News 11:00
BULLETIN 24 July 11 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# An economic risk analyst is concerned about South Africa’s relations with the US
# Five suspects are arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a 14-year-old girl in Mpumalanga
# And, Bernie Sanders condemns Netanyahu’s upcoming address before the US Congress
# Political and economic risk analyst Marisa Lourenço says it is uncertain if the US will extend South Africa’s eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act. This follows after the House of Representatives passed a law requiring a comprehensive assessment of bilateral relations, potentially jeopardising South Africa’s AGOA participation. Lourenço notes the US is split with some opposing South Africa’s inclusion due to its ties with China, Russia, and Iran, while others support engaging with Africa’s most advanced economy.
# The Supply Chain Council says the signing into law of the Public Procurement Bill is a milestone for the supply chain industry and the broader economic landscape. The legislation is a comprehensive framework designed to streamline procurement processes, making the procurement and supply chain environment more transparent, and efficient. The council’s chairperson, Kamogelo Mampane, says a new era of economic transformation and support for local production and services has been ushered in:
# Mpumalanga police say they cannot rule out the possibility that five suspects arrested in connection with the kidnapping a 14-year-old girl in Kriel, may have been involved in other kidnapping-related incidents. The suspects, including two women, allegedly kidnapped the teenager on Monday and called the girl’s mother soon afterward, threatening to kill her if police were alerted. Spokesperson Donald Mdhluli says two constables were deployed to assist in tracing the suspects:
# Vermont senator Bernie Sanders has condemned Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address before the US Congress today. His address comes amid fears of a growing regional war in the Middle East. Israel and Hamas have failed to agree on a ceasefire deal currently on the table. Sanders, who says he won’t be attending the address, has called Netanyahu a war criminal presiding over a right-wing extremist government:
# Olympics: The International Federation for Equestrian Sports has provisionally banned Britain’s joint-most decorated female Olympian, Charlotte Dujardin, for six months. This is over a video that emerged showing the dressage rider hitting a horse’s leg several times during a coaching session. The 39-year-old, who won six dressage Olympic medals in London, Rio, and Tokyo, has pulled out of the Paris Games. British Equestrian says the allegations made against Dujardin are serious and the consequences far-reaching, but upholding the integrity of the sport remains its priority.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-40-cents and the euro at 19-rand-96-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-898-dollars-33-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-417-dollars-6-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-17-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….