News 16:00

BULLETIN 22 May 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Sadec’s electoral observation mission launches guidelines for the elections 
# The sister of a late Limpopo tycoon says the delay in the pathology report hinders the murder investigation 
# And tennis: Novak Djokovic starts at the Geneva Open with the French Open just four days away 

# The Southern African Development Community’s electoral observation mission has launched its preparedness, principles, and guidelines for the South African elections next week. The head of the mission, Enoch Kavindele, told the media in Johannesburg the elections will be assessed according to the 2021 Sadec Principles and Guidelines. He says the guidelines seek to promote free and fair elections, citizen participation, and media access for all political parties:

# The sister of late Limpopo tycoon Theophilus Ramokokono Mphosi, Moditswi Ramokoto, says the delay in receiving the state pathologist’s report is obstructing the murder investigation into her brother’s death. According to News24, independent forensic reports concluded the head of the Rheinland Group of companies was poisoned, prompting urgent legal action and exhumation. Initially attributed to pneumonia, his death in 2022 was later ruled suspicious after an autopsy. Ramokoto urges authorities to expedite the release of the report to ensure justice is served.

# Israel has recalled its ambassadors to Ireland, Norway and Spain and also summoned its envoys in protest at the three governments’ recognition of a Palestinian state. Foreign minister Israel Katz accuses the three countries of rewarding the Palestinian militant group Hamas for its 7 October attack which sparked the Gaza war. Israel’s envoys are being recalled from Dublin, Oslo and Madrid for urgent consultations, and the country threatened serious consequences. France says now is not the right time for it to recognise Palestine.

# Tennis: The Geneva Open in Switzerland is the last clay-court warm-up tournament before the French Open gets underway on Sunday. Second-seeded Casper Ruud of Norway is in action against unseeded Austrian Sebastian Ofner today. Top seed Novak Djokovic will also start his campaign against German Yannick Hanfmann today. Djokovic is yet to win a tournament this year, but Ruud says the Serbian will be favourite to win in Geneva:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-24-cents and the euro at 19-rand-75-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-19-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-34-dollars-42-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-409-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-91-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The return of the popular Glastonbury Festival will this year see the launch of two unique venues in Somerset, England. The likes of Dua Lipa and rock kings Coldplay will headline the festival returning on the 26th of next month. Organisers say the Wishing Well venue will be a place in which people ignite their deepest desires, while Scissors has been dubbed an utterly delicious femme-queer venue. The venues will replace the legendary Rabbit Hole.

Stay tuned for more news………….