Republic in Southeast Asia, an archipelagic nation in the western Pacific
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has stated she is deeply distressed by allegations that her father, Thomas Markle Sr., possessed child sexual abuse images. The Met Police previously confirmed a 2019 letter containing troubling accusations was shared with Meghan’s office, not with other agencies. Authorities in the Philippines and Britain are reviewing the matter, while Markle Sr. denies the claims.
The Metropolitan Police have voluntary referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over the handling of a 2019 letter alleging concerns about Meghan’s father. The letter, passed to the Sussexes’ office, has prompted questions about whether authorities shared information with overseas agencies as investigations in the Philippines proceed.
Following Lula’s victory, Flavio Bolsonaro has fled Brazil, arriving in Miami via Argentina and Ecuador. Brazil has summoned Argentina’s envoy as investigations into money laundering continue. Bolsonaro claims persecution and asserts he is the legitimate opponent to Lula’s administration, while Milei’s stance remains unsettled as regional ties strain.
Authorities in the Philippines are analyzing a trove of suspected child sexual abuse material found at Thomas Markle Sr.’s Cebu home, with a forensic report due within a week. Markle Sr. denies the accusations as he awaits official findings amid ongoing police inquiries and a separate probe in Mexico and the United States related to past allegations.
Toxic haze from forest and peat fires across Kalimantan has intensified, forcing online schooling in parts of Sumatra and Borneo and prompting international firefighting assistance. Local women’s firefighting groups are monitoring hotspots and engaging communities to curb slash-and-burn practices, amid El Niño-driven drought and mounting cross-border air pollution.
China has stepped up maritime pressure beyond the Taiwan Strait, deploying Coast Guard cutters east of Taiwan at an average of two vessels per month since June, expanding a lifeline with US allies as Japan and the Philippines define their maritime borders.
A BFAR vessel delivering fuel to Filipino fishermen off Palawan has collided with a China Coast Guard ship after dangerous manoeuvres. Manila accuses Beijing of ramming a civilian government vessel on a humanitarian mission; Beijing blames the Philippine side for disregarding warnings. No injuries are reported, but deck damage is evident.
The El Niño weather pattern has intensified, with multiple reports showing record sea-surface temperatures and forecasts of extreme heat. Scientists warn that global impacts will intensify through 2027, affecting temperatures, rainfall, and wildfire risk across regions from the Pacific to Africa and the Americas.
Projections show 451,000 additional heat-related deaths globally between June and February 2027, with Nigeria, Sudan, Niger and Chad bearing the heaviest impact. The Climate Impact Lab says emergency actions now can save tens of thousands of lives as El Niño intensifies.
Japan hosts a delayed, chaotic Asian Games with logistical issues shadowing standout performances. China leads in diving and tennis through young stars like Yu Zidi and Wang Xiyu; Japan and other nations show flashes of talent while organisers face criticism over accommodation and transport.
Israeli carriers have paused Dubai-Tel Aviv flights after UAE authorities revoked landing permissions linked to the flydubai incident. Repatriation efforts by Israeli airlines are disrupted, with thousands of Israelis stranded. Some flights resume with tighter security and baggage controls, while Etihad operates additional routes from Abu Dhabi to support arrivals.
Wildfires across Kalimantan, Sumatra and Borneo have intensified amid El Niño-driven drought. Firefighting efforts face delays, with residents and wildlife suffering as haze drifts to neighboring countries. Legal actions pursue accountability and regional cooperation intensifies.
The ICC has deemed the 81-year-old former president fit to stand trial on charges of murder and attempted murder tied to the anti-drug crackdown. The trial opens on November 30, with Duterte denying the charges and asserting he acted in self-defence. Death-toll estimates in the crackdown range from over 6,000 to as high as 30,000, as prosecutors press for accountability.
The European Parliament has awarded its 2026 Sakharov Prize to the International Criminal Court as the Hague tribunal has faced sweeping US financial sanctions announced in October. The EU and many member states have pledged support; the ICC and UN officials have condemned the US measures, while Israel and the Trump administration have welcomed them.
A whale-trapped climactic sequence has Austin Abrams fighting for breath as he recalls his relationship with his father, while other new releases explore identity, memory and power on stage and screen. The slate includes The Scotsman’s review of Whalefall and Guardian critics on contemporary theatre.
The Philippine impeachment trial has dropped three charges against Vice President Sara Duterte, narrowing the case to one article over alleged unexplained wealth, while witnesses will no longer be called on several matters. Prosecutors say the move speeds the process as Duterte denies any wrongdoing.
A flotilla of Chinese vessels has intensified operations around Taiwan and the Pratas Islands, drawing coastguard responses. Beijing asserts sovereignty over the Pratas and surrounding waters, while Taiwan and its allies reject Beijing’s claims and insist on freedom of navigation. The situation follows a pattern of rising Chinese maritime activity in the region.
Indonesia’s intense forest and peatland fires persist as El Niño drives drought, triggering cross-border haze that harms air quality and public health across Southeast Asia. Regional governments deploy firefighting personnel and aircraft while communities demand accountability and action to stop the cycle of fires and costs.
Leaders are reviewing progress on the Kunming-Montreal framework at COP17 in Yerevan. While many parties have set targets and submitted reports, implementation remains insufficient. Governments are being urged to mobilise finance, strengthen capacity, and ensure fair benefit-sharing as they move toward the 2030 milestone.
Israel has established a dedicated Space Division under its Planning Directorate to oversee space-based military operations, sensors, and space warfare development. The move follows concerns about space as a combat domain and aims to enhance monitoring, defense, and potential attacks from space, with implications for Palestinians and regional security.
Japan and the United States are conducting Keen Sword 27, a biennial exercise involving about 45,000 Japanese troops and 12,000 American service members, plus participants from seven other nations. The drills focus on defending Japan’s southwestern islands and nearby waters amid tensions with China, North Korea, and Russia, with new missiles and systems deployed to Yonaguni and surrounding areas.
Singapore and Indonesia are expanding cross-border efforts to curb forest and peatland fires driving Southeast Asia’s worst haze in years. Governments are forming enforcement task forces while protests, health warnings, and school closures intensify across seven provinces.
Typhoon Champi has battered Taiwan and Japan’s southern islands, killing at least one person, injuring hundreds and causing mass power outages and flight cancellations. Champi has weakened from super-typhoon strength but still carries destructive winds and heavy rains. A separate cyclonic storm, Arnab, has formed in the Bay of Bengal and is moving toward north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha, where authorities have issued heavy-rain and wind alerts.
Attacks attributed to Yemen’s Houthis target Saudi airports and Aramco facilities, killing civilians and injuring dozens. Dammam's King Fahd International Airport and the Shaybah oil field have been hit amid a series of drone and missile strikes. The government says several nationalities are among the dead and wounded.
The International Criminal Court has charged Sen. Ronald dela Rosa as an indirect co-conspirator in crimes linked to Duterte-era drug crackdowns. Authorities are pursuing his surrender after an arrest warrant was disclosed; Duterte faces trial in The Hague.
Elena Rybakina has reached the Ningbo Open final after defeating Leylah Fernandez in straight sets, with Shnaider in the other semifinal. The US Open champion will defend her title in a final set to determine the Ningbo Open champion, as Eala exits in the last 16 and Jovic advances.
China’s fifth plenum has convened about 300 Central Committee members to adopt steps tightening party discipline, expand anti‑corruption oversight and consider reshaping military leadership ahead of next year’s party congress. The session has exposed unusually high vacancies in the committee and will let Xi Jinping replenish and reorder senior ranks before the congress.
The CREA report shows September 2026 deaths from air pollution have surged to 5,310 in Indonesia, with 3,560 deaths tied to toxic smoke from forest and land fires. Nearly 58 million people have inhaled unhealthy air, while urban and industrial emissions contribute further deaths. Jakarta has deployed cloud-seeding, firefighting teams, health workers, and masks in response.