President Donald Trump’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continued into his first term in the White House, so much so that Epstein spent Thanksgiving with Trump while the president was in office, according to newly released emails written by the late financier.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a new batch of emails Wednesday obtained from Epstein’s estate, followed by the Republican-led panel’s release of 20,000 additional documents, and one of those exchanges shows that he claims to have spent Thanksgiving 2017 – Trump’s first as president – at his private Mar-a-Lago resort.
Epstein exchanged emails on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 23, 2017, with Manhattan modeling management guru Faith Kates, who asked where he was spending the holiday.
The disgraced financier told her he would spend the day with “eva,” likely a reference to his former girlfriend Eva Andersson-Dubin, and Kates mentions Andersson-Dubin’s husband, Glenn Dubin, by name and asks “who else is down there?”
Epstein names Trump, hedge fund founder David Fiszel and someone else he referred to as Hanson.
White House records and contemporaneous media reports show Trump spent Thanksgiving 2017 at Mar-a-Lago, but the White House did not disclose a guest list.
Andersson-Dubin later testified at the 2021 trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted for her role as a co-conspirator in Epstein’s sex trafficking network after he was found dead in prison while awaiting new charges two years earlier on similar allegations.
Job Sikhala Granted Bail In SA At First Time Of Asking Over Explosives Charges Former St Mary’s Member of Parliament Job Sikhala has been granted bail in South Africa after being arrested over explosives-related charges. Sikhala, 53, and his 78-year-old uncle, Alexander Thema, were each released on R10,000 (approximately US$540) bail by the Pretoria Magistrates Court on 13 November 2025.
The matter has been postponed to 3 February 2026. The pair had been in custody since their arrest last week after police allegedly found explosives in their vehicle.
Arrest And Allegations According to EWN Reporter, the South African police claim they discovered “26 blasting cartridges and 15 capped fuse connectors” inside Sikhala’s vehicle during a stop along Kgosi Mampuru Street in Pretoria on 6 November 2025.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana told reporters:
“When the police searched the car, they found 26 units of blasting cartridges and 15 units of connector cap fuses.”
The two men appeared briefly in court on 10 November 2025, where their case was postponed for a formal bail hearing. Both were remanded in custody until the latest ruling.
Sikhala’s Release Sparks Reactions The decision to grant bail was met with relief among Sikhala’s supporters and fellow activists. Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono wrote on X:
“Job Sikhala and his uncle, Alexander Thema, have been granted bail, and they are expected to be released once the paperwork has been completed.”
Human rights lawyer Brighton Mutebuka commented:
“Rule of law epitomy – in South Africa, Job Sikhala gets bail at the first time of asking and within a week despite facing ostensibly more serious criminal charges on paper.”
Mutebuka contrasted this with Sikhala’s previous detention in Zimbabwe, where he spent more than 500 days in prison before being released last year on charges many viewed as politically motivated.
Case Postponed To February The court did not elaborate on the origins or intended use of the explosives.
The veteran opposition leader, who once represented the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in Parliament, has yet to publicly comment on the matter. South African authorities have also not issued further details on the ongoing investigation.
Jeffrey Epstein said in 2018 messages about Trump “I am the one able to take him down”.
The exchanges, which the BBC has not independently verified, are among the more than 20,000 files obtained from the late sex offender’s estate and released by US lawmakers.
In a text message chain from December 2018, an unidentified person wrote to Epstein: “It will all blow over!
“They’re really just trying to take down Trump and doing whatever they can do to do that …!”
Epstein replied: “yes thx. its wild. because I am the one able to take him down.”
The context and what the other person was predicting would “blow over” is not clear.
Trump yesterday accused the Democrats of “using the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax to try and deflect from their massive failures”, and the White House said some of the threads had been “selectively leaked” to “create a fake narrative to smear President Trump”.
CHABINGA OBTAINS INJUNCTION AGAINST PF GENERAL CONFERENCE
…matter comes up on 3rd December 2025 for Inter-Parte hearing…
Robert Chabinga has been granted a court injunction to restrain the Patriotic Front from holding its General Conference scheduled for the month-end of November 2025.
Chabinga, who shopped for a court forum in Kabwe, has been granted a restraining order aginst Patriotic Front Acting Secretary General, Brenda Nyirenda-Chisopa.
Justice Kelvin Hancubwili Limbani, Judge-in- Charge in Kabwe granted the order.
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the application for an Order of injunction to compel the Defendant by himself, his servants, agents, employees or whomsoever to- immediately cease and desist from occupying the Patriotic Front Party Secretariat, use of the Patriotic Front Party materials including issuance of party receipts and use of letterheads, holding meetings, press conferences and media briefings in the name of the Patriotic Front Party, purporting or holding out as leaders of the Patriotic Front Party and announcing the road map of the elective convention of the Patriotic Front Party until the Court’s determination the matter.”
The Kabwe Judge has directed that the Inter-Parte hearing will take place on 3rd December 2025.
The Patriotic Front has announced that it will hold a general conference to elect a party leader and members of the Central Committee.
So far, Zambian businessma based in South Africa, Joseph Willa Mudolo, Lusaka lawyer, Makebi Zulu, PF Acting President Given Lubinda and Luapula MP, Chanda Katotobwe have paid the K200,000 Expression of Interest fee and joined the race.
Others in the race who met the requirements are; former Diplomat, Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba, Mporokoso MP, Brian Mundubile, Lunte MP, Mutotwe Kafwaya, former Ministers; Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, Greyford Monde and Chishimba Kambwili, businessman Goodward Mulubwa and Matero MP, Miles Bwalya Sampa have been in the race since 2023.
WE’LL UNLEASH CADRES ON CRIMINALS WHO WANT TO KILL HH – UPND MP
UPND Secretary General Batuke Imenda has condemned the violence that took place in Chingola on Saturday, stressing that violence will never be a solution.
Meanwhile, Bweengwa UPND MP Kasauta Michelo says the UPND are ready to protect President Hakainde Hichilema and will unleash cadres on criminals who want to kill him.
Speaking at a press briefing, Tuesday, Imenda said acquiring wealth through disorder and opportunism would only destroy the country and revert it to the bad old days.
“President Hichilema’s passion for youth empowerment is clear in education, agriculture, health, security and mining. His administration has consistently prioritised the creation of jobs in all these sectors and empowering young Zambians with opportunities to succeed. The UPND, therefore, condemns in the strongest terms the recent riots and the vandalism in Chingola. Violence is not and will never be a solution. It only destroys opportunities that the government and the private investors are working hard to create for the people. To that end, acquiring wealth through disorder and opportunism will only help to destroy this country and take it back to the bad old days. It will only help to drive away investor confidence in the economic sector, creating a culture of boom and bust in our economic management,” Imenda noted.
“You’ll remember that when PF took over, the economy of this country was reaching middle [income] economy, the economy which was considered to be one of the poorest in the world. Zambia was one of the poorest countries in the world, but MMD worked hard to make sure that our country reaches middle [income] economy. PF took over, and we went down back to [being] the poorest country in the world. President Hakainde Hichilema and his government and his party are striving hard to bring back our economy to middle [income] economy, and the indications are already clear. Five percent growth has already been established, and at this rate, in the next one or two years, the economy will be one that we’ll be proud of as Zambians. So, should we allow a situation where opportunists just walk in to come and harvest [or] loot what President Hakainde Hichilema has worked so hard and is working so hard to create and improve the lives of the Zambian people?”
Imenda advised Chingola residents to engage government peacefully whenever grievances arise.
“We urge our dear residents of Chingola to engage with government constructively and peacefully whenever grievances arise. The new dawn administration is open to dialogue. [There is] no issue too big to be resolved through conversation and cooperation. As a party and government, we will remain guided by our principles of peace, unity and development. We call upon all citizens, especially our young people, to stand together in defending the gains made under President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership and reject all forms of disorder and division. Let us choose dialogue over confrontation, discipline over lawlessness and progress over distraction. Together, we can continue building a prosperous, peaceful, united Copperbelt, a beacon of opportunity for all Zambians,” he added.
Imenda advised Chingola residents to engage government peacefully whenever grievances arise.
“We urge our dear residents of Chingola to engage with government constructively and peacefully whenever grievances arise. The new dawn administration is open to dialogue. [There is] no issue too big to be resolved through conversation and cooperation. As a party and government, we will remain guided by our principles of peace, unity and development. We call upon all citizens, especially our young people, to stand together in defending the gains made under President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership and reject all forms of disorder and division. Let us choose dialogue over confrontation, discipline over lawlessness and progress over distraction. Together, we can continue building a prosperous, peaceful, united Copperbelt, a beacon of opportunity for all Zambians,” he added.
Responding to a question about whether or not cadreism was back, Imenda reaffirmed that the vice was not acceptable.
“I can tell you that our position never changes. What does the President say? ‘Go out there and harass people and you are on your own.’ That position does not change. It does not change whether you are in Chingola or you are in Lusaka. I do not know who those people are in Chingola because no one was arrested, no one was detained, so we do not know who they are, but you have seen people in our party getting arrested. You have seen people in our party getting fired from as big as structures as the national management committee. When you misconduct yourself, even among these people that you see here, they have fired their own members within the national management committee for disorder. So, if a member of the national management committee can be fired, who is a cadre? If ever there are people that think they will wake up one day to start beating up people in the streets, it will be them against the law,” said Imenda.
Meanwhile, Michelo said he had only declared cadreism on the individuals who attacked the President and not the majority peaceful Zambians.
“We thank the people of Chingola who went to receive the President, but we are disappointed with the minority disgruntled people who were throwing stones at our Republican President. Their aim was to kill our President, because when you get an object and you throw it at somebody, then you are aiming to kill, and the life of the President was endangered on that particular day. Because of that agitation, because of those people who wanted to kill the President, as UPND here in Monze District, we have declared ‘cadreism’ for those people who want to kill our President, but not to the peaceful majority Zambians, no! But to those people who want to kill or to take the life of our President, we are bringing cadreism to those because we don’t want to lose the life of our President,” Michelo argued.
“Otherwise, we are not taking cadreism to the market; we are not taking cadreism to bus stations [and] we are not taking cadreism anywhere but to anyone who is endangering the life of our President. We, in the UPND, with our cadres, we are ready to protect, and we’ll unleash cadreism on those criminals who want to kill our President. It’s protection of the President, we want to protect our President. Those are just few individuals who were hired to do that against the President. Majority citizens, those who went to receive the President, I think you even saw some women, those who got touched about what transpired on the Copperbelt and they were in large numbers. People of Copperbelt, Chingola in particular, are not happy about what happened in Chingola”.
He highlighted that the President had gained more popularity due to the incident that happened in Chingola as people were now more sympathetic towards him.
“Many people now, even those who never used to love the President, looking at what happened, the President gained more popularity on what transpired because now people are very sympathetic. Looking at what happened to our President, and if you look at the way he behaved himself, because lives were going to be lost there, but he restrained, and the police officers restrained themselves, and we thank them for that. Just imagine if it was [Edgar] Lungu and his former PF, we were going to be talking about something else, more than 100 people were going to die, a lot of people were going to be shot. The police can protect the President, and even we, the citizens, it’s our duty also to protect the President,” said Michelo.
Matambo offers reward for information on Chingola violence suspects! UPND Copperbelt Provincial Chairman Elisha Matambo has urged citizens to help identify and apprehend individuals involved in last Saturday’s disturbance during President Hakainde Hichilema’s address in Chingola.
He revealed that the party has set aside an undisclosed token of appreciation for information leading to the arrest of the culprits. “We further urge our people to be alert and apply citizens’ arrests to any person who participated in last Saturday’s event. As a party on the Copperbelt, we have set aside an undisclosed amount as a token of appreciation for anyone who reports and helps lead to the arrest of all those involved,” Matambo said.
The event was marred by violent conduct, including the throwing of stones toward the stage where the President was speaking, as well as incidents of arson and riotous behavior.
Matambo condemned the acts, describing them as an attack on the Head of State and a treasonous offense. “As a party on the Copperbelt, we have assured our people that those who sponsored, participated in, or played any part in the violence will be fished out, regardless of where they are hiding. They will be arrested and charged accordingly,” he said.
GIVEN LUBINDA URGES ECZ TO EXTEND VOTER REGISTRATION BEYOND 15 DAYS AHEAD OF 2026 ELECTIONS
By: Thomas Afroman Mwale
Patriotic Front (PF) presidential aspirant Given Lubinda has called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to consider extending the voter registration period beyond the current 15-day window.
Speaking to PF structures in Mongu, Western Province, Mr. Lubinda argued that the current figures are insufficient to cover all eligible voters.
He urged the Commission to address logistical challenges and proposed that National Registration Cards (NRCs) and voter registers be made available at single centers to streamline the process and enhance accessibility ahead of the 2026 General Elections.
Mr. Lubinda also raised concerns over the government’s continued push for constitutional amendments through Bill 7, questioning the timing and transparency of the legislative process. #SunFmTvNews
PAUL KABUSWE DISMISSES CALLS FOR HIS RESIGNATION AFTER CHINGOLA INCIDENT
By Nelson Zulu
Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe has dismissed calls for his resignation following last weekend’s incident in which President Hakainde Hichilema was rushed to safety after stones were thrown at him in Chingola.
Mr. Kabuswe says it is unreasonable to link isolated acts of hooliganism to the performance of his ministry and has rejected assertions that he has failed to manage the mining sector, pointing to growing production and concerted efforts to formalize artisanal mining.
He tells Phoenix News that output trends suggest Zambia can reach about 1 million tonnes of copper this year and highlighted recent capacity-building drives that have graduated hundreds of mining cooperatives as key achievements.
The minister further cited the dewatering works at shaft 28 in Luanshya, resuscitation of Mopani and Konkola Copper Mine operations, and new activity at Lumwana and the S3 project as key achievements by his ministry.
Mr Kabuswe has reiterated the government’s commitment to safe, regulated operations, formal trade, and enhanced security around mining areas, urging critics to judge performance on results rather than isolated events.
Following last Saturday’s incident, some stakeholders, including UPND sympathizers, have called for the resignation of Mr. Kabuswe for allegedly failing to handle the mining sector after angry small-scale miners disrupted the president’s speech at Chiwempala market by throwing stones at him.
INCREASING SOCIAL CASH MEANS UPND HAS CREATED SO MUCH SUFFERING – KAFWAYA
LUNTE PF MP Mutotwe Kafwaya says government’s decision to increase the Social Cash Transfer means it has created a lot of suffering.
He says the only way citizens can survive is by receiving money through the social protection programme.
“Madam Speaker, you are owing people who are in the middle class K84 billion and then you are saying next year in 2026, I’ll only pay you K4.7 billion, and on the other hand you are saying you need to create jobs. The Minister spoke clearly here and said the jobs that we so desperately need have to be created. How are you going to create jobs when you are holding money for small and medium enterprises who are dealing with government? And I heard one colleague of mine saying those who will not support this budget, they are trying to circumvent people from getting Social Cash Transfer,” said Kafwaya.
“Let me tell you Madam Speaker, when you increase Social Cash Transfer, what you are telling the people is that that means we have created so much vulnerability, we have created so much suffering that the only way people can survive is for us transferring some money to them. Instead of doing that Madam, I would rather you pay suppliers of goods and services, by the way those include farmers, they are suppliers of goods and services, pay them, so that they maintain the jobs, so that they expand the scope for jobs Madam Speaker. Now I won’t end at just speaking like this I’m going to help the UPND government into the 2026 budget by ensuring that we give dismantling of arrears a decent amount but if they don’t want it’s their fault. For me, I’ll move amendments to this budget”.
Meanwhile, Kampyongo insisted that constituencies had only received about K6 million out of the K36 million yearly allocation of CDF.
“Madam Speaker, the so much talked about CDF here is what your report is saying, ‘your report appreciates the increase in the Constituency Development Fund to K6.2 billion translating to K40 million per constituency. The committee is concerned about persistent delays in the disbursement and the low absorption capacity [by] local authorities’. Madam Speaker, even as we speak now, the CDF for this year 2025, I sympathise with the Minister of Local Government who is trying but the Minister of Finance hasn’t given him money. Up to now, we have only received about K6 million out of the K36 million. So we are two months before the fiscal year ends,” said Kampyongo.
“When are we going to receive the balance of the funds for the projects that are supposed to be done? At that rate, how much time do we have to come and burn out? Even when you are complaining about the absorption capacity of the councils, what are they going to do if they receive money 30 days before the end of the fiscal year? This is a challenge, Madam Speaker.
So you can say CDF… I stood there when this was coming and I did indicate that we were still going to have a challenge, so it’s one thing to say we have increased in the meantime we can’t even feel what is already in the budget for this year. So the Ministry of Finance must be sincere when he comes to this August House and when he is trying to increase the figures of these funds because talking figures is exciting but implementation is very key”.
CONSORTIUM OF NGOS WARNS AGAINST BLACK FRIDAY PROTEST OVER CONSTITUTION PROCESS
A consortium of NGOs on the Copperbelt Province has warned that anyone inciting citizens to protest against the constitution-making process on Friday should be arrested.
This was revealed in a statement read on behalf of the consortium by Governance and Development Advocates Zambia (GODAZA) Executive Director Elias Mulenga.
The consortium stated that some sponsored NGOs are urging people to wear black on Friday afternoon as a sign of protest, which it says is against the laws of Zambia.
It emphasised that Zambia has only one President who can direct citizens on national matters, and questioned the authority of those calling for Black Friday.
The consortium expressed strong support for Bill 7 and the constitution-making process, which it said is backed by law and the Constitution of Zambia, specifically Article 79.
It cited Article 79, which states that “the people of Zambia have vested in themselves the power to amend this Constitution.”
The consortium said the process currently underway is people-driven, with the Technical Committee appointed by President Hakainde Hichilema receiving submissions from all stakeholders.
It voiced concern that the Oasis Forum has rejected Bill 7 without offering convincing reasons.
The consortium urged the Technical Committee to treat their statement as a formal submission and include it in the process.
It reiterated its position in favour of a people-driven process, stating there is no need for rectification.
The consortium affirmed that the process is constitutional, as Article 79 permits amendments to the Constitution.
It added that the timeframe is not a concern, since the Constitution can be amended at any time under Article 79.
The consortium noted that Bill 7 was deferred to the Minister of Justice for a roadmap, which has now been provided.
It appealed to all Zambians to take part in this inclusive process and help shape the future of the nation.
The consortium called for unity in creating a constitution that truly reflects the will of the people.
Senator Ned Nwoko has publicly denied claims made by Regina Daniels suggesting that he married her when she was 17. He described the allegations as false and misleading.
In a statement shared on his social media page, Nwoko said he asked Regina about her age when they first met and she told him she was 21. He explained that she also presented her voter card at the time, which showed she was born on October 10 1998. According to him, he has kept the card in his possession ever since
Nwoko added that Regina’s mother even confirmed her age in an interview granted shortly after their marriage. He insisted that all available records prove their marriage took place six years ago, which means Regina is now 27.
He urged the public to disregard claims that he married her as a minor and described the allegations as harmful and untrue. He also asked the public to approach Regina’s recent statements with caution, saying she is dealing with personal struggles and had abandoned a rehabilitation program for drug addiction.
To further back his claims, Nwoko shared an image of the old voter card belonging to Regina Daniels, which contains her date of birth. The senator maintained that the facts around Regina’s age are clear and verifiable and called for an end to what he described as deliberate misinformation.
He wrote:
“It has come to my attention that false claims are being circulated by Regina, suggesting that I married her when she was 17 years old. These claims are entirely untrue and misleading.
For clarity, during my first meeting with Regina, I asked her age, and she told me she was 21 years old. I further asked if she had any document to support this, and she presented her inec voter’s card, which clearly shows that she was born on October 10th, 1998. I informed her that I would keep this document in my possession, and I have done so since that day.
I have also seen a BBC interview Her mom granted after our marriage regarding her age. According to all verifiable records, our marriage took place six years ago, which means Regina is 27 years old today. Any suggestion that I married her at 17 is false and should not be accepted by the public.
The facts are verifiable and indisputable. Until this is done, I urge the public to approach all her claims with caution and discernment especially taking into account her current mental condition having started and abandoned her rehabilitation from illegal drug addiction.”
Hip Hop Mogul, Sean “Diddy” Combs, will stay in prison longer than expected.
According to federal inmate records, the music mogul’s release date has been moved from May 8, 2028, to June 4, 2028, PEOPLE reported.
The reason for the delay hasn’t been confirmed, but it follows reports that the Bad Boy Records founder broke several prison rules.
Just days after arriving at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey, TMZ reported that Combs was caught drinking homemade alcohol made from Fanta, sugar, and apples left to ferment for two weeks. His spokesperson denied the claim, saying Combs was committed to sobriety.
More recently, CBS News reported that Combs made a three-way phone call, which is not allowed in prison. While officials considered restricting his phone access, his representative said he did not violate any official policies.
Combs has been in custody since September 2024, when he was first arrested and held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center before being moved to Fort Dix.
Combs was sentenced in October to 50 months in prison after being convicted in July on two counts of transporting individuals to engage in pr0stitution.
Villagers in a remote Indonesian community were left in shock and disbelief when rescuers uncovered the body of a missing man inside the swollen belly of a massive python measuring nearly eight meters in length.
The tragic discovery came after an overnight search for the man, who had disappeared while walking home from his plantation.
According to local reports, the search party followed clues along a jungle path before coming across the enormous snake, whose midsection appeared unnaturally bloated.
When the villagers decided to cut open the python, they were horrified to find the body of the missing man inside, still fully clothed — a grim confirmation of their worst fears.
Witnesses described the scene as “unimaginable” and “beyond anything we’ve ever seen.”
News of the shocking event quickly spread across Indonesia and beyond, drawing global attention and reigniting discussions about the dangers posed by the region’s large reticulated pythons — among the world’s longest and most powerful snakes.
Experts say that while such cases are extremely rare, pythons have been known to prey on large animals, and in very isolated incidents, humans.
The reptiles kill by constriction, wrapping around their victim and suffocating them before swallowing their prey whole.
Wildlife specialists are now investigating how the incident occurred, suggesting that factors such as habitat encroachment and shrinking food sources may have increased the likelihood of human–python encounters.
The tragedy has left the village shaken, serving as a chilling reminder of nature’s raw power — and the thin line that sometimes separates myth from terrifying reality.
African American actress and entrepreneur Vivica A. Fox is warning women against dating rappers, including 50 Cent, saying relationships with them can bring drama and heartbreak, based on her own past experiences with the rapper.
Fox shared her advice during the Ultimate Women’s Expo in Edison, New Jersey, according to BET. When asked about following dreams and life choices, she didn’t hold back. “Don’t date 50 Cent, don’t date no d*mn rappers,” she told the audience, which reacted with laughter and applause.
She reflected on her own past, admitting it took years to laugh about her experience with 50 Cent instead of crying. “Facts!… Just so you know, it took me years to be able to laugh about it. I had to learn to laugh not to cry no more, but I did it,” Fox said.
50 Cent responded to Fox’s comments on Instagram, joking about their past. “Either way I’m a have that a** in the matrix, you know I love me some you girl, but D*mn it’s been 22 years Vivica,” he wrote, referencing their brief romance from 2003.
The two dated for a few months after meeting at the BET Awards and even attended the MTV Video Music Awards together. Their relationship ended after just three months, and they’ve had public spats over the years. Fox also appeared in 50 Cent’s 2009 music video “Do You Think About Me,” keeping their history in the spotlight.
Beyond Fox, 50 Cent continues to make waves online. He recently trolled rapper Jim Jones on Instagram, linking it to Max B’s prison release, showing his social media antics remain as lively as ever.
Popular Senegalese-American singer, Akon, has reportedly been arrested in Georgia after a bench warrant was issued for his failure to appear in court over a suspended driver’s license.
According to TMZ, the whole drama started back in September when police officers spotted a Tesla Cybertruck stranded in the middle of the road. When they approached, they found Akon behind the wheel. He reportedly told them the vehicle’s battery had died.
While helping him sort out the towing of the car, the officers discovered that Akon’s driver’s license had been suspended due to a failure to appear in court from as far back as January 2023.
The police report also revealed that an “illegal vape” was found inside the car’s center console and was seized for destruction.
Akon was issued a citation at the scene for driving with a suspended license and released.
However, things took a turn on November 7, when the singer was arrested on a bench warrant in DeKalb County. Reports say he was booked into jail and released within six hours.
The singer even posed for a mugshot — wearing a black hoodie and looking completely expressionless.
So far, Akon’s team has not released any official statement on the incident.
The Kenyan government has downplayed threats of war by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni over access to the Indian Ocean through the Port of Mombasa.
Museveni on Sunday, November 8, warned of a looming war with Kenya should the landlocked East African nations continue to be denied access to the Indian Ocean.
The Ugandan Head of State, who is eyeing his eighth consecutive term in January next year, said that Uganda was entitled to the Indian Ocean for its economic needs.
“Some of the countries have no access to the sea, not only for economic purposes but also for defence purposes. You are stuck. How do I export my products?” he questioned.
Adding, “That is why we have had endless discussions with Kenya. This one stops, another comes. The railway and the pipeline – we discuss. But that ocean belongs to me. Because it is my ocean. I am entitled to that ocean. In the future, we are going to have wars.”
However, President William Ruto’s administration has since dismissed Museveni’s controversial comments, with the government insisting that Museveni’s sentiments were taken out of context.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, November 12, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei noted that Museveni’s comments were metaphorical and should not be taken literally.
“President Yoweri Museveni was speaking metaphorically rather than to suggest that there was anything that was done in the manner in which he described it,” said Sing’Oei.
Sing’Oei maintained that the Ugandan President was well aware of the international territorial laws. “I believe very much that he has a fairly great understanding with respect to the nature of our territory,” the PS added.
Experts now say that Museveni’s recent comments could worsen Kenya’s long-standing diplomatic relations with Uganda, with some accusing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of downplaying the matter.
Kenya-Uganda relations have always been known to be strong and characterised by deep-rooted diplomatic, economic, and security ties.
Brazilian authorities have issued a stern warning to Kanye West (Ye) ahead of his scheduled performance in São Paulo on November 29, cautioning that any display of Nazi symbolism or performance of his controversial track “Heil Hitler” could land him in jail.
According to local reports, the São Paulo State Prosecutor’s Office received a complaint on Tuesday, November 11, demanding Ye’s arrest if he performs the song or promotes Nazi ideology during his show.
The complaint was filed by Councilwoman Cris Monteiro, and prosecutor Ana Beatriz Pereira de Souza Frontini issued an official ruling banning swastika T-shirts and any other Nazi imagery.
São Paulo’s Mayor also warned that police officers would be deployed at the concert to intervene immediately if Ye or anyone in attendance “makes any apology for Nazism” or attempts to justify fascist ideology.
“Anyone who makes any apology for Nazism will be arrested,” the mayor said, emphasizing Brazil’s zero-tolerance stance on hate symbols and rhetoric.
The promoters of Ye’s concert, Guilherme Cavalcante and Jean Fabrício Ramos, could also face arrest for omission if the rapper fails to comply with the order. Authorities said Ye and his team could be charged with crimes of racism and collective moral damages under Brazilian law.
Despite the controversy, tickets for the show remain on sale, although Ye’s team is reportedly struggling to secure a new venue amid the heightened scrutiny.
Ye has been on what many have called a “repentance tour” following widespread backlash for his past antisemitic remarks. Recently, he was seen praying with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, reportedly seeking forgiveness and attempting to distance himself from his previous statements.
Still, Brazilian officials have made it clear: if Ye brings Nazi references or performs “Heil Hitler,” his concert could end in handcuffs, not applause.
Sean “Diddy” Combs is working in the chapel at the Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institute in New Jersey while also enrolled in an intensive drug treatment program, according to prison documents obtained by CBS News.
The disgraced rapper was moved to the Fort Dix prison on October 30 after being sentenced to more than four years on prostitution-related charges.
Combs has now been employed as a chaplain’s assistant, which is seen to be “one of the more desirable assignments” at the Fort Dix prison, CBS News reported.
His new job includes maintaining the chaplain’s religious library, cleaning the office and assisting with record-keeping, a former prison commissioner told CBS News.
Combs’ publicist, Juda Engelmayer, said to the outlet, “He works in the chapel library, where he describes the environment as warm, respectful, and rewarding.”
Through his new role, Combs has access to a private office with air conditioning, and chaplains bring in food for religious services that they can share with him.
Chaplains can also ask their assistants to prepare a call-out list, which tells officers which inmates are allowed to leave their cells to go to programs or medical appointments. Assistants could include their “connections or friends” in the list, CBS News reported.
While doing this chapel job, Combs is also enrolled in the Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Program (RDAP) unit.
“Mr. Combs is an active participant in the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) and has taken his rehabilitation process seriously from the start,” Engelmayer said. “He is fully engaged in his work, focused on growth, and committed to positive change.”
By participating in this drug treatment program, sentences can be reduced by one year. Combs is expected to complete his federal prison sentence in May 2028 unless he gets a pardon from President Donald Trump.
Bureau of Prisons online records show that the disgraced musician’s 50-month sentence for violating the Mann Act will end on May 8, 2028, according to a report by Complex.
The release date factors in the fact that Combs has already been in jail since September 2024, including federal sentencing guidelines that state that if he meets certain qualifications, he will serve only 85% of his time, the report added.
The 55-year-old music mogul has reportedly been looking to have his sentence pardoned by Trump.
Weeks ago, the White House denied a report claiming that Trump was looking into Combs’ sentence. The response from the White House came after TMZ reported that a high-ranking White House official had informed them that Trump was “vacillating” on commuting the embattled music executive’s sentence.
Federal judge sentenced Combs to 50 months in prison on prostitution-related charges. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian also fined him $500,000 and ordered five years of supervised release at a hearing in Manhattan federal court on October 3. Combs had faced up to 20 years behind bars.
Roman Catholic bishops issued a rare rebuke of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies on Wednesday for “creating a climate of fear and anxiety” among people in need, according to a new report.
The statement was unanimously passed by the bishops during their annual conference in Baltimore, according to a report by The New York Times. It was meant to present “a united moral case” that the Catholic Church in America objects to Trump’s actions, the report adds.
“We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people,” the statement on Wednesday said. “We pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement. We pray that the Lord may guide the leaders of our nation, and we are grateful for past and present opportunities to dialogue with public and elected officials.”
The New York Times notes that the statement speaks to the united front that Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born Pope, seeks to present on immigration. Pope Leo XIV has spoken out in support of immigrants and called on U.S. bishops to do the same, according to the report.
“We are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement,” the statement adds. “We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants. We are concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack of access to pastoral care.”
Television personality and former talk show host Wendy Williams is fighting to regain control of her life and finances after more than three years under a court-ordered guardianship. According to new medical findings, a top neurologist has determined that she does not have frontotemporal dementia—the medical condition that was originally used to justify placing her under the restrictive legal arrangement.
Sources close to the case told TMZ that Wendy recently underwent a comprehensive series of neurological tests in New York City. The specialist concluded that she showed no signs of the degenerative brain disease previously cited by her court-appointed guardian. Williams’ legal team received the test results late last month, marking a major turning point in her ongoing legal and health battle.
Frontotemporal dementia is a rare and incurable brain disorder that progressively worsens over time, affecting behavior, language, and personality. However, Wendy has demonstrated what experts describe as “remarkable neurological resilience.” Since becoming sober three years ago, she has shown clear cognitive improvement, maintained public appearances, and continued to engage socially—despite being confined by her guardianship restrictions.
Wendy, who became a household name through her long-running syndicated show The Wendy Williams Show, has endured a series of personal and medical struggles in recent years. After facing public challenges with addiction and health issues, she was placed under guardianship in 2022, which transferred control of her finances and medical decisions to a court-appointed overseer. The move sparked widespread concern from fans and observers who questioned whether she was being unfairly silenced or isolated.
Her current attorney, powerhouse lawyer Joe Tacopina, plans to file court documents within the next two weeks requesting that the guardianship be terminated. If the presiding judge refuses, Tacopina intends to demand a jury trial to allow citizens to decide whether Williams should be freed from the arrangement. Sources say the legal team believes this case could set an important precedent for how celebrities and vulnerable adults are treated in conservatorships.
Despite her ongoing legal battle, Wendy has remained active in limited public settings. She recently attended the wedding of Joe Tacopina’s son, Chris, who married Emma White. Chris, who serves as the Data Analytics Manager for the Florida Panthers, is reportedly set to receive his second Stanley Cup ring. Wendy’s attendance at the event served as another sign that she is alert, socially engaged, and fighting to reclaim her independence both personally and professionally.
A newly released email from the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case files reveals that the deceased financier boasted about giving Russian government officials instructions on how to deal with President Donald Trump.
The email, reported on by Politico, was sent by Epstein to former Council of Europe Secretary General and former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland in 2018, just a month before Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for their infamous summit in Helsinki.
“I think you might suggest to putin that lavrov can get insight on talking to me,” said Epstein in the email, referring to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. Epstein then commented he had spoken with former Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin about how to deal with the U.S. president, before Churkin’s death in 2017.
“Churkin was great,” wrote Epstein. “He understood trump after our conversations. it is not complex. he must be seen to get something its that simple.”
This comes as Democrats release other new emails from the Epstein case files, including one in which Epstein told co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump was fully aware of his sex trafficking of underage girls but was “the dog that hasn’t barked” to the authorities about it. Maxwell was recently upgraded to a luxury federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, against Bureau of Prisons policy, after giving an interview to the Trump Justice Department’s second-in-command, Todd Blanche, in which she denied Trump had any involvement with Epstein’s trafficking operation.
It also comes as a bipartisan discharge petition to compel the administration to fully release all the case files looks set to acquire the last signature it needs, with the controversially long-delayed swearing in of Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ).
MAGA podcaster Megyn Kelly claimed the bombshell new Jeffrey Epstein emails released Wednesday “sound bad” and admits they don’t bode well for President Donald Trump.
The three emails, released by House Democrats, referred to Trump as the “dog who hasn’t barked” and said Trump “spent hours” with a victim at Epstein’s home. Kelly argued that the president should have released the emails himself, The Daily Beast reports.
“I concede that they sound bad. They don’t sound good. If I were a Democrat, I could easily make some hay with these, which they will,” Kelly said on The Megyn Kelly Show.
She pointed to the optics of Trump not coming forward with the information to begin with.
“Why didn’t he just release these? Just release them! Now he’s in a position of being singled out as the only one, allegedly, as opposed to one of a slew of names,” she said.
Kelly also criticized the Republican response to the news after the GOP Oversight Committee tried to shift the blame to Democrats for hiding Virginia Giuffre’s name under a redaction, saying she did not accuse Trump of any wrongdoing before she died in April.
Trump has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
Jake Paul has been warned that he would be risking his life if he gets into the ring with Anthony Joshua.
Brit boxing legend David Haye, 45, said that he ‘genuinely fears’ for the YouTuber, 28, if the rumoured transatlantic boxing clash goes ahead.
The former I’m A Celeb star has compared pitting Paul against the two-time world heavyweight champion to sending a ‘house cat’ into battle with ‘a lion’.
He shared his thoughts on the potential showdown between the social media star and Joshua, 36, after reports emerged suggesting a December bout is in the pipeline.
Paul was supposed to be fighting pro boxer Gervonta Davis tomorrow (14 November), but it was scrapped after damning allegations were made against his opponent in a shock lawsuit.
He has been looking for a new opponent since last week – and apparently, Joshua is stepping up to the plate.
According to The Ring reporter Mike Coppinger, Paul and the Olympic gold medalist are ‘finalising a deal’ for a heavyweight fight which will be streamed on Netflix.
In a post on X, he claimed that sources said the duo will face off in Miami next month, although an exact date has yet to be announced.
Promoter Eddie Hearn also appeared to tease the fight while discussing Joshua’s plans for his return to the ring, as the boxing star has not fought since September last year when he was defeated by Daniel Dubois.
“We will make a decision this week in terms of if he will fight this year,” he said on Tuesday (11 November). “We have to decide by this weekend basically.
“If he fights this year, it’s just gonna be a… You probably won’t even hear about it, unless it’s Jake Paul.
“Again, we’ll make that decision this week, but – outside of Jake Paul – if he fought this year, you really wouldn’t know about it.”
Paul – who has previously fought the likes of Mike Tyson and Tommy Fury – boasts an impressive win rate of 12 out of 13 fights.
Joshua, meanwhile, has triumphed in the ring 28 times and has only four losses out of 32 fights.
And in the eyes of Haye, the December bout would be downright dangerous for Paul to take part in.
“If this fight comes to fruition, I genuinely fear for Jake Paul’s life,” he told The Sun on behalf of Highbet.
“If by some miracle he were to pull off an upset, it would be bigger than Mike Tyson’s defeat against Buster Douglas.
“In boxing pedigree terms, this is like a lion vs. a house cat. Two completely different propositions.”
The former WBA heavyweight champion said his money is firmly on Joshua, while explaining he expects some protections could be put in place for Paul.
“I am struggling to believe that AJ will be allowed to freely punch Paul to the head without some sort of restriction or exhibition,” Haye added.
“Unless Anthony Joshua is in hospital, connected to a life support machine, he should find a way to victory in any way he wants.
“Paul has only 12 career wins to his name, against very modest competition. AJ is an Olympic gold medallist and two-time heavyweight champion of the world – this is absolutely crazy.”
rolific sex offender and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein appears to claim Donald Trump ‘knew about the girls,’ in a series of shocking private emails that have just been released.
The US president has been named in the alleged correspondence between Epstein, who took his own life in 2019, and his partner and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her involvement in his sex trafficking ring.
The emails, which date as far back as 2011, appear to show the sex offender telling Maxwell that Trump had ‘spent hours’ with a victim, whose name has been redacted in the emails.
Epstein allegedly wrote: “i want you to realise that that dog that hasn’t barked is trump…[VICTIM] spent hours at my hours with him…he has never once been mentioned.”
In 2019, Epstein allegedly wrote to author Michael Wolff: “Trump said he asked me to resign, never a member ever…of course he knew about the girls as he asked ghislaine to stop.”
Trump has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes while the pair were friends, and the new emails do not prove any wrongdoing.
In 2015, Epstein and Wolff appeared to discuss Trump’s presidential campaign, in which Wolff encouraged the predator to let the future president ‘hang himself.’
“I think you should let him hang himself. If he says he hasn’t been on the plane or to the house, then that gives you a valuable PR and political currency,” the email read.
“You can hang him in a way that potentially generates a positive benefit for you, or, if it really looks like he could win, you could save him, generating a debt.
“Of course, it is possible that, when asked, he’ll say Jeffrey is a great guy and has gotten a raw deal and is a victim of political correctness, which is to be outlawed in a Trump regime.”
The private emails have been released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, who shared excerpts of the files on X.
“Oversight Dems have received new emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate that raise serious questions about Donald Trump and his knowledge of Epstein’s horrific crimes,” they wrote.
“Read them for yourself. It’s time to end this cover-up and RELEASE THE FILES.”
LADbible has approached the White House for comment.
While Trump has always denied any involvement in Epstein’s sex trafficking ring, he did claim to have had a falling out with him after he allegedly ‘stole’ young women working at his Mar-a-Lago spa too many times, including Virginia Giuffre, who took her own life earlier this year.
Trump previously said he supported the release of more government files relating to Epstein. While additional documents have been shared since he took office for his second term, the FBI and US Justice Department have said Epstein’s widely-rumoured ‘client list’ doesn’t exist.
Ever since, the Trump administration has been accused of ‘covering up’ the Epstein files.
Senegalese-American singer and entrepreneur Akon has sparked global debate after claiming that Nigeria could have become one of the most powerful nations on earth if it had managed to retain full control of its oil revenues since gaining independence in 1960.
In an Instagram post that quickly went viral, Akon reflected on the untapped potential of Africa’s most populous nation, imagining a world where Nigeria’s immense oil wealth remained entirely in the hands of its people.
He suggested that in such an alternate reality, Lagos would have evolved into a global financial center rivaling London and New York, while Nigerian universities would have become world leaders in science, innovation, and technology.
Akon further noted that Nollywood — already Africa’s largest film industry — could have surpassed Hollywood in global influence, making Nigeria a beacon of cultural and economic strength for the continent.
The artist lamented the historical exploitation of Africa’s natural resources by foreign powers, saying the continent has paid a heavy price for allowing outsiders to dictate its economic path.
He stressed that while the past cannot be undone, Africa still has the chance to reclaim control over its resources, build stronger institutions, and shape its own destiny.
“Africa doesn’t need aid,” Akon wrote. “What it needs is ownership — of its land, its energy, its talent, and its future.”
His comments have reignited discussions on resource sovereignty, governance, and economic independence in Africa — themes that continue to shape debates about the continent’s role in the global economy.
More than three decades after the Siege of Sarajevo, Italian prosecutors have launched an investigation into a shocking war crime allegation that wealthy Italian tourists paid large sums of money to participate in so-called “human safaris,” where they allegedly shot at civilians trapped in the besieged Bosnian capital.
According to court documents from Milan, the suspects, some with known connections to far-right circles, are accused of paying around £70,000 each to the Bosnian Serb army for weekend “hunting trips” during the 1990s conflict. Prosecutors say the men travelled from Italy to Sarajevo, where they took up sniper positions on rooftops overlooking the city and opened fire on innocent residents below.
Disturbingly, investigators allege the participants could pay an additional fee if they wanted to target children.
At the height of the siege, the gunfire and shelling were so relentless that two of the city’s main roads, Ulica Zmaja od Bosne and Meša Selimović Boulevard, became known as “Sniper Alley.” Residents risked their lives daily, sprinting across open streets to find food or water as marksmen shot from surrounding hills.
Milan-based journalist Ezio Gavazzeni described the accused as “wealthy men, businessmen with reputations, who during the siege paid to kill unarmed civilians.” He added, “They left Trieste for a manhunt and then returned to their respectable daily lives.”
Authorities in Bosnia and Italy believe more than 100 individuals may have taken part in these sniper “tours.” Some could soon be called to testify as the investigation widens. Bosnian intelligence sources are also reported to have gathered evidence placing Italian nationals in sniper positions around Sarajevo during the war.
The Bosnian consul in Milan, Dag Dumrukcic, said his government was committed to uncovering the truth. “We are eager to settle accounts with the past. I am aware of information that I will contribute to the investigation,” he stated.
During the four-year siege, which lasted from 1992 to 1996, Sarajevo’s water, gas, and electricity supplies were cut off, forcing residents to live in desperate conditions under constant bombardment. The conflict became one of the darkest chapters of the Bosnian War.
Former Bosnian Serb leaders Radovan Karadzic and Stanislav Galic were later convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity for their roles in orchestrating the siege. Both men received life sentences, Karadzic is serving his term in the United Kingdom, while Galic is imprisoned in Germany.
By the time the siege ended in 1995, an estimated 13,952 people had been killed, including 5,434 civilians. The Milan inquiry, prosecutors say, aims to bring long-delayed justice to victims of one of Europe’s most haunting modern atrocities.
Gospel legend Kirk Franklin is speaking from the heart, and this time, he’s tackling something bigger than music—love, acceptance, and breaking the stigma around sexuality.
In a candid conversation, Kirk opened up about his son Kerrion and made it clear he has never had a problem with his son’s bisexuality. “I’ve never understood homophobia,” he said. “I am a lover of every human. I love people. I love people. That’s always been me.”
He explained that being a parent isn’t about agreeing with every choice your child makes—it’s about unconditional love. “I told my son, there will never be any situation in your life that I will ever, ever stop loving you. I will love who you love, and I will stand where you stand. At the end of the day, that’s my son and ain’t nobody gonna take my son away from me.”
Kirk also reflected on how society often tries to put Christian leaders in boxes, expecting them to be perfect. But he says he has never let the cloth determine his humanity. “Just because I’m a Christian singer doesn’t mean I’m not human,” he said. “I’ve always allowed myself to be seen as human, and that’s how I want to be with my family and my son.”
The gospel star went on to speak against the judgmental culture many still hold toward the LGBTQ+ community. “If homosexuality is a sin, then adultery is a sin. Fornication is a sin. Divorce is a sin. None of them are bigger than the other. I’ve never understood why we single out some people for judgment. We all need grace.”
Even more, Kirk reflected on his own experiences growing up, when his sexuality was questioned in middle and high school because of his love for fashion and the arts. Yet, he always stayed true to himself while remaining compassionate toward others.
“I’ve always been loving and compassionate to people. That’s who I am,” he said.
During an appearance on the Tuesday episode of the Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim podcast, singer Miguel opened up about doing drugs with his father and why his dad tabled that offer to him.
Per Complex, Miguel, 40, said that though his father initially told him that they could try it together, he waited until adulthood before giving drugs a shot. He also provided some context on why his dad had told him that they could do drugs together.
“This is the coolest sh*t about my dad. My dad was like, ‘Now son, if you ever do decide to do drugs, do them with me,’” the How Many Drinks? singer recalled. “He was like, ‘Because then you’ll be safe and I can make sure you’re okay. I’ll tell you everything you want to know about what it may make you feel and how it may make you feel.”
“‘But at least I’ll be able to see if anything goes wrong, I’ll see you through,’” he also told Nwodim. “’And I got you. You could you can you can trust you’re in safe hands.’”
Despite the offer from his dad, the 40-year-old disclosed that it never actually happened, though they ultimately did that later.
“And honestly, I would say it’s so much more fun to do anything like your drugs, drinking, whatever, with family,” Miguel said.
The singer, in a different appearance on The Bootleg Kev Podcast, touched on consuming magic mushrooms, saying that it has taken him on psychedelic trips that are “mostly good,” Complex reported.
“The best ones are always outside, though,” he stated. “Either by water or in the forest kind of vibe. Maybe not in the forest, but like the sky is out. You know what I mean? Like you’re looking at the trees, you’re like, ‘Wow, we really are one.’”
A legal expert said on Wednesday that the latest batch of documents from disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein is “explosive” and seems to implicate President Donald Trump’s deputy attorney general in a massive “cover-up.”
On Wednesday, emails were released that directly contradict statements Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, made to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in a taped interview designed to exonerate Trump. The emails show Trump had knowledge of Epstein’s activities, and directly contradicted Maxwell’s claim that she never saw Trump at Epstein’s house.
Ryan Goodman, a law professor and co-editor-in-chief of Just Security, discussed the documents on CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront.”
“These are explosive,” Goodman said.
He also argued that Blanche had to know about the emails and was working to cover them up when he interviewed Maxwell. Goodman noted that Blanche never pushed back on Maxwell’s assertion that she never saw Trump at Epstein’s house.
“So he would go in there knowing that this would come out; he would have this in his mind,” Goodman said. “And then to not press back on her to say, ‘What do you mean you never saw him at the house?’ You have an email exchange referring to him spending hours at the house with one of the victims. That, to me, smacks of a bit of a cover-up on the part of the Deputy Attorney General of the United States.”
“I don’t have a better explanation for it,” he added. “I’d like a better explanation for it, but what he’s doing in that interview is extraordinary. Now that we know what’s actually part of the record.
President Arthur Peter Mutharika Government on Wednesday officially launched of the 2025/2026 Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) in Mchinji District, fulfilling a key promise he made during the opening of the 52nd Session of Parliament on October 31, 2025.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, President Mutharika expressed satisfaction that his administration had successfully implemented one of its major policy commitments aimed at improving agricultural productivity and food security.
The President reminded Malawians that during his parliamentary address, he had pledged that the FISP would return this farming season, targeting 1.1 million households across the country.
Each beneficiary household, he said, would receive two 50kg bags of fertilizer at a subsidized price of K10,000 per bag, along with a 5kg pack of seed of their choice.
The President emphasized that the reintroduction of FISP was part of his broader vision to revitalize Malawi’s agriculture sector, enhance national food security, and stimulate rural economic growth.
“I am excited that today, my Government has fulfilled that promise by officially launching the 2025/2026 Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme in Mchinji District,” he wrote.
He said the program was designed to boost production, empower smallholder farmers, and ensure prosperity for all Malawians.
President Mutharika reaffirmed his commitment to honesty and accountability in leadership, stating that he will only make promises that his administration is capable of delivering.
“As your President, I will deliver on my promises, and I will only promise that which I can deliver,” he declared.
The FISP launch event, held at Kankhande Primary School grounds in Traditional Authority Mavwere, drew farmers, traditional leaders, and government officials who welcomed the program as a timely intervention ahead of the rainy season.
The President’s message underscores his government’s focus on agriculture as the backbone of Malawi’s economy, with policies aimed at transforming the sector into a driver of sustainable development.
The FISP, which has previously benefited millions of rural households, remains one of the country’s most impactful social and economic interventions, though it has faced challenges in implementation and targeting in past years.
President Mutharika’s decision to reintroduce the program signals his administration’s intent to restore public confidence in government-driven agricultural initiatives and address persistent food insecurity affecting many rural communities.
Observers note that the reintroduction of FISP could also stabilize maize production and prices, ensuring that the country avoids recurring hunger crises.
The program is expected to have a ripple effect across the economy by supporting agribusinesses, reducing poverty, and improving livelihoods for millions of Malawians.
With the official launch now complete, distribution of the inputs is set to begin immediately across all regions, ensuring that farmers access fertilizer and seed in time for the planting season.
As the nation prepares for another agricultural cycle, President Mutharika’s commitment to “Sustaining a People-Centered Government” reflects his administration’s resolve to keep citizens at the heart of national development.
The successful rollout of FISP, according to analysts, will serve as a major test of the Mutharika government’s ability to deliver tangible results and strengthen Malawi’s long-term path toward food self-sufficiency.
President Donald Trump appears to be trying to keep the GOP from breaking after Democrats leaked emails from disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein showing new ties between him and the president, according to one analyst.
Investigative political journalist Tara Palmeri argued on Tuesday during an interview on “Piers Morgan Uncensored” that the leaked emails will “make it impossible” for the GOP to continue hiding the files. She added that there are signs that Republicans are starting to break from Trump on the issue.
The emails mention Trump by name, and also describe him as “the dog that hasn’t barked,” a phrase that some have interpreted to mean Trump knew about Epstein’s crimes and remained silent.
“The pressure is going to be more intense on them now,” Palmeri said. “I can only imagine the whip count, but I just don’t know how they take this vote, especially as these emails come out.”
Reports indicate that the White House has already started pressuring House lawmakers to withdraw their support for the petition to release the Epstein files. One lawmaker the White House has contacted is Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), who said after speaking with Trump officials that she is “convinced” there is a cover-up happening.
“It was strategic. Democrats knew what they were doing by waiting and holding on to these emails and making it so that it would become so impossible for this party to stand behind the president on this one,” Palmeri added. “I just don’t think it’s sustainable that the White House maintains a position having taken everybody up the Hill, saying, ‘We’re going to release them. We’re going to be transparent. We’re going to get accountability for the victims,’ and so on, to suddenly put the shutters down and to try and maintain that position.”
‘I think it is politically unsustainable, and I think that with a lot of people breaking ranks, we know from the MAGA crowd how enraged they are about this,” Palmeri said. “Trump has to be very careful, I think.”
Donald Trump has responded to emails which allege that he knew about some of Jeffrey Epstein’s illegal dealings.
Epstein, a prolific sex offender and paedophile, seemed to claim in exchanges with partner and accomplice Ghislane Maxwell that the president ‘knew about the girls’.
Trump has been named in the supposed correspondence between the financier, who took his own life while awaiting trial for his crimes in 2019, and Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her involvement in his sex trafficking ring.
The emails, which were released on social media by Democrats from the Oversight Committee earlier today (12 November), go back as far as 2011, where Epstein can be seen claiming that Trump had ‘spent hours’ with a victim, whose name was redacted.
Allegedly, Epstein wrote: “I want you to realise that that dog that hasn’t barked is Trump… [VICTIM] spent hours at my hours with him… he has never once been mentioned.”
Included in the leaked emails was an exchange from 2019, where Epstein allegedly wrote to author Michael Wolff: “Trump said he asked me to resign, never a member ever… of course he knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop.”
Trump has now taken to Truth Social to respond to the emails, writing: “The Democrats are trying to bring up the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax again because they’ll do anything at all to deflect on how badly they’ve done on the Shutdown, and so many other subjects. Only a very bad, or stupid, Republican would fall into that trap.
“The Democrats cost our Country $1.5 Trillion Dollars with their recent antics of viciously closing our Country, while at the same time putting many at risk — and they should pay a fair price.
“There should be no deflections to Epstein or anything else, and any Republicans involved should be focused only on opening up our Country, and fixing the massive damage caused by the Democrats!”
The White House has also responded to these claims, labelling them as ‘selectively leaked’ emails which were orchestrated by the ‘liberal media’ in an attempt to ‘create a fake narrative to smear President Trump’.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt continued: “The ‘unnamed victim’ referenced in these emails is the late Virginia Giuffre, who repeatedly said President Trump was not involved in any wrongdoing whatsoever and ‘couldn’t have been friendlier’ to her in their limited interactions.
“The fact remains that President Trump kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his club decades ago for being a creep to his female employees, including Giuffre.
“These stories are nothing more than bad-faith efforts to distract from President Trump’s historic accomplishments, and any American with common sense sees right through this hoax and clear distraction from the government opening back up again.”
It’s worth noting that the name of the victim was redacted in the emails released by Democrats.
Trump has consistently denied any involvement in Epstein’s sex trafficking ring and previously supported the release of government files linked to the disgraced financier.
But while more documents have been shared during the 79-year-old’s second term in office, the FBI and US Justice Department claimed that Epstein’s alleged ‘client list’ doesn’t exist.
In a post on X, Democrats from the Oversight Committee urged that ‘it’s time to end this cover-up and RELEASE THE FILES’.
Italian prosecutors are investigating alleged cases of ‘sniper tourists’ who are said to have paid tens of thousands to shoot civilians ‘for fun’.
The harrowing claims have been made by prosecutors in Milan after journalist Ezio Gavazzeni filed a complaint which claimed that wealthy individuals took advantage of the civil war in Bosnia and shot civilians in the Balkan nation’s capital, Sarajevo, while it was under siege.
According to details released to Italian media, the case is investigating claims that Italian citizens were part of these groups who were taken to the mountains outside of Sarajevo by Bosnian Serb militias.
Fees would allegedly vary depending on whether a tourist shot men, women or children, however, these ‘human hunters’ are said to have paid as much as £70,000 ($90,000) for the trip.
What happened in Sarajevo during the 1990s? Following the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992, the nations of Croatia, Yugoslavia (later Serbia and Montenegro), Slovenia, Macedonia and Bosnia were formed.
However, the collapse would lead to numerous armed conflicts, particularly in the multi-ethnic nation of Bosnia (full name Bosnia and Herzegovina). The Bosnian war would last between 1992 and 1995 as Bosnian Serbs fought against Bosnian Croats and Muslim Bosniaks on primarily ethnic and religious grounds.
The conflict would see numerous atrocities, including mass rape and ethnic cleansing, with notable events being the siege of Sarajevo and the 1995 Srebrenica genocide.
Figures from the United States Holocaust Museum estimate that around 100,000 died during the conflict.
What are the latest developments? The latest developments involve the capital city, where over 11,000 people died during a four-year siege.
Sarajevo’s main boulevard, dubbed ‘Sniper Alley’, became one of the bloodiest places during the siege, as Serbian snipers would shoot at the street from their posts.
According to the investigation led by Gavazzeni, ‘many, many, many Italians’ are believed to have travelled from the Italian city of Trieste to Sarajevo as well as ‘Germans, French, English’ nationals.
“People from all western countries who paid large sums of money to be taken there to shoot civilians,” Gavazzeni said of the case (via The Guardian).
“There were no political or religious motivations. They were rich people who went there for fun and personal satisfaction. We are talking about people who love guns who perhaps go to shooting ranges or on safari in Africa,” he added.
Gavazenni claimed that he’d also identified several Italian nationals who allegedly travelled to Sarajevo during this period and are set to be questioned by prosecutors.
They face charges of voluntary murder.
“There was a traffic of war tourists who went to there to shoot people. I call it an indifference towards evil,” Gavazenni added.
-Algeria are quietly preparing one of their most ambitious recruitment drives in recent years, with the country’s football federation reportedly targeting PSG youngster Ethan Mbappé for a surprise national team switch once the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations wraps up.
The Football Association of Algeria, officials are mapping out a long term strategy to convince the 17-year-old midfielder to follow his roots and wear the green and white.
The approach is expected to lean heavily on family influence, particularly the role of his mother, Fayza Lamari, who has deep Algerian heritage and has been instrumental in guiding both Ethan and his older brother, Kylian, throughout their careers.
Algeria FA officials believe Lamari’s bond with Algeria could unlock a rare opportunity to secure one of the most promising talents emerging from France’s football system.
His voice has been central to major decisions in the Mbappé household, including contract renewals, sponsorship deals and career transitions.
What is making Algeria optimistic is the brutal competition within the French national team setup.
With Les Bleus stacked with elite midfielders and attacking prospects, breaking into the senior squad could take Ethan years, even if his development continues on its current upward trajectory.
That reality has reportedly left the door slightly open for a second national identity a scenario Algeria are eager to explore.
The timing of the move is no Algeria FA insiders say they want to create a fresh identity for the national team after AFCON 2025, where the Desert Foxes are under pressure to rebuild following recent struggles in major tournaments.
Adding a high-profile, internationally recognized young star would boost both the team’s sporting ambitions and the federation’s global profile.
Algeria has attempted similar switches before, targeting players with dual nationality to blend diaspora talent with local development. Some efforts succeeded, others collapsed under the weight of pressure from France or club influence.
Securing an Mbappé, however, would be a level of recruitment the country has never achieved.
Senator Ned Nwoko’s 5th wife has taken to instagram to call out junior wife, Regina Daniels, following the outpouring of the marriage crisis between Ned and Regina.
Recall that in a recent public dispute, the Nollywood actress claimed to have given her co-wife, Laila Charani, money, specifically alleging she was “feeding” Laila in their matrimonial home.
Countering the claim, Laila said she never got money from Regina, adding that both of them should show Nigerians their bank accounts to ‘see who is paying money to their accounts.’
Laila also said the only reason Regina is fighting their husband is because he wants the actress to stop her alleged “drug and alcohol addiction.” According to Laila, Ned has always been clear that he would never accept any wife who drinks, smokes or uses drugs as he completely hates such habits.
Laila also claimed the actress introduced her to drugs six years ago which made her almost lose her marriage to Ned. She claimed Regina introduced her nannies, their workers and her younger sister, Destiny, to drugs. She further stated that’sshe will never trust her daughters around Regina unsupervised because she found out Regina “sleeps with every single girl around her.”
She then advised Regina to seek help immediately, continue with her rehabilitation and leave the other wives out of it.
Andrew Windsor allegedly begged Ghislaine Maxwell to cover for him after questions over his alleged s£x party with then 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre emerged, according to a raft of new emails involving Jeffrey Epstein.
Under his email header, The Duke, Andrew Windsor, appears to respond to Ghislaine’s request for comment: “Hey there!
“What’s all this? I don’t know anything about this! You must SAY so please. This has NOTHING to do with me.
“I can’t take any more of this.”
Virginia Giuffre alleged she was forced to have s£x with Andrew, the son of the late Queen Elizabeth, three times – once at Maxwell’s home in London, once at Epstein’s address in Manhattan, and once on the disgraced financier’s private island, Little St James.
After Andrew asked Epstein how he planned to respond to a press inquiry, Epstein can be seen responding: “Im not sure how to respond, the only person she didn’t have s£x with was Elvis.”
The documents show Maxwell was forwarded a press inquiry from the Mail On Sunday on March 4 2011.
After the email was forwarded from Maxwell to Epstein, and then from Epstein to somebody listed as “The Duke” on the same day, Andrew appears to respond: “What? I don’t know any of this. How are you responding?”
Epstein responds: “Just got it two minutes ago. I’ve asked g (sic) lawyers to send a letter. Not sure… it’s so salcisous (sic) and ridiculous, im (sic) not sure how to respond, the only person she didn’t have s£x with was Elvis.”
Andrew then appears to reply to Epstein, saying: “Please make sure that every statement or legal letter states clearly that I am NOT involved and that I knew and know NOTHING about any of these allegations. I can’t take any more of this my end.”
In a further email to a journalist, Epstein adds: “The girl who accused Prince Andrew can also easily be proven to be a liar.
“I think Buckingham Palace would love it. You should task someone to investigate the girl Virginia Roberts, that has caused the Queen’s son all this agro (sic).
“I promise you she is a fraud. You and I will be able to go to ascot (sic) for the rest of our lives.”
The emails also claim that the US President Donald Trump allegedly “spent hours” at the billionaire’s mansion with a victim of s£x trafficking, who the White House has named as Virginia Giuffre.
In a statement, US House Democrats explained they are reviewing 23,000 documents released by Epstein’s estate as they posted several on X on Wednesday.
If you’re planning on setting up a new life in the United States, you’d better make sure you don’t pile on too many pounds over Christmas.
That’s because obese foreigners could have their visa applications rejected due to the number that shows up when they step on the scales.
Bizarrely, the US State Department have reportedly declared that being overweight could be grounds for your entry into the country being denied. Those who suffer from a host of other health issues, such as cancer, diabetes, metabolic diseases and even mental health conditions, are also reportedly in the firing line.
According to the State Department’s principal deputy spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, it is a result of the US President ‘putting the interests of the American people first’.
“This includes enforcing policies that ensure our immigration system is not a burden on the American taxpayer,” he told Fox News.
The commander-in-chief has been tightening up rules surrounding immigration since returning to the White House in January.
A memo was sent to embassies around the world instructing visa officers to consider the well-being of individuals applying for a visa, as health is now a major factor in the approval process.
According to KFF Health News, the memo to visa officers stated: “You must consider an applicant’s health.
“Certain medical conditions – including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health conditions – can require hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of care.”
The memo then went on to reference other conditions which officials should keep in mind when reviewing an individual’s visa application, such as obesity.
It noted that having a large amount of excess body fat can cause asthma, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure, and Donald Trump’s administration has made it clear they won’t be footing the bill for foreigners.
“All of these can require expensive, long-term care,” the memo adds, explaining that this can cost ‘hundreds of thousands of dollars’.
Visa officers have now also reportedly been tasked with finding out if applicants can stump up the costs for medical treatment without government assistance.
One such question, which is said to have been included in the memo, states: “Does the applicant have adequate financial resources to cover the costs of such care over his entire expected lifespan without seeking public cash assistance or long-term institutionalisation at government expense?”
These new guidelines are supposedly going to apply to pretty much all visa applications, but lawyer Charles Wheeler reckons it will particularly impact those trying to secure permanent residency in the US.
The legal eagle, who works for the non-profit Catholic Legal Immigration Network, claimed that the update to the visa application process somewhat contradicts the State Department’s own handbook, the Foreign Affairs Manual.
This states that visa officers can’t decline applicants based on ‘what if’ scenarios, whereas Wheeler explained they are now being told to use ‘their own thoughts about what could lead to some sort of medical emergency or sort of medical costs in the future’.
“That’s troubling – they’re not medically trained, they have no experience in this area, and they shouldn’t be making projections based on their own personal knowledge or bias,” he told KFF Health News.
The health status of an applicant’s family members, such as their children or elderly parents, should also be considered by visa officers, the memo reportedly states.
Police Pick Spax, Kazala linking them to the Group that Stoned President Hichilema
Police have picked renowned Chingola based businessman, Kabaso Mulenga popularly known Spax.linking him to the group that went riotous on Saturday, 8th November 2025..
Mulenga is the owner of Spax Mining Ltd, a mining company based in Chingola.
Others detained include former Deputy Minister of Sports and former Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Vice President, Richard Kazala.
Spax is detained at Chingola Police Station.
This is part of crackdown that resulted from President Hakainde Hichilema’s public rally where he was booed, stoned and chased from Chiwempala township in Chingola.
Earlier the Police also picked Alex Mwale the assistant pastor at Pentecostal Church of Christ in Chingola led by Bishop Joseph Kazhila.
So far, 27 suspects have been apprehended for allegedly participating in the riots, acts of arson and the destruction of public property in Chingola.
This was disclosed by Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Jack Mwiimbu who visited Chingola and conducted on site inspections of the gutted market.
PF LEADERSHIP RACE: MUNDUBILE AND MAKEBI EMERGE AS FRONT-RUNNERS
As the race for the Patriotic Front (PF) Presidency intensifies, two prominent figures; Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu, have emerged as the clear front-runners. Both men enjoy substantial followings within the party, setting the stage for what promises to be a tightly contested leadership battle. The key question, however, remains: who holds the upper hand?
Our analysis places Brian Mundubile slightly ahead in the race, largely due to the significant support he enjoys from a majority of PF Members of Parliament. These MPs, by virtue of their influence, are likely to sway the party’s electoral college ahead of the much-anticipated convention. Mundubile’s extensive engagement with PF structures across the country has allowed him to build a strong grassroots presence. His interpersonal skills and ability to connect with party members were also evident in his successful bid to retain his parliamentary seat, a testament to his political acumen and leadership appeal.
However, his candidacy is not without controversy. Questions linger over alleged benefits he received from government contracts during his tenure as Minister for the Northern Province, an issue that could prove politically costly if it gains traction.
In contrast, Makebi Zulu, a distinguished lawyer and outspoken politician, draws his strength from the PF’s general membership, particularly from ordinary party followers outside formal structures. His legal career has earned him national recognition, but it has also attracted criticism. Some within the party question his moral standing, pointing to his legal representation of controversial figures, including Shadreck Kasanda, who allegedly handed him $5 million linked to the KKIA gold scandal.
https://youtu.be/FaB-pOIYam0?si=y45vK2CwN6UvQJ7a
Zulu’s critics further accuse him of political opportunism, alleging that he is leveraging the legacy, and even the body—of the late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu (ECL) for personal political gain. Analysts argue that his apparent prioritization of political ambition over the dignified burial of ECL could alienate some loyal PF supporters.
With both candidates exhibiting distinct strengths and notable vulnerabilities, observers suggest that the PF may ultimately find balance by pairing them on a joint ticket, one as president, the other as running mate.
Whatever the outcome, the PF’s upcoming convention promises to be a defining moment in the party’s quest to reclaim its political relevance ahead of the 2026 general elections.
DID ECL ANOINT MAKEBI ZULU OR IS IT BLACKMAIL FOR LEGAL SERVICES?
Long before Makebi Zulu publicly declared his intention to contest the Patriotic Front (PF) Presidency, Ilelanga News reported that those close to him shared that he had already set his sights on the party’s top position. According to family sources, Zulu confided in relatives about his ambition and had been quietly working to win the endorsement of the late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu before his passing.
Fresh revelations from insiders who recently returned from South Africa indicate that Zulu’s political strategy intensified after Lungu’s death. Aware of the stiff competition within the PF, Zulu is said to have concluded that his best chance of success lay in securing what could be seen as a posthumous endorsement from the former Head of State.
To strengthen his position, Zulu sought to build close relationships with influential figures within Lungu’s inner circle, including former Mines Minister and PF Member of the Central Committee Richard Musukwa, as well as Archbishop Dr. Alick Banda, who himself has faced questions and caution from the Vatican, over conducting mass for the late Edgar Chagwa Lungu, who was a non-Catholic.
Observers note that Zulu’s recent meeting with Bishop Banda shortly after returning to Zambia from South Africa was not a coincidence. Sources have said that the clergyman has advised Zulu to link his campaign narrative to Lungu’s legacy, even suggesting that “the body of ECL will only rest once Makebi becomes President.”
https://youtu.be/FaB-pOIYam0?si=y45vK2CwN6UvQJ7a
However, this strategy has not sat well with some PF members, who are angered by what they describe as Zulu’s exploitation of Lungu’s death for political gain. Questions are now emerging over whether Zulu genuinely earned the support of former First Lady Esther Lungu, or if he may have used his past legal services to blackmail, exert pressure, or influence.
Critics within the PF accuse Zulu of arrogance, claiming he sees himself as more intelligent and capable than all other contenders combined. Despite the growing resentment, Zulu appears confident that his calculated moves will ultimately pay off and that both PF members and the Zambian public will rally behind him.
As the PF succession battle intensifies, only time will tell whether Zulu’s strategy is rooted in genuine loyalty to Lungu’s legacy or in political manipulation disguised as devotion.
