News 06:00

BULLETIN 21 August 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Department of International Relations and Cooperation sets the record straight on the US Human Rights Report
# The Transport minister says the Prasa wage deal with Satawu and Untu is enforceable
# And Checkers tries out a new smart trolley that takes payments

# The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says South Africa’s foreign policy is guided by a commitment to a rules-based international system, based on a respect for human rights. The department has updated its initial statement in response to the US Human Rights Report. The report highlighted significant human rights issues, including unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, and the repression of racial minorities. The department’s spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, says all forms of crime are addressed regardless of race or location:

# KwaZulu-Natal Police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, says rising crime is worsened by limited staffing, currently around 19-thousand in KZN, despite population growth. Mkhwanazi links budget constraints and labor laws to fewer employees and urges alternative measures, like cameras and patrol vehicles, to maintain public safety. He calls on communities to hold officers accountable, emphasising discipline and performance, and warns that police are employed by the public, and not guaranteed lifelong positions:

# Transport minister Barbara Creecy says the wage deal the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa signed with its two biggest unions, Satawu and Untu, is enforceable. This comes as Prasa has refused to comply with a signed agreement of a 5.5-percent wage increase, citing financial constraints. The agreement comes into effect at the end of this month. Both unions have threatened legal action. Creecy told Business Day that the difficulty is that Prasa has an operating shortfall, so this matter may have to be settled by the courts.

# Israel approved a major settlement project in an area of the occupied West Bank that the international community has warned threatens the viability of a future Palestinian state. Israel has long had ambitions to build on the roughly 12-square-kilometre parcel known as E1 just east of Jerusalem, but the plan had been stalled for years amid international opposition. Critics say the settlement would effectively cut the West Bank in two, undermining hopes for a contiguous Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

# Cricket: Proteas off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen has been reported for a suspect bowling action in Tuesday’s first one-day match against Australia in Cairns and will miss the rest of the series. The International Cricket Council says the match officials’ report specified concerns about the legality of Subrayen’s action. The first match was Subrayen’s debut in the 50-over format, where he bowled ten overs and nabbed the wicket of Travis Head. Subrayen will undergo an independent assessment of his bowling action at an ICC-accredited testing facility.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-67-cents and the euro at 20-rand-59-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-79-cents and Bitcoin trades at 114-thousand-236-dollar. Gold sells at three-thousand-347-dollars-86-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-38-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Retail giant, Checkers, has unveiled a new smart trolley that allows shoppers to scan and pay for groceries directly from the cart, bypassing queues in traditional tills. The innovation, currently on trial, aims to cut waiting times and enhance convenience in stores. Customers can pay using cards or digital wallets through the trolley’s built-in system. Checkers says the move reflects its commitment to embracing technology and reshaping the shopping experience for South African consumers.

Stay tuned for more news………….