News 11:00

BULLETIN 11 September 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa will use the BRICS summit to advance South Africa’s economic priorities
# South Africa will extradite six Nigerian nationals wanted in the US over an alleged 100-million-rand romance scam
# And tennis: The top two will face off in the US Open women’s final

# President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi, India, this weekend, under the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Security”. BRICS leaders currently navigate ongoing geopolitical tensions, including in the Middle East and Ukraine. Ramaphosa says South Africa will use the summit to advance its diplomatic and economic priorities, with a particular focus on expanding intra-BRICS trade and investment, promoting industrialisation and value addition, and mobilising investment in African infrastructure:

# The Hawks, together with INTERPOL, will facilitate the extradition of six Nigerian nationals, alleged to be members of the Black Axe organised criminal network, to the US this afternoon. They are facing charges of wire fraud and money laundering linked to romance scams. Hawks’ spokesperson Katlego Mogale says the suspects allegedly targeted more than 100 women across America and defrauded them of over 100-million-rand. She says some of the victims were pensioners targeted through sophisticated online relationships:

# Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, says the inter-ministerial committee on local government elections is intensifying preparations for the November elections. He met with the committee to assess progress, strengthen coordination and make the necessary preparations for the work ahead. A total of 546 registered parties will contest the elections. Hlabisa says the committee remains resolute in ensuring that all plans are robust, comprehensive and watertight to support the delivery of successful elections that meet the constitutional and democratic expectations of South Africans.

# The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says the ongoing Bundibugyo virus Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is rapidly spreading beyond its epicentre. New cases and deaths have declined in the epicentre, the Ituri province, but risen sharply in neighbouring North Kivu and Haut-Uele. Six-thousand-843 cases have been reported, including three-thousand-310 deaths. Clinical trials are underway to find a licensed vaccine. The centres says the priority is to stop transmission, protect communities and support health workers on the front line.

# Tennis: For the first time in 13 years, the US Open women’s singles final will be contested by the top two seeds, as incoming world number one Elena Rybakina faces Aryna Sabalenka. Kazakhstani Rybakina upset home favourite Coco Gauff, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, to reach the final for the first time. Belarusian Sabalenka, who is one win away from her third straight title at Flushing Meadows, defeated another American, Jessica Pegula, 7-5, 6-2. Sabalenka is expecting a tough battle:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-15-cents and the euro at 18-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-314-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-352-dollars-20-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 107-dollars-11-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….