Mr Hakainde Hichilema’s administration promised to pay our farmers by 10 January. That promise was not kept despite knowing that this is their first and last term of office.
Across Southern, Copperbelt, and beyond, farmers waited. Some are still waiting for the money they earned through hard work and sacrifice.
This is not just a delay. It is a betrayal of those who feed our nation.
When farmers are not paid, fields go untilled. Families go without. The future of agriculture is at risk.
The Socialist Party believes farmers deserve better.
This is Mr Hichilema’s last term of office. It will be remembered not for what was promised but for what was neglected.
Come August, let us remember this moment. Let us choose leadership that honours its word and puts the people first.
🇿🇲 FOCUS | Chawama Votes as UPND Tests Organisation Against Grief Politics
As Chawama heads to the polls tomorrow, January 15, the constituency presents a tightly watched political moment that goes beyond a routine parliamentary by-election. The environment on the ground has remained largely peaceful, with no major incidents reported during the final stretch of campaigning. What stands out instead is the contrast in campaign styles and political framing, with the ruling United Party for National Development running a visibly coordinated ground operation while opposition actors warn of manipulation and invoke memory, loss, and grievance.
UPND’s campaign in Chawama has been marked by saturation. Party colours, door-to-door teams, and consistent messaging have been visible across markets, residential zones, and key transit points. The party has leaned heavily on incumbency advantages, not through grand promises, but through a record-based appeal anchored in social protection, order, and continuity. Ministers, party officials, and local organisers have spoken in one register: development must be defended by participation.
This message was reinforced by Doreen Mwamba, UPND National Chairperson for Women and Minister of Community Development and Social Services, who used the campaign platform to point to concrete data. She cited growth in Social Cash Transfer beneficiaries in Chawama from just over 13,000 in 2021 to 26,659 today, with a further 10,596 set to be added next month.
The framing is deliberate. This is not an abstract policy pitch, but a reminder that state presence in Chawama has expanded in measurable ways.
UPND candidate Morgan Muunda has echoed that tone, positioning himself as a custodian rather than a disruptor. His appeal has centred on consolidating existing gains and ensuring that Chawama remains plugged into national programmes rather than drifting into protest politics. It is a strategy that assumes voters are weighing stability against uncertainty, not ideology against ideology.
Alongside this, UPND has benefited from a steady stream of defections from the Patriotic Front, particularly figures with grassroots mobilisation capacity. These moves have been publicly framed as personal realignments rather than orchestrated recruitment, but they have added to the perception of momentum around the ruling party’s campaign. In a constituency as politically active as Chawama, perception itself carries weight.
The opposition, however, has pushed back strongly against that narrative. Claims of rigging have entered the discourse, most notably from Mwenda Kasonde, who during a Facebook Live broadcast on Monday alleged that the ruling party was manipulating the electoral process. While no evidence has been presented publicly to substantiate the claim, the statement reflects a broader opposition anxiety about competing against a well-resourced and disciplined ruling party machinery.
Beyond procedural fears, the opposition campaign has leaned heavily on symbolism. Chawama was home to former president Edgar Lungu, and his death, coupled with the unresolved burial process, has become a central emotional reference point. PF and allied actors have invoked his name and memory to mobilise sympathy, framing the by-election as a moral contest rather than a service-delivery choice. In this telling, the vote becomes an act of remembrance and protest, not an endorsement of policy direction.
This is where the election’s deeper fault line lies. The Chawama by-election is less about ideological competition and more about whether grief politics can still mobilise decisively in an urban constituency facing everyday economic pressures.
UPND’s campaign appears designed to neutralise that approach by shifting attention to tangible benefits and future continuity, implicitly arguing that mourning cannot substitute governance.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has reiterated its readiness to conduct a credible poll, and stakeholders have so far exercised restraint. As voting day arrives, the real test will not only be who wins Chawama, but which political language resonates more strongly with voters: the language of loss and grievance, or the language of administration, data, and order.
By Thursday evening, Chawama will have delivered its answer. And that answer will likely be read nationally as an early signal of how urban voters may approach the larger contest ahead.
Misogyny Must Not Be Mayor: A National Reckoning on Hate Speech, Gender, and the Soul of Zambian Democracy
Chishala Kateka – New Heritage Party 14 January 2026
Simon Mwewa Lane’s public declaration, a UPND sympathiser, says that “a single woman is unworkable for the position of Mayor” is not only a vile expression of misogyny, it is a violation of Zambian law and a betrayal of the international human rights commitments Zambia has ratified. It is hate speech, plain and simple, and it must be treated with the same gravity as ethnic or tribal incitement.
This is not a matter of opinion. It is a matter of law. The Anti-Gender-Based Violence Act No. 1 of 2011 defines gender-based violence to include “any act that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering… including threats, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.” Mwewa’s remarks, made on a public platform, constitute psychological harm and public humiliation of women in leadership.
The Gender Equity and Equality Act No. 22 of 2015 goes further. Section 3(1) prohibits “any practice, conduct, or behaviour that undermines or impairs the recognition, enjoyment or exercise of women’s rights and freedoms on a basis of equality with men.” Section 16 criminalises discriminatory speech that perpetuates stereotypes or undermines women’s participation in public life. Mwewa’s statement is a textbook violation.
UPND is silent on this one.
Yet, the very institution mandated to enforce this law, the Gender Equity and Equality Commission, remains non-operational. Five years into the UPND’s term, this critical body has not been capacitated, funded, or empowered to act. This is not a bureaucratic oversight. It is a political failure. It is a betrayal of Zambian women who were promised equality but have received only lip service.
Mwewa’ utterance is also in breach of international obligations. Under Article 7 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Zambia is required to “take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the political and public life of the country.” This includes the right to hold public office and perform all public functions at all levels of government.
The SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, to which Zambia is a signatory, sets a binding target of 50% representation of women in decision-making positions in the public and private sectors by 2030. Article 12 of the Protocol obliges states to “ensure the equal participation of women and men in decision-making by putting in place policies, strategies and programmes.” Mwewa’s remarks, and the silence that has followed, are a direct repudiation of this commitment.
Mayor Chilando Chitangala’s leadership in Lusaka has been marked by tangible progress: improved waste management, expanded street lighting, and increased investment in market infrastructure. She has governed with competence, accessibility, and resolve. To reduce her leadership to her gender or marital status is not only dishonest, it is dangerous.
The New Heritage Party stands in full solidarity with Mayor Chitangala and with every woman who has been demeaned, dismissed, or degraded by men like Simon Mwewa Lane. We will not allow misogyny to masquerade as civic commentary. We will not allow hate speech to be normalised under the guise of political discourse.
As President of the New Heritage Party, I, Chishala Kateka, will formally report Simon Mwewa Lane to the Zambia Police Service, the Human Rights Commission, and the Ministry of Justice. This is not a political vendetta. It is a constitutional imperative. The law must be enforced, not selectively, not symbolically, but with the full weight of justice.
We also call upon the UPND to break its silence. Mwewa is a known sympathiser of the ruling party. If UPND truly believes in gender equality, it must issue a strong, unequivocal condemnation of his remarks. Anything less is complicity.
This is not just about one man’s prejudice. It is about whether Zambia will uphold its Constitution, honour its international obligations, and protect the dignity of its women. If we fail to act, we are complicit. If we remain silent, we are endorsing misogyny.
Let this be the moment we draw the line. Let this be the moment we say: Zambia belongs to all of us, equally. Let this be the moment when misogyny is not rewarded with a mayoral bid, but met with the full force of the law. The soul of our democracy is at stake. And we will not be silent.
I Chishala Kateka solemnly promise to fight Gender Based Violence with a commitment no leader before me has done.
Ronaldinho Speaks out about Cameroon 🇨🇲 🇲🇦 Morocco. I think that the African Football Confederation should from now on call on Western referees especially German for the CAN.
I watched the game of Cameroon against Morocco I directly turned off my TV at the 60th minute. What is this umpire?
Africa doesn’t know what’s best for them. Sport is African in every discipline.
North Africa doesn’t really play the 90 minutes too much cheating . The German referee does not agree with these practices. Morocco’s goals have occurred 50% of free-kicks and penalties.
Cameroon could not express itself well on the grass. The referee was against counter-attacks in favor of Cameroon, either it’s an imaginary free kick or it’s a simple Moroccan simulation or a badly judged corner. Oh my God!
Make it stop!
Since the CAN of Ivory Coast, Africa seems to be selling the cup to the organizing countries. It is killing this discipline.
Congratulations to the Cameroonian players, especially no discouragement 🙏
A self-styled native doctor has been arrested after allegedly collecting €33,500 from football supporters who believed he could guarantee Mali’s victory at the Africa Cup of Nations.
According to reports, scammed football supporters by promising spiritual intervention to guarantee Mali’s victory at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.
The suspect, identified as Mr. Sinayogo, also known in some reports as Karamogo Sinayogo, was taken into custody on Saturday, January 11, 2026, by Mali’s cybercrime division.
Investigators say Sinayogo used social media to claim he could spiritually influence match results and foresee Mali’s path to continental glory.
He reportedly urged supporters to donate money for special rituals and protection spells, assuring them that the Eagles would lift the AFCON trophy.
Mali’s campaign ended on Friday, January 9, after a 1–0 quarter-final defeat to Senegal in Tangier, Morocco.
The decisive goal was scored by Iliman Ndiaye in the 27th minute after a goalkeeping error by Mali’s Djigui Diarra.
Mali were reduced to 10 men before halftime following the dismissal of captain Yves Bissouma for a second yellow card.
Despite a strong second-half effort, the Eagles failed to equalise and exited the tournament without a single regulation-time win.
After the defeat, angry supporters reportedly gathered outside Sinayogo’s home in Bamako, demanding their money back.
Police intervened for his safety before placing him under arrest. He is now facing charges of fraud and charlatanism, offences punishable under Malian law.
An official from the cybercrime unit told AFP that authorities delayed the arrest until Mali were eliminated, saying emotions around AFCON made earlier action difficult.
YO MAPS SUMMONED BY RTSA FOR BREAKING ‘TRAFFIC RULES’ WHILE CELEBRATING AFRIMA WIN
The Road Transport and Safety Agency(RTSA) has this evening through their social media called on top Zambian artist YO MAPS to present himself at their headquarters at his convenient time this week.
The call to the stand comes after the singer’s arrival from Lagos, Nigeria, where he won Best Male Artiste in Southern Africa at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).
With a motorcade, the singer drove from the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport through Kalingalinga with fans chanting and showing support as he headed to his destination.
RTSA cited to breach in Road Traffic Act No. 8 of 2022 Section 180 (j) and Part 3, which it said states that:
“No person having a motor vehicle on a public road shall permit any person, or animal to occupy the roof, any step or running board or any other place on top of a vehicle while the vehicle is in motion.” and “No passenger in a vehicle on a public road shall permit any part of the passengers body to protrude beyond the vehicle.”
Furthermore, RTSA expressed displeasure as this is not the first time the superstar is being summoned, engaged, and educated over the same matter.
Social users have responded to RTSA with questions on why similar actions were not extended to IShow Speed who a few days ago performed similar action.
Well, when all the celebrations of winning an AFRIMA award are over, singer YO MAPS will have up to Saturday to present himself at RTSA headquarters.
It’s is not AI, Davido actually called me – Yo Maps YES, [Davido] called me in the morning, those were the words of AFRIMA Best Southern Africa Male Artiste Elton Mulenga affectionately known as Yo Maps as he landed at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport yesterday, cutting short speculation after a screenshot of a video call with Nigerian superstar Davido went viral on social media.
The airport briefly turned into a little carnival with cheers and camera flashes as the award-winning walked out of the terminal to a roaring welcome from Lagos, Nigeria, where he had gone to collect his continental accolade.
At his side was his manager and close ally Evans Nsongela, popularly known as DJ Kandeke, who beamed with pride as he carried the glittering AFRIMA trophy, lifting it for fans to see as excitement spilled across the terminal.
Addressing journalists on arrival, the singer insisted the viral call was real, saying Davido personally reached out to him, a moment he described as unexpected but encouraging and one that showed Zambian music is finally commanding attention beyond its borders. Yo Maps said he felt more than excited to see Zambia making noise on the African stage, adding that the recognition was not just personal but a win for the entire music industry back home.
Reflecting on his experience at the African awards, the artiste said the speeches and interactions with other creatives opened his eyes that music must now be treated as serious business.
He urged fellow musicians to invest in their craft and approach the industry with commitment if Zambia is to compete globally. The ‘Mr and Mrs’ hit maker scooped the Best Southern Africa Male Artist of the Year 2025 award at the 9th AFRIMA Awards, beating stiff competition that included South African heavyweight Nasty C.
While in Nigeria, the singer also met Tanzanian star Harmonize after linking up through Instagram and he hinted both of them were working on a record. Yo Maps now has eyes cast on more covered accolades such as the BET and Grammy awards.
As fans chanted his name and rushed for selfies yesterday, Yo Maps thanked Zambians for the love and support, saying the loud reception at the airport motivates him to continue flying the national flag high wherever his music takes him. Story and pictures by George Musonda Kalemba January 14, 2026
Saudi Arabia is mourning the death of its oldest known citizen, Nasser bin Radan Al Rashid Al Wadaei, who passed away at the age of 142.
His family confirmed his death earlier this week, prompting an outpouring of tributes across the kingdom.
Al Wadaei was widely regarded as a living witness to the full history of modern Saudi Arabia.
Born decades before the founding of the Kingdom in 1932, he lived through the eras of tribal Arabia, unification, oil discovery, and the country’s transformation into a global power.
Community leaders described him as a pillar of wisdom and tradition. He was known for sharing stories of early desert life, pre-oil hardship, and the rise of the Saudi state.
Al Wadaei leaves behind more than 130 descendants, including children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Family members said he remained mentally sharp into old age and was deeply respected for his discipline, faith, and humility.
Local officials say his life represents a bridge between Saudi Arabia’s past and present. Many described his passing as the end of an era.
Funeral prayers were held in his hometown, with large crowds attending to pay their final respects.
South Africa has been officially removed from the European Union’s list of High‑Risk Third Country Jurisdictions, a key milestone that follows the country’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October 2025.
National Treasury welcomed the EU’s decision published on 9 January and effective from 29 January as a boost to the economy, saying it reflects significant progress in strengthening the nation’s anti‑money‑laundering and counter‑terrorism financing (AML/CFT) systems.
Being on the EU list had forced European banks and financial institutions to subject transactions involving South Africa to enhanced due diligence, including more intrusive checks, additional documentation and senior management sign‑offs..
These measures increased the cost and complexity of trade, payments and investment flows. Delisting removes these automatic requirements, potentially making cross‑border business with the EU smoother and more cost‑effective.
The EU said South Africa along with Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria and Tanzania has addressed strategic deficiencies identified by the FATF and strengthened the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime.
However, Treasury cautioned that delisting does not mean all challenges are resolved. Authorities still need to bolster systems for prevention, identification, investigation and prosecution of money‑laundering and terrorism‑financing crimes. South Africa is slated to enter a new round of FATF evaluation, with a final report expected at the plenary in October 2027.
Economists and business groups welcomed the move as a vote of confidence that could encourage investment and reinvigorate financial flows between South Africa and EU markets.
KENYA FREEZES CHINA TRADE DEAL UNDER U.S. PRESSURE AS AGOA EXPIRY PUTS 66,000 JOBS AT RISK
By: The Citizen
Nairobi has put on hold the signing of a planned trade agreement with China following pressure from the United States, according to a report by The Standard, which quoted sources familiar with the discussions.
The agreement still needs clearance from the Cabinet, Parliament and President William Ruto before it can be finalised.
The delay comes as Kenya pushes to secure the renewal of its access to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a long-standing US trade programme that has allowed eligible Kenyan goods to enter the American market without import duties for more than two decades.
AGOA expired on September 30, 2025, and the US Congress has yet to approve a replacement framework. Since its expiry, Kenyan apparel exports to the US valued at over $600 million each year have been subjected to tariffs of up to 28 percent.
Industry groups warn that prolonged uncertainty could threaten more than 66,000 jobs, particularly in the textile and agricultural sectors.
Kenyan officials had viewed the proposed China deal as a possible cushion against the impact of losing AGOA benefits. The draft agreement reportedly includes plans for China to remove tariffs on Kenyan tea, coffee and avocados, offering alternative export markets and helping offset rising costs in the US.
COACH NORA HAUPTLE HAS INDICATED URGENT REINFORCEMENT NEEDED IN THE COPPER QUEENS SQUAD.
The Copper Queens Coach has sent FAZ a number of Players in Europe and America with Zambian roots, urging the Football body to look into the matter before it’s too late.
She believes with the already star players like Barbra Banda, Racheal Kundananji, Grace Chanda and Prisca Chilufya. Zambia needs even more exposed players out there to compete at the highest level.
“Remanded in Custody” – Court Denies Portable Bail Over Assault on Police Officer and N12m Car Theft.
Controversial Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, will remain behind bars after the Federal High Court in Ota, Ogun State, denied his request for bail on Monday, January 12, 2026.
The Charges
The singer was arraigned following his arrest on Sunday, facing multiple counts, including assault, theft, and resisting arrest. Prosecutors detailed that on New Year’s Day, Portable allegedly attacked his baby mama, actress Ashabi Simple, and her siblings at his bar in Iyana Ilogbo.
Beyond the domestic altercation, the charge sheet introduced new, weightier allegations. Portable is accused of stealing a Mercedes-Benz E300 valued at ₦12 million, belonging to one Ileyemi Damilola. Furthermore, he is charged with obstructing and physically assaulting a female law enforcement agent, Inspector Ogungbe Olayemi, while she was on duty.
Bail Denied
The presiding judge ruled against granting immediate bail. The court insisted that the female police officer whom Portable allegedly attacked must appear in court before any decision on his release can be made. Consequently, the case has been adjourned to January 19, and the singer has been remanded in custody.
Controversial Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, will remain behind bars after the Federal High Court in Ota, Ogun State, denied his request for bail on Monday, January 12, 2026.
The Charges
The singer was arraigned following his arrest on Sunday, facing multiple counts, including assault, theft, and resisting arrest. Prosecutors detailed that on New Year’s Day, Portable allegedly attacked his baby mama, actress Ashabi Simple, and her siblings at his bar in Iyana Ilogbo.
Beyond the domestic altercation, the charge sheet introduced new, weightier allegations. Portable is accused of stealing a Mercedes-Benz E300 valued at ₦12 million, belonging to one Ileyemi Damilola. Furthermore, he is charged with obstructing and physically assaulting a female law enforcement agent, Inspector Ogungbe Olayemi, while she was on duty.
Bail Denied
The presiding judge ruled against granting immediate bail. The court insisted that the female police officer whom Portable allegedly attacked must appear in court before any decision on his release can be made. Consequently, the case has been adjourned to January 19, and the singer has been remanded in custody..
“Remanded in Custody” – Court Denies Portable Bail Over Assault on Police Officer and N12m Car Theft
Controversial Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, will remain behind bars after the Federal High Court in Ota, Ogun State, denied his request for bail on Monday, January 12, 2026.
The Charges
The singer was arraigned following his arrest on Sunday, facing multiple counts, including assault, theft, and resisting arrest. Prosecutors detailed that on New Year’s Day, Portable allegedly attacked his baby mama, actress Ashabi Simple, and her siblings at his bar in Iyana Ilogbo.
Beyond the domestic altercation, the charge sheet introduced new, weightier allegations. Portable is accused of stealing a Mercedes-Benz E300 valued at ₦12 million, belonging to one Ileyemi Damilola. Furthermore, he is charged with obstructing and physically assaulting a female law enforcement agent, Inspector Ogungbe Olayemi, while she was on duty.
Bail Denied
The presiding judge ruled against granting immediate bail. The court insisted that the female police officer whom Portable allegedly attacked must appear in court before any decision on his release can be made. Consequently, the case has been adjourned to January 19, and the singer has been remanded in custody.
“Does This Give You Climax?” – Regina Daniels Calls Out Ned Nwoko Over Friend’s Arrest
Nollywood actress Regina Daniels has raised a public alarm following the sudden arrest of her best friend, Ann, accusing her estranged husband, Senator Ned Nwoko, of orchestrating the detention and deliberately filling her life with chaos.
Shifting Accusations
In a statement shared via her Instagram story on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the actress expressed fear for her friend’s safety, asserting that the legal process lacks credibility. She pointed out the inconsistent narrative coming from the senator, noting how the focus has rapidly shifted from her initial claims of domestic violence to accusations of drug dealing and now, theft.
She wrote:
“My dearest best friend was arrested yesterday. Which makes me wonder: what exactly is the problem with my ex? I hate to believe or further promote the idea of the Nigerian police force lack of credibility. I fear for Ann’s safety as all of these are not being done legally. How did a case of domestic violence get overshadowed by drug addiction and now theft? He previously accused Ann which he referred to as “tiny devilish Ann” of being a drug supplier. Now that I took a bold step to clear that without fighting him he comes up with theft?”
“What Else Do You Have Up Your Sleeve?”
Regina challenged the politician directly, questioning his motives for dragging her into endless conflict despite having lived the prime of his own life. She asked what other allegations he intends to fabricate once the current accusations are debunked.
She added:
“You have lived the best part of your life why do you want mine to revolve around chaos? Sen Ned nwoko after eventually beating your theft allegations what else do you have up your sleeve or your red cap? Does this give you climax ?”
The Theft Allegation
This development follows earlier reports where Regina revealed that arrest warrants had been issued for her and her family members, including her brother Sammy West, over an alleged theft of $40,000 from Nwoko’s residence, a claim she has vehemently denied.
Zambians have already decided to renew President Hakainde Hichilema’s mandate given his exemplary and outstanding performance in the four years he has been in office.
Indeed he has fulfilled his campaign promises of free education, job creation, increasing and expanding CDF and essentially putting in place economic policies that work for everyone.
The New Dawn Administration has rolled out developmental projects which are visible in all 156 constituencies nationwide, lives are being transformed in both urban and rural communities through robust inclusive social protection iniatives spread across the country.
However, the opposition who have lamentably failed to offer any alternative solutions to the challenges the country is grappling with, have unfortunately continued to vilify and criticize the Republican President on anything and everything regardless of the benefits to the general citizenry, in an effort to erode Zambian people’s confidence in him.
Further, Zambians will recall how the opposition lied that President Hichilema was pushing to amend the Republican Constitution inorder to extend his tenure of office from 5 to 7 years, remove the running mate and 50%+1 clauses, and just recently they were busy peddling falsehoods that the Head of State was sick when in fact not, as he was in Southern Province on a working holiday.
All in all, so called opposition alliances are crumbling and disintegrating due to leaders’ insatiable appetite for power where everyone wants to lead, whilst President Hichilema is building a solid bond and alliance with the Zambian people because of his selfless people centered leadership that places the well-being of the people as a priority.
It’s for these reasons the Zambian people, particularly Western and other rural provinces enjoying a fair share of the national cake, will definitely renew President Hakainde Hichilema’s mandate for another 5 year term.
Spuki Mulemwa Western Province Presidential Campaign Team Media Coordinator.
ZAMBIANS are looking for change in 2026 and they think supporting the opposition will make it happen, Movement for Good Governance Ichabaiche leader Binwell Mpundu has said.
Mpundu, who is Nkana independent member of Parliament, said the electorate had lost hope in the United Party for National Development government and were yearning for the opposition to unite and become the perfect alternative government.
“With the squabbles amongst you, just how will you inspire hope in the people who are growing hopeless by the day? How do you even inspire us your younger ones to follow and unite with you?” Mpundu said.
He noted young ones were being challenged on unity by a cross-section of society who felt only a united opposition could remove the incumbent incompetent regime.
“But when we look at what you are doing and how you are making unity look like a mission impossible everyday. The question is who do we even unite with? Is it ba kantwa nangu ba kantwe?” Mpundu asked.
“We have seen how greed and selfishness has destroyed leaders, groups and nations. Please, do not let yourselves be the latest addition to that record,” he said.
Mpundu declared his movement was ready to join hands with established opposition should they prioritise the country and the people as opposed to selfish pursuits.
“You have called us all sorts if names, that we lack experience and are immature to lead but your actions are becoming worser than the inexperience and immaturity we may seem to have. Anyways, what am I even saying? As you go to church today ask God to help you resolve your misunderstandings otherwise the books of history will never be full to hold a record of our actions and inactions,” Mpundu said.
“To my fellow young people, the Movement for Good Governance Ichabaice is open to you and therefore you have no reason to lose hope. Jump in now and let us make positive history together,” Mpundu said.
President Trump just ended protection for thousands of Somali families. By March 17th, they must leave the country they’ve called home.
THIS IS OUR WAKE-UP CALL, AFRICA.
While we seek acceptance elsewhere, our continent remains rich in land, resources, and untapped potential. We have everything we need gold, oil, fertile soil, and the most youthful population on Earth.
It’s time we stopped looking outward and started building inward. Time we recognized that no one will value us until we value ourselves. Time we remembered that the Africa our ancestors knew was powerful, united, and self-sufficient.
We don’t need to beg for space at someone else’s table when we can build our own.
Africa is beautiful. Africa is home. And Africa is waiting for us to believe in her again.
Burkina Faso Appoints New Government, Reduces Number of Ministries
Burkina Faso has trimmed the number of Ministries from 24 to 22, in a new government formed by President Ibrahim Traore on Monday evening. A cabinet reshuffle has also seen the dismissal of four Ministers and appointment of two new officials, the state media reported.
The cabinet shakeup comes days after the government announced a failed coup attempt meant to overthrow Captain Ibrahim Traore, who seized power in a 2022 coup.
To reduce the number of Ministries, Traore merged the Ministry of Infrastructure and Land Access with that of Housing and Urban Planning, to form the Ministry of Homeland Construction.
Meanwhile the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal and Fisheries Resources was merged with that of Environment, Water and Sanitation, to form the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Animal and Fisheries Resources.
He also renamed the Ministry of Civil Service, Labor and Social Protection, to the Ministry of Servants of the People. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs, has been renamed to the Ministry of War and Patriotic Defense.
The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, in charge of Relations with Institutions, Keeper of the Seals, has become simply the Ministry of Justice.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabè Abroad is now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the Ministry of Humanitarian Action and National Solidarity has become the Ministry of Family and Solidarity.
By CIC International Affairs. KREMLIN SAYS GREENLAND CAN HOLD A REFERENDUM TO JOIN RUSSIA. A top Kremlin official has warned Donald Trump that Greenlanders could be allowed to vote on if they want to become Russian soon.
Dmitry Medvedev has told Donald Trump he “needs to hurry” and secure the Arctic island through a military operation before Moscow tries to claim it as their own.
Washington is trying to take over control of Greenland in order to keep it out of the dangerous hands of China and Russia . Greenland is one of the most resource-rich nations in Europe with dozens of key minerals being found across the world’s largest island.
Vast oil and gas reserves, uranium to power nuclear plants and minerals to help run electronics all sit among the ice.
This makes it a key location for global players to try and control and a matter of national security in Trump’s eyes. This makes it a key location for global players to try and control and a matter of national security in Trump’s eyes. Greenland is currently an autonomous territory which is part of Denmark a key Nato member.
The Danes have urged the US not to launch any form of invasion as they have ordered troops to operate a “shoot on sight” protocol . European allies of Denmark are also warning Trump with the future of the Nato alliance at risk over Greenland. Denmark could invoke Article Five of the North Atlantic Treaty which states an attack on a Nato country will be treated as an attack on all members and therefore warrant a major response.
This would then leave the allies with a choice over who they support. Rasmus Jarlov, chair of the Danish parliament’s defence committee, has confirmed an attack by the US will “mean war”. He told The New Statesman, “If the Americans actually invaded Greenland militarily, if they were trying to take over the society and run Greenland as an American territory, then that would mean war.
“We would never go to war against the Americans, but we are in Greenland and if American soldiers move in and try to remove our soldiers and our police, then we are at war. “That is the definition of a war. “So yes, people would die, and it would be a disastrous situation, not just for Denmark and Greenland, but also for the entire western alliance.”
Another key player in the feud over the Arctic island is Russia. They have no claim to control Greenland but have long monitored the island due to its strategic role in Arctic security.
Medvedev was quoted by Interfax “Trump needs to hurry. According to unverified information, in a few days there could be a sudden referendum, at which the entire 55,000-strong Greenland could vote to join Russia.
A referendum is highly unlikely to take place with neither Denmark or Greenland officials commenting on the Russian’s rhetoric.
It follows further bizarre comments from a fellow Putin mouthpiece on Monday.
Vladimir Solovyov said Russia should join forces with the US to take over Greenland after Donald Trump hit out at Nato. Nato military chiefs are reportedly drawing up plans around stopping Russia and their allies in China from invading Greenland.
Sir Keir is said to take the threat from Russia and China in the region “extremely seriously” and has agreed to take action. In recent days, British officials have met with their counterparts from countries including Germany and France in order to get preparations underway.
Named “Arctic Sentry”, a plan is in the works which could see the deployment of British soldiers to Greenland.
German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor, Lars Klingbeil, also warned that rifts between the US and Europe are widening, in reference to Trump’s threats.
“We increase security in the Arctic together as Nato allies, not in opposition to one another,” the politician said on Sunday.
The foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland will meet with US Vice PresidentJD Vanceand Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday for talks.
On Friday, Greenland’s Prime Minister said in a defiant rebuke to Trump “we do not want to be Americans” after the US president warned he can take the island “the easy way or the hard way”. Jens-Frederik Nielsen said: “Greenland’s future must be decided by the Greenlandic people.”
It follows reports that Trump is considering sending $100,000 lump sums to Greenlanders .
US officials have reportedly discussed dishing out payments of between $10,000 (£7,443) and $100,000 (£74,437) to try and woo islanders into independence.
The sensational proposal would cost the US an eye-watering $5.7billion in a bid to curry favour with locals. Greenland and Denmark remain certain that the territory is not for sale. CIC PRESS TEAM
Chanda John Chimba Hits Back at RTSA: Ba RTSA, Leave Yo Maps Alone! By: Chanda John Chimba
RTSA is clearly out of line. Ati now ndiyo mwalibuka? 🤔 Why should the law be applied selectively, ngati ni kusala fye?
Let’s be honest. We have seen many politicians standing through sunroofs, waving like they’re in a wedding convoy sweating in the sun, smiling for the camera, no problem. Even right now in Chawama, it’s happening. The former Eagle One did it mpaka we got used to it. The current Eagle One? Same script, different season. No summons, no drama.
Just a few days ago, an American YouTuber was standing on top of a moving vehicle, live-streaming to over 2.8 million viewers worldwide. Ba RTSA? Silence. Not even a “ba boss, be careful.”.
Today, our very own Yo Maps celebrates a big win Best Male Artist in Southern Africa the boy stands up small to greet people, excitement ni normal, then boom RTSA is suddenly active, calling meetings and issuing statements. Eeh! This is a joke. A full-time joke.
So standing on a car is okay when you’re campaigning, but wrong when you’re celebrating a Zambian achievement? Awe sure? Is the law for everyone or for certain people when convenient?
The law is the law, we agree. No one should be above it. But if you’re going to enforce it, enforce it consistently. Not pa Yo Maps fye. Apply it to politicians, celebrities, YouTubers, everyone uniform fye fye.
Selective application of the law is unacceptable. It makes institutions look like they’re doing target practice instead of justice.
So ba RTSA, twalipapata Leave Yo Maps yo alone. Let the man enjoy his win. Zambia is already hard let’s not make happiness illegal too.
THE MAGIC NUMBER REQUIRED TO WIN THE 2026 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
In order for any candidate to WIN the Presidential Elections scheduled for Thursday, August 13th 2026, a candidate will be required to obtain a minimum of *3, 048, 919* ( *Three Million, Forty-Eight Thousand, Nine* *Hundred And Eighteen* ) Valid Votes Cast.
This is the number requirement in order to meet the minimum threshold of Fifty Percent plus one *(50%+1)* in accordance to our current Constitution and in relation to the current Provisional Voters Register.
The number as given above is not a carelessly guessed number. It is a meticulously arrived at projection, given a number of explainable and quantifiable parameters as well as conservative assumptions.
Let me now explain the steps taken and the assumptions considered in order to arrive at this number. If one so wishes, the same steps may be taken by anyone who may want to do these calculations by oneself.
*Steps And Considerations Taken*
Step Number One (1) is to take the total number of registered voters on the newly announced provisional register of voters. According to the Electoral Commission of Zambia ( ECZ), this figure stands at *8,861,918* ( *Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighteen* )
The second step (step 2) is to work out the most likely voter turn out in 2026. In this case, there are several possibilities one can use. One would be to take the average voter turnout for the last three general elections of 2011, 2016 and 2021. This average is *60.23%* .
The other would be to use the closest voting pattern and percentage of the previous elections of 2021. The voter turnout of 2021 was 70.61%. This higher voter turnout was primarily driven by a very high turnout in three out of the 10 provinces. Southern, North-Western and Western Provinces had an average voter turnout of *79%* while the remaining Seven Provinces had a voter turn out of *67%* .This is a *12%* difference in favour of three provinces.
This means that the overall national voter turnout was high because these three provinces dragged the percentage upwards. If one evaluates the recent addition to the voters roll of 2026 as compared to 2021, the same pattern emerges. The voter registration turn-out for the same three provinces is *60.6%* while the remaining seven provinces is *46%* .
The difference this time is a higher *15%* in favour of the three. The “great and incredible enthusiasm” of three will pull the national total upwards and to the benefit of the candidate strongest there. For this similarity in pattern, it makes logical sense to use *70.61*% as voter turn-out of 2021 in regard to 2026. In this regard the projected Voter turn-out for 2026 comes to *6,257,400* votes cast.
*Rejected Votes Percentage*
Step three (3) is in relation to the percentage of rejected votes likely to be, as a percentage of total votes cast. The average voter rejected votes for the last three presidential and general elections was 2.14% percent. This was as a result of 2011, ( 1.43%) for 2016 (2.45%) and 2021 ( *2.55 %*).
However, due to a number of reasons, to be explained at another time, the realistic number to be used will be the 2021 figure of rejected votes. Hence we can use this average, or we can standardize the argument and use the 2021figure of *2.55%* . In this regard the rejected votes will most likely be estimated at 159,564. Hence the Total valid votes cast will be calculated at *6,097,836*.
Step four (4) is the final tabulation. Given the voter registration number of 8,861,918 million, and taking into consideration of a voter turnout of 70.61% , with a rejected votes cast of 2.55%, the Valid Votes Cast would be 6,097,836 votes. Fifty Percent plus 1 (50% + 1) of this number is *3,048,918* .
However, in order to ensure less aggravation on number, the minimum percentage of the winning candidate should be 51% of all valid votes cast. The most minimum desirable target of a winning candidate should be at least 55% of the valid votes cast. In this case, the winning candidate would need *3,353,809* to be an undisputed victor.
*Comparative Analysis of 2016 and 2O21 Presidential* *Candidates* .
In 2016 President Lungu got a win of 50.53% with 1.86 million votes, while HH got 47.63% with 1.76 million. In 2021 President Hakainde got to win 57.50% with 2.85 million and ECL got 37.72% with 1.87million. The closest third placed candidate got 0.51% with 25,231.
All these above numbers must be compared to the 3.3 million required to get to a desirable 55% of the Vote. This is a tall order for both the candidate of the governing party as well as for the opposition. Serious thought and consideration and introspection must be considered, especially for the opposition..
*How To Ensure One Candidate Obtains The Winning Number* .
No amount of mysticism, or trickery or witchcraft will get you to this number. A great deal of thoughtful planning, strategy, hard work, financial and human resources will be required to get a candidate across this line. A great deal of realism, cooperation and integration among those in the opposition is required.
It is very doubtful, that any single candidate, by themselves or an individual party will meet this threshold. Burying heads in the sand or getting angry at the author will not help cross the threshold. It is very possible to get to this threshold, but maturity, self-denial, collective effort and forgoing unrealistic personal ambition will be critical. The choice lies in the hands of a realistic collective leadership.
Muhabi Lungu Secretary General The Zambia We Want, a member of We’re One Zambia Alliance (WOZA)
EXCLUSIVE | Mundubile Breaks Cover in Kasama as Tonse Alliance Tests Its Northern Pulse
Kasama stirred this afternoon, not as a routine stop on the campaign calendar, but as a political signal. Brian Mundubile, freshly bruised by disciplinary action from the Patriotic Front faction led by Given Lubinda, stepped onto the northern circuit for the first time since his suspension. The message was unmissable. The opposition ground is shifting, and Mundubile is moving with it.
He arrived in Kasama to drum up support for Peter Yuda, the Tonse Alliance-backed mayoral candidate running on the Forum for Democracy and Development ticket, now serving as the alliance’s special purpose vehicle. The reception was politically loaded. Supporters lined the route wearing Edgar Lungu-branded T-shirts alongside FDD chitenge materials, a visual merging of grief, memory, and recalibrated opposition politics.
This is not just a local government mobilisation. It is Mundubile’s re-entry into public view under new conditions. PF, once the anchor of Tonse, has been formally ejected from the alliance’s files. Yet Lungu’s image remains central, his name invoked as moral capital rather than organisational authority. Tonse is attempting a delicate balance: moving beyond PF’s legal paralysis while retaining the emotional loyalty of Lungu’s base.
Mundubile’s choice of Kasama is strategic. Northern Province has long responded to populist politics, a terrain where PF once dominated and where the United Party for National Development has historically struggled. Mundubile’s ethnic and cultural roots in the region give him natural access, but the crowd’s composition hinted at something broader. This was not a PF rally. It was a Tonse moment, stitched together with familiar symbols but pointing toward a new alignment.
https://youtu.be/Zlz8zA1j4n0?si=eLorbQpOu79Keb4p
On the ground, tension briefly flared. Police attempted to redirect supporters away from Kasama’s congested central business district, citing public order concerns. The crowd resisted, insisting on accompanying Mundubile through town. After negotiations, police allowed the procession to proceed.
The episode underscored a recurring theme of the campaign season: energy at the grassroots colliding with state-managed order, then finding an uneasy accommodation.
In a statement issued from Kasama, Mundubile framed the visit as mobilisation rather than defiance. “We are on the ground in Kasama mobilising massive support for FDD/Tonse Alliance Mayoral Candidate Peter Yuda,” he said, adding that voters were “tired” and “ready for change.”
The language echoed a wider opposition narrative, but the subtext was personal. This is a candidate testing his standing outside PF structures, measuring whether popularity on the ground can outpace institutional exclusion.
Tonse Alliance figures have been careful with their words. Dan Pule, himself a contender for the Tonse presidency, publicly distanced the alliance from PF’s internal battles while confirming Mundubile’s place in the wider opposition field.
The alliance is signalling openness without formal declarations, allowing momentum to build while internal decisions remain pending.
What is becoming clearer is the architecture of zee the moment. Mundubile is no longer campaigning within PF. He is campaigning around it. Tonse, for its part, is experimenting with a politics that keeps Lungu’s memory at the centre while covertly rearranging the machinery behind it.
Kasama offers a preview of a new strategy in action: grief as glue, FDD as vehicle, and a suspended PF heavyweight testing whether the crowd will follow him into a new chapter.
The northern circuit has often been decisive when opposition coalitions fracture and reform. Mundubile’s appearance does not settle the Tonse succession question, nor does it close PF’s internal wounds. But it did something more immediate. It showed that the campaign has moved from boardrooms and courtrooms back to the road, to the crowd, and to places where symbols still matter as much as structures.
As the January 29 Kasama mayoral by-election approaches, the rally may be remembered less for its outcome than for what it revealed. The opposition is reorganising in real time. And Brian Mundubile, once firmly inside PF’s hierarchy, is now testing whether Tonse Alliance can carry both the memory of Edgar Lungu and the ambition of those who want to succeed him.
WHAT TODAY’S COURT BAIL MEANS FOR RAPHAEL NAKACINDA By Shalala Oliver Sepiso
All things remaining constant, Raphael Nakacinda will not walk out of prison today despite being granted bail by the courts because he is still serving another 18-month prison sentence.
The K20,000 cash bail granted by the Lusaka Magistrates Court this morning applies only to a specific 6-month sentence for expressing hatred or ridicule against people based on their tribe and origin. In December 2025, Nakacinda was handed a six-month sentence for expressing hatred or contempt based on tribe (hate speech).
However, the court ruled that this sentence would run concurrently with his existing 18-month term, meaning it does not extend his overall time in prison beyond the original period of his earlier sentence.
Clearly, Nakacinda is currently serving the 18-month jail term for defaming President Hakainde Hichilema. This sentence was upheld by the High Court in late 2025, and he began serving it immediately.
His supporters like reporting that his legal team recently informed the court that he is scheduled to complete this 18-month term on 21st January, 2026, following the application of remission. This calculation seems to be based on his original sentence date and not the date when he started serving the sentence.
In fact, if that was case, he would have already been freed. Raphael Nakacinda was sentenced to 18 months in prison with hard labour on 17th May, 2024. He only began serving this sentence on 21st October, 2025, after the Lusaka High Court upheld the conviction for defaming the President and issued a bench warrant for his immediate arrest. Based on a sentence start date of 21st October, 2025, his scheduled release date – based on full 18-month term (one year and six months) calculated from 21st October, 2025 without Remission – is 21st April, 2027.
https://youtu.be/Zlz8zA1j4n0?si=eLorbQpOu79Keb4p
With Remission, based on his 18-month conviction, he can be freed 6 months earlier than his release date with good behaviour and industry in jail. This is on 21st October 2026.
The story that his lawyers informed the Lusaka Magistrate Court this mnth that he is scheduled for release next week following the application of remission under the Zambia Correctional Service Act doesn’t add up whether you consider his 18-month sentence or his 6-month sentence.
The bail granted today only suspends the 6-month tribal remarks sentence pending its appeal. Since the magistrate had ruled that the 6-month term would run concurrently with his existing 18-month term, he must remain incarcerated until the longer sentence is completed or legally resolved.
It is worth remembering that Nakacinda also faces additional charges, including a sedition case related to claims about security raids, which is scheduled for further proceedings on 24th January and 27th February, 2026.
UPND DEVELOPMENT AGENDA IS INCLUSIVE SAYS MECHA, AS HE DISMISSES TRIBALISM CLAIMS
Former Chifunabuli Member of Parliament Ponde Mecha has dismissed claims that President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration is driven by tribalism, arguing that the UPND government’s development record demonstrates inclusivity and national unity rather than division.
Mr. Mecha has cited CDF as the clearest example, stating that for the first time, development resources were being distributed using a uniform formula across all constituencies, regardless of region, tribe or political affiliation.
He said the equal allocation of CDF had resulted in schools, clinics, roads and empowerment projects emerging countrywide, adding that “no tribe, no region and no political colour is being favoured.”
Mr. Mecha further observed that President Hichilema’s nationwide engagements and a regionally balanced Cabinet were “the marks of a unifier deliberately stitching together a fractured nation.”
Turning to the opposition, Mr. Mecha said it had failed to present alternative economic ideas and had instead resorted to what he described as a “weaponised tribal narrative.”
He argued that the opposition had abandoned discussions on economic recovery, energy security and job creation because it could not compete with the government’s reform agenda.
Mr. Mecha pointed to Luapula Province as evidence that the tribal narrative would not succeed, stating that long-held perceptions of the province as marginal had been overturned.
He said the Mabumba 50-megawatt Solar Power Plant was a strategic investment that signalled Luapula’s central role in Zambia’s industrialisation drive.
According to him, the project would enable value addition in fisheries, agriculture and forestry, laying the foundation for factories, agro-processing hubs and small business growth.
He stressed that development projects funded through CDF and energy investments “do not speak the language of tribe; they speak the language of opportunity.”
Mr. Mecha said Zambians were increasingly aware that national progress could not be sacrificed to political slogans and internal party disputes.
Looking ahead to the 2026 general elections, Mr. Mecha said the choice facing the country was not tribal but developmental.
He said the contest would be “between continuity and regression, between systems and slogans,” warning that abandoning ongoing reforms would risk reversing hard-won economic gains.
Mr. Mecha expressed confidence that Zambians would reject divisive politics, stating that while tribalism could not defeat economic progress on its own, the country would continue moving forward by choosing unity and sustained development.
The Trump administration’s attack and takeover of Venezuela this month appears on the surface to have unanimous support among Republican lawmakers – but in private, some are frustrated at getting stonewalled and have been pushing back against the administration’s lack of a clear plan, according to a report.
Lawmakers were given a classified briefing last week on the attack, as well as the administration’s plans for the country going forward. In public, Republican lawmakers have praised the administration’s efforts.
A handful, however, spoke to NOTUS recently and revealed a different story.
“I haven’t gotten full, detailed, satisfactory answers yet,” said Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI), speaking about the briefing in its report Tuesday.
Huizenga also told NOTUS that he had pushed back against Trump’s plan to control Venezuela’s oil, telling the outlet that his question “wasn’t intended to be hostile so much as it was inquisitive about, OK, have we thought through this?”
One senior House Democrat who was part of the classified briefing, speaking with NOTUS on the condition of anonymity, said the pushback on Trump’s plans was wildly bipartisan, and championed the number of Republicans who raised concerns.
“There was bipartisan concern, very balanced bipartisan concern, over the lack of a plan to transition to democracy, allowing the remaining regime leaders [to remain in power],” they told NOTUS. “It was good to see some of my Republican colleagues actually being members of Congress.”
The day of the Venezuela attack, Trump announced that the United States would “run the country” until a transfer of power could be facilitated, and he has already proposed a plan to control the nation’s oil supply.
Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA), also a participant of the briefing, reportedly pushed back on the Trump administration’s seizures of Venezuelan oil tankers, according to a House Republican who spoke with NOTUS on the condition of anonymity. However, Meuser refuted the claim to NOTUS, telling the outlet that he “did not show concern about seizing tankers.”
Controversial internet personality Andrew Tate has stirred backlash online after making a sweeping statement about Blvck people and business on X.
In his post, Tate claimed that famous Blvck individuals often reach out to him to discuss business, only to go silent for days before responding — something he said makes him uninterested in working with them.
Uganda ordered a nationwide internet blackout on Tuesday, January 13, two days before a general election in which President Yoweri Museveni is seeking to extend his nearly 40-year rule.
The directive was issued through a formal notice from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to internet providers, which said the shutdown was necessary to “mitigate the rapid spread of online misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks, as well as preventing of incitement to violence that could affect public confidence and national security during the election period.” The letter was verified to AFP by government officials.
There was no public statement from the government confirming the shutdown, and officials told AFP that authorities did not want to “own” the decision. The blackout was scheduled to begin at 6:00 pm local time (1600 GMT) and remain in force “until a restoration notice is issued,” with essential state services exempted.
Uganda last switched off the internet during the 2021 election, a vote marked by accusations of rigging and heavy state repression against the opposition. Bobi Wine, the singer-turned-politician who challenged Museveni in that election, is running again.
The government had repeatedly denied it would shut down the internet this year, describing rumours of a planned blackout as “false” and intended to spread fear. Despite those assurances, the suspension order was issued less than 48 hours before polls open.
An economist has suggested the sudden tariff hike Donald Trump has set on Iran and its trading partners “will not change” anything.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned the US administration they are ready for war should Trump wish to “test” the lengths Iran will go to. Araghchi claimed Iran are “prepared for all options” and now control a “large and extensive military preparedness”.
He added, “If Washington wants to test the military option it has tested before, we are ready for it.” Araghchi warned off “those trying to drag Washington into war in order to serve Israel’s interests.”
Trump opted for a massive tariff hike on Iran and its trading partners, which includes China. Maurice Obstfeld, former chief economist for the International Monetary Fund, says the policy will do more damage to the US than it will to Iran.
Speaking to The Washington Post, Obstfeld said the 25% increase on Iranian goods is “profoundly self-harming for the U.S., and [it] will not change the Iranians’ behavior one iota.”
Council on Foreign Relations representative Brad Setser also warned there would be more an effect on the US economy than Iran’s. Economist Sester suggested there would be a “meaningful shock” to the US economy should the tariffs stay.
The 25% tariff on goods from any nation doing business with Iran means goods from China, India, Russia, Turkey, and Iraq will receive a huge hike in price.
Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the U.S, has denounced the new tariff. He wrote, “Tariff wars and trade wars have no winners, and coercion and pressure cannot solve problems.”
“China firmly opposes any illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, and will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”
Trump had leaned towards striking Iran in recent days, according to an insider speaking with Axios. “As reports emerged that hundreds of protesters were killed over the weekend, Trump told reporters Iran was ‘starting to’ cross his red line,” according to Axios.
“If Trump orders strikes, they would likely target elements of the regime involved in internal security and seen as responsible for the crackdown,” the outlet reported.
President Donald Trump warned Tuesday of a coming “day of reckoning and retribution” for the Democratic-led state of Minnesota as he doubled down on support for the controversial deportation operations taking place across the North Star State.
“Do the people of Minnesota really want to live in a community in which there are thousands of already convicted murderers, drug dealers and addicts, rapists, violent released and escaped prisoners, dangerous people from foreign mental institutions and insane asylums, and other deadly criminals too dangerous to even mention?” Trump wrote Tuesday on his social media platform Truth Social.
“All the patriots of ICE want to do is remove them from your neighborhood and send them back to the prisons and mental institutions from where they came, most in foreign Countries who illegally entered the USA [through] Sleepy Joe Biden’s HORRIBLE Open Border’s Policy. Every place we go, crime comes down.”
Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents have been swarming the state of Minnesota in the wake of the alleged welfare fraud scheme, and have been met with fierce resistance from protestors. Things turned deadly last week after the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good, an incident that led Trump to deploy more than 100 additional ICE agents to the state.
“In Chicago, despite a weak and incompetent Governor and Mayor fighting us all the way, a big improvement was made. Thousands of Criminals were removed!” Trump continued.
“Minnesota Democrats love the unrest that anarchists and professional agitators are causing because it gets the spotlight off of the 19 Billion Dollars that was stolen by really bad and deranged people. FEAR NOT, GREAT PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, THE DAY OF RECKONING & RETRIBUTION IS COMING!”
Disgraced rapper and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs reportedly asked former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson to deliver a handwritten pardon request to U.S. President Donald Trump, according to sources quoted by The Sun. Tyson is said to have handed the letter to Trump during a visit to the White House in November.
Last week President Trump confirmed that Combs, 56, had “asked me for a pardon” in a letter, though he did not elaborate on how the message reached him. Combs is currently serving a four-year federal sentence after he was convicted in 2025 on two counts of transportation to engage in pr0stitution.
Sources close to Tyson claimed that he visited with one of Combs’ confidantes before the White House trip and was given the letter to pass on. “Mike had a meeting with one of Diddy’s closest confidantes and he handed him a letter from Diddy,” a source said, adding that Tyson asked what the letter contained and was told it was a plea for a presidential pardon. The source said Tyson admitted he was nervous about the request but agreed to take it and later confirmed that he “handed the letter to Trump and did exactly what Diddy’s lot had asked of him.”
Mike Tyson hands Trump personal letter from Diddy begging for pardon
The White House was contacted regarding the reports on December 9. An official spokesperson did not deny the account involving Tyson but insisted that the president’s position on a pardon had not changed. “Any media reports on a Diddy pardon are not accurate. The President, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on all pardons,” the spokesperson said. Trump later reiterated to the New York Times that while Combs had indeed reached out, he was “not considering” a pardon.
Tyson, 59, previously said in a 2024 interview that he wished Combs “all the best” before the rapper’s conviction. After Combs entered federal custody, further legal troubles emerged. His legal team filed an appeal shortly after sentencing, during which the rapper reportedly begged the judge for leniency in court.
At the end of 2025, Combs was also informed of new s3xual assault allegations. The latest report came from a man who claimed Combs assaulted him in 2020 and identified himself online as music producer Jonathan Hay, saying he was one of the John Does behind a civil lawsuit filed against Combs in July. The posts were later deleted.
Combs is currently being held at a federal prison facility in New Jersey. Trump has confirmed publicly that he is not considering clemency for the embattled music mogul.
At least four senior officials have resigned from the Department of Justice in protest over the Trump administration’s response to the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer
Three sources briefed on the departures told MS NOW that top leaders in the criminal section of the Civil Rights Division left their jobs to indicate their frustration that Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for civil rights, decided not to investigate the ICE officer’s killing of 37-year-old Renee Good.
“Investigating officials to determine if they broke the law, defied policy, failed to de-escalate, and resorted to deadly force without basis is one of the Civil Rights Division’s most solemn duties,” said Kristen Clarke, who led the division during the Biden administration.
“Prosecutors of the Civil Rights Division have, for decades, been the nation’s leading experts in this work,” she added.
The departures are the most significant mass resignation at the Justice Department since February, shortly after President Donald Trump returned to the White House, and include the civil rights section’s chief, as well as the principal deputy chief, deputy chief and acting deputy chief.
Five leaders and supervisors of the department’s Public Integrity Section had resigned in February rather than comply with a Trump appointee’s orders to dismiss a bribery case against then-New York City mayor Eric Adams.
“One source briefed on the reasoning for the resignations said the handling of the ICE shooting was not the only concern for the unit leaders and that some were concerned about other decisions by division leadership,” MS NOW reported.
A source briefed on the matter told the network that one of Dhillon’s deputies notified her office’s criminal section last week that it would not investigate whether the ICE officer or whether he improperly used deadly force, and she also retweeted an X post by a prosecutor warning protesters not to ram immigration officers with their vehicles, which Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other administration officials say Good had attempted to do.
However, video evidence show the Minnesota woman’s wheels were turned away from the officer when he opened fire and shot three times into her vehicle.
Jailed Raphael Nakacinda has told Koswe that he will only come out of jail on 21st April 2027, as he has seen it even with his binoculars.
Raphael Nakacinda was sentenced to 18 months in prison with hard labour on 17th May, 2024. He only began serving this sentence on 21st October, 2025, after the Lusaka High Court upheld the conviction for defaming the President and issued a bench warrant for his immediate arrest.
Based on a sentence start date of 21st October, 2025, his scheduled release date – based on full 18-month term (one year and six months) calculated from 21st October, 2025 without Remission – is 21st April, 2027.
As protests continue to erupt across Iran amid its deepening economic crisis, President Donald Trump made his first explicit admission that the United States would be intervening on behalf of the protesters, telling them in a social media post Tuesday that “help is on its way.”
“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
“Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA (Make Iran Great Again)!!!”
Trump has repeatedly warned the Iranian government not to harm protesters, with his supporters, such as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), encouraging the president to intervene, including by assassinating Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has warned it would retaliate should the United States intervene.
On Saturday, Trump said the United States stood “ready to help” the Iranian protestors, making his remarks on Tuesday an escalation of his past threats.
As the protests in Iran continue to intensify, conservative figures have increasingly cheered the idea of regime change in the Middle East nation, including former Secretary of State and CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who recently declared the Iranian government to be “in trouble.” He also, perhaps inadvertently, suggested that the protests were, at least in part, stoked by Israeli intelligence agents.
“The Iranian regime is in trouble. Bringing in mercenaries is its last best hope,” Pompeo wrote in a social media post on X Jan. 2.
“Riots in dozens of cities and the Basij under siege – Mashed, Tehran, Zahedan. Next stop: Baluchistan. 47 years of this regime; POTUS 47. Coincidence? Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also to every Mossad agent walking beside them…”
NIGER REVOKES LICENCES OF TANKER DRIVERS WHO REFUSE TO GO TO MALI AMID JIHADIST BLOCKADE
NIGER has revoked the licences of dozens of transport operators and drivers for refusing to deliver fuel to neighbouring Mali where they face possible attacks by jihadists.
An al-Qaeda affiliate imposed a fuel blockade on Mali in September and began attacking petrol tankers on major highways.
The landlocked country depends on fuel imports and in July had signed a deal with Niger to supply 85 million litres of fuel over six months to its vast, northern desert region, where various militant groups operate.
Niger is an oil-producing country and a major ally of Mali – both run by military juntas which face jihadist violence.
The fuel convoys from Niger making the journey crossing a route of 1,400km (870 miles) have faced jihadist attacks even under military escort.
Last November, Niger delivered 82 fuel tankers to Mali, which managed to stabilise the energy supply hit by the recent blockade as convoys travelling from Senegal and Ivory Coast have also been hit.
Additional fuel shipments from Niger were expected in the following months, but plans were disrupted after drivers and transport operators refused to make the deliveries.
This has prompted Niger’s transport ministry to revoke the licences of 14 transport operators and 19 drivers for refusing to transport the fuel.
“This refusal constitutes a serious violation of the legal and regulatory obligations in force,” Niger Transport Minister Abdourahamane Amadou said in a statement dated 6 January that has just come to light.
Another operator was handed a one-year suspension.
“Those who are sanctioned must also surrender their transport documents and licences to the ministry,” the statement said.
It is the militant group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) that has imposed the blockade – broadening its years-long insurgency to include economic warfare.
JNIM’s fighters have kidnapped drivers and torched lorries. Last year, schools and universities across Mali were temporarily closed because of the severe fuel scarcity.
The fuel shortage has sparked concern outside of Mali, with the US last November urging Americans not to travel to Mali and France advising its citizens in the West African country to leave.
Mali’s military government is led by Gen Assimi Goïta, who first seized power in a coup in 2020.
He had popular support at the time promising to deal with the long-running security crisis prompted by a separatist rebellion in the north by ethnic Tuaregs, which was then hijacked by Islamist militants.
A UN peacekeeping mission and French forces were deployed in 2013 to deal with the escalating insurgency both have left since the junta took over.
It has hired Russian mercenaries to tackle the insecurity, though large parts of the country remain outside government control.
A Nigerian woman, Aishatu Umar, has d!ed four months after surgeons left a pair of scissors inside her stomach during a surgery at the Abubakar Imam Urology Center in Kano State
The mother of five passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026 during a corrective surgery to remove the scissors.
Aisha’s brother-in-law, Abubakar Mohammed, who confirmed the incident in a Facebook post on Monday said she had undergone a surgery at the hospital in September 2025.
After the surgery, Aisha suffered excruciating abdominal pain for four months, prompting the family to take her back to the hospital.
Tests and scans revealed that a pair of scissors had been left inside her abdomen.
Unfortunately, Aisha passed away during the operation probably because the scissors was left inside his body for a long period of time.
“The woman you see here is Aishatu Umar. She was a sister-in-law to me, She passed away yesterday around 1:00 AM. She is survived by her husband and five children,” he wrote.
“Living in Kano, she fell ill a few months ago and underwent surgery at the Abubakar Imam Urology Center in September.
“Following the surgery, she suffered from severe abdominal pain. Whenever she went back to the hospital, she was only given pain relievers. She suffered this pain for four months.
“Just two days ago, tests and scans were finally conducted, revealing that a pair of scissors had been left inside her body during the September operation.
“Efforts were being made to perform a corrective surgery yesterday, but her time had run out, and she passed away.
“Is this not pure negligence? Truly, every soul has its appointed time, but how can professional doctors forget scissors inside a patient? This tarnishes the reputation of healthcare workers and health authorities.
“We call on the Kano State Government to investigate and take action. We call on the health regulatory bodies to investigate and take action. We demand justice for Aishatu Umar.”
The niece of Donald Trump has urged the Democratic Party to push for more than impeachment should they win the House and Senate.
With the 2026 midterms set for November, Mary Trump believes the landscape post-election could favor a push to impeach the president. But that does not go far enough and “it didn’t matter” the first two times Trump was impeached, his niece has warned.
Mary Trump said, “If we want any chance to put things right, if we want any chance to stop the slide of this country into full-on fascist authoritarianism, we must flip the House, Donald must be impeached, and of course, it would be really great if we had the Senate as well.”
“So instead of just impeaching him he could be convicted, because he’s been impeached twice and guess what, it didn’t matter.”
It comes as Mary Trump highlighted the ongoing worries of the Trump administration ahead of the midterms. Trump’s niece suggested there is a “paranoia” present in the Republican Party, with elections set for the end of this year seemingly on track to favor the Democratic Party.
Should Trump lose the midterm elections heavily, it could spark a “Civil War”-like response from the president. The Washington Post suggested ICE agents’ presence in blue states could increase.
“Trump has stepped up ICE patrols across the country and deployed or attempted to deploy National Guard troops in several cities run by Democrats,” the newspaper reported. “After the Civil War, paramilitary groups and mobs used violence in the South to prevent Black voters from casting ballots, and a century later law enforcement attacked civil rights protesters as they fought segregation.”
“Now, the president’s critics fear he could try to ramp up deployments and law enforcement operations in Democratic areas in the lead-up to the 2026 election,” the report added.
There is a worry Trump could deploy further ICE personnel in blue states, or even enlist the help of the National Guard. A representative for the National Guard refused to rule out whether deployments would be made this year.
States also have legal precedent to challenge Trump on the deployments. The Post noted, “States would likely sue over any deployments or attempts to seize voting equipment.”
Russia strongly condemns the US-Israeli interference in Iran’s internal processes:
“Foreign forces hostile to Iran are trying to destroy the Iranian state, using the methods of color revolutions.”
“Russia strongly condemns the subversive foreign interference in Iran’s internal political processes.
Russia recommends that Russian compatriots in Iran take reasonable precautionary measures.
The threats from Washington to launch new military strikes on the territory of the Islamic Republic are categorically unacceptable.
Those who plan to use externally inspired riots as a pretext for repeating the aggression against Iran committed in June 2025 should be aware of the harmful consequences of such actions for the situation in the Middle East and global international security.
Foreign forces hostile to Iran are trying to destroy the Iranian state, using the methods of color revolutions.
The dynamics of the internal political situation in Iran and the decline of artificially instigated protests allow us to expect a stabilization of the situation.”
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, according to a senior administration official.
The visit comes amid lingering uncertainty over Machado’s political future following recent US military strikes in Caracas and the capture of Venezuela’s longtime leader, Nicolás Maduro. Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, has since been sworn in as acting president.
In the aftermath of the January 3 operation, Trump declined to endorse Machado as Venezuela’s leader, saying it would be difficult for her to govern because she lacked sufficient public support and respect within the country.
Machado, however, holds a distinction Trump has long sought, a Nobel Peace Prize. She has suggested she would be willing to offer the award to the US president, a gesture Trump has described as an “honor,” though the Norwegian Nobel Institute has stated that Nobel Prizes cannot be transferred.
When asked whether receiving Machado’s prize would prompt him to reconsider her role in Venezuela, Trump did not give a direct answer.
“I’m going to have to speak to her. She might be involved in some aspect of it. I will have to speak to her. I think it’s very nice that she wants to come in, and that’s what I understand the reason is,” Trump said during a White House meeting with oil executives.
“I can’t think of anybody in history that should get the Nobel Prize more than me. And I don’t want to be bragging, but nobody else settled wars,” he added.
Trump has also signaled openness to meeting Rodríguez in the future.
“We’re working along really well with the leadership, and we’ll see how it all works out,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Last week, Trump announced that he had canceled a second wave of attacks on Venezuela, citing the country’s cooperation with the United States and its release of political prisoners. He later described Venezuela as an ally “right now,” while reiterating that further military action was unnecessary.
The president has suggested that US involvement in Venezuela could last for years, telling The New York Times, “Only time will tell.”
However, his efforts to court oil companies as part of a broader plan to expand drilling and rebuild Venezuela’s energy sector have met resistance. Executives have raised concerns about the country’s long-term stability, and no major investment commitments emerged from a recent White House meeting, with ExxonMobil’s chief executive reportedly describing Venezuela as “uninvestible.”
The US Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to invest $115 million in counter-drone technology to secure the FIFA World Cup and events marking 250 years of American independence.
The funding will be managed by a newly created DHS office focused on the rapid acquisition and deployment of drone and counter-drone systems. The move reflects growing concern over the security risks posed by unmanned aerial technology, particularly at high-profile international events.
The investment comes as federal agencies face mounting pressure to protect major public gatherings while also advancing President Donald Trump’s broader security and immigration priorities. It also underscores rising alarm over the technological capabilities of drug cartels, which have increasingly used drones and cyber tools to smuggle narcotics and monitor US law enforcement activities.
“Drones represent the new frontier of American air superiority,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.
Relatively inexpensive and widely available online, drones have long been a concern for public safety officials. Last year, a Baltimore man pleaded guilty after flying a drone over M&T Bank Stadium during a 2025 NFL playoff game. In 2024, a series of unexplained drone sightings in New Jersey also sparked public anxiety and prompted lawmakers to call for stronger federal action.
The United States’ role as a co-host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has intensified scrutiny of drone-related threats. Eleven US cities will host matches, with more than one million international visitors expected to travel to the country for the tournament.
In a related effort, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which operates under DHS, recently awarded $250 million to 11 states hosting World Cup matches to support the purchase of counter-drone equipment.
Security officials are also increasingly concerned about the use of drones by drug cartels designated as terrorist groups by the Trump administration. Experts warn that the potential weaponization of drones could pose a serious threat.
A Justice Department inspector general’s report released last year highlighted the dangers of surveillance failures, revealing that a Mexican drug cartel hired a hacker to track the movements of a senior FBI official in Mexico City. Information obtained from the city’s camera systems was later used to identify and kill potential FBI informants.
Federal authorities say the latest investment is aimed at preventing similar threats and ensuring the safety of major events in the years ahead.
The ICE agent who sh0t a woman de@d in Minneapolis is not expected to face criminal charges’
FBI investigators are conducting a thorough inquiry into the fatal sh0oting, including an analysis of the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross, as well as physical evidence like the handgun used to k!ll Renee Good.
Those familiar with the investigation reportedly told The New York Times that the civil rights division of the Department of Justice, which typically investigates police-involved sh0otings, has not opened a probe into whether Ross violated Good’s rights under federal law.
Ross is ‘increasingly unlikely’ to face criminal charges, the Times reported.
Instead, the Justice Department is reportedly planning to look into a wide group of activists who took part in a Minneapolis neighborhood ICE watch activities, believing they were ‘instigators’ of the sh0oting.
It remains unclear whether Good, a 37-year-old mother-of-three, was involved in any activism in Minneapolis besides participating in the protest against ICE actions on the day that she was killed – however the FBI is reportedly determined to find out.
Witnesses have said Good and her wife, Rebecca, were acting as legal observers and filming the protest.
In shocking footage from the scene, Rebecca admitted she encouraged Good to confront agents. ‘I made her come down here, it’s my fault,’ she cried.
Friends have claimed Good became involved in activism through her six-year-old son’s charter school and its local ‘ICE Watch group,’ which is a coalition of activists who seek to disrupt immigration raids.
‘She was a warrior. She died doing what was right,’ a mother named Leesa who has a child at the same school as Good’s son told The New York Post.
‘[Renee Good] was trained against these ICE agents — what to do, what not to do, it’s a very thorough training.
‘I know she was doing the right thing. I watched the video plenty of times but I also know in my heart the woman she was, she was doing everything right.’
In surveillance footage, Good was seen apparently blocking the road with her SUV for four minutes before she was killed.
About 20 seconds after Good pulled up to the street, a passenger – believed to be her wife, Rebecca exited the vehicle and eventually began filming.
There is speculation that Rebecca, who admitted to bringing her spouse to the anti-ICE protest, exited the car so she could begin filming any potential clash with federal agents.
Other footage from the sh0oting shows an officer approaching Good’s stopped SUV. He grabbed the handle as he allegedly demanded she open the door.
Her Honda Pilot then began to pull forward, and Ross pulled his weapon, immediately firing three shots and jumping back as the vehicle moved toward him.
It is not clear from the videos if the vehicle made contact with Ross. After the shooting, the SUV slammed into two cars parked on a curb before crashing to a stop.
Almost immediately after the sho0ting, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described Good’s actions as ‘an act of domestic terr0rism’ as she defended Ross as an experienced law enforcement professional who followed his training.
She claimed he shot Good after he believed she was trying to run him or other agents over with her vehicle.
President Trump also called the Good a ‘professional agitator’ and claimed she was shot in ‘self-defense.’
He then reiterated that message on Sunday, saying Good was ‘very vi0lent’ and ‘very radical,’ calling her and her wife ‘professional agitators’ and suggesting that federal authorities would ‘find out who’s paying for it.
