Philippines’ poverty rate hits record low 9.7% | The wRap

Here are today’s headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:

• Poverty rate hits record low 9.7%, but millions are one crisis from sliding back 

The Philippine Statistics Authority says the country’s poverty rate dropped to 9.7% in 2025, with 6.5 million Filipinos rising above the poverty line.

• PLDT, Smart blocking over 100 sites streaming extreme violent content 

PLDT and Smart Communications announce they will block more than 100 websites found to be streaming videos of school shootings and other forms of extreme violence.

• Hong Kong court convicts Tiananmen vigil group leaders of inciting subversion 

Hong Kong’s High Court convicts two former leaders of a disbanded group that organized yearly vigils marking Beijing’s 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

• US says it will impose ‘toughest sanctions in history’ on Iran 

U.S. Treasury chief Scott Bessent says the U.S. will impose ‘the toughest sanctions in history’ on Iran.

• Ex-Google engineer’s conviction for stealing AI secrets partially overturned 

A federal judge reverses part of the conviction of former Google software engineer Linwei Ding who was found guilty earlier this year of stealing AI trade secrets to benefit two Chinese companies. – Rappler.com