Good morning. Today’s issue starts with a major Supreme Court reversal involving Imelda Marcos, then moves to the economy, where unemployment has climbed to a four-year high. We also look at the Philippines’ ₱34-billion AI strategy, new National Artists, digital payments, science breakthroughs, and a few stories worth your time.

Stay Sharp.

What happened: The Supreme Court overturned Imelda Marcos’ 2018 graft conviction, acquitting the former first lady on seven counts after ruling that prosecutors failed to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Why: The Court said prosecutors failed to sufficiently establish that the Swiss foundations at the center of the cases qualified as “businesses” under the anti-graft law. It also ruled that key Swiss documents were inadmissible because they had not been properly authenticated.

Zoom out: The Sandiganbayan had sentenced Marcos to six to 11 years for each count, with a potential combined maximum of 77 years. She remained free on bail while appealing.

Worth noting: The ruling did not determine whether the underlying Swiss transactions were legitimate. It focused on whether the prosecution presented admissible and sufficient evidence to support criminal convictions.

The Philippines’ unemployment rate rose to 6.0% in July 2026, the highest since 2022, with 3.14 million Filipinos unemployed as labor force growth outpaced hiring. Metro Manila posted the highest jobless rate at 8.2%. The data underscores mounting pressure to accelerate job creation, investment, and skills development.

PH Unveils ₱34-B AI Strategy

The government is rolling out a ₱34-billion artificial intelligence roadmap to strengthen the country’s competitiveness through AI infrastructure, research, workforce development, and digital innovation. The initiative aims to accelerate AI adoption across industries, improve productivity, attract investments, and position the Philippines as a stronger regional digital economy player.

Fruit Exports Generate ₱290M Sales

Philippine exporters and growers secured ₱290 million in sales and business leads during a tropical fruit trade exhibition in Hong Kong. The event showcased bananas, mangoes, pineapples, and other premium produce, helping expand overseas market opportunities while boosting export revenues and supporting Filipino farmers and agribusiness exporters.

GCash Launches Digital Change Feature

GCash introduced GSukli, allowing participating merchants to send customers’ loose change directly to their GCash wallets instead of giving coins. The feature promotes cashless transactions, reduces reliance on physical change, and enhances payment convenience while encouraging wider digital wallet adoption among Filipino consumers and businesses.

Philippines named 10 new National Artists, recognizing excellence across literature, visual arts, architecture, dance, design, film, theater, and music for shaping the country's culture and artistic heritage. (Read more)

Asian Games Stay on Track Despite Floods

Severe flooding hit Nagoya, but organizers confirmed all athletes are safe and competition venues remain operational. The 2026 Asian Games will proceed as scheduled despite temporary evacuations and disruptions. (Read More)

Jollibee Teams Up With DreamWorks

Jollibee launched its first global collaboration with DreamWorks Animation for Forgotten Island, celebrating friendship through themed meal bundles and limited-edition collectibles ahead of the film's September 25 release. (Read More)

UN rights chief Volker Turk warned that advanced AI could threaten humanity, urging governments and technology companies to strengthen safeguards before powerful systems create serious risks to society. (Read More)

Meta to Study PH National ID Integration

Meta will send a technical team to the Philippines to study integrating the national ID system into its platforms for age verification and age-appropriate content. (Read More)

OpenAI Claims AI Solved 90-year-old Maths Problem

OpenAI says its AI model solved parts of the 90-year-old Navier-Stokes problem in 88 hours using 10,000 AI agents, though mathematicians have yet to independently verify the solution. (Read More)

Humanoid Robot Unveiled to Automate Crop Pollination

China has unveiled GEAIR 2.0, a humanoid robot that uses AI to identify flowers and autonomously perform hybrid pollination, helping automate labor-intensive crop breeding tasks. (Read More)

Woman in Tarlac Finds Corn With Widely Spaced Kernels

A Tarlac woman was surprised after harvesting corn with widely spaced kernels. A botanist explained that incomplete pollination may have prevented some kernels from developing properly.

MIT Scientists Develop Injectable “Mini Livers”

MIT scientists developed injectable “mini livers” that survived for months in mice, offering a potential less-invasive approach to support failing livers using liver cells and hydrogel spheres.

Worsening Depression May Signal Early Alzheimer’s Changes

A study found that worsening depression in cognitively healthy older adults was linked to faster tau buildup, suggesting mood changes may appear before Alzheimer’s-related memory and thinking problems.

AI Model Decodes How Cells Communicate

Researchers developed IRIS, an AI model that identifies signaling pathways guiding cell development, potentially improving stem cell research, organoid creation, disease studies, and regenerative medicine.

Psilocybin Prevents Chemotherapy-Induced Nerve Damage in Mice

Researchers found that two doses of psilocybin before chemotherapy prevented neuropathy in mice, preserving nerve function without reducing chemotherapy’s ability to shrink tumors.

🇵🇭 China urged the Philippines to stop “grandstanding” and “stirring up trouble” amid renewed tensions over the South China Sea. (Read more)

🏛️ The House approved a bill allowing qualified former non-career government employees to continue voluntary GSIS contributions for future retirement benefits. (Read more)

🛟 An off-duty Philippine Coast Guard member jumped into the sea and rescued a distressed fisherman off Antique’s coastline during rough conditions. (Read more)

🍎 Speaker Faustino Dy III praised Filipino teachers, saying improved 2025 PISA scores reflect their dedication despite longstanding challenges in education. (Read more)

Russia and North Korea opened their first road bridge across the Tumen River, strengthening ties and raising concerns it could support military logistics between the countries.

Medicine Shortages Worsen in Iran Amid US Sanctions

Iran faces shortages of about 800 medicines, including essential drugs, as sanctions and economic pressures drive prices higher and make treatment increasingly difficult for many residents.

Missouri Foster Mom Avoids Prison in Teen-for-Monkey Case

A Missouri judge suspended Brenda Deutsch’s seven-year prison sentence after condemning her conduct and the foster care system, placing her on three years of probation.

📝 Pinay manager allegedly calls out Canadian customer for ‘rude’ treatment of staff. (Watch here)

📝 Bride mistakenly attends the wrong reception and gets confused by the food. (Watch here)

📝 ‘3 Idiots’ sequel officially in development, iconic trio set for big screen return. (Read more)

📝 Cat’s GoPro exposes its secret life as the neighborhood’s four-legged bully. (Watch here)