Author: afroxtreme

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has called off his planned trip to Eswatini after several countries refused to allow his aircraft to pass through their airspace, a move Taipei blames on pressure from China. Officials in Taiwan said Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar suddenly withdrew previously approved flight permits, describing the decision as unexpected and influenced by Beijing’s economic and political weight. China has denied the claims, instead praising the three countries for supporting its diplomatic position. This is the first time Taiwan’s leader has had to cancel an overseas visit because of blocked flight access, a sign of how far China’s…

Fuel stations across Zimbabwe have “officially” begun accepting beans as a form of payment, in a humorous twist that has motorists both amused and bewildered. The fictional system, dubbed Legume-Based Transactional Economics (LBTE), allows drivers to purchase fuel using a variety of beans, including sugar beans, cowpeas, and even chickpeas—reserved for premium unleaded 95 at select stations. At one busy service station in Harare, a driver reportedly paid for half a tank using two cups of red kidney beans, adding a small extra portion “for the attendant’s troubles.” “I used to worry about exchange rates,” he joked while holding a…

LEICESTER — Ten years ago, Leicester City was the center of the sporting universe, celebrating a 5000-1 Premier League title that defied logic. Today, the King Power Stadium is a site of toxicity and heartbreak. Following a 2-2 draw against Hull City, the Foxes have been officially relegated to League One, marking a historic fall from grace. The scenes at the final whistle were visceral. Fans turned on the owners, chanting “get out of our club,” while players were booed off the pitch. For a club that was lifting the FA Cup just five years ago, the reality of facing…

Students from Levy Mwanawasa Medical University staged protests on Tuesday, citing growing concerns over insecurity and alleged criminal activities in boarding houses around the PHI area. The demonstration saw students block Bennie Mwiinga Road, disrupting the normal flow of traffic. According to police, the protest was driven by fears over safety in student accommodation facilities. Police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi said officers were deployed to the scene, where they engaged the protesting students in a calm and professional manner, leading to a peaceful dispersal. However, the situation escalated later in the day when students regrouped around 14:00 hours at Hybrid Roundabout…

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has proposed a K5,000 increase in the presidential nomination fee ahead of the August 13 general elections. If approved, the fee for male presidential candidates will rise from K95,000 to K100,000. ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro said there appears to be broad agreement between the commission and political parties on the proposed adjustment. He was speaking to journalists following a stakeholder consultation meeting held in preparation for the August 13, 2026 polls. “There has been a slight adjustment to the presidential nomination fee, moving from K95,000 to K100,000. From the discussions, there seems…

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]resident Donald Trump has reportedly given Iran a narrow three-to-five-day window to present a unified counterproposal, warning that the temporary ceasefire he extended could soon expire if no progress is made. According to U.S. officials, the ceasefire extension is not indefinite and is intended to push Iran’s leadership to align on a clear negotiating position. American negotiators remain cautiously optimistic that a deal to end the conflict — including resolving concerns over Iran’s nuclear program — is still within reach. However, uncertainty over who holds real decision-making power in Tehran is complicating the process. At the center of the issue…

Iran’s national football team is continuing its preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, but a final decision on whether the squad will participate has yet to be made by the government, according to the country’s sports minister. Speaking to local media, Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali stated that the team’s travel to the United States will depend on guarantees regarding player safety. He emphasized that the matter will ultimately be decided by the government in consultation with the Supreme National Security Council. Iran, also known as Team Melli, is scheduled to play all its World Cup matches in…

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]pple has announced a major leadership transition, confirming that CEO Tim Cook will step down from his role and be succeeded by John Ternus. The change will take effect on September 1, with Cook moving into the position of executive chairman of the board. In a statement released Monday, Cook described leading Apple Inc. as the greatest honor of his career. He expressed strong confidence in Ternus, highlighting his engineering expertise, innovative mindset, and leadership qualities as key strengths that position him to guide the company into its next phase. Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001, has played a significant…

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hatsApp is taking a step it has never taken before in its nearly 20-year history—introducing a paid subscription tier. Earlier in the year, reports and leaks hinted that WhatsApp was testing a premium plan. At the time, the idea seemed speculative. However, recent developments confirm that the rollout has already begun, with a new offering called “WhatsApp Plus” reaching select users. The feature was first spotted by WABetaInfo and later discussed by users on Reddit, signaling that the rollout—while limited—is actively underway. Importantly, the core version of WhatsApp will remain free. The subscription is entirely optional and designed for users…

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] woman and a child were forced to leap from a rooftop in a desperate attempt to escape a deadly mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, where authorities say a father killed eight children — seven of them his own. Police responded to emergency calls at around 05:55 local time on Sunday, after a caller reported being trapped on top of a house while the gunman remained inside. Within minutes, the caller informed officers that she and her children had managed to flee from the roof and reach the backyard. Authorities have not released the identities of the two survivors or…