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School shooter’s parents handed 10-15 years jail sentence

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Parents of Ethan Crumbley, the Michigan teenager who is serving life in prison after killing four students at Oxford High School, near Detroit in Michigan in November 2021, when he was 15, have been handed a 10 to 15 years prison sentence.

A seven-year sentence was recommended, but prosecutors asked for more. James and Jennifer Crumbley, the first parents of a US school shooter to be convicted, appeared together for the first time in months at Tuesday’s sentencing hearing.

Both expressed regret about their son’s attack, as their lawyers pushed to minimise their prison sentence. In a landmark case, jurors in separate trials found each parent of shooter Ethan Crumbley guilty of involuntary manslaughter earlier this year.

School shooter, Ethan Crumbley

Judge Cheryl Matthews said that the expanded sentence of 10 to 15 years was “to act as a deterrent” and reflected the parents’ failure to stop the attack. Mathews said;

“They [parents] are not expected to be psychic. But these convictions are not about poor parenting. They concern acts that could have halted a runaway train,. Opportunity knocked over and over again, louder and louder, and it was ignored.”

The Crumbleys are eligible for parole after they serve 10 years in prison, but they cannot be held for more than 15 years if parole is denied. Prosecutors had alleged that the pair had dismissed clear signs that their son’s mental health had deteriorated and noted that the parents had bought Ethan Crumbley the gun he used in the 2021 attack.

On the day of the shooting at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan, the Crumbleys cut short a school meeting about a disturbing drawing their son had made, instead opting to go to work and not take him home.

School staff later sent him back to class without checking his backpack, which contained the gun his parents had purchased.

An independent investigation published last year alleged multiple failures from the school system, including the decision to allow Ethan to return to class. In response, the school district has pledged to review and improve its practices and policies.

Gambia MP defends bid to legalise female genital mutilation

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Gambian lawmaker Almaneh Gibba started his campaign to overturn a 2015 ban on female genital mutilation after the country imposed its first fines on those found guilty of the practice last year.

Despite concerns about the leniency of the sentences – a $220 fine for three women accused of cutting eight infant girls – anti-FGM activists welcomed the ruling as a rare victory against a culture of impunity that typically shields offenders in countries where such mutilations occur.

But the convictions also prompted a backlash among Gambia religious leaders and inspired Gibba’s push to overturn the 8-year ban on what he calls female circumcision.

Parliament is now considering a bill proposed by Gibba to the alarm of advocacy groups who say it represents a step backwards in efforts to end a practice that can cause myriad health issues.

Around 180 civil society organisations signed an open letter in October urging Gambia’s government to uphold the anti-FGM law.

It is “not just a legal imperative but a moral obligation,” Gambia’s former vice president Isatou Touray, now Gambia’s highest-profile campaigner against the practice, said in February.

“With the world watching, history will judge us based on the actions we take,” she wrote in an op-ed.

Gibba, an independent MP and government critic, told Reuters the ban was not wanted by most people in Gambia, a predominantly Muslim country where some believe cutting a part of the clitoris is required by Islam and key to a girl’s passage to womanhood.

“We will not be dictated by Western philosophy and their views on what we do,” he said. “Who are they to tell us our culture, our religion, our traditional beliefs?”

Gibba’s bill looks likely to pass when it comes before parliament for a final vote in June. It passed in its second reading in March with only four out of 53 MPs in the predominately male assembly voting against it.

Rights groups say Gibba’s opinions do not reflect realities on the ground, particularly the views of excised women on a practice that the United Nations considers a serious human rights violation and a form of torture.

Government figures show 73 percent of Gambian women aged between 15 and 49 have undergone FGM. Of these, almost three-quarters had their clitoris fully removed along with other parts of their genitals.

A public consultation on the practice is scheduled to take place this month and be presented to parliament before the final vote.

The most recent government health survey in 2019-20 found that 46 percent of circumcised Gambian women between the ages of 15 and 49 believed the practice should be discontinued. Around 40 percent of men felt the same way.

No country has lifted a ban on FGM before. There are concerns Gambia’s bill could embolden a budding movement of pro-FGM activism in Africa hinged on self-determination and the right to choose.

“There is a growing wave of arguments regarding the consent of adult women, using the language of human rights and bodily autonomy,” said Caroline Lagat, a programme officer at advocacy group Equality Now, saying that in Gambia, most girls are cut before turning five.

At a national level, FGM is banned in over 70 countries worldwide, of which at least 35 are in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the World Bank.

Advocacy groups say such laws are often just rubber stamps, barely enforced in practice, but still remain a crucial steppingstone in the fight against FGM.

Ethiopian bank posts photos of customers yet to return millions gained during technical glitch

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The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) has publicly displayed photos of customers yet to return excess funds that they withdrew or transferred during a technical glitch. According to BBC, the photos of the said customers had been displayed outside the bank’s branches as of Friday.

The bank displaying the photos comes after several customers managed to withdraw or transfer $14 million during the technical glitch. The bank’s head, however, said that almost three-quarters of that amount has since been returned. He also said customers yet to return the monies will face prosecution.

During the glitch that occurred in March, CBE customers managed to over-withdraw or do transactions even when they had less money in their accounts. Customers made nearly 500,000 transactions before the bank became aware of the technical glitch. Most of the customers who made those transactions were university students.

“I know someone who bought a smart phone and a laptop and has no money at hand to return,” a student in the Horn of Africa nation told BBC‘s Amharic service. “There are some who bought internet packages for a year and others who paid off their debts.”

After CBE became aware of the glitch, it threatened that customers who overdrew or transferred more money outside their account limit would be arrested. Thousands of customers have since returned excess funds, per the bank.

The names as well as the account numbers of the customers yet to return the excess funds were displayed alongside their photos. Their identities and account numbers are also shown on the bank’s website.

“Those who did not return the money they inappropriately took from Commercial Bank of Ethiopia,” a poster showing the photos of the customers yet to return the excess funds reads. That poster was spotted outside a CBE branch in the capital Addis Ababa.

The CBE on social media also said that “there are individuals who have not used repeated opportunities to return the money they took illegally.” The bank said it was left with no resort but to publicly name its customers yet to return the excess funds after issuing several warnings and even pushing back the deadline.

CBE president Abe Sano also told BBC that the bank will notify police about the customers yet to return the excess funds. “There is no way that they can escape because they are digital [transactions] and they are our customers. We know them. They are traceable and they are legally accountable for what they did,” Sano said.

CBE is the largest commercial bank in Ethiopia. Established 83 years ago, the bank has over 83 million customers. And though the bank has not provided details on the cause of the technical glitch, it said it did not stem from a cyber-attack. The bank also assured customers that their accounts were safe.

Over 200 women accuse US doctor of sexual abuse

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Over ten years ago, Kristin Fritz had back pain and went to see a specialist recommended by her doctor at Brigham and Women a€™s Hospital in Boston.

The appointment with the doctor Derrick Todd had a regular day for the 37-year-old woman from New Hampshire. But as Todd got closer, he touched her chest forcefully, she said, and it seemed like he liked it too much.

Last year, when the hospital talked to her about Todd, she realized that a boundary had been passed. She had someone with her.

“I feel really hurt,” she told The Associated Press. “I feel really bad for not doing anything when I knew something was wrong and I should have told someone. ”

The Associated Press usually doesn’t say the names of people who may have been sexually abused, but Fritz said it was okay to use her name. She is one of over 200 women and a few men who have joined a combined lawsuit against Todd in Massachusetts’ Suffolk Superior Court.

The lawsuit accuses Todd of doing unnecessary exams on patients, like checking their pelvic floor, breasts, testicles, and rectum. And there are several lawsuits like this from last year.

It is claimed that Todd, a former doctor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, started mistreating patients in 2010. His job was to treat muscle, joint, and bone problems. Also, it said that many other people, including Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital and Charles River Medical Associates, knew about the abuse but did not do anything to stop it.

“It’s a lot of people who trust Dr. [name]” William Thompson of Lubin & Meyer in Boston said that Todd and others had their trust broken for someone’s selfish reasons.

“I also wonder how this could have been happening at the hospital or practice group for so long without anyone noticing that something strange was going on,” he added. “But they let him keep doing it for many years to many people. ”

Todd’s lawyer, Anthony Abeln, said Todd will not talk about this problem in the news. He will protect himself in court.

In April 2023, Brigham and Women’s got two complaints about Todd from people who didn’t give their names. The hospital started looking into it. Todd was told he needed someone else in the room when he does sensitive exams. In June, he was told to take a break from work, and a month later, he lost his job. The hospital told the Department of Public Health, the state Board of Registration in Medicine, law enforcement, and his current and former patients.

In September, Todd agreed to stop practicing medicine anywhere in the country with the Board of Registration in Medicine. Todd has not been accused of any crimes, but the police have talked to some of his previous patients.

Last year, The Boston Globe said that Todd was being looked into by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. A person from the office said they won’t talk about the case.

“We are very concerned about the troubling accusations of bad behavior by Dr. [last name]” The hospital said Todd’s name in a statement. “We are committed to taking good care of our patients and making sure they are safe in our care. ” We will always take quick action if someone says we did something wrong, just like we did in this situation.

The Charles River Medical Associates said they didn’t know about any complaints of “inappropriate behavior” by Todd and they spoke to patients to ask about their concerns.

“We feel very upset and sorry about these troubling claims. We admire the bravery of the patients who spoke out. ” This was stated in a release.

Thompson said the people who were hurt are as young as teenagers and as old as women in their 60s. The lawsuit claimed that Todd would earn their trust, and then become their only doctor, even though he didn’t need to do the exams he did.

One of them was a 33-year-old woman from Massachusetts who had a hard time finding a doctor during the pandemic. She was happy when Todd called to help her with the tingling and numbness in her arms and hands.

For more than two years, Todd was her main doctor and gynecologist. The lawsuit claimed that the abuse got worse when she went for her appointments, including having her vagina examined multiple times. She said Todd would often make inappropriate comments about her body, ask her to take off her clothes, and make sure she was alone during exams.

“It really affected every part of my life because it takes up all of my thoughts and affects my self-confidence,” said the woman. She reported Todd to the medical board after talking to her gynecologist and realizing something was not right.

Ever since I found out there were other doctors and Todd quit being a doctor, I feel much better even though I still find it hard to deal with. “It’s really hard just to think about work,” she said. “I’m really, really, really having a hard time today. ”

Regarding Fritz, she admitted that the experience will always be with her for the rest of her life. However, she finds comfort in knowing that Todd is already facing consequences for what he did.

“You were a respected doctor at a top hospital. ” You hurt and mistreated many, many, many patients. “Fritz said Todd is not right. ” To me, justice would mean that he can never work again. He should never be able to do this to women or any other patient again.

Iran’s foreign minister claims US gave Israel “green light” to assault Syria

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Iran’s foreign minister said that the United States allowed Israel to attack Iran’s consulate in Syria, which led to the deaths of seven Iranian military officials, including two generals.

Hossein Amirabdollahian said that Iran will retaliate to the attack, which many people think Israel did. This shows that Israel is increasing its attacks on Iranian military officials. Iran supports groups that fight against Israel in Gaza and Lebanon.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah repeated on Monday that his group supports Iran’s military action in response to the attack that killed General. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a high-ranking military leader in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force, increased worries about the war spreading to other parts of the Middle East.

Since the fighting in Gaza started six months ago, there have been more conflicts between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. It was Hamas, the group in charge of Gaza, that attacked Israel in October. 7 is also supported by Iran and a group of fighters from Iraq who want to attack US military bases and locations in Syria and Iraq.

Israel often attacks Iranian military leaders and supporters, but Zahedi’s death was the biggest loss for Tehran since a US drone killed Gen. Qassim Soleimani was killed in 2020 in Baghdad.

“I want to say loudly from here in Damascus that America is responsible for what happened and should be held accountable,” Amirabdollahian said to reporters in Damascus when he met with the Syrian Foreign Minister, Faisal Mekdad, who also criticized the attack and Israel’s actions in Gaza. Amirabdollahian also talked with President Bashar Assad about Gaza and the situation in the region, according to a statement from Assad’s office.

The foreign minister of Iran said that the US and two European countries did not criticize the attack on the new consular section, which he had just opened earlier that day.

He said that not speaking out against the attack shows that the US allowed Israel to do this.

The Biden government is saying they did not know about the airstrike before it happened. Washington is very important for Israel’s military support.

Israel usually doesn’t admit when it attacks Iranian targets. They did not say anything about the strike in the Syrian capital. But, a spokesperson for the Pentagon named Sabrina Singh said the US believes Israel was responsible.

At first, Iranian state media said Zahedi was in charge of the Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria until 2016 after the attacks.

Then, in a speech to the public on Monday, the leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, said that Zahedi was an important person for the Lebanese group, and had worked there for three four-year periods.

Nasrallah, Syria and other important friends of Iran have said they will continue to support Iran.

Iran has the right to do it because it is natural. “It’s normal for the Islamic Republic to react to the attack on the consulate,” Nasrallah stated.

Nasrallah said that Zahedi was involved until 2002, when he supervised Israel’s pullout from southern Lebanon and supported Hezbollah’s growth. During Zahedi’s second term, there was a lot of intense fighting in Syria. Iran and Russia supported Assad in the war against the opposing forces. Zahedi started his last job in 2020 and it ended when he was killed.

Hezbollah fighters and Israeli soldiers have been fighting on the tense border between Lebanon and Israel since October. On the 8th day after the Hamas attack on southern Israel.

The leader of Hezbollah said that when the fighting started, Zahedi tried to join their fighters on the front line, but he was not allowed to.

On Monday, Israel bombed southern Lebanon and killed Ali Ahmad Hussein, a top commander of Hezbollah’s secret Radwan Force. Hezbollah said Hussein died, but didn’t say how or what he did for the group, which is how they usually tell people when their members die.

Hussein was killed, he was a top fighter, before the Iranian foreign minister visited Syria.

Israel sees Hezbollah as its biggest and most dangerous enemy right now. They think that Hezbollah has about 150,000 rockets and missiles, some of which are very accurate and can be aimed at any part of Israel. The group has many experienced fighters from the 12-year war in Syria, and they also have various military drones.

In January, Israeli planes attacked and killed a top Hezbollah commander, Wissam al-Tawil, who had been fighting with the group for a long time and took part in some of its major battles.

Hezbollah says it will stop shooting rockets when the fighting in Gaza stops and the war between Israel and Hamas is over. Israeli leaders want the Radwan Force to leave the border area so that many Israelis who had to leave can come back home.

Washington and Paris are working hard to find a peaceful solution to stop the fighting between Lebanon and Israel. They want to avoid another big war between Hezbollah and Israel like the one in 2006.

The chance of war spreading to Lebanon has made the political tension between Hezbollah and their rival, Lebanese Forces party, even worse.

On Monday, things got worse when the Lebanese military said that a local leader of the Lebanese Forces was killed. He had been kidnapped the day before in northern Lebanon. The Lebanese Army caught three Syrians who are accused of kidnapping and killing Pascale Suleiman while they were trying to steal his car.

The Lebanese Forces party questioned the army‘s findings and said they thought it was a political murder.

In his speech, Nasrallah criticized members of the Christian party and other allies who accused Hezbollah of being involved in the kidnapping. Describing it as “unfounded” and harmful language.

Prosecutors want US Court to dismiss Trump’s claims against immunity in election subversion case

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Special investigator Jack Smith’s group has asked the US Supreme Court on Monday night to deny former President Donald Trump’s argument that he cannot be prosecuted in a case accusing him of plotting to change the results of the 2020 presidential election.

The prosecutors sent their request to the judges a little more than two weeks before they will discuss whether a former president can be accused of crimes for things they did while in the White House, which has never been tested legally.

“They said that the President’s plan to use his power to change the election and stop the peaceful transfer of power goes against the rules that protect democracy. ”

The result of the April 25 arguments will help decide if Trump will go to trial this year for trying to stop the peaceful transfer of power after losing the 2020 election.

Trump says that former presidents cannot be held responsible for things they did while they were in office. Both the judge in charge of the case, Tanya Chutkan, and a three-judge federal appeals panel in Washington strongly denied that argument.

The highest court in the US said it will consider the question, making it unclear if the case against Trump can go to trial before the election. Trump is facing four criminal prosecutions and is the likely Republican nominee for president.

In their recent report, Smith’s team repeated a lot of the same arguments from lower courts, specifically mentioning that “federal criminal law applies to the president. ”

The people who wrote the rules for the country did not say that a former President could not be charged with a crime. Every President from the beginning of the country to now knows that they could be charged with a crime for things they did while in office, even after they are no longer President.

The prosecutors mentioned that even if the highest court agrees that a president has some protection for their official actions, they should still allow the case to continue because a lot of the charges are about Trump’s personal behavior.

Smith’s team said that the court could decide that Trump is not protected from being sued in this case, without making a decision that would affect other cases.

“They said that if the person accused of crimes is not protected from punishment, then the case will be resolved. But there might be other difficult questions to answer in the future if different situations come up. “

Trump opposes ban on abortion nationwide

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Former President Donald Trump said on Monday that he thinks each state should decide their own rules about abortion. He made a video where he talked about this and didn’t say he supports a national ban on abortion, after giving different opinions before.

“Many people want to know my thoughts on abortion and abortion rights,” Trump said in the video on his Truth Social website. I think that now that abortion is legal, each state will decide if it is allowed through voting or making laws. And whatever they choose will be the rule for everyone in the state.

In the video, Trump did not say when he thinks abortion should be banned during pregnancy. He didn’t support a national cutoff that Democrats could use against him in the upcoming election. However, by supporting the mix of different ideas, he can be linked to the toughest state laws that President Joe Biden and his campaign are trying to connect him to.

Anti-abortion activists were really upset that Trump didn’t do more.

In the video, he said he did something good for the United States. “The Supreme Court decided to stop Roe v. ” Wade said he was happy that he was the one who ended the law about abortions, and he thanked the conservative judges who helped overturn it.

He once again said he supports three exceptions in certain cases, like when a woman is raped, there’s incest, or the mother’s life is in danger. He also talked about how different states have different rules about abortion after the court’s Dobbs v. caseWade decision, has sparked a lot of controversy and debate. The decision could have a big impact on women’s rights and access to abortion in the United States. Wade decision explained simply.

“A lot of states will change. ” “Some will have more weeks than others, and that’s just how it is,” he said. “In the end, it’s all about what the people want. ”

Trump believed that the Supreme Court’s decision on abortion gave people who are against it a lot of power to make deals. He wanted to use this power to make both sides happy and bring the country together. Abortion is a very controversial issue in American politics, with some people thinking it’s murder and others thinking it’s a right for women.

SBA Pro-Life America, a major organization against abortion, quickly criticized the announcement.

“The group’s president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, said she is very unhappy with President Trump’s decision,” “Unborn babies and their mothers should be protected by the government and supported by the whole country from the harm caused by abortions. ” The Dobbs decision gives permission for both states and Congress to take action.

SenatorLindsey Graham, a politician from South Carolina who supports Trump, disagrees with him about whether states should make their own rules about abortion. Mike Pence, who is against abortion and was Trump’s vice president, is now competing with him to be the Republican nominee for this year. He has also said that he will not support Trump. This has upset many pro-life supporters of Trump.

Trump went on a social media app called Truth Social on Monday and criticized his critics. He said that Dannenfelser and Graham were not helpful and blamed them for the Democrats winning elections. He also told Graham to focus on the wars that he supports, where many people are dying.

Biden’s team acted fast, using the opportunity to their advantage. Spokesperson Ammar Moussa posted on X that Trump supports all abortion bans, even those with no exceptions. “and he’s proudly talking about his part in making this terrible place. ”

Biden said Trump is to blame for causing cruelty and chaos in America since the Dobbs decision. He said women are being denied medical care and forced to travel long distances for help.

“Trump is facing problems and he is aware of it,” Biden mentioned at a fundraiser in Chicago on Monday.

Jenny Lawson, who runs Planned Parenthood Votes, said she is sure that the people who said no to anti-abortion laws in the past will do the same in the 2024 election against Donald Trump and his supporters.

During a Biden campaign call, a Texas mom named Kaitlyn Kash talked to reporters about her struggles. She had to go to another state for medical care after she lost one baby, and then had trouble getting a procedure after giving birth to a healthy baby. She blames Trump for making it harder for her to get the care she needed.

“Kash said that what happened to me was avoidable, but it happened because of Donald Trump. ”

Biden’s team made a commercial with a woman from Texas named Amanda Zurawski. She almost died twice because she couldn’t get help for a miscarriage, due to a law in Texas that blocks abortions. This law was made because of Donald Trump’s decision to overturn Roe v. WadeWade

Last month, Trump said in a radio interview that he was thinking about supporting a national ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. But he also seemed unsure about making it a law for the whole country.

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Republican-controlled states have put in place many new rules after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. Wade, go ahead. Over 12 states run by the GOP have made abortion illegal, and others have made the time allowed for getting an abortion shorter.

Other procedures related to making babies have had limits, like in vitro fertilization. It became a big issue in a campaign after the Alabama Supreme Court said this year that frozen embryos can be seen as children by the law. Trump said he really wants IVF to be available. The government officials in Alabama and the Republican Governor. Kay Ivey said that she will make sure that IVF providers can’t be sued for any mistakes they make.

Democrats think that supporting abortion rights makes more people vote for them, and they have done better than expected in elections as a result. Voters in seven states voted to support abortion rights. Abortion will also be on the ballot in more states like Florida, Maryland, and New York this year.

Trump has been talking about abortion during the campaign. He says he is very against it, but he also blames other Republicans for the party’s losses in 2022 because they didn’t allow any exceptions.

In the video, Trump told Republicans to listen to their feelings about this issue. But keep in mind, you also need to win elections to bring back our culture and save our country, which is currently declining.

Instead, he has tried to make Democrats look like the extreme ones on this issue.

Democrats and Biden’s team have been focusing on this problem as they try to show the differences between them and Trump.

Most surveys have found that the majority of Americans think that abortion should be allowed in the early stages of pregnancy. Roughly half of American adults think women should be able to have an abortion at 15 weeks, a recent survey found.

Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tells us that most abortions between 2012 and 2021 happened during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy.

Drake surprises another fan with promise to pay legal fees for divorce during concert

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Canadian rapper Drake always has a way of not only keeping his concerts in the headlines but making the event an unforgettable one as well.

During his “It’s All a Blur Tour” last week, he spotted a fan in need of assistance with legal fees for a divorce and decided to step in and act similar to Santa Claus for the fan in need.

Videos of Drake promising the fan to pay for his legal fees have gone viral. In the video, the rapper is head saying, “I’m going to get you a good lawyer, and we’re gonna pay for your divorce tonight.”

He added, “You gon’ be single and ready to mingle … While you’re at it, you need to find you somebody to take you out on a date, too. I’ll pay for the date, too, don’t worry about it.”

The “For All the Dogs” star’s act of generosity towards a fan needing help with legal fees for a divorce is not an isolated incident.

Earlier in March, during a concert in Kansas City, Missouri, he paused the show to announce his pledge to pay off the mortgage of another fan’s late mother.

In a video posted on X, Drake received a note from an audience member at his concert. Upon reading it, Drake asked, “This is it?”

“You said, ‘[Pay] off my mom’s house, rest in peace.’ Your mom passed away? Alright. And you owe … Oh, this is an outstanding balance right here,” he said into his microphone while interacting with the fan. “This is a lot of money right here.”

“But you know what, I’m gonna pay off your momma’s house for you,” Drake promised as the audience cheered.

He later disclosed to the fan who had requested a donation of “160 bands” ($160,000) for the cause that he was going to pay out of his pocket.

“Imma pay out of my pocket. That’s gonna come from me. Rest in peace to your momma,” Drake said during the show.

During a tour stop in his hometown of Toronto in October, Drake surprised a concert attendee at the Scotiabank Arena by gifting them a Mercedes-Benz G-Class car.

Rather than hand-picking a fan from the audience, Drake opted to select a recipient for the luxury prize at random, as depicted in footage captured by audience members.

“So, this is what I’m going to do: I’m going to pick the winning ticket out of this drum right here,” the hitmaker said, as members of his crew brought a raffle drum up to the stage. “I want everybody to be super quiet. I want to hear the winner scream.”

Eventually, Drake saw the fan who was leaving the venue with the new vehicle in one of the upper levels.

Government commences construction of new ultra-modern Munyaule market

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Government commences construction of new ultra-modern Munyaule market

FOLLOWING a 15-year lease agreement between the Lusaka City Council and Kaddoura Construction Limited to put up a newly ultra-modern structured, Munyaule market, works to construct the market have since commenced.

Furthermore, former market occupants have received new offer letters to occupy the new market once it is completed.

The market is being constructed at a total cost of US$8 million and is expected to occupy more than 2,000 marketers.

Meanwhile, in order to pave way for construction, Government through the Lusaka City Council moved the traders who were operating in the market to temporal trading places behind BH and New Soweto Market.

However, according to a statement issued by the Ministry’s public relations officer, Chila Namaiko, Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Gary Nkombo said the private contractors have already moved on site to start the construction process of the new market.

He said the construction period is estimated to be 16 months and once done, the building is expected to create a more conducive trading environment for traders and customers as compared to what it was previously.

Nkombo noted that it was Government’s priority to modernise all markets for the purpose of providing safe and healthy facilities for the traders to operate in.

Later, the mister also toured the temporal trading site where former Munyaule market traders were relocated, and he pledged to personally donate some paints to beautify the stands.

He also directed LCC to immediately secure some space within the temporal trading area to set up more toilets and water points to provide a conducive environment for the traders.

Meanwhile, representing the relocated traders, Foster Chibwe expressed the anxiety that traders had towards the completion of the modern facility,.

She added that they are in full support of the Government’s decision to modernise Munyaule market.

The Market was located along Lumumba Road, adjacent to City Market, and once construction is completed, it will offer a conducive trading area like the newly built Simon Mwewa Market

By Buumba Mwitumwa

Kalemba

It has Ended in tears for Scammers & Impiya shabalanda team

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SUCCESSFUL RAID ON INTERNET FRAUD SYNDICATE IN LUSAKA

….77 suspects, including 50 males and 27 females from Zambia, along with 23 foreign nationals, predominantly 22 Chinese nationals and one Cameroonian, were apprehended

Lusaka, Tuesday 9th March, 2024

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) through its collaborative efforts with other Law Enforcement Agencies, through the inter-agency framework agreement led the Zambia Police (ZP), Department of Immigration, and the Anti-terrorism organizations, in a significant breakthrough in the fight against cybercrime.

Following thorough intelligence operations, a raid was conducted on Golden Top Support Services, located in Roma, Lusaka, uncovering a sophisticated internet fraud syndicate.

During the operation, Sim Boxing Machines were discovered on-site, facilitating the bypassing of local service providers’ networks for fraudulent activities, including internet fraud and online scams.

Additionally, over 13, 000 thousands of SIM cards, both domestic and international, was seized, underscoring the extent of the operation’s reach.

Counting of these SIM cards is still in process but so far our team has counted over 1,742 Vodafone SIM cards, over 7,778 MTN SIM cards, and 4,016 Airtel SIM cards including 11 sim boxes.

It was revealed that the organization employed unsuspecting Zambian youths aged between 20 and 25, mostly school leavers, under the impression that they shall work as call center agents, tasking them with engaging in deceptive conversations with unsuspecting mobile users across various platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, chatrooms, and others, using scripted dialogues.

The scope of their illicit operations extended beyond Zambia’s borders, with evidence indicating sophisticated mobile and internet communication with individuals in countries such as Singapore, Peru, UAE, and others across the continent.

In total, 77 suspects, including 50 males and 27 females from Zambia, along with 23 foreign nationals, predominantly 22 Chinese nationals and one Cameroonian, were apprehended.

Notably, several foreign nationals were found to be residing in the country without proper documentation.

Following the raid, 17 Zambian suspects were released, while 60, along with 22 Chinese male adults and one Cameroonian, were detained for further questioning.

Seized items included 93 desktop computers, 42 new and boxed computers, one laptop, a satellite gadget, and other ICT-related equipment.

Furthermore, two firearms, a Beretta and a sig suer, along with 78 rounds of ammunition, were seized.

Additionally, two motor vehicles including a black Alphard motor vehicle, registration number BAT 8373 and a Toyota Land cruiser, registration number BAE 5675 belonging to a Chinese national linked to the business, was seized.

The DEC emphasizes the alarming rise in internet fraud cases, leading to substantial financial losses for citizens and contributing to various forms of money laundering schemes. As technology continues to advance, the Commission remains vigilant in combating cybercrime and protecting the interests of the Zambian populace.

Issued by:

Mwenge Mulenga
Public Relations Officer
Drug Enforcement Commission

Zimbabwe’s President Mnangagwa Addresses Third Term Allegations

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In a recent video released by Zimbabwe’s prominent newspaper, The Sunday Mail, President Emmerson Mnangagwa addressed rumors circulating about his intention to seek a third term in office, a move that would contravene the nation’s constitution. Amidst growing speculation and the spread of a slogan at Zanu PF rallies suggesting Mnangagwa’s presidency could extend until 2030, the president firmly denied any plans to violate constitutional limits.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, 81, emphasized his commitment to democracy and the rule of law, stating, “There is not an iota of evidence where Zanu PF or I, as President, has ever expressed the violation of our Constitution. We in Zanu PF are very democratic and we obey the Constitution.” This statement comes at a time when the ruling party, Zanu PF, which has governed Zimbabwe since its independence, faces scrutiny over its democratic practices and adherence to the constitutional framework established in 2013.

The constitution of Zimbabwe, adopted a decade ago, stipulates that a president can only serve two five-year terms, making any attempt by Mnangagwa to run for a third term unconstitutional. The issue has gained attention due to a controversial slogan heard at Zanu PF rallies, “2030 vaMnangagwa vanenge vachipo” (“2030 Mnangagwa will still be president”), raising questions about the party’s future direction and Mnangagwa’s political ambitions.

Zanu PF’s dominant position was reinforced in the last parliamentary elections, securing a supermajority that theoretically could enable it to amend the constitution. Such developments have sparked debates about the potential for constitutional changes and the future of democratic governance in Zimbabwe.

Mnangagwa, who rose to power after a succession battle following the ousting of Robert Mugabe in 2017, has been a key figure in Zanu PF since Zimbabwe’s independence. His presidency has been marked by efforts to navigate the country through economic challenges and international relations, yet these recent allegations have brought to the forefront issues surrounding the integrity of governance and the sanctity of the constitution in Zimbabwe.

As the situation unfolds, the international community and Zimbabwean citizens alike watch closely, eager to see how the nation will uphold its democratic values and constitutional commitments in the face of political challenges.

ECL ON HH’S CASSAVA PROPOSAL: DON’T MOCK ZAMBIANS OVER THEIR FAVOURITE NSHIMA – LUNGU ADVISES HH

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ECL ON HH’S CASSAVA PROPOSAL

….I say I watched in disbelief because the behaviour of my brother amounts to mocking Zambians over their favourite staple food, nshima, which comes from maize meal….

DON’T MOCK ZAMBIANS OVER THEIR FAVOURITE NSHIMA – ECL ADVISES HH

THE other day I watched in disbelief, my brother – Mr Hakainde Hichilema – encouraging Zambians to consider cassava meal as a great alternative to maize meal because it lasts longer in the tummy. He said Zambians must seriously consider this as an action plan despite the fact that cassava meal has a “smell” which people in some parts of the country don’t like.

I say I watched in disbelief because the behaviour of my brother amounts to mocking Zambians over their favourite staple food, nshima, which comes from maize meal. Because he understands how Zambians love their nshima, aka bwali, he promised to reduce the price of mealie-meal to K50 from an average of K120, during our time as PF in government. He said K120 was beyond the reach of most Zambians amidst the high cost of living.

Today, the price of mealie-meal is averaging K400 with the cost of living shooting through the roof, leaving no signs of the mealie-meal price ever going down. Instead of apologizing and explaining to Zambians why they have failed to reduce the price of mealie-meal as per their promise, the so-called New Dawn government started to encourage Zambians to resort to roller-meal “which is cheaper and healthier”.
And now that he has heard most Zambians complain that they can’t afford three meals a day, my brother is telling them to resort to cassava meal because it lasts longer in the tummy. This is a mockery to the Zambians who were deceived that this government would reduce the cost of living because the opposite is now the new dawn.

And when a Catholic priest reminds them to reduce the price of mealie-meal and the cost of living as per their promise, they threaten to arrest the priest for hate speech. So reminding the UPND in government to fulfil their campaign promises now amounts to hate speech, which can actually send such complainants to prison. No doubt, it is now very clear that what most Zambians expected to be a new dawn is actually a new doom. Napafita! So UKAni ma Zambians and fight for your rights, fight for the real dawn. Kwacha! Ukani!
In which shops are you going to find cassava meal across the country and at what price?

Your new dawn Minister of Energy is now asking you to brace yourselves for an imminent increase in electricity tariffs by ZESCO when they promised you a reduction in the tariffs. The price of fuel they promised to reduce has now more than doubled. Ka exchange rate kena kulabakofye.

Anyway, let me stop here before I receive a CALL OUT to appear before the police for hate speech. In any case, we are more than ready and resolved to be arrested for reminding this government about its dismal performance.

Signed
Edgar C. Lungu
Zambia’s Sixth President
and Patriotic Front President
LUSAKA
9/04/24

WHY HICHILEMA WON’T FIRE POLICE IG MUSAMBA- Sishuwa Sishuwa

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WHY HICHILEMA WON’T FIRE POLICE IG MUSAMBA

By Sishuwa Sishuwa

I have noted the attempts of some in our country to shield President Hakainde Hichilema from legitimate criticism whenever his appointed officials are seriously found wanting. A good case in point is the continued unprofessional and partisan conduct of the Zambia police service under the leadership of Inspector Grapheal Musamba. It is often suggested by Hichilema’s apologists that the problem is not the President; it is the IG: “HH is a good man; it is just his officials who are bad or failing him”, the apologists would often say without explaining the miracle of how this supposedly good man ended up being surrounded by bad people, why he has kept them in their public positions, and what this says about his judgement.

It is a clever strategy to blame appointed officials rather than the appointing authority if the aim is to shield the president from criticism as it implies that the appointed officials are not following their superior’s wishes or orders. Under the Russian Empire, there was a phrase that described this strategy: “If only the Tsar knew!” This expressed the idea that all abuses of power and injustices were carried out by imperial officials without the Tsar’s knowledge and if the Tsar knew about it, then he would be horrified and rectify it immediately. This is precisely what Hichilema’s apologists would want people to believe. What they are doing is the current version of the former ruling party’s “President Edgar Lungu is a good person; it is just the people surrounding him” narrative. As it was under Lungu, this is a poor excuse. As did his predecessor, Hichilema appointed those people! He was not forced to do so nor to keep them.

The ultimate culprit in the ongoing misconduct of the police is not the Inspector General of Police, however deplorable Musamba’s professional conduct has been since he was appointed to the role in April 2023. It is President Hichilema. If the IG was doing what Hichilema does not approve, the president would have long removed him from that position. In fact, Hichilema has previously and publicly praised the conduct of the same IG being condemned by the public, stating that he wishes he had appointed him earlier! There is a wider point to be made here about the police under Hichilema: what we are witnessing today, as was the case under Lungu, is the continued institutional deterioration, loss of autonomy and politicisation of the police.

In addition to its constitutionally prescribed mandate of protecting human rights, the core operational duties of a professional police service are to maintain law and order, protect members of the public and their property, prevent the commission of offences and to bring the offenders to justice. To effectively execute these responsibilities, the police must possess the authority, widely recognised by the public, as the lawful and rightful body to enforce them and to do so in a professional and impartial manner that builds public confidence in the institution and helps improve the quality of life for all citizens.

It is precisely this authority that has deserted the police in Zambia today, as was the case under the PF. The public, rather than viewing it as an apolitical and professional body that is out to protect individual liberties of all Zambians regardless of their political affiliation, now regards the police as nothing more than hired agents of the ruling party. This is because the executive branch of government has corrupted the police, as it has done to other state institutions, to primarily function as a sword for the political elites in power and their supporters.

A fundamental part of corruption is corrupting the system, including the police, the judiciary, and other supposedly independent state institutions in order to serve the interests of those in power. This is precisely what Hichilema and the UPND have done in order to entrench their grip on power. Think of the police guarding an illegal assembly of Miles Sampa rather than stopping it! Think of the police effectively banning public rallies by opposition parties since the election of Hichilema in 2021. Think of the police…

This is not to defend IG Musamba; it is to say that we should direct our energies to where the buck ultimately stops: Hichilema. Yes, the police is today led by a top command that epitomises its professional decay, lack of autonomy, and partisanship. In fact, I would say that there is a curious way in which the true character of the President of Zambia, especially in relation to their attitude towards power, the rule of law and their commitment to entrenching civil liberties and safeguarding the independence and integrity of state institutions, is partly revealed or expressed by his or her choice of appointment to the position of Inspector General of Police.

Superlatives cannot adequately capture the unprofessionalism that has marked the tenure of Musamba as Inspector General of Police. Musamba embodies all that is wrong with the police service today: partisan, unprofessional, and out to do the bidding of the ruling elites. His occupancy of the office of Inspector General of Police has left its reputation in tatters. But the point is that Musamba did not appoint himself to that position. He was put there and has been maintained by President Hichilema. That is the official we must ultimately condemn or hold to account. It is easy to go for the small fish, but we harm public interest and even those we are supporting when we shield them from legitimate criticism.

Many Zambians have complained against the conduct of both the police and Musamba himself especially in relation to protecting democratic rights. Has this troubled Hichilema? No! Why? It is because Musamba is Hichilema’s chief enforcer, the person who does the dirty work the boss does not want to be seen to be doing or sanctioning; the Thabo Kawana of the police – someone working for a boss whose curated image would suffer for his direct association with their dishonourable and nefarious acts.

The result of a police service led by Musamba is what we have today: an institution so bereft of public respect that it is largely a matter of discretion to refer to it as a service. A two-tier system of policing has continued to exist in Zambia: one for UPND leaders and supporters who are at liberty to do as they please, and another for the rest of us who are denied their rights to assemble and whose individual liberties are constantly tramped upon at will. In this climate, Musamba cannot be expected to be professional when he is simply an extension of the cadrisation of the police.

It is a shame to have individuals with no sense of doing the right thing according to our laws in the service of the Zambian people at the helm of such an important organ of our security services. One glimmer of hope is that ordinary police officers, majority of whom are young, professional, and principled, have a dim view of their IG and not all of them display the same levels of partisanship and lack of respect for human rights.

A BaFather naiwe, we are not using your message to gain political mileage – Chilufya Tayali Tells Father Chewe Mukosa

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FR. CHEWE MUKOSA HAS TO ACT WITHIN THE STRUCTURES OF THE CHURCH, SO HE NEEDS TO BE UNDERSTOOD

A BaFather naiwe, we are not using your message to gain political mileage, but we are agreeing with your message. At times the message of the Church resonates with the politicians and we exploit, and when it doesn’t we also react.

I agree with you, that going to the police is not necessary since they cancelled it publicly. Besides it could have fuelled tension which certainly is not our intention as the Church.

I also agree with Lawyers, because there is a way that the legal system works. You can’t write a call-out and just cancel it with a public statement. They police needed to write.

I have not seen any political party that has claimed Fr. Chewe as their member, so there was no need to go that mile. Besides we appreciate him for being so impartial, candid and effective in speaking about Social justice.

Anyway, the Church has a structure in which it operates such that there is a check on what is going on and who is doing what. No one who is part of the Church, especially the clergy, can just do whatever they want.

Bishops and Religious Congregations’ superiors will not allow certain things to go unchecked, if any Priest dares to be deviant, he gets chopped off. That is why some of us failed to be Priests.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Fr. Chewe is already having some undue pressure from those that are subtly aligned but are part of the Church. We have seen these things and we know how it is done.

Archbishop Milingo was doing very well with his Charismatic mission, in the 1980s, but other Bishops did not agree and they caused him to be taken to Rome, only to be rescued by the Moon Church and they gave him Maria Sung to tender him.

Otherwise, BaFather, continue preaching the Good News and standing up for social justice.

TAYALI THE PUBLIC LAWYER OF THE PUBLIC COURT OF OPINIONS!!!

THE PEOPLE VS JEAN KAPATA : FOREST 27

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By CIC.

THE PEOPLE VS JEAN KAPATA : FOREST 27.

HOW CORRUPTION SMELLS

Nchito SC: How big was your land in Forest 27?
Kapata: Three hectares.
Nchito: Was it advertised? Because I would also have wanted?
Kapata: My Lady, it was not advertised.
Nchito SC: Are people allowed to own properties in forests?
Kapata: My Lady, the land was degazetted.
Nchito SC: Is it your testimony that in degazetting Forest number 27, former president Edgar Lungu did not consult you?
Kapata: My Lady, he consulted me.
Nchito SC: So, when the public was up in arms complaining that Forest 27 should be protected, you were given three hectares?
Kapata: My Lady, I applied.
Nchito SC: Who did you apply to?
Kapata: The Commissioner of Lands.
Nchito SC: Who interviewed you?
Kapata: The Commissioner of Lands
Nchito SC: Alone? Where?
Kapata: In my office, My Lady.
Nchito SC: So, you summoned him to come and interview you?
Kapata: Yes, My Lady.
Nchito SC: Madam, do you hear how ridiculous that sounds?
Kapata: Even if he was independent of the minister’s office, he always came and we discussed…matters My Lady, just to let me know what was going on. And Kapata said the Commissioner of Lands had brought a list with him to her office.
Nchito SC: Madam, slow down. A list of what?
Kapata: Beneficiaries.
Nchito SC: And you were on that list?
Kapata: Yes.
……….
Nchito SC: You still haven’t clearly answered the question. You said this man came to your office. What did he tell you? Maybe let me rephrase, what was his mission?
Kapata: I wouldn’t know what his mission was but he came to tell me that my application was approved.
Nchito SC: In fact, the Commissioner of Lands worked under your direction?
Kapata: No, My Lady. He was independent of me.
Nchito SC: Who was the Commissioner of Lands who came to interview you? The
interview which never was?
Kapata: My Lady, it was Judge Muma.
Nchito SC: And how much did you pay for that plot?
Kapata: My Lady, I may not be sure about the figure. About K25,000.
Nchito SC: And when you sold it to your Chinese friends, how much was it?
Kapata: I sold it much later, and they are not my friends, they’re just people who came to know I was selling the plot.
Nchito SC: But they happen to be Chinese?
Kapata: Yes, My Lady.
Nchito SC: Somehow, you found yourself with three hectares of pristine land. What was the value of the land you sold?
Kapata: I can’t remember the correct figures.
Nchito SC: Who interviewed you?
Kapata: The Commissioner of Lands
Nchito SC: Alone? Where?
Kapata: In my office, My Lady.
Nchito SC: So, you summoned him to come and interview you?
Kapata: Yes, My Lady.
Nchito SC: Madam, do you hear how ridiculous that sounds?

To be continued….

Army halts Mnangagwa’s third term ambitions in favour of Chiwenga

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President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s alleged bid for a third term has reportedly been thwarted by post-election military strategists aligned to his deputy Constantino Chiwenga.

In an interview with “Brick by Brick” magazine editors Munyaradzi Huni and Baffour Ankomah, Mnangagwa denied third term ambitions, saying he would respect the Constitution.

“Well, I am very happy that Zimbabweans are very imaginative. They can imagine about anything, which shows there is democracy in the country, you see.

“But we in Zanu PF are very democratic and we obey the constitution. There is not an iota of evidence where Zanu PF or I, as President, has ever expressed the violation of our constitution.

“But we allow people to dream properly or widely. They will still wake up and find things are working and the constitution hasn’t changed.”

In terms of the constitution, extending presidential term limits would require amending Section 91 of the constitution, which disqualifies a person “for election as President or appointment as Vice-President if he or she has already held office as President for two terms, whether continuous or not, and for the purpose of this subsection three or more years’ service is deemed to be a full term”.

In terms of the constitution, extending presidential term limits would require amending Section 91 of the constitution, which disqualifies a person “for election as President or appointment as Vice-President if he or she has already held office as President for two terms, whether continuous or not, and for the purpose of this subsection three or more years’ service is deemed to be a full term”.

It is further reported that Chiwenga recently influenced key military appointments, including that of his closest ally Lieutenant-General Anselem Sanyatwe as Zimbabwe National Army commander.

Mnangagwa had in 2019 removed Sanyatwe and posted him to Tanzania as ambassador.

Sanyatwe’s return is believed to be a huge advantage to Chiwenga’s political ambition.

Mnangagwa assumed power through a military coup that ousted the late former President Robert Mugabe. In August 2018 he went on to win elections that were disputed by the opposition and the international community.

The Zanu-PF leader again last year won the presidential race with 52,6% against then opposition Citizens Coalition for Change leader Nelson Chamisa’s 44%.

Chamisa refused to accept the results, claiming rigging through voter manipulation and suppression of dissent.

Man gets back with partner who chopped off his pen!s

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A Brazillian man has returned to his partner who chopped off his penis during a supposed intimate night after she found out he cheated with her teenage relative.

Gilberto Nogueira, 39, was planning to settle down with his girlfriend, Daiane dos Santos, 34, in January when he cheated on her with her 15-year-old niece.

After discovering the affair, dos Santos plotted her revenge by setting up one of their bedrooms for a supposed intimate night in December 2023.

Once Nogueira was in bed without his clothes, dos Santos turned off the lights and tied his penis with a rubber band before she cut it with a razor.

Dos Santos held the penis with her hand and took a picture of it, which she shared on Nogueira’s family WhatsApp chat group, and then flushed it down the toilet at their farmhouse in São Paulo.

Nogueira has undergone multiple operations and is waiting for a penile prosthesis that was gifted by a urologist and will be implanted once he has recovered.

In a February interview with Crime and Mistério S/A, he said that dos Santos, who has two children from a prior relationship, deserved to spend time in jail and he labelled her ‘a criminal.’

It now appears he’s had a change of heart and has resumed the tumultuous relationship with dos Santos, according to letters Nogueira recently shared with O Globo newspaper.

‘If I hadn’t had sex with (her) niece on my partner’s birthday, none of this would have happened,’ Nogueira told the outlet. ‘Daiane is a wonderful, loving woman who loves me. She didn’t deserve to be betrayed like that.

She was exposed to the whole country. … I don’t care what others think. What really matters is how I feel about her.’

He reached out to check on her well-being on March 15 and was surprised when dos Santos replied two weeks later and asked for a second chance.

In the handwritten note, dos Santos expressed how much he missed him, his daughter, and her children and described her experience at the Mogi Guaçu Women’s Penitentiary.

‘I can’t believe I got a letter from you. I was very happy and had no reaction, as I imagined I would never have any kind of contact with you again,’ she wrote. ‘I’m not well, obviously. Both because of what happened and because I miss my children.’

‘I want you to know that I forgive you and I also ask for forgiveness for you and your family,’ Dos Santos added. ‘I placed our lives in God’s hands. If it is His will, and His, of course, we will rebuild our lives when we leave here.’

Nogueira responded by telling her he had already forgiven her while admitting that he ‘ruined everything’ once he got involved with her niece.

‘If I could, believe me, I would trade places with you, because I love you far beyond the tragedy that happened in our lives,’ he wrote. ‘My heart is broken into pieces because your children are separated, away from their mother, asking for you every day.’

While working on mending his relationship with dos Santos, Nogueira has been attempting to recover the trust he broke with his sister-in-law, the mother of the teenage girl who is not too enthused they are now back together.

Dos Santos was initially looking at a 50-year prison sentence for attempted murder, as prosecutors said in court documents that it was ‘clear that she wanted to mutilate him to make him incapable of having sexual relations with anyone for the rest of his life.’

The court acknowledged the prosecution statement and reduced the maximum sentence dos Santos may be eligible for to 12 years.

Nogueira has offered to pay $8,000 to cover the cost of her defence team. The start of her trial is set for April 24.

‘Today, I’m going to tell you what’s going on in my heart. I want you to get out of there as soon as possible to take care of your children and me,’ he wrote. ‘I’m counting down the days until you come home. On the day that Justice frees you, know that I will be at the gate waiting for you with open arms.’

I don’t believe no Diddy story, once they lied about me -Meek Mill denies being gay 

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Rapper, Meek Mill has gone on a Twitter barrage, calling out his colleague Meek Mill for hanging out with his former friend, denying being gay and saying he doesn’t believe in any of the sexual assault or criminal allegations against P.Diddy.

On Monday, April 8, the Philly native hopped on X, formerly known as Twitter, and called out Wale, who was his former record label mate, for taking a photo with his former childhood friend Dean.

The photo, which was one of several that were posted to Dean’s Instagram, enraged Meek enough for him to assert Wale “never liked” him. He also included a link to a past interview Akademiks did with former Shy Glizzy affiliate Any Glizzy, in which he claimed Wale said he “hates” Meek.

“Wale never liked me,” Meek wrote in a now-deleted post. “Now ima treat him like the streets everytime I see him.”

“I gave him 1000 chances these guys be thinking they linking with the enemy clown ass n***as I wish I woulda knew the other day I woulda stretched you!” Meek said.

Meek made several other angry posts before Wale hopped on to offer a response. He doesn’t call out Meek by name but his reference to the situation at hand is clear.

“When u get in other people unserious drama in this industry 90pct of the time they be back friends… eventually ..and then u look silly… in the end… so I love minding my business,” he wrote.

“If a photo can create such vitriol, one has to ask himself some questions. Happy Monday.”

“This why the rap game screwed along of n*** be having these secretly jealous vibes,” Meek replied. “you can’t do songs or tours with them lol he’s always been jealous of me but tryna link with meek haters intentionally ..wale killed all his relationships don’t come around again with bad energy!”

Meek Mill and Wale’s issues go way back to 2014 when Meek first accused Wale of hating on him for not promoting his Dreams Worth More Than Money album.

A year later, Meek called out Wale again after Wale claimed Meek “brought a pencil to a gun fight” when his beef with Drake started.

The two artists eventually patched things up and have reportedly been on good terms. Earlier this year, Meek shot down rumours that they were still beefing and claimed he wasn’t holding any grudges against him.

Meek also said he didn’t believe any of the allegations about Diddy because they ‘lied’ that he was gay and had a sexual relationship with Diddy.

He tweeted ;

I don’t believe no Diddy story once they lied about me now! Anybody try to sexually assault me it will be a bang out on the spot how yall don’t know that lol I don’t care but yall confusing my son he’s 12 with people saying his dad gay it’s sick now outchea so fuck it lol

Possessed dwarf with a devil’s face – Nico Sanchez fires Messi after an alleged tunnel confrontation

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Lionel Messi was reportedly referred to as a “possessed dwarf” with the “face of the devil” during a heated altercation with Monterrey coach Nico Sanchez.

Despite being absent from the first leg of Inter Miami’s CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal match against the Mexican team, Messi, along with Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Tata Martino, engaged in a confrontation with Monterrey players and coaches after their 2-1 loss at Chase Stadium.

Allegedly, the group headed towards the room housing match officials to express discontent with several crucial decisions made during the game.

This confrontation was fueled by comments made by Monterrey boss Fernando Ortiz before the game, suggesting that Inter Miami would receive favorable decisions if Messi played.

–

In the wake of that argument, audio has been leaked through FOX Sports MX, with Sanchez saying: “The dwarf was possessed, he had the face of the devil.

He put his fist next to my face and says: ‘Who do you think you are?’ But because I didn’t look at him, I was looking away, and I never answered back, It made things worse.

And Tata Martino, what a poor dummy, I had him in front of me, telling me: ‘Fool, you going to cry? Fool, are you going to cry?’ What a dummy! All those videos, they probably erased them all because it leaves them looking bad. What they did was really serious. They want to dirty the pitch.”

Monterrey have requested that CONCACAF look into the heated exchange, but assistant coach Sanchez has apologised for some of his comments – with the Argentine saying, while overlooking fellow countryman Messi:

“Since I do not know the Inter coach, Gerardo Martino, and I referred to him in a disrespectful manner, I apologise. I am as Argentine as all of them and I will always defend my club. I’m here to show my face and take charge.”

Inter Miami and Monterrey will lock horns again on Wednesday, with Messi expected to be included in the Herons’ starting XI for that contest after making his return from injury off the bench in a 2-2 MLS draw with the Colorado Rapids.

Trump again compares himself to Nelson Mandela in latest rant about court case

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onald Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday that he wouldn’t mind going to jail for violating his gag order in his New York hush money trial.

“I will gladly become a Modern Day Nelson Mandela — It will be my GREAT HONOR,” the former president wrote in his post that also attacked New York State Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan, who presides over Trump’s case.

Trump has accused Merchan of being partial because Merchan’s daughter worked as an executive at a progressive political consulting firm that has worked for Democrats. Since Merchan first imposed an initial gag order at the end of March, Trump has been ranting on social media about the judge’s daughter.

That gag order in March prohibited Trump from speaking publicly about the case’s witnesses, lawyers and jurors. He was also banned from making public statements about court staff, workers in the office of the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and their family members.

A day after the gag order, Trump started lashing out at Merchan and his daughter on social media. On Monday, the judge expanded the gag order, which states that even though Trump can criticize Merchan and Bragg individually, he is banned from attacking their families publicly.

Trump’s latest rant on Saturday comes days before his hush money trial is expected to begin on April 15. The presumed 2024 GOP presidential nominee is facing criminal charges in New York City over allegations that he falsified business documents to hide “hush money” payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign to silence her about an alleged affair they had in 2006.

This is not the first time Trump has compared himself to Mandela, the former South African president who spent 27 years in prison for his anti-apartheid activism.

In October, Trump also compared himself to Mandela after saying he was a victim of political persecution. He told supporters at a Derry, New Hampshire, rally, “I don’t mind being Nelson Mandela, because I’m doing it for a reason.”

Last week, the former president also likened his legal woes to the persecution of Jesus Christ.

Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney, explained whether Trump could get a harsher gag order following his recent social media posts. “If it is simply sort of political speech that isn’t targeting anybody in particular, I think the judge is going to give him a lot of leeway to say this,” McQuade said on Saturday to MSNBC.

“What the gag order specifically tries to preclude is doing anything that might intimidate witnesses, threaten witnesses or call into question the motives of the parties here. I think this kind of thing is probably going to be allowed to pass,” she added.

“I didn’t want to” – Rodrygo tells why he rejected €3m Liverpool swoop

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Real Madrid’s talented player, Rodrygo, has revealed why he turned down an offer from Liverpool in 2017.

Despite being just 23 years old, the forward was already catching the eye of European clubs while playing for Santos in Brazil.

Liverpool expressed interest in signing him at one point, but Rodrygo opted to wait for a transfer to Real Madrid, which eventually happened in 2019.

Explaining that decision, Rodrygo has said: “We didn’t close the deal because I didn’t want to. I wanted to stay at Santos even though the offer was very good. The pathway they promised me would also have been very good for my career. I was going to finish my studies in England to prepare for European football.

It had always been my dream to play in Europe. Everything was very good, but my desire spoke louder. I wanted to stay at Santos and make a bit of history at the club. And that’s what happened: I was able to fulfil my dream of playing for Santos. But it’s true; I almost went to Liverpool.”

In his upcoming match, Rodrygo will face English opponents once again, marking a significant moment since his impactful performance off the bench in a semi-final match against Manchester City two years ago. This time, he will be up against the current Premier League title holders.

He added on being handed a tough draw in the quarter-final of continental competition: “It brings back good memories but also bad ones. This was an opponent that, to be honest, we didn’t want to face. And they think the same as well: they didn’t want to play against us.

It’s a game that everyone expects to be the final, but it’s going to be now. Man City are very good, but our team is also very strong. It’s going to be good to meet them again.

“They’re the Champions League winners, they’re the world champions, today they’re the best team in the world, so we have total respect for them. There are no bad or medium [City] players. There’s no player you can think of like: ‘This one I’m going to press because he isn’t good and he will give us a goal or a great chance.’ They have a very good control of the game and of the ball. It’s a very beautiful game, a very difficult team. It’s very annoying to play against them but I believe in our team.”

Real Madrid, currently leading La Liga, will welcome Manchester City on Tuesday for the first leg of a high-stakes quarter-final encounter.

Rodrygo, aiming for another impactful performance, will be eager to play a significant role in the fixture following his decisive brace in the previous match against Athletic Club.

Madrid’s Rüdiger ‘swears’ to personalise control City’s striker Haaland

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Antonio Rüdiger emphasized the personal challenge of facing the formidable striker Erling Haaland in Real Madrid’s upcoming Champions League quarterfinal clash with Manchester City.

Rüdiger, a defender for Madrid, sees this matchup as an opportunity for redemption after City eliminated Madrid from last season’s competition.

In last year’s semifinal first leg, Rüdiger successfully contained Haaland, holding him scoreless in a 1-1 draw at the Bernabéu.

However, Rüdiger did not feature in the return leg in Manchester, where City secured a dominant 4-0 victory.

“It was a good game last year at the Bernabéu,” Rüdiger said in a pre-match news conference ahead of Tuesday’s match. “We all did a great job keeping Haaland quiet that evening. And my teammates did a good job keeping [Kevin] De Bruyne quiet.

“This time, the plan will be to control dangerous players like Phil Foden, De Bruyne, and Haaland… It’s personal for me as a defensive player, against a super striker like Haaland.”

Madrid and City meet this month for the fifth time in the Champions League in the last decade. The LaLiga giants came out on top in the 2016 semifinals, City progressed in the 2020 round of 16; and Madrid eliminated City after extra time in the 2022 semifinals, before last season’s meeting.

“We won’t only sit back and watch City have possession,” Rüdiger said. “But that’s part of the game. There will be phases where we have to defend more, and we’re willing to do that.”

Rüdiger praised the impact in the Madrid dressing room of Jude Bellingham, who has scored four Champions League goals in six games this campaign.

“At the beginning I was a bit surprised, I didn’t know much about him,” Rüdiger said. “But wow, he’s a big personality already in our locker room. The way he handles himself is very good. He’s 20, but he’s old for his age.

“I’m sure he’ll be a leader for [England]. He’s just professional, he’s a good lad, we just have to hope and pray he’ll stay healthy.”

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted his team had lacked “courage and personality” in last season’s second leg against City.

“This tie [will be decided by] the players with the most quality,” Ancelotti said. “The players on the pitch decide games. You need a clear strategy that convinces the players. There are a lot of things in these games: individual quality, defence, and counterattacks. It isn’t one thing, it’s all those aspects.”

Ancelotti said he wouldn’t spring any surprises with his team selection, after picking midfielder Eduardo Camavinga at left-back against City last year.

“[This season] we have different characteristics with the ball,” Ancelotti said. “Last year we had Karim Benzema, and this season we don’t have a reference point at centre-forward. We’ve dealt with that with more mobility up front, and we’ve done well. That could be a key to the game.”

UKA RALLY IN KAFUE WILL GO AHEAD – Sakwiba Sikota

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UKA RALLY IN KAFUE WILL GO AHEAD – SIKOTA

… urges the UPND Government to stop using emotions when making decisions.

LUSAKA, MONDAY, APRIL,08, 2024 (SMART EAGLES)

United Kwacha Alliance Chairperson Sakwiba Sikota says the scheduled public rally in Kafue next week will go ahead despite the police denying them a permit.

Speaking when he featured on Pan Africa’s ‘People’s Debate’ program this morning, Mr. Sikota said alliance leaders will appeal the decision to deny them a permit by the police to Home Affair Minister Jack Mwiimbu.

He said the UPND Government should stop stepping on people’s rights and freedoms of assembly.

” The UPND should not stand in the way of people and their right to freedom of assembly. The UKA rally in Kafue will go on. We will appeal the decision by the police to Home Affairs Minister Jack Mwiimbu so that he can intervene,” Mr. Sikota said.

Mr. Sikota said nothing will stand in the way of UKA adding that it is good to note that the UPND Government and President Hichilema are now implementing some of the solutions has provided to the challenges facing the country.

“UKA is having an effect on this government and they are now implementing some of the ideals we suggest, it is not that they are a listening government but that they have to be forced to listen. We are Ukanizing even President Hichilema,” Mr. Sikota said.

And Mr. Sikota adds that it is too early to celebrate the debt restructuring because it is far from being concluded.

He said the UPND Government has not been truthful to citizens regarding the debt restructuring process.

” This government always wants to embellish the truth, the debt restructuring process is not yet done, there is about 25 percent remaining before it is concluded. The debt restructuring is not a bad thing, but there is no need to excite people. UPND Government likes to lie and do things under the cover of darkness. They should have told the public about the full conditions of the agreements because it affects all of us,” Mr. Sikota said.

Meanwhile, M. Sikota who is also the United Liberal Party President said the UPND government stop using emotions when making decisions especially in relation with work left by the PF Government.

He said had the UPND upon forming Government, not suspended the debt restructuring process started by the PF, Zambia was not going to pay Lazard Freres, a company contracted to restructure debt, USD45 million Dollars the amount which is nine times higher than what the PF Government was going to pay.

” We need to stop looking at each other as enemies and focus on bettering the lives of Zambians and this is what we are looking at as UKA. Zambia lost what would have been the best President in Anderson Mazoka because he brought together tribes, religions, and youths of Zambia. The UPND then was a party for everyone, and this is what we are trying to bring as UKA. If you look at the Council of Presidents, it is balanced both in age and gender, even the qualifications are diverse,” Mr. Sikota said.

ECL WHILE SERVING AS HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER IN 2012 DEPORTED A CATHOLIC PRIEST

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ECL WHILE SERVING AS HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER IN 2012 DEPORTED A CATHOLIC PRIEST:

Rwandan Catholic priest deported in connection with sermon delivered on Sunday
August 3, 2012

HOME Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu
The Immigration Department has deported Lundazi Catholic Church Priest, Father Viateur Banyangandora to Rwanda, his country of origin.

Home Affair Minister, Edgar Lungu yesterday confirmed the deportation of Fr Banyangandora, 40, who was picked up from Lundazi on Monday and deported on Wednesday.

The Minister said the move was taken in order to protect and safeguard the rule of law of the country.

“I can confirm that Fr Banyangandora was deported to Rwanda in order to safeguard the rule of law and order in the country. Right now he has even arrived and re-united with his family members in that country,” he said.

Mr Lungu said it was not an easy decision to make for the Government considering that the Republican President Michael Sata was a staunch Roman Catholic member but that a decision had to be taken in the interest of maintaining law and order.

The priest, who was a holder of Employment Permit No 008955, issued on November 27, 2006 when he entered the country, was found to be a danger to peace and good order, contrary to Section 39(2) of the Immigration and Deportation Act No 18 of 2010.

He said any foreigner or missionary who comes into the country should abide by the laws of the country adding that there should be no ‘sacred cows.’

Mr Lungu urged other Church leaders in the country to respect and abide by the law of the land.

Chipata Catholic Diocese Bishop, George Lungu said the Church was not aware that Fr Banyangandora had been deported to Rwanda.

“This is news to me, as a Church, we are not aware that Fr Banyangandora has been deported,” said the visibly surprised Bishop.

The prelate said the diocese would issue a comprehensive statement on the deportation of the Catholic clergy after thorough consultations today.

Fr Banyangandora was picked from his residence on Monday by a combined team of security officers.

Lundazi Catholic Assistant Parish Priest, Evans Sakala said Fr Banyangandora was picked up in connection with the homily he gave in church on Sunday which was perceived to be inciting people to rise against the Government.

Fr Banyangandora was a member of the Association of Zambian Diocesan Catholic Clergy (ADZACC) as a Catholic seminarian refugee.

He did his seminary formation at Mpima Major Seminary in Kabwe before proceeding to St Mary’s Major Seminary in Lusaka for his theology.

He was ordained Catholic Priest under the Chipata diocese in 2004 by Bishop George Lungu.

12 Dark Sides of HH Revealed by Father Chewe’s Police Call Out: Confirmation of How the Ghost of our Dictator will Disappear in 2026- Chris Zumani

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12 Dark Sides of HH Revealed by Father Chewe’s Police Call Out: Confirmation of How the Ghost of our Dictator will Disappear in 2026

By Dr. Chris Zumani Zimba

“When people who politically believed in you, physically campaigned for you and passionately defended you start to openly oppose, mock, disagree and denounce you, then you must speedily realize that they have lost trust, respect and confidence about your leadership and they have already moved on and away from you. This is where HH is sited and is standing with many of his supporters today”.

1. Introduction

The police call out issue of Copperbelt Catholic priest, father Chewe Mukosa has revealed many things about HH’s false partners, unreliable friends and disloyal followers we didn’t know earlier. This is the dark and vulnerable side of President Hakainde Hichilema (HH) we now know: it provides clear indications that Bally has lost control, popularity and is politically finished going into 2026. Below, we have identified the standard 12 points for this discourse:

1. When Bank of Zambia announced the take over of Invest Trust Bank due to insolvency last week, Dr. Nevers Mumba’s comments were clear that he no longer eats and drinks at Community House: may be our tyrant, President HH blocked his line. Posting on his Facebook page, Mumba noted that ”It appears as though all local banks will be closed. We shall only remain with foreign banks. Problem #1”. This tells us that HH is speedily remaining a lost shell and lone political ghost for 2026 since his friends are now identifying and listening political problems against him for 2026.

2. Bally and Zambians mistakenly assumed that Dr Nevers Mumba is HH’s reliable ally. Mumba even preached about it. To appease him, HH trusted Nevers Mumba as his presidential envoy on different High Profiled assignments in Zimbabwe, Liberia, Asia and everywhere. But Nevers Mumba has realized that Bally has lost popularity terribly and won’t make it in 2026. Clearly, Mumba has quickly stopped paying homage to Community House and has started to openly attack his political partner called HH Via Facebook politics. Mumba is Mumba!

3. Commenting on the Police Call Out for father Chewe, Dr Mumba wrote on his Facebook page that “Ala Ba Catolica kubasulakofye bena bakulekafye…teti muba kwanishe, elo telelo batampa. Pantu namuli Kaunda bena balelandila abantu…Meanwhile Blessed Sunday”. Instead of calling President HH as his close friend and offer policy advice as usual, Dr. Mumba chose to openly tell off Bally via Facebook. He is now mocking Bally.

4. Dr Mumba is telling HH that “you are politically lost and finished Bally for 2026 and l am no longer your blind follower”. To Dr. Mumba now, opposing and mocking Bally, his friend for vainly trying to arrest Copperbelt Catholic priest openly is the correct thing. To onlookers, Dr. Mumba is just confirming HH’s loss of popularity and is simply digging a big political grave for Bally ahead of 2026 as he did for Rupiah Bwezani Banda in 2015. Nevers is Nevers!

5. Since October, 2023, HH has been using Miles Sampa to paralyze PF and kill ECL’s political comeback. Sampa has been this drunk and blind political fish for Bally’s mingalato dirty politics against Lungu and PF camp. But father Chewe’s police call out revealed the truth of this fake gladiator and master relationship. Recognizing that Bally is headed for heavy defeat in 2026, Miles Sampa equally denounced HH on his Facebook on father Chewe’s matter.

6. Treacherous Sampa has started going back to his vomits especially that he is now a street loner and prodigal son politically. Using his tyrannical powers, Bally has trusted wrong people, made false alliances and has dug big political graves against himself going into 2026. HH’s choice to hire treacherous Miles Sampa, Antony Mumba, Robert Chawinga and team to kill PF and Lungu for 2026 has proven to be dead wood. Now that HH is visibly unpopular, treacherous Sampa has decided to UKA by opening public attacks on HH. These are dark side stories for genius eyes to see. HH is politically very vulnerable and naked.

7. For many years, Laura Miti has religiously tried to worship, polish and present HH as an intelligent politician and democratic leader for modern Zambia. In the fake name of being a human rights and civil society activist, Laura Miti has attacked and denounced Lungu and all potential rivals of HH and presented him as the only political god for poor people and voters. To some extent, this helped Bally and saw him into power in August 2021.

8. But today, Laura Miti has realized that she was fooling herself and that wasting time and energy. HH is a proven stubborn vampire aimed at declaring himself the unstoppable emperor of Zambia at the expense of our hard earned democracy and good governance. Like many UPND blind praise singers, Laura Miti has discovered that HH is a journey to nowhere beyond 2026. On her Facebook page, she declared both HH and police IG as ‘nonsense dictators’ for trying to arrest Father Chewe Mukosa. She openly opposed his dictatorship and declared her independence from Community House. The walls of Jericho are falling down around HH and political destitution is on the horizon for Bally.

9. For some time, PF’s Hon. Sunday Chanda has been pretending around State House that Bally is his new beloved master while ECL is good for nothing since he is no longer in power. Sensing the loss of popularity of HH, Sunday equally evaporated from Bally on Sunday morning by calling HH is shameful dictator. This is the famous MP who was blindly singing the HH hymn of CDF louder than Garry Nkombo and Cornelius Mweetwa few months ago. He has sensed danger ahead and now reforming himself.

10. This is Hon. Sunday Chanda who openly campaigned for UPND in the name of HH in the recent by elections in Kanchibiya. This is the Sunday Chanda whose long Facebook article is now confirming that this HH who is currently tormenting Zambians is waiting to be political buried on the ballot by voters in 2026.Yes, Hon. Sunday Chanda is correct: HH is a shameless tyrant on our nose as a nation. No democrat anywhere can desire to arrest an innocent priest like father Mukosa based on what he preached. We must commend Sunday Chanda!

11. The “Zambian Watchdog” and “Koswe” have consistently campaigned and supported the UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema (HH) unconditionally. In terms of social media platforms, these two ghost blogs do both the dirty and good propaganda for Bally. They have foolishly praised HH in all ways and insulted, defamed, denounced as well as attacked all his rivals like Lungu, M’membe, Nawakwi, Saboi, Sean Tembo, Chilufya Tayali and all of us religiously. They made HH and keep him so.

12. However, current political dynamics have made them sober and humble: they have realized that HH is this unreliable stubborn tyrant who does as he pleases regardless of the policy and political consequences. They have also discovered that with the coming back of Lungu into active politics and the formation of UKA, HH’s chances to win in 2026 are zero and closed. Generally, they are politically intelligent to read and understand political dynamics ahead. We must commend them too.

Therefore, they have openly stopped being Bally’s blind followers, careless praise singers and sold out hooligans of UPND. Each week, Zambian Watchdog warns HH either directly or indirectly that he is digging his own political grave and voters will bury him alone in 2026 due to his bad governance. Apart from denouncing the police call out of Father Chewe, the Zambian Watchdog warned HH that “In the information world we live in, once you lose propaganda efforts, you ve lost power. You are just waiting to hand it over”. It’s true, HH has politically failed, lost popularity and only awaits to handover power in 2026. This is more correct now that it is coming from his own boys, his own praise singers!

2. Conclusion

The above revelations are good for Bally as well as Zambians. Now, we know that HH is surrounded with many false friends and temporal artificial partners who have come to believe that Bally has failed and lost popularity so terribly. The case of Father Chewe Mukosa show us that the few who supported and defended Bally blindly in the past have waken up ( ba UKA) and have started walking away or denouncing him because 2026 is coming so fast and furious against him.

All these old political friends of HH in this discourse have been disappointed and now distancing themselves from him: It reveals the dark and vulnerable side of Bally in politics. His tyrannical rule has been marked “quicker end of an era” by God and voters will merely validate the position of heaven in 2026. Since he is arrogant, stubborn, selfish and authoritarian (ASSA), we know that HH will violently rubbish such information and insults our gods. That is not a problem because the days of King Nebuchadnezzar are clearly numbered and own voters, our citizens will confirm it soon or later since his own supporters have already shown the way.

Dr Chris ZUMANI Zimba is a Political Scientist, Researcher, Author & Consultant specialized in Comparative Global Governance and Democratic Theories. He holds a PhD, MA, BA and Cert in Political Science. Zimba was President Lungu’s Political Advisor from December 2019 to August 2021. By philosophical approach, Dr. Zimba is a Pan Africanist as well as Afro-Christian by religion.
Email: chriszumaniZimba.cz@gmail.com

IT CAN’T BE BUSINESS AS USUALLET HAIMBE GO- Fred M’membe

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IT CAN’T BE BUSINESS AS USUAL
LET HAIMBE GO

In June, 2021 Mr Matt Hancock resigned as UK’s health secretary after he breached social distance guidance by kissing a married colleague.

Mr Hancock came under pressure after the media published images and a video of him and Ms Gina Coladangelo, who were both married with children, kissing. And in his letter of resignation, Mr Hancock apologised for “breaking the guidance” and equally, apologised to his family and loved ones for putting them through such.

The then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson accepted Mr Hancock’s resignation.

But in Zambia today, the Minister of Justice and acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Mulambo Haimbe is accused of being at the centre or triggering the gruesome murder of Ms Valerie Franco and the subsequent suicide of her husband Mr Mike Ilishebo, and Mr Hakainde Hichilema is quiet, even Mr Haimbe is silent too and carrying on like its business as usual.

All we are seeing are praise singers and Mr Hichilema’s guerrilla media channels managed by the State House media team attempting to defend the indefensible: “Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone”. What type of logic is this? What type of leadership is this? Are these people serious about the country?

Mr Hichilema’s silence on this matter signifies massive leadership failure. Surely, it cannot be business as usual. The fact that Mr Haimbe could continue discharging his responsibilities amidst such grace accusations brings Mr Hichilema’s judgment into question.

Certainly, Mr Haimbe needs to satisfy both the legal and moral dimensions of the matter in order for him to remain without stain.

And for Mr Hichilema, he must know that the social and political cost of these allegations is massive. Trying to conceal or disguise this embarrassing and disastrous incident by handling or representing it misleadingly or keeping quiet on it won’t work.

We urge Mr Hichilema to do the right thing for the sake of the country. Let Haimbe go!

Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party

When you see UPND celebrate something, I must warn you be very careful – Mundubile

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When you see UPND celebrate something, I must warn you be very careful – Mundubile

By Fanny Kalonda

YES we left debt but we will show you how that debt worked, says Mporokoso PF member of parliament Brian Mundubile.

He argues that what the UPND “haven’t told you is how they have been spending…”

“When you see the UPND celebrate something, I must warn you, be very careful you will be very disappointed,” Mundubile said when featured on Millennium TV’s platform programme recently.

He said the country has inexperienced leaders in government that are not ready to learn.

He also said there is no transparency and accountability in the UPND government otherwise the Mopani deal would have gone to parliament.

“It’s not enough to excite the people on the Copperbelt that they have found an investor when the laws are not being followed. There is no excuse for not following the law. Even on morality, there are many things that have come on the floor of the House for the sake of information so that the Zambian people are informed. Their representatives ask questions of clarifications, now these big transactions are being done outside parliament completely and for obvious reasons. There is no transparency and accountability in the UPND government. If there was transparency and accountability, the deal on Mopani would have come to parliament because if that had come to parliament the first question we would have asked there was a tender for Mopani and there were four bidders. The one who has been selected was not one of the bidders that were interested in the mine. We would have the occasion to interrogate how this newly formed company which was formed around the same time the tenders were out is one that has been selected bidder. We would have wanted to know more about the background of this company whose address is just a cell number,” he explained.

“We have known why there are so many things that are not clear about this company. We would also have wanted to know why President Hakainde Hichilema’s best friend is on the board of the new company. Now it is very clear if you read between the lines that there is a lot of secrecy. This transaction was not transparent. You will know by now that when you see the UPND government embark on a programme you should know that there is personal interest from their leaders.”

Mundubile said leaders should stop lying.

“Our leaders should stop lying. I don’t want to see another Jean Chisenga in parliament [suspended for 30 days after calling President Hichilema a liar], Munir Zulu when the President comes or Mulenga Fube calling the president a liar and then he is also punished. We want Zambians to be very careful with what our leaders in government today say. What remains a fact is that our leaders are not in the habit of telling the truth. And because they have continued telling lies, they are getting even some of our members of parliament in trouble,” Mundubile said. “So where we are now? We try to run away from what really can make the economy tick and subject our citizens to celebrating small victories. The real victory for this country is when we put a government in place that will be bold enough like we had started seeing. Bold enough to change policies in the mining sector so that we begin to see revenue from the mines.”

Mundubile said the UPND government is in a hurry to celebrate and appease Zambians.

“We are dealing with colleagues in government that celebrate victories too early. They are in a hurry to celebrate, to try and appease the Zambian people. On one hand, President Hakainde will go and say we are doing very well, we have done so well and so on. When you go to the detail you discover that all they have done is export all the maize that the PF left and they are saying they have done well. All they are doing is exporting power at the expense of citizens and yet they are saying they are doing well. So when you see the UPND celebrate something, I must warn you, be very careful you will be very disappointed,” Mundubile said. “We have inexperienced leaders in government today. Inexperienced leaders who are not ready to learn. They want to pretend they know it all even when the results are showing the exact opposite. Look at the current economic situation, look at the cost of living. The only thing they will tell you to answer that is that PF left debt. Yes we left debt, but we will show you how that debt worked. What they haven’t told you is how they have been spending…”

Mundubile said the government should not excite Zambians unnecessary but explain what the IMF deal means.

“I just want to maybe caution, and this I have done in person to the finance minister once when he was coming to talk about debt restructuring on the floor of the House. I met him privately and I told him, I said minister, when you are delivering ministerial statements on important subjects such as these you have got to be very careful and exercise caution. Don’t excite Zambians unnecessarily. Explain in detail what restructuring means because if you don’t, you will be misunderstood. The Zambians that are dying of hunger out there will now believe that the promises that were made by the UPND will be implemented. Farmers will start celebrating that debt has been restructured and now fertiliser will be K250,” said Mundubile. “You need to explain first of all what debt restructuring is and what will be the immediate impacts to how economy. If you don’t clarify that you are going to cause problems for yourself. With him (finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane) I think he’s being cautious. The President was not being very careful. He wants to politick.”

Zambians Must Express Their Political Opinions Freely,be It In Or Out Of Churches- Miles Sampa

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By Miles Sampa
ZAMBIANS MUST EXPRESS THEIR POLITICAL OPINIONS FREELY,BE IT IN OR OUT OF CHURCHES.

April 8th, 2024

What I know about Zambians is that they always have the last say via the ballot regardless of what is told to them. This I speak from experience as one of those some tend to want to paint all shades of black especially when there is a looming election. The people however tend to decipher kachepa, patronising and real or factual information that they have been receiving months or years before. They vote as themselves collectively deem fit and they are happy once they achieve that.

In the 2021 general elections final two weeks I attended two varying Church services. In the said last Sunday I was at a huge gathering where the flock were being told to maintain the PF government into power. Majority including myself clapped in agreement.

Then the next Sunday in the last week towards the voting day I attended another different Church and the message was the total opposite. ” things are not okay… atleast let’s try something different. Let’s vote for change…”. There was some huge clapping as well . As did not want change then, I almost flew off the windows of that church.

In the 2016 general elections however and as it maybe, it was the preachers that said vote for continuity that carried the day. “Don’t listen to to those promising free things. Babufi..”.

In the end it was not upto me, anyone or what the two preachers had guided in towards the 2021 election day. It was upto the Zambian ordinary citizens. They voted massively for Change of government.

It will be the same in 2026. Regardless what we politicians will get painted black by propaganda, true or perceived and regardless of what will be said inside any Church, it’s the ordinary majority Zambians that will have the last say via the ballot. They are actually in good literacy levels as regards democracy and no one can dupe them to vote who they wish not be it at Councillor, Mayor, MP & Presidential levels.

Reminds me of one chiefdom also where the people in that ward where the palace is, always vote the opposite to what their chief guides. A rider here is that some Chiefs tend to get their guidance obeyed 100% by their subjects.

All I am saying is everyone be it in public, social media, inside or outside churches, within or outside chiefdoms, should be free to express their political views directly or indirectly. Essence of freedom of expression and democracy.

In reality however, the final say is with the majority particular Zambians in constituency, district or entire Country that end up having their last say. They do it so well via the ballot away from external influence especially on the general elections day. In the meantime may everyone freely enjoy expressing their political views but of course within the confines of the law.

MBS08.04.2024

Nawakwi, others are frustrated voices seeking space for relevance – Mutati

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Nawakwi, others are frustrated voices seeking space for relevance – Mutati

By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone(The Mast)

EDITH Nawakwi and other opposition leaders are frustrated and lonely voices seeking relevance, says Felix Mutati.

Featuring on Millennium Tonight recently, Nawakwi accused the UPND government of being shrouded in secrecy.

“You see, first the President [Hakainde Hichilema] says it is done and dusted, which is a lie. It’s a complete lie. They have agreed on a framework and they say subject to both parties agreeing on the legal frameworks. I mean exchanging notes and in the nitty-gritty of documentation anything can happen. And we have celebrated before, he arrived at the airport and says ‘oh done and dusted’. You know they even closed the schools to go and receive him. Done and dusted. One year down the road we’re still done and dusted,” Nawakwi said. “The West will never develop our country. The future of our country lies in our hands When IMF and their cooperating partners and their friends start to praise you, you should understand that it’s not for Zambia. It’s for themselves. For me this is for the foreigners. The question is, what is our local programme? For me I ask one question, how valuable is this postponement of the debt?”

She challenged finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane to explain how the government would mobilise money to pay debt when it’s time to pay back.

“From when UPND came into office

they found that the debt had been defaulted on. They have been collecting money from toll gates, for what? They’ve not spent a single kwacha to try and pay the debt. They have been fighting to get it written off, sheduled, restructured – meaning postpone the problem to my grandchild. If you read those documents, the first payment is due in 2024 $184,000,000. If you haven’t been paying that, how are you going to pay because this government found a stream of income from the mines close to $13 million which was being earned from the royalties. That money which they carelessly handed over to the mines and ‘say oh, we reduce your taxes’. That is the money which we would have been using to reduce our indebtedness, to invest in other activities which would have brought in money,” said Nawakwi. “Don’t ask me to love these people. I hate them with passion.”

But Mutati, who is technology and science minister, answering a question from The Mast during a press briefing on the sidelines of the Information, Communication and Technology Association of Zambia (ICTAZ) 15th Annual General Conference at Avani Hotel on Thursday said the opposition is jealous because President Hichilema was making progress.

“We have our eyes on the ball and our audience is the people of Zambia. The debt restructuring first of all creates confidence and makes Zambia a destination of investment. So our colleagues in the opposition are jealousy because we are making progress and they want to distract us. And we are saying, say what you want to say, our eyes are on the ball because we want to change the lives of the ordinary people,” he said. “We are keeping our our eyes on the ball and we shall remain focused. They (opposition) will be in line when it begins to rain in terms of progress. When the goodness begins to rain on the Zambian people, it will also rain on them. They will fill it in their pockets and that is what debt restructuring is all about. For now they are seeking the space for relevance.”

Mutati said the money that is being saved from debt repayment will be redeployed to change the lives of the Zambian people.

“They are the ones that matter. Not the lonely voices that are frustrated,” he said.

Mutati said President Hichilema’s leadership has accomplished and deserves kudos from everyone especially the opposition for making Zambia the first country under the G20 Framework to be able to achieve “what has never been achieved before on debt restructuring”.

“That is why he has been rated among the top five leaders in Africa. It’s not by accident and that is why here in Livingstone President Masisi of Botswana said ‘I am proud of you for your prudence and economic management’. That is what matters for us when others are recognising that yes we are managing prudently others continue shouting,” said Mutati.

Epistle to Catholic priests; don’t take us the Rwanda route!

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The Zambia Police, Ndola Division has requested Catholic priest Chewe Mukosa to appear before them next Tuesday to assist with investigations over an unspecified matter. However, instead of waiting for the police to do their homework since no one is above the law whether they’re priests or not, the Patriotic Front and their surrogates have gone full-throttle insinuating that, “Mukosa has been summoned for questioning in connection with preaching against loadshedding and the high cost of living when he delivered his Good Friday message.”

We won’t delve into the issue since we aren’t privy to why the priest is wanted by the police, but shall instead restrict ourselves to interrogating the attitude of a few known Catholic priests towards the New Dawn Administration, and President Hakainde Hichilema in particular. Scriptures say, people perish due to lack of knowledge. Indeed…….the process of training to become a Catholic priest is a tedious one. According to Wikipedia, it takes five or six year full-time Course of Formation at a seminary, including study for a degree or other qualification in theology. The Seminary Course of Formation will also involve placements in parishes of the diocese in which you will gain practical, pastoral and liturgical skills.

Given this background, human as they are; Catholic priests are obviously more knowledgeable compared to ordinary preachers; and when they stand on the pulpit to ‘preach,’ they are not expected to mislead the public on emotive issues such as loadshedding, price of mealie meal or even our current drought situation. But lo and behold, we’ve seen some priests excitedly take to the pulpit and literally engage in politics. They’re quick to whip-up emotions by twisting information and spewing half-truths to cajole the public to start thinking the current administration has failed, lamentably. It’s actually shocking to see and hear them criticise Hichilema and his government in acidic and bitter tones, bereft of any love or compassion!

Don’t these priests realise they’re sowing seeds of acrimony and discord in the Church and nation at large – polarization if you like, by conducting themselves in such a despicable manner on the pulpit? It’s interesting that it’s always the usual suspects – the Mpundus, Mukosas, Lupupas, Mwewas, Kabasos and Chikoyas leading the onslaught. Is Hichilema paying the price for belonging to a “wrong tribe?” How come we don’t often see priests from the Zambezi provinces come out guns and blazing on the current president? We have every reason to suspect this ‘attack’ on Hichilema from some Catholic priests borders on nothing else, but tribalism and regionalism!

Since today marks 30 years since the genocide in Rwanda, we shall take time to reflect outline the chilling account of the role the Catholic church played in the same, whereby 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered in 100 days of violence for which Pope Francis has since sought forgiveness for the “sins and failings of the church and its members.”

According to the March 27, 2017 issue of The Guardian, one priest, Father Athanase Seromba, ordered his church to be bulldozed with 2,000 Tutsis sheltering inside. Another priest, Father Wenceslas Munyeshyaka, equally helped draw up lists of people to be killed and raped. This is according to charges issued by the UN’s international criminal tribunal for Rwanda in 2005.

The publication further highlights that the Catholic church was compromised by its longstanding political ties to the ruling Hutu elite. Archbishop Vincent Nsengiyumva sat on the ruling party’s central committee for nearly 15 years even as it implemented policies that discriminated against Tutsis.Once the massacres started, instead of using his political affiliations to urge the regime to stop the killing, he refused even to call it genocide. Witnesses said he stood by as Tutsi priests, monks and a nun were taken to be murdered!

Further acknowledging its role in such dastardly crimes against humanity; in 2016, Rwanda’s Catholic bishops apologised for “all the wrongs the church committed” during the genocide. Their statement admitted church members planned, aided and carried out the genocide, and that the local church had later resisted efforts by the government and groups of survivors to acknowledge the church’s complicity in mass murder.

We shudder at the thought of history repeating itself in our beloved nation. Our plea to politicians hiding in priestly robes is simple: please, don’t take us on the path of Rwanda.

Prince Bill M. Kaping’a
Political/Social Analyst

THE USE OF THE POLICE TO MUZZLE CRITICS WILL NOT WORK- Faston Mwale

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THE USE OF THE POLICE TO MUZZLE CRITICS WILL NOT WORK

By Faston Mwale, Socialist Party – MCC

The use of the police to suppress popular voices that are articulating the dilemmas of the struggling masses will not help the beleaguered UPND government. Any attempt to muzzle critical voices is inimical to human rights and is a direct assault on democracy and fundamental freedoms of expression and must not be tolerated. Zambia’s human rights record is already badly encumbered with a wide assortment of atrocities, therefore, any action that further worsens the country’s human rights record deserves condemnation. The reversal of the Call Out notice issued to Fr. Mukosa is a good move irrespective of the fact that Zambia’s Human rights has been further damaged this single noxious act.

Increasingly, the state police is becoming the melting point of human rights violations.

Recent history is replete with examples showing government’s extreme levels of sensitivity to criticism, particularly from political opposition figures, civil society and religious leaders, especially those connected to the Catholic Church. The ability to criticise the shortcomings of government is severely restricted. The United States Department of State has in its 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in Zambia has expressed deep concern at the deterioration of rights and freedoms.

The police and other state security agents must be allowed to operate professionally. Pitting the police against leaders of the masses can be profoundly dangerous. The summoning of reverend Fr. Mukosa of St. Joseph parish in the wake of the Easter homily is an obvious example of mischief. The overzealous officers who drafted the noxious call out notice must be tamed and disciplined.

Since coming to power about two and half years ago, the reign of the UPND has been characterized by serious contradictions. A Party that promised to uphold the rule of law, protect and defend human rights is today brazenly violating human rights and freedoms.

In the context of failure to deliver development as promised, the UPND government is becoming more and more fearful of the consequences that may visit it in the aftermath of its departure from government in 2026. Lost in the maze of fear and desperation, the UPND has intuitively transformed itself into a horrifying totalitarian regime.

Zambians must decisively reject the UPND as it is a project built on accelerating injustices and dividing the nation. A new chapter must be opened. A new crop of leaders is needed to take the country forward.

We need to start voicing out on wrongs being committed by UPND – Binwell Mpundu

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We need to start voicing out on wrongs being committed by UPND – Binwell

By Fanny Kalonda(The Mast)

NKANA Independent member of parliament Binwell Mpundu has called on Zambians to start voicing out on the wrongs being committed as UPND will one day do the worst they will regret.

He charged that the UPND has appointed cadres to head the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

“Dear Zambians, a lot of you have continued being silent while a number of you have continued praising the UPND over the wrongs they are committing. When those in leadership start commiting wrongs and citizens remain silent, one day they will do worse things and you will wish you had stood up when wrongs were being committed. Are you not aware that UPND appointed cadres to head the ECZ and in the end ECZ have been misbehaving to an extent of stopping citizens like hon [Joe] Malanji and hon Bowman [Lusambo] from contesting elections despite the Constitutional Court declaring that they were eligible? You all kept quiet while others praised them…” he said.

“During the mayoral elections in Kabwe, Kitwe and Ndola you are all aware of how the police misbehaved by going to arrest councillors and mayor just to make sure the deputy mayoral elections were won by the rulling party…You have all kept quiet while some of you are clapping… Two very professional women were unceremoniously removed from the office of DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions, Lillian Siyunyi) and Registrar of Society [Thandiwe Mhende] and you have kept quiet to date while some of you have been singing praises.”

Mpundu said parliament has been reduced to a circus.

“Parliament has now been reduced to a circus to an extent that the guiding rules of parliament are being changed by one person to give themselves all the powers they need. Illegally changing the leaders of opposition and supported by the state as if they were changing underwear! MPs are being suspended for the simplest of issues. MPs are even stopped from laughing, they are shutdown from debating but we are all silent while some of you are clapping for them,” he said. “The Ministry of Information through IBA is about to amend the IBA Act to gag people from communicating on social media and we are all silent while some are busy praising. A lot of people are being victimised (losing their jobs) in government institutions on account of tribe and on account of being unfairly labelled sympathisers of other political groups. Police officers employed before UPND came into power are about to be retired as announced by government and we are all silent while some of you are clapping.”

Mpundu said Zambians should start voicing out the wrongs adding that the face of caderism is slowly manifesting.

“The ugly face of cadres is slowly manifesting and a number of incidences recorded of serious atrocities being committed by the ‘holy’ cadres and you are all silent while some of you are singing praise. Citizens have started running away from their own country for fear if being imprisoned. Kaizer [Zulu] is gone. Chilufya Tayali is also now gone and many more have run away from their own country. Those who are clapping wait and see what will start happening. Martin Luther King once said ‘Our lives begin to end the moment we remain silent about things that matters’. Here we are as a Zambian people, we have chosen to keep quiet when all these wrongs are being committed forgetting that the trend is growing,” said Mpundu. “Your silence will make those in power one day to do things that will shock you. Zambians have never been known to be this coward, to fail to speak when wrongs are being committed unless what I have stated above you don’t see any wrongs at all. My appeal to you all is that we need to start voicing out on all the wrongs being committed otherwise the UPND will one day do the worst thing and we will regret being this silent.”

Akon says he’s praying for Diddy amid sex trafficking allegations

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Akon is the latest music industry professional to comment on the multiple scandals Diddy is currently negotiating for alleged sexual assault and misconduct, and he has taken a relatively sympathetic tone.
On Friday (April 5), TMZ caught up with the “Lonely” hitmaker at LAX Airport in Los Angeles and asked him about the ongoing lawsuits and investigations into the Bad Boys mogul’s empire.

“The thing is I don’t really party much, so I couldn’t really speak much on it,” he said about the infamous “Diddy parties” that have repeatedly come up over the course of the developing ordeal. “But I would like to say, y’know … just pray for the man. God knows best — whatever’s happening, God’s dealing with it.

“It is very unfortunate that things in this business are always being exposed in certain ways and I think things can be done differently, but I think this is a matter for God to just continue dealing with how he’s dealing with.”

He added: “This the year of truth, at the end of the day. Things are going to be exposed, but how it’s exposed, to whom it’s exposed from […] Everyone’s going to have to answer for what we doing on this Earth.”

Last month, Fat Joe joined the chorus of people who have spoken about Diddy as the businessman’s troubles with the law continue to worsen.

The Terror Squad leader joined Hot 97 for an interview in late March, during which he shared his thoughts on the New York City native’s current struggles.

“What I can say in the most respectful way is, I don’t know all the details,” Joe said. “But I’ve been praying for him and his family. He’s my friend for 30 years. And so, I’m gonna just see what the outcome is, and I’m praying for the best thing for him, and his family, and everybody involved.”

He continued: “So I’m not disrespecting nobody. I’m just praying for this whole situation — this whole nightmare — I’m praying that it goes away.”

Maino voiced his solidarity with Diddy during a chat with The Baller Alert Show last week, comparing the numerous lawsuits against the Hip Hop veteran to the FBI’s COINTELPRO (COunterINTELligence PROgram), which targeted organizations such as the Black Panther Party that it viewed as subversive.

“[I]f you know anything about the ’60s and what they did with Black leadership and all that, these were some of the tactics,” he said. “To destroy you, basically they divide and conquer.

“COINTELPRO, what they would do was, they would put out misinformation. Have us looking at each other. They sending out letters and sending out things saying, this one talking about that one, this one got caught doing this. And it keeps us disorganized. Also, propaganda, which is fueled through the media, is a tool that’s always been used.”

Rwanda genocide: World failed us in 1994- Paul Kagame

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Rwanda’s president said the international community “failed all of us”, as he marked 30 years since the 1994 genocide that killed around 800,000 people.

President Paul Kagame addressed dignitaries and world leaders who had gathered in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, to commemorate the bloodshed.

“Rwanda was completely humbled by the magnitude of our loss,” he said.

“And the lessons we learned are engraved in blood.”

On this day in 1994, extremists from the Hutu ethnic group launched a 100-day killing spree, in which members of the Tutsi minority and Hutu moderates were slaughtered.

The mainly Tutsi forces who took power following the genocide were alleged to have killed thousands of Hutu people in Rwanda in retaliation.

On Sunday, Mr Kagame and a group of dignitaries placed wreathes on mass graves at the Kigali Genocide Memorial – where more than 250,000 victims are believed to be buried. The president also lit a remembrance flame.

In a speech later, Mr Kagame thanked fellow African countries including Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania for their assistance in ending the genocide.

“Many of the countries representing here also sent their sons and daughters to serve as peacekeepers in Rwanda,” he said.

“Those soldiers did not fail Rwanda. It was the international community which failed all of us. Whether from contempt or cowardice.”

The failure of other nations to intervene has been a cause of lingering shame.

Former US President Bill Clinton, who was among the visiting leaders present, has called the genocide the biggest failure of his administration.

In a video message recorded for the memorial, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged that his country and its allies could have stopped the genocide but lacked the will to do so.

France, under then-president François Mitterrand, was a close ally of the Hutu-led government of Juvenal Habyarimana prior to the killings, and Rwanda has accused France of ignoring or missing warning signs and of training the militias who carried out the attacks.

France has consistently denied complicity, but a report commissioned by Mr Macron three years ago concluded that France bears “heavy and overwhelming responsibilities”.

French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné attended the ceremony in Kigali in place of Mr Macron on Sunday. Other visiting dignitaries included Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Israel’s President Isaac Herzog.

Sunday’s events mark the beginning of a week-long mourning period across Rwanda. Music, sport and films will be banned from broadcast on radio or TV and national flags will be flown at half-mast.

The streets of Kigali have been unusually quiet, according to the BBC team there, with no traffic, many shops closed, and few pedestrians.

The genocide was sparked on the night of 6 April 1994, when Hutu President Juvenal Habyarimana was assassinated – the plane he was on was shot down.

Hutu extremists blamed the Tutsi RPF rebel group, and launched a well-organised campaign of slaughter.

Their victims were shot, beaten or hacked to death in killings fuelled by vicious anti-Tutsi propaganda spread on TV and radio.

Thousands of Tutsi women were abducted and kept as sex slaves.

After 100 days of violence, the RPF rebel militia, led by Mr Kagame, succeeded in overthrowing the Hutu authorities and ending the genocide.

Human rights groups say RPF fighters killed thousands of Hutu civilians as they took power – and more after they pursued Hutu militia members who had fled into the Democratic Republic of Congo. The RPF denies this.

Scars from the violence still remain, and new mass graves are still being uncovered around the country.

In the months that followed the genocide, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was set up in Tanzania.

Dozens of senior officials in the former regime were convicted of genocide – all of them Hutus.

Within Rwanda, community courts, known as gacaca, were created to speed up the prosecution of hundreds of thousands of genocide suspects awaiting trial.

According to Rwanda, hundreds of suspects remain at large, including in neighbouring nations such as DR Congo and Uganda.

President Kagame has been hailed for transforming the tiny, devastated country he took over through policies which encouraged rapid economic growth.

But his critics say he does not tolerate dissent and several opponents have met unexplained deaths, both in the country and abroad.

The genocide remains a hugely sensitive issue in Rwanda, and it is illegal to talk about ethnicity. BBC News

Zimbabwe central bank says new gold-backed currency not yet in circulation

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Zimbabwe’s central bank says the banking sector and Payment Systems Providers (PSP) have made satisfactory progress in converting the local dollar balances into Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) balances since the pronouncement of the Monetary Policy measures last Friday.

In a statement, John Mushayavanhu said, “The conversion process will continue for other economic sectors until Friday, 12 April 2024. Thereafter, the Reserve Bank expects that all the online payment platforms will be operating smoothly for all transactions in the economy.

“As advised in the Monetary Policy Statement and Statutory Instrument 60 of 2024, the transacting public has a transitional period of up to 21 days to convert their ZW$ (Zimbabwe dollar) notes and coins to ZiG.”

He said the circulating Zimbabwe dollars notes and coins will continue to be used for transactional purposes at the ZiG: ZW$ conversion factor of 2498.7242 applicable on the 8th of April 2024 within the 21-day transitional period.

“The ZiG notes and coins are by these presents declared to be in production and will start circulating in the economy on 30 April 2024 to allow the Reserve Bank to undertake an intensive educational and awareness campaign on the key security features of the ZiG notes and coins.

“The campaign is expected to reach out to a wide spectrum of society consistent with the Reserve Bank’s financial inclusion thrust.

“The Reserve Bank further advises the public that the issuance of new currency is always preceded by this important process.

“The Reserve Bank is taking all the necessary steps to ensure that the public is not prejudiced and there is value preservation and transactional convenience during this transitional period.”

Mushayavanhu urged Zimbabweans to exercise patience while the banking sector, the business community and the rest of the economy are transitioning to the new normal.

Some Zimbabweans have dismissed the new monetary measures as part of the ruling party’s effort to fix the crumbling local currency, which may in the long-run fail like quasi-fiscal policies implemented by former RBZ governors – Gideon Gono and John Mangudya.

Zimbabwe abandoned its dollar in 2009 due to hyperinflation, which decimated the local currency.

Independent economists predict that the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) will also face serious challenges due to economic stagnation in the southern African nation. VOA

Iranian diplomat alerts Israel to dangers facing its embassies after attack in Damascus

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A high-ranking Iranian military leader has said that Israel’s embassies are not safe after a recent attack in Damascus that Iran blames Israel for. The attack killed 12 people, including two important Iranian generals. Troubles between countries in the Middle East might lead to a bigger fight as Israel continues to fight against Hamas for six months.

Israel has been getting ready for Iran’s response to the attack, but they have not admitted that they were involved. The comments made by General are being evaluated. Rahim Safavi said that if someone attacked a diplomatic mission, they might get the same kind of attack in return.

“Safavi, a military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, says that none of the Israeli embassies are safe anymore. ” This was reported by the semi-official Tasnim agency.

Safavi talked at a gathering in Tehran to honor the Iranian Revolutionary Guard generals who died in the attack that destroyed an Iranian office in Damascus.

Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is ready for any reaction.

“He said that if someone hurts us or wants to hurt us, we will hurt them back,” he said at a meeting with his advisors. “We always follow that rule, in everything we do, including lately. ”

Regional tensions increased after six months of war. The war started when Hamas militants attacked Israel from Gaza, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing about 250 others. Israel attacked by bombing and sending soldiers to fight on the ground. This has led to the deaths of over 33,000 Palestinians, with most of them being women and children, as reported by local health authorities.

On Sunday, Israel’s military said it was moving its troops out of the area of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The troops were from the 98th paratroopers division. Israel has been focusing on attacking the main area where Hamas has control in recent months.

This means there are fewer Israeli soldiers in Gaza now, and people are wondering what will happen next in the war, especially for the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.

Israel says that Rafah is the last place where Hamas is strong and the war will not be finished until Hamas is defeated. However, the area is now home to about 1. 4 million people, which is more than half of Gaza’s population. The possibility of Israel starting a war has made many people around the world worried. Even the US, which is a big supporter of Israel, wants to see a good plan for keeping civilians safe.

It wasn’t clear how intense the war might become. Israel keeps soldiers in the damaged area of northern Gaza and can move them to the southern area when necessary.

People in Israel are getting more and more frustrated because the government is not doing enough to free about 130 hostages. Some people think that the government is not doing anything to help them. This has led to protests against the government.

Talks for a truce and the release of hostages were supposed to start again in Cairo on Sunday. There was a lot of pressure to make something happen soon.

“People in Gaza have been left alone by humanity,” the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement after six months of war.

The UN and its partners are saying that more than one million people in Gaza might not have enough food soon. They are asking Israel to make it easier to deliver aid to these people. Right now, the only way to bring in enough aid is by land. Some Palestinians are even looking for weeds to eat because they don’t have enough food.

Women who have had babies in Gaza since the war started are at a greater risk.

The Gaza Health Ministry said that 38 people who died from Israel’s attacks were taken to the hospitals in the area in the last day. Hospitals got 71 injured people, it said.

The government said 33,175 people have died since the war started. The ministry doesn’t separate civilians from fighters, but it says that most of the people who died are children and women. Another 75,886 people have been injured.

Israel’s soldiers kept dying in battles. In Khan Younis, four soldiers were killed in a fight with militants.

More than 600 Israeli soldiers have died since October. The Israeli government says that 7 people, including 260 in the Gaza ground operation, have been killed.

Choked by ingested drugs, India-bound passenger vomits and excretes 80 wraps of cocaine

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a Delhi, India-bound passenger, Freeman Charles Ogbonna at the screening point of terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos for ingesting 80 wraps of cocaine.

Choked by ingested drugs, India-bound passenger vomits and excretes 80 wraps of cocaine in Lagos airport

In a statement released, the spokesperson of the command, Femi Babafemi, said Ogbonna was arrested on Sunday 31st March while attempting to board his flight to Delhi, India via Doha on Qatar Airways, with a Liberian international passport, bearing the name: Carr Bismark. He was taken for a body scan, which tested positive for ingestion of illicit drugs.

‘’Preliminary checks revealed his real identity as Freeman Charles Ogbonna and was subsequently placed under observation in NDLEA custody where he started to manifest signs of discomfort. Obviously choked by the volume of illicit drugs in his stomach and another substance taken to hold back excretion, the suspect soon began to retch before starting to vomit and excrete wraps of cocaine he ingested almost simultaneously.”

Babafemi stated that the suspect who claimed he was recruited into drug trafficking by one of his relatives eventually passed out a total of 80 wraps of cocaine weighing 889 grams through his mouth and anus over a period of four days.

The great risk that almost took his life notwithstanding, Ogbonna said he was given the drugs to swallow at a hotel in the Ipodo area of Ikeja with a promise to reward him with N300,000 cash if he successfully delivered the consignment in India.

Choked by ingested drugs, India-bound passenger vomits and excretes 80 wraps of cocaine in Lagos airport

In the same vein, NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport on Wednesday 3rd April intercepted a drug mule, Imran Taofeek Olalekan at Gate C departure of terminal 1 travelling to Oman with a check-in luggage and a backpack. When his check-in bag and backpack were subjected to a thorough search, the operatives discovered a false bottom concealment of drugs in the check-in luggage and in the walls of the backpack.

The NDLEA officers swiftly moved in on a man who accompanied the suspect to the airport. He was later identified as Ishola Isiaka Olalekan who recruited the trafficker.

‘’Imran Taofeek Olalekan said he returned from Dubai some years ago but still has a valid residence permit on his old passport. He claimed he was promised N1,500,000 if he successfully delivers the consignment in Oman, while his recruiter, Ishola was to be paid N200,000.

Curiously, when the two bags were completely unpacked at the NDLEA office, a charm was found in one of the bags while another one was found on the drug mule who confessed that he travelled to Ibadan, Oyo state to meet with an ‘Alfa’ that prepared the charm for him to ensure he was not caught during the trip.

Another charm was also found in the intermediary, Ishola Isiaka Olalekan who accompanied Taofeek to the departure area of the airport. Ishola claimed he procured the charms for the sum of N70,000.”

Father faked death to avoid paying child support

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A Kentucky father has admitted to faking his death to avoid paying his ex-wife more than $100,000 in outstanding child support.

Jesse Kipf, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of computer fraud in federal court on March 29, according to the plea agreement obtained by Law & Crime.

Kipf was indicted by the United States Attorney’s Office in November after investigators with the FBI in Louisville, Kentucky, the Department of the Attorney General for Hawaii, and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office caught wind of his cyber crimes, according to a press release.

Kipf admitted to completing a Hawaii Death Certificate Worksheet in Jan. 2023, where he created a fake death certificate for himself and “assigned himself as the medical certifier for the case and certified that case.”

Prosecutors argued that his motivation to commit the cyber crimes was fueled by his desire to avoid paying “his outstanding child support obligations to his ex-wife,” the plea agreement states.

The very-much-alive father then “infiltrated other states’ death registry systems” using stolen credentials, according to the plea agreement.

“He applied a digital signature for [the physician], providing his name, title, and license number. This resulted in the Defendant being registered as deceased in many government databases.”

However, his illegal online endeavours didn’t end with faking his death. Kipf also used the credentials he stole to gain access to private business, government, and corporate networks with the goal of trying to sell the sensitive information he fraudulently obtained to other crooks online.

“In doing so, the Defendant caused damage to multiple computer networks and stole the identities of numerous individuals,” according to the plea agreement.

In January, Kipf was charged with computer fraud stemming from the data breaches of GuestTek Interactive Entertainment in February 2023 and Milestone Inc. in June 2023.

Authorities estimated the damages caused by Kipf for skipping out on his child support payments and gaining access to the networks exceeded more than $195,000, court documents show.

The computer-hacking father agreed to pay restitution of $3,500 to the state of Hawaii, $56,247 to Milestone Inc., $19,653 to GuestTek Interactive Entertainment, and $116,357 to the California child support agency, according to the plea deal.

He also agreed to forfeit his electronic devices and $16,218 in gold and silver coins. Kipf was initially charged with five counts of computer fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft, which carried a maximum of 30 years behind bars before many of those charges were dropped after he took the plea deal.

His sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 12 in federal court in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Kipf now faces a maximum of five years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft and a minimum of two years for computer fraud — both of which carry a steep fine of $250,000, according to the plea deal.

Lionel Messi scores just 12 minutes into game after injury come back

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Lionel Messi made a stunning comeback for Inter Miami, scoring just 12 minutes after coming off the substitutes’ bench in a 2-2 draw against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.

The Argentine star, sidelined with injury since March 13, made his return at halftime at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His first-time deflected shot found the back of the net off the post, bringing Miami level at 1-1.

This goal marked Messi’s fifth in five games across all competitions this season. Just three minutes later, he played a key role in Leo Alfonso’s goal, giving Miami a 2-1 lead over the visitors.

However, despite their efforts, Miami couldn’t maintain the lead, as Cole Bassett equalized for Colorado in the 88th minute.

“The usual [with Messi] in what he provokes in our team, in the rival and in the fans,” Miami boss Gerardo “Tata” Martino said in his postgame news conference. “The most important thing is that he felt comfortable, he felt good and loose playing.

“That’s why it is a shame to let go of two points. I think we continue making errors that make us lose points.”

Despite training regularly with the rest of the squad leading up to the Major League Soccer clash, Messi’s participation remained uncertain just 24 hours before kickoff.

“Messi’s evolution is exactly as we planned it,” Martino added. “We knew there was a risk for him to play against Monterrey on Wednesday, but it was planned that he would play minutes today. We were between 30 and 45, and he felt good.

“This helps to reach the second leg against Monterrey with more confidence, especially in relation to his injury.”

Miami heads to Monterrey, Mexico, for the return leg on Wednesday down 2-1 from the first match but with Martino hopeful of having Messi involved.

“The idea is that Messi does play on Wednesday,” he said. “But he just played 45 minutes, though we understand the requirements expected from us in the second leg. The most important thing is that he’s back, he felt good, scored a goal and participated in the second. That’s the most outstanding part.”

Trump asks for different judge prior to his hush-money criminal trial

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Ex-President Donald Trump wants a different judge for his hush-money trial, even though it’s about to start. He’s unhappy with the current judge and is trying a last-minute move to cause problems and make the trial take longer.

Trump’s lawyers recently told Judge Juan M. in Manhattan that they agree with Trump’s complaints on social media. Merchan is stepping off the case because he thinks he might be treated unfairly because his daughter works for the Democratic party. The judge said no to a request that was the same last August.

Trump’s appeal is pending before the District of Columbia Circuit. Therefore, the lawyers are asking for the judge to recuse herself from the case. Merchan is making money and improving their reputation because this case is getting in the way of Trump’s campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

The court case will start on April 15th. This is the first of four cases against Trump that will go to trial. It would also be the first time a former president has a trial for a crime.

Merchan didn’t make a decision right away. He can make the decision by himself. If he leaves, the trial schedule will be messed up and Trump will get a delay he has wanted while a new judge gets familiar with the case.

We left messages asking for a comment from a court spokesperson and from Merchan’s daughter, Loren Merchan. The Manhattan district attorney’s office said there is no need for Merchan to step aside.

The lawyer for Loren Merchan says that her business is not benefiting from her father’s choices, but the prosecutor doesn’t agree. He wrote a letter to the judge saying that there isn’t enough evidence to prove this.

“This series of hints is far from proving that Judge Merchan has a personal or financial interest in reaching a specific conclusion,” according to Colangelo.

Loren Merchan is the boss of Authentic Campaigns and has gotten at least $70 million from Democratic candidates and causes since starting the company in 2018.

The company has worked with important people like President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and a big political group connected to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. According to campaign finance disclosures, Senate Majority PAC has given $15. 2 million to Authentic Campaigns.

On Friday, Merchan stopped Trump’s lawyers from making NBC give them documents about a documentary on Stormy Daniels, a important witness in the case. He decided that the defense’s request for information was too broad and not necessary for them to have.

On Wednesday, Merchan said no to the Republican nominee’s request to wait for the Supreme Court’s decision before starting the trial. This decision was related to the claims of presidential immunity in a different case. The judge has not decided yet on the defense’s request for a delay. They say they won’t get a fair trial because the media has said bad things about them.

The hush money case is about claims that Trump lied about his company’s records to hide payments to his former lawyer, who helped Trump keep bad news quiet during his 2016 campaign. Cohen gave Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about her relationship with Trump.

Last year, Trump said he did not do the 34 bad things he was accused of, of lying about his business records. He said he didn’t have sex with Daniels. His lawyers say that the money given to Cohen was used for legal expenses that were allowed by law.

Trump hinted that his lawyers will try again to get the judge to leave the case by making critical posts about the judge and his daughter on his Truth Social platform.

Trump said, without proof, that Merchan’s decisions, like putting a limit on what Trump can say in public, were influenced by his daughter’s job. He falsely said that she had posted a picture on social media showing him in jail. Trump’s criticism of Lauren Merchan caused the judge to make a rule that he can’t talk about his family in public.

“The judge needs to step down now and correct the mistake of not doing so last year,” Trump wrote on March 27th. “If the unfair and conflicted judge is allowed to continue with this fake ‘case,’ it will be another unfortunate example of our country becoming like a corrupt, unstable government, not the America we once knew and loved. ”

Trump also asked the judge in his election interference case in Washington, DC, to step down because he thought her past comments about him might make her unfair. But Judge Tanya Chutkan said she doesn’t need to leave her position.

Last year, the defence requested that Merchan should not be involved in the case because his daughter was closely involved. They also took some small donations that the judge gave to Democratic causes during the 2020 campaign. They added up to $35 in total, with $15 going to Biden.

Merchan said no to the request. He said that a legal group found that his work did not affect how fair he is. He wrote this in August. The judge said he was sure he could be fair and impartial. He also said that Trump’s lawyers did not show any good reasons for him to step down from the case.

Trump’s lawyers say things are different now because Trump is running against President Joe Biden again. Democrats, including clients of Loren Merchan’s firm, are trying to raise money by talking about Trump’s legal problems in emails about the hush-money case.

“Most New Yorkers would not be okay with the judge in charge of this case having a grown-up child who works at WinRed or MAGA Inc. ,” Blanche and Necheles said. They were talking about a platform that raises money for Republicans and a committee that raises money for Trump.

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