News 11:00

BULLETIN 18 November 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile is set to officially open the G20 Social Summit
# An advisory panel extends the selection process for national director of Public Prosecutions
# And rugby: The Bok assistant coach is frustrated at the inconsistent disciplinary decisions

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile will deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the G20 Social Summit in Boksburg, Gauteng, this afternoon. The summit, which is a precursor to the official two-day G20 leaders’ summit this weekend, is an inclusive platform to amplify the voices of civil society, grassroots organisations, and communities. Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says the social summit plays a vital role in shaping policies that promote global social welfare:

# The advisory panel for the selection of the next national director of Public Prosecutions has extended the call for nominations to all law bodies, to broaden the pool of eligible candidates. The panel considered 27 applications and nominations yesterday, of which only six met the minimum requirements. Current NDPP head Shamila Batohi’s term of office ends in January next year. Department of Justice and Constitutional Development’s spokesperson, Terrence Manase, says nominations will now close next week Monday:

# The University of the Free State will join the national women’s shutdown on 21 November to protest against gender-based violence, femicide, and child abuse. The university’s Nitha Ramnath says these atrocities affect homes, schools, workplaces, and universities. She says UFS calls for holistic, trauma-informed responses that combine advocacy, psychology, and spirituality. Ramnath says students, staff, and communities are urged to support survivors, promote safety, and transform campuses into spaces of healing, justice, and shared humanity.

Moving abroad:

# Canada’s Parliament has narrowly approved prime minister Mark Carney’s first federal budget, avoiding an early election. At total of 170 MPs voted in favour and 168 against it. Budget votes are treated like confidence votes in the country, so the government needed a win to avoid another election. Carney has described the budget as a generational opportunity to invest in Canada’s economic future and reduce dependence on trade with the US. The Conservative Party voted against the budget, accusing Carney’s government of failing to address affordability concerns.

# Rugby: Springbok assistant coach, Mzwandile Stick, has criticised what he says are unfair and inconsistent disciplinary decisions that have gone against them during the year-end tour. Lock Franco Mostert received a direct red card against Italy on Saturday for an apparent high tackle, a week after Lood de Jager suffered the same fate against France. The Boks are preparing to face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday. Stick says they are growing increasingly disillusioned with the current landscape:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-23-cents and the euro at 19-rand-98-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-67-cents and Bitcoin trades at 89-thousand-989-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-three-dollars-64-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-38-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….