News 11:00

BULLETIN 8 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says the world must act to stop genocide and human rights violations
# Tax Justice SA criticises tobacco manufacturers for taking SARS to court
# And tennis: Djokovic’s expectations are not very high heading into Monte Carlo

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says it must never be that atrocities, gross human rights violations, and genocide, should somehow carry less weight because of the race, ethnicity, or religious affiliation of the victims. The president was in Rwanda to mark 30 years since the 1994 genocide during which around 800-thousand people were murdered. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa says nobody can claim ignorance about what is happening in Gaza, because, unlike in Rwanda, these atrocities are being televised and written about. He adds the world needs to act urgently.

# Tax Justice South Africa is calling on tobacco manufacturers to withdraw their legal action against the South African Revenue Services. The Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association, representing several smaller tobacco producers, is asking the Pretoria High Court to interdict Sars from implementing the new warehouse camera rule because it argues it violates the constitutional right to privacy. Tax Justice SA founder, Yusuf Abramjee, says FITA’s attitude reflects a complacency that has witnessed the country degenerate into a gangster’s paradise:

# The National Sea Rescue Institute says it has so far not been required to respond to any critical weather-related incidents at sea, or on inland waters in the Western Cape. The province is currently experiencing heavy rains and strong winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour, prompting the closure of schools in the Cape Winelands, Somerset West and Overberg areas. NSRI’s spokesperson, Craig Lambinon, says volunteer crews remain on high alert to assist disaster risk management teams:

# The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency has warned that the latest drone attack on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant significantly increases the risk of a major nuclear accident. The drone attack included three direct hits against the facility’s main reactor containment. Russian officials at Europe’s largest nuclear plant claimed the site was attacked by Ukrainian military drones, which Kiev has denied. The head of the agency, Rafael Grossi, describes the attack as reckless and a clear violation of safety principles.

# Tennis: World number one Novak Djokovic admits his expectations are low heading into the Monte Carlo Masters. Unlike in previous years when he started his year with titles at the Australian Open, Dubai or the Sunshine Double, the Serbian remains without a trophy so far this year. The two-time champion in Monte Carlo hopes he can play better, having not advanced beyond the quarterfinals in seven appearances since 2015:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-65-cents and the euro at 20-rand-20-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-54-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-83-dollars-84-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-336-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 89-dollars-81-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….