Why Tanzania is set for record voter turnout despite tensions

Kilimanjaro. Tanzania heads to the polls on October 29, and despite political tensions during the campaign period, analysts predict a strong voter turnout driven by structural, historical and social factors.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), more than 37.6 million Tanzanians have registered to vote, marking a 26 percent rise from the 2020 election. Analysts say this surge signals growing public interest, especially as most of the voter base is rural.

Over 60 percent of Tanzanians live in villages and peri-urban communities, where voting has traditionally been high. For many, the act of voting goes beyond choosing leaders; it is seen as an affirmation of belonging and recognition in national affairs.

University of Dar es Salaam political analyst Salbinus David noted that while campaign frictions have surfaced, they are unlikely to reduce turnout. “Moments of disagreement and logistical concerns are not unusual in any competitive democracy,” he said.

“What matters is citizens’ readiness to exercise their right to vote, and the data suggests that readiness is very high, especially outside major cities.” INEC reports show that new voter registration far exceeded expectations.

The commission initially targeted 5.58 million new voters but enrolled more than 7.

64 million, 136 percent of the target. Analysts attribute this to civic education campaigns, improved registration access, and rising interest among young and first-time voters.

State University of Zanzibar political scientist Prof Makame Ali Ussi stressed that new voters are spread across the country. “This is not driven by one region but a nationwide mobilisation,” he said.

“Given the structure of political competition, where many councillors and MPs come from the very communities they represent, rural and peri-urban voters have strong incentives to turn up.” He added that elections in Tanzania are as much local events as national ones, since candidates are often embedded in their communities.

“This closeness creates a unique sense of accountability and recognition, which drives higher turnout,” Prof Ussi explained. Women are also expected to play a major role.

INEC data shows that 50.31 percent of registered voters are women, compared to 49.69 percent men. Analysts say this rare gender balance highlights increasing female engagement in politics, driven by grassroots mobilisation to overcome barriers of information and transport.

Still, analysts caution against equating high registration with guaranteed participation. Political fatigue, broken promises, and logistical hurdles could affect turnout on election day.

But experts agree that Tanzania’s electoral culture, particularly in rural areas, has consistently proven resilient. Peace and stability remain at the heart of the national conversation.

Prof Ussi warned, however, that the language of peace should not be used to silence debate. “In a democracy, peace means resolving differences through ballots, not conflict,” he said.

Mr David added that the credibility of institutions will be critical. “As long as citizens believe the process is fair, their vote respected, and their voices heard, they will turn out in large numbers,” he said.

Digital platforms are also shaping the political narrative, especially in cities. But University of Dar es Salaam lecturer Sylvester Kweka warned against overstating their influence.

“Social media reflects a narrow, urban demographic,” he said. “In rural areas, where most Tanzanians live, politics is still conducted face-to-face.

People know their candidates personally and engage directly, and that is what resonates with them.” He cautioned political parties not to rely too heavily on online campaigns.

“Social media can amplify voices, but without strong grassroots mobilisation it risks becoming an echo chamber,” he said. With weeks remaining, the 2025 election is shaping up as a test of Tanzania’s democratic maturity.

Rising voter registration, gender balance, and strong civic culture suggest that turnout could be one of the defining features of the polls. .

A girl from Kizimkazi: The fascinating rise of Samia Suluhu Hassan

By Deus Bugaywa The turquoise waters of Kizimkazi, a historic fishing village on Zanzibar’s southern coast, seem an unlikely cradle for a president. Yet it was here, amidst the rhythms of island life, that Tanzania’s first female Head of State, Samia Suluhu Hassan, was born on January 27, 1960. Tanzania has often defied expectations when it comes to the origins of its leaders, who tend to emerge from unexpected places.

Kizimkazi, modest as it was, would play host to God’s larger plan for Tanzania’s history: producing a leader from a humble background, as was the case with her predecessors. Samia’s journey from this small coastal community to the pinnacle of power in one of Africa’s most significant nations is a story of quiet determination, shattered glass ceilings and the navigation of profound national transition.

Born when Zanzibar was still a sultanate that united with Tanganyika four years later to form Tanzania, her upbringing instilled the values of education and hard work. Her intellect shone early in local schools, setting her on a path beyond the shores of her village.

Her education spanned primary schools in Chwaka (Unguja), Ziwani (Pemba), and Mahonda (Unguja) between 1966 and 1972. She later attended Ng’ambo Secondary School (19731975) and Lumumba Secondary School (1976). After finishing high school in 1977, she joined the civil service as a clerk in the Ministry of Planning and Development, grounding herself in governance from the outset.

Determined to advance, she balanced work and study, earning a Diploma in Public Administration from the Institute of Development Management (IDM) Mzumbe (19831986), followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Economics from the University of Manchester in 1994. In 2015, she capped her academic journey with an MSc in Community Economic Development through a joint programme between the Open University of Tanzania and Southern New Hampshire University, underscoring a lifelong commitment to learning. Her political career began in 2000 when she joined the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

That same year she was elected to the Zanzibar House of Representatives through Special Seats and appointed Minister for Youth Employment, Women and Children Development by President Amani Abeid Karume, making her the only woman to hold a senior cabinet post at the time. This trailblazing pattern of being the “first woman” would define her career.

Re-elected in 2005, she became Zanzibar’s Minister for Tourism, Trade and Investment, serving until 2010. Her influence expanded when President Jakaya Kikwete appointed her as Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office (Union Matters), a position she held until 2015. In 2014, she was elected Vice-Chairperson of the Constituent Assembly charged with drafting Tanzania’s new constitution, where her consensus-building skills came to the fore. Her national profile rose dramatically in 2015 when CCM presidential candidate John Magufuli selected her as his running mate–the first woman in the party’s history to hold that position.

Their landslide victory made her the country’s first female Vice-President. While Magufuli rarely travelled abroad, Samia became the face of Tanzania on the international stage.

She was re-nominated in 2020, and following another landslide win, began a second term. Fate intervened in March 2021. On the 17th, she announced to the nation the sudden death of President Magufuli.

Two days later, she was sworn in as the sixth President of the United Republic of Tanzania and the country’s first female Head of State. She inherited a complex situation: a nation grappling with Covid-19, strained civic freedoms, and economic uncertainty.

President Samia immediately marked a change in leadership style. Her “quiet diplomacy” emphasised reconciliation, reforms, resilience, and rebuilding–the 4Rs.

She established a scientific task force to guide the Covid-19 response, promoted testing, and was publicly vaccinated. She lifted bans on media outlets, reinstated rights previously curtailed, and overturned the controversial policy barring pregnant schoolgirls from education.

Her authority within CCM was cemented when the party’s National Executive Committee elected her as Chairperson, making her the first woman to lead one of Africa’s oldest and most powerful political movements. From the clerk’s desk in Zanzibar to the highest office in the land, Samia Suluhu Hassan’s rise has been marked by persistence and quiet transformation.

She now governs a nation at a crossroads, balancing reform with political realities, reopening Tanzania to the world while tackling long-standing domestic challenges. The girl from Kizimkazi stands as a symbol of possibility, an embodiment of leadership forged in humility, shaped by resilience, and directed towards change.

Her story is far from over, but its foundations, rooted in the sandy shores of Zanzibar, remain a testament to what determination and vision can achieve. Deus Bugaywa is a political analyst based in Dar es Salaam.

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How expiry of Agoa will affect Tanzania

Dar es Salaam. Uncertainty regarding access to the US market is growing among some African countries, including Tanzania, as a trade preference programme expired without renewal yesterday.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), introduced in 2000, provides over 1,800 products from Sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the US market. Currently, 32 countries are eligible for this preferential treatment under AGOA, of which 21, classified as “lesser developed countries” by the US, also receive special textile and apparel preferential treatment.

Tanzania, being one of the beneficiary countries, is hopeful for the renewal of the trade pact to enable local industries to continue exporting to the US. Dr.

Hashil Abdallah, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, stated that the government is now relying on regional blocs, such as the East African Community (EAC), to urge the US Congress to extend the deal. “If the programme is not renewed, many local industries and businesses could face significant setbacks,” he said, adding that some Tanzanian companies are already benefiting from AGOA.

“If it ends, they could lose access to the US market and encounter serious business challenges.” AGOA allows over 1,800 products, including garments, agricultural goods, and minerals, to enter the US market without tariffs.

In 2023, US imports under AGOA were valued at nearly $10 billion, according to US statistics. “Through regional blocs, we are requesting and urging Congress to extend this law so that we can continue trading in the US without affecting businesses and industries that have found markets for their products,” Dr Abdallah added.

Independent economist Oscar Mkude expressed concerns about the clarity of AGOA’s future. Although negotiations had begun earlier, US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies disrupted progress, leaving a clear framework for renewal uncertain.

“It’s possible, but not very likely,” Mr Mkude said. “We may have to continue trading with the US under normal market conditions, which include higher tariffs.

” According to him, Tanzania’s key exports under AGOA in 2023 included gold ($51.1 million), agricultural products ($28 million), and garments ($11 million). “Still, total exports to the US make up only 1.

86 percent of Tanzania’s overall exports, amounting to about $210 million out of over $10 billion to the rest of the world,” he noted. Dr Abel Kinyondo, a Senior Lecturer at the Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE), emphasised the critical importance of understanding the country’s production capabilities to drive sustainable economic growth.

He pointed out that increasing the country’s capacity for value addition is essential. “Signing multiple trade agreements, including AGOA, holds little significance if we do not have competitive products or services to offer in exchange,” Dr Kinyondo explained.

He stressed that without enhancing domestic production and improving value addition, such agreements cannot fully benefit the country’s economy. He further highlighted the need for strategic investments in local industries and innovation to boost Tanzania’s export potential and ensure meaningful participation in global markets.

The expiration of AGOA would make it more expensive and challenging for African goods, especially textiles and garments, to compete in the US market. Countries like Kenya and Madagascar would face steep increases in tariffs.

For instance, Kenya’s average tariff on exports to the US would nearly triple from 10 percent to 28 percent, while Madagascar’s would double to 23 percent. AGOA has not only aided African exporters but also benefited US companies by providing access to cheaper raw materials and encouraging American investment in Africa.

The trade deal has supported job creation, improved supply chains, and strengthened economic ties between the US and Africa. On March 30, President Samia Suluhu Hassan urged then-US Vice President Kamala Harris to consider extending AGOA to provide African countries with greater opportunities for trade expansion.

“African nations, including Tanzania, are requesting that this agreement be extended for 10 years to assure sustainability for investors conducting business here,” said President Hassan. .

UK’s Starmer appeals to voters to reject Reform ‘snake oil’

Liverpool. Prime Minister Keir Starmer appealed directly to working-class voters on Tuesday, calling on Labour’s traditional supporters to reject the “snake oil” peddled by the populist Reform UK party and back his vision of “a Britain built for all”.

In the most passionate defence of his premiership since he won a landslide election in July last year, Starmer called for unity, attacking Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage and his Reform party for only being interested in fomenting division. Under threat from Reform on the right and a nascent leftist party under his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, Starmer called on voters to be patient with his Labour government, which he said was taking its first steps along the path to “renew Britain”.

And he appealed directly to Britain’s working people, saying he understood their frustrations of being “patronised” by politicians, referring to his late father feeling disrespected for having a manual job rather than a university education – something he pledged to change by promoting technical colleges. Starmer calls for fight for ‘soul’ of Britain “No matter how many people tell me it can’t be done, I believe Britain can come together,” he told his party’s second annual conference in the northern English city of Liverpool since winning power last year.

“We can all see our country faces a choice, a defining choice. Britain stands at a fork in the road.

We can choose decency, or we can choose division. Renewal or decline,” he said in a challenge to increasingly restive lawmakers who question his leadership after falling behind Reform in the polls.

In a nod to the difficulties he has faced in the first year of his premiership with his personal poll ratings the worst for a British leader since at least 1977, Starmer again committed to raising living standards and putting money in voters’ pockets. But he also sought to convince them that Labour is the true patriotic party rather than Reform, with officials handing out Britain’s flags to the audience, who waved them during several standing ovations.

“For me, patriotism is about love and pride, about serving an interest that is more than yourself, a common good,” he said. “And the question I ask seriously of Nigel Farage and Reform is, do they love our country or do they just want to stir the pot of division, because that’s worked in their interests?” He repeated that his government would tackle the high rates of illegal immigration into Britain but would fight racism and those who “say or imply the people cannot be English or British because of the colour of their skin”.

That focus on fighting Farage was welcomed by many in the packed conference hall. “Farage doesn’t care about normal people, and it was important we get that message out,” said Shabaan Saleem, a 21-year-old Labour councillor.

But Farage said the accusations of racism had put its supporters in danger. “To accuse countless millions of being racist is a very, very low blow,” he said.

“It directly threatens the safety of our elected officials and our campaigners.” Starmer faces difficult tax and spending decisions Starmer faces some difficult decisions.

After saying that last year’s tax rises – the biggest in more than 30 years – were a one-off in terms of scale, the government might be forced to again raise tens of billions of pounds in taxes to cover a forecast fiscal shortfall. Finance minister Rachel Reeves used her speech at conference to warn those in the party who want her to ease her fiscal rules to spend more on the nation’s ailing economy that they were “wrong, dangerously so”, keeping the door open to tax rises.

And Starmer warned the party that it might face uncomfortable choices. “It is a test.

A fight for the soul of our country, every bit as big as rebuilding Britain after the war, and we must all rise to this challenge,” Starmer said. “And yet we need to be clear that our path, the path of renewal, it’s long, it’s difficult, it requires decisions that are not cost-free or easy.

Decisions – that will not always be comfortable for our party.” .

Kremlin on Hegseth’s war preparation remark: Russia is also strengthening its military

Moscow. Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russia was also working to strengthen its armed forces when asked about U.

S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s remark that the U.

S. must prepare for war to ensure peace.

“We also prefer to strengthen our armed forces in every possible way, remaining full supporters of peace and remaining open to solving all problems, including the Ukrainian crisis, through diplomatic negotiations and political contacts,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Asked about an Axios interview, opens new tab in which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Kyiv was prepared to say that it would only seek to regain its territory through diplomatic means in the future, Peskov said there was a pause in the negotiation process.

He said Kyiv, which has accused Moscow of making unreasonable demands tantamount to surrender, appeared to be in no hurry to resume talks. .

Cyber threats outstrip digital growth in E.Africa: Interpol

Dar es Salaam. The newly released Interpol Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2025, has delivered a stark warning: Cybercrime is accelerating across Africa, threatening public safety, financial systems and digital trust.

While more countries are responding, many still face serious structural challenges that limit their ability to detect, investigate and disrupt cyber threats. For East Africa, it reveals that much work remains to be done before the region can truly become a hub of the digital economy.

The development comes as the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF)’s Annual Meeting 2025 convene global decision-makers and experts in Saudi Arabia on October 1 and 2 to shape the future of Cyberspace under the theme “Scaling Cohesive Advancement in Cyberspace”. This year’s report indicates cybercrime now accounts for more than 30 percent of all reported crime in both Eastern and Western Africa.

Interpol cybercrime director Neal Jetton, notes, “These threats are not constrained by borders, they are transnational, fast-moving and increasingly sophisticated. They target the very infrastructure that underpins progress: financial systems, public services and, most importantly, the trust of citizens in the digital future.

” In East Africa, five countries; Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia are singled out as fast-emerging technological and financial hubs. SIM swap fraud has notably increased in Tanzania and Uganda, with fraudsters hijacking phone numbers to drain mobile wallets.

“It is a human problem as much as a technical one. Fraudsters don’t always need advanced tools.

Sometimes they just need someone inside a mobile shop willing to bend the rules,” a cybersecurity expert with CRDB Bank, Mr David Kway, told The Citizen. Online scams remain Africa’s most widespread cyber threat.

Interpol notes that phishing alone accounted for 34 percent of all cyber incidents detected on the continent in 2024. The report cautions that criminal use of artificial intelligence, synthetic media and mobile-enabled fraud schemes were outpacing the capacity of many agencies to respond. For young Tanzanians, the danger of digital sextortion is growing.

The report shows over 60 percent of African countries noted a rise in such cases in 2024, many targeting teenagers. Ugandan police and civil society have already flagged sextortion as a growing crisis and Tanzanian officials quietly admit similar trends are appearing.

Tanzania has set its sights on building a digital-driven economy, with mobile money, e-government and e-commerce at its core. But Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC) executive secretary Goodwill Wanga noted that in a digital economy, data is the new currency.

“If people cannot trust that their information and transactions are safe, then trade, banking, health and even agriculture will all be undermined,” he said. The consequences are already visible.

Phishing and Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams drain millions from companies, while ransomware attacks, though still less frequent in East Africa than in South Africa or Egypt, are creeping closer. In 2024, Tanzania was among Africa’s top 20 for ransomware detections, a reminder that no country is immune.

A capacity gap that could derail progress The report is blunt about the bottleneck: “A majority of countries report shortages in cybercrime investigative skills, limited access to digital forensic tools and insufficient infrastructure.” Only 30 percent of African nations have incident reporting systems and just 29 percent maintain digital evidence repositories.

Tanzania is taking steps to close the gap. The ICT Commission has recently launched training initiatives with Korea’s KISA to build digital forensic expertise.

“The cybersecurity field is broad This is only the beginning because these specialists are still very much needed,” ICT Commission director general Nkundwe Mwasaga noted at a recent graduation of forensic trainees. Telecoms and banks are also investing in security upgrades.

TTCL’s cybersecurity officer, Lilian Chambiri, said forensic training will make a difference: “Before, we had no tools to confirm the source of a leaked SMS or hacked file. Now we can trace, verify and report with confidence.

” But the numbers speak volumes. Interpol’s survey found that 95 percent of African countries lack adequate training and tools to handle modern cybercrime.

The report lays out clear recommendations. First, Tanzania and the East Africa countries must rapidly scale up forensic capacity.

Regional digital forensic labs, certified tools and secure evidence repositories are urgently needed. The report also stresses the importance of career pathways to retain talent: “Countries risk losing their most skilled investigators to the private sector unless incentives are created to keep them in public service.

” Second, telecom safeguards must be tightened. Stricter Know Your Customer (KYC) rules, regular audits of SIM card vendors and real-time fraud reporting channels are vital.

Finally, the law must keep pace. Cross-border evidence requests remain too slow.

As Interpol notes: “Formal cooperation channels such as mutual legal assistance processes remain slow and underutilised.” .

Yanga management urges fans to stay calm, back Folz amid mounting pressure

Dar es Salaam . Defending champions Young Africans (Yanga) management has appealed to its fans and members to remain calm and rally behind head coach Romain Folz, following the team’s disappointing goalless draw against Mbeya City on Tuesday at the Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya.

The barren result in the ongoing Mainland Tanzania Premier League left sections of the fanbase visibly frustrated, with some openly chanting for the Frenchman’s dismissal. Supporters complained that the performance was below par, arguing that Yanga’s trademark attacking style, characterized by attractive passing and entertaining football, has diminished under his leadership.

Fans call for change after stalemate The stalemate against newly promoted Mbeya City, a side many expected Yanga to defeat, was met with jeers from the stands. Some disgruntled fans urged the club’s leadership to terminate Folz’s contract and find a new coach, insisting that the team appeared uninspired and lacking creativity.

Since taking charge, Folz has been scrutinized for his tactical approach. Critics argue that his style does not reflect Yanga’s traditional attacking identity, one that has brought the Jangwani Street giants immense success in recent seasons.

“This is not the Yanga we are used to,” one fan lamented. “We want to dominate, to play with flair, and to win convincingly.

” Management: “It’s part of the game” However, Yanga’s leadership has moved swiftly to cool tensions. Speaking to The Citizen, one club official defended Folz, reminding supporters that football is unpredictable and that difficult matches at Sokoine Stadium are nothing new.

“It is part of the game, and historically, our team has often struggled to get positive results at the Sokoine Stadium, especially against Mbeya City,” the official explained. “This was not the first time to record such results.

We must accept that Mbeya City also came targeting victory against us. What matters is that we remain unbeaten since his arrival.

Let’s give him our support.” A mixed start for Folz Despite the frustrations, Folz’s record is far from poor.

Since his appointment, he has guided Yanga in four competitive matches, producing three victories and one draw. His tenure began with a morale-boosting 1-0 win over arch-rivals Simba in the Community Shield.

That was followed by a comprehensive 3-0 away win against Angola’s Wiliete in the CAF Champions League, a 3-0 triumph over Pamba Jiji in the league opener, and a 2-0 second-leg victory over Wiliete to advance in continental action. The Mbeya draw was the first time Folz dropped points with Yanga, though he remains unbeaten.

Still, many believe the performance gap between local dominance and continental ambition is too wide, and tougher matches ahead will be a true test of his tactical ability. Future on the line For now, Yanga’s management insists Folz deserves time to instill his philosophy.

But with fan pressure mounting, the next few fixtures could prove decisive for his future. Any further slip-ups may intensify calls for change, while convincing victories could calm the storm.

As the reigning champions eye another successful campaign, one thing is clear: unity between management, players, and supporters will be critical if Yanga are to defend their crown and excel on the continental stage .

US government shutdown begins as partisan division rules Washington

Washington. The U.

S. government shut down much of its operations on Wednesday as deep partisan divisions prevented Congress and the White House from reaching a funding deal, setting off what could be a long, grueling standoff that could lead to the loss of thousands of federal jobs.

There was no clear path out of the impasse, while agencies warned that the 15th government shutdown since 1981 would halt the release of a closely watched September employment report, slow air travel, opens new tab, suspend scientific research, withhold pay from U.S.

troops and lead to the furlough of 750,000 federal workers at a daily cost of $400 million. Republican President Donald Trump, whose campaign to radically reshape the federal government is already on track to push out some 300,000 workers by December, warned congressional Democrats that a shutdown could clear the path for more job cuts.

Vice President JD Vance issued an unusual warning about air safety, noting that air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration personnel — essential staff who work through shutdowns — would be worried about delayed paychecks. “If you’re flying today, I hope, of course, you arrive safely and on time, but you may not arrive on time because the TSA and the air traffic controllers are not getting paid today,” Vance said on Fox News.

The U.S.

‘s longest-government shutdown, which stretched over 35 days in 2018-2019 during Trump’s first term, ended in part after flight delays caused by air traffic controllers calling in sick. Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a stopgap measure to fund the government through Nov.

21 over Republicans’ refusal to attach an extension of health benefits for millions of Americans that are due to expire at the end of the year. Republicans say the issue must be addressed separately.

Both sides were posturing to blame the other and looking for advantage in the 2026 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. Senate Republican Leader John Thune scheduled another series of votes on Wednesday, hoping to pressure Democrats to break ranks.

Wall street slips The shutdown was set to delay the release of some government economic reports, adding unease to Wall Street investors at a time of economic uncertainty. Wall Street opened lower, gold struck a record high and Asian stocks wavered as investors worried about delays in the release of key data and the impact of job losses.

The dollar hovered near a one-week low versus major peers. At issue on the government funding front is $1.7 trillion for agency operations, which amounts to roughly one-quarter of the government’s total $7 trillion budget.

Much of the remainder goes to health and retirement programs and interest payments on the growing $37.5 trillion debt. Independent analysts warn the shutdown could last longer than the budget-related closures of the past, with Trump and White House officials threatening to punish Democrats with cuts to government programs and the federal payroll.

“Donald Trump and Republicans have shut the government down because they don’t want to provide healthcare to working-class Americans,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Thune said Democrats had routinely backed similar funding bills in years past.

“What’s changed is President Trump is in the White House. That’s what this is about.

This is politics. And there isn’t any substantive reason why there ought to be a government shutdown,” the South Dakota Republican told reporters.

Trump’s Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of Congress, but legislative rules require 60 of the 100 senators to agree on spending legislation. That means that at least seven Democrats are needed to pass a funding bill.

On Tuesday, three of them voted for the Republican bill. Democrats focus on healthcare funding Democrats are under pressure from their frustrated supporters to score a rare victory ahead of the 2026 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress for the final two years of Trump’s term.

The healthcare push has given them a chance to unite behind an issue that resonates with voters. Along with the extended health subsidies, Democrats have also sought to ensure that Trump will not be able to undo those changes if they are signed into law.

Trump has refused to spend billions of dollars approved by Congress, prompting some Democrats to question why they should vote for any spending legislation at all. University of Chicago professor Robert Pape said the polarized U.

S. political climate could make it harder for party leaders to reach a deal to reopen the government, which would likely anger their most vocal partisans.

“The rules of politics are radically changing, and we can’t know for sure where all of this is going to end,” he said. .

Visayas power grid on ‘yellow alert’ due to Cebu earthquake

The Visayas grid is placed on ‘yellow’ alert this Wednesday, Oct. 1, as several power plants went on forced outage following the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that had shaken Cebu Tuesday night.

In an advisory, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said the Visayas grid would be under yellow alert from 1 p.m. to 12 a.m.

In a yellow alert, the power supply can still meet demand, but it will serve as a warning that when a plant breaks down one way or another, it will result in brownouts.

The grid operator said a total of 27 power plants had tripped due to the earthquake, leading to 1,444.1 megawatt (MW) capacity loss from the grid. At least 10 transmission lines are also on outage.

Sixteen more power plants were not operational even prior to the incident.

The current available capacity is at 1,888 MW, while the peak demand is 1,839 MW.

The Luzon and Mindanao grids, meanwhile, are under normal operations. /dda

Jeric Raval didn’t intend to reveal grandkids with AJ Raval, Aljur Abrenica

Jeric Raval admitted he only had a slip of the tongue when he confirmed to the public that his daughter AJ Raval and her boyfriend Aljur Abrenica already have two children.

The veteran action star’s confirmation came last August during the press conference of the film ‘Mamay: A Journey to Greatness,’ which he was part of.

This was then brought up during his interview on ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda’ on Tuesday, Sept. 30, after show host Abunda asked if the couple got mad at Jeric for the revelation he did.

‘Hindi naman. Actually, nadulas lang ako noon eh,’ Jeric answered, laughing. (No. Actually, I revealed it accidentally.)

Jeric recalled how he blurted out the information while having a casual conversation with someone at the event, and was asked again about it during the press conference proper.

Jeric added that AJ reached out to him after his interview circulated on social media, but that she told her, ‘Nasabi ko na e. Anyway, lalabas din ‘yan.’ (I have already said it. It would eventually come out anyway.)

However, the actor clarified that the pregnancy rumors that hounded AJ a few years back were indeed not true.

”Yung totoo [ay] ‘yung panahon na hindi naman na nababalita, [pero] nasabi ko,’ he continued. ‘Daldal ko kasi e.’

(There were no talks about it when she actually had a child, but I initiated it again with my statement. I blame my talkativeness.)

Jeric also noted that the couple’s firstborn is a girl and the second one is a boy-a correction to the previous detail he got wrong about his grandchildren.

When asked about AJ and Abrenica, Jeric said the couple are happy and have been doing well. Jeric further disclosed that he advised AJ to return to show business while she is still young.

‘Medyo napaso [siya] do’n sa mga bashing kasi puro below the belt e,’ he said of AJ. ‘Hindi pa namin napag-uusapan ulit ngayon pero dati talagang ayaw na niya [bumalik].’

(She was quite affected by the bashing because most of them were below the belt. We haven’t talked about it again but before, she said she really does not want to return to show business.)

AJ and Abrenica, who went public with their romance in 2023, have yet to publicly speak about the matter as of this writing. /edv