News 13:00

BULLETIN 23 November 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Namibian president criticises the global financial system for unfairly penalising developing countries 
# Argentina joins the US in voicing its objections to the G20 declaration
# And motorsport, Max Verstappen wins the Las Vegas GP, but Lando Norris edges closer to the crown

# Namibian president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for a fair and inclusive global financing system. She is attending the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg as a special guest at the invitation of president Cyril Ramaphosa. The adopted G20 declaration recognises that a high level of debt is one of the obstacles to inclusive growth in many developing economies. Nandi-Ndaitwah has warned that developing countries are being held back by high capital costs based on unjustified risk perceptions: 

# Argentina, a close ally of the United States, has voiced its objections to the G20 Leaders’ Summit declaration, which was adopted by consensus yesterday. Argentina’s Foreign minister Pablo Quirno says the declaration document has not achieved consensus on a few issues, including certain geopolitical matters like the conflict in the Middle East and Gaza. He added that the document does not capture the conflict in its full complexity:

# World Bank president Ajay Banga says Africa is positioned to become the world’s next major growth engine, driven by its vast resources and rapidly growing youth population. Speaking at the G20 Compact with Africa event in Nasrec, Johannesburg, Banga urged global leaders to invest in infrastructure, skills and private-sector jobs. He highlighted Africa’s uncultivated arable land and transition minerals, stressing that development is a shared investment in global prosperity:

# The Border Management Authority says it has now shifted its operational focus to the coordinated departure of heads of state, senior officials and international delegations leaving the country over the next 24 to 48 hours. The authority facilitated the arrival of over 40 heads of state and government officials, as well as more than three-thousand international journalists, at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg. The BMA states that teams remain fully deployed to ensure that every departure is facilitated with precision and that security protocols are strictly upheld.

# ANC secretary -general Fikile Mbalila has intervened and restored order after the ANC Youth League was thrown into chaos this week following a leadership clash. Secretary-general Mntuwoxolo Ngudle and president Collen Malatji briefly suspended each other over alleged parallel meetings, and sidelining of officials ahead of the league’s national congress. Ngudle later apologised, retracting his suspension. Mbalula emphasised the importance of peace and stability within the organisation as the league prepares for its 27th National Congress in Polokwane next month.

# And motorsport: Formula One world champion Max Verstappen produced a masterful drive to win the Las Vegas Grand Prix yesterday as McLaren’s Lando Norris finished second to edge closer to a maiden drivers’ title. Red Bull’s Verstappen took control of the race after overtaking Norris on the first turn of the circuit and claimed his 69th Grand Prix career win. However, Norris tightened his grip on the season standings, with his second-place finish leaving him on 408 points. With two races remaining, he is now 30 ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri, who finished fourth. Mercedes’ George Russell was third.

Stay tuned for more news………….