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Malema calls for visa-free travel between South Africa and Nigeria

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Malema calls for visa-free travel between South Africa and Nigeria

Malema calls for visa-free travel between South Africa and Nigeria



Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has called for the removal of visa requirements between South Africa and Nigeria, declaring: “We actually do not need a visa between South Africa and Nigeria… we are one.”


Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference in Enugu, Malema condemned xenophobia as “a betrayal of African unity” and stressed that Nigerians and other African migrants are not to blame for South Africa’s economic challenges.



He pointed to systemic inequality and historical economic domination as the true root causes.



Malema highlighted the longstanding solidarity between the two countries during apartheid, citing Nigeria’s support for South African liberation efforts, and argued that these ties should translate into modern economic collaboration.



He urged African nations to adopt visa-free travel, joint industrial projects, and coordinated trade policies to foster an integrated continent.


The EFF leader also noted the cultural and economic links between South Africa and Nigeria, from shared business interests to the influence of Nigerian music and film, emphasizing that xenophobic attitudes undermine Africa’s potential.

Cyan Boujee under investigation over alleged Russian job scam

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Cyan Boujee under investigation over alleged Russian job scam

South African social media influencer and DJ Cyan Boujee, whose real name is Honour Zuma, is facing scrutiny from authorities following her promotion of a controversial Russian job program.



The investigation, confirmed by the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation, centers on allegations that the “Alabuga Start” initiative, promoted by Cyan, may be linked to a human trafficking scheme targeting young African women.



Cyan, known for her large social media following and DJing career, sparked outrage after sharing a now-deleted Instagram video encouraging young women to apply for the program, which promised high-paying jobs, free flights, and accommodation in Russia.


Critics quickly raised concerns, pointing to red flags such as vague job descriptions and substandard living conditions resembling “prison-like” quarters, as seen in leaked footage of the Alabuga facility, where Geran-2 kamikaze drones are reportedly produced for the Ukraine war.


The backlash intensified on social media, with users accusing Boujee of endorsing a potentially exploitative scheme.

South African authorities are now probing the program’s legitimacy, with experts warning that it mirrors patterns of trafficking seen elsewhere in Africa, where vulnerable women are lured with false job promises.


Cyan, no stranger to controversy, has yet to issue a public statement addressing the allegations. This incident adds to her history of public disputes, including past assault allegations and a leaked explicit video scandal.



The investigation has reignited debates about influencer accountability, with calls for stricter regulations on endorsement deals.

As the probe continues, authorities urge young women to verify overseas job offers carefully.



For now, Cyan’s silence has only fueled public criticism, leaving many awaiting her response and the outcome of the investigation.

ANC has betrayed South Africans since 2017, says Magashule

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ANC has betrayed South Africans since 2017, says Magashule

ANC has betrayed South Africans since 2017, says Magashule



African Congress for Transformation (ACT) President Ace Magashule has launched a scathing critique of the African National Congress (ANC), claiming the party has been in decline since 2017.


Magashule attributed the deteriorating state of municipalities across South Africa to the ANC’s internal divisions and lack of unity.



“The ANC is not united, and the poor state of our municipalities is a clear reflection of this,” Magashule declared, pointing to service delivery failures and crumbling infrastructure as evidence of the party’s regression.


He argued that the ANC’s inability to address these challenges stems from factionalism and a departure from its historical commitment to the people.



Magashule, a former ANC Secretary-General, also took aim at the Government of National Unity (GNU), formed after the ANC’s loss of an outright majority in the 2024 elections.


He labeled the coalition a “betrayal of the people,” accusing it of prioritizing political deals over the needs of ordinary South Africans. “The GNU is not about unity for the people; it’s about protecting interests and abandoning the masses,” he said.



The ACT leader’s remarks come as South Africa grapples with widespread dissatisfaction over service delivery, unemployment, and economic stagnation.

Japan unveils a robotic tail for humans!

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Japan unveils a robotic tail for humans!

Japan unveils a robotic tail for humans!

Scientists at Keio University have developed Arque, a biomechanical tail that replicates animal-like balance.


Powered by artificial muscles and pneumatic pressure, it moves in eight directions, acting like a pendulum to stabilize your body’s movements.


Initially created to aid elderly individuals in walking securely and preventing falls, it also holds potential for workers handling heavy loads.


Drawing inspiration from cheetahs and seahorses, this innovative tail remains in the experimental phase but highlights how technology can boost mobility and augment human capabilities.

NEW JUDGE REPLACING DAVID KAZADI RECEIVES BACKLASH AS THE ICON SHOW LOVERS CALL HIM “KAZADI WANNABE”

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NEW JUDGE REPLACING DAVID KAZADI RECEIVES BACKLASH AS THE ICON SHOW LOVERS CALL HIM “KAZADI WANNABE”

NEW JUDGE REPLACING DAVID KAZADI RECEIVES BACKLASH AS THE ICON SHOW LOVERS CALL HIM “KAZADI WANNABE”


The Icon Zambia has advanced to the next stage as 35 contestants continue to battle with vocals and melodies for the ultimate prize.


With Kazadi in the background, a new judge has been introduced, and most of the show’s fans do not like his judging style after hearing his commentary on a contestants who most of viewers thought did extremely well.



His comment on the contestant who performed exceptionally well left his colleague Judge Cleo Ice Queen and other contestants in shock. “Oh, wow!” Judge Cleo Ice exclaimed after hearing the new judge’s comment.



He said, “Wow, I couldn’t wait for it to end. Geez, it’s like somebody trying to brush your teeth with a grinder, you know. Oh, wow



He continued, “So I couldn’t wait for it to end. I mean, at this stage of the competition, I mean, why are we still having acts like this? You know, are you, it’s like you don’t understand where you are.”


One social user reacting to the video about what to expect this week giving the show’s fans a glimpse of the new judge said, “Even his friends got surprised at what the judge said. The guy is good.”



Another social user said, “Mmm, are we safe? Because this guy made me smile, but iyeee! Ba new kazadi aba awe, his worse than the owner of the name.”



Well, the new judge is here and for the contestants who were listening to what seemed like a great delivery being described as the worst have a lot of work to do to impress the “New Kazadi.”



READ MORE: https://zedifyonline.com/new-judge-replacing-david-kazadi-receives-backlash-as-the-icon-show-lovers-call-him-kazadi-wannabe/

MacG’s surprise cameo in Shaka iLembe sparks buzz across South Africa

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MacG’s surprise cameo in Shaka iLembe sparks buzz across South Africa

MacG’s surprise cameo in Shaka iLembe sparks buzz across South Africa



Fans of Mzansi Magic’s hit historical drama Shaka iLembe were left in a frenzy on Sunday, August 24, when popular podcaster MacGyver “MacG” Mukwevho made an unexpected cameo in the show’s second season.



The Podcast and Chill host, known for his unfiltered commentary and massive online following, appeared alongside choreographer and dancer Robot Boii in a brief but impactful scene that has set social media ablaze.



In the episode, MacG portrayed one of the sons of the Qwabe king, standing as a staunch supporter during a dramatic stick-fighting sequence where King Shaka triumphs over his opponent.



Though his screen time was short, the cameo was a strategic move by the show’s producers to blend contemporary South African pop culture with its rich historical narrative.


Robot Boii, whose real name is Mzwakhe Mbuli Jr., also joined MacG in the scene, adding to the surprise factor.

The cameo has kept MacG trending, with many praising his seamless integration into the award-winning series.



Despite never publicly expressing an interest in acting, MacG’s appearance has been hailed as a savvy move to draw even more viewers to Shaka iLembe, which has already garnered critical acclaim, winning 12 SAFTA awards in 2024, including Best TV Drama.



The series, which chronicles the rise of the iconic Zulu king, continues to captivate audiences with its high production values and compelling storytelling.

World’s highest-paid tennis players in 2025: Coco Gauff overtakes Novak Djokovic

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Coco Gauff is the highest-paid female tennis player in the world, according to Forbes’ annual rich list of tennis players.

The 21-year-old American raked in $37.2 million over the past 12 months—$12.2 million in prize money and $25 million off the court. Gauff ranked third behind Carlos Alcaraz ($48.3 million) and Jannik Sinner ($47.3 million) and overtook Novak Djokovic, who came in fourth with $29.6 million.

Also the first among women’s players, Gauff’s earnings have risen by around $10 million from last year. Making more money off the court, brands that have worked with her include Bose, New Balance and hair care brand Carol’s Daughter.

Gauff also disclosed in January that she had invested in Unrivaled, ahead of the three-on-three women’s basketball league’s inaugural season. “My dad always wanted me to follow in his footsteps and play basketball,” she wrote on X. “Haha sorry dad but this is as close as it will get.”

She also left her agency, Team8, in April to launch her own management firm in collaboration with powerhouse talent firm WME. She stated on social media that the move “allows me to take greater ownership of my career while also creating opportunities that extend beyond myself as I continue to grow as an athlete, entrepreneur and changemaker.”

This year’s top 10 earners feature four women in all, and when combined, the world’s 10 highest-paid tennis players made an estimated $285 million over the past 12 months, a 16 percent increase from last year’s total of $246 million, Forbes said.

Here are the top 10 highest-paid tennis players in the world in 2025:

  1. Carlos Alcaraz $48.3 million

AGE: 22 | NATIONALITY: Spain | ON-COURT: $13.3 mil • OFF-COURT: $35 mil

  1. Jannik Sinner $47.3 million

AGE: 24 | NATIONALITY: Italy | ON-COURT: $20.3 mil • OFF-COURT: $27 mil

  1. Coco Gauff $37.2 million

AGE: 21 | NATIONALITY: U.S. | ON-COURT: $12.2 mil • OFF-COURT: $25 mil

  1. Novak Djokovic $29.6 million

AGE: 38 | NATIONALITY: Serbia | ON-COURT: $4.6 mil • OFF-COURT: $25 mil

  1. Aryna Sabalenka $27.4 million

AGE: 27 | NATIONALITY: Belarus | ON-COURT: $12.4 mil • OFF-COURT: $15 mil

  1. Qinwen Zheng $26.1 million

AGE: 22 | NATIONALITY: China | ON-COURT: $5.1 mil • OFF-COURT: $21 mil

  1. Iga Swiatek $24 million

AGE: 24 | NATIONALITY: Poland | ON-COURT: $9 mil • OFF-COURT: $15 mil

  1. Taylor Fritz $15.6 million

AGE: 27 | NATIONALITY: U.S. | ON-COURT: $8.6 mil • OFF-COURT: $7 mil

  1. Frances Tiafoe $15.2 million

AGE: 27 | NATIONALITY: U.S. | ON-COURT: $3.2 mil • OFF-COURT: $12 mil

  1. Daniil Medvedev $14.3 million

AGE: 29 | NATIONALITY: Russia | ON-COURT: $4.3 mil • OFF-COURT: $10 mil

Paul Krugman reveals the real motive behind Trump’s war on Fed governor

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President Donald Trump’s threats to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook are proof that “nobody is safe” from the new era of “weaponized government,” Nobel Prize-winning economist turned political pundit Paul Krugman wrote for his Substack on Monday.

This follows Trump’s housing finance chief, Bill Pulte, leveling an unsubstantiated “mortgage fraud” claim against Cook, who happens to be one of the Fed officials who opposed Trump’s demanded rate cuts.

“I am not going to lead with a discussion of what Cook may or may not have done,” wrote Krugman. “That would be playing Trump’s game. Clearly, he’s just looking for a pretext to fire someone who isn’t a loyalist — and who happens, surprise, to be a black woman. If you write about politics and imagine that Trump cares about mortgage fraud — or for that matter believe anything Trump officials say about the affair without independent confirmation — you should find a different profession. Maybe you should go into agricultural field work, to help offset the labor shortages created by Trump’s deportations.”

In truth, he wrote, “You should think about the attack on Cook in the same context as mortgage fraud accusations made against California Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Or you should look at the attacks on Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve chair, over the cost of renovations at the Fed’s headquarters. Or the still mysterious raid on the house of John Bolton, who at one time was Trump’s national security adviser.” In reality, he argued, Trump doesn’t care at all about fraud, which he has been found liable for himself — the real message is, “If you get in our way we will ruin your life.”

More generally, Krugman warned, “What we’re witnessing is the authoritarian playbook in action. Tyrannies don’t always get their way by establishing a secret police force that arrests people at will — although we’re getting that too. Much of their power comes not from overt violence but from their ability to threaten people’s careers and livelihoods, up to and including trumped-up accusations of criminal behavior.”

It remains to be seen whether any criminal charges will actually materialize for Cook, Krugman wrote — mortgage fraud actually is common, but rarely prosecuted and requires proof that someone purposely falsified records.

But that’s not the point, he concluded. The point is, “we are all Lisa Cook. You may imagine that your legal and financial history is so blameless that there’s no way MAGA can come after you. If you believe that, you’re living in a fantasy world. Criticize them or get in their way, and you will become a target.”

Armed robbers  storms a church robbing congregants of their belongings

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Mpumalanga police have launched a manhunt for three armed robbers who stormed a church in Mkhuhlu, Calcutta, South Africa on Sunday, August 24, firing shots and robbing congregants of their belongings before fleeing in a stolen vehicle.

According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, the suspects entered the church during a service and ordered worshippers to lie down at gunpoint. “The suspects, armed with firearms, instructed everyone to lie down. They then robbed the congregants of their cellphones, cash, and car keys,” Ndubane said.

The robbers made their escape in a white VW Polo belonging to one of the victims. Police confirmed that several shots were fired inside the church, but no one was injured. “Several spent cartridges were recovered on the floor. At this stage, no arrests have been made, and the investigation continues,” Ndubane added.

Acting provincial police commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi condemned the attack, calling it a disturbing escalation of violent crime. “It is deeply concerning that criminals now boldly target places of worship, which should be sanctuaries of peace and safety,” he said.

Police have appealed to the public for assistance in tracking down the suspects. Anyone with information has been urged to contact Lieutenant Colonel Skhumbuzo Ceko on 082 922 9902, the SAPS Crime Stop line on 08600 10111, or to submit details through the MySAPS App. “All information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality, and callers may remain anonymous,” Ndubane said.

US Secretary of State Rubio hails Museveni for regional stability

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US Secretary of State Rubio hails Museveni for regional stability

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken on the phone with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to discuss opportunities to deepen U.S.-Uganda cooperation on migration, reciprocal trade, and commercial ties.

According to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, the Secretary on Thursday thanked Uganda for providing a model of regional stability, including its valuable contributions to peacekeeping in East Africa.

A day earlier, internal government documents obtained by CBS News showed the Trump administration has expanded its campaign to Uganda and Honduras, as it persuades countries around the world to aid its crackdown on illegal immigration by accepting deportations of migrants who are not their own citizens.

“The documents indicate Uganda in East Africa recently agreed to accept deportees from the U.S. who hail from other countries on the continent, as long as they don’t have criminal histories. It’s unclear how many deportees Uganda would ultimately accept under the arrangement with the U.S. government. Honduras’ government has also agreed to receive deportees from other Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, including families traveling with children, the documents show. The government of Honduras agreed to a relatively small number of deportations — just several hundred over two years — but the documents indicate it could decide to accept more,” CBS News reported.

According to CBS News, both agreements are based on a “safe third country” provision of U.S. immigration law that allows officials to reroute asylum-seekers to countries that are not their own if the U.S. government makes a determination that those nations can fairly hear their claims for humanitarian protection.


Foreign Affairs PS Vincent Bagiire later clarified that the agreement is temporary with conditions including that individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors will not be accepted.
He said Uganda also prefers that individuals from African countries shall be the ones transferred to Uganda. The two parties are working out the detailed modalities on how the agreement shall be implemented.


“At least a dozen countries have already accepted or agreed to accept deportees from other nations since the second Trump administration took office, and U.S. officials have been aggressively courting other governments. Internal government documents show the Trump administration has also asked countries like Ecuador and Spain to receive these so-called third-country deportees from the U.S.”

Snoop Dogg says only one person has ever been able to out-smoke him

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Snoop Dogg said there’s only one person who has ever been able to out-smoke him.

I mean, when you think of celebrities linked to Miss Mary Jane, Snoop’s got to be one of the first that comes to mind.

He even launched a whole publicity stunt to trick the world he was ‘quitting smoking’ back in 2023, and did that iconic smoked-up elevator video with Martha Stewart for the 2020 Golden Globes.’

Ed Sheeran even said he lost the ‘ability to see’ after smoking a blunt with the rapper, and Jimmy Kimmel once declared Snoop’s birthday as DoggFather’s Day, a ‘new high holiday’.

But despite the ‘Young, Wild & Free’ hit maker’s affiliation with the drug, he’ll happily admit he’s not always the number one weed smoker.

Chatting on Kimmel’s show last year, Snoop said another musician had managed to push him to the limits when he was asked who he’d put on a ‘Mount Rushmore’.

Kimmel said: “Seth Rogen was here last week, and we were talking about Mount Rushmore of pot smokers, and of course, you are on.

“And I think that Seth is on Mt. Rushmore. Who would you put on that Mt. Rushmore?”

Naming his own top dogs, Snoop took time to think before saying: “I would put Bob Marley. I would put Cheech and Chong – they were the first faces on the mountain, they’re the ones who showed us what a mountain was.”

After mentioning the amateurs, he moved onto the top dogg.

“Willie P. Nelson is definitely on there,” he added.

“And by the way, Willie Nelson is the only person who has ever out-smoked Snoop Dogg. I had to hit the ‘timeout’ button.”

Kimmel then asked whether he’d ever had to use that particular button before, with the rapper responding: “Never, never.”

Nelson later responded to the smoker shoutout, backing up the story during an interview with the Daily Beast as he said: “That was over in Amsterdam!

“I called Snoop and I said, ‘Hey buddy, you gotta come over here. This is where it’s at!’

“So, he came over, and we hit every bar, every smoke place in Amsterdam. We had a helluva time.”

Asked about his use of marijuana, the country legend, who of course features on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album, said: “Oh, I don’t know. There’s probably people that can out-smoke me! I don’t do a lot of smoking anymore.

“I’ve switched over to a vaporizer because it’s better on my lungs.”

To be blunt, we are sure Nelson has done more than his share over the years. I guess that’s grow-biz.

‘Nobody is safe’: Paul Krugman reveals the real motive behind Trump’s war on Fed governor

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President Donald Trump’s threats to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook are proof that “nobody is safe” from the new era of “weaponized government,” Nobel Prize-winning economist turned political pundit Paul Krugman wrote for his Substack on Monday.

This follows Trump’s housing finance chief, Bill Pulte, leveling an unsubstantiated “mortgage fraud” claim against Cook, who happens to be one of the Fed officials who opposed Trump’s demanded rate cuts.

“I am not going to lead with a discussion of what Cook may or may not have done,” wrote Krugman. “That would be playing Trump’s game. Clearly, he’s just looking for a pretext to fire someone who isn’t a loyalist — and who happens, surprise, to be a black woman. If you write about politics and imagine that Trump cares about mortgage fraud — or for that matter believe anything Trump officials say about the affair without independent confirmation — you should find a different profession. Maybe you should go into agricultural field work, to help offset the labor shortages created by Trump’s deportations.”

In truth, he wrote, “You should think about the attack on Cook in the same context as mortgage fraud accusations made against California Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Or you should look at the attacks on Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve chair, over the cost of renovations at the Fed’s headquarters. Or the still mysterious raid on the house of John Bolton, who at one time was Trump’s national security adviser.” In reality, he argued, Trump doesn’t care at all about fraud, which he has been found liable for himself — the real message is, “If you get in our way we will ruin your life.”

More generally, Krugman warned, “What we’re witnessing is the authoritarian playbook in action. Tyrannies don’t always get their way by establishing a secret police force that arrests people at will — although we’re getting that too. Much of their power comes not from overt violence but from their ability to threaten people’s careers and livelihoods, up to and including trumped-up accusations of criminal behavior.”

It remains to be seen whether any criminal charges will actually materialize for Cook, Krugman wrote — mortgage fraud actually is common, but rarely prosecuted and requires proof that someone purposely falsified records.

But that’s not the point, he concluded. The point is, “we are all Lisa Cook. You may imagine that your legal and financial history is so blameless that there’s no way MAGA can come after you. If you believe that, you’re living in a fantasy world. Criticize them or get in their way, and you will become a target.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton demands schools display Ten Commandments despite court ruling

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Monday that the vast majority of schools in the Lone Star State should still plan on displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms even after a federal judge ruled against it last week.

In a statement, Paxton said that “schools not enjoined by ongoing litigation must abide” by a state law that requires the display of the Ten Commandments in all public and secondary school classrooms.

“The woke radicals seeking to erase our nation’s history will be defeated,” he said. “I will not back down from defending the virtues and values that built this country.”

Paxton asserted that only nine Texas school districts are affected by the injunction and said that all other districts “must abide by the law once it takes effect on September 1, 2025.”

The Texas attorney general’s defiant stance on the Ten Commandments earned him a quick rebuke from Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), who accused him of grandstanding instead of doing his job as the state’s chief law enforcement official.

“Paxton’s job is to uphold the Constitution, which guarantees the separation of church and state—not the Ten Commandments,” he wrote on X. “Our public schools should focus on educating Texas students, not stoking culture wars.”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation also rebuked Paxton for failing to uphold the Constitution’s prohibition of the government establishment of a religion.

“The Constitution, not the Ten Commandments, built this country,” the foundation said. “Forcing students to observe one religion’s rules is a blatant violation of the First Amendment regardless of what Ken Paxton claims. Public schools are for education, not religious indoctrination.”

Paxton’s declaration came less than a week after US District Judge Fred Biery of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas issued a preliminary injunction against the state law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed.

In his ruling, Biery argued that the classroom displays “are likely to pressure the [students] into religious observance, meditation on, veneration, and adoption of the state’s favored religious scripture, and into suppressing expression of their own religious or nonreligious background and beliefs while at school.”

Woman wins $1M lottery prize from a scratch-off ticket, the second time she has won the jackpot

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Gloucester resident Oletha Etheridge recently won a $1 million prize in the Virginia Lottery’s $100,000 a Year scratch-off ticket game. Most people would consider such a windfall to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But for Oletha, this is the second time she has won the jackpot.

The Virginia woman struck gold twice in her life, illustrating that lightning may strike the same area more than once.

“You could say that Oletha Etheridge is a lucky woman. In her 20s, she won $25,000 from the Virginia Lottery,” the lottery agency revealed in its winner announcement. “Now in her 60s, she’s won again.”

Oletha bought her winning $100,000 a year ticket from a Food Lion supermarket at 7465 Hargett Blvd. in Gloucester. Virginia Lottery stated that after scratching it, she told one of her daughters, “Are you sitting down? ‘Cause I have something to tell you.”

The ticket stated that she had won the game’s grand prize, $100,000 every year for ten years. Winners of this game have the option of receiving the entire prize in annual installments or a one-time lump-sum payment. Oletha, along with her two daughters, Taletha and Takema, chose the one-time cash option of $816,000 before taxes.

The Virginia Lottery announced the family’s decision, confirming that the prize would be split among Oletha and her daughters. While the payout was slightly less than the full $1 million, the lump sum allowed the Etheridge family to make immediate plans for their winnings.

Four decades ago, when Oletha won $25,000 in her 20s, she used her prize money to buy a house. This time around, she plans to invest in the property that has been part of her life since that first win. With her 2025 prize, Oletha is planning to add rooms to her home as well as purchase “an affordable Corvette.”

Her daughters, meanwhile, are inspired by their mother’s earlier decision. They intend to use their share of the prize money exactly as she once did—to purchase homes of their own.

“It’s come full circle,” the Virginia Lottery noted, pointing out how Oletha’s first prize helped her set down roots, and now, decades later, her daughters will do the same.

The chances of winning that top prize are 1 in 612,000, while the odds of winning any prize at all in the game are 1 in 2.91.

The $100,000 a Year scratcher (game #2343) is one of dozens of instant-win games offered by the Virginia Lottery. It features prizes ranging from $20 up to the $1 million top prize. Oletha’s ticket represented the second of the three available top prizes, which means one top prize remains unclaimed.

Beyond individual wins, the Virginia Lottery stresses that all lottery proceeds go straight to K-12 education in the state. In Fiscal Year 2025 alone, the Lottery raised more than $901 million for Virginia’s public schools, accounting for over 10% of the total K-12 budget. Gloucester County, where Oletha lives, earned more than $3.5 million in Lottery funds for K-12 education in the previous fiscal year.

SA Govt Warns Against Russian Job Scams Targeting Young Women

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South Africa’s government has warned young women to beware of social media scams promoting overseas job opportunities, amid concerns over viral videos advertising work in Russia.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation is investigating a now-deleted promotional video by South African influencer Cyan Boujee, whose real name is Honour Zuma. The video, which gained significant traction online, advertised a two-year “start programme” for women aged 18 to 22 looking to gain professional skills. Filmed in Tatarstan, Russia, it showcased accommodation for recruits and described the scheme as offering jobs and Russian language training.

With youth unemployment in South Africa standing at over 45%, according to recent figures, such offers are particularly appealing to young people desperate for work. However, authorities have raised alarms about the legitimacy of these schemes. Clayson Monyela, head of public diplomacy, posted on X: “Young people, especially women, must avoid unverified foreign job offers promoted on social media. If it seems too good to be true, seek a second opinion.”

Concerns have emerged that some recruits to Tatarstan have been misled into working in a weapons factory producing drones used in Russia’s war in Ukraine. A May report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime found that the “start” programme often misrepresents the nature of the work, with many recruits engaged in drone production or support roles such as cleaning and catering in a special economic zone in Tatarstan.

Boujee, who has 1.7 million TikTok followers, has not been accused of illegal activity and has not directly addressed the criticism. In a recent Instagram post, she appeared to dismiss the controversy, sharing a photo of herself on a plane with the caption: “Legs stretched, champagne poured, drama ignored.”

The government has reiterated its call for vigilance, urging young women to verify job offers through official channels before committing.

Scientists have worked out why some people get bitten by mosquitos more than others

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If you’ve ever wondered why it feels like mosquitos are targeting you more than anyone else then not to worry my friend, scientists have finally found the answer.

Of all the bugs out there, mosquitos are probably some of the worst, mainly because of the deadly viruses they can often carry. You only need to see what they’ve been doing to the rabbits in the US to understand that.

China has already taken serious action after a newborn virus started to spread through the pesky bug bites, so it’s easy to see why plenty of people don’t like them

Now, you may never have suffered a mosquito bite or maybe you get them all the time, but either way you’ll probably be wondering why it is they do or don’t target you.

Jonathan F. Day, an entomology professor at the University of Florida, thinks he’s figured out a reason why, and it turns out that the insects are far more picky than you might imagine.

“These cues let them know they are going to a blood source,” Day said. “Perhaps CO2 is the most important. The amount of CO2 you produce, like people with high metabolic rates ― genetic, other factors ― increases the amount of carbon dioxide you give off. The more you give off, the more attractive you are to these arthropods.”

Basically, you’ll need to stop breathing, exercising and drinking beer if you want to keep them permanently away (Getty Stock)
Considering non-living things such as cars also give off carbon dioxide, the mosquitoes then consider secondary cues before selecting their blood source.

Lactic acid, which is the chemical that causes our muscles to cramp, is also likely to pin a target on your back, with Day explaining some of the other cues which the vampiric animals consider

He said: “Mosquitoes have excellent vision, but they fly close to the ground to stay out of the wind. They are able to contrast you with the horizon, so how you’re dressed matters. If you have on dark clothes, you are going to attract more because you’ll stand out from the horizon, whereas those wearing light colours won’t as much.”

Once the mosquito has landed on you, there are also tactile cues which it thinks about before deciding to bite, with body heat a huge factor in this instance.

Day adds: “Body heat is a really important tactile cue. That comes into play with genetic differences or physiological differences. Some people tend to run a little warmer — when they land, they’re looking for a place where blood is close to the skin.”

Melissa Piliang, a dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic, also suggests that exercising, drinking alcohol and being pregnant or overweight also makes you an attractive proposition for mosquitoes.

So, if you’re planning on doing any of those activities this summer, maybe try and do them away from any malicious mosquitoes, or you could be in for a painful few days.

Parents arrested after 11-year-old daughter gave birth at home

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Parents arrested after 11-year-old daughter gave birth at home

An 11-year-old girl gave birth at her Oklahoma home with no medical care and her parents have now been charged with felony child neglect.

The girl’s mother, Cherie Walker, 33, and her stepfather, Dustin Walker, 34, were both arrested after they allegedly failed to provide supervision or medical assistance for their daughter, who delivered a full-term baby on August 16, according to multiple local outlets.

The girl was 36 weeks pregnant, according to court documents obtained by FOX23.

However her parents claimed that had no idea she was pregnant, Muskogee County Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson said.

Investigators said the child had not seen a doctor in more than a year and had not received any prenatal care.

Hutson told KJRH the incident came to light only after the girl was taken to the hospital following the birth.

“I was horror-stricken to find out it’s an 11-year-old little girl who’s given birth,” Hutson told FOX23. “And that she had no medical care, and she had no one to be with her.”

Both the mother and the stepfather are each charged with felony child neglect.

They are being held in the Muskogee County Jail on a $100,000 bond each and are scheduled to appear in court on September 3.

Hutson told KJRH that additional charges may be filed and that authorities are awaiting paternity test results to find out the identity of the baby’s father.

“This child is traumatized,” Hutson told KOTV.

“She’s been through a horrific ordeal. I mean, not only has somebody gotten her pregnant, but she gave birth at home without medical assistance, and this will be her life for the rest of her life.”

Man who claims to have died 3 times says he now knows what really happens after death

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Man who claims to have died 3 times says he now knows what really happens after death

A former US Marine who claims to have died three times says he now knows what really happens after death.

Dannion Brinkley, 75, from Nevada, described surviving three separate near-death experiences (NDEs) and insists, “nobody truly dies.” Once a skeptic, he says his first brush with death came in 1975, when he was electrocuted after lightning struck a telephone pole.

“It went into the side of my head above my ear, it went down my spine. It welded the nails of the heels of my shoes to the floor. It threw me up in the air, I see the ceiling, it slams me back down, a ball of fire comes through the room and blinds me. I am burning. I am on fire. I am paralyzed,” Brinkley told KLAS.

He said paramedics later declared him dead, but 28 minutes later he woke up in a morgue. During that time, he recalled traveling through a tunnel, reviewing his life, and encountering 13 “silver-blue spirit beings” in a “crystal city” who showed him visions of Earth’s future.

Brinkley said his second NDE came in 1989 during open-heart surgery when his heart gave out while battling pneumonia. He described floating out of his body and being reunited with his “angelic instructors,” who, he claims, helped him discover “psychic and spiritual gifts to aid the dying and the desperate.”

His third experience occurred in 1997 during brain surgery. “So, when you learn you don’t die, when you learn you’re a spiritual being, you’re not going to go to hell, that’s enough to inspire you to change,” he said.

Following his experiences, Brinkley co-founded the Twilight Brigade, a program with the Veterans Administration that ensures no veteran dies alone. He also launched the Brinkley Center Foundation, which offers grief and caregiving support, and authored several books including Saved by the Light, At Peace in the Light, and The Secrets of the Light.

Scientific studies suggest that common elements of NDEs, such as tunnels of light, out-of-body sensations, or life reviews, may be linked to brain activity at the point of death. Research has shown spikes in neural activity seconds after cardiac arrest, indicating the brain could still process information after clinical death.

AUTHORITIES IN KENYA RECOVER MORE BODIES IN SUSPECTED CULT CASE

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AUTHORITIES IN KENYA RECOVER MORE BODIES IN SUSPECTED CULT CASE

AUTHORITIES IN KENYA RECOVER MORE BODIES IN SUSPECTED CULT CASE

By: Citizen TV Kenya

Kenyan authorities have exhumed four more bodies from shallow graves in Kwa Binzaro village, Kilifi County, raising the confirmed death toll in the latest suspected cult-related incident to 13. In addition, eight body parts were recovered during Monday’s operation, bringing the total number of remains collected to 18.



The discovery was made by a multi-agency team searching the thickets near Shakahola Forest, an area already notorious following the 2023 Shakahola massacre linked to cult leader Paul Mackenzie.



Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha, leading the operation, confirmed the arrest of 11 people, including a woman believed to be at the center of the suspected cult activities.


“We have arrested the main culprit—the lady who was operating here—and 10 other suspects. Investigations are ongoing, and we want to establish who sold this land to her, because this is part of Chakama Ranch,” Onyancha said.



Preliminary investigations indicate that some of the victims may have previously been rescued during the Shakahola operation. Authorities believe that after being rescued, some individuals returned to the forest, possibly due to rejection by their families or communities.



“Some of them were not fully accepted by their families or communities. That made them come back to this area—although not to the exact spot as the earlier incident, but further inside,” Onyancha added.


The incident has raised renewed concerns about the reintegration of cult survivors and the effectiveness of government and rehabilitation follow-up measures.
#SunFmTvNews

Trump announces major Federal Reserve firing: ‘You are hereby removed’

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President Donald Trump said he fired Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve governor, amid allegations that she committed mortgage fraud before joining the Fed.

Trump took to his Truth Social platform Monday night to share his letter, which cited his Article II powers in the Constitution and the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 to inform Cook she was “hereby removed.” Trump said the firing was “effective immediately.”

Trump cited an Aug. 15 criminal referral from William Pulte, his handpicked head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to Attorney General Pam Bondi. The letter said there was “sufficient reason to believe you may have made false statements on one or more mortgage agreements.”

Trump’s administration has accused Cook of listing two properties as her primary residence to secure better loan terms. They said she signed one document indicating a Michigan property would be her primary residence for the next year, then two weeks later signed another document for a property in Georgia claiming the same.

“It is inconceivable that you were not aware of your first commitment when making the second,” the letter said. “It is impossible that you intended to honor both.”

Cook previously denied wrongdoing and said she had no intention of resigning.

Dennis Schröder feels he cannot be loved in Germany like Dirk Nowitzki because he’s Black

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Dennis Schröder feels he cannot be loved in Germany like Dirk Nowitzki because he’s Black

NBA star Dennis Schröder made history at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics when he became the first Black person to carry the German flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Besides Schröder, 31, Dirk Nowitzki is the only basketball player to carry the German flag at the Olympic Games. That was in 2008.

Despite attaining that feat, Schröder, in a recent interview, stated that he felt he could not be loved in Germany like Nowitzki, who is retired. Though soccer is undoubtedly the most popular sport in Germany, Nowitzki is widely known in the European nation because of his massive achievements in the NBA and legacy with the Dallas Mavericks.

“I will not receive the same love in this country because I am dark-skinned,” Schröder, who was born to a Gambian mother and currently plays for the Sacramento Kings, told Stern, per DW Sports.

Schröder also touched on watching Nowitzki, 47, play for the German national basketball team at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics. Schröder was 14 at the time.

“Back then, I thought: How cool, there can be no greater appreciation. Today, however, I know: It’s a great honor, but it will never be the same for me as it was for Dirk,” he stated.

Schröder spoke about how Germans perceive stars to carry themselves and his personality not being in line with those expectations.

“I’ve made mistakes, I’m not perfect. Nevertheless, it’s wrong to judge someone you don’t know well,” the 31-year-old said. “The fact that I was allowed to be a flag bearer doesn’t make this story any better.”

Despite his sentiments, Schröder has been a key player for the German national basketball team. In 2023, he captained the squad to clinch their first FIBA World Cup. They also won that competition undefeated.

Schröder said he intended to return to Germany after hanging his NBA jersey. “Many professionals stay in the USA after their playing careers and enjoy their fame,” he said. “But I belong in Germany.”

Snoop Dogg slams LGBTQ+ representation in kids’ films

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Snoop Dogg has sparked mixed reactions after he made controversial comments about LGBTQ+ representation in films during a recent podcast interview.

“What you see is what you see, and they’re putting it everywhere,” the rapper, 53, said on the Aug. 20 episode of Dr. Sarah Fontenot’s “It’s Giving” podcast.

Snoop explained that he took his grandson to see the 2022 Disney animated film “Lightyear” and was surprised that one of the characters has two moms.

“They’re like, ‘She had a baby — with another woman.’ Well, my grandson, in the middle of the movie is like, ‘Papa Snoop? How she have a baby with a woman? She’s a woman!’” he recalled.

“‘Oh sht, I didn’t come in for this sht,” Snoop remembered thinking. “I just came to watch the goddamn movie.”‘

Snoop said that his grandson, who was confused by the same-s£x couple, asked him, “They just said, she and she had a baby — they’re both women. How does she have a baby?”

“So it’s like, f**k me, I’m like, scared to go to the movies,” Snoop told Fontenot. “Y’all throwing me in the middle of sh-t that I don’t have an answer for.”

“It threw me for a loop,” Snoop, whose birth name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., added. “I’m like, ‘What part of the movie was this? These are kids. We have to show that at this age? They’re going to ask questions. I don’t have the answer.’”

Snoop’s comments sparked backlash in the interview’s YouTube comments.

“You’re telling me that as a 50+ year old man, you still don’t know how to talk to a kid about same s£x parents? Why is that such a difficult concept to grasp?” one person wrote.

“What a terrible take on the lesbian couple. It’s 2025 & y’all still being homophobic?” another critic added.

“How to explain where two women got a child? — ADOPTION,” a third person stated.

“Imagine being Snoop Dogg, the face of weed and murder rap, but scared of representation in a kids movie,” someone on X tweeted.

“Whats ever happened to ‘sometimes boy likes boy and girl likes girl and that’s okay’ and calling it a day,” another critic wrote.

 Roger Federer becomes a billionaire joins Cristiano Ronaldo in sport’s exclusive rich list club

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Tennis legend, Roger Federer is officially a billionaire.

According to Forbes, the 44-year-old has joined the 10-figure club with a net worth of $1.1billion (£813million).

The publication attributes that wealth to his significant minority stake, estimated at three per cent, in Swiss shoe and apparel brand On – who he has been affiliated with since 2019.

It went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021 and now has a market capitalisation of nearly $15bn (£11.1bn), with Federer’s equity worth more than $375m (£277.3m).

On its roster of tennis stars include six-time grand slam winner Iga Swiatek, men’s world No. 6 Ben Shelton and teenage prodigy Joao Fonseca.

Federer, who earned $1 billion in off-court endeavours during his 24-year career, was the highest-paid tennis player for 16 straight seasons, double of what Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal pocketed.

And that was despite the Swiss earning less in prize money ($131 million), than his rivals (Djokovic – $189 million and Nadal – $135 million).

In 2020, the year injury left him on the sidelines after the Australian Open semifinal exit, he had earned $106.3 million before tax, more than any other athlete in the world.

Federer is now the second-ever tennis player in history to join the billionaire club after Romanian player Ion Țiriac, the 1970 French Open doubles champion, who built his fortune through post-communism investments.

Overall, he is the eighth member of the billionaire athletes’ club, joining some of sport’s most iconic names across basketball, football, golf and tennis.

Federer is now the eighth member of the billionaire athletes’ club, joining some of sport’s most iconic names across basketball, football, golf and tennis.

The world’s eight billionaire athletes
Basketball

Michael Jordan — $3.8bn (£2.8bn)
Magic Johnson — $1.5bn (£1.1bn)
Junior Bridgeman — $1.4bn (£1bn)
LeBron James — $1.2bn (£887m)
Football

Cristiano Ronaldo — wealth boosted by $665m (£492m) Al-Nassr deal (exact figure TBD)
Golf

Tiger Woods — $1.3bn (£961m)
Tennis

Ion Tiriac — $2.7bn (£2bn)
Roger Federer — $1.1bn (£813m)

Women now undergo extreme surgery in Turkey to reduce their height

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A growing number of women are travelling to Turkey for a drastic and highly invasive cosmetic procedure designed to reduce their height—a trend driven by body image concerns, relationship preferences, and personal confidence issues.

The procedure, which is being offered by select clinics in Istanbul, involves surgically cutting a section of the leg bone—most often the femur—removing part of it, and then inserting a metal rod to stabilise the bone while it heals.

According to a report by Daily Mail UK, the operation can shorten height by as much as 5.5cm from the thigh and an additional 3cm from the lower leg.

Although medical centres market the surgery as leaving minimal scarring, recovery is long and painful, requiring months of physiotherapy, temporary wheelchair use, or crutches. Patients also face potential complications such as delayed bone healing, muscle weakness, joint dislocation, blood clots, and—in rare cases—fatal outcomes.

For some women, the decision is motivated by societal and relationship pressures. Several patients cited surveys suggesting that men prefer shorter partners, with one saying she felt “too tall” to be considered attractive. Others reported undergoing the procedure to correct leg-length discrepancies or to address health concerns.

One American woman who had the surgery in Istanbul last year reduced her height from 172cm to 167.9cm. Four weeks after the procedure, she was still on crutches and undergoing intensive physiotherapy. Another patient reportedly shaved nearly 5cm off her height.

Despite its dangers, demand is climbing. Height Reduction, a leading centre in Istanbul, claims to have performed 10 leg-shortening surgeries since 2023. These clinics often package the procedure as part of a “medical tourism experience,” including city tours, luxury accommodation, and leisure activities to attract international clients.

Before undergoing the operation, patients are required to complete psychological assessments to ensure they have “realistic expectations” and are prepared for the emotional and physical toll of recovery.

Experts caution that the procedure should not be viewed as a simple cosmetic fix, given its high risks and the possibility of lifelong complications. However, some researchers argue that societal perceptions of height play a larger role than many admit.

Studies have shown that being tall may come with unique health risks for women. One Swedish study found that for every 10cm above average height, the risk of developing certain cancers rises by 18%. Height has also been linked to conditions like endometriosis.

Kemi Badenoch says she is suffering from racism in UK

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Kemi Badenoch says she is suffering from racism in UK

Kemi Badenoch, the first Black woman to lead the UK Conservative Party, claims to have experienced racist abuse since her election as party leader in July 2024, despite previously downplaying racism in Britain. Speaking in an interview, the 44-year-old politician expressed surprise at the scale of hostility directed at her, particularly online, where she has faced attacks rooted in “ethno-nationalism” and racist tropes. Critics have suggested her success is due to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives rather than merit, with some claiming she “couldn’t possibly have done this all by herself.” Badenoch described this as a form of “Kemi derangement syndrome,” highlighting the intensity of personal attacks.

Born in Wimbledon and raised in Nigeria before returning to the UK at 16, Badenoch has rarely spoken at length about her race or heritage. Previously, she has maintained that Britain is “the best place in the world to be Black,” rejecting claims of systemic racism and criticizing anti-racism campaigns and critical race theory. Her recent claims mark a shift, acknowledging the racism she says she has encountered, though she emphasized she considers other explanations before attributing criticism to race.

The abuse, she claims, has included derogatory remarks about her ethnicity, with some online critics using stereotypes to question her competence or leadership. Kemi Badenoch also noted that a small number of MPs—around “two to three out of 120″—have contributed to the criticism, though she dismissed their impact as minimal. She suggested that some attacks stem from “sore losers” within her party, referencing tensions with supporters of Robert Jenrick, her leadership rival, who she defeated in 2024.

Badenoch’s leadership comes at a challenging time for the Conservative Party, which is polling at just 17% amid competition from Reform UK and Labour. Her claims have sparked debate, with some questioning the consistency of her stance given her earlier dismissal of racism as a significant issue in the UK. Others, including Labour MP Florence Eshalomi, have acknowledged her milestone as a British-Nigerian leader, while critics argue her political positions do not align with addressing systemic racial inequalities.

The Conservative Party has not commented directly on the specific allegations of abuse, but Badenoch’s defenders, including Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty, have called for accountability from those perpetuating harmful narratives. Meanwhile, Badenoch remains focused on her leadership, rejecting claims of laziness or corruption as rooted in racist stereotypes.

TikToker arrested after allegedly bragging about killing coworker over $31,000 debt

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A TikToker has been arrested after allegedly posting videos about killing his co-worker.

Naqibullah Habibzoi was apprehended on Thursday following the 31 May shooting and death of Awal Noor Kiftan, 34.

The 23-year-old worked with the victim at a trucking company, according to local outlets.

Authorities arrived at Kiftan’s apartment 9100 block of Dartbrook Drive, San Antonio, Texas, at around 11pm, finding him unresponsive with several gunshot wounds, before being pronounced dead at the scene.

A friend had alerted police that he was with Kiftan that night as he was called to meet a woman outside his apartment.

This is when Kiftan went outside alone, and his friend heard gunshots before going out and finding him on the ground, according to the cops.

It was found that the woman who called the victim outside was in a relationship with Habibzoi, with both being listed as suspects in a previous possible assault reported in April, reports the San Antonio Express News.

Police think she lured him out, after which they suspect Habibzoi shot him.

Suspicious TikTok posts
Police dug deeper and found that Habibzoi took to TikTok to accuse Kiftan of taking $31,000 from him, as he even allegedly wrote in a post: “We never move on without taking revenge.”

Investigators translated a post where he explains in Pashto that Kiftan ‘tricked him’ and took his money despite being his friend.

The affidavit further noted that he wrote in a different post: “If you do something bad to us, something bad will happen to you.”

He also claimed that Kiftan ‘had his $31,000’ and even shared a snap of a firearm with the Afghanistan flag on top of a carpet.

Habibzoi claimed his TikTok was hacked to frame him for the crime, denying responsibility for the videos, but shortly after saying this he appeared to make a new post with the same carpet from the other video.

A disturbing phone call
Police also say the suspect confessed to the shooting in a phone call after saying to someone that ‘he finished them’, again in Pashto.

Habibzoi allegedly said on the call he ‘did it with his hands’ and said ‘his heart is pleased and satisfied.’

Call records from Haninzoi’s phone revealed that he’d travelled from Houston to San Antonio that day, before returning to his home city after the shooting.

A GoFundMe was started for Kiftan, who was described as a ‘hardworking immigrant living far from his homeland.’

It further said that his death leaves behind a ‘bereaved family and orphaned children… in urgent need of humanitarian and financial support.’

So far, over $8,800 has been raised for the family.

Habibzoi is currently being held at Bexar County Jail

Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre to publish autobiography posthumously

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The late Virginia Giuffre is set to posthumously publish an autobiography.

The most prolific accuser of Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein, she sadly died by suicide at her home in Australia in April this year, at the age of 41.

But it’s understood that her book, Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice, was finished about a year ago.

The publishing house, Alfred A Knopf, says it had received an email from Giuffre in the weeks before her death, as she had made it known that it was her ‘heartfelt wish’ that her memoir would still be released if she died.

The American-Australian was an advocate of justice for survivors of sex trafficking and had alleged that Epstein and his former partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, had trafficked her to the royal when she was 17.

Prince Andrew has firmly denied the allegations against him (we’ve all seen the ‘I don’t sweat’ interview) and reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in 2022.

And this 400-page memoir will be the first time she has spoken publicly about him since that settlement.

Her co-author, Amy Wallace, apparently received an email from Giuffre on 1 April (according to Knopf), which wasn’t long after she claimed she had been in a car accident.

“The content of this book is crucial, as it aims to shed light on the systemic failures that allow the trafficking of vulnerable individuals across borders,” the email said.

“It is imperative that the truth is understood and that the issues surrounding this topic are addressed, both for the sake of justice and awareness.”

Set to be released in the US in October, the publisher says Giuffre’s memoir is going to share ‘intimate, disturbing, and heartbreaking new details about her time with Epstein, Maxwell, and their many well-known friends, including Prince Andrew’.

In her email, Giuffre reportedly added: “In the event of my passing, I would like to ensure that NOBODY’S GIRL is still released.

“I believe it has the potential to impact many lives and foster necessary discussions about these grave injustices.”

Transcripts from Maxwell’s interview with US interviews in July were released last week, and it’s reported that she said the infamous image of Giuffre, Prince Andrew and her together was ‘literally a fake photo’.

The accuser’s family said they were ‘outraged’ by Maxwell’s interview.

Maxwell is serving 20 years in prison for her role in Epstein’s trafficking and abuse. He took his life in prison in 2019, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Expert shares reality of fasting as sobering simulation shows what happens to your body after 24 hours

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A health expert has weighed in on whether or not fasting is beneficial to the body, as the dietary trend rises in popularity.

Intermittent fasting, the ‘5:2 diet’, every-other-day fasting, and time-restricted eating are all variations of an eating trend pushed by wellness enthusiasts as not only a way to lose weight, but also something that comes with unexpected health benefits.

Research the impacts of fasting on the internet, and you’re even likely to come across numerous simulations talking about putting your body into a state of autophagy and ‘deep repair mode’ or supporters of the diet extolling all the ways that fasting could provide you with health benefits.

But how accurate are the claims that fasting can be some sort of ‘factory reset’ for the body?

According to nutritionist and health expert Alan Aragon, fasting is a ‘double-edged sword’ that can certainly work in some cases.

“For the control of calories in, fasting is legit,” he told Steven Bartlett on a recent episode of his Diary of a CEO podcast.

“It actually works for one of the options for dieting. There has been an accumulation of studies showing that it works great.”

However, Aragon had some words for anyone planning to spend the next 24, 48 or 72 hours fasting to put their body in a state of autophagy.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, autophagy is the body’s ‘natural cleaning out process’ that begins when the body is exposed to nutrient deprivation (such as fasting). This leads to old or damaged cells being broken down and recycled.

Aragon explained that fasting isn’t the only way to put your body into a state of autophagy, as most major types of exercise can also do this.

“[Autophagy] it happens in a calorific deficit regardless of whether fasting is involved or not,” he said. “So if you want to ‘chase autophagy’, then doing it through intermittent fasting or prolonged periods of not eating is a double-edged sword, whereas the autophagy increases through exercise, they don’t have a downside.”

The nutritionist also warned about triggering a process known as autosis, widespread cell death, which occurs during starvation.

Aragon also explained that fasting may not have the intended benefits for some people, as he explained: “What I’m seeing in the community is people thinking that intermittent fasting is something that is necessary or beneficial to do regardless of your body fat level.

“But that’s not actually true.”

He went on to reference a study which revealed that intermittent fasting can contribute to loss of ‘lean body mass’ in individuals who already had a low level of body fat.

“We need to focus on other things like how do we maintain a certain body fat percentage, level of physical activity and dietary pattern,” he added.

“It’s those things that are much more productive to target.”

Donald Trump signs executive order to imprison anyone who burns US flag

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Donald Trump signs executive order to imprison anyone who burns US flag

Donald Trump has signed an executive order at the White House today (25 August) making it illegal to burn American flags.

The 47th US President has not been shy in signing orders and bills since coming into office in January this year, starting his second term in office with a tirade of new policies.

While he has been spending the bulk of his time trying to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, we can’t forget that the 79-year-old has been making a number of changes in his own country.

He’s introduced a travel ban for some and cracked down heavily on immigration, even making a passing comment at the White House which disgusted viewers a couple of months ago.

Trump isn’t slowing down though, announcing his latest move in front of press in the Oval Office.

The executive order has told federal prosecutors to pursue criminal charges against individuals who burn American flags during protests.

It also orders attorney general Pam Bondi in particular, to look back at cases where people have been caught burning flags, and see if they could be charged with other crimes, such as disturbing the peace or breaking environmental laws.

The move comes as Trump tries to get around a Supreme Court decision from 1989, as they ruled 5-4 in Texas v Johnson that destroying the flag is an action which is protected political expression under the first amendment.

Though it was 36 years ago, the flag-burning laws in 48 of 50 states were discarded and signalled that people could do so as a way to freely express their political views. But this is no longer the case.

Speaking while signing the order, Trump said: “All over the country they’re burning flags,

“All of over the world they burn the American flag, and as you know, through a very sad court, I guess it was a 5-4 decision, they called it freedom of speech.”

He simply said if ‘you burn a flag, you get one year in jail’ while speaking in the Oval Office, though the order doesn’t reveal details about a jail sentence.

If we rewind back to 2016, it’s clear that Trump has long campaigned for the criminalisation of the act, writing on social media at the time: “Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag – if they do, there must be consequences – perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail!”

A YouGov survey from 2023 found that over half of Americans (59%) found flag burning in protests to be unacceptable.

‘It took a whole day’: MacG explains Shaka iLembe scens (video)

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‘It took a whole day’: MacG explains Shaka iLembe scens (video)

MacG has become one of South Africa’s most influential podcasters. Through Podcast and Chill, he’s given celebrities a bold, unfiltered platform. His conversations sparked debates, trended online, and reshaped how Mzansi consumes entertainment. Love him or criticise him, MacG built a loyal following.

His fearless style pushed boundaries and inspired countless fans. Beyond podcasting, he’s established himself as a household name. Many credit him for changing the media landscape. Now, MacG is taking his influence into a new space. He has officially made his acting debut, adding another exciting chapter to his growing career in entertainment.

MacG explains Shaka iLembe scene
Fans were stunned when MacG appeared on Shaka iLembe. His acting debut marked a powerful new step in his career. He shared the screen with veteran stars like Dawn Thandeka King. Another surprise was Robot Boii, who also featured in the scene. Together, their presence created one of the series’ most iconic moments.

The highlight came when Shaka defeated the Qwabe king, sealing a dramatic sequence. On his podcast, MacG explained the hard work behind it. “We started shooting at 9 am and finished at 5 pm,” he revealed. The scene lasted only two minutes, yet it demanded countless retakes. Angles were repeated, movements re-done, and every detail polished.

MacG admitted it was more difficult than expected, but he loved the challenge. His performance impressed many, showing natural confidence and energy on screen. With this debut, MacG proved he’s more than a podcaster—he’s now an actor too.

Indian man k!lls his pregnant wife, cuts up her body and dumps parts into river

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Indian man k!lls his pregnant wife, cuts up her body and dumps parts into river

A 20-month-old love marriage between a couple from different castes ended in tragedy after the husband brutally m8rdered his five-months pregnant wife, dismembered her body, and dumped the parts into a river in India.

The incident happened at Boduppal, in the Medchal-Malkajgiri District of Telangana on Saturday evening, August 23, 2025.

The accused, Samala Mahender Reddy (27), a cab driver who studied up to Intermediate, married B Swathi in January 2024 in spite of parental disapproval, and the couple later moved to Boduppal.

Their marriage soon ran into trouble, with frequent quarrels and Mahender allegedly harassing Swathi for dowry.

The disapproval of their families, who belonged to the same village, further strained the relationship.

In April 2024, Swathi lodged a complaint with Vikarabad police alleging dowry harassment.

A case was registered against Mahender under Section 498A of IPC and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

However, after intervention by village elders, the couple reached a compromise. But peace did not last long — Swathi continued to face harassment and often returned to her parents’ home, only to rejoin Mahender later.

Malkajgiri DCP PV Padmaja said Mahender had pre-planned the murder. He purchased a hacksaw at Boduppal, kept it hidden in the house, and waited for the right opportunity.

On Saturday, he left home at 11 am and returned at 4.30 pm. Soon after, he strangled Swathi to d8ath. Later, around 8 pm, he sent a text message from her phone to her mother saying, “We had dinner.”

Speaking to TNIE, Malkajgiri ACP S Chakrapani said Mahender then dismembered her body and made three trips over three-and-a-half hours to dump the parts in the Musi river at Prathapasingaram. His first trip was around 7 pm.

Later that night, Mahender called his sister and claimed Swathi was missing. Suspecting foul play, she informed their relative Govardhan Reddy, who advised Mahender to lodge a police complaint.

Initially reluctant, Mahender finally accompanied Govardhan to the Uppal police station. They were then directed to approach the Medipally police station under whose jurisdiction Mahender’s house falls.

Sensing inconsistencies in his behaviour, the Medipally police grilled Mahender, who confessed to the crime. When a police team reached his house, they found only Swathi’s torso.

He admitted to having dumped the remaining body parts into the Musi. Despite efforts by police, NDRF, and GHMC personnel, the remains could not be retrieved due to strong water currents and a depth of nearly 20 feet.

Police revealed that Swathi had earlier undergone an abortion but conceived again in March 2025.

Quarrels between the couple continued, and on Friday, Swathi told Mahender that she planned to visit Vikarabad for a medical check-up on August 27 and stay with her parents. This led to another heated argument.

According to DCP Padmaja, Swathi’s alleged verbal abuse during the quarrel became the immediate trigger for Mahender to k1ll her.

“Though this appeared to be immediate provocation, we suspect there are other reasons behind the m3rder. Mahender had forced Swathi to quit her call centre job after three months, as he was suspicious of her behaviour. We are investigating the case,” the DCP said.

New Zealand’s postal service suspends deliveries to US over tariffs

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New Zealand’s postal service has suspended most deliveries to the United States, citing uncertainty over the effects of new tariffs set to take effect under President Donald Trump’s trade measures.

NZ Post said the suspension began on August 21, ahead of the US government’s plan to impose a 15 percent tariff on small packages entering the country from August 29. In the meantime, only limited categories of mail, including letters and critical documents such as passports and legal papers, will continue to be delivered.

The decision mirrors actions by postal operators in India, Germany, France, Belgium, Austria and Denmark, which have also halted or restricted shipments following Washington’s move to abolish a tax exemption on low-value imports.

While the US began imposing tariffs on foreign nations in April, many of the measures are only taking effect this month after months of delays and negotiations.

In a statement, NZ Post said it was “working quickly” to adapt its services and aimed to resume full deliveries “as soon as possible.” Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told Radio New Zealand that uncertainty over how the tariffs will be applied has created operational challenges for postal services worldwide.

“As these postal organisations have worked out, they can’t guarantee what the tariff rate will be or cost, or how that will all work in practical terms,” Luxon said. “I’m sure NZ Post, along with its counterparts in other countries, will work with the US to get clarity.”

David Luiz embroiled in cheating scandal as leaked messages reveal he ‘asked for threesome’ as way to ‘serve the lord’

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Former Chelsea and Arsenal defender, David Luiz, has been embroiled in a cheating scandal after leaked messages appeared to show him asking for a ‘threesome’.

According to Portal Leodias, Luiz has allegedly been cheating on his fiancée, Bruna Loureiro, with a woman called Karol Cavalcante. She claimed that they had corresponded over social media, with the two never meeting in person, before Cavalcante leaked what are purported to be private Instagram messages between her and the former Arsenal player.

Cavalcante alleged that Luiz suggested having a ‘threesome’ with her and a friend, with one purported message between the two saying she would be ‘serving the lord’ if they got together.

Cavalcante revealed the pair became close after speaking over social media and has leaked what are purported to be private Instagram messages between her and the former Brazilian international.

‘We started talking, and as the days went by, the exchange of messages became more and more frequent.’ Cavalcante told LeoDias.

‘After our first meeting in Fortaleza, we continued to talk on Instagram, but temporarily.

‘He even suggested having a threesome with my friend, but I didn’t want to get involved.

‘I started to notice that he was acting somewhat aggressively towards me, and that made me feel insecure and worried. He always hinted that he could do something to me.’

According to LeoDias, screenshots of a conversation purporting to be between Luiz and Cavalcante appear to show the devout Christian imploring his lover that ‘serving the Lord is the way’, and telling her to use legal action to stop a third party leaking their relationship.

‘Why are you worried? She has no business saying or doing anything. If she does, just sue her. Serving the Lord is the way forward.’

The Brazilian has responded to these allegations.

A statement from Luiz’s management agency reads:

“As previously reported, although there was a brief exchange via text message, there was never any face-to-face meeting between David Luiz and the person making the contrary allegations.”

According to an official statement from the Magna Praia Hotel, there is no record of the player staying at the hotel to date.

David Luiz reaffirms his commitment to the truth and is confident that the facts will be duly clarified.”

Woman who donated a part of her liver to her husband di£d days after he passed away following a transplant surgery

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Woman who donated a part of her liver to her husband di£d days after he passed away following a transplant surgery

A woman who donated a part of her liver to her husband di£d days after he passed away following a transplant surgery, prompting the Maharashtra health department to issue a notice to a private hospital in Pune, an official said.

The Sahyadri Hospital has been directed to submit all details pertaining to the transplant procedure by Monday, August 25, Deputy Director of Health Services, Dr Nagnath Yempalle, said on Sunday, August 24.

“We have issued a notice to the hospital and sought details of the recipient and the donor, their video recordings, and the line of treatment. The hospital has been asked to furnish all the details by 10 am on Monday,” he said.

The patient, identified as Bapu Komkar, and his wife Kamini, who donated a part of her liver, underwent surgeries at the hospital on August 15.

Bapu Komkar’s health deteriorated after the transplant surgery, and he passed away on August 17. Kamini developed an infection on August 21 and di£d during treatment.

Their family members have alleged medical negligence and demanded an inquiry into the de@ths.

The hospital stated the surgeries were conducted as per the standard medical protocols.

“We are fully cooperating in the investigation. We are committed to providing all necessary information and support to ensure a thorough review of this matter,” the hospital said in a statement, confirming receipt of the notice.

It stated the patient (Bapu Komkar) was a high-risk individual with many complications.

“We deeply sympathise with the Komkar family in this time of immense loss. A living donor liver transplant is one of the most complex procedures, and in this case, the patient was a high-risk person with many complications,” it said.

The hospital further stated the family and the donor were fully counselled about surgical risks in advance.

“The surgeries were carried out following standard medical protocols. Unfortunately, the recipient developed cardiogenic shock after the transplant and could not be revived despite all efforts,” it said.

On Kamini Komkar’s health, the hospital said she initially recovered well, but later developed septic shock and multi-organ dysfunction, which could not be controlled even with advanced treatment.

“We remain committed to providing the highest standards of care and extend our full support to the bereaved family during this tragic time,” the statement added.

ISRAEL POUNDS GAZA CITY IN PREPARATION FOR PLANNED OFFENSIVE

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ISRAEL POUNDS GAZA CITY IN PREPARATION FOR PLANNED OFFENSIVE

ISRAEL POUNDS GAZA CITY IN PREPARATION FOR PLANNED OFFENSIVE



PLANES and tanks have pounded parts of Gaza City as Israel’s plans to seize the territory’s largest urban area increase pressure on nearly a million Palestinians living there.



Residents have spoken of uninterrupted explosions in northern and eastern parts of the city. Israeli troops have also returned to blow up buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia further north.


Sixty-four people were killed and nearly 300 injured in Israeli attacks in the past 24 hours, the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry said.


It said the overall number of those killed since Israel launched its massive campaign to defeat Hamas had risen to 62,686 with another 157,951 injured.



Israel’s military launched an operation in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.


Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to defeat Hamas and defied international criticism over his plans to expand the war. Some 60,000 reservists are being called up to take part in the Israeli operation.


While it has yet to begin in earnest, Israeli attacks on Gaza City have continued unabated with the areas of Zeitoun and Shejayia hit from the air overnight into Sunday, as tank fire targeted Sabra neighbourhood.



The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have also said that troops have returned to the Jabalia area in the past few days.



“The troops’ activity enables the expansion of the fighting to additional areas and prevents Hamas terrorists from returning and operating in these areas,” the IDF said.



Separately, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced on Sunday that a staff member had been released by the IDF after being held in Gaza since 21 July. There are no further details about the identity of the WHO worker or the reasons for his detention.



Famine in Gaza City is ‘failure of humanity’, UN chief says Netanyahu is also facing intense pressure in Israel particularly from the families of hostages who want him to negotiate an end to the war in order to bring their captive relatives home.


Only 20 of 50 hostages still held in Gaza are believed to be alive. The Israeli prime minister announced Israel’s intention to conquer the entire Gaza Strip after indirect talks with Hamas on a ceasefire and hostage release deal broke down last month.


Mediators Qatar and Egypt are trying to secure a deal to avert the offensive and have presented a new proposal for a 60-day truce and the release of around half of the 50 hostages, which Hamas said it had accepted.


But Israeli officials have said they will no longer accept a partial deal and have demanded a comprehensive one that would see all the hostages released. Israel’s defence minister warned that Gaza City will be razed if Hamas does not agree to disarm and release all hostages.



The Israeli military has said it plans to evacuate Gaza City’s entire population and move it to shelters in the south before troops move in. Most of Gaza’s population has been displaced many times. The UN and non-governmental organisations have warned that an Israeli offensive in Gaza City will have a “horrific humanitarian impact”.



More than 90% of homes are estimated to be damaged or destroyed, and the healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene systems have collapsed. Eighteen of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are currently partially functional, according to the UN – 11 in Gaza City and its surrounding areas and one in a separate administrative district in North Gaza.

BBC

Stop sponsoring people to endorse you, Nakacinda tells Given Lubinda

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Stop sponsoring people to endorse you, Nakacinda tells Given Lubinda

PF WARNS MEMBERS AGAINST EARLY ENDORSEMENTS, THREATENS DISCIPLINARY ACTION



Patriotic Front –PF Secretary General Raphael Nakacinda has warned party members that all manner of political endorsements from anybody within the PF will attract disciplinary action.



Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka today, Mr Nakacinda said such actions go against the ethical standards of the party on the procedure of electing a party president.


Recently, PF Deputy National Chairlady for Women’s Affairs Kavumbu Hakachima was quoted in various sections of the media endorsing the candidature of acting PF president Given Lubinda for the PF presidency.



But Mr Nakacinda says the former ruling party has not yet opened up campaigns for endorsements adding that the PF is still observing the period of mourning following the death of its president Edgar Chagwa Lungu hence it is insensitive to begin campaigning for preferred candidates yet.



He has also appealed to other opposition political parties not to interfere in the affairs of the PF, adding that the party has the mechanisms to resolve all the issues.



Mr Nakacinda has also urged stakeholders in Zambia interested in the growth of democracy to pay attention to the happenings in the PF party.
The PF SG has further clarified that the party will be holding its convention before April 2026.


Meanwhile, Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa who was introduced as Leader of Parliament has called upon the diplomatic corps and the European Union to take keen interest in how public institutions are being used to stop the PF from participating in the democratic dispensation of governance in Zambia, particularly participating in elections.


Mr Sampa wonders why the UPND government has failed to accept the decision by the PF on who should hold the position of Leader of Opposition in Parliament when the current ruling party was allowed to choose whom they wanted during their time in opposition.

Please visit me in jail, Lusambo urges supporters

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Please visit me in jail, Lusambo urges supporters

Please visit me in jail, Lusambo urges supporters

WITH another conviction, all but added to his criminal resume, subsequently extending his stay behind bars, Bowman Lusambo has pleaded with his supporters to visit him in jail.


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This was after the Economic and Financial Crimes Court (EFCC) convicted him for illegally acquiring his Chamba Valley mansion and six unfinished flats near Chalo Trust School.



The conviction handed down by Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Davies Chibwili marked the former Minister’s third conviction.

As he was being taken into the vehicle to courier him back to Mwembeshi, Lusambo shouted at his loyal supporters, urging them to stay strong and be prayerful.



“Muleisa mukumbonako mwaumfwa! (You should be visiting me!)”  Lusambo exclaimed.

“Tukamonana mulepepesha, okay?”
(We shall be meeting, be prayerful).



This is barely nine after the Economic and Financial Crime’s Court convicted and sentenced him to four years with hard labour for 10 corruption related charges.



This morning, he was found guilty for acquiring properties worth valued at K22.8 million way above his clean money which was K8.5 million during the period under review.

In his findings Magistrate Chibwili said that Lusambo failed to prove the source of his income.



“Having made that finding. I put the accused on defense, having been found with a case to answer. He talked about his politics which was however irrelevant in a criminal procedure case. What was Important in my view is that the defense were given much time in accordance with the law.”



“I find the accused guilty on two counts of acquiring properties suspected to be proceeds of crime and I convict him accordingly,” said Magistrate Chibwili.



The court, however, could not sentence Lusambo after the State indicated that he was not a first time offender and there was need for magistrate to consider some court records.



The judgement has been adjourned to Friday this week.

By Catherine Pule

Kalemba, August 25, 2025

People with shiny shoes do little business – Hichilema

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People with shiny shoes do little business – Hichilema

People with shiny shoes do little business – Hichilema

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says those who like laughing at his shoes and outfits must understand that when one reaches a certain level, they have no time for boutiques.



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Addressing UPND members in Kitwe yesterday, President Hichilema stated that he was aware of what most netizens say about his outfits.



The President said at a certain level, one does not pay attention to shoes but focuses on the needs of orphans.



“I see on social media people saying look at Hakainde one suit, look at his shoes. At a certain level you don’t pay attention to shoes, you pay attention to orphans. I love to wear shoes of the same colour. I love the same type of shoes. It’s called a habit, consistency. It’s called other things are not as important,” he stated.


“Wait until you reach a certain level of hard work, you will have no time to go into boutiques. If you see someone moving with shiny shoes, just watch them,  they do very little business.”

By Catherine Pule

Kalemba, August 25, 2025

We Won’t Choose Our Party President Until Edgar Lungu Is Buried!! If It Means Us Not Participating In The 2026 General Elections So Be It!!!- Raphael Nakachinda

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We Won’t Choose Our Party President Until Edgar Lungu Is Buried!! If It Means Us Not Participating In The 2026 General Elections So Be It!!!- Raphael Nakachinda

PATRIOTIC FRONT PUTS SUCCESSION AMBITIONS ON HOLD AS PARTY MOURNS LUNGU


By Brian Matambo, Lusaka – Zambia

The Patriotic Front (PF), Zambia’s largest opposition party, has sought to project unity and discipline as it navigates both a period of national mourning and an uncertain political future. At a press briefing held Monday at the PF Secretariat, Secretary General Raphael Nakachinda urged party members to suspend presidential ambitions and refrain from early endorsements, warning that indiscipline at such a delicate time would weaken the movement.



The somber backdrop was the passing of former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the PF’s leader and Zambia’s sixth Republican President. “As a party, we stand fully behind the family of our late President, and we support them in ensuring he is accorded a befitting funeral,” Nakachinda said. Yet, even as the PF adjusts to life without its towering figure, the party is moving to address its own succession process.



INTERNAL ELECTIONS AND A BAN ON ENDORSEMENTS
Nakachinda announced that grassroots elections will begin immediately at the ward and constituency levels, with party structures expanded from 24 to 72 committee members to strengthen local participation. Provincial elections will follow in the coming weeks, and a General Conference to elect the PF’s next president is expected “soon,” with the Central Committee set to decide the exact timing in September.



Until then, endorsements of presidential hopefuls are strictly forbidden. “If you have a preferred candidate, discuss that in your home,” Nakachinda told members. “When we open up campaigns, you will be free to support openly. For now, any endorsements are banned.” The move is widely seen as an attempt to rein in factions that have already begun maneuvering for influence.



A WARNING TO OTHER OPPOSITION PARTIES
Nakachinda also directed a message to fellow opposition parties, some of whose leaders have weighed in on PF’s succession process. “We will handle our issues internally,” he said, cautioning that interference could prove counterproductive. He argued that the PF’s strength was critical not only to its own survival but to the viability of opposition politics more broadly. “If PF goes down, the hopes of the entire opposition go down with it,” he declared.



BROADER CONTEXT
The PF, ousted from power in 2021 after a decade in office, has endured turbulence but remains the single largest and most organized opposition force in Zambia. Lungu’s death has sharpened the urgency of leadership renewal, yet it has also reaffirmed the party’s role as the custodian of millions of Zambians’ hopes.



Rather than fragmenting, the party’s decision to enforce discipline and orderly succession is being cast as proof of its resilience. For supporters, the message is clear: the PF is not only capable of surviving this transition, but of emerging stronger. Many within the movement believe that unity in this moment of mourning will give way to renewed momentum, positioning the PF as the most credible vehicle to redeem Zambia in 2026 and beyond.

ECZ STEPS UP PREPARATIONS FOR 2025 MASS VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE IN NORTHERN PROVINCE

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ECZ STEPS UP PREPARATIONS FOR 2025 MASS VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE IN NORTHERN PROVINCE

ECZ STEPS UP PREPARATIONS FOR 2025 MASS VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE IN NORTHERN PROVINCE



The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a credible and inclusive voter registration process ahead of the 2026 General Elections. Speaking in Kasama today Monday 25 August 2025 during the second phase of provincial orientation meetings, ECZ Commissioner Ambassador Ndioyi M. Mutiti outlined the Commission’s roadmap for the 2025 Mass Voter Registration Exercise, emphasizing transparency, efficiency, and accessibility for all eligible citizens.



The five-day orientation meeting, which runs from Monday to Friday at Urban Hotel in Kasama, has brought together Provincial and District Registration Officers, finance and procurement teams, audit staff, stores officers, and other key stakeholders to align on their roles in the upcoming exercise. The Commissioner highlighted that this collective effort is critical to ensuring that every eligible citizen in all 116 districts is reached, including those in remote areas.



“The Mass Voter Registration is a milestone in our electoral process. Its success depends on the professionalism and dedication of every staff member involved. We must ensure that no eligible Zambian is left behind,” said Ambassador Mutiti.



According to the ECZ roadmap, the Mass Voter Registration will run from October 13 to November 11, 2025, covering all 156 constituencies. To enhance convenience, an online pre-registration portal will be introduced from September 15 to November 3, 2025, allowing citizens to begin the registration process digitally before completing it in person for biometric and portrait capture.


Ambassador Mutiti stressed the importance of accountability and operational excellence, particularly in financial management and procurement, noting that every decision made will reflect on the Commission’s credibility.



All funds must be accounted for, and every expenditure must comply with the Public Finance Management Act. Procurement must meet the highest standards of quality, timeliness, and cost efficiency,” she said.



The Commissioner further urged staff to uphold integrity and teamwork, as the exercise will be closely monitored by stakeholders nationwide.



Following the registration, the provisional register of voters will be open for inspection from February 17 to 23, 2026, while the final register will be certified on April 30, 2026.



Ambassador Mutiti concluded by calling on all participants to actively engage during the orientation sessions to ensure a smooth and credible process.



Though you come from different technical areas, you are united by one mission: to deliver a voter registration exercise that meets the aspirations of the Zambian people,” she added.

Issued by KMC-PR Unit

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