Tonata Kadhila

GIPF assures members homes are safe under pension-backed housing scheme

Photo contributed The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) has reassured its members that they will not lose their homes if they are unable to fully repay loans under its new pension-backed housing finance scheme. The assurance follows concerns that the initiative could expose retirees to the risk of property repossession. GIPF chief executive Martin Inkumbi says the structure of the scheme is designed to protect members’ primary residences while remaining […]

20 January, 2026

Business / Economics

America’s Trump threatens France with 200% wine tariffs

Bottles of French wine are displayed for sale in a liquor store. (Photo by: Mario Tama/Getty Images) U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 200% on French wine and champagne after French President Emmanuel Macron declined to join a U.S.-backed initiative described by Trump as a Gaza “Board of Peace.” The warning marks a sharp escalation in rhetoric between Washington and Paris, linking trade pressure […]

20 January, 2026

South Africa

South Africa’s foot and mouth disease cases climb to 223

(Photo by: Reuters) Foot-and-mouth disease infections have risen sharply in South Africa’s Free State province, with authorities confirming 29 new cases that push the total to 223. The spike has intensified pressure on agricultural officials as they work to contain the outbreak in one of the country’s key livestock regions. The provincial Department of Agriculture says multiple outbreak zones have been identified, triggering strict quarantines and movement controls on affected […]

20 January, 2026

Entertainment

Brooklyn Beckham breaks silence on family matter

Brooklyn Beckham and David Beckham (Photo by: John Phillips/Getty Images) Brooklyn Beckham has publicly distanced himself from his famous family, saying he does not intend to reconcile after months of avoiding family gatherings and blocking relatives on social media. The 26-year-old alleges that tensions with his parents, David and Victoria Beckham, placed pressure on his marriage and contributed to anxiety. The comments follow a prolonged period of silence and missed […]

20 January, 2026

World

UNDP to relocate hundreds of jobs from New York to Bonn and Madrid

(Photo by: UN campus in Bonn, Germany gerd-harder/shutterstock) The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is relocating nearly 300 positions from its New York headquarters to Bonn, Germany, with a further 100 jobs set to move to Madrid, marking a significant redistribution of staff away from the United States. UNDP told Germany’s Deutsche Presse-Agentur that the decision reflects confidence in German foreign policy, though no timeline has been announced for when the […]

20 January, 2026

World

Australia’s lower house of Parliament passes laws in response to the deadly Bondi Beach shooting

Australia's Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke (Photo by: The West Australian) Australia’s lower house has passed sweeping new legislation introducing a national gun buyback scheme and stricter background checks, in response to the deadly Bondi Beach attack that left 15 people dead. The measures mark one of the country’s most significant firearm policy shifts in recent years, reinforcing Australia’s long-standing emphasis on gun control. Alongside the gun reforms, parliament also […]

20 January, 2026

Business / Economics

IMF raises 2026 global growth forecast to 3.3%

The International Monetary Fund on Monday revised its global economic growth forecast for 2026 to 3.3 percent, reflecting continued resilience as the world adapts to shifting trade conditions and robust investment in artificial intelligence and technology sectors. The updated projection, released in the IMF’s World Economic Outlook update, marks a 0.2 percentage point increase from estimates published last October. The pace matches the 3.3 percent growth the IMF now expects […]

20 January, 2026

Africa

UN rights chief calls for global action as Sudan conflict intensifies

The United Nations’ top human rights official has issued a stark warning that Sudan is sliding deeper into a humanitarian and human rights catastrophe, calling on the international community to act decisively to end the war. Speaking to journalists in Nairobi, Kenya, after a five-day mission to Sudan, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the ongoing conflict has devastated civilian life, crippled essential services, and pushed millions […]

20 January, 2026

South Africa

Julius Malema to be sentenced on Friday

AfriForum, a South African civil society organisation that advocates for Afrikaner interests, says it is awaiting the sentencing of Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, which is expected to begin on Friday in the East London Magistrate’s Court. AfriForum spokesperson Jacques Broodryk says the organisation believes the sentence should reflect accountability under the law. Malema was found guilty in October of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, as […]

20 January, 2026