HOUSTON — Time marches on and all good things must come to an end. But don’t tell that to The Rolling Stones.

What many believe to be the greatest rock ’n’ roll band in the world showed no signs of slowing down anytime soon as they kicked off their latest tour Sunday night at Houston’s NRG Stadium.

The Stones have been touring for more than 60 years. Frontman Mick Jagger and lead guitarist Keith Richards are both 80, with guitarist Ronnie Wood not far behind at 76. Their tour is being sponsored in part by AARP.

But during a vibrant two-hour show, the Stones played with the energy of band that was on tour for the first time.

“It’s great to be back in the Lone Star State,” Jagger told the packed stadium, filled with longtime fans, many wearing faded concert shirts from previous tours.

Jagger often strutted up and down the stage with seemingly boundless energy while Richards and Wood played many familiar guitar riffs beloved by fans. Jagger often led the audience in sing-alongs.

“The energy level is up and it’s always up with them. The age doesn’t show,” Dale Skjerseth, the Stones’ production director, said Friday before the concert.

The Stones have hit the road to support the release of their latest album, “Hackney Diamonds,” the band’s first record of original music since 2005.

Houston was the first stop on the band’s 16-city tour across the U.S. and Canada. Other cities on the tour include New Orleans, Philadelphia and Vancouver, British Columbia. The tour ends on July 17 in Santa Clara, California.

During Sunday’s 18-song concert set list, the Stones played several tracks off the new record, including lead single “Angry.” They also played classics including “Sympathy for the Devil,” “Gimmer Shelter,” Honky Tonk Women” and “Start Me Up.”

After playing “Beast of Burden,” Jagger said that concertgoers in Houston had voted to include it on the set list.

“You can’t go wrong with that,” one man in the audience could be heard screaming.

The Stones also played some unexpected choices, including “Rocks Off,” from their 1972 double album “Exile on Main St.” and “Out of Time,” a 1966 song that Jagger said during the concert had not ever been played by the band in the U.S.

With the 2021 death of drummer Charlie Watts, the Stones are now comprised of the core trio of Jagger, Richards and Wood. On Sunday, they were backed by various musicians including two keyboardists, a new drummer, backup singers and a brass section.

While the stage was surrounded by a large collection of video screens projecting images throughout the show, the main focus of the concert was the band and their songs

Before Sunday’s concert, Jagger spent time on Friday touring NASA’s Johnson Space Center in suburban Houston, posting photos on his Instagram account of him with astronauts inside Mission Control.

“I had an amazing trip to the space center,” Jagger said.

When asked if the band might be thinking about retiring, Skjerseth said he doubts that will happen.

“This is not the end. They’re very enthused,” he said.

Source: AP

SHURUGWi – A Shurugwi suspect notorious for using machetes to rob residents of cellphones and other gadgets is facing 55 counts of robbery in a development in which residents hope that the spate of crimes that terrorized the mining town will come to an end.

Tawanda Roy Ndlovu of village 1 under Chief Ntabeni, Zhombe appeared before Shurugwi Magistrate Sithabile Zungula while three of his accomplices are still at large.

He is pleading guilty to the charges.

The gang operated in areas like Gakaka along Zvishavane road, Bonsor, Nash 1, Dombojena, Surprise and all suburbs surrounding Shurugwi town.

Police indicate that the gang also robbed people of cash clothes and groceries from tucks shops. Some of the properties were recovered.

IN response to China and Russia’s growing influence in Africa, the US has asserted its claim as the continent’s best choice. The three global heavyweights have recently been competing for Africa’s partnership, as the US struggles to retain its influence on the continent. However, in recent years, Africa seems to be drifting more towards China and Russia.

A recent poll found that China and Russia have higher approval ratings in Africa than America. In 2023, the United States had a 56% approval rating, China 58%, and Russia 64%.

The Commerce Secretary of the United States, Gina Raimondo, disclosed to the American news network CNN, that the United States, remains Africa’s best option.

According to her, for African countries, the United States is the ideal partner, “without strings attached.” She also pointed out that Africa is free to make its own decisions and that this notion will not be imposed on the continent.

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“We think we’re the best, we think we offer opportunities consistent with your [Africa’s] values of freedom and democracy, and so we want to be the partner that you choose to work with,” the commerce secretary told CNN’s Larry Madowo in an exclusive interview in Nairobi.

During her first official visit to Africa, she met Kenyan President William Ruto and spoke on the sidelines of the AmCham Business Summit.

“I just met with President Ruto, and we had a fantastic meeting. I said to him: we’re not here to lecture, we’re here to partner, we’re here to learn from you, we’re here to invest, in your people and in your country,” she added.

China is at present Africa’s single largest commercial partner, with bilateral commerce expected to reach a record $282.1 billion by 2023. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which covers an extensive area of the continent and spends extensively on infrastructure projects, has undoubtedly helped China expand its presence in Africa and gain influence among African economies and governments.

Furthermore, Russia has been expanding its presence in Africa with its resources, training, consultancy, bilateral trade, nuclear deals, and infrastructural establishment.

Just recently, the country reopened its embassy in Burkina Faso, after over 3 decades of being absent from the country.

Source: Insider Business (Africa)