Top Stories

Top Stories
Heated argument over jumping queue leaves one dead, two injured in KwaZulu-Natal
An argument over two men who allegedly jumped a queue at a business in Isipingo in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday led to a shooting which left one person dead and two injured.
Top Stories
Indian village cheers for Kamala Harris before US inauguration
Harris’ maternal grandfather’s village of Thulasendrapuram in Tamil Nadu state gears up for celebrations.
Top Stories

South Africa
12-year-old girl raped after swim in Eastern Cape dam, teenager arrested
A 16-year-old suspect has been arrested for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl who had been swimming in a dam in Booysen Park in Bethelsdorp, Port Elizabeth.

South Africa
Covid-19: Spike sees SA record 9 790 new infections and 839 new deaths
South Africa recorded 9 790 new Covid-19 infections and 839 new Covid-19-related deaths – the second-highest daily death toll to date – taking the confirmed fatalities to 38 288.

South Africa
Former apartheid police officer denies involvement in torture, death of Neil Aggett
Former Security Branch police officer, under the apartheid government, Martin Naude has denied ever being involved in any cover-up of a detainee’s death during his 40-year career as an investigator.
South Africa
SA records 9 780 new COVID-19 cases, 839 deaths
South Africa’s COVID-19 cases have risen to 1 356 716 after 9 780 patients were confirmed to have contracted the virus on Tuesday.

World
Biden inauguration: Democrat to be sworn in as Trump leaves office
The new president will take the oath of office in a Washington DC fortified against any civil unrest.

World
Trump pardons Bannon in final acts of clemency
His ex-adviser faces fraud charges over a fundraising campaign to build a wall on the Mexican border.

World
SLS: Nasa finds cause of ‘megarocket’ test shutdown
An issue with hydraulic systems led to the early shutdown of a test for Nasa’s new “megarocket”.
World
Locust Swarms Threaten Parts Of East Africa
Swarms of locusts have reached dangerous levels in parts of Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. They’re reproducing rapidly in part because of unusual rainfall patterns.

Africa
Coronavirus: Why South Africa has yet to roll out vaccines
South Africa is the worst-hit country in Africa, but has not yet started doing Covid-19 vaccinations.

Africa
‘Buried by strangers’: Funeral curbs raise ire in Zimbabwe
Burying loved ones abroad or in a city far from their rural home is considered undignified.

Africa
Vedanta mine settles Zambian villagers’ pollution claim
The claimants allege a toxic discharge poisoned water sources and destroyed farmland.

Africa
Central African Republic opposition parties reject Touadera re-election
Thirteen of Touadera’s 16 electoral rivals had filed a suit to the Constitutional Court over the provisional results.

Business
Early data shows downward trend in Covid-19 cases in South Africa
Cabinet held a special meeting on Tuesday (19 January) to discuss the progress report from the National Coronavirus Command Council.
Business

Business
Save on your car insurance today – Or get R500 cash
If OUTsurance is more expensive than what you’re currently paying – on a like-for-like basis – you can ask them to pay you R500.
Business

Politics
Ramaphosa establishes committee to oversee COVID-19 vaccine rollout
Speaking during a webinar organised by the ANC’s Progressive Business Forum, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the committee would assist government in ensuring that the distribution of the vaccines are well managed.

Politics
DA calls on Treasury to disclose details of COVID-19 relief expenditure
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on National Treasury to disclose the details of how each of the country’s municipalities spent its share of the R500 billion-rand COVID-19 relief package.
Politics
David Mabuza to lead inter-ministerial committee on vaccines
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed his deputy, David Mabuza, to lead the inter-ministerial committee that will oversee everything related to the Covid-19 vaccine.

Politics
ANC mum on details of Niehaus’ suspension letter
The African National Congress (ANC) says it will not divulge details of a letter informing uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans (MKMVA) spokesperson, Carl Niehaus of his notice of suspension.

Sport
Australian Open cluster grows as 2 more players test positive
Two more Australian Open players have tested positive for the coronavirus, authorities revealed Wednesday, taking to the number of cases linked to the tennis tournament to 10.

Sport
Tiger undergoes surgery to have disc fragment removed
Tiger Woods has recently undergone microdiscectomy surgery to remove a pressurised disc fragment that was pinching a nerve.

Sport
Bulls wary of Lions ace Tiaan Swanepoel pulling a ‘Morne Steyn’ on them
The Bulls will be hoping the Lions’ goalkicking ace, Tiaan Swanepoel, doesn’t pull a “Morne Steyn” on them in this weekend’s Currie Cup semifinal.

Sport
West Ham’s Jess Wallace takes on BBC Sport’s Wonderkids challenge
In episode two of Wonderkids, can West Ham’s Jess Wallace beat Melis Mehmet’s score in this three-part challenge?
Education
Uganda: Museveni Lists Free Education, Medicare As New Term Priorities
[Monitor] Hours after the Electoral Commission chairperson Simon Byabakama declared him winner of the January 14, 2021, presidential elections, President Museveni delivered a 91-minute speech from his country-home in Rwakitura. The speech, rather than being celebratory, was combative. Our reporter, Irene Abalo Otto, transcribed it. In this first of the two-part installment, the President...
Education
Nigeria: Why Community Participation in Schooling Is Struggling – a View From the Ground
[The Conversation Africa] Nigeria has more out-of-school children than any other country in the world. Around 10.5 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are not in school.
Education
Gambia: Upper Saloum Chief Hails NCCE for Role in Peaceful 2016 Presidential Elections
[The Point] Demba Sey, chief of Upper Saloum District in Central River Region of The Gambia has commended the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) for their role in the peaceful conduct of the 2016 presidential elections.
Education
Nigeria: School Resumption – No Benue Student Has Tested Positive for Covid-19 – Commissioner
[Vanguard] Makurdi — by Bankole

Lifestyle
Harvey Weinstein can be questioned in accusers’ civil lawsuit, judge rules
A federal judge in Manhattan on Tuesday rejected Harvey Weinstein’s request to delay a deposition in a civil lawsuit by women who accused the imprisoned movie producer of sexual abuse and workplace harassment.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle
Lifestyle
‘Tiger King’ star Joe Exotic totes expects a pardon from Trump & even has a limo waiting outside prison
“I know that as soon as Joe gets out, he wants to get his hair done. That’s the number one thing he wants to get done.”
Entertainment

Entertainment
New Orleans Jazz Fest pushed to October due to Covid-19
The 2021 New Orleans Jazz Fest has been postponed until October, according to a statement posted on the festival’s website.

Entertainment
‘The Muppet Show’ is coming to Disney+
If you thought you’d never get a chance to stream “The Muppet Show,” fuhgeddaboudit!

Entertainment
Chris Gethard’s highly addictive ‘Beautiful/Anonymous’ podcast hits 250 episodes
Comedian Chris Gethard started a podcast a few years ago with the simple premise he would tweet out a phone number, answer a random call, and have an hour-long conversation with the individual on the the other end of the line.

Science/Tech
Aerobotics raises R250-million in Naspers-led funding round
Cape Town-founded agritech start-up Aerobotics has raised $17-million in a series-B funding round led by Naspers.

Science/Tech
Fibre for everyone, and more…
Promoted | Getting every person in South Africa connected to a fast and reliable fibre network is one of Evotel’s aims. With its recent rebrand, the company reconfirmed this mission.

Science/Tech
Samsung unveils new 4TB entry-level SSD
Samsung has launched its new 870 EVO SSD, which offers up to 4TB of storage space at attractive prices.

Science/Tech
Join CyberArk Boot Camp and find out how to secure your keys to the kingdom
CyberArk is the only security company laser-focused on striking down targeted cyber threats, those that make their way inside to attack the heart of the enterprise.
Motoring
Motoring
Motoring
Motoring

Health
Covid: ‘Sharp drop’ in heart-attack hospital admissions
Some people who need urgent help appear to be staying away, as in the first peak, say researchers.

Health
Monklands ICU staff are ‘physically and emotionally’ drained
James Cook returns to Monklands eight months on to find the hospital staff struggling against the odds.

Health
New California Variant May Be Driving Virus Surge There, Study Suggests
Researchers found that the variant originated in California and showed up in more than half of samples tested last week by researchers in Los Angeles.

Health
Covid-19: Mortician says deaths have taken a toll
Clive Myrie spends a day with medical teams in the Royal London Hospital

Nature
St Lucia estuary breach: minister demands answers over decision
Environment Minister Barbara Creecy has asked the management of the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park Authority to justify its decision to breach the St Lucia estuary mouth.

Nature
Butterfly wings captured in slow motion footage
Scientists, using a wind tunnel and high-speed cameras, have captured the butterfly’s flying skill.

Nature
Businessinsider.co.za | Dwarfism discovered in the world’s tallest animal – giraffes stunted by a bone growth disorder
Scientists have discovered ‘dwarf giraffe’ in Nambia and Uganda. The shortest was 2.4 metres tall, half the expected average.

Nature
WATCH | There are lions on my stoep! Man comes home to find uninvited guests lounging on the patio
A Limpopo businessman got a roaring surprise when he visited his father’s house at Leadwood Big Game Estate and found uninvited guests…