BARMM Polls: The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao holds its first parliamentary elections Monday with 2.4M voters and 80 seats up for grabs, as groups urge “secure the ballot, don’t intimidate the voter” amid heightened security. Ferry Fire Aftermath: Authorities say identifying victims from the M/V June Aster blaze that killed 76 may take weeks or months, with forensic teams collecting DNA as searches continue. BRICS Diplomacy: President Marcos Jr. marked his birthday in New Delhi, meeting PM Narendra Modi and other leaders to push defense, trade, space, rail, fintech, and disaster-resilience ties; Modi also welcomed Manila’s move to join India-led CDRI. VP Sara Impeachment: In the Senate trial, prosecutors plan to scrutinize Duterte-Carpio-linked transactions, with AMLC expected to present a P6.7B report and SEC records to be used in wealth-related questioning. Local Crime Crackdown: PNP stepped up action vs scammers impersonating government aid offices after elderly victims in Cebu and Aklan were allegedly robbed. Economy & Markets: External debt hit a new record near $155B, while PHL stocks may stay under pressure as oil and war risks weigh on sentiment. Tech & Jobs: The government is reviewing whether to extend zero import duties on EVs beyond 2028, and expects job creation to rebound in the second half. Culture: “Filipiñana” was named the Philippines’ Oscars entry for Best International Feature Film, alongside two other official picks for documentary and live-action short categories.