News 08:00

BULLETIN 15 April 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The IMF cuts South Africa’s growth outlook amid the Middle East conflict
# The EFF says the firearm case against Malema is an attempt to destroy the party
# And, Israel and Lebanon have agreed to hold further negotiations

# The International Monetary Fund has cut South Africa’s projected gross domestic product growth for this year to just one-percent, citing the conflict in the Middle East. Before the outbreak of the conflict, the IMF’s forecast for the country was 1.4-percent. South Africa relies heavily on fuel imports, including from countries unable to trade as a result of the ongoing disruption to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The projected growth for the country is the lowest among emerging markets and developing economies.

# The EFF says the case against leader, Julius Malema, is an attempt to destroy the party, emphasising that courts should not be used as tools to fight political battles. He was found guilty last year for the unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a firearm in a public area. This stems from a 2018 incident at a party rally in Mdantsane. Sentencing proceedings will begin in the East London Magistrate’s Court today. EFF secretary general, Marshall Dlamini, says there is no case against Malema:

# The City of Johannesburg’s Transport Department has lifted the suspension of Rea Vaya Phase 1B buses with immediate effect. This is after reaching an agreement with the bus operating company yesterday evening. Commuters on the Soweto, Parktown, and Braamfontein routes were left scrambling for alternative transport, following a delay in payments to the bus operating company due to the metro’s budget adjustment process. The metro says the intention was not to leave commuters stranded, but to find an appropriate solution for bus operations to resume without interruptions.

# Israel and Lebanon have agreed to hold further direct negotiations. This comes after the two countries held their first diplomatic talks in over three decades yesterday, which was mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an attempt to end the fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Over two-thousand people have been killed since Israeli military operations in Lebanon began on March 2nd. Israeli Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, declares Lebanon and Israel are on the same page:

# Soccer: Banyana Banyana defeated Algeria 1-0 in an international friendly match in Durban. The only goal came from Nthabiseng Majiya, who found the back of the net in the 35th minute. This was the first of two friendly fixtures between the two countries, who are ramping up preparations for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in July. Banyana Banyana coach, Desree Ellis, says she is happy with the result, but they can still improve on the performance:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-34-cents and the euro at 19-rand-26-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-16-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 74-thousand-273-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-826-dollars-46-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 92-dollars-16-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….