News 06:00

BULLETIN 25 May 6 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The SADC Foreign Ministers are committed to shielding member states
# Donald Trump says the US won’t rush into a peace deal with Iran
# And rugby: A late change for the Blitzboks as Ronald Brown is injured

# Southern African Development Community Foreign ministers have reaffirmed their commitment to collective action to strengthen regional integration and shield member states from escalating global geopolitical and economic disruptions. This follows the SADC Ministers of Foreign Affairs Retreat held at the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga over the weekend. In his closing remarks, minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, emphasised that ministers are also committed to enhancing policy coherence:

# The EFF has condemned the continued refusal by Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management to execute its constitutional responsibility to being accountable for the appointment and remuneration of the Secretary to Parliament,  Xolile George. During a recent meeting of the Committee, the party formally requested that the matter be placed on the agenda for discussion, including the request for a forensic investigation into the entire process and all related remuneration adjustments. The EFF says the Committee leadership and ANC members refused to do so.

# The minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, says government continues to strengthen its operations to combat organised poaching syndicates. South African authorities seized eight-thousand-686 units of shucked abalone with an estimated street value of approximately 1.6-million-rand in two separate incidents in Partridge Point in Simon’s Town and Grabouw. Three suspects were also arrested. Aucamp says South Africa enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy against poaching:

# The Gauteng Department of Education acknowledged the delays in the release of school subsidies which were expected to be deposited into the respective school accounts by 15 May. Spokesperson Onwabile Lubhelwana says the department will ensure that the disbursement of the funds will start next month. He says the funds cover essential operational expenses such as learning and teaching support materials, municipal services, maintenance, and administrative costs:

# US president Donald Trump says talks with Iran to reach a peace deal are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner. Reportedly, a deal would involve a 60-day ceasefire extension during which the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, Tehran could freely sell oil, and talks on limiting Iran’s nuclear programme would be held. Trump says he has instructed his representatives not to rush into a deal. He added that the naval blockade on Iran will remain in full force until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.

# Rugby: Springbok Sevens player, Ronald Brown, has been ruled out of the Sevens World Championship tournaments in Spain and France due to injury. Ricardo Duarttee, who was a member of the victorious squads in Cape Town and Perth, was called up to the travelling group that departed for Europe on Sunday. Blitzboks coach Philip Snyman had already recalled Gino Cupido and Dewald Human. South Africa won the first of three events in Hong Kong last month and is leading the standings that will determine the overall winner early next month.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-32-cents and the euro at 19-rand-1-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-1-cents and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-824-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-563-dollars-25-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 100-dollars-48-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….