News 14:00

BULLETIN 19 September 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The KZN police commissioner accuses journalists of shielding drug squads during his Madlanga Commission testimony
# Minister Steenhuisen says the G20 will continue pressing for fairer agricultural rules at the World Trade Organisation
# And Motorsport: Carlos Sainz calls for permanent race stewards after successfully appealing a penalty

# KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says some journalists have been shielding police drug squads from scrutiny. Testifying on day three of the Madlanga commission of inquiry in Pretoria, Mkhwanazi claimed certain reporters have tried to shield units involved in criminal activities by spreading false stories aimed at discrediting him. He argued that media bias was helping protect questionable police operations and protect those linked to the drug trade:

# Agriculture minister, John Steenhuisen says the G20 Food Security Task Force will continue pressing for fairer agricultural rules at the World Trade Organisation that reduce distortions and protect the interests of farmers in developing countries. The minister says through the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme framework, Africa will carry this momentum into the coming decade, ensuring that global commitments translate into regional and national action:

# US President Donald Trump has suggested some TV networks should have their licences “taken away”, as he backed America’s broadcast watchdog in a row over the suspension of late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel. ABC has pulled the comedian off air “indefinitely” after his remarks about the murder of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk in Utah last week. ABC axed the show after the Federal Communications Commission, headed by a Trump appointee, threatened regulatory action. Trump told reporters the networks only give him bad publicity.

# Motorsport: Carlos Sainz called for permanent race stewards in Formula One following his successful appeal against a penalty he received after a collision at the Dutch Grand Prix. Williams driver Sainz protested immediately after his collision with Alpine’s Liam Lawson at the end of August. Williams submitted additional evidence and the Zandvoort stewards changed their decision and cancelled the penalty. Under the present system, stewards are appointed on a race-by-race basis. Sainz said two of the three stewards should be fixed for every race of the season.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-34-cents and the euro at 20-rand-40-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-42-cents and Bitcoin trades at 116-thousand-532-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-656-dollars-17-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-38-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Today is National Recycling Day South Africa, a day to raise awareness around recycling and waste reduction, with a particular focus on paper products. South Africa currently recycles 46-percent of plastic, which is higher than most countries. Paper is recycled at 70-percent, beverage cans/metal are recycled at 72-percent, and glass is recycled at 42-percent. Meanwhile, Saturday will mark World Cleanup Day, a global event that rallies millions of volunteers in 190 countries to combat plastic waste and pollution.

Stay tuned for more news………….