FC Qarabag claims second win in UEFA Champions League [PHOTOS]

FC Qarabag has secured an impressive 2-0 victory over Denmark’s “Copenhagen” in UEFA Champions League Group Stage match, Azernews reports.

Played at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku, the match saw the Azerbaijani champions dominate, with goals coming from Abdullah Zubir in the 28th minute and Emmanuel Addai in the 83rd minute to seal the win.

Zubir’s early strike gave Qarabag the lead, while Addai’s clinical finish in the second half ensured all three points for Azerbaijan’s team.

The win was further backed by a solid performance in defense, with the team controlling the game and limiting Copenhagen’s attacking threats.

Dutch FIFA referee Serdar Gozuboyuk officiated the match, ensuring a smooth and fair contest throughout.

With this victory, Qarabag now sits on 6 points in the group, occupying fourth place, a significant achievement for the Azerbaijani side in Europe’s premier club competition.

Earlier, the team had earned a thrilling 3-2 victory over “Benfica” in Portugal, and this latest win keeps their hopes of advancing in the tournament alive.

Gurban Gurbanov’s squad will now look ahead to their next challenge, facing “Athletic” (Bilbao) in Spain on October 22.

Note that FC Qarabag has boosted Azerbaijan’s UEFA coefficient with its 2-0 victory over Denmark’s “Copenhagen”.

Thanks to this result, the team, has earned an additional 0.5 coefficient points for the country. As of now, Azerbaijan is ranked 25th with a total of 22,000 points.

In the UEFA rankings, Serbia holds the 24th spot with 22,375 points, while Slovakia is in 26th place with 21,375 points. England tops the UEFA rankings with 97,116 points.

The UEFA Champions League is a continental tournament that brings together the best teams from Europe’s top domestic leagues.

It is widely regarded as the pinnacle of club football, attracting millions of fans around the world. Clubs from UEFA’s member countries compete for the title, which is seen as the ultimate achievement for European club teams.

The format of the UEFA Champions League has evolved over time.

The current structure includes several stages: Qualifying Rounds, Group Stage, Knockout Rounds and Final.

The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League marks the 71st edition of Europe’s top club football competition, and the 34th since it was rebranded from the European Cup to the UEFA Champions League.

The final will take place on May 30, 2026, at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary.

Azerbaijan significantly contributes to Europe’s energy security, says SOCAR President

Azerbaijan has played a crucial role in enhancing Europe’s energy security, according to Rovshan Najaf, President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR).

Azernews reports that he made these remarks during the opening ceremony of the KAZENERGY Eurasian Forum held in Astana.

‘We have increased our gas supply to Europe by approximately 60%, without relying on any financial support from either European institutions or the European Union itself,’ Najaf said. ‘However, to ensure the stability of these supplies and to further expand volumes, it is essential to upgrade and expand the gas pipeline infrastructure. This requires long-term contractual commitments from European buyers, as well as financial support from EU institutions and European financial organizations.’

Najaf also highlighted the current uncertainty in Europe’s stance on natural gas:

‘On one hand, there is a stated need for gas, but there is no clear consensus-some say this need will continue until 2030, others suggest 2035. Without concrete guarantees, we cannot finance hydrocarbon production projects. These investments are not made for one-year supply cycles. The gas industry requires long-term contracts to justify investments in production and ensure supply security.’

The SOCAR president reiterated Azerbaijan’s readiness to increase exports to Europe, provided there is mutual commitment from the European side:

‘We are fully prepared to boost gas exports to Europe-but this must be based on cooperation. Firstly, through long-term contracts, and secondly, through joint investments in expanding infrastructure.’

Referring to past requests from Europe, Najaf emphasized:

‘Nearly three years ago, our European partners asked us to increase gas supplies. We agreed to double exports-on the condition that there would be support for financing the expansion of pipelines and infrastructure. The existing infrastructure-namely the Southern Gas Corridor-was built at the expense of Azerbaijan and its partners. We assumed all the associated risks, and until 2022, did not even raise the issue of expansion. We simply did our part and supplied the gas. But when Europe began demanding more, it became a critically important issue for them.’

Booby-trap device neutralized in Shusha village [PHOTOS]

The Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA) has reported the discovery and neutralization of an explosive booby-trap device during a house clearance operation in the village of Kichik Galadara, Shusha region, Azernews reports.

According to the agency, two F-1 hand grenades were found on the roof of the house, set in combat condition with a tripwire connected to a pillar and the entrance door. The device was successfully neutralized by ANAMA specialists, ensuring the safety of the area.

Authorities note that booby-trap mines and improvised explosive devices continue to be regularly encountered during ongoing mine clearance operations in the liberated territories.

ANAMA has once again urged citizens to avoid entering areas and facilities whose safety is not confirmed and to refrain from touching unfamiliar objects.

Ukraine can share counter-disinfo lessons with PH amid Russian threat in Asia – ambassador

Ukraine is offering to share 11 years’ worth of knowledge on fighting disinformation with the Philippines as both countries face what Kyiv’s ambassador sees as an active Russian disinformation threat in the region.

Ukraine Ambassador Yuliia Fediv said Kyiv wants to work with Manila on cybersecurity and counter-disinformation initiatives, citing Ukraine’s decade-long battle against Russian propaganda since the 2014 annexation of Crimea.

‘It’s not only the war on the battleground – it’s an information war,’ Fediv told Philstar.com in an interview on September 29. ‘Russia actually succeeded during many years to manipulate the internal political situation in Ukraine. Thanks to active media outlets and big anti-disinformation campaigns, we developed different tools which can be used by society to check the facts.’

Call for PH-Ukraine partnership

Fediv said Ukraine is finalizing a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine government covering cybersecurity, including programs to counter disnformation.

‘Ukraine can be a reliable partner for the Philippines to exchange knowledge and the tools we already developed during the last 11 years,’ she said. ‘It is important to make the truth available, because in the post-truth society it’s easy to manipulate people’s minds.’

Moscow’s disinformation campaigns, Fediv said, are not confined to Ukraine. This is why Kyiv has been expanding its diplomatic presence in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Ukraine opened its embassy in Manila in December 2024.

‘We felt that Russia was and is pretty present here, thanks to great mis- and disinformation campaigns putting a question mark over Ukraine’s independence and history,’ Fediv said. ‘That’s why it’s important to share the experience we have and also to tell people’s stories – that is the main tool against disinformation.’

The ambassador said both countries need to cooperate and exchange information to be “on the same page.”

Ukraine on the South China Sea

The Philippines has faced waves of disinformation around both domestic politics and its assertion of sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea – the part of the South China Sea that falls under its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. Several disinformation and malinformation campaigns have sought to undermine the 2016 arbitral ruling that rejected Beijing’s sweeping claims over nearly the entire sea.

On the South China Sea issue, Fediv said Ukraine is committed to Article 2 of the UN Charter, which calls for preserving territorial integrity and sovereignty and solving disputes peacefully.

She cited Ukraine’s recent hosting of the fifth International Crimea Platform summit held during the UN General Assembly, where more than 50 countries signed the New York Declaration affirming rules-based international order and peaceful dispute resolution.

The ambassador said Ukraine is “the most interested party in preserving peace and rule-based order” among UN Charter signatories amid its ongoing war with Russia.

Cebu quake death toll climbs to 72; aftershocks continue

At least 72 people were reported dead in Cebu after a deadly 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the province, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday, October 2.

The earthquake struck on Monday night, causing extensive damage to local infrastructure and leaving many casualties. The entire province of Cebu has been placed under a state of calamity, with several localities also declaring the same. The NDRRMC said that 53 cities and municipalities have declared a state of calamity.

Data from the NDRRMC showed that 72 people have died, while 294 were injured.

A total of 170,959 people have been affected, with 20,000 displaced.

The NDRRMC recorded at least two incidents of landslides and two collapsed structures. There was also a reported structural fire.

Almost 600 houses have been damaged, as well as 87 other infrastructure.

The province continues to be shaken by aftershocks. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Teresito Bacolcol told GMA that they have recorded around 2,329 aftershocks as of 4:00 a.m.

The magnitudes of the aftershocks have reached as high as magnitude 5.

Phivolcs warned the public of possible landslides and falling objects when they go out.

‘In case of another strongly felt earthquake, it is recommended that people protect themselves by doing the ‘drop, cover, and hold.’ In homes and offices, heavy furniture and appliances should be strapped to the walls, and hanging objects securely fastened to avoid causing injuries,’ the agency said in a statement.

Alert: Police begin enforcement of tinted glass permit today

The Kaduna and Edo Police Commands have announced that their operatives will begin the enforcement of vehicle tinted glass permit regulations on Thursday.

In Kaduna, the spokesperson for the police command, DSP Mansir Hassan, Hassan said: ‘The command wishes to notify the public, particularly motorists, of the commencement of the enforcement of Vehicle Tinted Glass Permit Regulations, in line with extant laws and directives.

‘This enforcement exercise will take effect from Thursday.’

According to him, all vehicle owners and drivers whose vehicles are fitted with either factory-fitted or non-factory-fitted tinted glasses are advised to ensure compliance by registering and obtaining the requisite permit to avoid inconvenience with law enforcement officers.

He said the registration process included an online registration, urging the public to visit https://possap.gov.ng.

He said for the physical verification, they should proceed to the Kaduna command headquarters with the following documents; vehicle particulars, proof of ownership and tinted glass specifications

He urged the public to cooperate fully with the directive as the exercise was aimed at enhancing public safety and security across the state.

‘Non-compliance will attract necessary sanctions as provided by law,’Hassan warned.

The spokesperson said Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, has assured all law-abiding citizens of the command’s commitment to ensuring a safe and secure environment while soliciting continuous support and cooperation from all the stakeholders.

In Edo, the police also said they will begin strict enforcement of tinted glass permits across the state from Thursday in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police.

Mr Monday Agbonika, the Commissioner of Police in the Edo disclosed this via a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Moses Yamu.

Agbonika said the move was part of measures to enhance public safety and curb crimes perpetrated with unregistered or unauthorised vehicles.

‘From Thursday, our officers will stop and impound vehicles with factory-fitted and non-factory fitted tinted glasses without a valid permit issued by the Nigeria Police Force,’ the commissioner said.

The police chief stressed that motorists must obtain the required permits through the official online portal.

He gave the address as (https://www.possap.gov.ng) or by visiting the State Intelligence Department (SID) office at the command headquarters in Benin.

Reiterating the ban on SPY number plates, the commissioner warned that vehicles without registered number plates, those with covered plates, or with fake/unapproved numbers would be seized and their owners prosecuted.

‘This measure is to improve safety and security across Edo State, as unregistered and unauthorised vehicles are often used by criminals to perpetrate evil,’ he said.

He, however, urged the motoring public to comply with the directive and avoid unnecessary embarrassment.

Agbonika assured that the enforcement would be conducted in the interest of the public.

‘We appeal for maximum cooperation from members of the public. This exercise is for the overall safety of everyone,’ he added.

He also advised citizens to report suspicious activities and professional misconduct by officers.

Cyclones, habagat leave P2.51-B agricultural damage

Agricultural damage due to the southwest monsoon, or habagat, and tropical cyclones Mirasol, Nando, and Opong has increased to P2.51 billion as of Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported.

The latest tally is 28.67 percent higher than the P1.95 billion recorded by the DA on Monday.

In its latest advisory, the DA stated that adverse weather conditions affected the livelihoods of 85,671 farmers in the following regions: Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Soccsksargen.

Losses were recorded in rice, corn, high-value crops, cassava, livestock and poultry, agricultural infrastructures, irrigation facilities, and machinery and equipment. Rice incurred the most substantial losses, accounting for 60.15 percent or P1.51 billion, of the total. High-value crops and corn followed at P705.12 million and P278.14 million, respectively. – Jordeene Lagare

Cebu needs help; quake death toll exceeds 60

Cebu officials appealed for help on Wednesday, as food, water, and medical supplies were running dangerously low following a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the northern part of the province.

Hundreds of Cebuanos responded to the call and showed up at the Capitol complex in uptown Cebu City, carrying donations and signing up to help, while the national government and several local governments have also started sending aid.

The province has been placed under a state of calamity, with officials saying they do not know the extent of the damage because many areas, particularly remote villages, have yet to be accessed.

At least 65 were confirmed dead, including three Philippine Coast Guard personnel and a Bureau of Fire Protection officer who perished in San Remigio after they were buried inside a gym that collapsed during a basketball league.

Almost 300 people were reported injured and dozens were feared missing, with these figures expected to rise as rescue operations continue, the Cebu Provincial Information Office said.

The tremor, which struck at 9:59 p.m. on Tuesday, was 17 kilometers northeast of Bogo City-the epicenter of what is now one of the deadliest natural disasters to hit the province in recent memory. It tore through northern Cebu, turning homes to rubble, toppling buildings, and plunging much of the Visayas into darkness, and was felt as far as Camarines Sur in Luzon and Davao del Sur in Mindanao.

Structural damage was reported in hospitals, gyms, and public buildings, prompting safety inspections and mass evacuations. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a full government response and ordered the heads of front-line agencies to immediately go to Cebu to assess the damage and identify the needs of affected communities.

‘Our Cabinet secretaries are already in the affected areas to provide assistance and assess the damage caused by the earthquake and its aftershocks,’ Marcos said in a statement on Wednesday. ‘Dire’ situation

The entire province of Cebu was placed under a state of calamity on Wednesday morning.

‘This declaration is not just a formality. It is a lifeline for thousands. We need to mobilize all available resources immediately,’ Vice Gov. Glenn Soco said.

Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro, who was leading disaster response efforts from the ground in Bogo City, described the situation as dire.

‘Many homes and establishments have been destroyed here, especially in Bogo City,’ she said. ‘What we need from the private sector is your help. Things like cooked meals or prepared food for the victims . The most urgent needs right now are food and clean drinking water. Many communities are running out,’ she said.

‘This is a tragedy of unprecedented scale in recent memory,’ Baricuatro said. ‘But we will rise again-together.’

‘Still counting’

Rescuers on Wednesday continued digging through collapsed buildings in Bogo, Medellin and San Remegio, with emergency responders saying they were overwhelmed.

‘We are still counting the dead,’ said Raymond Frasco of San Remegio’s disaster response office.

‘Some areas remain unreachable. We fear more bodies are under the rubble,’ he added.

Some barangays have been rendered inaccessible due to damaged roads and collapsed bridges.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has warned the public to expect aftershocks in the coming days, urging continued caution and adherence to safety protocols.

It has so far recorded at least seven aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 4.1 to 5.1, all centered near Bogo City.

Widespread blackouts

The quake disrupted power and communications across Cebu, Leyte, Samar, Biliran, Bohol, and Iloilo, triggering widespread blackouts.

According to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), 27 transmission lines and substations were damaged, knocking out 1,444 megawatts from the Visayas grid. The Daanbantayan substation near the quake’s epicenter sustained significant structural damage.

The earthquake caused a landslide in Leyte town, cracked bridges in Biliran and Samar, and even forced the evacuation of hospital patients and BPO workers as aftershocks continued into the early hours of Wednesday.

Volunteers needed

Aside from relief goods, Baricuatro said they needed medical personnel to assist in overcrowded health stations and emergency operations.

‘We are calling on medical volunteers-doctors, nurses, anyone who can help-to assist in treating the injured,’ Baricuatro said.

In a Facebook post, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the Department of Health (DOH) had already deployed medical teams on Tuesday night.

‘Doctors, nurses, and staff of the DOH Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) and the DOH Cebu South Medical Center (CSMC) have reported back on their safety and are now deploying medical teams to nearby areas, especially in Bogo City itself,’ DOH spokesperson Dr. Albert Domingo said in a separate statement.

The Bohol provincial government also committed to sending a 16-member medical and rescue team, two ambulances, and a rescue vehicle, while South Cotabato said it was sending relief goods, hygiene kits, and a medical team from General Santos City.

Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado also announced on Wednesday that Bohol was donating P5 million in financial assistance. Bohol sustained minimal damage from the earthquake.

‘Bayanihan’ in action

Baricuatro also appealed for manpower in packing, transporting, and distributing relief goods, especially in far-flung barangays that remain difficult to access.

Hundreds of Cebuanos have gathered at the Capitol, among them over 100 medical students from various schools, as well as ordinary citizens without medical backgrounds, offering to help however they can.

Several volunteers have already been deployed to the north to assist with both medical response and logistics.

‘This is what bayanihan means,’ said Capitol staffer Mark Gallarde. ‘People are not waiting to be asked-they are showing up, ready to work.’

‘Adopt-a-parish’

Newly appointed Cebu Archbishop Alberto ‘Abet’ Uy also launched the archdiocese’s ‘Adopt-a-Parish’ initiative on Wednesday, just a day after his installation.

‘As your Archbishop of Cebu, I am appealing to everyone to help however they can for the good of our earthquake survivors,’ Uy said in the local dialect.

The initiative calls on parishes that were spared by the quake to ‘adopt’ and support affected parishes, especially those in isolated northern towns.

‘The Church can help in three ways-through prayer, listening, and financial support,’ Uy said. He also ordered all northern parishes to refrain from holding Masses until buildings have been inspected by engineers.

’Difficult patients’ common, but not a distinct diagnosis of ill health, expert says

ALTHOUGH managing difficult or frustrating patients requires experience, clinicians can enhance their professional lives and job satisfaction while also improving patient outcomes by identifying common causes of challenging behaviour and implementing effective strategies.

Dr Folajimi Senjobi, a family medicine specialist at University College Hospital, Ibadan, made this assertion during the Oyo State Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) September continuing medical education series titled ‘Management of Difficult and Angry Patients.’

According to Senjobi, 15 to 20 percent of patients receiving medical care are thought to be difficult but the term ‘difficult patient’ refers more to the doctor’s response than to specific criteria of difficulty and does not denote a distinct diagnostic category.

He stated that the traits of difficult patients’ behaviours typically include drug-seeking, violent, litigious, seductive, angry, non-paying, manipulative, needy, argumentative, and persistently complaining.

‘For example, there are entitled demanders who are inexhaustibly needy. Instead of expressing gratitude or using flattery, they resort to intimidation, devaluation, and guilt toward the doctor managing their care. Then, there are dependent clingers who are excessively reliant on the doctor, desperate for reassurance, and who repeatedly return with a new array of symptoms.

‘Also, we encounter manipulative health rejectors who repeatedly return to your clinic, claiming that your treatment has failed. Whenever one symptom is alleviated, it is quickly replaced by another.

‘A considerable number of patients labelled as difficult may actually meet the DSM criteria for mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and/or borderline personality disorder. Others include patients who have become dependent on prescription drugs, those with substance abuse issues, and patients who frequently doctor shop.’

Dr. Senjobi, however, listed factors that influence difficult patient encounters with doctors, including physicians’ poor communication skills, low job satisfaction, time pressure during consultations, and physicians’ personal biases.

Other factors include changes in healthcare financing policies, past incidents of medical errors or mistrust, patients’ personality types, unmet patient expectations, language and literacy barriers, medical uncertainty, as well as physical, mental, and emotional abuse.

According to Dr Senjobi, the treatment for a difficult or frustrating patient should be based on a careful and thorough assessment of their physical condition.

He warned that strategies such as ignoring the problem, accusing the patient of being difficult, attempting to solve the issue solely with psychopharmacology, or telling the patient that nothing is wrong will be counterproductive in managing difficult patients.

Senjobi therefore recommended adopting the patient-centred clinical method of care to explore patient problems and to guide the best approach for defining and deciding on the management plan for both the disease and the illness experience, in collaboration with the patient.

Chairman of the Association of Medical Doctors of Oyo State, Dr Muyiwa Ajanaku, said, ‘This presentation is timely and relevant because it equips us with practical strategies to handle challenging patient interactions with professionalism, empathy, and patience. It also reminds us that while medical knowledge is indispensable, communication skills and emotional intelligence are equally critical tools in clinical practice.’

Dr Akin Sodipo, the chairman of the lecture, emphasized that doctors’ documentation of medical cases must be thorough due to increasing litigation and demands on medical practitioners in this era.

In his remarks, Dr Happy Adedapo, the NMA chairman, urged health practitioners to master the skill of handling difficult or frustrating patients to improve healthcare delivery.