News 14:00

BULLETIN 7 May 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Police condemns acquittal of Mashatile’s VIP protectors by police
# Asian markets rise before talks between US and China on tariffs
# And soccer: Ronaldo’s teenage son is chosen for Portugal’s under 15s

# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Police has slammed the police management’s decision to clear charges on eight VIP bodyguards of deputy president Paul Mashatile’s relating to the 2023 N1 highway assault in Gauteng. The officials, who are still facing 12 criminal charges including assault, are out on ten-thousand-rand bail each. Committee chairperson Ian Cameron told Newzroom Afrika the decision is a final insult to victims, and a systemic failure:

# Build One South Africa has urged president Cyril Ramaphosa to consider its Growth Charter as he launches Phase Two of Operation Vulindlela today. The charter proposes practical solutions for five-percent economic growth, focusing on energy, transport, agriculture, and ethical governance. BOSA spokesperson Roger Solomons says the party has called for bold, measurable reforms and on cabinet to adopt its urgent reform proposals:

# The Moral Regeneration Movement has condemned the alleged strip searches of women miners at Kopanong Gold Mine near Klerksdorp. The organisation has labelled them as dehumanising and racist. MRM’s North West convenor, Pastor Lesiba Kgwele, urged authorities to investigate and hold those responsible accountable. He criticised outdated security practices and called for modern, respectful search methods. The National Union of Mineworkers is pursuing legal action against the mine over these allegations.

# Asian shares rose today after China and the United States said they would hold trade talks at the weekend, fanning optimism that the superpowers can row back high tariffs. Beijing’s moves to ease some key monetary policy tools to kickstart the world’s number two economy boosted hope among investors who have been left punch drunk by US president Donald Trump’s explosive first few months in power. Washington has been in talks with numerous countries to avoid Trump’s sweeping levies, with Japan and South Korea among the first in the queue.

# Soccer: Portuguese great Cristiano Ronaldo’s teenage son has a chance of representing his country’s under 15 squad for the first time. Fourteen-year-old Cristiano dos Santos also plays for his father’s club, Al-Nassr, in Saudi Arabia after spells with Ronaldo’s former clubs, Manchester United and Juventus. The young Portuguese players will face England, Greece and Japan in the Vlatko Markovic youth tournament in Croatia later this month. Cristiano Junior is the eldest of his father’s five children.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-28-cents and the euro at 20-rand-77-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-41-cents and Bitcoin trades at 96-thousand-863-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-388-dollars-63-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-28-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….