News 09:00

BULLETIN 18 December 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says the SADC will ensure free and fair elections in Madagascar
# The ANC calls for urgent action on inner-city crime in Johannesburg
# And the Oscars will be streamed live on YouTube from 2029

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the Southern African Development Community has reaffirmed its commitment to remain actively engaged with the political and security situation in Madagascar until an elected government is established through electoral processes. He chaired the Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government in his capacity as interim chairperson on Wednesday. Ramaphosa emphasised that cooperation is key to the region’s stability, peace, and progress:

# The ANC is calling for maximum speed and determination to apprehend and prosecute the criminals responsible for the brutal murder of Warrick Stock, popularly known as DJ Warras. The 40-year-old was fatally shot on Tuesday near the Calton Centre in the Johannesburg CBD. ANC spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu, says this heinous crime is a direct attack on the very fabric of society, and underscores the urgent crisis of criminality and lawlessness plaguing inner cities:

# Eastern Cape MEC of Transport and Community Safety, Xolile Nqatha, has condemned the shooting of eight people in separate incidents at Walmer township in Gqeberha. Four males were shot and killed on Tuesday. On Sunday, a 39-year-old man was shot and killed at Mankazana Street, while three other bodies were found with gunshot wounds at Airport Valley. The MEC’s spokesperson, Makhaya Komisa, says a manhunt for the suspects is underway:

# Athletics: World Athletics president Sebastian Coe says he is also frustrated by the farcical situation surrounding banned Kenyan athlete Ruth Chepngetich’s marathon world record, but there is nothing he can do. She recorded the astonishing time of three-hours-nine-minutes-56 seconds in the Chicago Marathon last October, and although she was given a three-year anti-doping ban this year, her results were only expulsed from March. Coe says the law states only a positive test and evidence of doping infringement are accepted as proof, and they don’t have that.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-77-cents and the euro at 19-rand-69-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-41-cents and Bitcoin trades at 86-thousand-854-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-331-dollars-72-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 59-dollars-78-cents a barrel.

# And finally, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has signed a multi-year deal that will give YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars, beginning in 2029. The deal will run through 2033. ABC, owned by Disney, has been the home of the Oscars for decades and will continue to show the awards ceremony through 2028. The Academy says that through this collaboration, they will be able to celebrate cinema, inspire new generations of filmmakers, and provide access to their film history on an unprecedented global scale.

Stay tuned for more news………….