09Jan/26

The Gated Games: Why the 2026 World Cup is Losing its Soul

January 9, 2026FootballAdvocacy Team, amnesty international, Canada, Dakwar, Daniel, Daniel Noroña, FIFA, FIFA World Cup, Gianni Infantino, In Canadian soccer, Iran, Jamil Dakwar, Mexico, MEXICO CITY, Senegal, TORONTO, Twitter, United States, Watch Minky Worden, Worden, Zurichadmin

Jan. 9, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The World Cup has always been more than a tournament; it is a quadrennial “Global Village” where the world puts aside its borders for ninety minutes at a time. But as we approach the 2026 kickoff, that village is being replaced by a fortress. The United States’ current immigration stance—marked by travel bans for 39 nations and “extreme vetting” for others—is fundamentally altering the spirit of the game. We are moving toward a “Two-Tier World Cup” where your ability to cheer for your national team is determined by the strength of your passport, not the depth of your passion. Continue reading →

09Jan/26

A Divided Pitch: The Rise of “Fortress America” and the Death of the Global Fan

January 9, 2026FootballAdvocacy Team, amnesty international, Atlanta, Border control, Boston, Brazil, Canada, Canadian, Colombia, Dakwar, Dallas, Daniel, Daniel Noroña, FIFA, FIFA World Cup, France, Germany, Guadalajara, Haiti, In Canadian soccer, Iran, Jamil Dakwar, Los Angeles, Mexico, MEXICO CITY, Miami, Monterrey, Norway, Philadelphia, Port-au-Prince, Qatar, Russia, Scotland, Seattle, Senegal, South Africa, Tehran, TORONTO, Travel visa, Tunisia, Turkey, Twitter, United Kingdom, United States, Vancouver, Visa Inc., Visa requirements for Indian citizens, Watch Minky Worden, Zurichadmin

Jan. 9, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The intersection of U.S. immigration policy and the 2026 FIFA World Cup has become a major flashpoint. The feasibility of a boycott and the “ruining” of the game are subjects of intense debate among human rights groups, fans, and governing bodies. Football without fans is like a movie without a soundtrack. You can still follow the plot, and the acting (the skill) is still world-class, but you lose the emotional crescendos that make you jump out of your seat. For a World Cup—an event built on the “unity” of humanity—a lack of fans doesn’t just change the score; it changes the soul of the event. Continue reading →

09Jan/26

The Vigilance Blueprint: A Framework for Community-Led Counter-Surveillance

January 9, 2026SecurityAutomatic number-plate recognition, Countersurveillance, Crime prevention, Hanwha, HIKVISION, Internet privacy, Law enforcement, Mapillary, Mass surveillance, Motorola, National security, National Security Agency, Pan–tilt–zoom camera, Privacy, Security, SHOTSPOTTER, Surveillanceadmin

Jan. 9, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — This initiative, modeled on the Surveillance Watch concept, empowers citizens to transition from passive subjects of monitoring to active participants in privacy oversight. By leveraging a decentralized network of volunteers, the project creates a high-resolution, grassroots map of surveillance infrastructure—such as facial recognition cameras, license plate readers, and cell-site simulators. The framework addresses the inherent risks of community activism (such as data inaccuracy and volunteer safety) Continue reading →

09Jan/26

Data, Deception, and the Death of Renee Nicole Good

January 9, 2026SecurityBoston, California City, Chicago, Chris Murphy, Denver, Deportation from the United States, Deportation in the second Trump administration, Illegal immigration to the United States, Immigration policy of Donald Trump, Immigration to the United States, Jacob Frey, Kristi Noem, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Move, New York, Palantir Technologies, Renee Nicole, Renee Nicole Good, Sanctuary city, Tim Walz, Trump, United States, United States Department of Homeland Security, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcementadmin

Jan. 9, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — On January 7, 2026, the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in South Minneapolis ignited a national firestorm, exposing the lethal intersection of mass deportation policies and AI-driven surveillance. While federal officials, including President Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, have labeled Good a “domestic terrorist” who weaponized her vehicle, eyewitness accounts and independent video forensics suggest a far different reality: a U.S. citizen and mother of three attempting to steer her SUV away from a chaotic federal enforcement action. Continue reading →

08Jan/26

2026 Risk Report: Zambia’s Economic & Political Outlook

January 8, 2026EconomyAngola, Barrick Gold, Copperbelt, Deficit spending, Edgar Lungu, Electoral Roadmap, First Quantum Minerals, Fred, Given Lubinda, Government spending, Hakainde Hichilema, Kelvin Fube Bwalya, Lusaka, Lusaka Securities Exchange, Nevers Mumba, Patriotic Front, Polling Percentage, Presidents of Zambia, Shanty Town, Situmbeko Musokotwane, Tanzania, the bank of zambia, Tonse Alliance, United Party for National Development, UPND Alliance, Zambiaadmin

Jan. 8, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — In 2026, Zambia is positioned at a critical crossroads, transitioning from a period of climate-induced shocks (2024–2025) into a high-growth phase. The economy is projected to expand by 6.4%, a “rebound” driven primarily by a resurgence in the mining sector as copper production targets 1 million metric tons. This growth is supported by a more stable agricultural season and a strategic pivot toward renewable energy to mitigate future power deficits. Continue reading →

08Jan/26

CES 2026: From Silicon to Soul — The Dawn of Physical AI and Robotic Companions Redefines the Future of Tech

January 8, 2026InnovationArtificial intelligence, CES, Computational neuroscience, Cybernetics, Data science, Luna, Nvidia, Robotadmin

January 8, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ – The 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) concluded as a landmark event, signaling a pivotal shift from AI as a mere feature to AI as fundamental infrastructure. This year’s show was dominated by the emergence of “Physical AI,” where generative intelligence transcends digital screens, manifesting in advanced humanoids, smart materials, and a new generation of immersive displays. Continue reading →

07Jan/26

The Future of AI in Litigation

January 7, 2026LegalArtificial general intelligence, Artificial intelligence, Civil procedure, Computational neuroscience, Cybernetics, Electronic discovery, Existential risk from artificial intelligence, Partnership on AI, Regulation of artificial intelligenceadmin

Jan. 6, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — This publication gathers expert opinions on how artificial intelligence will revolutionize the legal sector by 2026, focusing on its role in litigation, court preparation, and law firm strategy. While the text highlights that AI will become a strategic asset, it maintains that human legal expertise remains irreplaceable for ethical and defensible outcomes. Artificial intelligence is set to evolve from a simple efficiency tool into a strategic asset, fundamentally altering the entire litigation lifecycle. Continue reading →

2026 Venezuelan oil is being used to counter BRICS momentum

January 6, 2026FinanceBank for International Settlements (BIS), Beijing, Brazil, BRICS, Chevron, China, Chinese Yuan Renminbi, ConocoPhillips, Dedollarisation, eastern energy, Economy of Venezuela, ED YARDENI, Exxon, ExxonMobil, Foreign exchange market, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Maduro, Monetary hegemony, Moscow, Nicolás Maduro, OPEC, Petrocurrency, Petrodollar recycling, Petroleum, Petroleum politics, Phillips 66, Price of oil, Pricing, Putin, Rosneft, Russia, Russian Ruble, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco, Schlumberger, Trump, United States, US Dollar, VALERO, Venezuelaadmin

Jan. 6, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ —The term petrodollar refers to the global system where crude oil is priced and traded exclusively in U.S. dollars. This system has been a cornerstone of American economic and geopolitical power for over 50 years. As of early 2026, the petrodollar system is facing its most significant challenges since its inception, with major shifts in Venezuela and the Middle East reshaping the global energy landscape. Continue reading →

06Jan/26

Gemini Code Assistant Fixed The Error

January 6, 2026DevelopersBlog, Blogger, Certificate authority, Cryptographic protocols, Google Search, HTTPS, Hypertext Transfer Protocol, Mixtape, Secure communication, Stanley Clarke, Transport Layer Security, URL redirection, vionde, YouTubeadmin

Jan. 6, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Trouble with dedugging code is that when you fix one issue and then end up creating more bugs. Gemini is a good coding assistant. Here is how Gemini fixed an error in under 5 minutes

Prompt: Help me fix the SSL issue on this site https://vionde.mpelembe.net/2026/01/mix-stanley-clarke.html Continue reading →

06Jan/26

Copyright infringement, artist compensation

January 6, 2026MusicAI, AI safety, Artificial intelligence, Artificial intelligence and copyright, Artificial intelligence art, Ben Thompson, Deepfake, Deezer, Elton John, Ethics of artificial intelligence, Generative artificial intelligence, Music and artificial intelligence, Paul McCartney, Regulation of artificial intelligence, Spotify, Text-to-image generationadmin

Jan. 6, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — In 2025 and early 2026, the BBC Talking Business series and wider BBC reporting have extensively covered the transformative and controversial role of AI in the music industry. Continue reading →