News 13:00

BULLETIN 27 January 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Corruption Watch calls for the removal of Mchunu following witness E’s damning testimony
# Cosatu urges government to halt the 372-million-rand Defence Force Day parade
# And tennis: Sabalenka and Zverev are through to the Australian Open semifinals

# Corruption Watch says president Cyril Ramaphosa has enough evidence to remove Police minister Senzo Mchunu following explosive allegations by Witness E at the Madlanga commission. The witness claims Mchunu pressured him to lie, fabricate evidence, and engineer a false narrative targeting crime intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo. Corruption Watch director Lebogang Ramafoko told SABC delays undermine public trust, saying political considerations cannot outweigh the country’s safety and integrity:

# Union federation Cosatu urges government not to proceed with its planned 372-million-rand budget for the Defence Force Day parade. The event is scheduled in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, on 21 February. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says this tone-deaf waste of scarce resources is an insult to the thousands of members of the South African Defence Force who are struggling under some of the most extreme circumstances due to budget cuts and mismanagement:

# South African wine exports came under strain last year, with volumes falling 13.8-percent to 264-million-litres, driven by global economic instability, weaker demand, and port logistics challenges. Export value dipped just 2.4-percent to 9.8-billion-rand. The UK remains the top market, with value rising four-percent despite lower volumes, while US volumes dropped 21-percent. Africa now contributes over ten-percent of export value, led by growth in Kenya, Zambia and Uganda. Industry leaders cite tariffs and slowing global consumption as key challenges.

# Indian prime minister Narendra Modi announced his country and the European Union have finalised a landmark trade deal. The EU and India are facing deteriorating economic ties with the US. Details of the deal are expected to be revealed at a joint summit in Delhi later today. Modi says after nearly two decades of on-off negotiations, the deal will pave the way for India to open up its vast market to free trade with the 27-nation EU, its biggest trading partner.

# Tennis: World number one Aryna Sabalenka is through to her fourth consecutive Australian Open semifinal. The Belarusian beat American Iva Jovic to continue her bid for a third title. Sabelenka will face either third-seeded American Coco Gauff or Elina Svitolina of Ukraine for a place in the final. In the men’s draw, Alexander Zverev defeated American Learner Tien in four sets to reach the semifinals the fourth time. The German will take on either top-seeded Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz or local player Alex de Minaur.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-4-cents and the euro at 19-rand-3-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-904-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-and-86-dollars-31-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-69-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….