News 18:00

BULLETIN 9 December 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Gwede Mantashe says renewal is a steady process
# An education activist applauds the government for championing early childhood development
# And, the City of Tshwane tightens its grip on illegal immigration

# ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe says party renewal is not an event but a gradual process. Speaking on the sidelines of the 5th National General Council in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, Mantashe noted that journalists often overlook progress, such as reviving inactive leagues. Mantashe emphasised that renewal involves focusing on steady, long-term transformation within the party:

# Education activist, Hendrick Makaneta, has applauded the Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube for championing the 496-million-rand Early Childhood Care and Education Outcomes Fund. The fund is designed to transform early learning for the country’s youngest children over the next three years. Makaneta says the fund is the bold action needed to shift early learning at scale:

# The City of Tshwane says it welcomes foreign nationals who wish to live, work and contribute positively to society, but this must occur within the legal framework. Metro Police Department operations in Centurion and Wonderboom recently led to the arrest of 46 undocumented foreign nationals. Mayoral committee member for Community Safety, Hannes Coetzee, says the arrests reflect the metro’s growing resolve to protect communities from the consequences of uncontrolled and illegal migration:

# Japanese authorities lifted tsunami warnings earlier today, hours after a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake shook northeastern regions. The quake injured at least 30 people and forced about 90-thousand residents to evacuate their homes. The earthquake struck off the coast last night, with Japan’s Meteorological Agency at the time warning about a tsunami as high as three-metres along the northeastern coast. The epicentre of the quake was 80 kilometres off the coast of Aomori prefecture, at a depth of 54 kilometres.

# Cricket: A total of 350 players were shortlisted for next Tuesday’s mini auction for the next Indian Premier League season. Among them are 240 local players and 110 from overseas. Proteas batter and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock and 34 other players were included following franchises’ request after not being part of the longlist. The players vie for just 77 available slots to be filled, of which 31 must go to overseas players. The auction takes place in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-10-cents and the euro at 19-rand-88-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-75-cents and Bitcoin trades at 90-thousand-414-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-193-dollars-13-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 62-dollars-25-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….