LARGE PRESENCE Indian paramilitary troopers patrol past a cutout image of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the city of Srinagar, Kashmir region on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. Removing Article 370 has been a key plank of his Bharatiya Janata Party's platform since its inception, and the Supreme Court decision comes ahead of elections next year. One of the advocates who argued for the revocation to be ruled unconstitutional — the Supreme Court held hearings on it for 16 days — was sanguine. More than half a million Indian soldiers are deployed in the territory to control the insurgency, which erupted in 1989. India blames Pakistan for backing the militants, a charge Islamabad denies, saying it only supports a Kashmiri struggle for the right to self-determination.

First wordTHE Wall Street Journal published an editorial on Dec. 8, 2023, "The truth about net zero, at last," which summarized the major setbacks that the climate lobby suffered this year while fanning an alleged climate emergency and its illusory energy transition. The US-based WSJ was unsparing in its commentary:"The great and good of politics and business have converged on Dubai this week for the global climate conference known as COP28, and by now they must wish they hadn't. Those two decades of spending has led to solar and wind combined supplying just under 4 percent of world energy. Next stop: Climate change societyWhat will happen to the church of climate change and global warming now that it has been exposed as an emperor with no clothes? The climate alarmists and climate doomsday believers could form themselves into a group called the "climate change society."

‘Import 500,000 MT rice to bring down prices’MANILA, Philippines — At least 300,000 to 500,000 metric tons (MT) of imported rice should arrive before March 2024 to bring down the retail price of the staple food whose cost has spiked in recent weeks, Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM) said yesterday. The government needs to ensure the arrival of imported rice through the private sector to be able to increase our stocks in the market,” Manuntag explained. “Based on our estimate, it (rice imports) could only reach 3.1 million metric tons, or at most 3.2 million metric tons as we are already in December,” he said. Based on monitoring of the DA in Metro Manila markets, the retail price of local regular milled rice was as high as P52 per kilo; local well-milled rice, P57 per kilo; local premium rice, P60 per kilo; local special rice, P68 per kilo. Imported well-milled rice was sold at P52 per kilo; imported premium rice, P60 per kilo and imported special rice, P65 per kilo.

Maharlika to start as national development fundLawmakers applaud President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. after the signing of the law the establishing the Maharlika Investment Fund (R.A. 11954) in simple rites held at Malacanang Palace October 17, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — The head of state-run Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) envisions the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) to start as a national development fund that will invest in critical areas in the country and address different pain points, including creating much needed jobs for Filipinos. “It will start off as a national development fund in the first five to seven years. In effect, Maharlika is filling a digital investment gap through the construction of these towers, which it can lease to telco operators. Maharlika has an initial fund of P75 billion and eventually, it will go up to P125 billion.

A thank-you card being sold on Carousell for HK$500. Previous NextThe thank-you cards encouraged some people to cast their ballot, with many taking to social media to show off their souvenir, according to voters. Police officer Lai, who voted at a Yau Tong polling station, said the card had a positive effect. Many posed for pictures with the thank-you card, including Mr Chan, 78. The government also said last night the cards "cannot be exchanged for cash or gifts."

Sing Tao Previous NextA 52-year-old woman was arrested for murdering after she allegedly suffocated her 62-year-old husband with a mattress over disputes that the husband was having an affair. Initial investigations revealed that Law was suspected of pressing Chung down with a mattress platform and a mattress after he accidentally fell down when adjusting the bed frame. It is understood that Law and Chung often argued as Law suspected that her husband was heading to the bars to meet other women. Thereafter, he was attacked by his wife with a mattress and mattress platform, sources said. Forensic officers suspected Chung might had been dead for a period of 2 to 4 days.

The Philippine delegation to the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai has promoted the country’s qualifications to host the proposed climate change “board of loss and damage fund,” Malacañang said on Sunday. Board seat eyed“Our commitment to multilateralism, strengthened international cooperation and global solidarity remains steadfast, recognizing that no single country can tackle the complexities of climate change alone,” she added. Yulo-Loyzaga said the country is also seeking a seat in the inaugural board of the fund. ADVERTISEMENTAccording to news reports, the initial funding worth around $429 million will come from the European Union, United Kingdom, United States and Japan. The World Bank will also serve as the interim host and trustee for the fund.

ADVERTISEMENTNUJP Chair Jonathan de Santos mentioned that although the Sotto Law is meant to safeguard journalists and their sources, it doesn’t excuse reporters from verifying information prior to making it public. “That (Sotto Law) is not a license for us to make unfounded claims. De Santos’ reminder comes after Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) talent Jeffrey Celiz claimed that he was being denied the right to invoke the Sotto Law. Because of this, the House committee cited the SMNI talent in contempt. De Santos, however, noted that it is not for NUJP to determine whether Celiz and Badoy are journalists.

GMA Network Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe Gozon announced his retirement as the company's CEO on his 84th birthday, the media company said Saturday. GMA President and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto Duavit Jr. will take over the role effective Jan. 1, 2024, while Gozon will remain as the chairman of the board and adviser to the network. The soon-to-retire chief executive revived struggling Republic Broadcasting System Inc., the predecessor of GMA, in 1975 alongside Gilberto Duavit Sr. and Menardo Jimenez. He also serves as chairman of GMA Network Films, president and CEO of GMA Holdings Inc., RGMA Marketing and Productions Inc., and chairman, president, and CEO of Group Management and Development Inc. and Dual Management and Investments Inc.

A man who was found dead in Tai Po last night is suspected of being suffocated to death by his wife as he has cheated on her. Law and Chung often argued as Law suspected he was heading to bars to meet other women. They had been embroiled in an argument yet again a few days ago, ending with Chung heading back to his room and fixing the bed frame. However, he accidentally fell while doing the repair work and Law was suspected of pressing Chung with a mattress platform and a mattress. Read more: Man found dead in Tai Po, wife arrested

MANILA, Philippines — Peaceful resolutions of maritime disputes can be achieved through international mechanisms, not dangerous maneuvers and the use of water cannons, the European Union’s envoy said following the latest confrontation between Manila and Beijing in the West Philippine Sea. The China Coast Guard (CCG) rammed and fired water cannons at Philippine vessels during a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, damaging parts of the boats and putting the lives of crew members at risk, the Philippine Coast Guard said. Ambassador Luc Véron described Sunday’s incident as “deeply troubling” as he stressed the importance of dispute settlement mechanisms under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in maintaining the rule of law. “The 2016 UNCLOS tribunal award is a valuable framework for peaceful resolution. Water cannons and dangerous sea maneuvers aren’t a legitimate alternative,” he said on X, formerly Twitter.

DOT adds golf tourism in industry portfolioMANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism is promoting golf tourism in a bid to widen its tourism industry portfolio. During the first Philippine golf summit last November 28, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco highlighted the potential of golf tourism to boost the Philippine tourism as the country has more than 100 golf courses in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. “Golf tourism represents a promising frontier for the Philippines and this summit highlights our proactive approach in understanding, nurturing, listening to the golf tourism industry and developing this niche as part of our tourism industry portfolio,” Frasco said. With the conclusion of the first Philippine Golf Tourism Summit, Frasco is bullish that it can pave the way for a government tourism policy on golf tourism. The summit, organized by the DOT’s Office of Product Development of Golf Tourism and Special Projects, had variety of panelists from the golf industry.

(UPDATE) SAN Beda University on Sunday held off Mapua University 71-65 in Game Two of the NCAA Season 99 men's basketball finals to force a winner-take-all showdown. A massive turnout of 22,465 fans packed the Mall of Asia Arena as the Red Lions extended the finals series after dropping the first game. The last bucket of the fourth-quarter surge was a Yukien Andrada trey that gave the Red Lions a 70-63 advantage with 2:21 left. We just wanted to replicate what we did today, I told them, 'let's go all out'," said San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta. But San Beda fired back with a 9-0 blast anchored on Cortez's two triples that sandwiched a James Payosing bucket with 3:11 to play.

A couple and a woman were arrested on Sunday for allegedly inciting others to cast invalid votes at the District Council election. The couple, both aged 41, left comments on a social media platform to incite others to put three or more ticks on their ballot papers, according to the ICAC. As for the other arrestee, aged 51, she has allegedly reposted an article on an online social media platform that incited others to boycott the election by not voting. Investigation revealed that the post was initially published by disqualified and former District Councillor Leos Lee Man-ho on his social media page during the election period. ICAC reminds the public that inciting others to cast invalid votes at an election may contravene the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Activists designated Saturday a day of protest at the COP28 summit in Dubai. And their calls for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip couldn’t name the parties involved. “I’m here to say to end with the colonial powers and with the white supremacy.”Many climate activists point to the same causes for today’s climate crisis. Typically, COP summits see mass demonstrations of tens of thousands of people outside of the Blue Zone. The detainees protest had been scheduled to take place days earlier, but negotiations with U.N. officials dragged on — likely due to the sensitivity of even mentioning the detainees’ names in the country.