CARDI B WINS LEGAL BATTLE IN 2018 SECURITY GUARD ASSAULT CASE
American rapper Cardi B has been cleared of all wrongdoing in a civil trial where she was accused of assaulting a security guard back in 2018.
After just one hour of deliberation, a jury unanimously ruled that Cardi was not liable on all counts.
The verdict brings an end to the long-running legal matter that had lingered over the Grammy-winning artist’s career.
In a sweeping move aimed at curbing rising crime and drug abuse, Zimbabwe’s government has officially banned tinted windows on all private and public vehicles. The directive, announced by Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe, comes in response to a surge in criminal activities allegedly perpetrated in vehicles with obscured interiors.
“Effective immediately, any vehicle with tinted windows that prevent law enforcement from seeing inside will be subject to removal of the tint or impoundment,” said Minister Kazembe during a press briefing in Harare. “This is not a cosmetic issue – it’s a matter of national security.”
The ban applies to all vehicles except those belonging to government VIPs, security services, and those with manufacturer-installed shading that does not obstruct visibility. Authorities say the crackdown is particularly focused on mushikashika operators – informal transporters often linked to violent crimes and drug trafficking.
The move follows a disturbing incident involving a Grade Seven pupil who was reportedly abducted and assaulted in a tinted vehicle. Police say such cases are becoming alarmingly frequent, with tinted windows providing cover for illicit activities.
Motorists have been given a grace period to comply, after which enforcement will be strict. Roadblocks and vehicle inspections are expected to increase nationwide.
Public reaction has been mixed. While some citizens welcome the measure as a necessary step toward restoring safety, others argue it penalizes law-abiding drivers who use tinting for privacy or protection from the sun.
As the country grapples with broader issues of law enforcement and public safety, the tinted window ban marks a bold – if controversial -attempt to reclaim control of Zimbabwe’s roads.
South Africa’s main opposition party condemned President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday for praising Zimbabwe’s controversial land reform programme during a state visit, saying the policy destroyed Zimbabwe’s economy and created famine.
The Democratic Alliance said Ramaphosa’s comments at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show on August 29 aimed to build support for South Africa’s new Expropriation Act signed in January, which allows land seizure with nil compensation in certain cases.
“The DA condemns and rejects this praise by Ramaphosa for a process which left Zimbabwe in tatters, destroyed its economy and foreign relations, and created famine for its people,” DA national spokesperson Willie Aucamp said in a statement.
Speaking as guest of honour at Zimbabwe’s annual agricultural exhibition in Harare, Ramaphosa told delegates the neighbouring country needed to dismantle colonial-era land ownership patterns after independence in 1980.
“Most commercially productive land and large-scale farms were owned by whites, while the black majority was confined to communal lands,” Ramaphosa said.
The president said Zimbabwe’s land reform was essential for historical redress, food security and economic growth to enable black Zimbabweans to enter productive agriculture.
Zimbabwe implemented its Fast Track Land Reform Programme in 2000, seizing white-owned farms without compensation. The policy triggered economic collapse and international sanctions.
The country recently agreed to pay $3.5 billion in compensation to displaced white farmers after two decades of legal battles.
Aucamp accused Ramaphosa of whitewashing Zimbabwe’s failures to create momentum for South Africa’s Expropriation Act of 2025.
“Because land was not legally transferred, the failed Zimbabwe model praised by Ramaphosa led to crippling financial reparations being due to former farmers and landowners,” Aucamp said.
The DA stressed that South Africa’s Government of National Unity, formed after May 2024 elections, does not endorse Zimbabwe’s land confiscation model.
“While acknowledging the need for land reform in South Africa, it must remain within the Constitution and rule of law,” Aucamp said. “Expropriation Without Compensation does not meet this standard.”
The Presidency defended Ramaphosa’s visit, saying it strengthened economic ties between the neighbours. South Africa exported goods worth 69.2 billion rand ($3.9 billion) to Zimbabwe in 2024.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya accused the DA of hypocrisy, saying the party opposes transformation in South Africa while claiming to support redress in Zimbabwe.
“The DA remains speechless when it comes to the atrocities that are committed by Israel in Gaza,” Magwenya told reporters on Monday.
The exchange highlights tensions within South Africa’s coalition government over land policy. The DA opposed the Expropriation Act during parliamentary debates before Ramaphosa signed it into law.
South Africa’s new law allows government to seize land for public purposes including infrastructure projects and land reform. It permits nil compensation in specific instances including abandoned land and state investment properties.
The legislation replaces a 1975 apartheid-era law and aims to address racial disparities in land ownership. Census data shows South Africa’s 7 percent white population owns 70 percent of privately owned farmland.
Burkina Faso’s transitional parliament has passed a law banning hom0s£xuality, with offenders facing up to five years in prison.
The Persons and Family Code law, making Burkina Faso the latest in a series of African countries to criminalise lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activity, also tightens rules on nationality and stateless people.
The military that took over Burkina Faso in a 2022 coup has grown increasingly intolerant of dissent amid worsening Islamist militant violence in the West African country.
The legislation was passed unanimously by the unelected, 71-member transitional parliament on Monday and is awaiting the signature of military junta leader Ibrahim Traore.
‘The law provides for a prison sentence ranging from two to five years and a fine,’ Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala said on state television on Monday night.
‘A person who (engages in) homosexual practices … will appear before a judge and, in the event of a repeat offence, be deported if you are not a Burkinabe national,’ he said.
He also said the law goes into effect immediately and condemned hom0s£xual acts as ‘bizarre behaviour.’
Anti-gay laws are in place in various conservative African countries including Senegal, Uganda and Malawi, though some others, including South Africa, Botswana and Angola, have decriminalised LGBTQ practices or enacted protective measures.
The laws, although criticised by the West, enjoy popularity in the countries where locals and officials have criticised homosexuality as behaviour imported from abroad and not a sexual orientation.
Burkina Faso has been run by the military following a coup in 2022.
Zimbabwe Government Allocates ZiG 147 Million to ZANU PF and CCC
The Zimbabwean government has allocated ZiG 147 682 500 to political parties ZANU PF and CCC, following the Political Parties (Finance) Act.
The funds were distributed based on each party’s share of votes in the 2023 general elections. ZANU PF, the ruling party, received ZiG102 343 972, while the opposition CCC was allocated ZiG45 338 527. This reflects 69.3% of the vote for ZANU PF and 30.7% for CCC.
The allocations were announced by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi, in General Notice 1829 of the Extraordinary Government Gazette on Tuesday, 2 September 2025.
Sengezo Tshabangu, CCC’s self-declared interim secretary-general and leader of the opposition in Parliament, is expected to receive the party’s share of the funds, as the State recognises his authority to nominate or recall party representatives.
Under the Political Parties (Finance) Act, government funding is based on election performance. Parties must secure at least 5% of the total votes cast to qualify for financial support.
This is not the first time the two parties have shared state funds. In September 2024, ZANU PF and CCC split ZWG 70 million under the same law, with ZANU PF receiving ZWG 47.9 million and CCC taking ZWG 22.1 million. The Act is designed to help political parties operate and carry out their activities.
WHY MAN UTD SIGNED LAMMENS AHEAD OF PROVEN MARTINEZ
THERE is a strong sense of ‘Project 150’ around Manchester United’s decision to pay £18.1m for 23-year-old goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
The plan to aim for the Premier League title in 2028, the 150th anniversary of the club that started life as Newton Heath and turned into Manchester United, was first outlined by chief executive Omar Berrada to staff in September 2024.
Berrada doubled down on the aim in June this year in an interview with the respected United We Stand fanzine, stating: “Why not aim for it?”
The overall strategy of building for a better future was behind the decision taken less than 12 hours before the transfer window closed.
United told Lammens to board a private jet and fly to Manchester, rather than ask Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez to head up the M6 to complete the move he had hoped would happen virtually since last season ended.
Sources say the dilemma was straightforward.
Firstly, United know significant improvement is required this season after the debacle 2024-25 became. But ‘Project 150’ is the bigger plan Berrada and the club ownership are striving to achieve.
United are respectful of Martinez. They accept the Argentina international is proven in the Premier League.
He has played at the highest levels of the game and won the World Cup. He is not mistake free by any means though and made more errors leading to shots last season (6) than United’s Andre Onana (4).
But Martinez has the personality to deal with that at a time when even head coach Ruben Amorim says: “It is hard to be a Manchester United goalkeeper in this moment.”
Lammens is at the other end of the experience scale. The 6ft 4in stopper has 93 appearances to his name, only 52 of which have come in the Belgian Pro League.
His single outing in the Champions League came in Royal Antwerp’s 2-0 defeat by Porto in November 2023. He was picked for the Belgium senior squad for the first time in March and has yet to win a full cap.
However, United’s data analysis, something minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been determined to significantly improve, pointed at someone who warranted closer attention.
Club sources say that in key metrics, such as claimed crosses, shot stopping, preventing goals from rebounds and mistakes, or rather the lack of them, Lammens rates exceptionally highly.
They also say Lammens made more saves than any other goalkeeper in Europe’s top 10 leagues and made the most ‘progressive’ passes for any goalkeeper under the age of 23.
In the statement confirming his arrival, director of football Jason Wilcox said Lammens was the subject of “significant interest from a number of clubs”.
Crucially, when United reach Berrada’s ‘Project 150’ point, Lammens will be 26 and should be moving into his prime. Martinez will be 35.
It could be argued the Old Trafford hierarchy faced a similar dilemma with another Aston Villa player, Ollie Watkins, and Benjamin Sesko. They went for Sesko.
The clear difference is United had already signed two ‘oven ready’ Premier League players in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo for the attacking area they prioritised going into the summer.
Once the flurry of deals put together over the final few days of the window began to take shape, and having assessed the mistakes made by Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana in the preceding games, they decided to make a further addition to their goalkeeping roster at the expense of strengthening their midfield.
Lammens was not a new name on United’s radar. They were first linked with him last season and spoke to Royal Antwerp earlier in the summer.
The Belgian was keen to make the move from that point. It was the middle of last week when negotiations began between the clubs again and the deal was put in place that was activated on Monday morning.
While United could still offload either Onana or Bayindir, clubs in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Greece, Turkey and Saudi Arabia among others can still sign players until their respective deadlines close, the specifics remain unknown around who will be Amorim’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Thibaut Courtois, one of Belgium’s greatest keepers, rates him highly. So too Simon Mignolet, a former team-mate at Club Brugge.
“His shot stopping is his biggest quality,” says HLN.BE’s Royal Antwerp reporter Axel Brisart.
“He made some great saves and has great reflexes on the line.
“He is very proactive and likes to come for the ball. He has great feet and his passing is a really big weapon for any team looking to put some tempo into their play.”
Sesko has been eased into life at Old Trafford with a couple of substitute appearances in the Premier League to go with his 90-minute outing at Grimsby in the EFL Cup that left him with severe cramp at the final whistle.
Amorim cannot do the same with Lammens. Because of that shock defeat at Blundell Park, United will not play a cup match until January. Their next game is at Manchester City on 14 September.
BBC
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa met China Railway International Group executives Tuesday to finalise a $533 million infrastructure deal aimed at revitalizing the southern African nation’s deteriorating rail network.
The discussions focused on Zimbabwe’s digital future, including expanding investment in ICT talent, strengthening infrastructure, and introducing advanced technologies into the country. The meeting occurred as Mnangagwa arrived in Beijing to attend Wednesday’s commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War Two surrender.
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube confirmed the investment value during earlier negotiations. “We believe that we could make use of their expertise and financial muscle to improve the NRZ,” Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said in a weekend interview.
The deal involves TransTech Engineering Corporation, a China Railway International Group subsidiary with extensive African infrastructure experience. The company previously built the 1,860-kilometer Tanzania-Zambia railway and Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa-Djibouti line.
Zimbabwe’s rail network has declined sharply from its 1990s peak when it transported 12 million tons annually. National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) now hauls less than three million tons.
The infrastructure deterioration has severely impacted mineral exports, particularly from Chinese mining operations. Companies including Tsingshan Holdings, Sinosteel and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt face transportation constraints moving lithium, chrome and coal to ports.
The modernization project includes rehabilitation of existing lines, new signaling systems, acquisition of 17 locomotives and 209 freight wagons. Additionally, NRZ is exploring a partnership with the University of Zimbabwe to develop railway solutions through the university’s innovation hub.
Phase one encompasses five new stations and a critical Beitbridge-Harare line connecting to South Africa, Zimbabwe’s largest trading partner.
“Zimbabwe is on the verge of clinching a deal with the Chinese Railway Group so work on this critical enabler starts,” presidential spokesman George Charamba said in Beijing.
NRZ Public Relations and Stakeholder Manager Andrew Kunambura confirmed that the feasibility study has been completed and a report will be presented.
The project forms part of Zimbabwe’s broader rail strategy involving 11 private companies. South Africa’s Grindrod deployed three locomotives and 150 wagons through its Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway subsidiary since March 2024.
China remains Zimbabwe’s largest investor with total investments exceeding $4.4 billion. In 2024 alone, trade between the two countries reached US$3.8 billion — a 24% increase from the previous year.
The railway investment addresses Zimbabwe’s push to achieve its $12 billion mining industry target by improving mineral transport to Mozambique and South African ports for Asian markets.
Funding mechanisms remain undisclosed, though analysts expect Chinese loans and contractor financing arrangements, adding to Zimbabwe’s existing debt obligations to Chinese entities.
The formal announcement was initially planned for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in August but has been delayed pending final negotiations.
South Africa’s African National Congress will hold discussions over the next two weeks on expanding its 10-party coalition government following budget disputes that have strained relations with its largest partner, the Democratic Alliance, party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said Tuesday.
The ANC’s highest decision-making body between conferences recently approved exploring expansion of the Government of National Unity formed after the May 2024 elections. The party lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994, winning 40 percent of votes.
“We will engage about the GNU in the two, three weeks, resetting the button,” Mbalula told reporters in Johannesburg. “We’ve got to visit the statement of intent and a whole lot of other issues.”
The announcement follows parliament’s failure to reach consensus on the 2025 budget, forcing the ANC to seek support from opposition parties. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana proposed a 0.5 percentage point VAT increase that the DA opposed.
DA leader John Steenhuisen warned expansion could complicate governance. “I don’t believe that expanding the GNU is going to assist the GNU in going forward,” he said in broadcast remarks.
The coalition controls over 70 percent of parliamentary seats through agreements between the ANC, DA, Inkatha Freedom Party and seven smaller parties. Clause 24 of the GNU’s founding agreement requires existing members to approve new entrants.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said the ANC approached his party after elections but he declined. “You’ve got 70 percent of parliament. What do you want us for? To neutralize us?” Mashaba said he told ANC representatives.
Build One South Africa said it would only consider joining under specific conditions, including commitments to constitutionalism and measurable economic plans.
The GNU has faced multiple challenges since formation, including disagreements over education legislation and foreign policy positions. Deputy President Paul Mashatile said parties must support the budget to remain in government.
“The GNU was a tactical move,” Mbalula said at a separate briefing in August, acknowledging the ANC does not ideologically align with its partners.
The expansion discussions will include parties currently outside the coalition. Mbalula said the ANC would engage “with those who are not part of the GNU” while considering concerns of existing partners.
Any expansion requires balancing South Africa’s complex political landscape where parties span from the center-right DA to leftist formations like the Economic Freedom Fighters, which has predicted the coalition will not survive.
The ANC plans to conclude discussions before parliament reconvenes to vote on appropriation bills that allocate departmental funding.
French judicial authorities have issued international arrest warrants for former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and six senior officials over a 2012 bombardment in Homs that killed American journalist Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik.
The attack on February 22, 2012, targeted an informal press center in the rebel-held city, also wounding British photographer Paul Conroy, French reporter Edith Bouvier, and Syrian translator Wael Omar. The French investigation, conducted under universal jurisdiction, classifies the incident as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The warrants also target Assad’s brother, Maher al-Assad, former head of the 4th Syrian Armoured Division, along with former security and military officials Ali Mamlouk, Ali Ayoub, Mohamed Dib Zaitoun, Ghassan Bilal, and Rafik Mahmoud Shahadah. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) have hailed the warrants as a “decisive step” toward justice, citing evidence that the attack was a deliberate attempt to silence foreign journalists covering the Syrian regime’s actions during the civil war.
Assad, ousted in December 2024 and believed to be in Russia, faces additional French warrants for chemical attacks in 2013 and a 2017 civilian bombing. While his current whereabouts are unconfirmed, these warrants signal France’s commitment to pursuing accountability for atrocities committed during Syria’s 14-year conflict, which has killed over 500,000 people and displaced millions.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) plans to take steps Tuesday to push for a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files — and suggested a shadowy billionaire in the famous “black book” is out to get him.
Lawmakers are back from summer recess, and Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) were expected to file a discharge petition aimed at compelling the Department of Justice to fully release all files related to the disgraced financier’s case. The bipartisan effort is underway from the House Oversight Committee to uncover the files despite pushback from Republican leaders.
“Jobs, the economy, those are always the big issues, but you really can’t solve any of that if this place is corrupt,” Massie told CNN.
CNN reporter Manu Raju asked, “What do you mean, if this place is corrupt?”
“Well, I mean, if they’re going to cover up for rich and powerful and politically connected people, which is still what is happening right now here,” Massie said.
Massie, who has faced off with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and the Trump administration over calling for the release of the files, continues to face attacks.
“Look, I got three billionaires right now running ads against me in Kentucky, and one of them is in Epstein’s black book. So I’m not worried about it,” Massie said. “I’ve already poked the hornet’s nest here, and, you know, once you’re in for a penny, you’re in for a pound. We’re going to get these files released.”
Anti-Massie super PAC MAGA KY has drawn $2 million from donors through June and the end of August, Politico reports. That includes $1 million from Paul Singer, $250,000 from hedge fund manager John Paulson, and $750,000 from Preserve America PAC, another super PAC connected to Miriam Adelson that backed Trump in the election.
At least five Republicans, plus all Democrats, are needed to vote in favor of releasing the Epstein files, which could push the measure forward.
Massie believes there will be enough votes — and that considerable pressure is coming from the White House for other GOP members not to side with him on the move.
The House Oversight Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday with victims of the disgraced financier who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on human-trafficking charges and is alleged to have run a blackmail operation targeting powerful figures.
Survivors have indicated that they want the files released, Massie said.
President Donald Trump dismissed the circulation of a viral video that appeared to show a dark bag being thrown out of an upstairs window at the White House — saying it didn’t happen and it was probably faked with artificial intelligence.
“There’s a video that is circulating online now of the White House, where a window is opened to the residence upstairs, and somebody is throwing a big bag out the window,” said Fox News’ Peter Doocy. “Have you seen this?”
“No,” said Trump. “That’s probably AI-generated. Actually, you can’t open the windows, you know why? They’re all heavily armored and bulletproof.”
“So that’s a fake video?” Doocy pressed him.
“Well it’s got to be, because I know every window up there,” said Trump. “The last place I’d be doing it is that, because there’s cameras all over the place, right, including yours. No, but every window — I’ve never seen a window that’s, in fact my wife was complaining about it the other day, she said, love to have a little fresh air come in. But you can’t. They’re bulletproof. And number one, they’re sealed, and number two, each window weighs about 600 pounds. You’d have to be pretty strong to open them up.”
Doocy then walked over to Trump and showed him the video on his phone. “It looks like it’s on the 15th Street side, on the right hand?” he said.
“Yeah, those windows are sealed,” said Trump. “They’re all sealed, you can’t open them.” He went on to say, “One of the problems we have with AI, it’s both good and bad. If something happens really bad, just blame AI … But those windows are heavily sealed.”
A former Trump administration insider said Tuesday that the president may be keeping some of his closest allies in the dark about his health, including members of his family.
Lev Parnas, who worked as an operative for Trump’s 2016 campaign, said on a recent podcast episode of “The Weekend Roundup” on Substack that it’s likely several of President Donald Trump’s closest advisors don’t even know about any health conditions he may be battling. Parnas’s comments come at a time when the president’s administration is trying to bat down any speculation that Trump is in poor health.
“What’s going on with Trump’s health is definitely something bad because I am not hearing anything,” Parnas said. “My sources, and everybody I’ve spoken with, the circle of people who know what’s going on with him is extremely small. I’m talking about so small that Marco Rubio might not know. Pete Hegseth might not know. Susie Wiles. Stephen Miller. Those types of people.”
“Chief of staff. Family, that sort of thing,” co-host Dean Blundell added.
“No, not even family,” Parnas said.
Questions about the president’s health have swirled for the last week after Trump’s seeming blackout from social media. Parnas added that the president was also conspicuously absent as world leaders like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin met to discuss trade agreements and the war in Ukraine.
“I’m not hearing anything, and because we’re not getting any leaking information, that gives me a different sign,” Parnas said. “That tells me that something is definitely wrong.”
The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday released a first tranche of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, one that President Donald Trump has tried to distance himself from for about two months.
The documents include court records related to Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal of her 2022 conviction for child sex trafficking. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence and was recently transferred to a low-security prison in Texas after meeting with Trump’s Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche.
In all, the committee released more than 33,000 documents related to the Epstein case.
“The Department of Justice has indicated it will continue producing those records while ensuring the redaction of victim identities and any child sexual abuse material,” the committee said in a press release.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R‑Fla.) threw her support behind the bipartisan discharge petition led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) that would compel the Justice Department to hand over unreleased documents related to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, while ensuring victims’ identities are redacted.
Luna, who leads the House Oversight Committee’s Declassification and Transparency Task Force, emphasized the need for maximum disclosure and accountability after meeting with Epstein victims on Tuesday afternoon.
Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Luna said, “The victims have stated that this is lot bigger than anyone had anticipated.”
She continued: “There’s some very rich and powerful people that need to go to jail. I think everyone’s frustrated about why it hasn’t happened before.”
The Florida Republican went on to say that Epstein may have been “an intelligence asset working for adversaries,” questioning “how much the government knew about it.”
When asked by a reporter if she would sign the discharge petition, Luna said, “I’ll be happy to,” adding that she has long been an advocate for the release of the files.
The bipartisan move by Massie and Khanna builds on growing bipartisan frustration with the pace and scope of the House Oversight Committee’s investigation, which some lawmakers view as overly cautious and heavily redacted. The committee is expected to release more materials later tonight, according to CNN’s Manu Raju.
The two lawmakers have also scheduled a Wednesday press conference at the Capitol, where survivors of Epstein’s abuse — some speaking for the first time — will plead for full disclosure of the documents.
Their testimonies are expected to heighten pressure on leaders and sway public sentiment further in favor of transparency.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated Tuesday that the country is finally finding a sympathetic ear in the U.S. under President Donald Trump, claiming the two governments have reached a “mutual understanding” over the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Speaking during a visit to China, Putin contrasted Trump’s approach with that of former President Joe Biden, accusing Biden of ignoring Russia’s justifications for its invasion. “The (Trump) administration is listening to us,” Putin said, adding, “Now we see this mutual understanding, it’s noticeable. We are very happy about this and hope this constructive dialogue will continue.”
The remarks came after Putin met Slovakian President Robert Fico following talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. Still, Trump has signaled impatience with Russia’s unwillingness to engage in U.S.-backed peace initiatives, warning of “severe consequences” if progress stalls. Ending the three-year war remains one of Trump’s top foreign policy priorities, underscored by his recent summit with Putin in Alaska.
Putin’s trip to China coincided with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, where he joined Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Once established as a regional security forum challenging U.S. sway in Central Asia, the SCO has steadily expanded its global influence. After the gathering, Putin held one-on-one talks with Xi and was scheduled to attend a massive military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of World War II’s conclusion.
Despite his conciliatory tone in Beijing, Putin’s comments revealed little movement in Russia’s entrenched stance. Western officials continue to accuse him of using peace discussions as cover while Russia presses ahead militarily. However, Putin hinted at limited room for compromise, particularly on security arrangements for postwar Ukraine. “It seems to me that there is an opportunity to find consensus,” he remarked, though he offered no details, according AP’s report.
Putin reiterated that NATO membership for Ukraine remains unacceptable but stressed he never opposed Kyiv joining the European Union. He also opened the door to cooperation with the U.S. at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, a flashpoint in the conflict. “We can work with our American partners,” he said, adding that Russia could collaborate with Ukraine on the plant’s future “if favorable conditions arise.”
Former OnlyFans star Angela White, better known as Blac Chyna, is sharing candid details about her experience on the platform in TMZ’s new special, “TMZ Presents: The War Over OnlyFans.”
Chyna admits she was swept up in the money rush, revealing that topless DMs quickly became her biggest moneymaker. She warns that many women join the site expecting bikini content to be enough, only to feel pressured into posting more explicit material over time.
The documentary also explores the other side of the debate, featuring stories like that of Carmen Wilson and Joe Gow a married couple who say OnlyFans strengthened their relationship. Gow, who once served as Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, lost his job when his involvement with the platform came to light, though he says he has no regrets.
Divided into two parts, the special lays out the case for and against OnlyFans, leaving the final judgment to viewers: Is the platform legit or destructive?
“TMZ Presents: The War Over OnlyFans” airs tonight at 9/8c on FOX and streams tomorrow on Hulu.
TMZ
The United Nations on Tuesday, September 2, expressed concern over growing restrictions in Cameroon, warning that they could undermine voters’ ability to freely choose their candidate in the country’s presidential election scheduled for October 12.
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest head of state at 92, is seeking a new seven-year term that would extend his nearly 43 years in power.
“A safe and enabling human rights environment is essential for peaceful, inclusive, and credible elections. It regrettably appears that this is not the case in Cameroon,” said UN rights chief Volker Turk.
He urged the government to take urgent steps to create conditions for a free and transparent vote.
The UN rights office reported that at least 53 opposition supporters were arrested last month by security forces on accusations of public disorder, unlawful assembly, rebellion, and incitement to revolt.
“While it is welcome news that all the 53 opposition supporters have since been released, they simply should not have been arrested in the first place. No one should ever be arrested for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly,” Turk said
Cameroon’s fractured opposition continues to face challenges in mounting a unified challenge against Biya, who has long been accused by rights groups of suppressing political rivals.
French hospitals have been instructed to prepare for the possibility of a “major military engagement” by March 2026, according to a directive first reported by satirical weekly Le Canard enchaîné and later confirmed by Health Minister Catherine Vautrin.
A letter issued by the French Health Ministry in July said hospitals must be ready to handle a potential “major military deployment,” including the treatment of both French and foreign soldiers. Facilities have been told to be capable of caring for between 10,000 and 15,000 men for up to 180 days. The directive also called for the establishment of medical staging areas near ports and airports to enable swift movement of wounded personnel.
Vautrin defended the planning, describing it as part of responsible national preparation. “It is perfectly normal for the country to anticipate crises and their consequences. This is part of anticipation, just like strategic stockpiling,” she said. “I was not yet in office when pandemic broke out, but let’s not forget that at the time we were at a loss for words to describe how unprepared the country was.”
The warning comes just months after the government distributed a 20-page “survival guide” containing 63 measures to help citizens prepare for armed conflict, natural disasters, industrial accidents and nuclear emergencies. The manual advised households to stock essentials such as six litres of water, canned food, batteries, torches, paracetamol and bandages.
Officials insist the guidance is not linked to a direct threat from Russia or Vladimir Putin, stressing instead that it has been in development since 2022 as a broader preparedness measure following the pandemic. The General Secretariat for Defence and National Security (SGDSN), which oversaw the manual, said it was designed to help citizens face “all types of crises.”
Nonetheless, French newspaper Le Figaro suggested the move could be seen as a reaction to the current instability in global affairs. France has already increased its defence budget, raising spending from 2% of economic output to between 3% and 3.5%.
A 20-year-old Michigan college student was k!lled by her ex-boyfriend, who had stalked and harassed her for months while she sought a restraining order.
Sarah Carroll was fatally sh0t on Saturday, August 30, at the Woodland Villa Apartments near Detroit, Fox 2 reported.
Her ex-boyfriend only identified as Lincoln called in the sho0ting after gunning the 20-year-old down, before taking his own life.
Westland Police arrived at the scene and ruled it was a murd£r-suic!de.
The victim’s mother, Jennifer Carroll, said that her daughter was trying to get a personal protection order against Lincoln before her carried out the heinous crime.
“She was with Lincoln, her ex-boyfriend, for almost a year and they were having trouble,” her grieving mother told Fox 2.
“He was stalking her for the past two months. And he came here last night, sh0t her, called 911, said he k!lled his girlfriend, and then sh0t himself.”
Her heartbroken mother said Carroll did not inform her or her father that she was being stalked before the k!lling.
“To other parents – watch your kids,” Jennifer told Click on Detroit. “Try to get more into their life, try to get them to be open and talk to you.”
Sarah’s father, James Carroll, said her ex-boyfriend “was suffering from mental illness” when he killed his daughter and that she was shot multiple times with a shotgun.
“If their children are suffering from mental illness, get them some help. Get them the help that they need before something like this happens,” he said.
Her grieving father said his daughter was pursuing a degree to become a physician assistant at Schoolcraft College when she was murdered, and is remembered for her kindness.
“She was loved by everybody. Everybody she met,” he said. “She was wonderful. I’m going to miss my baby.”
The Westland Police Department said it will release additional details on the murder-suicide this week.
A GoFundMe set up to help Carroll’s family with funeral expenses shared that the 20-year-old was a “smart, brave, strong, and with a smile that lit up every room she entered.”
“She was only just beginning her journey, and losing her at such a young age is something no family should ever have to go through,” the pages organize, Deborah Carroll wrote.
“We love and miss her more than words can ever say. Thank you for your prayers, your donations, and the love you’ve shown our family during this heartbreaking time.”
James also thanked those who donated and offered their support in a Facebook post.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” he wrote.
“We are truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, support, and generosity we have received through this GoFundMe. Every single donation, share, and prayer means more to us than words can express.
China is expected to unveil what it claims is “the most powerful laser air defence system in the world” during a major military parade in Beijing tomorrow to mark 80 years since the end of World War II.
The highly anticipated event will be attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, with lasers set to take centre stage in the showcase of new weapons by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Rehearsals in the Chinese capital revealed the system mounted on an eight-wheeled truck, covered under a green tarpaulin. Once revealed, it is expected to demonstrate China’s advances in military technology, though analysts remain cautious about the true extent of its capabilities.
According to reports, the weapon is likely to be the OW5-A10, a truck-mounted 10kw laser designed to intercept swarms of drones. A Chinese military-linked social media account described it as the world’s most powerful laser air defence system.
Rob Peters, senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said US experts would be looking closely for “technical indicators” to assess whether the system is genuinely advanced or more of a showpiece. “Whenever [China] shows new exquisite technologies … we should be a little bit cautious that they have got the best stuff or they know how to use it,” he said.
The PLA is also expected to display four new anti-ship missiles from the “eagle attack” class. Officials said all equipment in the parade is domestically produced and already in active service.
Military analysts note that China has used previous parades to highlight strategic priorities. In 2015, the focus was on missiles capable of striking the US mainland, while in 2019 drones dominated the showcase with the unveiling of the GJ-11 attack drone.
Song Zhongping, a Chinese military commentator and former instructor, told AFP that Beijing’s focus on advanced weaponry reflects its strategic concerns over the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. “China must develop powerful anti-ship and anti-aircraft carrier capabilities to prevent the US from posing a serious threat to China’s national security,” he said.
All eyes will be on Tiananmen Square as the parade unfolds, with observers worldwide watching to see if Beijing delivers on its latest military claims.
Kim Kardashian says she doesn’t “believe in homework” and she gave her reason.
The mother-of-four made an appearance on Kai Cenat’s ongoing Mafiathon 3 streaming event on Monday, September 1.
Kardashian, who is reportedly fresh off taking the California bar exam, spoke at length about her thoughts on how children should be able to “have a life” once the school day is over.
“I don’t believe in homework. Seriously, seriously,” Kardashian said. “But I’m gonna tell you why. Because kids are in school for eight hours a day. When they come home, they need to also do sports, have a life, spend time with their family. I think the homework should be left for in school.”
Clarifying her stance, Kardashian went on to note that students should “definitely do the work,” adding that those in a homeschool or homeschool-adjacent situation are “a different story.”
She also pointed to what she believes should be a more teacher-guided process when it comes to certain assignments.
“If you go into school or you stay online and you’re doing your school eight hours a day, the last thing you wanna do is then get off of your school program and then do a book report,” she said. “You should be doing that with your professor and with your teacher and eight hours a day is enough of schoolwork, in my opinion.”
Asked how she navigates the situation within her own family, Kardashian, who shares four children with ex-husband Ye, gave an example of how she aims to help “make it fun” when it comes to an unnamed child who’s not particularly fond of the school experience.
“They need to know the basics, obviously, but I have one child who really hates school,” she explained. “So you have to get creative. So instead she takes Japanese class or fashion design and has to do more tallying up of different numbers in other ways. But she still goes to school. But it’s a fight. So if you find something that you really love to do and figure out how to make it fun, t’s just a challenge.”
The UK government has begun directly warning foreign students that they will face deportation if they remain in the country after their visas expire.
According to the Home Office, the move comes amid a rise in students entering on study visas and later applying for asylum—often without significant changes in conditions back home. For the first time, the department is sending text and email alerts to students as their visas near expiry.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC that some individuals are exploiting the system by lodging asylum claims at the end of their studies, leading to years-long cases that strain housing and accommodation resources.
“We will continue to support genuine refugees,” Cooper said, “but if nothing has changed in their country, people should not be claiming asylum after completing a student course.”
In the year to June, about 13% of asylum claims—around 14,800—came from former students, nearly six times more than in 2020. Although applications have since fallen by 10%, ministers want further reductions.
Ten thousand students with visas nearing expiry have already been contacted, with tens of thousands more set to receive similar warnings this autumn.
The message reads: “If you submit an asylum claim that lacks merit, it will be swiftly and robustly refused… If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you.”
The government has also tightened visa rules, including stricter sponsorship conditions for universities and reducing the post-study work period from two years to 18 months.
As Parliament resumed on Monday, Cooper also announced a temporary halt to new refugee family reunion applications and confirmed that the UK-France migrant return deal will start later this month.
OpenAI has announced plans to add parental controls to its chatbot ChatGPT, following allegations that the system encouraged a teenager to take his own life.
According to the company, parents will soon be able to link their accounts with their teens’ accounts and set age-appropriate behavior rules for the chatbot.
The update, expected within the next month, will also notify parents if ChatGPT detects that a teen may be experiencing acute emotional distress.
The announcement came shortly after a California couple, Matthew and Maria Raine, filed a lawsuit claiming ChatGPT gave their 16-year-old son detailed suicide instructions and urged him to follow through with the plan.
OpenAI acknowledged the case and said it is working to improve how its models respond to users showing signs of mental or emotional crisis. The company added that it plans to enhance chatbot safety over the next three months, including redirecting sensitive conversations to a more advanced reasoning model designed to better enforce safety protocols.
Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, has threatened retaliation after the United States government recently deployed warships near his country in the Caribbean.
Speaking during a news conference Monday in Caracas, Maduro said his country was at ‘maximum preparedness’ to boost its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela this week.
The United States has already ordered the deployment of spy planes, a warship, and even a submarine to the Southern Caribbean Sea to address the growing threat posed by Latin American drug cartels.
‘In the face of this maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum preparedness for the defense of Venezuela,’ Maduro said of the U.S. deployment, which he characterized as ‘an extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat.’
He also warned that U.S. military action against Venezuela would ‘stain’ President Donald Trump’s ‘hands with blood’.
‘President Donald Trump, the pursuit of regime change is exhausted; it has failed as a policy worldwide,’ Maduro said. ‘You cannot pretend to impose a situation in Venezuela.’
The dictator also called Secretary of State Marco Rubio a ‘warlord’ pushing for action in the Caribbean to topple Venezuela’s Left-wing regime.
The U.S. has not signaled any planned land invasion by the thousands of personnel being deployed.
Maduro also used his news conference to insist that he was the legitimate winner of last year’s presidential election.
But credible evidence has shown the contrary, prompting several countries, including the U.S., to not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s president.
Maduro, sworn in to a third six-year term in January, added that his regime maintains two lines of communication with the Trump administration, one with the State Department and another with Trump’s envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell.
Since the July 2024 presidential election, Venezuela’s political opposition has been urging the U.S. and other countries to pressure Maduro into leaving office.
Last month, opposition leader María Corina Machado thanked Trump and Rubio for the deployment of the vessels, describing the move as ‘the right approach ‘toward Venezuela’s government, which she described as a ‘criminal enterprise’.
Tennis legend Venus Williams has urged her sister, Serena Williams, to come and support her at the 2025 US Open.
According to Olympics, the 45-year-old has been competing in both singles and doubles this year but is currently making waves with her new partner, Canadian star Leylah Fernandez. The duo have won three matches in a row and are now through to the women’s doubles quarter-finals.
Speaking after their latest win, Venus looked straight into the camera and said: “Serena, you need to show up.”
Although Serena retired at the US Open in 2022, Venus reminded fans that her younger sister has always been her biggest supporter and source of advice.
The sisters have an iconic history together, winning doubles Olympic gold three times and two US Open titles as a pair. Now, fans are eager to see if Serena will step into the stands to cheer Venus on as she continues her 25th US Open campaign.
“I’M NOT AN AESTHETICALLY BEAUTIFUL PERSON … BUT I LOVE MYSELF,” SAYS ZAMBIAN LAWYER TROLLED FOR HER UNIQUE LOOKS
Zambian lawyer Naomie Pilula has sent Instagram talking after she posted a selfie that attracted demeaning comments.
What set her apart was her response to all the mean and inappropriate comments on her photograph.
“I am not [an] aesthetically beautiful person. I’m not, and that’s okay. But I love myself and I can be myself. And that is a certain level of beauty because there is a light that everyone has and that deserves to shine,” Pilula stated.
This has earned her great admiration and respect, as several media platforms internationally are beginning to spotlight her strength and resolve to stand up against h@teful comments online.
THE UPND HAVE MESSED UP THE COUNTRY – KALABA
… Says four years in power the UPND and President Hichilema have nothing tangible to point at.
LUSAKA, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 02, 2025 (SMART EAGLES)
Citizens’ First party – CF president Harry Kalaba has called on all Zambians who are eligible voters to register in numbers and vote overwhelming in next year’s general elections.
Speaking when he featured on Kwithu FM radio in Lusaka this morning, Mr. Kalaba said the UPND has messed up the country and need to be shown the exit door next year.
Mr. Kalaba said in four years the UPND has nothing tangible to point compared to the massive development done by the previous regimes.
He said in two years the late Michael Sata managed to develop the country by embarking on massive infrastructure development such as schools, hospitals, roads and international airports.
“The UPND and President Hichilema are only good at rhetoric; they keep on making promises when they have failed to fulfill the previous ones. At the Kulamba traditional ceremony President Hichilema made another promise to increase the monthly salaries for chiefs, something he failed to do in four years, I can tell you that, that won’t happen,” Mr. Kalaba said.
“As CF if given the mandate to rule next year, actions will speak for us because the UPND have messed up the country and needs to be voted out. In four years, they have nothing to point. Late Michael Sata, two years in office, he managed to build the Kenneth Kaunda International airport, The Simon Mwansa International airport, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International airport, embarked on the Link Zambia 2000 and upgraded the Maina Soko Military hospital but our friends in the UPND all they know is making promises and they want another five years,” the CF leader said.
And Mr. Kalaba said it practically impossible for President Hichilema to genuinely fight corruption when he has failed to declare his assets.
“I was minister and the records are there at parliament that every year I used to declare my assets willingly. President Hichilema can’t fight corruption without declaring his assets and why he hasn’t done that, only him knows but for me I will declare my assets once given the opportunity to rule this country next year and I assure Zambians that their problems will end once the UPND is kicked out of power,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kalaba said the CF government will prioritize job creation for youths without asking for experience adding that any company that will employ youths especially school leavers will be given incentives.
#SmartEagles2025.
ACTIVIST URGES OPPOSITION LEADERS TO UNITE AHEAD OF GENERAL ELECTIONS
Lusaka… Tuesday September 2, 2025 – Human Rights Activist Faith Musonda has called on opposition leaders in Zambia to put aside personal ambitions and unite in preparation for the forthcoming elections, warning that continued fragmentation would only strengthen the ruling party’s grip on power.
In an open letter addressed to President Harry Kalaba, Sean Tembo, Dr. Fred M’membe, Given Lubinda, and other opposition political parties, Musonda said the time had come for the opposition to swallow their pride, set aside differences, and form a united front that could provide Zambians with a credible alternative.
She observed that the opposition had for too long been characterized by competition within its ranks rather than cooperation against common national challenges.
According to her, this recurring pattern had left Zambians disillusioned, as campaign promises were often lost in division and rivalry.
Ms. Musonda noted that the country was grappling with a high cost of living, unaffordable essential commodities, rampant unemployment, and declining public confidence in governance.
She stressed that these were not mere statistics but daily struggles endured by millions of citizens.
In her view, a divided opposition only served to weaken bargaining power and embolden the status quo, while unity would send a powerful message of collaboration and people-centred leadership.
In her letter, Musonda acknowledged the individual strengths of the different opposition figures.
She described Harry Kalaba as experienced and resilient, Sean Tembo as passionate about accountability, Dr. Fred M’membe as a respected advocate for social justice, and Given Lubinda as a seasoned political strategist.
She argued that each of them held a “piece of the puzzle” needed to build Zambia’s future.
Ms. Musonda urged the leaders to consider practical forms of collaboration such as a united electoral front, joint policy platforms, shared campaign strategies, or even backing a single presidential candidate.
She emphasized that unity would not mean erasing party identities but prioritizing shared goals for the greater good.
“The first step is dialogue,” she wrote, adding that this should be genuine, open, and focused on the bigger picture.
She cautioned that time was running out, with the ruling party already consolidating power, and warned that approaching the ballot as scattered forces would only prolong the suffering of ordinary citizens.
Ms. Musonda further reminded the opposition that history would judge them either as leaders who rose above ambition to serve the people, or as those who clung to pride and allowed division to prevail.
She asserted that Zambians were ready to support a united opposition if only the leaders demonstrated readiness to unite.
PF IS NOT SHRINKING
….the more the UPND govt tries to kill it, the more the people rally behind the party, says Hon Monde
Lusaka… Tuesday September 2, 2025 – Senior Patriotic Front (PF) member Hon Grerford Monde says the more the UPND government tries to kill the former ruling party PF, the more the people are rallying behind it.
Hon Monde said the PF is not shrinking but gaining momentum and support.
He stated that if Robert Chibinga, who is supported by the entire UPND machinery, call for a meeting, less than 100 supported people will attend that meeting but that if the PF under the acting President Given Lubinda call for a meeting in Heroes Stadium, it will be full to capacity.
The former Minister of Agriculture further said this should worry the UPND government as their attempts to kill the PF is not working.
He said this when he featured on 5 FM’s Burning Issue radio Programme in Lusaka.
“You can even see today that Hon Miles Sampa, despite him coming out in the open, the party is not given back to the rightful owners. You saw what looked like a mere meeting turned out into a convention, with full protection of government. The police were there to stop the full owners of the party. And these are the same issues we were arguing in court to ensure that we get back the party,” he said.
“Yesterday, Zambians woke up to a very saddening and rude shock when Robert Chibinga went to attack all members of the PF about the convention. I liked one analysis by one Ken Dumbo who said on his page that if you see a blind man telling you that I will stone you then it should tell you that he is actually stepping on a stone. This illustrates the confidence that an ordinary Member of Parliament can come up with such warnings. This is not the first time that Chabinga is issuing such threats, earlier he warned of dealing with anyone wearing PF regalia during by-elections and we saw an enforcement from government.”
Hon Monde further stated that from the onset, the UPND has targeted the largest opposition political party in Zambia with a lot of MPs, which is the PF.
He indicated that because of their failure to deliver, they are in a hurry to kill the opposition.
Hon Monde emphasized that if the UPND wants to kill the PF on paper, the people will rally behind a political party which will be endorsed by the PF leadership.
2/9/25
ONLY BALLY CAN UNSEAT HH IN 2026
—————————————————-
President Hakainde Hichilema’s transformative development agenda rolled out accross the country speaks at a pitch that only Bally can UNSEAT him in 2026.
Zambians will indeed no doubt renew Bally’s mandate in 2026 as the infrastructure developmental projects’ visibility in all 156 constituencies and lives, which are being transformed is evidence of his commitment and political will to do the very best for the Zambian people who gave him the privilege to serve them as Republican President.
These facts on the ground speaks volumes about his focused leadership that indeed speaks to the aspirations of the people, particularly far flung rural areas like Western Province which is getting a fair share of the national cake.
More so, President Hichilema’s footprints are found in every part of Zambia from Shangombo, Kanchibiya, Kaputa, Gwembe and Lundazi, as the New Dawn Administration continues to reinforce development through CDF and many Social Protection Programs aimed at improving citizens’ lives.
It’s for these reasons, we can confidently say, only Bally can unseat HH in 2026 as his transformative development agenda is not a whisper, rumour or hearsay but factual for all to see.
Spuki Mulemwa
Western Province UPND Media Team.
Njobvu Vows to End Zambia’s Electricity Crisis if Elected President
Democratic Union leader and presidential hopeful Ackim Antony Njobvu has made a bold pledge: if Zambians entrust him with the nation’s top job, the era of load shedding will be consigned to history.
Njobvu noted that life under Zambia’s persistent power shortages families plunged into darkness, businesses closing early, hospitals depending on costly generators, and industries forced to scale back operations. He called the electricity deficit not merely an inconvenience, but “a barrier to development, job creation, and the dignity of every citizen.”
But while his words sparked hope among his audience, questions remain over whether his ambitious promises can withstand Zambia’s entrenched energy challenges.
Njobvu’s three-pronged plan focuses on, infrastructure Overhaul, Private Sector Partnerships and Universal Access.
“This is not a promise for tomorrow,” Njobvu declared. “It is a commitment we will begin to implement from day one.”
Zambia’s energy sector has long been plagued by inefficiencies, regulatory uncertainty, and corruption scandals raising concerns about whether Njobvu’s “clear, realistic, and transformative” plan will truly escape the same pitfalls.
Still, Njobvu insists that his leadership would mark a break from the past. “Together, we can make load shedding history,” he told supporters, pledging not only electricity but “renewed hope and prosperity.”
©️ KUMWESU | September 2, 2025
Police dismayed over letter sent to Zimbabwe Embassy on ‘Why Me’s’ arrest
By Mubanga Mubanga
Zambia Police Service says it is dismayed by reports that a named law firm has written to the Zimbabwean Embassy alleging that Zambia Police officers abducted Francis Kapwepwe commonly known as ‘Why Me’.
Recently, lawyers representing Kapwepwe, Makebi Zulu advocates, wrote to the Zimbabwean government to know whether the Zambia Police Service was allowed to apprehend him in that country.
The lawyers are also reported to have written to Inspector General Police Graphael Musamba demanding that he should explain where he was being kept since his apprehension in Zimbabwe in June.
But, in a statement yesterday, Zambia Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga stated that the apprehension of a suspect formed part of lawful evidence, which could only be adduced in the court of
https://dailyrevelationzambia.com/police-dismayed-over-letter-sent-to-zimbabwe-embassy-on-why-mes-arrest/
UPND’S FOUR YEARS IN POWER DESCRIBED AS A SUCCESS STORY – GETRUDE IMENDA
September, 2, 2025
LUSAKA – United Party for National Development (UPND) Deputy Secretary General, Ms Getrude Imenda, has described the party’s four years in government as a success, saying several key policies have kept the nation afloat despite challenges.
Featuring on a live issues radio programme, Ms Imenda said the UPND administration has managed to steer the country through difficult times. “If it’s not for UPND in power, things could be worse,” she said, noting that the government inherited a huge debt burden and the impact of a devastating drought.
She highlighted the successful debt restructuring process as one of the administration’s biggest achievements, adding that this has given Zambia fiscal space to invest in priority sectors.
Ms Imenda explained that although the economy is not yet fully recovered, UPND’s policies have cushioned citizens. “Measures like free education and mass recruitment in health and education have brought relief to many households,” she said.
The Deputy Secretary General also pointed to progress in the mining sector, where government efforts to revamp operations have created more job opportunities for Zambians.
In the agricultural sector, she emphasized that reforms under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), together with early distribution of inputs, have boosted production. “We have managed to secure a bumper harvest, which is a strong sign of stability,” Ms Imenda said.
She concluded that the UPND remains committed to delivering on its promises and urged citizens to recognize the gains made so far, while acknowledging that more work still lies ahead.
At four years in office, the ruling party is seeking to convince voters that its reforms are laying a firm foundation for economic recovery and long-term national development.
(C) UPND MEDIA TEAM
M’MEMBE SECURES HELICOPTER FOR 2026 CAMPAIGNS
By Henry MWENJENGA
As 2026 elections are fast approaching, Fred M’membe of the Socialist Party has secured faster propelled helicopter to help him traverse the country.
His business associates in the fertilizer, fuel, drugs and same potholes business have pledged to fly him round the country.
M’membe’s personal doctor advised him not to engage in heavy road movements due to some complications.
Meanwhile another political party from somewhere, has pledged to donate a whooping 3 million dollars to M’membe for presidential campaigns.
The 2026 elections will be one of the flamboyant as opposition leaders are positioning to outweigh each other in terms of who has the political, economical and financial capacity to mobilise voters.
So far, the impaired PF is still in the darkness of who will lead them to the elections though the Miles Sampa faction is banking on filing their presidential candidate on Charles Chanda’s party (NCP) in an event that Robert Chabinga decides not to contest as President on the PF ticket due to legal battles.
Charles Chanda has however been complaining that the Miles Sampa PF promised to give him a hilux, two houses and money to a tune of 5 million but that this has not been done and yet they continue to use his party for filing of their candidates.- Koswe
US DIASPORA INVITES KANG’OMBE
By Darious Kapembwa
KAMFINSA PF member of parliament and presidential hopeful Christopher Kang’ombe has left for the United States of America at the invitation of Zambians living there.
Kang’ombe’s announcement of having a presidential ambition has aroused the interest of Zambians in the diaspora and other interest groups that want to engage with him on his theme, “Redefining Politics through ideas for Development”, especially his emphasis on allowing Zambians to play a bigger role in the development of their own country via key sectors of the economy.
“Basically people hear how we are going to do things differently. They want to know how we will work with all Zambians at home and abroad to develop our country. The message is clear, we have to redefine politics by focussing on ideas for development rather than name-calling and unnecessary bickering that does not solve problems,” he told The Magbet in an interview before departure. “So we are poised for a new chapter and at the same time we are thrilled that people are interested to listen to us and invited us.”
He is scheduled to undertake various engagements on public policy matters under the same theme.
The youthful leader will meet individuals and institutions that work to advance democracy and good governance
He is also expected to speak at several dialogue meetings and engage with Zambians based in America before returning home for the official opening of Parliament on September 12, 2025.
Since his rise to the political stage, Kang’ombe has been advocating for new approaches to politics by focusing more on ideas for development, with particular emphasis on the participation of Zambians in key sectors such as mining and energy.
The Magnet
02nd September 2025
STUDENTS BEING USED AS POLITICAL PAWNS, SAYS SASYDA PRESIDENT
Lusaka… Tuesday September 2, 2025 (SMART EAGLES)
The President of the Southern African Students and Youth Development Association (SASYDA), Ibrahim Kabwe Mwamba, has accused politicians of manipulating students for their own agendas, warning that such actions undermine the dignity and welfare of young people in higher learning institutions.
Speaking in reaction to today’s march to State House by the University of Zambia Students’ Union (UNZASU) executive, Mr. Mwamba said the event was less about celebrating student leadership and more about political control.
“The recent march to State House, framed as a celebration of the new UNZASU executive, was nothing more than a political stunt—an attempt to hijack the student voice and divert attention from the real challenges facing our universities,” he said.
Mr. Mwamba criticized the UPND government for failing to fulfill its promises to students, pointing to the dire conditions at universities.
“Our institutions are crumbling under neglect. Students have no access to basic necessities such as water, accommodation, and proper sanitation. It is a national disgrace that many are forced to rely on shopping malls like East Park and Levy for bathrooms. This is humiliating and unacceptable,” he said.
He added that high tuition fees, unpaid lecturers, and load shedding were further crippling education.
“How can students be expected to excel when they are left in the dark, both literally and figuratively? These conditions not only compromise academic performance but also fuel a culture of desperation and academic dishonesty,” Mr. Mwamba said.
The SASYDA president urged UNZASU and other student bodies to resist political manipulation and prioritize the needs of their members.
“Your duty is to your fellow students—not to political elites. Protect their dignity and demand real solutions. Invite the President to witness the reality of campus life: the overcrowded hostels, the empty taps, the unpaid staff, and the blackout lecture halls,” he said.
Mr. Mwamba concluded by stressing that students deserve better leadership and genuine investment in education.
“Empty promises will not build laboratories, repair hostels, or light up classrooms. Students must reject manipulation, demand accountability, and claim the respect they deserve,” he said.
Cabinet approves Mukuni and Monze as Multi-Facility Economic Zones
Chief Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has announced that Cabinet has approved the declaration of two new Multi-Facility Economic Zones (MFEZs) in Kazungula and Monze districts.
Mr. Mweetwa says A parcel of land measuring 15,000 hectares under the Mukuni Development Trust, belonging to the Mukuni Chiefdom, will be designated as the Mukuni Multi-Facility Economic Zone.
Mr. Mweetwa who is also Information and Media Minister says the move is aimed at boosting economic activities in Kazungula District, transforming the largely rural area into a hub of commercial activity, and mitigating rural-urban migration.
He says the declaration of Mukuni as an MFEZ is in accordance with provisions 7 and 18 of the Investment, Trade and Business Development Act No. 18 of 2022.
Mr. Mweetwa says Cabinet feels this decision will facilitate the transformation of the area from a predominantly rural setting to one thriving with economic activities.
And Mr. Mweetwa says Cabinet has approved the declaration of 200.5857 hectares of land in Monze Town as the Monze Multi-Facility Economic Zone and that the zone will host modern manufacturing and industrial activities, including a feed processing plant, agricultural machinery production and assembly plant, solar panel and module assembly plant, dried fruit factory, and a 50 MW solar farm.
According to the Minister the Monze MFEZ is expected to attract US$75 million in investment, create over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs, generate tax revenue for the government, and promote technology transfer.
Ends……………..
NFF TO STAGE PROTEST AGAINST REOPENING OF ISRAELI EMBASSY IN ZAMBIA
The National Freedom Front (NFF) has announced that it will proceed with its planned peaceful protest tomorrow at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation against the reopening of the Israeli Embassy in Zambia.
Party Secretary General Humphrey Simuntala says at least 300 people are expected to participate in the demonstration and urged others who share the party’s position to join the call for the closure of the embassy.
The Israeli Embassy in Zambia, which had remained closed for about 50 years, was officially reopened on 20th August, 2025, with both governments pledging to strengthen bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
However, Mr. Simuntala told a press briefing this morning that NFF is demanding the closure of the mission until Israel complies with provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza causing famine on the Palestinian community.
He further argues that Israel must first be cleared of alleged crimes against humanity before Zambia normalizes diplomatic relations with what he terms a regime whose leaders have been declared international criminals by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
And NFF Legal Affairs Committee Chairperson Mulenga Tembo called on Israel to respect the ICJ’s provisional measures, the Geneva Conventions, humanitarian law, and the United Nations Charter.
Mr. Tembo dismissed Israel’s claim of self-defense against Hamas in Gaza, insisting that violations such as the bombing of schools and hospitals cannot be justified as such have brought untold misery on innocent Palestinians.
Activist Nawa Sitali holds a Palestinian flag ahead of the protest in solidarity with the people of Palestine, following the ongoing Israeli-Gaza conflict that has affected millions of innocent civilians
PRESIDENT HICHILEMA REAFFIRMS INVESTOR CONFIDENCE AS ZCCM-IH CROSSES $1 BILLION MARK
President Hakainde Hichilema has assured investors that companies can list and thrive on the Zambian market without political interference, emphasizing the government’s commitment to creating a fair and transparent business environment.
In a post on his X handle, the President highlighted that Zambia now boasts the best-performing stock market in the world. He added that the government is working to cut bureaucratic hurdles to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs), enabling them to grow, attract investment, and create jobs.
This assurance comes as ZCCM Investment Holdings Plc (ZCCM-IH) recently surpassed the US$1 billion market capitalization milestone on the Lusaka Securities Exchange (LuSE), becoming the second company after Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) to reach the mark.
Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe welcomed the development, describing it as a strong vote of confidence in Zambia’s economy and investment climate.
He noted that the government has introduced reforms such as tax incentives and infrastructure upgrades to boost investor confidence.
“The government remains committed to supporting capital markets. With the right partnerships and investments, particularly in the mining sector, we can drive meaningful economic growth and development,” Mr. Kabuswe said.
© The Falcon
KEY TAKEAWAYS: KAMBITA PRAISES UPND’S ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS
ECONOMIC RECOVERY & DEBT RESTRUCTURING
• President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership described as “remarkable” in stabilizing the economy and restructuring debt.
• Enactment of the Public Debt Management Act created fiscal space, freeing resources for social sectors.
• Budget credibility restored, with spending aligned to approved allocations and clear policy direction to boost production and investment.
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS (PPPS)
• Government promoting PPPs to drive infrastructure growth.
• Key projects include the Lusaka–Ndola Dual Carriageway and the Mutanda–Kasempa Road, expected to be commissioned soon.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT & CDF IMPACT
*The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) highlighted as a “game changer.”
*Achievements in Zambezi East include:
*15 classroom blocks with desks, 8 health centres, and recruitment of 600+ teachers.
*K1.7m invested per classroom block and K1.2m per health post.
*17,000 benefiting from social cash transfers, plus 14,000 additional drought-period beneficiaries.
*1,200 residents gained skills, 1,359 pupils in boarding schools, 153 loans issued, and 239 clubs granted support.
LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE & EQUIPMENT
• Acquisition of critical equipment: water bowser, excavator, and grader for township road rehabilitation.
• Construction of two market shelters to support local commerce.
• Assurance given for a new district hospital, replacing the one built in 1939, and plans for a university and teaching hospital.
GOVERNANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY
• Emphasis on media engagement in budget sessions to understand policy direction.
• Clarification that FIC report figures are cumulative across administrations, not just UPND.
• Criticism of past misuse of Eurobond funds in the railway sector, stressing the need for accountability.
OVERALL MESSAGE
• UPND government credited with swift debt restructuring, enhanced service delivery, and meaningful investments in education, health, and infrastructure.
• Kambita underscores progress while urging continued transparency and accountability.
© UPND Media Team
