Top Stories

Top Stories
Actor John Alford jailed for sex assaults on teens
The former London’s Burning and Grange Hill star is sentenced at St Albans Crown Court.
Top Stories

Top Stories
Toddler drowns in stream after following mom to shop
The Mpumalanga police have opened an inquest docket after a two-year-old toddler drowned in a stream after following his mother who was on her way to the shops nearby.
South Africa
News24 | Thursday’s weather: Warning of disruptive rain in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal
The South African Weather Service has issued warnings of disruptive rain, which may lead to flooding in parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal, where severe thunderstorms are also expected.

South Africa
DJ Warras murder suspect’s bail application postponed to Thursday
Victor Majola faces charges of premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit a crime.

South Africa
Disaster management activated in Mpumalanga as heavy rains persist
Roads, bridges, schools, farms, and approximately 500 houses have sustained damage.
South Africa
News24 | Tears, joy on day 1 of ‘big school’; Calabash no more: Today’s top 7 stories in 7 minutes
News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature.
World
News24 | Singer Julio Iglesias accused of ‘human trafficking’ by former staff
A criminal complaint filed by two former employees of veteran Spanish singer Julio Iglesias accuses him of “human trafficking” and sexual crimes, according to advocacy groups.

World
Greetings from Acre, Israel, where an old fortress recalls the time of the Crusades
Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR’s international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.
World
News24 | Iranians arrive in Turkey through border gate as crackdown persists
Dozens of Iranians crossed the border into Turkey on Wednesday, as authorities in Iran crack down on one of the biggest ever waves of protest against the Islamic Republic’s clerical rule. US President Donald Trump urged Iranians on Tuesday to keep protesting, saying help is on the way.
World
News24 | Nigeria enlists US lobbyists to communicate Christian protection efforts
Nigeria has hired a US lobbying firm to help maintain US support and counter what it has called misinformation by Christian Evangelical groups and other US lobbyists about what its government is doing to protect Christians in the country.

Africa
Uganda election chief says he has had threats over results declaration
This follows comments by a presidential assistant that Bobi Wine would not be declared president, even if he wins.

Africa
‘Welcome to 2976’ – North Africa’s Amazigh people ring in the new year
The Amazigh calendar places them almost a thousand years ahead of much of the rest of the world.

Africa
Uganda imposes an internet blackout ahead of Thursday’s election
The communications authority says the suspension is aimed at preventing misinformation and violence.

Africa
Operation against Nigerian kidnapping gang kills ‘200 bandits’ – official tells BBC
The offensive is in the central state of Kogi, where the bandits have recently become more active.

Business
Unique South African school achieves 100% university exemption and 4.4 distinctions per student
Yeshiva College achieved something very special. It achieved a 100% pass rate, 100% university exemption, and 4.4 distinctions per student in the 2025 matric exams.
Business

Business
South Africans to pay for R76 billion mistake
Electricity consumers face another sharp tariff shock if proposals now before the energy regulator are approved.

Business
Dark times ahead for an important South African industry
Many experts have warned that the foot-and-mouth disease is out of control in South Africa and that it poses an existential threat to many livestock farmers.

Politics
Hostile exchange between evidence leader Arendse and Phahlane
Advocate Arendse accused Phahlane of misleading the committee.
Politics
News24 | Embattled IDT CEO Tebogo Malaka resigns
Embattled Independent Development Trust CEO, Tebogo Malaka, has resigned from her position at the state-owned entity.

Politics
Mpofu seeks to set aside LPC disciplinary case
The matter has not been set down for a hearing as yet.

Politics
National Assembly passes Special Appropriation Bill for Health Dept
Health Department requested more funding after Trump administration withdrew PEPFAR funding.

Sport
Faletau out of Wales’ first three Six Nations games
The number eight has been ruled out of Wales’ first three games against England, France and Scotland.

Sport
Watch: Amateur beats Sinner in One Point Slam title win
Watch amateur tennis player beat men’s world number two Jannik Sinner and women’s world number 117 Joanna Garland to earn A$1m (£496,835) in Australian Open’s new Million Dollar One Point Slam.

Sport
Rangers sign Belgian left-back Rommens from Westerlo
Rangers have completed the signing of Tuur Rommens from Westerlo, but what are Ibrox club getting from in-demand left-back?

Sport
Spurs sporting director Paratici to join Fiorentina
Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Fabio Paratici will leave Spurs at the end of the January transfer window to join Serie A side Fiorentina.
Education
Nigeria: ASUU-FG Agreement – Minister Says Agreement Signals ‘Death of Strike’ in Public Universities
[Premium Times] He said the agreement restores confidence to the academics, predictability of academic calendars, and hope to Nigerian students.
Education
Nigeria: ASUU-FG Agreement Introduces New Allowances for Professors, Readers
[Premium Times] The 2025 agreement reached on 23 December replaced the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement and marked an end to a 16-year dispute between the government and the academics.
Education
Kenya: Chuka Among 5 Law Schools Operating With Expired Licences
[Capital FM] Nairobi — Chuka University’s Faculty of Law has yet to complete its licence renewal despite paying the required fees following the expiry of its mandate on December 10, 2025.
Education
South Africa: Back to School Visit Exposes Problems At Special School
[Scrolla] Government leaders visit Northern Lights Special School and find safety staff and transport problems affecting children with physical disabilities. Officials promise help after school raises concerns about break ins, lack of nurses, therapists and reliable learner transport.
Lifestyle

Lifestyle
‘I am grateful’: Vasti Spiller pens b-day post to Dricus du Plessis
Vasti Spiller penned a touching post to Dricus du Plessis on his 32nd b-day: ‘I am grateful that I get to walk this life path with you.’
Lifestyle
Lifestyle

Entertainment
Weather alert: Heavy rains persist in Limpopo and Mpumalanga
Find out what the latest weather forecast from the SA Weather Service means for your region on 15 January 2026.

Entertainment
Auctioneer fined for selling farm with non-existent dam and crocodile
The farm was sold four months later to someone who did not mind that there was no dam and no croc, but this buyer was still not refunded.

Entertainment
More twists in Dakar Rally as Henk Lategan moves up to second
Toyota Gazoo Racing SA’s Saood Variawa into top 10 with Guy Botterill hot on his heels.

Entertainment
Shootout on N12 leaves three suspects dead and causes major traffic delays
After robbing a courier in Thokoza, suspects were stopped in a high-speed chase on the N12 westbound.

Science/Tech
Qryptonic Unveils Q-Scout 26 as Enterprises Confront Unquantified Quantum Cryptographic Risk
As post-quantum transition expectations accelerate, many enterprises still lack a clear answer to a critical question: which systems create the greatest long-term exposure when today’s encryption approaches reach the end of their usable life. Qryptonic LLC today announced the launch of Q-Scout 26, an enterprise assessment platform designed to autonomously inventory cryptographic usage and...
Science/Tech
Matthew McConaughey Trademarks Himself To Fight AI Misuse
Matthew McConaughey is taking a novel legal approach to combat unauthorized AI fakes: trademarking himself. From a report: Over the past several months, the “Interstellar” and “Magic Mike” star has had eight trademark applications approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office featuring him staring, smiling and talking. His attorneys said the trademarks are meant to stop AI apps or users from...

Science/Tech
Trump Doesn’t Need the Proud Boys Anymore
In a world where ICE agents are shooting US citizens on the street, the need for militias and extremist groups like the Proud Boys to support far-right interests has evaporated.

Science/Tech
Trump Warned of a Tren de Aragua ‘Invasion.’ US Intel Told a Different Story
Hundreds of records obtained by WIRED show thin intelligence on the Venezuelan gang in the United States, describing fragmented, low-level crime rather than a coordinated terrorist threat.
Motoring

Motoring
Best-selling used cars in South Africa right now – With pricing
The used car industry experienced significant growth in December 2025, generating R12.89 billion in revenue.

Motoring
The biggest winners and losers of 2025
Several new car brands rapidly increased their market share in South Africa in 2025, while other manufacturers saw a small dip in sales.
Motoring

Health
‘It’s life-changing. I can see my child grow up’
Doctors say they have achieved the previously impossible – restoring sight and preventing blindness in people with a rare but dangerous eye conditon called hypotony.
Health
Initial Obamacare Enrollment Drops by 1.4 Million
That number could increase significantly as more consumers are faced with higher bills brought on by expiring premium subsidies.

Health
Is Dry January a good thing?
Dr May van Schalkwyk from the University of Edinburgh shares her thoughts with Drs Chris and Xand on What’s Up Docs?

Health
How going on The Traitors could have saved Amanda’s life
Medical checks for the show picked up contestant Amanda Collier’s heart condition.