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Here’s Why BMW X3, Ford Mustang, VW Polo, And Other Vehicles Were Recalled

Ford Mustang, VW Polo, BMW X3 Among Vehicles Recalled by NCC

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued a sweeping recall affecting thousands of vehicles across South Africa.

The affected brands include Ford, BMW, Volkswagen, and Hino, with recalls covering the Mustang, Transit Custom, X3, Polo, and 500 Series buses.

Safety Risks Identified

According to the NCC , the recalls stem from serious manufacturing defects that could put drivers and passengers at risk.

  • Ford Mustang (2021–2022) – faulty fuel pump that can stall the engine mid-drive.

  • Ford Transit Custom (2024–2025) – defective passenger airbag filter that may block deployment.
  • BMW X3 (G45 Series) – outer rear headrests that fail to provide adequate crash protection.
  • Volkswagen Polo (May 19–23, 2025) – rear axle improperly torqued, risking detachment.
  • Hino 500 Series Buses (2018–2025) – incorrectly torqued drag link and missing split pins, threatening steering control.

Free Repairs for Vehicle Owners
The NCC has urged all affected vehicle owners to immediately visit authorised dealerships for inspections and repairs. All corrective work will be carried out free of charge.

“These recalls are not optional. They are essential for the safety of motorists, passengers, and all road users,” the commission stressed.

A Strong Warning to Consumers
The commission reminded consumers not to delay in addressing the defects.

“Even if your vehicle appears to be running normally, these hidden faults can result in sudden and catastrophic failures,” an NCC spokesperson warned.

Public Questions on Vehicle Quality and Recall Delays
Following the NCC’s announcement, many people have raised concerns over the effectiveness of quality control in the automotive industry. Some questioned how vehicles with such serious defects managed to pass quality assurance tests in the first place, while others expressed frustration that recalls like the BMW X3’s were only issued months after similar actions had already taken place in other countries.

@GI_Irvin;

Therefore, I am assuming that those cars from China are better vehicles since I have never observed them to be recalled.樂

@Monametsii;

How did these vehicles pass quality assurance tests 樂

@PhoshPk;

What took them so long to recall BMW X3 when other countries, have recalled them earlier this year.
North America recalled it in Nov 2024.

@VeeOpulence;

This is what happens when there’s mass production. No one checks anything anymore.

MISSING MAN FOUND 20 YEARS LATER — LIVING AS A WOMAN

MISSING MAN FOUND 20 YEARS LATER — LIVING AS A WOMAN
Arrest in Georgia (USA) uncovers jaw-dropping secret identity


In a twist no one saw coming, Charles Moore, who vanished in 2005 and was presumed dead, has been found living as Keisha Johnson — after 20 years.



On Friday night, Keisha Johnson was arrested in Blackshear for prostitution and drug possession. But when police ran her fingerprints, the system lit up:
She was a match for Charles Moore, a man missing for two decades.



“We thought the system glitched,” police said.
But after questioning, Johnson admitted she is Charles Moore.



Moore had undergone a sex change and cosmetic surgeries, explaining:

“Back then, being gay or transitioning was dangerous. I didn’t want my family to go through that.”


Moore left behind a wife and five kids. His wife, now deceased, always believed he was still alive.

Now, the kids are split — four are welcoming Johnson back, but the eldest, Charles Jr., isn’t having it:



“I don’t care who you are — you don’t abandon your family.”

This story is going viral for a reason.
From disappearance… to transformation… to reunion.


Keisha Johnson is Charles Moore. And the world just found out.

Cc: The Baxters ( United States of America)

Zimbabweans React To Ban On Tinted Windows As Senior Govt Officials Clash

Zimbabweans react to ban on tinted windows
Zimbabweans have reacted with shock, confusion, and ridicule after a sudden government directive banning tinted windows was announced, only to be swiftly dismissed by the presidency as unlawful. The dramatic reversal, which unfolded in less than 24 hours, triggered widespread debate both online and offline, with many questioning the legality of the order.

Charamba distances the presidency from directive
On Wednesday, 3 September 2025, presidential spokesman George Charamba, who is accompanying President Emmerson Mnangagwa on an official trip to China, disowned the ban announced the previous day by Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution, Tafadzwa Muguti.

Charamba said in a statement:

“Kindly note: There is no basis in fact or law to the accompanying announcement attributed to Secretary Muguti. Kindly ignore this mis-communication from an unauthorised office and officer!”

Muguti had convened a press conference in Harare on Tuesday, 2 September 2025, where he ordered both private and public motorists to “immediately” remove tinted windows from their vehicles. He argued that tinted cars were increasingly being used in crimes. However, he made exemptions for government vehicles, VIP transport, and cars manufactured with factory-installed tints.

The announcement created instant confusion. Current regulations, as outlined in Statutory Instrument 129 of 2015, do not ban tints altogether. They only require that windows provide a “clear, undistorted vision” and ensure “a safe degree of visibility.”

Legal experts quickly pointed out that Muguti’s order had no legal foundation. Prominent lawyer Obey Shava warned that the police risked acting unlawfully if they tried to enforce the measure.

“Police should be careful not to make costly decisions based on a statement which is not fully supported by the law,” Shava explained. “Tint is allowed on condition certain requirements are met.”

By Wednesday morning, Charamba’s dismissal of the ban had effectively neutralised Muguti’s order.

Zimbabweans push back with anger and humour
The ban on tint immediately sparked a wave of criticism and jokes on social media. Zimbabweans accused the authorities of focusing on the wrong priorities and disrupting ordinary people’s lives.

One user, @begottensun, reacted strongly:

“Unless this is a banana republic, you can ONLY ban something with a gazetted law that’s put through the relevant channels. Like Parliament. You don’t rule a nation via Twitter decrees mhani. Tint also stops smash and grabs. It protects a car from getting too hot. Gives privacy.”

Another citizen, @Musalad, highlighted security concerns:

“I drive husiku ndiri ndega (I drive alone at night) a lot. I feel safer in a tinted vehicle, it’s for my own safety. Majority of people use tints for safety reasons, the pros outweigh the cons.”

Others echoed the same view, warning that criminals could now easily target valuables inside cars. @WeGweru posted:

“Security, imagine laptop yako iri mumota isina tint, anambavha will just smash and grab. With tint it takes time for criminals to figure out kuti mumota munemunhu here? Mukadzi here? Ari ega here?”
(“Security, imagine leaving your laptop in a car without tint, a thief will just smash and grab. With tint it takes time for criminals to figure out if someone is inside, whether it is a woman, and if they are alone.”)

Film producer Ben Mahaka weighed in, calling the move “a rash, knee jerk reaction,” while pointing out that he tints production vehicles to protect his expensive filming equipment.

“This feels like a rash, knee jerk reaction to an unfortunate incident. I tint production vehicles to protect my equipment. A thief will think twice before breaking into a tinted vehicle.”

Even those who do not use tints opposed the blanket ban. @Munxah said:

“While I don’t put tint on my cars, tint protects cars against UV light and ensures safety when it comes to vehicle break-ins. Tinted cars are likely not to be targeted by criminals.”

Some Zimbabweans mocked the authorities. @Mthreezero1 wrote:

“Chero ma drugs akafamba akatsigwa pamusoro, as long police iri corrupt they will still get through the borders. Mushikashika unongoitwa madiro, citizens complain daily wani.”
(“Even if drugs are transported in the open, as long as police are corrupt, they will still pass through the borders. Mshikashika pirate taxis roams freely, citizens complain every day.”)

Some pointed out practical benefits. @Shelaz007 listed them:

“Tinted windows on vehicles offer UV protection, heat reduction, glare reduction, privacy and security. They help protect valuables from being seen, potentially reducing theft.”

And @ChakareTafadzwa added:

“We tint our vehicles for the same reasons as VIPs. UV protection, cooler interiors, reduced visibility from criminals. You might as well ban vehicles altogether because they are used for ‘nefarious objectives’.”

Outrage, ridicule, and political backlash
For others, the announcement became a symbol of misplaced priorities. @pdofficiel mocked:

“We got real issues maGeez that need our attention. Zvema tinted windows are not even considered issues.”

@ChiranduMutare echoed this:

“Very good at banning unnecessary things instead of making the economy run. For once announce something that will make people happy please.”

The backlash extended to government officials. Information Secretary Nick Mangwana, who had posted a video supporting the ban, faced a barrage of criticism.

Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono also demanded clarity from Mangwana, asking:

“You posted a video yesterday announcing the banning of tinted car windows. However, President Mnangagwa’s spokesman, George Charamba, dismissed your announcement as illegal and urged Zimbabweans to ignore it. Can you clarify why you posted something that has no basis at law? This contradiction not only confuses citizens but also undermines public trust in official communication.”

Another journalist, Maynard Manyowa, said,

“Sometimes I am tempted to believe your administration employs someone whose job is to come up with the most obnoxious things for no other purpose than to just make people despise you. Things that are senseless and serve no purpose.”

Opposition politician Fadzayi Mahere said on 2 September 2025:

“The Govt has no power to ban tints on car windows or anything else by word of mouth. This is invalid, unlawful and of no force or effect. Legislation by press statement is unconstitutional.”

She followed up on 3 September 2025, directly addressing government spokesperson Nick Mangwana, who had endorsed Muguti’s statement:

“Why are you endorsing illegal announcements made by unauthorised officers? Do you understand that the Govt has to respect the rule of law? We need new leaders.”

The contradictory messages from senior officials left Zimbabweans questioning how such a directive could have been issued in the first place and why exemptions were made only for government vehicles.

Florida man allegedly ran over woman after she refused to let him smell her feet

Awoman claimed she barely made it out alive after a weird encounter with a customer. She told investigators that a 28-year-old man, later identified as Elmoncy Sercle, allegedly hit her with his SUV shortly after she refused to allow him to smell her feet.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, told Local 10 News that on August 24, she went to the Serena Hotel, which is situated at 2820 NE 214th St., to sell a pair of used sneakers to Sercle, who lives in southwest Miami-Dade.

The victim reportedly told authorities that she went to Sercle’s hotel room and that he had left the door open for her.

“When I got there, he just wanted to sniff my feet, and I didn’t feel comfortable with that,” the woman said. “I mean, you could have my sneakers all you want. I mean, I don’t care. I’m not wearing them. And you know, they’re just stinky old sneakers. But people like weird things.”

Then it got scary, she said. She introduced herself as a foot model and said the used sneakers cost $1,000. According to the victim, she was wearing sandals at the time and told the suspect that her sneakers were in her car. Sercle declined her offer and she excused herself to use the bathroom.

According to investigators, she heard him leave the room at that point. She said she chased after Sercle to the parking lot because she assumed he had run out of the room with her shoes. However, she stated that when she confronted Sercle, “he did a three-point turn and actually hit me with a car. Ran me over.”

“By the grace of God, I’m still standing today,” the woman said.

She described the encounter as not only frightening, but also “extremely bizarre.”

“I’ve never experienced anything like this before,” she said. “I’ve met a lot of people who have foot fetishes, obviously, and nobody has ever done anything to this caliber.”

The woman had bruising and abrasions on her back, arms, and chest and needed emergency medical attention, police said.

Detectives eventually found out that Sercle had been connected to other occurrences with a similar pattern.

Congolese woman accused of fatally stabbing British expat in Cambodia over a man

Jessica Cariad Hopkins, a British woman, was found stabbed to death in a Cambodian park following an argument over what authorities described as a “love triangle.” According to a statement from the General Commissariat of National Police, the 34-year-old was discovered dead at a park close to Koh Pich City Hall in the capital city of Phnom Penh just before midnight on August 29.

Hopkins’ sandals were found next to her body as she lay in the grass in the park in the city’s Chamkar Mon neighborhood. Police reported that a bloodied knife, the murder weapon, was discovered nearby.

The statement said that after a brief investigation, police located Kidikila Nganda Glodie, 33, of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in a nearby salon at 3:30 p.m. on August 30 and took her into custody in relation to Hopkins’ murder.

According to the police statement, the suspect stabbed Hopkins in the throat. According to the Khmer Times, Deputy Chief Captain Em Vichetr of the Criminal Investigation Office stated that Hopkins and Glodie shared a home in the Chroy Changvar area and were roommates.

“This murder is a love triangle cause,” according to the statement.

The Khmer Times said that the two women reportedly rode a moped to Koh Pich, where they sat in the park and began to argue, according to police.

Vichetr reported on August 30 that the suspect “knocked the victim down and pushed her to the ground” before wielding a knife and stabbing Hopkins “many times” in the throat. The suspect then left the scene.

Brigadier General Bun Satya, a Deputy Chief of the Phnom Penh Municipal Police, said that the suspect killed Hopkins because of a man, according to the Khmer Times.

The Phnom Penh police commissioner, Chuon Narin, described the incident as perhaps connected to a “love triangle” and said initial results suggested that the motive might have been personal jealousy.

According to Satya, the suspect expressed suspicion that her boyfriend was having an affair.

“During the interrogation after her arrest, the suspect confessed that she had killed the victim because she was angry at her for having an affair with her Congolese boyfriend,” Satya recalled.

The Khmer Times reported that Glodie will likely face murder charges.

According to People, Hopkins’ Facebook page suggests that she is from Harpenden, a little town about 33 miles northwest of London.

In a heartfelt Facebook post, her friend Sophors Chheoun said, “I am heartbroken to lose my lovely neighbor and dear friend Jessica Cariad Hopkins. She was such a caring person, always there for me and my family, helping in ways big and small. Her kindness, her smile, and her generous heart meant so much to me.

“It feels unreal that she is gone. My heart aches knowing such a beautiful soul was taken from us too soon. Rest in peace, Jessica. You will forever be missed and remembered with love.”

Court overturns Trump administration’s $2.6B Harvard funding slash

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Afederal court has handed Harvard University a major legal win in its long-running fight with the Trump administration, overturning billions in research funding cuts that the school argued were politically motivated.

U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs ruled Wednesday that the White House acted unlawfully when it froze and later canceled more than $2.6 billion in federal grants, concluding the measures were “an ideologically-motivated assault on this country’s premier universities.” The government had justified its actions as a response to antisemitism on campus, but Burroughs said Harvard’s research funding bore “little connection” to those allegations.

“A review of the administrative record makes it difficult to conclude anything other than that (the government) used antisemitism as a smokescreen,” she wrote, adding that while the fight against antisemitism is vital, “so is the protection of free speech.”

The decision reverses months of funding freezes that crippled hundreds of projects. Whether the money will immediately flow back to Harvard remains uncertain; White House spokesperson Liz Huston said an appeal is imminent, branding Burroughs an “activist Obama-appointed judge.”

“To any fair-minded observer, it is clear that Harvard University failed to protect their students from harassment and allowed discrimination to plague their campus for years,” Huston said. “Harvard does not have a constitutional right to taxpayer dollars.”

Harvard President Alan Garber called the ruling validation of the school’s fight for academic freedom but signaled further legal wrangling ahead. “Even as we acknowledge the important principles affirmed in today’s ruling, we will continue to assess the implications of the opinion, monitor further legal developments, and be mindful of the changing landscape in which we seek to fulfill our mission,” he told the campus.

Researchers greeted the judgment with relief tempered by caution. “Many of us are worried that the federal government is going to appeal this decision or find other ways to obstruct the delivery of research dollars,” said Rita Hamad, director of a center focused on social policy and health.

The court fight traces back to an April 11 demand letter from a federal antisemitism task force requiring sweeping changes to campus governance, protests, admissions, and curriculum. Harvard rejected those demands, prompting the Trump administration to freeze $2.2 billion in grants the same day. Education Secretary Linda McMahon later declared Harvard ineligible for new awards, and contracts were terminated under clauses allowing cancellations when projects no longer “align with government policies.”

Burroughs’s order restores all grants withdrawn since April 14 and forbids future cuts that violate the school’s constitutional rights. She agreed Harvard had shown the administration imposed unconstitutional conditions on federal funding and failed to follow procedures mandated by Congress under Title VI of the Higher Education Act.

“As pertains to this case, it is important to recognize and remember that if speech can be curtailed in the name of the Jewish people today, then just as easily the speech of the Jews (and anyone else) can be curtailed when the political winds change direction,” Burroughs warned.

Trump officials maintain the cuts were policy-driven and unrelated to retaliation, insisting that “it is the policy of the United States under the Trump Administration not to fund institutions that fail to adequately address antisemitism.” Meanwhile, informal talks over a potential settlement, including Trump’s demand for at least $500 million from Harvard, have yet to produce a deal.

British woman ‘grabs crying child from airport queue and refuses to give him back’

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A young British woman has been arrested at a US airport after allegedly refusing to hand a crying child back to his parents.

Alvina Omisri Agba was led away in handcuffs on Tuesday (2 September) after the bizarre incident at Miami International Airport.

The 23-year-old traveller has been accused of attempting to make off with the little lad after offering his mother help when he appeared to be distressed.

According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Agba was standing in line at Security Checkpoint 5 in the airport at around 4am when the strange saga began.

Agba, who hails from Luton, is said to have noticed that a mother was struggling to console her crying son, the Miami Herald reported.

She allegedly offered to take the child to try and calm him down – but it is claimed that when she got hold of him, she began to walk away from the area.

The mortified mother then followed the UK native through the airport and is said to have demanded that Agba hand her son back over – but she is alleged to have refused.

Reports claim that she told the mum: “No, this is my child.”

A small tussle over the child then ensued as Agba allegedly wrapped her arms and legs around him to stop him from wriggling free, an arrest report explains.

Deputies said the two women were left ‘wrestling’ over the youngster, according to the Miami Herald, with his mum grabbing onto his arms while Agba allegedly clung onto his legs.

The chaos which was unfolding in Miami International Airport caught the attention of passersby, one of whom intervened to help the crying child.

According to Local 10 News, Global Crossing Airlines check-in clerk Naylet Montano grabbed the boy after hearing him scream.

Her supervisor Dayanis Ojeda told the publication: “Once [Montano] took the baby to the counter, the lady went inside the counter and we called 911.”

It is believed that the airline employee walked behind a check-in counter while carrying the child to protect him.

Cops claim that Agba crawled underneath the counter and continued to demand that Montano hand over the boy.

Three men are said to have then intervened, before law enforcement arrived at the scene and took the Brit woman into custody.

The child is said to have been left with deep scratches across his neck, according to the Daily Mail, but he and his mother managed to make their flight.

Agba, meanwhile, was charged with interfering with custody and battery. She is being held at the Turner Guilford Correctional Center on a $3,500 bond.

The 23-year-old is alleged to have told officers that she was taking the child to look at a wall which had a rainbow painted on it in a bid to calm him down when she was read her rights.

According to reports, Agba also claimed that she did not remember what happened when the mother tried to collect her son from her, but said she ‘only did it because God told her to do it’.

Putin and Xi caught on hot mic in terrifying discussion about ‘becoming immortal’

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Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping seem to have been caught on a hot mic having quite a terrifying discussion.

The Russian and Chinese leaders met at China’s V-Day celebrations today (3 September), along with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un.

Donald Trump has already spoken out about them getting together as he suggested they were ‘conspiring against the United States of America’.

The trio had been watching the biggest ever military parade in the country but they were having a chat about something very different when the mics picked up their conversation – becoming immortal.

While it’s not clear if the conversation was being translated for Jong-un, it was certainly an interesting thing to hear the leaders discussing.

The broadcast picked up their conversation as they discussed how biotechnology could end up leading to humans managing to live up to the age of 150.

Not all of their conversation ended up being aired but Putin’s translator could be heard on a livestream broadcast on China state media, reportedly saying: “Biotechnology is continuously developing.

“Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and [you can] even achieve immortality.”

And Xi’s translator said: “Some predict that in this century humans may live up to 150 years old,” while also adding at one point: “Earlier, people rarely lived to 70, but these days at 70 years you are still a child.”

The two leaders are both 72 years old and Jong-un (who is 41 years old) was seen to be smiling and looking in their direction while the conversation happened. But, like I said, it doesn’t seem to be clear if he was actually filled in with what they were saying at this point.

The hot mic’ing only lasted less than a minute or so and was dropping in and out during it, with it airing not long after Xi told the crowd of spectators that the world faced a choice between ‘peace or war’.

The leader claimed China would ‘firmly stand on the right side of history’ as he said he aimed to unify the nation – hinting again towards a future invasion of Taiwan.

“Today, mankind is faced with the choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum,” Xi stated.

Seemingly not invited, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of ‘support and ‘blood’ that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader.”

He claimed that ‘many Americans’ perished for China, adding: “I hope that they are rightfully Honoured and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!”

Demi Moore reveals ex-husband Bruce Willis’ ‘difficult’ personality change after dementia diagnosis

Demi Moore has opened up about Bruce Willis’ ‘difficult’ personality change following his dementia diagnosis.

The Die Hard star, 70, announced his retirement from acting in 2022 after his aphasia diagnosis, ‘a condition that makes it difficult to communicate. It can make it hard to speak, read, write and understand others,’ according to the NHS.

Willis’ current wife, Emma Heming, has been looking after him and is set to release a book about caregiving, called The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope and Yourself on the Caregiving Path.

“For me knowledge is power, and building a supportive community around me has been vital,” the 45-year-old said in a statement to People.

“It has brought stability and a certain amount of control back, control that was completely shattered when the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia first came into our family’s world.”

Now, in between Heming’s recent appearance on the Oprah podcast, the host shared a pre-recorded interview clip of Willis’ ex-wife, Moore, 62.

She shares daughters Rumer, 37, Scout, 34, and Tallulah, 31, with the actor.

“It’s difficult. It’s hard to see somebody who was so vibrant and strong and so directed shift into this other parts of themself,” the Charlie’s Angels star admitted.

“But you know, my particular perspective is one, I really always say it’s so important just to meet them where they’re at.

“Don’t have an expectation of them needing to be who they were or who you want them to be, and when you do that, I find that there is an incredible sweetness and something that’s soft and tender and loving.

“And perhaps it is more playful and childlike in certain sense, because of how much more caretaking they need.”

She said how ‘showing up and being present’ is the ‘most important’ thing because ‘there’s still so much of him there’.

Moore acknowledges that, although ‘it may not always be verbal, it is beautiful given the givens’.

It comes after Heming said the family has made the decision to put Willis in a separate home to her and their daughters Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, because he ‘would want that’.

“He would want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his needs,” she said during ABC’s Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey – A Diane Sawyer Special.

“Bruce is in really great health, overall, it’s just his brain that is failing him.”

Heming noted that the father still has breakfast and dinner with the children in his home, alongside a full-time care team.

Willis and Heming have been married since March 2009.

Bizarre theories emerge as Kim Jong Un’s staff filmed ‘destroying all traces of his presence’ after meeting Putin

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A Russian journalist has shared a video of Kim Jong Un’s staff allegedly ‘destroying all traces of his presence’ after meeting Vladimir Putin in China.

The pair had a sit-down chat after attending a military parade in Beijing, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII.

Putin was full of praise for the North Korean leader who agreed to send about 15,000 troops to fight against Ukraine in Russia.

According to South Korean assessments, they also sent large quantities weapons to help with Putin’s three-year invasion of Ukraine.

Following the talks, Russian state media reported that Kim insisted that providing any assistance to Russia was North Korea’s ‘fraternal duty’.

“If there’s anything I can do for you and the people of Russia, if there is more that needs to be done, I will consider it as a fraternal duty, an obligation that we surely need to bear, and will be prepared to do everything possible to help,” he said.

After the pair met in Beijing, a video uploaded by Russian journalist Alexander Yunashev on Telegram, appeared to show North Korean staff wipe down all the furniture that Kim had touched.

As well as whisking away his glass, two staff members were seen anxiously polishing the backrest of the chair he was sat on.

One theory suggests that this appears to be an attempt to remove all traces of his DNA.

“After the negotiations, the staff accompanying the head of the DPRK carefully destroyed all traces of Kim’s presence,” Yunashev said on Yunashev Live.

“They took away the glass from which he drank, wiped the upholstery of the chair and those parts of the furniture that the Korean leader touched.

“The official part of the meeting ended, Putin and Kim left the office very satisfied and went to drink tea in a more relaxed atmosphere.”

It comes after Japanese and South Korean intelligence alleged that Kim travelled to China with his own private toilet, again to protect his DNA.

The New York Post reports that the lavatory was on his green armored train that took him to Beijing on Tuesday (2 September).

“The physical condition of the supreme leader has a major impact on the North Korean regime,” a South Korean intelligence official told Nikkei Asia, a Japan-based English-language news outlet.

“North Korea makes a particular effort to seal off anything related to that, such as hair and excrement.”

The Daily Mail also reports that Putin’s Federal Protection Service (FPS) have been collecting his wee and poo in sealed bags when he is abroad since 2017 to prevent other leaders from gaining ‘intelligence’ about his health.

Jeffrey Epstein’s victims compiling their own client list as they say ‘we know all the names’

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Victims of Jeffrey Epstein have heaped further pressure on the US president to release the rest of the files and the disgraced financier’s alleged client list.

Women who survived sexual abuse at the hands of the deceased 66-year-old gathered outside Congress in Washington DC on Tuesday (2 September) to make their voices heard.

They called directly upon Donald Trump to support their fight for transparency instead of dismissing it as a ‘Democrat hoax’.

Earlier this week, the House of Representatives Oversight Committee published 33,295 pages of documents related to Epstein, which included emails, flight logs, and court filings, among other things.

Videos and pictures were also made public when the cache of evidence was released, revealing that the sex offender had nude snaps of Ghislaine Maxwell laid out in his home – but aside from that, there was nothing new.

During Tuesday’s news conference, the women opened up about how Epstein and the socialite – who is serving 20 years for her role in the trafficking and abuse – lured them into their ‘disturbing world’.

The brother of the late Virginia Giuffre, Sky Roberts, also spoke up in support of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

If passed by lawmakers, the legislation would compel the Department of Justice to release every file it has on Epstein.

Roberts says the bill is about getting ‘justice against the rich and powerful who have stolen something from these women, and many children at the time – their freedom’.

“This is not a political issue…this is about humanity,” Roberts said. “I have physical and mental scars that will never heal.

“The only time I can begin to heal is when their freedom is taken from them, just like they did to me, and literally thousands of other victims.”

Epstein accuser Haley Robson slammed some politicians for ‘weaponising’ the trauma which victims have been brave enough to share with the world.

“The FBI knows the truth, the government knows the truth,” she said, as per the BBC. “But we are the keys, we know who was involved…we know the players.”

Another survivor, Lisa Phillips, echoed these comments and warned the US government that she and the rest of the women are willing to ‘create their own list’ if Epstein’s alleged little black book doesn’t see the light of day.

Phillips, who was abused by the financier in the late 1990s, didn’t mince her words when addressing the crowd of reporters outside Congress to ‘demand justice’.

“We know their names,” she said. “We all know. Now, together as survivors, we will confidentially compile the names we all know who were regularly in the Epstein world.”

AI expert reveals the only jobs that will still exist in 2030 as he issues terrifying warning to humanity

A computer expert has given his two pence on the future of humanity and how it could be affected by Artificial Intelligence.

As time goes on, more people are gradually becoming more reliant on AI and its capabilities not just in a professional setting, but in everyday life too.

There is the fear, of course, that we’re getting to the stage where we’re letting technology do too much for us.

Most of us already rely on our phones to give us news, messages from loved ones, access to the internet, different games to play, and of course, the ability to work as a cellular device.

But that aside, the development and advancements of AI means our lives might get a lot easier, though it’ll be out of our hands.

Most of us already rely on our phones to give us news, messages from loved ones, access to the internet, different games to play, and of course, the ability to work as a cellular device.

But that aside, the development and advancements of AI means our lives might get a lot easier, though it’ll be out of our hands.

Latvian computer scientist Dr Roman Yampolskiy seems to think that we’ll mostly be doomed.

ChatGPT has already made headlines for providing instructions on blowing up ‘a sports venue’ after being prompted to, so you can forgive people for being worried.

It turns out that we should be concerned, according to Dr Yampolskiy, who has claimed that AI will take 99 percent of jobs in the next five years.

The Computer Science and Engineering Professor is the latest guest on the Diary of a CEO podcast hosted by Steven Bartlett, where he spoke about the jobs that could remain for humans.

Bartlett asked if his own job as a podcaster was in jeopardy, to which the expert said: “You prepare, you ask questions, you ask follow-up questions, and you look good on camera.

“A large language model today can easily read everything I write and have a better understanding,” he explained, adding that it would read every book behind Bartlett and learn his behaviours so it could mimic him.

He added that it could also optimise its questions better based on its data set, which humans simply cannot do, while the visual aspect is ‘trivial’ according to Dr Yampolskiy.

Going onto jobs that may be left over, aside from physical labour, he said that we must look at a ‘world of super intelligence’ and ask what your contribution can be.

Dr Yampolskiy said that while you know yourself better than anyone, that information is mostly useless unless someone else is interested in that.

“There are jobs where you want a human, maybe you’re rich and you want a human accountant for whatever reason,” he suggested.

“Old people like traditional ways of doing things. Warren Buffett would not switch to AI, he would use his human accountant.”

Describing it as a ‘tiny subset of a market’, he moved on to another example: “Today we have products which are man-made in US as opposed to mass-produced in China and some people pay more to have those but it’s a small subset. It’s a almost a fetish.”

The professor added that there is ‘no practical reason’ for this.

In just two years, the AI specialist believes that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) will be in full flow, meaning that companies will have the option of free labour through advanced tech.

Free physical and cognitive labour could save trillions of dollars, he explained, adding that it would ‘make no sense to hire humans for most jobs’, when AI can be cheaply hired to do their job.

He added: “I think humanoid robots are five years behind, so (by then) all the physical labor can also be automated.

“So we’re looking at a world where we have levels of unemployment we’ve never seen before, not just 10% unemployment, which is scary, but 99%.”

Before we all reach panic stations though, he pointed out that just because the tech exists doesn’t mean it’ll be implemented, pointing out that video phones existed in the 1970s but they only became widespread with the release of the iPhone.

Donald Trump asks supporters to donate $15 to ‘get him to heaven’

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Get your wallets at the ready folks, as Donald Trump has began a flash fundraiser… to help get him to heaven.

Now, anyone who’s kept up to date with the doings of Donald J Trump ever since the 79-year-old returned to the Oval Office, he’s made some pretty left-field choices.

There was the random Tesla commercial, the Trump merch store setting up shop in the White House and even the decision to green-light a UFC fight on the front lawn.

And that’s without considering the Club World Cup trophy incident of his sons’ deciding to launch their own mobile phone and network.

However, I fear this latest move may top every other baffling thing Trump has ever done.

For his latest trick, the US leader would like you to pay his way into heaven.

No, I’m really not joking.

Towards the end of last month, emails titled ‘I want to try and get to Heaven’ began to land in the inboxes of subscribers to the president’s campaign email.

The message, written as though it were from Trump himself, claimed the failed assassination attempt, defeat of Hilary Clinton in 2016 and building ‘the greatest economy in history’ was evidence that he’d been placed on Earth with a divine goal – to make America ‘great’ again.

“This is our moment to show the world that we will NEVER back down, NEVER give an inch, and NEVER SURRENDER in our fight to save this country,” the email continued.

“That’s why I’ve launched a 24-HOUR TRUMP FUNDRAISING BLITZ, and I’m asking everyone to chip in $15 to make it one for the record books!”

The email has even been confirmed by Snopes, the internet’s gold standard when it comes to fact checking (Political emails)
It’s not exactly clear what Trump is fundraising for, or if he’s even aware of the fact that you cannot buy your way into heaven, no matter what Catholics used to think in the Middle Ages (see: Indulgences for more info), but one thing is for sure, he’s certainly thinking a lot about the afterlife.

The emails also surfaced at a pretty unfortunate time for Trump, as they begin to appear on social media during an influx of claims suggesting that he’d actually died while in office, an irony which was, of course, not lost on people.

“Pretty weird to send out when you’re trying to reassure people that you’re healthy,” wrote one person who’d received the email on X.

The US leader previously touched on the topic in an interview with Fox and Friends last month, acknowledging that he’s currently ‘bottom of the totem pole’ when it comes to meeting the credentials for getting into heaven.

“I want to try to get to heaven if possible,” he said while discussing Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

“I’m hearing I’m not doing well. I’m really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons.”

Trump threatens Putin on Ukraine war again

US President, Donald Trump, issued a warning Wednesday, September 3, when asked about his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

“I have no message to President Putin. He knows where I stand, and he’ll make a decision one way or the other,” Trump said from the Oval office.

“Whatever his decision is, we’ll either be happy about it or unhappy, and if we’re unhappy about it, you’ll see things happen,” the president added in what appeared to be a veiled threat.

Trump grew visibly agitated when questioned about the administration’s actions – or lack there of – so far against Russia.

“How do you know there’s no action? Would you say that putting secondary sanctions on India, the largest purchaser outside of China, they’re almost equal. Would you say there was no action that cost hundreds of billions of dollars to Russia?” Trump said.

“You call that no action,” he added. “And I haven’t done phase two yet or phase three,” he said, hinting at further punitive steps.

“If you remember two weeks ago, I did, I said, if India buys, India’s got big problems, and that’s what happens. So don’t tell me about that,” Trump added.

Despite repeated threats, the Trump administration has so far been reluctant to slap further sanctions on Russia in its continued efforts to reach a peace deal.

UAE warns Israel’s West Bank annexation would cross ‘red line’

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The United Arab Emirates has warned that Israel’s annexation of any part of the occupied West Bank would be a “red line” that could end the pursuit of regional integration.

“Annexation in the West Bank would constitute a red line for the UAE,” said Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs at the UAE’s foreign ministry. “It would severely undermine the vision and spirit of the Abraham Accords, end the pursuit of regional integration, and would alter the widely shared consensus on what the trajectory of this conflict should be – two states living side by side in peace, prosperity, and security.”

The UAE became the first Arab country in 26 years to normalize relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords in 2020, followed by Bahrain and Morocco. Since then, Abu Dhabi has deepened trade, defense, and tourism ties with Israel, while the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought to expand the pact to include other Arab nations, particularly Saudi Arabia.

The latest warning comes days before the fifth anniversary of the accords and marks Abu Dhabi’s strongest rebuke of Israel since normalization. It also raises fresh doubts about the durability of the agreement, which was one of former US President Donald Trump’s key foreign policy achievements.

The UAE has maintained ties with Israel throughout the Gaza war, using the relationship to coordinate humanitarian aid drops into the territory. “From the very beginning, we viewed the Accords as a way to enable our continued support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate aspiration for an independent state. That was our position in 2020, and it remains our position today,” Nusseibeh said.

In 2020, the UAE conditioned normalization on Israel suspending plans to annex parts of the West Bank. Israel captured the territory from Jordan in the 1967 war and has since established Jewish settlements there. Around 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank and seek it, along with East Jerusalem and Gaza, as part of a future state — a position backed by most of the international community.

Nusseibeh pointed to recent proposals within Israel to move forward with annexation, referencing comments by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who said such steps would “bury the idea of a Palestinian state.”

Netanyahu is expected to meet top cabinet ministers this week to discuss potential annexation in response to an anticipated wave of Western recognition of Palestinian statehood. France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Portugal, and others plan to join more than 140 nations that already recognize Palestine.

Israeli officials say Netanyahu is considering options ranging from annexing select settlements to a broader takeover of Area C, which makes up about 60% of the West Bank. One scenario under review is annexation of the Jordan Valley, a strip along the Jordan River that many in Israel view as a critical security buffer.

Far-right ministers Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, along with settler leaders, are pushing for full annexation of all land not inhabited by Palestinians, a move that would effectively encircle Palestinian population centers and undermine prospects for a contiguous state.

“We call on the Israeli government to suspend these plans. Extremists, of any kind, cannot be allowed to dictate the region’s trajectory. Peace requires courage, persistence, and a refusal to let violence define our choices,” Nusseibeh said.

woman has been arrested for shooting de@d her boyfriend as she modeled for him with a weapon during an impromptu photoshoot

A Las Vegas woman has been arrested for shooting de@d her boyfriend as she modeled for him with a weapon during an impromptu photoshoot.

Her arrest came after cops discovered her disturbing “fascination with firearms.”

Officers responded to a 911 call that a male had been shot at a home about 3 miles south of the North Las Vegas Airport, a little before 5 a.m., on Aug. 23, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Authorities discovered Mark Gaughan sprawled on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to his neck. He was pronounced de@d at the scene despite desperate life-saving efforts by first responders.

Gaughan, 23, had been taking photos of his girlfriend, Allysandra Blea, when he was k!lled, police said.

Police said that during the early morning photoshoot, Blea, 20, was posing with a firearm before the weapon discharged and fatally struck her boyfriend.

Investigators and the Clark County District Attorney’s Office charged the 20-year-old with Open Murder with a Deadly Weapon on Aug. 26.

She was arrested without incident that day and booked into the Clark County Detention Center.

A Polaroid photo of Blea posing with a gun and another of a girl brandishing a knife were recovered at the scene, according to the arrest report obtained by Fox 5 Vegas.

The person who called in the fatal shooting — the boyfriend of the knife-brandishing model — said the two girls decided on doing a photoshoot at around 4:30 a.m.

The 911 caller told police that he made sure that the firearm was unloaded and the magazine was removed before handing the gun over to Blea to use for the photoshoot, the outlet reported.

After snapping a few pictures, the 911 caller’s girlfriend told police she went inside to change her outfit. She claimed upon returning outside that the magazine was loaded back into the gun.

The model told police the shooting was an accident — insisting she believed the gun had no rounds and had never taken a firearm safety course before handling the gun, according to the arrest report.

However, investigators found that Blea allegedly had a disturbing “fascination with firearms” after obtaining a search warrant and combing through her social media accounts and messages.

Investigators found numerous messages referencing her enthusiasm for firearms and building an arsenal, accompanied by images of her posing with different weapons, the outlet reported.

Police found one message in which Blea allegedly said, “I wish I could shoot people with real guns and get away with it,” and spoke about gunning down prostitutes and the homeless, Fox 5 Vegas reported.

In another conversation, the alleged k!ller had with Gaughan, he told her they could use dummies for targets.

Blea chillingly responded, “We gotta shoot someone real. Going to be the tunnels. If it’s only one a night the police will remain clueless,” according to the arrest report.

“In review of her social media account, Allysandra appeared to have knowledge and experience of firearms and more importantly, shooting firearms,” police wrote.

The gun-totting model made her initial court appearance at the Las Vegas Township Justice Court on Tuesday, September 2, where Judge Nancy Bernstein formally charged her with murder, KSNV reported.

Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 2.

Ashley Young, 40, to play together with his 19-year-old son at Ipswich Town

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Manchester United legend, Ashley Young, and his son Tyler Young are set to become the first father-son duo to take to the field together in Championship history.

The pair were denied a historic meeting by Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson in last season’s FA Cup when Tyler and his team-mates took on Premier League side Everton.

Had Tyler taken to the pitch while his dad was on the field, they would’ve become the first father-son duo to play against one another in the 154-year history of the FA Cup.

But now, the midfielder has now joined his dad at Portman Road after the 40-year-old signed for the Championship club in July.

It follows previous spells in the academies of Arsenal, MK Dons and QPR prior to signing for Peterborough in August 2024.

He went on to make one senior appearance in the EFL Trophy as well as featuring on the bench in League One as well as both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

His appearance on the bench in the FA Cup third round in January made headlines as Posh faced Everton at Goodison Park.

As a result, Young Jr could have faced his Premier League-winning father on the pitch, with Young Sr on the Toffees bench.

However, despite trading light-hearted trash talk in the build-up to the match, the Youngs were denied the chance to make history.

Trump clears way to deport more than 250,000 Venezuelans

The Trump administration has announced plans to end the temporary protection status designation assigned to as many as 256,000 Venezuelans, paving the way for their deportation.

Former US President Joe Biden issued two TPS orders for Venezuelans, the first in 2021 and a second in 2023, providing eligible migrants with work authorization and temporary protection from deportation.

The temporary protection status is generally available to people whose home country has experienced a natural disaster, armed conflict, or other extraordinary event, but Trump has ruled that Venezuela no longer meets those requirements.

‘Weighing public safety, national security, migration factors, immigration policy, economic considerations, and foreign policy, it’s clear that allowing Venezuelan nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is not in America’s best interest,’ a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement.

‘Given Venezuela’s substantial role in driving irregular migration and the clear magnet effect created by Temporary Protected Status, maintaining or expanding TPS for Venezuelan nationals directly undermines the Trump Administration’s efforts to secure our southern border and manage migration effectively.’

The TPS designation will expire on September 10, giving the more than 256,000 Venezuelans living in the United States under TPS status just seven days to begin arrangements to leave the country.

However, ‘the termination will come into effect 60 days after the publication of the Federal Register notice,’ DHS said.

In addition to the 256,000 Venezuelans under TPS that are impacted, the 3728 pending new applications for TPS will be terminated, along with 102,935 pending renewal applications.

Trump first took steps toward removing the protection for Venezuelans against deportation in February, less than a month after he returned to the White House.

At the time, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, ordered the TPS status extended to Venezuelans to be removed arguing that their presence in the U.S. is ‘contrary to the national interest.’

However, a judge in California blocked Noem’s action calling it ‘predicated on negative stereotypes’ and unconstitutional.

The U.S. Supreme Court later granted the federal government permission to proceed with deportations.

93-year-old husband stabs his wife to de@th during argument

A 93-year-old man has been charged with murd£ring his wife and he allegedly told police he slashed her throat because he “couldn’t take it anymore.”

James Pate told police in Pekin, Illinois, that he and his wife, Cheryl Pate, 80, got into a fight in their car on Tuesday, September 2, when he struck her then pulled a knife out of the center console and cut her throat, according to an affidavit.

James Pate was found covered in blood at the scene, and admitted to cops in an interview that he and Cheryl Pate were planning to get a divorce and his pent-up anger at her exploded, the documents said.

He told cops he “couldn’t take it anymore,” according to the affidavit. It was not clear how long they had been married.

Cheryl Pate was found with no pulse and was pronounced de@d at a nearby hospital.

An autopsy by the Peoria County Coroner’s Office confirmed she di£d from multiple sharp, blunt-force injuries “that were incompatible with life and unsurvivable.”

James Pate was charged with first-degree murd£r, the Pekin Police Department said.

The Tazewell County State’s Attorney’s Office has filed a petition to deny his pretrial release.

Brazilian Billionaire leaves entire fortune to Neymar

A Brazilian billionaire who has never met Neymar has reportedly left his entire will to the superstar footballer.

The former Barcelona star, 33, is claimed to have been given the enormous sum of £846million by an unidentified deceased man from Brazil who is said to have been a billionaire.

According to Brazilian outlet RIC, the will was formalised at an office in Porto Alegre and authenticated on June 12 with two witnesses allegedly present.

The matter is now purportedly subject to clearance from Brazilian courts if Neymar is to be named as the individual’s heir, who has potentially chosen him because he is reportedly childless and single.

Neymar has not publicly commented on reports surrounding the fortune, but the will could be subject to legal complications even if it is approved.

The businessman allegedly opted to give it to Neymar because he ‘identifies with [him] on a personal level, per local media reports.

He is said to admire Neymar’s tight family bonds, especially the player’s relationship with his dad, Neymar Sr., which ‘reminds him of his own late father’.

The winger is now back in Brazil, having opted to return to his boyhood club Santos in January following an ill-fated spell with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.

He scored three goals in 14 appearances during the second half of the 2024-25 campaign – having previously netted 136 goals in 225 games in his first spell at the club from 2009 to 2013.

He is said to admire Neymar’s tight family bonds, especially the player’s relationship with his dad, Neymar Sr., which ‘reminds him of his own late father’.

The winger is now back in Brazil, having opted to return to his boyhood club Santos in January following an ill-fated spell with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.]

He scored three goals in 14 appearances during the second half of the 2024-25 campaign – having previously netted 136 goals in 225 games in his first spell at the club from 2009 to 2013.

Lamine Yamal and Argentinian girlfriend, 25, ‘split

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Barcelona superstar, Lamine Yamal, and his Argentinian rapper girlfriend, Nicki Nicole, 25, have sparked rumours of a split just 13 days after making romance public.

The duo confirmed their relationship to friends when the Argentinian stunner, 25, travelled to Barcelona to attend the 18-year-old Barcelona star’s controversial birthday celebrations in July.

Nicole was also spotted attending Barcelona’s friendly fixture against Como on August 10.

The pair eventually went Instagram official on August 25 with a smitten post together.

While celebrating the Latin artist’s birthday, the lovebirds cosied up for a photo together in front of her birthday cake. Yamal captioned the snap, posted to his Stories, with only a cake and a love heart emoji.

But now the pair are thought to have called time on their relationship, according to Marca, just 13 days after going public.

Rumours of a break-up have circulated after both Nicole and Yamal removed all traces of each other from their social media pages.

Fulham Sends Well Wishes to Orlando Pirates Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou After Car Accident

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Fulham Sends Well Wishes to Orlando Pirates Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou After Car Accident

English Premier League side Fulham has sent well wishes to former Morocco international and ex-Fulham centre-back Abdeslam Ouaddou, who was hospitalised following a car accident in South Africa. Ouaddou, now 46, is the coach of Orlando Pirates.

Fulham took to X (formerly Twitter) after Orlando Pirates confirmed the incident, writing:

“Praying for good news, and sending our best wishes to Abdes Ouaddou and his colleagues at this time🤍

https://twitter.com/FulhamFC/status/1963213864645927207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1963213864645927207%7Ctwgr%5Eb25d68a1f64d3c194e18416750baf4e6e5e58835%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fiharare.com%2Ffulham-sends-well-wishes-to-orlando-pirates-coach-abdeslam-ouaddou-after-car-accident%2F

The accident happened on Sunday when Ouaddou and five other club staff stopped to help at the scene of a collision while returning to Johannesburg from a league match in Gqeberha. Orlando Pirates explained that a Nissan NP200 vehicle then struck the stationary team bus and injured the group.

“Upon encountering a collision between two vehicles, coach Ouaddou and several staff members disembarked from the team bus to assist those involved. Tragically, while attending to the scene, a Nissan NP200 vehicle collided with the stationary vehicles, striking the group and causing serious injuries,” the Orlando Pirates’ statement said.

Goalkeeping coach also injured
“Coach Ouaddou, along with the five affected staff members, were immediately transported to hospital, where they are currently receiving medical care,” the statement added.

Several staff members were hurt, including defender Thapelo Xoki and goalkeeping coach Tyrone Damons, who suffered a broken leg in three places and underwent surgery on Monday. Ouaddou and the others were immediately taken to hospital and are receiving care.

This unfortunate incident comes as Ouaddou, who also played in France for Stade Rennes and Nancy, prepares for a cup final with Orlando Pirates on 13 September. Fans and clubs alike have shared their support as he recovers.

Benni McCarthy wins a special award in Kenya

Benni McCarthy’s coaching journey continues to inspire across continents. After a decorated playing career, he transitioned into management with bold ambition. His rise began at Cape Town City, where he showcased tactical awareness and sharp leadership.

McCarthy then joined Manchester United as a first-team coach, working with some of football’s biggest stars. His impact at Old Trafford raised his global reputation and cemented him as a respected tactician. Seeking new challenges, he embraced the opportunity to lead Kenya’s national team.

Many doubted the move, but McCarthy quickly proved his ability to adapt. His fearless approach and eye for attacking football excited Kenyan supporters. With relentless energy, he instilled confidence, discipline, and belief in the Harambee Stars. Now, his journey in East Africa has reached a special milestone.

Benni McCarthy wins a special award in Kenya
Recently, McCarthy received the prestigious Coach of the Month award in Kenya. The honour reflects his immediate influence on the Harambee Stars. In just months, the team has shown grit, attacking flair, and defensive resilience. Kenyan fans admire his passion, while players thrive under his detailed guidance.

McCarthy’s energy has lifted both the dressing room and the stands. Sharing the news on Instagram, he expressed heartfelt gratitude. He wrote, “So grateful to be awarded Coach of the Month. Thanks to my technical team and players for all their hard work. A special thanks to the fans for all the support they give us.” His words revealed both humility and joy.

McCarthy emphasised teamwork and respect for the supporters. The award signals more than personal success. It shows Kenya’s football is entering an exciting new chapter. With McCarthy at the helm, the Harambee Stars have growing belief. His early success suggests that even bigger triumphs could soon follow.

Fans celebrate with him
After Benni McCarth shared the news of his special award in Kenya, fans from South Africa and Kenya wished him well.

@Collins “You made us to be proud of the National team🇰🇪💪.”

@Michael Akala Omuka “May God bless you so much I came back to My Harambee Stars , you picked it from very far. We’re very far already. I wish I could take you forever as our Kenyan coach. God bless you brother, father and coach.🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪 @bennimac17”

@Drey “This man is exceptional. Kenya won the bet 🙌. Can’t wait seeing him in club levels conquering football”

@Okoth Opiyo “You have transformed our National team. U have rejuvinated our pride. Thank you Coach Benny. We love u. 🇰🇪”

@Samwel Ooga Nyagaka “Whoever appointed mccarthy knew exactly what he was doing and it has worked so well..Benny Mccarthy has a great pull”

History will remember Joseph Malanji as “Bonanza”, the man who orchestrated the greatest theft in Zambia’s history

This is justice

By Simon Mulenga Mwila

When we talk about corruption in Zambia, we often remember the scandals of the past from the accusations against FTJ Chiluba to the controversies around Rupiah Banda. But never in our history have we seen anything as brazen and shocking as what came out in court about Joseph Malanji.

This is not hearsay. It is not political propaganda. It is not a concocted story meant to tarnish anyone’s name. The details came out in open court: Malanji and others walked into a bank in Turkey and withdrew in cash $11,000,000.00 (about K270 million) of Zambia’s money.

Just pause and think about that. Eleven million dollars of public funds, withdrawn over the counter like some mafia movie scene. Even the bank struggled to release such an outrageous sum while Malanji and his team had to wait hours as it was counted. This was not his personal money. It was Zambia’s money, meant for our people, our development, our future.

And then the audacity grew. After collecting the money, Malanji boarded a Zambian Presidential plane (9J ONE) back home. Who gave him authority to use state resources to ferry stolen money? How far had we fallen for leaders to treat our country like their personal bank?

Investigations later revealed that he began depositing $100,000 a day for two weeks straight. It didn’t stop there. He even got so comfortable with the loot that he earned a nickname from his own allies and associates: “Bonanza” because he was dishing out stolen cash like “Father Christmas”.

And yet, today, we hear cries from the Patriotic Front and some opposition leaders that Malanji’s conviction is “political persecution.” Brothers and sisters, let’s be truthful with ourselves. How can the theft of $11 million be reduced to politics?

How can anyone defend such criminality when millions of Zambians live in poverty, when schools are collapsing, when hospitals lack basic medicines, when our youth are unemployed and hopeless? When our people have restored to playing “aviator” just to make ends meet.

Bane this is not persecution. This is justice.

The reality is that corruption on this scale is the greatest betrayal of the Zambian people. It robs us of development, dignity, and hope. Patriotism requires that we take off our political hats and call a spade a spade.

History will not remember Joseph Malanji for the titles he held or the wealth he flaunted. History will remember him as “Bonanza”, the man who orchestrated the greatest theft in Zambia’s history, handing out stolen money to his minions while the majority of Zambians suffered.

Until every single dollar of that $11 million is accounted for, the demand for justice must not stop. Because justice, in this case, is not political. It is national.

Simon Mulenga Mwila
MBA, LLM, LLB, AHCZ, ASCZ
(Aspiring Lusaka Mayor)

KABOMPO MAN THREATENS TO SUE PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA FOR DELAYING TO RULE THE COUNTRY

KABOMPO MAN THREATENS TO SUE PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA FOR DELAYING TO RULE THE COUNTRY.



A concerned man of Kamafwafwa area in Kabompo district KALYOCHA NGUVULU has threatened to sue President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA for not becoming the president of the republic of Zambia much earlier than 2021.


He said the delay by president HAKAINDE HICHILEMA to rule Zambia only disadvantaged the country from getting the development it deserved.



Imagine where the country would be today if he came 15 years ago! This country would be half London,  Washington DC or even half Chengdu in China.



Mr NGUVULU cited the enhanced Constituency Development Fund – CDF and free education as a few good packages among other notable good policies by the New Dawn government, and that these best policies should have come way back before 2021.



The Kamafwafwa man further called on the well wishers to assist him with funds to facilitate the process of suing this profound and visionary leader for delaying development of the country due to his delay to come to power.


He added that suing president HAKAINDE HICHILEMA at this time,  would help send a serious warning to other good and future leaders who should have committed similar grave offenses.



Mr NGUVULU said this during the community engagement with the Area Member of Parliament for Kabompo Constituency AMBROSE L  LUFUMA.

ZAMBIANS WILL BLAME THE OPPOSITION IF UPND WINS NEXT YEAR’S ELECTIONS

ZAMBIANS WILL BLAME THE OPPOSITION IF UPND WINS NEXT YEAR’S ELECTIONS

….time to form a united opposition is now, says Hon Monde


Lusaka… Thursday September 4, 2025 – Former Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Greyford Monde says the people of Zambia will blame the opposition political parties if they fail to win next year’s general elections.



Hon Monde has emphasized the need for all opposition political parties in the country to come together and form a united opposition.


He said it would be better for the entire opposition political parties to work together and liberate the people of Zambia next year.



He said this when he featured on a special radio Programme on Live Radio in Lusaka today.



“PF can still win on its own but the people out there are telling us to unite and work together as opposition political parties in the country. The time to unite is now! Let’s put the people of Zambia first because if we won’t win next year’s general elections, the people will blame the opposition political parties,” he said.



The PF senior member further said the UPND is still threatened by the existence of the PF that is why they are allegedly using Robert Chibinga to hold on to the PF certificates.


“They fear the PF to an extent of stopping its members from wearing the regalia during by-elections. They are using Robert Chibinga who is on a UPND payroll, you can see the security and protection he enjoys. If I try to make the statement that he (Chabinga) makes, it won’t take 30 minutes I will be inside,” he stated.



“He (Chabinga) attacked diplomats and he has gone scot-free. He threatens everyone, he has done atrocities and the people are seeing what is happening and the full protection he is enjoying. HH is deceived by Chabinga because he thinks if they capture the PF certificate then they capture the people of Zambia and the PF members.”

EITHER WE STRUGGLE TOGETHER OR FALL ALONE, M’MEMBE TELLS OPPOSITION

EITHER WE STRUGGLE TOGETHER OR FALL ALONE, M’MEMBE TELLS OPPOSITION


Lusaka… Thursday September 4, 2025 – Socialist Party (SP) President Dr. Fred M’membe has urged Zambia’s opposition parties to unite ahead of the August 13, 2026 elections, warning that disunity and political opportunism could jeopardize efforts to bring change.


https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19bwRbYScQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Speaking on the state of the opposition, Dr. M’membe said calls for a single opposition presidential candidate were loud and clear, but he stressed that no concrete blueprint had been provided on how this unity should be forged.


He noted that the absence of a clear mechanism had opened the door for opportunists, whom he likened to gamblers in a casino, to exploit the situation.

Dr. M’membe accused such opportunists of manipulating the political process and described their conduct as “Abracadabra politics” – an illusion he said lacked honesty, fairness, and substance.



He argued that manipulation was synonymous with opportunism and compared manipulators to “little canoes that go with the wind and waves.”

According to him, true unity required honesty, respect, and serious analysis, and could not be built on what he called “casino-style gambling.”



He warned that political leadership should not be decided through trickery or opportunism, but through noble and selfless ideas grounded in principles and standards.

Dr. M’membe emphasized that virtue must be nurtured, while vice, like weeds, would grow on its own if left unchecked.



He called on Zambians to unite in hope, stressing the need to rid the country of what he described as a deceitful, corrupt, incompetent, and tribalistic government.



He urged citizens to rally behind a “United Front government for Zambia” that could restore credibility and deliver meaningful change.


He further argued that the unity of the opposition should reflect a strong and decent community built on shared values and common aims.

“A strong united front will require a supreme national effort,” he said, insisting that unity should involve not only politicians but the entire nation across its diversities.


While stressing that united efforts could make the opposition unbeatable, Dr. M’membe cautioned that challenges lay ahead.

He insisted that difficulties would persist even if things were done the right way, but maintained that honesty and collective effort were the only paths forward.



Meanwhile, the Socialist Party leader said it was better to “speak frankly” about the country’s political crisis.

He declared that Zambians must either struggle together or risk being defeated alone.

Malanji the Greatest Thief in Zambian History

Malanji the Greatest Thief in Zambian History

Malanji and others withdrew (stole) $11,000,000.00 or ZMW 270,000,000.00 cash of Zambia’s money in Turkey. Yes, CASH — not illegal contracts or deals, but Zambia’s money withdrawn over the counter in a bank by a Minister. These guys thought it was a mafia movie. Even the bank struggled to release the money that they had to wait for hours.



Zambians, I am not just imagining these things or making accusations — the details came out in court. It was the biggest bank heist in Zambia. Not even the accusations on FTJ, KK, and RB were this alarming. FTJ — the entire nation called him a thief over $500,000, but here we are talking about $11,000,000.00 proven in the courts of law. RB was accused of flats worth just $1,000,000 (which was proved to be a loan), but here, ladies and gentlemen, it is $11,000,000.00.


After withdrawal or stealing whatever you want to put it, he got on a Zamabia Presidential plane back to Zambia. Who gave him the Presidential plane to go and steal money? Tracking the money shows that he split it with his boss; and then after Malanji started depositing $100,000 per day for 14 days straight. How foolish and stupid.



He got so comfortable with so much stolen money that he even became careless, I even warned him then.  Imagine, today, how we would react if a Minister was depositing $100,000.00 every day. Indala shakunya, sure.


In fact, he should tell us where the rest of the $11,000,000.00 is, because the investigative wings have only managed to recover or trace about $5 million.



So sad for the family and PF but he stole. Four years jail term over such money is even small, poor man is jailed five to seven over stealing a chicken, because he is hungry. I think the state should appeal mwe.

Nkonkomalimba Kapumpe

STATE SEEKS FORFEITURE OF MALANJI’S HELICOPTERS AND PROPERTIES

STATE SEEKS FORFEITURE OF MALANJI’S HELICOPTERS AND PROPERTIES



The State has applied for the forfeiture of two Bell helicopters belonging to jailed former Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji, which are deemed to be proceeds of crime.



Additionally, the State has requested the seizure of three properties owned by Mr. Malanji in Silverest area, Chongwe District, also believed to be acquired through illicit means.



The application was filed this morning before Lusaka Acting Chief Resident Magistrate Irene Wishimanga, who has reserved September 15, 2025, for the hearing.



This development follows Mr. Malanji’s recent four-year custodial sentence for possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.

ZNBC

MALANJI: THE UNLUCKY THIEF WHO OFFERS A LESSON FOR ALL PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS TODAY

MALANJI: THE UNLUCKY THIEF WHO OFFERS A LESSON FOR ALL PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS TODAY



Malanji’s Conviction: A Reminder of PF’s Legacy of Theft. Malanji is simply the unlucky one many others are still sitting on stolen billions of dollars.



When some of us spoke day and night about criminals looting public resources, we were insulted and called names and threatened to be killed by these characters now trooping prisons. But the truth has always been clear: PF harbored lethal criminals determined to kill anyone who stood in the way of their ill-gotten wealth.



The unfortunate part is that most of these criminal activities were taking place at the State House of the Republic of Zambia. This is one reason I never agreed with the late President Edgar Lungu’s pathetic leadership. There are many more criminals than Malanji.



So, when you see Sikaile speaking out on social media, know that he understands what he is talking about it is only a matter of time. We know how our own local criminals collaborate with foreign criminals to rob this nation. We know all the loopholes



I despise criminals who steal with impunity because I know how hard it is to earn clean money. I know the struggle of building a genuine business without attaching it to corruption or theft. Above all, I believe in Zambia. Patriotism comes first for me, and that is why I speak out against abuse of public office.



When you see me raising concerns, especially about corruption, understand this: I do so with information. You may be lucky at a particular moment perhaps the law shields you today but tomorrow you will pay a heavy price, just as some of these hardcore criminals are now facing justice.



Sadly, our citizens have been robbed, deceived with token benefits, and in turn have celebrated the very criminals who exploited them. This culture must come to an end.



To those currently serving in public institutions: this is a reminder. Be extra careful. Avoid criminality at all costs. Zambia has been recording countless illegal transactions, and if a Foreign Affairs Minister like Malanji could steal at this scale, one can only imagine how many others were involved in externalizing public resources.



For me, even if you are my tribesman, if you are a thief, you are on your own. And when you are finally brought to book, don’t cry for sympathy just face the consequences.



Thank God I am not the only voter otherwise, I would  have made sure that PF never ever again touched any public institution because they destroyed this nation. You do not deserve to be anywhere near public institutions.



Sikaile C. Sikaile
Good Governance and Human Rights Activist

THE MALANJI HEIST WAS A EDGAR LUNGU DEAL, HOW COULD FREDSON YAMBA SAY NO, BUT HE NEVER BENEFITED ANYTHING, THE MAN IS SUFFERING FOR DOING HIS JOB UNDER PRESSURE- Tayali

DIRECT TALK WITH TAYALI: THE MALANJI HEIST WAS A EDGAR LUNGU DEAL, HOW COULD FREDSON YAMBA SAY NO, BUT HE NEVER BENEFITED ANYTHING, THE MAN IS SUFFERING FOR DOING HIS JOB UNDER PRESSURE

JUST IN: MALANJI, YAMBA SENTENCED

THE Lusaka Magistrate’s Court has sentenced former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba to three years imprisonment with hard labour in two counts of failure to follow procedure.




The court has further jailed  former minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Malanji to four years imprisonment with hard labour in seven counts of possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime.



The sentences will run concurrently.

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Lusambo’s lawyer wonders why a child named after Edgar Lungu should be homeless

Lusambo’s lawyer wonders why a child named after Lungu should be homeless



BOWMAN Lusambo’s lawyer, Charles Changano, is questioning why the court would want to leave his client’s children homeless, when one of the children is named after a former president who had done a lot for the country.

Changano has lamented that the magistrate did not consider any of the mitigating factors presented by the defence when sentencing his client to three years in prison.

Earlier this week, the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court sentenced Lusambo to three years’ imprisonment after finding him guilty on two counts of possessing property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

During mitigation, Changano asked the court for leniency, noting that one of Lusambo’s children was even named after late former president Edgar Lungu,

IF ONLY THEY HAD LISTENED TO  PROPHET DAVIES MWILA

IF ONLY THEY HAD LISTENED TO  PROPHET MWILA .

By Timmy

It is amazing to note that former PF Secretary General Davies Mwila AKA property Mwila, though not a prophet by calling, once sounded like one. He looked into the future and warned his colleagues of what was to come if they continued on the reckless path of mismanaging national affairs.



Mr. Mwila cautioned PF officials directly, warning them against greed and careless governance. He famously rebuked their conduct, saying: “ If we Lose elections  ministers will go to jail.” This was a clear reminder that plundering resources meant for the nation’s future would eventually starve the people and cripple the economy.



But the so-called prophecy was disregarded. PF leaders chose personal enrichment over national interest. They ignored their own Secretary General and continued to feast on what was meant for Zambians.



Today, the repercussions of those actions are visible everywhere. The crumbling economy PF left behind, the suffocating debt, the high cost of living, and the broken systems are the bitter fruits of those careless choices. Ironically, the very officials who ignored the warning are now crying the loudest, pretending to have solutions when they are the architects of the problems we face, at the same time the law is catching up with them.



This is why the UPND government under President Hakainde Hichilema is working tirelessly to fix what was broken. By restoring fiscal discipline, restructuring debt, strengthening institutions, and investing in education, health, and rural development, the New Dawn administration is correcting the mistakes that PF leaders stubbornly refused to address.



The lesson is clear: when leaders choose greed over wisdom, nations collapse. When leaders choose integrity over corruption, nations rise. PF chose greed, and Zambia suffered. UPND has chosen integrity and service, and Zambia is now on a path to recovery.



Let us all support the efforts of the New Dawn Government to rebuild what was destroyed. Share, comment, and like this article to remind every Zambian that leadership rooted in honesty is the only way forward.

WAGON MEDIA

COURT JAILS FREDSON YAMBA TO 3 YEARS WHILE JOE MALANJI GETS 4 YEARS WITH HARD LABOUR

Malanji and Yamba Jailed Over Corruption and Abuse of Office



By Hannock Kasama

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji has been sentenced to four years in prison, while his co-accused, former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba, has received a three-year sentence.



Lusaka Acting Chief Resident Magistrate Irene Wishimanga handed down the custodial sentences today, following their convictions yesterday.


Mr. Malanji was found guilty on seven counts of possessing property suspected to be proceeds of crime, while Mr. Yamba was convicted on two counts of willful failure to follow procedure in the disbursement of public funds.



Mr. Malanji’s conviction relates to the possession of a Bell 430 helicopter, a Bell 206 Jet Ranger, and three houses located in the Silverest area of Chongwe District, acquired between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021.


Mr. Yamba’s charges stem from the irregular authorization of a ZMW 108 million transfer to the Zambian Mission in Turkey for real estate procurement, between January 2020 and August 2021.



In her ruling, Magistrate Wishimanga emphasized that custodial sentences were necessary both as punishment and as a deterrent to others in positions of power.



She noted that the state had established a prima facie case against Mr. Malanji, who failed to justify the source of funds used to import the helicopters and construct the houses.
#Malanj

MWEETWA IS TRYING TO INTIMIDATE ACC INTO CLEARING MINISTERS UNDER PROBE – MUNDUBILE

MWEETWA IS TRYING TO INTIMIDATE ACC INTO CLEARING MINISTERS UNDER PROBE – MUNDUBILE

MPOROKOSO PF MP Brian Mundubile says Chief Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa’s challenge to the ACC to name ministers under investigation is meant to intimidate the Commission into stating that there are no ministers under investigation.



Mundubile adds that not only should the names of the ministers under investigation be revealed, but they must also be prosecuted as they have sound cases.


He argues that if the cases were not solid, the ministers would have been cleared by now.

In an interview, Wednesday, Mundubile wondered how the Chief Government Spokesperson could express ignorance about ministers being under investigation when the ACC had confirmed the same.



“To start with, before the dissolution of the board of ACC sometime last year, we were informed by ACC that there were some ministers under investigation. If my memory serves me right, we have between 8 and 10 ministers under investigation.



The Solicitor General, some Permanent Secretaries and a number of top cabinet officials as it were. As parliamentarians, we started pressing for the names of those people. And shortly afterwards, the board was dissolved when they tried to move in to interrogate those particular individuals. So it remains a fact that there are ministers under investigation at the ACC,” he said.



“This was further confirmed by the new board chairperson, who said yes they are there, but their names could not be disclosed. How can a cabinet minister, a government spokesperson, later come and say there are no such ministers and start challenging the ACC? It’s a correct thing for the ACC to reveal. But when you see two government officials having two different positions, like we have seen between the ACC and the minister, it just points to the confusion that is in that government. We are dealing with a government that is full of confusion”.



Mundubile said Mweetwa and government are trying to intimidate the ACC into stating that there are no ministers under investigation because they know Zambians will start pressuring them for the release of names.



“They are trying to clean and launder the names of those who are at the ACC, knowing that the Zambians will soon start putting pressure for the release of those names. Now, they are trying to intimidate the ACC chairperson, or the ACC Director General into coming up with a statement that as a matter of fact, there is no one under investigation. It’s very sad. We know that there are ministers that are under investigation.



We continue to demand that their names must be published. So, the difference in statements by the two only points to the confusion that reigns within the UPND government. And also, it shows how there has been an executive overreach, how much pressure the executive has been putting on institutions of governance. They have collapsed the JCC, they have collapsed the ECZ, they continue to put pressure on ACC. So, really, this is a collapse of government institutions,” he said.



Mundubile said President Hakainde Hichilema has demonstrated that he cannot fire anyone for corruption, especially high-ranking officials.



“Do you remember the argument between Professor Kaaba and Marshal Muchende the Solicitor General? It was in public domain because Professor Kaaba was a commissioner at ACC. He brought out the corruption at the Solicitor General’s office, was anybody fired? So what is Cornelius Mweetwa talking about? This President, President Hakainde Hichilema, cannot fire anyone for corruption. He has demonstrated that he can’t fire anyone for corruption. What they are trying to do now is to ensure that they cover up the names of these people that are under anti-corruption by coercing ACC into saying, as a matter of fact, we have verified there are no ministers appearing at anti-corruption.


This story has been there for the past one year plus,” said Mundubile.

“The former DG and the officials at ACC confirmed that there were ministers that were reported before ACC. The only minister who was reported to have been cleared was Stanley Kakubo. The rest of them have still been going. What we want is not only their names to be published, we demand that they be prosecuted because we know for certain that if they were cleared, by now they would have been cleared. The only reason why they have not been cleared is that the allegations are sound and they should be prosecuted.



Look, we are not talking about small fish. I don’t have that time to talk about small fish. The real corruption, as the American ambassador put it, with the fight against corruption, we will only see it when we see big fish being fired. So, to repeat my statement, President Hakainde Hichilema cannot fire any big fish for corruption. He has demonstrated that he can’t”.

CREDIT: News Diggers

HH’S UNZA POPULARTY CHOKES FRED M’MEMBE, ADMITS  HE IS NOT HAPPY BUT DISAPPOINTED AND VERY SAD



URNING UNZA INTO A POLITICAL BATTLEFIELD IS A SENSELESS AND SELFISH DECISION



We note with profound concern and immense disappointment that, in his quest for favorable opinion and praise singing, Mr Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND have decided to turn our universities and colleges into political breeding grounds.



This development is both unfortunate and unacceptable. We therefore, urge Zambians, particularly the academia and the masses at large to take keen interest in what is being done, especially at the University of Zambia (UNZA).


While Mr. Hichilema and the UPND are at liberty to recruit and mobilize the young people for political support, it must never be done in a manner that is destructive, divisive, and detrimental to the integrity and well being of our higher institutions of learning. We say this because we have noticed a very disturbing and retrogressive pattern forming around this issue.



UNZA and indeed all institutions of higher education in this country, must not be reduced to arenas of cheap caderism and partisan politics. It must be recognized that these are spaces for intellectual development, knowledge sharing, research, and the pursuit of national progress, and not political patronage or political influence.



We appeal to the student population at UNZA and elsewhere in the country not to allow themselves to be exploited for temporary gains or cheap handouts. We urge them to be cognizant of the fact that they are the real custodians of Zambia’s future. It is therefore, their duty to ensure that they uphold the dignity, decorum and credibility of these institutions. Otherwise, if they compromise or fail to respect their obligations in this regard, they risk being judged harshly by posterity.



It is also high time Mr. Hichilema and the UPND realized that state interference in student politics risks undermining the credibility and ability of universities to serve their true purpose. History has shown that when political agendas overshadow educational objectives, institutions of higher learning tend to lose focus on their core mandate, which is academic inquiry, student growth and national service.



Further, it’s common knowledge that any government’s heavy-handed involvement in student politics may backfire, thereby generating tension, division and instability within the academic community. Universities and other higher learning institution need be protected from politicization, as their role is to nurture knowledge, innovation and leadership for the nation’s development.



We therefore call upon the UPND to desist from dragging universities and higher learning institutions into partisan politics, and we urge students to safeguard their institutions from being turned into political barracks. This is dangerous and potentially disturbing for students, in relation to the university calendar, and should not be tolerated.

Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party

COURT REJECTS TIKTOKER “WHY ME”’S BAIL APPLICATION DUE TO FLIGHT RISK CONCERNS

COURT REJECTS TIKTOKER “WHY ME”’S BAIL APPLICATION DUE TO FLIGHT RISK CONCERNS



Lusaka Magistrate Andrew Mungala has denied tiktoker Francis Kapwepwe popularly known as “Why me” bail pending trial, on the basis that he is a flight risk and is of no fixed abode.



Last week, Mr. Kapwepwe pleaded not guilty on two charges of hate speech and of expressing or showing hatred, ridicule or contempt for persons because of race, tribe, place of origin or color contrary to Section 70(1) of the Penal Code, Chapter 87.


When the matter came up this morning for ruling on bail pending trial, Magistrate Mungala noted conflicting submissions by Mr. Kapwepwe during the bail application on his permanent residence.



The court indicated that during the last session, Mr. Kapwepwe submitted that he previously hailed from an unknown residential area in Mufulira and was currently based in Chililabombwe.



However, during his bail pending trial application in line with Section 123 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Mr. Kapwepwe submitted that he was based in Lusaka’s Obama area, thereby raising concerns of being a flight risk especially that he has been previously on the run.



The accused faces two counts of hate speech and of expressing or showing hatred, ridicule or contempt for persons because of race, tribe, place of origin or color contrary to Section 70(1) of the Penal Code, Chapter 87.



Allegations are that on March 31, 2025, Kapwepwe used his tiktok page to post material insulting the Tonga people and criticizing a local leader’s response to population movements in Kaputa.



Further charges relate to a post of April 3, 2025, in which he is alleged to have attacked traditions in southern province and proposed separation and renaming of the province while the third charge refers to a post of April 8, 2025, which the state says demeaned people of southern province.


Meanwhile, Magistrate Mungala has ordered that Mr. Kapwepwe be allowed to seek medical attention after he complained to the court of not feeling well as he was allegedly beaten by fellow inmates and that the state has been denying him access to a health facility.

PN

A Voice of Reason: Hon. Sebastian Kopulande

A Voice of Reason: Hon. Sebastian Kopulande

By: Michael Mulusa

In recent weeks, a strong and refreshing voice has begun to emerge in Zambia  the voice of Hon. Dr. Sebastian Kopulande, a leader many are beginning to recognize as a true Voice of Reason.



The first notable moment came during the memorial of Zambia’s 3rd Republican President, Dr. Levy Mwanawasa, and former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa. At this event, Hon. Kopulande, who is a board member of the  Levy Mwanawasa Foundation, delivered a public lecture reflecting on Levy’s leadership. He highlighted the late President’s large heart, recalling how Mwanawasa facilitated medical treatment in South Africa for then-opposition leader Hon. Michael Sata, despite Sata’s constant insults toward him.



In that same spirit, Kopulande urged the current Republican President, who was in attendance, to show compassion by allowing the ailing incarcerated opposition member, Hon. Chishimba Kambwili, access to medical treatment.


Just yesterday, Hon. Kopulande featured on the Emmanuel Mwamba Verified program, followed closely by thousands of Zambians at home and abroad. In that discussion, he demonstrated the depth of knowledge and insight that made both President Chiluba and President Mwanawasa keep him within close reach during their tenures. He laid out a clear vision for how Zambia’s economy can grow for the benefit of its people. Reflecting on his time as Special Assistant to President Mwanawasa for Special Duties, he stressed that under Mwanawasa, citizens were never arrested for what they said  but only for what they did. He reminded listeners that even when people insulted Mwanawasa, calling him “a cabbage,” he never let anger dictate his leadership.



But who exactly is Hon. Dr. Sebastian C. Kopulande?

He is a Rhodes Scholar and holds a PhD in Management with a specialization in Leadership from the University of America in the USA, a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in Management Studies from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, and a B.A. Degree with Distinction from the University of Zambia. In 1993, he was elected as a PEW Economic Freedom Fellow at Georgetown University in the USA, where he studied Transitional Economics.



Sebastian has worked as a Management Consultant with Deloitte & Touche and held senior management positions in various Zambian companies. He also served as Board Chairman of several government-owned enterprises.



As a passionate advocate of corporate governance, he sat on the inaugural Board of the Institute of Directors of Zambia when it was first established.



He has vast experience in government, having served as Director of Industry in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Without Portfolio; Senior Private Secretary to the Vice President; Permanent Secretary at State House under the late President Frederick Chiluba; and later as Special Assistant to the President (Special Duties) under the late Dr. Levy P. Mwanawasa.


In that role, he was responsible for advising the Head of State on a wide range of national and international issues and for drafting many of the President’s key speeches. He also went on to serve as Member of Parliament for Chembe Constituency.


He was instrumental in shaping Zambia’s economic landscape through initiatives such as the Zambia Development Agency, the Multi-Facility Economic Zones, the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission, the Presidential Housing Initiative, and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit.



As an entrepreneur and industrialist, he ventured into wood processing, creating jobs across urban and rural communities.



His commitment to economic empowerment and trade expansion led him to establish the Zambia International Trade & Investment Centre (ZITIC), which continues to connect Zambian businesses with global markets. Through ZITIC, he has facilitated investment inflows that have contributed to Zambia’s development.



Today, Hon. Dr. Sebastian Kopulande stands out as more than just a politician  he is a statesman, a thinker, and a bridge-builder. His calm, reasoned voice is fast becoming one that many Zambians look to in times when the nation desperately needs wisdom and balance.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER DISMISSES CONCERNS OVER REOPENING OF ISRAELI EMBASSY IN ZAMBIA

FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER DISMISSES CONCERNS OVER REOPENING OF ISRAELI EMBASSY IN ZAMBIA



By Chamuka Shalubala

Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe has downplayed concerns about the reopening of the Israeli Embassy in Zambia, describing critics as misinformed.



In an interview with Phoenix News, Mr. Haimbe says Zambia’s diplomatic relations with Israel are not new, dating back to 1964 when the two countries established ties.



He says the reopening of the embassy after 50 years should therefore not be viewed as sinister, highlighting the longstanding diplomatic relationship between Zambia and Israel.


Mr. Haimbe has pointed out that Israel is not the only nation engaged in conflict with which Zambia maintains diplomatic relations, citing Palestine as another example.



The Minister has since urged the public to understand the broader context of international relations, calling out those questioning government’s position as misguided.



Israel has been condemned world over on what is called human injustices on its attacks in Gaza.

PHOENIX NEWS

RACE TO MANDA HILL 2026: MATERO CONSTITUENCY IN FOCUS

RACE TO MANDA HILL 2026: MATERO CONSTITUENCY IN FOCUS



By Timmy

The 2026 general election is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent history, and Matero Constituency has already emerged as a battleground to watch. Several candidates have declared their intention to contest, among them:



Miles Bwalya Sampa – Incumbent

Dickson Jere – Aspiring

Celestine Mambula Mkandila – Aspiring

Saviours Shaba Ndaba – Aspiring



Alexander Mumba Sakala – Aspiring

Nawa Nawa – Aspiring

Evans Mukobela – Aspiring

This wide pool of aspirants reflects the seriousness with which Matero has positioned itself. It is no longer business as usual whoever wins will not have the luxury of “playing politics,” but will be expected to deliver meaningful development.



In fact, even during the current tenure, residents have seen how competition has forced the sitting MP to respond. Some aspirants, using their personal resources, have initiated projects that should ordinarily have been covered under Constituency Development Fund (CDF). These acts of service have exposed the lack of seriousness from the current leadership of matero and reminded the people of Matero that development should not wait for election cycles.


The truth is that Matero Constituency has reached a turning point. The people are wide awake and will not be swayed by empty slogans or entertainment politics. They have seen the difference between leaders who are serious about development and those who are merely performers.


Interestingly, among the aspirants, two distinct groups are emerging:

One group is working in unity with the vision of President Hakainde Hichilema, aligning their aspirations with the national agenda of development, inclusivity, and accountability.



The other group, however, is working in isolation, with no clear roadmap for Matero. Their lack of transparency and disconnection from community needs raises serious questions about their suitability to represent the constituency.



As things stand, Matero Constituency is poised to be one of the most vibrant and decisive races in Zambia. The competition is good for democracy, but more importantly, it is good for the people of Matero who now have the power to demand real work, not empty politics.



Ultimately, the people of Matero will choose leaders who reflect their desire for progress, accountability, and alignment with the New Dawn Government’s vision. President Hakainde Hichilema has made it clear that leadership must be about service, not personal gain and Matero deserves nothing less.



Share, comment, and like this article if you believe Matero is ready for true servant leadership under the guidance of UPND’s development agenda.

WAGON MEDIA