In the Philippines, the Supreme Court today endorsed President Rodrigo Duterte's enforcement of martial law across the southern part of the country. <br/><br/>The spokesman of the Supreme Court told reporters in Manila that an overwhelming majority of the justices dismissed the petition filed by the Opposition lawmakers to strike down President's martial rule.<br/><br/>President Duterte had imposed military rule across the insurgency- wracked region of Mindanao in May, hours after hundreds of gunmen waving black IS flags occupied parts of Marawi city and triggered deadly clashes.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, militants continue to occupy parts of Marawi, the Islamic capital of the mainly Catholic country, despite a US-backed military offensive there that has claimed more than 460 lives and displaced nearly 400,000 people.<br/><br/>