News 09:00

BULLETIN 16 January 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Netanyahu and Hamas welcome the temporary ceasefire deal
# Nehawu supports minister Motsoaledi’s defence of the NHI Act
# And the SACP wants the government to stop eroding the national industrial base

# Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has spoken to US president Joe Biden and president-elect Donald Trump, thanking them for their help in advancing the ceasefire-for-hostages deal. The temporary ceasefire, which starts on Sunday, will see the phased release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Hamas’s chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, says the agreement represents a milestone in the conflict with the enemy. Qatari prime minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, says there was no pressure from the incoming Trump administration to reach a deal:

# The National Education, Health, and Allied Workers Union says it supports Health minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, in defending the full implementation of the National Health Insurance Act. This follows an article in the City Press, claiming that the ANC plans to table a compromise proposal at the first Cabinet lekgotla on implementing the NHI. This will allegedly be done to appease the partners in the government of national unity. Nehawu’s, Lwazi Nkolonzi, says these claims seek to derail the full implementation of the NHI Act:

# The South African Communist Party has reiterated its call for decisive state intervention to halt what it describes as the erosion of the national industrial base and manufacturing de-industrialisation. This comes after ArcelorMittal SA announced the closure of its long steel business, including its Newcastle and Vereeniging plants as well as its rail and structures operation. This will result in the loss of three-thousand-500 direct and indirect jobs. SACP say government intervention should include the possible transfer of ownership or direct takeover of the affected productive capacity from AMSA.

# The Tshwane Bus Services has officially resumed its normal services amid driver shortages. Thirty drivers were dismissed in November last year, after participating in an unprotected strike in May. The decision to fire the drivers was taken after they appeared before a disciplinary hearing. City of Tshwane’s spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo, says the recruitment process to fill these vacancies is currently underway and will be concluded as a matter of priority:

# Soccer: Arsenal have kept their Premier League title hopes alive after beating Tottenham Hotspur two-one to climb up to second in the standings, four points behind leaders Liverpool. Captain Heung-Min Son gave Spurs the lead against the run of play, but Dominic Solanke’s own goal and Leandro Trossard’s strike turned it around for the Gunners. Meanwhile, Newcastle United defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers three-nil for their sixth straight league victory, while Crystal Palace saw off Leicester City two-nil. Aston Villa recorded a hard-fought one-nil victory against Everton.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-80-cents and the euro at 19-rand-34-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 99-thousand-593-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-696-dollars-93-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….