News 12:00

BULLETIN 27 March 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Donald Trump confirms Brent Bozell as the new US ambassador to South Africa
# Taiwan’s office relocation to Johannesburg is delayed amid budget constraints
# And golf: Rory McIlroy went on a scouting mission to Augusta National

# US president Donald Trump has appointed Brent Bozell to succeed Reuben Brigety as ambassador to South Africa. Bozell is a staunch media critic and founded the Media Research Centre, that critiques perceived liberal media bias. Trump says Bozell brings fearless tenacity, extraordinary experience, and vast knowledge to a nation that desperately needs it. His appointment comes amid strained relations between the two countries over issues such as former ambassador Ebrahim Rasool’s expulsion from the US, and South Africa’s expropriation policies.

Meanwhile, South Africa has renamed Taiwan’s Pretoria office from Taipei Liaison Office to Taipei Commercial Office. This aligns with its One China Policy, which recognises the People’s Republic of China as the sole representative of China. Government ordered Taiwan to move its office from Pretoria to Johannesburg to reflect this stance. Initially set for this month, the move continues to face delays due to budget constraints. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says discussions continue, focusing on trade rather than diplomacy, while Taiwan has requested further talks on logistics.

# Labour lawyer, Michael Bagraim, says government has failed to protect the country’s steel industry. ArcelorMittal South Africa is planning to wind down its long steel plants in Vereeniging, Gauteng, and Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal, affecting over three-thousand jobs, but government is looking at funding options to save the plants. Bagraim says government has for years ignored warnings about a crisis in the steel industry:

# Golf: Four-time major champion, Rory McIlroy, visited Augusta National in Georgia earlier this week as part of preparations for the Masters, the only major title he needs to complete a career Grand Slam. The Northern Irishman and world number one American Scottie Scheffler are among the favourites to win the Masters, which tees off on the 10th of April. McIlroy, who is playing at this week’s Houston Open, says his scouting trip to Augusta was to refamiliarise himself with the place:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-24-cents and the euro at 19-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-55-cents and Bitcoin trades at 87-thousand-466-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-and-36-dollars-15-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-88-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Today is World Theatre Day, a celebration of the power of storytelling on stage, uniting cultures and voices. The theme is Theatre and a Culture of Peace. World Theatre Day was established in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute. The day was created as a way to promote the importance of theatre as an art form, and to celebrate the significant role it plays in cultural exchange, education, and society. This day is also used to highlight the challenges faced in the arts, including limited funding.

Stay tuned for more news………….