News 13:00

BULLETIN 25 February 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Cape Town International Airport resumes its normal operations after yesterday’s fire
# The UN calls for every diplomatic tool to be used to end the Russian-Ukrainian war
# And cricket: New Zealand knows they have to adapt to Colombo’s slower pitches today

# Cape Town International Airport says operations are returning to normal after yesterday’s fire in the international inner lane. The fire was quickly extinguished with no injuries. Some manual processing remains for international arrivals, and baggage. Airports Company South African spokesperson Ofentse Dijoe advises passengers to check flight status with airlines and use the temporary Meeters and Greeters area while the airport finalises safety assessments:

# The South African Institute of Taxation has urged South Africans to prepare for new tax policy measures ahead of Finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s budget speech. Acting deputy CEO Keitumetse Sesana told Newzroom Afrika improved collections by the South African Revenue Service and broadened enforcement may reduce the tax gap. She also emphasised that incentives and support from National Treasury could ease pressure on compliant taxpayers:

# The Free Market Foundation warns that South Africa is losing high-net-worth individuals and skilled professionals, as the United Arab Emirates continues to attract global talent and investment. The foundation’s Brian Benfield says the U-A-E’s pro-market policies, low taxes, reliable infrastructure, and safe environment contrast sharply with South Africa’s governance challenges, high crime levels, and infrastructure decay. He says for the country to reverse this outflow and compete with jurisdictions such as the U-A-E, it needs to embark on reforms of exceptional depth and seriousness.

# The United Nations says the international community must use every diplomatic tool to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. More than 15-thousand civilians have been killed since Russia’s invasion four years ago, with over 41-thousand injured and millions forced to flee their homes. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, stresses the need for concrete measures to both de-escalate the fighting and create a space for diplomacy:

# Cricket: New Zealand’s captain, Mitchell Santner, says it would be key to adapt to Colombo’s slower pitches in today’s T20 World Cup Super Eights clash with co-hosts Sri Lanka. The Black Caps desperately needs victory after their first encounter in the phase against Pakistan at the same venue rained out. Santner says they played on flat pitches in India during the group phase, but he believes they have spin options covered. Sri Lanka is also under pressure after losing to England in their first Super Eights clash.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-90-cents and the euro at 18-rand-75-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-49-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-521-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-187-dollars-26-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-89-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….