile targets!
Several Gulf Arab states said they were targeted by Iranian missiles on Saturday after Tehran pledged to retaliate against strikes by the United States and Israel, bringing conflict to a part of the Arab world that prides itself on relative safety.
State media in the United Arab Emirates said one person had been killed in Abu Dhabi, but gave no details.
In Qatar, a video circulating online showed the moment of impact of an Iranian missile on the Al Udeid Air Base.
Earlier, the Qatari military said in a statement that it had intercepted incoming Iranian missiles before they reached Qatari territory after “joint coordination.” Several successive waves of blasts were heard in the Qatari capital Doha.
Earlier, Kuwait, the UAE, and Jordan, all of which also have a US military presence, said they had intercepted Iranian missiles targeting their territory.
The terrorist regime of Iran did not really care about the Gulf Arab states at all! They wanted to retaliate against the Americans so much, they launched missiles at US military facilities in the Gulf Arab states completely disregarding each nation’s citizens. Not even the Islamist Qatar was spared.
With the joint American-Israeli operations against Iran ongoing, a lot could happen over the next 72 hours. Was the Ayatollah eliminated? Will the government of Iran surrender and give in to Trump’s demands to make the deal? Could Russia and China be feeling nervous as their ally Iran is crumbling under the might of America and Israel? A lot of possibilities could happen over the next few days, and I would not be surprised to see the Iranian people get liberated once the Islamic terrorist regime falls down.
Let me ending this piece by asking you readers to pray to the Lord for victory, for the protection of the American and Israeli forces, for the safety of civilians everywhere, for the fall of the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran, and for the liberation of the oppressed Iranian people.
The new 15% tariff on imports announced by US President Donald Trump after reacting to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decision is already troubling exporters of the Philippines, according to a report by BusinessWorld.
There is concern that the new tariff may dampen the export recovery of the Philippines. It should be recalled that the American tariff on Philippine-made goods was set at 19% following the meeting between President Trump and Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. last year.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld news report. Some parts in boldface…
THE United States government’s plan to impose a new 15% tariff on imports may dampen the Philippines’ export recovery and disrupt supply chains, according to analysts.
“Under a 15% tariff, there might be a disruption in the supply chain, because other countries might negotiate or diverge [to other markets],” Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr. said in a phone call.
“Unfortunately, our competitors here in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) are supported by their governments, but we aren’t,” he added.
Mr. Ortiz-Luis said the Philippine government must resume negotiations with its US counterparts to ensure exports remain competitive.
Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow John Paolo R. Rivera said the new tariffs could dampen export recovery, especially for electronics, garments, and agricultural sectors.
“The renewed threat of a 15% global tariff signals that protectionist risks remain and could dampen export recovery if implemented, especially for semiconductors and intermediate goods integrated into US supply chains,” he said in a Viber message.
US President Donald J. Trump said he wants to impose a new 15% duty on US imports from all countries, starting Tuesday, Reuters reported. (Read related story “Asian economies weigh impact of fresh Trump tariff, uncertainties” on S1/11).
This after the US Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program, ruling that Mr. Trump had exceeded his authority when he imposed higher tariffs under an economic emergency law.
Government officials emphasized that the US remains an important trading and investment partner.
“We will continue to engage with (the US). A stable and predictable arrangement with the US will be very beneficial to our stakeholders,” Trade Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty said in a Viber message.
Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go earlier said that the majority of the country’s exports — like semiconductors and key agricultural goods — were already exempted before the US Supreme Court’s ruling.
The US has long been the Philippines’ biggest export market. From January to December 2025, the value of Philippine exports to the US stood at $13.44 billion.
“We don’t know under what authority he (Mr. Trump) will impose those tariffs, and if these will last. We will have to wait until the dust settles to properly assess the impact of his new universal tariffs,” Foundation for Economic Freedom President Calixto V. Chikiamco said in a Viber message.
Reuters reported the new US tariffs are grounded in a separate but untested law, known as Section 122, that allows tariffs up to 15% but requires congressional approval to extend them after 150 days.
Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines President Robert M. Young said its members have been resuming talks with its US buyers.
“We have survived, for the last eight months, the US’ 19% tariff. So, I think we have to just go on with what we are doing, and we’ll try our best to just lower our price to be competitive with other ASEAN nations,” he said via telephone.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Filipino exporters will do better with the new 15% tariff instead of the previous one set at 19%? If you are managing a company that makes products for export mainly to the United States, do you have any backup plans when dealing with new tariffs?
When was the last time you visited the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA)? In recent times, the US-based company Cerberus Asia Pacific Investments, LLC (Cerberus) proposed to manage, operate and rehabilitate the said airport for P5.31 billion and it has been endorsed by the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center. The unsolicited proposal is officially being reviewed by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), according to a news report by BusinessWorld.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the business news article of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…
THE P5.31-billion unsolicited proposal of US-based investment company Cerberus Asia Pacific Investments, LLC (Cerberus) to manage, operate, and upgrade Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) is now being reviewed by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) after the go signal from the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center.
“This unsolicited project was endorsed by the (PPP) Center to the IA (implementing agency) after being determined complete… The Subic Bay International Airport PPP is currently undergoing the approval process of SBMA,” the PPP Center told BusinessWorld on Tuesday.
According to the PPP Center, the SBMA will be the approving body for the project. If approved, the airport project will be under an operate-add-transfer contract arrangement.
Once the SBMA approves the project, it will begin negotiations with the project proponent. The government will then formalize the Original Proponent Status and initiate the Swiss Challenge process.
The Swiss Challenge is a process where other companies can submit better offers, but the original proponent has the right to match them.
Cerberus Capital Management is an investment firm managing approximately $65 billion in assets. Its global network of affiliates includes Cerberus Asia Pacific, which focuses on investments in logistics, infrastructure, technology, and energy.
Cerberus already operates part of a 310-hectare lot of a former South Korean-owned shipyard located west of the airport for which it had submitted an unsolicited bid.
“In theory, competitive bidding is king. In the reality of the SBIA, Cerberus is the catalyst we need. It is time to choose strategic results over procedural delays,” Rene S. Santiago, former president of the Transportation Science Society of the Philippines, said in a Viber message.
Nigel Paul C. Villarete, a senior adviser on public-private partnerships at the technical advisory group Libra Konsult, said that solicited bidding would be more feasible and faster, as it enables the government to define the contract’s parameters and coverage.
“Many of our public facilities should be operated by the private sector to attain a lot of the efficiencies that they can do, which are often difficult to attain within the government realm,” Mr. Villarete said.
For Mr. Villarete, a government-led solicited procurement process will always be preferable.
However, since an unsolicited proposal has already been submitted, the government’s role is to enter into negotiations, introduce the necessary changes and amendments, and only then present the proposal to the public for challenge, he said.
“There should be a negotiation period for the two parties to discuss any amendments required by the government before this is published for challenge,” he said.
Cerberus’ proposal covers the rehabilitation of SBIA assets and the development of new facilities to expand capacity and attract new tenants.
The company has also committed to invest “considerable financial resources” and utilize its real estate management capabilities in developing the airport.
In its proposal the company said that it will maintain the existing leases but only for the “early years” of its concession period.
“Cerberus plans to maintain the status quo of existing operations by honoring existing leases and retaining incumbent employees. In parallel, Cerberus will invest significant capital expenditure to improve SBIA’s infrastructure and operations, whilst building new hangars and storage facilities to reestablish SBIA as a major hub for commercial cargo operations and to expand SBIA’s government logistics operations,” it said.
The company added that it will monitor and evaluate airport fees to optimize SBMA’s returns under the revenue-sharing agreement, while supporting efforts to attract and manage both existing and new airport tenants.
This revenue-sharing scheme would be the determining factor if the proposed 25-year concession agreement were extended, PPP Center said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? What is your opinion about the current state of the international airport inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone? Do you think so much more can be achieved with the Subic Bay International Airport in terms of expanding flight connectivity, attracting more tourists from overseas and paving way for more foreign commerce to enter the freeport?
Author Carlo Carrasco 