Australia coach Ange Postecoglou was urged to stay loyal to the World Cup hopefuls Tuesday after he was linked with a big-money move to Carlos Tevez’s Shanghai Shenhua in China. The 52-year-old has failed to confirm or deny reports that he is considering quitting the Socceroos, who face a two-legged playoff with Honduras next month for a place at Russia ...

Fifa’s decision to schedule the World Cup qualifier between Australia and Honduras with just five days in between the two matches was “inhumane”, the Central Americans’ coach Jorge Luis Pinto has said. The first match in the intercontinental playoff for a spot at the finals in Russia next year is scheduled to take place in Central America on Nov. 10, ...

A Spanish judge has remanded two key members of the Catalan independence movement in jail. Jordi Sánchez, who heads the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), and Jordi Cuixart, leader of Omnium Cultural, are being held without bail while they are under investigation for sedition. The men are seen as leading figures in organising a 1 October independence vote, which Spanish courts ...

The US has called for “calm” after Iraqi government forces seized the northern city of Kirkuk and key installations from Kurdish control. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert urged all parties to “avoid further clashes”. Iraqi soldiers moved into Kirkuk three weeks after the Kurdistan Region held a controversial independence referendum. They are aiming to retake areas under Kurdish control since ...

Business and Financial analyst Blessings Kafwanka says government should reconsider its plans to borrow about K11 billion from the domestic financial market in 2018, considering the country’s high debt position. Mr. Kafwanka says the move will further crowd out the private sector especially the small and medium size enterprises. He states that borrowing heavily from the domestic financial market will ...

The Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ) has commended government for reducing duty on the importation of pre-mixes for the stock feed industry in the 2018 national budget. PAZ Executive Manager Dominic Chanda says the sector has been lobbying for the removal of the duty for the past 8-years. Mr. Chanda tells Q-News that the sector made submissions through the Southern ...

Commuters Rights Association of Zambia (CRAZ) President, Aaron Kamuti has called on Minister of Home Affairs Steven Kampyongo to reduce the number of traffic Police officers manning the roads. Mr. Kamuti says the officers are enriching themselves by getting money from innocent motorists in the name of enforcing traffic regulations. He states that the officers should instead be deployed to ...

Patriots for Economic Progress (PEP) has backed government’s decision to phase out minibuses without seat belts over a period of three to five years. Government through the ministry of transport and communications intends to strategically phase out minibuses without seat-belts in the quest to reduce on road traffic accidents. PEP president Sean Tembo has told Q-News that move is reasonable ...

The Civil Society Constitution Agenda (CiSCA) has accused government of re-introducing exchange regulations through the backdoor. CiSCA Chairperson Bishop John Mambo says the introduction of the TPIN is one such example. He says this causing unnecessary panic in people especially those in rural areas. Bishop Mambo says the introduction of the Taxpayer Identification Number (TPIN) will lead to people resorting ...

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has called for genuineness from the people, political and spiritual leaders who will take part in this year’s day of prayer and fasting to be held on Wednesday. FODEP Executive Director Mweenge Chimfwembe has told Q-news that there is need for political leaders especially, to ensure their words of forgiveness and repentance are translated ...