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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.

SB19 to unveil new song ‘Lawless’ on July 31

July continues to be an eventful month for SB19 as they announced that aside from their international appearances, A’TINs can look forward to the release of the group’s new single ‘Lawless’ before the month ends.

The P-pop supergroup is set to unveil the track on July 31, as per the announcement shared on their social media pages on Wednesday, July 22.

‘We don’t stop at borders. We go beyond them. Better watch your back. JULY 31 PHT,’ it reads.

The song’s music video will be released on the same date.

Ahead of ‘Lawless,’ SB19 is set to appear on the Grammy Museum’s ‘Global Spin Live’ on July 28 (July 29 in the Philippines), then throw a ceremonial first pitch at the pre-game ceremony of the Chicago White Sox vs. New York Yankees matchup on July 29 (July 30 in the Philippines).

The following day, the quintet will perform at the Lollapalooza festival, making history as the first Filipino homegrown act to perform at the Chicago-based music festival.

In August, the group will fly to Japan for their Thanksgiving fan meet, and to perform at the Summer Sonic festival.

Sandigan to Marcoleta: Explain why you shouldn’t be suspended as senator

The Sandiganbayan Third Division has asked Sen. Rodante Marcoleta as to why he should not be suspended in his upper chamber position in view of his plunder case.

In a July 22 order that was furnished to the media on Thursday, the anti-graft court division gave Marcoleta, through his counsel, a non-extendible period of 10 days ‘to explain why he should not be preventively suspended from office as an incumbent member of the Philippine Senate.’

The court said this is pursuant to Section 5 of the Republic Act No 7080 or the Anti-Plunder Act, which provides for the preventive suspension of any official facing a plunder case.

On Monday, Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero, senator-judge and presiding officer, announced that Marcoleta has submitted a letter of manifestation asking to have his vote considered in the proceedings before the Senate impeachment court trying the case of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Escudero expressed that he was ‘inclined to agree’ with Marcoleta’s suggestion, as long as he does not face any suspension.

Marcoleta is part of the minority bloc perceived to be pro-Duterte.

On Wednesday, Marcoleta already pleaded not guilty to charges of plunder and violating a presidential decree that prohibits government officials from receiving, and private individuals from conferring, gifts in the Sandiganbayan.

The Third Division handles the plunder case of Marcoleta, his donors former Rep. Mike Defensor and businessmen, Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray, over a P75 million campaign donation the senator received while being a sitting party-list lawmaker, which, according to state prosecutors, was not declared in the senator’s financial and campaign disclosures.

Of the said donation, P30 million came from Defensor, P25 million from Espiritu, and P20 million from Viray.

Marcoleta has been imprisoned in the male dormitory of the New Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas since July 15.

PGDX 2026 partners with Steam for official Curator Sale

The Philippine GameDev Expo (PGDX) has announced a partnership with Steam for the launch of the PGDX 2026 Steam Curator Sale, a new initiative aimed at giving participating developers greater visibility on the global digital storefront.

The curator page features a selection of games associated with PGDX, allowing Steam users to easily discover titles from developers taking part in the expo. Through the partnership, organizers hope to expand the reach of participating studios beyond the event itself and introduce their games to more players worldwide.

In a press release, PGDX said the initiative highlights games by developers from the Philippines and neighboring Southeast Asian countries, creating additional opportunities for engagement through wishlists, follows and purchases on the platform while helping participating developers promote their projects.

The launch marks another step in PGDX’s efforts to support the local game development industry. Since its first iteration in 2023, the expo has grown beyond a convention for gamers and has become a platform that brings together independent developers, publishers, artists, content creators, cosplayers and other industry stakeholders.

Players can browse featured titles through the official PGDX 2026 Steam Curator Sale page on Steam, while tickets for PGDX 2026 are available through the event’s official ticketing website.

Filipino seafarer killed in Ukraine-bound tanker strike off Romania – reports

A seafarer reported by Romanian media to be Filipino has died after a strike hit a Ukraine-bound gas tanker in the Black Sea.

The seafarer, who is yet to be identified, was one of three crew members wounded when the Gas Lisbon, a Liberian-flagged tanker carrying propane to a Ukrainian port, was struck outside Romanian territorial waters overnight to Tuesday.

A representative of Romania’s health ministry told Agence France Presse that the seafarer who died was a 46-year-old man who suffered burns covering 10% of his body and damage to his airways.

Romanian media reported that the man was from the Philippines, but the health ministry could not confirm his nationality.

The nationality and condition of the two other wounded crew members have also not been confirmed.

The tanker had 17 crew members and was carrying more than 3,790 tonnes of propane. It had departed from Alexandria, Egypt and was headed to the Ukrainian port of Reni.

Ukraine blamed Russia for the strike, calling it a deliberate act of “terror.”

Romanian President Nicusor Dan called the strike a “serious incident” that was “most likely part of the Russian Federation’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.”

Russia has not responded to the allegations.

Romanian authorities were still working Thursday to determine who hit the tanker and what weapon was used.

Emergency services said Wednesday that although the fire on the ship no longer had open flames, high temperatures still made it unsafe to access the vessel.

The Black Sea has been a regular theater of confrontation between Ukraine and Russia since the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.

PP attacks changes to welfare card terms

The People’s Party (PP) has criticised the government’s revised state welfare card criteria, saying the changes reflect poor policy coordination and could exclude vulnerable people from assistance.

Veerayooth Kanchoochat, a party-list MP and chairman of the House committee on economic development, said confusion over eligibility was not solely the responsibility of the Finance Ministry or Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, but of the cabinet as a whole.

He said the revised criteria were approved by the cabinet on July 14 and so represented a collective decision. He questioned why ministers responsible for transport, social development and other sectors had failed to scrutinise issues such as vehicle ownership and disability classifications before the policy was endorsed.

“This is the second revision and problems remain,” he said, referring to an earlier controversy in June when some people lost eligibility because their names had been used by their children in tax deduction claims.

Mr Veerayooth also raised concerns about criteria affecting farmers. Under current rules, applicants may be disqualified if they own more than 10 rai of land or have agricultural debt exceeding 100,000 baht.

He said the thresholds did not reflect conditions in rural areas. According to agricultural data, the average farmer owns about 17 rai, while many carry debts above the current limit. Using land ownership alone as an indicator of wealth could unfairly exclude low-income farmers whose earnings depend on crop yields and fluctuating market conditions, he said.

He urged the government to adopt a more comprehensive assessment system using data from multiple ministries instead of relying on individual indicators such as vehicle ownership, landholdings or debt levels.

Fury in Pattaya ring tomorrow

Tyson Fury declared he feels “at peace with everything” as he addressed the media on Wednesday ahead of his heavyweight bout against Mariusz Wach, which takes place tomorrow (Friday) at the 1,500-seat Max Muay Thai Arena in Pattaya.

The press conference, held at the Amelia Hotel Pattaya, officially launched the event, promoted by Gold Star Promotion and sanctioned by the World Boxing Council (WBC).

The contest serves as Fury’s return to the ring before a proposed showdown with Anthony Joshua later this year, with the newly created WBC Humanitarian Title also on the line.

Fury revealed that the opportunity to fight in Thailand came after a planned Aug 1 bout in Dublin was replaced by an event that offered something more meaningful.

“It’s a special moment to be out here in Thailand,” said Fury. “I’ve been here since December. Beautiful place, beautiful people. I feel at peace with everything. I think I thrive better in warmer climates. I feel rejuvenated.

“I was supposed to box in Dublin on Aug 1, but an opportunity arose to fight here for a good cause as well. I did my own research and found the Father Ray Foundation. It means a lot to me to give back to such an unbelievable charity.”

Fury also acknowledged the unusual setting for a heavyweight star of his stature.

“I’m happy to do a fight over here in Thailand, taking over a boxing show. Which other heavyweight world champion would do a performance in a 1,500-seat arena in Pattaya? Do you think David Beckham or someone famous like that would do it? No way.”

Despite the attention surrounding a potential clash with Joshua, Fury insisted his full focus remains on the experienced Polish veteran standing across from him.

“This is a dangerous fight,” Fury said. “Mariusz is the same weight as me, the same size as me. He’s had the same amount of fights, if not more. He’s been in with elite-level champions. Mariusz would beat Joshua’s opponent, whoever he is. This man is a real fighting man.”

Fury dismissed any suggestion that Friday’s contest is merely a stepping stone.

“This is my show and I’m not interested in what’s happening elsewhere with Joshua. What happens before Friday is none of my concern. What will be, will be, and what won’t, won’t. If it happens, God willing, good. If it doesn’t, good.”

Plans in place to evacuate Thais in Middle East

There are contingency evacuation plans in place for Thai citizens living in the Middle East amid a new round of the US-led war against Iran, said Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow.

Mr Sihasak was speaking from the Philippines where he attended the Asean foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila.

He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) held a meeting to monitor and assess the tense situation in the Middle East following the end of the ceasefire and the renewed fighting there.

During during previous clashes, Thais were evacuated from Iran safely.

“The MFA has to prepare to handle all scenarios and assess our readiness, especially if another evacuation of Thai citizens is necessary. I can confirm that we are prepared for any eventuality,” he said.

Eksiri Pintaruchi, the ministry’s permanent secretary, on Tuesday chaired the meeting to monitor the situation in the Middle East, which was attended by representatives of all Thai embassies and consulates in the Middle East region via teleconference.

Attendants exchanged information and followed the progress in caring for and providing assistance to Thai people in each country. They also reviewed the readiness of plans to assist and evacuate Thai nationals if the situation changes according to the context of each area, the ministry said.

Embassies and consulates general in the turbulent region have informed Thai nationals there to closely follow news dispensed by them and to also strictly follow the announcements and warnings of their host country.

Currently, there are no reports of Thai nationals in the Middle East region being severely affected by the conflict, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Mr Sihasak said the Asean ministers’ meeting has discussed the central role Asean plays in fostering global peace and security.

The situation in Myanmar remains concerning, he said, adding Thailand’s policy emphasises dialogue and interaction, without abandoning Asean’s five-point consensus.

However, Thailand has to acknowledged its interests in border security, he said.

This encompasses numerous issues including border trade, transnational organised crime, drug trafficking, and pollution, which requires dialogue with the Myanmar government.

Thailand has urged the new Myanmar government to continue the dialogue process towards peace and reconciliation, and expressed Thailand’s readiness to facilitate talks, involving both ethnic minorities and the Myanmar government.

No jackpot winner in July 23 PCSO Super Lotto, Lotto 6/42 draws

No bettor won the jackpot prizes for the Super Lotto 6/49 and Lotto 6/42 draws held Thursday, July 23, according to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

The Super Lotto 6/49 winning combination was 39-38-01-36-11-26. The jackpot prize stood at about ?86.72 million, with no winner.

The Lotto 6/42 winning combination was 32-03-01-22-33-21. The jackpot prize was ?10 million, and no bettor matched all six numbers to claim the top prize.

Minor games

6D Lotto: 0-3-2-6-4-2; top prize of about ?1.48 million; no winner.

3D Lotto (2 p.m.): 2-8-1; ?4,500 first prize; 437 winners.

3D Lotto (5 p.m.): 2-7-4; ?4,500 first prize; 96 winners.

3D Lotto (9 p.m.): 1-0-9; ?4,500 first prize; 600 winners.

2D Lotto (2 p.m.): 04-05; ?4,000 first prize; 357 winners.

2D Lotto (5 p.m.): 19-31; ?4,000 first prize; 54 winners.

2D Lotto (9 p.m.): 17-22; ?4,000 first prize; 454 winners.

PCSO said the winning numbers and prize amounts were based on the official results of the July 23 draws.

Draw schedule

Lotto 6/42 draws are held every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, while SuperLotto 6/49 draws take place every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, according to the PCSO draw schedule.

Alas geared-up for turnaround?

As promised, Alas Pilipinas coach Angiolino Frigoni is sticking to his guns, the same ones he coached in a poor fifth-place showing in the men’s SEA V Cup first leg in Candon City, llocos Sur last week..

While the battle-tested Italian mentor isn’t promising the moon, he is of the belief that a bright future awaits his charges.

But Alas will be tested anew as it clashes with old, familiar foe, SEA V Cup first leg champion and conqueror Cambodia in today’s second and last leg of this annual event over in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Dynamo Josh Ybañez, named Best Libero in Candon, will spearhead the same squad that also features fellow World Championship veterans Lloyd Josafat, Louie Ramirez and Vince Lorenzo, and Southeast Asian Games beach volley medalist Jude Garcia.

Also in fold are Jian Salarzon, Axel Van Book, JJ Macam, Al Bukhari Sali, Rodge Alejos, Trevor Valerra, Lirick Mendoza, Josh Magalaman, Greg Ancheta, Adrian Villados and Vennie Ceballos.

Frigoni is steadfast that while the door is still open for Alas players who missed out joining the team in Candon, they would have to work and compete to reclaim their old spots.

Among those who weren’t in Candon due to various reasons were Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo and Leo Ordiales.

Alas is determined to get back at Cambodia after the former succumbed to the latter in a five-set duel that led to the Nationals’ fifth-place finish.