News 18:00

BULLETIN 22 April 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Standard Bank says the interest rate outlook depends on the oil prices and geopolitical tensions
# Sadtu condemns the killing of Palestinian school learners in Gaza
# And, Iran seizes ships in the Strait after Trump halts attacks

# Standard Bank says South Africa’s interest rate outlook will largely depend on global oil prices and ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly the impact of the Iran conflict. Economist Elna Moolman says while inflation rose slightly to 3.1-percent in March, it remains close to the South African Reserve Bank’s new three-percent target. According to Moolman, if tensions ease, there could be room for interest rate cuts later:

# The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union condemns the reported killing and endangerment of Palestinian school learners in the occupied West Bank, including the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old near al-Mughayyir yesterday. Union spokesperson Nomusa Cembi also criticised the use of tear gas against learners in Umm al-Khair. Cembi called for schools to be protected as safe spaces, for independent investigations, and for accountability:

# Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, tightening its grip on the strategic waterway, after US president Donald Trump indefinitely called off attacks with no sign of peace talks restarting. Iran’s Tasnim news agency reports the Revolutionary Guards had seized two vessels for maritime violations and escorted them to Iranian shores. It was the first time Iran has seized ships ‌since the beginning of the war. The US seized an Iranian cargo vessel on Saturday and boarded a huge Iranian oil tanker in the Indian Ocean yesterday.

# Soccer: Former Premier League champions Leicester City will play in England’s third tier next season for only the second time in its 142-year history. The Foxes were relegated to League One after a 2-all draw with Hull City, a decade after winning the title in 2016. In February, the club received a six-point deduction for breaching financial rules. Manager Gary Rowett says lessons will need to be learned from this:

The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-43-cents against the rand and the euro at 19-rand-27-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-21-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-916-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-739-dollars-79-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 95-dollars-84-cents a barrel.

# And finally, University of the Witwatersrand scientists have developed South Africa’s first air-quality alert app to warn Johannesburg residents of rising pollution levels. The app uses data from hundreds of monitoring stations to send real-time alerts and health advice to residents. The development follows reports of increased respiratory issues and a strong sulphur smell across the city, with authorities investigating pollution sources from industrial and mining activity. Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment minister, Willie Aucamp, says investigations into sulphur emissions are ongoing.

Stay tuned for more news………….