News 11:00

BULLETIN 23 October 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Government denies Chinese pressure in the relocation of Taiwan’s office in Pretoria
# Eight suspects allegedly involved in a diamond scam are arrested
# And, Donald Trump accuses Britain’s Labour Party of election interference

# The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says it strongly denies claims that government has been pressured by China to order the relocation of Taiwan’s office from Pretoria to Johannesburg. Taiwan’s Foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, has accused South Africa of violating a 1997 agreement between the two countries. Dirco’s spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, told Newzroom Afrika that South Africa severed political and diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1997, consistent with resolution 2758 of the United Nations’ General Assembly:

# A recent pilot study by the Institute for Security Studies asserts that evidence-based policing is crucial for tackling rising crime rates. Amidst increasing police patrols, senior researcher Vanya Gastrow highlights data-driven strategies as key to revolutionising crime reduction. She emphasises that targeted, research-based operations and focused approaches are vital for effective policing in South Africa:

# Eight suspects, alleged to be involved in a five-year-long diamond investment scam, have been arrested in North West and Gauteng. A multi-disciplinary operation led by Northern Cape Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit resulted in the arrests. Hawks spokesperson, Philani Nkwalase, says the suspects include a couple wherein the husband is alleged to be the mastermind behind the scam along with his wife:

# Former US president Donald Trump has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, accusing the UK Labour Party of election interference. His election campaign alleges that in recent weeks, Labour recruited and sent party members to campaign for his opponent, vice-president Kamala Harris, in critical battleground states in a bid to influence the November 5 election. UK prime minister Keir Starmer says party officials volunteering for Harris are doing it in their spare time, rather than in their capacity working for Labour.

# Rugby: The All Blacks will have a new captain when they face Japan on Saturday. Lock Patrick Tuipulotu will lead the team in place of regular skipper Scott Barrett, who won’t travel to Yokohama. Damian McKenzie replaces Beauden Barrett at flyhalf along scrumhalf Cam Roigard, who will make his first appearance for the team this year. Former captain Sam Cane will start at loose forward in his 101st Test. New Zealand’s end-of-year tour also include matches against England, Ireland, France and Italy.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-56-cents and the euro at 18-rand-94-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-903-dollars-55-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-751-dollars-95-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-61-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….