World No 20 Alexandra Eala beat top‑seeded Jessica Pegula 4‑6, 6‑4, 6‑0 at the Washington Open, capturing her first WTA title and becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA championship.
The Philippines submitted an official nautical chart to the United Nations asserting its claim to Scarborough Shoal—known as Huangyan Island in China, Minzhu Reef in Taiwan, and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines—defining its 12‑nautical‑mile territorial sea and 24‑nautical‑mile contiguous zone.
Alexandra Eala became the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA singles title by defeating Jessica Pegula at the DC Open, while Taylor Fritz beat Rafael Jodar to claim his first trophy of the season.
The Philippines officially presented its partial submission on its extended continental shelf to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf on July 28, demonstrating its commitment to the UN Charter and UNCLOS for a peaceful South China Sea.
The Philippines and Ukraine are exploring a "Drone Deal" framework, with initial discussions held in Kyiv between Ukrainian presidential aide Ihor Zhovkva and Philippine Undersecretary of National Defence Salvador Mison. The potential agreement aims to deepen defense ties through drone co-production, technology exchange, and cybersecurity cooperation.
China, through an article published under the pen name Jun Sheng, issued a stern warning against forces seeking to stir up trouble in the South China Sea, stating it has "rich and powerful" options to safeguard peace and stability and will respond resolutely to any malicious attempts against its interests.
A Filipino housekeeper began working in Japan, part of a trend enabled by a 2015 legal change allowing foreign housekeepers in designated areas to address labor shortages and boost women's workforce participation. Pinay International now employs over 200 Filipino staff in various prefectures.
The Chinese military's Southern Theatre Command conducted joint naval and air drills near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, citing a response to actions by certain countries undermining regional peace and stability. The exercise aimed to test combat capabilities and safeguard China's territorial sovereignty.
Filipino food company Sheentaro, a Dry Tech Manufacturing brand, is exploring the Indian market via the Indusfood expo, targeting its large, vegetarian population. This reflects a wider trend of Southeast Asian nations diversifying partnerships towards India amidst US-China competition for regional influence.
Alexandra Eala, world No 28, defeats China's Zheng Qinwen 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the Washington Open first round, to face Leylah Fernandez next.
US Undersecretary Jacob Helberg commits to the Philippines that the Pax Silica Industrial Hub, part of a US-led AI supply chain initiative, will not erode Manila's sovereignty, despite concerns over job creation, farming community displacement, and environmental impact.
US President Donald Trump expresses trust in Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping's assurances that their countries are not supplying weapons to Iran, despite allegations from some US circles.
China and Asean foreign ministers released a joint statement in Manila, addressing the ongoing energy crisis and the Middle East conflict, calling for a ceasefire and peaceful resolution, and welcoming US-Iran negotiations.
Tensions between China and the Philippines escalated after the Philippine Coast Guard accused its Chinese counterpart of firing a water cannon at government vessels near Scarborough Shoal for the second day, risking collision. China claims its actions were lawful amid ongoing disputes in the South China Sea.
The Philippine economy faces fragility due to internal political turmoil, a corruption scandal, energy shocks, and extreme weather, despite inflation easing to 6.4% in June. ING's report highlights ongoing economic pressures, suggesting the central bank may not yet declare victory over inflation.
Hong Kong's weather forecaster will issue a No 1 warning signal Friday evening as Typhoon Noul is expected to come closest to the city between Saturday night and Sunday morning, moving northwest from near Manila.
Jerri Roby, 69, received a life sentence for the December 2023 murder of her son, John Gaither, in Gulfport, Mississippi. She concealed his body behind a false wall and impersonated him to family members, having been previously convicted of murder in 1995.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met for 35 minutes at the ASEAN summit in Manila, their first talks since September 2025. They discussed Ukraine, bilateral ties, and the Persian Gulf. Russia reiterated its peace terms, while the US called for new proposals, noting Kiev rejected prior ones, highlighting stalled peace efforts.
Analysts view a proposed Indonesia-Philippines power link as crucial for addressing Philippine domestic energy issues, despite geographical and supply-chain challenges. The Philippines, as ASEAN chair, is advancing regional energy cooperation, while also addressing US-Iran tensions at ministerial meetings.
Vietnam's VinEnergo and the Philippines' SunAsia Energy will build 422 MWp of solar power across three Philippine sites using an innovative "Solar on Stilts" design. This approach, lifting panels above active fish ponds, aims to allow continued fish farming and mitigate water use conflicts, with plants targeted for 2027-2028 operation.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held their first in-person talks since September 2025 on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Manila. The 35-minute meeting, requested by the US, aimed to revive stalled peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, but no breakthroughs were reported.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are scheduled to meet on July 23 in the Philippines during ASEAN ministerial events. The agenda includes discussing US President Donald Trump's statements regarding a swift resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
A tropical depression near the Philippines is forecast to intensify into a typhoon and approach Hong Kong this weekend, with a possible landfall in eastern Guangdong, China, less than 400km from the city.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned his Philippine counterpart, Theresa Lazaro, that Manila would face "bitter consequences" if it provoked Beijing with external help, lodging a protest over a recent ramming incident at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.
