News 09:00

BULLETIN 28 October 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says his three-nation state visit to Southeast Asia was a success
# Saftu says the Labour Court’s ruling against ArcelorMittal is a victory for workers’ rights
# And the US and Japan sign a minerals and rare earths agreement

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says his three-nation state visit to Southeast Asia, which has been based on trade, investment, and reviving historical ties, has been a success. The president visited Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia, where he also participated as a guest of the chair at the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit. Briefing the media on the conclusion of his trip, Ramaphosa says all countries have agreed to increase mutually beneficial trade by improving market access and reducing non-tariff barriers:

# South Africa has called on G20 member states to exercise maximum flexibility as the Empowerment of Women Working Group enters the final phase of negotiations on the first-ever G20 Ministerial Declaration on the Empowerment of Women. The working group, first established under India’s G20 Presidency in 2023, has since evolved under Brazil in 2024 and now South Africa. Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities director general, advocate Mikateko Joyce Maluleke, has expressed optimism that the declaration, if adopted, would mark a historic milestone for the G20’s gender equality agenda.

# The South African Federation of Trade Unions says the Labour Court’s ruling against ArcelorMittal South Africa reaffirms the right of workers to fair consultation and procedural justice. The court has ordered the reinstatement of all workers from ArcelorMittal’s plants in Newcastle and Vereeniging, who were unfairly retrenched earlier this month. Saftu’s Asive Dyani says the ruling is a turning point in defending workers from retrenchment abuse:

# US president Donald Trump and newly elected Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi have signed an agreement on securing the supply of critical minerals and rare earths. Trump is on the second leg of his Asia tour. The objective of the agreement is to assist both countries in achieving resilience and security of critical minerals and rare earths supply chains. America has been racing to diversify its supply of critical minerals to reduce its reliance on China, which holds a near-monopoly in the processing of critical minerals.

# Tennis: 2023 finalist Grigor Dimitrov marked his return to the ATP Tour after a 14-week absence due to injury, with a straight-sets victory in the first round of the Paris Masters. The Bulgarian defeated Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 7-6, 6-1. 2018 champion Karen Khachanov of Russia cruised into the second round following a 6-1, 6-1 win over American Ethan Quinn. Britain’s Cameron Norrie has set up a second-round clash with Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, after beating Argentina’s Sebastian Baez, 6-3, 6-4.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-21-cents and the euro at 20-rand-7-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 113-thousand-872-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-969-dollars-3-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-72-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….