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THURSDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2026, 16:42

Top Stories

WHO calls for stronger taxes on sugar and alcohol while South Africa lags behind

Today at 16:12 PM, via Daily Maverick

The World Health Organization is urging governments around the world to strengthen health taxes on sugar and alcohol, to save lives and raise money. It says improving policy design and increasing taxes so that sugary drinks become less affordable ‘should be pursued more systematically by countries’.

South Africa

Lives have been improved but more still needs to be done – President Ramaphosa

Today at 15:36 PM, via SAnews

Lives have been improved but more still needs to be done – President Ramaphosa

Notwithstanding the persistent challenges and need for continued effort, government has profoundly transformed the lives of South Africans in the three decades since the advent of democracy.This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa who delivered his reply to the Debate of the State of the Nation...

South Africa

Deadline for comments on anti-money laundering draft bill extended

Today at 15:17 PM, via SAnews

Deadline for comments on anti-money laundering draft bill extended

The National Treasury has extended the deadline for the submission of comments on the General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing) Amendment Bill, 2025 (the draft Bill).

The Bill, published on 14 January 2026, has been extended for a period of 30 days.

“National Treasury would like to...

Business

Another blow to domestic workers in South Africa

Today at 16:00 PM, via BusinessTech

The latest employment data from Stats SA show that domestic worker jobs in the country continue to decline annually, despite a slight increase in the number of positions filled over the final quarter of 2025.

Education

Special needs support eligibility to be reviewed at start of secondary school in England

Today at 13:57 PM, via The Guardian

First cohort to be impacted by change – part of Send system overhaul – are currently in key stage 1, it is understood

Children with a legal right to special needs support will face a review when they move to secondary school, with the first cohort to be impacted currently in key stage 1, the Guardian understands.

A total overhaul of the special educational needs and disabilities (Send) system...

Education

Nigeria: JAMB Sets Feb 26 Deadline for 2026 Utme E-Pin Sales

Today at 13:34 PM, via AllAfrica

[This Day] Abuja — The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that the vending of e-PINs for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will close at midnight on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

Education

Liberia: Grand Gedeh University Board of Trustees Gets New Members

Today at 13:27 PM, via AllAfrica

[New Dawn] Monrovia, February 19, 2026: President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. has appointed new members to the Board of Trustees for Grand Gedeh University to advance the institution’s academic and administrative development.

Science/Tech

SAVCA appoints new CEO

Today at 15:21 PM, via ITWeb

The SA Venture Capital and Private Equity Association confirms Anusha Naidu as its new CEO, effective 1 March.

Science/Tech

EV Sales Boom As Ethiopia Bans Fossil-Fuel Car Imports

Today at 15:00 PM, via Slashdot

An anonymous reader quotes a report from the Financial Post: In 2024, the Ethiopian government banned the import of fossil fuel-powered vehicles and slashed tariffs on their electric equivalents. It was a policy driven less by the country’s climate ambitions and more by fiscal pressures. For years, subsidizing gasoline for consumers has been a major drag on Ethiopia’s budget, costing the state...

Health

How Microbes Got Their Crawl

Yesterday at 18:00 PM, via New York Times

In the oceans and on land, scientists are discovering rare, transitional organisms that bridge the gap between Earth’s simplest cells and today’s complex ones.