Tag Archives: Politicians

Entertainment

Obamas Were Meant to See Rob and Michele Reiner on the Day They Were Killed

Maravi Post Reporter

Michelle Obama is opening up about the tragic deaths of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.

“We’ve known them for many, many years, and we were supposed to be seeing them that night — last night — and we got the news,” Michelle, 61, said of herself and Barack Obama during a Monday, December 15, appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Michelle also appeared to address President Donald Trump, who earlier Monday mocked Rob’s death, describing him as a “deranged person” who had “Trump derangement syndrome,” referring to the director’s frequent opposition to the Trump administration.

“And let me just say this: Unlike some people, Rob and Michele Reiner are some of the most decent, courageous people,” Michelle said on Monday. “They are not deranged or crazed. What they have always been are passionate people. In a time when there’s not a lot of courage going on, they were the kind of people who were ready to put their actions behind what they cared about. And they cared about their family, and they cared about this country, and they cared about fairness and equity, and that is the truth. I do know them.”

Rob Reiner Family Guide: Wife Michele and 4 Kids, Including Tracy and Nick

Rob, who was 78, and Michelle, 68, were found dead inside their home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles on Sunday, December 14. The Los Angeles Police Department said the couple were discovered with apparent stab wounds.

On Monday, Us Weekly confirmed that their son, Nick, 32, had been taken into custody and arrested on a murder charge in connection with his parents’ deaths. He is currently being held at the Twin Towers jail in L.A. with no bail.

Rob and Michele shared three children: sons Jake, 34, and Nick, and daughter Romy, 27. Rob also shared an adopted daughter, Tracy, 61, with his first wife, filmmaker Penny Marshall.

“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner,” a family spokesman said in a statement on Sunday. “We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”

Who Was Michele Singer Reiner? Details About Rob Reiner’s Wife After Deaths

Former U.S. President Barack, 64, was among the celebrities and politicians who paid tribute to the Reiners late Sunday night.

“Michelle and I are heartbroken by the tragic passing of Rob Reiner and his beloved wife, Michele. Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen,” Barack wrote via X. “But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people—and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action. Together, he and his wife lived lives defined by purpose. They will be remembered for the values they championed and the countless people they inspired. We send our deepest condolences to all who loved them.”

A source exclusively told Us on Monday that there was some commotion between Rob, Michele and Nick at Conan O’Brien’s holiday party the night before the couple were killed.

Nick allegedly acted “creepily” at the Saturday, December 13, event. “Nick was going up to people at Conan O’Brien’s party asking if they were famous,” a source said, while TMZ reported that Rob and Nick got into an argument which was overheard by other guests.

Entertainment

Miss Universe Owner Charged with Drugs, Arms and Fuel Trafficking: Report

Maravi Post Reporter

Miss Universe owner Raúl Rocha has reportedly been charged with trafficking drugs, arms and fuel by Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office.

According to a Wednesday, November 26, report by Mexican newspaper Reforma, Rocha was charged for alleged involvement in trafficking the items between Guatemala and Mexico. Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office (FRG) claimed that Rocha is a leader of a criminal organization that smuggles fuel in boats through the Usumacinta River before trucking it to Mexico.

The outlet reported that an agent in Mexico’s Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime requested an arrest warrant for Rocha on charges of organized crime in August.

The FRG reportedly raided several residences. The government office claimed they obtained records of monetary contributions from Rocha to the alleged criminal enterprise. The amount totaled 2.1 million pesos, which equals around $114,405.

OnlyFans Star Arrested After Her Boyfriend Found Dismembered: Report

According to the arrest warrant, which was obtained by Reforma, the FRG alleged that Rocha has “connections with politicians and authorities at all three levels of government to deliberately carry out their mission, which includes the sale of hydrocarbons, narcotics, and the trafficking and sale of large quantities of weapons of war.”

Reforma also reported that Rocha spoke to the FGR in October to negotiate a plea bargain and will allegedly share information for immunity from prosecution.

Us Weekly has reached out to the Miss Universe organization for comment.

Rocha’s alleged legal issues is the latest scandal to plague the Miss Universe organization. Earlier this year, pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisi made headlines after he publicly insulted Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch.

Miss Universe Owner Raul Rocha Charged with Drugs Arms and Fuel Trafficking Report GettyImages 2246849634 1
Raul Rocha, Nawat Itsaragrisil. LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images

“He called me dumb because he has issues with the organization, and I think that’s unfair,” Bosch told the press while explaining the incident, which was captured on video that has since gone viral.

Several beauty queens showed solidarity for Bosch by walking out of the pre-pageant event. Rocha ultimately diminished Itsaragrisi’s role in the pageant in the wake of the scandal.

“I will not allow the values of respect and dignity toward women to be violated. Unfortunately, Nawat has forgotten the true meaning of what it means to be a genuine host,” Rocha said at the time. “It means to demonstrate to all delegates of all countries that he, as a host, has the obligation to serve them, assist them and support them. And to ensure they have a unique life experience filled with kindness and courtesy.”

Brazilian Influencer, 23, Addresses Arrest for Alleged Drug Trafficking

Bosch ultimately went on to win the competition. In her speech, Bosch expressed her desire to be a positive ambassador for the organization.

“I will put my voice and the power in the service of others because nowadays, we are here to speak up, to make change and have everything in view because we are women and the brave ones that stand up are the ones that will make history,” she said.

Earlier on Wednesday, news broke that a warrant was reportedly issued for Miss Universe co-owner Jakapong “Anne” Jakrajutatip’s arrest after failing to appear in court in Bangkok for her fraud case. Officials reportedly deemed Jakrajutatip as a flight risk. Jakrajutatip resigned from Miss Universe in June. The Miss Universe Organization previously stated that Jakrajutatip’s fraud case “legal proceedings are entirely separate.”

Entertainment

Guillermo Díaz Would ‘Love’ to do a ‘Scandal’ Movie — So Would His Costars

Maravi Post Reporter

According to Scandal star Guillermo Diaz, we may not have seen the last of Olivia Pope.

“Listen, I would love to do a Scandal movie. A couple of the other cast members have expressed the same,” Diaz, 50, exclusively told Us Weekly while attending Out Magazine’s Out100 event honoring the most impactful and influential of the LGBTQ+ community on Friday, November 21, in Hollywood.

Despite the cast’s interest, Diaz pointed out it’s not up to him or his former costars — Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn, Bellamy Young, Katie Lowes, Scott Foley, Darby Stanchfield and Joshua Malina.

“But that’s all up to Shonda Rhimes, if she wants to do it or not, but I could see us doing like a cool Scandal movie, absolutely,” he told Us.

‘Scandal’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

Diaz, who is openly gay, also shared that the cast remains a tight-knit group seven years after the award-winning drama series came to an end.

“The whole Scandal cast is on a group thread on WhatsApp, so we talk at least once, every two weeks, sometimes once a week,” Diaz said. “My closest buddy from Scandal is Katie Lowes, who played Quinn [Perkins] on the show. So I see her and talk to her all the time. She’s so supportive.”

Diaz, who recently made his directorial debut with Dear Luke, Love, Me, said he often runs into his former castmates around Tinseltown.

“I was on The Jimmy Kimmel Show with Kerry [Washington],” he explained. “They’re all so great, Kerry and Tony [Goldwyn] and Darby [Stanchfield]. Everyone’s wonderful and supportive and always there for each other.”

Katie Lowes Fancasts 'Scandal' Costars in Possible 'Hunting Wives' Season 2
Danny Feld/©ABC/courtesy Everett Collection

According to Diaz, the Scandal stars reunite “all the time.”

He revealed that during his Kimmel appearance, he and Washington were discussing when the group can all get together next.

“We always try to sort of make a moment for the Scandal family to get together outside of all this stuff,” Diaz told Us, revealing they often plan trips away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood.

When asked who’s the most outspoken in their Scandal group chat, Diaz didn’t hesitate.

Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn Recreate ‘Scandal’ Scene — Scott Foley Reacts

“Josh Malina and Adam Shapiro, who’s Katie’s husband,” he responded. “Yeah, those guys.”

Scandal ended in 2018 after a seven-season run, and followed Washington D.C.’s ultimate fixer, political crisis manager, Olivia Pope (Washington), whose job was to clean up the most salacious messes of the most prominent politicians.

When the cast reunited in 2020 during a virtual chat for Stars in the House, Washington admitted that “it would be very hard to say no to the opportunity to work with these people again,” per Entertainment Tonight.

She also spoke fondly of their bond, calling their chemistry “lightning in a bottle.”

Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn’s Friendship Through the Years

Since starring as Hunk, Pope’s hired “tech guy,” Diaz has appeared in several other projects but remains focused on creating content to support the LGBTQ+ community, like his directorial film Dear Luke, Love, Me, streaming on Apple TV and Amazon.

The movie is about two soulmates who struggle to maintain their queer-platonic significant other relationship while trying to navigate societal pressures.

At the Out100 event, Diaz shared his hope for Hollywood to embrace the queer community even more.

“I would love to see during the casting process a little bit more inclusiveness and openness, and more bravery in casting,” he said. “Just pushing the queer folks and queer actors up to the front, because there’s a million wonderful actors that are in the LGBTQIA community.”

The night honored Niecy Nash-Betts as she accepted the Icon Award via a video message due to scheduling issues. Kathy Griffin was there in person to accept Advocate of the Year, an award presented to her by Sia. Boots star Miles Heizer was also recognized as one of the Out100 honorees.

Lifestyle

Two Problems, One Affordable Green Solution

Maravi Post Reporter

The U.S. faces a housing crisis and growing threats of climate change. One global city is tackling both problems at once, and U.S. cities are paying attention. In this episode of The Sunday Story, NPR’s Julia Simon travels to Vienna, Austria to see how they make affordable housing that’s resilient to climate change. And she meets politicians trying to build this “green social housing” in America.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Lifestyle

Tanzania opposition leader Tundu Lissu to be remanded for 14 more days

Maravi Post Reporter

The embattled Tanzanian main opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, will remain in remand for 14 more days pending further investigations.

The Police and the state prosecutors requested the Kisutu Magistrates Court to allow them more time to conclude their investigations.

The court granted them two more weeks until June 2, when the case will be heard again. It was the first time Lissu appeared in person for the mention as he previously attended sessions virtually.

The defence team, led by the Senior Counsel Mpale Mpoki, objected to the application, citing infringement of Lissu’s fundamental rights. They made several other applications with one questioning why the prosecuting teams were not able to move on with the case despite all evidence being available and accessible to everyone.

Lissu’s team also claimed that their client was being placed under unnecessary heavy police supervision and that he was just an accused and not a threat to anyone in court.

Opposition leader Tundu Lissu was arrested on April 9 after calling for electoral reforms before a general election in October and was charged with treason, a charge for which bail isn’t available.

Lissu’s party, Chadema, has been outspoken about electoral reforms, arrests and detentions of opposition politicians before the vote in which President Samia Suluhu Hassan is seeking election after serving out her predecessor’s term in office.

Human rights activists have accused the government of Hassan of heavy-handed tactics against the opposition. The government denies the claims.

In 2017, three years before the last election, Lissu survived an assassination attempt after being shot 16 times. His party has been critical of laws that favor the ruling CCM party, which has been in power since Tanzania’s independence in 1961.

Source: Africanews

Lifestyle

US admits White South African refugees amid controversy

Maravi Post Reporter

The Trump administration on Monday welcomed a small group of white South Africans as refugees, saying they face discrimination and violence at home, which the country’s government strongly denies. The decision to admit the 49 people also has raised questions from refugee advocates about why the group should be admitted when the Trump administration has suspended efforts to resettle people who are fleeing war and persecution and have gone through years of vetting before coming to the United States.

The group from South Africa, including children holding small American flags, arrived at Dulles International Airport outside Washington on a private charter plane and was greeted by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar. “I want you all to know that you are really welcome here and that we respect what you have had to deal with these last few years,” Landau told the group in a hangar at the airport, many of them holding U.S. flags.

“We respect the long tradition of your people and what you have accomplished over the years.” President Donald Trump told reporters earlier Monday that he’s admitting them as refugees because of the “genocide that’s taking place.” He said that in post-apartheid South Africa, white farmers are “being killed” and he plans to address the issue with South African leadership next week.

That characterization is strongly denied by the South African government and has been disputed by experts in the country and even an Afrikaner group. South Africa’s government says the U.S. allegations that the white minority Afrikaners are being persecuted are “completely false,” the result of misinformation and an inaccurate view of its country.

It cited the fact that Afrikaners are among the richest and most successful people in the country and said they are among “the most economically privileged.” Afrikaners make up South Africa’s largest white group and were the leaders of the apartheid government, which brutally enforced racial segregation for nearly 50 years before ending it in 1994. While South Africa has been largely successful in reconciling its many races after apartheid ended, tensions between some Black political parties and some Afrikaner groups have remained. Trump has promoted the allegation that white farmers in South Africa are being killed on a large scale because of their race as far back as 2018 during his first term.

Conservative commentators have promoted the allegation about a genocide against white farmers in South Africa, and South African-born Trump ally Elon Musk has posted on social media that some politicians in the country are “actively promoting white genocide.”

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/14/74/47/05/ED_PYR_1474475_20250513042708.mp4
Lifestyle

Fake Charlie Hebdo cover shows Zelenskyy exploiting Pope Francis’ death for cash

Maravi Post Reporter

An alleged front cover from the French satirical weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo is circulating online, mocking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the death of Pope Francis.

In the picture, we can see a caricature of Zelenskyy holding up the body of the late pontiff at the Vatican bank. He’s hiding behind the Bishop of Rome and animating his body like a puppet.

“It’s me, Pope Francis. Please transfer all of my money to Ukraine,” the cartoon Zelenskyy says.

The accounts sharing the front cover and commenting on it are critical of Zelenskyy, accusing him of demanding money from world governments and using Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s war as a pretext.

It’s a common accusation that critics of Ukraine try to levy against the Ukrainian president in an effort to weaken support for Kyiv.

But this is all false: firstly, we can easily check whether the picture is authentic by visiting Charlie Hebdo’s website — it’s not anywhere to be found.

It was supposedly published on 23 April 2025, but checking Charlie Hebdo’s list of recent publications shows us that the real 23 April edition looks completely different.

The edition number is also wrong: the real cover shows the number 1709, while the fake one is labelled 1710.

The real edition does deal with the pope’s death, but instead mockingly says his successor will be “truly close to the poor” by depicting him as a rat.

The rat says: “What’s more, I’m reactionary, misogynistic and homophobic.”

Many of the accounts sharing the fake front cover online are pro-Russian and regular disseminators of Kremlin propaganda that attempt to discredit Ukraine.

Charlie Hebdo itself has previously issued a warning that pro-Russian actors are using its image to produce anti-Ukraine content.

“Russian propagandists are creating fake Charlie Hebdo front pages to make it appear that the newspaper supports Putin,” the magazine said.

“While the process isn’t new — there are plenty of fake Charlie front pages — it’s surprising to see it still working,” it added.

EuroVerify has already debunked other instances of false Charlie Hebdo editions that disparage Zelenskyy. In this one, Zelenskyy was depicted as Quasimodo, a character from Victor Hugo’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, again as part of an effort to demean him and wider Ukraine by extension.

It’s been widely shown that Russia is attempting to damage support for Ukraine by spreading propaganda that depicts Zelenskyy as a money-grabbing opportunist who’s robbing taxpayers’ funds.

This particular fake Charlie Hebdo front cover is especially striking because it combines two figures who have constantly fallen victim to deepfakes over the past few years: Zelenskyy and Pope Francis.

The former has become a prime target for misinformation in general ever since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Such false narratives, such as accusing him of prolonging the war and calling his motives for financial assistance into question, are amplified when even high-profile politicians worldwide, such as US President Donald Trump, have labelled him a “dictator”.

However, Western countries are providing legitimate financial and humanitarian support to Kyiv, and surveys consistently show that a strong majority of European citizens back this.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/14/04/02/03/ED_PYR_1404023_20250505133416.mp4
Lifestyle

Haiti protests escalate

Maravi Post Reporter

Dozens of protesters marched up the hills of Haiti’s capital on Sunday, demanding an end to persistent gang violence as they called on the country’s prime minister and transitional presidential council to resign. It’s the latest such protest as Haitians grow increasingly angry and frustrated over a surge in violence as gangs try to seize full control of Port-au-Prince.

“We need security, we need food, we need a place to sleep, we need healthcare. If you are the head of the state and you feel you can’t take the responsibility, turn away and leave,” said Hip Hop singer and demonstrator Stevenson Telfort Artis known as A.T.R.O.S. Sunday’s demonstration comes a day after hundreds of people gathered in the capital, Port-au-Prince, to honour several community leaders killed in recent clashes with gangs.

The demonstration and recent protests were organized to decry the country’s spiralling crisis, with more than 1,600 people killed and another 580 injured from January to March. In mid-March, hundreds of people armed with sticks and machetes, accompanied by members of an armed environmental brigade, successfully ousted more than 100 suspected gang members that had seized control of a Catholic school, according to a new report issued by the U.N. political mission in Haiti.

But the ouster is only one of a handful of successful fights against powerful gangs backed by certain politicians and some of Haiti’s elite. Last year, more than 5,600 people across Haiti were killed, according to the U.N. Gang violence also has left more than one million people homeless in recent years. Meanwhile, Hait’s National Police, bolstered by a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police, has struggled in its fight against gangs as the mission remains underfunded and understaffed, with only 1,000 personnel of the 2,500 envisioned.

In a push to crack down on gangs, the U.S. government on Friday officially designated Viv Ansanm, a powerful gang coalition, and Gran Grif, the largest gang to operate in Haiti’s central region, as foreign terror organizations. Critics warn the move could affect aid organizations working in Haiti at a critical time, since many have to negotiate with gangs to supply people with basic goods, including food and water.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/13/99/48/00/ED_PYR_1399480_20250505052227.mp4
Education

Mutharika presides over Community Technical College first graduation 

Ausborn Banda

President Peter Mutharika, on Wednesday wad the guest of honor at the presentation of certificates to the first cohort of the Community Technical College graduates at a function that took place at a colourful ceremony held at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.

As usual, the guest list included dignitaries from the diplomatic and development partners community, politicians, civil servants, CBOs and the public.

Below is the President’s statement.

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY PROFESSOR ARTHUR PETER MUTHARIKA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI

AT

THE GRADUATION OF THE FIRST COHORT OF COMMUNITY TECHNICAL COLLEGES

BICC, LILONGWE

2ND AUGUST 2017

Let me begin by congratulating you all graduating students. Congratulations!

Today, we have proved that our dream is possible. The dream of our community colleges is happening.

This is the dream of many young men and women. We want to create new skills, new jobs because this is the dream of many mothers and fathers. This is our dream!

The graduating students we see today are part of a bigger Malawi Dream. We want to make our economy big. But a robust economy demands a robust and well trained skilled labour force.

We all share the dream to make Malawi prosper. We share the dream to turn the economy around. And the economy is turning around. We share the dream to create jobs. And that is what we have to witness today.

I promised to start an organized way of creating jobs. In 2014, I saw that a lot of young men and women had no employable skills. In order to address the situation, I promised to establish Community Technical Colleges throughout the country.

Today, we have gathered to witness the results of our manifesto promise. We promised. And we have done what we promised.

The purpose of the colleges is to provide employable skills to the youth. By providing employable skills, we have begun the process of creating decent jobs for the Youth and many Malawians.

Community Colleges, and the skills development programme, are important pillars of our vision. The creation of a skilled labour force is a necessary step towards the development of Malawi. No country develops without a skilled labour force.

Community Colleges are one way of investing in the development of the human capital. The human capital is the single most important capital. Human capital is the beginning point of any civilization. Without a well-developed human capital, other natural resources cannot be effectively put to use.

Our economy will grow tremendously if most of the labour force is skilled. Skilled labour force is catalyst for quality products, which we need for export.

Skilled labour force is what will make us a producing and exporting country. And that is our vision – to make Malawi a producing and exporting nation.

I want to thank the Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development for implementing the skills development programme successfully. I want to thank TEVETA for playing such an important role in the vision of this country. I also want to thank the private sector such as FDH Bank, MACRA and all stakeholders who support our Community Colleges.

Finally, let me speak to you graduating students. You have done well to complete your training. Be proud of yourselves, and be proud of your country. You will go down in the history of this country as the first generation to graduate from Community Colleges.

The training you have received is not an end itself. It is not what you learn that matters. It is what you do with what you learn that matters. Show this country that you have the capability to make a difference.

Use the skills you have acquired to start small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Use your skills to create a job for yourself, and create jobs for others. If you always wait to be employed, you may end up being employed by Noone.

Think as an employer of others. As Government, we have instituted policies that encourage the Youth like you to create jobs for yourselves and others.

In my State of the Nation Address this year, I promised that we are starting a Jobs for the Youth Project. The Jobs for the Youth Project is there to compliment the idea of community colleges. We are beginning with providing entrepreneurship training, and will follow with provision of start-up capital to support you to venture into businesses. And we begin this year.

In addition, we will give tools to our graduating students, in order for them to hit the ground running. And we begin in the next three months.

As a global Champion for the Youth myself, I want us to empower the youth in this country. That is how we want to take the Youth forward. That is how we want to take Malawi forward.

Remember, I only promise what I do. And I do what I promise. And our progressive agenda to transform Malawi is unstoppable. We are unstoppable!

Thank you!
God bless you! And God bless Malawi!