News Bulletin of 1 December 2025, 2pm

Pretoria hairstylist André Green has set a new Guinness World Record after completing 31 underwater haircuts in one hour.
The award-winning barber achieved the feat on Saturday as volunteer divers lined up for rapid trims below the surface.
The attempt forms part of his fundraising drive for the Abraham Kriel Bambanani Children’s Home.
Green previously made headlines after completing 540 haircuts in 24 hours, surpassing the existing global mark.
The underwater success adds another notable milestone to his growing list of achievements.

Thousands of revellers gathered at the Grand Parade on Sunday to kick off the festive season at Cape Town’s 56th Festive Lights Switch-On.
Families, friends and visitors filled the car-free streets of Adderley and Darling, enjoying music, food stalls and entertainment.
The event, held under the theme “United in Hope,” featured performances from DJ Zinhle, Kurt Darren, Goodluck and other local artists.
By the time the lights were switched on at 4pm, the city was glowing and no major incidents were reported.
The annual celebration drew people from across Cape Town, creating a vibrant, family-friendly start to the holiday season.

NASA’s Perseverance rover has recorded evidence of lightning on Mars for the first time. Its microphone picked up tiny electrical discharges, or “zaps,” generated by dust storms sweeping across the planet.
Unlike Earth’s thunderbolts, these discharges are only centimeters long, caused when dust grains rub together and release energy as small arcs.
Scientists say this discovery helps explain aspects of the Martian climate, including the rapid disappearance of methane and the breakdown of organic molecules.
The findings also have implications for future missions and the safety of astronauts on Mars.