News 07:00

BULLETIN 14 October 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The IMF expects South Africa’s growth outlook to remain stable
# MI5 warns about artificial intelligence posing threats to Britain’s national security
# And motorsport: Kagame dismisses suggestions that F1 is too big for Rwanda

# The International Monetary Fund says South Africa’s growth outlook is expected to remain stable in the near term and improve gradually over the medium term. This will be underpinned by strengthened policy frameworks and ongoing structural reforms. The IMF has slightly lowered its economic growth forecast for the country to one-percent this year from 1.1-percent predicted in July. The government has been pushing for three-percent growth. The IMF says that, despite the global impact of the Middle East war, South Africa’s growth prospects beyond 2026 are relatively flat.

# The ANC says it does not support state control of churches and believes religious institutions should remain free to manage their own affairs within the Constitution. The party was responding to concerns raised by the South African Church Defenders, who plan to march against proposed church regulation by the Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Rights Commission. ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu says religious institutions must protect people’s rights, dignity and wellbeing while maintaining their independence:

# The Labour Court has interdicted minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela from restarting the recruitment process for the National Skills Fund CEO post. Doctor Khathutshelo Sirovha was unanimously recommended for the position. The court found that Manamela usurped the powers of the director-general, but also had no justification to direct that the CEO position be re-advertised, when Sirovha had been recommended as a successful candidate. The interim interdict will remain in place pending the final determination of a separate application challenging the legality of the minister’s directive.

# The DA in Gauteng says Emfuleni Municipality must act against corruption and mismanagement. The party marched to the municipality yesterday and handed over a memorandum calling for accountability over alleged irregularities in municipal vehicle procurement, possible nepotism in recruitment and poor service delivery. The DA’s Kingsol Chabalala says the municipality must ensure fair appointments, employ qualified staff and act against those responsible for corruption and mismanagement. Chabalala added residents deserve better services and accountable local government.

# Britain’s domestic security service, MI5, says threats from foreign adversaries have quadrupled in the last decade, primarily from Russia, Iran and China. The plots include sabotage, assassination attempts, cyber-attacks and arson. Britain arrested over 50 individuals in the past year over Iranian-linked operations. MI5 head Ken McCallum warned that artificial intelligence is “supercharging” threats to Britain’s national security. He says the biggest threat from the misuse of AI is extremist groups using the technology to harness new and existing bioweapons:

# Motorsport: Rwanda president Paul Kagame has dismissed suggestions that Formula One is ‘too big’ for a small country like his. Rwanda has signed a ten-year deal to host an F1 Grand Prix from the early 2030s, bringing the sport back to Africa for the first time since 1993. The race will take place once the new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, 40 kilometres south of the capital city, Kigali, has been completed. Kagame says there is no event too big for Rwanda:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-46-cents and the euro at 18-rand-45-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-84-cents and Bitcoin trades at 83-thousand-235-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-154-dollars-60-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 109-dollars-21-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….