News 11:00

BULLETIN 14 March 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A political analyst says the EFF and the MK Party must strengthen their opposition roles
# Nine members of Parliament are reprimanded and fined for failing to declare their financial interests
# And an American Airlines jet catches fire but all people on board are evacuated safely

# Political analyst Asanda Ngoasheng says the EFF and the MK Party are not effectively challenging the government of national unity as the opposition parties. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Ngoasheng argues that both parties should take a more proactive approach in scrutinising policies and exercising oversight. She adds their role in budget debates will be crucial, as their influence could impact key decisions in Parliament:

Parliament’s joint committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests has meanwhile resolved to reprimand nine members of Parliament and impose fines. This is for their failure to declare their financial and registrable interests by the due date of 14 October last year. The fines imposed range from ten-thousand- to 12-thousand-500-rand. The committee says it is committed to ensuring the accountability of all MPs as the disclosure process facilitates the building of the public’s trust in the institution.

# ActionSA in Johannesburg rejected the metro’s adjustment budget, which was approved by the council yesterday. A total of 105 councillors, including those from the DA and ActionSA, rejected the proposed budget, while 138 councillors from the ANC-led government of local unity approved it. ActionSA’s Zark Lebatlang says their main concern is the 230-rand electricity surcharge that residents have been subjected to since last year:

# The US Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation after a fire broke out on an American Airlines flight en route to Dallas-Fort Worth from Colorado Springs. The flight with 172 passengers onboard, had to be diverted to Denver after the crew reported engine vibrations. The FAA says after landing and while taxiing to the gate an engine caught fire. Footage of the evacuation shows passengers huddled on the wing of the Boeing airliner, surrounded by smoke. Twelve were taken to hospital for minor injuries.

# Tennis: Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz is through to his fourth consecutive semifinal at the Indian Wells Masters. The Spaniard defeated Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo and will next face Briton Jack Draper, who beat American Ben Shelton. Fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia battled past France’s Arthur Fils. In the women’s draw, defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland and Russian Mirra Andreeva are through to the semifinals. Alcaraz says he enjoys playing at Indian Wells:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-27-cents and the euro at 19-rand-81-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-63-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-983-dollars-70-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-30-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….