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Arthaland Gallery promotes green living vision in Quezon City

Green developer Arthaland is taking its sustainable residential vision north with the opening of the Arthaland Gallery in Quezon City, featuring Liv, its newest residential development in the Katipunan area.

Designed as an immersive touchpoint for prospective homeowners, the gallery brings the project’s vision closer to the market, allowing visitors to experience firsthand how thoughtful design, sustainability and contemporary urban living come together in a community positioned within one of Quezon City’s established residential and education hubs.

Located at the corner of Rajah Matanda Street and Katipunan Avenue, the gallery is about 3 kilometers, or roughly Jive to 10 minutes, from the Liv project site.

‘The Arthaland Gallery experience was designed to give visitors a feel for Liv even before it is completed. They can see and experience the units and lifestyle we are creating at Liv as

Arthaland expands its presence in Quezon City,’ says Celeste Cariño, associate vice president for business planning and development, Arthaland.

The space includes a display area, a digital kiosk, a scale model of the development, a unit finishes area, and fully furnished studio and one-bedroom model units. It will also have a café operated by the local brand Switch Coffee, with an indoor space and an al fresco area open to the public.

The gallery was launched through a symbolic Tree of Life ceremony attended by the Arthaland project team and partners.

Cariño says the Tree of Life reflects the values behind Liv, including balance, harmony, unity, and the interconnectedness between people and nature.

During the ceremony, the representatives led by Cariño watered a plant to symbolize the nurturing of shared roots. The tree then lit up from its roots upward, formally opening the gallery. The Tree of Life will eventually be part of Liv’s podium design.

She describes Liv as a glue bringing together carefully crafted residences, study and work areas, wellness facilities, and social spaces to create a vertical community centered on connection, well-being, and sustainable living. The development builds on

She says Arthaland’s experience in the mid-market residential segment for sustainability, wellness, exceptional quality, and thoughtful design is geared to benefit more people.

Liv champions connectivity with development’s location, with dual access to Katipunan Avenue and Esteban Abada Street, Liv features a dedicated bridgeway connecting directly to Ateneo de Manila University’s Gate 1. It also has dual street access and is about a five- minute walk from LRT 2 Katipunan Station. Miriam College, the University of the Philippines, and a range of schools, commercial establishments, and lifestyle destinations are also within easy reach.

The 46-story Liv North will be the first of the two towers in the development, offering 748 residential units. Studio, One-bedroom, and Two-bedroom units range from approximately 24 to 70 square meters and are designed for investors, parents seeking homes for their children, and professionals seeking a well-connected address near leading educational institutions and key business districts.

The model units at Liv were designed by Hong Kong-based RGBA Design Ltd., which worked with Arthaland on interior architecture and hospitality design. Founded and led by Rowena Guevara Berroya, Cariño says RGBA brings more than two decades of experience across the Philippines and Asia, with a portfolio that includes collaborations with major hospitality groups. For Liv, Cariño says RGBA designed the interiors to make the most of compact urban spaces without making them feel restrictive, creating homes that are functional, flexible, and distinctly personal.

Cariño describes the 25-square-meter Studio model unit as envisioned for a young achiever who is beginning to build her future while expressing her own style. Instead of a conventional bed arrangement, the model unit features a custom bunk bed with a study area underneath, creating distinct spaces for rest, work, and creativity while keeping the living area open. Large operable windows bring fresh air and natural light into the unit, while the separate toilet and shower areas allow two routines to run simultaneously.

Adaptable layouts also allow the spaces to evolve as residents’ needs change, while biophilic elements bring a touch of nature into the home.The approximately 40-square-meter One-bedroom model unit takes a different approach, designed for a resident who has grown into their own identity and values independence, comfort and intentional choices. A private balcony extends the living space, while large operable windows bring in natural light and fresh air. The separate toilet and shower areas provide added privacy and convenience, particularly when entertaining guests.

Liv North is targeted for turnover in July 2031.

Dengue surge prompts DOH Bicol to raise Code Blue alert

The Department of Health has raised a Code Blue alert in the Bicol region amid a 19-percent increase in dengue cases, with the hospital bed occupancy rate exceeding capacity.

The regional health office recorded 2,167 dengue cases from Jan. 1 to Sept. 5, up 19 percent from the same period last year, according to its Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit.

Dengue bed utilization had reached 107 percent as of Sept. 17, indicating that hospitals were operating beyond their designated capacity.

The DOH Region V office issued Regional Memorandum [2026-0165] on Sept. 18, directing its hospitals, provincial offices, and health emergency and disaster risk reduction personnel to heighten preparedness and promptly report dengue-related incidents and other health emergencies.

The agency’s Public Health Preparedness and Response Unit was tasked to monitor dengue cases and coordinate with local governments, hospitals, and other partner agencies.

LemFi appoints Dr Haydar Daudu as Head of Regulatory Affairs and Policy, West Africa

LemFi, the financial platform for people who live and work across borders, today announced the appointment of Dr Haydar Daudu as Head of Regulatory Affairs and Policy, West Africa.

An economist and former public-sector adviser, Dr Haydar Daudu previously advised the Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, at the Central Bank of Nigeria. He also served as Senior Economist and Chief of Staff at the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation. He holds a PhD in Economics from Nile University of Nigeria, a first-class degree in Economics from the University of Essex and an MSc in Development Economics and Policy from the University of Manchester.

In the role, Daudu will lead LemFi’s regulatory and policy engagement across West Africa, working closely with the company’s legal, compliance and finance leadership. The appointment reflects LemFi’s commitment to constructive, transparent engagement with regulators and to meeting applicable regulatory requirements as it expands across West Africa.

Ridwan Olalere, co-founder and CEO of LemFi, said: ‘As LemFi continues to grow, we are investing in the senior leadership needed to engage regulators openly, understand evolving policy expectations and maintain the high standards our customers and partners expect. Haydar brings a rare combination of economic-policy experience, regulatory understanding and practical insight into the markets we serve.’

Nigeria remains one of the world’s largest remittance markets. According to the World Bank, the country received an estimated US$19.5 billion in diaspora remittances in 2023, around 35% of the total for sub-Saharan Africa and the largest of any country in the region. Money sent home by people living and working abroad is a vital source of support for millions of families, and a growing share now moves through regulated channels like LemFi: the Central Bank of Nigeria reported that inflows through international money transfer operators rose by around 44% in 2024, to US$4.73 billion. Cross-border payments in the country operate within an evolving regulatory framework, and for LemFi, dedicated regulatory-engagement leadership will help it meet rising standards and contribute to the wider conversation on how cross-border money should be governed.

Haydar Daudu, LemFi’s Head of Regulatory Affairs and Policy, West Africa, said: ‘For me, good policy is ultimately about whether institutions and markets work better for people. Cross-border finance has enormous potential to connect families, businesses and economies, but that potential depends on trust, sound regulation and institutions that can keep pace with innovation. I am joining LemFi to help build that bridge: engaging regulators openly, bringing policy insight into the business, and ensuring that growth across West Africa is responsible, credible and genuinely useful to the people we serve.

Since its founding in 2021, LemFi has grown from a remittance provider into a broader financial platform for people who live and work across borders, offering international transfers, multi-currency accounts, a card, credit-building tools, savings, and eSIM connectivity. It serves more than 2 million customers, supports transfers to more than 30 countries, and processes around US$1 billion in transactions each month.

About LemFi: LemFi is the financial platform for people who live and work across borders, on a mission to make everyday financial services fair, simple and accessible for communities overlooked by traditional banks. Founded in 2021, LemFi serves more than 2 million customers, supports transfers to over 30 countries, and processes around US$1 billion each month. It is backed by investors including Highland Europe, Left Lane Capital, Endeavor Catalyst, Palm Drive Capital and Y Combinator. For more information, visit www.lemfi.com.

How SE Asia can rise above the Mideast crisis

Crisis after crisis has tested Southeast Asia. Oil shocks, financial meltdowns and a global pandemic have all left their mark.

Now, another oil crisis is putting the region’s energy security to the test and raising the stakes for what comes next.

For Malaysian state-owned energy giant Petronas, the way forward starts with one word: diversification.

Petronas LNG Ltd. CEO Rosdi Ab Rahman said countries need to build more diversified and resilient energy portfolios to better navigate the ongoing Middle East crisis and reduce their exposure to supply disruptions.

‘It doesn’t mean it’s only applicable to the producers or sellers. A resilient portfolio could also mean that there’s also a responsibility for the importing country,’ Ab Rahman said in an interview here in Thailand’s capital.

That means looking beyond a single source of supply and strengthening the network of relationships, infrastructure and arrangements needed to keep energy flowing when global markets are disrupted.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG), in particular, will remain an important part of that equation, Ab Rahman said.

He expects LNG demand across the region to continue rising, driven by growing electricity needs.

More importantly, the Petronas executive said that strengthening regional LNG supply could help Southeast Asia build greater resilience by giving countries access to sources closer to home.

When the global oil crisis erupted in late February, geopolitical tensions disrupted global supply chains, effectively closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz – a narrow waterway that typically handles roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supplies.

Before the crisis, around 60 percent of Southeast Asia’s crude oil imports and a third of its gas imports were coming from the Middle East, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

In the Philippines alone, the disruption has dealt a heavy blow to the energy sector, contributing to persistently high fuel and electricity prices.

‘The crisis is prompting a reassessment of policy and investment strategies amid a strong prioritization of energy security,’ the IEA said.

Against this backdrop, Ab Rahman said Petronas is ready to supply LNG to the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia.

‘We are also diversifying on behalf of our customers,’ he said, noting that the company is expanding beyond its original base in Malaysia.

Ab Rahman also identified infrastructure readiness as another critical piece of the region’s energy security puzzle, particularly as countries seek to expand their ability to import LNG.

‘Without infrastructure, I think countries will not be able to receive LNG today,’ he said.

‘So these are the things that may require a lot of support between countries in Southeast Asia to see how best this infrastructure readiness can be accelerated so that the demand can be fulfilled.’

The ongoing Middle East crisis has exposed just how vulnerable Southeast Asia remains to disruptions far beyond its shores.

The challenge now is to build an energy system that is more diversified, better connected and resilient enough to keep the region moving when the next global oil shock comes.

VP should have known better-SEC exec

A SECURITIES and Exchange Commission (SEC) official on Tuesday testified before the Senate Impeachment Court that Vice President Sara Z. Duterte should have known the constitutional requirement to divest business interests before assuming office in 2022.

SEC Company Registration and Monitoring Department Director Gerardo del Rosario made the statement during questioning by Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo regarding Article VII, Section 13 of the Constitution, which prohibits the President, Vice President, Cabinet members, and their deputies or assistants from participating in business or holding certain financial interests while in office.

Del Rosario said that while the SEC does not have guidelines requiring the agency to flag public officials who form or become involved in corporations, the restriction should have been known by a high-ranking government official.

‘She should have known, as a high-ranking government official who took an oath to serve as President or Vice President, that this was her limitation,’ del Rosario said.

‘Therefore, before she took her oath of office, she should have removed those interests or divested from them,’ he added.

Duterte assumed office as Vice President on June 30, 2022. However, her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) continued to include business interests and financial connections after she entered office.

Her 2024 SALN listed several companies under business interests, including Metro City Chow Foods Corp., Gencorp Industries Inc., Carpio Lawyers, 888 Bistro, Cale88 Foods Corp., Madayaw Fisheries Corp., Mati City Ice Plant and Cold Storage Inc., Amianan Shores Inc., Geometry Security and Investigation Agency Inc., and Cabletow 88 Shipping and Marine Services Inc.

Among the companies examined during the hearing was Metro City Chow Foods Corporation. SEC records presented before the impeachment court showed that Duterte remained listed as a director and shareholder of the company from 2022 through 2025.

Corporate documents showed that Duterte subscribed to 20 percent of the company’s original subscribed capital and was listed as holding 500 shares valued at P50,000.

Del Rosario explained that under the Revised Corporation Code, the board of directors exercises corporate powers, manages company affairs, and oversees the properties and operations of a corporation.

Metro City Chow’s audited financial statements also stated that the board was responsible for overseeing the company’s financial reporting process, reviewing financial statements, and approving them before submission to shareholders.

The SEC official, however, clarified that the documents reviewed by the agency only showed Duterte’s corporate position and did not establish whether she attended meetings, participated in daily operations, or received compensation from the company.

The hearing also examined Gencorp Industries Inc., which Duterte identified in her 2024 SALN as a business interest where she was a stockholder.

Del Rosario testified that Duterte’s name did not appear in the Gencorp incorporation documents and General Information Sheets reviewed by the SEC.

‘For Gencorp Industries Incorporated, the name of Vice President Sara Duterte does not appear from the company’s incorporation up to the filing of the General Information Sheets. That is what appears in my summary,’ Del Rosario said.

The SEC witness said Gencorp’s records showed company sales totaling P1.04 billion and net income of P8.04 million from 2021 to 2024. He clarified that these figures represented company performance and did not identify any personal income received by Duterte.

During questioning, the defense raised the possibility that ownership interests could exist through private trust agreements or beneficial ownership arrangements that may not appear in regular SEC filings.

Del Rosario explained that ordinary trust agreements generally do not need to be filed with the SEC, while certified voting trust agreements are required to be submitted. He added that no certified voting trust agreement involving Gencorp was found in the records reviewed.

The witness emphasized that his testimony was limited to the documents requested from and maintained by the SEC.

‘We can only state what is contained in the documents that were requested from us,’ del Rosario said.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian also questioned whether companies linked to Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, declared dividends that could explain increases in their declared wealth.

Del Rosario answered that the SEC records reviewed during the hearing contained no information showing declared dividends from the companies presented.

‘Based on these records, if she did not receive any benefit or dividends, I do not know whether she could declare income earned from these corporations,’ he said.

The SEC official clarified that the absence of recorded dividends in the reviewed documents did not determine all possible sources of Duterte’s wealth.

Gatchalian noted during the discussion that increases in wealth could come from other sources.

‘It could come from another source. It is not only from these corporations,’ Gatchalian said.

?2.48-B upgrade of digital support for National ID set

THE government is moving forward with a proposed P2.48-billion project to upgrade and operate the digital infrastructure supporting the country’s National ID system, with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) eyeing a public-private partnership (PPP) for its implementation.

Approved earlier this month by the Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CC), the Philippine Digital National Identity (PDNI) Project will cover the upgrading, operation, and maintenance of key National ID systems.

These include registration and card production, identity authentication, as well as the technical integration of banks, businesses, and other private entities that use the National ID to verify customers.

The PSA said the project is expected to make National ID registration more accessible and improve the efficiency of identity authentication services.

‘This is a huge win for the PSA. Through this partnership, we can harness the expertise and resources of the private sector while ensuring that the National ID remains firmly anchored in its public purpose-to provide Filipinos with a trusted and convenient means of proof of identity to access critical services,’ National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said in a recent statement.

The ICC-CC approval allows the proposed PPP to proceed to the procurement stage, where other private companies will be invited to submit competing proposals.

As the original proponent, Unisys Public Sector Services Corp. will have the opportunity to match or improve the best competing offer under the comparative challenge process.

The P2.48-billion project will be implemented under a Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) arrangement, with a six-month transition period followed by a 20-year concession.

Earlier, the PSA said around 97 million Filipinos had been registered for the National ID, leaving about 17 million still unregistered.

A significant portion of those yet to be registered are children aged 0 to 4 and overseas Filipinos.

‘The bulk of those who remain unregistered are overseas Filipinos. Before we always go to the Middle East, as a lot of Filipinos there are not registered. But because of the current security concern the PSA was not able to go there,’ Mapa said at the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) budget briefing on Monday.

Mapa said P26.21 billion had been provided for the National ID system from 2018 through 2026, with about P24 billion already obligated.

The average cost of registering an individual is around P250 to P260, he added.

Silver delivered, PHL seeks more

NAGOYA-Jean Claude ‘The Dynamite’ Saclag yielded to a monster grappler from Tajikistan and Kayla Sanchez touched the pad less than a tad short of a podium finish as the gold medal eluded the Philippines in the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games on Tuesday.

Thus, the Philippines had to settle for Saclag’s silver medal and a historic bronze from the women’s kata team in karate on the third day of competitions that saw China breaking away from the field with 31 gold medals.

Paris Olympics bronze medalist Aira Villegas also fell by the wayside in women’s 51 kgs of boxing after losing to Sakshi Chaudhary, a two-time world youth championships champion who was not only taller with a longer reach but also heftier.

‘It felt like three men were grappling me very tightly from the back,’ said Saclag, who had to settle for silver following a 0-3 loss to Otabek Rajabov in the final of the men’s -65 kgs class of mixed martial arts that is making its debut in the Asian Games.

Saclag actually started strong after flooring Rajabov with a solid punch to the chin early in the first round, but in MMA, a strike counts less that a superior ground strength that the Tajik had aplenty.

If it were a consolation, Rajabov admitted to Saclag at the end of the bout that he got rocked by the Filipino’s punches.

‘You hit me hard,’ the Tajik whispered to the Filipino before celebrating with his country’s flag around the mat.

Moments after Saclag fell short of winning a first gold, Sanchez just couldn’t match the tremendous speed her rivals displayed at the Tokyo Aquatics Center.

Sanchez finished a mere 18-tenths of a second behind bronze winner Yujie Cheng of China in the women’s 100 meters freestyle event won by Hong Kong-China’s Siobhan Haughey (52.45) with the illustrious Chinese, Yu Yiting, settling for silver (53.21).

The Olympian Sanchez was disappointed of her performance that she skipped the mandatory Mixed Zone interview.

‘Kayla put it all on the table. She went for it. And she had a really very solid performance,’ Sanchez’s Canadian coach Derrick Schoof told POC Media Pool. ‘It was a tough, we knew it was expected to be a tough battle between the two Chinese girls and she just came out on the wrong side of the touch.’

The silver was the second for Saclag in the Asian Games after his second-place finish in wushu’s sanda at the 2014 edition in Incheon.

Rebecca Cyril Torres, Samantha Veguillas and Ysabelle Arrogante beat Thailand’s Ramitar Terananon, Monsicha Sakulrattanatara and Phatcharin Plangplai, 4-1, for a first-ever medal in team kata event in the Asian Games for a 0-1-3 gold-silver-bronze tally for the Philippines-soft tennis contributed the first bronze last Sunday.

The under-23 team beat Kuwait, 2-1, also for the country’s first men’s football victory in the Asian Games since the Tokyo 1958 edition with forward Andres Aldeguer converting the clincher that was reminiscent of his great grandfather George Aldeguer’s winning goal against Japan in 1958.

The Gilas Pilipinas Women 3×3 squad also made its presence felt on Tuesday by going 2-0 won-lost following victories over powerhouse Mongolia, 17-12, and Macau, 21-4.

Double Olmpic champion Carlos Yulo and brother Karl Eldrew, on the other hand, lead the charge in the men’s team final of gymnastics on Wednesday.

’I Still Have Bullet In Me’: Victim Of 2024 Protest Shooting Seeks Help

Two years after the #EndBadGovernance protests in Kano, victims and their families are still waiting for compensation despite repeated promises from the state government.

The protests were staged from August 1 to 10, 2024 over the cost of living crisis in different parts of the country.

The economic hardship was believed to be triggered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and currency floating.

Twelve people were killed in Kano, the highest toll nationwide.

The victims were alleged to have been shot by security agents deployed to quell the protests.

Among them is Muhammad Alhassan, a resident of Daurawa in Koki, who continues to live with a bullet lodged dangerously close to his heart.

Speaking to Daily Trust on Monday, Alhassan recalled the tragic day of August 1, 2024, when police opened fire during the protests.

‘We were watching the protest from our street when the police fired shots. A bullet hit my friend, Ali, in the head. He died later in hospital. We ran, but I too was shot. The bullet is still in my body,’ he said.

Doctors at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) initially advised against removing the bullet, warning it could damage his central nervous system.

‘They told me it was not yet the right time. Now, Alhamdulillah, I am recovering, and they say it can be removed. But I cannot afford the surgery,’ Alhassan said.

Medical scans show the bullet fractured a rib and lodged near his heart and spinal cord. He is scheduled to see a cardiologist in November, but financial constraints have left him stranded.

‘The government promised to support us after receiving the committee’s report on the incident. The governor’s aide on humanitarian affairs told us funds had been approved for compensation and medical treatment.

‘It has been almost two months since he called us to tell us the governor has approved funds for our support, but since then, we have heard nothing. He even promised we would be paid and treated for the bullet removal, but now he no longer answers our calls.

‘I am in severe pain. I cannot run, sleep well, or move properly. The bullet is near my heart. We are mostly poor, and I am begging the government to rescue us,’ he said.

Alhassan is not alone. Families of other victims continue to struggle.

Faiza Haruna, elder sister to the late Fiddausi Haruna, who was allegedly shot while buying charcoal in Kurnar Asabe, said the burden of caring for Fiddausi’s two children has fallen on their ageing mother.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf later set up the Justice Lawal Wada Commission of Enquiry, which submitted its report in January 2025.

The panel recommended compensation and prosecutions. But nearly two years later, victims said nothing has been implemented.

Abdulkadir A. Balarabe, Special Adviser on Humanitarian Affairs to the governor, admitted delays but insisted support would come.

‘You know how government matters are. There are thousands of such issues before them. The governor has given us approval to proceed, but we want to handle it thoroughly. Very soon, God willing, they will hear from us,’ he said.

From Kampala to Agra: A journey of love, marble, and architectural mastery at the Taj Mahal

‘OMG! This is tour visiting or military service!’

The cheekily phrased message popped up on our group chat late in the evening, sent by one of the journalists, Basim Laleh. His lighthearted outburst came immediately after our primary point of contact at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Ujjwal, posted the next day’s strict itinerary: ‘Tomorrow we are going on a day trip to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra by bus. All of you are requested to assemble in the hotel lobby area by 06:15 AM. Make sure to collect your pre-packed breakfast from the reception area before boarding the bus, which you can eat on the bus.’

To a room full of jet-lagged international scribes, an early morning reveille sounded almost like a military drill. My Ugandan colleagues and I had already endured a grueling journey of over 10 hours from Kampala to New Delhi via Ethiopia. Upon arrival, we were checked into The Park Hotel in New Delhi to participate in a high-profile familiarization tour organized by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

The September 10, 2026 trip to the Taj Mahal served as the second major item on our itinerary. The tour had commenced the previous evening, September 9, with an official welcome dinner hosted by Mr. Randhir Jaiswal, the Additional Secretary for External Publicity and Public Diplomacy and Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs. The diplomatic reception, attended by foreign diplomats, Indian bureaucrats, and representatives from global media houses, served as a precursor to the 18th BRICS Summit.

Held under India’s chairship at the state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam complex in New Delhi from September 12-13, 2026, the summit drew delegates from across the world-including Uganda’s Vice President Jessica Alupo, who attended as part of Uganda’s official engagement as a partner country. In fact, Ms Alupo would also take time to visit the magnificent Taj Mahal after the official summit concluded, before departing India.

Our journey from central New Delhi to Agra required navigating over 200 kilometers along the modern Yamuna Expressway. Traveling in a convoy of three buses, the round trip took nearly eight hours in total, supplemented by brief pitstops to stretch, refresh, and grab quick bites. Yet, whatever fatigue we carried vanished the moment we neared our destination.

Because motor vehicles are restricted near the monument to preserve its delicate white stone from exhaust fumes, our buses parked approximately one kilometer away. We transferred into battery-operated golf carts that zipped us quietly toward the complex. Approaching the site, the entrance was an absolute beehive of activity, filled with thousands of visitors, local vendors, and guide chatter.

It was here that we met Amit Datta, a veteran local tour guide in Agra whose passion for the site was immediately contagious. As he gathered our international delegation around the entrance, Datta offered a bold welcome statement: ‘If you’re a guest in India and you leave without visiting the Taj Mahal, then you have not been to India.’

Standing before the soaring white dome, it was impossible to disagree. Datta immediately launched into a rich historical narrative, bringing the centuries-old monument to life.

‘So, this beautiful building, the Taj Mahal, which I hope is the main highlight of your tour of Agra, was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan,’ Datta explained. He provided context on the origins of the Mughal dynasty, noting that they were contemporaries of the Tudors of England, the Safavids of Persia, the Ottomans of Turkey, and the Ming Dynasty of China.

‘The first Mughal emperor, Babur, arrived in India in 1526 from the northern part of Transoxiana, in present-day Uzbekistan. On his father’s side, he was descended from Timur, and on his mother’s side, from Genghis Khan. Because of their Mongol heritage, the dynasty was known as the Mongol dynasty. However, native Indians struggled to pronounce the word ‘Mongol,’ which gave rise to the term ‘Mughal,” Datta shared.

He went on to detail the poignant love story that inspired the grand mausoleum: ‘The fifth emperor, Shah Jahan, built this beautiful mausoleum in memory of his favorite wife. While he had four wives, his third wife, Arjumand Banu Begum, was renowned as the most captivating woman of her era. She was given the title Mumtaz Mahal, a Persian term where ‘Mumtaz’ means beautiful or esteemed, and ‘Mahal’ means palace-literally, the most beautiful crowned lady of the palace.’

Datta explained that Mumtaz Mahal accompanied Shah Jahan everywhere, bearing 14 children over a 19-year marriage. Tragically, in 1631, at the age of 39, she suffered fatal complications during her 14th childbirth.

‘Before she passed away, she placed three final wishes before Emperor Shah Jahan,’ Datta narrated. ‘First, to raise and care for all her children; second, never to marry another woman; and third, to build a mausoleum of unmatched beauty in her memory. The Taj Mahal is the direct fulfillment of that last request.’

The grief suffered by the emperor was transformative. ‘When she died, Shah Jahan was just 41 years old,’ Datta recounted. ‘Until then, his hair was black and he wore vibrant clothes. But after her death, he locked himself in a dark room for 40 days. When he emerged, his hair had turned entirely grey, and he wore only plain white attire for the remainder of his life.’

Shah Jahan originally intended to construct a mirrored ‘Black Taj Mahal’ in black marble across the Yamuna River for his own tomb. However, political betrayal intervened. His son, Aurangzeb, seized power, executed his older brothers, and placed his aging father under house arrest at nearby Agra Fort. Upon Shah Jahan’s death, he was buried alongside his wife inside the Taj Mahal. While the real graves lie safely in a quiet lower crypt closed to the general public to protect structural integrity, visitors view two exquisite replica cenotaphs situated on the main floor directly above.

The craftsmanship of the Taj Mahal remains one of humanity’s greatest artistic feats. Built between 1631 and 1648, with additional gates and courtyards completed in 1653 under lead architect Ustad-Ahmad Lahori, the complex incorporates non-porous Makrana marble transported over 340 kilometers from Rajasthan using thousands of bullocks, horses, and elephants.

Mr Datta pointed out the intricate floral patterns etched into the white walls. ‘What looks like painting from a distance is actually intricate inlay art known as pietra dura,’ he explained. ‘Colored semi-precious stones are painstakingly engraved directly into the hard marble-red coral, brown jasper, yellow agate, blue lapis lazuli, green malachite, and white mother-of-pearl. This art has been handed down strictly through specific artisan families from father to son for over 370 years using traditional chisels, hammers, and emery wheels.’

Leaving the monument and heading back toward New Delhi, our delegation made stops along the highway for lunch and relaxation. It was during these brief stops that my Ugandan media colleague, Paul Waniala, and I enjoyed our first spontaneous interactions with everyday Indian citizens. One hawker tried with impressive tenacity to sell us miniature marble replicas of the monument, while a friendly tuk-tuk (tricycle) driver eagerly struck up a conversation, trading contact details with us on the hopeful promise that we would return one day to let him drive us around Agra.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and voted one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in 2007, the Taj Mahal draws over five million global tourists annually. Its perfect bilateral symmetry, raised octagonal tomb structure, four freestanding minarets, and sprawling 17-hectare Persian charbagh gardens represent the absolute pinnacle of Indo-Islamic architectural harmony. Today, stringent environmental regulations-including the creation of the 10,400-square-kilometer Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)-protect its delicate marble from industrial pollution.

As our bus quietly rolled back into the bustling streets of New Delhi that evening, exhausted silence replaced the morning’s nervous energy. We returned to our hotel carrying more than just photos; we carried a deep appreciation for India’s rich history and architectural heritage. Even journalist Basim Laleh, who had joked about military service earlier that morning, sat back quietly in total satisfaction-knowing that waking up at dawn had been worth every single second.

Eugene Boakye Antwi Leads NPP Gen. Sec. Race – UG Research

An overwhelming majority of New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates expect Eugene Boakye Antwi to win the party’s National General Secretary election slated for October 3, 2026.

This is contained in a research conducted by lecturers of the University of Ghana, Legon, led by Dr. Chris Atadika on the NPP National General Secretary race.

According to the findings, when respondents were asked: ‘Which candidate do you think will win the General Secretary position come 3rd October?’, 74.2% (657 out of 889 respondents) tipped Eugene Boakye Antwi to win.

Incumbent General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, was tipped by 25.1% (223 respondents) to win, while Sylvester Tetteh was tipped by 0.7% (6 respondents).

The report summarised: ‘Among the respondents represented in the supplied data, 73.90% identified Eugene Boakye when asked which candidate they thought would win the General Secretary position on 3rd October.

‘Justin Frimpong Kodua accounted for 25.09%, while Sylvester Tetteh accounted for 0.67%. These figures represent the expectations expressed by the surveyed respondents and should not be presented as an independent prediction of the election outcome.’

The research also shows Boakye Antwi leads on other key indicators: Most Preferred Candidate: Eugene Boakye Antwi – 76.6%, Justin Frimpong Kodua – 23.1%; Candidate Who Can Help Party Win 2028: Eugene Boakye Antwi – 60.1%, Justin Frimpong Kodua – 39.2%; Name Recognition: 82.7% of delegates mentioned Eugene Boakye Antwi when asked to name those vying for the position, compared to 13% for Justin Frimpong Kodua.

The respondents identified good communication skills and boldness (14.3%), ability to ensure victory in 2028 (11.3%) and ability to unify the party (9.7%) as the top characteristics needed for the position – qualities many respondents associate with the former Subin Member of Parliament.

The study was conducted among 889 NPP stakeholders with 100% awareness of the General Secretary race.