Former champions Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal easily progressed at Wimbledon, securing straight-set wins in the first round. Federer took just 67 minutes to see off debutant Damir Dzumhur 6-1 6-3 6-4. Nadal, 29, needed longer against Thomaz Bellucci on Court One, but his 6-4 6-2 6-3 victory was still comprehensive. Elsewhere, 13th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was pushed to five ...

The opening night of William Tell at the Royal Opera House has been marked by boos over a rape scene with nudity. The Opera House issued a statement after the performance of Guillaume Tell apologising for any distress caused. Director of opera Kasper Holten said: “The production intends to make it an uncomfortable scene, just as there are several upsetting ...

The Greek government has requested a new bailout deal from the eurozone, just hours before its bailout expires and it must repay €1.6bn (£1.1bn) to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Greece is reportedly asking for a new two-year aid deal from a bailout mechanism for eurozone countries. Eurozone finance ministers will discuss the Greek offer in a teleconference on Tuesday ...

The Driving Schools Association of Zambia (DSAZ) has bemoaned the shortage of instructors in driving schools countrywide. Association President Hope Kasese Kumalo in a statement has blamed the shortage on the fact that there are no institutions that train instructors in the country. Ms Kumalo says the few instructors available are either self-trained or trained by their employers. She the ...

Government has been encouraged to quickly take advantage of the already secured piece of land in Mushili Township of Bwana Mkubwa constituency to construct a mini Hospital. PF Bwana Mkubwa Member of Parliament Emmanuel Chenda says he is pushing for government to intervene because the construction of the mini Hospital in Mushili Township is dear to him. Mr. Chenda has ...

The Zambian Government has been advised to take a leaf from the Greek Government which is facing a debt crisis because of the decisions made some years back. Assegai Foundation for Civil Advocacy Executive Director Senzo Mkwananzi says Zambians are aware that Greek debt crisis did not happen overnight, but was triggered by adverse decisions made in 1999. Mr. Mkwananzi ...

Finnish Ambassador to Zambia Timo Olkkonen has observed that it is important that land acquisition is clearly and transparently regulated in Zambia, to mitigate potential adverse effects of land investment. Speaking at a Zambia Land Alliance workshop in Lusaka today, Mr. Olkkonen says this should be done in a manner that ensures that livelihoods of the rural population, who form ...

Political scientist Alex Ng’oma says the interpretation of a republic which means mixed government entails traditional leaders just like any other citizen are free to participate in active politics. Dr Ng’oma has since called for debate among Zambians on whether traditional leaders should participate in active politics or not. Dr. Ng’oma notes that a lot of people in Zambia have ...

Government has resumed paying value-added-tax (VAT) refunds to mining companies, putting an end to a long running dispute. Mines Minister Christopher Yaluma told Reuters on the sidelines of the Zambia Mining Investment Forum in London that government is very committed to repaying the VAT refunds. Mr Yaluma said government had started paying to clear the debacle. Vedanta’s chief executive Tom ...

Outgoing British High Commissioner to Zambia James Thornton has stressed the need for Zambia to borrow responsibly. Mr. Thornton has told Qfm News that much is it up to government to decide how much it needs to borrow, it is only advisable to borrow if expenditure from such debt will go towards things the country really needs and have value ...