Heads of the world’s most prestigious companies have signed a public letter condemning funding cuts at English National Opera. They described the ENO as “a showcase for talent and innovation” and “one of the UK’s greatest cultural ambassadors” in a letter to the Financial Times. Signatories included Alexander Pereira, of La Scala in Milan, and Peter Gelb, of New York’s ...

Vladimir Putin has admitted for the first time that the plan to annex Crimea was ordered weeks before the referendum on self-determination. Crimea was formally absorbed into Russia on 18 March, to international condemnation, after unidentified gunmen took over the peninsula. Mr Putin said on TV he had ordered work on “returning Crimea” to begin at an all-night meeting on ...

Media institute of Southern Africa (MISA) says it is irresponsible for the media to exaggerate President Edgar Lungu’s illness. MISA Zambia chairperson Hellen Mwale says the levels of unprofessionalism being exhibited in some section of the media with regards President Lungu’s health is worrying as it has the potential to mislead the nation. Ms. Mwale has wondered why some sections ...

The opposition UPND has wished President Edgar Lungu who is suspected to have recurring Achalasia a quick recovery. UPND president Hakainde Hichilema says his party is sorry to have received the sad news of President Lungu’s illness while officiating at a national observance on Sunday. In a statement to Qfm News Mr. Hichilema says his party the UPND and all ...

Medical Doctors tending President Edgar Lungu’s illness have recommended that he undergoes a high-tech medical procedure which is currently not available in Zambia. This means that President Lungu will have travel abroad for specialized treatment. This is according to the second medical bulletin released by his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda. President Lungu is said to ...

New York City’s first Major League Soccer match ended in a draw as 62,510 fans saw Kaka snatch a late equaliser for Orlando City at Citrus Bowl. The former AC Milan playmaker scored with a deflected free-kick in the 91st minute, after Mix Diskerud put the away side ahead with their first ever goal. Orlando were reduced to 10 men ...

American Sniper has beaten The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 to become the highest-grossing film release of 2014 in the US. Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper as Navy Seal Chris Kyle, the film has taken $337.2m (£223.7m) since its limited release in December. The latest movie in The Hunger Games franchise has taken $336.8m (£223.4m). Set ...

A baby girl has been found alive in a car more than 14 hours after the vehicle plunged into a river in Utah. The 18-month-old was discovered hanging upside down above water in her car seat by a fisherman on Saturday afternoon, police said. She was rushed to a hospital in Salt Lake City, where her condition has been upgraded ...

The Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Chishimba Kambwili has expressed disappointment with Mbala District Commissioner and Town Clerk for keeping the district dirty. Mr. Kambwili who is also Chief government spokesperson says he is particularly disappointed to see the offices of the District Commissioner and the Town Clerk to be very unkempt. He thinks that Mbala District is dirty ...

The move by the ruling PF to re-adopt Members of Parliament whose election were nullified by the Courts of law has been described as hypocritical. The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) finds it ironic that the ruling PF that has been challenging and has been against the re-adoption of parliamentarians whose seats have been nullified on account of electoral malpractices ...