#ThewRap: Things you need to know, July 12, 2017

Hello Rappler readers,

It’s been one year since the Philippines’ victory against China at The Hague. On the 1st anniversary of the Hague ruling, Manila’s Department of Foreign Affairs hailed improved ties with Beijing.

Meanwhile, a new SWS survey shows majority of Filipinos support martial law in Mindanao, but don’t want it expanded to Luzon or the Visayas.

In the US, President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Jr, has released emails that added more fuel to the Russia scandal.

Below are the big stories you shouldn’t miss.

PH hails China ties on Hague ruling anniv

The Philippines called itself a “regional peacemaker” as it hailed improved ties with China on the 1st anniversary of its victory at The Hague. Manila also said the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) dispute “should further be resolved in a manner consistent with the spirit of good neighborly relations.”

SWS poll: Majority don’t want martial law expansion

A Social Weather Stations survey shows 57% of Filipinos support martial law in Mindanao. But majority of them don’t want President Rodrigo Duterte to expand martial law to Luzon or the Visayas.

6 soldiers injured in Quirino landmine blast

The military blames the communist New People’s Army (NPA) for a landmine blast in Quirino province that left 6 soldiers injured. The blast was supposedly a retaliatory attack on members of the 86th Infantry Battalion, the unit that had earlier seized a rebel camp.

Dennis Uy creates P100-M mutual fund for troops

Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy, a friend of President Rodrigo Duterte, announced at the 10th listing anniversary of Phoenix Petroleum that he has created a P100-million mutual fund that would benefit government troops. Details of the mutual fund, Uy said, would later be released.

Trump Jr embroiled in Russia scandal too

Donald Trump Jr, the son of US President Donald Trump, released his own emails showing that he would “love” to get dirt from Russia on Hillary Clinton. Trump Jr set up a meeting with a “Russian government attorney,” according to the emails, but this meeting supposedly “went nowhere.”