The United States said it was suspending the processing of immigrant visas from 75 countries, President Donald Trump's latest move against foreigners seeking to come to America. "Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits," he said. A US official said that the other countries affected would include a number of countries with friendly relations with the United States, including Brazil, Egypt, and Thailand. The State Department did not immediately release a full list of countries. The State Department said Monday that it has revoked more than 100,000 visas since Trump's return, a one-year record.

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Korean-Japanese joint venture to design Mega Manila rail networkMANILA, Philippines — A joint venture between South Korean and Japanese builders have won the $12-million deal to deliver the feasibility study for the plan to build a rail network in Mega Manila. The study, financed by the Asian Development Bank, aims to look into the viability of putting up a rail system in the GCR, also called Mega Manila. Right now, Metro Manila is home to three railways: the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2, and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3. By 2027, the DOTr expects private partner San Miguel Corp. to finish the P68.2-billion Metro Rail Transit Line 7, spanning between Quezon City and Bulacan. There are also efforts to put up new railways in the eastern metro, mainly the Metro Rail Transit Line 4, connecting Ortigas and Taytay, Rizal.

Corruption also corrodes respect for authority, especially when the electoral process is distorted by corruption. Corruption also undermines respect for constitutional authority, which tends to deprive a government of public support and alienates public devotion to government objectives. The corruption of the ruling group brought about economic difficulties and induced further corruption. The previous Marcos Sr. regime is blamed for breeding a whole political generation wherein corruption was a dominant trait. In a morally decadent society where corruption has become accepted behavior, people in other sectors have also become corrupt.

Ten points in Phl-UAE partnershipThe participation of President Marcos in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 Summit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a very good move. In particular, the signing of the Philippines-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is significant for the Philippines. Here is my list of 10 beautiful points in the Philippines-UAE partnership. Per capita GDP at PPP, UAE has $77,100 in 2024, the 12th richest in the world (source: IMF, World Economic Outlook 2025). Three, in international trade UAE is our 19th argest export market in January-November 2025 with $422 million, up from $359 million same months of 2024.

A Gift of Christmas blessingsEnjoyed tremendously our Christmas lunch with Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown, Msgr. Guiseppe Terendue, Sister Emily, Sister Rachelle, and Sister Lenny. Such a very awesome gathering of friends feeling the presence and blessings of righteousness in our midst. Yvette and Dely Fernandez, Jianping XueThis time, she prepared a delectable spread of Filipino food. Nikki Teodoro, UN; Menchu ConcepcionThey bring joy and brighten up our gatherings with their candidness and youthful attitude towards life.

Industrialized Philippines, an impossible dream? Thus the conglomerate that he founded put up a petrochemical business, JG Summit Petrochemical Corp., which traces its roots in the early 1990s. And Gokongwei, despite his patriotic intentions, would learn this the hard way – after investing billions in the petrochemical business. I’m assuming only foreign players would have the capacity to acquire the assets of JG’s petrochemical business. It was in 1994 when JG Summit established JG Summit Petrochemical, initially as a joint venture between JG Summit and Marubeni Corp. of Japan.

Ada, first storm of 2026, enters PhilippinesA state weather specialist points at Tropical Depression Ada during a presentation at the PAGASA main office in Quezon City yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has placed several areas in the Visayas and Mindanao under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 as Tropical Depression Ada maintains its strength while slowing down over the Philippine Sea east of Mindanao. PAGASA said minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are possible in areas under TCWS No. PAGASA said the tropical depression may intensify into a tropical storm within the next 24 hours as it continues to strengthen over the Philippine Sea.

Preliminary data show that net foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 40 percent in the month of October. We received only $642 million in net FDI last October, down from the $1.067 billion that flowed in a year earlier. The BSP forecasts that net FDI inflows for 2025 would be $7.5 billion. The emerging consensus, ahead of the official numbers, is that our economy will post a growth rate of between 4.5 and 4.7 percent. This was all along a test of whether the rule of law will prevail over the vagaries of local politics and unbridled zealotry.

Ping: I’m straight, without face enhancementSenate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson, chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee, leads the launch of the probe into extortion and other abuses at the Bureau of Internal Revenue on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson and Sen. Imee Marcos resumed their word war yesterday by trading barbs about sexuality and cosmetic enhancements. He emphasized he respects the LGBTQ+ community and considers himself part of the Senate’s “macho bloc,” alongside Senate President Vicente Sotto III and former soldier-senator Gringo Honasan. When Lacson questioned Marcos’ “moral ascendancy” in criticizing the budget, Marcos deflected this by mocking him and hinting at his sexual orientation. Responding to Lacson’s statements, Marcos yesterday denied calling Lacson gay when she said she would lose to a hair pulling match or “sabunutan” with him.

PNP has 109 new lawyersBar examinees and their relatives gather at the Supreme Court compound in Manila during the release of the 2025 Bar exam. CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine National Police has honored 109 PNP personnel who passed the 2025 Bar examinations. That our police officers achieved this while serving the public makes their accomplishment even more meaningful,” acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said recently. New lawyers would strengthen the PNP’s commitment to due process, human rights and justice, Nartatez said, as he encouraged other personnel to pursue continuing education. DepEd’s Bar passersDepartment of Education Secretary Sonny Angara, himself a lawyer, has also congratulated 118 DepEd personnel who passed the Bar exams.

Time to act, BBMThis 2026 is a watershed year for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. (BBM), a decisive year of either great achievements or great disappointments, an annus mirabilis or an annus horribilis. Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sr. shortened the lease on American bases, from 99 to 25 years and told the Americans to pay rent for their use. This is the reason why early in his presidency, BBM declared China cannot find a friendlier president than him. Marcos Sr. was also among the first of Asian leaders to visit Moscow, in June 1976, to formalize diplomatic relations with the then USSR. It’s good that BBM has a sister named Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios Romualdez Marcos.

Government reviews AFP pension reform proposalThe pension of retired uniformed personnel is automatically indexed to the salary of active personnel of the same rank. This means that the pension of a retiree would increase if the basic pay of an active personnel of the same rank increases. The pension of retired uniformed personnel is automatically indexed to the salary of active personnel of the same rank. This means that the pension of a retiree would increase if the basic pay of an active personnel of the same rank increases. Budget Secretary Rolando Toledo said P6.3 billion has been allocated for the pension hike in this year’s national budget.

No threat to Philippines ASEAN hosting – PNPThe ASEAN Philippines 2026 logo is presented at the official launch of the Philippines’ chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 2026 at Foro de Intramuros in Manila on Friday. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has not monitored threats to the country’s hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit this year even as security preparations are underway. As of now, we have not received or gathered any threats to the ASEAN Summit,” Nartatez said. The 48th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit will take place from May 8 to 9 in Cebu, bringing together leaders from the 11 ASEAN member-states. Later in the year, the 49th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit is scheduled from Nov. 10 to 12 at the newly renovated Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay.

EDITORIAL - Curbing epalLawmakers and implementing executive agencies maintain that credit-grabbing or epal elective officials will not be given any role in the distribution of state-funded aid – whether in person or through the display of self-promoting materials at the distribution venues. The public is even being urged to take photos of epal moments and report such cases. A broad information campaign is needed about these avenues for reporting epal cases. In the past years, images of the epals appearing in person or on billboards and streamers posted at aid distribution sites have filled multimedia platforms. Apart from providing easily accessible mechanisms for reporting epal moments, authorities must ensure that the reports are promptly acted upon and sanctions imposed.