Top Stories

Top Stories
Non-league Macclesfield stun FA Cup holders Crystal Palace
Sixth-tier Macclesfield FC beat reigning champions Crystal Palace. With 117 places between the teams, it’s the biggest upset in FA Cup history.

Top Stories
China, Russia and Iran launch naval exercises off South Africa’s coast
China, Russia, and Iran began a week-long naval exercise off South Africa, which is framed as being for maritime security and trade cooperation within BRICS Plus.

Top Stories
Macclesfield fans invade the pitch after beating Palace
The Macclesfield fans invade the pitch after beating last season’s FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, in the biggest upset in FA Cup history.

South Africa
WILL FOR PEACE aims to transfer knowledge, boosts anti-piracy skills
Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026, takes place in SA waters and aims to also transfer knowledge.

South Africa
Linderhof residents evacuated as fires flare up near Oyster Bay
Helicopters are assisting with extinguishing the fire in the Kouga area.

South Africa
Two held for questioning following Soweto CIT heist
Gauteng Police Commissioner says two of the vehicles that were used were reported to be hijacked

South Africa
High alert in KZN as severe thunderstorms, flooding loom
The South African Weather Service has issued a level four warning for the northeast region

World
A human rights expert explains the status of human rights under the Maduro regime
NPR’s Scott Simon speaks with Ofelia Riquezes, human rights lawyer and professor at Florida International University, about the status of human rights under the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

World
Why is Russia reserved in its response to the U.S. attack on Venezuela?
Despite a close relationship with Caracas stretching back for decades, Russia has been reserved in its response to the U.S. attack on Venezuela.
World
News24 | Indonesia suspends Elon Musk’s Grok AI over pornographic content
Indonesia suspended Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok on Saturday over concerns about AI-generated pornographic content, the country’s communication and digital affairs minister said.
World
News24 | New video of Minnesota ICE shooting emerges as public outrage grows across US
A new video has emerged showing the final moments of a Minnesota woman’s encounter with an immigration officer before she was killed, as public uproar grows in the United States over the shooting and exclusion of local agencies from the investigation.

Africa
US film stars Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors to become Guinea citizens after DNA tests
The pair join other US celebrities reconnecting with their African heritage and taking up citizenship.

Africa
Trump warns of more Nigeria strikes if Christians ‘continue to be killed’
The US president made the comment after being asked if the Christmas Day strikes were part of a broader campaign.

Africa
The musician and the strongman leader – what you need to know about Uganda’s election
Voters could propel a leader into a fifth decade in power or back a change candidate.

Africa
How radioactive rhino horns are helping with conservation
A project in South Africa is putting radioactive material in rhino horns to make it harder to smuggle them over borders.

Business
End of an era for one of South Africa’s most iconic developments
The V&A Waterfront is undergoing a series of upgrades, as it welcomes Graham Wood as its new CEO.

Business
Gym prices in 2026: Virgin Active vs Planet Fitness
As many return from the holiday season with New Year’s resolutions and plans to sign up to a gym, franchises across the country are adjusting their prices for 2026.

Business
Warning for anyone using WhatsApp in South Africa
Digital scams are a dime a dozen, with scammers in South African going after bank details, taxpayers and the elderly.

Business
The death spiral South Africa urgently needs to escape
South Africa’s municipal electricity debt crisis is often reduced to failing councils, weak billing systems, political interference, and a culture of non-payment. But the truth is more complicated.

Politics
SACP brands ANC ‘leader of society’, endorses party’s renewal project
SACP’s Masuku has described the African National Congress as the leader of society.

Politics
ANC leader acknowledges public frustration, vows action on key issues
The ANC leader was delivering the party’s January 8 Statement at the Moruleng Stadium in North West
Politics
News24 | ANC’s January 8 statement: We won’t be divided or bullied, says Ramaphosa
Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to transformation and unity, rejecting both internal and global forces that seek to undermine these values.

Politics
Ramaphosa reaffirms ANC’s commitment to South Africa’s Constitution
Ramaphosa was delivering the party’s January 8th Statement at the Moruleng Stadium in the North West

Sport
Macclesfield make it two against reigning champions
Isaac Buckley-Ricketts sends Macclesfield 2-0 up against reigning FA Cup champions Crystal Palace.

Sport
Pirates to sign PSL defender to replace Mbokazi?
Orlando Pirates are reportedly on a mission to sign a new left-footed central defender. The target is Marumo Gallants’ Mpho Chabatsane.

Sport
Bandaged Dawson puts Macclesfield ahead against Palace
Shortly after adjusting the bandages on his head after picking up an injury early in the match, Paul Dawson nods home Macclesfield’s opener to put them ahead against Crystal Palace.

Sport
Vonn, 41, wins second World Cup title of season
Alpine skiing great Lindsey Vonn continues her remarkable comeback with her second downhill World Cup title of the season in Zauchensee, Austria.
Education
Book Review: ‘The Cradle of Citizenship,’ by James Traub
In “The Cradle of Citizenship,” the journalist James Traub finds that the biggest crisis in education is not what kids are learning, but whether they’re learning anything at all.

Education
No, private schools aren’t victims of ‘reverse discrimination’ – and Cambridge should know better | Lee Elliot Major
Trinity Hall’s plan to target elite schools sends the message that privilege equals talent, when the reality is that poorer students are already on the back foot
A Cambridge college’s plan to target students from some of the country’s most elite private schools has struck a nerve. As reported by the Guardian, Trinity Hall justified the move by claiming that a focus only on “greater...
Education
Uganda: Boys Outperform Girls in 2025 a-Level Cambridge Results
[Nile Post] Ugandan educationists have renewed calls for continuous review of the national education curriculum to enhance learners’ global competitiveness following the release of the 2025 A-Level Cambridge examination results.
Education
Liberia: Govt Reaffirms Support for Lofa County University Expansion
[Liberian Observer] The Government of Liberia has reaffirmed its commitment to the expansion and long-term development of Lofa County University (LCU) following a high-level engagement held Wednesday during the county tour of the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan.

Lifestyle
‘Life mission’: EFF vows to fight Starlink’s operation in SA
The EFF have vowed to stop Elon Musk’s internet satellite company Starlink from operating in South Africa – at all costs…

Lifestyle
Minister accused of ‘orchestrated campaign’ to secure Starlink
Minister Solly Malatsi has been accused of ‘faking’ public support of a policy directive which favours Elon Musk’s Starlink in South Africa.

Lifestyle
This weekend sleep habit could lower depression risk in teenagers
New research suggests a small weekend sleep habit may lower depression risk in teenagers, challenging long-held beliefs about sleeping in.

Lifestyle
‘Those I trusted harmed me’: AKA’s ‘ex’ Nicole fears for her life
Nicole Nyaba, former girlfriend of slain rapper AKA, says she fears for her life and after life: ‘They are using me as a blood sacrifice.’

Entertainment
Holders Crystal Palace stunned by Macclesfield in biggest ever FA Cup shock
Palace are now winless in nine games in all competitions.

Entertainment
Capitals stun home team Royals in low-scoring SA20 game in Paarl
It was hard-going in Paarl on a slow pitch.

Entertainment
ANC January 8 Statement: Ramaphosa outlines six tasks to improve party’s image
The ANC president says failing to carry out essential tasks could erode public trust
Entertainment
Science/Tech
How the Free Software Foundation Kept a Videoconferencing Software Free
The Free Software Foundation’s president Ian Kelling is also their senior systems administrator. This week he shared an example of how “the work we put in to making sure a program is free for us also makes it free for the rest of the world.”During the COVID-19 pandemic, like everyone everywhere, the FSF increased its videoconferencing use, especially videoconferencing software that works in web...

Science/Tech
Memory price madness in South Africa
Major retailers in South Africa have reported memory prices increasing by as much as 250% in the last three months. Here are a few tips to follow to get the best possible prices in January 2026.
Science/Tech
French-UK Starlink Rival Pitches Canada On ‘Sovereign’ Satellite Service
An anonymous reader quotes a report from CBC.ca: A company largely owned by the French and U.K. governments is pitching Canada on a roughly $250-million plan to provide the military with secure satellite broadband coverage in the Arctic, CBC News has learned. Eutelsat, a rival to tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink, already provides some services to the Canadian military, but wants to deepen...

Science/Tech
Best Deals for New Year’s Resolutions: Sleep, Fitness, and More (2026)
Whether you’re hitting the gym or tracking your schedule, these discounts on WIRED-approved gear can help.

Motoring
What it’s like to take a Japanese bullet train
Japan’s iconic bullet trains are a world-leading transport service.

Motoring
Most new cars in South Africa have this feature – And it’s getting banned in China
A growing number of new cars sold in South Africa feature electric door handles, but the technology is facing global scrutiny over safety concerns.

Motoring
Jeep slashes prices in pivot to new “affordability” strategy
The American carmaker Jeep is slashing prices as part of a new turnaround strategy.
Motoring
Health
Bird Flu Viruses Raise Mounting Concerns Among Scientists
Researchers are not just worried about the virus popping up on American farms. Other types are causing trouble around the world.
Health
Trump’s Steep Science Budget Cuts to Be Turned Back by Congress
After the White House called for billions of dollars in funding reductions, senators and representatives are rescinding the proposed cuts and even boosting funds for basic research.
Health
How to Spark Up Your Sex Drive
Experts say scheduling sex is fine, but there are even more effective ways to cultivate intimacy.
Health
Joel Habener, Whose Research Led to Weight-Loss Drugs, Dies at 88
His discovery of the protein fragment GLP-1 was crucial in the development of Ozempic, Wegovy and other blockbuster obesity and diabetes treatments.