Good morning.

Markets are getting shaky, and the signals are getting louder. The peso just hit a record low, earnings look okay but not strong, and regulators are stepping in with billion-peso tax cases. Here’s what’s moving money, business, and risk right now before end of the week.

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Stay Sharp.

Big picture: The Bureau of Internal Revenue seized 19 vehicles tied to contractors Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya as part of a tax probe involving over ₱7.18 billion in alleged liabilities. The move comes as the government ramps up enforcement against high-value tax cases.

What happened:

Context: The case dates back to 2025, when criminal complaints were filed. Authorities say the move follows due process and aims to secure assets while collection efforts continue.

The Philippine peso closed at a record low of 61.567 per dollar as safe-haven demand surged amid Middle East tensions, according to the Bankers Association of the Philippines. Rising oil prices above $110 and weaker regional currencies add pressure on imports, inflation, and business costs.

9.2M Filipino Families Still Feel Poor, Weak Demand Risk Builds

About 9.2 million Filipino households, or 35 percent, still see themselves as poor in early 2026, according to OCTA Research. The flat trend signals weak consumer demand, rising hunger, and growing risk for businesses as inflation and higher costs threaten spending and economic growth.

A regional heat wave and energy-saving policies are making offices hotter across Southeast Asia as governments cut power use amid Middle East supply risks. Higher fuel prices and El Niño threats raise costs, disrupt productivity, and risk slower growth as businesses and workers adjust to tighter energy conditions.

GCash CISO Miguel Geronilla joined the advisory group of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group to boost cybersecurity coordination. The move strengthens public-private efforts as online scams grow, aiming to improve fraud response, protect users, and secure the country’s rapidly expanding digital payments ecosystem.

The New York Times Magazine interviews Taylor Swift in Los Angeles about songwriting, revealing her creative process, storytelling, and how fame shapes hits, including her signature emotional “rant bridge” style. (Read more)

58th and Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah will screen at Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026, marking a major global showcase of Filipino storytelling and creative talent. (Read More)

JB Bahio hits late jumper to lift NLEX past Rain or Shine 92-90 in the PBA Commissioner's Cup, completing a 14-point comeback behind Robert Bolick’s 30-point game. (Read more)

Big picture: FY25 PSEi earnings grew 8.3%, with results mostly in line: 12 beat, 10 met, 2 missed expectations. But that “steady” picture hides a narrow recovery.

What’s driving it:

What’s dragging:

Reality check: Gains came mostly from cost control and price pass-through, not demand. Analysts say this is stabilization, not a full recovery, with growth still concentrated in a few sectors.

In collaboration with AB Capital Securities. This section is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Please conduct your own research or consult a licensed professional before making investment decisions.

Archaeologists in Italy used artificial intelligence to reconstruct a Pompeii victim’s face, based on remains found near a gate, capturing his final moments during Mount Vesuvius’ AD 79 eruption. (Read more)

Researchers used brain computer interface implants and AI to let monkeys control avatars in virtual reality with thoughts, showing potential for paralysis patients to operate devices and explore digital environments. (Read more)

An experimental cafe in Stockholm is managed by AI chatbot Mona, handling hiring, menu, and operations, as researchers test how artificial intelligence could shape future workplaces and human employment. (Read more)

Artist Beeple unveiled robot dogs with faces of tech figures in a Berlin museum, using AI-generated outputs to show how algorithms shape perception and influence how people view the world today. (Read more)

Philippine Researchers Secure Patent for New Antibiotic Discovery

Scientists from University of San Agustin secured a Philippine patent for a new antibiotic from Streptomyces griseorubens, offering potential treatment against drug resistant infections and advancing global health research efforts.

Global tropical forest loss fell 36 percent in 2025 to 4.3 million hectares, driven by Brazil’s policies, though deforestation remains high and climate change continues to threaten forests worldwide.

Experimental Drug Shows Promise for Stiff Person Syndrome

An experimental cell therapy improved mobility and reduced symptoms in patients with stiff person syndrome during a clinical trial, offering hope for the first effective treatment for the rare autoimmune disorder.

Milky Way’s Edge Found Closer Than Expected

Astronomers identified the Milky Way’s star-forming boundary about 35,000 to 40,000 light-years from its center, showing stars beyond this edge mostly drift outward, redefining where the galaxy’s active growth ends.

🚌 Department of Transportation says service contracting moved 4.4M passengers, while subsidies, fare discounts, and toll rebates support commuters and PUV operators nationwide. (Read more)

🎓 Ateneo de Manila University tops Philippine schools in Times Higher Education 2026 Asia rankings, placing in 501-600 bracket among Asian universities. (Read more)

💉 Philippine Health Insurance Corporation urged to expand coverage to free vaccines, as experts push preventive care to cut long-term health costs and boost low adult immunization rates. (Read more)

⚖️ Sara Duterte and her husband face a BIR tax audit covering nine firms, with ₱6.7B in flagged transactions cited as basis for investigation. (Read more)

🚔 Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office reported a man was arrested in Mandaluyong after trying to claim a ₱172-million jackpot using a fake lottery ticket. (Read more)

Sri Lankan authorities arrested 22 Buddhist monks at Colombo airport for allegedly carrying over 110 kilos of cannabis from Thailand, marking the terminal’s largest drug seizure and raising concerns over trafficking networks.

Europe recorded dangerously high temperatures in 2025, with widespread heatwaves, wildfires, and massive ice loss in Greenland, highlighting accelerating climate change impacts on ecosystems, economies, and daily life.

Anant Ambani offered to relocate Pablo Escobar’s invasive hippos from Colombia to his private zoo in India, as authorities plan to cull the growing herd threatening ecosystems and local communities.

📝 Ariana Grande Announces New Album “Petal” Set for July Release. (Watch here)

📝 Intramuros Launches Traditional Filipino Attire Rental Program for Visiting Tourists. (Watch here)

📝 Misspelled “Kumusta” on Aussie school stairs draws laughs from Pinoys. (Watch here)

📝Japanese cleaner goes viral for spa-style plushie care. (Read more)