News 12:00

BULLETIN 19 August 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# TLU SA welcomes the strong performance of agricultural exports to the US
# The Gauteng National Taxi Alliance distances itself from the Maponya Mall killing
# And cricket: Kagiso Rabada is ruled out of the ODI series against Australia

# Agricultural organisation TLU SA has welcomed the surge in South Africa’s agricultural exports to the US. New data released by the Agricultural Business Chamber shows agricultural exports to the US surged by 26-percent in the second quarter of this year, compared to the same period a year ago. The products leading this charge include citrus, grapes, nuts and wine. TLU SA’s Bennie Van Zyl says the recent imposition of a 30-percent tariff on the country’s exports by America is concerning:

# The National Taxi Alliance in Gauteng has distanced itself from reports claiming that taxi operators are behind the brutal attacks on e-hailing drivers in Soweto. Last week, e-hailing driver Mthokozisi Mvelase was killed and his car burnt, allegedly by taxi operators, while stationed at a pickup point at the Maponya Mall in Soweto. A passenger and another driver narrowly survived the ordeal. Gauteng NTA spokesperson, Theo Malele, says the taxi industry is committed to peace:

Moving abroad:

# French president Emmanuel Macron says a ceasefire is a necessary condition for negotiations to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. US president Donald Trump stated earlier that a ceasefire in Ukraine is not necessary, because a peace deal could be worked out while the war is ongoing. Trump met with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders at the White House yesterday. Macron says America’s commitment to developing security guarantees for Ukraine is the most significant outcome:

# Cricket: Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of the three-match one-day series against Australia through injury. The 30-year-old underwent scans yesterday which revealed he has inflammation in his right ankle. He will remain in Australia and undergo rehabilitation under the supervision of the team’s medical staff. Australian captain, Mitch Marsh, won the toss and chose to bowl first in the first ODI currently underway in Cairns. Dewald Brevis is making his ODI debut for the Proteas, who scored 296 for eight.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-64-cents and the euro at 20-rand-60-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-85-cents and Bitcoin trades at 115-thousand-72-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-339-dollars-1-cent a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-68-cents a barrel. 

# And finally: Spain has deployed another 500 soldiers to battle wildfires that have spread across parts of the country in scorching conditions, taking the total to one-thousand-900. A part of the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route was closed yesterday as the fire spread to the southern slopes of the Picos de Europa mountain range. Two water-dumping planes from the Netherlands are deploying and are expected to join aircraft from France and Italy already helping Spanish authorities. Firefighters from other countries are also set to arrive in the coming days.

Stay tuned for more news………….