Author: user user

Azerbaijan introduces new agricultural subsidy rules to boost productivity

Azerbaijan is placing greater emphasis on improving agricultural productivity rather than simply increasing the amount of subsidies provided to farmers, Agriculture Minister Majnun Mammadov said.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of Baku Climate Action Week, Mammadov said the new subsidy rules specifically encourage the installation of modern irrigation systems, proper agrotechnical practices and the use of certified seeds.

The revised approach is aimed at achieving higher agricultural output through more efficient use of resources, in line with Azerbaijan’s efforts to make the sector more resilient to climate change. The government has also identified modern irrigation as a key priority, with plans to expand the area covered by such systems to around 300,000 hectares by 2030.

Following amendments to the presidential decree governing agricultural subsidies, new types of support have also begun to be introduced in the livestock and fisheries sectors, Mammadov said.

‘Farmers who preserve the value created in pedigree breeding and artificial insemination farms over a longer period will receive more gradual and higher subsidies in the coming years,’ the minister added.

The changes form part of a broader effort to link agricultural support with productivity, sustainability and more efficient use of natural resources. Azerbaijan’s 2026-2030 agricultural development program also places emphasis on innovation, digitalization and the efficient use of water resources.

’Over 5,000 Peace Corps Volunteers Have Served Ghana In Last Decade’

More than 5,000 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Ghana in the last 10 years, with over $50 million invested in human and financial resources in rural communities across the country.

This was disclosed by the Peace Corps Country Director for the African Region, Tamu Daniel, at the commemoration of 65 years of Peace Corps service in Ghana.

Ms. Daniel said the investments have supported education, health, agriculture, food security, youth development and other community-led initiatives.

She said 65 years offers perspective on what happens when people continue to show up for one another and when partnerships endure across generations.

According to her, while the statistics matter, they only tell part of the story, as the most important achievements of the programme – human connections, trust and friendship – cannot be quantified.

She cited host mothers who embrace volunteers as their own children, teachers and volunteers collaborating for student success, and farmers sharing generational knowledge with young Americans as examples of bonds that have defined the programme.

Ms. Daniel paid tribute to the people of Ghana for opening their communities and hearts, to Peace Corps staff as the institutional memory of the programme, and to volunteers who leave what is familiar to embrace the unfamiliar. She noted that while projects and reports may fade, the human connection built over 65 years travels across generations.

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, said since 1961, when Ghana became the first country to welcome Peace Corps volunteers under the vision of President J.F. Kennedy and President Kwame Nkrumah, the partnership has become an enduring model advancing education, health and food security.

Mr. Iddrisu said, ‘the volunteers left the comfort of the United States to serve in deprived rural communities without electricity, water or internet connectivity, driven by a commitment to support health and education’.

Touching on education, the Minister said volunteers have supported STEM instruction, foundational literacy and inclusive learning in mainstream schools and schools for the deaf, shaping Ghana’s human capital by nurturing engineers, teachers, nurses, doctors and leaders.

He praised their learner-centred and play-based pedagogy and their promotion of local languages and sign language for learners from kindergarten to Primary Three.

The Minister acknowledged Peace Corps staff, host families and Ghanaian counterparts for ensuring volunteers are prepared and integrated into communities, and reaffirmed government’s commitment to deepening the partnership for the next 65 years.

The Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Accra, Rolf Olson, has described Ghana as the birthplace of an extraordinary partnership built on mutual respect and shared success.

Mr. Olson noted that President John Dramani Mahama has spoken about how a Peace Corps volunteer shaped his early education, proof that one teacher can build great things.

He expressed gratitude to government partners, ministries and host families for sustaining the partnership.

Nahil does it again

Renowned philanthropist and business leader Eng. Nahil Wijesuriya has donated the complete range of modern medical equipment required for the newly established National Kidney Stone Referral Centre in Meerigama, marking a significant advancement in Sri Lanka’s capacity to provide specialised urological care through the public healthcare system.

The contribution adds to Eng. Wijesuriya’s longstanding record of supporting nationally significant healthcare and education initiatives. Among his most notable healthcare contributions is a Rs. 1 billion donations to the Little Hearts project at Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, supporting the development of its 10-storey cardiac and critical care complex aimed at expanding lifesaving treatment for children with cardiac and intensive care needs.

His philanthropic initiatives have also extended to institutions including Ananda College, Nalanda College and Girls’ High School, Kandy, while his Rs. 3 billion contributions to his alma mater, Trinity College Kandy, remains another landmark investment in Sri Lanka’s education sector.

Once fully operational, the National Kidney Stone Referral Centre is expected to have the capacity to perform more than 1,000 complex kidney stone procedures annually. Designed as a national facility, the Centre will allow urological surgeons from across Sri Lanka to access its specialised equipment and infrastructure to treat their own patients, helping extend advanced care beyond individual hospitals.

Treatment at the Centre will be provided entirely free of charge through the Health Ministry system, strengthening equitable access to specialised kidney stone treatment for patients irrespective of their geographic or economic circumstances.

The Centre was established within just a few months following a proposal by the Sri Lanka Association of Urological Surgeons. Its rapid development demonstrates the impact that collaboration between medical professionals, the state healthcare system and private philanthropy can have in addressing critical gaps in specialised medical care.

With access to modern equipment and dedicated specialist facilities, the Centre is expected to improve the management of complex kidney stone cases while supporting urologists working across the country.

Eng. Wijesuriya’s contribution reflects a broader philanthropic approach focused on strengthening institutions and creating long-term public benefit, particularly in healthcare and education. From supporting advanced paediatric care through Little Hearts to enabling specialised urological treatment in Meerigama, his investments continue to contribute directly to expanding access to essential services in Sri Lanka.

The National Kidney Stone Referral Centre is expected to become an important national resource, combining specialist expertise, advanced medical technology and free access to treatment within Sri Lanka’s public health system.

Nigeria’s FTSE return is just the opening act

Nigeria has won back a seat at the global investment table. But market players say the real prize is still out of reach.

FTSE Russell’s decision to return Nigeria to its Frontier Market Index from Sept. 21 is an important vote of confidence in the country’s efforts to restore market accessibility. After almost three years as an ‘Unclassified’ market, Nigeria has cleared a hurdle that was less about the size of its economy than whether foreign investors could reliably move money in and, crucially, out.

But for investors, FTSE inclusion is more signal than catalyst.

The bigger prize, according to market participants, is convincing MSCI to reverse its decision to classify Nigeria as a Standalone Market. That would put the country back into a much deeper pool of global investment capital and could have a far more meaningful impact on foreign flows than its return to the FTSE Frontier index.

Nigeria’s problem has never been a shortage of reasons for investors to take a look. It has been the difficulty of getting them to commit capital at scale. Foreign-exchange shortages, delayed repatriation and unpredictable market access turned what should have been a liquidity risk into an investment risk.

FTSE’s decision suggests some of that damage is being repaired. The index provider said market participants reported that foreign-exchange queues had been cleared and that international institutional investors were no longer experiencing material delays in repatriating capital. Nigeria now meets the market-quality requirements for Frontier Market classification.

That is progress. But MSCI is the test that could matter more to investors.

Nigeria was moved from Frontier to Standalone status by MSCI after persistent concerns over foreign-exchange liquidity and capital repatriation. Regaining a place in its benchmark universe would do more than improve the country’s financial-market reputation. It could put Nigerian equities back in front of a much broader base of institutional investors whose mandates and asset-allocation decisions are tied to MSCI indexes.

Samsung to shut down Quick Measure, AR Doodle apps on Galaxy phones

Samsung is set to discontinue two of its long-running augmented reality (AR) applications, Quick Measure and AR Doodle, as the company continues to reshape the software experience on Galaxy smartphones.

The two apps will be discontinued on December 31, 2026, according to notices added to their listings on Samsung’s Galaxy Store. Samsung said the services would be ‘returning with improved services in the future.’

Quick Measure uses a Galaxy phone’s camera and augmented reality technology to estimate the dimensions and distance of objects in the real world. The application has been used to measure items such as walls, furniture and other physical objects without requiring a conventional measuring tool.

AR Doodle allows users to draw virtual lines, shapes and messages through their smartphone camera. The drawings can be anchored to objects or faces in the surrounding environment which creates an augmented reality effect.

After the December 31 deadline, Samsung will stop offering new downloads and updates for the applications. Users who already have the apps installed may continue using them, although some features could eventually stop working as future versions of Samsung’s One UI no longer support the applications.

The shutdown is part of a broader shift in Samsung’s software strategy as the company prioritises newer features and services across its Galaxy ecosystem.

Quick Measure and AR Doodle were previously associated with Samsung’s AR tools, which allowed Galaxy users to interact with their physical surroundings through smartphone cameras. Their discontinuation reflects the declining prominence of standalone AR features as smartphone manufacturers focus on artificial intelligence and other software capabilities.

Samsung has not provided details on when or in what form the two services will return. The company’s statement that they will come back with ‘improved services’ suggests the possibility of redesigned or replacement experiences, although it remains unclear whether the existing applications will be rebuilt or replaced entirely.

Galaxy users who still rely on either application will have until the end of 2026 to access them through supported devices. Samsung’s Galaxy Store has already begun displaying the service termination notice for Quick Measure.

The move follows other recent changes to Samsung’s software portfolio, including the company’s decision to retire its Samsung Messages application in favour of Google Messages in certain markets.

The immediate impact is limited to those who regularly use the AR tools. However, the shutdown signals a wider transition in Samsung’s Galaxy software strategy, with older standalone features being replaced, consolidated or redesigned around newer technologies.

Scammers caught with victim lists and swindle scripts

Police have arrested 13 scam suspects and seized victim contact lists and swindle scripts at a house in Bang Phli district in Samut Prakan, and also caught a fugitive Korean fraudster hiding in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Pol Lt Gen Natthasak Chaowanasai, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, told reporters on Tuesday that 12 Koreans and their Chinese boss were taken into custofy from a house in Samut Prakan on Sept 1.

Police also impounded 51 VoIP (voice over internet protocol) devices, 20 mobile phones, internet signal repeaters and 20 computers found in their possession, along with Korean-language scam sheets, forged Korean-language official documents and lists with the names and phone numbers of more than 1,000 South Korean nationals.

According to Pol Lt Gen Natthasak, the suspects phoned potential victims over the internet, claimed to be South Korean public prosecutors, accused them of involvement in criminal offences and told victims to transfer money to them for verification of the source.

The gang was supervised by the Chinese suspect and operated from 7am to 2pm on weekdays, imitating the office hours of South Korean officials. They sneaked into Thailand six months ago and moved every two months to avoid detection. All their victims were South Koreans.

‘Police believe there are many victims. This is the third arrest of South Korean scam gangs in Thailand. Police have arrested 41 suspects in total and they have caused damage amounting to tens of thousands of millions of won,’ Pol Lt Gen Natthasak said.

– Fugitive Korean fraudster arrested –

Police also apprehended a 67-year-old South Korean man, Ahn Hoon, at a house in Hua Hin district, Prachuap Khiri Khan, on Monday.

Pol Maj Gen Pattanasak Buphasawan, commander of the Crime Suppression Division, said the man was a fugitive, wanted in South Korea on charges of investment fraud totalling 1.05 billion baht through 14 scams.

Since moving to Thailand, the suspect had also allegedly tricked three South Korean victims into investing in bogus property projects in Chon Buri, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan. Reported damage here totalled about 147 million baht.

Maj Gen Pattanasak said the suspect sneaked into Thailand from Malaysia about three decades ago and had a Thai wife. He was being held in police custody pending legal procedures.

Atiku: Tinubu’s Policies Forcing Exit Of Foreign Investors

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says the massive flight of foreign portfolio investment from Nigeria is a damning vote of no confidence in the economic management of President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the latest Nigerian Exchange data should trouble every Nigerian.

‘Capital votes with its feet. Between January and July 2026 alone, foreign investors brought ?513.36 billion into the Nigerian equities market but pulled out ?779.43 billion, leaving a staggering net outflow of ?266.07 billion.

‘Foreign outflows exceeded inflows in every single month during the period. The net outflow is about 11.7 times the ?22.68 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2023. This is not merely an investment statistic. It is a confidence verdict on the Tinubu economy.

‘Imagine a market where the shop owners are broke, customers have no money, the landlord keeps borrowing from everybody, and the few outsiders who brought capital are quietly carrying their money away. Only a foolish landlord would stand at the gate and call that prosperity. That is Tinubu’s economy.

‘Only yesterday, Nigerians learnt that the Federal Government had increased its domestic borrowing by 90.5 per cent to ?24.7 trillion in just eight months, while credit to government grew more than four times faster than credit to the private sector.

‘So the picture is now painfully clear: Tinubu’s government is crowding Nigerian businesses out of the domestic credit market while foreign investors are taking their money and heading for the exit.

‘Local businesses are suffocating. Foreign capital is fleeing. Government borrowing is exploding. Food prices has skyrocketed. Transportation costs are crushing families. Yet the same administration continues to congratulate itself on economic reforms.

Yet, with Nigerians crushed under the weight of its disastrous policies, the Tinubu administration still has the audacity to celebrate itself for presiding over an economic catastrophe of its own making.

‘What exactly is working? An economy cannot be said to be recovering when entrepreneurs cannot afford credit, manufacturers struggle with operating costs, households are poorer and investors remain unwilling to keep their money in the country.

‘The Tinubu administration may continue to manufacture impressive speeches and celebrate headline numbers, but investors are looking at the fundamentals – policy consistency, inflation, purchasing power, predictable regulation and the ability to earn sustainable real returns.

‘And their verdict is increasingly unmistakable: take the money and run. Nigeria requires an economic policy that restores confidence, lowers the cost of doing business, makes energy and transportation affordable, encourages production and allows the private sector – rather than government borrowing – to drive growth.

‘That is the fundamental difference between Tinubu’s economics of government consumption and Atiku’s economics of private-sector production and household affordability.

‘You cannot borrow the private sector dry, impoverish consumers and then advertise yourself to the world as an investment destination. The investors are already answering the propaganda. They are leaving.’

MMDA GM Torre takes 1-month leave over busway violation

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Nicolas Torre III has volunteered to take a one-month leave from public office effective September 8, Chairman Romando Artes confirmed on Tuesday.

Torre’s controversy stemmed after his vehicle was caught using the busway at Epifanio delos Santos Avenue went viral. He admitted he was a passenger inside the vehicle and stated they used the lane to check on a traffic buildup caused by a vehicular accident.

Later, investigations uncovered that Torre had installed MMDA logos, name identifiers, and blinkers on his personal car to make it look like an official government patrol vehicle.

‘I have full trust and confidence in GM Torre as far as his work is concerned. The MMDA respects Gen. Torre’s decision and wishes him well during his period of leave to give him sufficient time to reflect,’ Artes said.

He noted that Torre contributes immensely to the work at the MMDA, assigned to oversee the day-to-day operations and carry out the mandates of the Authority.

‘His commitment to public service and valuable contributions have greatly supported the leadership and administration of the MMDA,’ he added.

As to Torre’s case, Artes said, he is leaving the investigation to the Land Transportation Office.

‘No official, regardless of position or rank, is exempt from traffic laws and policies enforced to maintain order on major thoroughfares,’ the MMDA chief stressed.

He assured that the agency remains fully committed to the strict enforcement of traffic rules and regulations, public accountability, and continuous delivery of public service mandates.

‘MMDA operations will remain unhampered and committed to working together with dedicated public servants in advancing the welfare of the people and ensuring the effective delivery of public service,’ he said.

DOST-PTRI launches ONWARD initiative to boost local nonwoven textile industry

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) is opening a new frontier for Philippine entrepreneurship as nine local manufacturers and industry partners adopt locally developed nonwoven textile technologies for applications ranging from furniture and fashion to transportation, agriculture, construction and healthcare.

Launched under ONWARD: Philippine Nonwoven Textile Innovations, the initiative demonstrates how Philippine natural fibers can be transformed into higher-value materials and products, expanding the country’s textile industry beyond conventional woven fabrics.

The program brings together science, manufacturing and entrepreneurship, giving local businesses opportunities to develop new products using nonwoven materials made from locally available fibers.

The nine participating manufacturers and industry collaborators showcased commercial applications of DOST-PTRI’s technologies during its official launch of ONWARD on July 1 at SM North Edsa.

In the furniture and interior design sector, Jed Yabut Furniture and Design incorporated banana-based nonwoven materials into chair cushions and pineapple-based nonwoven fibers into decorative twine. The company is also exploring the use of the materials in table panels, lampshades and leather-like strips for chairs.

La Likha used nonwoven materials for sofa backings and is exploring them as alternatives to conventional foam and synthetic leather. JunkNot, meanwhile, incorporated the materials into chair cushions, home furnishings and décor pieces, demonstrating their potential for environmentally conscious design.

The technology is also finding applications in transportation. Sarao Motors, one of the country’s best-known jeepney manufacturers, demonstrated how nonwoven materials could reinforce jeepney seat upholstery and cushions, potentially improving durability and passenger comfort. The company is also exploring applications for dashboards, ceiling panels and door components.

In agriculture, Fivecent Global Corporation showcased nonwoven materials for packaging and plant and fruit mulching, pointing to opportunities for locally developed textile technologies beyond traditional consumer products.

Fashion designer Renz Reyes demonstrated the potential of nonwovens in apparel, while longtime DOST-PTRI partner Creative Definitions incorporated the materials into shoe uppers and insoles.

The fashion-accessory sector is another potential growth area. Fashion Accessory Makers of the Philippines (FAMPh) developed applications including bag linings, laptop and tablet sleeves, jewelry and hair accessories.

Meanwhile, Base Bahay Foundation Inc. is exploring the use of nonwoven materials in innovative construction systems, further demonstrating the technology’s potential to enter industries beyond fashion and textiles.

For Filipino entrepreneurs, the significance of these applications lies in the ability to turn locally sourced natural fibers into products with higher commercial value.

DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr. said the emerging nonwoven industry presents an opportunity for the Philippines to participate in a rapidly expanding global market.

‘The global nonwoven market is now valued at around US$58 billion and is projected to reach US$75 billion, with the Asia-Pacific region accounting for nearly half of global demand. This presents a tremendous opportunity for Filipino innovation,’ Solidum said in his recorded keynote message. He said the expanding market could create opportunities for Filipino manufacturers, designers, researchers and entrepreneurs to develop high-value products, generate employment and strengthen the country’s manufacturing competitiveness.

For DOST-PTRI Director IV Dr. Julius L. Leaño Jr., ONWARD represents more than an expansion of the Institute’s technological capabilities. It reflects a broader effort to increase the value that can be generated from Philippine natural fibers. ‘Through ONWARD, our nonwoven textiles, we push Telang Pinoy forward. ONWARD is about the choices that we make-choosing a cleaner, safer, friendlier, and kinder Earth. It is about making better choices for our future. Let ONWARD become part of those meaningful choices we make today,’ Leaño said.

The initiative could be particularly significant for small and emerging enterprises because nonwoven technology can create opportunities across different stages of the value chain-from fiber processing and material development to product design, manufacturing and commercialization.

Rather than limiting Philippine natural fibers to conventional textile products, entrepreneurs can tap specialized markets where performance, sustainability, durability, and innovative design are highly valued, according to Leaño.

DOST-PTRI is also preparing infrastructure to support this emerging ecosystem. Its Nonwovens Center, scheduled to open in January 2027, will house specialized processing equipment and serve as a research laboratory, innovation hub, product showroom and collaborative space.

The facility is expected to provide a venue where government, industry, startups and researchers can work together to develop and commercialize next-generation nonwoven products for Philippine industries.

The development of ONWARD signals a potential shift in the country’s textile value chain-from supplying conventional textile materials toward developing innovative, locally engineered products for a wider range of industries.

With DOST-PTRI providing research and development support and industry partners demonstrating commercial applications, ONWARD is laying the groundwork for a more diversified Philippine textile sector-one where innovation can translate locally sourced resources into new products, new businesses and new markets.

President promises another first: Three expressways without foreign borrowing

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said Sri Lanka will next year begin construction on three major expressways using only Treasury funds, without any foreign borrowing, describing it as the first time this has happened in the country’s history.

Speaking at a public event in Bulathsinhala, President Dissanayake said work will start on expressways linking Galagedara to Rambukkana, Ingiriya to Padukka, and Kurunegala to Galewela. ‘For the first time in Sri Lanka’s history, all three of these expressways will be constructed entirely using money from our Treasury, without taking a single cent in foreign loans,’ he said.

President Dissanayake also outlined a Rs. 60 billion railway electrification program. Tenders for the first phase, covering the Panadura-Maradana, Negombo-Maradana and Ragama-Maradana lines, are due to be awarded in November, with Rs. 100 billion allocated in next year’s Budget to fund the project.

Construction of the Rs. 47 billion Malwathu Oya reservoir project will also begin, with funding to be provided through next year’s Budget as required.

On digital infrastructure, President Dissanayake said 1,000 4G towers are planned over three years to complete nationwide 4G coverage, with 250 to be completed next year. Rs. 30 billion has been allocated in next year’s Budget for digitalisation, which he said would allow citizens to access around 80% of government services from home, including birth and death certificates, land deeds and revenue licences.

The Government also plans to establish 50 vocational universities across the country, including two in the Kalutara District, as an alternative track to the traditional university system for students after their Advanced Level examinations.

On energy, President Dissanayake said a 160-megawatt battery storage system has been installed to store solar power generated during the day for release during peak demand between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., reducing the need to burn diesel. A further 200-megawatt battery system is planned. He said the Government is also reviewing existing agreements at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation with the aim of creating a more competitive fuel market.

On rural infrastructure, President Dissanayake said Rs. 25 billion had been allocated for rural roads, but bitumen imports were disrupted by the conflict in the Middle East. The Cabinet subsequently authorised the Petroleum Corporation to import bitumen from any source, at whatever price necessary, to keep road construction on schedule. Funds have also been provided to renovate small reservoirs ahead of expected heavy rainfall between October and January, following a drought linked to El Niño conditions expected to continue until the end of September.

President Dissanayake said Rs. 100 million and Rs. 200 million had been allocated in the Budget for feasibility studies, saying projects would only be funded once assessed to produce results for the public.

President Dissanayake also pointed to a number of other outcomes he described as firsts for the country under his administration. He said Government revenue reached 16.7% of GDP in 2025, the highest in 30 years, which he attributed to closing routes through which tax and land-lease revenue had previously been diverted before reaching the Treasury. He said the 2025 budget deficit was the lowest recorded since 1957, and that Rs. 2 trillion has been allocated for capital expenditure in next year’s Budget, an amount he said no previous governments had allocated for capital development.

President Dissanayake said that over the past two years, no tear gas, baton charges or water cannon had been used against a public protest, and no police complaint relating to a racially motivated conflict had been recorded. He said the National People’s Power had been formed without using financial power, media influence or state power to influence the outcome, which he described as unprecedented in the country’s political history.

On social welfare, President Dissanayake said Rs. 6,000 was provided to 1.7 million schoolchildren to purchase educational equipment, which he said had not been done before. He said children in state care homes now receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000, having previously received none, along with Rs. 2 million on leaving care at age 18 to build a house.