News 08:00

BULLETIN 20 October 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Paul Mashatile says South Africa will push for a fairer global financial system
# The identification process of the Limpopo bus crash victims will continue today
# And motorsport: Verstappen claims his fifth win of the season at the US Grand Prix

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile has pledged that South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 will drive a strong Global South agenda, focused on debt relief, inclusive growth, and sustainable development. This comes as many vulnerable low and middle-income countries face high financing costs, large external refinancing needs, and a significant outflow of private capital. Mashatile says South Africa will push for a fairer global financial system and tackle debt sustainability, with a particular emphasis on Africa.

# Former Department of Social Development communications head Lumka Oliphant says her dismissal amounts to victimisation. In a detailed statement, Oliphant alleged political interference, corruption, and intimidation within the department under minister Sisisi Tolashe. Oliphant told Newzroom Afrika that black professionals are silenced and purged for challenging executives, adding that she refuses to regret speaking about the truth. She maintains her dismissal followed months of targeted humiliation and internal power struggles:

# Officials from the Limpopo government and Zimbabwe and Malawi embassies will today meet the families of the 43 people killed in a bus crash outside Louis Trichardt in Limpopo last Sunday. The bus, carrying 91 passengers, veered off the road and plunged down an embankment. Provincial government spokesperson, Thilivhali Muavha, says the meeting marks the next phase in the identification process, following the completion of post-mortem examinations:

# At least two people were killed after a cargo plane veered off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport and landed in the sea. The Emirates flight was arriving from Dubai when it hit a vehicle. Two airport ground staff fell into the sea; they were rescued but later died in the hospital. Four crew members on board the plane survived. This is the second ever deadly incident at the airport, after a China Airlines passenger flight crash landed during a typhoon, killing three people in August 1999.

# Motorsport: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen produced a dominant performance to win the United States Grand Prix, his fifth victory of the season. McLaren’s Lando Norris finished second with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in third. Drivers’ championship leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren finished fifth. Verstappen, who is chasing a fifth successive drivers’ title, is now within 40 points of Piastri, while Norris closes to within 14 points of the title lead. Verstappen says the chance is there for him to win the championship:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-34-cents and the euro at 20-rand-23-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-30-cents and Bitcoin trades at 108-thousand-792-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-425-dollars-53-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 60-dollars-92-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….