News 13:00

BULLETIN 6 January 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA accuses DIRCO of diplomatic hypocrisy regarding Venezuela
# OPEC-Plus holds oil output steady amid global political turmoil
# And athletics: Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet takes maternity leave this year

# The DA has accused the Department of International Relations and Cooperations of hypocrisy and contradiction. This comes after the department requested an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council, which happened yesterday, to discuss the capture and prosecution of Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, by the US. The DA’s Ryan Smith says DIRCO failed to take a similar stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine:

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has meanwhile agreed to keep oil output unchanged during a brief meeting. According to analysts, the meeting avoided discussions on mounting political crises among member states, including Venezuela. The decision comes as oil prices fell over 18-percent amid global over-supply last year. Analysts say markets are now driven more by geopolitical uncertainty than supply and demand. The group focuses on stability, with output increases paused through March. The next OPEC-Plus meeting is scheduled for next month.

# The SACP will participate in the ANC’s January 8 celebrations at the Moruleng Stadium in Saulspoort, North West, on Saturday, despite increased strain between the alliance partners. The event marks the ANC’s founding day in 1912, outlining political programmes and tasks for the upcoming year, including the local government elections. The move comes amid a rift over the SACP’s independent participation in the elections. Spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana says the party remains committed to engagement, even as analysts warn tensions could overshadow the rally.

# Athletics: Double Olympic gold medal winner Beatrice Chebet of Kenya won’t compete this year. Her agent announced she was taking a maternity break. Chebet won the five- as well as the ten-thousand metres at the Paris Games in 2024, and is also the world record holder in both events, winning both at the world championships in Tokyo in September. She won’t miss any major championships because the next world championships only takes place in China next year, followed by the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-32-cents and the euro at 19-rand-13-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-12-cents and Bitcoin trades at 93-thousand-414-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-457-dollars-52-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-74-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Ultra-endurance swimmer and Guinness World Record holder, Howard Warrington, is undertaking the 34-kilometre False Bay crossing in Cape Town today. This is to raise funds and awareness for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA’s ambitious sterilisation goal of ten-thousand. SPCA spokesperson, Belinda Abraham, says last year alone, they cared for over 23-thousand unwanted and unloved animals:

Stay tuned for more news………….