PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 Suspect arrested for car theft in Honeydew  Honeydew SAPS have arrested a suspect linked to the theft of a motor vehicle at the China Mall parking area in Weltevredenpark.  The arrest followed an alert from members of the public who reported the incident to police. Police intercepted a grey Nissan Navara shortly after receiving the information.  The suspect attempted to flee the scene but was successfully apprehended by police. A suspected signal jamming device was recovered from the vehicle.

 Ten killed in tavern shooting in Gauteng  Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations, together with the Crime Detection Tracing Unit, have launched a manhunt following a deadly shooting in Bekkersdal.  The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, 21 December 2025, just before 01:00, at a licensed tavern in the Tambo section.  Nine people were killed during the shooting, while 10 others sustained injuries. According to reports, about 12 unknown suspects arrived in a white kombi and a silver sedan.  The suspects allegedly opened fire on tavern patrons and continued shooting randomly as they fled the scene. The injured victims were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment.  Police have mobilised all necessary resources, including Forensic Crime Scene Management and Crime Intelligence.  The motive for the shooting is still unknown and will be determined through ongoing investigations.

 Algerian parliament opens debate on bill to criminalise French colonial rule The Algerian parliament has opened debate on a draft law that seeks to criminalise French colonial rule between 1830 and 1962, according to a statement by the People's National Assembly. Speaker Ibrahim Boughali was authorised to formally present the draft bill during a plenary session of the lower house, according to the statement, Anadolu Agency reported. Addressing lawmakers, Boughali said he is honoured to present the draft bill criminalising French colonisation. He described the proposal as more than a legislative initiative, calling it a defining moment in modern Algeria through which the state, via its legislative institution, renews its commitment to national memory and the conscience of history. "This session is not a routine parliamentary procedure; rather, it is a supreme act of sovereignty, a clear moral stance, and an unambiguous political message, expressing Algeria’s commitment to its ...

 UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo extended by one year as fighting rages The UN Security Council has extended the UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo, known as MONUSCO, for a year, as fighting in the region escalated despite a US-mediated peace deal. The UN’s most powerful body renewed the peacekeepers' mandate, keeping about 11,500 military personnel in the country, in a unanimously adopted resolution. The Security Council also condemned an offensive by the M23 rebels, demanded Rwanda stop supporting the rebels and withdraw its troops. The resolution comes as M23 claimed Wednesday to have withdrawn from Uvira, a strategic city in eastern Congo it seized last week, after pressure from the US. DR Congo's government said the withdrawal was “staged” and that the rebels were still in the city. US deputy ambassador Jennifer Locetta told the Security Council on Friday that M23 must immediately withdraw at least 75 kilometers (47 miles) away from Uvira. M23 took control of the city...

 Somalia and Ethiopia leaders discuss ties on anniversary of Ankara Declaration The leaders of Somalia and Ethiopia held talks in Addis Ababa on the first anniversary of the Ankara Declaration, a peace agreement that deescalated tensions between the two Horn of Africa neighbours. The declaration, signed in December 2024 in the Turkish capital, Ankara, followed mediation efforts by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to resolve a stalemate sparked by Addis Ababa's deal with Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland for access to the Red Sea. It was hailed by world leaders for calming fears of a wider regional conflict in the Horn of Africa. Its terms included the two countries agreeing to respect each country's sovereignty and to ensure Ethiopia's access to the sea. “We discussed further strengthening Somalia–Ethiopia bilateral relations, enhancing cooperation on security and regional stability grounded in mutual respect, good neighbourliness and our shared interests in the Ho...

 PRESS RELEASE NPF MOURNS PASSING OF RETIRED DIG THEOPHILLUS ADETUNJI AKEREDOLU The Nigeria Police Force announces with deep sorrow the passing of a distinguished senior retired police officer and elder statesman, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Chief Theophillus Adetunji Akeredolu, CON, mni, who passed to glory on 9th December, 2025 Born on 25th October, 1942, the late DIG Akeredolu devoted several decades of his life to the service of the Nigeria Police Force and the nation at large. He was enlisted into the Force on 1st September, 1969, initially serving as a civilian lecturer at the Police College, Ikeja, before converting to a General Duty Police Officer with the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) on 1st August, 1973. An accomplished scholar and seasoned professional, DIG Akeredolu attended St. John Primary School, Afao, Ikere-Ekiti; Teacher Training Colleges in Epinmi, Akoko and Ifako, Lagos; and the University of Lagos, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (Hons...