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Tanzania Central Bank urges shift to digital payments to fight fake currency

In an effort to combat counterfeit currency, residents of Geita Region have been advised to adopt digital payment systems to secure their funds and prevent fraudulent losses.

The call was made on Thursday, July 23, 2026, by Bank of Tanzania (BoT) public relations officer, Mr Sadi Makomba, during a seminar on proper banknote care and detection of counterfeit currency.

The event, held at Nyerere Hall within the Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan exhibition grounds in Bombambili Ward, Geita Municipality, targeted small-scale miners, masters of ceremonies (MCs), musicians, and entrepreneurs. Mr Makomba explained that the central bank targeted Geita due to its rapidly expanding economy driven by mining activities, which generate high cash circulation.

He noted that beyond enhancing individual financial security, digital channels, such as mobile money and electronic banking, boost national economic growth by keeping funds within formal financial channels.

Additionally, digital transactions reduce the government’s expenditure on replacing worn banknotes.

‘We consistently advocate for digital payments to prevent financial losses. Digital channels also reduce physical wear and tear on banknotes as more transactions move to mobile platforms and automated teller machines,’ said Mr Makomba.

‘Mismanaging banknotes inflicts significant economic losses on the country because currency production requires foreign exchange. Educating the public is essential to mitigate these recurring costs,’ he said.

Participants commended the central bank for the training and recommended extending the sessions directly to workplaces and forming financial education clubs in schools and colleges.

A small-scale miner, Ms Teonestina Christopher, emphasised the relevance of the training to the mining sector, noting that miners work under arduous conditions and require knowledge to protect their earnings from counterfeiters and fraud.

A Bongo Flava artist, Ms Maria Faustine, said the education would enable musicians and event hosts to discourage the unlawful practice of spraying or sticking banknotes onto performers during celebrations.

2 suspects arrested over Shariff Aguak ambush that killed 5 cops

Two men allegedly involved in an ambush that killed five police officers and injured three more in Shariff Aguak earlier this year were arrested, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday.

In a press briefing in Camp Crame, PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co said the two suspects were arrested separately in operations in General Santos City, South Cotabato and in Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur, but he did not provide more details.

Co noted that the two suspects were taken into their respective local police’s custody, awaiting charges for five counts of murder and three counts of frustrated murder.

The ambush took place in a remote area in Barangay Poblacion, Shariff Aguak last March, targeting the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office while on their way back from a patrol operation.

Co added that police were still looking for around 30 more suspects in the ambush still at large.

‘These two [are] part of the group that we believe was also the group involved in the recent grenade-throwing incident targeting the Armed Forces of the Philippines,’ Co explained.

‘They are not the exact individuals who did that, but it’s the same group,’ he added.

The PNP public information chief was referring to an incident last July 18 in which a grenade landed inside the command post of the Charlie Company, 7th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Macaguiling, Sultan Kudarat.

No one was hurt in the explosion, according to the military

AAAN’s 53rd AGM/Congress Begins in Lagos, Sets Agenda for Advertising’s Next Chapter

The Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) will today commence its 53rd Annual General Meeting and Congress in Lagos, bringing together leaders across advertising, marketing, media, government, and the creative economy to examine the forces shaping the future of the industry.

The two-day event, which will take place at Providence Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, is themed ‘AdVolution: The End of Advertising as We Know It and How to Win What Comes Next.’ The theme explores how the advertising industry is adapting to rapid changes driven by technology, artificial intelligence, evolving consumer expectations, and emerging creative models.

The AGM/Congress will begin with AAAN’s business session, where members will receive updates on the Association’s activities, committee reports, and strategic priorities. The session will also provide an opportunity to reflect on the Association’s progress and discuss key issues shaping the industry.

The main conference, scheduled for Friday, will feature the official opening by the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, alongside participation from government officials, regulators, and industry stakeholders, including the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, and the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr. Lekan Fadolapo.

A major highlight of the conference will be keynote sessions from Tomiwa Aladekomo, Chief Executive Officer of Big Cabal Media, and Dr. Meksley Nwagboh, Head of Brand and Communications at Fidelity Bank Plc, who will share perspectives on the evolving advertising landscape, brand building, and the role of communications in a rapidly changing marketplace.

According to AAAN President, Lanre Adisa, the theme of this year’s congress reflects the need for the industry to confront change while preserving the creativity and human connection that define effective advertising.

‘The theme is a wake-up call to the reality we are dealing with. Traditional advertising is not dead; it has evolved. The need to communicate will never change, it is only fast evolving. The question is how well we are embracing this challenge.’

Adisa noted that while technologies such as artificial intelligence are reshaping the industry, agencies remain central to developing ideas and solutions that connect with audiences, with technology serving as an enabler of human creativity rather than a replacement for it.

The congress will feature conversations around the evolving role of agencies, the creator economy, technology-driven innovation, and the need for businesses to demonstrate greater value in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

The event will conclude with a Gala and Awards Night, which will recognise outstanding individuals and celebrate achievements across Nigeria’s advertising industry.

Padios wins gold in 10th Asian Pencak Silat tourney

Hiraya Francine Padios ruled the women’s singles in Seni (artistic) to deliver the Philippines’ lone gold medal in the recently concluded 10th Asian Pencak Silat Championships in Dong Nai, Vietnam.

The 22-year-old native of Aklan bedazzled the competition as she elicited a 9.915 score to complete her golden romp, which capped the Filipinos’ solid haul that included five silver medals and the same number of bronzes.

It was another medal for Padios, who struck gold in the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games four years ago and took the silver in the 2019 edition in Subic at a very young age of 15 years old back then.

Kram Airam Carpio, an Asian Youth Games gold winner in Bahrain last year, chipped in a silver in the Tanding Class B female 50-55 kilograms as well as Rick Ortega, Mark Laurenz Ortega and Edmar Tacuel (male Regu-Seni), Kyan Voyde Garcia (Tanding Class I male 85-90kg), Stephen Suazo (Tanding Class Open 1 Male) and May Justine Acat (Tanding Class Open 2 female).

It was the second medal for Tacuel, the country’s lone SEA Games gold medalist in 2019 in Subic, after he also picked up a bronze in the male singles Seni.

Also accounting for a bronze for the Nationals were Maricel dela Torre Escalona (Tanding Class D female 60-65kg), Allimar Tanilon Campos (Tanding Class F male 70-75kg), Alvin Campos (Tanding Class G Male 75-80kg) and Joo Ash (Tanding Class H male 80-85kg).

AIA, MediCard launch bundled HMO-life insurance package

AIA Philippines and its healthcare arm MediCard have rolled out an integrated employee benefits package that combines health maintenance organization (HMO) coverage with group life insurance, targeting small businesses looking to simplify benefits administration while expanding worker protection.

Dubbed Group Life + HMO, the offering combines MediCard’s healthcare coverage with AIA Philippines’ Yearly Renewable Term Life insurance, Total and Permanent Disability protection, and Accidental Death, Dismemberment and Disability coverage under a single plan.

The package is available to companies with as few as five employees, with annual premiums ranging from P56.80 to P284 per employee, depending on the selected coverage of P20,000 to P100,000.

The integrated offering also provides employers with a single provider relationship, one enrollment process and one billing arrangement, allowing companies to streamline benefits administration.

Currently, the Yearly Renewable Term Life insurance provides coverage against death from any cause, except suicide during the first year of coverage. Meanwhile, the Total and Permanent Disability benefit provides a lump-sum payout to employees who become permanently disabled.

The Accidental Death, Dismemberment and Disability coverage pays an additional benefit if an insured employee dies, suffers dismemberment or becomes disabled within 180 days of an accident.

‘Employers want to know they’re supporting their people through life’s unforeseen moments. By helping protect employees from both medical costs and the wider financial impact of life’s uncertainties, employers can provide more meaningful support for their people and their families,’ MediCard CEO Julian Mengual said.

AIA Philippines and MediCard said the product is particularly suited for micro, small and medium enterprises, which account for 99.5 percent of business establishments and employ more than 60 percent of the Philippine workforce

Robin Padilla: ‘One-sided’ remark was a call for ‘fairness’

Sen. Robinhood Padilla clarified that his call for prosecutors not to be ‘one-sided’ was a call for fairness, particularly in allowing senator-judges facing cases but not convicted to participate in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

He explained that his remark stemmed from a discussion on whether a previous conviction automatically disqualifies a witness from testifying, which he then related to the possibility of allowing senators facing cases to participate in the Duterte trial.

‘That was my point when I said not to be one-sided. This is not about favoring a witness or a senator-judge. What I am calling for is fairness,’ Padilla said in Filipino in a statement released Wednesday night.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, Padilla asked the prosecution whether a person convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude could still serve as a witness.

He also asked the prosecution to avoid presenting witnesses with perjury cases, such as National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc and Senior Agent John Mark Calilung.

Rep. Gerville Luistro, the lead prosecutor, replied that they were able to verify that there are no pending cases against their witnesses, and a previous conviction is not a ground for disqualifying a witness, to which Padilla replied in Filipino: ‘You know, your answer was very good. I hope our prosecution will not be one-sided.’

Padilla’s remark drew criticism and prompted Luistro to explain in a press conference after the trial on Wednesday that the impeachment proceedings are adversarial in nature, so the prosecution is expected to establish its case while the defense is tasked with defending the respondent.

Padilla then wrote in Filipino in a Facebook post on Thursday that ‘the prosecution’s role is not to win, but to pursue the truth and protect the innocent.’

In his statement on Wednesday, Padilla cited a previous interview in which Rep. Leila de Lima, a House prosecutor, discussed the possible application of the principle in Avelino v. Cuenco in determining the Senate’s ‘functional base’ for computing the two-thirds vote required for conviction.

Padilla quoted de Lima as saying, ‘Why include in the number… the senator-judges who don’t function because they are not present?’

According to him, de Lima explained that the two-thirds conviction threshold would change from 16 to 15 or 14 votes since not all 24 senator-judges are present and part of the ‘functional base.’

Padilla clarified that he was not saying that the same legal rules should apply to witnesses and senator-judges, but maintained his call for ‘fairness.’

‘If a witness is not automatically disqualified despite having a conviction, why is the possibility being discussed that senator-judges who have cases but have not been convicted may be unable to participate and eventually be excluded from the functional base?’ he said in Filipino.

Sens. Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada are both detained after being separately arrested on plunder charges. Another ally, Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, remains in hiding over an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in connection with the case alleging former President Rodrigo Duterte’s crimes against humanity.

All three have so far been unable to participate in the impeachment trial against the vice president.

Padilla, a self-proclaimed ally of the Duterte family, maintained that all available legal and procedural avenues should first be exhausted to allow senator-judges to participate before considering their exclusion from the conviction threshold.

‘If court permission is needed, then let us seek it. If the Senate needs to deliberate on it, then let us deliberate. But before discussing who should be excluded from the count, let us first exhaust all legal means to give everyone the opportunity to perform their duty,’ Padilla said in Filipino.

Meanwhile, presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero previously ruled that 16 votes remain the threshold for conviction, with the two-thirds computed based on all 24 members of the Senate, regardless of who is physically present

Pathum acquire Quintana to bolster porous defence

BG Pathum United have moved to shore up their fragile defence with the signing of Uruguayan Yeferson Quintana from Brazilian side Paysandu, the club confirmed.

The towering 196cm centre-back, who began his career at boyhood club Penarol in 2016, has since had loan spells at San Jose Earthquakes, Cerro Largo, Danubio and Racing Ferrol before joining Defensor Sporting in 2022. He moved to Brazil in 2024, turning out for Portuguesa before Paysandu.

“I am very happy to join the team and have the opportunity to wear this shirt,” Quintana, 30, said. “I can’t wait to get on the pitch and fight for everyone, and for this club’s crest. I will do my absolute best to take this club to its destination. See you at the stadium — I will wear this shirt and play with immense pride.”

Elsewhere, PT Prachuap FC have completed a striking coup, securing former England international Andros Townsend from Kanchanaburi Power.

Prachuap head coach Sasom Pobprasert admitted the move had come as a surprise even within the club.

“It is quite a surprising deal, because we are not a big team that a player of his calibre would ordinarily consider,” he said. “Credit must go to our chairman, Songkiat Limarunrak, who negotiated with the player’s agent just a week before the deal was finalised.”

Sasom added that Townsend’s experience would benefit Prachuap’s younger players. Townsend, who recently worked as a pundit at the 2026 World Cup, is expected to join the squad around July 25.

Meanwhile, the Football Association of Thailand has confirmed the fixture list for the 2026-27 Thai League 2 season, which begins on Sept 4. The campaign comprises 34 matches per club.

The opening match will see Uttaradit host Muang Thong United, while Kanchanaburi Power — now under former Vietnam coach Park Hang-Seo — travel to face PT Satun on Sept 6.

Resilience, pride,dignity

Monday’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. should be one of the most substantial speeches of his six-year presidency which ends on June 30, 2028. It should summon time-honored values essential to nation-building – resilience, pride, dignity.

Resilience. Elected with the largest vote (31.6 million or 59 percent) ever for a president, Marcos Jr. has survived the most difficult years of his presidency, from 2024 til today.

The past three years have seen the most active and most blatant attempts to destabilize his government or overthrow him outright, with Vice President Sara Duterte announcing on at least three occasions she wants the President killed – either by strangulation which she imagined she herself would do and through hired assassin/s. Sara’s brother, Davao Mayor Baste Duterte, has publicly declared he wants the President’s head in a killing reminiscent of the end of the Romanovs (the ruling tsar family whose members were shot and bayoneted by the communists to death in 1918).

Resilience and pride. The economy grew by an average of 5.8 percent in the first four years of the Marcos Jr. presidency, one of the best economic growth rates in the region. Growth was broad-based, resulting in the Philippines achieving what it has failed to do in the past 40 years – become an upper-middle income country (UMIC).

The Philippines is now a member of the UMIC Club of 59 countries which make between $4,636 and $14,375 in per capita gross national income (GNI) per year. Our GNI per capita is $4,850 – only $120 below Vietnam’s per capita GNI of $4,970, meaning the Philippines is not that far behind the growth pace of Asia’s growth superstar, Vietnam, despite our rambunctious democracy (Vietnam is a one-party socialist republic and is run by its communist party) and our so-called corrupt governance (Vietnam kills its corrupt officials; in Manila, the big-time thieves and malcontents are given due process and a televised impeachment trial).

Pride and dignity. The Philippines has become an economic, security and strategic partner of world powers. Manila marches with these powers as an equal and a reliable partner.

The Philippines expanded its network of security alliances beyond traditional partners to counter regional maritime threats. On top of its core defensive arrangement under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the US, Manila has formalized Visiting Forces Agreements with France and Japan, and strategic trilateral partnerships with the United States and Japan.

A historic Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with France enables joint military training and expanding European security engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

The Philippines elevated its bilateral relations with Japan to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the highest level. The milestone reflects exceptional mutual trust and deepening cooperation amid evolving Indo-Pacific challenges, with key focus on defense, maritime security, economic growth and investments, in strategic areas like AI, green industries and semiconductors.

The Philippines has joined the US-led Pax Silica coalition of 13 countries to secure supply chains for artificial intelligence, semiconductors and critical minerals, and to reduce reliance on Chinese rare-earth tech. For this, the Philippines is building a 1,600-hectare AI industrial hub in New Clark City.

Resilience and pride. Despite the much talked about economic slowdown, the Philippine economy produced its first Filipino trillionaire, Enrique Razon. The college dropout is worth P1.26 trillion ($20.45 billion) because of rising market values of his companies engaged in port operations, casino, utilities and energy.

Resilience and pride. The Philippines has produced its first Filipino global tennis star, Alexander ‘Alex’ Eala, 21. She has a career high singles WTA ranking of World No. 28. She became the first Filipino to reach the fourth round (Round of 16) of a Grand Slam singles tournament. At Wimbledon, she defeated the world No. 1 and defending champion Iga Swiatek.

Not many people realize it but BBM’s presidency has seen the largest ever campaign launched against the most corrupt species of public officials and private contractors ever to strut in the islands of this benighted archipelago.

One popular ex-senator, Bong Revilla, is in jail. Two incumbent senators are in jail – Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta. All three for the non-bailable charge of plunder – defined as a series of acts involving the stealing of P50 million or more, whether the money is tax money or private money. The Office of the Ombudsman is preparing to file non-bailable plunder and money laundering charges against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, ranking senators and a dozen other lawmakers. The National Bureau of Investigation is looking into fund anomalies that attended the construction of the P50-million cauldron and other facilities for the 2019 SEAGames under then foreign secretary Alan Peter Cayetano. Since the amounts involved reached billions, is Alan destined for jail for plunder too? He feels threatened though he has not been named by the NBI as a suspect.

Not many people realize it but famous people who otherwise would be gallivanting around the world spending stolen money or money tainted with blood are in jail for various offenses. The Philippines’ most popular president Rodrigo Duterte has been in jail in The Hague since March 11, 2025. He is accused of killing between 6,200 and 30,000 civilians in the largest mass execution ever waged by a presidency. Apollo Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed ‘appointed son of God’ is in jail for sex trafficking and other sex offenses. Former Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Teves is in jail for the 2023 assassination of Negros Oriential governor Noel Degamo.

What about Sara Duterte? She threatened to kill President Marcos Jr., First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. That shows character defect and unfitness to be in public office. She accumulated billions in her bank accounts despite having earned only P30 million in her years as a public official. That is unexplained wealth. By law, unexplained wealth is proof of corruption. That shows unfitness to be in public office and to run for the highest position in the land.

Titan ultra ends dry spell

This game presented hungry Titan Ultra with an opening to finally end its misery.

The Giant Risers took on TNT at a time when the defending PBA Governors’ Cup champion was dealing with injuries to five key players and still struggling to find its groove with import Darius Days.

And they were quick to jump at this golden opportunity.

Led by Tirrell Brown’s 29-point, 10-rebound, five-assist performance, the Giant Risers secured a 103-87 reversal over the Tropang 5G last night at Ynares Center-Antipolo.

This served as a big confidence booster as Titan stopped not only a 0-3 start marred by back-to-back losing margins of 31 and 35 points in the season-ending conference but also a longer 10-game skid dating back to the previous Commissioner’s Cup.

‘Nagpapasalamat ako kay Lord God na binigyan kami ng panalo today especially against TNT,’ said coach Rensy Bajar, in the pressroom for the winning teams for the first time since Titan’s 102-98 win over Blackwater last April 8 in the mid-season meet.

‘I give credit to all my players, especially Tirrell, they want to win talaga. And I’m happy ‘yung game plan namin, especially on defense, nasunod,’ he added.

As sweetener, the 16-point shocker over TNT marked a new high for Titan’s young franchise in terms of winning margin.

Bajar hopes to build momentum from this upset over TNT (1-1), which lost coach Chot Reyes to ejection early in the third for incurring his second technical foul of the game.

‘Napakahirap nung three straight losses to motivate the players,’ admitted Bajar.

‘But I told them just to enjoy the game. Don’t think about winning right away, treat this game quarter by quarter, minute by minute, possession by possession at baka sakali dun nagkaroon kami ng pag-asa.’

Banking on their defense, the Giant Risers outplayed the Tropang 5G in the middle quarters, 53-33, to seize control.

‘We limited TNT to 48 points in the first half and we played good defense. Then na-duplicate namin ‘yun nung second half with the leadership of our import,’ said Bajar.

Later, San Miguel Beer roared to 3-0 with a 128-122 victory over Converge.

George King banged in 41-11 as CJ Perez rifled in 31 as the Beermen stretched their unbeaten start while dropping the FiberXers to 3-1.

Oldest war hero dies in Pangasinan

Valentin Untalan, the oldest World War II hero in Pangasinan and arguably one of the oldest Filipinos in the country, died on Thursday at the advanced age of 109.

Details about the death of Untalan, a resident of Barangay Doyong, had not been made public, but he had been wheelchair-bound, and his health had been failing for years.

He was able to attend for the very last time the annual Pangasinan Veterans Day celebration on January 9, where he shared stories about his war experiences and urged the young generation to love their country.

Frequently attends Lingayen Gulf memorials

Untalan also frequently attended the memorials for the Lingayen Gulf Landing when American General Douglas MacArthur returned to liberate the country from the occupying forces of the Imperial Japanese Army towards the end of the war in the Pacific in 1945.

In 2023, Untalan said he retains vivid memories of how he survived in the jungle during the war.

Untalan joined the Philippine Scouts and was inducted into the United States Army Forces in the Far East on Feb. 26, 1941, with the rank of private first class.

A videotape interview shown during a veterans event shows him recalling that he was assigned to the ‘L’ Company of the 57th Infantry at the outbreak of World War II in the country, which began when Japanese planes bombarded Camp John Hay in Baguio City on December 8, 1941.

His unit cared for the wounded soldiers of the 11th Infantry and nearby Allied units defending the Pangasinan D-2 line.

They also provided medical care to wounded and sick sOldiers during the Battle of Bataan and engaged Japanese forces in the ‘Battle of the Pockets.’

Surviving in the jungle

‘I searched for guavas and papayas in the jungle. I could not climb the papaya, but I cut it down with my machete, and I ate as many as I could. When the sun was setting, I filled my haversack with papaya, and then I looked for a place to sleep. I saw a foxhole, and I went inside,’ Untalan had said in a halting, raspy voice.

He also recalled how he was assigned to command a platoon, and became a platoon leader and officer, with the rank of major, during the war.

‘You know that long bridge in Carmen (Rosales, Pangasinan)? There were guns over there,’ he said. ‘Sometimes, for 24 hours, you stay in the water until you are relieved by someone. Sometimes they have no replacement for you, and you cannot quit without a replacement,’ Untalan said.

In a social media post, a family member paid tribute to Untalan: ‘Though our hearts are filled with sorrow, they are also filled with gratitude-for 109 wonderful years of your life and for every precious moment we shared with you. You may have left this world, but your love will never leave us. Sleep peacefully, our beloved Laki (Grandfather) Valentin Untalan Sr. Until the day we meet again, you will always be our greatest blessing. ‘