News 15:00

BULLETIN 10 September 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The United Nations’ resident coordinator says South Africa must turn planned policies into jobs
# Russia’s new jet-powered drones outpace Ukraine’s air defences
# And rugby: Etzebeth relishes the opportunity to settle the series against the All Blacks in Baltimore

# The United Nations’ resident coordinator in South Africa, Nelson Muffuh, says the country faces a critical challenge of turning ambitious development plans into real results. He told the SABC South Africa has strong foundations on policies, reforms and partnerships, but implementation remains critical. With unemployment at 33.6-percent and economic growth at just 1.1-percent, Muffuh says urgent action is needed to create jobs and reduce inequality. He adds improved electricity stability and structural reforms are grounds for cautious optimism, but says delivery must now match the country’s ambition.

# Correctional Services has confirmed and inmate who escaped from Rooigrond Correctional Centre in North West, has been recaptured within 72-hours. National commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale says Edward Madiba, who is serving a 20-year sentence for robbery, firearm possession, kidnapping and parole violation, was tracked down through a joint operation involving the department and law enforcement agencies. He says decoy items were placed at the scene to mislead investigators:

# The DA says the ANC-led Tshwane government is celebrating so-called financial recovery based on unaudited financial statements unavailable to the public. Spokesperson Jacqui Uys says firefighting vehicles have been repossessed because of non-payment, while water leaks are escalating and water losses have reached 48-percent. She says residents do not experience financial recovery through unaudited spreadsheets, but through whether there was enough cash to pay suppliers, maintain essential services and fix failing infrastructure:

Moving abroad:

# Russia is increasingly using faster, jet-powered drones to attack Ukrainian targets, replacing its propellor-driven ones. Ukraine’s military told the BBC jet-powered drone attacks grew from 350 in June to one-thousand-600 in July, and two-thousand-800 in August. The newer ones can cruise at more than 480-kilometre per hour, significantly faster than older models and well beyond the top speed of Kyiv’s interceptors. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says the drones were used in a wave of attacks that killed at least 12 people and injured 20 more on 1 September.

# Rugby: Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth says Saturday’s fourth and final Test against the All Blacks in Baltimore will be massive as they look to seal the series 3-1. A defeat will lead to a drawn series. Thirty-four-year-old Etzebeth will extend his record as the most-capped Bok when he earns his 146th cap. He says they are relishing the opportunity to clinch the series, but know it will be a tough battle:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-10-cents and the euro at 18-rand-71-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-79-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-968-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-381-dollars-60-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 103-dollars-78-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….