A Japanese political party has said that it will install an artificial intelligence as leader after its founder, Shinji Ishimaru (pictured above), quit following a disastrous showing in recent elections. 

"The new leader will be AI," Koki Okumura, a doctoral student of AI research who described himself as an assistant to the new leader, told a news conference on Tuesday, September 16. 

Details about the AI are yet to be decided, including when and how it will be implemented, said the 25-year-old student at Kyoto University, who will nominally be the party's leader. 

The AI will not dictate political activities of party members but will focus on decisions such as distribution of its resources among members, for example, said Okumura, who recently won a party contest to succeed Ishimaru. 

The Path to Rebirth party, which was launched in January by Shinji Ishimaru, a former mayor of a small city in western Japan, does not have a policy platform and its members are free to set their own agendas. 

Ishimaru unexpectedly came second in the 2024 Tokyo gubernatorial election thanks to a successful online campaign, but he quit the party after it failed to pick up any seats in this year's upper house elections. 

While attracting media attention, the Path to Rebirth has struggled to win seats. 

All of its 42 candidates lost in the June Tokyo assembly election. All of its 10 candidates who ran in the upper house election in July also lost. 

The report that the Japanese  political party is to install and AI leader comes after Albania became the world’s first government to appoint an AI minister to fight widespread corruption. 

Albania has introduced Diella, the world’s first government minister created by artificial intelligence. 

Serbia’s World Cup qualifier against Albania next month has been moved from Belgrade to the southern city of Leskovac due to security concerns, the Serbian Football Association (FSS) has announced.

UEFA approved the request for relocation, with the consent of Albania, ahead of the October 11 clash.

“The key reason is security, not only for the fans, but above all for the players and everyone else involved in the match,” the FSS said in its statement. “Such a fixture carries the highest level of risk and requires full control to prevent incidents like those already witnessed in previous encounters between these two teams.”

The FSS referenced the infamous 2014 match in Belgrade that was abandoned after a drone carrying a flag promoting a “Greater Albania”, which depicted an expanded Albanian state including Kosovo, flew over the pitch. The provocation triggered angry scenes, with fans invading the field and the game being cancelled.

Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008, remains at the heart of tensions between Belgrade and Tirana. Serbia has refused to recognise Kosovo’s independence, and memories of the 1998–1999 war, which ended with Belgrade’s withdrawal from the region after a NATO intervention, continue to strain relations.

Clashes have marred several previous encounters. After the pair’s earlier qualifying clash in Tirana, which ended goalless, Albania were sanctioned by FIFA for fan misconduct, including “discriminatory behaviour” and the use of fireworks. In 2015, when the two sides met again in Elbasan, Albania, tensions were high under a heavy police presence, with reports that the Serbian team bus was attacked with stones on the eve of the match.

The FSS itself has also faced disciplinary action. FIFA punished Serbia in June over “discrimination and racist abuse” by fans during a match against Andorra. More recently, last week’s 5-0 home defeat to England in Belgrade was marred by tense and unruly scenes in the stands.

In its latest statement, the FSS said, “Relocating and organising the match in Leskovac significantly reduces the risk of potential incidents.”

The Dubocica Stadium in Leskovac, built just two years ago, has a capacity of slightly more than 8,000 far smaller than Belgrade’s Rajko Mitic Stadium, which holds 52,000.

Serbia are currently third in their qualifying group, with England leading and Albania sitting second.

The Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) has said churches must obtain copyright licences for the copyrighted music they sing during services, stressing that using other people’s songs without permission amounts to copyright infringement.

The message was delivered by ZIMURA spokesperson Alexio Gwenzi during an interview with Oscar Pambuka on Burning Issues, which premiered on 15 September 2025 on earGROUND TV. Gwenzi explained that churches, cover bands and venues fall under “music users” who are required by law to secure licences before performing or playing copyrighted material.

“If you are an organisation, whatever organisation that you are, if you are going to perform another person’s intellectual property, you are infringing on their copyright and you should pay for it,” Gwenzi said. He added that some large churches already hold licences, citing Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa’s UFIC church as an example.

Gwenzi emphasised that ZIMURA is a non-profit collective management organisation responsible for licensing music users and distributing royalties to composers and publishers. He said the association operates under the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act [Chapter 26:05], which provides the legal framework for copyright in Zimbabwe.

“We license any business that is using music to push their business… broadcasters, hotels, lodges, restaurants, boutiques and television stations. Anyone who uses music,” Gwenzi said, noting that membership currently stands at about 5,000 creators.

The spokesperson also addressed the controversy surrounding ZIMURA’s cover band tariff. Earlier in 2025, the association introduced a US$150 (R2,604) per-show composers’ fee for bands that perform mostly other artists’ songs. Gwenzi defended the fee, arguing that bands earning as much as US$2,000 (R34,735) per night could afford it. However, the Ministry of Justice suspended the tariff in April pending review.

“We create tariffs and deposit them with the Ministry… once stamped, we implement,” Gwenzi said, while refusing to disclose the names of top-earning bands.

On the issue of churches, Gwenzi said fees typically range between US$30–US$100 (R521–R1,736), depending on the size of the organisation and the extent of music use. He also highlighted benefits for artists who register with ZIMURA, including funeral cover, incapacitation allowances, and a support figure of US$500 (R8,679) agreed by members. Registration costs US$20 (R347).

Turning to royalties, Gwenzi explained: “We pay for usage of music. If your music is not being used, you can’t get anything.” He said historical radio play rates stood between 7–12 cents per spin, and one of the highest earners recently received about US$5,000 (R86,787) in a distribution round.

The interview also touched on ZIMURA’s leadership, with Gwenzi confirming that Polisile Ncube-Chimhini remains Chief Executive despite appealing a fraud conviction handed down in late June 2025. Court records show she was acquitted of forgery but convicted of fraud, with the appeal process ongoing.

An asylum seeker who entered the UK illegally has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison for r@ping a woman in central London. 

Abdelrahmen Adnan Abouelela, 42, attacked the victim as she walked home from a night out in Hyde Park in November last year.

Southwark Crown Court heard that Abouelela lured the woman to a secluded area in the park before committing the r@pe. The victim, who was under the influence of alcohol, was targeted while alone, the court noted.

Abouelela first arrived in the UK in April 2023, claiming asylum due to alleged political persecution and torture in Egypt. His wife and son currently live in Turkey. His address at the time of the offence was given as a Hilton hotel in Ealing, west London, a government-used accommodation for migrants.

Judge Gregory Perrins told Abouelela: “It must have been obvious to you that she was a woman under the influence of alcohol who was alone and vulnerable. You made the decision to take advantage of her vulnerability. You were driven purely by your own sexual desires. You simply did not care that she could not consent: you just took what you wanted.”

The court also heard that Abouelela was later diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder and complex PTSD, but Judge Perrins said the connection between the diagnosis and the crime was “minimal” and “there is little connection between those circumstances and your decision to r@pe the victim on that night.”

The judge commended the victim for her “immense bravery and courage” during the trial. In May, a jury found Abouelela guilty of one count of r@pe.

Under UK law, Abouelela will be subject to an automatic deportation order under the UK Borders Act 2007.

American singer, Lil Nas X was absent from a Los Angeles court hearing on September 15 after being checked into an inpatient treatment program.

According to Daily Mail, the 26-year-old rapper, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, was due for a pre-trial hearing following his arrest last month over a nude public meltdown. Instead, his lawyers told the court he is currently in treatment at an undisclosed facility out of state.

Judge Shellie Samuels ruled that the pop star can remain out of state as long as he stays in treatment, but added that if his care changes to outpatient, the court will revisit the conditions of his release.

His next hearing has been scheduled for November 18.

Lil Nas X was arrested in August after stripping naked on a Los Angeles street and allegedly assaulting police officers. Days later, he told fans that his time behind bars was “terrifying,” but promised he would be fine.

A tragic accident in Milan has claimed the life of an 83-year-old woman after a 70-year-old pensioner jumped from a fourth-floor apartment and landed on her. 

Francesca Manno was walking through the courtyard of the building in the Baggio district on Sunday, September 14, at around 6 p.m. local time when the man fell on her, according to local media reports.

The pensioner, who lives in the same building, had climbed over his balcony railing in an apparent suicide attempt. Initial fears of a double suicide were later dispelled when authorities confirmed that Manno and the man were strangers.

Passersby alerted emergency services, and paramedics rushed to the scene. Despite efforts to revive her, Manno was pronounced dead at the site. Witnesses said she bore the full impact of the fall.

The man survived with multiple leg fractures and was transported to Niguarda Hospital. Doctors confirmed he was not in life-threatening condition. Carabinieri officers from the Radiomobile unit and the San Cristoforo station confirmed that the fall was a suicide attempt. He has since been charged with involuntary manslaughter and remains under investigation.

The incident comes amid another tragedy in Italy, where 15-year-old figure skater Matilda Ferrari was killed by a cement truck while crossing the road near her home in Val Rendena, Trentino, on Monday morning. The driver was reportedly passing through a green light. Rescue teams and local doctors attempted to save her, but she was pronounced dead from severe injuries.

Manuel Cosi, the mayor of Giustino, where Matilda lived, expressed his grief: “We are shocked... Giustino has lost a star.”

Both incidents have cast a shadow over northern Italy as communities mourn two lives lost under tragic circumstances.

A doctor who left a patient during an operation to have s3x with a nurse has been allowed to continue practicing medicine. 

Dr Suhail Anjum, 44, and the unnamed nurse were discovered in a “compromising position” by a colleague at Tameside Hospital in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, in September 2023.

Dr Anjum, a consultant anaesthetist, had left his patient under general anaesthetic for an alleged “bathroom break” but instead engaged in s3x in another operating theatre. Another nurse was asked to monitor the patient during his absence.

During the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing, it was revealed that a staff member walked in on the nurse “with her trousers around her knee area with her underwear on display” while Dr Anjum was “tying up the cord of his trousers.”

The patient suffered no harm, but Dr Anjum was dismissed in February 2024 following an internal investigation. At the tribunal, he admitted his behaviour was “quite shameful” and said: “I only have myself to blame. I let down everybody, not just my patient and myself but the trust and how it would look. I let down my colleagues who gave me a lot of respect.”

He also acknowledged that he knew the nurse was “likely to be nearby” when he left his patient and that his actions could have put the patient at risk. Despite this, Dr Anjum expressed his intention to resume his medical career in the UK after relocating his family to Pakistan.

Tribunal chairwoman Rebecca Miller said his actions were “significant enough to amount to misconduct that was serious” but accepted that the doctor’s risk of repeating the misconduct was “very low.” She added: “The tribunal considered that members of the public and the profession would understand the high level of scrutiny to which Dr Anjum had been subjected, and that a finding of serious misconduct would weigh heavily upon him. This public finding is sufficient to maintain public confidence in the profession and proper professional standards.”

Dr Anjum was not sanctioned by the tribunal, which is expected to reconvene to decide whether to issue a warning on his registration.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged on Monday, September 15 that Israel is facing a “kind of isolation” on the global stage, a consequence of its nearly two-year war in Gaza. 

Speaking at a finance ministry conference, he warned that the isolation could last for years and said Israel would need to adapt economically and militarily to withstand it.

Netanyahu argued that Israel’s economy must adopt “autarkic characteristics” – becoming more self-reliant and less dependent on foreign trade. “It’s a word I hate,” he admitted, noting that he had championed free-market reforms in the past. But, he added, circumstances had changed.

The prime minister highlighted the defense industry as one of the key sectors under pressure. With growing restrictions on arms sales from European nations, Netanyahu said Israel would have to expand domestic weapons production.

“We’ll need to develop our weapons industry – we’re going to be Athens and super Sparta combined. We have no choice, at least for the coming years when we’ll be required to deal with these isolation attempts,” he said.

His comments mark a rare admission of the backlash Israel faces over its Gaza campaign. Humanitarian organizations, the United Nations, and several Western governments have warned that Israel’s expanding military operations could worsen the civilian toll, fuel accusations of genocide – which Israel strongly denies – and deepen its global isolation.

Several European countries, including France, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, and the UK, have either imposed or are weighing arms embargoes. The United States remains Israel’s primary supplier of military hardware and has resisted calls for restrictions, though a Biden-era delay on heavy bomb shipments was lifted under the Trump administration.

Domestically, Netanyahu’s stance is increasingly contested. Families of hostages held in Gaza, sections of the military, and opposition figures have urged him to reconsider expanding the war, arguing that it endangers hostages and weakens Israel’s international standing. Demonstrators in Tel Aviv on Saturday once again demanded the government prioritize the hostages’ release.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid blasted Netanyahu’s remarks, writing on X: “Isolation is not fate; it is the result of Netanyahu’s flawed and failed policy.” Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who is preparing for a political run, warned that “there will be no second chance to repair the damage caused by him and his partners who abandoned the hostages and isolated Israel in the world.”

Netanyahu partly blamed Israel’s growing isolation on what he called “an extreme Islamist agenda” influencing European foreign policy and rival states such as Qatar shaping global narratives through social media. He warned that the situation could escalate into economic sanctions and further restrictions on weapons imports.

Despite his warning, Netanyahu insisted Israel’s economy remains strong, pointing to a rising stock market and falling inflation. “Investing in Israel is the smart thing to do,” he said, vowing to expand domestic weapons production and reduce reliance on “weak Western European leaders who surrender to extreme Muslim minorities in their countries.”

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich echoed that message, praising Israel’s economic resilience amid the war.

Earlier in the day, Netanyahu appeared with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reaffirmed Washington’s close ties with Israel and criticized countries, including France, Canada, and Australia, for moves toward recognizing a Palestinian state ahead of this month’s United Nations General Assembly.

Two sisters have d!ed and a third is fighting for her life after a car accident in Gauteng, South Africa. 

Connor Moodley and Cassidy Moodley d!ed in the accident on Saturday, September 13, 2025 while Storm Moodley is fighting for her life in the hospital. 

In a post by their alma mater, Roosevelt High School in Randburg, Johannesburg, the school confirmed that two of the sisters tragically lost their lives. 

“It is with deep sadness that we share the heartbreaking news that three of our alumni sisters — Storm (class of 2017), Connor (class of 2018), and Cassidy (class of  2020) Moodley — were involved in a serious motor vehicle accident last night," the post reads.

"We are devastated to learn that Connor and Cassidy have tragically passed away, while Storm is currently fighting for her life.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Moodley family during this incredibly difficult time. We hold Storm in our hearts and pray for her strength to keep on fighting. May Connor and Cassidy rest in perfect peace.” 

Messages of condolences have streamed in, and the girls have been described as loving people who always added sunshine to the lives of those they met. 

A teacher also posted how one of the sisters, Connor, made teaching worthwhile. 

Cristel Venter wrote: “These girls gave life. Connor, you will forever live in my heart with your coloring in pages on my cupboard and your elastic band rubber ball that no one has been allowed to touch. You made teaching worthwhile. And you will forever be one of my heart kids. May your souls rest in peace.” 

Messages of encouragement and prayers are going out for Storm, who continues to fight for her life in the hospital, to be healed. 

US Leader, Donald Trump will receive the full red-carpet treatment this week as he embarks on an unprecedented second UK state visit — the first U.S. president ever to be granted such an honor.
 
Arriving with his wife, Melania, on September 16 at the invitation of King Charles III, Trump will be treated to a pageantry-filled itinerary designed to showcase Britain’s royal grandeur. From a carriage procession and military flyover to a state banquet at Windsor Castle, the events are aimed at appealing to Trump’s long-standing fascination with the monarchy.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to use the visit to strengthen ties with Washington, with discussions set to focus on trade, tariffs, and the war in Ukraine. The British leader has worked to keep relations warm since Trump’s return to the White House in January, despite their contrasting political leanings.
 
“This is really special, this has never happened before, this is unprecedented,” Starmer said earlier this year when he personally delivered the king’s invitation to Trump at the Oval Office. Trump, in turn, described Charles — who is undergoing cancer treatment — as a “great, great gentleman.”
 
The visit also highlights Britain’s efforts to preserve its “special relationship” with the U.S., particularly at a time when Trump is reshaping global alliances.

Royal engagements will begin Wednesday when Prince William and Princess Catherine welcome the Trumps to Windsor. King Charles and Queen Camilla will then lead the traditional state ceremonies, culminating in a grand banquet. Trump will also pay a private visit to the grave of Queen Elizabeth II, who hosted him during his first state visit in 2019.

On Thursday, attention will shift to politics. At Chequers, Starmer and Trump are expected to announce “a world-leading tech partnership” and a “major civil nuclear deal.” Both leaders will also discuss Ukraine, with Britain and other European allies urging Trump to maintain support for Kyiv amid concerns over his warmer posture toward Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Melania Trump will have a separate program, joining Queen Camilla and Princess Catherine for events including a tour of the Queen Mary Dolls’ House and a youth scouting activity.
 
Despite the pomp, diplomatic strains linger. The White House confirmed Trump plans to raise “how important it is for the Prime Minister to protect free speech in the UK,” echoing a theme pushed by Elon Musk at a far-right gathering in Britain days earlier.

Adding to the tension, Starmer last week dismissed Britain’s ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, over his links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein — a scandal that continues to shadow Trump at home.