256 superph ‘RICE FOR ALL’ CAMPAIGN Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa inspects the rice being sold at P40 per kilogram at the Kamuning Public Market in Quezon City, in a photo taken on Dec. 5. —Lyn Rillon MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is considering declaring a “food security emergency” early next year as it scrambles to rein in the prices of rice, a key staple and a major driver of inflation. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. told the Inquirer in a text message on Friday that he was scheduled to meet on Jan. 3 with key agencies under the DA, including the Bureau of Plant Industry and the National Food Authority (NFA), to assess the national rice situation. “After that, there will be an announcement,” said Tiu Laurel, who broached the idea of declaring a food security emergency to drastically bring down rice prices. READ: DA: Rice price should be P30/kg due to tariff cut, lower global prices The DA is empowered under the amended rice tariffication law to make such a declaration to allow the release of buffer stocks from the NFA to stabilize prices of rice, one of the biggest components of a Filipino household’s food basket. Albay Rep. Joey Salceda expressed support for Tiu Laurel’s move, saying that the combination of measures, including cracking down on hoarders could immediately bring down rice prices by as much as P6 a kilo. He added that declaring a food security emergency was “what the Murang Pagkain Supercommittee has been asking the DA to do,” referring to the House quinta committee formed to investigate alleged rice price manipulation and smuggling. “I urge him to follow through as soon as possible. We should see a price reduction of at least P6 per kilo as a result of stricter enforcement against hoarding,” said Salceda, who chairs both the House committee on ways and means and the quinta committee. Meanwhile, the DA has also ordered the removal of brand labels in imported rice as well as elimination of “premium” and “special” labels on imported rice, believing that some industry players are using them “to justify inflated prices.” Tiu Laurel threatened to withdraw import permits if traders would be found “unwilling to follow our regulations,” such as in removing these labels on imported rice. “Importing rice is not a right but a privilege,” he stressed. The DA pointed out that prices of certain rice brands have remained high even though tariffs on imported rice had already been slashed to 15 percent until 2028 from 35 percent. The DA has been able to sell well-milled rice under its Rice-for-All program at P40 a kilo. But at the market, the DA’s monitoring showed that local well-milled rice retailed between P40 and P52 per kilo, albeit already lower from P40 to P56 per kilo last year. Local regular milled rice, on the other hand, ranged from a low of P39 to a high of P48 per kilo as of Dec. 23, compared with P43 to P52 per kilo on Dec. 22 last year. Imported regular milled rice was sold from P44 to P45 per kilo. This variety was not available around the same day a year ago. Imported well-milled rice was priced from P40 to P56 per kilo, from P58 per kilo last year. According to Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, domestic retail prices “should have stabilized” around P35 a kilo considering that the landed price of imported rice has already gone down by P11 a kilo year-on-year. Instead, domestic retail prices have remained high, a clear sign of “abuse,” said Quimbo, an economist and senior vice chair of the House committee on appropriations. For the DA, rice prices can even be lowered, thus it is also considering allowing other government corporations, such as Food Terminal Inc., to import significant quantities of rice to directly compete with private importers. The DA’s legal division will also determine whether provisions of the Consumer Price Act could be activated to deal with possible profiteering at the expense of ordinary Filipinos struggling to buy rice. Tiu Laurel likewise hinted at enlisting concerned government agencies, particularly the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), to audit the financial records of rice traders to ensure compliance with fair pricing practices. The Department of Trade and Industry may also assist in monitoring prices of rice in markets and groceries, Tiu Laurel added. Salceda also reminded Tiu Laurel that he has asked the DA to look into warehouses and work with the Bureau of Customs to do post-clearance inspections of imported stocks. “We need action from the DA sooner rather than later, so I hope the study process doesn’t last beyond a few days,” he said. In previous quinta committee hearings before Congress adjourned on Dec. 18, the panel members castigated rice importers and traders for allegedly colluding to manipulate rice prices despite tariff reductions, forcing consumers to shoulder the artificially inflated costs. Agap Rep. Nicanor Briones noted that two major importers—RBS Universal Grains Traders Corp. and Sodatrade Corp.—that collectively imported 273,000 metric tons of rice had shared ownership, “indicating that there is possible collusion here.” According to the general information sheets of both companies, both have interlocking directorships: Corazon Barnuevo, Rosalie Barnuevo, Rosalyn Shimokawa and Bernard Barnuevo. RBS was incorporated in 2014 while Sodatrade was incorporated in 2015. Salceda called on the BIR to look into the country’s top rice importers, which comprise 36 percent of the country’s total imports. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . The Marcos administration is under intense pressure to address rice prices as inflation remains a top concern among Filipinos and the perceived failure in controlling inflation has dragged down President Marcos’ approval ratings.

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Eight students from across Northeast Tennessee recently completed the Hospitality & Tourism Certificate program offered in partnership with East Tennessee State University’s Office of Professional Development and the Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association. This certification was the 2022 recipient of the Association for Continuing Higher Education South Award. The first of its kind in the region, the program has grown over the last six years to include an alumni network of nearly 70 graduates. The students participated in classes held at Hands On! Discovery Center and Gray Fossil Site, hearing from more than 30 nationally recognized professionals in the industry, as well as representatives from city and county tourism departments and Main Street programs. “Tourism is a major economic driver for our region, with visitors spending $867 million annually,” said Alicia Phelps, executive director of the Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association. “By investing in workforce development through education and training, we can further strengthen the hospitality and tourism sectors. We are thrilled to continue our partnership with ETSU and offer this valuable certification program. Our region boasts a wealth of expertise and renowned institutions, and this program provides unique opportunities for participants to learn from industry leaders and gain hands-on experience.” 2024 Northeast Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Certification Graduates: Session II Completion, Continuing Studies: The Hospitality & Tourism Certificate will be offered again in August 2025, with enrollment beginning in the spring. The certificate program is designed for those interested in expanding their skills and knowledge for personal and professional development, including tourism and hospitality professionals, graduate students, and others seeking to enhance their expertise in areas such as management, public relations, current technology, and social trends. The program prepares graduates for entry or advanced management positions in culinary, food and beverage, lodging, attractions, and tourism-related industries. Students gain insights into regional and international facets of the hospitality and tourism industry, with topics ranging from marketing, financial management, safety, strategic planning, and employee management in the local billion-dollar tourism industry. A strong emphasis is placed on applied skills, with students having access to industry leaders, as well as experienced faculty and staff from East Tennessee State University. For more information, including cost and enrollment details, visit NortheastTennessee.org/HTC or call 423-439-8084.Tecogen Inc. (OTCMKTS:TGEN) Short Interest Update

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Former President Jimmy Carter, celebrated champion of human rights, dies at 100Donald Trump has yet to move back into the White House and already fissures are opening in his coalition, amid squabbling between Elon Musk and his Silicon Valley "tech bros" and his hardcore Republican backers. At the heart of the internecine sniping is Trump's central election issue -- immigration -- and the H1-B visas that allow companies to bring foreigners with specific qualifications to the United States. The permits are widely used in Silicon Valley, and Musk -- who himself came to the United States from South Africa on an H1-B -- is a fervent advocate. The world's richest man, who bankrolled Trump's election campaign and has become a close advisor, posted on X Thursday that welcoming elite engineering talent from abroad was "essential for America to keep winning." Vivek Ramaswamy, appointed by Trump as Musk's co-chair on a new advisory board on government efficiency, suggested that companies prefer foreign workers because they lack an "American culture," which he said venerates mediocrity. "A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers," he posted, warning that, without a change in attitude, "we'll have our asses handed to us by China." Skepticism over the benefits of immigration is a hallmark of Trump's "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement and the billionaires' remarks angered immigration hawks who accused them of ignoring US achievements in technological innovation. Incoming White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller posted a 2020 speech in which Trump marveled at the American "culture" that had "harnessed electricity, split the atom, and gave the world the telephone and the Internet." The post appeared calculated to remind critics that Trump won November's election on a platform of getting tough on immigration and boosting American manufacturing. But it was Michael Faraday, an English scientist, who discovered that an electric current could be produced by passing a magnet through a copper wire and Ernest Rutherford, a New Zealander, who first split the atom. And Alexander Graham Bell may have died a US citizen but he was a British subject in Canada when he invented the telephone. Trump voiced opposition to H1-B visas during his successful first run for the White House in 2016, calling them "unfair for our workers" while acknowledging that he used foreign labor in his own businesses. The Republican placed restrictions on the system when he took office, but the curbs were lifted by President Joe Biden. Trump is known for enjoying the gladiatorial spectacle when conflict breaks out in his inner circle. He has been conspicuously silent during the hostilities that Politico characterized as "Musk vs MAGA." Many MAGA figures have been agitating for a complete closure of America's borders while the problem of illegal entries is tackled, and hoping for a steer from Trump that would reassure them that he remains firm in his "America First" stance. For some long-time loyalists, Silicon Valley has already inserted itself too deeply into MAGA politics. "We welcomed the tech bros when they came running our way to avoid the 3rd grade teacher picking their kid's gender -- and the obvious Biden/Harris economic decline," said Matt Gaetz, the scandal-hit congressman forced to withdraw after being nominated by Trump to run the Justice Department. "We did not ask them to engineer an immigration policy." When Musk almost single-handedly blew up a deal painstakingly hammered out between Democrats and Republicans to set the 2025 federal budget, Democrats used "President Musk" to mock Trump, who is famously sensitive about being upstaged. It remains to be seen whether these cracks can be smoothed out or if they are a portent of further strife, but critics point to the chaos in Trump's first term as a potential indicator. "Looking forward to the inevitable divorce between President Trump and Big Tech," said far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, a MAGA figure with so much influence that she had a seat on Trump's plane during the campaign. "We have to protect President Trump from the technocrats." Loomer has subsequently complained of censorship after she was stripped of her paying subscribers on X, which is owned by Musk. "Full censorship of my account simply because I called out H1B visas," she posted. "This is anti-American behavior by tech oligarchs. What happened to free speech?" rle/ft/sms

The fourth day of the Test between Pakistan and South Africa has turned into a thriller with South Africa needing about 32 runs to win with two wickets in hand at lunch. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for Mohammad Abbas bowled Pakistan to the brink of an extraordinary win as he took four wickets in a marathon spell of 13 successive overs as South Africa made heavy work of chasing a modest target of 148. They were 116-8 at lunch with their hopes pinned on the fast bowling pair of Marco Jansen (five) and Kagiso Rabada (10), who were not out at lunch. Abbas, whose overall figures were 6-43 off 17 overs, engineered a dramatic collapse after South Africa looked headed for victory with 50 runs needed and six wickets in hand. 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Abbas also bowled Aiden Markram and had David Bedingham and Corbin Bosch caught behind -- Bosch going first ball to see South Africa slump from 96-4 to 99-8. Pakistan are on the brink of their first test victory in South Africa in 18 years while the home side are chasing a victory that will secure a place for themselves in the World Test Championship final in June. Set a modest target to win the first of a two-test series, South Africa were 27-3 overnight but were looking odds-on for victory as Bavuma and Markram advanced the score in a positive start on Sunday. But Abbas, back in the team after a three-year absence, turned the tide in Pakistan’s favour as he bowled Markram for 37 before Bavuma’s unusual dismissal. The home collapse then saw Kyle Verreynne (2) bowled by Naseem Shah and Bedingham (14) and Bosch try to drive rising deliveries from Abbas but both edge to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. PAK vs SA 1st Test Live: Where to stream Day 4 ? Indian fans can catch the match live on the Jio Cinema app. PAK vs SA 1st Test Live: Where to watch Day 4 on TV Indian fans can watch the Pakistan vs South Africa 1st Test live on the Sports18 network. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Duke Energy Florida files for costs associated with emergency activation and response following devastating 2024 hurricane season

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