Top Stories

Top Stories
Watch: How Alex Pretti shooting led Trump to shift course in Minneapolis
BBC analysis editor Ros Atkins looks at why tensions have been running so high in the city – and how we got here.

Top Stories
Benfica keeper scores stoppage time goal to seal win over Real Madrid
Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scores in the 98th minute to give Benfica a 4-2 win over Real Madrid – a goal which also secured Jose Mourinho’s side a place in the last 16 play-offs of the Champions League on goal difference.

Top Stories
Pedro scores superb double to give Chelsea top eight finish
Joao Pedro scores twice to give Chelsea a comeback 3-2 win over Napoli to secure automatic qualification into the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

South Africa
Ngoepe to lead inquiry into Iran’s participation in naval exercise
The week-long naval exercises were led by China and focused on maritime security.

South Africa
Amathole District faces catastrophic drought
Four out of six local municipalities under the Amathole District are facing a catastrophic drought

South Africa
Case against members of alleged international scam postponed to Feb 4
The accused include 29 individuals and 15 entities.

South Africa
Court postpones Bonginkosi Khanyile’s trial to end February
Durban Regional Court has postponed the trial of Bonginkosi Khanyile to the 26th of February 2026

World
U.S. allies looking to China for deals as Trump threats them with tariffs
President Trump’s tariffs and rhetoric have spurred some longtime U.S. allies to diversify their trade ties away from the U.S. Some are going cap-in-hand to Asian superpowers China and India.

World
At least five killed after Storm Kristin hits Portugal
The storm toppled trees, damaged homes and left more than 800,000 people without power.

World
Colombia launches search for missing plane carrying 15 people
Contact with the aircraft was lost just minutes before it was due to land in northern Colombia, state airline Satena says.

World
Panic on crowded train – passenger tells BBC of moment of Russian drone strike
Five people died in the attack in northeastern Ukraine when three drones targeted the train.

Africa
Ex-Nigerian minister in bribery trial went on spending sprees, court hears
Prosecutors allege Diezani Alison-Madueke was given “a life of luxury” in the UK by people interested in Nigerian government contracts.

Africa
US YouTube star IShowSpeed to get Ghanaian passport as Africa tour ends
Ghana’s foreign minister says the influencer is a “worthy ambassador”, but some Ghanaians criticised the move.

Africa
Ex-Nigeria oil minister stands trial in UK on bribery charges
Diezani Alison-Madueke took bribes including luxury goods and private jet travel, a prosecutor tells a London court.

Africa
Nigeria president ‘very fine’ after falling over at Turkey reception
On a visit to Ankara, Bola Tinubu was filmed stumbling and falling after walking past soldiers and dignitaries.

Business
Driverless taxis set to launch in UK as soon as September
Waymo has laid out plans for a robotaxi service in London with a pilot scheme due to begin in April.

Business
Starbucks scraps boss’s $250,000 cap on company jet
The coffee chain changes Brian Niccol’s travel budget due to media attention and “credible threat actors”.

Business
US Fed holds interest rates despite White House pressure
Two Fed officials voted for a cut, including the former head of Donald Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers.

Business
Explosion at crucial water treatment plant in South Africa
An explosion at South Africa’s biggest water-treatment plant is curbing supplies in a system that serves more than 11 million people.

Politics
IMF’s confidence in SA shows NDP objectives can be met: Ntshavheni
In 2012, Cabinet adopted the NDP as the country’s economic blueprint.

Politics
Senona says he didn’t open documents Matlala sent on Ramaphosa’s IDs
Senona says that he doesn’t know why the documents were sent to him.

Politics
EFF supports calls to subpoena O’Sullivan and Mokgotsi before Ad Hoc
Mathys demands a report on the summoning of Paul O’Sullivan.

Politics
Extended Cabinet Lekgotla discusses growing the economy
The two-day gathering is called to discuss plans and priorities for the year.

Sport
England on course for fifth Champions League spot
Could the Premier League get an extra place in the Champions League again? This is how it looks at the end of the league phase.

Sport
Keeper scores dramatic late goal against Real to put Benfica into playoffs
Benfica ‘keeper Anatoliy Trubin scores in stoppage time to help his side into the playoffs on goal difference after a thrilling win 4-2 win over nine-man Real Madrid.

Sport
Rashford scores as Barcelona beat Copenhagen
Marcus Rashford gets on the scoresheet as Barcelona come from behind to soundly defeat Copenhagen 4-1, as they secure automatic qualification into the last 16 of the Champions League.

Sport
Bayern secure league phase spot with victory over PSV
Jamal Musiala scores on his first start for Bayern Munich since July as they secure second spot in the league phase of the Champions League with a hard-fought win at PSV Eindhoven.
Education
Nigeria: Cross River to Restore School Sports
[Daily Trust] The Chairman of the Cross River State Sports Commission, Lawrence Itanya, has announced plans to revive school sports across the state, describing it as the foundation of sustainable sports development.
Education
Nigeria: Police Arrest Man That Sent Bomb Threat Messages to Lagos Schools
[Vanguard] Lagos — The Lagos State Police Command has arrested one Kosiso Chukwem-Nenyem, alleged to have sent bomb threat messages to two schools in the Ikeja Government Reserved Area (GRA), Lagos, last week.
Education
How Fed Rate Decisions Affect Mortgages, Credit Cards, Auto Loans and More
The central bank’s policy stance can influence consumer savings and borrowing, from car financing to home equity loans. Here’s how it works.
Education
Ethiopia: Deluge, Defense, and Demolition – Themes in PM Abiy’s AAU Lecture
[Addis Standard] Addis Abeba — When Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appeared at Addis Ababa University (AAU) on 02 January 2026, to mark its 75th anniversary, many expected him to reflect on the university’s journey and its contributions to Ethiopian society. As the occasion was the first time Prime Minister Abiy addressed the AAU community, the moment called for more than ceremony. It invited a...

Lifestyle
SPCA leads arrest of man who poured boiling water on rat
The SPCA has led authorities to arrest a North West man who filmed himself torturing a rat with boiling water in a video posted online…

Lifestyle
‘Worst of the worst’: Afrikaner ‘alien’ arrested in US
An Afrikaner male was arrested by US ICE agents for being an ‘illegal alien’ and having a string of criminal convictions…

Lifestyle
Snap it, buy it: Recreate a celebrity look with Amazon’s new image feature
South African shoppers can now find products on Amazon purely through visuals, thanks to an image-based shopping tool built into the app.

Lifestyle
Orania: Spike in sale of houses, commercial properties
A spike in properties for sale in Orania – South Africa’s whites-only town – has sparked speculation on social media…

Entertainment
Chiefs’ Maboe – ‘We wanted it more’
‘We got the result and that is all that matters,’ said the Chiefs midfielder.

Entertainment
Lilepo blasts Chiefs past Gallants
Whether it was a cross or a shot, the DR Congo winger’s effort flew into the net.

Entertainment
Real world. Real stages! Live Music Lab Joburg applications now open
Live Music Lab is a funded training- and work-based programme for unemployed youth eyeing practical careers in the live music industry.

Entertainment
Repo rate: will the Reserve Bank cut? Or not?
The repo rate is not expected to decrease too often now that the Reserve Bank has decided to anchor inflation at 3%.
Science/Tech
Apple Tells Patreon To Move Creators To In-App Purchase For Subscriptions
Apple is forcing Patreon to move all remaining creators onto Apple’s in-app purchase subscription system by November 2026 “or else Patreon would risk removal from the App Store,” reports TechCrunch. “Apple made this decision because Patreon was managing the billing for some percentage of creators’ subscriptions, and the tech giant saw that as skirting its App Store commission structure.” The...
Science/Tech
Google Says AI Agent Can Now Browse on Users’ Behalf
Google is rolling out an “auto browse” AI agent in Chrome that can navigate websites, fill out forms, compare prices, and handle tedious online tasks on a user’s behalf. Bloomberg reports: The feature, called auto browse, will allow users to ask an assistant powered by Gemini to complete tasks such as shopping for them without leaving Chrome, said Charmaine D’Silva, a director of product....
Science/Tech
US Cyber Defense Chief Uploaded Sensitive Files Into a Public Version of ChatGPT
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Politico: The interim head of the country’s cyber defense agency uploaded sensitive contracting documents into a public version of ChatGPT last summer, triggering multiple automated security warnings that are meant to stop the theft or unintentional disclosure of government material from federal networks, according to four Department of Homeland Security...

Science/Tech
ICE Is Using Palantir’s AI Tools to Sort Through Tips
ICE has been using an AI-powered Palantir system to summarize tips sent to its tipline since last spring, according to a newly released Homeland Security document.

Motoring
The easiest way to renew your driver’s licence in South Africa
The Department of Roads and Transport is making it easier to renew licences in Gauteng.

Motoring
Major warning for Toyota Corolla Cross owners in South Africa
The Toyota Corolla Cross has received a poor rating after being tested for crash safety by Global NCAP.
Motoring
Motoring
Health
Texas Sues Delaware Nurse Practitioner for Mailing Abortion Pills to the State
The case is the latest action taken by a state with an abortion ban against providers in states that support abortion rights.

Health
AI model from Google’s DeepMind reads recipe for life in DNA
It could transform our understanding of why diseases develop and the medicines needed to treat them, says researchers.

Health
Are there ‘forever chemicals’ in your floor cleaner?
Some floor cleaners contain PFAS – chemicals that never break down. Here’s how to spot them – and what you can use as alternative.

Health
Woman ‘took own life after benefits cut in error’
A coroner wrote to the DWP to express her concerns after the death of Tamara Logan in Tameside.