News Bulletin of 28 December 2025, 11am

SA Student Wins Global Excel Challenge
University of Pretoria master’s student Pieter Pienaar has become the first South African to win the individual division of the 2025 Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge in Las Vegas. The 23-year-old MCom Accounting Sciences student competed against participants from over 1,100 universities worldwide.Pienaar, who also founded the UP Excel Club to support fellow students, has steadily improved his performance in the challenge since 2022, moving from 12th place to first on his 4th attempt.He credited his success to careful problem-solving, mentorship, and his focus during competition.
Sandton and Gauteng
G20’ Named South Africa’s Word of the Year
The Pan South African Language Board, in collaboration with Focal Points, has announced that “G20” is South Africa’s Word of the Year.The choice comes after reviewing a shortlist that included “Government of National Unity,” “Tariffs,” “Femicide,” and the “Madlanga Commission.” The selection was based on metrics, trends, and media presence, reflecting the significant public conversation around South Africa’s role in the G20 this year.
South Africa
Cape Town Named Top Travel Destination
City of Cape Town's Mayoral committee member for Economic Growth, James Vos says the Mother Ciy is thriving and it's no surprise it's been recognised as a top destination.Travel and Leisure Asia and the US News & World Report have both ranked Cape Town among their top destinations for the year, citing the city's stunning landscapes, oceans, iconic landmarks, and rich cultural diversity.Vos attributes this achievement to the city's focused efforts to unlock priority markets, including India:
SOUND
South Africa
Financial Indicators
Your financial indicators for this hour:

The Rand is trading at 16.65 to the US Dollar, 0.00 to the British Pound, and 0.00 to the Euro.

Gold is trading at 4,532.68 dollars a fine ounce, Brent Crude Oil is at Error per barrel, and a Bitcoin will set you back 87,797.00.
UK Alexa Users Ask About AI and Celebrities

According to Amazon’s 2025 roundup of “Alexa’s Most Asked Questions', UK users frequently ask Alexa what “AI” means. Other popular queries include everyday topics like “how long do I poach an egg for?” and “what’s the diameter of Earth?”Celebrity curiosity is also high, with users asking about fortunes, partners, and height. The most-searched stars were Cristiano Ronaldo, Taylor Swift, and Elon Musk. Most questions about height focused on Hollywood star Tom Cruise, closely followed by towering former English soccer player Peter Crouch.When it comes to net worth, Musk topped the list, followed by YouTuber MrBeast and Taylor Swift.



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