News 16:00

BULLETIN 15 January 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Weather Service warns of severe rains in Limpopo and Mpumalanga
# A 34-year-old becomes Ukraine’s youngest minister ever
# And tennis: Tough matches are expected for Keys, Sabalenka and Swiatek at the Australian Open

# The South African Weather Service has issued severe rainfall warnings for the eastern parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, with disruptive rain expected to continue over the next two days. The warnings include high levels of rainfall that could lead to flooding of roads and settlements, as well as mudslides and rockfalls in vulnerable areas. Residents are urged to take precautions by avoiding low-lying bridges or crossing flooded roads as persistent rain impacts travel and safety conditions across the regions.

Meanwhile, the Mpumalanga Department of Education has decided to temporarily suspend classes in the Bushbuckridge Municipality today and tomorrow due to the persistent rains, which have posed significant challenges due to inaccessible roads. The department’s spokesperson, Gerald Sambo, says the advisory for schools to apply discretion remains in effect for all areas currently experiencing rainfall:

# The Foundation for Education and Social Justice Africa says a Grade 12 learner from Sunrise High School in Diepsloot, Gauteng, has been unfairly denied the right to complete his matric. Wesly Ratlhaha, who uses a wheelchair after an accident, was academically prepared to write his exams, but the school refused to make the necessary accommodations. The foundation’s Hendrick Makaneta says this is discriminatory and unconstitutional:

Moving abroad:

# Ukraine’s former first deputy prime minister and current minister for Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, will take over as head of the country’s Defense Ministry. A majority of Ukraine’s Parliament voted in favour of his appointment on the second attempt. President Voldymir Zelensky justified his decision in advance by emphasizing the need to ensure maximum technological capability for the military in case diplomatic efforts fail and Russia’s onslaught continues. Thirty-four-year-old Federov is the youngest minister in Ukraine’s history.

# Tennis: American Madison Keys begins the defence of her Australian Open title against Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova, who is making her main draw debut. Keys could face compatriots Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, respectively. World number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, who is bidding for a third title at Melbourne Park, could face American Coco Gauff in the semifinals. Poland’s Iga Swiatek is looking to complete the career Grand Slam, with Japan’s Naomi Osaka being her potential tough fourth-round opponent.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-35-cents and the euro at 19-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 96-thousand-602-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-617-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-78-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….