News 11:00

BULLETIN 25 June 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC says the second phase of the government of national unity is underway
# Heat exposure during pregnancy can lead to a lifetime of health problems
# And cricket: Afghanistan beat Bangladesh to set up semi-final against South Africa

# The ANC says the second phase of the government of national unity process, to appoint the Cabinet in line with the Constitution is underway. The ANC’s spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri says consultations with leaders of parties included in the government of national unit are underway. Bhengu-Motsiri says ten out of 18 parties joined the government of national unity initiative by Saturday and these parties represent an overwhelming majority of over 287 of the 400 seats in the National Assembly:

# Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has welcomed the arrest of a suspect linked to the murder of City official Wendy Kloppers at the Delft Symphony Way housing project site in February last year. Hill-Lewis says the shooting was part of a trend of violence directed at the housing project, including petrol bombing. He says according to police, the 40-year old suspect handed himself over following an investigation and is due to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court today:

# The City of Ekurhuleni has increased tariffs in the 2024/25 financial year budget. The budget was approved during an extraordinary council meeting and includes an operating budget of 60-billion-rand, a nine-percent increase, and a capital budget of 2.9-billion-rand. Major approved tariff adjustments include a 4.9-percent increase in assessment rates, nine-percent in water tariffs, seven-percent in sanitation, and electricity tariff increases between 11.02-percent and 12.74-percent. The budget includes free basic services for indigent households and rebates for pensioners and low-income earners.

# The University of Witwatersrand researchers says studies show climate change carries greater risks for unborn babies than previously thought, including worsening health and wellbeing in later life. Climate change is one of the greatest public health threats humanity has ever faced. Professor Matthew Chersich and research clinician Darshnika Lakhoo proposed the effects of heat in pregnancy on the unborn baby likely occur through multiple pathways, including worsening the health of the mother through problems like pre-eclampsia and diabetes, and increasing the risk of premature birth and other problems at the time of birth.

# Cricket:  Afghanistan advanced to their first-ever T20 World Cup semi-final after completing a dramatic eight-run victory over Bangladesh in a rain-affected clash in St Vincent on Monday. Afghanistan elected to bat first and got 115 for 5 in their 20 overs.  The Bangladeshis were chasing 114 off 19 overs according to the DLS method but were all out for 105. Afghanistan will face South Africa in the first semi-final in Trinidad on Thursday at 2:30 am SA time. India earlier have advanced to the second semi-final against England in Guyana on Thursday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-10-cents and the euro at 19-rand-41-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-96-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-942-dollars-66-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-326-dollars-92-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-6-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….