News 08:00

BULLETIN 3 November 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The government recognises the concerns about AGOA
# A Russian ⁠bomb attack on an aid centre in Ukraine kills 26 people
# And cricket: Australia’s Women will tour South Africa from March 24

# Government acknowledges the concern that the United States’ decision to revoke South Africa’s benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act will create uncertainty for workers, exporters, and businesses. The country is set to lose its duty-free market access next year after Washington determined that Pretoria’s policies are inconsistent with AGOA’s eligibility criteria. Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition Parks Tau says despite government making significant trade concessions and actively addressing America’s concerns, the US is now raising new issues. He says government will continue to diversify the country’s export markets.

Meanwhile, Solidarity asserts that the United States’ decision to remove South Africa from the AGOA programme stems directly from the government’s failure to repair deteriorating diplomatic relations with Washington. Consequently, South African goods will face higher tariffs from 2027. Solidarity’s Jaco Kleynhans says president Cyril Ramaphosa and minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola repeatedly ignored warnings:

# The Western Cape government and the City of Cape Town have welcomed commitments by taxi associations CATA and CODETA to help end violence in the minibus taxi industry. Violence, linked to disputed routes in Delft, Langa and Epping, claimed 12 lives last week, following a month-long escalation between the rival associations. Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku says both associations have agreed to take part in a process where independent facilitators will help them discuss and resolve issues affecting the minibus taxi industry:

# Twenty-six people have been killed after Russian forces bombed a school used as a humanitarian aid distribution centre in the village of Komyshuvakha in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region. Four police officers and two members of a rescue crew are among the dead. Five other people are reported to have been injured. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says this is yet another proof that Russia does not want any de-escalation. A day of mourning has been declared for today across the entire Zaporizhzhia region.

# Cricket: Australia’s women’s team will tour South Africa next year for three T20s, three one-day matches and a one-off Test. The dates have been moved after confirmation that the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy will take place in India from 14 to 28 February. The T20s will be played in Kimberley, Benoni and KuGompo City in March, followed by ODIs in Gqeberha, Paarl and Durban in April. The Test will start in KuGompo City on the 15th, when Buffalo Park will host its first-ever women’s Test.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-61-cents and the euro at 18-rand-57-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-25-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-822-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-936-dollars-28-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 108-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….