News 09:00

BULLETIN 27 June 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa reiterates its optimism on the extension of AGOA
# The Christian Forum calls for action against forced initiation school attendance
# And Cycling: The Tour de France favourite Tadej Pogačar warns his rivals

# The Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition expressed optimism that the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act will be extended beyond its September 2025 expiry date. Speaking at a Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies discussion, chief director Malose Letsoalo noted bipartisan support in the US Congress, which could extend the scheme until 2041. He says that the preferential trade arrangement supports crucial exports in agriculture and manufacturing, contributing to substantial job creation and economic stability in the region.

# The Azanian People’s Organisation has condemned the inordinate delay of the announcement of the seventh administration cabinet which it claims is tantamount to holding the voters and the nation at ransom. AZAPO’s spokesperson, Jabu Rakwena says in terms of Section 94 of the Constitution the cabinet of the sixth administration ceases to exist upon swearing in of the new president:

# The South African National Christian Forum condemns the abduction of young men to initiation schools against their will and their parent’s wishes, calling it a serious human rights violation. They urge the CRL Commission and Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa to address this issue, which is threatening the lives and beliefs of young people. The forum’s president Marothi Mashashane threatens legal action if this practice continues unchecked:

# The philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates says artificial intelligence will accelerate innovation and make it easier to combat climate change. But, in an interview with Sky News, he also warned it must be used by people with good intent.  He said the role of artificial intelligence had been modest so far in helping to combat climate change, but it was going to make innovation easier. Referring to climate change Gates said AI will make the modelling of fusion energy so much easier.  

# Cycling: Two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar [Ta-day Po-gha-char] issued a warning to his rivals saying he has never felt this good.  The Slovenian hopes to become the first cyclist since the great Marco Pantani in 1998 to win both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France in the same season. The Tour starts on Saturday in Florence and Pogacar hopes to add another victory to his 2020 and 2021 Tour triumphs. The 25-year-old was runner-up to Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard the past two years.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-13-cents and the euro at 19-rand-39-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-46-dollars-64-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-299-dollars-73-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-24-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….