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Any Tonse meeting notification that doesn’t come from Nakacinda is null and void – Lubinda

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Any Tonse meeting notification that doesn’t come from Nakacinda is null and void – Lubinda

Any Tonse meeting notification that doesn’t come from Nakacinda is null and void – Lubinda



TONSE Alliance member Given Lubinda has dismissed any communication regarding the alliance meetings that do not originate from alliance Secretary General Raphael Nakacinda, saying such notices carry no official weight. ok



Lubinda said anything outside that channel is null and void.

In an interview with #Kalemba, Lubinda declared that Tembo is no longer official spokesperson of the alliance and has no authority to issue statements on  behalf of the alliance.



He clarified that the role of Tonse spokesperson has been reassigned to Nakacinda, who will now serve as the sole official voice for the alliance.



“Any notification for a meeting that doesn’t come from Nakacinda should be considered null, void, and dull,” Lubinda emphasised.



Lubinda reiterated the need for unity and order within the alliance, stressing that clear lines of authority and communication are essential moving forward.



He added that the alliance will not entertain parallel voices…https://kalemba.news/politics/any-tonse-meeting-notification-that-doesnt-come-from-nakacinda-is-null-and-void-lubinda/

By Sharon Zulu

Kalemba September 26, 2025

ZAMBIA WILL NOT REPEAT MALAWI’S ELECTORAL PRECEDENT IN 2026- MIYANDA

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ZAMBIA WILL NOT REPEAT MALAWI’S ELECTORAL PRECEDENT IN 2026- MIYANDA

ZAMBIA WILL NOT REPEAT MALAWI’S ELECTORAL PRECEDENT IN 2026- MIYANDA



By’: Thomas Afroman Mwale

A governance activist has dismissed suggestions that Zambians could emulate Malawi’s electoral precedent by voting a former ruling party back into office in 2026.



Malawi recently re-elected its Fifth Republican President, Peter Mutharika, in a tightly contested poll.



In an interview with Sun FM TV News, Wesly Miyanda argued that Zambia does not face a leadership crisis warranting the return of previous regimes.



Mr. Miyanda noted that Malawi’s political context differs significantly from Zambia’s, which has recorded notable economic progress.



He further observed that Zambians have historically opted for new leadership rather than reinstating former ruling parties, and cautioned political actors against adopting Malawi’s model for campaign strategies.
#SunFmTvNews

Tonse Alliance Constitution Under Siege

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Tonse Alliance Constitution Under Siege

⬆️ BUILD-UP | Tonse Alliance Constitution Under Siege

Sean Tembo, President of PeP and Tonse spokesperson, has now pulled out the Alliance constitution as his shield, arguing that the September 30 meeting called by Dr. Chris Zumani is both legal and binding.



Tembo’s argument is significant. By citing Article 15 of the Alliance Constitution, he makes the case that Zumani, as founding National Coordinator, has the authority to convene meetings and issue notices. This directly undercuts Raphael Nakacinda’s claim that the planned gathering is irregular. In Tembo’s reading, Nakacinda’s title as “Secretary General” does not even exist in the founding document. That line is not only legal but also political dynamite: it strips PF’s claim to control Tonse down to naked ambition.



The underlying battle is one of control. PF leaders insist that because Lungu was the Alliance’s adopted presidential candidate, the next leader must emerge from their ranks. Tembo and Zumani, however, are pushing a broader vision that Tonse must evolve beyond PF’s shadow if it is to survive. What is emerging is a tug of war between those who want Tonse as a PF vehicle, and those who want it as a genuine coalition.



Tembo’s reference to “team building and reconciliation” is telling. Behind the speeches, the Alliance is fracturing under personal rivalries and ambition. Leaders are sniping at each other through the media. PF is still invoking Lungu’s ghost to delay succession. And yet, the 2026 elections are just 11 months away. The risk is that Tonse spends its energy on internal disputes instead of mounting a serious challenge to UPND.



PF’s posture is clear: block any move that weakens their grip. But that posture carries risks. By rejecting constitutional provisions and clinging to invented titles, PF risks looking like a party unwilling to play by its own rules. In contrast, Tembo’s recourse to the letter of the constitution allows him to project himself as a custodian of order — even as his own party PeP is a junior player in the coalition.


The Malawi factor has also added fuel. PF cadres are pointing to Mutharika’s comeback as a sign that Zambia will follow the same path. Yet Tonse’s internal confusion makes that comparison shaky. Malawi’s opposition was united against Chakwera. Zambia’s opposition, through Tonse, is visibly divided. Without clarity, there will be no “wind of change,” only a storm of confusion.



The September 30 meeting now looms large. If it goes ahead, it could mark the first real attempt to reset Tonse after Lungu’s death. If it collapses under PF resistance, it will confirm that the Alliance is little more than a fractured stage for competing egos. Either way, the clock is ticking. UPND is already reorganizing in new territories, while Tonse is locked in constitutional battles.



The impasse reveals a deeper truth about Zambian politics: alliances formed for convenience rarely survive moments of stress. Unless Tonse leaders put aside the shadow boxing and face the reality of 2026, the Alliance risks being remembered not for its victory, but for its implosion.

 Share your views with us at editor.peoplebrief@gmail.com

© The People’s Brief | Build-Up

I sometimes wonder how future generations will judge what is going on in our country today, the events of this tumultuous rule of Hichilema – Fred M’membe

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I sometimes wonder how future generations will judge what is going on in our country today, the events of this tumultuous rule of Hichilema – Fred M’membe

I sometimes wonder how future generations will judge what is going on in our country today, the events of this tumultuous rule of Mr Hakainde Hichilema.


I hope  that history  takes a slightly more moderate view than us  who are directly seeing  what is going on with our own eyes.



Time is well-known to lessen emotion or to lend enchantment, even to the more explosive things. After all, it has the inestimable advantage of hindsight.

It can also lend an extra dimension to judgement, giving it a leavening of moderation and compassion – even of wisdom – that is sometimes lacking in the reactions of those whose who are directly  in the heat of things and whose task it is in life to offer instant solutions or  opinions on all things great and small that are happening everyday.



I have no doubt that even them will have serious difficulties to explain what is going on in our country today, especially in the administration of the criminal justice system where only people from one or two regions of our country are the criminals, are the law breakers who should be charged, arrested, prosecuted and sent to jail for hate speech, tribalism, violence, corruption and so on and so forth.



But no region or ethnicity of our country can be said to have all the vices, and neither does any can be said to have all the virtues.



Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party

DR. SISHUWA PETITIONS HH TO RECONSTITUTE ECZ CITING LACK OF INCLUSIVITY AND CONSTITUTIONAL BREACH

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DR. SISHUWA PETITIONS HH TO RECONSTITUTE ECZ CITING LACK OF INCLUSIVITY AND CONSTITUTIONAL BREACH<br>

Press Statement on the Unconstitutional Composition of the Electoral Commission of Zambia


Today, I wish to draw public attention to a matter of grave constitutional importance: the current composition of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).



The Constitution is the supreme law of our land (Article 1). It requires that every authority, including the President, respect, uphold, and defend it (Article 2). National values and principles such as inclusiveness, equity, and equality (Articles 8 and 9) must guide the way our public institutions are constituted.



Yet, the present composition of the ECZ does not reflect these constitutional requirements. The Commission currently comprises:


(a) Mrs Frances Mwangala Zaloumis, Chairperson (Western Province)
(b) Maj. Gen. Vincent Mbaulu Mukanda (Rtd), Commissioner (Western Province)
(c) Ms Ndiyoi Muliwana Mutiti, Commissioner (Western Province)
(d) Mr McDonald Governor Chipenzi, Commissioner (Southern Province)



This means three Commissioners come from Western Province and one from Southern Province, leaving eight provinces wholly unrepresented. None of the Commissioners is a youth (defined in Article 266 as below 35 years). None is a person with a disability.



This composition violates:

(a) Article 259, which requires appointments to reflect regional diversity, gender balance, and the inclusion of youths and persons with disabilities;

(b) Article 173, which requires inclusivity and equal opportunity in public service;



(c) Article 23, which prohibits discrimination; and

(d) Articles 45 and 46, which guarantee a fair electoral system and every citizen’s right to free and fair elections.

With elections only months away, this exclusion undermines public confidence in the ECZ at a critical moment in our democracy.



Through my advocates, I have written to His Excellency, the President of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, requesting that the composition of the ECZ be regularised within fourteen (14) days so that it reflects Zambia’s diversity and complies with the Constitution. Should this not be done, I will seek the intervention of the Constitutional Court.



This is not about politics or personalities. It is about defending the Constitution and protecting the credibility of our elections. Every citizen has a stake in ensuring that our electoral body is representative, inclusive, and constitutional.



Issued by:
Sishuwa Sishuwa
25 September 2025.

MUNDUBILE DEMANDS 40% MINING SHARE FOR ZAMBIANS, SLAMS UPND’S ‘KWENYU’ POLITICS

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MUNDUBILE DEMANDS 40% MINING SHARE FOR ZAMBIANS, SLAMS UPND’S ‘KWENYU’ POLITICS

MUNDUBILE DEMANDS 40% MINING SHARE FOR ZAMBIANS, SLAMS UPND’S ‘KWENYU’ POLITICS.

Thursday 25 September, 2025 (Smart Eagles).



Mporokoso Member of Parliament Brian Mundubile says there is need for  government to ensure that at least 40% of all business in the country’s mining sector is allocated to locals.


Mr Mundubile criticised the current structure where Zambians account for only about 5% of the mining value chain despite the sector generating billions of dollars annually.



He has urged Finance Minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane to reverse several tax concessions granted to foreign mining firms under the UPND government because they are not benefiting Zambians.


Hon Mundubile specifically called for the mineral royalty tax to be reinstated at 6% and made non-deductible in next year’s national budget.



He said it can be argued that the current incentives have allowed mining firms to retain more revenue while ordinary Zambians see little benefit.

He has also questioned the absence of performance benchmarks tied to the tax incentives,



“Can you please introduce measures that will ensure that 40% of all business in the mining sector will go to the Zambian people.  At the moment, the Zambians are participating at 5%.  We not even strict at protecting our local industry.  We want to be told that out of four billion dollars of  business in the Mining sector, 1.6 billion went to the Zambians,” he said.



Hon Mundubile also advised government to revise the 3million metric tonnes target to a more realistic goal of 1.5 million tonnes citing slow progress over the past five years.



Meanwhile, Hon Mundubile has criticized the government’s focus on Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects arguing that they represent a small fraction of the national budget.



He noted that CDF accounts for just 2.5% of total government expenditure and questioned why it is often described as the hallmark of development under the UPND administration.



Hon Mundubile said the UPND have now resorted to the use of the term “Kwenyu”, a practice of exaggerating minor projects to appear more significant than they are.



He has urged Zambians to be wary of such portrayals because true measure of national development should go beyond small-scale community projects.


Hon Mundubile questioned why the UPND is heavily focused on celebrating projects funded by a small budget line instead of ensuring that the remaining 97% of the national budget delivers visible and impactful development.



He said the narrative must shift from praising minor achievements to demanding accountability and efficiency in the use of the full national budget.



“The PF government particularly under the Ministry of Home Affairs constructed over 5,000 buildings during the tenure of Ministers Stephen Kampyongo and Edgar Lungu.   What happened in the Ministry of Home Affairs alone under PF could rival the impact of CDF in UPND  in the last four years. Can we transfer the Kwenyu to the 97% of the budget not just the 2.5 % under CDF,” he said.

#SmartEagles2025

No hope in 2026 budget. We do not anticipate anything significant- Fred M’membe

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No hope in 2026 budget. We do not anticipate anything significant- Fred M’membe

2026 BUDGET EXPECTATIONS

I will be very brief and none technical on our expectations or rather the challenge the Minister of Finance faces.



If Personal Emoluments (PE) is at around 55% of the budget and debt service is around 35% of budget. The two add upto 90%. This simply means we are only left with 10% to run other recurring government operational and capital expenditures.



So simply put, what significant development agenda do we expect from 10%. The only way out is to borrow more externally to fund critical projects like 3 months extension of IMF program



UPND celebrates new recruitment in government sectors, but only adding PE cost which they are struggling with. For an economy to thrive, you need seriously private sector participation, particularly local business. With UPND private sector participation equals foreign companies.



No hope in 2026 budget. We do not anticipate anything significant.

Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party

What to Expect from the UPND Government’s Budget: A Reflection by Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya

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What to Expect from the UPND Government’s Budget: A Reflection by Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya

What to Expect from the UPND Government’s Budget: A Reflection by Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya



Tomorrow, the Minister of Finance, Hon. Situmbeko Musokotwane, will present the 2026 National Budget. This budget comes at a time when our nation is facing one of the worst economic crises in recent memory. After four years in office, the UPND government has consistently failed to provide solutions to the very challenges they promised to resolve. Instead, what we have witnessed is a government consumed by propaganda, contradictions, and reckless borrowing.



As we look ahead to tomorrow’s presentation, Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya, MP, has outlined both his expectations and concerns on behalf of the Zambian people:



1. *On Borrowing and Debt Sustainability* 

This government inherited a difficult fiscal environment, but instead of addressing it prudently, they have accelerated borrowing. We are likely to see another budget anchored on unsustainable debt. In contrast, the PF in five years prior to 2021 spent K507 billion cumulatively, while the UPND is on record to spend over K1 trillion in just their first five years. This is alarming and irresponsible.



2. *Constituency Development Fund (CDF)* 

Yes, CDF will be increased again tomorrow. But let us be honest: increasing CDF alone does not translate into meaningful development when its disbursement is delayed, politicized, or marred by capacity challenges at the local level. The government wants to ride on CDF propaganda, but the truth is that the cumulative impact on people’s lives has been minimal.



3. *Social Protection (Social Cash Transfer & Cash-for-Work)*

We expect to hear promises of increased social cash transfer and expanded cash-for-work programmes. But the question is: why has this government failed to consistently deliver such programmes in the past four years, only to suddenly find resources nine months before the elections? This selective generosity exposes the UPND’s obsession with elections rather than the welfare of citizens.



4. *Power and Energy Crisis* 

We expect provisions to be made for electricity importation. But again, this begs the question: why has it taken four years of unbearable load shedding, three-hour power supplies in some constituencies, and untold suffering for government to act? The people of Zambia must see through these last-minute gestures.



5. *Productivity and Job Creation* 

What Zambians need is a budget that stimulates productivity, creates jobs, and expands opportunities for entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, the UPND lacks the vision and capacity to achieve this. Their budgets have been consumption-driven, not investment-driven. Tomorrow’s budget risks being no different—another set of hollow promises without a clear pathway to industrialization or sustained job creation.



In conclusion, this budget is not just numbers—it is about the lives of millions of Zambians. Sadly, Hon. Kafwaya expects tomorrow’s presentation to confirm what we already know: another four years of suffering, another four years of failed promises, and another four years of economic stagnation.



As patriotic citizens, we must recognize that Zambia deserves better. We must demand a government that prioritizes productivity over propaganda, sustainability over reckless borrowing, and genuine development over political gimmicks. The Patriotic Front remains that alternative—anchored on experience, pragmatism, and a people-centered vision for Zambia’s prosperity.



*Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya, Lute  MP*

Former Minister of Transport and Communication

Reported by:

Michael Zephaniah Phiri

Chakwera Withdraw Court Challenge After Conceding Defeat

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Chakwera Withdraw Court Challenge After Conceding Defeat

President Lazarus Chakwera and the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) have decided to withdraw their judicial review application regarding the September 16 presidential election results, despite being granted permission by the High Court on Tuesday.

MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila confirmed the decision in an interview, stating it follows President Chakwera’s concession of defeat in the election.

“The case initiated by President Chakwera and the MCP will be withdrawn because he has conceded defeat in the election,” Kabwila said.

Earlier, Chakwera and the MCP had sought a court order to halt the announcement of the presidential results and to pursue a judicial review over the Malawi Electoral Commission’s (MEC) alleged failure or refusal to address the party’s complaint concerning electoral irregularities.

While High Court Judge Howard Pemba denied the request for a restraining order, he granted the party permission to proceed with a judicial review. However, that process will now be discontinued.

Tonse Has a Leadership Structure and Established Process

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Tonse Has a Leadership Structure and Established Process

Tonse Has a Leadership Structure and Established Process

Any Tonse meeting notification that doesn’t come from Nakacinda is null and void – Lubinda


TONSE Alliance member Given Lubinda has dismissed any communication regarding the alliance meetings that do not originate from alliance Secretary General Raphael Nakacinda, saying such notices carry no official weight.



Lubinda said anything outside that channel is null and void.

In an interview Lubinda declared that Tembo is no longer official spokesperson of the alliance and has no authority to issue statements on  behalf of the alliance.



He clarified that the role of Tonse spokesperson has been reassigned to Nakacinda, who will now serve as the sole official voice for the alliance.



“Any notification for a meeting that doesn’t come from Nakacinda should be considered null, void, and dull,” Lubinda emphasised.



Lubinda reiterated the need for unity and order within the alliance, stressing that clear lines of authority and communication are essential moving forward.



He added that the alliance will not entertain parallel voices.

TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ZAMBIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES

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TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ZAMBIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES



BY Hope Moonga

Dear Esteemed Leaders of the Opposition,

I write to you with a sense of urgency and concern for the future of our beloved Zambia. As the nation approaches a critical juncture, it is evident that President Hakainde Hichilema and his  United Party For National Development (UPND) are acutely aware of the growing discontent among the Zambian people.



The winds of change are blowing, and it is clear that Hichilema knows his re-election prospects are at risk. While the people’s frustrations, rising cost of living, unfulfilled promises, and economic hardships, signal a potential shift in the political landscape, President Hichilema is not sitting idle.



As he recently put it, he is not sleeping, but is strategising, mobilising resources, and taking deliberate steps to consolidate power and influence the outcome of the 2026 elections.



Meanwhile, it appears that you as the opposition have adopted a passive stance, waiting for the people’s dissatisfaction to organically translate into votes against President Hichikema and the UnitedPartyforNationalDevelopment (UPND). This approach is a grave miscalculation. The Zambian people are indeed frustrated, but they are not a monolithic force that will automatically rally behind you without leadership, direction, and a clear vision. Relying solely on public discontent without proactive engagement risks squandering a historic opportunity to restore hope and deliver meaningful change.



President Hichilema’s camp is not waiting for the people to decide their fate; they are shaping the narrative, strengthening their machinery, and addressing vulnerabilities.



If you look at all the steps President Hichilema is taking, such as attempting to illegally amend the constitution, putting his loyalist in key positions such as Electoral Commission of Zambia, calling embarrassing meetings with chiefs and building their palaces and enacting oppressive legislation, such as the cyber security and cybercrimes law to curtail free speech, they are all meant to give the UPND an electoral advantage.



Platforms like  Zambian Whistleblower have been highlighting the threat of First Quantum Minerals (FQM) “pro-UPND  interference”, which started as far back as 2016 through international lobby groups, local focus groups and openzambia online platform, now aimed at helping President Hichilema and the ruling party secure a second term in office, and maintain the pro-multinational, anti-poor business  environment.



The impact of FQM’s activities on the next general election have been highlighted in the hope that the opposition would pick this up and end and such direct interference meant to influence outcomes of  Zambian elections. But to date, you as opposition have not taken this issue as seriously as you are now viewing the installation of UPND cadres at the ECZ.



The time for complacency is over. President Hichilema is acting decisively to tilt the playing field in his favour. The question is: will the opposition rise to the challenge, or will you allow this moment to slip through your fingers?



General complaints about public order Act and other restrictions by the UPND government will not solve anything. It is better for the oppositon to find a way around these restrictions. Either challenge them in court or peacefully refuse to be stopped. The Zambian people are looking for leaders who will seize this opportunity and act decisively too. Unite, mobilize, and lead or risk being left behind by a government that knows its survival depends on outworking you.

ZESCO SPENDS UP TO $20 MILLION MONTHLY ON POWER IMPORTS TO STABILIZE NATIONAL GRID

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ZESCO SPENDS UP TO $20 MILLION MONTHLY ON POWER IMPORTS TO STABILIZE NATIONAL GRID



By: Justin Banda

Power utility company, ZESCO Limited has disclosed that it is currently spending between $15 and $20 Million each month to import electricity in a bid to stabilise the national power supply.



Speaking during a media engagement, ZESCO Senior Manager for Power Trading and Energy Management, Engineer Collins Mumba, stated that the utility is sourcing electricity through interconnectors from Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zimbabwe.



He explained that the imported power is primarily supplied during Off-Peak Hours to cushion the National Grid during periods of low generation.



Eng. Mumba further revealed that ZESCO is reviewing its power export policies to prioritise domestic energy needs and increase local electricity availability.



Meanwhile, ZESCO Senior Manager for Distribution, Eng. Boniface Syasipa, attributed recent improvements in electricity supply within High-Density Areas to enhanced generation capacity and ongoing system upgrades.



He assured residents, particularly those in Urban Compounds, of consistent power supply and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to strengthening energy distribution nationwide.
#SunFmTvNews #

ZANUPF has never had a proper change of leadership.Every leader has been removed by the army

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ZANUPF has never had a proper change of leadership.Every leader has been removed by the army

Hopewell Chin’ono writes;

I just want to share an important piece of history with you. ZANU, later ZANUPF, has never had a proper change of leadership at the presidential level.


Every leader has been removed by the army. There has never been a voluntary resignation or retirement.

ZANUPF was formed in 1963, with Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole as its first leader. He was removed by the ZANLA military through the Mgagao Declaration, which General Constantino Chiwenga also signed.


Leadership then shifted temporarily to Advocate Herbert Chitepo, who was Chairman of the party, before he was assassinated by a bomb in Zambia in an incident linked to ZANLA.

Robert Mugabe subsequently took over, and in 2017 he too was removed by the military.

This history is important. If President Emmerson Mnangagwa manages to extend his term of office and install his chosen successor, Kudakwashe Tagwirei, it will mark the first time in the party’s 62-year existence that ZANUPF has experienced a proper leadership transition at the top without military force or being involved overtly.

LUNGU FAMILY AND GOVERNMENT BEGIN MEDIATION TALKS OVER BURIAL DISPUTE

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LUNGU FAMILY AND GOVERNMENT BEGIN MEDIATION TALKS OVER BURIAL DISPUTE

LUNGU FAMILY AND GOVERNMENT BEGIN MEDIATION TALKS OVER BURIAL DISPUTE

Former president Edgar Lunugu’s family spokesperson, Makebi Zulu, reports that government and the family have begun discussions to resolve the ongoing burial impasse.

Speaking in a recent interview, Zulu confirmed that formal talks have commenced and both parties are currently selecting mediators to facilitate the negotiations. “Well [discussions] have commenced and we are in the process of agreeing on mediators, yes,” he stated.

The development follows a significant legal setback for the Lungu family last week, when South Africa’s Pretoria High Court dismissed their application for leave to appeal a previous judgment. The court had originally ordered the repatriation of Lungu’s remains to Zambia, a decision that his widow Esther and other family members contested, arguing the court had erred in its ruling.

Zulu also took the opportunity to dismiss circulating social media claims suggesting Lungu’s body had been secretly transported to Spain, calling such reports “fake news” that would not be dignified with a detailed response.

Regarding the future of ongoing court processes, Zulu indicated that decisions would be made once mediation progresses. “The parties will have to come to an agreement at an appropriate time,” he explained.

The government had announced earlier this month that formal discussions would begin to end the three-month standoff over the former president’s burial arrangements.

Fame is very useless in Zambia. Look at how simple the home of the great Mwine Mushi looks like

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Fame is very useless in Zambia. Look at how simple the home of the great Mwine Mushi looks like

Fame is very useless in Zambia. Look at how simple the home of the great Mwine Mushi looks like.

After turning the  the country upside down with laughter, he went back to a simple place.

When his partner Kasaka got sick, he failed to pay his medical bill. If being famous in Zambia means poverty then I don’t want to be famous.

We are nation that doesn’t know how to empower our own celebrities.
#tztpost

Mutharika to Address the Nation on Friday Afternoon

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Mutharika to Address the Nation on Friday Afternoon

President-elect, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, is expected to address the nation on Friday at 2:00 PM.

The address was initially scheduled for 10:00 AM today, but has been rescheduled.

According to his spokesperson, Shadric Namalomba, the address will take place at the President-elect’s private residence in Nyambadwe, Blantyre.

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has yesternight declared Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as the winner of this year’s presidential election, officially making him the country’s 7th Head of State.

Five factors contributed to MCP-Chakwera electoral defeat

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Five factors contributed to MCP-Chakwera electoral defeat

Malawi’s 2025 presidential election saw a dramatic turn, with incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera losing to former President Peter Mutharika in a decisive outcome.

One critical reason for Chakwera’s defeat was that he appeared to forget the ordinary Malawians who had voted for him, many of whom continued to face severe hardships, including poverty, food insecurity, and rising living costs.

American Expressi
Another significant factor was his poor choice of personnel; Chakwera appointed the wrong individuals into key positions within his administration, despite repeated warnings about their incompetence from political analysts and civil society actors.

Many of these appointments were influenced by tribal affiliations, friendships, or familial connections rather than professional merit, which undermined public confidence and fueled perceptions of favoritism within the government.

Chakwera’s handling of the death of Vice President Saulos Chilima further weakened his political standing, as mismanagement of this sensitive situation contributed to the breakdown of his alliance with the United Transformation Movement (UTM), whose supporters then voted massively against him and backed the DPP.

The president’s oversight in managing MCP parliamentary primaries also played a role in his defeat, as sidelining rightful candidates led to internal dissent and publicized dissatisfaction, fracturing the party at a critical electoral moment.

Perhaps the most consequential mistake was his selection of a running mate, which deepened divisions within his party and weakened its unity at a time when cohesion was crucial for retaining voter support.

Chakwera’s indecisiveness on corruption issues compounded these problems; he was slow to remove underperforming or corrupt officials, relying on yes-men who reinforced what he wanted to hear rather than the unvarnished truth.

Ultimately, the incumbent president underestimated the intelligence and political agency of the Malawian electorate, assuming that the voters who supported him previously would automatically remain loyal, a miscalculation that proved costly.

Political analysts argue that these interconnected failures—neglecting the electorate, poor appointments, internal party mismanagement, flawed alliances, and indecisiveness on corruption—collectively led to Chakwera’s loss in the 2025 election.

The election underscores broader lessons for Malawi’s democracy: political leaders must remain attuned to citizens’ needs, ensure accountability, prioritize competence over loyalty, and maintain internal party unity to sustain public trust and electoral success.

STATE HOUSE JUSTIFIES PRESIDENT HICHILEMA’S ABSENCE FROM UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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STATE HOUSE JUSTIFIES PRESIDENT HICHILEMA’S ABSENCE FROM UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY



By Nelson Zulu

State House has clarified that there is nothing unusual about President Hakainde Hichilema skipping the United Nations General Assembly for the second year and delegating Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe to represent Zambia.



State House Chief Communication Specialist Clayson Hamasaka tells Phoenix News that presidential representation at international forums is a routine executive decision, with many countries often assigning ministers or vice presidents to attend such meetings.



Mr. Hamasaka explains that the decision depends on competing domestic priorities and does not in any way signal a lack of international engagement.



He has stressed that the delegation to the Foreign Affairs Minister should not be misinterpreted as Zambia retreating from global affairs.



Mr. Hamasaka has however expressed concern over public debates on the President’s travel decisions, saying Zambians tend to criticize whether he chooses to attend or not.

PHOENIX NEWS

STOP MOCKING HUSBANDLESS & CHILDLESS WOMEN WHEN YOU HAVE – MAMPI BREAKS SILENCE

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STOP MOCKING HUSBANDLESS & CHILDLESS WOMEN WHEN YOU HAVE – MAMPI BREAKS SILENCE

Singer MAMPI has, through her socials, continued voicing out after continuously being a victim of cyberbullying over her decision, not to mother and being a wife.

Her social posts highly suggest that her decision not to get married and have children stems from past life experiences and the thought of uncertainty of life.

In her post, singer MAMPI questioned what guarantees are there that one’s partner or children would live long enough to see them age and be able to take care of them.

“Nothing in life is guaranteed. Just do you. Live, love, laugh while holding on to what God has promised mankind,” she said.

She continued, “If you are blessed with kids, a husband, or money, count your blessings, but stop mocking those that dont have what you have. Mukasebana pantu Lesa nimalyotola.”

MAMPI said she is tired of the bullying and he has a lot to say. She furthermore contemplated venting through a song so that her bullies could listen to it over and over.

“With that being said, be kind to one another,people are battling different battles,” she advised her followers.

READ MORE: https://zedifyonline.com/stop-mocking-husbandless…/

NPA FIRES 40 UNQUALIFIED PROSECUTORS

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NPA FIRES 40 UNQUALIFIED PROSECUTORS

NPA FIRES 40 UNQUALIFIED PROSECUTORS

By Elfi Mwale Shampande

The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has dismissed more than 40 prosecutors for failing to meet the required qualifications.


The officers, drawn from various Law Enforcement Agencies in 2016, were expected to obtain Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degrees within five years but failed to do so.



NPA Public Relations Officer Chali Mbewe Hambayi says the decision followed an internal review, noting that more than nine years after their placement, the officers had not complied with the agreed conditions.


However, the affected prosecutors are now seeking redress from the Human Rights Commission and the Director of Public Prosecutions, arguing that their dismissal was unfair.

Diddy’s fellow inmates support him in letters sent to judge ahead of sentencing

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Diddy’s fellow inmates support him in letters sent to judge ahead of sentencing

Sean “Diddy” Combs recently received a wave of support from some of his fellow inmates at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center as they notified the judge handling his case about how the embattled music executive used his business class to shower them with knowledge.

Per TMZ, Combs’ legal team, in an attempt to secure a lenient sentence for their client, submitted Judge Arun Subramanian with several support letters including dozens from the 55-year-old’s fellow inmates. Combs is set to be sentenced next week.

The inmates, in their letters, informed Judge Subramanian that they gained significant knowledge after they enrolled in Combs’ “Free Game With Diddy” course while they were locked up.]

“Because of this class I have a purpose, something to look forward to every day,” an inmate identified as Arturo Santiago wrote.

Another inmate, Douglas Welch, told the judge that Combs had “shown” them that “it is the little adjustments to our everyday lives that add up to a big change.”

“Mr. Combs teaches us about how chasing the easy money is the wrong way to achieve greatness,” Inmate Wellington Eustate wrote, while Inmate Didier Rios Galinda stated that “everybody was motivated for the lesson … in my case particularly it has had very much impact.”

Inmate Quinton Davis added: “The Free Game class with Mr. Combs has affected me in a good way and has impacted me because I’ve learned many things like how to create a successful plan. And that plan has to be realistic.”

“I was really appreciative to receive some knowledge of sort to take back to the real world an[d] not have to think about doing something illegal,” Charles Scruggs, also an inmate, wrote. “He taught me to come up with a plan.”

Inmate Corey Batchelor stated that Combs’ class “has given me something to look forward to doing while being incarcerated and now I am currently beginning to study on a new business venture and coming up with a plan so when I am released I can more [sic] forward with it and live a positive life.”

Another inmate, Raymond Castillo, stated that Combs “saved me,” adding that he saw the Bad Boy Records founder “do magical things” with scarce resources while locked up.

“In a place of segregation [I] have seen Mr. Combs bring unity to all races and ethnics [sic] groups no matter the background as a unified front,” he also claimed in the letter.

Combs’ legal team similarly sent the judge support letters from the 55-year-old’s family, friends and exes, TMZ reported.

UGANDA CLEARS MUSEVENI AND BOBI WINE TO FACE OFF IN 2026 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

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UGANDA CLEARS MUSEVENI AND BOBI WINE TO FACE OFF IN 2026 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

UGANDA CLEARS MUSEVENI AND BOBI WINE TO FACE OFF IN 2026 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION



UGANDA’S Electoral Commission has cleared President Yoweri Museveni and opposition leader Bobi Wine to run in the country’s 2026 elections.


The announcement sets the stage for a dramatic political showdown between the 81-year-old leader who has ruled since 1986 and his 43-year-old rival, a pop star turned politician who commands strong support among young Ugandans.


Museveni, one of Africa’s longest-serving presidents, is seeking another five-year term under the National Resistance Movement. He points to economic growth, new infrastructure, and stability as his achievements, and has pledged to focus on wealth creation, education, health and the fight against corruption.


But critics accuse him of authoritarianism, citing constitutional changes that removed term and age limits, crackdowns on the opposition, and widespread human rights abuses.


Bobi Wine, who lost to Museveni in 2021 and alleged fraud in that vote, says he represents a new generation demanding change. His candidacy was confirmed Wednesday in Kampala, alongside his wife at the Electoral Commission.



With elections set for January 2026, the stage is now set for a high-stakes contest that pits Uganda’s past against its possible future.

Africanews

TRADITIONAL LEADERS UNITE AGAINST TRIBALISM AHEAD OF ZAMBIA’S 2026 ELECTIONS

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TRADITIONAL LEADERS UNITE AGAINST TRIBALISM AHEAD OF ZAMBIA’S 2026 ELECTIONS

TRADITIONAL LEADERS UNITE AGAINST TRIBALISM AHEAD OF ZAMBIA’S 2026 ELECTIONS



Zambian traditional leaders have taken a firm stand against tribalism and hate speech as the nation prepares for next year’s tripartite elections, demonstrating remarkable unity in their commitment to national cohesion.


During a special meeting convened by President Hakainde Hichilema in Lusaka yesterday, House of Chiefs chairperson Chief Choongo delivered a powerful message on behalf of traditional leaders nationwide, categorically rejecting divisive rhetoric in the strongest possible terms.



“We would like to continue enjoying this peace, we would like to continue enjoying this trajectory in terms of national development that you have put forward,” Chief Choongo told the President, emphasising the collective responsibility to maintain stability.



President Hichilema reinforced this message by affirming that no ethnic group has superior claim to Zambia, stressing the fundamental equality of all citizens regardless of their tribal background. This declaration underscores the government’s commitment to inclusive governance.


The traditional leaders emphasised that promoting peace and unity remains cardinal to their leadership philosophy, describing these values as impossible to overemphasise. Chief Choongo highlighted the direct correlation between sustained peace and national development, noting that the country’s current peaceful trajectory must be preserved to ensure continued progress.


This unified stance by traditional authorities represents a significant commitment to maintaining Zambia’s democratic stability as the nation approaches what promises to be a crucial electoral period in 2026.

Fare Thee Well Soldier Boy- Gen Chinkuli Salutes late Lt Gen Sibamba

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Fare Thee Well Soldier Boy- Gen Chinkuli Salutes late Lt Gen Sibamba

Fare Thee Well Soldier Boy- Gen Chinkuli Salutes late Lt Gen Sibamba

By Buffalo Reporter

Lusaka

In slow march, the pall bearers of the rank of Brigadier General, marched taking him to his final resting place at Leopards Hill Memorial Park in Lusaka.


Former Zambia Army Commander, Lieutenant General Francis Gershom Sibamba commanded the Zambia Army from 01 June, 1990 to 02 December, 1991.



Republican President and Commander-in- Chief of the Defence Force, Mr Hakainde Hichilema has eulogised Lt Gen Sibamba in his messages of condolences to the family and the Zambia Defence Force.



“Today we lay to rest Lieutenant General Francis Gershom Sibamba, DFS, Psc, MCC (Retired), a Warrior, a Patriot, and one of Zambia’s finest sons.



He served with honour, courage, and unyielding devotion to duty.

His integrity and sacrifice strengthened our Army and safeguarded our nation,” President Hichilema wrote on his Facebook page as monitored by the Buffalo Reporter.


And during a requiem service held at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka, first indigenous Zambia Army Commander, General Kingsley Godwin Chinkuli (Rtd) reflected on Lt Gen Sibamba’s remarkable career.



Gen Chinkuli described the Lt Gen Sibamba, who, among others, served as a Staff Officer under his Command, as a humble, disciplined, efficient and loyal Officer who served the country with unwavering dedication, integrity, and distinction.


“I encourage our young Officers to draw inspiration. His book, ‘The Zambia Army and I’, offers valuable insights into his experiences and the evolution of the Zambia Defence Force,” Gen Chinkuli said.



Gen Chinkuli also saluted Lt Gen Sibamba’s contributions to the development of the Zambia National Service (ZNS) when he served as Assistant Director Training, under the first Commandant Lieutenant Colonel Charles Joseph Nyirenda (later Maj Gen) .


He said the late Lt Gen Sibamba’s legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of service, discipline, and loyalty, urging the widow to be strong and look up to God for solutions during this difficult time.


Gen Chinkuli extended gratitude to former Services Chiefs for making a contribution towards logistics during the mourning period, urging them to continue uniting for a common cause.



“Fare thee well soldier boy,” General Chinkuli said as he concluded his tribute.

And Commander Zambia Army, Lt Gen Zyeele who was represented at the burial site by Deputy Army Commander and Chief of Staff, Maj Gen Luswepo Sinyinza deacribed Lt Gen Sibamba as a courageous Officer, with unyielding devotion to duty.



Lt Gen Zyeele said Lt Gen Sibamba was an exemplary Officer whose service spanned several decades, during which he held several Command appointments where he served the Army and the country with dignity.


And in his homily drawn from Eclessiastes 3:1-5, Ministry of Defence Chaplain General Brig Gen (Rev) (Dr) Henry Matifeyo, offered words of comfort to the family and mourners, stating that life is about time and seasons.


Meanwhile, Mr Jacob Simwemba who spoke on behalf of the family expressed gratitude to the Zambia Army Command and the Defence Force as a whole for the support rendered in giving Lt Gen Sibamba a befitting send off.

The solemn Military Burial Procession was attended by people from all walks of life including Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary, Mr Maambo Haamaundu.


The late Lt Gen Sibamba was accorded a 15 gun salute, befitting a three star General.

Lt Gen Sibamba who was born on 31 August, 1945 and died on 20 September, 2025 leaves behind a wife, six children and 11 grandchildren.



Lt Gen Sibamba joined the Zambia Army in March, 1965, and went on to do his initial military training as an Officer Cadet at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst in the United Kingdom. He successfully completed the training in September, 1967, earning him a commission as an Officer in the Zambia Army, and subsequent promotion to Lieutenant.



Upon returning to Zambia in 1968, he was posted to 3 Infantry Battalion where he served in various appointments including Platoon Commander, Battalion Training Officer, and Officer Commanding.

His rise through the ranks was swift and steady. He was promoted to Captain in July 1969, Major in 1971, Lieutenant Colonel in March, 1974, and Colonel in 1976.



In November 1979, he was was promoted to Brigadier General, and in January 1987, then President of the Republic of Zambia and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force, Dr Kenneth Kaunda appointed him promoted him to Maj Gen, and appointed him Deputy Army Commander and Chief of Staff.



Three years later, on 01 July 1990, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed Army Commander of the Zambia Army, the appointment he held till 02 December, 1991.


Lt Gen Sibamba later went on to serve as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Russian Federation in 1998, and in the year 2000, he was transferred to the Federal Republic of German in the same capacity serving until his retirement in 2003.

May His Soul Rest In Eternal Peace!

©The Zambia Army

Trump replaces Biden’s portrait with image of an autopen 

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Trump replaces Biden’s portrait with image of an autopen 

U.S. President, Donald Trump has added a “Presidential Walk of Fame” to the exterior of the White House, featuring portraits of each of the previous commanders-in-chief – except for one.

The White House unveiled the presidential portrait gallery along the West Wing Colonnade on Wednesday, September 24.

While the new “Presidential Walk of Fame” features portraits of all the presidents in gilded frames, Biden’s portrait is replaced with a picture of an autopen signing Biden’s name – a reference to Trump’s frequent allegation that the former president was addled by the end of his term in office and not really the one making decisions.

The White House called attention to the change on its social media.

Trump has long criticized Biden’s use of the autopen, a routine method of executing official documents when signatories are unable to sign them. The use of autopen is commonplace on Capitol Hill and in the White House and has been used by former presidents on both sides of the aisle.

Trump has pushed unfounded claims that Biden didn’t understand what was going on during his presidency because of his use of an autopen to sign legislation and pardons. Trump has suggested that the pardons Biden signed using the technology should be considered null and void.

Biden has pushed back on Trump’s claims.

“Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false,” Biden said in his statement.

Trump has teased in recent weeks that he would make good on this extraordinary move as he continues to disparage Biden’s legacy.

“It’s a decision I have to make. We put up a picture of the autopen,” Trump said in an interview with The Daily Caller earlier this month.

The colonnade has served as an iconic part of the White House since it was built during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency. The open-air walkway has been used by presidents and their staffers to travel quickly between the West Wing and the Executive Residence.

This also isn’t the first time Trump has attempted to use his power to erase symbols of those he has disagreed with from being featured inside the White House.

In June, the Trump White House removed a portrait of Hillary Clinton, the former first lady and secretary of state as well as Trump challenger in the 2016 election. Clinton’s portrait was replaced with a red, white and blue painting of Trump. Then in August, Trump moved portraits of former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush from the entryway of the White House to have a less-prominent position.

Police arrests woman for keeping daughter’s body in freezer for 20 years

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Japanese authorities have arrested a 75-year-old woman after she allegedly admitted to storing the body of her daughter in a freezer for two decades. The shocking discovery was made on Tuesday, September 23, in Ibaraki prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, according to a police spokesman who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Investigators found the remains of an adult woman inside a deep freezer at the home of the suspect, identified as Keiko Mori. Police said Mori confessed that the body belonged to her daughter, Makiko, who was born in 1975 and would now be around 49 or 50 years old if alive.

“Decay was advancing,” the police spokesman noted, adding that an autopsy would be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

The case unfolded after Mori went to police on Tuesday, September 23, accompanied by a relative, to report that she had been keeping her daughter’s body inside the freezer. When investigators accompanied her to the residence, they discovered the body kneeling face-down in the freezer, dressed only in a T-shirt and underwear.

Mori was subsequently arrested on suspicion of abandoning a body. During questioning, she reportedly told investigators that a foul odour had begun to spread throughout the house, prompting her to purchase the freezer and place the body inside to contain the smell.

Authorities confirmed that Mori had several children but declined to provide details about them or disclose what they may have told investigators regarding Makiko.

The elderly woman had been living alone since the death of her husband earlier this month, police said.

The disturbing case has raised many unanswered questions about how and why the body was kept hidden for so long, with investigators now working to piece together the circumstances surrounding Makiko’s death and the decades-long concealment.

Pastor’s iphone snatched from him on the streets of London during a Facebook Live prayer session 

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Pastor’s iphone snatched from him on the streets of London during a Facebook Live prayer session 

A UK-based Ghanaian pastor, Apostle Isaac Anderson, was left stunned two days ago after his iPhone 16 Pro Max was snatched from his hand on the streets of London while he was on embarking on a morning walk and leading prayers on Facebook Live.

In a video that has since gone viral, Apostle Anderson was walking on the streets and engaging his followers when l a masked man riding on a bicycle accosted him and snatched the phone from him.

A sudden blackout followed, signaling the abrupt end of the livestream.

In a video he later shared online, the cleric announced to his followers that his phone had been stolen.

“This morning, I was walking and doing a live session to declare blessings upon people’s lives. Suddenly, someone on a bike came from behind and snatched my phone, an iPhone 16 Pro Max, right out of my hand” he said

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy Jailed 5 Years Over Gaddafi Money Scandal

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Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy Jailed 5 Years Over Gaddafi Money Scandal

Ex-French President Nicolas Sarkozy Jailed 5 Years Over Accepting Millions In Illegal Payments From Muammar Gaddafi

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy in connection with millions of euros allegedly channelled from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The ruling, delivered by the Paris Criminal Court on Thursday, 25 September 2025, marks the first time a former French head of state has been ordered to serve actual prison time.

Court delivers historic ruling
According to the BBC, the 70-year-old Sarkozy was acquitted of other charges, including illegal campaign financing and passive corruption. However, Judge Nathalie Gavarino ruled that Sarkozy “allowed close aides to contact Libyan officials with a view to obtaining financial support” for his 2007 election campaign.

There was shock inside the courtroom as Judge Gavarino read out the sentence. Sarkozy was also ordered to pay a fine of €100,000 (US$117,000 / R2.1 million).

In her ruling, the judge noted:

“There is insufficient evidence to prove that Mr Sarkozy directly benefited from illegal campaign funds, but his involvement in a criminal conspiracy between 2005 and 2007 is proven.”

The sentence will take effect despite Sarkozy’s vow to appeal. Prosecutors have one month to determine when he must report to prison.

Sarkozy reacts defiantly
Speaking outside court, Sarkozy expressed disbelief at the verdict. The RFI reports that the former president said:

“What happened today is of extreme gravity for the rule of law. If they absolutely want me to sleep in jail, I will sleep in jail, but with my head held high.”

He added:

“I am innocent. This injustice is a scandal. I will not accuse myself of something I did not do.”

Sarkozy insists the case was politically motivated, claiming it stemmed from Gaddafi’s circle in revenge for his role in the 2011 NATO-backed intervention that toppled the Libyan leader.

Long-running legal troubles
The Al Jazeera coverage notes that Sarkozy’s conviction follows a decade-long anti-corruption probe. Allegations first surfaced in 2011, when Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam claimed Sarkozy received campaign funds from Libya. In 2012, French investigative outlet Mediapart published a note allegedly showing Gaddafi had agreed to provide €50 million (US$52m / R946m) for Sarkozy’s campaign. Sarkozy has always dismissed the document as fake.

This is not Sarkozy’s first conviction. In 2021, he was found guilty of attempting to bribe a judge. In 2024, he was handed a one-year sentence over campaign overspending in his failed 2012 re-election bid. Both convictions were upheld on appeal.

The latest ruling cements Sarkozy’s position as the first French post-war president to be convicted three times and now the first to serve prison time.

Obama has slammed Donald Trump’s administration for linking Tylenol use in pregnancy to autism

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Barack Obama has slammed Donald Trump’s administration for linking Tylenol use in pregnancy to autism, calling it “violence against the truth.”

Speaking at London’s O2 Arena, CNN reported, the former US president said Trump’s comments — which doctors have widely dismissed — risk causing harm to pregnant women and unnecessary fear for parents of autistic children.

Obama accused Trump of spreading falsehoods under the guise of science, warning that such claims undermine public health. He also used the moment to stress that America is being “tested” by threats against democracy, free speech and the rule of law.

The remarks add to Obama’s growing criticism of Trump’s second term, with the ex-president describing the US as “dangerously close” to sliding into autocracy.

Russia’s nuclear targets in UK and US were ‘leaked’ as tensions continue to rise

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Russia’s list of targets in the US and UK, allegedly earmarked for nuclear strikes, has ‘leaked’ amid rising tensions between the West and the Kremlin.

Relations between Vladimir Putin and NATO leaders have never recovered from the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with political and economic sanctions leaving Russia isolated from the global stage.

Despite Donald Trump appearing keen to change this after taking office last November, international relations are still pretty dire, with the 79-year-old’s greenlight for NATO to shoot down wandering jets at the UN this week appearing to be the final nail in the diplomatic coffin.

Russia, of course, has not reacted warmly to Trump’s drastic U-turn in foreign policy, with Kremlin propagandists recently suggesting the UK cities of Oxford and Cambridge should be attacked with missiles to destroy the ‘British elite’.

“We must abandon some of the foolish ideas devised by our predecessors who still say that a nuclear war shouldn’t happen and that it can never be won,” Sergei Karaganov said in a recent state TV broadcast, after questioning who was really in control of the UK.

“Who really governs Great Britain?” he asked, to which the Kremlin’s premier attack dog, Vladimir Solovyov, replied: “Seriously speaking, we’ve never analysed this issue… We can’t seriously think that the bunch of idiots who actually hold power there, pretending to be prime ministers, are actually in charge.”

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF RUSSIA BOMBED THE UK?

However, the residents of Oxford and Cambridge shouldn’t panic too much, as Russian propagandists have a long history of threatening numerous places across the UK and the US with a bomb.

Back in 2019, a broadcast on the country’s weekly news programme suggested locations such as the Pentagon and presidential retreat Camp David in Maryland would be possible targets (via Reuters).

The list also included military training centre Fort Ritchie and a naval communications base in Washington state.

America isn’t the only nation to face repeated nuclear threats from Russia, with a list of ‘leaked’ targets earlier this year revealing that a factory in Hull, a shipyard in Cumbria and an unknown site near Edinburgh had been chosen as strikes. Meanwhile, the towns of Aldershot, Colchester, Portsmouth, Chatham, Tidworth and Salisbury, all of which have historical connections to the UK Armed Forces, could also be at risk.

However, it doesn’t seem like the Kremlin has locked in its targets for the UK just yet, as another broadcast suggested that London, Birmingham, Manchester and naval bases in Scotland and Plymouth would be the focal point of attacks.

Russia’s ‘criteria’ for nuclear attack was revealed after targets in UK and US were ‘leaked’

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A list outlining Russia’s ‘criteria’ for launching a nuclear missile has resurfaced online following increasing tensions between NATO and the Kremlin.

Vladimir Putin’s hopes of finding a favourable end to his nation’s invasion of Ukraine appeared to be dead in the water earlier this week, as US President Donald Trump spoke favourably of the besieged Eastern European country, as well as voicing his approval for NATO members being able to shoot down Russian jets which stray into their airspace.

The response from the Kremlin has so far been rather restrained, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov calling Trump’s comments ‘mistaken’.

“The assertion that Ukraine can win back something by fighting is mistaken,” Peskov added to reporters (via BBC).

However, the mere thought of relations further cooling between Moscow and the West will doubtless set off alarm bells for many.

After all, threatening nuclear destruction appears to be a tried and true method used by Russia’s propagandists.

True to form, one Kremlin ally suggested that Russia should aim its missiles at the cities of Oxford and Cambridge. This threat is, of course, the latest in a long line of many made against targets across the UK, the US and across the world.

As for the threshold needed for Putin to press the big red button, we don’t have to speculate too much about that either, as ‘leaked military files’ revealed the scenarios in which Russia would be willing to escalate a nuclear conflict.

What circumstances would lead Russia to carry out a nuclear attack?
According to a report published by the Financial Times back in 2024, the threshold at which Russia would feel a nuclear attack would be justified is lower than what is officially on record.

These include:

An enemy nation invading Russian territory
Imminent enemy attack using conventional (non-nuclear) weapons
The defeat of military units responsible for securing Russia’s borders
20 per cent of Russia’s strategic ballistic missile submarines being destroyed

Meanwhile, Putin has previously suggested two scenarios for a nuclear attack. These are: retaliation against a nuclear strike from an enemy or threats to the ‘very existence of Russia’.

“This is the first time that we have seen documents like this reported in the public domain,” Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre in Berlin, told the outlet.

“They show that the operational threshold for using nuclear weapons is pretty low if the desired result can’t be achieved through conventional means.”

How many nuclear weapons does Russia have?
According to statistics shared by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, of the nine countries that possess nuclear weapons, Russia has the largest stockpile, with approximately 5,500 nuclear warheads.

Of these warheads, around 4,309 are believed to be active.

Teacher has been arrested spraying his school with poop

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Teacher has been arrested spraying his school with poop

A 32-year-old South Carolina assistant teacher has been arrested spraying his school with a substance that smells like poop, sickening students and causing more than $55,000 in damages, authorities said.

Alexander Paul Robertson Lewis allegedly surreptitiously sprayed the substance at West Florence High School in Florence, South Carolina, over a nearly month-long span, leaving school officials mystified as to the origin of the foul odor, the Florence County Sheriff’s office said in a statement.

Lewis allegedly obtained the spray, designed to imitate poop smell, from an online distributor, according to the sheriff’s office.

“Investigators allege that Lewis used the spray on multiple occasions and over time resulting in a disruption of the school, children requiring medical attention for respiratory issues and requiring the school to incur an expenditure of over $55,000 for inspection and damage to the school air conditioning system,” according to the sheriff’s office statement.

A motive for the alleged act remains under investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.

Lewis was arrested on Friday, September 19, on charges of disturbing schools and malicious injury to property with a value of over $10,000, the sheriff’s office said.

He was booked at the Florence County Jail, where he is being held on $9,090 bond.

“The investigation into this matter is ongoing and additional charges are possible,” the sheriff’s office said.

Lewis is alleged to have spayed the stinky substance at the school between Aug. 25 and Sept. 19, according to the sheriff’s office. During that time span, students complained of experiencing nausea, dizziness and headaches from the gas-like odor, parents and students told ABC affiliate station WPDE in Florence.

“Personally, as a student, every time I go to my second block class, I walk up the stairwell and immediately, teachers are covering their noses and their mouths, coughing because of the smell,” a student told WPDE. “I got physically sick the other day because of the smell. I feel like I’m going to pass out because I get so lightheaded and so dizzy.”

All UK adults will now be required to have digital ID ‘BritCard’

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All UK adults will now be required to have digital ID ‘BritCard’

Adults in the UK will soon be required to carry a digital ID card under a new scheme drawn up by the Labour government.

The announcement is expected to be made in a speech by Prime Minister Keir Starmer tomorrow (26 September), as part of a scheme to tackle illegal immigration.

Nicknamed the ‘BritCard’, the scheme will require anyone starting a new job or looking to rent a home to show the card on a smartphone app.

he card will then be checked against a central database of people entitled to live and work in the UK.

The government have not confirmed when the scheme would come into circulation, as it’s likely the cards would be subject to consultation and would likely require legislation.

The introduction of ID cards marks a major shift in UK policy, as British citizens have not been required to carry them since the Second World War, with the scheme being scrapped in 1952.

The scheme is part of the government’s clampdown on illegal immigration, following calls from French President Emmanuel Macron for the UK to reduce ‘pull factors’ for migrants to come to the UK.

A total of 1,157 people have arrived on small boats in the last week, according to Home Office statistics.

Starmer floated the idea of Digital ID cards earlier this month, suggesting the system could play an ‘important part’ in stopping illegal migration.

“We all carry a lot more digital ID now than we did 20 years ago, and I think that, psychologically, it plays a different part,” he said in an interview with the BBC.

Meanwhile, Labour minister Harriet Harman told Sky News that digital ID cards would ‘make it even more difficult for people to work illegally’.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has also previously been positive about the policy.

Similar national ID card schemes have been successfully implemented in numerous countries worldwide, notably Estonia, which has used identity cards since 2002.

Has the UK tried to implement ID cards in the past?
Anyone with a long memory will likely remember that Labour attempted to introduce ID cards the last time they were in power, under the Tony Blair government.

Named the Identity Cards Act, the scheme was heavily debated and later scrapped in 2010 when the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition came to power.

John Major’s Conservative government had previously attempted to reintroduce the cards in 1995.

‘Lying buffoon’: Ilhan Omar hits back after Trump claims he tried to send her to Somalia

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Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) clapped back at President Donald Trump on Thursday after the president said in the Oval Office that he asked the president of Somalia to take her back.

Trump made the claim in the Oval Office after he signed an executive order approving a deal to make the popular social media app TikTok an American-owned company.

“I suggested maybe he’d like to take her back,” Trump said of his conversation with Somalia’s president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. “He said, ‘I don’t want her.'”

Omar responded to Trump’s claims in a post on her official X account.

“From denying Somalia had a president to making up a story, President Trump is a lying buffoon,” Omar wrote. “No one should take this embarrassing fool seriously.”

Trump’s comments come at a time when some of the president’s allies in Congress are seeking to strip Omar of her committee assignments and expel her from the body.

Omar has long been a target of right-wing lawmakers, but the recent efforts to remove her accelerated after comments she made during an interview with Mehdi Hasan of Zeteo News, where she was critical of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

MAGA influencer hoards ‘holy water’ fearing witches cursed Charlie Kirk

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MAGA influencer Jack Posobiec revealed that he was keeping a supply of “holy water” on hand after a publication paid witches to curse Charlie Kirk.

During a Thursday interview on Real America’s Voice, Posobiec spoke with conservative host Megyn Kelly about her remarks from earlier in the week, revealing that Erika Kirk had been “genuinely rattled” after feminist website Jezebel paid witches to place a hex on her husband.

“We should talk about whether or not the demonic had some influence here,” Posobiec said.

Kelly acknowledged that Jezebel’s article “didn’t ask for actual bodily harm.”

“And they did this 18 days before Charlie died,” she noted. “But the day before he was assassinated, Erika and Charlie saw the story because Jezebel wrote it up the Monday before Charlie was killed, which was a Wednesday.”

“And they asked a friend of theirs, and I think Erika told me that it was a Catholic priest, but I can’t totally remember, but it was a Catholic, just a friend of theirs, and they asked him for a blessing over Charlie the night before he was killed,” she continued. “But my own takeaway as a friend of hers and as a Christian was this was evil what they did. This was an evil act.”

Kelly suggested the witchcraft could have led to Charlie Kirk’s murder.

“And I also happen to feel that there is a possibility they opened a very dark door,” she explained. “I don’t know how things work.”

“Like you’re calling up things you might not want to call up in your home or in this world. So who are we to say, as mere mortals, that doing that kind of ritual is utterly powerless, is the joke that Jezebel seemed to think it was. I don’t know that. I have no idea what doing that is capable of.”

Posobiec revealed some of the steps he had taken to keep his family safe from supernatural forces.

“I, as everyone knows, I always have my rosary right here, very handy,” he pointed out. “I’ve got crucifixes up in my bedroom and the bedrooms of my children, the same way that my parents had for me. We have holy water in the house.”

“So yes, they could have an agent of evil fire a bullet at Charlie,” he added. “And I know that that spell, that hex could never break Charlie’s bond with Christ.”

Trump Slams ABC Over Jimmy Kimmel’s Return, “I Can’t Believe They Gave Him His Job Back”

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Trump is criticizing ABC for putting Jimmy Kimmel back on air after his suspension, saying the network had told the White House the show was canceled. He mocked Kimmel’s ratings, questioned his talent, and hinted at legal action.

In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there.”

According to People, he accused Kimmel of pushing “99% positive Democrat garbage” and claimed ABC’s decision amounted to free campaign support for Democrats, which he suggested could be illegal.

Trump also threatened to “test” ABC, saying he previously collected $16 million from the network. “This one sounds even more lucrative,” he added, before declaring Kimmel should “rot in his bad ratings.”

ABC first announced on Sept. 17 that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be pulled “indefinitely” after Kimmel faced backlash for remarks about the death of conservative organizer Charlie Kirk.

Trump celebrated that decision at the time, calling it “great news for America” and praising ABC for “finally having the courage to do what had to be done.” He also mocked Kimmel’s ratings compared to other late-night hosts and took aim at Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers.

During a visit to the United Kingdom, Trump described Kimmel’s suspension as a firing, citing low ratings and his “horrible” comments about Kirk. “He should have been fired a long time ago,” Trump said.

The controversy followed the Sept. 10 shooting death of Kirk, 31, at a Utah Valley University event. On his show, Kimmel accused conservatives of exploiting the tragedy for political points, sparking outrage from Trump allies and conservative media.

After the remarks, broadcasters, including Nexstar and Sinclair, said they would not air Kimmel’s show unless he apologized to Kirk’s family and donated to Turning Point USA, now run by Kirk’s widow, Erika.

Despite the backlash, ABC confirmed on Sept. 23 that Kimmel would return, prompting Trump to renew his attacks. He ended his criticism by calling ABC executives “a true bunch of losers” and repeating that Kimmel should “rot in his bad ratings.”

Trump threatens to relocate FIFA World Cup matches

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President Donald Trump told a group of reporters on Thursday that he is considering forcibly relocating 2026 World Cup matches out of cities if he believes they are “dangerous” — even though he is not in charge of FIFA and doesn’t have the authority to relocate World Cup matches — and specifically mentioned Chicago as a potential example, even though Chicago is not scheduled to host any World Cup matches in the first place.

“If I think it’s not safe, we’re going to move it out of that city,” said Trump. “If, like, the governor of Illinois, who is, look, you know, last week, between last week and the week before, 11 murders, and 38 people were shot. And he gets up and says, ‘this is a very safe,’ and then he says crime is better.”

“The reason crime is better is because Kash [Patel] put, about five months ago, a whole team of FBI there to get ready for when we go in, and they’ve lowered it a little bit,” he said. “You know, 20, 25 percent, which isn’t good enough, but it’s a good start. But that was only put there because they’re preparing for us to go in. And they’ve done, by the way, they’ve done a good job. So then Pritzker gets up, ‘We’ve lowered crime 25…’ It’s because the FBI was there.”

“So, no, if any city we think is going to be even a little bit dangerous for the World Cup, or for the Olympics, you know, when they have Olympic overthrow, right, but for the World Cup in particular, because they’re playing in so many cities, we won’t allow it to go — we’ll move it around a little,” Trump continued. “But I hope that’s not going to happen.”

Trump has repeatedly cited the crime rate in Chicago — often wildly exaggerating it — as a possible pretext to sending in federal troops to keep order, much the way he did in Los Angeles to crack down on protests against his mass deportation policies.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has repeatedly condemned Trump’s threats against his state’s most populous city, and indicated he will strenuously oppose any military occupation of his state.

James Comey indicted: report

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Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted on two counts of lying to Congress and obstruction of justice, according to a new report.

CNN reported on-air Thursday that President Donald Trump’s Justice Department had secured an indictment from a grand jury against Comey. It is the first time a former FBI director has been indicted, according to CNN legal analyst Ellie Honig.

“These are serious charges,” CNN legal reporter Katelyn Polantz said, adding that both charges carry multi-year sentences if Comey is convicted.

Trump has been pursuing charges against Comey for several months. Recently, Trump posted on Truth Social that Attorney General Pam Bondi to do more to prosecute Comey.

Brazilian football legend Ronaldo asks Ancelotti to pick Neymar for world cup

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Brazilian football legend Ronaldo has urged national team coach Carlo Ancelotti to bring Neymar back into the Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Ronaldo, one of the greatest players in Brazil’s history and a two-time World Cup winner, said Neymar’s presence could be the decisive factor in Brazil’s campaign.

Neymar, who remains Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, has not played for the Selecao since October 2023, when he suffered a devastating cruciate knee ligament injury while on international duty against Uruguay. Now 33, Neymar has returned to playing regularly for Santos, the club where his career began, after a short and disappointing stint with Saudi side Al Hilal.

Despite his recovery and consistent appearances for Santos this year, Neymar has not been included in any of Ancelotti’s four squads since the Italian took charge of Brazil. Ronaldo believes this is a mistake.

“He is a decisive player for the Brazilian Selecao. We don’t have another player like Neymar,” Ronaldo said during a publicity event in São Paulo, speaking alongside compatriots. “The people hope 100 percent that he will go to the World Cup because if he is there, we will definitely have better results than if he’s not there.”

Ronaldo himself scored 62 goals in 99 appearances for Brazil, winning the World Cup in 1994 and again in 2002, when his eight goals, including two in the final, secured his place in football history. His endorsement of Neymar’s return carries significant weight among fans and within the footballing community.

Neymar’s career in recent years has been blighted by injuries, causing him to miss Brazil’s Copa America triumph in 2019. After joining Al Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023, he played only five matches and scored one goal before his knee injury sidelined him for nearly a year. Although he returned, he featured just twice more for the Saudi side before moving back to Santos in January 2025.

Ancelotti, when questioned about Neymar’s omission from the September World Cup qualifiers, said the forward needed to regain full match sharpness before being recalled. “He needs to get in better shape to help the national team and to give the best of himself at the World Cup,” the coach stated.

With the World Cup less than a year away, the debate over Neymar’s role is intensifying. For Ronaldo and many Brazilian supporters, leaving Neymar out would mean going into the tournament without the country’s most gifted attacking player of the generation.

Boyfriend of Charlie Kirk suspect was estranged from family cause he didn’t believe in their Mormon Faith

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Lance Twiggs, the 22-year-old transgender boyfriend of Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson, was reportedly kicked out of his family home during high school due to a severe clash over his Mormon faith.

Twiggs was forced to leave after drifting away from his Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) beliefs. He found shelter with two brothers from a large, blended family in St. George, Utah, according to the brothers’ sister, Braylon Nielsen.

Twiggs stayed with the family on and off, beginning in his junior year in 2021. Nielsen, 19, recalls the high schooler struggling to find a stable place to stay.

“It was on and off. He was bouncing couches. He would live with us for a few months, but didn’t like taking up our couch. He would crash with friends,” she explained.

Nielsen said she loved Twiggs and that his parents “never sat right with my family,” describing them as “overbearing religious zealots.” She dismissed claims from Twiggs’ family members that he had “dabbled in drugs and alcohol” as “spiteful gossip.”

“Lance, that I know of, has never done drugs. He was always like, ‘I don’t want to go out and party.’ He just wasn’t a big partier,” she insisted.

Friends and former school staff offered a positive portrait of Twiggs. Nielsen praised him as a “hardworking” and “straight A” student at UT Success Academy, an accelerated program for gifted students. She emphasized his commitment to inclusion:

“He just took care of people. My sister’s car broke down once, and he came out to help her,” she recalled.

Ben Kaufman, Executive Director of UT Success Academy, who did not overlap with Twiggs but has heard recent reports, stated, “Everything I’ve heard about him, he was a great kid. He was nice. He worked hard.”

Despite their closeness, Nielsen admitted that she “had no clue Lance was trans.” She was quick, however, to defend him vehemently against any suggestion of involvement in the assassination plot against Charlie Kirk.

“I think that’s all Tyler. The Lance that I knew would never do something like that. I could never see Lance doing that,” she insisted.

Nielsen’s mother, Jackie, echoed this belief, calling Twiggs “a good kid… He’s compassionate. He minds his own business.” She urged the public to reserve judgment, stating, “I hope the world lightens up on him and stops being so hateful until they have all the facts. He doesn’t deserve this.”

Twiggs recently abandoned the townhouse in St. George he shared with Robinson, who was also reportedly raised as a devout Mormon. Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby previously confirmed that Twiggs was moved to a “safe space very far away from St. George,” where he needs “to lay low for a long time.”

Twiggs has not been charged with a crime in connection with Kirk’s assassination and is reportedly cooperating with authorities.

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