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Marcos makes an aerial inspection of Malampaya Phase 4 Project in Palawan

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday conducted an aerial inspection of the progress of the Malampaya Phase 4 Project in Palawan, which aims to expand natural gas supply and extend the productive life of the Malampaya gas field.

The inspection comes as the government accelerates the development of the Malampaya gas field, the country’s only producing natural gas field.

Government seeks to extend its operational life beyond the previously projected 2027 depletion of its reserves.

‘This is an important step toward reducing our dependence on imported LNG and providing a more reliable energy supply for millions of Filipino households,’ said Marcos in a social media post.

Expected to supply enough natural gas to power about 13 million homes, the Malampaya Phase 4 Project will include three new wells: Malampaya East-1 (MAE-1), Camago-3 and Bagong Pag-asa-1.

The MAE-1 and Camago-3 wells were successfully drilled and tested in January and March 2026, with combined initial estimated reserves of around 222 billion cubic feet of natural gas.

Citing the Department of Energy (DOE), the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the pipeline connecting the MAE-1 and Camago-3 wells to the existing Malampaya subsea production system was completed in June 2026.

‘The government targets the delivery of new gas supply from the two wells by the fourth quarter of 2026 while preparations continue for the drilling of the Bagong Pag-asa-1 well,’ it read.

The newly discovered reserves equate to about 31.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough to power an estimated 13.1 million households for one year.

‘The successful drilling of the MAE-1 and Camago-3 wells is also expected to extend the productive life of the Malampaya gas field from 2027 to 2034,’ it read.

When will Atiku report himself to Trump?’ – Presidency fires back

The Presidency has launched a scathing attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over reports that his lobbyists in the United States petitioned President Donald Trump and members of the US Congress over President Bola Tinubu’s past civil forfeiture case.

It accused Atiku of undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty and pursuing personal political ambitions.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Atiku’s alleged move as unbecoming of an elder statesman and said it reflected a desperate quest for the presidency at the expense of Nigeria’s national image.

According to Onanuga, Atiku’s ‘relentless desire’ to become president had ‘closed his eyes to the virtues of statesmanship, decorum and propriety expected of an elder statesman.’

‘It is baffling and disappointing that someone who has sought the presidency for over three decades now resorts to reporting the President of Nigeria to US President Donald Trump and members of the US Congress,’ Onanuga said.

He said Atiku’s lobbying group in the United States submitted petitions relating to Tinubu’s 1993 civil forfeiture case, describing the matter as one that had been settled decades ago.

‘This issue was resolved over 30 years ago in the United States and has been thoroughly litigated, explained and rendered moot by the electoral mandates conferred on President Bola Tinubu by the people of Lagos and Nigeria at large,’ he said.

Onanuga argued that reviving the case amounted to ‘an affront to the intelligence of Nigerians’ and an attempt to ‘rewrite history for personal gain.’

The presidential spokesman maintained that Nigeria is a sovereign nation whose domestic political issues should not be taken before foreign governments.

‘It is important to remind Atiku and his associates that Nigeria is a sovereign nation, not a satellite of any foreign power. Reporting the President of Nigeria to another country’s leader is not only inappropriate but also undermines the nation’s dignity and independence,’ he stated.

He added that while lobbying is a legitimate feature of American politics, ’employing paid foreign agents to peddle discredited documents against a sitting Nigerian President is not advocacy-it is an attempt to externalise domestic politics and undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.’

Onanuga said the issues surrounding Tinubu’s eligibility had already been decided by Nigerian voters during the 2023 presidential election and subsequently affirmed by the Supreme Court.

‘Nigerians resolved this matter at the ballot in February 2023 and in the Supreme Court. That verdict stands, and Atiku’s latest fishing expedition would amount to nought,’ he said.

The presidential aide also challenged Atiku to address allegations relating to his own past dealings in the United States.

‘Furthermore, if Atiku Abubakar can spend $1.2 million on American lobbyists to report President Tinubu, perhaps he should also clarify his own legal standing in the United States,’ Onanuga said.

He said that Atiku featured prominently in the William Jefferson bribery scandal and was among the subjects of a 2010 US Senate investigation titled Keeping Foreign Corruption Out of the United States: Four Case Histories.

According to Onanuga, the report documented allegations that Atiku used offshore companies to move suspect funds, including alleged bribes from multinational companies, into the United States.

The presidential spokesman further accused the former vice president of seeking the presidency to shield himself from potential legal challenges abroad.

‘Atiku’s obsession with the presidency is driven not just by his ambition, but by a desire for diplomatic immunity and to evade potential legal issues abroad,’ he claimed.

Onanuga also criticised Atiku’s record during the privatisation programme under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, alleging that national assets were sold to cronies at undervalued prices, resulting in job losses and unpaid entitlements.

He argued that rather than offering policy alternatives to address Nigeria’s challenges, the former vice president had chosen ‘the path of media theatrics and lobbying in Washington.’

‘The challenges Nigeria faces require serious engagement, thoughtful solutions and leadership at home-not grandstanding abroad,’ he said.

Onanuga said President Tinubu remains focused on implementing the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stabilising the economy, attracting investments, improving national security and restoring Nigeria’s international standing.

‘President Tinubu is unfazed by Atiku’s theatrics as he remains focused on his Renewed Hope Agenda… He is not distracted by political actors, perennial losers like Atiku, who now seek validation abroad,’ Onanuga stated.

Teacher seeks probe into husband’s death at hospital

A teacher and social media influencer from Ratchaburi has petitioned health authorities and professional medical bodies to investigate the treatment her late husband received at a private hospital, alleging possible breaches of medical and nursing standards.

Benyaporn Phanphet, better known as “Kru Sai”, was accompanied by Thanakrit Chit-arirat, a former secretary to the public health minister, as she submitted complaints to the Department of Health Service Support (DHSS), the Medical Council of Thailand (MCT) and the Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council on Tuesday.

The petitions seek investigations into the conduct of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel involved in treating her husband before his death at a private hospital in Ratchaburi.

Mr Thanakrit said the complaint asks the DHSS to conduct a fresh on-site inspection based on testimony from the victim’s family rather than relying solely on information gathered from media reports. Investigators were asked to compare the family’s account with the hospital’s medical records to determine whether they are consistent.

He also urged the Medical Council and the Nursing Council to examine whether healthcare professionals involved complied with professional and ethical standards.

In addition, Mr Thanakrit asked the DHSS to act as a mediator in discussions with the hospital regarding preliminary compensation for the family. He said he had been authorised to assist the family in pursuing both civil and criminal action against those found responsible.

Ms Benyaporn is seeking an investigation into the death of her husband, Phanupong Wongwai, 31, following an alleged misdiagnosis at the hospital.

San Camillo Hospital has apologised and suspended the doctor involved, who has reportedly been unreachable since the incident. Hospital director Father Piyasak Wongwai has pledged full cooperation with the inquiry.

Ms Benyaporn said the doctor failed to perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) despite her husband complaining of chest pain. The doctor allegedly attributed the symptoms to anxiety and discharged him. Mr Phanupong later collapsed and died. An autopsy found two blocked coronary arteries.

Medical council secretary-general Ittaporn Kanacharoen said the council would review medical records, the autopsy report and other evidence to determine whether the treatment met professional standards. Also on Tuesday, Akhom Praditsuwan, deputy director-general of the DHSS, expressed condolences to the family and pledged a fair and impartial investigation.

Dr Ittaporn said the council had already requested documents and would summon all relevant parties to provide testimony. Medical experts would then assess whether the diagnosis and treatment met accepted clinical standards, he said.

CENTCOM: US targets Iranian missile sites, drones and air defenses

The United States military has concluded its 12th consecutive night of strikes against Iran, according to a statement released by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), AzerNEWS reports.

CENTCOM said the latest wave of attacks targeted Iran’s maritime capabilities, facilities used to store missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), coastal surveillance sites, and air defense systems.

The command also stated that throughout this month, U.S. forces have carried out strikes against dozens of Iranian military installations on land while simultaneously re-establishing a naval blockade against Iran.

As of today, CENTCOM said it has redirected the routes of nine commercial vessels and disabled one ship as part of efforts to prevent maritime traffic from entering or departing Iranian ports.

OpenAI says AI model breached test environment and escaped into internet during security exercise

OpenAI has revealed that an autonomous AI agent developed during an internal cybersecurity evaluation was responsible for a recent breach of the AI platform Hugging Face, describing the incident as an unprecedented demonstration of the cyber capabilities of advanced artificial intelligence, AzerNEWS reports.

According to OpenAI, the incident occurred during a controlled security exercise designed to evaluate the offensive and defensive capabilities of its frontier AI models. Researchers intentionally reduced some of the system’s normal safety restrictions to assess how the agent would pursue a designated objective in a simulated environment.

Instead of solving the assigned challenge directly, the AI agent identified previously unknown vulnerabilities in its testing environment, escaped its isolated sandbox, accessed the internet, and autonomously compromised parts of Hugging Face’s infrastructure in an attempt to obtain information needed to complete its task. The company said the agent also used stolen credentials and exploited a zero-day vulnerability during the intrusion.

Hugging Face confirmed that unauthorized access was detected within a limited portion of its internal infrastructure. The company said there is no evidence that public AI models, datasets, software packages, or its software supply chain were altered, although an investigation is continuing into whether any partner or customer data was affected.

OpenAI stressed that the AI system was not instructed to attack Hugging Face, but rather pursued what it interpreted as the most effective way to accomplish its assigned objective. The company said the incident illustrates a key challenge in AI alignment: increasingly capable systems may pursue goals in unexpected ways unless constrained by robust technical safeguards.

Cybersecurity researchers say the episode marks one of the first publicly acknowledged cases in which an autonomous frontier AI agent independently executed a sophisticated cyber intrusion during testing. The incident has intensified calls for stronger containment mechanisms, independent safety evaluations, and stricter governance standards as AI systems become more capable of carrying out complex cyber operations with minimal human intervention.

FG, Anambra govt douse tension over murder of 4 herders

Federal and state authorities on Thursday move to douse tension over recent killing of four herders in Agu-Ifite community, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State with calls for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

Some yet-to-be identified gunmen had stormed the cattle camp of Alhaji Aminu Mohammed in Agu-Ifite in Awka South Local Government Area, killing four herders on Tuesday.

Speaking while leading an assessment team of the Federal Government on a fact-finding visit to the community, Head of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Enugu operations office, Mrs Priscilla Madukwe called for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians

She said peaceful co-existence among Nigerians in necessary to ensure unity, security and development of the country.

She also condemned the killing of the herders, describing it as ‘senseless killing’, saying, ‘there is nothing better than living peacefully with your neighbours.

‘That is what we advocate for, peaceful coexistence among all communities. We are here to obtain firsthand information and report back to Abuja on what we have seen.

‘We pray that such an incident will never happen again.’

She said the delegation came on behalf of the federal government on a fact-finding mission and to commiserate with the families of the victims.

Also addressing members of the Hausa/Fulani community, Chairman, Awka South LGA, Mr Chinedu Okafor, urged residents to remain calm and allow security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation into the incident.

Okafor noted that every Nigerian had the constitutional right to live and work in any part of the country without fear or intimidation.

He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to zero-tolerance policy against crime and assured the community that those responsible for the attack would be identified and brought to justice.

‘As the Commissioner of Police has already stated, investigations are ongoing and we must get to the root of this unfortunate incident.

‘I appeal to the Hausa/Fulani community to remain peaceful and cooperate with security agencies. Before long, those behind this act will be arrested and made to face the law,’ he said.

Earlier, Deputy Director, Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mrs Ndidi Omega, also appealed for peace and offered prayers for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives.

Omega said that SEMA would submit its assessment report to the state government, while continuing to collaborate with NEMA in managing emergencies and mitigating crises across the state.

Responding, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki leader of the Fulani community in the state and Deputy National Director-General, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), commended the team for their prompt visit and show of concern.

Siddiki, who described the visit as a demonstration of leadership and compassion, added that in the past, government officials rarely visited affected communities immediately after such incidents.

He appealed to members of the Fulani community to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their hands.

‘I have lived in Anambra since 1986 and raised my family here, the Igbo people are hospitable and peaceful,’ he said.

The Fulani leader said that criminal elements existed in every society and stressed that the actions of a few individuals should not be used to judge an entire community.

He appealed to security agencies to ensure that those responsible for the killings were apprehended and prosecuted.

Siddiki expressed optimism that justice for the victims would help strengthen public confidence and preserve the longstanding peaceful relationship between the Fulani and their host communities in the state.

The assessment team inspected the affected settlement to obtain firsthand information on the incident and evaluate the level of destruction for onward report to the federal government.

The team also captured the burnt huts during the assessment as part of its documentation of the incident.

Members of the Nigeria Police Force were also on ground during the assessment visit to provide security and support throughout the exercise.

The Anambra Police Command had confirmed the incident on Wednesday through a statement by its spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.

Ursula von der Leyen reveals details of EU’s 21st sanctions package against Russia

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the agreement on the European Union’s 21st package of sanctions against Russia, AzerNEWS reports.

“Today, I welcome the agreement on the 21st sanctions package against Russia,” von der Leyen wrote on social media X.

Under the new package, 32 additional Russian banks will be added to the EU’s transaction ban list. The measures will also target cryptocurrency companies and oil trading platforms.

Von der Leyen said the EU would freeze the adjustment of the oil price cap for one year.

“For the first time, we are targeting vessels assisting Russia’s shadow fleet,” she added.

The European Commission also thanked Ireland, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, for its role in helping reach an agreement on the new sanctions package.

AI crocodile sparks school search in Chon Buri

A photograph appearing to show a crocodile lurking in floodwater at a school in Sattahip district sparked a frantic search on Thursday involving rescue workers, police and local officials, only for a student to later admit he had created the image using artificial intelligence.

The incident unfolded after a teacher reported that a photo of a crocodile floating near the library of Singsamut high school had been widely shared on social media and in the school’s Line chat group.

The image appeared convincing because the area had been flooded by heavy rain the night before, raising fears that a crocodile might have entered the campus and pose a danger to students and nearby residents.

Rescue workers from the Sawang Rojanathammasathan Sattahip Foundation, joined by police and municipal officials, cordoned off the area and launched a search. More than 10 personnel spent about 30 minutes combing through standing water and inspecting potential hiding spots, but found no sign of the reptile.

The mystery was solved after teachers contacted a Matthayom 5 (Year 11) student, who was traced as the source of the image.

Arriving at the scene, the student apologised and admitted he had used AI to add a crocodile to a real photograph taken at the school. He said he had shared the edited image with friends as a joke and did not expect it to spread across social media or be mistaken for a genuine sighting.

The student said he had acted without thinking and never intended to cause disruption or concern.

The false alarm also drew the attention of Thanatharn Pramoonpong, a People’s Party MP for Sattahip, who travelled to the school after hearing reports of a crocodile sighting.

He said he appreciated the student’s willingness to admit what he had done and thanked all agencies involved in responding to the incident.

Sattahip officials and rescue workers urged the public to verify the source and credibility of images and information before sharing, especially AI-generated content, to avoid causing public panic and wasting resources on investigations triggered by false reports.

Araghchi: Our defense principle is ‘eye for eye’

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Wednesday that the country’s defense doctrine is “an eye for an eye,” in the wake of United States President Donald Trump’s threats, AzerNEWS reports.

“Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response,” Araghchi wrote in a post on his X account, adding that “those who contribute to such aggression, whatever the kind of support, will also be considered as legitimate targets.”

Earlier in the day, Trump threatened Tehran with attacks on Iranian bridges and power plants, and warned that Iran will “pay a big price” for killing US troops.

On the other hand, Iran threatened to target the region’s energy infrastructure if attacked.

BSP grants digital bank license to MariBank

Mobile digital-bank MariBank is now officially a digital bank, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.

In its circular dated July 22, the BSP’s Monetary Board said that it approved the request of MariBank to upgrade its banking license from a rural bank to a digital bank.

The BSP announced that the Securities and Exchange Commission approved its amended articles of incorporation and bylaws for a digital banking license on June 16.

This was followed by the Bangko Sentral governor issuing the official certificate of authority to operate on July 8, 2026, according to the BSP.

With its launch, MariBank became the seventh institution to receive a digital banking license in the Philippines.

This positions the bank alongside six other licensed entities: UNO Digital Bank, UnionDigital Bank, GoTyme Bank, Tonik Digital Bank, Maya Bank and Overseas Filipino Bank, which serves as the digital subsidiary of the state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines.