News 12:00

BULLETIN 21 July 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A Crime Intelligence officer surrenders to police
# Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis welcomes the port of Cape Town’s call for private sector partners
# And soccer: Spain is back at the top of the world rankings, while Norway reaches a new high

# Police Crime Intelligence officer Ismail Dawood has handed himself over at the Hillbrow police station in Johannesburg. He faces charges of alleged extortion involving more than 350-thousand-rand, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and intimidation. Dawood initially reported to the Sandton police station yesterday before being redirected. Investigators say a paperwork error caused the delay, and he was instructed to return today. Dawood insisted the matter is a family dispute. He is expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court today.

# Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has welcomed Transnet’s call for private sector partners to redevelop and operate a key multi-purpose terminal at the port of Cape Town. This will be done under a 25-year concession. This follows recent calls for private sector proposals to operate the liquid bulk terminal and cold storage terminal. Hill-Lewis says this is exactly the major reform they have long been calling for:

# The Gauteng Traffic Department has urged learner and public transport operators to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy as schools reopened for the third term today. Spokesperson Sello Maremane says enforcement operations will focus on vehicle fitness, valid operating licences, professional driving permits, overloading, speeding, and reckless driving. He encourages parents to use only registered learner transport services and avoid overloaded or unsafe vehicles:

# Canadian prime minister Mark Carney says his government stands ready to intensify trade talks with the US in the coming weeks. President Donald Trump has imposed a 50-percent tariff on a wide range of goods imported from Canada, in retaliation for what he calls unequal treatment of American cars, alcohol and dairy products. Carney says Canada believes in the benefits of free and fair trade. He adds they will engage intensively to address outstanding issues with the US to the mutual benefit of citizens.

# Soccer: Spain has reclaimed the top spot in the world rankings after beating Argentina 1-0 to win the World Cup. Argentina slipped to second place while France, beaten by England in the third-place play-off, is third. England and Brazil round up the top five. Morocco is the highest-ranked African nation in sixth place, while South Africa has moved up six places to 54th. The biggest climber in the rankings is Norway, moving 12 places to 19th after reaching the quarterfinals for the first time.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-43-cents and the euro at 18-rand-77-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-9-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-246-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-63-dollars-19-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 86-dollars-59-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….