<p><strong>US stock futures dropped and oil prices surged after US forces launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets,</strong> following an earlier attack on US warships that has significantly escalated Middle East tensions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>The United Arab Emirates has reportedly utilized covert shipping tactics to move oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz,</strong> bypassing regional monitoring efforts as global energy supply concerns continue to mount.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>A US trade court has declared President Donald Trump’s 10% global tariffs illegal, </strong>though the ruling issued only a narrow block, leaving questions about the immediate future of US trade policy.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>The Philippine economy experienced a sharp slowdown as gross domestic product (GDP) growth fell to 2.8% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026,</strong> with the decline attributed to a severe global oil price shock.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>The Philippines’ debt-to-GDP ratio climbed to 65.2%</strong> at the end of the first quarter of 2026, its highest level in 21 years, underscoring the growing fiscal pressure on the government.&nbsp;</p>