News 13:00

BULLETIN 14 November 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Treasury proposes a minimum alcohol price and excise rule changes
# Cricket: An England bowler is fined for smashing a chair after being injured
# And American actor John Krasinski is People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2024

# The National Treasury has proposed a minimum price for alcoholic beverages and changes to excise tax frameworks. The new rules suggest excise duty rate adjustments within expected inflation and specific duty bands for wine and beer based on alcohol content. According to Treasury, these proposals aim to curb alcohol consumption and related harm, aligning with World Health Organisation recommendations. Public comments are invited by 13 December.

Treasury has also published a carbon tax discussion paper for public comment. The document includes proposed adjustments to the basic tax-free allowance, carbon offsets, the electricity levy, the renewable-energy premium, and the energy efficiency savings tax incentive. South Africa has made commitments under the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions in the range of 398-million to 510-million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2025, and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Treasury says carbon tax forms an integral part of the package of policy measures aimed at addressing climate change.

# ATM says it is appalled by the deafening non-action of the country’s intelligence agencies in the face of a crisis that is claiming the lives of children. Spokesperson Zama Ntshona says it is unacceptable that, in a time when the health and safety of citizens are at stake, those tasked with safeguarding the nation remain inactive and unresponsive to the rampant manufacturing of toxic, poisonous, and expired goods:

# Cricket: England pace bowler Reece Topley has been fined 15-percent of his match fee for Saturday’s first T20 against the West Indies. He took out his frustration on a chair in the pavilion at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown after he was forced to leave the field with an injury. The International Cricket Council found Topley had breached the code of conduct relating to abuse of equipment. He also incurred a demerit point. England won the first two encounters in the five-match series.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-28-cents and the euro at 19-rand-25-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-15-cents and Bitcoin trades at 90-thousand-566-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-554-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-82-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Hollywood actor, writer, and director, John Krasinski, has been selected as People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2024. He takes the mantle from last year’s honouree, Patrick Dempsey. The accolodade is now in its 40th year and the first Sexiest Man Alive was Mel Gibson. Other past recipients include Brad Pitt, George Clooney, John F Kennedy Junior, David Beckham, Michael B Jordan, and Pierce Brosnan. Krasinski told the magazine he couldn’t believe it when he heard the news:

Stay tuned for more news………….