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Packed crowds turned out to see Alexandra Eala at the Australian Open Tuesday but the Philippines trailblazer was unable to deliver for her adoring fans in a first-round defeat, admitting it was “a bit overwhelming”. The 20-year-old was playing in the main draw at Melbourne Park for the first time and even practice sessions were mobbed by large numbers of her followers. She stormed to the first set against Alycia Parks in front of a full house at the intimate court six. But the lower-ranked American fought back in front of the fiercely pro-Eala crowd to win 0-6, 6-3, 6-2. The umpire had to repeatedly call for spectators to quieten down as they tried, unsuccessfully, to will Eala to victory. Hundreds more Philippines fans watched on nearby big screens and waved their national flag. Chants of “let’s go Alexandra” frequently rang out, then hush descended when her American opponent sealed the match. Eala was rushed from the court afterwards surrounded by as many as a dozen security guards. “It was so heart-warming,” she said of the hero’s welcome she received all week. “That’s one of the things that makes a loss like today a little bit harder – I know a lot of people were rooting for me.” Eala, who has put Philippines tennis on the map, admitted however that some of the attention had been too much. “It’s a process to take it all in. I think this week definitely there were elements that were a bit overwhelming, especially during my practices,” she said. “I didn’t expect that many people to be there. So it’s a learning process.” The 49th-ranked Eala has risen fast in the past 12 months. She trains at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca and broke into the top 100 last year following her shock run to the semi-finals in Miami, where she beat world number two Iga Swiatek. In August at the US Open, she carved out a piece of tennis history, becoming the first player from the Philippines to win a Grand Slam singles match. “I’m still young, so learning how to deal with all of this attention, but then at the same time being grateful,” Eala said after her loss to the 99th-ranked Parks. Although disappointed, Eala said just being at the first major of the year was significant for her nation. “I guess this is one of the moments that I can reflect on what this means for Philippine tennis,” she said. “I’m the only Filipina in the draw this year. I’m the only Filipina that’s ever been in the draw, I think. So there are positives to take away.” 

Hard hat-wearing rescue workers and backhoes dug through rubble in search of survivors Saturday in the shadow of a mountain of garbage that buried dozens of landfill employees in the central Philippines, killing at least six.About 50 sanitation workers were buried when refuse toppled onto them on Thursday from what a city councillor estimated was a height of 20 storeys at the Binaliw Landfill, a privately operated facility in Cebu City.Rescuers were now facing the danger of further collapse as they navigated the still-shifting wreckage, Cebu rescuer Jo Reyes said Saturday."Operations are ongoing as of the moment. It is continuous. (But) from time to time, the landfill is moving, and that will temporarily stop the operation," she said.Cebu City councillor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the city's disaster council, said another two bodies had been uncovered Saturday by crews working in 24-hour shifts.The discovery brings the death toll to six, while 32 people remain missing."We found another two bodies, but we cannot retrieve the bodies because of the heavy metal beam that fell on them, so we are trying to cut the metal," he said.To assist in the rescue operation, 20 trucks equipped with hydraulic cranes and specialised cutting attachments were being sent to help rescuers forced to crawl to reach areas blocked by debris."Our rescuers are struggling because the metal beams are big," he said. "With (the trucks), the metal can be lifted and our rescuers can navigate the site more efficiently."We are just hoping that we can get someone alive ... We are racing against time, that's why our deployment is 24/7."Twelve employees have so far been pulled alive from the garbage and hospitalised.Numerous families were on site awaiting word on the fate of their relatives, Joel Garganera, another Cebu City council member, said Saturday."We are hoping against hope here," he said.The city councillor described the height from which the trash fell as "alarming", estimating the top of the pile had stood 20 storeys above the area struck."Every now and then, when it rains, there are landslides happening around the city of Cebu ... how much more (dangerous is that) for a landfill or a mountain that is made of garbage?" Garganera said."The garbage is like a sponge, they really absorb water. It doesn't (take) a rocket scientist to say that eventually, the incident will happen." 

The Philippines, the United States, and Japan conducted a new round of joint naval exercises in the West Philippine Sea, underscoring their deepening security cooperation.The 13th Multilateral Maritime Cooperation Activity (MMCA) -- and the eighth held this year -- involved key assets from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the US Indo-Pacific Command, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.According to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Sunday, the Philippine side deployed two missile-capable frigates, BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) and BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), along with an AW159 helicopter.The United States deployed the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, led by the USS Nimitz (CVN 68), while Japan deployed the destroyer JS Akebono (DD-108) along with an SH-60K Seahawk helicopter.The Philippine Coast Guard also supported the activity by enhancing maritime domain awareness.The exercises included communications checks, at-sea replenishment techniques, anti-submarine warfare drills, maritime domain reporting, helicopter deck landings, formation maneuvers, and an integrated final exercise.

The Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced that 31 roads in eight regions were impassable due to landslides and flooding caused by the typhoon.The Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported that DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon mobilized all available resources to reopen the affected roads, emphasizing the need for swift action to ensure rescue, relief, and transportation operations in the disaster-stricken areas. He added that DPWH's Disaster and Incident Management Teams were working continuously to address the damage and clear main roads that were hindering aid delivery.Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported that the typhoon was gradually weakening as it moved away from Luzon Island toward the western Philippine Sea today.The Philippine Weather Bureau also reported that the eye of the typhoon was located 135 km west-northwest of Bacnotan, with maximum sustained winds of 130 km per hour and gusts of up to 160 km per hour, a central pressure of 970 hectopascals, and was moving west-northwest at 20 km per hour.Typhoon Uwan has left at least 241 people dead or missing, making it the worst natural disaster to hit the Philippines this year.

Philippine officials, led by Health Undersecretary Dr Mary Ann Palermo-Maestral asserted the country’s commitment to integrating mental health into national policies and services during the 6th Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in Doha, the embassy has said.The two-day summit, held from September 30-October 1, is a key international platform designed to foster collaboration, share best practices, and integrate mental health as a core component of overall health and human rights – a focus consistent with key UN instruments, including the UN Human Rights Council Resolution on Mental Health and Human Rights.During a panel discussion focusing on the implications of the UN High-Level Meeting of Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr Palermo-Maestral detailed the Philippines’ comprehensive national framework and the strategies being employed to address rising mental health needs.She highlighted the country’s concerted efforts in embedding mental health promotion within existing community-based primary health care processes. Key initiatives include securing sustainable financing for mental health programmes and advancing data research and innovation.She added that a whole of government approach is used to address the increasing incidence of depression and similar problems among vulnerable individuals, including minors. Several government agencies collaborate to operate health promotion bureaus, establish peer support groups, and maintain easily accessible crisis hotlines for children and youth.Philippine ambassador Mardomel Celo D Melicor stressed the necessity of facilitating access to mental health services for Filipinos residing abroad. He cited the particular vulnerability of Overseas Filipino Workers who “live and work overseas, far from their basic social support groups”.“In Qatar, we are continually engaging with local authorities and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the welfare of our kababayan, including their mental health, is given utmost priority,” he said.

International Criminal Court prosecutors have charged former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity, alleging his involvement in at least 76 murders as part of his "war on drugs."A heavily redacted charge sheet dated July 4 but only made public on Monday lays out the accusations against the 80-year-old former leader, currently sitting in ICC detention in The Hague.The first count concerns his alleged involvement as a co-perpetrator in 19 murders carried out between 2013 and 2016 while Duterte was mayor of Davao City.The second count relates to 14 murders of so-called "High Value Targets" in 2016 and 2017 when Duterte was president.And the third charge is about 43 murders committed during "clearance" operations of lower-level alleged drug users or pushers.These took place across the Philippines between 2016 and 2018, the prosecution alleged."The actual scale of victimisation during the charged period was significantly greater, as reflected in the widespread nature of the attack," said the ICC prosecutors."The attack included thousands of killings, which were perpetrated consistently throughout the charged period," they alleged.The charges against Duterte stem from his years-long campaign against drug users and dealers that rights groups said killed thousands.The arrest warrant issued for Duterte on March 7 contained one charge of crimes against humanity relating to 43 alleged murders.The prosecutors' charges came on the eve of what was scheduled to be Duterte's appearance at the ICC to hear the accusations against him.However that sitting was postponed as the court weighs whether Duterte is fit to hear the charges.His lawyer Nicholas Kaufman has said his client is not able to stand trial "as a result of cognitive impairment in multiple domains".Kaufman has urged the ICC to postpone proceedings against Duterte indefinitely.Duterte was arrested in Manila on March 11, flown to the Netherlands that same night and has been held at the ICC's detention unit at Scheveningen Prison since.At his initial hearing, he followed by video link, appearing dazed and frail, barely speaking.