News 08:00

BULLETIN 24 October 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Chief Justice Maya is concerned by the allegations against acting judge president Ledwaba
# The Nuclear Energy Corporation endorses the Integrated Resource Plan 2025
# And cricket: India beat New Zealand to secure a spot in the Women’s World Cup semifinals

# Chief Justice Mandisa Maya says the allegations made against acting judge president, Aubrey Ledwaba, have the potential of damaging the integrity of the judiciary. Witness A testified at the Madlanga Commission that he had heard from an informer that 2.5-million-rand was earmarked to secure bail for murder accused Katiso “KT” Molefe. However, the witness did not know if this money was intended for Ledwaba or the public prosecutor. Maya says Ledwaba has denied the allegations against him and made it clear that he would not take special leave.

# The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation fully supports the Integrated Resource Plan 2025, saying it provides a comprehensive and balanced framework for securing the country’s energy future. The 2.2-trillion-rand IRP is a comprehensive strategy that prioritises renewable energy and gas, while reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Necsa’s spokesperson, doctor Nikelwa Tengimfene, says the plan acknowledges the role of nuclear energy in achieving the country’s energy security:

# The Gauteng Department of Education has suspended two Basic Education Employment Initiative personnel, an educator assistant and a general assistant in Soshanguve. This follows an incident that resulted in a Grade 5 learner from Dimakatso Primary School being injured. The department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says the employees are suspended pending the outcome of the investigation into this incident:

# An FBI investigation has led to the arrest of at least 30 people, including current and former NBA players and coaches, allegedly involved in mafia-linked gambling and sports rigging schemes. The individuals include Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier, and former player Damon Jones. FBI director Kash Patel says the investigation involved two major operations: the use of insider information to place bets on various NBA games, and another revolving around underground poker games:

# Cricket: India defeated New Zealand by 53 runs in the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in Navi Mumbai, to secure the final semifinal spot in the Women’s World Cup. Pratika Rawal, top-scored with 122 runs, her maiden World Cup century, while Smriti Mandhana scored 109 runs as co-host India posted 340 for three in a rain-affected match. In reply, New Zealand finished on 271 for eight, chasing a revised target of 325 in 44 overs to bow out of the semifinal race with one match remaining.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-33-cents and the euro at 20-rand-12-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-9-cents and Bitcoin trades at 110-thousand-446-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-117-dollars-25-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-99-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….