South Africa has taken a significant leap forward by rolling out its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, a cutting-edge digital solution designed to streamline travel procedures while enhancing border security.
During a formal ceremony on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, held at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled the new system. He hailed it as a transformative step towards modernising the entry process for international guests to South Africa.
“The Electronic Travel Authorisation system will make travel to South Africa easier, faster and more predictable. It will encourage tourism. It will support trade. It will attract investment,” Ramaphosa emphasized, highlighting the multiple benefits of the initiative.
This innovative digital framework empowers eligible travellers to fill out and submit their applications online well ahead of their trip. South African officials can carry out pre-screenings, leveraging advanced biometric and facial-recognition technology at the border for efficient verification of incoming visitors.
Four countries included in South Africa’s ETA system
Currently, the cutting-edge ETA system is available to citizens from four countries, as South Africa begins this progressive venture in making travel more seamless.
- China
- India
- Indonesia
- Mexico
South Africa had already introduced the ETA for these four countries as part of a pilot programme before Wednesday’s official launch. Government records show that travellers from the four countries can obtain visa outcomes digitally.
Ramaphosa said the system would also support tourism, investment, trade and skills exchange while helping the country improve migration management and border security.
The government is preparing to expand the ETA beyond the current four countries, with additional visa categories expected to be incorporated into the platform.
For Nigerians, it is important to note that Nigeria is not among the four countries currently covered by this ETA rollout.
The move forms part of South Africa’s broader efforts to digitise its immigration system and reduce delays and fraud in the visa process.
Liberal Frontbencher Urges Acceptance of Subpar Housing
A Liberal frontbencher has acknowledged that the Coalition’s strategy to increase housing availability will involve certain “trade-offs,” indicating that low-income families might have to accept living conditions that are less than ideal.
Andrew Bragg, the Opposition’s spokesperson on housing and homelessness, revealed on Wednesday a bold plan to drastically cut the national housing code from 2,000 pages to a mere 80 if the party wins the election.
During an interview with ABC Radio National on Thursday morning, Bragg was asked if this policy implied that those with lower incomes should put up with inadequate housing. His response was clear: “Yes, definitely.”
Bragg further explained that the push to construct more homes under a simplified code necessarily involves “trade-offs.”
“Facing the reality of our housing affordability crisis, it’s crucial to prioritize having a house over not having one at all,” he stated in the ABC interview. “Hence, our focus must be on building more homes.”
Bragg’s comments follow remarks made by his Liberal colleague and treasury spokesman Tim Wilson, who suggested in some cases people could put “a jumper on in winter rather than spending huge amounts of money” on improving housing quality.
He told ABC RN on Wednesday there should not be a one-size-fits-all policy — such as mandated energy efficiency — for construction.
“There are some places in the country where you will get cold spells or hot spells for a very small amount of the year, whereas for the rest of the year, it’s not necessary,” he said.
“We have a risk that Australians can’t afford to rent or to buy their own home by the government’s own budget design. We need housing stock that meets different needs in different environmental conditions. Queensland is not the same as Tasmania or Victoria. Western Australia is different again.”
Proposal does ‘nothing to fix’ housing crisis, advocate says
Affordable housing advocates told SBS News that stripping back construction regulations is a way for developers to profit from “unliveable” homes.
“Too many renters are already living in homes that are freezing in winter, stifling in summer, riddled with mould and damp, and expensive to heat and cool,” Everybody’s Home spokesperson Maiy Azize said in a statement.
“Older people and people with disability already struggle to find homes they can safely and comfortably live in.”
Azize added that the government should focus on social housing that is “built to last”.
“We have a housing crisis because people cannot afford a home. Building more poor-quality homes does nothing to fix that crisis. It simply gives developers another way to profit from it,” Azize said.
Australian Council of Social Services CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie agreed, adding that construction of social housing should “drastically scale up”.
She described Bragg’s comments as shocking.
“The changes to the building code proposed by Senator Bragg would simply remove costs from the builder and move them onto the household – locking them into higher power bills for decades, deepening inequality, risking lives, leaving future generations with homes that are expensive to run,” she told SBS News.
The Housing Industry Association on Wednesday welcomed Senator Bragg’s announcement, but argued it was more important to disentangle layers of complexity than target a specific size of the code.
Cutting red tape
The national housing codes set minimum requirements for the safety, health, amenity, accessibility, and sustainability of certain buildings, as detailed in over 2,000 pages.
The Coalition’s new standards will focus on cost-effective structural, fire safety and health-related building standards.
Bragg said reducing the code has been a shifting policy for the Coalition.
“This was in Angus Taylor’s budget reply back in May, and we have committed to getting it to 200 pages, but we actually found a way to get it to less than 100 pages. It tends to be by picking up the New Zealand building code, which is about 80,” he explained.
While New Zealand’s building code appears to be about 80 pages long, the country has other compulsory building requirements on durability and energy efficiency, outlined in separate documents that builders must comply with.
Labor announced it would freeze the National Construction Code following its productivity roundtable in mid-2026.
Housing Minister Clare O’Neil brushed off calls from the Coalition to cut the construction standards to 200 pages earlier in 2026.
“I’ve talked to builders about that, they laugh their heads off. That is absolutely ridiculous,” O’Neil told the National Press Club in May.
The government is not far off presenting a final plan to the building minister later this year to streamline the code, Treasurer Jim Chalmers told ABC Radio National on Wednesday.
Bragg has also called for the creation of a federal pattern book of model homes that could receive automatic approval from the states and territories.
— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
5 Quick Chair Exercises to Trim Muffin Tops More Effectively Than Cardio for Those Over 50
A fitness expert reveals five chair exercises that can outperform cardio in tackling the muffin top for those over 50.
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As people age past 50, it’s common to notice unwelcome changes around the waistline. This is often due to hormonal fluctuations, the natural decline in muscle mass, and increased time spent seated. These factors can lead to the formation of a ‘muffin top,’ that pesky bulge around the waist. While many hit the treadmills or cycling machines thinking cardio will shrink their waistline, this approach misses a crucial element. Though cardio is great for overall health and burning calories, building lean muscle and core strength can help create a more toned midsection.
The waist doesn’t work in isolation. Muscles around your hips, lower back, shoulders, and abdomen all play a critical role in stability, posture, and the appearance of your midsection. That’s why I recommend exercises targeting multiple muscle groups rather than just the abs. A well-balanced body burns more energy daily, enhancing posture and making the waist look slimmer without the need for endless crunches.
With years of experience coaching those over 50, I’ve observed that substantial improvements come from simple yet consistent exercise routines. The following chair workouts are designed to fortify your core while engaging your upper and lower body, fostering functional strength you can use in daily activities. By practicing these exercises a few times a week, along with regular walking and a balanced diet, you’ll develop the robust strength needed to support a healthier and more defined waistline.
Seated Knee Tucks
Whenever someone wants to strengthen the lower abdominals without lying on the floor, seated knee tucks become one of my first recommendations. This movement teaches the deep core muscles to stabilize the pelvis while the hips and lower abdominals work together to pull the knees inward. I encourage clients to move slowly because controlling the movement creates much greater muscle activation than swinging the legs. Many notice improvements in posture after only a few weeks of consistent practice. It’s an excellent way to begin every core-focused chair workout.
How to Do It
- Sit near the front of a sturdy chair.
- Lean back slightly while keeping your spine long.
- Hold the sides of the chair.
- Pull both knees toward your chest.
- Extend your legs with control.
- Perform 10 to 15 repetitions.
Seated Cross-Body Reaches
Rotational movements strengthen the obliques, which play a major role in supporting the waist during everyday activities. This exercise combines controlled twisting with reaching, encouraging the core to stabilize while improving mobility through the upper body. I often include it because it feels natural and closely resembles the way people move throughout the day. Clients frequently tell me they feel looser through the torso while noticing better posture after several weeks. Strong obliques contribute to a stronger-looking waist.
How to Do It
- Sit tall with your feet flat on the floor.
- Extend both arms forward.
- Reach one hand across your body toward the outside of the opposite knee.
- Return to the center.
- Alternate sides.
- Complete 12 repetitions per side.
Seated Resistance Band Press
One of the biggest mistakes I see involves separating upper-body training from core training. Pressing a resistance band while seated forces your abdominal muscles to stabilize your torso throughout every repetition, creating much greater total-body engagement than isolated arm exercises. I recommend maintaining an upright posture instead of leaning backward because that keeps the core active from start to finish. Clients often notice stronger shoulders and a firmer midsection developing together. Functional exercises almost always provide the biggest return on your effort.
How to Do It
- Sit tall in a sturdy chair.
- Wrap a resistance band around your upper back.
- Hold one end in each hand.
- Press both hands forward.
- Return slowly.
- Perform 12 to 15 repetitions.
Seated Alternating Punches
This movement combines light cardiovascular work with excellent core activation. Every punch encourages the abdominal muscles and obliques to stabilize while the shoulders and arms remain active throughout the exercise. I remind clients to rotate gently through the torso instead of punching with only the arms because that simple adjustment dramatically increases core involvement. Many finish this exercise feeling energized while their entire upper body has worked together. It’s an excellent substitute for repetitive machine cardio.
How to Do It
- Sit tall with both feet flat.
- Tighten your core.
- Punch one arm straight ahead.
- Return with control.
- Alternate arms.
- Continue for 45 to 60 seconds.
North Carolina DoorDash Driver Suffers Skull Fractures in Alleged Bat Attack
“I suffered multiple skull fractures and brain bleeds,” revealed Christen Phillips.
This mother of three is now in the hospital facing a challenging recovery journey from a severe brain injury. Her nightmare unfolded while she was fulfilling a delivery order for DoorDash, when deputies state she was viciously attacked by a man wielding a baseball bat.
The alleged assailant, 44-year-old Stanley Shockley, is currently in custody.
According to the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, the horrifying incident occurred in broad daylight. The suspect allegedly pursued Phillips and savagely struck her with the bat just as she exited her vehicle to complete the food delivery.
The attack took place on a seemingly ordinary day, August 1, in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Phillips had come to a stop at an intersection, waiting patiently for the car ahead of her to move, unaware of the danger that was about to unfold.
Shockley was reportedly behind the wheel when Phillips honked her horn alerting him to move his car forward.
After the honk, the situation took a dangerous turn.
The sheriff’s office said, “The vehicle moved out of her way and began following her.”
Phillips arrived at her delivery drop-off point, carried out the order, and tried to walk back to her car when Shockley allegedly jumped out, attacked her with the bat, then ran off.
“He came around to my door with a small wooden bat or baton and beat me in the head and face with it,” Phillips said in a post to social media.
“I don’t remember it at all. I woke up an unverified amount of time later,” she said.
She was able to drive herself to a nearby hospital after the attack.
“I had multiple skull fractures and brain bleeds and blood and cerebral fluid draining from my left ear for hours. My cheek bone on my left side is also fractured,” she said.
The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Shockley was arrested on Monday in connection to the incident.
He is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury, records say.
Sheriff Chris Thomas said in a statement:
“We understand the public does not see what goes into every investigation and a case like this can make citizens uneasy. We appreciate the number of tips and leads the public provided us.
“Our detectives follow every lead, carefully work through the evidence, and continue to pursue answers even when the investigation presents challenges. Their hard work ultimately led them to identify a suspect and make an arrest.”
In a statement sent to Fox News Digital a spokesperson for DoorDash said, “What this Dasher went through is horrific, and we’re relieved she’s safe and on the road to recovery. We’re grateful to law enforcement for making an arrest and will continue to assist their investigation in any way we can.”
Mother Allegedly Overlooks Child Abuse to Protect Partner, According to Police Report
In a distressing turn of events, authorities have arrested a Texas mother and her boyfriend after she turned a blind eye to his constant abuse of her young daughter to avoid his incarceration. This shocking development was confirmed by law enforcement officials.
The incident unfolded on Thursday around 8:20 p.m. in Spring, a community located just north of Houston. Jazmin Cisneros, 28, together with her boyfriend, 29-year-old Gerardo Gonzalez, arrived at a local gas station with a toddler who had suffered severe injuries, as detailed by Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
Seeking urgent assistance for the two-year-old girl, the duo prompted bystanders at the gas station to call 911.
Upon arrival, deputies encountered the child in an unresponsive state and immediately commenced life-saving procedures, holding the fort until paramedics arrived on the scene.
The critically injured toddler was rushed to a nearby hospital where medical personnel identified her grave condition, necessitating an airlift to another facility for surgery. As of Tuesday evening, she remains in critical condition, fighting for her life.
According to court records reviewed by the Daily Mail, Gonzalez allegedly admitted to hitting the two-year-old in the head multiple times, punching her in the chest, lower back and bottom, and stomping on her pelvis.
The severe beating led to the toddler suffering a broken pelvis, lacerated liver and fractured skull, the court filing stated, adding that the child ‘is not expected to survive.’
Gonzalez was arrested on Friday and charged with causing serious bodily injury to a child. He was booked into the Harris County Jail on a $1 million bond, according to the jail’s records.
Jazmin Cisneros, 28, was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly failing to report that her boyfriend had been beating her two-year-old daughter
Cisneros’s boyfriend, Gerardo Gonzalez, 29, allegedly admitted to punching the toddler in the head, stomach, lower back and bottom, and stomping on her pelvis
After a four-day investigation, police determined that Cisneros allegedly did not seek medical attention for her child after becoming aware that the girl had been beaten.
The mother has not been accused of directly participating in the physical abuse.
Cisneros was arrested on Tuesday and charged with the same felony as her boyfriend. She was booked into the same jail on a $500,000 bond, according to the jail’s records.
Prosecutors alleged at a hearing on Tuesday that the toddler had been physically abused multiple times in the past, but Cisneros failed to report any of the instances because she did not want Gonzalez to go to jail, ABC13 reported.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office stated that the case remains under investigation by homicide detectives.
‘Our thoughts are with this young toddler as she continues to fight for her life,’ said the Harris County sheriff.
‘Cases involving children are among the most heartbreaking first responders encounter, and we remain committed to seeking justice on her behalf,’ the sheriff added.
According to court documents, Gonzalez has no prior convictions but has several previous arrests on record.
Prosecutors alleged that Cisneros failed to report previous times that her boyfriend beat her daughter because she did not want him to go to jail. The mother is pictured standing in court
The couple arrived at this gas station in Spring, Texas, Thursday night seeking help for the injured two-year-old. Police are pictured at the gas station
The most notable arrest was for making a terroristic threat against a public servant in Webb County, but the charge was dismissed in 2016.
Under Texas law, causing serious injury to a child is a first-degree felony punishable by a minimum of five years in prison or a maximum of life in prison. The exact sentence depends heavily on court proceedings.
If the toddler dies in the hospital, her mother and the woman’s boyfriend will likely have their charges modified.
Hundreds Deported by Trump-Era Prosecutor from California’s Amnesty Zone
Defying California’s sanctuary laws, federal officials have extracted numerous criminal illegal immigrants from local jails.
Under the directive of President Donald Trump, hundreds of criminal offenders were removed from what has been considered California’s “sanctuary state,” as shared by U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli this past Wednesday.
Initiated last year by Essayli, this operation proved effective enough to potentially serve as a model for replication in other parts of the nation.
“What we have here is a template for the rest of America, a successful approach encouraging states to release criminal illegal aliens to @ICEgov,” he emphasized.
Through this operation, a total of 362 illegal immigrants, who had previously been deported, were apprehended, reports the New York Post.
Federal authorities use illegal reentry charges to obtain warrants for illegal aliens already being held in local jails. The warrants require the facilities to transfer the inmates to federal custody before they can be released.
“We’re writing federal warrants in real time, so we can force jails to hand criminal aliens over to our custody before they’re released,” Essayli told the New York Post.
“It’s keeping bad guys from ever getting back out into the streets,” he added.
The operation covers Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.
During one recent operation at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles, federal agents took custody of seven illegal aliens who had been arrested on charges including domestic battery, illegal gun possession, and reckless driving causing injury.
Each had previously been convicted of illegally entering the United States and had been deported, making them eligible to face federal charges for returning illegally.
Among those targeted through Operation Guardian Angel are illegal aliens with criminal records involving child molestation and rape, as well as a man accused of murder.
One defendant, 70-year-old Mexican national Jaime Rodríguez Ladesma, was convicted in 2023 of committing lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14. He was deported later that year but returned illegally to the United States.
Federal authorities have also taken action against José Cristian Saravia-Sánchez, 31, a Mexican national accused of fatally shooting an Inglewood man who tried to stop the theft of a catalytic converter in 2025.
Saravia-Sánchez had previously been removed from the United States before returning illegally. He had also been arrested 11 times between June 2022 and August 2024, according to the report.
Federal officials said California’s sanctuary policies prevented local authorities from honoring an immigration detainer during his earlier encounters with law enforcement.
“The purpose of Operation Guardian Angel is to neutralize these sanctuary state policies,” Essayli said.
X users praised Operation Guardian Angel, thanking the Trump administration for targeting criminal illegal aliens in California.
New Jersey Husband Arrested After Wife Found Stabbed in Upscale County Home
Authorities in New Jersey are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragic stabbing incident that claimed the life of a woman inside her Somerville residence.
The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that 46-year-old Alyne Espinal was found with multiple severe wounds to her chest, neck, and thigh. Tragically, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her husband, 55-year-old Ignacio Espinal, was apprehended on Tuesday in West New York, New Jersey.
Ignacio Espinal is now facing charges of first-degree murder concerning the death of his wife. (Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office)
Law enforcement officers were dispatched following a 911 call received just before 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, which raised “concerns for the welfare” of a resident on Brookside Avenue.
Investigators say Alyne Espinal, 46, was found dead of multiple stab wounds inside a Somerville, N.J., apartment. (Reuters: Mike Deak USA Today Network)
Investigators say a 46-year-old woman was found dead inside a Somerville, N.J., apartment with multiple lacerations. (Google Maps)
For the Somerset County case, the Prosecutor’s Office said in part, “The following information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records and analyze forensic evidence.”
Espinal is facing charges of first-degree murder, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and third-degree hindering.