News 09:00

BULLETIN 2 December 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa calls for more funds to deal with climate change
# A council warns of the devastating impact of the ports chaos on the auto industry
# And, tennis: Nadal plans to return in the Brisbane International

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for increased funds for the new fund on Loss and Damage to tackle climate change. Addressing world leaders at the COP28 Climate Summit, Ramaphosa highlighted Africa’s vulnerability to climate change and emphasised the need for a work program on national and international just transitions across economic sectors. Ramaphosa underscored that climate action is vital for South Africa’s sustainable development. He urged for multilateralism to continue to play a central role in global climate action:

# The agricultural union TLU SA has urged South Africans to contribute to its trauma fund, aiming to aid farmers grappling with severe weather conditions. With the drought affecting several areas, farmers are struggling to provide for their families. The organisation collaborates with local communities to identify affected farmers and allocate the necessary assistance. The trauma fund seeks public donations to replenish depleted resources, ensuring ongoing support and education for farmers dealing with the aftermath of droughts and veld fires.

# The Automotive Business Council says the current logistical challenges at the country’s ports and across the entire freight rail network is impacting negatively on the vehicle production landscape and on new vehicle sales. It says the current challenges will soon have a devastating domino impact on the entire auto value chain. The council says while supply chains are gradually stabilising globally and semi-conductor shortages are anticipated to ease, South Africa’s erratic logistical challenges will become the single biggest risk if many of the leadership and systemic structural challenges experienced by Transnet aren’t be urgently addressed.

# US prosecutors have announced charges of attempted murder, after a fellow inmate stabbed disgraced former police officer Derek Chauvin more than 20 times with a sharp object. AFP reports Chauvin, whose killing of George Floyd in Minnesota sparked massive racial justice protests in 2020, was attacked in the law library of an Arizona prison in November.
Chauvin was sentenced to over 20 years after being convicted of the murder of the 46-year-old Floyd, on whose neck he knelt on for nine minutes.

# And, tennis: 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal plans to make his long-awaited return to competition in the Brisbane International next month. The 37-year-old Spaniard is already out of action since this year’s Australian Open and had been struggling with a hip injury since. Nadal says in a video it is time to return after a year away from the game. He said earlier he wants to play one more French Open, where he is a 14-time champion, and plays for his country in the Paris Olympics.

Stay tuned for more news………….