News 09:00

BULLETIN 10 July 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Constitutional Court endorses the Competition authorities’ powers to prosecute international cartels
# ActionSA exposes a 27-million-rand Defence Force vehicle graveyard
# And cricket: England seal their first-ever T20 series win over India

# The Competition Commission says it has noted the judgment of the Constitutional Court on the forex cartel, which has significant legal and procedural implications for the prosecution of international cartels. Last week, the Apex Court ruled that competition authorities can pursue landmark forex-rigging claims against six international banks. The Competition Commission’s spokesperson, Siyabulela Makunga, says the ruling provides greater clarity on the reach of South Africa’s competition laws beyond the country’s borders:

# ActionSA says that at a time when South Africa faces mounting border security, crime and disaster-response challenges, the South African National Defence Force is allowing critical military assets to rust into scrap. In a parliamentary reply, minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, revealed a vehicle graveyard at Wallmannsthal in Pretoria, where hundreds of military vehicles have been abandoned to rot. ActionSA’s Lerato Ngobeni says this is further proof that the SANDF is no longer capable of fulfilling its constitutional mandate:

# The DA has criticised the suspension of Tshwane City Manager Johann Mettler, calling it unlawful. The council voted to suspend Mettler during a closed meeting yesterday, following a complaint laid against him by the EFF, accusing him of several acts of misconduct. In his written submissions, Mettler dismissed the allegations against him as without merit. The DA’s Tshwane caucus leader, Cilliers Brink, has accused the ANC-led coalition and their partners of vote-rigging:

# Twelve people have been killed in a wildfire in Los Gallardos in the southeastern province of Almería in Spain, as a sustained heatwave has caused wildfires across southern Europe. Six people were injured, including a woman who suffered burns. Spanish minister of Presidency, Health, and Emergencies, Antonio Sanz, says the wildfire is the most devastating to date in the region, describing the situation as an unprecedented tragedy. More than 393-thousand hectares burned in Spain last year, the country’s worst wildfire year in recent history.

# Cricket: England thrashed India by nine wickets in the fourth T20 in Bristol to seal their first-ever series win over India in this format. The visitors were restricted to 158 for seven, with captain Shreyas Iyer scoring an unbeaten 80 off 49 balls. In reply, captain Harry Brook and Phil Salt put on an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 144 as England cruised to their target with 37 balls to spare. The hosts have an unassailable 3-0 lead ahead of the fifth and final match in Southampton tomorrow.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-29-cents and the euro at 18-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-87-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-40-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-118-dollars-75-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-45-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….