TRUMP GHOSTS SOUTH AFRICA AND IT’S GETTING MESSY
Southafrican President, Ramaphosa, sent a top guy to fix ties with the US. Trump’s team said nope, no visa, not talking.
Why? South Africa backed Palestine, worked with Iran, and called Trump a “racist” years ago.
Now Trump’s threatening 30 percent tariffs that could wipe out 100,000 jobs.
And the US is treating South Africa like it’s been blocked on WhatsApp.
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones expressed dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump after he ordered MAGA fans to stop talking about Jeffrey Epstein.
“So now Trump has slammed ‘past supporters’ over fixation on Epstein,” Jones explained on his Wednesday program. “And I am just like, whoa, okay. That’s not very Trumpian. I mean, he doesn’t flip-flop hardly ever or change policies in decades.”
“So you know what, Trump?” he continued. “I like a lot of the success you’re having, and we’re all having together, and your statements about, you know, ‘you people that bring this up don’t even deserve to be involved in this movement. You are excommunicata. You are henceforth ex cathedra from the mouth of the God King.'”
“‘You are expelled from the Church of the Holy Golden Toad, Donald John Trump.'”
Jones, however, insisted that he could not be excommunicated because he “was never in the Church of the Holy Golden Toad.”
“I was never in a cult,” he opined. “But now Trump, if this continues down this line, if he starts saying I’ll excommunicate people, well, you’re not allowed, unless it’s a cult, to say to people, you either agree with everything I do and don’t question things, or you’re not in our club, I don’t want you, well, that kind of sounds like a thoroughbred cult to me.”
“But when somebody starts saying, don’t question things, or you can’t be in our club, yeah, that’s a cult,” he added. “So this isn’t a divorce because I was never married to Trump. And this is not an excommunication because I was never in the church of Trump.”
A woman who had 5 children and 12 grandchildren divorced her husband after several decades together and married a much younger Nigerian man with whom she has now welcomed twins.
Angela Peters, now 56, realised in 2019, at the age of 51, that she hadn’t been happy in her marriage for some years.
She and her husband had three children together and she raised them along with her two kids from a previous relationship.
At age 19, she had her first child Sheana, now 37. Four years later, she had a son named Heath, 33. After marrying her first husband, she welcomed a child named Kallum, 32, and they went on to have two more kids, Deina, 28, and Gabriel, 18.
However, after her marriage ended in 2019, Angela, who grew up on the Gold Coast in Australia, “longed” to marry again because being a mum was all she had known.
She knew that more babies were off the cards because of her age and being perimenopausal and she was at peace with that.
“I had five incredible children and now could focus on myself, travel and starting my own business in disability services,” she told The Sun.
By March 2020, Angela, who also has 12 grandchildren, had decided to take the plunge and try her luck in the world of internet dating. She started chatting with a Nigerian man called Emeka, who was living in Senegal. Although he was good to talk to, she realised he wasn’t for her.
However when he sent her a picture of his family, she spotted his brother, Bright, and was immediately struck by love.
“It was like a thunderbolt – I knew this was the man I was meant to be with,” she revealed.
Emeka happily gave Angela his brother’s number and even though he was a little taken aback when she told him how she felt, they hit it off and would speak for hours every day about their lives, which were very different.
He was working in South Africa and had been trying to provide for his family from a young age but had never married or had children.
They both wanted a relationship with each other so Angela was honest about the stage of life she was at and that it meant she couldn’t have any more children.
Despite this, Bright wasn’t bothered and said he knew they would one day have twin girls together.
The couple finally met for the first time in February 2021 when Angela flew to Nigeria, where he was now based. Things moved quickly from there.
“Hugging him for the first time, I felt like I’d known him my whole life,” she explained. “When Bright proposed the next day, I was stunned. But I knew I wanted to marry him, and nine days later we said our vows in a tiny civil ceremony.”
Angela’s children were concerned their mum had met a scammer and were mortified she had married him so quickly.
There was also a nagging feeling in Angela’s mind though about her husband never being able to become a father. So at the age of 54, she started to look into IVF but was dismayed to learn the age limit in Australia was 52. In desperation, she asked her daughters to consider surrogacy but they refused.
It was during a visit to Nigeria that their dream came true when a clinic in Nigeria agreed to carry out the procedure using a donor egg with Bright’s sperm.
Angela’s children were worried about their mum carrying a child at 56 but she was fit and healthy so they went ahead.
In December 2023, Angela and Bright discovered they were expecting. A scan revealed it was twins and just as he had said right at the beginning of their unlikely romance, it was girls. In August 2024 Khorus and Knowyn were born five minutes apart, weighing 5lb each, with their parents overcome with joy. It was like riding a bike for Angela, who had plenty of experience with night feeds and nappies.
One of her daughters had suggested she share her journey on TikTok to give hope to other women who were struggling to conceive or have children.
Predictably, she encountered online negativity from those critical of her age who called her selfish. But Angela argues that no one cares when men have children in their 60s and there’s no guarantee on anyone’s lifespan.
Although she is regularly mistaken for the babies’ grandmother, Angela shrugs it off and is blissfully happy knowing the twins have united her entire family. She wants her story to give hope to others who are longing for a child.
“To those who dream of motherhood later in life, don’t lose hope,” she urges. “My journey took me across continents, but it’s led me to this beautiful moment. Now, both my hands and my heart are full.”
By CIC International Affairs.
RUSSIA-WEST STANDOFF NOT IDEOLOGY BUT HATRED, JEALOUS AND GEOPOLITICS RUSSIA WILL DO THINGS IT’S WAY AT WHATEVER COST ANGRY PUTIN VOWS.
The standoff is only about geopolitical interests, jealous of our resources they don’t have but wants the Russian president has said
Western nations’ hegemonic aspirations and dismissal of Russia’s security concerns have led to the ongoing standoff between Moscow and the West.
President Vladimir Putin said in an interview released on Sunday made available to CIC in Moscow. Ideological differences are only a pretext to advance the West’s geopolitical interests and jealous, he claimed.
Putin added that he expected the collapse of the USSR to alleviate tensions between Russia and the West.
“I also thought that key disagreements between us were ideological in nature,”he stated.“Yet, when the Soviet Union was gone… the dismissive approach to Russia’s strategic interests persisted because they wanted out minerals they wanted us weak like some third world country they wanted us poor and begging for aid they wanted to conquer us.”
The angry Putin in a fiercely looking mood went on to say that his attempts to raise Russia’s concerns with Western leaders were in vain. “The West decided they do not need to follow the rules when it comes to Russia, which does not have the same power as the USSR.”
All of Moscow’s proposals regarding mutual security, strengthening international stability, and reaching agreements on offensive weapons and missile defense were rejected, Putin said.“It was not just negligence. It was based on a clear desire to reach some geopolitical goals.”
“It has become clear that, unless Russia positions itself as an independent sovereign nation with wealth and strength both economic ally and militarily … we will not be comrades to reckon with,”he added.
The Russian president has accused Western nations of betraying Russia and not fulfilling their promises. Last month, he said Moscow was“blatantly lied to”about NATO expansion for decades as the US-led military bloc approached Russia’s borders.
“Everything was good as long as it was against Russia,”he said at the time, adding that Western nations have supported separatism and even terrorism directed against the country.
Moscow has listed Kiev’s NATO ambitions and Western military assistance to Ukraine key reasons behind the Ukraine conflict. Prior to the escalation in early 2022, Russia sought to address its security concerns by seeking guarantees from US and NATO, as well as non-aligned status for Ukraine, which were rejected by the West.
Reacting to Trump’s 50 day’s ultimatum Putin said he is not bothered as Moscow will achieve all the objectives of special military operations in Ukraine on its terms no external factors or forces will deraill it and see peace.
Putin said his country has thus decided to do things it’s way and he is not bothered because those who wants peace knows what Russia wants but if they want trouble Russia is ready and won’t back down to anyone.
CIC PRESS TEAM
Private health institutions in Zimbabwe will no longer be allowed to arbitrarily increase their fees or impose charges beyond government-prescribed limits without prior approval from the Minister of Health and Child Care, under proposed new legislation currently before Parliament.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi announced the changes on Tuesday during the second reading of the Medical Services Amendment Bill in the National Assembly. The Bill seeks to align the current Medical Services Act with constitutional provisions guaranteeing the right to health.
One of the Bill’s key provisions is the introduction of tighter controls on the fees and charges levied by private hospitals. Ziyambi explained that private health providers will now require ministerial approval for any increases above prescribed maximums, regardless of when the fees were first introduced.
“This change ensures greater oversight and control over the cost of private healthcare, aiming to protect patients from exorbitant charges,” Ziyambi said.
Previously, institutions could argue that existing fees predating a government-set limit were exempt. The proposed amendment removes that loophole.
Another major highlight of the Bill is the mandatory admission of emergency cases. Under Clause 8, private hospitals will be legally required to admit and stabilize patients suffering from life-threatening conditions for a minimum of 48 hours, even if they are unable to pay.
“This is a lifeline for many,” said Ziyambi. “It aligns with Section 76 of our Constitution, which guarantees the right to emergency medical treatment.”
The Bill further empowers the Health Minister to introduce regulations specifically focused on vulnerable groups, including children, people with chronic illnesses, war veterans, and persons with disabilities.
Ziyambi told Parliament the reforms were designed to address longstanding public concerns about inaccessibility and the high cost of private healthcare.
“This Bill is a testament to our commitment to ensuring that every citizen and permanent resident of our nation has access to essential health services,” he said.
Additionally, the Bill provides for the establishment of healthcare packages at different service levels and creates a National Consultative Health Forum to ensure public participation in health policy matters.
The legislation also strengthens anti-discrimination measures within healthcare, bringing them into alignment with Section 56 of the Constitution, which protects citizens from unfair treatment based on various grounds.
Minister Ziyambi said the Bill marked a significant step forward in safeguarding Zimbabweans’ health rights.
“Healthcare should not be a privilege; it must be accessible to all,” he said.
Source – Sunday Mail
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, July 15, dismissed questions about whether he’s named in investigative files on Jeffrey Epstein, calling the documents “made up” and insisting any credible claims should be released by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“No, no,” Trump said on the White House lawn when asked if Bondi had told him his name appeared in the files. “She’s given us just a very quick briefing on the credibility of what they’ve seen.”
Trump went on to blame political opponents for the controversy, claiming, “I would say these files were made up by Comey and Obama, made up by the Biden administration. We went through years of that with the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax.”
He added: “But she’s handled it very well. Whatever she thinks is credible, she should release.”
The remarks come amid growing backlash from Trump’s supporters, who have accused Bondi of backing away from promises of transparency. Last week, Bondi sparked bipartisan criticism after releasing a two-page memo stating “no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.”
In the memo, Bondi acknowledged Epstein’s sex-trafficking harmed more than a thousand victims, but said the Justice Department did not uncover evidence to justify charging any uncharged third parties. Bondi also confirmed Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial, supported by prison surveillance footage — though one minute of each day’s video is missing due to outdated technology.
Despite past social ties with Epstein, Trump has repeatedly tried to distance himself from the disgraced financier. Only Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell ever faced charges. Maxwell is now serving a 20-year sentence.
The president also brushed aside claims from Elon Musk last month that Trump’s name appears in the Epstein files and that this was why the documents hadn’t been made public.
At a Cabinet meeting last week, Trump tried to shut down lingering questions. “Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy’s been talked about for years. That is unbelievable,” he said.
Over the weekend, Trump defended Bondi in a social media post, blasting what he called politically motivated investigations: “Why are we giving publicity to files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the losers and criminals of the Biden administration? They created the Epstein files just like they created the fake Steele dossier.”
As criticism swells among even some of his own supporters, Trump appears eager to put the Epstein saga behind him — framing it as another political smear tied to his long list of adversaries.
Hosts of the pro-MAGA Real America’s Voice network struggled to cope after President Donald Trump said people seeking the truth about Jeffrey Epstein were “bad people.”
In remarks on Tuesday, the president insisted “only pretty bad people” were still interested in learning more about the accused sex trafficker.
“I don’t understand why they would be so interested,” he added. “I think really only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going.”
MAGA hosts David Brody, Gina Loudon, and Terrance Bates kicked off their Wednesday morning show with outrage over the scandal.
“I’m calling it a debacle,” Bates said. “You guys can use whatever adjective you want. But this case just continues to go downhill.”
“The thing that I keep hearing people say, ‘Oh, this isn’t important. We have other things,'” Loudon noted. “Raped children, a thousand or more raped children, are important. I can’t personally, as a mom, move on. That’s not something I can move on.”
“So this isn’t something that goes away,” she continued. “I don’t love Donald Trump just in the political sense. I love Donald Trump as a human being. But I cannot stand down on this. I can’t. And I think that’s the way a lot of MAGA feels.”
Brody argued that Trump’s recent remarks made the controversy “even worse.”
“It’s an absolute colossal disaster,” he remarked. “It just doesn’t compute.”
“I can’t fit it in my brain,” Loudon agreed.
Their comments coincided with a Trump Truth Social in which he ranted about “past supporters” being obsessed with Epstein.
Watch the video below from Real America’s Voice.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) displayed a poster of President Donald Trump with his arm around accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein on the House floor.
The California lawmaker spoke on Wednesday after the president encouraged his MAGA supporters to move on from the Epstein controversy.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to demand that Donald Trump and our Attorney General come clean to the American people and release the Epstein files,” Garcia said. “Now, this weekend, Donald Trump said, and I quote, let’s not waste time and energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about.”
“And we know that MAGA was all in on Jeffrey Epstein.”
He noted that “the president’s own son” had posted about Epstein on social media.
“And this weekend, Donald Trump claimed that the files were written by Obama, Hillary Clinton, and the Biden administration,” Garcia pointed out. “These are bizarre reversals. And it’s obvious to the American public. Someone is lying, and someone is trying to hide something.”
Garcia also recalled that Trump had called Epstein a “terrific guy.”
“That’s disgusting, wrong, and we must inquire more information,” he insisted. “Now, I can’t explain why the Trump administration have changed their minds on Epstein, but their behavior raises questions. This is the time that we must demand answers.”
South Africa’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has given President Cyril Ramaphosa until Friday morning to retract his Sunday announcement placing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on leave, appointing Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting Police Minister from August 1, and establishing a Judicial Commission of Inquiry led by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
The party deems these actions unconstitutional and irrational, citing a violation of Section 98 of the Constitution, which governs the assignment of ministerial duties. In a letter drafted by its lawyers, the MK Party threatens a Constitutional Court challenge and a parliamentary motion of no confidence against Ramaphosa if he does not comply.
The controversy stems from allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who claimed Mchunu interfered with investigations into political killings and colluded with criminal syndicates, including disbanding a task team probing these cases.
MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela questioned the integrity of parliamentary oversight, noting Mkhwanazi’s claims that some parliamentarians and judiciary members may be complicit in these criminal activities. This, he argued, undermines the legitimacy of parliamentary ad hoc committees and the judicial commission, as they could involve individuals implicated in the allegations.
Meanwhile, the portfolio committees on Police and Justice and Constitutional Development are holding a joint meeting to address Mkhwanazi’s allegations, which also implicate law enforcement, prosecutors, and the judiciary in a syndicate allegedly controlled by a Gauteng-based drug cartel.
The MK Party’s legal challenge and no-confidence motion add pressure to Ramaphosa’s administration, already facing criticism from opposition parties like the EFF and DA over the handling of Mchunu’s case and the broader issue of corruption within law enforcement.
Manchester City have announced the permanent appointment of Kolo Toure to Pep Guardiola’s backroom team.
In a statement, the club confirmed that Toure, 44, will serve as a first-team assistant coach, a role he briefly held during City’s FIFA Club World Cup campaign this summer.
The Ivorian, who enjoyed Premier League title success as a player with both Arsenal and City, impressed last season as Assistant Lead Coach with City’s Under-18s. Working alongside Lead Coach Oliver Reiss, Toure helped guide the youth side to the Premier League Under-18 North title. They also reached the national final, narrowly losing 1-0 to Aston Villa, and finished runners-up to Villa again in the FA Youth Cup final.
City highlighted Toure’s broad coaching experience, which includes time with the Ivory Coast national team and stints at Celtic and Leicester City under Brendan Rodgers. Before joining the City Academy, Toure also managed Wigan Athletic.
His permanent move to Guardiola’s senior coaching staff is seen as a natural progression, bringing valuable defensive expertise and leadership to the Etihad dressing room.
CNN correspondent Kristen Holmes claimed Wednesday that President Donald Trump was getting “angrier by the minute” over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, as evidenced by Wednesday’s attack on his own MAGA base.
During an Oval Office meeting with the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Trump chastised “stupid Republicans” who “fell for the Epstein hoax.” His attack followed a morning Truth Social rant, in which Trump blamed his “PAST supporters” for buying into “this ‘bull—-,’ hook, line, and sinker.”
“Just because President Trump himself wasn’t the biggest proponent or perpetuator of these Epstein conspiracy theories, he did put three of the most vocal people who had said that they wanted to release this list into top jobs within his administration,” Holmes said. “Of course, being Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and FBI Director Kash Patel. Now you see him completely backing away from this and also really doing it with a slap in the face to some of his most ardent supporters.”
Holmes added that “you can see how much angrier he’s getting by the minute over this Epstein coverage.”
Holmes disavowed the notion that the Epstein conspiracy theorists were “just some fringe part of his base,” and called his words “deeply insulting to the people who put him in office.”
“That is clearly not going to sit well, despite where this ends, because obviously we can’t again predict where this goes,” Holmes said. “But that is not the message that these people who helped him get elected want to hear.”
A White House official claimed President Donald Trump plans to fire Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, Bloomberg reported Wednesday
“While the lawmakers voiced support for the move, which would likely roil financial markets and lead to a consequential legal showdown, Trump has not made a final decision and could change his mind, according to the official who requested anonymity to discuss a private conversation,” said Bloomberg.
The markets immediately reacted with the Dow Jones falling. Bloomberg noted the “S&P 500 quickly erased a modest gain and was down 0.4% as of 11:22 a.m. in New York, about 1% below its all-time high.”
Speaking to the press from the Oval Office, Trump falsely claimed that former President Joe Biden was the one responsible for putting Powell “in” his office. Trump appointed Powell in 2017.
When reporters asked him whether he would fire Powell, Trump didn’t give a direct answer, attacking the chairman and the panel of governors. He said that he “could” do it and noted that he spoke to Republican lawmakers about the matter on Tuesday night and that they sent their support.
Trump also alleged that “there’s possible fraud” that Powell is involved in over the renovation of the hundred-year-old building.
A reporter asked again to confirm whether it’s ruled it out completely.
“I think it’s highly unlikely unless he has to leave for fraud. I mean, it’s possible there’s fraud involved with the 2.5, $2.7 billion renovation. This is a renovation. How do you spend $2.7 billion?” asked Trump.
“And he didn’t have proper clearance, et cetera. et cetera. So, you know, that’s going on. So, you know, there could be something to that. But I think he’s not doing a good job. He’s got a very easy job to do. You know what he has to do? Lower interest rates.”
Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, Cuba’s Minister of Labour and Social Security, resigned on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, following intense backlash over remarks made during a parliamentary session on Monday.
Feitó’s statements, which denied the existence of beggars in Cuba and dismissed visible signs of poverty, were widely criticized as insensitive and out of touch with the nation’s ongoing economic crisis.
During a National Assembly committee meeting, Feitó claimed, “In Cuba, there are no beggars. There are people pretending to be beggars to make easy money.”
She further accused individuals rummaging through rubbish of being “illegal participants in the recycling service” and suggested that those cleaning windshields were using the money to “drink alcohol.”
The comments, made in a session meant to address policies for protecting vulnerable populations, sparked immediate outrage among Cubans both on the island and abroad.
The remarks went viral on social media, prompting a flood of criticism, memes, and calls for Feitó’s impeachment.
Intellectuals, activists, and citizens condemned her statements as “an insult to the Cuban people,” highlighting the stark contrast between her claims and the reality of increasing poverty, food shortages, and homelessness.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel responded indirectly but pointedly during another parliamentary session, stating, “The lack of sensitivity in addressing vulnerability is highly questionable. The revolution cannot leave anyone behind; that is our motto, our militant responsibility.”
Without naming Feitó, his remarks were widely interpreted as a rebuke of her comments. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero also emphasized the revolution’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities, underscoring the government’s sensitivity to public discontent.
Cuba’s Presidency announced Feitó’s resignation via a post on X, stating that she had “acknowledged her errors and submitted her resignation” due to her “lack of objectivity and sensitivity.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs is taking part in a series of rehabilitation programs while in federal custody, aiming to address issues related to drug abuse and vi0lence against women ahead of his sentencing later this year.
Sources close to the matter told TMZ that Combs is currently enrolled in the STOP Program, a federal initiative designed to prevent sexual assault, domestic, and dating vi0lence. He is also undergoing therapy and participating in the Dr. Harry K. Wexler substance abuse program.
Insiders say the music mogul is actively engaging with these initiatives as part of what one source called “his path toward redemption.” The efforts come in the wake of disturbing testimonies during Combs’ federal trial, which included accounts of domestic abuse toward Cassie Ventura and other women, as well as regular use of controlled substances such as MDMA.
While some may view his actions as a genuine attempt at personal growth, others see them as a strategic move ahead of his sentencing, scheduled for October 3. Legal experts note that defendants often undertake rehabilitation programs to demonstrate a commitment to change in hopes of receiving a lighter sentence.
Diddy was acquitted earlier this year of the most serious charges, racketeering and s3x trafficking, but was convicted on two lesser counts related to prostitution. Prosecutors have recommended a four-year prison sentence, but the final decision will rest with U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian.
Reports indicate that Combs had already begun a drug treatment program prior to his arrest in 2023 and has continued the program while incarcerated. His legal team is expected to cite his ongoing rehabilitation efforts as part of their appeal for leniency during sentencing.
President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis could soon clash in a proxy war over a recent DeSantis appointment, a White House official hinted Wednesday.
For the position of Florida chief financial officer, DeSantis announced Wednesday morning that he tapped Florida Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, a longtime ally of DeSantis, much to the chagrin of the White House and Trump’s preferred pick of Sen. Joe Gruters, who has sometimes clashed with DeSantis.
“We have not taken a hard line against Blaise – doesn’t mean we won’t,” a senior White House official told Politico Wednesday. “If we want to beat Blaise, we will beat him.”
Trump has long backed Gruters for the position, openly calling on DeSantis to appoint him when the position became vacant, which it did in March. In an apparent effort to ward off pro-Trump critics of the appointment, DeSantis proactively attacked Gruters’ record in the Florida Senate as making him a poor choice for the role.
“Joe Gruters has taken major positions that are totally contrary from what our voter base wants to do,” DeSantis said Wednesday, Politico reported.
“So if George Washington rose from the dead and came back and tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘Will you appoint Joe Gruters CFO?’ My response would be ‘no.’ I can’t do that without betraying the voters that elected me to lead this state in a conservative direction.”
Key Trump allies, including Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL), suggested DeSantis was making a mistake in defying Trump’s wishes, particularly after DeSantis and Trump’s public feud in fighting for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
“If Ron DeSantis wants to campaign against Donald Trump again, he clearly didn’t learn after what happened last time,” Fine told Politico on Wednesday. “It says a lot about how much Ronald values his relationship with Trump.”
Several GOP operatives and lobbyists, speaking with Politico on the condition of anonymity, said that DeSantis’ team held conversations with Gruters leading up to Wednesday to see him drop out of consideration for the CFO position, and instead take one of several other government jobs, but to no avail.
The White House official reiterated, however, that if Trump wants to step in and see his preferred candidate appointed as CFO, he maintains the ability to see it done.
“The fact is, the president can and will beat any candidate he chooses to put his weight behind,” the official told Politico.
Any hope that Donald Trump might have had that a Wednesday Truth Social post calling the Jeffrey Epstein debacle a “hoax” would satisfy his MAGA base was quickly dashed within minutes.
The president went off on a rant where he blamed Democrats for being behind what he wants to be referred to as a “scam” and the “Jeffrey Epstein Hoax.”
He then turned on “my PAST supporters [who] have bought into this ‘bulls–t,’ hook, line, and sinker.”
That did not sit well with some of his supporters who want questions about Epstein and his death answered.
In the comments after his post, Greeks For Trump wrote, “Why is the Epstein case so important to the MAGA movement? It’s WHY Trump won in 2016. He promised to rip the mask off the globalist elite and drain their filthy swamp. If the GOP betrays that mission again, at least a third of the base walks. And they will lose 2026. Guaranteed.”
“So prove it was hoax instead of bashing your ‘past supporters’ because that isn’t helping your midterm chances,” advised Publius Salon which received over 1K likes.
Greenwood TS complained, “You are pissed off that MAGA does not buy into your temper tantrum. This is your Waterloo Mr. President. Blaming people like me who have stood by you through thick and thin is disloyalty. Without us you are nothing but a bully running out of choices. Release the complete Epstein file’s unredacted. By the way we didn’t vote for escalating the Ukraine war into WW3. What happened to America First.”
“Epstein was arrested and convicted by a child trafficking task force. That part is fact. So who were the recipients of his trafficking? You’re running cover for something very nefarious and you want us to look the other way. Not going to happen. Your explanations are puerile at best and if you’re willing to cave on this, what else and who else are you willing to sacrifice? If you’re willing to let child rapists walk free, then you absolutely have no problem making policy that hurts my family and me. You’ve lost my trust,” the president was admonished.
That led Harold Edwards to admit, “This post hurts my feelings, I have supported him for all three elections and stood by his decisions and policies. Yes he has done amazing things in the last few months and we should all be proud of that. But to say he no longer wants our support is heartbreaking to everyone that voted for him.”
“President Trump, I support you 100%. Your characterization of the Epstein case as a hoax is confusing and concerning. If this was a 30 year hoax, then why is Maxwell in prison for sex trafficking? Why was Epstein arrested and held without bail? Why did the AG and FBI Director in 2008 whitewash the entire case? If Maxwell is guilty of Trafficking minors, who did she traffic them to? Just release the case files and force the NY Judge to remove the seal on the Maxwell case…. If it was/is a hoax that would prove it…….” MRR suggested.
Deplorothal was brief, replying: “Dude… Not cool.”
“You know when somebody’s trying so hard to convince you it’s pathetic… Come on Donald You’re better than this,” Pancake Drip lamented.
A nurse has been sentenced after she paid a patient $3,000 to cut her ex-lover’s penis and tongue off and burn his face with acid.
The nurse, Karenjeet Kaur Warburton, has been banned from practising for four years.
The decision by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal was published last week after it was handed down to Karenjeet Kaur Warburton in March.
Tribunal member Julie Dick heard Warburton had approached a patient she thought “might be up for” severely injuring her former boyfriend, senior Queensland Police Inspector Don McKay.
Warburton had dated Inspector McKay between March 2020 and early 2021.
She gave the patient, Andrew Bown, photos of the inspector and his home between April 1 and October 6, 2021, and handed over $3,000 for the proposed hit.
“She had paid a significant amount and offered an even more significant amount to the proposed assailant,”Ms Dick wrote in the tribunal decision.
“Warburton instructed a law enforcement participant to have Insp McKay’s ‘penis and tongue cut off, his face burnt with acid, his spine to be severed with a knife for the purpose of causing paralysis, or to break every bone in his body so that he could no longer walk or talk.”
Ms Dick noted that Warburton’s efforts only stopped when she was arrested.
She pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to procure grievous bodily harm and one count of attempting to procure a malicious act with intent and was sentenced to five years behind bars, to be suspended after 16 months.
When facing the health tribunal, the former nurse did not contest claims that she had committed professional misconduct by asking a patient to carry out her dirty work.
The tribunal banned Warburton from working in healthcare for four years, which included time she had already served behind bars.
“It is unfortunate that this serious behaviour has led to the respondent being in the difficult circumstances in which she now finds herself,” Ms Dick wrote in her ruling.
“The tribunal is aware she will have to reapply for registration.
“Upon doing so, she will be confronted with having no recency of practice and there will be other steps that she might have to take.”
Bown was charged with committing arson, attempting to procure a person to do grievous bodily harm on another person and possessing a dangerous item to assist another person in committing a crime.
He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years behind bars for his part in the plot by Cairns District Court in November 2022.
President Donald Trump’s conspiracy-minded first national security adviser begged him to improve his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal that’s dogging his administration.
The Department of Justice infuriated MAGA adherents by abruptly announcing that Epstein had not kept a “client list” and was not murdered in prison despite the attorney general teasing major new developments in the case. The president has called on his supporters to stop asking questions about the matter, but retired U.S. Army General Mike Flynn implored him to reconsider.
“I hesitated to write this however, with the utmost respect and deference to you for all you’ve withstood (few know it better than me what the ‘deep state’ can do when they want to turn on a person),” wrote Flynn, who has trafficked in conspiracy theories since pleading guilty to lying to FBI agents about his contacts with Russia.
“The EPSTEIN AFFAIR is NOT about who killed him or if he committed suicide — personally, I’m glad this known pedophile is dead,” Flynn added. “But neither is this a hoax. This issue goes beyond all that. There are millions of Americans who overwhelmingly voted for you to be OUR President, and we want you to be massively successful. No one more than me. Personally, I still have a target on my forehead. I know that but, like you, I still fight.”
Flynn served as national security adviser in the opening weeks of Trump’s first presidency until he fell under scrutiny for lying to investigators about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the U.S., and he promoted 2020 election conspiracies and associated with QAnon adherents before scoring a presidential pardon.
“Beyond all that, OUR country is facing a level of internal subversion and it is a relentless attack on the very foundation of our constitutional republic,” Flynn posted. “If you’re not successful, our country may not survive. It is that extreme of a situation we currently face. Read Lincoln’s Lyceum speech of 1838. He knew, as you know (and as we all can see with our very eyes), our nation will not die from a foreign foe, NEVER, if we die, it will be by our own suicide.”
Lincoln indirectly blamed slavery for lawlessness in the speech, which was written more than two decades before the Civil War, and called for the adoption of a political religion based on the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law, which seemingly contrasts with Flynn’s efforts to establish Christianity at the center of the government.
“There is an ongoing undermining by subversive elements inside and outside the [U.S. government],” Flynn warned. “That is the essence of the deep state. All we want at this stage is for a modicum of trust to be reestablished between our federal government and the people it is designed to serve. That’s all (PERIOD!). An element that is of great importance surrounding this Epstein affair is the fact this man was a known pedophile, had a list of clients who represented the upper crust of society, and likely did untoward things to CHILDREN on his island, in his homes in NYC, and New Mexico (and maybe elsewhere). He was convicted of it.”
“Regardless of what class of society abuses and commits crimes against CHILDREN, it is NEVER acceptable,” Flynn added. “This is where this argument went off the rails. It is NOT about Epstein or the left. It is about committing crimes against CHILDREN. If he were part of an intel operation known or run by our CIA (shame on them) and those responsible MUST be held accountable. If there is another country involved, then shame on them as well. If there are elites inside of our country that committed crimes against CHILDREN (shame on them) and they MUST be held ACCOUNTABLE.”
Flynn then poured on some flattery in his appeal to Trump before asking him to get his act together.
“Few know how many crystal balls you juggle on a daily basis (I do),” Flynn wrote. “And I know you cannot drop any of them. With my strongest recommendation, please gather your team and figure out a way to move past this. The roll out of this was terrible, no way around that. Americans want America to be successful, therefore, WE NEED YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL.”
“Please take this missive as though coming from someone who willingly and voluntarily fought for this country against multiple enemies overseas only to come home to face my greatest enemy right here at home,” he added. “You know precisely what I mean. God bless you and may God continue to protect you from the dark forces that do exist. I believe you were put on this earth for such a time as this. You truly represent ISAIAH 6:8”
The White House is opening its probe of former President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen for commutations and other matters over a period of years.
The investigation is to be conducted by the White House counsel’s office.
A senior administration official told Fox News that the probe is anticipating a review of up to one million documents.
It comes as Trump’s Republican allies in the House are gearing up their own probe of the president’s use of an autopen on a series of pardons and commutations, including some high-profile ones at the end of his presidency.
House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) has subpoenaed former Biden administration aides in his probe, and the Justice Department has an open investigation.
Trump has regularly pointed to the issue since the first reports of Biden’s use of the device, claiming his predecessor was incompetent and that many of his actions were invalid.
The move comes after Biden spoke to the New York Times and said he ‘decided’ on the commutations that bore his signature.
‘I made every decision,’ he told the paper, which also reviewed internal email traffic among senior aides who met with the president about commutations, then sent around emails to keep a record of what happened.
Biden knocked down the sentences of about 4,000 federal convicts, while issuing ‘preemptive’ pardons of Trump targets including former chairman of the joint chiefs Gen. Mark Milley and members of the House January 6th committee.
‘Everybody knows how vindictive he is, so we knew that they’d do what they’re doing now,’ Biden said. ‘I consciously made all those decisions.’
Trump, however, has repeatedly claimed that Trump was experiencing mental decline and had ‘no idea’ what he was doing.
‘The autopen I think is maybe one of the biggest scandals that we’ve had in 50 to 100 years. This is a tremendous scandal,’ Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Monday.
‘I guarantee you he knew nothing about what he was signing. I guarantee it.’
Some of the pardons, including those in the final hours of Biden’s term, followed extensive public reporting about whether he would do it.
The move comes days after Biden’s former White House physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, repeatedly pleaded his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination during an appearance before Comer’s committee.
Comer blasted the move in a blistering statement. ‘Most people invoke the Fifth when they have criminal liability. And you know, that’s what it would appear (to be) on the surface here,’ he said.
‘Joe Biden was the worst, most incompetent, and senile president in our country’s history,’ press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the network Tuesday.
‘It has been widely reported that Joe Biden handed the power of the presidency to an autopen controlled by unelected leftist staffers, who were allowed to make terrible decisions that destroyed our country.’
She said the White House was ‘committed to finding the answers to the many outstanding questions the American people still have about how business in the Biden White House was conducted.
Biden, 82, who is battling prostate cancer and working on a memoir, told the Times he used the device because there were too many commutations for him to have done individually.
The former US president, 63, was a guest on his wife Michelle Obama’s IMO podcast alongside her older brother Craig Robinson.
The episode will premiere on Wednesday, July 16.
A preview shared ahead of its release showed Barack and Michelle discussing raising their two daughters, Sasha, 24, and Malia, 27.
“I think we did a pretty good job of raising our girls, but I’ve said often that I think I would have had more difficulty raising a son,” Barack said, to which Michelle replied, “I agree.”
“I think I might’ve been more judgmental, harder, and I would’ve tried to — I’d like to think I would have been more self-aware enough to combat that, but I just think father-son relationships, for me, particularly if I don’t have a dad around to show it to me, might’ve been more difficult,” the former president added.
Barack has previously opened up about the minimal presence his father had in his own life, as he was born in Hawaii and raised by his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, after his parents divorced when he was two years old.
This is not the first time Barack and Michelle have addressed a hypothetical son. Last month, during a different episode of her IMO podcast, the former first lady said she was “so glad” she didn’t have a boy.
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has become a grandfather at the age of 45 after his eldest daughter, Lilly, gave birth to her first child.
Lilly, 21, who is an influencer, shared the happy news on Instagram with a black-and-white photo of her boyfriend, Lee Byrne, leaving the hospital cradling their newborn. She captioned the post, “2 becomes 3,” adding a pink heart and baby emoji and tagging Lee’s account.
Lilly has been dating Lee Byrne — the son of jailed Irish gangster Liam Byrne — since October 2022. Their relationship drew attention in the British press when it first went public.
Gerrard and his wife Alex are parents to four children: Lilly, 21; Lexie, 18; Lourdes, 13; and Lio, 7. It’s been a big year for Lilly, who also marked her 21st birthday in February.
The news of Gerrard becoming a grandfather has delighted fans, adding another milestone to the former England captain’s family life.
American actor, Kevin Spacey, has called for the release of all the files connected to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein’s case.
Spacey wrote on X that “the truth can’t come soon enough.”
“Release the Epstein files. All of them. For those of us with nothing to fear, the truth can’t come soon enough,” he said. “I hate to make this about me but the media already has.”
Spacey’s name was one of the more than 150 associated with Epstein when they were released as part of a lawsuit in January 2024 against Ghislaine Maxwell.
Maxwell, Epstein’s ex-girlfriend and co-conspirator, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022 for the part she played in facilitating the sex trafficking of underage girls.
Other names released in the lawsuit included former President Bill Clinton, President Donald Trump, Prince Andrew, Michael Jackson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Cameron Diaz.
Spacey’s call for the files to be released follows the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation releasing a memo which stated there was no evidence that Epstein possessed a client list or had “blackmailed prominent individuals” who engaged in illegal s£x acts with minors.
The FBI concluded that Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in August 2019 while awaiting federal sex trafficking charges.
Following a review of Epstein materials in the U.S. government’s possession, the Justice Department and FBI concluded in a July 7 memo that there was no evidence that Epstein kept a “client list,” contradicting U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s past suggestion that such a list from the disgraced businessman existed.
Debunking previous conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s death, the agencies said there was no proof that Epstein blackmailed prominent people as part of his actions or that he was murdered while in custody.
Additionally, the Justice Department and FBI said it found no evidence to prompt an investigation into uncharged third parties in the Epstein case.
Prior to the “client list” probe, Spacey was alleged to be part of a sprawling list of celebrities who had ties to Epstein and his former girlfriend and convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
In recent years, Spacey has faced his own troubles, including being criminally charged in 2022 and later found not guilty of s£xually assaulting three men in separate incidents, and facing a civil lawsuit from actor Anthony Rapp accusing Spacey of a s£xual advance in the 1980s
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has intensified its crackdown on fake accounts and spam, announcing it removed over 10 million fake profiles and roughly 500,000 spam accounts in the first half of 2025.
The sweeping purge is part of Meta’s broader effort to combat impersonation, fake engagement, and content duplication, aiming to elevate authentic creators and improve the quality of content across its platforms.
In a blog post, Meta said:
“We’re making progress. In the first half of 2025, we took action on around 500,000 accounts engaged in spammy behaviour or fake engagement. We also removed about 10 million profiles impersonating large content producers.”
Meta stressed that accounts which primarily repost or recycle content without meaningful edits will face penalties such as reduced reach and the loss of monetisation tools.
The company also warned that repeatedly sharing unoriginal content — whether videos, photos, or text — undermines the platform’s integrity by crowding out genuine voices and making it harder for new creators to grow.
To support authentic creators, Meta is rolling out new tools that automatically trace reposted content back to its original source. The company says this will help ensure rightful credit and give higher visibility to original posts.
“Pages and profiles that post mostly original content tend to enjoy wider distribution across Facebook. Simply stitching clips together or adding a watermark will no longer count as meaningful editing. Content that provides real value and tells an authentic story is likely to perform better,” Meta explained.
Creators are also being cautioned against uploading content that includes watermarks from other platforms. Such posts could see their reach restricted or lose monetisation privileges altogether.
As part of its latest update, Meta introduced post-level insights on the Professional Dashboard, allowing creators to monitor how individual posts perform. They can also check their Support Home screen to see if their content or earnings are facing restrictions.
In a parallel development, Google’s YouTube updated its monetisation guidelines, stating that content deemed mass-produced or excessively repetitive will no longer qualify for ad revenue. The announcement initially sparked concern among creators, who feared it was a blanket ban on AI-generated content. YouTube later clarified:
“We welcome creators using AI tools to enhance their storytelling, and channels that use AI in their content remain eligible to monetise.”
Both tech giants say these new policies are aimed at raising content standards and safeguarding genuine creators in a crowded and rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Tech billionaire, Elon Musk changed his cellphone number and stopped replying to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s texts following a dramatic fallout over the costs buried in the Republicans’ massive tax-and-spending bill, Johnson disclosed on the latest episode of Pod Force One, released Wednesday, July 16.
“I sent him a long text message, and then his phone number changed after the blow-up,” Johnson told The Post’s Miranda Devine, explaining how he realized too late that he was sending messages “into the ether.”
“I look forward to meeting with him in person. We got to make that right,” the speaker added.
Johnson admitted that despite Musk ghosting him, he still tried multiple times to reach out through intermediaries — and even held out hope that Musk and Trump might eventually patch things up.
The high-profile rift erupted in late May, when Musk split from the Trump administration and then railed against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, blasting it as “pork-filled” and a “disgusting abomination” over its impact on the deficit. The tech mogul, who had made deficit reduction a top priority while influencing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was furious the bill didn’t go far enough.
Still, Republicans pushed it through Congress, and Trump signed it into law on July 4.
A day later, Musk announced plans to launch a new centrist “America Party,” calling for an alternative to the entrenched two-party system. Trump quickly dismissed the idea as “ridiculous.”
“I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely ‘off the rails,’ essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK over the past five weeks,” Trump lamented on Truth Social.
Speaker Johnson said there were “a multitude of factors” behind the Trump-Musk bust-up, and noted Musk’s frustration over the bill’s handling of electric vehicles and Biden-era green mandates.
“He generally knew what we were doing, we talked about it for months,” Johnson said. “The final product maybe didn’t meet all of his expectations … but look, I let other people judge that. I’ve got to keep my eyes on the prize.”
Johnson, who praised Musk as a “genius,” insisted he still respects the billionaire and wants him to better understand the Republicans’ long game on tackling the debt.
“We can’t fix this stuff overnight, but we have a plan. I think that’s going to be pleasing to everybody who’s worried about our deficit and our debt,” he said.
Meanwhile, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles also weighed in on the once-close Trump-Musk relationship during last week’s episode.
“The president was very, very kind to him, and Elon had so much to offer us,” Wiles told Devine. “It was a great thing when it was a great thing — and had a very troublesome ending.”
Emma Watson, known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series, has been banned from driving for six months after being caught speeding.
The 35-year-old actress was recorded driving at 38 mph in a 30 mph zone in Oxford on the evening of July 31, 2024. Watson already had nine points on her licence before the offence. At a hearing on Wednesday, July 16, at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court, she was fined £1,044. Watson did not attend the five-minute hearing.
Her lawyer, Mark Haslam, told the court that Watson is currently a student pursuing a master’s degree in creative writing at the University of Oxford and confirmed she was able to pay the fine.
Watson rose to fame with the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 2001 and starred in all eight films of the franchise. She has also appeared in films such as Beauty and the Beast, The Bling Ring, and Little Women (2019). In 2023, she launched a sustainable gin brand with her brother.
In related news, Zoe Wanamaker, who played Madam Hooch in the Harry Potter films, was also fined £1,044 and banned from driving for six months after being caught speeding on August 7, 2024, on the M4 in Newbury, Berkshire. Wanamaker was driving at 46 mph in a 40 mph zone and, like Watson, had nine points on her licence before the offence.
Both women received three additional penalty points, pushing them over the 12-point limit and triggering their six-month driving bans, as confirmed by District Judge Arvind Sharma.
CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT BILL NO. 7 HAS NO LEGAL BACKING- charges Dr M’membe
…..and it is NOT critical to the survival of the people socially, economically and politically charges Dr M’membe
Lusaka… Wednesday July 16, 2025 – Socialist Party (SP) President Dr Fred M’membe says the constitutional amendments championed by President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND have no legal backing.
Dr. M’membe says there must be an Act of Parliament under which those consultations should be carried out.
He says it is very clear that this is not an exercise of the Zambian people but for Mr Hichilema himself.
He wonders if the current amendments are critical to the survival of the Zambian people questioning if the country can collapse if they are not done before the elections.
Dr. M’membe has maintained that the amendments are aimed at cementing President Hichilema’s stay in office beyond 2026.
The Socialist Party leader said this when he and his General Secretary Dr Cosmas Musumali featured on ‘Socialist Hour’ programme on Hot FM Radio in Lusaka.
“Bill No. 7 of 2025, you can sum it up in few words as, Political preservation of Mr Hichilema securing his second term in office in a manner that is not highly contested. If you look at the changes the majority of them have to do with elections. You don’t need to have legal training to understand what Mr Hichilema is trying to do. Basically, it’s about Mr Hichilema, conceived by him and implemented by him. It’s being imposed on the Zambian people by Mr Hichilema. These are not the views coming from the people but from Mr Hichilema. There is no legal framework for discussion, it’s about who he wants to meet. He sends his minister of Justice on a mission that they claim it’s consultation, it’s not consultation. It’s propagation, they went out there to force the people of Zambia on the things they want to change (in the constitution). Mr Hichilema is adamant about the thirteen changes or amendments he wants to make,” he stated.
“The thirteen changes were not a product of discourse. He came up with them himself. We have gone through the number of statements, at first they denied that they were not going to change the constitution. Eventually they started doing what they denied doing. That tells you there was no honest in the approach of this whole thing. These are not Constitutional Amendments made by the people but by Mr Hichilema.”
Dr. M’membe further said the consultations they are making are simply attempts to force their way on the people of Zambia.
He has also asserted that President Hichilema does not want to be criticized and that he cries foul that the people just hate him based on his originality.
“You remember when CSOs went to meet him at his own invitation, he went to cry that he has never seen such hatred. To him all those opposing the amendments are doing so because they hate him because of where he comes from. It’s very common for HH when he is criticized he complains of hatred that’s why we have all those laws about hate speech. A lot of people are going to prison because they criticize his regional appointments,” he added.
“Apart from HH and his UPND, who else is supporting that? The churches, opposition political parties, LAZ and other groups have said no to these amendments. Why does he want to make these Amendments at all cost? Are they the solutions to the challenges the people are facing economically, socially and politically? If they are not done, this year, then Zambia will collapse next year?”
Speaking at the same programme, Dr. Musumali said he has never seen this high levels of deceitfulness the country before.
He said in the proposed amendments, the UPND wants to increase the number of Constituencies from their perceived strongholds.
He said from the current 156 constituencies, they want the country to have 211 adding 55 more constituencies.
SP RAISES CONCERN OVER VOTE-BUYING IN MFUWE BY-ELECTION
Mfuwe… Wednesday July 16, 2025 – The Socialist Party (SP) has expressed concern over alleged vote-buying activities in the ongoing Mfuwe parliamentary by-election, accusing the ruling UPND of engaging in unethical electoral practices to secure victory.
In a statement issued by Mr. Brian Hapunda, Chief Advisor to the President of the Socialist Party, the party stated that it was not surprised by the alleged distribution of money to village headmen and polling stations.
Mr. Hapunda alleged that UPND National Youth Chairperson Gilbert Liswaniso and President Hakainde Hichilema’s Political Advisor Levy Ngoma were involved in the disbursement of cash amounts of K1,500 and K5,000 respectively.
He stated that such practices had become a recurring pattern in by-elections since the UPND assumed office in 2021, describing the ruling party as “struggling” and “dependent on underhanded methods” to maintain political dominance.
The Socialist Party contended that the ruling party was using vote-buying, state resources, cabinet ministers, Permanent Secretaries, and District Commissioners in a coordinated effort to create an artificial parliamentary majority, which would pave the way for constitutional amendments.
Mr. Hapunda further argued that the UPND’s political popularity had significantly declined due to unmet campaign promises made during the 2021 general elections.
He asserted that the ruling party was now resorting to desperate measures in an attempt to portray grassroots support that nolonger existed.
The Socialist Party went on to urge citizens to accept any money or food items distributed by UPND officials but resist voting for them, emphasizing that a vote was “too sacred to be cheapened.”
Mr. Hapunda also dismissed UPND’s by-election victories as “borrowed” and not reflective of genuine popular support, predicting that the true test of the party’s popularity would come in the 2026 general elections.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hapunda called on the UPND to redirect public resources toward essential services, particularly healthcare.
He accused the government of neglecting critical areas such as the supply of medicines to public health facilities, where, he said, citizens were “dying in large numbers daily” due to shortages.
ZAMMSA AUDIT ILLEGAL – KAFWAYA
THE PricewaterhouseCoopers forensic audit report that has reportedly exposed massive corruption and looting of medicines and other essential drugs at the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies is not only illegal but unconstitutional and embarrassing, Mutotwe Kafwaya has charged.
Mr Kafwaya, the Patriotic Front Lunte Member of Parliament has also questioned why the audit report had not been presented to the Parliament but has instead been leaked to media houses, to exposed targeted individuals, whom the government would wish to use to cover up the systematic stealing of essential medicine, especially those donors, such as the United States of America.
Speaking in an interview, respected for his strong views against poor corporate governance and public accountability said the audit process by PWC had violated both legal procedure and constitutional safeguards by allowing the Executive to direct the Auditor General and subcontract private auditors without parliamentary oversight.
“The Auditor General is not subject to direction by any authority or individual, not even the President. The Office of the Auditor General is a constitutional office, like the DPP. It must operate independently, not at the President’s whims or instructions,” Mr Kafwaya said.
Mr Kafwaya was reacting to the revelations that ZAMMSA has been deeply involved in corruption and pilfering of medicines to which President Hakainde Hichilema has issued a strong warning that all those who have been exposed shall have to face the full force of the law.
He explained that former ZAMMSA Director General was arrested based on a forensic audit report that had never been made public nor submitted to Parliament.
“According to what government communicated, PricewaterhouseCoopers was hired by the Auditor General’s Office to conduct the forensic audit, but that instruction came after the President allegedly directed it. That was a red flag,” he said.
He added that under Article 250 of the Constitution, the Auditor General should complete audits independently and submit such reports to the National Assembly only and not to the Executive or law enforcement agencies.
“The President should not have seen an interim audit report. That’s outside constitutional bounds. No one, not even State House, should receive such a report before Parliament,” the Lunte lawmaker stressed.
He said the situation was made worse when Clayson Hamasaka, the State House Chief Communications Specialist confirmed in a public statement that President Hichilema had directed the Auditor General to act.
“That is troubling. It clearly shows interference. And if the law enforcement agencies are now acting on that report…when Parliament has not seen it, then we are in serious trouble as a country,” Mr Kafwaya said.
He also condemned the leak of the forensic audit report to media outlets before it was officially tabled in the House.
“When I see articles quoting forensic findings in the newspapers while we in Parliament haven not even seen the document, I feel ashamed as an MP,” he said. “That is not how constitutional offices work.”
He said the entire process was flawed from the start, and warned that any arrests or prosecutions based on the audit report risked being overturned in court.
“You can’t build justice on an illegal foundation,” he said. “Even those arrested may turn around and sue the government. It’s already a mess.”
Daily Nation Zambia
GOD IS EXPOSING WHAT WAS HIDDEN – MALANJI
.…as ACC decision to allow former Foreign Affairs PS to keep K37 million angers CSOs
Ndola… Wednesday July 16, 2025 – The Consortium of 11 Civil Society Organisations on Governance has questioned how over K37 million of suspected illicit funds can be left in the hands of an accused person.
And the consortium has expressed deep concern and outrage at recent revelations that expose alarming weaknesses in Zambia’s fight against corruption.
On Monday, Daily Revelation published ran a lead story where former Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Thom Trevor Shamakamba told the Ndola High Court that former Foreign Affairs permanent secretary, Dr Ronald Simwinga, was asked to forfeit only K23 million out of the over K60 million “unexplained” funds in his bank account because the commission had decided to turn him into one of the key witnesses in a prominent case before the Economic and Financial Crimes Court in Lusaka.
This is in a case where Shamakamba has sued, for libel, Daily Revelation Editor-In-Chief Patson Chilemba, former ACC board member Dr O’Brien Kaaba and Daily Standard Multimedia as first, second and third defendants respectively, demanding US$500 million compensation for alleged damages to his personal and professional reputations.
Meanwhile, former Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji has said the revelations from the Ndola High Court is an intervention of God, exposing what was hidden.
Mr Simwinga was a witness in the Malanji case before the Economic and Financial Crimes Court and denied, in cross examination, ever having a non-prosecution agreement with ACC, that he had never forfeited in excess of K20 million to the State and that he could not confirm ever being in possession of K60 million in his bank account.
And reacting to Shamakamba’s submission in court, consortium chairperson Isaac Mwanza stated that the revelations were disturbing.
“Equally disturbing is the disclosure by the former Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) that an accused person in a corruption case, Dr. Ronald Simwinga, was allowed by the Commission to surrender only K23 million out of a suspected K60 million in exchange for becoming a state witness. This decision sets a dangerous and unjust precedent,” Mwanza stated.
Credit: https://dailyrevelationzambia.com/acc-decision-to-allow-former-ps-keep-k37m-angers-csos/
DEMANDING PRACTICAL RESPONSE AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ZAMMSA’S CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS-URGENT ACTION MUST BE TAKEN FOR HEALTH TRANSPARENCY AND POLICY INTEGRITY TO SAVE LIVES
July 16, 2025
The KUM’MAWA Development Coalition, also known as UMODZI KUM’MAWA, is deeply concerned about the revelations made by news Diggers, which allege that the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) inflated its procurement figures for medicines by an astonishing 1600%.
This serious anomaly raises urgent questions about the integrity of our public health institutions, particularly given that ZAMMSA operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. We now ask; What action is the government taking beyond the superficial public relations stunts we have recently witnessed from State House and the UPND regime?
Why is the Minister who was Incharge of this ministry during these scandalous and treacherous thefts still untouched and sitting as cabinet minister? If the government prioritizes the well-being of its citizens especially the poor rural in Eastern province, why is this alarming matter being swept under the rug? Why should a government cartel of thieves and criminals at ZAMMSA be left to enjoy freedom and stolen wealth when our poor people are dying in hospitals and clinics for lack of free and cheap medicines?
As a pressure group on behalf the people of Eastern Province, we want to express our deepest rage and disappointment with these revelations of high degree corruption in the Ministry of Health. KDC along with all Zambians believe that the people involved in these corruption scandals at ZAMMSA must be urgently consulted and given their due punishment. And the government demonstrate practical steps in eradicating such vices beyond vague policy statements and press releases.
When health institutions behave in ways that betray citizens and endanger lives, it is unacceptable for the President to rely on empty rhetoric rather than decisive actions against erring public officers and politicians involved in such crimes. We challenge the UPND regime to demonstrate its commitment to upholding the rule of law and not just preach it by expelling and punishing all the cartel members regardless of their status and class.
Furthermore, as a pressure group representing the interests of the Eastern Province, we demand immediate access to the report addressing these anomalies as empowered by the Access to information law. Ignoring such a pressing issue compromises the health and lives of Zambians more especially in regions that are already marginalized. The government must show transparency in its operations and prioritize the welfare of its citizens over political maneuvering or public relations tactics.
Failure to address this issue will leave us no choice but to seek legal redress, as the law clearly supports our right to access public information regarding this matter. We insist on accountability from ZAMSA and a robust practical response from the government beyond rhetoric. The lives of Zambians are at stake, and we will not rest until justice is served.
Issued for and on behalf of KUM’MAWA DEVELOPMENT COALITION aka UMODZI KUM’MAWA
Chanoda Ngwira F
SPOKESPERSON
TI-Z ALARMED BY RECENT AUDIT REVELATIONS AT ZAMMSA, CALLS FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) is deeply alarmed by revelations carried in the News Diggers editions of 14th and 15th July 2025, based on findings from a forensic audit conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which exposed serious procurement irregularities at the Zambia
Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA).
According to the reports, ZAMMSA awarded a K16.1 million contract to Mukushi Business Ventures—a supplier that was not registered with the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority-ZAMRA as required by law.
Additionally, deliveries under the contract reportedly commenced
after the contract had already expired, suggesting a clear violation of procurement procedures
and regulatory standards.
Even more concerning are findings that ZAMMSA purchased medicines at highly inflated prices without any evidence of negotiations.
For instance, the agency procured packs of Ibuprofen 200mg at a shocking K3, 952 per pack—an increase of over 1,600% from the estimated fair market price of K231. This is not only grossly irresponsible and therefore unacceptable, but also points to possible collusion, abuse of office, or deliberate profiteering at the expense of public health.
These revelations come at a time when Zambia is already facing public scrutiny and donor concerns over governance lapses in the health sector.
Just recently, the U.S. Government
announced the withdrawal of millions of dollars in health sector support citing procurement and accountability failures.
The findings from this audit, therefore, risk further eroding public
confidence, damaging the country’s credibility with cooperating partners, and compromising the delivery of essential medicines to Zambians.
TI-Z views these incidents as a serious indictment on the effectiveness of Zambia’s procurement systems and institutional oversight mechanisms.
It is unacceptable that such large-scale financial decisions, funded by public and donor resources, are made with such disregard for transparency,legal compliance, and value for money.
We therefore demand the following:
1. Immediate publication of the full PwC forensic audit report to allow for broader scrutiny and public accountability.
2. Administrative and criminal investigations into all individuals and entities implicated in the procurement breaches, with appropriate sanctions for misconduct or abuse of
authority.
3. Suspension of all officials found to have acted outside the law pending the outcome of investigations.
4. Full transparency and restitution to donors and cooperating partners whose funds may have been mismanaged.
5. Urgent strengthening of ZAMMSA’s procurement oversight systems, including integration with e-procurement tools, mandatory due diligence checks, and price
benchmarking.
6. Regular independent audits of public procurement entities, with results made public to restore trust in public financial management.
Zambia cannot afford to treat such serious issues with indifference or kid gloves. If public trust in the health sector is to be restored, and if donor support is to be retained, those responsible for these failures must be held accountable, and systemic safeguards must be urgently reinforced.
Failure to take decisive action in this respect will create a culture of impunity not just in the health sector but other sectors as well, and Zambia can ill-afford such a culture taking root.
TI-Z remains committed to supporting efforts that promote transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of public resources for the benefit of all Zambians.
Maurice K. Nyambe (Mr.)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Munir case judgment fails, again
By Esther Chisola
THE Lusaka High Court has for the second time failed to deliver the judgement in the case in which jailed former Lumezi member of Parliament Munir Zulu is challenging his one-year sentence.
When the case came up for judgement yesterday before Justice Bonaventure Mbewe, the court informed Zulu that it was not yet ready.
“Matter for hearing of appeal judgement. But I regret to inform that judgement is not ready, but I will do my best to deliver it next week,” Justice Mbewe said.
CDF FUELS DEVELOPMENT BOOM IN KALOMO CENTRAL – MP HARRY KAMBONI SHOWCASES UPND SUCCESS STORY
July 16, 2025 | Lusaka
UPND Member of Parliament for Kalomo Central, Harry Kamboni, has hailed the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) as a game-changer, highlighting its transformative impact under the UPND government.
Addressing the media at Anderson Kambela Mazoka House, Mr. Kamboni said the successful implementation of CDF-funded projects has brought tangible improvements to the lives of Kalomo residents.
He pointed to major achievements in education, infrastructure, healthcare, and economic empowerment, all made possible through strategic deployment of CDF resources.
Mr Kamboni has also encouraged Zambians to appreciate government’s efforts and support the UPND in the 2026 elections to continue the development trajectory.
Mr Kamboni said once the government is appreciated and UPND supported by Zambians a lot will be done for the benefits of all Zambians.
He said in Kalomo key Development Projects have taken place such as support for over 900 students through bursaries, construction of classroom blocks, laboratories, and provision of desks.
Mr Kamboni highlighted various development projects undertaken by government in the constituency when he addressed the media at Anderson Kambela Mazoka House this morning.
And Mr Kamboni said Kalomo has benefited a lot through CDF in infrastructure saying roads have been paved, installation of streetlights in Kalomo town, construction of dams (like the Kalonda Dam worth K4.2 million), and bridges (like Munkolo Bridge).
“In the healthcare sector, Kalomo has benefited in the construction and renovation of clinics, maternity wings, and staff houses in various wards,” he said.
He also said that grants to women cooperatives and youth entrepreneurs totaling K3.5 million annually have been administered in all the wards.
Meanwhile Mr Kamboni emphasized the UPND government’s commitment to development in Kalomo Central, contrasting it with the previous Patriotic Front (PF) government.
He stated that under UPND, funds are being directed to schools and clinics through grants.
(C) UPND MEDIA TEAM
A Nation United in Grief: Learning from Loss – NIGERIA LEADING BY EXAMPLE -UTUNESU
Yesterday, in a poignant display of national unity, President Tinubu of Nigeria received the remains of former President Buhari, who passed away at a private hospital in London. The sad news was conveyed to President Tinubu by former President Buhari’s eldest daughter, Zahra who demonstrated maturity to allow president Tinibu announce tothe nationthe passing of Buhari.
Though history records them as formidable political adversaries, President Tinubu’s immediate response was a testament to the profound truth that “death is a leveler.”
Without hesitation, he dispatched Nigeria’s Air Force 1 to bring home the fallen leader. In a moment that truly embodied the spirit of “though we may have come on different ships, we’re all in the same boat now,” the Buhari family, despite any past political differences, readily welcomed President Tinubu’s presence and involvement.
This somber occasion served as a powerful reminder that in times of sorrow, old wounds often heal, and divisions fade. As the proverb wisely states, “adversity introduces a man to himself.” In the face of shared grief, a nation can find its truest self, unified not by agreement, but by empathy and respect.
This act of collective mourning underscored that even in death, a leader can inspire unity, leaving behind a legacy not just of policy, but of reconciliation. It’s a stark reminder that “the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” President Tinubu’s actions in this sorrowful moment speak volumes about leadership that transcends the political divide.- Larry Mweetwa
BREAKING NEWS
EDGAR LUNGU IN MORE PROBLEMS ANOTHER NEW GROUP SAYS IT WILL EXPOSE HIM TOMORROW
A newly formed group in South Africa last week called Progressive Forces For South Africa by says it will expose former Republican President Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu in a press briefing.
The newly formed group Progressive Forces of South Africa wrote;
We invite you to a high-stakes media briefing that will reveal shocking details about the late Zambian President Edgar Lungu’s time and death in South Africa- and the explosive diplomatic fallout now unfolding.
It was registered last week Monday in South Africa by a citizen for the purpose of attacking Edgar Lungu.
PRIME TV NEWS
16-07-25
WANZIYA CONVICTION UPHELD
The Economic and Financial Crimes Court has upheld the conviction of former Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo’s wife.
This is after it maintained the lower courts conviction and sentence to 3 years imprisonment of Wanziya Chirwa, declining her appeal.
Chirwa was convicted by the Lusaka magistrate court on 28 September, 2024, on charges of owning properties that are deemed to be proceds of crime.
STOP THE DANGEROUS CALLS TO DEREGISTER THE PATRIOTIC FRONT
_By Michael Zephaniah Phiri, Political Activist_
It is deeply concerning to see a dangerous and coordinated campaign — now even drawing in traditional leaders and members of the clergy — calling for the deregistration of the Patriotic Front (PF), Zambia’s biggest opposition party.
The latest calls, reportedly triggered by PF members merely organising and wearing regalia bearing the image of our late President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, are not only misguided but an outright threat to the democracy that Dr Kenneth Kaunda and the MMD fought so hard to secure for all Zambians.
Let us be very clear: this is not democracy — it is calculated intimidation. When the UPND government stays silent while some Chiefs and pastors publicly call for the “blood” of the PF, every citizen should see this for what it is — a staged attempt to silence the opposition because they fear the inevitable return of the PF in 2026. This is not what Zambians voted for.
One must ask: where were these voices when the UPND, then in opposition, was far more confrontational than the PF has ever been? No Chiefs from Eastern Province, Northern Province, or anywhere else demanded the deregistration of the UPND.
Today, President Hakainde Hichilema watches quietly as this country is being divided, instead of speaking out to condemn those actively undermining the very democracy that enabled him to become President. Leadership must defend democracy, not stand by while it is torn apart.
To those championing this reckless idea: instead of wasting energy calling for the PF’s “blood,” why not demand that the Chief Justice and the Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Jack Mwiimbu, quickly consent that Ng”onga and Chabinga are not the PF President and Secretary General, respectively? Resolve that once and for all and you will see how truly organised and intact the PF is.
The truth is, the Patriotic Front remains the only political party in this country’s history to have lost a general election yet remain so cohesive and resolute. It is only the ruling party’s systematic efforts to cut it piece by piece that tries to create the illusion that it is disintegrating. But Zambians are watching. They know the truth — they see through the schemes.
More importantly, our people have faith in the leadership of Acting President Hon. Given Lubinda, Secretary General Raphael Mangani Nakachinda, and the dedicated team that is holding the PF family together.
The spirit and legacy of Michael Chilufya Sata and Edgar Chagwa Lungu will not rest — just look at the heavy burden of ECL’s body, still unburied. That alone is a wake-up call for those clamouring for the “blood” of the PF: you cannot bury an idea whose time has come.
To the UPND government: if you truly believe in your strength, level the playing field. Allow all political parties — including the PF — to freely hold rallies, mobilise, and engage the citizens. Then you will see your real SWOT analysis.
No amount of intimidation, hacked accounts, fake statements, or cooked-up petitions will stop the people’s resolve. Zambians want a fair, democratic, and peaceful political environment where all parties can contest ideas, not where one side is systematically dismantled out of fear.
*United We Stand. Divided We Fall.*
*Long Live Democracy.*
*Michael Zephaniah Phiri*
*Political Activist*
PRESS STATEMENT
ARREST AND CHARGING OF PERSONS FOR OFFENCES RELATING TO OBSCENE MATTERS
July 16, 2025-The Zambia Police Service wishes to inform the public that it has arrested and formally charged three individuals in connection with the production and circulation of obscene materials, contrary to Section 177 of the Penal Code Act Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
The arrested persons have been identified as follows:
1. David Kazadi, Male aged 34
2. Mwaka Halwiindi, Female aged 23
3. Ruby Muzandu, Female aged 23
The charges against the accused are as follows:
• Mwaka Halwiindi has been charged with two (2) counts of Making or Producing Obscene Videos Tending to Corrupt Morals contrary to Section 177(1)(a) of the Penal Code Act, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
• Ruby Muzandu has been charged with one (1) count of Conveying or Exporting Obscene Matters or Things contrary to Section 177(1)(b) of Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia
• David Kazadi has been charged with two (2) counts of Producing Obscene Matters or Things contrary to Section 177(1)(a), as well as two (2) counts of Circulating Obscene Matters or Things contrary to Section 177(1)(b) of the Penal Code Act of the Laws of Zambia.
The offences committed by the accused involve the creation, distribution, and transmission of content deemed to be obscene and likely to corrupt public morals. The materials were discovered following intelligence-led investigations and digital surveillance by our Cybercrime Unit.
The accused persons are currently in lawful custody and are expected to appear in court soon.
The Zambia Police Service sternly warns members of the public against engaging in activities that violate public morality and decency. The production and circulation of obscene content are serious offences that attract punitive consequences under our laws.
We wish to reaffirm our commitment to upholding law and order, especially in the digital space, and will not relent in bringing offenders to justice.
Rae Hamoonga
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER.
“A Leadership Paradox: HH’s Success vs. Fred’s Struggles”
By Timmy
Fred M’membe’s recent article has inadvertently confirmed President Hakainde Hichilema’s exceptional leadership skills. Since 2006, HH has successfully run the UPND party with integrity, growing it into a formidable force that won the 2021 elections.
In contrast, Fred M’membe’s party struggles to make an impact, lacking representation in Parliament and local councils. It’s ironic that he criticizes HH’s leadership style while failing to demonstrate effective leadership himself.
As a leader, it’s essential to offer solutions, not just point out problems. Fred M’membe should provide alternative ways of governance or watch the ruling party solve the issues he’s raising.
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WAGON MEDIA
#Breaking News: Malawi Court Strikes Down Criminal Defamation Law
In a landmark decision, the High Court of Malawi’s Constitutional Court has declared section 200 of the Penal Code, which criminalized defamation, unconstitutional.
The ruling was made on July 2025, in the case of Joshua Chisa Mbele v The Director of Public Prosecutions & The Attorney General.
The court held that the right to freedom of expression is a foundational value in Malawi’s constitutional democracy.
It found that section 200 imposed a disproportionate and unjustifiable limitation on freedom of expression, noting that civil remedies for defamation are a less restrictive and more proportionate alternative to criminal sanctions.
The court recognized that the criminalization of defamation, especially with the threat of imprisonment, has a chilling effect on public discourse.
This decision is expected to have a significant impact on the country’s media landscape and freedom of expression
The court’s declaration means that section 200 of the Penal Code is struck down with immediate effect.
No further prosecutions will be brought under this provision, and each party was ordered to bear its own costs.
