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Covid-19 cases on the rise, health officials say

Covid-19 infections in Thailand are on an upward trend, with an average of 15,000 new cases reported each week over the past four weeks, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC).

Health officials are urging the public to keep track of disease outbreaks and health risks associated with the rainy season and changing weather conditions, while taking appropriate preventive measures to reduce illness and severe disease.

From Jan 1 to Sept 15, Thailand recorded 135,667 cumulative cases of Covid-19, equivalent to a morbidity rate of 206 cases per 100,000 population. There were 26 deaths.

Although the figures have risen slightly, they remain lower than those recorded over the past two to three years, according to Dr Jurai Wongsawat and Dr Weerawat Manosuthi, senior medical experts with the DDC, who held a briefing on Tuesday.

In just one month, from Aug 9 to Sept 8, a total of 64,937 Covid-19 cases were reported nationwide.

Over the past four weeks, the number of cases has risen by an average of 15,000 per week, while deaths have averaged two to four per week, said Dr Jurai. The provinces with the highest number of cases are Chon Buri, Bangkok and Phuket.

‘The highest incidence rate was recorded among children under one year old, followed by children aged 1-4,’ she said. ‘Among working-age adults, those aged 20-29 had the highest number of cases, followed by those aged 30-39.’

Of the 26 Covid-19 deaths so far this year, 21 were in the high-risk ‘608’ group. This group comprises people aged 60 and over and those with underlying conditions such as diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic respiratory disease and cancer.

Dr Weerawat Manosuthi, senior medical expert and Department of Disease Control (DDC) spokesman, speaks about the Covid-19 situation during a media briefing on Tuesday. (Photo: Department of Disease Control)

Dr Weerawat Manosuthi, senior medical expert and Department of Disease Control (DDC) spokesman, speaks about the Covid-19 situation during a briefing on Tuesday. (Photo: Department of Disease Control)

Dr Weerawat said the dominant Covid-19 strain in Thailand was NB.1.8.1, followed by JN.1, with both strains generally causing mild symptoms.

However, there have been reports of PQ.16.1.1, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified as a variant under monitoring. Thailand has so far recorded six cases of the variant, representing a slight increase, but there has been no indication that it causes more severe illness, he said.

According to the DDC, the five most common illnesses reported during the period from Aug 9 to Sept 8 were influenza, diarrhoeal disease, Covid-19, pneumonia and hand, foot and mouth disease.

The five diseases with the highest patient fatality rates during the same period were rabies, Legionnaires’ disease, melioidosis, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, and encephalitis.

Influenza

From Jan 1 to Sept 8, Thailand recorded 359,672 influenza cases and 57 deaths. The number of cases is on an upward trend, with children aged 5-9 accounting for the largest proportion of patients. Most had not received an influenza vaccination.

The strain detected most frequently in August was A/H1N1 (pdm09).

RSV infections

From Jan 1 to Sept 8, a total of 8,578 cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection were reported, with one death involving a two-month-old infant who was a premature birth.

Most RSV patients were children aged under one year. Cases are increasing, although the number remains lower than that recorded last year.

Gold mine collapse kills 67 in Sudan

A gold mine collapse in a remote area in Sudan has killed at least 67 people, a medical group and survivors said yesterday, the latest tragedy in a nation mired in a devastating war.

The survivors said the collapse took place at al-Zara gold mine in the town of Nuhud in West Kordofan province, which is controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that have been fighting against the Sudanese military for over three years.

The Sudan Doctors Network, a medical group tracking the war in Sudan, provided the death toll and said it could increase as rescuers continued to search for people trapped under the rubble. The group said the mine – an informal site that employs unregulated workers – lacked basic safety and protective measures.

Two survivors reached by phone and the physicians network said the tragedy took place on Tuesday evening. However, the Kordofan Observatory monitoring group said the collapse was on Sunday in a group of interconnected shafts at the mine that stretched over 1 kilometer (0.6 miles).

The Observatory said at least 70 miners were killed or missing at the site, which stretches across a wide swath of fragile, sandy soil. It described the miners as unregulated and informal workers.

The discrepancy in the accounts of when the collapse happened could not be immediately reconciled.

Survivors said many people remain missing. Khairal-Sayed Gabara, one of the survivors, said the collapse was ‘massive,’ and that machinery needed to remove the collapsed soil and rubble was not available.

‘We do not have the machinery to lift dirt and stones and search for survivors at depths of more than 30 meters,’ he said. ‘There were dozens of people working in the mine.’

Al-Amin Suliman, one of the surviving miners, said they had recovered 60 bodies as of yesterday morning, and that ‘there are still people stuck inside.’

Sudan is a major gold producer but deadly mine collapses are not uncommon in the country, where safety standards are not widely applied. A 2023 collapse killed 14 miners and one in 2021 claimed 38 lives.

The collapsed mine is one of thousands of small-scale and informal mines scattered across Sudan, engulfed in a war that has at times pushed parts of the country into famine.

Large quantities of gold have been smuggled out of the country to finance the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, who control gold-producing areas in Darfur and Kordofan regions, according to experts commissioned by the United Nations.

Sudan plunged into an all-out war in April 2023 as fighting erupted between the RSF and the Sudanese military.

The conflict has killed at least 59,000 people, according to Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a monitoring group. Aid organizations say the figure is an undercount, and the true number could be many times higher.

Industry experts to examine Nigeria’s $1trn economy target at 42nd OML

Nigeria’s ambition to become a $1 trillion economy will come under scrutiny at the 42nd Omolayole Management Lecture (OML), scheduled for September 24, 2026, in Lagos.

The organisers, including AIESEC Alumni Nigeria, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Lagos Chamber of Commerce of Commerce and Industry, among others, said in Lagos on Thursday, that the lecture will draw industry experts from across sectors of the Nigerian economy.

According to Marcel Mba, president, AIESEC Nigeria, the lecture themed: ‘One trillion dollar economy: What it will take Nigeria to achieve the goal,’ will examine the economic requirements and policy measures needed to achieve the ambitious target.

He noted that only about 21 countries globally, currently have economies exceeding $1trillion in nominal GDP, with no African country among them. They noted that South Africa’s economy is estimated at about $480 billion, while Nigeria’s stands at approximately $377 billion.

Adetunji Adetokunbo Oyebanji, president and chairman of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria (CIoD) will deliver the keynote address.

The organisers said the annual OML, established in 1985 in honour of veteran industrialist Michael Omolayole, will critically examine the socio-economic issues and generating recommendations for policymakers.

Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, NECA director-general, represented by Thompson Akpabio, a deputy director at NECA, noted that the Nigerian economy was plagued with daunting challenges requiring fixing. He believed that the lecture will provide the platform to address some of the drawbacks confronting the economy, if the $1trillion target must be achieved.

Bayo Ige, chairman of the planning committee, said that positions reached at this year’s lecture will form a communique that will be shared with the government and the wider Nigerian society.

The 42nd edition will hold from 2pm to 5pm at the NECA Main Auditorium, NECA House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Marcoleta says no furlough bid for impeachment threshold vote

Detained Sen. Rodante Marcoleta vowed not not seek furlough from the Sandiganbayan to vote on a proposed change to the 16-vote threshold required for conviction in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

At a press conference following the hearing of his plunder case on Monday, September 16, Marcoleta argued that the 16-vote threshold should not be subject to a vote because it is already in the Constitution.

“I will not move for a furlough just to vote for a threshold,” Marcoleta said. He was with Mike Defensor, a former lawmaker and detainee, at the event.

“I don’t think the threshold is a subject of votation. It’s already in the Constitution,” he added.

The lawmaker also expressed disappointment that his Senate colleagues did not take up his July 20 manifestation on his participation in the impeachment trial.

His manifestation, according to Marcoleta, also contained questions on the legitimacy of Sen. Francis Escudero as presiding officer and concerning the 16-vote threshold.

“Kung ‘di nila (Senate) ite-take up ‘yon [manifestation], bakit pa ako makikipag-participate doon?” Marcoleta said.

(If they [the Senate] aren’t going to take that up [the manifestation], why should I still participate in it?).

On September 16, three former Supreme Court chief justices, acting as “amici curiae,” explained that the Constitution does not fix the number at 16 to convict an official in an impeachment trial.

According to retired magistrates invited to the Senate court, a conviction requires two-thirds of “all the Members of the Senate,” but “all” should be interpreted as all qualified, participating members, not necessarily the full 24 if some are legally or physically unable to participate.

Questions about the conviction threshold arose following concerns raised by senator-judges over the applicable vote requirement, considering the Senate’s incomplete membership.

This is due to the imprisonment of two senators, Marcoleta and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, for plunder, and Sen. Bato Dela Rosa being at large due to an International Criminal Court warrant of arrest.

FULL LIST: 49 trophies Lionel Messi has won

Lionel Messi added another piece of silverware to his collection on Wednesday night, scoring and assisting as Inter Miami defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 to win the Campeones Cup.

The triumph marked Messi’s fifth trophy with Inter Miami, adding the Campeones Cup to the Leagues Cup, MLS Supporters’ Shield, Eastern Conference Championship and MLS Cup.

Messi has also enjoyed an extraordinary, trophy-laden career with Barcelona and Argentina, winning major domestic, European and international honours, including the UEFA Champions League, Copa América and FIFA World Cup.

Below are the 49 trophies Messi has won so far in his career:

La Liga – 10

Spanish Super Cup – 8

Copa del Rey – 7

UEFA Champions League – 4

UEFA Super Cup – 3

FIFA Club World Cup – 3

Ligue 1 – 2

Copa América – 2

FIFA World Cup – 1

Finalissima – 1

Olympic Gold Medal – 1

FIFA U-20 World Cup – 1

French Super Cup – 1

Leagues Cup – 1

MLS Supporters’ Shield – 1

Eastern Conference Championship – 1

MLS Cup – 1

Campeones Cup – 1

Glaiza de Castro took 5 pregnancy tests before believing she was pregnant

Glaiza de Castro took several pregnancy tests before she finally believed that she was expecting her first child.

The actress recalled being stunned when she first saw the positive result, saying she took about five tests because she could not believe she was pregnant.

Glaiza shared details about her pregnancy journey during her recent guest appearance on ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.’

‘Hindi siya nag-sink in agad. Parang siguro I had mga five pregnancy tests. Kasi hindi ako makapaniwala. And at the time, wala po si David, nasa Ireland,’ Glaiza said.

Her husband, David Rainey, was in Ireland on a family trip at the time. Glaiza said her period was already a week late, which was unusual for her.

When the test finally showed two lines, Glaiza said she simply stared at the result.

‘Nu’ng lumabas ‘yung resulta na nag-positive, may dalawang linya. Tinitingnan ko lang. Tapos nandu’n lang ako sa kama ko. ‘Totoo ba ito?” she recalled.

Unlike the dramatic pregnancy scenes she had portrayed in television shows, Glaiza said her actual reaction was much quieter.

‘Hindi talaga siya parang soap opera. Lahat ng mga ginawa ko sa soap, hindi ‘yun ‘yung nangyari sa totoong buhay. Kumbaga stunned. I was so stunned. And I couldn’t believe kung ano ‘yung nakikita ko,’ she said.

After consulting her OB-Gyne, Glaiza immediately shared the news with David.

She recalled getting nervous when David called her.

‘Nu’ng tumatawag na siya, nanginig na ako, Tito (Boy). Nanginig ako, parang, ‘Oh my God! Tumatawag siya.’ Tapos, nu’ng tinawagan niya ako, sabi niya sa akin, ‘Congratulations!” she said.

‘(Sabi ko) Napakagandang balita naman ito. Ang gandang sorpresa naman itong binigay mo sa akin,’ she added.

‘Answered prayer’

Glaiza previously shared that her OB-Gyne had been ‘disappointed’ with her earlier test results because they suggested that she and David needed to make changes to their lifestyle.

‘Because hindi ‘yun ‘yung in-expect niya. Kumbaga may kailangan kaming baguhin sa lifestyle namin. Like ako, medyo mataas ‘yung cholesterol ko. Ganu’n. Parang in a way, medyo bumaba ‘yung hope niya na magiging natural pa ‘yung pagko-conceive,’ she said.

When she eventually learned that her due date was in January, which is also her birth month, Glaiza became emotional.

‘Nu’ng nalaman ko, nu’ng nag-compute ako kung kailan ako due date, January, du’n ako naiyak. Kasi sabi ko, ‘Wow, what a wonderful gift.’ Kasi answered prayer talaga siya, na matagal na namin pinagpe-pray,’ she said.

‘Tapos nu’ng finally, nalaman ko na birth month ko siya isisilang. In a way, magkabuwan kami,’ she added.

Pregnancy during theater debut

Glaiza also opened up about the challenges she experienced during her first trimester, describing it as a ‘rollercoaster of emotions.’

At the time, she was also preparing for her theater debut in ‘Virgin Labfest.’

‘Nagta-travel ako from Quezon City to CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines) twice a week. And I was really struggling. Tapos pinagpe-pray ko na sana huwag akong… mag-faint sa stage or mag-suka sa stage,’ she said.

She said she experienced fatigue and morning sickness, particularly before and after her performances.

‘Before and after ko po nararamdaman ‘yung pagod, ‘yung morning sickness,’ she added.

Government calls for shift from control to facilitation

The Government has called for a shift from a control-oriented approach to one focused on facilitating economic activities and investment, saying the change is necessary to support private-sector growth and implementation of Development Vision 2050.

Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba made the remarks on September 17, 2026, at the National Planners’ Conference in Arusha, saying excessive emphasis on regulation in some areas needed to give way to greater facilitation.

He said government officials needed to reconsider how they manage economic activities by creating conditions that make it easier for businesses to invest, expand production and create jobs. Dr Nchemba said the shift was particularly important because Dira 2050 expects the private sector to account for 70 per cent of its implementation.

‘This change is important because Vision 2050 expects the private sector to contribute 70 percent to its implementation. Achieving this target requires an environment that enables both domestic and foreign investment, expands productive activities and increases the number of taxpayers rather than relying on increasing taxes alone,’ he said.

The Prime Minister said Tanzania needed to change the way it worked to ensure development planning reflected changing economic circumstances.

He said planners should recognise that the conditions under which development plans are implemented could change, requiring policies and implementation approaches to respond accordingly.

Among the changes, he cited the declining availability of aid and concessional loans, which he said made domestic resources increasingly important in financing development.

Dr Nchemba said the changes in development financing required Tanzania to reconsider how it supported economic activities and created conditions for investment.

He said strengthening the private sector would be central to expanding production and broadening the country’s revenue base.

According to the Prime Minister, a stronger private sector would contribute to increased economic activity, creating more taxpayers and expanding the resources available to finance development.

He said increasing government revenue should not be approached only through higher taxes, but also through policies that encourage businesses to invest, expand their operations and increase economic activity.

Dr Nchemba said planners and other Government officials should ensure policies, plans and implementation mechanisms were designed to respond to changing circumstances rather than relying on approaches used in the past.

He said the shift towards facilitation should form part of efforts to create an environment in which businesses could participate more effectively in achieving national development targets.

The Prime Minister’s remarks came as Tanzania begins implementing Dira 2050, which seeks to transform the country’s economy and increase the role of private investment in achieving its long-term development targets.

The call also places the private sector at the centre of discussions on how the Government can translate the long-term vision into practical economic activities and results.

The conference, which brought together national planners, focused on implementation of Dira 2050 under the theme ‘Delivering Vision 2050: Strengthening Integrated Planning, Execution and Results’.

Dr Nchemba said changes in the operating environment should be reflected in the way Government plans and implements development programmes.

He said the objective should be to facilitate productive economic activity while maintaining necessary oversight, allowing the private sector to play its expected role in achieving the country’s long-term development ambitions.

Court adjourns Delta NDC governorship primary dispute to September 30

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned to September 30 a suit challenging the outcome of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship primary election in Delta State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu adjourned the matter on Thursday to allow Alice Ogba and Francis Atanomeyovwi, the fourth and fifth defendants, respectively, to respond to the suit.

Ogba and Atanomeyovwi served as returning officers for Ughelli North and Okpe local government areas during the NDC Delta governorship primary held on May 29.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1636/2026, was filed by Ejaife Odebala, a former member of the Delta State House of Assembly representing Sapele State Constituency.

Odebala is challenging the emergence of Chris Iyavwoye as the party’s governorship candidate. He is asking the court to declare him the winner of the primary, arguing that he secured the highest number of votes after results from three local government areas were included in the tally.

The defendants in the case are Iyavwoye, the NDC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ogba, Atanomeyovwi and Ogbo Johnson.

Odebala, through his counsel, Fredricks Itula, SAN, is also seeking an order restraining Iyavwoye from presenting himself as the NDC’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

He wants the court to direct the NDC and INEC to replace any name already submitted as the party’s candidate with his name and compel the party to issue him the relevant nomination and election forms.

In his affidavit, Odebala said the NDC primary was conducted in 24 of Delta State’s 25 local government areas, with results collated at the local government level.

He alleged, however, that the party did not conduct a final state-level collation or submit final collated results to INEC on May 29.

According to him, certified copies of the local government results and INEC’s election monitoring report later showed that results from Ughelli North, Okpe and Isoko North had been excluded from the final tally.

Odebala claimed that the omission affected his overall score and prevented him from emerging as the party’s candidate.

He put his corrected total at 15,454 votes against Iyavwoye’s 12,015 votes, based on the inclusion of the disputed results.

At Thursday’s proceedings, Itula told the court that the fourth and fifth defendants had been served with the relevant processes but were still within the time allowed to respond.

He subsequently requested an adjournment to enable the parties to regularise their processes.

Justice Egwuatu granted the request and adjourned the case to September 30.

The court’s decision could determine whether the NDC’s current Delta governorship ticket remains intact or whether the party may be required to revisit the outcome of its May 29 primary.

Digital networks and cybersecurity at Cyta and Connect Europe seminar

The Cyprus Telecommunications Authority, Cyta, in cooperation with Connect Europe, have organised a workshop on the proposal for the new European Digital Networks Act (DNA) and the revision of the Cybersecurity Act.

A press release by Cyta says that the workshop brought together representatives of the competent public authorities, telecommunications providers, the business community, European institutions and Connect Europe.

Discussions focused on the creation of a modern and harmonised European framework that will encourage investment in fibre-optic networks, 5G and future 6G netwroks, while accelerating the development of innovative digital services with a focus on the spectrum provisions of the Digital Networks Act.

Participants were welcomed by Cyta CEO George Metzákis, and Director General of Connect Europe, Alessandro Gropelli. Opening remarks were also delivered by the Commissioner of Communications, Marios Pieris and Director of Digital Policy and Communications, Kyriaki Pantziarou.

The need to strengthen the security and resilience of networks was also discussed, through effective measures proportionate to the risks, supporting the uninterrupted operation of critical services.

Particular emphasis was placed on the benefits for consumers, ensuring that investment, technological advancement and enhanced security translate into better service quality, greater reliability, higher speeds and access to a wider range of advanced digital capabilities.

For Cyprus, the press release says, these discussions are particularly important, as the country has already developed advanced telecommunications infrastructure, with very high capacity network and FTTP coverage reaching 95.5% and 5G coverage at 100%.

At this level of development, a modern and stable European framework is essential to support continued investment in next-generation networks and to strengthen the security and resilience of critical infrastructure, it concludes.

Butuan City acquires 4 new tankers to boost water rationing operations

Butuan City’s emergency water rationing operations got a boost with the arrival of four newly-acquired water tankers on Wednesday, amid the continuing disruption in water supply affecting several communities.

The additional fleet consists of two high-capacity tankers with a capacity of 20,000 liters each and two tankers capable of carrying 10,000 liters each, significantly increasing the city’s water delivery capacity.

The tankers are currently undergoing leak testing and inspection of accessories and equipment to ensure they are safe and ready for deployment.

The tankers will augment the existing fleet of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD), as well as additional units provided by stakeholders supporting the city’s water rationing efforts.

The acquisition followed the approval of SP Resolution Nos. 17-447-2026 and 17-448-2026 by the 17th Sangguniang Panlungsod, authorizing the purchase of the units through emergency measures under the declared state of calamity.

City officials said the expanded tanker fleet will result in faster delivery of clean water to more residents in barangays affected by the supply interruption while the local government continues pursuing longer-term measures, including the establishment of localized water storage facilities and assessment of alternative water sources