Royal Spotlight in Belfast: King Charles and Queen Camilla kicked off their Northern Ireland visit with music, dance and a bodhrán lesson in the Titanic Quarter, then sampled Irish whiskey—rain threatened but crowds stayed. Maritime Tensions: The Philippines’ National Maritime Council condemned Chinese maritime surveillance research vessels near Luzon, saying the activity violates UNCLOS rules. Ocean Boom: The Ocean Census says it found 1,121 new marine species in a year, including a “ghost shark” and deep-sea worms—another reminder how much the ocean still hides. Cebu’s Mendicancy Flashpoint: Cebu City moved to revisit its anti-mendicancy ordinance after a viral arrest of an elderly harmonica player, while the city also began welfare support. Energy Pressure in Timor-Leste: Greater Sunrise is shifting from politics to execution as Timor-Leste pushes its onshore processing plan and races toward key project deadlines. Crisis Watch: Metro Cebu Water District deployed 50 generators to keep pumps running during rotational brownouts tied to grid strain and El Niño conditions.