News 11:00

BULLETIN 9 January 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has resigned as an EFF member of Parliament
# The UN is concerned about the continuing humanitarian crisis in Syria
# And tennis: Djokovic and Alcaraz could clash in the Australian Open quarterfinals

# The EFF has confirmed that Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and Yazini Tetyana have voluntarily resigned as representatives of the party in Parliament. Ndlozi was excluded from participating in the recent EFF national assembly last month, the highest decision-making conference of the party. Tetyana was part of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature and Parliament, while Ndlozi has been in the National Assembly since 2014. The EFF’s, Sinawo Thambo, says both members have been exemplary in their deployments:

# Build One South Africa has launched a petition urging Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube to scrap the minimum matric pass mark from 30-percent and increase it to 50-percent. The petition argues that a 30-percent pass mark for subjects at matric level undermines the intellect of South Africa’s youth, and allows for the entrenchment of mediocrity and low expectations. BOSA’s acting spokesperson, Rogers Solomons, says a meagre 30-percent pass hurts pupils, the education system, and in the long run the economy:

# The DA welcomes president Cyril Ramaphosa to Cape Town, calling it the one city that works amid the ongoing struggles in ANC-run areas. According to the party, the city has created over 300-thousand jobs, with a 39.5-billion-rand infrastructure plan to improve services and support lower-income communities. Mayor Geordin Lewis says Cape Town is leading the way with the lowest unemployment rate. Hill-Lewis is hopeful that Ramaphosa’s visit will lead to productive collaboration between local and national leaders for a better future.

# The United Nations says humanitarian access remains challenging in parts of north-east Syria, due to the ongoing closure of internal border crossings and bridges damaged by recent fighting. Some 15-million Syrians need health services, close to 13-million are facing acute food insecurity, and more than 620-thousand are displaced. During his address to the Security Council, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, highlighted three critical humanitarian challenges in Syria:

# Tennis: Defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner of Italy will face a stern opening test in the first round against big-hitting Chilean Nicolas Jarry. Sinner has been drawn in the same half as American Taylor Fritz and Russia’s Daniil Medvedev. Ten-time champion Novak Djokovic, who could face Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, will take on American Nishesh Basavareddy in the first round. Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus begins her bid for a third straight title against 2017 US Open winner American Sloane Stephens.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-89-cents and the euro at 19-rand-46-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-24-cents and Bitcoin trades at 94-thousand-130-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-665-dollars-31-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-5-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….