News 16:00

BULLETIN 21 February 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Eastern Cpe police probe a triple murder in Lusikisiki
# A spike in honey bee poisonings is threatening food security in the Western Cape
# And soccer: Pep Guardiola wants to lead City into a new era after their Champions League exit

# Eastern Cape police are investigating a case of murder after a balaclava-clad man fatally shot three women in a house in Lusikisiki last night. Spokesperson Welile Matyolo says the suspect reportedly entered a home in Sitshayelo locality, asking for a family member before shooting her, along with her mother and sister:

Meanwhile, police are set to review high murder zones on Thursday, focusing on areas with elevated crime rates. The review will assess law enforcement strategies and explore measures to address the rising number of murders, with particular attention to the use of firearms. Police minister Senzo Mchunu told the media during the release of the latest crime statistics over 16-thousand firearms were recently destroyed as part of efforts to remove illegal weapons from communities:

# The Western Cape Bee Industry Association is warning of the rise in honey bee poisonings across the province, which is endangering biodiversity and food security. According to Daily Maverick, a Worcester beekeeper, who provides large-scale pollination services to agricultural farms, reported a loss of more than 600 of his colonies on a single blueberry farm. The association has condemned what it says is the careless and often uninformed use of agricultural chemicals, which pose a severe threat to food production, the environment, and the livelihoods of beekeepers.

# Arab leaders are gathering in Saudi Arabia to hammer out a recovery plan for Gaza aimed at countering president Donald Trump’s proposal for US control of the territory and the expulsion of its people. Trump’s plan has united Arab states in opposition to it, but disagreements remain over who should govern the war-ravaged Palestinian territory and how to fund its reconstruction. Trump triggered global outrage when he proposed the United States take over the Gaza Strip and relocate its more than two-million residents to Egypt and Jordan.

# Soccer: Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, says nothing is eternal. He reacted after his team was eliminated from the Champions League after being beaten 6-3 on aggregate by Real Madrid, marking the first time during his tenure they couldn’t reach the last 16. City could only end in 22nd place in the league phase. Guardiola admits they had been outplayed for much of the season, but aims to lead his team into a new era after the January signing of six new players.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-37-cents and the euro at 19-rand-22-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-22-cents and Bitcoin trades at 98-thousand-777-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-932-dollars-50-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-50-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….