News 12:00

BULLETIN 15 August 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa’s June retail sales outperform predictions
# Columbia University’s president resigns following student protests over the Israel-Gaza war
# And rugby: The All Blacks make four changes to their starting team for the second clash against the Pumas

# According to Statistics South Africa, retail sales surged by 4.1-percent year-on-year in June, surpassing forecasts and signalling improved consumer confidence. This increase follows a 1.1-percent rise in May and supports positive gross domestic product growth. With inflation easing to 5.1-percent, the Reserve Bank is anticipated to cut interest rates in September, offering potential relief to consumers. Stats SA’s Raquel Floris says the growth is driven by lower fuel prices and stronger sales in supermarkets: 

# The Presidency has assured members of Parliament that the board for the holding company for state-owned enterprises will be led by qualified individuals. The establishment of the company follows the dissolution of the Public Enterprises Department, which was responsible for five SOEs in its portfolio. Government says the members appointed to the company will be on merit to address concerns about cadre deployment. MPs in the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee have questioned the objective of forming a major state-owned holding company to control all SOEs.

# Columbia University’s president, Minouche Shafik, has resigned following months of criticism of her handling of student demonstrations over the Israel-Hamas war. Columbia was widely seen as the centre of the student-led pro-Palestinian protests, sparking a widespread movement of demonstrations at universities across the US and abroad. Shafik says it has been a period of turmoil where it has been difficult to overcome divergent views across the university. She is now the third president of an Ivy League university to resign over the Gaza war protests.

# Rugby: All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has made four changes to the starting side to face Argentina in the second Test at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday. He has responded to the upset 38-30 loss to the Pumas last weekend by changing three backs and one forward. Will Jordan, Caleb Clarke, Rieko Ioane and Tamaiti Williams are in the starting line-up while Sam Cane has been recalled to the bench. Robertson says they need to cut down on errors:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-1-cents and the euro at 19-rand-93-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-14-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-133-dollars-98-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-455-dollars-33-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-93-cents a barrel.

# And finally, therapy dogs at Johannesburg’s Netcare Olivedale Hospital are transforming cancer patients’ treatment experiences with their comforting presence. As part of the TOP Dogs programme, these specially trained canines visit the hospital monthly to bring joy, reduce stress, and boost the morale of patients. Netcare’s Cancer Care quality manager doctor Julie Herold says the interaction with the dogs gives patients some sense of normality, and loads of selfless love and affection when coming for their radiotherapy treatment.

Stay tuned for more news………….