News 09:00

BULLETIN 8 August 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa is hopeful that the Trump-Putin meeting will lead to peace negotiations
# The GOOD Party says the national dialogue must confront the youth unemployment crisis
# And tennis: The defending champion Jannik Sinner is through to the Cincinnati Open semifinals

# The Presidency says president Cyril Ramaphosa is hopeful that the meeting between his US and Russian counterparts, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, will set off a process that will lead to peace negotiations. Trump and Putin will meet in Alaska today to bring the war in Ukraine to an end. Presidency spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says South Africa remains involved in efforts to bring about peace in Ukraine:

# The GOOD Party says it will join the national dialogue to confront South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis, a ticking time bomb for social stability. The first convention of the national dialogue will be held in Pretoria today and tomorrow. GOOD Party’s Youth chairperson, Kaden Arguile, says the cost of ignoring youth unemployment will be far greater than the cost of investing in their future:

# Build One South Africa is calling on the Department of Transport to urgently finalise long-overdue regulations for the e-hailing industry, as well as to tighten and modernise the regulation of the minibus taxi industry. A shooting incident on Wednesday night claimed the life of an e-hailing driver and the torching of two vehicles at the Maponya Mall in Pimville, Soweto. BOSA Gauteng provincial legislature member, Ayanda Allie, says both sectors must operate under clear, enforceable rules that prioritise commuter safety:

# The Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy’s Baseline Agricultural Outlook 2025 to 2034 has revealed that South Africa’s agricultural sector outperformed the wider economy over the past two decades. According to the Bureau’s director, Tracy Davids, this is driven largely by high-value, export-led commodities. Davids says stagnant domestic incomes make exports vital despite global risks. The sector is projected to grow 5.5-percent in 2025, boosted by strong crop yields, technology investment, and favourable weather. She warns that long-term growth prospects remain subdued.

# Tennis: Defending champion Jannik Sinner cruised into the Cincinnati Open semifinals with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Italian will face French qualifier Terence Atmane, who defeated Dane Holger Rune, 6-2, 6-3, to reach his maiden ATP Masters 1000 semifinal. In the women’s draw, American Coco Gauff has set up a quarterfinal clash with Italian Jasmine Paolini, after beating Lucia Bronzetti of Italy, 6-2, 6-4. Paolini eased past Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-2.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-57-cents and the euro at 20-rand-49-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-80-cents and Bitcoin trades at 119-thousand-308-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-344-dollars-78-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-30-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….