News 17:00

BULLETIN 15 April 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Statistics SA reports a 9.6-percent decline in mining production for February
# A Grade 4 learner dies after swallowing a pen’s lid at a Limpopo school
# And motorsport: Saudi Arabia believes the ownership of a Formula One team could be its next step

# Statistics South Africa says mining production dropped by 9.6-percent in February compared to the same period last year. The biggest negative contributors were platinum group metals, iron ore, gold, and coal. Mineral sales also fell sharply, dropping by 13-percent year-on-year. Stats SA’s Juan-Pierre Terblanche says only coal showed positive growth, rising by five-percent:

# A Grade 4 learner at Moriting Primary School in Limpopo has died after accidentally swallowing a pen lid. According to Education Department spokesperson, Matome Taueatsoala, the learner reported breathing difficulties to her teacher and was rushed to hospital, but medical staff was unable to save her. He says the department has deployed psycho-social support services to the family and the school:

Meanwhile, the United Democratic Women’s Organisation has expressed outrage over the alleged sexual assault of a Grade 3 learner at Braamfischerville Primary in Johannesburg. This comes as the Gauteng Education Department cut ties with the Nal’iBali reading programme after a child was allegedly sexually assaulted by one of the organisation’s officials. Secretary-general, Thandi Nontenja, demands urgent investigations, stricter vetting, and counselling support to ensure schools are safe for all children:

# China’s president Xi Jinping urged Vietnam to join forces in upholding free trade, before wrapping up a visit to Hanoi which president Donald Trump said was aiming to hurt the United States. Xi visited Vietnam as part of a Southeast Asia tour that will include Malaysia and Cambodia, with Beijing trying to position itself as a stable alternative to Trump as leaders confront US tariffs. The Chinese leader called on his country and Vietnam to oppose unilateral bullying and uphold the stability of the global free trade system.

# Motorsport: Saudi Arabia believes ownership of a Formula One team could be the next step after hosting a Grand Prix and sponsoring the sport. The chairperson of Saudi Arabia’s Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, said before this coming weekend’s race in Jeddah the interest was definitely there. The kingdom hosted its first race in 2021 and its Public Investment Fund invested in McLaren in the same year. F1 is seeing a surge in support in the Middle East, especially from younger female fans.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-87-cents and the euro at 21-rand-35-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-97-cents and Bitcoin trades at 85-thousand-737-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-222-dollars-23-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….