News 12:00

BULLETIN 10 January 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cosatu welcomes government’s Labour Activation Programme
# Three suspects are arrested for human trafficking in Johannesburg and 26 Ethiopian nationals are rescued
# And Tennis: Coco Gauff says keeping cool in tough moments is behind her great run

# Cosatu has welcomed government’s Labour Activation Programme, aimed at stimulating job creation. Employment and Labour minister Nomakhosazana Meth has signed contracts worth 651-million-rand with 12 Labour Activation Programme partner organisations. Cosatu’s, Matthew Parks, says they firmly believe that the creation of quality, sustainable jobs is a cornerstone of the country’s economic growth and social stability:

# The Hawks have arrested and charged three suspects believed to be linked to a human trafficking ring. This comes after police rescued 15 undocumented Ethiopian nationals who were being kept against their will in a house in Lombardy East in Johannesburg. Eleven have been hospitalised; while about 30, who are believed to be naked escaped on Thursday evening. Hawks spokesperson, Philani Nkwalase, says preliminary investigation found that the victims broke open a window and burglar bars and escaped:

# Poland’s president Andrzej Duda has urged the government not to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he attend the Auschwitz liberation anniversary event later this month. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November over the Gaza war, prompting outrage from Israel and its allies. Poland, as a party to the ICC, would be required to arrest Netanyahu if he attended the ceremony marking 80 years since the Red Army liberated the Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.

# Tennis: Red-hot Coco Gauff says that keeping cool in tough moments was behind a scintillating run of form that has made her a major threat to world number one Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open. But the 20-year-old Gauff, ranked three, finished 2024 with a flourish by winning the China Open and the season-ending WTA Tour Finals. She took that form into this season, winning all her singles matches at the United Cup including beating world number two Iga Swiatek in straight sets to lead the United States to glory.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-95-cents and the euro at 19-rand-52-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-30-cents and Bitcoin trades at 94-thousand-627-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-679-dollars-39-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-32-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Today is Peculiar People Day, a day to honour the uniqueness and diversity of individuals. Peculiar people are the ones who do not conform to the set standards of the world and refuse to accept unjust and wrong rules to abide by. Instead, they live life on their own terms and inspire people to rise against injustice. On this day people are encouraged to embrace their own peculiarities and celebrate the eccentricities of others.

Stay tuned for more news………….