News 11:00

BULLETIN 11 April 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC will meet with the DA and the FF Plus this weekend to iron out differences
# Numsa tables their wage hike demands for the motor sector
# And French president Macron describes the US tariff pause as fragile

# ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says they will meet with the DA and the Freedom Front Plus this weekend to iron out their differences in the government of national unity. This comes after the DA and the FF Plus voted against the budget fiscal framework last week, which includes a proposed VAT hike. Mbalula says discussions they have had with parties in and outside the coalition government over the budget impasse have been constructive:

Meanwhile, an IFP delegation led by party president Velenkosini Hlabisa met with the ANC yesterday to discuss critical national matters, particularly the ongoing budget impasse within the government of national unity. The IFP’s national spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, says they emphasised that the budget is fundamentally pro-poor, and robust social safety nets to protect vulnerable families must be incorporated:

# Metalworkers union Numsa has kicked off wage talks in the motor sector, demanding a ten-percent increase across the board. The union says many workers, especially black employees, are earning too little to keep up with rising costs. They’re also asking for transport and night shift allowances, medical aid, and support during short-time work. Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola believes inflation-based increases are not enough and wants urgent action to improve workers’ conditions:

# French president Emmanuel Macron says the partial suspension of US tariffs for 90 days means uncertainty for European businesses, who are still subject to 25-percent tariffs on steel, aluminium and cars. Financial markets were given a brief reprieve on Wednesday when US president Donald Trump decided to pause duties on dozens of countries to allow for negotiations. Macron describes the pause as fragile, saying Europe must continue to work on all the necessary countermeasures and mobilise all the levers available to protect itself.

# Tennis: Three-time champion Stefanos Tsitsipas is through to the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters. The Greek brushed past Portugal’s Nuno Borges to clinch his 50th clay-court ATP Masters One-thousand victory. Second seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain defeated German qualifier Daniel Altmaier. Awaiting Alcaraz in the quarterfinals is France’s Arthur Fils, who knocked out former champion Andrey Rublev of Russia. Britain’s Jack Draper suffered a three-sets defeat to Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-35-cents and the euro at 21-rand-91-cents. One British pound costs 25-rand-22-cents and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-10-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-211-dollars-24-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-59-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….