National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda has urged the Transport and Infrastructural Development ministry to add more tollgates in Matabeleland North to increase government revenue. He suggested expanding tollgates along key routes, including adding two more on the road from Cross Dete to Binga. Mudenda also called for higher toll fees on trucks.
His proposal, made during a pre-budget seminar in Bulawayo, has sparked criticism from local leaders. Nkayi Community Parliament deputy speaker Nkosilathi Ncube accused Mudenda of prioritizing his own interests over those of the community. Zapu Bulawayo secretary Vivian Siziba warned that the tollgate increase would burden consumers, particularly passengers, and criticized the lack of viable...
OpenAI has introduced the GPT-5.1 family of AI models for its ChatGPT service, enhancing its capabilities. The GPT-5.1 Instant model provides faster, more natural responses, making it ideal for simple tasks while still capable of handling complex queries with adaptive reasoning. The GPT-5.1 Thinking model, focused on advanced reasoning, adjusts computational power based on query complexity, delivering quicker results for straightforward tasks and more detailed responses for difficult ones.
These models are rolling out to OpenAI’s paid users, including Pro, Plus, Go, and Business clients, with plans to extend access to free and guest users later. The new update also allows customization of ChatGPT’s conversational style, offering...
Herentals Queens forward Praynance Zvawanda has positioned herself to contend for the Women’s Premier Soccer League top scorer title. Her recent hat-trick against Platinum Royals brought her season total to 26 goals, placing her just one goal behind the current leader, Rutendo Makore of Black Rhinos. The final match of the season will pit Zvawanda's team directly against Makore's, setting up a decisive encounter for the individual scoring crown.
Zvawanda stated her determination to finish the season as the top scorer, acknowledging the challenge while expressing her readiness for the final game. Her performance this season, which also includes 15 assists, has earned her a recall to the national team, the Mighty Warriors. Herentals...
The energy company SSE has announced a major investment program totaling thirty-three billion pounds to modernize the United Kingdom's electricity infrastructure. This five-year plan aims to significantly upgrade the national grid, with a large portion of the funding directed toward regulated electricity networks. The initiative will focus on enhancing high-voltage transmission cables and strengthening regional distribution networks.
To finance this expansion, SSE intends to raise two billion pounds from investors through a share placement and generate an additional two billion pounds from the sale of certain assets. SSE's new chief executive, Martin Pibworth, described the strategy as a generational opportunity to build a cleaner and...
The government has agreed to reassess its refusal to provide compensation for millions of women affected by state pension age increases. This reversal follows the emergence of new evidence from a previously unseen 2007 government report during ongoing legal action. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden stated the government would withdraw from an imminent judicial review brought by the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign while it examines the material.
McFadden explained that the former minister who had rejected compensation was not provided with this report. He emphasized that reconsidering the decision did not guarantee compensation would be awarded, but that it was necessary for a fair and transparent process. The...
Grocery price inflation in the United Kingdom fell to 4.7 percent, reaching its lowest point in over two years. Industry data indicates that supermarkets implemented more discounts and promotions to attract budget-conscious shoppers ahead of the Christmas season and an upcoming government budget announcement. Spending on these promotional items increased significantly, accounting for nearly a third of all grocery sales.
Analysts noted that retailers are focusing on straightforward price reductions rather than complex multibuy offers to provide clear value. They suggested this competitive discounting would likely intensify throughout the festive period. While prices decreased for items like dog food and toilet paper, they continued to...
The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2025 celebrated a diverse group of UK companies for their innovation and leadership. Hosted by Ranvir Singh at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, the event recognized winners across various sectors, including Warburtons as Family Business of the Year and Tropic Skincare as the Mid-Market Business of the Year.
Other notable honorees included ADHD 360, which won Small to Medium-Sized Business of the Year, and its founder, Phil Anderton, who was named Entrepreneur of the Year. The Tailored Lifestyle Group received the Sustainable Business award, while ZED PODS earned the Innovation Award. Sarah Austin, a director of the awards, stated that the event highlighted the creativity and strength...
A report from Human Rights Watch and the advocacy group Cristosal alleges that 252 Venezuelan nationals deported by the US government to El Salvador were tortured and ill-treated. The individuals were held incommunicado at El Salvador's Center for Terrorism Confinement, where they reportedly faced arbitrary detention, sexual abuse, and systematic abuse in inhumane conditions.
The organizations state that the Trump administration paid El Salvador nearly five million dollars to detain the group, which was labeled as members of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization. Data from the report indicates that only a small percentage had violent crime convictions, with nearly half having no criminal history. US courts later ruled that the...
The US Supreme Court has extended an administrative stay, permitting the Trump administration to withhold November funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program until November 13. This action continues to block a lower court's ruling that had mandated the government to use contingency funds for the payments during the shutdown. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the decision to extend the stay.
The administration argued the stay was necessary to allow political negotiations on the government shutdown to proceed without judicial interference. Opponents of the stay countered that the delay in funding causes irreparable harm to individuals who depend on the program for food. The legal dispute may become irrelevant if...
