News 18:00

BULLETIN 28 January 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Violence in the DRC escalates as protesters attack embassies in Kinshasa
# The DA opens its councillor candidate applications for the local government elections
# And soccer: Neymar is expected to return to Brazil after the termination of his contract with Al-Hilal

# Protesters criticising international inaction on the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo attacked the embassies of Rwanda, France, Belgium and the United States in Kinshasa. Gunshots also rang out through parts of the besieged city of Goma, where Congolese soldiers have clashed with militia fighters backed by Rwandan troops. The main city in the eastern DRC has become a battleground since fighters from the Tutsi-led M23 armed group and Rwandan forces entered central Goma on Sunday night after a weeks-long advance through the region.

Parliament’s standing committee on Public Accounts has meanwhile criticised government neglect of the Defence Ministry after 13 SANDF soldiers died in clashes with M23 rebels in the DRC. The troops served under the Southern African Development Community mission in the DRC and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission. SCOPA chairperson Songezo Zibi highlighted the dire consequences of inadequate support in active conflict zones:

# The DA officially opens applications for councillor candidates for the upcoming local government elections on Saturday. The party seeks skilled, committed individuals who share the party’s values and focus on improving local communities. This follows new regulations to address issues in many towns facing mismanagement. DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille told the media the party also started a catalyst programme and its participants were selected and invited in September last year:

# Soccer: Brazilian Neymar is expected to return to the local team where his glittering career started. This follows confirmation his contract with Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia had been terminated by mutual consent. The 32-year-old joined the club from French outfit Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023, but his stay was blighted by injuries which allowed him to play for Al-Hilal just seven times. Neymar is linked to a move to Santos, which he represented from 2009 to 2013 before making his name at Spanish giants Barcelona.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-66-cents and the euro at 19-rand-46-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-20-cents and Bitcoin trades at 102-thousand-33-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-750-dollars-40-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-99-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The organisation Cupcakes of Hope is introducing Valentine bears to spread love and support for cancer patients. Each bear, accompanied by heart-shaped cookies, aims to help fund the non-profit’s mission to provide relief for cancer fighters. The timing coincides with International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day on 15 February. The bears will be sent out by 1 February, just in time for Valentine’s Day. To date, Cupcakes of Hope has assisted over 10-thousand families battling cancer.

Stay tuned for more news………….