News 06:00

BULLETIN 12 December 6 am

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In this bulletin:

# South Africa is not excluded from AGOA as it is extended
# The EFF calls for a boycott of the G20 summit if South Africa is excluded
# And Olympics: Australia launches a 564-million-rand fund to help prepare athletes for the 2032 Games

# The African Growth and Opportunity Act is set to be extended by a further three years. This comes after the US House Ways and Means Committee passed the Agoa Extension Act, extending the trade initiative until 31 December 2028. Agoa gives duty-free access to the American market for eligible African countries, without requiring any reciprocal US access to their markets. The committee, which described Agoa as the cornerstone of economic relations between the US and Sub-Saharan African nations, did not mention any exclusion of South Africa.

# The EFF says any attempt to exclude South Africa from the upcoming G20 summit in the US would be an attack on the country’s standing and an insult to its role in global affairs. The party argues that South Africa is a vital voice for developing nations and should never be sidelined in major international forums. EFF leader Julius Malema told the media president Donald Trump is a global threat:

# The National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shamila Batohi, has clarified the final wording of the terms of reference for Andrew Chauke’s misconduct case. Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi questioned Batohi during cross-examination, suggesting her affidavit and answers to the Nkabinde inquiry were misleading. Batohi clarified that the charge involves seeking a signature on case dockets or prosecution memorandums, not on indictments as previously stated:

# The Gauteng Department of Education says all marking, verification, and security protocols continue to be enforced to ensure a credible, fair, and trustworthy National Senior Certificate outcome. This follows the detection of an exam paper leak in Pretoria, involving 26 learners from seven schools. Two Basic Education Department officials have been suspended. Gauteng Education spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says they acknowledge the matric candidates who respected the NSC Pledge:

# NATO chief Mark Rutte has warned its member states that they are Russia’s next target. Speaking at a security conference event in Berlin, Rutte said the bloc must make all efforts to prevent a war that could be on the scale of war that this generation’s grandparents and great-grandparents endured. He added that too many NATO allies do not feel the urgency of Russia’s threat in Europe. Rutte warned they must rapidly increase defence spending and production to prevent such a war from happening.

# Olympics: Australia has launched a fund worth 564-million-rand for athletes before the Games in Brisbane in 2032. This would include retirement grants for Olympians and cash awards to help female athletes return to elite competition after giving birth. The president of the Australian Olympic Committee, Ian Chesterman, says many athletes reach the end of their careers with very little financial support, and this contribution will make a difference to their retirement. He says that although Olympians don’t do it for the money, financial sacrifice is involved.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-84-cents and the euro at 19-rand-79-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-54-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-558-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-279-dollars-78-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 61-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….