News Bulletin of 11 January 2026, 1pm

A Fresh Start at Morningside Parkrun
The spirit of new beginnings filled Ernest Ullmann Park on January 10 as runners of all ages and fitness levels came together for the weekly Morningside parkrun.With the new year underway, the event attracted both regulars and first-timers. Walkers, joggers, and seasoned runners shared the same route, reinforcing parkrun’s focus on inclusivity The club offers a welcoming, pressure-free space to rediscover a love for running.
Sandton and Gauteng
80-Year-Old Swimmer Breaks Robben Island Record
80-year-old swimmer John Flanigan has made history by completing the iconic Robben Island to Blouberg swim. Cape Town’s unpredictable weather delayed the attempt for weeks, testing his preparation. The Cape Long Distance Swim Association has officially ratified the swim, making him the oldest person ever to complete the challenging route. As the driving force behind the Topaz Swim Buddies, a growing open-water group, Flanigan says his accomplishment has encouraged others to push their own limits.
South Africa
Qantas Launches Direct Joburg-Australia Flights
Joburgers can now fly directly to major Australian cities like Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide with global carrier, Qantas.This as the carrier has launched a direct Johannesburg-to-Perth flight, cutting the travel time to 9-hours and 55 minutes.The route was launched on Sunday and now operates 3-times a week, on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Australia's Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farell says this flight provides an opportunity to boost trade between the 2 counties.
South Africa
Financial Indicators
Your financial indicators for this hour:

The Rand is trading at 16.47 to the US Dollar, 0.00 to the British Pound, and 0.00 to the Euro.

Gold is trading at 4,509.29 dollars a fine ounce, Brent Crude Oil is at Error per barrel, and a Bitcoin will set you back 90,598.00.
Titanic Victim’s Gold Watch Sells for Record
The gold pocket watch Isidor Straus wore on the Titanic sold at a sale in England yesterday for 1.78 million pounds, becoming the most valuable piece of Titanic memorabilia ever. Straus and his wife Ida famously refused lifeboat seats to stay together. The previous record was another gold watch, belonging to Titanic passenger John Jacob Astor the fourth, which sold for 1.18 million pounds in April 2024. In 1997’s “Titanic,” the Strauses, played by Lew Palter and Elsa Raven, were portrayed clutching each other on a bed as the ship went down.


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