What’s next after swiping right? Green and red flags of online dating

Online dating has broken barriers and is the new norm for forming relationships, be it romantic or purely social.

From pioneers like Tinder, Bumble and Grindr to social apps that have dating features, such as Facebook and Viber, the possibilities of meeting new people have never been wider.

As exciting as it may appear, online dating can still get overwhelming given the number of profiles to sift through.

Keeping an eye out for green flags or positive traits will help the search for a potential significant other feel easier and safer, even from a virtual standpoint.

Green flags

The first telling sign a person is real is when their profile is verified and has several photos – and not just pictures, but recent and filter-free images that really show the kind of person they are.

Having a bio helps give a better look at the person, especially if a few words reflect their personality or showcase their interests, humor and values that matter most to them.

Pay attention to how matches converse with you, particularly the kind of questions they ask, ideally engaging ones.

Online dating is built on conversations and interactions, which are two-way efforts. The other party should be curious to know who you are and ask the right questions to know you better.

Discussions shouldn’t have to be monologues or one person bearing all the weight; they should feel like a rhythmic to-and-fro with increasing interest and effort.

At the same time, matches should be considerate – including onself – and understand there is a life outside of online dating. Messages don’t have be instant.

Green flags will also be respectful and not force others for personal information or quickly move to a different platform.

Red flags

If there are positive traits, then there are negative ones, or red flags, as well, which may be familiar to far too many individuals.

Right from the beginning, profiles with no photos or bio should be a warning sign. Louder alarms will ring if photos are stock images, heavily altered, or worse, pictures of someone else.

People say falling in love should be easy, but not so easy that matches quickly get carried away with pet names and professions of love within a few days.

Be wary of the other party bringing up emergencies meant to entice one to send money or investment opportunities that require wire transfers or using a different application. All these scream extortion and fraud.

If such things happen, don’t just disengage from the conversation, report them as well so that the apps can take proper action.

Beyond scams, some profiles just have vibes that can turn people off. Examples are those who write in their bios a list of specific demands and ultimatums rather than preferences.

Words come off as threatening like “either match my energy or just unmatch” or cynical like “sorry if you can’t handle,” as well as specific standards such as “should own a car or their own place.”

Merely having expletives or curse words in bios is a sign of potential toxic behavior and no emotional control.

Oftentimes, the vibes are there but just don’t click because of differing interests. There are profiles with few photos and really short bios, indications that online dating isn’t a priority.

Conversations with such people have really short replies and hardly any questions – better off unmatching rather than dealing with the bare minimum.

Weekend list: Cinemalaya, Space Week return

Space lovers, cinephiles, and foodies are going to have an avenue to express their passions this weekend. Philstar.com lists some of the events and festivals happening in the next two days.

Asian celebrations

Outside of celebrating Filipino identity, the entire Asian continent will get a chance to shine this weekend.

IWE Philippines and the Embassy of India, Manila present the Asian Eats Food Bazaar at Shangri-La Plaza’s Grand Atrium for three days of delicious food, culture, and community

Highlights include a live cooking demo by Chef Surat Rana, executive chef and co-owner of Royal Indian Curry House, and a cultural performance by Thumkaa Tribe.

Meanwhile the embassy of regional neighbor the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is commemorating 50 years of diplomatic relations with the Philippines by co-hosting the “Rhythms of the Land, Puppets of the Water: Vietnam Cultural Days in Manila” special cultural showcase in Intramuros

This Friday and Saturday in the walled city’s Plaza Moriones in Fort Santiago, the Philippines’ National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism band under their Cultural Cooperation Program framework to highlight shared artistic ties and enduring friendship between them through captivating puppetry.

Asian celebrations wouldn’t be complete without Hallyu, and taking center stage this weekend is K-pop boy band Seventeen, specifically the group’s leader S.Coups whose birthday is on August 8.

The following day in Ali Mall’s activity area, fans are invited to Carats Haven’s song hangout for S.Coups filled with Seventeen tracks as well as buy and trade K-pop merchandise and items.

In nearby Gateway Mall 2 on the same Saturday, Philippine masters of Gi and Nogi Jiu Jitsu will participate in the Manila Jiu-Jitsu Festival.

Local indies

The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is back for its 22nd edition, this time with an extended run as it goes from August 6 to 18.

Cinemalaya kicked off last Thursday with an opening ceremony and the local premiere of “Enjoy Your Stay” at Shangri-La Plaza, one of several malls hosting the film festival this year across Metro Manila.

Nine feature films and 10 short films are in competition this year vying for coveted Balanghai trophies and premier recognition of the evolving Philippine indie movie scene.

Stargazing

The country is observing Space Week until August 13 and the exciting activities begin this weekend.

On August 9, the Philippine Space Agency will take over Gateway Mall 2 with a “Navigating Tomorrow” interactive exhibit highlighting Philippines advancements in satellite technology, space data applications, and scientific milestones.

Keep an eye out for several free sessions by PAGASA during Space Week at the Science Garden’s PAGASA Planetarium and PAGASA Astronomical Observatory in UP Diliman, both in Quezon City.

There will be free shows at the planetarium from August 10 to 13 while a free telescope viewing can be done on August 13 at the observatory.

Show stoppers

What would a Philippine weekend be without concerts and musical shows?

This weekend sees the three-day run of the “ABBA Forever” tour, a tribute concert to the iconic Swedish pop group, first at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino on August 7 then the next two days at the Theatre at Solaire.

Several Korean artists have cancelled Philippine appearances on August 8 but still set to push through is girl group Mamamoo for its “4Ward” world tour stop at the Araneta Coliseum.

Peforming on the same day but down in Cagayan de Oro’s Limketkai Center is celebrity couple KZ Tandingan and TJ Monterde for the penultimate Philippine stop – for now – of their “In Between” world tour.

While past the weekend, Filipino fans of Kodaline have one last chance to catch the band when it hits the Mall of Asia Arena on Monday, August 10, for its farewell tour while another act Honne begins a three-day concert run at the PICC Plenary Hall.

DPWH projects: House bill seeks mandatory regular inspections

As the country remains among the world’s most disaster-prone areas, a lawmaker has proposed requiring regular inspections of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects after completion to ensure public safety.

Parañaque Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said he filed House Bill (HB) No. 9780, or the proposed National Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance Act, to keep infrastructure projects safe and ensure they remain sound public investments.

Under HB No. 9780, DPWH projects would undergo inspections every five to 10 years after completion.

‘We need to ensure that each project remains safe and of high quality so that government funds are not wasted. The true value of an infrastructure project is not in the construction itself, but in its longevity, safety and usability,’ Yamsuan said.

‘While these digital portals help monitor the implementation of national government infrastructure projects, periodic physical inspections remain necessary to determine whether these projects still meet engineering safety standards after years of exposure to severe weather, overloading, and other factors affecting their structural integrity,’ he added.

HB No. 9780 tasks the DPWH with inspecting projects and preparing reports for public release.

‘Based on the inspection findings, the DPWH shall undertake the necessary maintenance, repair, or rehabilitation measures for these projects,’ Section 3 of the bill states.

The proposed measure also requires the ‘owner or lawful possessor of the site or location of the national government infrastructure projects’ to allow inspectors and maintenance teams access to conduct inspections, maintenance, repairs, and rehabilitation.

Refusing access or obstructing inspections and maintenance would be punishable by a fine of up to P50,000.

Yamsuan said the measure would complement the Transparency Portal and Integrity Chain established by the current administration to track DPWH projects and fund releases.

‘Ultimately, what we want is to safeguard billions in public investments so that taxpayers get their full money’s worth out of these projects for years to come,’ he said.

‘This problem is usually seen in older public works implemented years ago. Over time, properties may have changed hands or authority over these sites may have become muddled by the involvement of private developers, homeowners’ associations or other private entities,’ he added.

In his fifth State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government would begin constructing disaster-resilient Ligtas Pinoy Centers while pushing for stronger building standards to withstand increasingly severe natural disasters.

The president’s statement prompted lawmakers to call for prioritizing infrastructure-related measures, including the proposed New Philippine Building Act.

Several lawmakers, including Surigao del Sur Rep. Romeo Momo, thanked Marcos for mentioning the bill in his Sona. Similarly, Bulacan Rep. Salvador Pleyto said the president’s remarks should spur Congress to ensure structures are resilient to calamities.

Maymay to become LPA Friday; all wind signals lifted

Wind signals were lifted as Tropical Depression Maymay is expected to weaken into a low-pressure area by Friday morning, the state weather bureau said Thursday night.

In its 11 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Maymay was last estimated at 290 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora. It maintained its speed of 35 kilometers per hour (kph) while moving east-southeastward.

Maymay also maintained its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kph and gusts of up to 55 kph.

‘Maymay is expected to dissipate and become a low-pressure area by Friday morning. It will become a trough of Typhoon Dolphin,’ Pagasa weather specialist Obet Badrina said in Filipino.

Badrina also said that although Typhoon Dolphin is not expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), it will enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing rains over the weekend.

‘A large part of Luzon, especially its western section, will continue to experience rains through the weekend because even if the tropical depression inside the PAR is expected to dissipate, Typhoon Dolphin will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing heavy rains through the weekend,’ he added.

He also said the southwest monsoon and Maymay’s circulation will bring strong gale-force gusts over most parts of the country from Thursday to Saturday.

Meanwhile, a gale warning remains in effect over the seaboard of Extreme Northern Luzon.

25 years after a green dress changed Search, the camera is becoming Africa’s storefront

Twenty-five years ago this July, a single dress changed the way the world searches. When Jennifer Lopez wore her green Versace gown to the 2000 Grammy Awards, millions of people went online looking for it, only to find that a page of blue text links could not show them what they wanted to see. Google Images launched in July 2001 in response. The lesson was simple: human curiosity is visual, and technology has to meet people where their curiosity lives.

That insight has travelled far in twenty-five years. First we could search for pictures with words. Then a picture itself could become the query. Then the phone camera became a way of asking questions about the world, and today a shopper can circle an item on their screen, or point a camera at it on the street, and get an answer in seconds. People no longer translate what they see into approximate keywords and hope for the best. They show the search engine what they mean, and increasingly they say it in their own languages, with AI-powered search now available in thirteen African languages, including Yorùbá, Hausa and Kiswahili, serving more than 100 million people across Sub-Saharan Africa.

For African business leaders, this is not an abstract technology story. Around one in four visual searches globally is commercial: someone trying to identify, compare or buy something they have just seen. Our continent’s consumers are moving faster than most. In Nigeria alone, YouTube watch time has grown more than 55 percent year on year, and eight in ten Nigerians say they are optimistic about AI, with the same share already using AI tools to explore business opportunities, nearly double the global average. Picture a guest at a wedding in Lagos or Nairobi spotting sneakers that blend streetwear with traditional fabric. She lifts her phone, circles the image, and is looking at the designer and a link to buy before the next speech begins. If your product is not in that result, someone else’s is.

So the question I hear most often from marketing leaders across the continent is not whether this shift is real. It is: what exactly do I do about it on Monday morning? Here is the playbook I would run over ninety days, in three phases. None of it requires a multinational budget, and none of it requires your team to master a long list of tools before starting. It requires a change in how you think about being found.

Phase one, be findable: Days 1 to 30

Start with a test anyone can run before lunch. Take out a phone, open any visual search tool, and point the camera at your five best-selling products. What comes back? If the answer is a competitor, a reseller you do not control, or nothing at all, you have found your most urgent gap, and it is entirely fixable.

The work of this first month is unglamorous but decisive. Get your full catalogue properly photographed and digitised, and load it into a structured product feed, the standard format that allows search engines to recognise your items and connect them to the people photographing similar things in the real world. Give the job to one named owner rather than a committee, and keep the success measure binary: by day 30, every product you sell should be recognisable to a camera. This single piece of housekeeping determines whether you exist in the fastest-growing discovery channel on the continent.

Phase two, be present across the journey: Days 31 to 60

The second phase is about how you spend. For two decades, digital marketing meant guessing the exact words a customer might type and bidding on them. That model is breaking down, because customers increasingly do not type at all. They watch, photograph, circle and ask follow-up questions aloud.

You do not need to memorise product names to act on this. What matters is understanding that modern campaigns have three jobs, and AI now coordinates them. The first job is building demand early, placing image-led and video-led creative in the feeds where younger audiences form preferences long before they search. The second is capturing demand at the moment of intent, when someone actively looks for what you sell.

The third is connecting the two, which is where AI systems now do the heavy lifting, reading signals in real time and moving budget toward the people most likely to buy rather than the people who happened to type a particular phrase. In Google’s ecosystem, tools like Demand Gen and Performance Max do this work, but the principle matters more than any product: run the three jobs as one system, not as separate line items.

Two discipline rules make the phase work. Measure the value of conversions, not clicks, so the system has a true target to aim at. And stop judging each channel in isolation, because the layers are designed to feed each other. By day 60, you should see your cost per customer falling.

Phase three, multiply your creative: Days 61 to 90

The third phase tackles the constraint that quietly stalls most African campaigns: creative production. Producing enough good visual material, in enough variations, for enough audiences, has always been the privilege of big budgets.

That is changing. At Cannes Lions, the advertising industry’s largest global festival, held every June in the south of France, the defining theme this year was AI’s evolution from analytical tool to hands-on creative partner. One demonstration made the point vividly: Google DeepMind and the Google Creative Lab recreated Pelé’s legendary unrecorded 1959 goal, a moment no camera ever captured, using archival photographs and generative modelling.

For your team, the same underlying capability is far more practical. Generative tools can now turn a handful of core campaign assets into hundreds of variations tailored to different audiences. AI video models, which we have tested with filmmakers in Lagos, put near-cinematic quality within reach of a startup budget. And AI can answer plain-language questions about creator partnerships, such as which creators in Accra or Kampala reach audiences that care about sustainable fashion, and return a shortlist in minutes rather than weeks. The brief to your agency should change accordingly: less manual resizing and versioning, more strategy and storytelling, which is where their value has always been.

The takeaway

If you retain one thing from this piece, retain the sequence. Be findable, so the camera can see you. Be present across the journey, so intent finds you wherever it forms. Multiply your creative, so you can meet that intent at scale. Each phase compounds the one before it, and the whole playbook fits on a single page.

That accessibility is the real story for Africa. This continent’s economies run on small and medium enterprises, and for the first time the tools of sophisticated marketing are not gated by scale. A designer in Accra, a founder in Nairobi and an artisan in Ibadan can now run substantially the same playbook as a multinational. The businesses that will define the next twenty-five years here will not necessarily be the largest. They will be the ones that acted early.

Twenty-five years ago, a green dress taught the world’s biggest search engine that text was not enough. The sequel to that lesson is unfolding across Africa right now. Your customers are already searching with their cameras and their voices, in their own languages, guided by AI. The only question is whether, ninety days from now, they will find you.

Fed Govt to fix 82km Osogbo/Iwo/Ibadan, 88km Osogbo/Gbongan roads

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday launched the concrete building of 82-kilometre Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road and reconstruction of 88-kilometre Osogbo-Gbongan Road.

He described the projects as strategic investments aimed at improving connectivity, boosting economic activities and restoring confidence in public infrastructure.

The President, represented by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, performed the ceremony at Aje International Market, Osogbo.

He said the projects were part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.

Tinubu said the commencement of the projects signified more than the start of road construction, stressing that it represented a renewed commitment by the Federal Government to connect communities, unlock economic opportunities and improve the quality of life of Nigerians.

‘Today, we are not just turning soil, we are turning a page. Flagging off these road projects marks a clear commitment to connect our people, unlock opportunities and restore confidence in public infrastructure,’ he said.

According to him, the roads are critical components of the Federal Government’s infrastructure development programme designed to enhance connectivity, improve road safety and stimulate socio-economic activities across Osun and Oyo states.

He noted that the roads would enable farmers to transport produce faster, improve access to schools and facilitate movement of people and goods along the corridor.

President Tinubu said the 82-kilometre Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road, which begins at the Dele Yes Sir Roundabout in Osogbo and passes through Ara, Awo, Ede, Telemu, Iwo, Laagun before terminating in Ibadan, has deteriorated over the years.

He said the project, awarded to Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited at a cost of N114.85 billion, would be executed using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) technology and completed within 24 months.

Tinubu also announced that the reconstruction of the 44-kilometre dual carriageway between Osogbo and Gbongan, covering a total of 88 kilometres, had been awarded to Trucrete Solutions Limited for N101.81 billion with a completion period of 24 months.

He said the project would involve upgrading the failed single carriageway sections to dual carriageways on rigid concrete pavement, reconstructing already dualised but deteriorated sections, and providing modern road infrastructure.

According to him, the projects will have drainage systems, reinforced concrete pavement, solar-powered street lights, CCTV surveillance cameras, tree planting, lay-bys and other safety features.

Tinubu said the projects were approved by the Federal Executive Council to ease the burden on motorists and improve the economic fortunes of communities along the corridors.

He directed the contractors to mobilise fully to their project sites, warning that delays would not be tolerated.

The President said his administration was simultaneously executing major highway projects across the country, including the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa Road, the Ilesa-Akure-Owo-Benin Road, sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway and the Trans-Sahara Trade Route.

He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would enforce quality standards, transparency and value for money in the execution of all infrastructure projects.

‘Every naira must count, every milestone must be met and every community must feel the benefit,’ he said.

Tinubu urged the contractors to see themselves as development partners by delivering quality jobs on schedule and engaging youths in their operations to build local capacity.

He expressed confidence that the projects would be completed successfully and contribute significantly to the nation’s economic transformation.

Earlier, the Minister of Works, Prof David Umahi, in his address, said the Federal Government was making significant progress on road infrastructure projects across the country, citing ongoing rehabilitation of the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa Highway by CBC Global and the dualisation of the Ilesa-Akure-Owo-Benin Road by Hitech Construction Company.

He noted that both projects were being executed with rigid concrete pavement technology and had reached various stages of completion, reflecting the administration’s commitment to delivering durable road infrastructure.

Umahi also highlighted steady progress on other flagship highway projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, where the Lagos section has been substantially completed, while work on the Ogun, Akwa Ibom and Cross River sections is advancing at different levels.

He said construction on the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway was progressing across several sections, with additional segments being accelerated, while work had also commenced on the Trans-Sahara Trade Route linking Calabar to Abuja through Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa states, with engineering designs underway for other portions.

The minister assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would maintain strict standards of quality, transparency and accountability in the execution of all road projects, stressing that contractors must deliver value for money and complete projects within schedule.

He urged contractors, engineers and government partners at all levels to work collaboratively and involve young Nigerians in project execution, expressing confidence that the ongoing investments would strengthen public trust, improve connectivity and stimulate economic growth across the country.

Alake calls for calm amid Abuja earth tremor

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, has urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to remain calm following the earth tremor recorded in parts of Abuja.

He assured them that there is no immediate threat to lives and property.

Alake directed Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) to provide him with hourly updates on seismic activities around Abuja for continuous assessment and, where necessary, escalation to relevant government agencies.

The minister, who is in Washington, D.C., United States, engaging American investors in joint venture opportunities in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, said proactive measures had already been activated to safeguard residents and critical infrastructure.

His directive followed a report by NGSA confirming that an earth tremor shook several buildings in Abuja on Tuesday.

The agency said the seismic event was detected by its Seismic Monitoring Station in Utako at exactly 11:23:27 am.

It said the tremor originated from a depth of one kilometre and travelled about four kilometres within five seconds.

NGSA described the incident as a light earth tremor, measuring between I and II on the Mercalli Intensity Scale.

The agency says the tremor is characteristic of a minor surface seismic event that poses no danger to lives or property, besides temporary shaking and public anxiety.

Alake assured residents that NGSA would continue to closely monitor the situation and provide timely updates, while encouraging the public to go about their activities without fear or panic.

Nasarawa underrepresented in federal jobs, FCC commissioner says

She said an assessment of nominal rolls obtained from several federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) showed that Nasarawa had yet to attain its expected level of representation in many institutions.

Ahmadu-Jabiru said the commission’s fifth board, under the leadership of its Executive Chairman, Hon. Ayo Hulayat Omidiran, had rolled out reforms aimed at strengthening transparency and compliance with the Federal Character principle.

She said one of the reforms was the launch of the commission’s website, where MDAs intending to recruit are expected to advertise vacancies to ensure qualified Nigerians have equal access to federal employment opportunities.

‘From the nominal rolls we have assessed across a number of MDAs, Nasarawa State is still underrepresented. Our responsibility is to ensure that future recruitments reflect the Federal Character principle and that every state gets its fair share,’ she said.

She noted that recruitments conducted before the inauguration of the current board could not be reversed but said the commission would ensure future exercises complied with the law before issuing Certificates of Compliance.

‘We cannot reverse recruitments that were done before this board came into office, but going forward, we will ensure that every recruitment complies with the law before Certificates of Compliance are issued,’ she said.

Ahmadu-Jabiru explained that the FCC does not recruit workers but monitors recruitment exercises conducted by federal MDAs to ensure compliance with constitutional provisions on fairness and equity.

‘The commission does not employ anybody. Our duty is to monitor the process and ensure compliance with the Federal Character principle before approving recruitment exercises,’ she explained.

She urged qualified applicants from Nasarawa State to take advantage of vacancies advertised on the commission’s website, saying failure to apply could further affect the state’s representation in federal employment.

She also thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing her into the commission and Governor Abdullahi Sule for nominating her to represent Nasarawa State.

Trade order sparks boom for Kabale service providers as property owners rush to rebuild

As authorities continue to enforce the trade order directive, owners of dilapidated and illegal buildings in Kabale town are rushing to demolish and rebuild, and the ripple effect is putting money in the pockets of surveyors, architects, hardware dealers, masons and timber traders.

According to Kabale Deputy Town Clerk Mr Eric Sunday, all affected property owners must first have their plots surveyed and secure approved building plans before they can construct new structures.

‘The construction of the new houses must follow the physical development plans of our municipality where places designated for commercial, residential and industrial must serve the intended purpose,’ Mr Sunday said.

The directive has boosted local businesses as residents scramble for services and materials. It has also created an unexpected income stream for LC1 chairpersons who earn from witnessing and signing land sale agreements, as some affected owners opt to sell their plots rather than meet the urban authority’s building standards.

Mr. Joram Bwambale, proprietor of Macro Hardware and Macro Engineering Services in Kabale town, says demand for cement, iron bars, iron sheets and nails has nearly doubled.

‘The customers for building materials have almost doubled and I believe it is related to the implementation of the trade order as the affected people buy them to construct houses that meet the required standards of the municipal council authority. Before the implementation of the trade order we used to get about 50 customers for building materials but after the implementation of the trade order customers for building materials almost doubled,’ Mr. Bwambale said.

Masons are also feeling the surge. Mr. Rodney Muhwezi, a senior mason in Kabale town, says their services are now in high demand.

‘The payment for a mason per day ranges between Shs 50,000 and Shs 25,000 depending on the seniority while that of the porters ranges between Shs 20,000 and Shs 10,000 depending on their expertise. Although the trade order implementation disorganized local residents because of its abrupt implementation, it has helped some service providers to earn an extra income,’ Mr. Muhwezi said.

Professional fees have also gone up. Architects are charging between Shs 1 Million and Shs 2 Million to produce building plans depending on size and location, while surveyors demand between Shs 2 Million and Shs 3 Million to process land titles.

The trade order has had mixed effects on other groups. Kabale District Khadi Sheikh Kabu Lule said roadside timber traders were initially hit hard, but the municipal council’s decision to allow them to rent a 2-acre piece of Muslim land has helped.

‘After the Kabale municipal council authorities allowed us to rent out our 2-acre piece of land to the timber traders that were affected by the trade order, we get about Shs 100,000 per month from these dozens of traders currently using our land. If they can remain operating on our land for about 3 years, the Mosque administration will get some good money that can be used to support other development projects of the Islam,’ Sheikh Kabu Lule said.

Timber trader Mr. Erasmus Tumuhekye said relocation from the road reserve was disruptive, but rebuilding has revived sales.

‘There is scarcity of timber in Kabale town not necessarily because of the trade order implementation but also issues related to fuel price increases globally. The price of a piece of timber that measures 4×2 increased from Shs 3,300 to Shs 4,000 while that of 6×2 increased from Shs 4,300 to Shs 5,000,’ Mr. Tumuhekye said.

Kabale District Staff Surveyor Ms. Prosper Aheisiibwe noted a slight rise in land title applications in municipalities where the trade order is being enforced, though rural sub-counties remain largely unaffected.

‘The advantage of having your land titled is that there is proof of land ownership with defined boundaries, helps in organized development and urbanization, securing a mortgage among others. Bureaucracies involved in getting the land title should be reduced if the people are to be timely served. Why should the members of the area land committee come from the sub county yet the LC1 chairman and his committee can do the same work with ease since they are all residents of the same area that can tell who owns what in the village,’ Ms. Aheisiibwe said.

RCGC retains historic Burdett Trophy in 123rd edition

Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) successfully retained the prestigious Burdett Trophy as the match against Nuwara Eliya Golf Club (NEGC) ended in a draw in the Hill Country recently.

The Burdett Trophy, first played more than a century ago, continues to be one of the country’s most treasured golfing traditions, bringing together the nation’s two oldest golf clubs in a fiercely contested annual encounter.

RCGC laid the foundation for victory with a commanding display in the foursomes, securing crucial points through several outstanding partnerships. The Colombo side produced consistent performances throughout the day to establish an unassailable lead before the singles matches.

NEGC responded strongly in the Burdett Singles, claiming a 2½-1½ victory. Viran Perera defeated Yannik Kumara 4 and 3, while Murad Ismail recorded an identical 4 and 3 win over Dharshan Veeraragavan. The contest between Reshan Algama and Chandana Gunasekera ended all square, with each side taking half a point. RCGC’s lone singles victory came from Kushal Johnpillai, who defeated Vinuda Weerasinghe 4 and 3.

Despite NEGC’s spirited fightback in the singles, RCGC’s dominance in the foursomes proved decisive as they successfully defended the famous Burdett Trophy.

While the 123rd Burdett Trophy remained the centrepiece of the annual Royal Colombo Golf Club and Nuwara Eliya Golf Club encounter, several other closely contested matches added further excitement to the weekend. Royal Colombo Golf Club retained the prestigious 125th Anniversary Trophy with an 8½-6½ victory over Nuwara Eliya Golf Club. Nuwara Eliya, however, fought back to claim the Masters Trophy 3-1. The Puffin Foursomes ended all square at 2-2 after an evenly contested battle between the two clubs, while the Puffin Singles also finished tied at 2-2, reflecting the high standard of golf displayed throughout the competition.