News 17:00

BULLETIN 16 February 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# ActionSA calls for tighter immigration controls in a White Paper submission
# The Kremlin rejects European accusations that Alexei Navalny was poisoned with dart frog toxin
# And tennis: Carlos Alcaraz says he still has weaknesses in his game

# ActionSA has submitted proposals on the Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, calling for stricter controls and citizen prioritisation. The party proposes a ten-thousand annual asylum cap, enforcement of the First Safe Country Principle, and the creation of Integration and Repatriation Centres. ActionSA’s Lerato Ngobeni says they suggests biometric tracking and a dual-stream system separating economic migrants from refugees, while modernising skilled migration to support economic growth.

# The City of Tshwane reports that the overall water supply system remains healthy, with sustained recovery observed across reservoirs and supply zones. While isolated pressure points persist in region one and Mabopane, the network is largely stable and performing within acceptable levels. City spokesperson Lindela Mashigo says the city continues monitoring all zones to ensure consistent delivery and rapid response to any emerging issues:

# The Kremlin has rejected accusations from five European countries that Russia had killed critic Alexei Navalny two years ago using toxin from poison dart frogs. One of president Vladimir Putin’s most prominent domestic critics died in a far-flung Arctic prison in February 2024. In a joint statement this weekend, Britain, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands said analyses of samples from Navalny’s body confirmed the presence of the toxin epibatidine, found in poison dart frogs in South America and not found naturally in Russia.

# Tennis: World number one, Carlos Alcaraz, says despite having a lot of success, he still has weaknesses in his game. The 22-year-old Spaniard, who completed the career Grand Slam with his Australian Open victory last month, returns to action at the Qatar Open in Doha this week. Alcaraz, who will open his campaign against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech tomorrow, says he is only focused on improving in every tournament:

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-94-cents and the euro at 18-rand-90-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-75-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-944-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-2-dollars-22-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 67-dollars-46-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Gauteng residents are feeling the chill as a cold spell brings overcast skies, gusty winds, and rain across the province. The South African Weather Service forecasts lows of 11-degrees Celsius in Johannesburg and 12-degrees Celsius in Pretoria, with highs of 23-degree celcius and 26-degrees respectively. Motorists are urged to exercise caution while the Weather Service continues monitoring tropical cyclone Gezani in the Mozambique Channel.

Stay tuned for more news………….