News 16:00

BULLETIN 15 October 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Diesel shortages could continue into next year
# Mbalula calls for a review of the DA’s role in the GNU after the Constitutional Court victory
# And rugby: The Champions Cup uses a new bonus point rule

# The International Energy Agency warns diesel shortages could continue into next year as conflicts in the Middle East and Russia disrupt supplies. Diesel prices have soared, pushing up transport costs and putting pressure on businesses and consumers. Although refineries are expected to increase production, the agency says this will not be enough to make up for current shortages. Countries are releasing emergency oil reserves to ease prices, but falling stockpiles could leave markets facing further supply problems in the months ahead.

# ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has called for a review of the DA’s role in the government of national unity after the Constitutional Court ruling that 181 excluded election candidates must be listed. The DA legally intervened to oppose the ANC, arguing changing the rules would bend the process to favour one party. Mbalula emphasised nothing binds the ANC to remain in government with the DA indefinitely:

Moving abroad:

# Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto has replaced the head of the country’s disaster mitigation agency as wildfires intensify. Army general Kristomei Sianturi takes over from TNI Suharyanto, who had led the agency since 2021. The agency is helping fight forest and peatland fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, where smoke has affected the region. The leadership change comes after five people were arrested in a corruption investigation involving procurement at the agency, including Suharyanto’s younger brother. No evidence has been given that the leadership change is directly linked to the investigation.

# Rugby: A new rule in the Champions Cup means an attacking bonus point will only be earned if a team scores three or more tries more than its opponents. It was previously awarded for scoring four tries or more. The governing body says this will hopefully encourage teams to maintain high standards for the full 80 minutes. The Stormers play Bristol Bears in the opening round in Cape Town this weekend, the Bulls face Stade Francais at Loftus and the Lions are away to La Rochelle in France.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-56-cents and the euro at 18-rand-55-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-93-cents and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-976-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-152-dollars-78-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 106-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The United Nations says the number of people living in multidimensional poverty has risen for the first time in 15 years, reaching 1.2-billion. According to the global Multidimensional Poverty Index, this is 51.5-million more than last year. Of this number, 617-million are children and 83-percent live in rural areas. UN Development Programme administrator Alexander de Croo says Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia account for the overwhelming majority of deprivations across every indicator: 

Stay tuned for more news………….