For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: South Africa hosts Brics naval exercise, risks renewed US ire; Gauteng govt urges matriculants to use digital platform to access results; And, NGO criticises Trump for withdrawing from international bodies

South Africa hosts Brics naval exercise, risks renewed US ire

Warships from some members of the Brics group of developing nations gathered in Cape Town waters for a naval exercise that places host South Africa at risk of renewed US ire.

China will lead the Will for Peace 2026 drill, which runs from January 9 to January 16 and will showcase the participants’ collective commitment to safeguard maritime trade routs “and deepen cooperation in support of peaceful maritime security,” the South African National Defence Force said in a statement. It didn’t specify which other countries will be participating, with a media conference scheduled for tomorrow.

A Chinese destroyer docked in the Simon’s Town naval base yesterday, while pictures on social media this week showed a Russian frigate and a supply vessel making their way down Africa’s west coast toward the harbour. The Johannesburg-based Rapport newspaper last month cited an Iranian admiral as saying the Islamic Republic had dispatched a fleet to take part in the exercise, but its vessels haven’t been sighted.

South Africa has been at loggerheads since the US President Donald Trump returned to the White House almost a year ago. Its ties to Iran are among the issues that have elicited anger in Washington and the drill is likely to ignite further tension.

Pretoria drew criticism from the US and the European Union when it last hosted a Brics naval exercise in 2023 that coincided with the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Gauteng govt urges matriculants to use digital platform to access results

The Gauteng Provincial Government on Thursday suggested that Matriculants make use of its Gauteng Matric Results Online System to access their 2025 National Senior Certificate examination results.

The results will be released on January 13, and will also be made available to accredited newspapers for publication with only examination numbers and results publicised.

Gauteng MEC for the Department of e-Government Bonginkosi Dhlamini said the online system ensures that learners can view their results quickly, securely, and conveniently as soon as they are officially released.

Matriculants can check their results instantly on their smartphones, tablets, or other digital devices, allowing them to access their results in a private and supportive environment, at a time and place that suits them.

Dhlamini highlighted that the system empowers learners by ensuring that critical academic information is available directly to them securely.

And, NGO criticises Trump for withdrawing from international bodies

Renewable energy movement 350.org has condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and other international bodies, describing the move as a “desperate attempt” to hold on to fossil fuels.

Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the US from 66 international organisations, including the UNFCCC, the 1992 treaty that underpins all global climate cooperation, and the global scientific authority Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Trump claimed that these organisations promote “radical climate policies” and global governance that “no longer serve American interests.”

350.org MD for campaigns and networks Savio Carvalho said the withdrawal won’t stop countries from demanding that the US, the world's largest historical emitter, cut its emissions and support climate-vulnerable nations.

350.org program manager Pacific & Caribbean Fenton Lutunatabua stressed that global climate cooperation should not “be at the mercy” of the US government's decisions.

He said despite rich nations stalling action, the Pacific has consistently championed an end to climate-destroying fossil fuels, noting the climate ruling at the International Court of Justice.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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