*Evening News Round-up: Monday 3 February 2025* *Headlines* *ZACC Pursues Magaya After UNISA Says His Diploma Is Fake* *Your Time At State House Is Up: War Vets Tell Mnangagwa* *ED Panics, Doles Out US$1,5m To War Vets* *Selling SOEs To Pay National Debt A Deadly Own Goal* *Call For Wealth Tax To Address Inequality In Zimbabwe* *Stay Away From DRC: Kagame Tells Mnangagwa and SADC As He Prepares to Fight With Ramaphosa* *Trump Attack On South Africa Exposes Divisions Over Race & Land* *Tems Wins At Grammy Award 2025, Beating Yemi Alade & Burna Boy* *Russia Accelerating Executions Of Ukrainian POWs: UN* *White House Says Canada Has 'Misunderstood' Tariff Order As A Trade War, Mexico Is 'Serious'* *Beyoncé Finally Wins Best Album Grammy: 'It's Been Many Years'* *USAID Officials Put On Leave As Elon Musk Says Time For Agency To ‘Die’* *Crystal Palace Reject Tottenham's £70m Bid For Guehi* Join our *Ad-free* News Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VacXkvFJJhzd2UoZYF1F *Stories in Detail:* *ZACC Pursues Magaya After UNISA Says His Diploma Is Fake* The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has launched a fraud investigation against Walter Magaya after doubt was cast over the authenticity of a diploma he submitted to ZIFA and the Harare High Court. ZACC has written to ZIFA requesting documents submitted by Magaya when he applied to run for president in last month’s elections for a new ZIFA executive committee. The anti-graft body has also reached out to the Judicial Service Commission seeking the record of proceedings in Magaya’s High Court application challenging ZIFA’s decision to bar him from the elections on the basis that he did not possess 5 O’ Levels. ZACC sent out the requests for information on January 31, according to documents seen by ZimLive. At the centre of the investigation is a marketing diploma purportedly obtained at UNISA, which the university insists it never conferred on Magaya. Magaya had submitted a copy of the diploma, certified as a true copy of the original by Waterfalls police, to argue that he had a higher qualification than the O’ Level passes required for the ZIFA job. UNISA said it does not have Walter Magaya “either as a student or a graduate.” “Any certificate he produces which he claims to be from UNISA is therefore fraudulent,” the university said in a January 29 statement. Magaya, a self-styled prophet and founder of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministry, is the owner of Yadah Stars which plays in the Premier Soccer League. *ZimLive* *Your Time At State House Is Up: War Vets Tell Mnangagwa* War veterans have again laid into President Mnangagwa, telling him his time at State House is now up. “Zimbabweans, it’s within our power to stop this nonsense, Mnangagwa has gone rogue and he must go. We invited him to go peacefully, but instead he is digging in and continuing to push the 2030 agenda. The only 2030 he will see is half past eight on his watch. “Some have insisted that we have masters, the insinuation is that we have been sent by Vice President Chiwenga to do this. Nothing can be further from the truth. The fact that we stand for war against corruption, nepotism and misgovernance, which are values that informed our reasons for going to war against Ian Smith, means we are genuine. In short, we have been sent by the same people who sent us to the liberation war in the 70s. We speak for them once again and possibly for the last time. “Imagine, how you keep a minister in office after she openly insults your Vice-President? [sic] Tatenda Mavetera had the audacity to call General Chiwenga a decorated war hero, mupanduki, we are in shock that this can happen. We have Daniel Garwe, a former soldier in the Rhodesian army, who shot at us as we fought to liberate ourselves from colonial rule, but now a minister and once again fighting from the wrong side of history,” Geza said. “Let me make it clear, we as war veterans and the general public of Zimbabwe — our povo — we have the right to remove Mnangagwa from office because it is us who took him to State House. Who does not know that Mnangagwa fled this country with just his son and his cousin? Where were you Garwe when the man you seek to defend was border jumping? Were you not at Zanu PF headquarters singing and dancing while he was being insulted, now you want to behave as a brave man calling us — isu takarwira nyika ana bhoki. Sadly, Mnangagwa you allow this nonsense to happen, you allow Mavetera to insult an Acting President, at national events, insulting a general how dare!” Blessed Geza was speaking with other comrades at a press conference yesterday. War veterans led by Blessed Geza, have apologised for helping Emmerson Mnangagwa come to power in the 2017 coup. Geza is a Zanu PF Central Committee member. *ED Panics, Doles Out US$1,5m To War Vets* AT least US$1,5 million has been allocated for the Presidential War Veterans Fund, with three provinces already having received US$150 000 each as part of ongoing efforts to economically empower the country’s liberators. The fund, officially launched last Friday in Harare, will provide interest-free loans to war veterans, enabling them to start businesses and achieve self-sufficiency. Speaking at the launch, Special Presidential Investment Advisor to the United Arab Emirates Dr Paul Tungwarara announced that the first US$150 000 would be allocated to the Zimbabwe Political Prisoners, Detainees, and Restrictees Association (ZIPPEDRA) in Harare Metropolitan. “As the Presidential Advisor, I have been sent to inform you that the President is contributing US$150 000 to the ZIPPEDRA Fund for Harare Province, which we are officially launching today. This fund will be accessible to all members to start their own projects, and the best part is that it will be interest-free,” Dr Tungwarara said. The programme would be extended to war veterans across the country, with beneficiaries required to repay the loans to ensure the fund’s sustainability. “The fund will be continuously reviewed and increased based on the honesty and diligence of beneficiaries in repaying the loans, so that others can also benefit,” he said. The event, organised by Concord for Young Women in Business Global, was attended by Zanu PF Deputy National Political Commissar Cde Webster Shamu, Zanu PF Deputy Secretary for Security Cde Tendai Chirau, and other senior officials. Cde Shamu praised President Mnangagwa for his commitment to supporting war veterans, stating that the fund would significantly improve their economic prospects. President of Concord for Young Women in Business Global Cde Apphia Nyasha Musavengana commended the initiative and pledged to provide financial literacy training to beneficiaries to ensure the effective use of the loans. “We want to thank Dr Tungwarara for donating US$100 000 to the ZIPPEDRA Women’s Fund through His Excellency. This fund will enable women to access funding for their projects and businesses without collateral,” she said. The fund has also been launched in Mashonaland East and Masvingo Provinces. In Mashonaland East, an initial donation of US$100 000 was made to support war veterans and their families. Chikomba West Legislator Dr Tatenda Mavetera expressed gratitude for the initiative. In Masvingo, President Mnangagwa committed US$166 000 to the War Veterans Fund. War veterans remain a vital part of Zimbabwe’s development, offering leadership at both community and national levels. During the 2023 harmonised elections, they played a key role in mobilising support for the ruling party and defending the ethos of the liberation struggle. The Presidential War Veterans Fund reflects Government’s recognition of the contributions made by war veterans, ex-political prisoners, detainees, restrictees, non-combatant cadres, and war collaborators. *Herald* *Selling SOEs To Pay National Debt A Deadly Own Goal* _By Corban Madzivanyika_ The proposed sale of state-owned enterprises to settle Zimbabwe’s massive national debt is a short-sighted solution that will have far-reaching and devastating consequences for the country’s economy and its people. Privatizing strategic assets will not only lead to job losses and economic instability but also compromise Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and self-determination. State-owned enterprises play a critical role in driving economic growth, providing essential services, and promoting social welfare. Moreover, the sale of these enterprises will likely benefit foreign investors and wealthy criminal elements (Zvigananda) such as Wicknel Chivharo, Kuda Tagwirei etc at the expense of ordinary Zimbabweans. Zvigananda will buy those Assets at far below the market prices for self-enrichment. This proposed sale is a blatant perpetuation of the looting scheme by Emmerson and his cronies. It is unacceptable to sacrifice the country’s long-term interests and assets to appease foreign creditors and investors. It is a source of serious worry to note that the bulk of the US 21 billion debt was not properly validated in that, a big portion relates to non-performing loans and Gvt guarantees extended to private individuals and companies who choose deliberately not to pay back under Command Agriculture and many other schemes. So to sell national assets to pay for such gross negligence is outrageous and is in defiance of logic. Zimbabwe is well endowed with vast mineral resources which only requires an accountable government to pay off the 21 billion debt. The only problem is a leadership which is not genuinely interested in serving Zimbabwe first but advance the embezzlement of national resources for their immediate families. Zimbabwe mines produce around 1.6 tonnes of Gold per day across the country, but it has a huge debt overhang only as a result of the illicit exportation of the precious minerals promoted and protected by senior government politicians. President Mnangagwa squandered the opportunity for debt restructuring through the Structural dialogue platform with International creditors as facilitated by the African Development Bank. The government has failed to implement comprehensive reforms, including electoral, social, economic, and political reforms, necessary for sustainable debt resolution. To make matters worse, ED perpetuates the broken social contract expressed in the government’s disregard for the Constitution, human rights, and the rule of law has eroded trust and confidence among international creditors and citizens. Instead, he was on an overdrive in human rights violations and Illegal detentions eg cases of Hon Jameson Timba and others, Hon Amos Chibaya and others, Job Sikhala, Namatai Kwekweza and others just to mention a few. After realising that he lost the parliamentary majority, he teamed up with Sengezo Tshabangu to recall the legitimate CCC MPs in order to get a two-thirds majority by hook and crook. All this makes International financial creditors feel insecure about lodging any further deals or debt restructuring with such a dishonest and crooked leader. The real solution to our debt crisis is political. It is the bad politics that is hampering progress because it is tolerating the culture of corruption, nepotism, and Lawlessness. By adopting a more sustainable and equitable approach, Zimbabwe can address its debt challenges while protecting the interests of its people and preserving its sovereignty. _Corban Madzivanyika is the Member of Parliament for Mbizo (CCC) and Shadow Finance Minister_ *Call For Wealth Tax To Address Inequality In Zimbabwe* A social activist has called for Zimbabwe to introduce policies that tax the super-rich to address widening inequalities and curb the concentration of power and wealth among the elite. Speaking at a Fight Inequality Alliance (FIA) meeting in Gweru recently, FIA Gweru chapter member Gracia Mashingaidze said the current taxation system applies uniformly to all citizens, regardless of their wealth levels. She argued that wealthier individuals should be taxed based on their assets and financial capacity. “There is a need to push so that the super-rich are taxed in terms of their property, to have lifestyle audits, so that at least we have policies that make people pay taxes according to the amount of wealth they have,” Mashingaidze said. She stressed that increased taxation on the rich could help fund public services such as free and affordable education, healthcare, and maternity services, benefiting low-income earners who are struggling under the current tax burden. “We are saying as much as you are taxing us, at times it becomes regressive taxation. You are taxed value-added tax, pay-as-you-earn, a 2% levy, and in fact, every move you make, you are taxed,” she said. FIA Gweru chapter member David Chikore echoed her sentiments, saying the country’s policies are largely shaped by the wealthy, making it difficult to implement reforms that benefit the poor. “Unfortunately, in our policymaking, those involved are the rich, so it’s like sending a mosquito to find a cure for malaria,” Chikore said. He called for extensive voter education to empower citizens to elect leaders committed to reducing inequality and implementing fair taxation policies. *Stay Away From DRC: Kagame Tells Mnangagwa and SADC As He Prepares to Fight With Ramaphosa* FOLLOWING a recent threat of military action against South Africa, the Rwandan government has now angrily responded to the Southern African Development Community (SADC). This comes after a meeting in Harare on January 31, 2025, where SADC, under the leadership of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, demanded that the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) should not be involved in fighting what they say are Congolese citizens, referring to the M23 militant group. In a statement released Sunday by their Foreign Affairs ministry, the Rwandan government said that SADC is being aggressive and is assisting the DRC government in their conflict against its own people. “SADC has deployed an offensive force, SAMIDRC, to support the war of the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo against its own people, the M23 and the members of their community, many of whom have fled as refugees to Rwanda and throughout the region. “The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo is also intent on attacking Rwanda and its government, as has been repeatedly and publicly said by President Tshisekedi,” part of the statement reads. “It is clear that SAMIDRC, together with its coalition partners which include the Burundian armed forces, the FDLR and European mercenaries, are at the heart of the conflict. “They should not be there fighting the citizens of that country and effectively bringing war to Rwanda.” However, the Rwandan government has said that they welcome the proposed joint summit between the East African Community and SADC, to try and find a lasting solution to the conflict in the DRC. Rwanda’s statement comes after SADC held an emergency meeting in Harare last Friday. At this meeting, the region, led by Mnangagwa, accused the Rwandan defence forces of killing SADC military forces in the DRC. 13 of these soldiers, from South Africa, were part of SAMIDRC. “The summit condemned in the strongest terms the attacks on the SAMIDRC troops by the M23 operating in the Eastern DRC, as such actions violated the ceasefire that was brokered through the Luanda Process on the thirtieth of July two thousand and twenty-four and undermine peace and security of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the SADC region,” part of SADC’s communique reads. SADC also said: “The summit received the latest reports on the unfolding security situation in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and noted with concern the recent attacks by the M23 armed group and Rwanda Defence Forces on the Government Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), and the civilian population in various areas of North Kivu.” This statement did not sit well with the Rwanda President Paul Kagame and his government. SADC has also condemned the M23, which the United Nations has long said is funded by the Rwandan government. The M23, or March 23rd Movement, emerged as a rebel group in the DRC in 2012. Its roots can be traced back to a previous rebellion, the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), which was integrated into the Congolese army in 2009 as part of a peace agreement. However, many CNDP fighters felt that the agreement was not being upheld, particularly regarding issues of integration and their safety. These grievances led to the mutiny on March 23, 2012, forming what became known as the M23. The group mainly consists of Tutsi Congolese and has been accused of committing human rights abuses. *Trump Attack On South Africa Exposes Divisions Over Race & Land* South African President Cyril Ramaphosa defended his land reform policy on Monday against an attack by Donald Trump that laid bare deep divisions within South Africa over racial disparities in ownership, an issue festering since apartheid. The U.S. president said on Sunday, without citing evidence, that "South Africa is confiscating land" and "certain classes of people" were being treated "very badly", adding that he would cut off funding to the country in response. Ramaphosa said the government had not confiscated any land and he looked forward to engaging with Trump to foster a better understanding over a policy he said ensures equitable public access to land. Trump's attack was echoed by his South African-born billionaire backer Elon Musk, who said in a post on X the country had "openly racist ownership laws", suggesting white people were the victims. White landowners possess three quarters of South Africa's freehold farmland, compared with 4% for Black landowners. Black people make up about 80% of South Africa's total population, while about 8% are white. Ramaphosa signed into law a bill last month aimed at addressing the disparity by making it easier for the state to expropriate land in the public interest. His African National Congress, the biggest party in the ruling coalition, accused Trump of amplifying misinformation propagated by AfriForum, a right-wing lobby group that promotes what it sees as the interests of white Afrikaans speakers. The ANC said Trump's attack was "a direct result of the lobby group's ongoing efforts to mislead the global community and protect apartheid-era land ownership". AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said his group would ask the U.S. government "to directly punish senior ANC leaders and not the people of South Africa" over land reform. A spokesperson confirmed the group had lobbied in the United States. The mostly white-led Democratic Alliance, the second-biggest party in the coalition government, said it wanted the land reform law to be amended to address certain flaws, but nevertheless corrected Trump on the specifics. "It is not true that the Act allows land to be seized by the state arbitrarily, and it does require fair compensation for legitimate expropriations," the DA said. The mining minister, Gwede Mantashe of the ANC, said African countries should "withhold minerals" from the United States in response to any aid cut. Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told Reuters those words should be "taken in jest" and the government was not seriously advocating such a policy. Washington committed $440 million in assistance to South Africa in 2023, of which $315 million was for HIV/AIDS. Ramaphosa said U.S. funding accounted for 17% of South Africa's HIV/AIDS programme but was not significant in other areas. Bilateral relations were already strained because of South Africa's warm relations with China and Russia, and its legal action against Israel, a staunch U.S. ally, which Pretoria accuses of genocide. South Africa's rand, stocks and government bonds fell after Trump's comments, and economists said any U.S. measures against it could hurt the economy at a time when the U.S./Africa AGOA trade deal is due for renewal and Ramaphosa has been struggling to boost growth and attract investors. "Do you want to set up a factory in a country where today, Trump's cutting off all aid? Maybe tomorrow, he's ripping up AGOA and maybe on Wednesday, he's adding 25% tariffs because they're too close to China" said Charles Robertson, an emerging markets specialist at FIM Partners. South African exports to the U.S. through AGOA represented 1% of GDP in 2023, of which about half was transportation equipment, according to research by economist David Omojomolo of Capital Economics. He said 56% of exports from South Africa's automotive sector were AGOA-eligible. Trade Minister Parks Tau said the government would engage with the U.S. administration and both parties represented in Congress on the continuation of AGOA, which expires this year. "We are optimistic that we will remain part of AGOA," he told Reuters on the sidelines of an African mining conference in Cape Town. *Reuters* *Tems Wins At Grammy Award 2025, Beating Yemi Alade & Burna Boy* Nigerian singer Tems saw off the likes of Yemi Alade, Burna Boy and Wizkid to take home the Best African Music Performance Grammy for her hit Love Me Jeje. In an emotional acceptance speech on Sunday evening, she said her "heart was beating so fast". It is only the second year since the category's introduction, a move that was widely welcomed as a recognition of the impact of African artists on the global music scene. However, there was some controversy this year as US R&B star Chris Brown was one of the nominees - for his song Sensational, which incorporates Afrobeats elements and features guest vocals from Nigerian artists Davido and Lojay. Tems was out of breath as she took to the stage after her name was read out at the awards ceremony in Los Angeles. "I do work out but it's not showing up right now," she joked as she patted her heart to the amusement of the audience. The 29-year-old also praised her mother. “Wow, dear God thank you so much for putting me on this stage and bringing this team, and tomorrow is my mum’s birthday and this is her first Grammys. “I just want to thank you mum," she said gesturing towards her, "because she has done a lot for me and my brother.” Love Me Jeje, which samples a line from Seyi Sodimu's 1997 Nigerian classic of the same name, has racked up 125 million listens on Spotify and 21 million views on YouTube. With Sunday's prize, Tems has become the first Nigerian to have two Grammys to her name after winning the Best Melodic Rap Performance in 2023 for featuring on Future's hit Wait For U. Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has joined in the congratulations, commending the singer for bringing "pride" to the country on the global stage for the "second time". Aside from the Best African Music Performance, Tems was nominated in two other categories - Best Global Music Album for Born in the Wild and Best R&B Song for Burning. Across her career she has now received eight nominations in all. She began making a name for herself in 2018 with the release of her self-produced debut single Mr Rebel. Tems gained further attention in 2019 with Try Me. Her international profile was boosted after being featured on Wizkid's song Essence, which earned her several award nominations, including one for a Grammy. She has received various accolades throughout her career, including multiple NAACP Image Awards, a Soul Train Music Award and BET Awards. *BBC* *Russia Accelerating Executions Of Ukrainian POWs: UN* The United Nations has expressed “alarm” over a sharp rise in reported executions of Ukrainian soldiers captured by Russian armed forces. According to a report published on Monday by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, 79 executions took place in 24 separate incidents since August 2024. “Many Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered or were in physical custody of the Russian armed forces were shot dead on the spot,” the report said. The mission obtained footage and photographs published by both Ukrainian and Russian sources documenting the dead bodies. Interviews with witnesses were also conducted, and incidents were geolocated and matched to areas where Russian forces were operating. The UN mission also documented the execution of a “wounded and incapacitated” Russian soldier by the Ukrainian troops. Russia and Ukraine have traded accusations of committing war crimes, including the killing of captured personnel, since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Danielle Bell, head of the UN mission, said such incidents do not “occur in a vacuum”, noting that public figures in Russia had previously publicly called for “inhumane treatment and even execution” of Ukrainian soldiers. “Combined with broad amnesty laws, such statements have the potential to incite or encourage unlawful behaviour,” Bell added. The report emphasises that under international humanitarian law, calls for “no survivors” after the war are prohibited, with no mercy orders being a “serious violation” of international humanitarian law and a “war crime”. “All allegations of execution of captured Ukrainian military personnel and public statements calling for, or condoning, such actions must be investigated,” said Bell. Last month, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office opened a criminal case against Russia after footage emerged of Russian soldiers executing six Ukrainian soldiers in Donetsk. “The shooting of prisoners of war is a serious violation of the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War and is classified as a grave international crime,” the statement read. “Investigative actions are currently being conducted to establish all the circumstances of the crime and the persons involved in its commission.” *Aljazeera* *White House Says Canada Has 'Misunderstood' Tariff Order As A Trade War, Mexico Is 'Serious'* The White House said on Monday it has noticed that Mexico is "serious" about President Donald Trump's executive order on tariffs, but Canada has "misunderstood" it to be a trade war between the neighboring countries. Trump on Saturday ordered sweeping tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China, demanding they stanch the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigrants into the U.S., kicking off a trade war that could dent global growth and stoke inflation. "The good news is that in our conversations over the weekend, one of the things we've noticed is that Mexicans are very, very serious about doing what President Trump said," Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House's National Economic Council, said on CNBC. "Canadians appear to have misunderstood the plain language of the executive order and they're interpreting it as a trade war," Hassett added. When asked what Canada and Mexico must do to lift the 25% tariffs that Trump announced on Saturday, the president told reporters on Sunday they "have to balance out their trade, number one." "They've got to stop people from pouring into our country ... they have to stop people pouring in, and we have to stop fentanyl. And that includes China," said Trump, who announced an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods. The president also said the tariffs against the three largest U.S. trading partners, which take effect on Tuesday, might cause Americans some short-term pain, but "long term, the United States has been ripped off by virtually every country in the world." Trump also indicated on Sunday that the 27-nation European Union would be next in the firing line, but he did not say when. Hassett, when asked if Trump's policies will create more inflation, said one needs to look at all of the president's policies together. "I think this is going to be one of the biggest supply-side positive shocks that we've ever seen," he said. The NEC director also said Trump will ultimately decide "what he's going to call off and what he's not" in terms of tariffs. *Reuters* *Beyoncé Finally Wins Best Album Grammy: 'It's Been Many Years'* Correcting what was widely seen as an historic wrong, Beyoncé won best album at the 67th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. The star was recognised for her eighth album, Cowboy Carter, which celebrates and contextualises the black roots of country music. She had previously been passed over for the ceremony's main prize on four separate occasions. As her name was read out, Beyoncé hugged her daughter Blue Ivy, then her husband Jay-Z, before walking to the stage in a gold paisley dress to accept the trophy. "I just feel very full and very honoured," she said. "It's been many, many years." The singer dedicated her award to Linda Martell, one of the pioneers for black musicians in country music and the first black woman to perform solo at the Grand Ole Opry (Ms Martell features on several of Cowboy Carter's songs). "I hope we just keep pushing forward [and] opening doors," Beyoncé continued. "God bless y'all. Thank you so much." The star's victory comes 25 years after her first Grammy nomination, as part of the R&B group Destiny's Child. She went on to become the most-awarded artist in Grammys history, with a haul of 35 trophies - but the main prize eluded her until Sunday night. In the end, it took a switch of genre to earn the Texas-born musician a win. Focusing on country and Americana, Cowboy Carter is the second part of a trilogy of albums that interrogates American musical traditions and uncovers the often unheralded contributions made by black artists. Notably, it makes Beyoncé the first black woman to win album of the year since 1999, when Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill took the title. Earlier in the evening, Cowboy Carter also won the Grammy for best country album - to Beyoncé's evident surprise. A stunned expression shot across the 43-year-old's face as her name was read out. In a moment laced with symbolism, that announcement came from Taylor Swift - another artist who successfully switched genres, and who previously beat Beyoncé to the album of the year prize in 2010. "Wow, I really was not expecting this," said Beyoncé in her acceptance speech, thanking "all of the incredible country artists" who had voted for the prize. The recognition came five months after she was snubbed at the Country Music Awards - even after she became the first black woman to have a number one hit on the Hot Country Songs chart, with Texas Hold 'Em. That song was also nominated for record of the year at the Grammys, but lost to Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us. The rap hit, which was the knock-out blow in Lamar's long-running rap battle with Drake, scooped all five of the awards it was nominated for, including song of the year, best rap song and best music video. It was only the second hip-hop song win record of the year (following Childish Gambino's This Is America in 2019) but Lamar played the achievement down, focusing instead on his hometown of Los Angeles, which was recently ravaged by wildfires. "We're gonna dedicate this one to the city," he said. "Compton, Long Beach Inglewood, Hollywood, out to the valley... This is my neck of the woods that held me down since a young pup." The impact of the wildfires was the main theme of the ceremony, which doubled up as a fund-raiser, raising more than $7 million (£5.7 million) for those affected. Comedian Trevor Noah, who hosted the ceremony, admitted that "just a few weeks ago, we weren't sure that this show would even happen". "Thankfully, due to the heroic efforts of firefighters, the fires have now been contained, and despite all the devastation, the spirit of the city has emerged," he added, to generous applause. Squads of firefighters were invited to the awards to honour their efforts; and they walked the red carpet taking selfies with the biggest stars in music. The show opened with a special performance by the local band Dawes, whose homes were destroyed in the inferno, playing Randy Newman's classic song I Love LA. *BBC* *USAID Officials Put On Leave As Elon Musk Says Time For Agency To ‘Die’* Elon Musk has declared that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) should “die” amid reports that two top security officials at the aid agency were put on leave for refusing his representatives access to classified materials. Musk, who was appointed by US President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), on Monday branded USAID a “criminal organisation” after security officials reportedly denied members of his cost-cutting task force access to restricted areas of the agency’s headquarters in Washington, DC. “Time for it to die,” Musk wrote on his social media platform X. USAID’s director of security, John Voorhees, and his deputy, Brian McGill, were placed on leave after denying DOGE personnel entry to secure areas over their lack of security clearances, multiple US media outlets reported, citing unnamed officials. The representatives of DOGE, which was created in an executive order by Trump but is not a government department, were ultimately able to access areas with classified information following the confrontation, which was first reported by CNN, according to multiple reports. Steven Cheung, the White House director of communications, denied that DOGE personnel had attempted to gain access to secure areas, calling a PBS report about the incident “fake news” and “not even remotely true at all”. “This is how unserious and untrustworthy the media is,” Cheung said in a post on X. However, Katie Miller, who serves in DOGE, appeared to acknowledge the task force’s attempted entry, writing on X that “no classified material was accessed without proper security clearances”. US politics, Canada’s multiculturalism, South America’s geopolitical rise—we bring you the stories that matter. The incident has added to concerns that Trump, who has placed a freeze on nearly all foreign aid, is planning to radically curtail, or even outright dismantle, USAID. On Saturday, the USAID website went offline while a barebones page for the agency appeared on the website of the Department of State, fuelling speculation it would be subsumed into the government agency tasked with managing foreign policy. “President Trump spent two weeks harassing and laying off USAID employees, and now his team is trying to gut the agency altogether,” Chris Coons, a Democratic senator for the state of Delaware, said on X. “These are patriotic Americans who promote our leadership around the world. They make us safer. Trump makes us less safe.” Jeremy Konyndyk, who served as director of USAID’s Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance between 2013 and 2017, said that eliminating USAID without an act of Congress would be unlawful and a breach of the separation of powers enshrined in the US Constitution. “If this gambit succeeds – if Trump (or Elon) can just override Congressional statutes and funding mandates, and Congress acquiesces – it’s a very dark sign … and it won’t stop at USAID,” Konyndyk said on X. Democratic lawmakers also raised alarm about the scale of Musk’s influence over the government despite him not holding elected office. Musk’s clash with USAID comes after The New York Times and The Associated Press news agency reported over the weekend that DOGE had gained access to the federal payment system, which holds sensitive personal information about millions of Americans. “This is a five alarm fire. The people elected Donald Trump to be President – not Elon Musk,” New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on X. “Having an unelected billionaire, with his own foreign debts and motives, raiding US classified information is a grave threat to national security. This should not be a partisan issue.” On Sunday, Trump told reporters that his administration would get the “radical lunatics” out of USAID before making a decision on its future. Trump later singled out aid to South Africa, pledging to cut off “all future funding” in response to land confiscations and what he said was the poor treatment of “certain classes of people”. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa last week signed a controversial law that allows the confiscation of white farmers’ land without compensation in certain cases. The US allocated nearly $440m in assistance to South Africa in 2023, according to US government data. “The United States won’t stand for it, we will act,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding that the funding freeze would stay in place until a “full investigation of this situation has been completed”. The US is by far the world’s largest source of foreign assistance, although less than 1 percent of its spending goes to aid and some other countries give more as a proportion of their budgets. Washington gave out $72bn in foreign aid across nearly 180 countries in 2023, with more than half of it disbursed through USAID. *Aljazeera* *Crystal Palace Reject Tottenham's £70m Bid For Guehi* Crystal Palace have rejected a bid from Tottenham for defender Marc Guehi thought to be about £70m. The England international, who attracted interest from Newcastle in the summer, has 18 months left on his contract with Palace. He has made 23 appearances and scored three goals in the Premier League this season as Palace find themselves 12th - three points above Tottenham in 14th. Spurs are not expected to increase their bid for the 24-year-old in this window. Palace turned down four bids from Newcastle for Guehi in the summer, with the final offer worth up to £65m. Chelsea are also understood to have Guehi on a list of defensive targets, despite selling him to Palace for £18m in 2021. Palace have just three fit centre-backs after Trevoh Chalobah was recalled from his loan spell by Chelsea and Chadi Riad sustained a long-term knee injury. The club looked into signing Portugal's Tiago Djalo, but they needed Juventus to recall the 24-year-old from his loan spell at Porto before he could join the Eagles. Meanwhile, injury-hit Spurs are in the search of defensive reinforcements despite pipping Wolves to the loan signing of Lens defender Kevin Danso on Sunday. Romanian centre-back Radu Dragusin sustained a knee injury in their Europa League win over Elfsborg on Thursday to join Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie on the injury list. There are reports Spurs have looked at other central defenders, including Chelsea's Axel Disasi and AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori. Tottenham have been approached for comment. *BBC*