Latest news with #mourning
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Edgar Lungu: Zambian ex-president's burial in doubt after Hakainde Hichilema cancels mourning
Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema has abruptly ended the national mourning period of former President Edgar Lungu in an escalating stand-off between the family and the authorities about his burial plans. It follows the last-minute cancellation of the return of Lungu's body from South Africa by his family on Wednesday, leaving the country uncertain about when and where the former leader will be his address on Thursday evening, President Hakainde Hichilema announced an immediate end to the mourning period, saying the country needed to "resume normal life". "The government has done everything possible to engage with the family of our departed sixth president," said Hichilema. The national mourning period initially ran from 8 to 14 June but was later extended until 23 June, with flags flying at half-mast and radio stations playing solemn music. The extension followed a meeting between government officials and Lungu's family in an attempt to resolve the deadlock over his funeral arrangements had been finalised and his remains were due to be flown back home on Wednesday on a private charter plane. Funeral row causes chaos for mourners of Zambia's ex-presidentPresident Hichilema and senior officials had been prepared to receive the coffin with full military honours, and plans were set for the body to lie in state at Lungu's residence before a funeral this Sunday and burial the following Lungu's family on Wednesday blocked the repatriation of Lungu's remains, saying the government had reneged on its agreement over the funeral family said it hoped that the former president's body would be repatriated "some day" and buried in government expressed regret over the family's action and issued an apology to the South African government and military, who had prepared for the handover."It is unfortunate that their efforts were in vain," Hichilema said. He added that Lungu, being a former president, "belongs to the nation of Zambia" and his body should therefore "be buried in Zambia with full honours, and not in any other nation".Hichilema said his government had "reached a point where a clear decision has to be made," adding that the country "cannot afford a state of indefinite mourning". The opposition Patriotic Front (PF), the party Lungu led until his death, has backed the family's position."The government has turned a solemn occasion into a political game," said PF acting president Given Lubinda. "This is not how we treat a former head of state."Civil society groups have called for an urgent resolution of the matter, with a section of religious leaders saying the stand-off was "hurting the dignity of our country"."We appeal for humility, dialogue, and a resolution that honours the memory of the former president while keeping the nation united," said Emmanuel Chikoya, head of the Council of Churches in government has called for calm and reaffirmed its willingness to continue dialogue with the family over the who led Zambia from 2015 to 2021, died earlier this month in South Africa where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed six years as head of state, Lungu lost the 2021 election to Hichilema by a large margin. He stepped back from politics but later returned to the had ambitions to vie for the presidency again but at the end of last year the Constitutional Court barred him from running, ruling that he had already served the maximum two terms allowed by his disqualification from the presidential election, he remained hugely influential in Zambian politics and did not hold back in his criticism of his reporting by Wycliffe Muia More BBC stories from Zambia: 'My son is a drug addict, please help' - the actor breaking a Zambian tabooAn ancient writing system confounding myths about AfricaZambia president orders ministers to stop sleeping in cabinet Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
China boy touches hearts by wearing late mum's photo during exam, visiting grave afterwards
A 19-year-old has moved millions of people online by wearing a photograph of his late mother while sitting for the most important exam of his life. Advertisement Chen, from central China's Jiangxi province, took China's national college entrance exam, also known as 'gaokao', from June 7 to June 9. His father, Li Wenbo, said Chen wore black, a symbol of mourning, on the second day. On the last day of the test, he wore his late mother's photo on his T-shirt. Chen said he wore it in a position close to his heart so that his mother could sit the exam together with him. Chen prepares to place flowers on the grave of his beloved late mother. Photo: Douyin His mother, Yu Jianfang, died from bile duct cancer three years ago, aged 37.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ariana Grande Suffers Devastating Family Loss
Ariana Grande Suffers Devastating Family Loss originally appeared on Parade. and her family are mourning the loss of their beloved matriarch, Marjorie "Nonna" Grande, who recently passed away at age 99. The Wicked star's mother, Joan Grande, shared the devastating news on social media along with a heartfelt message and a photo of Nonna from her younger years. "We are devastated to share that the beloved matriarch of our family has passed away. Marjorie (Nonna) Grande passed peacefully in her home and was surrounded by her family and loved ones for every moment of her last few weeks," Joan wrote in the statement. She continued, "We thank you for your love, support and for respecting our privacy as we grieve and celebrate her beautiful, extraordinary life." Ariana shared the statement on her Instagram stories while her brother Frankie Grande dedicated his own post to his grandmother. In a beautiful tribute, Frankie penned a note to Nonna, thanking her for the numerous life lessons through the years. "I honestly don't know how this world turns without you in it, but I do know this: I know you so well, I will never have to wonder what you'd say or think in any situation. Your voice, your love, your spirit is forever part of me. So in that way, we'll never be apart," Frankie wrote. He added, "I love you endlessly, my sweet Nonna. I miss you more than words can hold. My heart is shattered, but I feel you watching over me, already so proud of everything I've done and all that is about to come." Over the past decade, Nonna had become a well known figure among Ariana's fans and she often accompanied the starlet to awards shows and events. Nonna was even featured on Ariana's song "Ordinary Things" off of her 2024 album Eternal Sunshine. In fact, her contribution to the album made her the most senior artist to ever appear on the Billboard Hot 100 when the song hit No. 55 on the charts. 'celebrating the one and only, most beautiful Nonna who has now made history for being the senior most person to ever appear on the @billboard Hot100 🥹🥹🌞♡,' Ariana wrote at the time. 'we love and thank you ｡˚❀ 🥹' Our hearts are with Ariana and her family during this difficult time. Ariana Grande Suffers Devastating Family Loss first appeared on Parade on Jun 17, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
N.S. animal shelter unveils rainbow bridge project
Atlantic Watch The Bide Awhile animal shelter has unveiled a new rainbow bridge to help pet owners mourn the loss of a beloved companion.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'It's just tragic': Former Iowa state senator mourns loss of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman
'It's just tragic': Former Iowa state senator mourns loss of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman
