News 11:00

BULLETIN 20 February 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Police divers and the K9 unit are searching for the gun used in the shooting at Robert Mugabe’s son’s property
# The DA says the sugar industry amendments must prioritise competition and long-term sustainability
# And motorsport: Formula One’s president pleads for calm following criticism over the new regulations

# Police have not found the gun used in the shooting of a gardener at the residence of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s son in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, yesterday. Police cordoned off the crime scene last night and continued the search for the gun with a multidisciplinary team, including divers, forensics and a K-9 unit. Bellarmine Mugabe and another unidentified suspect have been charged with attempted murder. Police say a black BMW fitted with white lights belonging to Mugabe has been seized as evidence. 

# The DA says the recent amendments gazetted by minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, to the governance arrangements of the South African Sugar Association and the sugar industry agreement represent an overdue development for the sector. This follows confirmation that Tongaat Hulett would be liquidated, after business rescue practitioners exhausted all options to save the company. The DA’s Mlondli Mdluli says the future of the sugar industry cannot depend solely on regulatory adjustments or government protection:

# The EFF has called on National Assembly speaker, Thoko Didiza, to fast-track the full establishment of the oversight committee on the Presidency. Parliament approved the committee last year as a dedicated, rule-based structure for scrutinising the Presidency’s operations and budget. The EFF’s Natasha Ntlangwini says the committee is important in ensuring the Presidency does not operate outside the bounds of parliamentary scrutiny:

Moving abroad: 

# United Nations general secretary, António Guterres, says the future of artificial intelligence cannot be decided by a handful of countries or left to the whims of a few billionaires. He was speaking at the A-I Impact Summit in New Delhi, India, as A-I stands at the threshold of fundamentally reshaping human civilisation, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved. Guterres expressed concerns over negative outcomes if A-I growth is unregulated:

# Motorsport: Formula One president, Stefano Domenicali, says he does not understand the panic around the new regulations for this season. The biggest rule change in F1 history has seen cars, engines, and tyres all subject to change, in addition to the introduction of carbon-neutral, sustainable fuels. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen described the new cars as like Formula E on steroids. Domenicali says people need to be calm, as this is just the beginning of a new journey. He adds changes would be made if necessary.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-14-cents and the euro at 18-rand-97-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-803-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-and-23-dollars-34-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-52-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….