News 11:00

BULLETIN 12 May 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says South Africa must play a leading role in Africa’s economic integration
# Five murder suspects are killed in a shootout with police in KwaZulu-Natal
# And the UN chief hopes the Indian-Pakistani ceasefire will bring lasting peace

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa’s participation in the Africa CEO Forum in the Ivory Coast underscores the country’s commitment to play a leading role in the continent’s economic integration. He is attending the forum today and tomorrow, which brings together nearly three-thousand CEOs, heads of state, and investors. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa says the upheavals in the global economy present an opportunity for strategic, Africa-focused trade and investment policy. He adds that South African businesses must be at the forefront of the transformation of African industry. 

# ActionSA says it has asked Mineral and Petroleum Resources minister, Gwede Mantashe, to renew its appeal for the retrieval of the remains of the three Lily Mine workers in Mpumalanga. This year marks exactly nine years since Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi, and Solomon Nyirenda were trapped in a container underground at the mine in Barberton when the site collapsed. ActionSA’s leader, Herman Mashaba, says Mantashe must provide information on his department’s plan to retrieve the remains:

# Five suspects linked to the murders of two police members and a couple were killed in a shootout with police in Mophela near Hammarsdale, west of Durban. Police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda says they gathered intelligence about the suspects who were driving on the Mophela main road. He says they ignored police instructions to stop and subsequently started shooting at the police:

# United Nations secretary general, António Guterres, says he hopes the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan will contribute to lasting peace. A ceasefire was agreed over the weekend after days of escalating clashes that culminated in both sides launching missile strikes on each other’s major military bases. Guterres says the ceasefire will hopefully foster an environment conducive to addressing broader, longstanding issues between the two neighbouring countries. He adds the UN stands ready to support efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region.

# Tennis: Four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz continued his bid for a first Italian Open title with a straight sets victory over Serbia’s Laslo Djere to reach the last 16. The Spaniard’s next opponent is Russia’s Karen Khachanov, who thrashed home favourite Francesco Passaro, 6-3, 6-love. Defending champion Alexander Zverev of Germany eased passed Lithuanian qualifier Vilius Gaubas. In the women’s draw, world number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, American Coco Gauff, and Russian Mirra Andreeva are through to the last 16.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-12-cents and the euro at 20-rand-27-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-4-cents and Bitcoin trades at 105-thousand-416-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-248-dollars-40-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-73-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….