Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi has moved a step closer to being tried for tax evasion after a Spanish high court rejected his latest appeal. Messi and his father Jorge are both accused of defrauding the authorities of more than €4m (£3.1m; $5m). The court ruled that Messi should not be granted impunity for not knowing what was happening ...

Big band leader James Last has died in Florida, aged 86. The German-born musician’s manager said he died at his home “peacefully and in the presence of his family”. Last sold millions of records with his trademark “happy music” – upbeat versions of pop and classical favourites performed by his orchestra. He appeared at the Royal Albert Hall in the ...

Police in Egypt say they have foiled an attempted suicide bomb attack at the Temple of Karnak in Luxor, one of the country’s most popular tourist sites. Three men reportedly approached a barrier at the entrance to the temple complex on Wednesday morning. When confronted by police, one of the attackers detonated an explosive belt he was wearing. A second ...

The Drug Enforcement Commission in Central Province has arrested two students from Mulungushi University for trafficking in Cannabis. The two students arrested are Ndambo Chinda, 22, for being in possession of 43 muffins containing Cannabis and Missael Mwanza, 23, for trafficking in loose Cannabis weighing 32.1g. Commission Public Relations Manager Theresa Katongo says the duo has since pleaded guilty after ...

SINO HYDRO the company contracted to work on the Kitwe-Chingola road has appealed to Government to urgently pay the outstanding amount of over K108 million to help them complete the project within the stipulated timeframe. SINO HYDRO Director General Peng Zhaohui says it will fair for government through the Road Development Agency (RDA) to consider releasing some funds as agreed ...

A clergyman has advised political parties to realize that violence will not win them elections. Mpika Diocese’s St Andrews Catholic Church assistant Parish Priest Jeff Bwalya says it is worrying to see incidents of violence during campaigns being recorded in this era. Fr Bwalya has told QFM News that politicians ought to understand that competition is not about using violence ...

Former MMD Lusaka province Chairman Watson Mtonga has cried foul accusing the ruling Patriotic Front of betraying the former ruling party. Mr Mtonga has told QFM News that instead of helping the former ruling party survive for the role MMD members led by former President Rupiah Banda played in President Edgar Lungu’s victory, the PF is working tirelessly to make ...

Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba says despite laudable economic achievements recorded in the country, much more needs to be done in the area of public financial management. Speaking during the launch of the public financial management capacity building programme in Lusaka today, Mr. Yamba says public financial management reforms are important because the manner in which government uses financial ...

It has emerged that the UPND cadre who was shot and reported to have mysteriously disappeared from his Livingstone General hospital bed has in fact been arrested by Police and charged with threatening violence. Home Affairs Minister Davis Mwila has disclosed that the UNPD cadre Mushaukwa Mushaukwa, who is alleged to have been short by PF Secretary General Davis Chama ...

A research report has emphasized the need for Zambia to improve revenue mobilization if it is to mitigate the liquidity bullet structure of the two Eurobonds the country has issued. The report dubbed ‘A Cautionary tale of Zambia’s International Sovereign Bond Issuances’ conducted by the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR) is advising the Zambian government to prioritize ...