News 14:00

BULLETIN 20 October 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA lauches the Economic Inclusion for All Bill 
# Three witnesses will testify from safe houses with concealed identities as the Madlanga inquiry probes criminal cartels
# And rugby: Former Junior Bok captain Zachary Porthen is rewarded with a Bok call-up for the November tour

# The DA has launched the Economic Inclusion for All Bill that seeks to replace Black Economic Empowerment. The party says since BEE was introduced in 2003, the ANC has used state resources to line its pockets instead of delivering much-needed services and upliftment to the people. The DA’s Mat Cuthbert says it is now incumbent upon the ANC to recognise that its failed policies no longer enjoy the same public support as before:

# Three witnesses are set to testify from safe houses as the Madlanga commission of inquiry continues its probe into political interests in policing and cartels operating in Gauteng. Evidence leader Mahlape Sello says witnesses A, B, and C are police officers probing organised crime networks and are expected to reveal key details on ongoing murder and corruption investigations. Sello adds that their faces will not be shown during testimony, but their voices will be heard:

Moving abroad:

# Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says he would be ready to join Russian president Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, at their summit in Hungary if he is invited. Trump and Putin said they would meet, possibly in a matter of weeks, as Trump continues to try to broker a peace deal to end the three-and-a-half-year war, triggered by Russia’s 2022 invasion. Zelensky criticised the choice of Hungary, as it is seen as the most Kremlin-sympathetic member of the European Union.

# Rugby: Former Junior Springbok prop and captain Zachary Porthen earned his first Springbok call-up in Rassie Erasmus’ 36-man squad for the November tour. Ben-Jason Dixon, Johan Grobbelaar, and Gerhard Steenekamp will make their first appearances this season, while Jean Kleyn, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Edwill van der Merwe are all back from injury. Erasmus also placed 10 players on standby, including Evan Roos, Bongi Mbonambi and Sebastian de Klerk. Willie le Roux did not make the squad. The Springboks will play Japan at Wembley in London on the first of November.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-32-cents and the euro at 20-rand-20-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-23-cents and Bitcoin trades at 111-thousand-127-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-254-dollars-92-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 60-dollars-84-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Diwali’s celebration this year has been split between today and tomorrow, as the Amavasya period spans two days with varying sunset times. Cities where the sun sets after 5:30 p.m. celebrate today, while others observe it tomorrow. The Hindu festival symbolises the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Temples are adorned with colourful lights and festive decorations. The day is also marked by Hindu occasion Lakshmi Puja for the veneration of the goddess of prosperity.

Stay tuned for more news………….