Jawhar Ben Mbarek’s sister said his health had ‘severely deteriorated’ and a ‘dangerous toxin’ was detected in his body.
Published On 15 Nov 202515 Nov 2025
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Jailed Tunisian opposition figure Jawhar Ben Mbarek has been hospitalised due to severe dehydration, his family has said, as his health continues to deteriorate after more than two weeks on hunger strike.
Ben Mbarek, the cofounder of Tunisia’s main opposition alliance, the National Salvation Front, started his hunger strike on October 29 to protest his detention in jail since February 2023.
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In a Facebook post on Friday, Ben Mbarek’s sister, Dalila Ben Mbarek Msaddek, warned that her brother’s health had now “severely deteriorated” and doctors detected “a highly dangerous toxin” affecting his kidneys.
Msaddek said Ben Mbarek had “received treatment but refused nutritional supplements” at the hospital where he was transferred on Thursday night, insisting on continuing his now 17-day protest.
The politician was discharged from hospital on Friday afternoon and returned to prison, Msaddek added.
On Wednesday, Ben Mbarek’s lawyer Hanen Khmiri said he had “faced torture” at the hands of guards at Belli prison, as they attempted to force him to end his protest.
“He was severely beaten, we saw fractures and bruises on his body,” Khmiri said, adding that she had filed a complaint with the public prosecutor, who promised to investigate.
“He told me that four of the prison guards beat him severely in a place where there is no surveillance camera,” she said.
Ben Mbarek is one of the most prominent opponents of Tunisian strongman President Kais Saied, who has been in power since 2019.
In April, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison on charges of “conspiracy against state security” and “belonging to a terrorist group”, in a mass trial of opposition figures slammed by human rights groups as politically motivated.
Jawhar Ben Mbarek, a member of the ‘Citizens Against Coup’ campaign, gestures during a demonstration against President Kais Saied in 2021 in the capital Tunis [File: Fethi Belaid/AFP]
Ben Mbarek has denied the charges, which he has called fabricated.
Rights groups have warned of a sharp decline in civil liberties in Tunisia since a sweeping power grab by Saied in July 2021, when he dissolved parliament and expanded executive power so he could rule by decree.
That decree was later enshrined in a new constitution, ratified by a widely boycotted 2022 referendum. Media figures and lawyers critical of Saied have also been prosecuted and detained under a harsh “fake news” law enacted the same year.
Last week, Ben Mbarek’s family and prominent members of Tunisia’s political opposition announced they would join him in a collective hunger strike.
Among the participants was Issam Chebbi, the leader of the centrist Al Joumhouri (Republican) Party, who is also behind bars after being convicted in the same mass trial as Ben Mbarek earlier this year.
Rached Ghannouchi, the 84-year-old leader of the Ennahdha party, who is also serving a hefty prison sentence, also said he would join the protest. Chebbi and Ghannouchi’s current condition is not known.
Prison authorities have maintained the men are under “continuous medical supervision” and denied “rumours about the deterioration in the health of any detainees”.
US President Donald Trump has said he will take legal action against the BBC over how his speech was edited by Panorama, after the corporation apologised but refused to compensate him.
Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One on Friday evening, Trump said: “We’ll sue them for anywhere between $1bn and $5bn probably sometime next week.”
The BBC has said the edit of the 6 January 2021 speech had unintentionally given “the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action”.
The BBC apologised but said it would not pay financial compensation.
The controversy led to the resignations of BBC director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness.
“I think I have to do it,” Trump told reporters of his plan to take legal action. “They cheated. They changed the words coming out of my mouth.”
He said he had not raised the issue with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer but that he would call him over the weekend.
Earlier this week the US president’s lawyers threatened to sue the BBC for $1bn in damages unless the corporation issued a retraction, apologised and compensated him.
Searches of public court record databases earlier showed no legal action had been filed so far.
Federal and state courts in Florida, where a case would likely be filed, are now closed for the weekend.
In an interview aired on GB news on Saturday and recorded before Trump confirmed he would take legal action, the US president said: “I’ve been doing this for a long time, I’ve never seen anything like that. That’s, that’s the most egregious. I think that was worse than the Kamala thing with CBS and 60 Minutes.”
In July this year, US media company Paramount Global agreed to pay $16m (£13.5m) to settle a legal dispute with Trump regarding an interview it broadcast on CBS with former vice-president Kamala Harris.
“I think I have an obligation to do it,” he said. “If you don’t do it, you don’t stop it from happening again with other people.”
In its Corrections and Clarifications section, published on Thursday evening, the BBC said the Panorama programme had been reviewed after criticism of how Trump’s speech had been edited.
“We accept that our edit unintentionally created the impression that we were showing a single continuous section of the speech, rather than excerpts from different points in the speech, and that this gave the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action,” the statement said.
Lawyers for the BBC have written to President Trump’s legal team in response to a letter received on Sunday, a BBC spokesperson said on Thursday.
“BBC chair Samir Shah has separately sent a personal letter to the White House making clear to President Trump that he and the corporation are sorry for the edit of the president’s speech on 6 January 2021, which featured in the programme,” they said.
They added: “While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim.”
In its letter to Trump’s legal team, the BBC set out five main arguments for why it did not think it had a case to answer.
First it said the BBC did not have the rights to, and did not, distribute the Panorama episode on its US channels.
When the documentary was available on BBC iPlayer, it was restricted to viewers in the UK.
Secondly, it said the documentary did not cause Trump harm, as he was re-elected shortly after.
Thirdly, it said the clip was not designed to mislead, but just to shorten a long speech, and that the edit was not done with malice.
Fourthly, it said the clip was never meant to be considered in isolation. Rather, it was 12 seconds within an hour-long programme, which also contained lots of voices in support of Trump.
Finally, an opinion on a matter of public concern and political speech is heavily protected under defamation laws in the US.
Today on the GMM Podcast we have swimming superstar Summer McIntosh. She talked a little over an hour and nothing was off-limits. Before we hit record, she said, “Go for it. I’m ready to discuss anything.”
We caught up during her three-week altitude block at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, where she’s working under new coach, Bob Bowman. And, of course, she recently announced her global partnership with Arena. (see link below).
This podcast is loaded. Summer provides insight and backstory across a lot of topics. She certainly breaks through the noise of the internet, allowing usus peek into the mind of the most dominant female swimmer on the planet in her run-up to LA2028.
We cover a lot of topics. Here are a few:
Breaking down her world records — which one meant the most and why.
Her favorite race from the 2025 World Championships — the one where everything clicked.
The 800 free drama — Summer finished 3rd behind Katie Ledecky (8:05.62) and Lani Pallister (8:07.29). The internet erupted when fans thought she didn’t shake Ledecky’s hand. She did — and she sets the record straight.
Barely missing the 200 fly world record — and what that near-miss taught her about the next level.
What’s next in 2026 — Pan Pacs, Commonwealth Games… or both?
The business side of being Summer McIntosh — life, fame, sponsorships, and staying grounded post-Paris.
Training in Austin under Bowman, sharing lanes with Regan Smith, and how that chemistry is shaping her next phase.
The illness that forced her out of the World Cup — and the aftermath. There a lot more to this story!
A different Summer showed up this year. She’s older, mature, and ready to provide us a unique look at what it takes to keep climbing when you’re already on top. And, I think she’s just getting started. She’s only 19, and I see this relationship with her fans growing more intimate as we near LA and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.
UPDATE: I told Summer in the podcast that I would include her mom’s career notes. See them here:
Summer’s Mom – Jill Horstead
1983 Pan American Games (Age 16): 200m Fly, 4th, 2:17.13
1984 Summer Olympics – Los Angeles:200m Fly, 9th (1st in B Final),2:13.49
1985 Pan Pacific Championships: 200m Fy,Bronze, 2:13.46
1986 Commonwealth Games:200m Fly, Bronze, 2:14.53
And she swam at the University of Florida under Randy Reese. She was an All-American in 200 fly and 400 IM.
Many thanks to Swimoutlet.com for their 13 year partnership and support of this swimming news and media.
SEE RECENT GMM PODCASTS:
This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC and/or SwimSwam advertising partners.
Dutch expedition camping module specialist Bliss Mobil has launched its smallest model to date. Rather than getting tied to the likes of a large heavy-duty Mercedes Zetros or MAN TGS cab, the new Bliss 8 is designed to ride aback smaller, nimbler 4×4 chassis like the Toyota Land Cruiser or Ford F-Series. With help from an electro-actuated hard-walled lift system, it still offers the precisely organized essentials and modern comforts on which Bliss stakes its reputation, including a wireless smart home suite with Sonos audio.
As impressive as massive seven-figure expedition trucks built like heavy-duty mining vehicles are to gawk at and tour at RV shows, many adventurers will ultimately prefer far, far smaller (and cheaper) rigs for actually exploring the wild. So while Bliss Mobil’s lineup of state-of-the-art, go-anywhere motorhome boxes stretching up to 23 feet (7-m) long is certainly cool, it’s the smaller units that really pique our interest.
Bliss has been sizing its tech down for years, and last time we looked at it, it was launching an 11-foot (3.4-m) module on a Mercedes-Benz Unimog chassis. With the new 8-footer (2.4-m), it expands the availability of its tech and design proficiency out to owners of more everyday truck models.
Bliss’ advertising initially suggested the new 8-foot module was designed for chassis as small as midsize trucks like the Ford Ranger and Jeep Gladiator, but the math didn’t add up on mounting a 2,000-lb (907-kg) camper to truck chassis variants that max out at 1,805 lb (819 kg) of payload (in bare stock 2WD spec). Even after subtracting the weight of the pickup bed, you’re still left with too little payload to so much as fill up the gas tank or carry a single passenger.
We reached out to Bliss Mobil USA to clarify, and the company was quick to confirm that Bliss 8 buyers will ultimately want to upsize to something more like a full-size 1-ton platform, such as a Ford F-350, Ram 3500 or Chevy Silverado 3500, perhaps something even larger like a 5500-series. The company plans to change its website information to reflect that, but it’s worth pointing out in the meantime to head off any confusion.
The Bliss 8 made its US debut atop a Ram 3500 in early 2025
Bliss Mobil
In Europe, Bliss debuted the 8-ft module atop a Land Cruiser 79 Series pickup chassis, a lighter, sleeker option than a 3500-series truck. That truck offers up to 2,921 lb (1,325 kg) of payload straight from Toyota, well more than any US-market midsize truck, and can also get an aftermarket gross vehicle mass (GVM) upgrade in markets around Europe and Australia to boost capability.
Even with all that in mind, the combination of 2,000 pounds and 8.6 feet (2.6 m) of body length is a big step into compact, lightweight construction territory for Bliss Mobil, which counts the 3,527-lb (1,600-kg) Bliss 11 its next smallest unit. And gone is the need for a hulking cab like a Unimog or restomodded military tactical truck – not that we don’t appreciate those rigs, too, but a single-cab pickup up front will be more familiar, compact and nimble.
The Bliss 8 lifting roof lowered down over the windows and ready to drive
Bliss Mobil
The 8-ft-series module compensates for its compact sizing with a power-lifting telescopic roof that nests over top the main body when lowered for travel. It even covers the camper’s windows, protecting those vulnerable panes from the stray kicked rock or rogue angry tree branch. At camp, a push of the button sends it into high position in a matter of seconds, adding just under 2.5 feet (76 cm) to the 5.1-foot (154-cm) closed module height (measured to the vehicle chassis, not the ground).
The small, cube-like dimensions of the Bliss 8 naturally require an interior simplification, which starts with designating it a two-person camping space with lift-away 81 x 59-in (206 x 151-in) queen-size bed. While optimized for two people, a third person can crash on the 75 x 25-in (190 x 64-in) couch space in the dinette, but that really seems like a snug option best left to occasional grandchild-type use, not regular three-sleeper travel.
The unit with separate, non-entry wet bath has a smaller two-person dinette just to the side of the entryway
Bliss Mobil
You might not think so from looking at it from outside, but the Bliss 8 does come complete with a bathroom. Bliss Mobil shows two different bathroom locations in its photos, with the rear door-equipped model using the entryway as the shower, much like a classic Earthcruiser. The entry has a shower floor, and the shower itself is located on the wall to the left. To the right, the macerator toilet stands on a higher section of floor. There’s no mention of a door to close off the toilet from the shower, but the toilet is up and out of the way of the shower, not right in it.
The entryway bathroom location not only serves to save space in the main interior but allows the shower to double as a sort of mudroom for stripping down and washing up before entering the main living area. A translucent inner door works with the outside entry door to wall off a private shower/toilet room.
A look at the rear door with entryway bathroom layout in the Land Cruiser-mounted Bliss 8
Bliss Mobil
The second bathroom location is up against the rear wall, a floor plan that involves shortening up the sofas on the dinette.
The compact kitchen block has a sink and dual-hob induction cooktop up on the counter and a 95-L compressor fridge/freezer down below next to the drawers. Fresh water stores in a 235-L tank, and Bliss’ advanced carbon/UV multi-filtration system gives campers the ability to fill up from natural water sources without worrying about pathogens, providing for true off-grid autonomy.
The Bliss 8 kitchen is compact but fully equipped
Bliss Mobil
Power for that cooktop, fridge and other electric hardware comes from a 330-Ah lithium battery pack supported by 860 watts of rooftop solar. The Bliss 8 module also includes a 110-V shore power connection, global Wi-Fi system with 4G, 6 dBi, GPS and Sonos Audio, and a smart home-style command system with mobile connectivity.
The Bliss 8’s two-part heating system pairs together a diesel air heater and electric floor heater. Air conditioning is available as an optional upgrade. Bliss Mobil’s 2.4-in-thick (6-cm) sandwich-panel lower walls and 1.2-in-thick upper walls keep the interior climate isolated from whatever’s going on outside, even in extreme weather.
Like all Bliss modules we’ve looked at previously, the Bliss 8 is a self-contained module that packs all its equipment and utilities inside the box, rather than leaving anything to be bolted to the truck itself. This means that the box can be easily transferred between different base chassis, potentially outliving the truck (or multiple trucks). Individual systems (electrical, water, etc.) are packaged together under the benches, below the countertops and in exterior hatches to simplify maintenance, troubleshooting and repair.
The Bliss 8 is also designed to fit inside a standard shipping container for customers who intend to ship it to different starting points for international travel and adventure. Depending upon vehicle specs, it can slide into the container when fully mounted and ready to drive.
While larger Bliss Mobil units are designed to fit in shipping containers on their own, the Bliss 8 slides in atop its base vehicle
Bliss Mobil
Bliss Mobil began showing the new power-lift camping cube atop the white Land Cruiser in Europe last year and launched the pictured American-spec model on the Ram 3500 chassis earlier this year. The 8-foot unit is now available to order at a base price of US$160,000 in the US or €120,000 in Europe, neither of which includes the base truck.
Have a quick look at the Land Cruiser with Bliss 8 exploring incredible landscapes in the intro clip below.
President Donald Trump moved aggressively to deflect scrutiny on Friday after a new batch of Jeffrey Epstein’s private emails — released this week by the House Oversight Committee — resurfaced his own long-scrutinized relationship with the disgraced financier.
Hours after the documents circulated widely online, Trump took to Truth Social with a sweeping demand: he said he will ask Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Department of Justice, and the FBI to investigate Epstein’s ties to “Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, J.P. Morgan, Chase, and many other people and institutions,” claiming that “all arrows point to the Democrats.”
Bondi quickly agreed, posting on X Friday afternoon that she had assigned Attorney Jay Clayton to the case. Clayton is a high-profile figure among Republicans, having chaired the SEC during Trump’s first term and now acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Clinton has strongly denied that he had knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. In the emails, Epstein mentioned several times that Clinton was “never on the island.” However, the two knew each other in the early 2000s. Clinton did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On the other hand, Summers had a seemingly close and unusually personal relationship with the disgraced financier who at times acted as his informal relationship coach. Newly released emails from 2017 to 2019 show the former Treasury secretary corresponding with Epstein regularly, sometimes multiple times a day, seeking advice about his interactions with a woman in London.
In one exchange, Summers lamented that the woman had grown distant: “I said what are you up to. She said ‘I’m busy.’ I said awfully coy u are,” he wrote. Epstein replied within minutes, offering reassurance and strategy: “she’s smart. making you pay for past errors. ignore the daddy im going to go out with the motorcycle guy … annoyed shows caring, no whining showed strength.”
Other emails show Summers forwarding Epstein notes from the woman and asking whether he should respond. “Think no response for a while probably appropriate,” Summers wrote in one case. Epstein encouraged the silence, replying, “She’s already begining to sound needy 🙂 nice.”
Summers has previously said he regrets his past ties to Epstein. Summers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hoffman, the LinkedIn co-founder, billionaire investor and major Democratic donor, had an established relationship with Epstein, according to documents reviewed by the Wall Street Journal. Schedules show Epstein planned multiple trips with him—including two visits to Epstein’s island, Little St. James in 2014—and arranged for Hoffman to stay overnight at his Manhattan townhouse before attending a “breakfast party” with Bill Gates and others the next morning.
Hoffman now says he deeply regrets the interactions. “It gnaws at me that, by lending my association, I helped his reputation, and thus delayed justice for his survivors,” he told the Journal. “Ultimately I made the mistake, and I am sorry for my personal misjudgment.”
Hoffman could not be reached for comment.
Trump’s inclusion of JPMorgan comes after the bank paid out more than $450 million in 2023 across multiple settlements related to its historic relationship with Epstein — including a $290 million agreement with a class of victims and a $75 million deal with the U.S. Virgin Islands. The bank has repeatedly said it “deeply regrets any association” with Epstein and would not have kept him as a client had it known of his crimes.
JPMorgan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Epstein repeatedly described Trump in blunt, often hostile terms
The release of the files — which Trump framed as an effort to expose an “Epstein Hoax” that he claims Democrats are weaponizing to distract from the shutdown– show Epstein repeatedly discussing Trump. They contradict Trump’s own account of their split, and Epstein offers his private, often caustic assessments of the man who would become president.
Across messages with lawyers, acquaintances, reporters, academics, and political figures, Epstein invoked Trump constantly, often bragging that he possessed insider insight into Trump’s private world. In one 2017 exchange, Epstein dismissed him sharply: “your world does not understand how dumb he really is. he will blame everyone around him.” A year later, he described Trump as “evil beyond belief, mad… nuts!!!”
The emails also directly challenge one of Trump’s most frequently repeated claims: that he expelled Epstein from Mar-a-Lago for inappropriate behavior.
In a 2019 message to author Michael Wolff, Epstein flatly rejected the story: “Trump said he asked me to resign, never a member ever.”In another email, Epstein claimed a woman who worked at the club had been involved with him and wrote, “Trump knew of it, and came to my house many times during that period.” The documents do not substantiate these assertions, and the White House has denied them.
One of the most explosive lines appears in a 2011 note to Ghislaine Maxwell: “that dog that hasn’t barked is trump.. [Victim] spent hours at my house with him ,, he has never once been mentioned.” During a press conference, the White House pointed to the testimony of Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Epstein accuser who committed suicide earlier this year and said Trump did not participate “in anything.”
Epstein also imagined himself as holding leverage over Trump. In a December 2018 exchange, after someone suggested Trump’s critics were simply trying to “take down” the president, Epstein replied: “yes thx. its wild. because i am the one able to take him down.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Palestinians call for better tents and other supplies as Israel maintains restrictions on aid to war-ravaged Gaza Strip.
Displaced Palestinians are reeling after heavy rains flooded their tents in makeshift displacement camps in Gaza City, as the United Nations warns that Israeli restrictions on aid have left hundreds of thousands of families without adequate shelter.
Abdulrahman Asaliyah, a displaced Palestinian man, told Al Jazeera on Friday that residents’ mattresses, clothes and other belongings were soaked in the flooding.
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“We are calling for help, for new tents that can at least protect people from the winter cold,” he said, explaining that nearly two dozen people had been working for hours to get the water to drain from the area.
“This winter rain is a blessing from God, but there are families who no longer wish for it to fall, fearing for the lives of their children and their own survival,” Asaliyah said.
Gaza’s civil defence agency said Friday’s flooding primarily affected Palestinians in the north of the Strip, where hundreds of thousands of people have returned following last month’s ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Flooding was also reported in central Gaza’s Deir el-Balah, said the rescue agency, which urged the international community to do more to “address the suffering” of Palestinians whose homes were destroyed in Israel’s two-year war on the enclave.
“We urge the swift delivery of homes, caravans, and tents to these displaced families to help alleviate their suffering, especially as we are at the beginning of winter,” it said in a statement.
While the October 10 ceasefire has allowed more aid to get into the Gaza Strip, the UN and other humanitarian groups say Palestinians still lack adequate food, medicine and other critical supplies, including shelter.
Aid groups working to provide shelter assistance in the occupied Palestinian territory said in early November that about 260,000 Palestinian families, totalling almost 1.5 million people, were vulnerable as the cold winter months approached.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said this week that it has enough shelter supplies to help as many as 1.3 million Palestinians.
But UNRWA said Israel continues to block its efforts to bring aid into Gaza despite the ceasefire deal, which stipulated that humanitarian assistance must be delivered to Palestinians in need.
“We have a very short chance to protect families from the winter rains and cold,” Angelita Caredda, Middle East and North Africa director at the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), said in a statement on November 5.
Reporting from Deir el-Balah on Friday, Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary said Palestinians across Gaza have been voicing fears that this winter would be particularly difficult due to the lack of safe shelter.
“It only rained for a couple of minutes – 30 minutes or so … [and] they were completely flooded,” she said. “Their tents are very fragile and worn-out; they have been using them for the past two years.”
She added that most Palestinians do not have any other options but to remain in tent camps or overcrowded shelters, despite the difficulties.
“We’re already seeing Palestinian children walking barefoot. They do not have winter clothes. They do not have blankets. And at the same time, the aid that is coming in … is being restricted,” Khoudary said.
Back in Gaza City, another displaced Palestinian man affected by the heavy rains, Abu Ghassan, said he and his family “no longer have a normal life”.
“I’m lifting the mattresses so the children don’t get soaked,” he told Al Jazeera. “But the little ones were already drenched here. We don’t even have proper tents.”
MBW’s World Leaders is a regular series in which we turn the spotlight toward some of the most influential industry figures overseeing key international markets. In this feature, we speak to Nuno Rocha, Head of Business Development for MENA, Lusophone, and Francophone markets at ONErpm. World Leaders is supported by SoundExchange.
ONErpm is making serious moves across some of the music industry’s highest-potential emerging markets.
The Nashville-headquartered music distribution and label services company has recently appointedNuno Rocha as Head of Business Development for Portugal, the Lusophone and Francophone African territories, and the MENA region – a promotion from his previous role as General Manager of Portugal.
Under Rocha’s leadership, ONErpm is opening a new office this fall in Luanda, Angola’s capital, while strengthening its operations in Morocco and Tunisia and accelerating growth in Egypt.
The company’s Portuguese office, working in collaboration with ONErpm’s marketing team in Brazil, is actively supporting all Lusophone territories across Africa.
“We are committed to creating regional hubs that work in an integrated manner, but with sufficient autonomy to adapt strategies,” says Rocha, commenting on the company’s expansion strategy. “In addition, we are very focused on consumer data and insights, which help us understand emerging trends and act quickly.”
Prior to joining ONErpm, Rocha was the owner of DJ Selektion, a label under Vidisco, where he collaborated with artists including Fat Joe, Fatman Scoop, Vitor Kley, Mc Fioti, DubVision, Daniel Santacruz, Pedro Cazanova, and Boy Teddy.
He also played a key role in organizing some of Portugal’s most prominent music festivals, including RFMBeachPower, in partnership with the country’s largest radio station.
Since joining ONErpm, Rocha has been instrumental in signing top talent to the company, including MAGIC, Yuri de Cunha, Firebeatz, and Badoxa.
Under his leadership, Hélio Batalha earned three major awards at the 2025 Cabo Verde Music Awards, while Portugal’s Badoxa surpassed 90 millionYouTube views and 60 million streams.
Portuguese band VIZINHOS, meanwhile, formed in 2025, has quickly become one of the country’s biggest breakout acts, amassing over 90 million streams across platforms.
They also held the No.1 spot on Spotify in Portugal for more than 100 days with their hit single Pôr do Sol.
In Angola, where ONErpm is now launching a dedicated office, the company has already played a pivotal role in developing the local music industry.
The company points to Chelsea Dinorath as a standout success story – she joined as an emerging artist and has since racked up more than 36 million YouTube views and over 270,000 subscribers.
In Egypt, Rocha works alongside Nayrouz Abouzid, who ONErpm says has been a driving force behind some of the country’s stand-out rising stars.
Amongst them are Shahyn, DJMubarak (whose streams ONErpm says “skyrocketed by 760,000% in just five months”, and Mond, who reached 61 million streams in four months.
In addition to his experience in business development, Rocha tells us that his background in the music industry has always been linked to “the expansion of artists and brands in the music industry”.
“Our strategy is built on proximity, personalization, and strong local partnerships.”
“I have worked in different areas, from artist management to digital distribution, which has given me a broad perspective on the ecosystem,” he tells us.
“I worked on international projects, helping artists position themselves in new markets and maximize their potential through customized marketing and distribution strategies.
“Joining ONErpm was a natural step, because the company shares exactly this philosophy of empowering artists with tools, data, and a global network of professionals who truly understand the particularities of each territory.”
Here, Rocha discusses ONErpm’s expansion strategy across Portuguese-speaking and French-speaking Africa and the Middle East, the company’s new Angola office, and why he believes the next big global music trend will emerge from cultural crossovers in these territories…
You are leading operations in Portugal, Portuguese-speaking and French-speaking Africa, and the Middle East — a huge region. What is your strategy for managing these markets?
Our strategy is built on proximity, personalization, and strong local partnerships.
Each of these markets has very different cultural and economic dynamics, so it is essential to have local teams who know the terrain, the audiences, and the media. The goal is to be agile, connected, and culturally relevant in each market.
How is ONErpm performing in these markets, and what is the outlook for the next 12 to 24 months?
Growth has been very positive. In several of these territories, ONErpm is gaining a leading position as a partner of choice for independent artists. Over the next 12 to 24 months, we want to consolidate this presence by opening new offices, strengthening teams, and investing in local and regional marketing.
“The goal is not only to distribute music, but to build sustainable ecosystems that allow artists to thrive locally and expand globally.”
The goal is not only to distribute music, but to build sustainable ecosystems that allow artists to thrive locally and expand globally.
What is the biggest challenge artists in these markets face today?
Without a doubt, the lack of structure and access to professional resources. Many artists have extraordinary talent, but face challenges such as limited technical means, lack of strategic management, and little international visibility.
ONErpm aims to bridge that gap by providing technology, mentorship, and strategic support that allow artists to compete on equal footing in the global market.
ONErpm is opening an office in Angola. Why Angola, and why now?
Angola is a vibrant market with a very strong music scene and an extremely digitally active audience.
“Angola is a vibrant market with a very strong music scene and an extremely digitally active audience.”
There is a new generation of artists and producers emerging with a unique sound that blends African, Portuguese-speaking, and global urban influences.
We chose this moment because we feel that the market is ripe for a professional structure that can internationalize these talents, and ONErpm wants to be the partner that helps them take that leap.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt are becoming important markets. What are the unique challenges of launching artists in these regions?
The main challenges are cultural and regulatory. These are markets with a very specific sociocultural framework, which requires sensitivity and respect for local norms. At the same time, there is an enormous thirst for new experiences and sounds.
The challenge lies in balancing authenticity with strategy, helping artists build sustainable careers without losing their cultural identity.
The Portuguese office collaborates with the Brazilian team to support Portuguese-speaking territories in Africa. What opportunities do you see in the connection between these markets?
This is one of the greatest advantages of our global network: the natural bridge between Brazil, Portugal, and Portuguese-speaking Africa. Portuguese and Brazilian music share a cultural and linguistic affinity that facilitates the circulation of artists.
We are working to create synergies between teams, joint campaigns, and regional playlists that help African artists reach Brazilian audiences—and vice versa.
We believe that the next big movement in Lusophone music will come precisely from this connection.
ONErpm has signed artists such as MAGIC and Yuri da Cunha. What do you look for when you decide to work with an artist?
More than numbers, we look for vision, consistency, and authenticity. We want artists who know who they are and want to build a long-term career.
“More than numbers, we look for vision, consistency, and authenticity.”
ONErpm steps in when there is a solid project with identity and potential to grow through a clear strategy. We work side by side with the artist—it’s not just distribution, it’s career development.
Chelsea Dinorath went from being an emerging artist to 36 million views on YouTube under your management. What was the strategy for highlighting an Angolan artist in a historically neglected market?
The key was understanding the audience and staying true to the local culture. We focused on a strong, consistent visual narrative and authentic communication, aligned with Chelsea’s personality.
We worked strategically with digital media, audience segmentation, investment in organic content, and collaboration with local influencers. From there, we created momentum: visibility generates opportunity, and opportunity generates scale. Today, Chelsea is an example of how local talent can achieve global recognition with the right strategy.
Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in entertainment. What opportunities does this create for the music industry?
It’s a cultural revolution in progress. Public and private investment is opening doors for festivals, events, and modern music infrastructure. For artists and companies like ONErpm, this means new opportunities for collaboration, distribution, and local production.
Saudi Arabia’s young audience is highly connected and curious — fertile ground for the growth of international and regional music.
Where do you see the next big music trend emerging in the territories you cover?
I see an explosion of hybrid sounds coming from Africa — especially Portuguese-speaking and French-speaking Africa — and the Middle East.
There is a natural fusion between traditional rhythms and modern production that is creating something fresh, global, and highly exportable. I believe that the next big global hits will come from these cultural crossovers.
What does success mean to you?
Success is seeing artists grow sustainably, maintaining their authenticity and making a living from their art. For me, it is also about building a structure that continues to generate opportunities for future generations.
If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be and why?
It would change the inequality of access to information and resources. There is still a huge gap between artists from large centers and those from emerging markets. Democratizing access — to data, training, tools, and opportunities — is essential for talent to speak louder than context. That’s exactly the mission that drives me at ONErpm.
SoundExchange was independently formed in 2003 to build a fairer, simpler, and more efficient music industry through technology, data, and advocacy. The only organization designated by the U.S. government to administer the Section 114 sound recording license, SoundExchange collects and distributes digital performance royalties on behalf of 700,000 music creators and growing.
The US justice department has confirmed it will investigate paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged links to major banks and several prominent Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton.
President Donald Trump on Friday said he would ask Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI to look into Epstein’s “involvement and relationship” with Clinton and others “to determine what was going on with them, and him”.
Bondi then said on social media that she asked US Attorney Jay Clayton to lead an investigation, adding the department “will pursue this with urgency and integrity to deliver answers to the American people”.
Clinton has strongly denied he had any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
Interest in Epstein’s relationships was renewed this week after US lawmakers released more than 20,000 pages of documents from his estate, including some mentioning Trump.
In addition to Clinton, Trump said he asked the Department of Justice (DoJ) to investigate banks JP Morgan and Chase, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, who is also a prominent Democratic donor.
“Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat’s problem, not the Republican’s problem!” he wrote on social media.
“They all know about him, don’t waste your time with Trump. I have a Country to run!”
A spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase said the firm regrets “any association” they had with Epstein, and added that the firm “did not help him commit his heinous acts”.
It is unclear whether Trump made a formal request or issued a directive to the justice department, or if Bondi was responding to his post on his Truth Social platform.
Trump’s request comes ahead of the House of Representatives’ vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to the investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Democrat Adelita Grijalva’s swearing in to the chamber on Wednesday triggered the move, after she immediately signed a discharge petition from calling for the release of the files.
Her signature was the 218th – the final signing needed to trigger a floor vote. Four Republicans joined with Democrats to call for the vote.
Documents released by the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday appeared to show correspondence between Epstein and the former US Treasury Secretary, Larry Summers from October 2017.
In one email, Summers gives Epstein his opinion of Trump early in his presidency, writing: “DJT is world s luckiest guy in terms of opposition, economy etc. still think his world will collapse”.
A representative for Summers told the Wall Street Journal in 2023 that the former treasury official and past president of Harvard University “deeply regrets being in contact with Epstein after his conviction”.
The documents also included email exchanges between Epstein and his long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking.
In one email, sent in 2011, Epstein writes to Maxwell: “I want you to realize that that dog that hasn’t barked is Trump.. [VICTIM] spent hours at my house with him.”
Trump was a friend of Epstein’s for years, but the president has said they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. While he was discussed in some of the messages released this week, he did not send or receive them.
Traditionally, presidents do not direct the justice department to investigate individuals and companies and have often brought in special counsels – independent attorneys from outside the administration – to carry out investigations.
It is also rare for an administration to seek an investigation of a predecessor. However, the Biden administration started investigations tied to allegations that Trump tried to interfere with the 2020 election, which were then referred to a special counsel. The cases were dropped when Trump returned to the White House.
Representative Robert Garcia, the leading Democrat on the US House Oversight Committee, accused Trump of posting about possible investigations to “deflect from serious new questions we have about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein”.
On Friday, Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said it would be “huge miscalculation” for Trump to oppose the release of material related to Epstein.
Greene was among the four other House Republicans – Nancy Mace, Lauren Boebert, Thomas Massie – who joined Democrats in signing a discharge petition calling for the release of the files.
“I truly just stand with the women, and I think they deserve to be the ones that we’re fighting for,” she told the BBC’s US partner, CBS News.
In a letter addressed to Congress, Epstein survivors and the family of Virginia Giuffre – a prominent accuser of his – called for US lawmakers to vote in favour of releasing the files.
“As you gather with your family this season, remember that your primary duty is to your constituents. Look into the eyes of your children, your sisters, your mothers, and your aunts,” the letter reads.
“Imagine if they had been preyed upon. Imagine if you yourself were a survivor. What would you want for them? What would you want for yourself? When you vote, we will remember your decision at the ballot box.”
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