News about Philippines: events, facts and developments on tafs uz.
19 stories
Meta has released a test app called Waddle World: the user raises a pixel pet that listens to stories about their day, keeps a journal and sends weekly letters. The company emphasizes that this is not a chatbot, and the app is marked 18+. The launch was spotted by consultant Matt Navarra on October 27, 2026.
Aziz KarimovJapan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, during a meeting of ASEAN defense ministers in Cebu, identified three factors contributing to the 'rapid deterioration' of security in the region: increasingly destructive natural disasters disrupting critical infrastructure, global conflicts impacting supply chains and energy supplies, and a rapidly shifting military balance raising the risk of clashes and miscalculations. Tokyo pledged support to ASEAN in enhancing its response and deterrence capabilities, covering areas from disaster relief to maritime security. Koizumi emphasized that these crises overlap and reinforce each other, stressing the importance of ASEAN's unity, centrality, and resilience as a global public good. The meetings in Cebu included the 20th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting and the 13th ADMM-Plus, attended by the US, South Korea, Australia, and India, though China did not send its defense minister this year.
Aziz KarimovScotland Yard confirmed that in January 2019 it received a letter with a number of claims about suspected offences by Meghan Markle's father outside the UK, but passed it to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex without referring it to other law enforcement agencies. Meghan said she was promised an investigation, but a source said none was conducted. The police are reviewing their actions.
Otabek YusupovScotland Yard is establishing whether royal protection passed the Duchess of Sussex a letter in 2018 containing Scotland Yard is investigating whether royal protection passed a letter with “alarming allegations” against her father Thomas Markle to the Duchess of Sussex in 2018. Markle himself categorically denies the allegations. An investigation is under way in the Philippines, and the FBI has said it is ready to help.
Aziz KarimovAccording to the BBC, the 2019 letter to Scotland Yard containing claims about Thomas Markle was written by his former wife Roslyn Loveless. Meghan Markle confirmed she was aware of the 'disturbing allegations', and the FBI and Philippine authorities are conducting reviews. Markle denies all the allegations.
Otabek YusupovScotland Yard has confirmed that in January 2019 it received a letter with a number of allegations about alleged offences by Thomas Markle outside the United Kingdom. The information was passed to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but not to other law enforcement agencies. The police are considering whether to refer the matter to the oversight body, the IOPC.
Otabek YusupovAccording to the BBC, the Duchess of Sussex sent her father Thomas Markle a letter in 2025 saying that the authorities were aware of the allegations against him and that he would never see his grandchildren. Markle denies all the allegations. The FBI and Philippine police confirmed checks are under way, and Scotland Yard is reviewing its handling of the 2019 letter.
Aziz KarimovThe Duchess of Sussex said that in 2018 she received a letter containing allegations against her father Thomas Markle, sent to Scotland Yard. This followed reports of images of child sexual abuse allegedly found in his former home in the Philippines. Thomas Markle denies the allegations, calling them 'sick lies'; Philippine authorities are investigating.
Sevara AzamovaTyphoon Champi, weakened to 155 km/h, caused chaos in Taiwan: one person died on Lyudao (Green Island), 94 were injured, 931 flights were cancelled, schools and offices were closed, and nearly 1,300 people were evacuated. The storm is moving toward Japan's southwestern islands; the Philippines has also been affected.
Sevara AzamovaThe Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to the 'one China' policy enshrined in the 1975 joint communiqué, but criticized the statements of the PRC embassy in Manila on social media as 'escalatory and undiplomatic.' Beijing responded by saying that on the Taiwan issue there is 'no gray zone' and called on Manila to uphold the 'one China' principle in deed. Manila reserved the right to take further diplomatic steps.
Sevara AzamovaMalaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stated that close ties between ASEAN countries are essential for peace and stability in the region. The statement came after the conclusion of the 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime in Makati, Philippines, where online fraud, money laundering, human trafficking and combating criminal networks were discussed.
Sevara AzamovaUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the leaders of the US, Australia, India and Japan will hold a Quad summit in Manila on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit on November 16–18. The exact date has not yet been announced. This will be the first meeting of the grouping's leaders since September 2024.
Sevara AzamovaThe Chinese embassy in Manila said that Philippine lawmakers seeking the expulsion of ambassador Jing Quan are 'not welcome' in China. Earlier, senators Risa Hontiveros and Erwin Tulfo filed resolutions calling for the ambassador to be declared persona non grata over his remarks that China could 'easily win' in a conflict with the Philippines.
Sevara AzamovaPhilippine Vice President Sara Duterte said on Tuesday that the prosecution team in the House of Representatives failed to present convincing evidence for impeachment. She accused the government of trying to remove her through unverified claims, including allegations of Chinese funding, a drug case in Laos and a 'Mindanao–Davao conspiracy,' and also called the document authorizing her trip to Laos into question.
Sevara AzamovaJapanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, in a phone call with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., proposed jointly hosting the AZEC summit amid instability in the Middle East. Marcos supported the initiative. The parties also discussed bilateral relations and preparations for the ASEAN summits in November.
Javlon TursunovThe 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime has opened in Manila and will run until October 21. The agenda includes cybercrime, human trafficking, online fraud, money laundering, and drug and arms trafficking, as well as declarations on combating online child sexual exploitation, including AI-generated content.
Aziz KarimovManila summoned Chinese ambassador Jing Quan over his statements, which it interpreted as a threat of force. The ambassador rejected that interpretation and filed his own protest. The conflict has strained bilateral relations amid disputes in the South China Sea.
Aziz KarimovManila condemned the attacks by Yemen's Houthis on several areas of Saudi Arabia as a serious threat to regional stability, expressed support for Riyadh, and called on the parties to cease hostilities and resolve the conflict through diplomacy. According to authorities, at least seven Filipino workers were injured, three of them in critical condition.
Aziz Karimov
