News 18:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 15 November 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA demands that Transnet presents a turnaround plan in Parliament
# The multinational Standard Chartered Bank admits liability to the currency manipulation case
# And Cricket: The Proteas are ready to face Australia for a place in the World Cup final

# The DA demands Transnet’s turnaround plan be presented to Parliament’s portfolio committee on Public Enterprises, citing the entity’s economic impact and limited parliamentary oversight. The party calls for urgent tabling in Parliament for thorough scrutiny. The DA’s Mimmy Gondwe says Transnet’s staggering debt, financial losses, and irregular expenditure calls for strengthened committee oversight and urgent visits to assess port capacity. Gondwe says with the fruit season approaching, exporters express concerns over port efficiency:

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# The Competition Commission of South Africa has reached a settlement agreement with UK-based multinational bank, Standard Chartered. In terms of the settlement agreement, the bank admitted liability in the manipulation of the US dollar and South African rand currency pair for the period covering 2007 to 2013.  The bank also agreed to pay an administrative penalty of 42.7-million-rand. The commission’s spokesperson, Siyabulela Makunga says the bank also participated in dividing of markets and allocation of customers:

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# Qatar is mediating a potential agreement between Hamas and Israel, proposing the release of approximately 50 civilian hostages from Gaza in exchange for a three-day ceasefire. News24 reports coordinated with the United States, the deal could also involve Israel releasing Palestinian women and children from its jails and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. While Hamas has tentatively agreed, Israel is still in negotiations. The exact number of Palestinian women and children to be potentially released by Israel is currently unknown.

# Cricket: South Africa will face five-time champion Australia in the second semifinal of the World Cup in India tomorrow. The Proteas finished the group phase in second place on the log, after some impressive performances at the tournament. The one question mark that remains is South Africa’s ability to chase a total. They batted second in both matches they lost – against the Netherlands and the hosts. Proteas coach Rob Walter says it is important that someone anchors the innings:

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# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-20-cents and the euro at 19-rand-75-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-65-cents and Bitcoin trades at 36-thousand-69-dollars-2-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-963-dollars-9-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 81-dollars-48-cents a barrel.

# And finally: SA Rugby has expressed its sadness after the death of an East London fan who was injured during the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup victory tour. SA Rugby president Mark Alexander extended their heartfelt condolences to Minentle Noqhamka’s family and friends. The twenty-year-old student tried to jump on a police Nyala which accompanied the rugby players’ tour bus, and landed underneath the vehicle. She died after her leg had to be amputated. Sizwe Kupelo of the Eastern Cape Health Department says her death was attributed to unnatural causes, and an autopsy will be performed.

Stay tuned for more news………….