News 11:00

BULLETIN 8 July 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa wants a mutually beneficial trade relationship with the US
# Minister Motsoaledi slams the racial bias in medical schemes
# And Netanyahu nominates Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the 30-percent reciprocal tariff imposed by the US on South African exports is not an accurate representation of available trade data. He says 56-percent of goods enter South Africa at zero-percent most favoured nation tariff, with 77-percent of US goods entering the country’s market under the zero-percent duty. The president has welcomed the commitment by the US government that tariffs are subject to modification. Ramaphosa says South Africa will continue with its diplomatic efforts towards a more balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship with America.

# Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana is confident that the National Treasury’s budget vote will be supported in Parliament today. The budget will outline the department’s achievements and progress, as well as the annual service delivery commitments reflected in the Annual Performance Plan. Godongwana told Newzroom Afrika he is more focused on the key vote on the Appropriations Bill on the 23rd of this month:

# Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi says there is no place for discrimination in the healthcare sector. This follows a Section 59 report by Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, confirming racial bias by medical schemes like Discovery and the Government Employees Medical Scheme against black healthcare providers. The Board of Healthcare Funders condemned the report as flawed and unscientific. The report, based on a 2019 complaint, revealed unfair fraud investigations. The minister called the findings shameful, urging urgent reform after 30 years of democracy:

# Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has nominated US president Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. The two leaders met in Washington yesterday for the first time since the US launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear programme. Netanyahu has commended Trump’s efforts to end conflicts in the Middle East, saying he fully deserves the prize. Last month, Pakistan said it would recommend Trump for the prize for his work in helping to resolve its recent conflict with India.

# Cricket: England coach Brendon McCullum says fast bowler Jofra Archer is available for selection for the third Test against India at Lord’s, starting on Thursday. The 30-year-old has not played a Test match since February 2021 due to a series of elbow and lower back injuries. India levelled the series one-all at Edgbaston last week, defeating the hosts by 336 runs. McCullum says everyone knows what Archer is capable of achieving, adding that he hopes the fast bowler can recapture his form.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-74-cents and the euro at 20-rand-86-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-19-cents and Bitcoin trades at 108-thousand-231-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-337-dollars-24-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 68-dollars-99-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….