News 08:00

BULLETIN 4th January 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Trump says Nicolás Maduro will face justice, with America running Venezuela until a ‘safe’ transition
# A human rights group says the US operation in Venezuela is a catastrophic failure of diplomacy
# And in rugby, the Stormers clinch the Bulls derby, and the Lions narrowly beat the Sharks

# President Donald Trump says America will run Venezuela until it is safe to have a transition to a new government.  The US attacked Venezuela and captured its long-serving President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in an overnight operation on Saturday. According to a Justice Department official Maduro is expected to make an initial appearance in the Manhattan federal court on Monday. Maduro’s apparent successor, Venezuelan vice president Delcy Rodríguez, appeared on Venezuelan television Saturday afternoon, and called Maduro “the only president of Venezuela.”

Meanwhile the International Human Rights Foundation has expressed grave concern over the US military operation in Venezuela. Trump has accused Maduro of running a narco terrorist organisation. The foundation described the action as a catastrophic failure of diplomacy, violation of international law and the destabilisation of international order. It calls for sovereignty and global legal principles.

And in a further development the Department of International Relations and Cooperation has expressed concern over US military operations in Venezuela. DIRCO spokesperson Crispin Phiri stressed the intervention undermines sovereignty and called on the UN Security Council to convene:

# With the festive season travel in full swing, the Road Traffic Management Corporation is encouraging vehicle owners to fix their vehicles and renew vehicle licences. During the festive period last year, vehicle factors contributed 6.9-percent of total fatal crashes in the country, 65.7-percent of these were due to tyre bursts and 11.4-percent due to faulty brakes. RTMC spokesperson, Simon Zwane, says driving with an expired disc in South Africa incurs penalties:

# Rugby: A last-minute try by replacement prop Ntuthuko Mchunu secured the Stormers a nail-biting 13-8 win over their arch-rivals the Bulls at a packed Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. It was the Stormers’ eighth win in eight games and cemented their place on top of the United Rugby Championship’s log.

A try by World Junior Player of the year Haashim Pead secured a dramatic 23-22 victory for the Lions over the Sharks on Saturday in Durban. The win lifts the Lions into seventh position on the overall log. In the other URC games on Saturday the Glasgow Warriors finished off Zebre 47-10, Leinster secured a 52-17 victory over Connacht, while Edinburgh narrowly beat Benetton 15-14.

# And finally, the National Sea Rescue Institute has urged beach swimmers to practice caution as a spring-tide is anticipated in the next few days. This comes as the search continues for three men swept away to sea at Pennington Main Beach and Thompson’s Bay in KwaZulu-Natal. The victims were among holidaymakers caught in strong currents on New Year’s Day. NSRI’s Craig Lambinon says the tragedy has sparked calls for more public awareness campaigns:

Stay tuned for more news………….