News 08:00

BULLETIN 19 February 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Parliament says its current laws are sufficient to deal with the removal of judges
# Azapo is urging the over 14-million unregistered voters in the country to register before the elections
# And tennis, Jannik Sinner captures his maiden Rotterdam Open title 

# Parliament says the current laws allow it to proceed with voting for the removal of suspended Western Cape Judge President, John Hlophe, and retired judge, Nkola Motata. Hlophe has filed an application in the Western Cape High Court to interdict Parliament from voting on his removal on Wednesday. He argues that Parliament has failed to adopt rules for the impeachment of a judicial officer. Parliament says its decision is correct to go ahead with considering the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services’ recommendations to remove Hlophe and Motata.

# The Azanian People’s Organisation says the upcoming national general elections are important for the future of the country. The party is urging the more than 14 million citizens of voting age in the country, mostly young people, to register to vote. AZAPO’s spokesperson, Jabu Rakwena, says voter apathy is no cure to get the corrupt politicians out of government:

# Gauteng Education MEC, Matome Chiloane, will visit Primrose Primary School in Germiston today following the shooting of the principal. The 51-year-old was shot by a Grade six boy last week Friday. the circumstances surrounding the shooting are being investigated by the police. The department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, says the principal is still recovering from the gunshot wound in hospital, and the learner has been arrested:

# At least 53 people have been killed in an ambush in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands region. Police say the men were shot dead in the Enga province after an escalation of a tribal dispute. This is believed to be the worst massacre in the country’s recent history. Tribal violence in the country has been rising since the last election in 2022, with the Highlands region seeing conflict in August last year that resulted in the deaths of more than 150 residents.

# Tennis: Reigning Australian Open champion, Jannik Sinner, captured his second tour-level title of the season by winning the Rotterdam Open. The Italian defeated Australia’s Alex de Minaur, 7-5, 6-4, to win the title for the first time. The 22-year-old will rise to a career-high world number three in the ATP Rankings. Sinner says he is proud of the level that he played throughout the tournament:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-88-cents and the euro at 20-rand-36-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 52-thousand-74-dollars-62-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-21-dollars-18-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-91-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….