News 08:00

BULLETIN 27 October 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Government will be joining forces with community leaders in court cases relating to migration and asylum seekers
# The Department of Basic Education urges caution as extreme weather threatens exams
# And, a court rejects the Trump administration’s demand to set aside 20-thousand California mail-in ballots

# Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration chairperson and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, says the call to enforce immigration laws shouldn’t automatically be interpreted as xenophobia. The committee recently met with a delegation led by the Chancellor of the Zulu King, iNkosi Malusi Zondi, following several marches to Home Affairs offices by groups raising concerns about illegal migration and the enforcement of immigration laws. Kubayi says the delegation also expressed interest in participating in ongoing court proceedings relating to migration and asylum seekers:

# The Department of Basic Education is urging schools, parents and learners to take the necessary precautions amid high temperatures and adverse weather conditions affecting parts of the country. This comes as matriculants are still writing their National Senior Certificate examinations. The department’s spokesperson, Terrence Khala, says learners are also reminded that while preparing for examinations, taking care of their physical and emotional wellbeing is equally critical. He adds that confidential counselling and emotional support are available for learners:

# The City of Tshwane has welcomed the latest review by credit rating agency Moody’s, which points to improvements in the metro’s financial management and operating performance. In its review published on 23 October, Moody’s noted Tshwane’s stronger credit metrics and a declining debt burden. The metro’s spokesperson Samkelo Mgobozi says the agency projects that Tshwane’s debt will decline to approximately 12-percent of operating revenue by the 2027 financial year, with its operating margin stabilising at between seven and eight-percent: 

# A US federal appeals court has rejected the Justice Department’s attempt to block California from counting about 20-thousand mail-in ballots from people it claims could be noncitizens. This comes ahead of next Tuesday’s crucial midterm elections. The Justice Department had given the California Secretary of State 48 hours to carry out the order, which state election officials refused, leading to the lawsuit. California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta says the ruling is a victory for voting rights and a rejection of president Donald Trump administration’s “unlawful overreach”.

# Soccer: England captain and  Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner, becoming the first British player to win the prestigious individual accolade since Michael Owen in 2001. France’s Kylian Mbappe and Spain’s Lamine Yamal finished second and third, respectively. Kane, who scored 73 goals for club and country last season, also won the Men’s Striker of the Year award. Meanwhile, Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for a record-equalling third time. Spain’s Luis de la Fuente was named the Men’s Coach of the Year.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-63-cents and the euro at 18-rand-58-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-19-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 79-thousand-587-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-and-6-dollars-94-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 114-dollars-96-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….