News 14:00

BULLETIN 17 July 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The GOOD Party welcomes the Bogotá agreement as a turning point for international justice and Gaza
# Rugby: There are 32 players in the Bok Women’s squad for the clashes against the Kiwis
# And Thai police arrest a woman who allegedly seduced and blackmailed Buddhist monks

# The GOOD Party has welcomed the landmark outcomes of the emergency ministerial conference of The Hague Group, jointly convened by South Africa and Colombia in Bogotá. The party says this coordinated multilateral action marks the most significant and principled stand yet taken to halt the genocide in Gaza and to restore the credibility of international law. GOOD secretary-general, Brett Herron, says the measures agreed upon include arms embargoes, accountability mechanisms and economic disengagement from Israel’s illegal occupation:

# Build One South Africa has praised president Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership on the global stage, especially within the G20. However, BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane urged that the summit’s success be measured by increased investment, not just meetings. Maimane also called for a stronger local government, and a clear economic plan for the government of national unity. He stressed the need for fewer priorities and more decisive action to revive South Africa’s economy and youth opportunities:

# BankservAfrica’s Economic Transactions Index recorded a second monthly rise in June, indicating improved economic momentum. The index, which tracks all electronic transactions at seasonally adjusted real prices, rose by 0.4-percent to 139.1. According to the index, the back-to-back increases suggest stronger second-quarter growth, with mining and manufacturing sectors likely to contribute positively. It adds that improved business confidence and structural strengths in the economy could support gross domestic product growth when figures are released in early September.

# Rugby: Springbok Women coach, Swys de Bruin, has named a squad of 32 players to take on New Zealand in matches on the 26th of this month and the second of next month. Six players have been added to the group that concluded the two-Test series against Canada. Four players who formed part of the Africa Women’s Cup-winning group have rejoined the squad. De Bruin says the matches against New Zealand will be the final preparation for next month’s World Cup in England.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-88-cents and the euro at 20-rand-73-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 118-thousand-622-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-328-dollars-25-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-99-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Police in Thailand arrested a woman who allegedly enticed a string of Buddhist monks into sexual relationships and then blackmailed them into making large payments. The case has rocked Buddhist institutions and gripped public attention in recent weeks. At least nine abbots and senior monks involved in the scandal have been disrobed and cast out of the monkhood. Scandals involving monks surface a few times a year but seldom involve senior members of the clergy. Thai monks are required to be celibate and refrain from even touching a woman.

Stay tuned for more news………….