members

The crash occurred when a truck overtook another vehicle and struck the minibus, police say.

At least 27 people have been killed after a minibus carrying members of a church collided head-on with a haulage truck in central Zimbabwe, police say.

The crash happened at about 18:30 GMT on Friday near Chivhu, about 140km (87 miles) south of the capital, Harare, police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said on Saturday.

The truck was trying to overtake another vehicle when it crashed with the minibus taxi, which was carrying members of a popular African Christian denomination who were travelling for a conference, he said.

State-run broadcaster ZBC News, quoting a provincial government minister, said 23 people died at the scene, while others succumbed to their injuries after being admitted to a local hospital.

Footage shared on social media by ZBC showed the mangled minibus charred to a shell, with the truck on the opposite side of the road.

The crash occurred in a flat, remote stretch of road, with low vegetation lining the roadside and open terrain beyond.

The incident is the latest in a string of deadly crashes on Zimbabwe’s roads, which are riddled with potholes after years of underfunding and neglect.

For everyday transport, many Zimbabweans rely on the privately run minibus taxis, known locally as kombi, but they are often criticised for overloading.

In April, at least 18 people were killed when a minibus burst into flames on a highway in the south, while earlier that month a woman and her five children died when their vehicle collided with a haulage truck on another highway linking Zimbabwe and South Africa.

US rapper J.Cole has cancelled his show in northern California after one of his crew members tragically died in a major highway crash.

The No Role Modelz rapper was due to hit the stage at Sacramento’s Golden 1 centre but fans learned just hours before the show it would be cancelled due to the fatal accident.

“Following the tragic passing of a member of the touring crew in a trucking accident this morning, J. Cole’s performance at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento tonight, August 27, has been canceled,” J.Cole and tour operator Live Nation posted on their respective social media accounts.

“Our thoughts are with the crew member’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”

The crew member was driving a semi-truck on the Interstate 5 highway in Yolo County, about a 41 minute drive north-east of Sacramento, when the vehicle veered off the road and overturned, per the Sacramento Bee.

He died at scene, according to the California Highway Patrol.

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The man was later identified as Jarlath Parkinson, 66, of Jackson, South Carolina by the Yolo County Coroner’s Office which said it did not believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident.

Parkinson had been driving the truck full of concert gear from J.Cole’s previous show in Seattle down to Sacramento.

J.Cole is currently on the road with his The Fall-Off tour which was scheduled to include 73 shows across the US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Live Nation said that those with tickets to the Sacramento show should contact Ticketmaster for refunds.

Jermaine Lamarr Cole, better known as J. Cole, is a a German-born American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer.

He is thought to be one of the most influential rappers of his generation.

Cole released his debut studio album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, in 2011 which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200.

He has won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song, a Billboard Music Award for Top Rap Album, three Soul Train Music Awards, and eight BET Hip Hop Awards.

The two men, detained in the western city of Herat on August 9, were released on Thursday morning and appear to be in good health, says the UN.

Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities have released two United Nations staff members who were detained more than a week ago, though the reason for their detention remains unclear, the UN said.

The two men were detained in the western city of Herat on August 9. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said they were released on Thursday morning and appeared to be in good health.

“UNAMA has not been formally notified of the reasons for their arrest and detention and continues to follow up with the de facto authorities,” the UN said in a statement, adding it understood that charges against the two had been dropped.

It said the organisation was also following up “to ensure respect for the privileges and immunities of the United Nations, as well as the safety, security and freedom of movement of United Nations and associated personnel throughout the country”.

The arrests were the latest in a series of detentions by Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities. Last week, Human Rights Watch said six staff members of a local organisation working on women’s and children’s rights had been “forcibly disappeared” for more than a month.

“For us, we’re just delighted that [the two staff members] have been released, they’re in good health, and they face apparently no more judicial legal issues,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters at the organisation’s headquarters in New York.

Afghan authorities did not immediately comment on the release.

Multiple UN agencies operate across Afghanistan in a range of areas, including health and humanitarian response. The country has been hit hard by international aid cuts and faces numerous challenges, including the return of millions of its citizens from Iran and Pakistan in recent years.

The UN mission’s mandate from the UN Security Council includes promoting and supporting humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, as well as promoting human rights, equality for women and girls, inclusive governance and economic stability.

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, as the United States and NATO forces withdrew from the country after two decades of war.

Shortly after, they barred girls from education beyond primary school and banned women from nearly all employment, effectively excluding women and girls from public life. They have also removed minimum-age protections for girls’ marriage and made domestic violence punishable only in cases in which a woman has suffered visible injuries or broken bones.

ATOMIC Kitten are being eyed up to star in a Boyzone-style documentary which will chart their rise to fame and the drama among members over the years, The Sun can exclusively reveal. 

The girl group shot to fame in the early noughties, made up of Natasha Hamilton, Liz McClarnon and Kerry Katona. 

Kerry, 45, left a year after the release of their debut album and was replaced by Jenny Frost, with the line-up changing several times throughout the last 26 years. 

But The Sun understands that telly bosses have started to reach out to the girls to feature in a tell-all documentary – inspired by the success of Boyzone’s three-part Sky film last year – and are keen for all four members to take part. 

An insider said: “Atomic Kitten were one of the most successful girl groups of the noughties and it feels like the right time for their story to be told. 

“A production company has started reaching out to all four members to appear in a documentary to celebrate their success and of course chart the lows, including the highly publicised fall-outs among the girls. 

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“Like a lot of their all-female counterparts, line-up changes and public spats are a huge part of their history and this would be their chance to set the record straight once and for all.

“None of the girls have signed on officially yet but Kerry is top of the wish list as she’s known for not holding back.”

The Sun has reached out to representatives for Atomic Kitten and Kerry Katona for comment.

Atomic Kitten last performed as a trio in 2021 but a year later Natasha, 44, and Liz, 45, were gigging as a two-piece. 

Then in 2024 Natasha confirmed on social media that she would be stepping down as a member of the group to focus on her solo music career. 

Kerry last worked with Atomic Kitten in 2014 and earlier this year Natasha ruled out ever reuniting with her former band mate professionally.

She told the Mirror: “I wish Kerry all the best. That girl has been out there. She’s a hustler. She looks after those kids so well. Fair play to the girl.

“There’s no big thing, but when it comes to work, that isn’t going to happen.”

Meanwhile Kerry recently shared her sadness over not being in contact with the girls and urged them to get in touch.

Appearing on Unfiltered with Lucy Kennedy, she said: “No [we’re not in touch]. I’m gutted because I love the girls to bits. Tash, Liz, if you’re watching, give us a call.”