News 16:00

BULLETIN 20 June 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the Constitutional Court remains a vital symbol of justice and transformation
# ACSA launches major airports maintenance for the next two years
# And famous Italians Andrea Bocelli and Jannik Sinner release a moving single

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the Constitutional Court stands as a powerful symbol of South Africa’s commitment to justice, equality, and transformation. Delivering his keynote address at the court’s 30th anniversary in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, he said the court was built on the ruins of oppression to uphold dignity, equality, and human rights. Ramaphosa says the court, a cornerstone of democracy, has delivered life-changing judgments and continues to guide the country through complex challenges:

# Airports Company South Africa has announced key updates to its airport maintenance programme, covering OR Tambo in Gauteng, Cape Town, and other major airports. CEO Nompumelelo Mpofu says the upgrades over two years include refurbishing ablution facilities, air bridges, people movers, and terminal roofs. She emphasised that ACSA is reinventing the passenger experience, ensuring long-term infrastructure reliability:

# Colombia and Uzbekistan have officially joined the New Development Bank, also known as the BRICS Bank, led by South Africa, Brazil, Russia, India and China. Colombia’s Foreign minister, Laura Sarabia, confirmed the country’s membership following president Gustavo Petro’s visit to China and entry into the Belt and Road Initiative. Uzbekistan’s approval strengthens its global financial ties. Both nations gain access to funding for development projects, offering alternatives to Western institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Meanwhile applications from Ethiopia and Indonesia remain under review.

# Waveski: Cape Town’s rising champion, Jethro Keys, is heading to France for a three-month training programme under world champion Pablo Arrouays. Discovered at a Big Bay beginners’ clinic three years ago, Keys now holds national colours and placed fourth at the World Waveski Titles. He will train in Lacanau, and will be learning everything from high-performance technique to coaching strategy. Keys hopes to return to Cape Town with the knowledge to uplift his community and strengthen his local club, while aiming for the top position on the leaderboard.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-98-cents and the euro at 20-rand-71-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-26-cents and Bitcoin trades at 105-thousand-969-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-349-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-8-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The world’s best men’s tennis player, Jannik Sinner of Italy, has joined forces with his world-renowned compatriot, tenor Andrea Bocelli. They released a single with the name Polvere e Gloria, meaning Dust and Glory, in which Bocelli sings and Sinner contributes parts of his winning and losing speeches on court. The song has Italian and English lyrics. The accompanying video shows the two champions recording the song at Bocelli’s studio in Tuscany, and images from their childhoods. Sinner describes the experience as a big honour.

Stay tuned for more news………….