News 08:00
BULLETIN 23 November 8 am
Good morning. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# President Ramaphosa stresses the importance of improving the country’s ports
# The portfolio committee on Justice and Correctional Services approves the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill
# And, Israel says no hostages will be released before tomorrow
# President Cyril Ramaphosa says port cruise terminals provide multi-modal connectivity to the region and the rest of the world, thus contributing to the growth of the tourism industry. He officially opened the Nelson Mandela cruise terminal in the Durban Port in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday evening. In 2019, the Mediterranean Shipping Company entered into a Public Private Partnership with Transnet to design, build, and operate a new cruise terminal at the Durban port. Ramaphosa says this venture is part of a wider national plan to improve the country’s ports:
# Parliament’s portfolio committee on Justice and Correctional Services has approved a bill to establish an anti-corruption body within the National Prosecuting Authority. The NPA Amendment Bill will amend the NPA Act to establish the Investigating Directorate against Corruption as a permanent structure, outline its powers and functions, and provide for the appointment of investigators. Opposition parties and civil rights groups have questioned the independence of an anti-corruption body that would be housed within a government agency. However, the Justice Department says the unit will enjoy legislative protection.
# Minister of Health, Joe Phaahla will be conducting a site visit to Eersterus Clinic, near Mamelodi in Tshwane today. This forms part of an ongoing programme to monitor and assess the state of health service delivery around the country. The department’s spokesperson, Foster Mohale, says these visits to health facilities provide the minister with first-hand experience on the challenges facing the public health system, to recommend both immediate and long-term interventions to improve access to quality health services.
# A senior Israeli official says the planned exchange of some 150 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons for 50 hostages in Gaza has been delayed until at least tomorrow. There are conflicting reports about what has caused the setback; some claim that Hamas has not ratified the ceasefire agreement, while others say Hamas has not provided Israel with a list of the hostages who will be released. Speaking to MSNBC, Israeli government spokesperson, Eylon Levy, this war must end with the total destruction of Hamas:
# Motorsport: Formula One world champion Max Verstappen and several other leading drivers will miss the first practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend. They will be replaced by inexperienced drivers since rules require teams to let a rookie drive each of their cars during the season, and most teams leave it until the final race. Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, will also sit out the practice, as will other drivers such as Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes, Charles Leclerc from Ferrari, and Lando Norris from McLaren.
# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-85-cents and the euro at 20-rand-56-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-57-cents and Bitcoin trades at 37-thousand-299-dollars-89-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-993-dollars-17-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-64-cents a barrel.
Stay tuned for more news………….