News 08:00

BULLETIN 20 November 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The US warns South Africa about issuing a G20 declaration
# Minister Creecy says temporary air restrictions will apply during the Leaders’ Summit
# And tennis: Italy is through to its fourth consecutive Davis Cup semifinals

# The US has written to the South African government, warning against making a G20 declaration without its presence at the Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg this weekend. This comes as America is boycotting the summit. The US says it will block any outcome framed as a consensus G20 position because South Africa’s priorities run counter to US policy views. SA G20 Sous-Sherpa, ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo, told the SABC that securing a declaration is a priority for South Africa:

Meanwhile, the minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, says temporary air restrictions will apply during the G20 Leaders’ Summit on Saturday and Sunday, to ensure secure operations without any disruption to commercial flights. This is in collaboration with Airports Company South Africa and Air Traffic and Navigation Services, which have executed a comprehensive readiness process to ensure seamless air traffic flow. Creecy says systems at airports nationwide have been reviewed, assessed, and reinforced for operational resilience:

# Saai warns that South Africa’s regulatory office has failed for over a decade, with registration delays exceeding six years, blocking essential fertilisers, remedies, and vaccines. The organisation’s Francois Rossouw says this threatens farmers’ livelihoods, animal health, and food security. Rossouw says Saai demands a detailed report on past reforms, a time-bound plan to clear backlogs, and immediate steps to stabilise and modernise the system:

# The US and Russia have reportedly prepared a new 28-point peace plan, containing major concessions from Ukraine. According to an Axios report, the proposal would require Ukraine to cede territory it controls in the east of the country and halve the size of its military, conditions that the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has in the past refused to accept. This comes as US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to meet Zelensky today to discuss efforts to end the war.

# Tennis: Two-time defending champions Italy have booked their fourth consecutive semifinal berth at the Davis Cup Finals, after beating Austria in Bologna. Matteo Berrettini got Italy off to a winning start by defeating the 177th-ranked Jurij Rodionov 6-3, 7-6. Flavio Cobolli followed his compatriot with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Austrian number one Filip Misolic. Italy, which aims to become the first nation to win three consecutive titles in 53 years, will face Belgium in the semifinals on Friday. Today, Argentina faces Germany, and Spain takes on the Czech Republic 

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-19-cents and the euro at 19-rand-80-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-43-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-378-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-74-dollars-50-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-23-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….