News 07:00

BULLETIN 2 January 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the Government of National nity brought South Africans from across the political spectrum together
# The Tripartite Alliance’s 2025 goals focus on the working-class and economic issues
# And Tennis: Kimberly Navarro stuns and Grigor Dimitrov powers into the quarterfinal

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africans can look back on 2024 as a year of change and progress. In his New Year’s message to the nation the president referred to the elections on 29 May. He said the Government of National Unity brought South Africans together and the country can celebrate the progress made in building a society founded on the ideals of freedom, equality and human rights:

# The Tripartite Alliance, consisting of the ANC, SACP and trade union federation Cosatu, have agreed to prioritise the challenges faced by the working class in 2025. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula highlights important aspects of trade relations, governance improvements, and transformative legislation. The SACP’s Alex Mashilo calls for a focus on economic inequality, while Cosatu’s Solly Phetoe calls for a fight for workers’ rights. All parties urge South Africans to unite for progress and economic emancipation.

# A man was shot and killed and another wounded, allegedly by an e-hailing driver in Strandfontein, Cape Town, on Wednesday. Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said according to reports, the e-hailing driver brought his clients to Strandfontein when they tried to rob him at gunpoint. He says the driver retaliated and shot his attackers.

# The FBI are investigating Wednesday’s deadly attack in New Orleans as an act of terrorism and confirmed that the suspect is dead. Fifteen people were killed and at least 35 injured after a man drove a pick-up truck into a large crowd. The incident occurred in the French Quarter, an area popular with visitors to the Louisiana city. Police say the driver was hell-bent on creating carnage and also opened fire on officers. The FBI earlier said an improvised explosive device was found at the scene.

# Tennis: Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell stunned second seed Emma Navarro on Wednesday at the Brisbane International. The 26-year-old Birrell is ranked 113 and will now face 35th-ranked Russian Anastasia Potapova in the last 16. Defending men’s champion Grigor Dimitrov powered into the quarterfinals in straight sets after easing past another Australian wildcard, Aleksandar Vukic. He will play the American Alex Michelson for a place in the last four. Meanwhile the doubles act of Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios were stopped by top seeds Michael Venus of New Zealand and Croatia’s Nikola Mektic.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-82-cents and the euro at 19-rand-52-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-59-cents and Bitcoin trades at 94-thousand-822-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-633-dollars-42-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-83-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….