Philippines

Australia considers banning the use of smart glasses in government buildings

SYDNEY - Australia is considering barring the use of camera-equipped smart glasses in government workplaces due to privacy and security concerns, in what it said could be the first ban of its kind.

23 days ago

finance

Fintech News PH

48% of Filipinos Can’t Easily Raise Emergency Funds, BSP Says

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), supported by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health (UNSGSA), have launched the ASEAN Financial Health Challenge, as only three in ten Filipino adults say their sa…

24 days ago

Affluent Card Spending in the Philippines Jumped 49% in Six Months

Visa has expanded its Visa Infinite card lineup in the Philippines, adding two new tiers aimed at the country’s growing affluent segment, BusinessWorld told. Spending on affluent cards in the Philippines rose 49% over a six-month period as of April 2026, Visa said, citing intern…

Online Casinos Disguised as Salons Prompt BSP Payment Crackdown

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has found online casinos posing as beauty salons, bakeries and other ordinary businesses to process bets through payment platforms, according to Bloomberg. BSP has since closed more than 8,000 merchant accounts over alleged illegal activitie…

SEC Issues Cease and Desist Order Against AI Quest Trading over Unregistered Investment Scheme

The Philippine SEC orders AI Quest Trading to shut down its unauthorized investment scheme offering up to 150% monthly returns.

techPHBitPinas

DOST Builds Homegrown AI ‘Itanong’ as Senate Flags Cultural Risks in Foreign Models

The Philippine Department of Science and Technology is building a local AI chatbot named Itanong to defend local language norms and protect sovereign data against foreign model bias.

EXPLAINER: Can we shut down AI?

The debate over potential dangers posed by artificial intelligence has resurged in recent weeks, with researchers once again warning the technology could end humanity, and leaders of AI companies suggesting development needed to be slowed.

LOOK: First new cat species to be discovered in over a century found in Bolivia

A small wild cat in Bolivia's cloud forest has been identified as a previously unknown species, the first time a new living cat species has been formally named and described in over a century.

EU Commission proposes under-13s social media ban

STRASBOURG, France - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen set out a sweeping plan to keep children safe from online dangers on Thursday, proposing to ban under-13s from social media and require online services to design safe children's accounts.

Tooth study shows T. rex was warm-blooded, with human-like temperature

WASHINGTON - Using chemical clues in Tyrannosaurus rex teeth, scientists have shown that this massive predator was warm-blooded -- with a body temperature close to that of a person -- in a finding they said should prompt a fundamental change in the perception of the celebrity di…

Satellite data shows major ice losses for Greenland and Antarctica

New research based on satellite data going back to the 1970s has documented major polar ice losses in Greenland and Antarctica -- home to Earth's two great ice sheets -- that have contributed to rising global sea levels.

Metrobank’s Anthony Yap Set to Lead Institutional Banking in 2027

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank) has appointed Anthony Paul C. Yap as Head of the Institutional Banking Sector, effective January 1, 2027, according to Asian Banking & Finance. He has served as Deputy Sector Head of the Institutional Banking Sector since July 1, sup…

Billease Deals Now Shows What You Can Afford, Before Checkout

Billease has launched Billease Deals on the web at deals.billease.ph, extending its in-app shopping feature to any mobile browser. Deals previously ran only inside the Billease app. It launched in 2025 focused on mobile phones, before expanding into a wider range of electronics…

Standard Chartered Is Eyeing Financing Opportunities in Clark

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Standard Chartered Bank Philippines to jointly study investment and urban development opportunities in the Clark Freeport Zone and New Clark City, according to BusinessWorld. The…

financePHBitPinas

House Defers DICT Budget, Calls Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to Congress Safety Hearing

Philippine lawmakers freeze the DICT budget and summon Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to address platform safety and child exploitation risks.

Spanish scientists find first evidence of Diplodocus dinosaur in Europe

Spanish paleontologists say they have found the first evidence that Diplodocus, the iconic long-necked dinosaur, once roamed Europe, according to research published on Tuesday in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Study shows marvels of the Roman Empire's road network

Augustus, ancient Rome's first emperor, placed a gilded monument called the Milliarium Aureum, or Golden Milestone, in the Roman Forum in 20 BC to mark the symbolic starting point for all roads in the sprawling empire. These roads indeed were the backbone of the world's first co…

UN chief sounds alarm on AI risk after Trump plays it down

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned world leaders that rapidly advancing artificial intelligence poses risks that cannot be ignored, putting him at odds with Trump.

Scientists transplant lab-grown human brain tissue into mice

Scientists have transplanted laboratory-grown human brain tissue into bioengineered mice in what they call an important advance that may speed research into the mechanisms of disorders.

web3PHThe Blockverse

The Bitcoin Rainbow Chart Explained: What It Shows, Why People Use It, And What It Gets Wrong

Somewhere on the Bitcoin Rainbow Chart sits a band the original creator labeled Bitcoin is dead. As of late June 2026, the price fell into that zone for only the second time in the chart’s history, dropping to around $62,500. So this is a strange moment to write a calm explainer…

EXPLAINER: What is a monsoon break?

Following the continuous Southwest Monsoon rains that lasted for most of August, the Philippines is now experiencing a monsoon break, according to state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

We Tried GStocks PH: How to Buy PSE Stocks and Public Offerings via GCash

A hands-on review of GStocks PH in GCash, showing how retail investors can buy PSE stocks and subscribe to public share offerings with zero deposit fees and instant account setup.

EXPLAINER: What are NDCs and why are they so important in fighting climate change?

The Philippines has finally updated its NDC, recommitting a total of 75% of emissions reduction as it increases its unconditional commitment to 7%

U.S. Senate Rejects Crypto Clarity Act: What the Failed 49-50 Vote Means for Digital Assets

The U.S. Senate rejected the Clarity Act in a 49-50 vote, pushing digital asset regulation back to federal agencies and triggering a sharp market sell-off.

Cashify Partners with FinScore to Strengthen Digital Lending Through Telco-Based Credit Scoring

SunLoan Lending Investors Corp., the company behind digital lending platform Cashify, has partnered with FinScore to strengthen Cashify’s credit assessment capabilities through alternative credit scoring data. SunLoan is registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Com…

DOST launches forest products innovation center in Isabela

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has launched a Forest Products Innovation and Training Center (FPITC) in partnership with Isabela State University (ISU)-Cabagan Campus to strengthen research, product development and skills training for the forest products sector…

Salted eggs that glowed in the dark puzzle group in Aurora

A group of friends in Baler, Aurora was left puzzled after noticing something unusual about their drinking-session snack: their salted eggs appeared to glow in the dark.

iOS 27: Apple unveils child safety features, new Siri AI

Apple has unveiled several software updates across its operating systems, including new child safety features that give parents more control over the apps and content their children can access.

CoinEx to Shut Down by December 2026: Key Deadlines and Withdrawal Guide

CoinEx will cease operations by December 2026; traders must withdraw funds before December 22 to avoid monthly custody fees.

Astrophysics study suggests Venus may have swallowed its moon

LOS ANGELES - A California-based astrophysicist presented a new theory on Monday to explain why Venus, the planet most like Earth in size, mass and structure, lacks its own moon. Call it a case of celestial cannibalism.