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Criminal syndicates helped by government officials to rob South Africa of R300 billion a year
South Africa’s illicit economy has become deeply entrenched due to sophisticated cross-border criminal syndicates often aided by state officials, costing the country hundreds of billions in lost tax revenue.

‘I was in a slump – now my art is in Billie Eilish’s house’
Sylvie Baker says she can look for studio space after the US star’s purchase gave her more exposure.

Taiwan opposition leader meets Xi Jinping in Beijing
Cheng Li-wun is the Kuomintang’s first sitting leader to visit China in a decade.

How the Artemis crew will splash down on Earth
The Artemis crew will return to Earth on 10 April after a 10-day mission that took them around the Moon.

A village with boreholes but no water
Families in eNkalweni and surrounding villages near Ugie in the Eastern Cape have been waiting for more than a decade for water, though a number of boreholes have been drilled in their communities.

SOWETAN | End the injustice for Aurora mineworkers
The long-term ecological cost of this neglect will likely burden the state and taxpayers for years to come

High-riding Chiefs could add to Galaxy’s woes
Off-form TS may be perfect fodder for Amakhosi longest winning streak of the season

Tshwane might have paid millions for services not rendered, Madlanga hears
Suspended Tshwane Metro Police Department’s (TMPD) director of assets protection services has conceded that it is probable that the city might have paid out millions for work not done.

Bucs’ Ouaddou unfazed by Bay’s compact pitch
Pirates coach confident his players will adapt

SELLO SEITLHOLO | Use your vote to ensure better municipal services
Municipalities must perform, and where they don’t, there must be real consequences
News24 | FRIDAY BRIEFING | New guard, new game: Fighting for the DA’s future
The DA’s federal congress gets under way this weekend, marking a significant moment for the party as it seeks to chart its future direction under new leadership.
Russian diplomat: Moscow will not abandon Cuba, help with energy
April 10 (Reuters) – Russia will never abandon or betray Cuba and plans to help the Communist island tackle energy issues linked to a U.S. embargo, a Russian deputy foreign minister was quoted as saying early on Friday after talks in Havana.
Djibouti’s Guelleh expected to win sixth term after age limits lifted
April 10 (Reuters) – East Africa’s Djibouti is set to vote for a president on Friday, with incumbent Ismael Omar Guelleh expected to extend his 27-year rule after parliament removed age limits that would have barred him from standing again.
Ready to rumble? Hunter Biden challenges Trump’s sons to cage match
WASHINGTON, April 9 (Reuters) – Americans may soon see a first-of-its-kind fight as they prepare to celebrate the country’s 250th independence: a cage match between the sons of a sitting U.S. president, and the son of a former president.
Melania Trump denies any Epstein connection, seeks end to ‘lies’
WASHINGTON, April 9 (Reuters) – First lady Melania Trump denied on Thursday that she had any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and said she was not one of his victims, thrusting the Epstein matter back into the spotlight after her husband had sought to put it behind him.

White House staff told not to place bets on prediction markets
The platforms have grown in popularity, with some users making bets on global events.

Want to help garden birds? Don’t feed them in warmer months, says RSPB
The UK’s largest bird charity has issued new guidance advising people to stop using feeders to help wildlife thrive.

Ten cases a day – how ‘blitz courts’ could tackle the Crown Court backlog
The scheme, to fast-track cases and to cut the court backlog, is being expanded in England and Wales.

Hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa dies aged 67
The Bronx-born rapper’s global hit Planet Rock is credited with shaping hip-hop in the 1980s.

‘I’m not Epstein’s victim’ and ‘We see you, Vlad’
US First Lady Melania Trump is splashed across several of the papers, after she made a surprise White House address on Thursday.