News 18:00

BULLETIN 15 May 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the new extradition law is to align South Africa with international crime protocols
# Cabinet backs a 90-day emergency plan to tackle gender-based violence and femicide
# And cricket: Rickelton and Markram will open the batting for the Proteas in the final of the World Test Championship

# Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the new Extradition Bill will align South Africa with global crime-fighting protocols and strengthen international cooperation. The cabinet has approved the draft bill for public comment, saying it will help the government meet international obligations in combating organised crime, corruption, and other serious offences. Ntshavheni told the media the updated legislation will make it easier to send and receive fugitives across borders:

Cabinet has also approved a 90-day emergency plan to combat gender-based violence and femicide, led by eight priority teams. These teams will focus on key areas such as law enforcement, victim support, and community engagement to ensure a coordinated response. Ntshavheni says the plan aims to deliver immediate results by strengthening prevention efforts, reducing violence and keeping women safe:

# Eskom says stage two load-shedding will continue during this evening’s peak until 10 pm, but will be suspended afterwards. The utility says one-thousand-175 megawatts has already been restored since the start of the week, with another one-thousand-850 megawatts expected to return by tomorrow evening. Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena says these improvements, along with sufficient emergency reserves, are helping to stabilise the grid:

# Russian president Vladimir Putin sent aides and deputy ministers for peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey today, spurning Kyiv’s challenge to go there in person to meet president Volodymyr Zelensky. Putin earlier proposed direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul, and Zelensky promised to be waiting for him. Reuters reports Putin kept the world guessing about his plans for days, while the Kremlin named a lower-level delegation which was described by Kyiv’s European allies as a snub. It’s still inclear how Ukraine would respond.

# Cricket: Ryan Rickelton will be Aiden Markram’s opening partner in next month’s final of the World Test Championship between South Africa and Australia, starting at Lord’s in London on the eleventh. Head coach Shukri Conrad says left-handed Rickelton’s adaptability to seaming conditions will give the Proteas a huge advantage on the English pitches. Rickelton cemented his spot when he scored a double century against Pakistan at Newlands in January. Conrad isn’t sure yet of the role of former opener Tony de Zorzi, who missed that match through injury.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-7-cents and the euro at 20-rand-23-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-1-cent and Bitcoin trades at 102-thousand-323-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-206-dollars-92-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 64-dollars-11-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….