Top Stories

Top Stories
UK names Christian Turner as new ambassador to US
Turner has spent a nearly 30-year career working across Whitehall and the Foreign Office.

Top Stories
Covid denier jailed for three years after urging armed revolt
Paul Martin called on people to attack the UK’s infrastructure during the pandemic, the Old Bailey heard.
Top Stories

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 […]

South Africa
AI Boom’s Environmental Cost Matches New York City Emissions, Study Finds
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence has generated an environmental footprint in 2025 comparable to that of New York City, according to new research that raises concerns about the climate and water impact of the technology. The study, published Wednesday in the academic journal Patterns, estimates that AI-related activity released up to 80 million tonnes […]

South Africa
Workshop in Woodmead Trains African Creators on AI and Digital Twin Tech
A Woodmead-based workshop is equipping African digital creators with practical skills in artificial intelligence and digital twin technology, signalling a shift in how the continent’s creative economy competes on a global stage. The first Digital Twin and AI Creator Enablement Workshop on the continent brought together more than 20 award-winning South African digital creators who […]

South Africa
ADQ, Gates Foundation Launch $40M AI and EdTech Partnership to Boost Learning in Sub-Saharan Africa
ADQ and the Gates Foundation have announced a four-year, $40 million partnership aimed at expanding the ethical use of artificial intelligence and education technology to improve learning outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative, unveiled on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Finance Week during a visit by Bill Gates to the United Arab Emirates, will combine […]

World
Austrian nuns await word from the Vatican on whether they can stay in their convent
The three octogenarian nuns broke out of a nursing home to go back to live in their convent, sparking a dispute with their church superior. Both sides have appealed to the Vatican for a resolution.

World
Peter Arnett, Pulitzer-winning war reporter, dies aged 91
He was known for covering the Vietnam and Gulf Wars – and for interviewing both Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden.

World
Thailand bombs near Cambodia’s Poipet border crossing
The bombings come as renewed border clashes show no sign of letting up between the two countries.
World
News24 | Inside Melania Trump’s world: Amazon doc explores US First Lady’s behind-the-scenes moments
US First Lady Melania Trump made a rare foray onto centre stage Wednesday with the first trailer for her Amazon documentary.

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’.

Africa
Liverpool rappers in Somalia during clan conflict
British citizens Abdifatah Gulaid and Noah Ihiekwe were seen carrying guns and parading with troops.
Business

Business
Faisal Islam: Will ‘Santa rate cut’ have enough festive spirit to boost the economy?
The Bank of England is hoping the interest rate cut will inject some much-needed momentum into the economy.

Business
‘Carspreading’ is on the rise – and not everyone is happy about it
In the UK and across Europe, cars are becoming longer, wider and heavier.

Business
Trump Media to merge with nuclear fusion firm in $6bn deal
The company behind President Trump’s Truth Social platform makes a surprising move into the energy sector.

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
‘Just enjoy yourself’ – When Greaves met Van Gerwen in 2016
In 2016, Beau Greaves emerged as a 12-year-old darts sensation. Nine years on, Greaves will line up for her second appearance at the PDC World Darts Championship.

Sport
One area of concern for Bafana Bafana going into AFCON
Bafana Bafana will kick off their AFCON campaign on Monday against Angola but will they fix one area which could cost them?

Sport
Mngqithi slams Kaizer Chiefs for failing local coaches
Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi argues Kaizer Chiefs would have been in a better place had they kept Arthur Zwane.

Sport
‘Just enjoy yourself’ – When Van Gerwen first met Greaves
In 2016 Beau Greaves emerged as a 12-year-old darts sensation. Nine years on, Greaves lines up against Michael Van Gerwen for her second appearance at the PDC World Darts Championship.

Education
Ben Jennings on plans to tackle misogyny in English schools – cartoon
Continue reading…

Education
Deepfakes and porn: the plan to tackle toxic masculinity in schools | The Latest
The government has announced a multimillion-pound investment to tackle misogyny in England’s schools, but is it enough? As part of the government’s flagship strategy, teachers will be able to send children as young as 11 on behavioural courses if they are witnessing disturbing or worrying behaviour. The courses will include teachings on deepfakes, image-based abuse and online harassment. ...

Education
Deepfakes and pornography: the plan to tackle toxic masculinity – The Latest
The UK government’s long-awaited strategy to tackle violence against women and girls has been published today. Alexandra Topping joins Lucy Hough to explain what it will change, amid concerns that ‘toxic ideas’ are going unchallenged in schools
Continue reading…
Education
Kenya: School Internet Costs Drop After Procurement Reforms
[Capital FM] Nairobi — Kenya’s decision to open up procurement for school internet connectivity has led to a sharp decline in broadband costs, highlighting how competition-led reforms can deliver large-scale fiscal savings, according to a UNICEF-Giga report.

Lifestyle
‘Today was the last time’: Gayton calls for unity after Afrikaner event
Gayton McKenzie has called for all South Africans – including Afrikaners who commemorated Geloftedag- to celebrate 16 December together.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle

Lifestyle
WATCH: City of Cape Town destroys 3000 litres of confiscated booze
Cape Town authorities have destroyed thousands of litres of confiscated alcohol in a festive season safety crackdown.

Entertainment
Increased depth in Proteas women’s squad is ‘brilliant’, says Sinalo Jafta
Holding an unassailable 2-0 lead, the SA team will face Ireland in the third and final ODI at the Wanderers on Friday.

Entertainment
In case you missed it: Interim Madlanga report submitted | Bus carrying 116 halted | Citizen subscriber drives off new car
Catch up on the biggest stories this Thursday, 18 December 2025, in our simple daily news update.

Entertainment
Daily Lotto and Daily Lotto Plus results: Thursday, 18 December 2025
A total of R600 000 in jackpots is up for grabs tonight! Here are your winning Daily Lotto and Daily Lotto Plus results for 18 December 2025.

Entertainment
Here is what to expect as Joburg Film Festival returns for its eighth season
The festival will run under the theme Feel the Frame.
Science/Tech
OpenAI Has Discussed Raising Tens of Billions at About $750 Billion Valuation
An anonymous reader shares a report: OpenAI has held preliminary talks with some investors about raising funds at a valuation of around $750 billion, the Information reported on Wednesday. The ChatGPT maker could raise as much as $100 billion, the report said, citing people with knowledge of the discussions. If finalized, the talks would represent a roughly 50% jump from OpenAI’s reported $500...

Science/Tech
The Ultra-Realistic AI Face Swapping Platform Driving Romance Scams
Capable of creating “nearly perfect” face swaps during live video chats, Hoatian has made millions, mainly via Telegram. But its main channel vanished after WIRED’s inquiry into scammers using the app.

Science/Tech
UK to ban deepfake AI ‘nudification’ apps
A new offence looks to build on existing rules outlawing sexually explicit deepfakes and intimate image abuse.
Science/Tech
2026 Will Bring Heat More Than 1.4C Above Preindustrial Levels, UK Met Office Says
The UK Met Office projects that 2026 will see global temperatures rise between 1.34C and 1.58C above preindustrial levels, placing it among the four hottest years since records began in 1850 and continuing a streak of extreme warming that has pushed the planet into unprecedented territory. The central forecast is slightly cooler than the 1.55C recorded in 2024, the warmest year on record. But...
Motoring
Motoring
Motoring
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.