News 18:00

BULLETIN 8 July 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Deputy minister Godlimpi reiterates South Africa’s plans to reset on the US trade relations
# Five Israeli soldiers are killed in the Gaza Strip
# And cricket: The Proteas beat Zimbabwe by an innings for a 2-0 whitewash in the Test series

# Deputy Trade minister Zuko Godlimpi has reiterated that South Africa is engaging the US to reset trade ties following reciprocal tariff disputes. Speaking to SABC News, he emphasised continued dialogue with US counterparts despite executive orders and tariff threats. Godlimpi believes a fair determination will be reached collectively once that template has been provided. He says SA wants rational outcomes, mutual respect for sovereignty, and global trade cooperation:

Trade union Solidarity has meanwhile urged president Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene urgently to prevent major job losses following the American decision to impose a 30-percent tariff on South African exports from next month. The union states government inaction risks collapsing key exports and potentially losing African Growth and Opportunity Act benefits. Solidarity’s Theuns du Buisson blames political arrogance and failure to prioritise trade relations with the US:

# Agri SA has welcomed the lifting of livestock movement restrictions in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape after the successful containment of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks. The Department of Agriculture confirmed over 144-thousand animals were vaccinated, and milk from quarantined farms may now be sold after single pasteurisation. While 76 farms in the Eastern Cape remain under quarantine, Agri SA urges continued biosecurity vigilance to protect the economy, livestock industry, and national food security.

Moving abroad:

# Five Israeli soldiers were killed in combat in the Gaza Strip, in one of the deadliest days for Israeli forces in the Palestinian territory this year. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu lamented a difficult morning as he visited Washington for talks with US president Donald Trump, who is pressing for a ceasefire in the more than 21-month-long war. The Israeli military said the five soldiers, aged between 20 and 28, died and two others were severely wounded. Israeli military correspondents reported the deaths occurred when improvised explosive devices detonated.

# Cricket: The Proteas completed a 2-0 whitewash in the Test series against Zimbabwe by winning the second encounter in Bulawayo by an innings and 236 runs. The visitors posted a mammoth 626 for five in their first innings, powered on by stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder’s undefeated 367, and then skittled the hosts out for 170. In Zimbabwe’s follow-on innings, Nick Welch top-scored with 55 runs. The end-batters frustrated the Protea bowlers for some time, but the last wicket finally fell with 220 on the board.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-85-cents and the euro at 20-rand-85-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-14-cents and Bitcoin trades at 108-thousand-442-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-303-dollars-35-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….