News 18:00

BULLETIN 25 April 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA raises concerns over Eskom’s excessive diesel consumption 
# An American court orders a new sex crime trial for Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein                   
# And rugby: The Varsity Cup’s use of new tackle height laws has led to fewer concussions 

# The DA has raised alarm over Eskom’s massive diesel consumption, surpassing the annual budget of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. National spokesperson for Public Enterprises, Mimmy Gondwe, points to minister Pravin Gordhan’s revelation that Eskom spent 65-billion rand on diesel over five-years for its open cycle gas turbines. She criticises the unsustainable levels of diesel usage, attributing it to consumers facing double-digit tariff increases by the National Energy Regulator:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa has commended Airports Company, South Africa, in collaboration with airlines, for their efforts to enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities at airport facilities. These initiatives include designated parking, assisted lounges, and private search facilities. The president delivered a keynote address at the transport summit on universal accessibility, at the Birchwood Conference Centre, in Ekurhuleni. According to Ramaphosa, this initiative reflects a commitment to inclusivity, ensuring equal access to transportation infrastructure for all citizens, regardless of physical ability:

# New York’s highest court today overturned Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 conviction on sex crime charges and ordered a new trial. In their decision, judges cited errors in the way the trial had been conducted, including admitting the testimony of women who were not part of the charges against him. This is a reversal in the foundational case of the #MeToo era. Director of the Women’s Equal Justice project, Jane Manning, says this is a shocking and disheartening day for survivors of sexual assault.

Also in the United States, police have arrested hundreds more protesters in locations across the country as protests against the war in Gaza intensify across university campuses. Some 108 arrests were made at Emerson College in Boston, while 93 pro-Palestinian protesters were taken into custody at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles on trespassing charges. Protesters and police also clashed at the University of Texas in Austin, with 34 people arrested. The latest arrests follow others at Columbia, Yale and New York Universities.

# Rugby: SA Rugby has congratulated everyone involved in the Varsity Cup competition for their approach to the new tackle height laws introduced this year, saying this led to fewer concussions and fewer penalties for high tackles. Players are only allowed to tackle at the base of the sternum or below. CEO Rian Oberholzer says coaches and players worked hard to achieve the correct, safe and effective tackle technique, while referees enforced them. He says projects such as these come with teething problems, but make the game safer.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-6-cents and the euro at 20-rand-41-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-80-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-671-dollars-31-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-320-dollars-98-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 86-dollars-50-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….