News 11:00

BULLETIN 30 September 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Free Market Foundation says government’s foreign policy failures threaten citizens
# US vice president JD Vance says Democrats are to blame for the looming government shutdown
# And cricket: England’s coach expects at least a semifinal finish in the Women’s World Cup

# The Free Market Foundation says South Africa’s prosperity depends on openness, trade, and the rule of law. Government is still negotiating with the US on a trade agreement. The foundation says the reforms requested by America, respecting property rights, ending racially divisive regulations, and confronting hate speech, are measures fully consistent with the Constitution. It adds by clinging to failed ideologies and alienating the country’s largest export partner, the ANC is condemning millions of citizens to poverty for the sake of Cold War theatre.

# The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research says South Africa experienced a sharp reduction in loadshedding during the first half of this year. The amount of electricity shed fell by 82-percent compared with the same period last year. This improvement is attributed to lower electricity demand, new generation capacity and a marginal rise in Eskom’s energy availability factor. The council’s Sipho Mdhluli says the reliability of Eskom’s power plants also improved modestly:

# The DA is demanding accountability after reports of abuse and overcrowding of mental health patients at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Tshwane. DA spokesperson, Madeleine Hicklin, says patients are crammed into crumbling wards despite a completed upgrade plan submitted in 2022. Hicklin highlights severe staff shortages, poor infrastructure, and deplorable conditions. She calls for urgent approval of the plan, staff appointments, and accountability from Gauteng’s leadership:

Moving abroad:

# US vice president JD Vance believes a federal government shutdown will happen as an impasse remains on how to keep funding flowing. Yesterday’s last-ditch meeting between president Donald Trump and Democratic leaders in Congress made little progress. Democrats are refusing to support the Republican Party’s legislation to continue funding beyond today unless it includes several healthcare provisions. Vance has pinned the blame on Democrats for demanding negotiations on health care funding in exchange for keeping the government open:

# Cricket: England Women’s coach Charlotte Edwards expects at least a semifinal finish in the one-day World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, starting today with the match between the two hostesses in Guwahati. England’s first encounter is against South Africa on Friday. England lost to Australia in the final of the previous tournament in 2022. Edwards hopes their victories over Australia and India in recent warm-up matchets will boost their confidence. The eight teams play each other once and the top-four advance to the semifinals.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-26-cents and the euro at 20-rand-26-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-19-cents and Bitcoin trades at 113-thousand-958-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-854-dollars-50-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-55-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….