A South African man linked to a police corruption probe died by apparent suicide, while China overturned the death sentence of a Canadian citizen, and the lead singer of the band 3 Doors Down passed away after a battle with cancer, according to reports released over the weekend. Additionally, a drone attack in Sudan killed dozens of civilians, and reports indicate that many smart motorways in England are failing to deliver expected value.
Wiandre Pretorius, 41, who had been named in South Africa's Madlanga Commission, a major police corruption inquiry, reportedly shot himself at a petrol station, according to BBC World. Pretorius's name had been mentioned in connection with the 2022 murder of a witness, Emmanuel Mbense, allegedly at the hands of police officers. A police spokesperson said that four of the 12 people named as persons of interest in that killing are now dead. The police received reports of the incident at approximately 22:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Saturday.
In other news, the lead singer and songwriter of the US band 3 Doors Down, Brad Arnold, died at the age of 47 after battling cancer, as announced by the band on X, according to BBC World. Arnold was diagnosed with stage four clear cell renal carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer that had metastasized into his lung, in May 2025. The band is best known for their 2000s rock hits like "Kryptonite" and "Here Without You."
Meanwhile, China overturned the death sentence of Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, a Canadian official said on Friday, according to The Guardian. Schellenberg was detained on drug charges in 2014 before Canada-China ties deteriorated in 2018. This move is seen as a possible sign of a diplomatic thaw as Prime Minister Mark Carney seeks to boost trade ties with Beijing.
In Sudan, a drone attack by a paramilitary group hit a vehicle carrying displaced families in central Sudan, killing at least 24 people, including eight children, according to a doctors group cited by The Guardian. The attack occurred on Saturday. The UN also reported that the RSF hit an aid convoy in the state on Friday.
Finally, newly released reports from National Highways indicate that many smart motorways in England are failing to offer the value for money expected when they were originally planned, according to BBC Business. Two of the schemes, involving sections of the M25 and the M6, were found to be offering "very poor" value. The AA, representing motorists, said the schemes had turned out to be a "catastrophic waste of time, money and effort."
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