The field of world politics or sometimes called international relations seeks to understand how the people and countries of the world get along or why they do not get along. There are mysteries in analyzing countries of the world through the prism of world politics. The study of world politics is the main reason for this textbook. Today’s students of world politics must accept the fact that the environment can change suddenly. As the authors wrote in the book: “We study world politics because the bad things that happen in the world distress us and because the good things give us hope that, through understanding and effort, the world could be a better place.”Thank you to Tim Bautista for this book.

Affordable and sufficient food firstWith the Philippines facing supply shortfalls and high prices on a number of agricultural and food items, San Miguel Corp. (SMC) president Ramon S. Ang is confident his latest initiatives will help attain the goal of food self-sufficiency for the country in the medium term. It is therefore not a surprise that the Philippines was only 64th out of 113 countries in the 2021 Global Food Security index of UK-based Economist Impact and 146th out of 171 in the second quarter 2022 global food security index of Deep Knowledge Analytics. Severe food insecurity means that a person either runs out of food or goes an entire day without eating at times. The Department of Agriculture is banking on a 40 percent budget increase for next year to boost domestic production and shore up food security. Let us hope for all our sakes that the president will continue to make agriculture and food his priority, and food security, his legacy.

File photo: Communist Party of the Philippines leader Jose Maria Sison delivers his speech during the formal opening of the Philippines peace talks in Rome on Jan 19, 2017. (AP)Jose Maria Sison, who launched one of the world's longest-running Maoist insurgencies, has died at 83, the Communist Party of the Philippines announced Saturday. The US State Department designated the communist party and its armed wing foreign terrorist organisations in 2002. Since 1986, successive Philippine administrations have held peace talks with the communists through their Netherlands-based political arm, the NDF. In recent years, the government has claimed that hundreds of communist rebels have surrendered in exchange for financial assistance and livelihood opportunities.

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has sworn in Alfredo Pascual as Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said Saturday. Pascual’s appointment as DTI chief was earlier bypassed by the Commission on Appointments (CA), and as such, he will have to be reappointed by the President, CA member Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said. (President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the oathtaking of Alfredo Pascual as secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry yesterday, December 16). READ: ‘Is he God at Peza?’ Leadership row raised vs DTI chief at confirmation hearingDespite the criticisms, the President maintained confidence on Pascual as DTI chief, the OPS said. RELATED STORIESADVERTISEMENTPascual excellent choice as DTI chief, says ConcepcionDOJ affirms legality of Panga’s assumption as Peza OIC, says DTI/MUFRead Next

The government clarified that free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing has all along been provided to designated groups, including persons undergoing voluntary testing at the community testing centres and specimen collection stations. A government spokesman stressed that the relevant testing policy remains unchanged, intending to detect confirmed cases early. Persons subject to compulsory testing or undergoing voluntary testing, citizens aged 60 or above, inbound persons, staff of public hospitals and residential care homes (RCHs), and visitors to public hospitals and RCHs are still eligible for free testing, the spokesman added. The concerned persons can receive free testing by booking online or using the Testing Registration Code in the "LeaveHomeSafe" app when they register for testing. Those aged 15 or below, 65 and above, and persons with disabilities can still undergo free testing even without booking.

A family of three committed suicide by burning charcoal at their Yuen Long home on Friday suspectedly because they were frustrated for being unable to settle the daughter's debts worth over HK$600,000. The case was initially listed an attempted suicide and was changed to dead bodies found. On Tuesday, Shum attempted suicide once already by taking pills and opening the gas pipe. The parents told relatives they wished to commit suicide on Wednesday and the family couldn't be reached the next day. The cousin then visited the family's Yuen Long home in the evening, only to find the trio had killed themselves already.

Doing less and living more moreOne day, Henry Thoreau told his friend Ralph Waldo Emerson that the key to the good life was to “simplify, simplify, simplify.” Emerson replied that “just using one word might have sufficed.” These intellectual giants know something that we do not. But we have discovered that all the hustling and bustling have left out the fun of doing the very things we used to love doing. We love doing stuff, learning, building, and starting things, and we love things that challenge or enrich our lives. Today we are living more and doing less and doing things that matter. And when we do… all things simplify and become dim in the Light and Glory of His Face.

WITH the Christmas vacation just around the corner, many people are sure to celebrate the holiday season with an out-of-town trip. Deciding which travel gadgets are worth taking with you when travelling can be difficult, so we're here to help. For a hassle-free and enjoyable trip with your loved ones, these are the top 5 realme tech essentials that we recommend to surely keep you entertained on trips and enhance your holiday experience. Now we all know how planning a trip can be a lot stressful but with the all-new realme 10, it doesn't have to be. For more information, visit realme Facebook page at http://facebook.com/realmePhilippines and/or visit the official realme PH website at https://www.realme.com/ph/.

The 28-year-old bus driver was arrested for dangerous driving. The fatal incident occurred at 9.18am today by the roundabout near Yu Tung Road in Tung Chung. The truck driver and several janitors left the vehicles and was cleaning the bushes by the side. The truck driver was later pronounced dead as paramedics rushed to the rescue. Click here to watch a video that captures moments before the fatal incident.

Thus, the faithful servants of the Almighty God and His Son – Lord Jesus Christ do not participate in celebrating said festivity. Iglesia Ni Cristo Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. ManaloThe answer to the above question will be answered by the contents of another question, "Why Iglesia Ni Cristo does not celebrate Christmas?" These questions readily arise whenever one comes to know the beliefs of the Iglesia Ni Cristo regarding 'Christmas.' "So, why the Iglesia Ni Cristo refrain from participating in celebrating Christmas? Furthermore, a secular historian writing about Christmas noted that: 'The most widespread myth in the Christendom is that of Christmas.

A man has died after a gas explosion at Terminal 8 of Kwai Chung Container Terminals on Thursday morning, with his body thrown 10 meters away from the blast. It is understood the worker was pumping compressed gas into a dock bumper at around 9am this morning when the accident occurred. The worker, who fell into a coma after the explosion, was rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital and died after resuscitation attempts. Police are still investigating the incident.

A 21-year-old warehouse keeper on Thursday pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his 6-year-old stepsister two years ago. The defendant, dubbed as C.K.H., was brought to the West Kowloon Magistrate's Court this morning before District Judge Kathie Cheung Kit-yee. The court heard that the defendant was living with his mother, stepfather and the victim in a residential flat in Tin Shui Wai. The defendant was accused to have thrice sexually assaulted the victim between July and August 2020, including kissing her and touching her private parts. The defendant will be remanded in custody pending his sentence on January 12 next year.

Customs arrested a 59-year-old beauty parlour director suspected of wrongly accepting payment when selling beauty services, which violated the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. The beauty parlour, which was located in Sai Kung, has been in operation for more than 20 years and abruptly closed in September this year. The parlour failed to return a total of HK$1.1 million of prepaid beauty services fees that customers had purchased, leading to at least 52 complaints reported to Customs. Customs officers arrested the female director of the parlour today. She may face a maximum penalty of HK$500,000 in fine and five years imprisonment if convicted.

ADVERTISEMENTPresident Marcos signed the SIM card registration law, Republic Act No. He said that the SIM card would allow the person to register online after purchase even without a load. There is no SIM card expiration for those with nontourist visas and who intend to stay longer. Official links onlyA member of the immediate family of a SIM card owner who dies must report the death to the telco. The SIM card registration of the deceased may be transferred to his family or a relative, otherwise it will be deactivated within 24 hours after the death is reported.

A 55-year-old worker died on Wednesday after being hit by an H-beam that fell at a construction site in Yau Tong. The male worker, surnamed Luk, was knocked unconscious by a 13-foot-long H-beam at around 11.29 am. He was rushed to the hospital but later certified dead. The construction site on Tung Yuen Street is learned to be a residential project. An investigation for the cause of the accident is ongoing.