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Somali pirates hijack Tanzanian-flagged fuel and chemical tanker en route from Yemen

A merchant ship hijacked in Yemeni waters in the Gulf of Aden last week is currently being held by Somali pirates, according to local sources in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region.

The vessel, identified as the MT Asana, is a Tanzanian-flagged fuel and chemical tanker.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a resident and self-described former pirate stated that there are 20 crew members on board the tanker, including eight German and 10 Filipino nationals. A second resident in the coastal town of Caluula reported seeing pirates transporting food supplies out to the hijacked vessel.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed last week that a vessel boarded by unauthorised personnel in the Gulf of Aden had subsequently been manoeuvred into Somali territorial waters, formally classifying the incident as a hijacking.

Somali piracy caused widespread disruption off the Horn of Africa between 2008 and 2018.

Following a prolonged lull, pirate activity in the region began to resurge in late 2023.

Addressing reporters on Thursday, July 23, 2026, Tanzania’s chief government spokesperson, Mr Gerson Msigwa, stated that Tanzanian authorities are actively assessing the situation and working to verify the vessel’s links to the country.

“Our systems are tracking the situation to determine the exact connection to our country regarding the ship carrying cargo bound for Tanzania [from Yemen],’ he said.

‘We are following up, and once we have complete and accurate information, we will issue an official statement to the public,” added Mr Msigwa.

Vatican: Jesus is the true treasure of the Church

The true wealth of the Catholic Church is Jesus Christ, and this hidden treasure must be revealed, Papal Nuncio Charles Brown said on Saturday.

Drawing on the Gospel parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price, the archbishop said many people mistake the Church for a purely humanitarian organization, overlooking what he called its central, divine reality.

‘The mission of evangelization is to reveal that hidden treasure,’ he said.

That treasure is Christ’s presence, love, teaching and the life of grace – one that stays concealed unless Catholics actively make it known, the ambassador of the Vatican said.

According to CBCPNews, Brown gave this message to almost 4,000 Catholics who attended the 12th Philippine Conference on the New Evangelization held at the Quadricentennial Pavilion of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

‘We want people to see that the Church is not merely a human organization doing good works, but truly the Body of Christ, where Jesus is present and where the fullness of truth about human life and our eternal destiny is found,’ Brown said.

He stressed the dignity of the marginalized, urging delegates to view the poor, the addicted and the abandoned as ‘pearls of great price,’ reminding them that these are the people for whom Christ gave everything.

He added that authentic evangelization requires more than preaching, it demands concrete acts of charity toward those living on the streets or struggling with addiction, whom he described as deeply loved by God despite society’s neglect.

He urged the delegates to continue as ‘missionary disciples,’ carrying that message beyond the conference.

NETBALL-COMMONWEALTH-Sunshine Girls defeated by New Zealand in close contest

Jamaica suffered their first loss of the Commonwealth Games when their Sunshine Girls went down to New Zealand 53-48 in their second preliminary game at the Hyra Arena here on Sunday.

Fresh from winning their opener against Trinidad and Tobago, the Jamaicans trailed New Zealand for the majority of the game in the highly anticipated encounter. Led by a standout performance from Grace Nweke, who scored 47 goals from 56 attempts, New Zealand held a slim 14-12 advantage after the first quarter and were up by one goal (26-25) at the half. They then extended that lead to 39-35 heading into the final period before holding on to win by five goals.

Romelda Aiken scored 34 goals from 38 attempts and Shanice Beckford scored 14 from 15 attempts for the Jamaicans.

The Sunshine Girls will now look to rebound in their Group B contest against Uganda, who have won both of their matches so far over Wales (59-50) and Trinidad and Tobago (80-36).

GUYANA-TRAGEDY-Government and opposition clashed verbally over MV Barima disaster

The Guyana parliament was told Monday that one of the 77 persons rescued following the July 18 MV Barima tragedy that left 73 people dead and several others missing and presumed dead, has died as legislators clashed verbally as to who should take the blame for the country’s worst ever maritime disaster.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips in a prepared statement to the National Assembly said that the search and rescue/recovery operations are continuing as he gave legislators ‘an account concerning the tragedy’ as well as the support provided to the affected families. He said two days after the incident, where it is believed that the 87-year-old vessel had capsized after being hit by a huge wave, ‘the MV Barima was found resting on the seabed approximately 31 nautical miles northwest of the point of uninitialed distress communicated by the Air Traffic Control tower’.

Phillips said that this was based on the report made by Haresh Singh and the assistance provided by local fisherfolk, ExxonMobil Guyana, VESHI and Sealand Survey’s Gilligan Island in confirming the vessel’s exact position.

The prime minister said that in the final operational update issued last Friday, the government advised that the coordinated search and recovery operation remained active throughout the day.

He said that the designated search area had been expanded by an additional 32 square miles, westwards to Waini Point and eastwards to Adventure, while aerial surveillance flights continued.

‘Five dives, each lasting between 45 and 60 minutes, were completed on 24 July. During one of those dives, one body was recovered from within the MV Barima. This brought the cumulative number of bodies recovered to 73, of whom 69 had been positively identified.’

Prime Minister Phillips said that ‘this tragedy has caused immeasurable grief across our country’ and that the Irfaan Ali government ‘extends its deepest condolences to every family that has lost a loved one and remains committed to supporting those affected.

‘May the families who have suffered loss find strength and comfort, and may the souls of those who perished rest in peace,’ he said, as the government extended its gratitude to the various stakeholders involved in the search and rescue operations, including the assistance provided by France, Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil.

On Monday, the Ministry of Health said that of the bodies recovered five remain unidentified, and that the authorities are seeking the public’s assistance. It said that the unidentified victims are four males and one female.

The official manifest showed that the vessel, which was travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, a small village within the Barima-Waini administrative region of the country, had 116 passengers and a crew of 17. But the authorities have since said they believe that there were 179 people on board the vessel.

The ministry said the identification of the victims is essential to ensuring that they are returned to their loved ones with dignity and afforded a respectful and proper burial.

Monday’s parliamentary session became very heated, as opposition legislators claimed that the government wanted to carry on with ‘business as usual’ even in wake of the deadly ferry tragedy.

During the Opposition’s protest for more than five hours inside the parliament, the Leader of the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), Amanza Walton, today said the one minute of silence in the National Assembly is simply not enough for the victims and their families.

‘They have come here and they have the agencies heads here because they come for money, they come for money. Because you have all the agencies heads in here, because for them it is business as usual.

‘Not a nation, we are sorry, not a nation we take responsibility. One hundred and something Guyanese lives boil down to one minute of silence and then they want to go for money. We are not having it, and to the people of Guyana, y’all need to come out because what these people are showing you is that despite how much we holler and shout in here, they are prepared to walk over you and go on with business as usual, so you all better get out here and stand up to this government’, Walton said.

The opposition’s protest became even more heated when Attorney General Anil Nandlall delivered from President Ali who called for unity as the country deals with the issue.

‘Our nation today bleeds from the calamitous loss of so many of our sons and daughters, no words can truly capture the depth of grief that has descended on our country. This tragedy has shaken our Republic to its very foundation.

‘It has left an ache in every community, in every home and in every heart. It is a wound that we will carry together and it is one that history will forever recall as among the greatest sorrows of our nation’, Nandlall said on behalf of the head of state.

But as he spoke, the opposition legislators loudly protested demanding the removal of the government ministers, including the Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill, over their handling of the tragedy.

‘The magnitude of the tragedy has left countless families bearing immeasurable burdens of grief, our hearts are especially with them, and I once again extend our deepest condolences to every family and every individual that has suffered unimaginable losses. We mourn with you and we grieve beside you. Your pain has become the nation’s pain.

‘To those who survived this horrific ordeal, we know that survival itself carries its own burden. The memories of that dreadful night may remain with you for years to come. You are not alone, your country stands beside you’, Nandlall quoted from Ali’s statement.

‘Our responsibility to these families does not end with recovery operations. It will continue for as long as necessary. We shall walk with them through their grief, assist them in rebuilding their lives and ensure that they never face this burden alone,’ Nandlall said, as the opposition legislators stepped stepped towards the Attorney General, forcing the Speaker to plead with them to return to their seats.

Government legislators later surrounded the Attorney General as he continued the speech.

Osun guber: Adeleke declares Tuesday work-free day for PVC collection

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has declared Tuesday, July 28, 2026, a work-free day for all public servants in Osun State to enable them to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the August governorship election.

In a circular issued on Monday, the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina, said the approval covers workers at the state and local government levels, as well as staff of tertiary institutions across the state.

According to the circular, the work-free day was approved to enable public servants to perform their civic duty during the forthcoming gubernatorial and future elections in the state.

However, workers on essential services such as medical personnel and security operatives were urged to make necessary internal arrangements to ensure there is no disruption to critical services.

Governor Adeleke, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, urged both public and informal workers to collect their PVCs without delay.

‘I encourage all registered voters to go to all the collection points without delay. Your vote is your power. Your voter’s card is your licence to the ballot paper and by extension to the ballot box,’ the governor said.

He noted that the August 16 governorship election is critical to the future of Osun State and called on residents to participate actively.

Reaching communities, rebuilding lives

The mission

The program is grounded not just in the immediate rollout of aid, but in the long-term recovery of affected communities.

For Cruz, relief efforts must look beyond the basics. From on-the-ground assessments to implementation, Cruz has been hands-on in expanding Damayan’s reach.

“Noong nag-landslide sa Leyte way back in the 1990s, ang dala namin doon hindi lang groceries, kundi pati na rin ang pang-repare ng bahay,” Cruz says.

She recalls that the team traveled 36 hours from Metro Manila to provide materials for temporary housing and essential kitchen supplies to affected families.

That same commitment has guided Damayan’s response to major disasters through the years.

In 2011, Typhoon Sendong left a devastating mark on Northern Mindanao. The STAR’s Operation Damayan team provided grocery packs to 1,000 families in Cagayan de Oro and distributed school supplies to more than 1,000 students in Iligan City.

In 2013, The STAR reached the isolated town of Loon, Bohol, after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Central Visayas. The team extended relief assistance to more than 3,000 households across the town’s 21 barangays.

Beyond disaster response, Operation Damayan has also invested in education as part of long-term recovery.

The first Adopt-a-School project of Damayan was launched in July 2002 as part of The STAR’s 16th anniversary celebration. Built in Barangay Banga-an in Banaue, Ifugao, the project provided not only classrooms but also books and learning materials through in-house donations.

Another milestone project was the development of San Miguel Elementary School in Tarlac during The STAR’s 25th anniversary. The turnover included new school buildings, a library, and books for students and faculty.

Operation Damayan has likewise reached communities through large-scale medical missions.

During The STAR’s 13th anniversary, the program served more than 11,000 patients in a one-day medical mission at Betty Go-Belmonte Elementary School in Quezon City with the help of more than a thousand volunteer doctors, nurses and medical personnel.

The mission

The program is grounded not just in the immediate rollout of aid, but in the long-term recovery of affected communities.

For Cruz, relief efforts must look beyond the basics. From on-the-ground assessments to implementation, Cruz has been hands-on in expanding Damayan’s reach.

“Noong nag-landslide sa Leyte way back in the 1990s, ang dala namin doon hindi lang groceries, kundi pati na rin ang pang-repare ng bahay,” Cruz says.

She recalls that the team traveled 36 hours from Metro Manila to provide materials for temporary housing and essential kitchen supplies to affected families.

That same commitment has guided Damayan’s response to major disasters through the years.

In 2011, Typhoon Sendong left a devastating mark on Northern Mindanao. The STAR’s Operation Damayan team provided grocery packs to 1,000 families in Cagayan de Oro and distributed school supplies to more than 1,000 students in Iligan City.

In 2013, The STAR reached the isolated town of Loon, Bohol, after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Central Visayas. The team extended relief assistance to more than 3,000 households across the town’s 21 barangays.

Beyond disaster response, Operation Damayan has also invested in education as part of long-term recovery.

The first Adopt-a-School project of Damayan was launched in July 2002 as part of The STAR’s 16th anniversary celebration. Built in Barangay Banga-an in Banaue, Ifugao, the project provided not only classrooms but also books and learning materials through in-house donations.

Another milestone project was the development of San Miguel Elementary School in Tarlac during The STAR’s 25th anniversary. The turnover included new school buildings, a library, and books for students and faculty.

Operation Damayan has likewise reached communities through large-scale medical missions.

During The STAR’s 13th anniversary, the program served more than 11,000 patients in a one-day medical mission at Betty Go-Belmonte Elementary School in Quezon City with the help of more than a thousand volunteer doctors, nurses and medical personnel.

Aid that lasts

For Operation Damayan, rebuilding communities goes beyond providing relief after disaster strikes.

Through every food pack distributed, every classroom built and every family reached, the program reminds communities that they are not alone in recovery.

More than a humanitarian initiative, Operation Damayan is the product of decades of service, compassion and solidarity with communities across the country.

As The Philippine STAR marks its 40th anniversary, Operation Damayan remains a testament to its enduring commitment to stand with Filipinos, especially in their most difficult moments.

Grab named DICT ‘Bayani sa Last-Mile’ awardee for advancing digital inclusion, livelihood opportunities

Grab was recognized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology as one of its ‘Bayani sa Last-Mile’ awardees, affirming Grab’s role in helping bring digital services closer to Filipino consumers, merchants, and delivery-partners.

The recognition also underscored Grab’s broader commitment to supporting the Marcos administration’s digital transformation and livelihood agenda by enabling more Filipino entrepreneurs and platform workers to participate in the growing digital economy.

The award was conferred during DICT’s Digital Bayanihan Awards: A Decade of Digital Transformation and Building the Future Together, held on June 30, 2026, at the Bahay ng Alumni in Quezon City. The event capped National ICT Month 2026 and marked the department’s 10th anniversary under the theme ‘Isang Dekadang Digital: Konektado sa Puso at Serbisyo.’

For Grab, the recognition affirms how last-mile delivery has become more than a logistics service. In a rapidly digitizing economy, it has become a practical bridge between digital platforms and everyday Filipino needs, helping consumers access goods more conveniently, helping small businesses reach wider markets, and helping delivery-partners connect to flexible earning opportunities.

‘Last-mile delivery is where digital transformation becomes real for many Filipinos. It is when a small business can serve more customers, when a family can receive what they need more conveniently, and when a delivery-partner can access livelihood opportunities through technology,’ said Grab Philippines Managing Director Ronald Roda. ‘We are honored by this recognition from DICT, and we remain committed to working with the government in building a more inclusive digital economy that creates opportunities for consumers, merchants, and our delivery-partners.’

Grab was among private sector organizations, government partners, local government units, and other stakeholders recognized by DICT for contributing to the country’s digital transformation over the past decade.

The recognition also comes as Grab continues to advance its commitment to the Marcos administration to help generate 500,000 livelihood opportunities for Filipinos through its platform. Grab has already delivered new livelihoods equivalent to 73 percent of its five-year target, putting it on track to exceed its goal ahead of schedule.

The livelihood push is also being carried through Grab Asenso: A Digital Diskarte Program, Grab’s flagship public-private initiative that supports the digitalization of micro, small, and medium enterprises across the country. Endorsed by DICT and partner local governments, the program combines mobile-first learning with practical merchant tools embedded in the GrabMerchant app.

Through the Grab Asenso Learning Caravan, MSMEs are trained on mobile-first digital marketing, financial growth planning, and the responsible use of AI tools for business. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs use their smartphones not only to manage day-to-day operations, but also to improve their online presence, understand customer demand, and grow more sustainably in a digital marketplace.

Grab Asenso also introduces tools such as the Grab Merchant AI Assistant, which helps merchants develop promos, improve product descriptions, and respond to customer trends, as well as digital payment solutions that make cashless acceptance more accessible to small businesses.

For Grab, these efforts reflect the same principle behind the DICT recognition: digital transformation must translate into real benefits for Filipino communities.

For merchants, dependable delivery and digital tools can help sustain operations, expand customer reach, and strengthen resilience. For consumers, last-mile logistics can make goods and services more accessible. For delivery-partners, the platform can provide flexible livelihood opportunities supported by technology that connects them to demand. In a Facebook post, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda emphasized that digital transformation must ultimately create tangible opportunities for Filipino communities.

‘Ang teknolohiya ay hindi lang tungkol sa internet o signal. Tungkol ito sa mga tao at sa mga oportunidad na nabubuksan para sa kanila,’ Aguda said. ‘Dahil sa bawat koneksyon na naihahatid natin, mas maraming bata ang nakakapag-aral, mas maraming negosyo ang lumalago, at mas maraming pamilya ang nagkakaroon ng mas maraming oportunidad.’

Aguda also recognized national government agencies, local government units, industry partners, and other stakeholders supporting the country’s digital transformation, stressing that the goals of the government’s Digital Bayanihan can only be achieved through collective action.

Grab will continue working with public and private sector partners to support more inclusive, accessible, and resilient digital services for Filipino communities.

DOE’s GEA-7 includes solar, hydro

THE Department of Energy (DOE) will offer 2,020 megawatts (MW) of solar rooftop, ground-mounted solar and 120 MW of run-of-river hydro technologies under the seventh round of the green energy auction (GEA-7) program.

Under the draft terms of reference (TOR) released over the weekend, the agency will offer these renewable energy (RE) capacities for Mindanao, a move meant to stimulate investments in the region, address growing energy demand, and promote a more balanced and resilient power system across the country.

The DOE is proposing to set a target of 500MW of installed capacity for ground-mounted solar + battery energy storage system (BESS) for each year starting 2027 to 2030. This integration is expected to improve dispatch ability and address the intermittency of solar energy, supporting a more secure and flexible power system.

For solar rooftop, the target installation capacity is five MW per year during the same period.

For hydro, a total of 120MW of capacity is targeted for delivery between 2028 to 2030.

The DOE wants these RE facilities to be RPS (renewable portfolio standards)-eligible. RPS is a market-based policy that mandates electricity suppliers to source an agreed portion of their energy supply from eligbile RE sources.

The draft TOR provides prospective developers with the necessary guidelines to participate in the auction. ‘The DOE is requesting all interested parties to submit comments and recommendations to the draft TOR for the seventh round of GEA. In line with this, a focused group discussion will be held on July 27, 2026,’ the DOE notice stated.

Marcos says Pax Silica hub to create jobs, boost competitiveness

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 27, said the Philippines is making its way into strategic and emerging industries, citing the proposed Pax Silica Industrial Hub as the centerpiece of the country’s push to build an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven economy.

In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos said the industrial hub will rise under the US-led Pax Silica Initiative and will establish an ecosystem anchored on AI.

“It will bring quality jobs to our people, accelerate our industrial competitiveness, and revitalize our economy,” the president said.

Marcos said the project would help generate quality jobs while boosting the country’s industrial competitiveness and supporting economic growth.

He added that the Pax Silica Industrial Hub would be part of the Luzon Economic Corridor, where it is envisioned to serve as an advanced manufacturing and logistics hub integrated into the global AI and technology value chain.

Suspected improvised explosive device recovered outside Senate – police

A suspected improvised explosive device (IED) was recovered outside the Senate premises in Pasay City on Monday morning, July 27, ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona), according to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

An employee of a towing service along Diokno Boulevard flagged the suspected IED during a routine security inspection by Pasay City Police Station personnel, the NCRPO said in a police report.

‘Thereafter, the team implemented the appropriate Render Safe Procedure (RSP) utilizing the Hand Entry Technique to safely examine and neutralize the suspected IED. The procedure was successfully completed without incident,’ the police explained.

‘The operation yielded a positive result for the presence of explosive components/materials,’ it added.

The police report noted that operatives recovered a 9V battery, a blasting cap, a clock and a plastic jar containing a brown powder ‘suspected to be an explosive material.’

In an interview with reporters in Quezon City, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the agency was now investigating the circumstances surrounding the suspected IED.