News 15:00

BULLETIN 11 October 3 pm

Good morning/Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA commends the economic improvements after 100 days of the government of national unity
# Paul Mashatile rejects false investigation claims on social media
# And motorsport: MotoGP will have a two-year engine freeze ahead of new regulations in 2027

# DA leader John Steenhuisen has praised the country’s economic progress, attributing it to its involvement in the government of national unity. Speaking to the media marking 100 days in government, Steenhuisen highlighted priorities like job creation, expanding infrastructure, and fostering a competitive energy sector. He also emphasised digitising Home Affairs, and boosting private sector investment as key drivers for growth:

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile has condemned false allegations circulating on the social media platform X and amplified by News24, suggesting he is under investigation for his finances and lifestyle. Mashatile’s office claims the accusations are politically motivated fabrications to damage his reputation. The deputy president reaffirmed his confidence in state institutions and criticised those misusing them for political gain.

# Desperate rescue efforts are under way after Israeli airstrikes in central Beirut killed at least 22 people and left many buried under rubble. Israel says it’s targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. However, the area that came under attack is outside the group’s stronghold in the capital’s southern suburbs where many had fled in hope of safety. A United Nations source says Israeli forces have fired on peacekeepers in Lebanon again, amid international condemnation of Israel over the targeting of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.

# Motorsport: The International Motorcycling Federation has put a MotoGP engine freeze for the 2025 and ’26 seasons. This is in preparation for the new specification bikes coming in in 2027. Under the current rules, manufacturers could submit completely new engines before the first Grand Prix of each season. The federation says the freeze is to control costs and maximise parity ahead of the introduction of the new regulations. The maximum number of engines allowed for each rider in a season will also be reduced from seven to six.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-47-cents and the euro at 19-rand-9-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-81-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-34-dollars-28-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-640-dollars-24-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-80-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Japanese organisation Nihon Hidankyo, representing atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also known as Hibakusha. The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised their efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons and for sharing powerful testimonies on the dangers of their use. In a media briefing, the Nobel committee’s Jorgen Watne Frydnes said the group is being recognised for its decades-long campaign to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons: 

Stay tuned for more news………….