News 11:00

BULLETIN 16 January 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The UN chief says the Israel-Hamas ceasefire is a first step to ease the suffering
# Over 400 additional teaching posts are made available in the Western Cape
# And South Africa’s most valuable coin has been sold for over 40-million-rand

# United Nations secretary-general, António Guterres, has commended mediators Egypt, Qatar, and the US for their dedicated efforts in brokering a temporary Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza. The three-phased ceasefire, which comes into effect on Sunday, will see the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinians held in Israeli custody. Guterres says it is imperative that this ceasefire removes the significant security and political obstacles to delivering aid across Gaza:

# 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 Western Cape Department of Education says through further budget reprioritisation it is in a position to make available 477 new teacher posts. This is due to the significant increase in learner numbers this year. More than two-thousand-400 contract teacher posts have not been renewed in the province, due to shortfalls following National Treasury budget cuts. Over 1.2-million learners are in public schools this year. MEC David Maynier says he will continue to fight for teachers:

# Tennis: Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek has set up a mouthwatering third-round clash with Briton Emma Raducanu at the Australian Open. The Polish thrashed Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova, 6-0, 6-1 in the second round, while Raducanu recorded a, 6-3, 7-5, win over American Amanda Anisimova. Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur overcame breathing difficulties as she defeated Colombian Camila Osorio, 7-5, 6-3. In the men’s draw, American Taylor Fritz eased passed Chilean qualifier Cristian Garin, 6-2, 6-1, 6-0, while Australian Alex de Minaur defeated American qualifier Tristan Boyer, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-76-cents and the euro at 19-rand-30-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-90-cents and Bitcoin trades at 99-thousand-764-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-694-dollars-81-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-28-cents a barrel.

# And finally, one of the rarest and most valuable South African coins the Single 9 1898 Pond coin, recently sold at auction for a record-breaking 40.10-million-rand including commission. It was created during the Anglo-Boer War. The coin’s value has steadily increased over the years, reaching 4.65-million-rand in 1999 during a private sale and 20-million-rand in 2010. Six additional coins also up for auction surpassed the one-million-rand mark. Bassani’s Auction House says this underscores the global appreciation for South Africa’s rich numismatic heritage.

Stay tuned for more news………….