News 16:00

BULLETIN 1 December 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# AfriForum criticizes Ramaphosa for ignoring solutions to restore US relations
# Hong Kong arrests more suspects in the fire probe as the death toll hits 151
# And cricket: Joe Root believes the Ashes does not need a pink-ball Test

# AfriForum says president Cyril Ramaphosa and ANC policies are to blame for South Africa’s strained relations with the US. The forum’s Kallie Kriel links Ramaphosa’s signing of the Expropriation Act and the Bela Act to US funding withdrawals. He says AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement have offered solutions that were ignored. Kriel says AfriForum remains committed to protecting property rights and restoring US relations:

# Former Ekurhuleni city manager Imogen Mashazi says she faces prejudice in preparing her statement for the Madlanga commission due to restricted access to municipal records since leaving the city. Mashazi is accused of advancing the career of suspended metropolice acting head Julius Mkhwanazi. Her lawyers say they may add further details once missing documents are secured. Commission chair Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga acknowledged the challenge and granted time for a supplementary statement:

Moving abroad:

# Hong Kong authorities have arrested 13 people for suspected manslaughter in a probe into the Chinese region’s deadliest fire in decades. Last week’s blaze that has claimed at least 151 lives was most likely fuelled by substandard renovation materials. Police are still sweeping the seven burnt-out towers at the Wang Fuk Court estate, finding bodies in stairwells and on rooftops. More than 40 people are still missing. Investigators told a news conference samples of the green mesh used on the bamboo scaffolding did not match fire retardant standards.

# Cricket: England’s Joe Root believes a series like the Ashes, given its popularity, does not need to include a pink-ball Test, like the one that will be played at the Gabba from Thursday. He has played in each of England’s seven previous day-night Tests, of which they have won just two and lost five. Australia had won 13 of their 14 day-night Tests. Root says playing the pink ball against Australia’s attack in Brisbane conditions will be tough:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-8-cents and the euro at 19-rand-87-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-62-cents and Bitcoin trades at 85-thousand-859-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-251-dollars-74-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-97-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The National Science and Technology Forum recognised Rachael Dangarembizi from the University of Cape Town for her groundbreaking research on cryptococcal meningitis in people living with HIV. The senior lecturer established Africa’s first CryptoLab to study brain infections. Dangarembizi highlights lethal HIV-related complications in sub-Saharan Africa and calls for increased investment in neuro-infection research and support for emerging African scientists:

Stay tuned for more news………….