News 09:00

BULLETIN 8 February 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Trump orders the US to prioritise the refugee resettlement of South Africans of European descent
# Ramaphosa emphasises the importance of formal diplomacy amid Rwandan tensions and US pressure
# And rugby: The Stormers face the Bulls without several first-choice players

# President Donald Trump has directed government officials to prioritise the resettlement of South Africans of European descent through the US refugee programme. Trump adviser and South African-born billionaire Elon Musk earlier said the country’s Land Expropriation Act allows racially motivated seizures of land owned by white South Africans. In his order, Trump instructed secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem to prioritise humanitarian relief, including admission and resettlement through the United States Refugee Admissions Programme, for Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination.

The US refugee programme is designed to offer a haven to people abroad fleeing persecution based on their race, religion, political views or other factors. Typically, refugees are referred to the US by United Nations officials and spend months or years in third countries undergoing interviews, as well as security and medical checks, before being allowed into America. Historically, most of those allowed into the US through the refugee programme have hailed from countries in Africa and Asia plagued by war, ethnic strife or repression of minority groups.

# President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted the Presidential Golf Challenge at Atlantic Beach Golf Club in Cape Town on Friday. Responding to tensions with Rwanda, Ramaphosa called for constructive dialogue as the SACD-East African Community meet today in Tanzania. Ramaphosa also defended South Africa’s stance amid U.S. pressure, emphasising the importance of formal diplomacy and highlighting plans to push for Africa-focused objectives at the G20:

# The UN Peacekeeping division is facilitating the transportation of the remains of 18 soldiers killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, en route to Uganda’s Entebbe Airport. Transportation of fourteen South African, two Malawian, and two Tanzanian, is via Rwanda to Uganda in repatriation efforts. Meanwhile, SADC’s Elias Magosi warns of the volatile conflict ahead of SADC-East African Community talks in Tanzania:

# Rugby: The Stormers will face the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship in Cape Town today without several first-choice players. Manie Libbok, Ruhan Nel, Neethling Fouché, JD Schickerling and Ali Vermaak are all nursing injuries. This is very bad news for the 2021/22 champions, who are currently in 12th place on the log. But victory over their arch-enemy could see them advance to the top eight, and a place in the playoffs. Kick-off at the Cape Town stadium is at 2 this afternoon.

# And Australian reptile handlers have been stunned to rescue 102 venomous snakes from a backyard mulch pile in Sydney. Cory Kerewaro and his colleague discovered 40 red-bellied black snakes, four of which gave birth to more live young once placed in a removal bag. Red-bellied black snakes are one of the most common venomous species in Australia but have not caused any human deaths on record. The five adult and 97 baby snakes are currently under quarantine and will be released into a national park once the weather cools.

Stay tuned for more news………….