News Bulletin of 19 December 2025, 7am

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Joburg ranked 11th among world’s most affordable cities
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Johannesburg has ranked 11th among the world’s most affordable cities in the latest Time Out Cities survey, which assessed the cost of going out.
The study surveyed more than 18,000 residents across over 100 cities, asking locals to rate the affordability of activities such as eating out, drinking coffee, and attending live entertainment.
Time Out’s results placed Joburg alongside cities including Medellín, Bogotá, Naples, and New Orleans, while Seoul, Oslo, and London ranked among the most expensive.
The survey measured social and leisure costs only, excluding housing and groceries.
Cape Town also featured on the list at 15th, positioning South African cities as affordable destinations for social life in a global comparison.
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Headline 2
City of Johannesburg launches free sanitary towel programme
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The City of Johannesburg launched a free sanitary towel programme for girls aged 10 to 19.
The programme began on Wednesday at Bophelong Clinic in Doornkop, Soweto.
The programme will make sanitary towels free and accessible to all city clinics, in an effort to reduce financial pressure on families and improve access to menstrual health support.
Joburg MMC for Health and Social Development Ennie Makhafola:
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Headline 3
Apple Music launches new campaign- Music That Moves Me
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Apple Music's new campaign, Music That Moves Me, explores how music, movement, and identity intersect, featuring top African artists and athletes.
The Warm Up playlist features tracks chosen by footballers like South African striker Lyle Foster and Nigerian midfielder Alex Iwobi, showing the music that gets them ready for competition.
The second series, Music That Moves Me, shares personal playlists from artists including South African DJ Uncle Waffles and Congolese singer Ferre Gola.
The campaign shows how music helps people cope, feel empowered and connect with others, highlighting its impact on African artists and athletes.
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Financial Indicators headline
Financial Indicators
Financial indicators
Your financial indicators for this hour:

The Rand is trading at 16.72 to the US Dollar, 0.00 to the British Pound, and 0.00 to the Euro.

Gold is trading at 4,332.62 dollars a fine ounce, Brent Crude Oil is at Error per barrel, and a Bitcoin will set you back 87,032.00.
Teaser / Tailpiece headline
Max Verstappen to race with #3 on Red Bull car
Teaser / Tailpiece story
Four-time Fomula One world champion Max Verstappen will race with the number three on his Red Bull car next season.
The Dutchman gave up the number one spot to McLaren's Lando Norris after the Briton clinched his first title recently.
Verstappen says three had always been his favourite number – apart from one – and he had decided not to return to the 33 he previously used.
The new season starts in Australia, in the first weekend of March.
Split analysis
Local: 64 words (24%), National: 0 words (0%), International: 208 words (76%)