News 09:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 18 November 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Airports Company South Africa reinforces its zero-tolerance stance on crime prevention as employees face drug trafficking charges
# Concern over the integrity of the electoral process after a teacher is accused of voting 24 times
# And, soccer: Everton gets the heaviest ever Premier League points penalty for a breach of the profit rule

# Airports Company South Africa has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to a zero-tolerance stance against criminality following the arrest of five people, including two employees, for drug trafficking at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng. The accused appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges related to drug trafficking and contravention of the Civil Aviation Act and the Customs and Excise Act. The ACSA employees are from the Safety and Electrical Maintenance Departments, while the others work for Menzies Aviation and Swissport.

# The African Transformation Movement has expressed concerns over the integrity of the electoral process after a teacher was accused of voting 24 times. The party says the matter highlights potential fraud by presiding officials affiliated with the union federations SADTU and COSATU. This, coupled with letters suggesting a coordinated effort to compromise elections, raises alarms. ATM believes affiliation with these organisations introduces a conflict of interest, risking bias in favour of a political party. National spokesperson Zama Ntshona calls for the Independent Electoral Commission to reconsider presiding official appointments:

Play sound: ENG-ZamaOnElections

# Talks between US president Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week – and agreement to restore military communications – will likely improve stability in the Taiwan Strait. This is the opinion of Taipei’s chief delegate to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. AFP reports Morris Chang, who is in San Francisco as Taiwan’s envoy for the summit, thinks it is good news that they have resumed military communications. Taiwan is a key point of tension between Washington and Beijing, with China claiming self-ruled Taiwan as its territory.

# Soccer: Everton received the heaviest points deduction in Premier League history. The English club lost ten points for a breach of the league’s Profit and Sustainability rule. Sky Sports News reports the charge is related to interest payments on the construction cost of the club’s new stadium. The penalty leaves Everton with four points, positioning them in the relegation zone. In response, the club expressed shock and disappointment, announcing their intention to appeal the decision.

# And finally: The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has launched a 2.67-billion-rand plan over five years to combat invasive alien plants through the Working for Water Programme. It aims to create 38-thousand-839 work opportunities annually, focusing on rural communities. Invasive species have threatened biodiversity, water resources, and livelihoods, exacerbating floods and wildfires. Minister Barbara Creecy says the Gauteng Working for Water Programme will target 74-thousand-781 hectares over five years:

Play sound: ENG-CreecyOnWater

Stay tuned for more news………….