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Anika Reed, USA TODAY Published 11:57 a.m. ET Feb. 19, 2020 | Updated 12:55 p.m. ET Feb. 19, 2020CLOSEPop Smoke, an up-and-coming New York rapper known for his critically acclaimed song "Welcome to the Party," died at age 20, his record label confirmed."We are devastated by the unexpected and tragic loss of Pop Smoke," Republic Records said in a statement Wednesday. "Our prayers and thoughts go out to his family, friends and fans, as we mourn this loss together."Los Angeles police officer Lizeth Lomeli confirmed a person was shot after an unknown number of suspects wearing masks entered a home on the 2000 block of Hercules…

Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY Published 8:00 a.m. ET Feb. 19, 2020 | Updated 11:44 a.m. ET Feb. 19, 2020CLOSE The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed the body of 23-year-old Anitra Gunn was found in central Georgia, about 100 miles south of Atlanta. USA TODAYFORT VALLEY, Ga. — Authorities have recovered the body of a Georgia college student who was missing since Valentine’s Day.The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed that the body of 23-year-old Anitra Gunn was found Tuesday afternoon in Crawford County, near the Peach County line. The area is in central Georgia, about 100 miles south of Atlanta.Anitra Gunn…

CLOSE With a rapidly growing aging population, securing Social Security funds is now more crucial than ever. But how did we get here in the first place? USA TODAYIf you’re among the millions of Americans who plan to apply for retirement, spouse or disability benefits from Social Security this year it might be wise to review all that could go wrong.What could go wrong, you wonder? After all, you simply go online to apply, or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office.Simple enough?If only. Here are themajor traps awaiting you:.Customer service representatives are not advisers: You…

Former City of Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba has accused his successor, Geoff Makhubo, of reversing the gains the City had made under his tenure.Mashaba was responding to earlier reports by Makhubo on Wednesday that the City was on the brink of financial collapse.EWN earlier reported Makhubo had told the media "populist" policies and decision-making by the Mashaba administration had made the municipality dysfunctional.Meanwhile, ENCA also reported Makhubo had accused Mashaba of not only ruining the finances of the City but also of abusing the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) through his office for political gains.'Crying wolf'Makhubo said newly paraded JMPD officers had to…

Siya Kolisi (Getty Images) Johannesburg - World champions South Africa will play 13 Tests this year, starting at home to Scotland on July 4 and ending away to Wales on November 28.Register your interest for the British & Irish Lions tickets in South Africa 2021The schedule was completed Wednesday after a Welsh Rugby Union statement confirmed that the Springboks would conclude a four-international European tour at the Principality Stadium.This match will be a repeat of a tense Rugby World Cup semi-final in Japan last October, won 19-16 by South Africa, who went on to defeat England convincingly in the final.But…

Here are the winning Lotto and Lotto Plus numbers from the Wednesday, February 19 draw: Lotto: 11, 13, 17, 22, 39, 52  Bonus: 02Lotto Plus 1: 21, 25, 34, 43, 50, 51  Bonus: 20Lotto Plus 2: 12, 26, 35, 40, 42, 49 Bonus: 17Are you feeling lucky? See the payouts for the Lotto here, click here for Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2, click here.  Download the News24 app via the Play or iTunes App stores and get a free alert moments after each Lotto draw with the winning numbers.Tap here to download the News24 Android App or here to download the News24 iOS App.In case you missed it, here are the…

Zimbabwe has given an ultimatum to holders of mining licences to pay an annual renewal fee by April, or face losing their licenses, mines Minister Winston Chitando announced on Wednesday.The southern African country is home to vast gold and mineral reserves, including diamonds and platinum. And mining accounts for a large portion of Zimbabwe's foreign currency earnings. "All the mining title holders who owed money to the ministry of mines and mining development as at 31 January 2020 will be given until 30 April to pay up," Chitando said in a statement. "Failing which the mining title would be lost…

Police Minister Bheki Cele laid down the law to DA interim leader John Steenhuisen and the DA-run City of Cape Town, but the party remembered some smallanyana skeletons on Wednesday.On Tuesday, Steenhuisen reiterated the DA's call that policing be devolved to provincial level during the debate on President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address (SONA)."You could have announced that some of the powers of the police will be devolved to provinces and metros in line with international best practice. Because it makes sense for those closest to communities to be tasked with their protection," he said to Ramaphosa.On Wednesday, Cele responded…

(CNN)Ja'Net DuBois, an actress who left her stamp on television playing beloved neighbor Willona Woods on "Good Times" and the voice behind the theme song to "The Jeffersons," has died, according to Kesha Fields, DuBois' youngest daughter. She was 74. DuBoi… Read More

Washington (CNN)The Pentagon's top policy official who warned against withholding military aid to Ukraine last year resigned on Wednesday at the request of President Donald Trump, according to a copy of his resignation letter obtained by CNN. John Rood, Unde… Read More