News 12:00
BULLETIN 14 February 12 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# The Institute of Race Relations says government simply cannot control its spending
# Air Freight at the Dube TradePort cargo terminal sees an increase following harbour issues
# And Cricket: Five wickets for Dane Piedt on a great day for the Proteas
# Air freight at the Dube TradePort cargo terminal at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport surged by 57-percent in the last quarter of 2023. Spokesperson Ricardo Isaac says this increase can be attributed partly to issues at the Durban port. According to Isaac, the significant increase in airfreight from September to December 2023 saw fruit exports to the Middle East and European markets double in volume compared with the same period in 2022. In addition, automotive volumes was 30-percent higher than usual in November.
# The Industrial Gas Users Association of Southern Africa warns that South Africa has only four months to act to avoid day zero for gas supply in 2026. This comes as Sasol will stop supplying natural gas from Mozambique under its current contract, partly because it plans to use the remaining gas to displace coal at its operations to support its decarbonisation. The association’s Jaco Human says government’s most realistic supply option would be the importation and re-gasification of liquefied natural gas at the proposed Matola harbour in Maputo.
# The US House of Representatives controlled by Republicans has voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, over his handling of an unprecedented influx of migrants at the border between America and Mexico. The vote on two articles of impeachment was 214 in favour to 213 opposed. Mayorkas is the first cabinet secretary to be impeached in almost 150 years. President Joe Biden has called the impeachment a blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honourable public servant to play petty political games.
# Cricket: It was the Dane Piedt-show as the Proteas put up a fight on day two of the second Test against New Zealand in Hamilton. The spinner picked up five wickets and Dane Paterson took three as the Black Caps were bowled out for 211 runs, to hand South Africa a first-innings lead of 31 runs. The Proteas were bowled out this morning for 242 in their first innings, with Ruan de Swardt scoring 64. Piedt says it was a great day for the team:
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-18-cents and the euro at 20-rand-52-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-8-cents and Bitcoin trades at 49-thousand-813-dollars-92-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-987-dollars-30-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-89-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….