News 08:00

BULLETIN 3 July 9am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Biden congratulates president Ramaphosa on his re-election and the forming of a government of national unity
# Sibanye-Stillwater reduces its workforce by two-thousand in the latest restructuring
# And, over 100 people are killed in a crowd crush at a religious event in India

# US president Joe Biden has congratulated president Cyril Ramaphosa on his re-election and the successful formation of the government of national unity. The two leaders had a telephone conversation on Tuesday evening. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says Biden has pledged that America will work closely with the seventh administration government on key areas such as economic growth, job creation, social development and climate change:

# The National Union of Mineworkers believes that the success of any form of government must be premised on patriotism. This follows the announcement on Sunday of a new cabinet under the government of national unity by president Cyril Ramaphosa. NUM’s spokesperson, Luphert Chilwane, says they are looking forward to a government that provides certainty and stability by creating jobs and food security:

# Mining company Sibanye-Stillwater says ongoing restructuring has ensured operational sustainability and profitability while minimising forced retrenchments. According to News24, the latest round of restructuring has resulted in two-thousand job cuts in its gold operations, including voluntary separations and transfers, reducing the South African workforce by 14-percent since early last year. Consultations with stakeholders have significantly limited forced retrenchments to just eight-percent of affected employees, affirming the company’s commitment to sustainable operational practices amid economic challenges.

# At least 116 people, most of them women and children, have been killed in a crush at a Hindu religious gathering in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Local officials have suggested that overcrowding was the cause of the accident. According to reports, organisers had a permit for five-thousand people to attend the event, which was held in a tent, but it drew a crowd of over 15-thousand. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi says the victims’ families will be compensated. A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the incident.

# Tennis: Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic eased into the second round of Wimbledon by beating Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. This was the Serb’s first match since undergoing knee surgery. Russian Andrey Rublev became the highest seed to fall in the men’s singles, losing, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 to Argentine Francisco Comesana. Germany’s Alexander Zverev and Denmark’s Holger Rune are also through to the second round. Djokovic says he is happy with how he played:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-59-cents and the euro at 19-rand-98-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-59-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-958-dollars-70-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-330-dollars a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 86-dollars-69-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….