News 14:00

BULLETIN 7 October 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The South African Zionist Federation urges government to reconsider its stance on Israel
# Cosatu in the Western Cape calls on government to enhance workers’ rights
# And rugby: The All Blacks’ squad for the end-of-year tour is announced

# The South African Zionist Federation has urged government to rethink its position on Israel. Marking the anniversary of last year’s 7 October attacks by Hamas, the federation’s chairperson, Rowan Polovin, criticised South Africa’s support for anti-Western countries and terrorist groups. He calls for government to back Israel’s right to defend itself and help free hostages still held by Hamas, warning that South Africa’s current stance risks putting the country on the wrong side of history: 

# Cosatu in the Western Cape has called for improved workers rights and working conditions as they embark on the National Day of Action. Cosatu’s provincial secretary, Malvern de Bruyn, says unemployment, job cuts, Eskom’s proposed 36-percent tariff hike and austerity measures, threaten education quality and economic stability. He says the federation demands immediate action to the country’s economic crisis:

# South Africa and Botswana have committed to strengthening economic ties and reducing trade barriers. This follows a meeting between deputy minister of Trade and Industry Zuko Godlimpi and Botswana’s minister of Trade and Industry, Mmusi Kgafela, in Pretoria. The discussions focused on enhancing trade and investment between the two states. They addressed simplifying trade processes to foster sustainable industrial development and job creation. The countries agreed to establish a bilateral working group to resolve trade challenges and to explore new cooperation opportunities.

# A US man was attacked by a black bear that broke through a glass door late at night, in search of food. The adult female and her three cubs crashed into the home in Lake City, Colorado.  The 74-year-old man tried to shoo the bear out with a kitchen chair, before being knocked into a wall and clawed at. He suffered injuries to his head and body before he and his wife escaped to a bedroom. Police chased the bears out, and the man was treated on the scene.

# Rugby: Scrumhalf Cam Roigard has been included in New Zealand’s 36-man squad for their end-of-year tour. Noah Hotham is left out as a result while veterans Sam Cane, TJ Perenara and rookie Cortez Ratima keep their spots in head coach Scott Robertson’s squad. The All Blacks start the tour against Japan in Yokohama on October 26th, before playing England, Ireland, France and then Italy. Robertson says it’s crucial to have a balance between experience and fresh talent:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-41-cents and the euro at 19-rand-9-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-76-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-98-dollars-54-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-657-dollars-57-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-86-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….