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Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announces the unilateral release of national and private sector oil reserves as the Strait of Hormuz crisis continues to rattle global energy markets.
Japan will release approximately 80 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves in response to the ongoing war in the Middle East, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Wednesday, March 11.
The release is set to begin as early as March 16 and will draw from two sources: the equivalent of 15 days worth of oil consumption from private sector stocks, and one month worth from national reserves.
Japan's move comes as the International Energy Agency (IEA) and its 32 member countries agreed to the largest coordinated emergency oil release in the agency's history — a combined 400 million barrels to counter the supply disruptions caused by the conflict. The decision followed an extraordinary IEA meeting convened to assess market conditions amid the ongoing war.
The Middle East conflict, which began on February 28, has severely disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which roughly 20 million barrels of crude oil and oil products pass daily, approximately 25 percent of the world's seaborne oil trade. Export volumes through the strait have dropped to less than 10 percent of pre-conflict levels, according to the IEA.
Japan is particularly exposed to the crisis. The country sources roughly 80 to 90 percent of its crude oil imports from the Gulf, with 70 percent transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Despite holding strategic reserves equivalent to 254 days of total consumption, the third-largest stockpile in the world, prolonged hostilities risk eroding those reserves and derailing the government's efforts to bring down inflation.
The government also announced subsidies for petroleum products to keep domestic gasoline prices at around 170 yen per liter.
Global oil prices have swung sharply since the conflict began, with Brent crude surging past $100 per barrel following the IEA announcement, a sign that markets remain skeptical that the reserve releases alone can offset the massive supply shock. Analysts warn that prices could climb further to between $120 and $150 per barrel if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for an extended period.
Japan is the latest country to take emergency energy measures. South Korea has introduced price controls, Taiwan is securing additional liquefied natural gas shipments, and the Philippines has adopted a four-day workweek to reduce fuel consumption.
MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s working visit to New York City from March 8 to 11 yielded a major job-generating investment for the Philippines, with a US-based medical glove manufacturer pledging to build a production facility that could employ more than 2,000 Filipinos.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro briefed reporters on the outcomes of the visit, which centered on high-level engagements at the United Nations alongside targeted meetings with American investors.
On the sidelines of his UN schedule, Marcos met with officials of US Medical Glove Company (USMGC), a Harvard, Illinois-based manufacturer of nitrile and polyisoprene surgical and exam gloves. The company has committed an initial investment of $200 million to construct a manufacturing facility in the Philippines.
USMGC had already sent representatives to the Philippines to begin preparations, with a local partner already identified. The company also intends to expand operations beyond the initial phase once the first plant is up and running.
The facility is expected to ensure a stable domestic supply of medical gloves for healthcare workers, the military, and other sectors. The government said it remains open to further opportunities should the manufacturing venture perform well.
USMGC is the leading American manufacturer of nitrile and polyisoprene surgical and exam gloves, operating out of a 1.8-million-square-foot facility and producing over 2 billion gloves annually. The company uses energy-efficient machines and recycles 100 percent of its production water.
The business meetings were part of a wider agenda. Marcos also addressed world leaders at the UN General Assembly, stressing the importance of the rule of law, multilateralism, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. He spoke at the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women and held a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The Philippines' bid for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for the term 2027–2028 was likewise a key focus of the trip.
Marcos arrived back in Manila on the night of March 11, 2026.
Meghan Trainor has released her latest single, "Get In Girl," via Epic Records, a track she is calling the ultimate Galentine's Day anthem and a rallying cry for anyone who has ever stayed too long in the wrong relationship.
The song is the second release off her upcoming seventh studio album, Toy With Me, set to arrive on April 24.
A song about knowing your worth
Written for the ghosted, the burned out, and the ones still stuck in a talking stage that is going nowhere, "Get In Girl" arrives as a declaration of self-respect dressed in an upbeat package.
Trainor spoke directly to the message behind the track. "This song is for everyone who finally realized they deserve more," she said. "Sometimes you just need a song that reminds you that love shouldn't feel exhausting, and that leaving is okay and might be the most powerful thing you can do."
The release follows her previous single "Still Don't Care," which she put out late last year. That track carried a similar thread, a call to stop seeking validation from others and embrace who you are. Its accompanying music video saw Trainor dancing freely across iconic Los Angeles landmarks, including The Grove, Rodeo Drive, and even a celebrity sighting shuttle tour.
Toy With Me and The Get In Girl tour
With two singles now out, anticipation is building for the full album. Toy With Me arrives April 24 and marks Trainor's seventh full-length studio record.
Following the release, Trainor will take the new music on the road for The Get In Girl Tour, produced by Live Nation. The tour launches in June 2026 and will see her return to marquee venues, including Madison Square Garden in New York City and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.
Tickets are currently on sale at https://www.meghan-trainor.com/
After three years of hiatus, Harry Styles has returned with a bang. The British pop superstar has officially released his fourth studio album, KISS ALL THE TIME. DISCO, OCCASIONALLY. — a 12-track record that marks his first music release since Harry's House, the 2022 album that won Album of the Year at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
Written entirely by Styles himself and executive produced by longtime collaborator Kid Harpoon, the new album arrives with a lead single already sitting at the top of the charts. "Aperture" claimed the number one spot, setting the tone for what is shaping up to be one of the biggest musical comebacks in recent memory.
Pop-up shops in 16 cities
Beyond the music, Styles has turned the album launch into a full cultural moment. In partnership with American Express, he has opened KISS ALL THE TIME. DISCO, OCCASIONALLY. pop-up shops in 16 cities across the globe: Amsterdam, Atlanta, Berlin, Chicago, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Paris, Phoenix, Rome, Seattle, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto.
Each location offers fans a chance to celebrate the album together through special activations and exclusive merchandise designs — a physical extension of the music that bridges art, fashion, and community in the way only Styles knows how.
Saturday Night Live and a world tour
The celebrations do not stop there. On March 14, Styles returned to NBC's Saturday Night Live as both host and musical guest — his second time taking on the dual role on the iconic late-night stage.
Looking further ahead, Styles is also set to make a long-awaited return to the global touring circuit. Promoted by Live Nation, his 2026 residency tour, Together, Together, will span seven cities and feature an extraordinary 67 stops across Amsterdam, London, São Paulo, Mexico City, New York, Melbourne, and Sydney from May through December.
Among the tour's most notable highlights: 30 consecutive shows at New York's Madison Square Garden and a six-night run at London's Wembley Stadium. A star-studded lineup of special guests will join him across select dates, including Robyn, Shania Twain, Fcukers, Jorja Smith, Jamie xx, Fousheé, and Skye Newman.
Full tour dates and additional details are available at hstyles.co.uk/tour.
Full Tracklist: KISS ALL THE TIME. DISCO, OCCASIONALLY
Carla's SongMusic and Lyrics: Harry Styles and Kid Harpoon | Produced by: Kid Harpoon
House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos, along with House Speaker and Isabela 6th District Representative Faustino "Bojie" Dy III, filed another measure that would grant President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emergency powers to suspend excise taxes on petroleum products amid the Middle East crisis.
The House Committee on Ways and Means held deliberations on the matter today, March 10, to discuss proposed legislation that would authorize the President to suspend or reduce taxes imposed on petroleum products during the ongoing crisis.
The measure, House Bill No. 8292, seeks to amend the National Internal Revenue Code to grant the President upon the recommendation of the Finance Secretary and in coordination with the Energy Secretary, the authority to temporarily suspend or reduce petroleum taxes when extraordinary circumstances drive a spike in global oil prices.
A similar bill was also filed by House Ways and Means Chairperson and Marikina 2nd District Representative Miro Quimbo, who is targeting passage of the measure this week so it can be submitted for plenary approval next week before the congressional break.
"We are hoping that Malacañang will certify this as urgent so that by next week we can finish it. Even by Monday, we can have the bill approved on third reading, because once it is certified urgent, we no longer need separate days to take up the bill," Quimbo said.
[“Umaasa tayo sa sinabi na rin ng malacanang na i-certify na nila ito as urgent para by next week ay matatapos natin ito. Even by Monday, kaya natin mapa-approve yung bill on third reading, kasi pag na-certify na urgent, hindi na natin kailangang magkaroon ng hiwa-hiwalay pang-araw para matake-up ang isang bill.”]
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said oil companies have committed to a gradual increase of between 17 and 24 pesos per liter on petroleum products starting today.
Should Congress grant the President the power to suspend excise taxes on petroleum products, consumers could see reductions of up to six pesos per liter on diesel and ten pesos per liter on gasoline, though the measure would also result in lower government revenues.
"It can be suspended one month, two months, six months — it depends on the wisdom of the committee. But it could be a limited authority on the president. Six pesos is a substantial decrease," Sec. Garin said.
[“But it can be suspended one month, two months, six months, depends on the wisdom of the committee. But it could be a limited authority on the president, mr. chair. This could help. Six pesos is a substantial decrease.”]
Quimbo expressed confidence in the measure but stressed the need for safeguards to ensure that the savings are passed on to consumers rather than absorbed by retailers and oil companies.
"Our expectation is that once this is passed and the president suspends the tax, there will immediately be a ten-peso decrease that same week. But I am concerned that it might not happen that way. If the president exercises his power, he would want the people to benefit. We need a mechanism from the executive and the various departments to ensure that the suspension benefits the public, not the retailers and oil companies," Quimbo said.
[“Ang expectation natin pag ipinasa natin ito at sinuspend ng presidente nga is automatically, magkakaroon kaagad in that same week ng pagbaba ng 10 piso. Pero natatakot ako na baka hindi. If the president will exercise his power, siyempre gusto ng pangulo, makinabang ang taumbayan. Kailangan ng mekanismo ng executive, ng iba’t ibang departments na masiguro na ang pag-suspend na ito, ang makikinabang ay ang taumbayan, hindi ang mga retailers at oil companies.”]
Separately, House Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Representative Jay-Jay Suarez filed House Resolution No. 852, seeking a congressional investigation into the recent oil price hikes, the basis for pump price adjustments, and whether government agencies are providing adequate consumer protection.
