For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Shomolekae.

Making headlines: Dirco confident UN Council will take ‘progressive decisions’ against US after Venezuelan invasion; Ramaphosa appoints new Climate Commission commissioners; And, at least 30 killed in Nigeria market attack, police say

Dirco confident UN Council will take ‘progressive decisions’ against US after Venezuelan invasion

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola today expressed confidence that progressive decisions will be taken, and robust engagements will occur during the sitting of the United Nations Security Council, convened after the US invasion of Venezuela.

During the weekend US President Donald Trump announced a large-scale US strike on Venezuela.

The US abducted Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro, which Lamola said the South African government was taken aback by.

Lamola said the US’s move is in violation of the UN charter and a violation of all principles that should govern the respectability of sovereign states.

Lamola acknowledged that the US veto issue is always an obstacle in the UN Security Council but argued that the issue being given a spotlight at the UN Security Council will explain to the world what happened and how it happened.

This will enable the people of the world to act in unison and in solidarity because they will now know the facts, and they will know exactly how the world must move on, he said.

Ramaphosa appoints new Climate Commission commissioners

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed new commissioners to the Presidential Climate Commission, says PCC executive director and commissioner-designate Dorah Modise.

Modise said Ramaphosa's well-informed and guided decision on the appointment of the diverse leaders of society and communities will help to drive and guide South Africa's just transition journey and climate action efforts.

The PCC was established in 2020 as a multistakeholder body to advise on South Africa’s climate change response measures, as well as just transition development pathways and interventions to a low-emissions, climate-resilient economy and society.

The new commissioners will serve for a period of five years from January 1 this year to December 31, 2030.

And, at least 30 killed in Nigeria market attack, police say

At least 30 people were killed and several others abducted when gunmen attacked a market in Nigeria's Niger State, police said.

Police spokesperson said the gunmen, locally called bandits, stormed Kasuwan Daji market in Demo village, at around 4:30 pm on Saturday burning stalls and looting food items.

The spokesperson said over 30 victims lost their lives during the attack, and some persons were also kidnapped. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the kidnapped victims.

Witnesses said the gunmen arrived on motorcycles and opened fire indiscriminately. They said the violence was part of a series of raids that began on Friday in the nearby villages Agwarra and Borgu.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said that he has directed the authorities to hunt down the perpetrators behind the attack.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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