News 11:00

BULLETIN 29 December 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA criticises the upcoming joint naval exercises between South Africa, Iran, China and Russia
# The Limpopo premier pays tribute to former deputy minister Dikeledi Magadzi
# And, China is holding major military drills around Taiwan, which is escalating tensions

# The DA says the joint naval exercises with Iran, Russia and China, due to take place next month, will undermine South Africa’s foreign policy of non-alignment. Iran will take part in Exercise MOSI, marking the first time that Iran has joined China, South Africa and Russia for the annual BRICS naval exercise. The DA’s Chris Hattingh says what begins as quiet military cooperation slips into secrecy and ends in open alignment:

# Limpopo premier, Phophi Ramathuba, says former deputy minister of Transport and Water and Sanitation, Dikeledi Magadzi, was a beacon of hope and a pioneer in every role she undertook. She passed away on Sunday. Magadzi also previously served as an ANC national executive committee member and an MEC in Limpopo, holding portfolios in Public Works, Agriculture, Health, and Safety and Security. The premier’s spokesperson, Thilivhali Muavha, says Magadzi was dedicated to public service:

# The City of Tshwane says the Olievenhoutbosch substation restoration project has reached a significant operational step, as steady progress is being made toward stabilising electricity supply in the area. Fire ravaged the substation on Christmas Eve, leaving parts of Centurion and Olievenhoutbosch without electricity. The metro’s spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo, says progress in stabilising electricity supply is happening despite persistent adverse weather conditions, which have posed notable technical and logistical challenges on site:

# China’s military is holding military drills around Taiwan, sending naval, air force, and rocket forces to surround the country, sending a warning against any push for Taiwanese independence. The People’s Liberation Army, the military wing of the ruling Communist Party in China, says the exercise dubbed Justice Mission-2025 is a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity. Taiwan’s government has condemned the drills, accusing China of military intimidation, which it says is escalating tensions and undermining regional peace. 

# Cricket: England fast bowler Gus Atkinson will miss the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting on Sunday due to injury. The 27-year-old hurt his left hamstring when bowling on the second day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and failed to return to the field as England registered a four-wicket victory. A replacement will not be called up, opening the door to either Matthew Potts or Matthew Fisher, who are both in the squad but have yet to play in the series.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-68-cents and the euro at 19-rand-64-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-51-cents and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-440-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-474-dollars-47-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 60-dollars-87-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….