News 16:00

BULLETIN 6 June 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Centre for Development and Enterprise outlines five priorities for South Africa’s new government 
# At least 37 people died in an Israeli strike on a UN-run school 
# And tennis: Alexander Zverev says he wants to win his first Grand Slam title 

# The Centre for Development and Enterprise has outlined five priorities for South Africa’s new government. The centre highlights reorganising the state by trimming the cabinet and appointing competent officials, driving growth by freeing markets, and encouraging public-private partnerships. Other priorities include promoting mass inclusion by incentivising low-skilled employment, and strengthening the rule of law by reforming the criminal justice system. Executive director Ann Bernstein says these steps are crucial to South Africa’s stability.

Meanwhile, ActionSA has exited the Multi-Party Charter, formerly known as the Moonshot Pact, due to violations by other parties. Chairperson Michael Beaumont says several parties breached the agreement by choosing to work with the ANC. He confirmed ActionSA will not collaborate with the ANC, though others are free to make their own decisions. Beaumont announced that ActionSA is now focusing on what it can offer to improve governance rather than criticising other parties:

# A Gaza hospital said at least 37 people were killed in an Israeli strike today on a UN-run school that the Israeli military alleged housed a Hamas compound. The raid came after US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators resumed talks aimed at securing a truce and hostage swap in the nearly eight-month war triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. Israel accuses Hamas and its allies in Gaza of using schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure as operational centres, including facilities run by the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees.

# Tennis: Germany’s Alexander Zverev says he desperately wants to win his first Grand Slam title. The fourth seed beat Australia’s Alex de Minaur to make the French Open semifinals for the fourth consecutive year. He has won his past eleven matches, having lifted his sixth ATP Masters trophy in Rome last month. Zverev says he has been working hard to put himself in this position again:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-99-cents and the euro at 20-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-26-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-232-dollars-62-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-361-dollars-17-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-13-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The African Union Development Agency has acknowledged that Africa has made progress towards food security goals. However, the agency cites that efforts remained insufficient ahead of the 2025 deadline. At a SADC meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, officials discussed the promotion of a competitive agriculture sector. Nepad’s Agricultural Head, Manyewu Mutamba, highlights ongoing efforts and support for member states, noting the need for further work. He mentions the development of a new ten-year strategy to continue pursuing these targets.

Stay tuned for more news………….