Twitter/X Trends in South Africa - Real-Time Analytics & Trending Hashtags

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Frank McCormick, a former teacher and constitutional conservative, posted on X early Thursday asking if people enjoy Christmas aesthetics like lights, music, and decorations. Over 50 Jewish respondents largely expressed delight in the holiday's vibe and mood-boosting elements amid winter, noting cultural participation such as eating Chinese food on Christmas or decorating neighbors' trees. Many highlighted the irony that iconic songs like 'White Christmas' and 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' were written by Jewish composers including Irving Berlin and Johnny Marks. While a minority opts out, the thread with over 4,000 views reflects American pluralism and shared seasonal goodwill transcending faith.

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A simple question on X about enjoying the Christmas season sparked dozens of positive replies from Jewish users, who praised its twinkling lights, festive music, and communal joy without embracing its religious core.

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The Benfica manager will speak only to the club's BTV outlet ahead of Saturday's Portuguese league game against Santa Clara, just like he did before last weekend's win over Alverca. The decision drew online criticism from Real Madrid fans calling him a 'coward,' amid fallout from Tuesday's 1-0 defeat where Vinicius Junior scored and alleged racist abuse from Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni. Mourinho, sent off for protesting the referee, questioned Vinicius's celebration style post-match, while Benfica stays top of the Primeira Liga unbeaten and eyes a comeback in the second leg on February 25.

Key Takeaway

Jose Mourinho, fresh off a heated Champions League loss to Real Madrid, is sticking to his routine by skipping Benfica's pre-match press conference.

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The 2012 YouTube clip, uploaded by Big Time Rush's Carlos PenaVega, featured Bieber, Gomez, and stars like Ashley Tisdale dancing playfully, helping Carly Rae Jepsen's hit top the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks with over 86 million views. Exactly one year ago in 2025, Gomez joined Gracie Abrams and Benny Blanco for 'Call Me When You Break Up,' a cozy indie-pop track from their album *I Said I Love You First* that hit No. 46 on the Hot 100 and went gold in the U.S. Fans marked the timing with viral reposts, throwback dances, Stationhead parties, and merch like pink hoodies nodding to the songs' heartache, though some miss 2012's unfiltered pop fun.

Key Takeaway

Fourteen years after Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez goofed off in that iconic 'Call Me Maybe' lip-sync video, Gomez dropped a cheeky sequel song with friends—right on the anniversary.

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On February 16, 2026, Rabi Muhammad from Kano was arrested while trying to smuggle the opioids to Cotonou, Benin Republic, using the creative fake bump tactic. Videos show officers in pink uniforms carefully removing the device in a search room, as she stood dressed in traditional attire. The bust was part of a busy week for NDLEA, including an Ivorian man excreting cocaine at Kano airport, a real estate CEO with 89 kilograms of cannabis in Lagos, and raids across several states that nabbed hundreds more kilograms of drugs— even a 68-year-old grandmother in Edo. Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa praised the team's vigilance against these evolving smuggling plots.

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NDLEA officers at Lagos' Seme border spotted a suspicious protruding belly on a 35-year-old businesswoman heading to Benin. A search revealed 3,200 tramadol capsules hidden inside a strapped-on pink calabash disguised as a pregnancy.

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The government issued passports to about 34 Australian women and children connected to ISIS fighters in Syria's Al Roj camp, confirming the documents but insisting no return assistance is provided. One woman faces a temporary exclusion order on security grounds. Separately, Hanieh Safavi, daughter of sanctioned Iranian Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, secured permanent residency after arriving on a student visa in February 2024, despite her father's IRGC ties and community warnings. An 87,000-signature petition from Iranian-Australians demands her deportation amid fears tied to recent IRGC-linked plots, as opposition calls for tougher vetting and transparency.

Key Takeaway

Australian families linked to ISIS in a Syrian camp now hold valid passports, while a psychologist with ties to Iran's military elite quietly gained permanent residency—sparking waves of public anger and betrayal.

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Brazil will face Egypt in a pre-2026 FIFA World Cup friendly match at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio. The game is part of the Road to '26 series.

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The 7-foot-4 Spurs star dominated in just 30 minutes with 28 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks, shooting 11-of-20 in a plus-32 performance during San Antonio's 139-122 rout of Sacramento. His highlight windmill and thunderous two-handed flush highlighted a fourth-quarter pullaway, extending the Spurs' winning streak to eight games—the NBA's longest active—while the Kings suffered their franchise-record 16th straight loss. Wembanyama joked postgame about entering the Slam Dunk Contest someday, as fans marveled at his athleticism that defies his frame and climbed him to fifth on the Spurs' all-time blocks list this season.

Key Takeaway

Victor Wembanyama rose up for a massive windmill dunk, sending the Frost Bank Center crowd into a frenzy and capping his 28-point, 15-rebound masterpiece.

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Samir Sobha, president of the Mauritius Football Association and CAF Executive Committee member, told The Guardian that Senegal's players should have received yellow cards for leaving the field during a crucial VAR penalty, halting play for 15 minutes. Senegal still won 1-0 on Pape Gueye's extra-time goal on January 18 in Rabat, securing their second AFCON title after Édouard Mendy saved the spot kick. Sobha stressed the result stands but called for accountability, while also criticizing CAF's general secretary for an illegal term extension. Sanctions followed, including bans for coaches and captains plus hefty fines, though Morocco rejected theirs.

Key Takeaway

In a candid interview, a top CAF official admitted Morocco's national team was robbed in the Africa Cup of Nations final, pleading for forgiveness over broken rules.

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The 24-year-old McLaren driver, fresh off a strong 2025 F1 season, attended day two of the Australia-England Boxing Day Test looking tailored in a blazer, white shirt, tie, and chinos. Fans shared photos and playful nicknames like 'Suitscar' and 'distinguished cat,' noting his glow-up from last year's casual polo. During a tea break, he chatted with Fox Sports' Mel McLaughlin about McLaren's 2026 car hopes, saying, 'Hopefully we're one of the teams that nail it.' Piastri's tradition of balancing racing stardom with cricket love kept the off-field spotlight on him as England pushed for a rare Test win.

Key Takeaway

Oscar Piastri stepped onto the Melbourne Cricket Ground in a sharp navy suit, blending F1 polish with cricket passion amid the roaring Ashes crowd.

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Bernardo Silva, already on a yellow card, committed a foul on Newcastle United's Joelinton by jumping into him without playing the ball during the Manchester City match. The referee did not issue a second yellow card, resulting in Silva remaining on the pitch. The incident sparked widespread debate among fans over refereeing decisions.

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Samir Sobha, president of the Mauritius Football Association and CAF Executive Committee member, told The Guardian that Senegal's players should have received yellow cards for leaving the field during a crucial VAR penalty, halting play for 15 minutes. Senegal still won 1-0 on Pape Gueye's extra-time goal on January 18 in Rabat, securing their second AFCON title after Édouard Mendy saved the spot kick. Sobha stressed the result stands but called for accountability, while also criticizing CAF's general secretary for an illegal term extension. Sanctions followed, including bans for coaches and captains plus hefty fines, though Morocco rejected theirs.

Key Takeaway

In a candid interview, a top CAF official admitted Morocco's national team was robbed in the Africa Cup of Nations final, pleading for forgiveness over broken rules.

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Canada staged a thrilling 3-2 comeback over Finland in the men's hockey semifinal at the 2026 Milan Olympics, setting up a gold-medal final against the U.S. on Sunday. MacKinnon drew a penalty on Niko Mikkola with 2:35 left in the third, then scored off Connor McDavid's saucer pass, beating Juuse Saros after Finland's offside challenge failed. The late call drew fire from Finnish fans and Teemu Selanne, who called it an 'embarrassing' decision by Canadian referees, while others defended it under IIHF rules on high sticks.

Key Takeaway

With 35 seconds left, Nathan MacKinnon buried the game-winner on a power play after drawing a high-sticking call that lit up hockey fans everywhere.

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In 2017, London broker Varun Datta, 36, pleaded guilty to directing 4,275 tonnes of baled municipal waste to 16 unlicensed sites from Kent to Lancashire, leaving landowners with smells, flies, and massive cleanup costs. Birmingham Crown Court sentenced him on February 13 to a four-month suspended term, 200 hours of unpaid work, and financial penalties including £1.1 million in confiscated profits, £100,000 compensation, and £200,000 costs. The Environment Agency called it justice for scarred communities, while many online expressed anger over the suspended sentence and called for stricter measures.

Key Takeaway

Varun Datta turned a tidy profit by dumping thousands of tonnes of rubbish on innocent farms and nature reserves. Now he's got three months to cough up £1.4 million—or head to prison.

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Matheus Cunha stated in an interview that he is grateful for everything Ruben Amorim did at Wolverhampton Wanderers, describing him as an incredible person who attracted many new players to the club. Cunha attributed a significant part of the team's ongoing success to Amorim's influence, noting that excessive pressure distorted the simple context during his tenure.

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Manchester United beat Newcastle 1-0 on Boxing Day at Old Trafford, climbing to fifth in the Premier League with their first clean sheet since early October. Patrick Dorgu's 28th-minute volley from a Casemiro cross decided the match, as Ruben Amorim ditched his usual 3-4-3 for a flexible back-four that shifted shapes to disrupt Newcastle. Despite missing key players like Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo, academy talents Ayden Heaven and Jack Fletcher shone, with Amorim praising the squad's resilience and togetherness.

Key Takeaway

Patrick Dorgu unleashed a stunning volley to silence Old Trafford, securing a gritty win despite United's injury crisis.

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Jaxson Hayes, the first Los Angeles Laker in six years to participate since Dwight Howard, attempted a dunk reminiscent of Michael Jordan's iconic slam but executed it poorly. Hayes posted an Instagram story comparing his dunk to Jordan's.

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In a video shared by WeRateDogs, Flambo pads to his FluentPet soundboard, hits 'cat' while eyeing pint-sized Yorkshire Terrier Rupert, who recently joined his Houston foster home after street life. His human corrects him, but Flambo fires back with 'what?' and a decisive 'quiet,' earning both dogs a 13/10 rating. The clip drew thousands of likes and replies, with fans laughing over Flambo's conviction and Rupert's oblivious side-eye in their sibling showdown.

Key Takeaway

Flambo the Australian Shepherd stares at tiny foster pup Rupert, then firmly presses his 'cat' button—like he's dead serious about the mix-up.

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Led by Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, the Democrats cited national security risks from a reported $500 million stake by UAE's Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan in World Liberty Financial, a firm promoted by Donald Trump Jr. and Barron Trump that applied for a national trust bank charter on January 7. The letter flags $187 million flowing to Trump-affiliated entities just before the 2025 inauguration and questions regulator independence amid potential foreign influence. They seek responses by February 26 on safeguards against leverage, White House roles in decisions, and Treasury involvement, warning of risks from untested crypto structures.

Key Takeaway

Forty-one House Democrats fired off a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, pressing for details on a major UAE investment in a cryptocurrency platform tied to the Trump family.

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Alon Ohel, a 24-year-old Israeli-Serbian pianist abducted by Hamas from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, performed publicly for the first time since his release in mid-October 2025. The emotional moment at Hostages Square drew cheers from a crowd waving yellow ribbons and Israeli flags, as Ohel played 'Song Without a Name' by Yehudit Ravitz, a melody he tapped during his ordeal. Released as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal, Ohel's return highlights Israel's efforts to free hostages, though three individuals—Ran Ben-On, Dror Or, and Sudthisak—remain in Gaza.

Key Takeaway

After 775 days of captivity, freed pianist Alon Ohel returned to the keys at Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, playing the song that sustained him through Gaza's tunnels.

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The Cowboys acquired Wilson from the Bengals on Nov. 4, 2025, sending a 2026 seventh-round pick, but he managed just 24 tackles in seven games without starting. The move saves $6.5 million in 2026 cap space and $7.2 million in 2027, with no dead money, as Dallas eyes extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Fans recalled his Super Bowl LVI performance with the Bengals, while others called it a failed Jerry Jones gamble amid the team's playoff miss and defensive struggles.

Key Takeaway

Dallas hoped Logan Wilson would shore up their linebacker woes after trading for him in November. Three months later, they waived the veteran, freeing up millions in cap space.

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In a funny open letter to Paramount's new chair David Ellison, Lowe calls for his uncredited role as scheming stepbrother Paul Barish to appear above the title on future releases. He blames a past regime for the snub, tied to scheduling clashes with his Stephen King miniseries gig, and urges Ellison to right the wrong. David Spade backed the plea with a quick 'I second the motion,' while fans shared gas station dance GIFs and even Senator Ted Cruz reacted with surprise.

Key Takeaway

Rob Lowe spotted a glaring omission in the credits of his buddy Chris Farley's cult classic Tommy Boy—and he's not letting it slide quietly.

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A photoshopped image shared by YabaLeftOnline shows the Manchester United midfielder as the undisputed king among top defensive midfielders, prompting fans to roast Rice and Caicedo for lacking his five Champions League medals. United supporters piled on with banter like 'Make Rice stand up go cook rice,' while Arsenal fans fired back with a counter-meme of Rice towering over others. The post drew over 700 likes and 480 replies, highlighting Casemiro's stacked CV amid classic terrace rivalry.

Key Takeaway

Picture this: Casemiro stands arms-crossed behind the bench, towering over rivals like Declan Rice, Moisés Caicedo, Rodri, and Frenkie de Jong at Old Trafford.

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Damian Lillard won the 2026 State Farm 3-Point Contest at All-Star Saturday Night in Los Angeles, scoring 29 points in the final to beat Devin Booker (27) and Kon Knueppel (17), joining Larry Bird and Jason Kapono as the only three-time winners. Curry, a two-time champ who sat out the event, stole the show with his epic long-range swish from above the Intuit Dome. He then promised to enter next year with Lillard, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant for a dream-team showdown.

Key Takeaway

From the broadcast booth, Steph Curry launched a 100-foot 3-pointer that swished perfectly as Damian Lillard claimed his third contest crown. The crowd roared while broadcasters shouted, 'Greatness, baby!'

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Blumhouse and Atomic Monster's adaptation of the 'Dead by Daylight' video game from Behaviour Interactive is moving forward. David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Alexandre Aja have been hired to write the script. A director search is currently underway.

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Gazetted on February 16, 2026, the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill extends parliamentary and presidential terms from five to seven years, delaying the next election to 2030 and shifting the presidential pick to parliamentarians needing a majority vote. Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi calls it constructive reforms for stability, while supporters like MP Temba Mliswa point to ZANU-PF's parliamentary strength; critics argue it breaches term-limit rules under section 328 and past court views, with figures like Nelson Chamisa labeling it an assault on the people's will. A 90-day public consultation now runs until mid-May, amid planned protests, petitions for a referendum, and potential court fights.

Key Takeaway

Zimbabwe's government just published a bill to stretch President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term until 2030, replacing direct elections with a parliamentary vote—a move that's ignited fierce backlash from critics.

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Matheus Cunha stated in an interview that he is grateful for everything Ruben Amorim did at Wolverhampton Wanderers, describing him as an incredible person who attracted many new players to the club. Cunha attributed a significant part of the team's ongoing success to Amorim's influence, noting that excessive pressure distorted the simple context during his tenure.

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A post on February 9 dismissed video game manuals as unimportant back in the day, but it unleashed waves of nostalgia with users sharing stories of reading them at restaurants, studying lore from Diablo or Age of Empires II, and cherishing inserts like cloth maps from Ultima IV. Even Doom designer Sandy Petersen joined in, lamenting his witty manuals with a crying emoji. The exchange reveals a divide between those who miss the paper hype-builders and others who see digital PDFs as sufficient amid shrinking budgets and slim packaging.

Key Takeaway

Picture ripping open a new game on the car ride home, flipping through colorful manuals like a treasured comic book. That's the thrill dozens of gamers recalled after one skeptical post questioned their importance.

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Manchester United fans are debating starting Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, and Bryan Mbeumo in the front three over Amad Diallo following a draw against West Ham. Critics highlight Diallo's lack of efficiency in scoring and creating chances, including a late-game pass to Sesko instead of shooting, while supporters note his 2 goals and 2 assists in 15 Premier League games under manager Ruben Amorim. The discussion references Mbeumo's recent assist and Sesko and Mbeumo's four goal contributions each in their last five appearances.

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Gabon's communication authority indefinitely suspended major social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and WhatsApp on Tuesday, amid teacher strikes and protests over living costs following a 2023 coup. In contrast, Kenya's National Assembly rejected a petition to ban TikTok, opting instead for stricter age checks, privacy safeguards, and data localization within four months to shield minors from explicit content and bullying. Lawmakers like Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah stressed that platforms empower youth and create jobs, favoring regulation over suppression as African nations balance digital growth with social protection.

Key Takeaway

While Gabon pulls the plug on Facebook, TikTok, and others to curb misinformation and unrest, Kenya's lawmakers draw a firm line: no bans, just smarter rules to protect kids and data.

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A viral clip from Manchester United's 2-1 defeat at West Ham on October 27, 2024, shows Dalot blazing over from a Bruno Fernandes through ball, a blunder that ramped up pressure leading to Ten Hag's sacking days later. Fans darkly humor that the miss also doomed Amorim, fired in January 2026, though some defend Dalot's smart runs. Now steady under interim boss Michael Carrick—with new signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha to sharpen finishing—United head to the London Stadium on a three-win streak, aiming to bury the memory.

Key Takeaway

Diogo Dalot's shank from six yards out in last year's West Ham loss feels like a ghost returning tonight. Fans joke it cost Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim their jobs.

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