Author: newsnote correspondent
The White House has stated that President Donald Trump is actively discussing “a range of options” to acquire Greenland, explicitly noting that utilizing the US military remains “always an option” available to the Commander-in-Chief. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the administration described control of the semi-autonomous Danish territory as a “national security priority” essential for deterring adversaries in the Arctic region, amid growing Russian and Chinese activities. The remarks, confirmed to outlets including the BBC, follow Trump’s weekend reiteration that the US “needs” Greenland for security reasons. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded sharply, warning that any US attack…
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK and France are prepared to deploy troops to Ukraine following any ceasefire agreement with Russia, marking a significant step towards post-war security guarantees. Speaking after a summit of the “Coalition of the Willing” in Paris on 6 January, Starmer revealed that he, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had signed a trilateral Declaration of Intent. The document establishes a legal framework for British, French, and partner forces to operate on Ukrainian soil as part of a multinational “reassurance force”. “Following a ceasefire, the UK and France will establish…
Fourteen South Africans in their early 20s, lured overseas with promises of IT jobs in Thailand, are currently detained in the Southeast Asian country and are scheduled to be deported back home, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) confirmed on Monday. DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri told media that the group would soon be repatriated. The young individuals were allegedly recruited by a South African man who advertised lucrative positions in the information technology sector. However, upon arrival in Thailand, their experiences took a dark turn. Reports indicate that some were coerced into participating in online scamming operations, while…
The long-running divorce battle between Grammy-winning DJ Black Coffee (Nkosinathi Innocent Maphumulo) and actress Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa is heading to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) this year, potentially resolving a dispute over their 2011 customary marriage that has dragged on for more than six years. Black Coffee successfully obtained leave to appeal a Gauteng High Court ruling from October 2025, which validated the couple’s traditional Zulu marriage as in community of property. The decision invalidated their 2017 civil marriage – governed by an antenuptial contract excluding community of property – and granted Mlotshwa spousal maintenance. The DJ has contested…
Major U.S. stock indexes powered higher on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting a fresh record high, as investors largely brushed off geopolitical risks stemming from the dramatic U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend. Energy shares led the advance amid optimism that the regime change could open Venezuela’s vast oil reserves—the world’s largest—to greater U.S. involvement. Financial and defense stocks also posted solid gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 600.51 points, or 1.24%, to close at 48,982.9, marking a new all-time high. The broader S&P 500 gained 45.32 points, or 0.66%,…
Venezuelan opposition leader and recent Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado declared on Monday that she plans to return to her homeland “as soon as possible,” praising U.S. President Donald Trump for the dramatic removal of Nicolás Maduro while expressing readiness for new elections. In her first extensive public comments since Maduro’s capture by U.S. forces over the weekend, Machado appeared on Fox News and reiterated her movement’s strength, predicting an overwhelming victory—potentially over 90%—in free and fair polls. She also sharply criticized Venezuela’s interim leadership, particularly Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, whom sources indicate the Trump administration is engaging…
The bail hearing for Victor Mthethwa Majola, the 44-year-old man accused of orchestrating the assassination of popular media personality Warrick “DJ Warras” Stock, was unexpectedly postponed during a brief court appearance on Tuesday. Majola, facing charges of premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder, limped into the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court. He confirmed to the magistrate that he had received medical treatment while in custody. Both the state and defense agreed to postpone the matter to January 13, 2026, to allow for a formal bail application. No specific reason for the delay was stated in court, though the National Prosecuting Authority…
Executive Mayor Dada Morero has warned residents of temporary water supply interruptions starting Tuesday, as Rand Water commences the third and final phase of its planned infrastructure maintenance programme. The 54-hour shutdown, focused on the Eikenhof pump station and involving isolation valve replacements on key pipelines (F45, F39, F28, and F15), will run from early Tuesday, January 6, until Thursday, January 8. Affected reservoirs include Roodepoort Deep, Fleurhof, Doornkop, Meadowlands (1 and 2), and Braamfischerville (also referred to as Bramfischerville). These supply western suburbs and parts of Soweto, potentially leading to low pressure or complete outages as reservoirs deplete. Morero…
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday called for strict adherence to international principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity, amid global fallout from the United States’ military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. In remarks delivered on his behalf by Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo during an emergency UN Security Council session, Guterres expressed deep concern over the US action. “I am deeply concerned about the possible intensification of instability in the country, the potential impact on the region, and the precedent it may set for how relations between and among…
The Information Regulator’s move to escalate its legal challenge against the publication of matric results in newspapers to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has drawn support from education activists, who view it as a crucial step toward clearer privacy protections for learners. Education activist Hendrick Makaneta praised the decision, emphasising the need for regulatory certainty in balancing public access to information with learners’ rights. “The Information Regulator’s decision to ask the Supreme Court of Appeal for guidance on the publication of matric results should be respected,” Makaneta said. “For many years, publishing results has helped families to get information…