News 08:00

BULLETIN 30 January 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The UDM questions South Africa’s military role in peacekeeping missions
# A former al Qaeda member is named Syria’s transitional president
# And cricket: MI Cape Town have secured their spot in the SA20 playoffs

# The United Democratic Movement has called for a reassessment of South Africa’s military involvement in UN peacekeeping missions following recent events in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The party says underfunding has left the South African Defence Force ill-equipped, with non-operational aircraft, and outdated weaponry. The UDM warns that without increased defence spending, continued peacekeeping participation is unjustifiable. They urge the government to prioritise military readiness or withdraw troops to prevent further risks to South African soldiers.

# Eskom has settled with PricewaterhouseCoopers in a case concerning a collapsed cost-cutting consultancy deal. The case sought to nullify a cost reduction contract known as the Capital Scrubbing engagement and recover payments made to PwC and subcontractor Nkonki. The project was also scrutinised during the State Capture Commission of Inquiry. Eskom’s spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, says management’s commitment to dealing with cases arising from the findings of the commission has been instrumental in achieving this outcome:

# The Gauteng Department of Health says it has no intention, whatsoever, to compel girls 12-years and above to receive or not to receive contraceptives without their consent. Last week, MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko stated that the department would begin rolling out the contraceptive Implanon, in a bid to curb teenage pregnancy. The department’s spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, says during her visit to schools, the MEC emphasised the importance of sexual reproductive health education, and the role of parental involvement:

# Former al Qaeda member Ahmad al-Sharaa has been named Syria’s president for a transitional period. He was the former leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Islamist rebel group which led the military operation to topple former president, Bashar al-Assad. Sharaa says that the country’s immediate priorities are filling the power vacuum, building state institutions, and preserving civil peace. Syria has been torn apart by more than a decade of civil war that has killed over 300-thousand people and displaced millions.

# Cricket: MI Cape Town have booked their place in the SA20 playoffs for the first time, after an emphatic bonus-point ten-wicket victory over defending champions the Sunrisers Eastern Cape at Newlands. Corbin Bosch took four wickets for 19 runs, his best figures in the competition, to restrict Sunrisers to 107. In reply, Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen put on an unbroken opening partnership of 110-runs to guide MI Cape Town to victory. Bosch says they remain focused on the task ahead:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-54-cents and the euro at 19-rand-32-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-8-cents and Bitcoin trades at 104-thousand-609-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-759-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-48-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….