News 11:00

BULLETIN 29 January 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Motsoaledi is concerned by the freezing of US funding for HIV/Aids programmes
# Two people have been arrested following the torching of 51 Putco buses in Mpumalanga
# And golf, Scottie Scheffler is excited for his return to the PGA Tour

# Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi says he will meet with Finance minister Enoch Godongwana soon over the US freezing funds to the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, also known as PEPFAR. The pause is pending a review of whether funding aligns with president Donald Trump’s foreign policy. PEPFAR contributes 17-percent to South Africa’s 44.4-billion-rand budget to tackle HIV/Aids. Motsoaledi says his department has started collecting data on the institutions that will be affected:

Meanwhile the DA is calling on the US government to urgently restore the funding. PEPFAR is currently providing lifesaving HIV treatment for 20.6-million people globally, including 566-thousand children. The DA says the US government must recognise that every dollar spent on global health initiatives, such as PEPFAR, directly strengthens international security, and bolsters America’s global influence.

# Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the torching of 51 Putco buses in Nkangala District, Mpumalanga, on Monday evening. An unknown group of people ambushed two security personnel at the Moloto depot and set buses on fire. One security guard was shot in the leg, and another was struck in the head with a chair. Police spokesperson, Donald Mdhluli, says more arrests are expected:

# At least 12 people have been killed in a crowd crush at India’s Kumbh Mela festival in Prayagraj, the world’s largest religious gathering. People died as tens of millions of people flocked to immerse themselves in the sacred confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers. Devotees believe that bathing in the river will cleanse their sins. Officials say nearly 200-million people have bathed in the river since the beginning of the festival on January 13th. Opposition leaders have criticised the government and alleged that mismanagement has led to this tragedy.

# Golf: World number one Scottie Scheffler says he is excited to return to action, as it has been frustrating not being able to play. The American injured his right hand while helping to prepare Christmas Day dinner and required surgery. He and Rory McIlroy make their first PGA Tour appearances of the year this week, as part of a star-studded field at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California. Scheffler says he loves the Pebble Beach golf course:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-66-cents and the euro at 19-rand-47-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-23-cents and Bitcoin trades at 102-thousand-572-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-758-dollars-44-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-35-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….