Top Stories

Top Stories
Witnesses in KZN’s alleged number one extortionist fear for their lives
Key witnesses in the court case of Linda Hlengwa, dubbed KwaZulu-Natal’s number one extortionist, say they fear for their lives.

Top Stories
Rain forecast for Mozambique likely to move to Limpopo, KZN and Mpumalanga
System is forecast to bring showers and thunderstorms to north-eastern parts of SA
Top Stories

South Africa
insureAI Becomes First South African Firm to Earn IFoA Quality Assurance Accreditation
insureAI, an actuarial technology and consulting firm specializing in machine learning and deep learning for financial services, said it has become the first South African organization to receive accreditation under the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries’ Quality Assurance Scheme. The accreditation marks a milestone for the firm, which develops proprietary neural network architectures and...

South Africa
Reliance-Backed Retail Tech Firm Fynd Enters South Africa With Surtee Group Partnership
AI-native retail technology platform Fynd has entered the South African market, marking its first expansion into Africa. The move is anchored by the onboarding of Surtee Group as Fynd’s first strategic customer in the region. Fynd is backed by Reliance Retail Ventures Limited and provides unified, AI-driven commerce infrastructure for retailers. Its South African launch […]

South Africa
Optimising Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) Operations through Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a passing trend; it is reshaping industrial operations at every level. Nowhere is this transformation more visible than in the maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) supply chain, where AI is driving efficiency, predictive insight, and smarter decision-making. Industrial organisations have long relied on data to guide decisions, but […]

South Africa
Masakhane Hub Announces Funding to Bridge AI Gap for 50 African Languages
The Masakhane African Languages Hub (the Hub) has announced a major Request for Proposals (RFP) to address the severe underrepresentation of African languages in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Hub invites African researchers, linguists, startups, technologists and community organizations to build high-quality, inclusive and community-driven datasets for 50 African languages. While Africa...

World
Influential China church reports arrests as crackdown on Christians intensifies
Leaders of Early Rain Covenant Church have been arrested and Yayang Church is being torn down, groups say.

World
What life is like in Venezuela’s capital after the removal of Nicolas Maduro
NPR’s Steve Inskeep speaks to a man in Caracas about life in the city following the U.S. removing former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

World
U.S. seizes tanker that raised Russian flag after weeks-long chase in North Atlantic
The U.S. seized an oil tanker in the North Atlantic after a two-week pursuit spanning thousands of miles from the Caribbean. During the chase, the vessel changed its name and raised a Russian flag.

World
Snow and ice ground flights and choke highways in parts of Europe
More than 1,000 stranded passengers spent the night at Amsterdam’s international airport as snow and ice that is pummeling parts of Europe grounded hundreds of flights.

Africa
US halts assistance to Somalia over claims food aid was illegally seized
Donald Trump’s administration has a zero-tolerance policy for waste, a US official tweeted.

Africa
Rare mountain gorilla twins born in Africa’s oldest national park
Trackers in DR Congo’s Virunga National Park spotted the babies being hugged by their mother on Saturday.

Africa
Nigeria’s ex-justice minister granted bail in corruption case after a month in prison
Abubakar Malami was one of the most influential figures in the administration of former President Buhari.

Africa
Children killed after drone hits home in Sudan, medics say
At least 13 people, including eight children, have been killed in the strike in el-Obeid city, medics say.

Business
Big shift for interest rate expectations in South Africa
Economists are starting to shift their expectations to an interest rate cut this month, after previously pencilling in a hold through to March 2026.
Business
Business
Business

Politics
DA says NFP exit will not sink KZN Government of Provincial Unity
The DA says the NFP’s withdrawal from the GPU does not signal a new government.

Politics
US actions violate international law, Venezuela’s sovereignty: Cosatu
Organisations including Cosatu will picket outside the American Embassy in Pretoria .

Politics
ANC turns 114
The ANC will hold anniversary celebrations in the North West this weekend.

Politics
NFP pulls out of KwaZulu-Natal GPU with immediate effect
The statement was released as the party today began the disciplinary process to punish Mbali Shinga.

Sport
Dubois eyes Baumgardner in ‘biggest women’s fight’
Briton Caroline Dubois shared heated words with American Alycia Baumgardner when both fighters appeared on the undercard of Jake Paul v Anthony Joshua in December.

Sport
‘We called a spade, a spade’ – Saracens clear the air
Saracens will take on French powerhouse Toulouse on Sunday fresh from a blunt review of their “incredibly disappointing” loss to Leicester.

Sport
What next for Arsenal’s Nwaneri after season of frustration?
Ethan Nwaneri had a breakout season last term – but the young Arsenal forward is in a fight for the game time needed to fulfil his promise.

Sport
West Brom interested in ex-Man Utd coach Ramsay
West Bromwich Albion are interested in former Manchester United coach Eric Ramsay as they look to fill their managerial vacancy.
Education
University of California Reports Record Enrollment Despite Trump Pressure
Enrollment increased to more than 301,000 as the system prepared for a budget debate in Sacramento.
Education
The Smithsonian Faces New Pressure to Submit to Trump’s Will
The institution, long regarded as independent, is facing a White House deadline to hand over records about its content and will see turnover that could reshape its governing board.
Education
Nigeria: OAU Probes Death of Medical Student
[Vanguard] The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State, yesterday, disclosed that it is working with relevant authorities to unravel the circumstances behind the death of one of its medical students, Timilehin Toromade.
Education
Nigeria: Accommodation – Unilag May Allow Squatting, to Sanction Racketeers
[Vanguard] Faqced with inadequate accommodation as over 30,000 students jostle for about 8,000 bed spaces, the management of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, may approve squatting for students with their colleagues, just as it vowed to sanction those engaged in hostel racketeering.

Lifestyle
Explainer: What Black Coffee’s divorce ruling appeal means
DJ Black Coffee is taking his dissatisfaction in a ruling over his divorce to ex, Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa, to the Supreme Court of Appeal…
Lifestyle

Lifestyle
Echoes of ‘Day Zero:’ Renewed calls for Cape Town to urgently save water
Cape Town residents are being urged to cut back on water use as dam levels fall and daily consumption climbs well above safe targets.
Lifestyle

Entertainment
Police: If you are harbouring illegal immigrants you’ll be treated as criminals
The police ministry stated that South Africans will be arrested if found renting rooms or business premises to illegal immigrants.

Entertainment
Christian Keyes accuses Tyler Perry Studios of stealing his creator credit on ‘All the Queen’s Men’
All the Queen’s Men premiered on BET+ in 2021.

Entertainment
SA Weather Service debunks reports of storm Baron to devastate SA
However, an intense low-pressure system is expected to develop over the southern parts of Mozambique in the coming days.

Entertainment
Happy Birthday ANC, but no celebrations in KZN as MK party moves closer to power
The current political instability in KZN could spill into other provinces, says political analyst Andre Duvenhage.

Science/Tech
Watts & Wheels: S1E1 – ‘William, Prince of Wheels’
Watts & Wheels is back – EVs, Chinese challengers, mega chargers and petrol rebels collide in the new season’s first episode.

Science/Tech
The man in charge of South Africa’s largest engineering department
Professor Wynand Steyn from the University of Pretoria is one of South Africa’s top academics, driving research which has tremendous value to the country.

Science/Tech
2026 Is the Year of the RGB LED TV
The crop of next-generation TVs arriving this year has more accurate colors than ever, thanks to a fancy new kind of backlighting.

Science/Tech
Safety recall hits Volvo’s best-selling EV in South Africa
South African owners of 372 of Volvo’s popular EX30 model have been urged to pay close attention to a safety recall.

Motoring
Best-selling bakkies in South Africa
Bakkies are as popular as ever in South Africa, with one model experiencing a major surge in interest this December.
Motoring

Motoring
Back to square one for South Africa’s new driver’s licence card printer
The Pretoria High Court has handed down a declaratory order setting aside the controversial tender for South Africa’s new driver’s licence card printer.
Motoring

Health
‘My endometriosis pain is excruciating but I’m still waiting for surgery’
According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 59,733 women in NI are now on waiting lists.

Health
Woman planning 115km walk after two heart attacks
Cathy Read will walk across Spain to support the charity that helped her recover.

Health
Why my period made my gambling addiction worse
Researchers are looking to see if there’s a link between hormonal fluctuations and gambling addiction.
Health
New Dietary Guidelines Abandon Longstanding Advice on Alcohol
Now the government’s recommendation is to “limit” drinking, without specifying safe amounts for men and women. The guidelines no longer warn of risks like cancer.