Top Stories

Top Stories
Plascon’s 2026 colour forecast celebrates human touch
Next year’s colour forecast celebrates the human touch, offering handcrafted palettes that blend natural tones, bold accents and timeless style.

Top Stories
Head hits ‘wonderful’ century to put Australia firmly in control
In front of his home crowd, Travis Head hits his second century of the 2025/26 Ashes series to help put Australia firmly in control on day three of the third Test against England in Adelaide.
Top Stories
News24 | Trump supporters eagerly await Jeffrey Epstein files: ‘It took too long’
In Phoenix, at a meeting of an influential conservative organisation, supporters of US President Donald Trump say they are keenly awaiting the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

South Africa
Four questioned after raid at a building where DJ Warras was killed
The killing is linked to disputes around hijacked buildings and ongoing criminal activity.

South Africa
Court case against man found with 582 passports postponed
Belfast Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga postpones Chitaizvi’s fraud case to 29 December 2025
South Africa
News24 | SEE | Antarctica, ice caves, and setting cold plunge records with five lucky teens
Five days of wide-eyed adventure… Riaan Manser and five lucky Grade 11s are back from their epic tour of Antarctica. They crawled through an ice cave, slept under the coldest of skies, and set new records for the true cold plunge.

South Africa
UK Actors Vote to Refuse On-Set Digital Scans Amid AI Fears
Actors in the United Kingdom have voted overwhelmingly to refuse digital scanning on set, escalating pressure on film and television producers to strengthen protections against the misuse of artificial intelligence. Equity, the UK’s largest acting union, announced the results of an indicative industrial action ballot on Thursday. With turnout exceeding 75%, more than 99% of […]

World
EU leaders agree on $105bn Ukraine loan, but without relying on frozen Russian assets
European Union leaders have agreed to provide a massive interest-free loan to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years. The loan will not rely on frozen Russian assets.
World
News24 | Brown University mass shooter found dead in storage unit, police puzzle over motive
The suspect in the mass shooting at Brown University last weekend is dead, officials said, as investigators said he also killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor two days after the rampage at Brown.

World
TikTok signs deal to give U.S. operations to Oracle-led investor group
The agreement aims to resolve a yearslong standoff between the popular social media platform and the U.S. government over national security concerns tied to China’s parent company, ByteDance.

World
Stigma of Ukraine’s forgotten soldiers who ‘died the wrong way’
There are no official statistics surrounding suicide among Ukrainian soldiers, but they are thought to count in the hundreds.

Africa
Can Salah finally lift Afcon trophy as Morocco eye home glory?
Two of African football’s biggest names, Achraf Hakimi and Mohamed Salah, are hoping to lead their nations to glory as the Africa Cup of Nations gets ready to kick off in Morocco.

Africa
Rebels start to withdraw from key DR Congo city, leaders say
DR Congo’s government say the announced withdrawal is intended to distract the US mediation team.

Africa
Nigeria apologises over Burkina Faso military flight that saw 11 servicemen detained
The air force personnel have been released but have not yet returned home, Nigeria says.

Africa
UK museum knows ‘little to nothing’ about new African display
Manchester Museum curators hope the exhibition of African items will provoke ‘honest conversation’.

Business
Government borrowing higher than expected in November
Borrowing – the difference between public spending and tax income – was £11.7bn last month.

Business
Six ways to refresh your finances this festive season
Before the new year begins, take the opportunity to give your finances a festive refresh and set yourself up for a confident start to 2026.

Business
A 45% school bus fare hike is too much, says dad
Ambi Ambituuni now expects to pay more than £300 a term for his daughter’s bus journeys.

Business
US sends a threat to South Africa, and bad start for people with DStv in South Africa
Here are 5 important things happening in South Africa today, Friday, 19 December 2025.

Politics
Inquiry into Hlophe to be finalised end January: MKP
John Hlophe was placed on precautionary suspension from all MKP positions last month

Politics
Ramaphosa confirms National Dialogue Steering Committee nominees
The National Dialogue Steering Committee will be responsible for setting strategic priorities.

Politics
MKP to forge ahead with another no confidence vote against Ntuli
KZN Premier Thami Ntuli survived a motion of no confidence on Monday.

Politics
Leadership changes within MKP are inevitable: Mzobe
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) was founded on December 16, 2023.

Sport
Kaizer Chiefs scout flying to Morocco
The scout of Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs Thembela Maliwa and Kaizer Motuang Jr will check in at the latest TransferRoom summit in Rabat Morocco.

Sport
Lots more to achieve after incredible year – McIlroy
Newly crowned Sports Personality of the Year winner Rory McIlroy says he has “a lot more I want to achieve” after an “incredible” 2025.

Sport
‘Travis Head escapes!’ – Brook drops tough chance with batter on 99
Harry Brook drops a tough chance to remove Travis Head, with the Australian opener on 99 with the home side on 202-4 and a lead of 287 on day three of the third Test in Adelaide.

Sport
‘There’s a real excitement’ – Ballard on Sunderland form and new signings
Sunderland’s Dan Ballard discusses how excitement from fans has influenced their home form and the influence Granit Xhaka has had on the club.
Education
Africa: All of Africa Today – December 19, 2025
[allAfrica]
Education
Trump Administration to Appeal Harvard Funding Case
Facing a deadline to appeal, the Justice Department told the courts late Thursday that it would try to overturn a judge’s ruling in favor of Harvard.
Education
Nigeria: Govt Reopens All Closed 47 Unity Colleges, Expresses Commitment to Safety
[This Day] The Federal Government has reopened all 47 Federal Unity Colleges that were shut in the wake of the rise in insecurity in some parts of the country,
Education
Namibia: January School Placement Scramble Looming – Ministry
[Namibian] The education ministry says it expects significant school placement pressure in January due to infrastructure shortages and rising national pupil enrolments.

Lifestyle
Comedian Pete Davidson and Elsie Hewitt welcome daughter
Former “Saturday Night Live” comedian and model Elsie Hewitt announce the birth of their daughter.

Lifestyle
Air patrol protects Table Mountain National Park visitors from above
SANParks is going above and beyond – literally! – to protect the influx of visitors to Table Mountain National Park this festive season.

Lifestyle
WATCH: Woman’s tearful vows as she marries AI boyfriend
Yurina Noguchi walked down the aisle to wed Lune Klaus Verdure, a version of a video game character that she created via ChatGPT.
Lifestyle
Entertainment

Entertainment
South Africa had a topsy-turvy relationship with international acts in 2025
The rate at which international acts have been coming to South Africa in recent times is at its highest ever.

Entertainment
PowerBall: R99 million up for grabs tonight
Tonight’s draw could change one lucky player’s life with a whopping R99 million up for grabs.

Entertainment
Specialist doctors flee public hospitals as NHI looms
Thousands of doctors and nurses have left state health facilities, sparking fears the public system cannot support the NHI.

Science/Tech
Ring Promo Codes and Discounts: Up to 50% Off
Discover how to save on Ring cameras, doorbells, outdoor cameras, and more.
Science/Tech
Trump’s Social Media Business Is Merging With a Nuclear Fusion Company
Tony Isaac shares a report from CNN: President Donald Trump’s social media and crypto company is making a huge bet on a far different industry — nuclear fusion, a potentially lucrative albeit commercially unproven energy technology that could help power a suddenly electricity-starved economy. Trump Media and Technology Group Thursday announced a surprise merger with TAE Technologies, in an...

Science/Tech
Save With a 15% Off Dyson Promo Code
Get 15% off with a Dyson coupon code, plus save up to $600 with discounts on vacuums, $150 off Airwraps, and more.

Science/Tech
Promising signs for Netflix’s deal to buy major DStv partner
Traders are betting that what once looked like a potential bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery is turning into a one-horse race, with Netflix winning over Paramount.
Motoring

Motoring
Tap into an audience of South African car buyers
Sponsored content on TopAuto connects your brand with an engaged audience of over a million South African car buyers.

Motoring
South Africa is getting 8-year driver’s licences – which is bad news for the transport department
South Africa plans to extend the validity of its driver’s licences from 5 to 8 years, but concerns have been raised about the potential loss of revenue.
Motoring

Health
Has flu peaked? What the figures tell us
NHS remains on high alert over flu, health bosses say, but there are signs infections are levelling off.
Health
Trump Moves to Prevent Access to Gender-Related Care for Minors
Proposed new rules would pull all federal financing from hospitals that continue to provide gender treatments for adolescents.
Health
When Your Family Is Estranged During the Holidays
Familial feuds have ripple effects, experts say.

Health
People fake weight to obtain skinny jabs, says GP
A doctor from Chelmsford calls for more checks to stop the drugs being sold inappropriately online.