Safer Cities violators 50% less in Calabarzon | The wRap 

Today’s headlines: Safer Cities, Scarborough Shoal, Iran

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

• Safer Cities violators drop by half in Calabarzon in a week

Statistics obtained by Rappler show within a week of the implementation of the Safer Cities campaign in Calabarzon, the number of violators dropped by half.

• China moves to block entrance to Scarborough Shoal, images show

Satellite imagery obtained by Reuters shows China is employing ships and a barrier to tighten control of the entrance to the Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. 

• Hopes for Middle East peace grow as Israel discusses Lebanon ceasefire

Optimism grows that the war in the Middle East may be near an end as a key Pakistani mediator in Tehran and the Trump administration in the US raise hopes about a deal that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

• Iran used Chinese spy satellite to target US bases – report

The Financial Times reports Iran secretly acquired a Chinese spy satellite in late 2024 that allowed it to target US military bases across the Middle East during the recent war.

• Japan plans $10 billion support to help Asia secure oil

Japan says it will establish a financial framework worth about $10 billion to help Asian countries procure energy resources like crude oil as the war in the Middle East drives prices higher and disrupts supply chains.-Rappler.com