TRUMP BANS SOUTH AFRICA, RAMAPHOSA RESPONDS: “WE DON’T BEG”
President Cyril Ramaphosa and Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana have made a historic decision: South Africa will temporarily withdraw from the G20 during Donald Trump’s 2026 presidency.
The message is clear Africa will not beg to sit at tables where it is disrespected.
Trump banned South Africa from G20 events after boycotting their historic 2025 summit, where South Africa became the first African nation to chair the G20. His administration rejected South Africa’s themes of “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” calling them anti-American.
Instead of compromising dignity for access, South Africa chose pride.
Minister Godongwana announced the decision at Davos, calling it a “temporary setback” but standing firm: without US accreditation, South African officials cannot access G20 venues. Rather than beg, South Africa stepped back.
South Africa has done the right thing. Africa’s voice will still be heard through the African Union, and South Africa will return when the UK takes over in 2027.
This is what sovereignty looks like. This is what self-respect looks like.
President Ramaphosa and his government have shown the world: Africa deserves respect, not charity. Africa deserves partnership, not patronage. Africa will not beg to be included where it is not wanted.
Donald Trump wanted to silence Africa. South Africa refused to be silenced—they walked out on their own terms.
Well done, South Africa. Africa is watching. The world is watching.
Respect is earned, not given. And it certainly cannot be begged for.
Police have arrested a Kenyan woman identified as Linet Munala for k!lling her three children in a premeditated act following a domestic dispute.
The bodies of the children, one-year-old twin girls and their 4-year-old brother, were discovered inside a single-room house at Neema Plaza in Mlolongo Phase III, Machakos County on Monday, January 26, 2026.
The twins lay in one bed, while their brother was found in another bed.
The state of the apartment spelled chaos, ranging from scattered food, kids’ stationery, uniforms, and clothes strewn all over.
It is alleged that the poison, some of which was still on the table, had been mixed into the porridge that was given to the children.
According to neighbours, the children were poisoned after their parents had a violent dispute over the weekend.
The mother was later traced and arrested while escaping. She is being held at Mlolongo police station as DCI officers investigate.
According to a police report, the incident occurred on the night of January 25 or the early hours of January 26.
The matter was reported at around 1pm on Monday by the caretaker of the residential building after she was alerted by a disturbing text message sent by the suspect after she left the house.
“The suspect’s three children were found lying dead inside the house with foam emanating from their mouths,” the police report read.
It is suspected the children were poisoned using a mixture of vim detergent.
The scene was documented, samples were collected, and the bodies were removed to the City Mortuary, where post-mortem examinations are expected to establish the exact cause of d3ath.
The suspect sent a cryptic message to her neighbour, asking her to go to the house in the company of the caretaker.
“She wrote a message to her neighbour directing that we go and see what had happened in her house,” the caretaker, Rose Anai, told The Standard.
Alarmed, the caretaker mobilised other tenants and headed to the house.
“When we arrived, the door was wide open. I entered first and checked on one child. I immediately realised the child had passed on. That is when I called the police,” she said.
The neighbour who received the message said, “When I went to the house, she told me that her husband’s friend called and told her that he was running late in Nairobi, and she started saying that her husband was cheating on her.”
Another neighbour attributed the d3aths to the woman not sharing what was happening in the marriage with other people and a lot of misunderstandings.
⛔ INTERNATIONAL | Indian Deputy Minister Killed in Private Aircraft Crash
An Indian deputy minister and four others have been killed after a private aircraft crashed in western India, authorities have confirmed. There were no survivors.
.
According to initial aviation briefings, the aircraft went down shortly after departure while en route, impacting a remote area and igniting on contact. Emergency services including police, fire crews, and civil aviation officials were deployed to the crash site, but all five occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary assessments point to possible technical malfunction or adverse weather as contributing factors, though officials cautioned that the cause remains undetermined.
India’s aviation regulator has launched a formal investigation, including recovery and analysis of flight data, airworthiness records, and maintenance logs.
The incident has triggered immediate political and security protocols, with senior government officials expressing condolences and ordering a comprehensive safety review. Tributes describe the deputy minister as a committed public servant, while flags were lowered in parts of India as a mark of respect.
Aviation authorities said further updates will follow once investigators complete on-site examinations and forensic analysis.
The crash renews scrutiny of private aviation safety standards and operational oversight in the region.
Rumours had it that American rapper, NBA Youngboy, snatched Gigi from Kai Cenat in early 2026, even though there is no valid proof.
The romantic relationship between Kai and Gabrielle Aliyah ended abruptly after he reportedly refused to buy a pink G-Wagon for Gigi as a Christmas gift.
On the other side, the NBA allegedly offered to buy the Pink G-Wagon for Gigi, Kai’s girl at that time, and that’s how her relationship with Cenat ended.
Youngboy never commented on the situation, and that allowed the rumours to fly high, confirming he snatched Kai’s girl.
Read Also: Kai Cenat Tears Apart After His Girlfriend, Gigi, Cheated On Him With NBA Young Boy
Gigi tried her best to clear the air by saying she left the relationship because Cenat was unserious.
A secret chat between NBA Youngboy and Gigi has been leaked by Brianna (@boolew_) on X (formerly known as Twitter), Kai’s assistant, confirming she was cheating on the streamer.
The conversation was about Gigi lying to Kai Cenat just to spend some time with NBA, but upon her arrival, Youngboy did not give her the attention she needed.
This chat got leaked right after Gabrielle Aliayah posted a video explaining how things transpired between her and Kai before she ended things with him.
Kai Cenat’s assistant LEAKED Gigi’s messages with NBA Youngboy confirming the rumours of her cheating 😳 pic.twitter.com/zpJX4lfySW
After the devastating end of his love life, Kai dropped only one video explaining why he left the relationship after months of enduring pain. Gigi, on the other hand, has dropped about 3 videos trying to clear the air because deep revelations about her alleged cheating nature never end.
Amid this drama, NBA YoungBoy has yet to utter a single word about all the allegations leveled against him.
ontroversial rapper and fashion designer Kanye West took out a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal to apologize to the Black and Jewish communities for his past actions and comments.
Kanye, 48, came under intense scrutiny a few years ago when he openly expressed his support for Nazi Germany’s leader and dictator, Adolf Hitler. Besides making several antisemitic comments on social media as time went by, he also went as far as selling T-shirts emblazoned with swastikas on his website. In 2025, Kanye went as far as releasing a controversial song titled, Heil Hitler.
Prior to these controversies, Kanye also drew the ire of the Black community when he suggested that slavery was a choice.
But the College Dropout rapper is blaming his actions on a brain injury that he says severely impacted his mental health and caused his bipolar type-1 diagnosis.
In his lengthy apology in the Wall Street Journal, Kanye stated that he suffered the brain injury from his near-fatal car crash that occurred in 2002. He said that it was initially undetected at the time.
“Twenty-five years ago, I was in a car accident that broke my jaw and caused injury to the right frontal lobe of my brain. At the time, the focus was on the visible damage—the fracture, the swelling, and the immediate physical trauma. The deeper injury, the one inside my skull, went unnoticed,” Kanye stated.
“Comprehensive scans were not done, neurological exams were limited, and the possibility of a frontal-lobe injury was never raised.”
The 48-year-old said that his condition “wasn’t properly diagnosed until 2023.”
“That medical oversight caused serious damage to my mental health and led to my bipolar type-1 diagnosis,” he said.
Kanye, who is also known as Ye, then went ahead to provide more insight into bipolar disorder, writing, “Bipolar disorder comes with its own defense system. Denial. When you’re manic, you don’t think you’re sick. You think everyone else is overreacting. You feel like you’re seeing the world more clearly than ever, when in reality you’re losing your grip entirely.”
He added: “Once people label you as ‘crazy,’ you feel as if you cannot contribute anything meaningful to the world. It’s easy for people to joke and laugh it off when in fact this is a very serious debilitating disease you can die from. According to the World Health Organization and Cambridge University, people with bipolar disorder have a life expectancy that is shortened by ten to fifteen years on average, and a 2x-3x higher all-cause mortality rate than the general population. This is on par with severe heart disease, type 1 diabetes, HIV, and cancer – all lethal and fatal if left untreated.
The scariest thing about this disorder is how persuasive it is when it tells you: You don’t need help. It makes you blind, but convinced you have insight. You feel powerful, certain, unstoppable.”
Kanye touched on how his mental condition negatively impacted him, saying that he “lost touch with reality.”
“Things got worse the longer I ignored the problem. I said and did things I deeply regret. Some of the people I love the most, I treated the worst. You endured fear, confusion, humiliation, and the exhaustion of trying to have someone who was, at times, unrecognizable. Looking back, I became detached from my true self,” Kanye disclosed.
“In that fractured state, I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing it. One of the difficult aspects of having bipolar type-1 are the disconnected moments – many of which I still cannot recall – that led to poor judgment and reckless behavior that oftentimes feels like an out-of-body-experience.”
The Can’t Tell Me Nothing rapper then expressed regret over his actions and stated that he was “deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change. It does not excuse what I did though.”
Despite his past antisemitic comments, Kanye denied being a “Nazi or an antisemite.”
“I love Jewish people,” he stated, before addressing the Black community.
“To the black community – which held me down through all of the highs and lows and the darkest of times. The black community is, unquestionably, the foundation of who I am. I am so sorry to have let you down. I love us,” he said.
Kanye also provided details about a manic episode that he experienced in 2025. “In early 2025, I fell into a four-month long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life. As the situation became increasingly unsustainable, there were times I didn’t want to be here anymore,” he wrote.
“Having bipolar disorder is notable state of constant mental illness. When you go into a manic episode, you are ill at that point. When you are not in an episode, you are completely ‘normal’. And that’s when the wreckage from the illness hits the hardest. Hitting rock bottom a few months ago, my wife encouraged me to finally get help.”
The 48-year-old further touched on how he’s currently coping and being initially misdiagnosed, writing, “I have found comfort in Reddit forums of all places. Different people speak of being in manic or depressive episodes of a similar nature. I read their stories and realized that I was not alone. It’s not just me who ruins their entire life once a year despite taking meds every day and being told by the so-called best doctors in the world that I am not bipolar, but merely experiencing ‘symptoms of autism.’”
He continued: “My words as a leader in my community have global impact and influence. In my mania, I lost complete sight of that.
As I find my new baseline and new center through an effective regime of medication, therapy, exercise, and clean living, I have newfound, much-needed clarity. I am pouring my energy into positive, meaningful art: music, clothing, design, and other new ideas to help the world.”
Kanye concluded: “I’m not asking for sympathy, or a free pass, though I aspire to earn your forgiveness. I write today simply to ask for your patience and understanding as I find my way home.”
From Millions to Hundreds of Millions: Patrice Motsepe’s CAF Revolution!
Under Dr. Patrice Motsepe, African football has gone from modest returns to a money-making juggernaut! The CAF president’s vision is turning the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) into a global spectacle and the numbers speak for themselves.
AFCON 2021 brought in a respectable $5 million in revenue, backed by 6 sponsors and broadcast to 38 networks. Fast forward to AFCON 2023, and the prize pool exploded to $98 million, with sponsorships nearly tripling to 16 and TV coverage soaring to 67 broadcasters.
AFCON 2025 smashed all records, with revenue of $200 million, 23 sponsors on board, and a staggering 111 broadcasters lined up.
Motsepe’s leadership is redefining African football, transforming CAF into a powerhouse, and putting the continent’s beautiful game firmly on the global map.
Eastern Cape Premier slams Israeli Embassy and AbaThembu King over unauthorised donations
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has slammed the Israeli Embassy and King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo of the AbaThembu for coordinating visits to provincial institutions including Walter Sisulu University and public hospitals and donating goods without the provincial government’s knowledge or approval.
Mabuyane said these engagements breached established diplomatic protocol, undermining South Africa’s constitutional system in which international cooperation must be managed through national channels such as the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the National Treasury.
He called the actions an affront to the country’s sovereignty. The premier has instructed the provincial Health MEC to investigate how the donations were accepted and said the government will work with national authorities to prevent future unauthorized foreign engagements.
Critics argue foreign diplomats must follow proper diplomatic channels, and that traditional leaders like King Dalindyebo have no mandate to engage independently with international missions on behalf of the province.
Putin to Meet Syrian President on Tuesday as Russian Military Bases Come Under Scrutiny Moscow, Russia
The Kremlin announced that Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa will visit Russia on 28 January and hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Russian military facilities in Syria emerging as a central point of attention.
According to the Kremlin statement, President Putin will meet President al-Sharaa during his official visit to discuss the current state of bilateral relations, prospects for cooperation across multiple sectors, and the broader situation in the Middle East.
This will mark President al-Sharaa’s second visit to Russia, following his previous trip in October last year.
Al-Sharaa came to power after overthrowing former President Bashar al-Assad, who had been backed by Moscow, in December 2024, subsequently forming an interim government. During their first meeting, Putin and al-Sharaa agreed to maintain strong bilateral relations despite the political transition in Damascus.
The upcoming talks are expected to address the future of Russian military bases in Syria, as well as the potential extradition of former President Assad, who is currently residing in Moscow.
Russia currently operates two major military installations in Syria: the Tartus naval base and the Hmeimim air base. Following the collapse of the Assad government, it remains unclear whether these facilities will continue operating under the new Syrian leadership.
Meanwhile, AFP reported that Russian forces have withdrawn troops and equipment from Qamishli Airport in northeastern Syria, an area under Kurdish control. Russian military personnel had been stationed at the airport since 2019.
The withdrawal comes as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)—a Kurdish-led armed group controlling northeastern Syria—seek a ceasefire agreement with the Syrian government and negotiations on integration into state forces.
The meeting is likely to serve as a critical test of Russia’s ability to preserve its strategic military footprint in Syria under a post-Assad political order. Outcomes related to base access and Assad’s status could significantly reshape Moscow’s long-term influence in the Levant, particularly as Damascus recalibrates relations with both regional and global powers.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has moved the hands of the Doomsday Clock closer to midnight, warning that humanity is now just 85 seconds away from catastrophe, the closest the world has ever been to what the group describes as potential extinction.
The adjustment, announced at a briefing in Washington DC, saw the clock advanced by four seconds, reflecting growing global risks such as nuclear conflict, climate change, emerging technologies and geopolitical instability.
If the symbolic clock reaches midnight, it signifies that humanity has failed to avert global disaster, including scenarios such as nuclear war or irreversible environmental collapse.
Alexandra Bell, president and chief executive officer of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, said world leaders have not taken sufficient action to reduce existential threats.
“Every second counts and we are running out of time. It’s a hard truth, but this is our reality,” Bell said.
Board member John Wolfsthal said the decision to move the clock forward was unusually clear-cut this year. “Overall, 2025 has been a pretty bleak picture in terms of advancing existential risks,” Bell added.
The Doomsday Clock has been edging closer to midnight in recent years, having been set at 90 seconds to midnight in 2023 and 89 seconds in 2025. The furthest it has ever been from midnight was 17 minutes in 1991, following agreements between the United States and the Soviet Union to reduce nuclear arsenals at the end of the Cold War.
According to the Bulletin, one of the key factors behind the latest shift is the heightened risk of global conflict escalating into a third world war. The group said that despite repeated warnings, “aggressive” states have continued to expand their reliance on nuclear weapons and military force.
Recent geopolitical tensions cited include warnings from Iran that any attack by the United States would result in “all-out war,” ongoing protests and crackdowns in Iran, Israel’s war in Gaza, and Russia’s prolonged invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
The Bulletin has repeatedly warned that a single miscalculation or accident could turn existing conflicts into nuclear confrontations.
Steve Fetter, a member of the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board, also raised concerns about emerging technologies, particularly unregulated artificial intelligence. He said new AI tools “pose a threat to the survival of humanity.”
“Using such videos can try to persuade people that things have happened that have not happened, that there are perhaps riots in a location or acts of war that are fake,” Fetter said, referring to the growing use of AI-generated images and videos.
Climate change was also highlighted as a major contributor to global instability. The Bulletin said continued dependence on fossil fuels has intensified extreme weather events, including wildfires in California, deadly heatwaves in Europe and a powerful hurricane that struck Jamaica last year.
Biological threats such as pandemic, bird flu and the global responses to pandemics were also cited as factors influencing the decision to move the clock closer to midnight.
First introduced in 1947, the Doomsday Clock is intended as a warning to the public and policymakers about the consequences of failing to address the world’s most serious threats.
The internationally touring performing arts group Shen Yun has been subjected to a series of bomb and assassination threats during its recent appearances in the United Kingdom, including messages warning of violence against venues and a threat directed at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The US-based dance and music troupe, known for its large-scale advertising across the London Underground and sold-out performances worldwide, recently completed shows in Birmingham, Oxford and London. Founded in 2006, Shen Yun promotes what it describes as traditional Chinese culture predating the rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
While in Oxford last week, organisers received an email written in Chinese from an unknown sender warning of a terrorist attack if the performance went ahead. The message stated: “If you insist on having Shen Yun perform, you will experience a surprise terrorist attack. I am not joking with you.”
A separate threat received in Birmingham over the New Year was written in English and warned: “Cancel the Shen Yun performance, or British prime minister Keir Starmer will be shot from a distance!”
The threats are part of a long-running pattern faced by the troupe during its global tours. Over the past 19 years, Shen Yun says it has recorded more than 158 threat incidents worldwide. In February last year, a venue in Northampton received a message claiming explosives had been planted in the theatre, reading: “Many explosives have been placed in the theater. If the Shen Yun show starts, we will detonate these explosives. Blow the theater to rubble! This is no joke!”
A similar warning was sent ahead of a performance in Woking, threatening that audience members would be shot if the show proceeded. Despite the threats, all performances went ahead.
Leeshai Lemish, a master of ceremonies for Shen Yun, said the group reports every threat to the authorities. “All of them get reported to the police, who are thorough in searching the premises. But they have all been hoaxes,” he said.
Shen Yun has long attributed the threats to opposition from the Chinese government, saying its performances conflict with CCP ideology. The troupe is affiliated with Falun Gong, a spiritual movement banned in China, which Beijing accuses of promoting anti-science beliefs. Shen Yun disputes those claims, describing its work as cultural and artistic.
Because of the threats, the company now travels with heightened security. Lemish said: “We had one incident where our tyres got slashed so we couldn’t go anywhere. We have also had r@pe threats against our female performers, which means we need security in our hotels too.”
Chinese Communist Party threatened to shoot UK
Suspicion that the threats originate from China intensified after a series of incidents in Taiwan last year. According to Shen Yun, repeated threats to a theatre there prompted involvement from Taiwanese intelligence agencies, as well as authorities in Canada and the United States. Canada’s Foreign Interference Commission later said it believed the campaign was linked to the CCP.
The commission stated: “We suspect the threats were coordinated by the Chinese regime, as the CCP has conducted a global campaign to silence and malign Shen Yun since the company’s founding in 2006.” It added that a US-based human rights organisation had documented 135 incidents of interference with Shen Yun performances in 38 countries, noting that “Chinese diplomats were the primary actors in 81 out of the 135 incidents,” indicating the campaign “originates from the very top of the CCP.”
In the UK, Thames Valley Police confirmed it was notified of a bomb threat against Shen Yun on January 10, 2026. A spokesperson said the information was reviewed by Counter Terrorism Policing, which found no credible threat to the scheduled performance. “Enquiries are still ongoing in this investigation,” the police said.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The safety and security of individuals in the United Kingdom is of the utmost importance. Any attempts by a foreign state to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm individuals on UK soil are considered a threat to our national security and sovereignty, and will never be tolerated.”
Despite the threats, Shen Yun has continued to stage its performances, maintaining that it will not be deterred by intimidation.
Kim Kardashian has admitted that in her early years, she went as far as using Britney Spears’ name just to get noticed.
The SKIMS founder made the revelation while speaking on her sister Khloé Kardashian’s podcast, Khloé in Wonder Land. According to Kim, this happened in the early 2000s when fame was all she cared about.
She recalled having dinner in New York City with her longtime friend Jonathan Cheban when he discovered that pop star Britney Spears was staying at a nearby hotel. That information, Kim said, became an opportunity.
Kim openly admitted that at the time, being famous was her only goal.
“Fame was all I wanted. I lived for it,” she said.
Police arrested a man who sprayed Democratic U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar with a foul-smelling liquid during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis on Tuesday as she criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Minnesota.
Omar was not injured. A security guard immediately grabbed the man and took him to the ground, according to a Reuters witness and video from the event.
Police said the suspect was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault.
During her remarks, Omar was condemning ICE and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, calling for Noem’s resignation following the recent shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis amid an immigration enforcement surge.
“ICE cannot be reformed, it cannot be rehabilitated, we must abolish ICE for good, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem must resign or face impeachment,” Omar said, drawing applause.
Moments later, a man seated in the front row stepped toward her and sprayed her with the contents of what police described as a syringe, telling Omar, “You must resign.”
Omar stepped toward him with her hand raised before he was subdued.
After a brief pause, she continued the town hall despite associates urging her to seek medical attention. She said she only needed a napkin. Her office later confirmed she was OK.
Forensic scientists gathered evidence at the scene, police said.
Witnesses say the liquid smelled of ammonia and caused minor throat irritation.
“I learned at a young age, you don’t give in to threats,” Omar told the audience after refusing to suspend the event. “You look them in the face and you stand strong.”
Omar has frequently been targeted by President Donald Trump in public remarks and on social media, including comments aimed at her Somali nationality.
Quabreshe Long, an African American woman from St. Petersburg, Florida, is facing several charges after trying to take back her own car from a towing company and pepper-spraying an employee in the process. Police say she refused to follow officers’ commands while inside the lot.
The incident unfolded around 4:30 p.m. Thursday at TRL Towing on Ferguson Drive in Orlando. Officers arrived after receiving reports of a stolen vehicle in progress and found Long inside the secured lot.
According to Click Orlando, Long, 29, entered the lot without permission to retrieve a Chevrolet Malibu she claimed was a rental car towed earlier that day. When an employee tried to stop her, she sprayed him with pepper spray and attempted to drive the car through the lot’s gate, hitting it multiple times.
The employee then used a tow truck to block her exit. Police said Long continued to ignore commands. She told officers she was trying to recover personal belongings and $49,000 she said were inside the vehicle. During a search, police also found oxycodone pills and a 9mm handgun in her possession.
Long was arrested and charged with burglary of a structure with battery, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm during a felony, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and resisting an officer without violence. She was taken to Orange County Jail without further inciden
Quinton Aaron, the 41-year-old actor who played Michael Oher in the 2009 film The Blind Side alongside Sandra Bullock, remains on life support after collapsing at home and being hospitalized for several days. Doctors say he is partially breathing on his own and showing steady signs of improvement.
According to TMZ, Aaron has been in the hospital for four days as doctors continue to closely monitor his condition. His wife, Margarita Aaron, said the medical equipment supporting him is not doing all the work, which has given the family hope.
Doctors diagnosed Aaron with a blood infection, and medical teams are still running tests to determine what caused it. At this time, there is no clear explanation for why he collapsed inside his home.
Margarita said her husband first woke up feeling sore and believed it was due to a bad night of sleep. Days later, the pain in his neck and back continued. While walking up the stairs at home, he suddenly lost feeling in his legs and fell.
Margarita, a registered nurse, rushed to help him and guided him to lie down. She then called 911 as Aaron slipped in and out of consciousness while being transported to the hospital, where doctors advised placing him on life support.
Since being admitted, Aaron has shown gradual improvement each day. Most recently, Margarita said he opened his eyes and gave a thumbs up, showing brief moments of alertness as treatment continues.
The 40-year-old actor has faced several health challenges in recent years. In March 2025, he was hospitalized in California after developing a fever and coughing up blood, with doctors believing he had Type A flu and pneumonia. He also battled a severe upper respiratory infection in 2019 and later shared his 200-pound weight loss journey in October 2025.
Three Black American siblings, Emmanuel DeLeon, Kairu Winkelpleck, and Njeri DeLeon, tragically died in a devastating car crash during a family vacation in Kenya. The crash killed two children at the scene, while the eldest later died in intensive care. Both parents survived.
The siblings, who were from Waterloo, Iowa, were traveling with their family earlier this month when the crash happened in Soysambu, Gilgil, along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway. Local Kenyan media described the incident as a severe road accident that shocked both the family and the surrounding community.
Emmanuel DeLeon, 13, and his younger brother Kairu Winkelpleck, 6, died at the scene. Their sister, Njeri DeLeon, 16, was taken to a hospital and placed in the intensive care unit. Days later, she also died from her injuries.
According to People, the crash happened on January 4 during what was meant to be a dream family trip. While the parents did not suffer major physical injuries, they were left grieving the loss of all three children while still in a foreign country.
A GoFundMe was created to help cover medical and funeral costs, as well as travel expenses tied to the tragedy. It has so far raised nearly $76,000.
Back in Iowa, Hoover Middle School, where Emmanuel was an eighth grader, noted the tragedy in a social media post. The school later held a balloon release in his memory, with staff and community members gathering to show support for the family.
A joint memorial service for Emmanuel, Njeri, and Kairu was later held at the International Christian Centre in Nairobi. During the service, their mother, Wangui Ndirangu, spoke about the pain of losing her children and her wish for more time with them.
“No words can truly describe this moment,” Ndirangu said. “This is only to express where our hearts are. If I had known I would lose all of you in one day, I would have turned back the hands of time and done a million things differently. I would have laughed with you more, listened more, and spent even more time with you. I would have been more careful, more attentive, pushed you more, and said ‘I love you’ more often.”
Many women have always laid down their preferences regarding the kind of men they want to have a romantic relationship with, and South African sensation Tyla has revealed what will make her date a man.
Some choose personality regardless of the person’s financial situation, while others look for a man with money, sidelining his looks and behaviour.
South African songstress, Tyla, has recently disclosed her type of man and the conditions that will. make her fall in love.
According to the 23-year-old, love without money is noise without any action, so she will only accept to date a man who is willing to spend a million dollars on her for shopping without complaining.
This utterance from the entertainer has stirred different reactions, with the majority of her female fans supporting her decision to go in for men with the big bag only.
🚨 Breaking News 😳😳😳
“I can’t date a man who can’t spend $1 MILLION on me. I’m too rich and beautiful.” — Tyla
According to Tyla, love without money is noise. She made it clear that she’s not interested in broke love, saying if a man truly loves her, spending $1 million… pic.twitter.com/PrBiz5kbyd
There are some others who believe the singer should not focus on money if she is looking for genuine love.
Tyla stressed that she has spent more than a million dollars on her body with her music money to look beautiful, so no man should complain about her requirements.
Per her description, this cuts of men earning a living with a 9-to-5 and those without a 6-figure bank account.
In all this, an internet user advised the singer to mellow and find true love, or regret wasting her prime by chasing men with money who will eventually leave her when the spark is gone.
Most successful women in the society set high standards for men who chase them, and Tyle is no exception.
They see their class as a top level and need a man on their level in terms of fame and wealth.
One of China’s top military generals is under investigation for allegedly leaking nuclear secrets to the United States.
The military leader is General Zhang Youxia, once vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission.
On January 24, 2026, China’s Ministry of National Defense officially announced investigations into two top generals.
Zhang Youxia (first vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and long considered one of Xi’s closest allies) and Liu Zhenli (chief of the CMC Joint Staff Department) are currently being investigated.
According to reports, the two were involved in a “serious violations of discipline and law”—a standard euphemism in CCP speak for corruption, disloyalty, or other grave offenses.
A U.S. newspaper report says one allegation involves sharing core nuclear weapons information with the United States.
China’s defence ministry has confirmed an investigation but has not detailed the specific claims.
Chinese intelligence says they uncovered the leaks before they caused a major catastrophe.
Chinese authorities linked the inquiry to broader anti-corruption efforts within the People’s Liberation Army.
Beijing has not publicly responded to the nuclear leak claim. In China, leaking state secrets is a very serious crime.
Zhang has not appeared in public since the investigation began. Foreign officials have not confirmed the alleged leak.
Elon Musk has responded with characteristic bluntness to accusations of racism levelled against him by Indian-American billionaire Vinod Khosla. After Khosla suggested that Musk’s current political trajectory is rooted in a desire for a “white America,” Musk retaliated by attacking Khosla’s character and controversy over public beach access. To counter the narrative of racial bias, Musk highlighted his personal life, mentioning his partner Shivon Zilis’ Indian roots and revealing that his eldest son with her was named after the Nobel Prize-winning Indian-american astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.
It all started with a 2025 tweet by Musk where he posted, “White people are a rapidly diminishing minority of global population.” Reacting to it on Jan 27, 2026, Khosla wrote, “Elon Musk doesn’t want MAGA, he wants WAGA or ‘white America great again’ as a racism is great and desirable” paradigm. All non-whites in @tesla, @SpaceX, @X, etc and all decent whites should quit and join our portfolio. Email us your LinkedIn!”
What did Elon Musk say? The tech billionaire tweeted, “Vinod, you’re not just such a pompous ahole that you tried to stop the public from using a public beach near your house, you’ve also gone full rard.”
He continued, “My partner, Shivon, is half Indian and my eldest son with her is named in honor of the great Indian physicist Chandrasekhar.”
Vinod, you’re not just such a pompous asshole that you tried to stop the public from using a public beach near your house, you’ve also gone full retard.
My partner, Shivon, is half Indian and my eldest son with her is named in honor of the great Indian physicist Chandrasekhar.
How did social media react? An individual wrote, “You’re roasting his open AI stake via your lawsuit. That’s the core of the issue… that’s it.” Another added, “Just buy the house next to him and have epic parties open to the public.”
A third expressed, “This response takes the ‘some of my best friends are . . .’ to an entirely different level, Elon style.” A fourth joked, “Rich people’s problem.”
I’M READY FOR SANCTIONS, SAYS MUNDUBILE AS HE BACKS PULE’S TONSE ALLIANCE
IF the decision that I make today to serve the Zambian people should attract some sanctions, I am ready for that sanction, says PF presidential aspirant Brian Mundubile.
And Mundubile says the only Tonse Alliance that is recognised is the one left by former president Edgar Lungu, which was led by Dan Pule.
Mundubile further says the continued delay in holding the convention has created unnecessary tension in PF.
On Monday, the Tonse faction led by Given Lubinda held a meeting where PF Deputy Secretary General for Administration Celestine Mukandila disclosed that among the resolutions was that any party member who associated with the “breakaway illegal Tonse” shall be deemed to have exited the party.
Last Friday, Mundubile filed his nomination for the chairmanship of the Tonse Alliance faction led by Pule.
Commenting on the resolutions in an interview, Mundubile said he was not aware of any other Tonse Alliance.
“I am Chairperson for Parliamentary Affairs under Tonse. I was appointed by [former] president [Edgar] Lungu to that position, together with State Counsel Chifumu Banda. We remain in those positions under Tonse. We remain in the same committee. If there’s any other Tonse, that may be one that I’m not aware of, apart from the Tonse I have belonged to from the time [former] president Lungu appointed me. I have remained at the same Tonse, and that is the Tonse where Dan Pule was the Vice-Chairman from the beginning. In my capacity as a National Chairperson, I’m senior enough to know which organisation that I belong to,” Mundubile said.
“You are asking whether or not I feel I’m doing something wrong. Absolutely not! [Former] president Lungu left me in that position. I have been in that position all along. Now I’m vying to go higher in the same organisation. The drama that is there, and the commentary from colleagues and so on, may be unnecessary, the energy they are putting into going to newspapers, going to radio, having these meetings. It was easier to have a convention and put everything to rest. It’s been four years of avoiding holding a convention. If one thinks Mundubile is too fast, four months away from the elections, then I really wonder what the strategy is for the general election. It’s actually very dangerous for the Zambian people who are relying on the opposition to get them out of poverty and any challenges that they are facing”.
Mundubile said the continued procrastination on holding the PF convention had created unnecessary tension.
“One cannot be said to be too fast four months away from the general elections, it’s laughable really, if someone says you are too fast four months before the elections. What is important is that people must sit back and reflect on the events within the PF and what has transpired. They will come to one realisation only, which is that procrastination of holding the convention has created unnecessary tension, something that could have been avoided. If one thinks Mundubile is too fast, four months away from the elections, then I really wonder what their strategy is for the general election,” he said.
“Whatever I’m doing, I’m doing it with a free conscience, and I know it’s for the sake of the Zambian people. I’m here to serve. I presented myself as one who is ready to serve the Zambian people, and not one who is going to give excuses at every stage. You must understand that everything we do in politics is about the Zambian people. I have been in Tonse since its formation. I have not changed”.
Mundubile said he was ready to face any sanctions.
“If one says I have left [PF] Tonse because I have joined Tonse, what do they mean? Because I have been a member of Tonse since last year. Whatever is being said is really laughable. That’s what I know. It’s really laughable because you know that I’m the National Chairperson of Parliamentary Affairs. I have been in the same position. So, at what stage have I left the PF? But whatever the case, elections are fast approaching.
The Zambian people need solutions. I’m not going to cow down for expedience. If the decision that I make today to save the Zambian people should cause or attract some sanctions, I am ready for that sanction. There’s no convention. You know what I mean? That’s a difficult question to answer. The PF is still in court with Chabinga, there is no convention. And then if you ask me whether I’m going to stand on the PF, it’s going to be difficult to answer,” he said.
Mundubile further said he would not be distracted by detractors.
“First of all, don’t ever believe that when someone tells you that Tonse [Alliance] is illegal. That’s the Tonse ECL left. That’s how come I am still there, that’s how come Chifumu Banda is still there, that’s how come Dan Pule is still there. Tell me [if] the people that were at the other Tonse were there on the appointment of Edgar Chagwa Lungu. The issue that Tonse is illegal doesn’t even come in.
Zambians are not blind, Zambians know that we have belonged to that Tonse right from the beginning. Zumani only belongs to that Tonse, Dan Pule only belongs to that Tonse that ECL left, Chifumu Banda only belongs to the Tonse the PF left.
The other Tonse, I don’t think Dan Pule knows about it. It was only heard about yesterday (Monday). That’s the new Tonse, Tonse reloaded or whatever, but nobody knows about it. People were appointed yesterday (Monday). In fact, they were joining yesterday (Monday). For us, we don’t know of any other Tonse,” said Mundubile.
“I wouldn’t want to comment about what was going on there, I was less bothered. And remember, we are busy organising for a conference over the weekend. We really didn’t have much time to start looking at what others are doing, forming similar organisations. We didn’t pay attention to who else was forming Tonse along the way, we were busy.
Yes, I will focus on saving the Zambian people, like I have always done. I will maintain my silence and focus on working. So, I will not be distracted by the detractors. So that is the best I can say”.
🇿🇲 EDITORIAL | Kambwili Returns, Old Politics Intact
Chishimba Kambwili is back on the airwaves, loud as ever, and sounding exactly like the past Zambia tried to leave behind. His latest remarks on Radio Mano in Kasama, tying a royal funeral to voting choices in a mayoral by-election, mark a return to grievance politics that once thrilled party bases but ultimately collapsed under the weight of their own excess.
Yes, questions around the absence of the President and Vice President at the funeral of the Paramount Chief’s wife are legitimate. Public figures invite scrutiny. State protocol invites debate. What crosses the line is weaponising mourning to mobilise votes along regional or ethnic sentiment. Turning a funeral into a ballot instruction is not political accountability. It is emotional blackmail dressed as mobilisation.
This is not new behaviour. In 2021, Kambwili became one of the loudest voices pushing divisive language that framed politics as a battle of regions rather than a contest of ideas. He paid a legal price for it. The Patriotic Front paid a political price for it. Voters rejected it. Even in regions where such rhetoric was expected to resonate, the PF lost ground decisively at presidential level. That outcome alone should have forced reflection.
Zambia is not as tribal as its loudest politicians pretend. The record is clear. When voters sense manipulation, they pull away. Civil society did not rise this week with condemnations or press statements, not because the remarks were harmless, but because the country has grown tired of relitigating the same arguments. People have moved on. Some politicians have not.
There is also a deeper irony. Kambwili speaks as if he still defines the centre of opposition politics, yet even inside PF, gravity has shifted. Party structures are mobilising around new names and new claims to leadership. Brian Mundubile draws one bloc. Makebi Zulu draws another. The old guard is no longer unchallenged. Their response has not been renewal. It has been resistance. Confusion follows.
This is the problem with recycling 2011 and 2015 tactics in 2026. The context has changed. Speech laws are tighter. Voters are more issue-aware. Elections are less forgiving of theatrics without substance. Calls to punish a government over funeral attendance sit awkwardly beside real questions voters are asking about jobs, agriculture payments, education, health, and local governance.
The opposition’s credibility crisis is not caused by media scrutiny. It is caused by an addiction to outrage politics that offers no alternative programme. Removing a president is not a policy. Replacing one ruling elite with another is not reform. When interviews circle endlessly around anger, betrayal, and grievance, voters hear survival, not leadership.
Kambwili’s return is a reminder, not a revival. A reminder of why PF lost power in 2021. A reminder of how fast politics collapses when it feeds on division. Zambia’s future will not be decided on radio rants or funeral registers. It will be decided by leaders who understand that the country has outgrown politics built on noise, fear, and nostalgia.
The message is simple. Civil politics is not weakness. It is maturity. Those who refuse to adapt will keep shouting into a country that has already walked past them.
MUNDUBILE IS TOO FAST, HE IS DEMOBILISING PF – MONDE
PF presidential aspirant Greyford Monde says the actions taken by Mporokoso PF MP Brian Mundubile are demobilising the PF.
On Friday, Mundubile and Christian Democratic Party president Dan Pule successfully filed nominations for the position of Tonse Alliance Chairperson and 2026 presidential candidate.
This is despite an earlier circular issued by the Given Lubinda-led PF faction, which directed all PF structures to disregard any activities initiated by the Tonse Alliance faction.
Reacting to this in an interview, Monde, who is also the party’s National Mobilising Chairman, said Mundubile was too fast, adding that he wished that the people advising him could have asked him to stick around.
“I think my brother is too fast. I wish that the people advising him could have asked him to stick around. We want him around. We want him to move with everyone in a team. Not what he’s doing, that’s not correct. The key word here is that my brother is demobilising the PF to wherever he is wanting to take the membership, maybe to that faction or to another political party. But that is not correct. We cannot allow that. So we stand to defend our people, the rights of our people, the rights of association. If anyone comes in a sheep’s skin when he’s a wolf to come and make our members move, that we should not be able to allow. We need to defend the membership of the party. Let people know that ‘I’m no longer PF.’ Some people must choose to go with them. Not ‘I’m PF, but I want to belong to that association’, that’s not correct,” he said.
“Now, anyone who wants to rush the process and take their own course, they have done it on their own. And they must never point a finger at any of us, the leaders of the PF. And for me particularly, I think that these disturbances and just what my brother yesterday (Friday), Honourable Mundubile, did is actually causing a lot of commotion in the party.
And as National Mobilising Chairman, I don’t want to see anyone demobilise the members who are mobilising into the party. What Honourable Mundubile is doing is demobilising the PF to another political party or another faction that he wants to take the members from. As National Mobilising Chairman, I can tell you that that course hurts the membership of the party. And you can even see how the country is talking about all of this issue”.
Monde said Mundubile’s action had no blessings from the party.
“Well, I think for me as a candidate, we have been guided ever since this process started in 2022. We have been guided on how to proceed, when to say what, when to go where. Because we are PF and that’s a fact and that’s the bottom line. We are PF and there are a lot of things that bring us together than just the desire and the appetite, the desperation to become a leader of the party.
https://youtu.be/OhYbRqRKyYk?si=uY37gN3q9GtqchSU
Along the way, just like any other member would want to choose to go to another ship, we will not stop them. What stands now is that we’ve been guided as a party on how we are proceeding. And especially this Dan Pule faction is the biggest question,” he said.
“You know that there was a meeting, first of all, that was called by Chief Apostle Dan Pule, which literally overthrew the leadership of the Tonse chairman, led by acting president, Honourable Lubinda, which the whole country knows is the substantive Tonse Alliance. So there was guidance from the substantive chairperson of Tonse, Honourable Lubinda, guiding the membership, including Honourable Mundubile, that the meeting which was called by Professor Pule was not sanctioned.
So for me as a candidate, if I can contemplate joining a wrong meeting and grouping that actually sat down to expel and kick out the PF, then what am I doing as a candidate? Honourable Mundubile has chosen his course and definitely that action has no blessings of the party. It has no blessings of the party and the party has a position”.
Monde further said it was a pity that the faithful members were now being hoodwinked.
“I’m sure we have been guided that, with that action, there will be some disciplinary cause. It’s just a pity that our members, faithful members who were approached in the name of the party, are now being hoodwinked. And maybe for me, it’s to just re-echo the actions of the letter by Deputy SG Mukandila, that our members must be able to know which one of us leaders actually mean well for them. They must be able to know and they must not be hoodwinked by anyone who comes in the name of the party. Some of the members are self-centred and their intention is already known,” said Monde.
“If they want to leave the PF, and we have always said that the PF is there, it’s intact, and wherever the PF has gone, we know who are the members of the PF. We saw the PF team in Chawama under the umbrella of FDD and they won an election. We saw the PF in Petauke under the name of NDC, they won an election. So that is the PF we are talking about. Those who have the papers, they must keep the papers. But we’ve also agreed that very soon we’re going to be making a decision over how we move forward in regards to our position because elections are coming”.
🇿🇲 BRIEFING | NCP Cites Public Pressure as Talks Resume with Tonse Alliance
New Congress Party leader Peter Chanda says his party’s renewed engagement with the Tonse Alliance is driven by growing pressure from ordinary Zambians calling for opposition unity ahead of the August elections.
Speaking separately to media outlets, Chanda said the NCP’s decision to re-open talks with the alliance followed sustained public appeals urging opposition parties to work together rather than remain fragmented.
He said divisions among opposition groups only strengthen the ruling party and weaken citizens seeking political change.
“The message from the people is clear and unambiguous. Continued fragmentation within the opposition only serves to entrench the status quo,” Chanda said. “Unity is not a slogan; it is a political necessity. The people have demanded it, and we are duty-bound to deliver.”
Chanda disclosed that discussions were initiated after outreach from PF Deputy Secretary General for Politics Miles Sampa, followed by consultations with PF Acting President and Tonse Alliance chairperson Given Lubinda, and PF Deputy Secretary General for Administration Celestine Mukandila.
He clarified that while reports indicated the NCP had been readmitted to the alliance, talks were still ongoing. According to Chanda, discussions have laid the groundwork for a possible NCP-PF working arrangement within Tonse, with terms of reference yet to be finalised.
“The engagement is being done in good faith, with consultations continuing among our members and key stakeholders to safeguard the party’s values and interests,” he said, adding that unity must translate into practical cooperation on the ground.
The NCP says it remains committed to strengthening opposition collaboration while consultations continue, as parties seek to present a more cohesive front in the run-up to the general elections.
ITS TRUE: PF HAS NO STRUCTURES, ONLY CITIZENS FIRST REMAINS FORMIDABLE
We don’t agree with Wynter Kabimba on most things, especially when he seems to abandon principles and echo the narratives of his relative and tribesman, Hakainde Hichilema. But on this, we fully agree: the Patriotic Front (PF) is finished. Its political machinery is gone. Its structures are dead. Even the much-talked-about general conference is a charade how can PF designate delegates when there are no valid registers, no organized districts, and no leadership capable of galvanizing the party?
Kabimba is right: PF is nothing but a shell. One should not confuse the current wind of change sweeping Zambia with PF influence. The dissatisfaction among Zambians today is not loyalty to the PF; it is anger at Hakainde Hichilema and his unfulfilled promises on the cost of living, mealie meal prices, the exchange rate, jobs, and opportunities. These are ordinary citizens, not the PF, driving change.
As Kabimba explained, PF’s collapse is self-inflicted, a product of tribalism, corruption, and internal violence. Registers are missing. Districts are fractured. Leadership is absent. The party’s goodwill from the past cannot substitute for real, functioning structures. And so, any attempt by factions to claim legitimacy or hold a conference is bound to fail.
In contrast, Citizens First (CF) led by President Harry Kalaba stands as the only truly formidable party in Zambia. CF has proper registers, knows its members, and possesses the organizational strength to mount a real challenge to Hakainde Hichilema. Unlike PF, or other minor parties such as the Socialist Party, National Congress Party, or Nevers Mumba’s briefcase party, CF is disciplined, principled, and electorally ready.
The message is clear: PF is finished. Citizens First is the real force to be reckoned with. Those who cling to PF nostalgia are deluding themselves. The political battlefield has shifted. Zambia now belongs to those with structure, strategy, and vision, and that is Citizens First.
MAKEBI ZULU, CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI & GIVEN LUBINDA OFF COMPETE FOR PF PRESIDENCY IN 30DAYS
Less than 30 days, the Patriotic Front will have a leadera as it holds its anticipated and long awaited elective General Conference.
The political contest has finally drawn Lusaka lawyer, Makebi Zulu, former Minister of Information, Chishimba Kambwili and current Acting President, Given Lubinda for the Patriotic Front delegates to choose from.
Acting Secretary General, Celestine Mukandila has confirmed that final details for the process to elect a PF President are almost completed.
The race is expected to draw about 1,200 delegates from the PF party structures across the cross and will be held as a hybrid (in-person and virtual).
The meeting will be held in February. The Party has stated that the business of the General Conference is just like any business the organisation has been involved such as holding Central Committee and making appointments and dismissals and will be impeded by anything else.
Other candidates; Mporokoso MP, Brian Mundubile and Lunte MP, Mutotwe Kafwaya have gone to a break-away Tonse Alliance.
Joseph Willa Mudolo and Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba are outside the country and may not participate.
Former Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, who has taken his campaign to grassroot structures, voted for Bill 7 and is therefore not in good standing with the Party.
Luapula MP, and Lusaka businessman Eng. Chanda Katotobwe is the dark horse in the race with quiet influence among structures .
Other candidates in the race are former Minister of Livestock, Greyford Monde and Matero MP, Miles Sampa.
Former Defence Minister Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and Lusaka businessman, Goodward Mulubwa have fallen out of the race for personal reasons.
About 12 candidates paid the sum of K200,000,00.
The Patriotic Front is holding its General Conference in February 2026.
ECONOMIC Front leader Wynter Kabimba has said the Patriotic Front (PF) has no structures because of the leadership crisis which should not be attributed to government interference.
According to Mr Kabimba, the former ruling party is almost leaderless and has no structures.
“PF has no structures. What it has is a goodwill from those that were in the structures in the past. You can only talk about structures if you have registers.
“What we did during my time when I was secretary general, we had registers for every district, every constituency and every province.
“What I have been told is that during the Davies Mwila era, there were no registers that were put in place.
“So, the political fellowship of the party started falling apart because there was nobody to galvanise those organs. The party degenerated into violence within and outside the party and hooliganism,” he said.
Speaking on Diamond Television on Sunday, the opposition leader said to accuse anybody that the gradual disintegration of PF is because of an outside force is self-destruction.
https://youtu.be/OhYbRqRKyYk?si=vFXyjH9fz_0E2Uez
“I was probably one who was telling them the truth. I spoke about tribalism in the party, I spoke against corruption in the party. Was I wrong? No!”
“I hear them now saying that they want to go to the general conference. The question that I ask myself is, ‘Who is in possession of those registers?
“Does Given Lubinda have his own registers? Makabi Zulu his own registers? Brian Mundubile his own registers? And if that is the case, which register is valid and which one is invalid? And at what time do you harmonise all these registers and determine the electoral college of that general conference?” he wondered.
He further said nothing will come out of Tonse and People’s Pact alliances because everyone wants to lead.
Former PF secretary general Davies Mwila and acting faction president Given Lubinda could not be reached for comment by press time. #SunFmTvNews
LUBINDA-LED PF OPENS ADOPTION PROCESS FOR 2026 GENERAL ELECTIONS
By:Thomas Afroman Mwale
The Given Lubinda-led Patriotic Front (PF) faction has opened applications for the adoption of candidates ahead of the 2026 general elections, targeting prospective councillors, council chairpersons, mayors, and members of Parliament.
In a statement, PF Deputy Secretary General for Administration, Celestine Mukandila, said the decision was made during a Central Committee meeting.
He added that the Chairperson of Elections would soon issue detailed guidelines on the application process.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mukandila disclosed that the Central Committee resolved to unequivocally dissociate the party from the Tonse Alliance’s ECL-PF movement, which he described as a fictitious and illegal construct promoted by rogue elements seeking to divide the party and undermine the legacy of the late founding president, Michael Chilufya Sata.
Mr. Mukandila further warned that any member associating with the breakaway faction or any illegal Tonse grouping would face severe disciplinary action, including loss of PF membership. #SunFmTvNews #
At this particular time when the government of Hakainde Hichilema has weakened key government institutions including all oversight institutions: Auditor General, Financial Intelligence Center et al and criminalized free speech and information sharing, many voices in Zambia have, at best self censored and at worst,have been silenced. People can no longer verbalize their feelings and opinions on how they are governed. Speaking your mind is now criminal in Zambia.
Critical flow of information which helps the public to make decisions, to know about the wrongs and rights of their government, has remained hidden. The most reliable source of this information has been Emmanuel Mwamba. Our media has been censored and reduced into PR organizations of the Government specialized in reporting only what makes those in government happy.
We learn about government tricks and hidden details through the EMV platform. What his attackers have willfully omitted from their soporific attacks against Emmanuel Mwamba, is what role they themselves play in helping Zambians stay aware. What do these elements even stand for?
Whether or not Emmanuel Mwamba is in exile is inconsequential. If he was in Zambia today, perhaps he would have been in Mukobeko Maximum prison. Not because he is a criminal but because the administration is too fearful of his ability to gather, investigate and package critical information on their ills. This is why there is currently an expensive hunt for Emmanuel Mwamba by the administration
Clearly, Zambians still have a breathing space – to be in the know – because of EM. Without him, we’re doomed. This is not to suggest he holds the monopoly of intelligence and wisdom but to stress a point that, no one in Zambia would be left free to undertake the works that Emmanuel Mwamba does.
Is he dividing the opposition? The answer is categorical no. In fact, whenever any faction of the PF or Tonse appears to divert from the rules of engagement, EM has always issued a notice of disapproval. This is in public domain. Here is a man who has hosted almost all opposition candidates, given them an opportunity to market themselves. Where is evidence that he is dividing the opposition?
Why are they attacking him, and attempting to discredit him? They wanted him to publicly endorse them or indirectly do so, by keeping mute when clearly, they are diverting from the fundamental rules of engagement of the PF and Tonse Alliance. Emmanuel Mwamba’s crime has been to stand on the principles and spirit of the PF – regardless that Hakainde has given documents to his sycophant Robert Chabinga.
HANDS OFF EMMANUEL MWAMBA. They will not manage to re-write what we already know, has been written, that Emmanuel Mwamba is undertaking the most thankless yet life threatening tasks in the context of the status of Zambia under Hakainde Hichilema
NEW Congress Party leader Peter Chanda THE National Congress Party has rejoined the Tonse Alliance faction led by Given Lubinda.
On November 1, NCP officially cut ties with Tonse, citing an attempt by Lubinda and other alliance members to hijack the party for their own benefit.
But in a communiqué issued by Tonse faction Spokesperson Ephraim Shakafuswa, Monday, NCP and United for Better Zambia (UBZ) were re-admitted to the alliance after a Tonse Alliance Council of Leaders meeting held yesterday.
The communiqué also added that a number of new political parties and Civil Society Organisations were admitted to the alliance.
“The Tonse Alliance Council of Leaders convened on Monday, 26th January 2026 at Eagle’s View Event Centre. The meeting was chaired by Hon. Given Lubinda, Chairperson of the Tonse Alliance and president of the Patriotic Front.
The Council met to deliberate on the following agenda items: 1. Consideration and admission of new political parties and Civil Society Organisations into the Tonse Alliance. 2. Consideration of applications for re-admission by former members of the Alliance.
https://youtu.be/OhYbRqRKyYk?si=OpsFel88Zv9X6i2w
Admissions; Following deliberations, the Council resolved as follows: New Admissions; The following political parties and Civil Society Organisations were admitted into the Tonse Alliance: 1. Resolute Party, 2. Democratic Union, 3. Citizens Democratic Party, 4. Exodus Party for Peace and Prosperity, 5. Revolutionary Communist Party, 6. Leadership Development Party, 7. Youth Advocates for Development in Africa (YADA), 8. Borderless Africa University Club, 9. Youth With Initiative, 10. Hope of Refuge, 11. Youth Leadership and Dialogue Programme,” read the statement.
“Re-admissions; The Council further approved the re-admission of members who had earlier resigned : 1. New Congress Party (NCP) 2. United for Better Zambia (UBZ). The Council of Leaders reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the Alliance through inclusive, disciplined, and purpose-driven participation, anchored on the shared objective of delivering a credible alternative government for the Republic of Zambia in response to the people’s expectations”.
KUMWESU ANALYSIS: ECL, TRUST, AND THE POLITICS OF BETRAYAL
The ongoing turmoil within the Patriotic Front (PF) has once again pulled the late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu (ECL) into the centre of Zambia’s political conversation. But this time, the discussion is not about elections or power it is about trust, loyalty, and betrayal, and how these forces shaped the final chapter of ECL’s political life.
ECL governed differently from many of his contemporaries. His leadership style was built on accommodation, reconciliation and faith. He welcomed back rebels, tolerated critics within his own ranks and consistently chose unity over confrontation. In a political environment that often rewards ruthlessness, ECL opted for generosity. This approach earned him respect across divides, but it also planted the seeds of vulnerability.
From a political analysis standpoint, ECL’s greatest strength his trust in people became his greatest weakness. Power attracts loyalty, but its absence reveals conviction. After the 2021 general elections, when PF lost state power, many of the party’s most influential figures went silent. Structures weakened, mobilisation collapsed and those who once stood closest to ECL began to drift away, either into political hibernation or quiet repositioning.
The Chawama by-election stands out as a symbolic moment. It was not merely an electoral contest; it was a test of loyalty. The visible absence of senior PF figures was widely interpreted by supporters as abandonment not just of the party, but of ECL himself. In politics, presence is power, and absence sends a message. For many within PF, that message was unmistakable.
Kumwesu’s analysis suggests that this betrayal was not sudden it was systemic. In the build-up to 2021, internal discipline within PF had already weakened. Adoption processes became transactional, ideology took a back seat, and loyalty was increasingly tied to convenience rather than conviction. When defeat came, those whose commitment was conditional exited first.
Yet it is important to note that ECL never publicly lashed out. True to his character, he absorbed the blows quietly. His belief system placed judgment beyond politics, trusting that time and truth would expose motives. This restraint, while noble, left a leadership vacuum in moments when decisive internal reform was needed.
Today, various PF factions continue to invoke ECL’s name to legitimise their claims. This, in itself, underscores his enduring political weight. However, Kumwesu observes a troubling pattern: a man abandoned in life is now being claimed in death. Legacy, in this case, risks being turned into a political currency rather than a moral lesson.
The lesson from ECL’s story is not that kindness fails in politics, but that kindness without institutional strength is fragile. Trust must be balanced with accountability, and unity must be anchored in clear structures. ECL led with his heart; the system around him did not always protect that heart.
As Zambia’s opposition reconfigures itself, ECL’s experience offers a sobering reminder: political movements do not collapse only because of external pressure they often erode from within. Betrayal rarely announces itself loudly; it shows up quietly, in absence, silence and abandonment.
For PF and the broader opposition, the real honour to ECL’s legacy will not be in speeches or factional claims, but in rebuilding politics around principle, loyalty and responsibility the very values that ECL believed in, even when they were not returned to him.
IF MY SEAT IS DECLARED VACANT TOMORROW BECAUSE OF CHABINGA, MY COMFORT IS IN PSALM 23 – Miles Sampa
“…..whatever the outcome; It Is Well With My Soul..”
Tuesday, 27th January, 2026
By Miles Sampa
In the Constitution Court matter that Morgan Ngona (& Kakunkubiti) sued the Speaker Madam Nellie Mutti to declare Matero seat Vacant; comes up for Judgement tomorrow.
If the Ruling goes against the Speaker (represented by the Attorney General Kabesha), a by election would instantly be triggered in Matero Constituency.
Otherwise for me; I can only and always find comfort in Psalms 23: “The Lord Is My Shepherd: I shall not Want..he guides me along the right path..through the darkest valley..I fear No evil; for you are with me “.
PF GOVERNMENT BUILT A 3 METERS WALL WITH 33.5 MILLION DOLLARS AND THEY SAY ZAMBIANS SHOULD VOTE THEM BACK
HON. MUSOKOTWANE SHOCKED BY THE STATUS OF NTUMPA UNIVERSITY PROJECT WHICH WAS INITIATED IN 2017
Minister of Finance and National Planning, Hon. Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, has revealed that government will engage investigative wings to trace and recover funds that were allocated for the construction of Ntumpa University in Northern Province. The announcement came after the Minister inspected the proposed site in Lukashya Constituency, Kasama District, where he expressed shock at the lack of progress, noting that only a small wall had been constructed.
Ntumpa University was initiated in 2017 by the previous government as a major public institution expected to sit on 400 hectares of land, but the project stalled a year later in 2018. Dr. Musokotwane said investigations will establish how much money was released for the project and which contractors were engaged, adding that it was disappointing to see development funds allegedly misappropriated instead of benefiting rural communities.
The Minister emphasized the need for society and leaders alike to protect public resources, warning that national development cannot be achieved without accountability and integrity.
Meanwhile, a local resident has echoed these concerns, calling for transparency and demanding a full explanation from the previous administration over the whereabouts of the missing funds.
Mwamba Caught Lying as Alert Citizens Expose False Claims on CDF
By Current Zambia
Former diplomat and ex-Tonse Alliance member Emmanuel Mwamba has been exposed for misleading the public after attempting to link the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to alleged looting of public resources.
Mwamba had claimed that CDF had become a “looting frenzy,” quoting Finance Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane in an apparent attempt to suggest that funds were being abused under the current administration.
However, alert and well-informed citizens quickly corrected the record, pointing out that the issue Mwamba referred to dates back to 2017 under the PF government, not the current CDF framework.
Social media users revealed that over USD 33.5 million was disbursed during the PF era for the construction of Ntumpa University and FTJ University in Luapula Province, yet only a small wall was reportedly built raising serious questions about how the money was used. Citizens have since defended Dr. Musokotwane, clarifying that the Minister was highlighting past financial mismanagement and not accusing the current CDF system of abuse
The incident has sparked criticism of Mwamba, with many accusing him of deliberately twisting facts to mislead the public and score political points, a move that has now been firmly rejected by informed Zambians.
SOCIALIST PARTY DEMANDS URGENT ACTION AS FEAR AND INTIMIDATION ROCK KASAMA POLL
The Socialist Party (SP) has turned its focus to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), demanding immediate and decisive intervention to safeguard the integrity of Thursday’s Kasama mayoral by-election amid rising reports of intimidation and insecurity.
Addressing journalists in Kasama on Tuesday, SP General Secretary and First Vice President Dr Cosmas Musumali warned that the credibility of the by-election now rests heavily on the ECZ’s ability to enforce electoral rules impartially and ensure a level playing field for all contestants.
Dr Musumali said the party had received credible reports of individuals being ferried into Kasama from Lusaka, Copperbelt and Northern provinces, a development he said risks undermining the credibility of the electoral process if not urgently addressed by the Commission.
“These developments place a huge responsibility on the ECZ to act swiftly and decisively,” Dr Musumali said. “The Commission must not be a passive observer while the democratic space is being polluted by fear and intimidation.”
He stressed that the ECZ has both the constitutional mandate and legal authority to regulate campaign conduct, monitor compliance with the Electoral Code of Conduct and take action against any political actors engaging in malpractice.
The SP leader further alleged that the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) was exploiting its incumbency by misusing public resources and facilitating voter inducement, actions he said require firm regulatory oversight from the ECZ.
Dr Musumali called on the Commission to:
Deploy adequate and visible election monitors across Kasama
Enforce the Electoral Code of Conduct without favour
Respond promptly to reported cases of intimidation, bribery and abuse of state resources
He warned that failure by the ECZ to act decisively could erode public confidence not only in the Kasama by-election but in future electoral processes nationwide.
“The ECZ must demonstrate that it is independent, firm and committed to protecting the will of the people,” he said. “Silence or inaction will be interpreted as complicity.”
Dr Musumali also encouraged civil society organisations and election observers to work closely with the ECZ by documenting irregularities and demanding accountability where electoral rules are breached.
Despite the concerns, the Socialist Party said it remains committed to participating in the electoral process but insists that free, fair and credible elections can only be guaranteed through strong and visible action by the Electoral Commission.
“We trust that the ECZ will rise to the occasion and protect the vote of the people of Kasama,” Dr Musumali said. “Our democracy depends on it.”
KASAMA MAYORAL POLL SHOULD PRIORITIZE DEVELOPMENT OVER PARTY POLITICS – CHANDA
Kanchibiya Member of Parliament Sunday Chanda has urged voters in Kasama to prioritise development over political considerations as the town prepares for its mayoral election scheduled for Thursday.
Speaking during a programme on Radio Mano earlier today, Mr. Chanda said the forthcoming election presented a critical opportunity for Kasama and the wider Northern Province to redefine their development trajectory.
He stressed that the contest should not be reduced to party rivalries, but should centre on the town’s long-term growth and transformation.
“This election must be about development, nothing more, nothing less,” Mr. Chanda said, arguing that political competition had for too long overshadowed strategic planning in the provincial capital.
He observed that Kasama, which was founded in 1889 and attained municipal status in 1994, had failed to translate its age and legal status into meaningful urban development.
According to the MP, more than three decades after becoming a municipality, the town still lacked the infrastructure and planning expected of a provincial capital.
“Kasama is 136 years old, and a town founded in 1889 should today be a well-planned and industrialising urban centre,” he said.
“Thirty-one years after attaining municipal status, the reality on the ground tells a far less inspiring story.”
Mr. Chanda noted that development in Kasama remained uneven and largely driven by private initiatives, with public infrastructure concentrated mainly along Zambia Road, leaving many townships on the periphery of municipal attention.
He cited the road network as a clear example of stagnation, saying much of it remained based on designs from the Kaunda era.
“New settlements like Mukulumpe and Chikumanino have expanded rapidly without properly planned road layouts or supporting infrastructure,” he said, adding that such challenges were the result of “a long-standing tendency to prioritise political contestation over developmental planning.”
The MP further lamented the absence of a strong industrial base in Kasama, warning that without industry and jobs, young people were left vulnerable and hopeless.
“Without industry, a city stagnates, and without jobs, young people lose hope,” he said. “Politics then becomes a distraction rather than a tool for progress.”
Mr. Chanda reminded residents that the office of Mayor was not ceremonial, but central to urban development, investment attraction and economic transformation.
He said voters should carefully assess all six candidates contesting the election and base their decision on competence and capacity to deliver.
“The people of Kasama must ask themselves: do we vote for politics, or do we vote for development?” he said.
“This election is not about who wins power; it is about whether Kasama finally wins progress.”
Mr. Chanda urged voters to look beyond party loyalty and focus on who could provide a clear vision for sustainable growth, warning that continued delays in development would amount to “time stolen from the future of our children.”
Senegal Cleared of World Cup Risk After AFCON Final Walk-Off
According to L’Équipe, FIFA has clarified that no global sanctions will be imposed on Senegal following the Lions of Teranga’s temporary walk-off during the AFCON final. Crucially, Senegal’s participation in the next FIFA World Cup is not under threat.
FIFA’s legal team explained that any disciplinary measures decided by CAF will remain strictly continental and will not automatically extend to FIFA competitions.
This means that while CAF could still sanction individuals—including head coach Pape Thiaw or certain players—the Senegal national team remains protected at the global level.
ELECTRICITY BILLS RISE AS ZESCO ADJUSTS RESIDENTIAL TARIFFS.
The increase in electricity bills being experienced by many households has been attributed to adjustments in ZESCO’s residential electricity tariffs, combined with higher power consumption following the return of more stable supply.
During the extended period of load shedding, most households used fewer electricity units and largely remained within the lower and cheaper tariff bands. However, with improved power availability, consumption has increased, pushing many customers into higher tariff categories where electricity is significantly more expensive.
ZESCO applies a progressive tariff system, meaning the price per unit rises as monthly consumption increases. Under the adjusted structure, residential electricity is charged across four bands, applied incrementally rather than at a single flat rate.
The first 0–100 units are charged at K0.35 per unit, costing K35. Units 101–200 are charged at K1.00 per unit, bringing the total cost for 200 units to K135. Consumption between 201 and 400 units is billed at K2.42 per unit, adding K484 and taking the total cost for 400 units to about K619. Any usage above 400 units is charged at the highest rate of K3.45 per unit.
Energy analysts explain that while the lower bands remain relatively affordable, the adjusted tariffs above 200 units result in a sharp increase in expenditure once households cross the 400-unit threshold. This has led to public perceptions that electricity units are “finishing faster” than before.
Practical illustrations show that a household purchasing electricity worth K300 remains below 400 units, while K600 places consumption close to the upper limit of the third band. A purchase of K800, however, means part of the electricity is billed at the highest tariff, rapidly increasing costs.
Observers note that the tariff adjustment, coupled with increased electricity use under stable supply conditions, has effectively raised household electricity bills even where buying patterns appear unchanged.
Consumers are being advised to closely monitor monthly usage and adopt energy-saving measures to avoid crossing into the most expensive tariff band, as pressure on household incomes continues to mount.
HOW SOME PEOPLE WANTED THE ARMY COMMANDER ADDRESS THE ILLEGAL MINERS 🤔
An Address To Illegal Miners From The Zambia Army Commander Some Zambians Want.
“My brothers and sisters of Mufumbwe and all those extracting our minerals without permission to do so…. can I get an Amen?” 🙏🏾
Beloved, today I did not come with boots of battle, but with the sandals of repentance. I did not come with a rifle, but with a Bible for correction because the Bible says, ‘Whom the Lord loves, He disciplines!’
Children of the soil, hear me well. Illegal mining is a sin against the land. Yes! The land is crying. The rivers are saying, ‘Enough is enough!’ The forests are speaking in tongues and they are saying, STOP DIGGING WHERE YOU WERE NOT SENT!
I say unto you today: ⛏️Drop the shovel and pick up obedience! 🪚⚒️Drop the machete and pick up the law! Because the wages of illegal mining… is ARREST!
Can somebody shout “Law and Order!”
Repent, my brothers. Register your mining. Come into the light. For even minerals must be mined decently and in order!
And if you refuse to repent, oh yes my brothers and sisters, the Army will lay hands… not to pray… but to comfort you in your escort back home!
Go in peace. But if you return to illegal mining…we shall meet again face to face to disagree on the method you seek to use to benefit from the mineral wealth of our land.
Let the people say Amen! 🇿🇲🙏🏾😄
Yours in National Reconcialiation, *Archbishop Lt General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele*
Let me clarify something for those saying “this rate is stable”, “be shrewd” or “forecast better”.
Exchange rate stability is about predictability, not just coping or surviving.
Some of you sound very smart on this topic, but truth be told, you’ve never even imported a spade or a bag of rice from Tunduma Nakonde. So how, for God’s sake, would you understand what this kind of currency movement means in Nakonde or Kasumbalesa, let alone vehicle imports?
In businesses like mine where we import cars on a daily basis, a move from K19 to K20 overnight is NOT stable. That’s K1 per dollar on transactions worth thousands of dollars. On a $10,000 car, that’s K10,000 gone instantly, no mistake, no inefficiency, just currency movement.
And let’s be honest about the ground reality:
On cars, clients already know the exchange rate. Tell them to add even one dollar, they’ll say: “No, today kwacha is at ABCD.”
You finally get the money. You wake up the next morning. The rate has moved.
So tell me; how exactly do you apply your ‘skills’ there?
We price vehicles before sourcing forex. Forex access is not instant. Banks delay. Customers delay. Customs doesn’t care about theories or regression models.
Skills and forecasting help reduce damage, yes but they do not eliminate currency volatility, especially where hedging tools are limited for SMEs.
What may look “stable” in small-ticket or local businesses is not stable in high-value, USD-denominated imports like cars and machinery.
And to the young cadres viewing everything through political lenses you got to relax. This is not politics. This is livelihood.
What feeds you is not what feeds us.
When the exchange rate moves unpredictably, planning becomes gambling, prices go up, and the risk is pushed to the consumer. That’s the reality on the ground.
If you don’t deal with daily dollar exposure, it may sound like theory. For those of us who do it’s practical, immediate, and costly.
Uganda army chief denies assault on Bobi Wine’s wife
By: SABC News
Ugandan military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba on Monday denied allegations by opposition leader Bobi Wine that soldiers attacked his wife during an overnight raid on their home.
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, alleged that troops broke into his residence overnight into Saturday in the Magere suburb of Kampala, assaulted staff and choked his wife, Barbara Kyagulanyi, forcing her to seek medical treatment.
Wine, who has been in hiding following the East African nation’s disputed presidential election, said he was not at home at the time.
Kainerugaba, who is also President Yoweri Museveni’s son, dismissed the accusations in a post on X, saying the army “does not beat up women.”
“They are not worth our time. We are looking for her cowardly husband, not her,” Kainerugaba said, referring to Wine and his wife.
Wine, a pop-star-turned-politician, has accused Ugandan security forces of harassment since the January 15 presidential election, which President Museveni won with 71.6% of the vote.
Wine, who finished second, has rejected the result, alleging fraud.
It is unclear why the military is searching for him.
Rights groups and the opposition have long accused Museveni’s government of using the military to suppress dissent, accusations the government denies.
“DON’T DARE ME, TRUMP!” Uganda’s military boss throws down the gauntlet to the US.
Uganda’s 🇺🇬 firebrand army chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has launched the most explosive challenge yet to Donald Trump, taunting the US president and declaring, “Don’t dare me! I am not Maduro… you have the weakest army in the world!” In a blistering social-media tirade that has stunned diplomats, Muhoozi blasted Washington’s global posture as “PR theatre” and warned that any foreign aircraft venturing within 100 miles of Ugandan airspace would be met with force.
The son of long-serving President Yoweri Museveni has been a lightning rod for controversy, drawing international criticism for tough talk and hard-line actions following Uganda’s disputed January election, including an internet blackout and heavy military crackdown on opposition supporters.
Analysts say his latest rhetoric is classic Muhoozi: bold, brash, and breathtakingly reckless, now aimed squarely at the world’s most powerful leader.
