News 14:00
BULLETIN 6 January 2 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# Europe rejects Trump’s comments on America needing Greenland for national security
# The DA accuses DIRCO of diplomatic hypocrisy regarding Venezuela
# And tennis: The Russian-born Daria Kasatkina feels the pressure when playing for adoptive Australia
# America’s European allies have rejected president Donald Trump’s latest claim that his country needs Greenland for its national security needs. British prime minister Keir Starmer told Sky News only Greenland and Denmark can determine the territory’s future. The German government says borders must not be moved by force, and is talking with Denmark and other European Union countries about the issue. The European Commission says the EU would continue to uphold the principle of national sovereignty and fully support Denmark.
The DA has meanwhile 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 the Russian invasion of Ukraine:
# Discovery Health has requested a number of members to repay the medical scheme after a processing error saw claims incorrectly paid out at a higher rate than their plan’s benefits allow. The error is related to the Above Threshold Benefit on the Executive, Classic Comprehensive, Classic Smart Comprehensive, Classic Priority and Essential Priority plans. Discovery Health did not disclose the number of impacted members or the total amount owed, but says a small proportion of scheme members and only certain members on the five plans were affected.
# The Department of Basic Education has encouraged National Senior Certificate candidates, who were unsuccessful in their initial attempt at the exams, to make use of the official Second Chance Programme. Eligible candidates may register to rewrite or add subjects without any payment, in accordance with the department’s policies for the May/June examination cycle. The department’s spokesperson, Terence Khala, says the programme is provided free of charge to candidates:
# Tennis: Russian-born Daria Kasatkina admits she is under pressure of delivering success for Australia after switching citizenship last year. The 28-year-old world number 40 changed allegiance in March after describing Moscow’s war against Ukraine as a nightmare. She played for her adoptive country for the first time in the Brisbane International on Sunday, where she lost to former compatriot Anastasia Potapova, who now plays for Austria. Another two Russian players, Kamilla Rakhimova and Maria Timofeeva, changed allegiances last year and now play for Uzbekistan.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-35-cents and the euro at 19-rand-15-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-12-cents and Bitcoin trades at 93-thousand-480-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-450-dollars-37-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-74-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….