News 06:00

BULLETIN 14 January 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa says countries must see climate action as a driver for economic growth
# Solidarity urges the government to resolve the US dispute
# And tennis: Lloyd Harris is knocked out in the first round of the Australian Open qualifying

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says a nation’s climate action goals and economic ambitions can work in tandem for greater prosperity. He was speaking during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week held under the theme “Nexus of Next: All Systems Go”. Ramaphosa says countries that have embarked on climate action strategies have found that those interventions do finally yield economic growth. He reiterated the need for action to address climate change challenges in Africa:

# Trade union Solidarity has welcomed the US House of Representatives’ decision to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act. They called on the government to resolve its diplomatic dispute with the US. The union says South Africa’s potential exclusion from AGOA threatens hundreds of thousands of jobs in the automotive, agriculture, and manufacturing industries. Solidarity’s Jaco Kleynhans calls for urgent action to secure continued access to the US market and safeguard livelihoods:

Meanwhile, cross-border payments provider Verto has also welcomed the House of Representatives’ vote. The company says the move is positive for South African exporters but warns that uncertainty around timelines and eligibility still risks currency stability and small businesses’ growth. Verto’s James Booth urges businesses to prepare for political and trade shocks by diversifying and using secure payment systems.

# The minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, will officially launch the 2026 back-to-school programme in Brits, in North West. Gwarube will be joined by the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi, at the Tshenolo Primary School to welcome learners, with a special focus on grade R and grade one learners starting school for the first time today. Ministry spokesperson Terence Khala says the minister will also inspect the school’s nutrition programme:

#  Around one-thousand additional US Customs and Border Protection agents are expected to deploy to Minneapolis. This comes as tensions between federal and local law enforcement flared after the fatal shooting last week of the mother of three, Renee Nicole Good, sparked protests nationwide. The Democratic-led Minnesota, Minneapolis, and St. Paul are now suing the Trump administration, arguing the widespread immigration operation is a federal invasion of the Twin Cities. President Donald Trump first ramped up immigration enforcement in the Minneapolis area in December to target undocumented Somali immigrants.

# Tennis: South Africa’s Lloyd Harris bowed out in the opening round of the Australian Open qualifying in Melbourne. The former world number 31 suffered a 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 loss to 18-year-old Italian Federico Cina. American Mackenzie McDonald, who defeated Rafael Nadal at the 2023 Australian Open, rallied past Dmitry Popko of Kazakhstan, 6-7, 6-4, 7-5. Belgium’s Alexander Blockx, Spain’s Rafael Jodar, and Australian Cruz Hewitt are also through to the second round of qualifying. The main draw begins on Sunday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-38-cents and the euro at 19-rand-8-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-99-cents and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-795-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-591-dollars-48-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-88-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….