Lower prices for clothing, food and alcohol helped the UK inflation rate ease last month
Falls in food, alcohol, and clothing prices last month helped drive inflation to its lowest level in eight months in November.
The inflation rate fell to 3.2% from 3.6%, a larger fall than analysts expected.
Lower food prices were the main driver of the fall, "with decreases seen particularly for cakes, biscuits, and breakfast cereals", according to Office for National Statistics chief economist Grant Fitzner.
It comes ahead of the Bank of England's decision on interest rates on Thursday, with a cut widely expected.
The fall in inflation will foster hope that inflation has peaked, with this possibly paving the way for further interest rate cuts next year.
Other items which also pushed down inflation were the cost of tobacco, restaurant meals and hotel stays, furniture, and transport.
Prices are still rising on average across the economy, but there were decreases in some items between October and November.
Food prices, which were the biggest driver of the lower inflation figure, fell month on month - bucking a trend for normally rising at this time of the year.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she knew that families across Britain "will welcome this fall in inflation".
"Getting bills down is my top priority. That is why I froze rail fares and prescription fees and cut £150 off average energy bills at the Budget this year," she said.
Reacting to the inflation figure, chief UK economist with Capital Economics Paul Dales said it was "particularly good news" that the rate of price rises had been "dragged down by the fun things that we all want to indulge in around this time of year".
He added that clothing and footwear prices could also rebound after Black Friday discounts drop away, but that the overall picture "shows that disinflation is happening faster than expected".
Patients are being told to expect disruption as doctors start their five-day strike in England, with NHS bosses saying they are struggling to keep as many services going as they have done in recent walkouts.
NHS England said with a wave of flu placing pressure on hospitals, non-urgent services would be affected by the strike which begins at 07:00 Wednesday.
This is the 14th walkout by resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors, in the long-running pay dispute.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the strike had been timed to inflict most damage on the NHS and put patients at risk, but the British Medical Association said it would work with NHS bosses to ensure patient safety.
The strike is being held after the two sides held last-minute talks on Tuesday afternoon.
The talks were described as "constructive" by the government, but not enough progress had been made to call off the strike.
Resident doctors represent nearly half of the doctors working in the NHS. They will walk out of both emergency and non-urgent care with senior doctors drafted in to provide cover.
In the two most recent strikes – in July and November – NHS England said it was able to keep the majority of non-urgent operations and treatments, such as hip and knee replacements, going.
But NHS England said it expected more disruption this time. Concern has also been expressed that hospitals may struggle to discharge patients in time for Christmas as the doctors who are working concentrate on providing strike cover.
Medical director Prof Meghana Pandit said: "These strikes come at an immensely challenging time for the NHS, with record numbers of patients in hospital with flu for this time of year.
"Staff will come together as they always do, going above and beyond to provide safe care for patients and limit disruption.
"But sadly more patients are likely to feel the impact of this round of strikes than in the previous two – and staff who are covering will not get the Christmas break they deserve with their families."
Streeting added: "We have been working right up to today to try and avert these strike actions.
"Everyone knows the period leading up to Christmas and into the New Year are always the busiest for the NHS. With super flu, this year is harder.
"And that double whammy of flu plus strikes means that there is an additional burden now on other NHS staff."
NHS England said GP practices will continue to be open and urgent and emergency care services will be available for those who need them.
But even then there is likely to be some disruption. Cheltenham General Hospital's emergency department is closing for emergencies during the strike - it will remain open for minor injuries - with patients advised to use nearby Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
NHS England said the public should use 111 online as the first port of call for urgent, but not life-threatening issues during the strike.
Patients who need emergency medical care should continue to use 999 or come forward to A&E as normal, it added.
The strike is going ahead despite a new offer from the government being made last week, which included increasing the number of speciality training posts and covering out-of-pocket expenses like exam fees.
Getting job is 'nightmare'
The speciality training jobs, which resident doctors start in year three of their training after completing medical school, have become highly competitive.
This year 30,000 applicants went for 10,000 jobs – although some of the applicants were doctors from abroad.
Dr Tom Twentyman is one of those who lost out after trying to secure an emergency medicine post. He says finding a job is an "absolute nightmare".
Since then he has been struggling to find work, juggling a handful of locum shifts each month at the same time as applying for more than 40 short-term contracts at hospitals across the country – one of which he now secured.
But this will not count towards his training, so he will now look to reapply next year.
"Some of the job adverts were coming down within two hours of going up after they received 650 applications, which is clearly an enormous number to shortlist," he says.
On Monday the BMA announced its members had voted to continue with the strike – effectively rejecting the offer in the process – after the union agreed to hold an online poll of members.
BMA resident doctor leader Dr Jack Fletcher described it as a "resounding response" and said the government needed to go further on jobs as well as pay.
Streeting has maintained he will not discuss pay as doctors have received pay rises totalling nearly 30% over the past three years.
The BMA argues that, despite the pay rises, resident doctors' pay is still a fifth lower than it was in 2008, once inflation is taken into account.
Dr Fletcher added: "It is well past the time for ministers to come up with a genuinely long-term plan.
"If they can simply provide a clear route to responsibly raise pay over a number of years and enough genuinely new jobs instead of recycled ones, then there need not be any more strikes for the remainder of this government."
But the BMA said it was committed to ensuring patient safety.
"We will be in close contact with NHS England throughout the strikes to address safety concerns if they arise," the union added.
Chalamet is known for his roles in films such as Dune, Wonka and Call Me By Your Name
Hollywood star Timothée Chalamet is compiling his list of five Brits who he considers to be all-time greats.
"Lewis Hamilton, David and Victoria," he begins, referring to the seven-time Formula One champion and the Beckhams.
"Fakemink," he continues, naming the underground London rapper who recently teamed up with EsDeeKid, the anonymous Liverpool drill artist who many have linked to Chalamet.
("No comment," is his reply when pressed on this. "All will be revealed.")
But Chalamet's final pick of someone who demonstrated British greatness comes totally out of left field.
After a long pause and some deep thought, he reveals his answer: "Susan Boyle."
Yes, it turns out that one of the biggest movie stars on the planet is an admirer of the 64-year-old former Britain's Got Talent star, who went on to have two US number one albums.
"She dreamt bigger than all of us," he explains, without any hint of irony.
"Who wasn't moved by that?" he says about the 2009 viral clip of the Scottish singer performing I Dreamed A Dream from Les Misérables on the talent show.
"I remember that like it was yesterday," the actor says. "That was like the advent of YouTube, you know."
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Chalamet names the newly knighted Sir David and Victoria Beckham as two of his five great Britons
Chalamet, 29, knows a lot about using social media to advance a career.
The reason he is selecting great Britons, is due to one of the many ways he has found to promote his new 1950s table tennis film, Marty Supreme.
For the last month, he has been presenting jackets bearing the film's title to people he deems as being a great.
Honourees so far include swimmer Michael Phelps, NFL legend Tom Brady and Barcelona's Spanish wonder kid Lamine Yamal.
Now his promotional tour has taken him to London, where he opened a pop-up store and is now sitting in a hotel bar looking out over Hyde Park.
I had asked him which Brits would be worth of receiving a jacket, resulting in the SuBo surprise.
Andrew Yates/AFP via Getty Images
Susan Boyle "dreamt bigger than all of us", says Chalamet
Chalamet's frenetically entertaining performance in Marty Supreme has already landed him best actor nominations at both the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards, and the Oscar race is currently seen as a head-to-head between him and Leonardo DiCaprio.
The film is based on real life post-war table tennis star, Marty Reisman. The semi-fictionalised film version Marty Mauser, however, has some dubious morals, getting involved in a heist and trying to destroy the marriage of his biggest sponsor, who he resents.
Despite his questionable on-screen actions, Chalamet is a big fan of his character.
"You know, when you're in your early twenties, you're an idiot," he laughs. "And this movie, in large part, is about being an idiot in your early twenties.
"And if on top of that, you have a passion that you're singular about, you risk looking foolish in addition to being an idiot."
A24
Chalamet stars as table tennis player Marty Mauser in his latest film Marty Supreme
During his acceptance speech he pontificated: "I'm really in pursuit of greatness. I know people don't usually talk like that, but I want to be one of the greats," before listing Daniel Day Lewis, Marlon Brando, Viola Davis and Michael Jordan, as actors who inspired him.
I ask where his confidence comes from.
"You know, it ebbs and flows. And I feel like that's kind of what keeps me on my toes," he says, in a far more humble way that he demonstrated on stage at the SAGs, wearing a bright green suit.
"It's my New York mentality insofar as if I'm on a movie or in a social situation, if things are going well, you feel great. And if not, the world's falling apart," he says, becoming far more introspective than I had expected.
"And I think increasingly in my life, like as I approach 30 here in a couple weeks, you want to be more on your feet. You want to grow into yourself. But that is a constant learning process. And it's a huge learning curve. And I try not to be too hard on myself or those around me who are also growing."
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At the SAG Awards in February, Chalamet said he wanted to be "one of the greats"
The actor's landmark birthday presents the perfect chance to ask him how he looks back at his twenties, a decade in which he has twice been nominated for best actor at the Oscars, and starred in huge box office hits including Dune and Wonka.
A huge smile comes over his face as he says: "It's been great. You know, it's been awesome.
"I feel like I'm living in a dream. I'm on top of a fancy hotel in London and talking about a film I'm deeply passionate about.
"And, you know, I got to offend somebody from Scotland the second they walked in with my English shirt," he jokes, referencing my barely disguised displeasure at his choice of interview garb.
Chalamet's dedication to roles is part of his success. He spent five years learning to play the guitar to play Bob Dylan; for Marty Supreme he embarked on seven years of table tennis lessons.
"I got approached with this project in 2018. So that basically gave me six, seven years to prepare on and off. In all my downtime, I would train as much as possible," he enthuses.
"I think the responsibility in this movie, like in the Bob Dylan movie, if you were a Dylan fan or a guitar player, that that looks real to you on screen. Similarly here, if you're a ping-pong aficionado, that that looks believable to you."
His dedication included taking his table tennis table into the desert during Dune and it was oompah-loompah ping-pong between takes on Wonka.
And he's already learning skills for film roles way in the future.
"I can't give anything away, but I do have a couple of white rabbits up my sleeve."
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Marty Supreme also marks Gwyneth Paltrow's first film role for seven years
One thing that is totally clear, is his love of the big screen.
In the same month that Netflix has announced its intention to buy one of the major film studios, Warner Bros, Marty Supreme is a film which will have a wide cinema release and has not been made for any streaming service.
It has been produced by A24, the independent film company behind recent Oscar favourites Moonlight, Past Lives and The Brutalist.
"That is an intense question," Chalamet muses after I ask him if he thinks cinemas will actually survive the length of his career.
"I do think with streaming stuff, there's less incentive for these streaming companies to try to put things in theatres, which is dangerous.
"But equally, I do think cinemas will survive and thrive. And that's not to be a false optimist."
And he wants to play his part.
"I feel like my responsibility as a young actor especially, is less to go, 'Hey, how do we get people to revisit this traditional form?' And rather to go, "Hey, how do we take this traditional form and bring it to people?"
Chalamet sincerely believes that Marty Supreme will, in its own way, help cinemas be saved.
"This is an original film at a time where a lot of original films aren't made.
"And there's no part of me that's a salesman that's saying this, but I've never been more confident in saying, "Hey, if you bring yourself to see this movie, you won't be let down. It's really like a slingshot."
Timothée Chalamet – about to turn 30 and more than ready to channel his inner Susan Boyle and dream his dream.
Nativity play nerves, Santa's grotto queues and Christmas lights crowds can make the festive season a sensory overload for children even before the big day arrives.
And their mini-meltdowns only add to the stresses of parents dashing between school plays, present shopping and masterminding the family feast.
Comedian and dad-of-three George Lewis tells CBeebies Parenting Download that while his children "love the thought of Christmas", the disruption in routine can make December "a real inner conflict" for them.
Parenting and child behaviour specialist San Mehra explains the mismatch of high excitement layered with unpredictability is the perfect recipe for "Christmas overwhelm". George and San share four ways to create a calmer Christmas for your children.
1. Stick to some routine
George Lewis
George says his children enjoy Christmas more when events are spaced out as they feel less overwhelmed
Christmas disrupts normal routines, but San stresses that keeping anchor points like wake-ups, mealtimes and bedtimes the same helps children feel grounded.
"Chaos all day is hard for kids to cope with," she says. "If one part of the routine changes, it's manageable but if everything changes, overwhelm builds quickly."
She recommends putting up a calendar and marking on events like relatives arriving or a trip to see Santa so children can see what's coming up and ask questions.
"If you've got a child who's got anxiety around change you can have conversations around that and talk about any worries," she says.
And crucially, she adds, parents should schedule downtime as deliberately as activities as it will help you anticipate if you do or don't have time for certain events.
2. Build your own traditions
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George once clung to an idealised, movie-style Christmas - perfectly wrapped presents, big meals and a bustling house.
But two of his children have autism and the unpredictability and crowds quickly became overwhelming.
"I always had this version of the perfect Christmas in my head," he says. "But when my son spent an entire family gathering standing alone at the end of the garden, I thought: if this isn't for him, then who is it for?"
Now he builds Christmas around comfort and predictability: staying at home, keeping numbers low and spreading activities out.
One major change was the meal itself.
"We've stopped having Christmas dinner on Christmas Day," he explains and instead they cook it on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day.
"Then on the day itself we're not stressing about a big project and we just play with the kids and order a curry in the evening."
3. Acknowledge their overwhelm
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Even with careful planning, festive outings can tip into overload quickly.
And when a meltdown hits, often after a long queue or an overstimulating attraction, San says the first step for parents is to check in with yourself.
"Your first instinct is panic and you might feel embarrassed or stressed and that's okay," she says. But it's important to first make yourself calm.
Then she recommends getting down to the child's level and helping them feel understood.
A simple acknowledgement like: "You've been waiting for ages, haven't you? You're probably fed up right now" can ease the tension.
"If you can name what they are feeling, like frustration or boredom, it will reduce the intensity by 50%," she says.
George adds that his family often chooses SEND-friendly sessions with reduced noise and fewer people to help keep outings enjoyable rather than overwhelming.
4. . Teach children to navigate conflict
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With routines off-kilter and excitement running high squabbles can break out between siblings as well as cousins or friends they may not see regularly.
When kids clash, San says parents don't always need to dive in immediately. But if things look like they're escalating she suggests guiding them through these stages:
Separate the children and ask: "Do you want my help, or do you want to sort it out yourselves?"
Set the rules: "They have to be quiet while the other person is speaking and they have to listen and empathise."
Let each child explain what happened, then briefly clarify the sequence.
Brainstorm solutions together and agree on one
Check back later to see how it's working.
After a while San says that children will "start to sort it out themselves" using the same method.
Footage shows Paul Doyle's journey to Liverpool parade
Paul Doyle's loss of temper on the day of the Liverpool parade attack, described by the sentencing judge as "incomprehensible", may never be fully explained.
There seemed little cause for the 54-year-old to feel so aggrieved by the crowds blocking the roads as they celebrated at Liverpool FC's Premier League victory parade on 26 May.
Whatever the reason, he is now serving a sentence of 21 years and six months after pleading guilty to 31 offences including dangerous driving, affray and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
This is how Doyle's increasing aggression on the roads developed into catastrophe over one afternoon, starting at 12:34 BST when a friend who he had agreed to drive to the parade arrived at his home.
PA Media
Liverpool fans lined the city's streets to cheer on the players during the team's victory parade
12:34 – Paul Doyle's friend Dave Clark and his family arrive at his home in Croxteth, Liverpool. The Clark family are Liverpool fans and Doyle, an Everton fan, has agreed to drive them into the city centre to watch the parade.
12:41 – Doyle leaves home with Mr Clark and his family. On the "mundane" journey into the city, they speak about house prices, schools, football, cars, their common work in IT and family matters.
He then drops them off on Exchange Street East, where footage showed him driving calmly and following the traffic measures on Dale Street.
CPS
Paul Doyle could be heard on his car's own camera swearing and shouting as he mowed down supporters later that afternoon
13:35 – Doyle arrives home after dropping his friends off on Exchange Street East. The court heard that while it did not form part of the dangerous driving charge, he "drove in a markedly more aggressive way" on his way home, jumping lanes and undertaking other vehicles.
14:30 – The victory parade starts at Allerton Maze, in the the south of Liverpool.
17:24 – Doyle sends Mr Clark a message asking "how's it going?" and is told his friend is on Castle Street, close to Dale Street and Water Street.
MerseysidePolice
People could be seen on the bonnet of his car and falling underneath as Doyle accelerated into Water Street
17:29 – Doyle sets off from his house to return to the city centre. He instructs the sat-nav system in his Ford Galaxy car to take him to Castle Street. On the way, he undertakes several cars and runs a red light.
17:40 – The Liverpool FC parade finishes when the buses arrive outside the Liver Building on the waterfront.
17:48 – Mr Clark sends Doyle a message telling him signal is poor. Doyle says he will be at Castle Street in about 10 minutes but does not reply when Mr Clark asks if he wants them to walk anywhere. Mr Clark also tells him he might find the area of Castle Street blocked.
PA Media
Statements from 78 of Doyle's victims were read to the court during the course of his sentencing
17:54 – Doyle arrives on Dale Street from Byrom Street, having undertaken a series of other vehicles at traffic lights and gone around a roundabout in the wrong lane, coming close to pedestrians who are crossing the road.
He uses his horn and presses on down the road, despite a dense crowd of fans heading back from the waterfront. He drives through a red light at the junction with Stanley Street.
17:58 – A man walking with his child, who has not been identified, becomes concerned about Doyle's driving and places his foot on the bumper of the Ford Galaxy as he moves his child out of the way. He points at Doyle, who responds by shouting: "It's a [expletive] road."
After this interaction, Doyle continues to drive in the direction of the increasingly worried crowd, some of whom bang on his car roof.
He blasts his car horn and shouts further obscenities. Adults jump out of his way and children are pulled from his path.
Reuters
Doyle hit more than 100 people that day in the space of a few minutes
He initially stops ahead of traffic cones put in place to divert traffic away from Water Street, which is full of fans, but then steers into the left lane.
The first person he hits is Jack Trotter, 23, who attempts to get out of the way but suffers an injury to his leg. He then drives into a group of people who are thrown onto his bonnet. He hits another group of people and then drives into a 10-year-old girl, before shouting "[Expletive] move".
He carries on down Water Street, striking more people, including Jacqueline McClaren, 60, and paramedic Jay Vernon, 34. He reverses and collides with an ambulance.
Doyle stops for a short time and fans surround his vehicle. One, ex soldier Dan Barr, opens the rear passenger door and gets into the car.
Paul Doyle told police his actions "ruined so many people's lives" as he was arrested
Doyle then accelerates again, hitting Simon Nash, who is thrown into the air. Driving sharply to the right, he hits Sheree Aldridge and the pram she is pushing, carrying six-month-old baby Teddy Eveson.
The pram, with Teddy in, is thrown into the air but the baby is uninjured. Ms Aldridge suffers a serious injury to her left thigh.
From the back of the car, Mr Barr leans forward and holds the automatic gear selector in park mode. Doyle continues to try and accelerate but eventually the car, with four people underneath it, comes to a stop.
18:01 – Doyle is dragged from his vehicle and quickly shielded from the crowd by police officers. In the two minutes since he drove into the crowd, 134 people have been hit.
Doyle pleaded not guilty to 31 charges when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on 4 September, with a trial scheduled for November.
Jurors were sworn in on 25 November but he changed his pleas the following day as the prosecution prepared to open its case.
Tara says she hopes to become a psychiatrist one day so she can read her "opponent's next move"
"People are a bit annoyed when I beat them and maybe a bit sad because they lost to a child."
At just 4ft 2in (130cm), nine-year-old Tara keeps cool as a cucumber when she faces seasoned chess players in tournaments.
She recently competed in the 2025 UK Open Blitz Championship qualifier, where she finished as the top performing girl in the tournament and made it to the Women's Final.
The prodigy from Leicester says she is hoping to become the best chess player in the world in her age category.
Tara says she started falling in love with the game at the age of four and her first opponents were her parents, who are both software engineers.
"When I was playing them I was jumping up and down because I was getting excited about what they will do," she says.
"I saw a piece - a knight - which can go in an L shape and I thought they all could go like they're in an army."
Tara started going to chess clubs in Year 2 but is now privately tutored.
Shalini Sathiyaseelan
Tara, who made the women's final, hopes to become the best in the world at her age category
"I play much older people - they get a bit nervous. In big tournaments, when we play very fast, they ask 'how can this girl play like this?'
"And I just keep playing my game and don't worry about others," she says.
Tara shows no sign of stopping anytime soon, and is constantly training or playing opponents online.
She admits she does get nervous sometimes.
"When I played online games against a Master I was getting nervous. But then I started playing and I stopped being nervous.
"Sometimes emotion comes into it. Especially when you make a big move, it can feel emotional.
"Or when you miscalculate something, it can feel a bit sad. But if you keep playing confidently, you can win. Chess is like a mind game," Tara adds.
She says she will never stop playing, however she would like to become a psychiatrist one day.
"I want to be a psychiatrist. I want to be able to read people's minds so I can find out my opponent's next move," she says.
Shalini Sathiyaseelan
Tara says chess has helped her with her studies
Tara's mum Shalini Sathiyaseelan says she did not think her daughter was going to become a chess prodigy straight away.
But as the young girl kept on playing, she said she could see something "grow inside her".
"We thought we could support her, get her a coach and get her to the next level," Mrs Sathiyaseelan adds.
"She is very quiet and calm. Whenever she goes to tournaments, she prepares for them because every game is different.
"She is really enjoying it. She would sit with her dad and talk about tricks and tactics."
Head of Fairfield Prep School in Loughborough, Andrew Earnshaw, says watching Tara's development in chess has been "truly amazing".
"To qualify for the Women's Final at such a young age is extraordinary, and to hold her own against some of the strongest female players in the country speaks volumes about her talent, determination and composure."
DJ Warras was shot by a man with dreadlocks in broad daylight, police say
A popular South African radio and club DJ has been shot dead in the country's largest city, Johannesburg, sending shockwaves across the nation grappling with entrenched crime.
Warrick Stock, popularly known as DJ Warras, was gunned down in the city centre on Tuesday afternoon.
Police said the 40-year-old media personality was approached by three suspects, one of whom opened fire on him before fleeing on foot.
The motive of the shooting is unknown and no arrests have been made, police said.
Stock was a well-known radio and TV presenter and a podcaster in South Africa.
Fred Kekana, a local police chief, said Stock was attacked as he was leaving Zambesi House near Carlton Centre.
Stock spent several hours at the building overseeing the installation of security systems at the premises, which had been controversially occupied by unknown people, reports the state-run SABC.
"It is alleged the victim was approached by three unknown suspects after parking his vehicle, and they opened fire at him before fleeing the scene on foot," the South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement.
CCTV footage showed a man with dreadlocks and dressed in what looked like a security uniform opening fire on Stock before fleeing, said Kekana.
The DJ tried to run away after he was shot but fell down across the street, the police chief added.
He said that Stock had an unused firearmon him and nothing was taken during the attack.
Key evidence, like cartridges, were discovered at the scene, according to the police.
Police have appealed to eyewitnesses and members of the public who may have seen the suspects to come forward.
"We know they walked a long distance after the shooting, and officers have been tracking them to determine their whereabouts," added Kekana.
His sister Nicole Stock told SABC that the family was struggling to process his death.
"I am in shock. I don't have words. I am shattered," she said.
"We know he was a voice for many people around the country. He spoke out bravely about issues not many people were willing to speak about. This is a tremendous loss."
She appealed to the public to refrain from sharing graphic images or videos from the scene, saying this was an incredibly difficult time, especially for Shock's three sons.
Stock was the presenter of Ngicel' iVisa, a reality show that premiered on Mzansi Magic, a South African digital satellite entertainment channel.
Beyond his media career, Stock was involved in various business ventures, including private security, providing elite guarding and VIP protection services and securing high-profile events across South Africa, according to local media.
He was also reportedly involved in property management and assisted with building evictions.
His murder has shocked the country and prompted an outpouring of tributes from his fans, the government and political parties.
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie said he was angry and saddened by Stock's murder.
"He spoke his truth without fear or favour. He even spoke up against me and my decisions as a minister. He was a pure example of who we should be," added McKenzie.
Leader of South African's Build One party Mmusi Maimane said the "brazen murder of DJ Warras in broad daylight is a shock for all South Africans".
"DJ Warras was more than just a face of a reality series. He was a talented storyteller, a passionate music lover and a warm soul who brought joy and energy to every moment on screen. His dedication to creativity left an indelible mark on our channels," said Shirley Adonisi, director of local entertainment Channels (Mnet).
In a statement, Mzansi Magic said Stock was known for his charisma, warmth and sharp wit, adding that his legacy "will live on".
South Africa, the continent's most industrialised nation, has one of the world's highest murder rates, fuelled by robberies and gang violence, with some 63 people killed each day between April and September, according to police data.
Naveed Akram, the surviving alleged suspect in Sunday's mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist act, according to the New South Wales Police.
The other gunman, his father Sajid Akram, 50, was killed in an exchange of fire with police at the scene.
Fifteen people were killed and dozens of others were injured in the attack, which targeted Australia's Jewish community at an event celebrating the first night of Hanukkah.
It was the country's deadliest shooting since 1996.
Akram also faces 40 charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, as well as one charge of causing a public display of a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol.
He was critically injured during the incident on Sunday, and had his first hearing from his hospital bedside, the local New South Wales court said.
The case has been adjourned until April 2026, the court added.
Earlier on Wednesday, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said they were waiting for medication to wear off before formally questioning Akram.
"For his fairness, we need him to understand what is exactly happening," Lanyon said.
Twenty people injured in the attack remain in hospitals across Sydney, with one person still in a critical condition.
Earlier, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said they were waiting for medication to wear off before formally questioning Akram.
"For his fairness, we need him to understand what is exactly happening," Lanyon said.
Police have designated the attack a terrorist incident, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying it appears to have been "motivated by Islamic State" group ideology.
Police said "homemade" Islamic State group flags and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have been found in the vehicle used by the gunmen.
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Patients are being told to expect disruption as doctors start their five-day strike in England, with NHS bosses saying they are struggling to keep as many services going as they have done in recent walkouts.
NHS England said with a wave of flu placing pressure on hospitals, non-urgent services would be affected by the strike which begins at 07:00 Wednesday.
This is the 14th walkout by resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors, in the long-running pay dispute.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the strike had been timed to inflict most damage on the NHS and put patients at risk, but the British Medical Association said it would work with NHS bosses to ensure patient safety.
The strike is being held after the two sides held last-minute talks on Tuesday afternoon.
The talks were described as "constructive" by the government, but not enough progress had been made to call off the strike.
Resident doctors represent nearly half of the doctors working in the NHS. They will walk out of both emergency and non-urgent care with senior doctors drafted in to provide cover.
In the two most recent strikes – in July and November – NHS England said it was able to keep the majority of non-urgent operations and treatments, such as hip and knee replacements, going.
But NHS England said it expected more disruption this time. Concern has also been expressed that hospitals may struggle to discharge patients in time for Christmas as the doctors who are working concentrate on providing strike cover.
Medical director Prof Meghana Pandit said: "These strikes come at an immensely challenging time for the NHS, with record numbers of patients in hospital with flu for this time of year.
"Staff will come together as they always do, going above and beyond to provide safe care for patients and limit disruption.
"But sadly more patients are likely to feel the impact of this round of strikes than in the previous two – and staff who are covering will not get the Christmas break they deserve with their families."
Streeting added: "We have been working right up to today to try and avert these strike actions.
"Everyone knows the period leading up to Christmas and into the New Year are always the busiest for the NHS. With super flu, this year is harder.
"And that double whammy of flu plus strikes means that there is an additional burden now on other NHS staff."
NHS England said GP practices will continue to be open and urgent and emergency care services will be available for those who need them.
But even then there is likely to be some disruption. Cheltenham General Hospital's emergency department is closing for emergencies during the strike - it will remain open for minor injuries - with patients advised to use nearby Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
NHS England said the public should use 111 online as the first port of call for urgent, but not life-threatening issues during the strike.
Patients who need emergency medical care should continue to use 999 or come forward to A&E as normal, it added.
The strike is going ahead despite a new offer from the government being made last week, which included increasing the number of speciality training posts and covering out-of-pocket expenses like exam fees.
Getting job is 'nightmare'
The speciality training jobs, which resident doctors start in year three of their training after completing medical school, have become highly competitive.
This year 30,000 applicants went for 10,000 jobs – although some of the applicants were doctors from abroad.
Dr Tom Twentyman is one of those who lost out after trying to secure an emergency medicine post. He says finding a job is an "absolute nightmare".
Since then he has been struggling to find work, juggling a handful of locum shifts each month at the same time as applying for more than 40 short-term contracts at hospitals across the country – one of which he now secured.
But this will not count towards his training, so he will now look to reapply next year.
"Some of the job adverts were coming down within two hours of going up after they received 650 applications, which is clearly an enormous number to shortlist," he says.
On Monday the BMA announced its members had voted to continue with the strike – effectively rejecting the offer in the process – after the union agreed to hold an online poll of members.
BMA resident doctor leader Dr Jack Fletcher described it as a "resounding response" and said the government needed to go further on jobs as well as pay.
Streeting has maintained he will not discuss pay as doctors have received pay rises totalling nearly 30% over the past three years.
The BMA argues that, despite the pay rises, resident doctors' pay is still a fifth lower than it was in 2008, once inflation is taken into account.
Dr Fletcher added: "It is well past the time for ministers to come up with a genuinely long-term plan.
"If they can simply provide a clear route to responsibly raise pay over a number of years and enough genuinely new jobs instead of recycled ones, then there need not be any more strikes for the remainder of this government."
But the BMA said it was committed to ensuring patient safety.
"We will be in close contact with NHS England throughout the strikes to address safety concerns if they arise," the union added.
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