News 13:00

BULLETIN 23 April 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Inflation drops to 2.7-percent in March, the first decline in five months
# Ukraine’s allies are meeting in London today
# And athletics: A 17-year-old Australian sprint sensation will make his World Championships debut

# South Africa’s consumer inflation eased to 2.7-percent last month, marking the first decline in five months. Statistics South Africa says the annual change in the consumer price index fell from three-percent in February, reaching its lowest level since June 2020. Stats SA’s Patrick Kelly says the main contributors to the slowdown were lower food prices and a moderation in fuel costs:

# The Northern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works says disaster management teams remain on high alert across the province as heavy rains continue. The South African Weather Service issued a Level 4 impact based warning for disruptive rain for today and tomorrow. The department’s spokesperson, Zandisile Luphahla, says due to continuous rainfall in Springbok and surrounding areas, water levels in streams and rivers have risen significantly:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa is hosting Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at the Union Buildings in Pretoria tomorrow during the first official visit by a Ukrainian president to South Africa. The Presidency says the visit will provide an opportunity for the two countries to discuss bilateral relations and expand bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, agriculture and education. It adds that areas of cooperation will be explored to support efforts to bring lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s allies are meeting in London today, as the United States pushes for a ceasefire more than three years into the Russian invasion. There has been a flurry of diplomatic manoeuvering since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, as European leaders scramble to work out how they can support Ukraine should Trump pull Washington’s backing. Today’s talks come after Russia resumed its aerial attacks following a brief Easter truce.

# Athletics: Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout is set to make his senior international debut at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. The 17-year-old, who has been compared with Jamaican great Usain Bolt, has been included in Australia’s team for the Championships. The Queenslander will run in the 200 metres, after clocking 19.84-seconds in Perth this month to win his first national title. Gout says he is looking forward to seeing what he can do in Tokyo against the best of the best.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-51-cents and the euro at 21-rand-15-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-67-cents and Bitcoin trades at 94-thousand-300-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-334-dollars-70-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-61-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….