Semaglutide has become one of the biggest success stories in obesity treatment, helping many patients lose 15 percent to 20 percent of their body weight. But new research suggests the celebrated weight-loss drug may come with an overlooked trade-off, at least in mice, by temporarily weakening bones even more than dieting alone.
The European Union (EU) is taking part in the Philippine Space Week for the third consecutive year, with the 2026 edition set to run from 8 to 14 August under the theme “Navigating Tomorrow”. The EU and the Philippines maintain a strong partnership through the Global Gateway initiative, with a key focus on applying knowledge and technology from Copernicus, the Earth Observation arm of the EU’s space programme. The partnership has already established the first Copernicus Data Centre in Southeast Asia in the Philippines, which is now growing into a regional hub.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has expanded the list of value-added tax (VAT)-exempt medicines to 2,277 products, broadening tax relief for patients with chronic and life-threatening illnesses as the government seeks to make essential healthcare more affordable.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has warned consumers against purchasing FLAVA, also marketed as XFLAVA, vape products, saying the items were smuggled into the country and are not authorized for sale or distribution in the Philippines.