News 08:00

BULLETIN 23 June 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA criticises the Speaker’s decision not to oppose Ramaphosa’s interdict
# The IEC is encouraged by the surge in youth participation
# And, the US has temporarily lifted the sanctions on Iranian oil

# The DA has expressed concern at National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza’s decision not to oppose the urgent interdict application by president Cyril Ramaphosa to halt the work of the Impeachment Committee. Parliament says the speaker had carefully considered legal advice and the respective roles of the National Assembly and the Impeachment Committee before deciding not to oppose the application. The DA’s George Michalakis argues that the committee itself does have the legal standing to represent Parliament:

# The Electoral Commission says it’s encouraged by the strong participation of young people during the voter registration weekend. The IEC says youth aged between 16 and 29 made up a significant share of both new registrations and overall activity ahead of the local government elections in November. The commission’s CEO, Sy Mamabolo, told the media that young voters also dominated new registrations, representing 80-percent of first-time voters:

# ANC Electoral Committee chairperson and former president, Kgalema Motlanthe, has reportedly ordered the party’s Johannesburg Regional Executive Committee to reconvene a special meeting for the nomination of mayoral candidates. In a leaked letter, he has indicated that the previous processes for nominating mayoral candidates ahead of November’s local government elections were flawed and inconsistent with the party’s constitution. Motlanthe says mayoral candidate Loyiso Masuku was nominated by the executive committee, while in contrast, the two other candidates were nominated through a strange process that lacks transparency and fairness.

# The US Treasury Department has issued a 60-day waiver on the sale of Iranian oil. This is one of the conditions included in the memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran. The waiver authorises the production, sale and delivery of Iranian crude and petrochemicals until 21 August. It permits Iranian oil to be imported into the US, but does not authorise transactions involving North Korea, Cuba, or Russian-occupied Ukraine. US president Donald Trump says easing of Iran sanctions could boost American farm exports:

# Rugby: England captain Maro Itoje has been rested for the upcoming Nations Championship fixtures against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina. The 31-year-old led the British and Irish Lions to a series victory against Australia last year, then played in the November Tests and this year’s Six Nations campaigns, as well as mourning the death of his mother. He also breached World Rugby’s recommendation to play only 30 games per season in each of his past two campaigns. Hooker Jamie George will captain England in the absence of Itoje.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-43-cents and the euro at 18-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-74-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-906-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-141-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….