News 14:00

BULLETIN 18 July 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party becomes the official opposition in Parliament
# Trump wants to unite the US in a hotly-anticipated speech as he accepts his party’s nomination to run for president
# And large parts of Paris go into security lockdown before the start of the Olympic Games

# National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza has confirmed the MK Party as the official opposition in Parliament, a decision made by the Rules Committee last night. The announcement was made ahead of the opening of Parliament address by president Cyril Ramaphosa this evening. Didiza says MK has risen to become South Africa’s third-largest party, overtaking the EFF after the general elections:

# The Marshalltown Fire Justice Campaign has strongly condemned the continued withholding of the bodies of the victims of the Usindiso fire. Campaign coordinator, Mametlwe Sebei, says the decision has deprived their families of the opportunity to give them a proper burial for nearly a year now. Sebei is calling on the Gauteng Forensic Pathology Services and the provincial Department of Health to urgently speed up the DNA testing to identify the victims’ bodies:

# Donald Trump will get the red carpet treatment today as he accepts the Republican nomination to run for US president in a hotly-anticipated speech capping a historic party convention dominated by the weekend attempt on his life. The 78-year-old ex-president can expect a hero’s welcome on the final day of the Republican national convention in Milwaukee. As some Republicans sought to blame Democrats’ anti-Trump rhetoric for the attack, Trump said he had torn up a more aggressive version of his keynote address in favour of one he hopes will unite the country.

# Olympics: Large parts of central Paris have gone under security lockdown in anticipation of next Friday’s opening ceremony along the River Seine. Athletes have started arriving in the French capital, while the city also expects up to ten-million spectators. The security measures include people wanting to enter the highest-security grey zone along the banks of the Seine, such as residents and visitors with hotel reservations, needing a QR code security pass. Many Metro stations will also be closed until next Saturday.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-22-cents and the euro at 19-rand-92-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-67-cents and Bitcoin trades at 64-thousand-666-dollars-60-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-463-dollars-55-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-98-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Organisers of British singer Adele’s upcoming Munich shows are aiming to get into the Guinness World Records for the largest outdoor screen of all time, measuring 220 metres in length. About 74-thousand fans are expected to watch her every night in a specially-built pop-up stadium for ten shows next month. Adele says the video installation will enhance the experience for fans. The venue will also host an Adele experience featuring an English pub and stalls selling specially designed cocktails.

Stay tuned for more news………….