News 08:00

BULLETIN 9 December 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Godongwana says there is no diplomatic problem with the US
# A vehicle linked to the murder of Marius van der Merwe was found in Alexandra
# And a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of northern Japan

# Finance minister Enoch Godongwana, there is no diplomatic problem with the US, as South Africa is in the process of appointing an ambassador to America. President Donald Trump’s administration has imposed 30-percent tariffs on all South African imports to the US, halted all funding and aid to the country, and introduced Congressional Bills and other measures calling for a review of bilateral ties. Trump has also accused the country of genocide against Afrikaners. Godongwana says the focus is on the trade negotiations with the US, which are going well.

# National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has confirmed that police have located one of the two vehicles used in the murder of Madlanga Commission witness Marius van der Merwe. He was gunned down outside his Brakpan home on Friday. Masemola, who briefed the Van der Merwe family on progress in the case last night, stated that a white Chevrolet bakkie abandoned in Alexandra fits the description of the vehicle seen on CCTV footage on the night of the murder:

# The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa will stage a picket outside the Industrial Development Corporation offices in Pretoria today. This is to demand urgent intervention in the ongoing crisis at SA Steel Mills and to address pressing issues at ArcelorMittal South Africa. Numsa’s spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, says they are deeply concerned that the IDC-appointed Business Rescue Practitioners are biased in favour of Alfeco, a bidder whose track record shows collapsed production and deteriorated labour relations:

# A 7.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s northeastern coast on Monday, triggering evacuation orders and a tsunami warning, which has now been lifted. The earthquake was detected off the regions of Aomori and Hokkaido, with about 900-thousand people evacuated. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency says 23 people have been injured, including one seriously, with most hurt by falling objects. Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, says her government is working closely with local officials to assess the damage and put in place emergency response measures.

# Soccer: Liverpool manager Arne Slot has denied that the situation with forward Mohamed Salah has undermined his authority. In a bombshell interview on Saturday, the Egyptian claimed he was thrown under the bus by the club, and his relationship with Slot had broken down. The manager has benched Salah for Liverpool’s past three games, and he has not been included in the squad for the Champions League game against Inter Milan today. Slot says he was surprised by Salah’s comments:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-3-cents and the euro at 19-rand-84-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-70-cents and Bitcoin trades at 90-thousand-048-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-195-dollars-9-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-17-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….