News 11:00

BULLETIN 21 October 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# TLU SA says true equality can never be achieved through discriminatory legislation
# Sanae Takaichi makes history as Japan’s first female prime minister
# And rugby: The Springbok coach is expecting a challenging end-of-year tour

# The agricultural organisation TLU SA welcomes the renewed public discussion about true equality and inclusive economic growth. This comes as the DA is pushing to replace the Black Economic Empowerment policy by introducing the Economic Inclusion for All Bill. The party says the bill would target poverty as the proxy for disadvantage rather than race. TLU SA’s Bennie van Zyl says in the past two decades, BEE, in its current form, has led to widespread mismanagement, corruption, and political favouritism:

# The Green Connection has warned that government’s focus on gas and nuclear energy could drive up electricity costs for consumers. This follows Electricity and Energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s presentation of the two-trillion-rand integrated resource plan. The environmental group’s Liz McDaid says the plan lacks a clear commitment to phasing out fossil fuels and instead favours expensive and climate-harming projects:

# Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero says they won’t be deterred in their efforts to reclaim public spaces, enforce bylaws, and promote safe economic activity in the CBD. High-impact bylaw enforcement operations to restore law and order in the inner city have resulted in some informal traders being forced out of their livelihoods, amid challenges with trading permits. The metro is now preparing for a legal battle over its enforcement of bylaws. Morero says they have not broken any laws:

Moving abroad:

# Liberal Democratic Party leader, Sanae Takaichi, has made history by becoming Japan’s first female prime minister. The 64-year-old, who is known as Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’, won 237 votes in the 465-seat lower chamber of Parliament. The vote comes after her party agreed to a coalition with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party. Takaichi, a big fan of the UK’s first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, has long been a staunch conservative, opposing same-sex marriages and a growing movement to allow married couples to use separate surnames.

# Rugby: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says they are expecting a tough and challenging end-of-year tour. Former Junior Springbok prop and captain, Zachary Porthen, is the only uncapped player in the 36-player squad for the November tour. The Boks will face Japan at Wembley Stadium in London on the first of next month, followed by Tests against France in Paris, Italy in Turin, Ireland in Dublin, and Wales in Cardiff. Erasmus says the tour will be a good opportunity to test themselves against the best.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-28-cents and the euro at 20-rand-9-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-13-cents and Bitcoin trades at 107-thousand-760-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-332-dollars-36-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 60-dollars-59-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….