At least 19 killed in minibus crash in South Africa

At least 19 people were killed in eastern South Africa on Sunday when an overloaded minibus lost control and rolled down a steep embankment, according to local government officials.

The crash happened near a bridge on the main road outside of Pietermaritzburg, in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, according to authorities.

Eighteen people died on the scene, according to a post on the official Facebook page of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport. A later post said 19 died in the crash but did not elaborate on the circumstances of the additional death. Seven who were on board remained in the hospital as of Sunday night.

The Department of Transport said the minibus was overloaded — carrying 10 more people than its license allowed. Twenty-six people were on board, including the driver. A spokesman for the transport department said the passengers were on their way to church.

Source: At least 19 killed in minibus crash in South Africa – CNN

London Mayor Sadiq Khan: cancel Donald Trump’s British state visit

LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan wants the British government to cancel a state visit from Donald Trump after the US President criticised him in the wake of the terror attack upon the city.

Trump criticised Khan’s response to the weekend attack in and around London Bridge in which seven people were killed and 48 injured.

When Khan’s office said the President had misquoted the mayor in a statement in which he had said there is “no reason to be alarmed”, Trump again hit out, labelling it a “pathetic excuse’.

In talking today on Channel 4 News, Khan said Trump was wrong about “many things” and urged authorities to cancel his planned state visit.

“I don’t think we should roll out the red carpet to the president of the USA in the circumstances where his policies go against everything we stand for,” Khan said…

REVEALED: Donald Trump’s most vicious feuds

MORE: London Mayor Sadiq Khan: cancel Donald Trump’s British state visit | Perth Now

Cher, 71, stuns in sheer silver outfit complete with pastie as she sings Believe

Cher performed Believe at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday.

The 71-year-old wore a sheer silver outfit and danced around like a teen. 

Her performance was introduced by Gwen Stefani who called her a role model and said she taught women ‘how to be strong.’

Cher then went on to sing If I Could Turn Back Time as she wore a flashback black outfit from the 1990s. And she delivered a heartfelt speech as she picked up her Icon Award.

Scroll down for list of nominations… 

Cher looked youthful as she danced with several backup dancers.

A film was then shown as a narrator covered her career from her early days as part of Sonny &Cher.

Her films Moonstruck and her concert shows were highlighted.  

Then she came out again, this time in black, to sing If I Could Turn Back Time.

‘I have wanted to do this since I was 5 years old and I’ve been doing it for 53 years. I was 71 yesterday,’ she began.

‘And I can do a five minute plank!’ Cher said to laughs.

‘I want to thank my mom. Because she said you’re not going to be the smartest, the most beautiful, the most talented, but you will be special,’ said the performer.

‘I have had so much help, the greatest people to work with.’

She then said: ‘Phil Spector taught me so much…. I worked with people who were the greatest in the industry.

‘Luck has so much to do with my success.’ 

The Icon Award marks Cher’s third BMA win, after she previously secured the gongs for Single of the Year for Believe in 1999, and for Dance/Club Play Artist of the Year in 2002.

In 1999 she was also nominated for Top Female Artist and Female Hot 100 Artist of the Year.

Upon receiving the award, Cher – who has 48-year-old son Chaz Bono with her ex-husband Sonny Bono, and 40-year-old son Elijah Allman with Gregg Allman – will join an esteemed list of past recipients, including Celine Dion, Prince, Jennifer Lopez, Stevie Wonder, and Neil Diamond.

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Bizarre incident; Military plane flies exceedingly CLOSE to Air Force One

A bizarre incident took place on Monday when a US military plane came disconcertingly close to Air Force One just before its landing on Sunday as President Trump readied for landing in Maryland.

The aircraft carrying President Trump landed without incident six minutes after a C-17 Globemaster curiously flew by it as the plane readied to descend into its home base at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

The C-17 was spotted coming from the north and then abruptly veered to the right of Air Force One.

Reporters and photographers aboard were baffled by the C-17, but no indication of concern or the need for emergency action was taken by flight staff, VOA reported.

One passenger included a television technician who has been a frequent flyer on Air Force One since President Jimmy Carter was in office commented that he’d never seen another aircraft in such close proximity to the official White House plane.

No explanation has yet been given as to why the C-17 was granted permission to pass so closely to the president.

Trump was returning from his exclusive resort Mar-a-Lago where he has spent the last four days with Chinese President  Xi Jinping.

Over the weekend he ordered a controversial missile launch at an air base in Syria in retribution for a devastating chemical attack.

Source: Military plane flies exceedingly close to Air Force One | Daily Mail Online

Hundreds of shoppers were evacuated from Westfield Parramatta in Sydney’s west after a small fire in a stairwell.

Hundreds of shoppers were evacuated from Westfield Parramatta in Sydney’s west after a small fire in a stairwell.

Fire & Rescue NSW was notified at about 1.40pm on Tuesday by an automatic alarm after smoke was seen on two levels, a spokeswoman said, with six crews racing to the mall.

About 250 people were forced out into the rainy streets while firefighters located and extinguished the small blaze.

Shoppers were able to return about an hour later after the area was ventilated and smoke cleared, Fire & Rescue confirmed.

Source: Fire extinguished in Westfield stairwell | Perth Now

Joni Sledge from Sister Sledge dies at 60

Joni Sledge from Sister Sledge dies at 60

Joni Sledge, member of Sister Sledge, dies at 60. NEW YORK – Joni Sledge, who with her sisters recorded the enduring dance anthem “We Are Family,” has died, the band’s representative said Saturday. Sledge was found dead in her home by a friend in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday, the band’s publicist, Biff Warren, said.

Source: Joni Sledge from Sister Sledge dies at 60 | Perth Now