News 17:00

BULLETIN 9 January 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Human Rights Commission investigates alleged racist incident on a Durban-Cape Town flight
# Cricket: The new SA20 season starts this afternoon
# And: A veterinarian is sheltering dozens of pets during the raging Los Angeles fire

# The South African Human Rights Commission has launched an investigation into an alleged racist incident on a FlySafair flight from Durban to Cape Town. This after on 26 December an alleged intoxicated passenger became aggressive, using racist slurs and attacking flight attendants after being denied more alcohol. Commissioner Tshepo Madlingozi says a criminal complaint has been filed and encourages passengers with relevant information to come forward:

# ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa expressed hope that sufficient funds will be raised to support the party’s activities during its 113th birthday celebrations. Speaking at the Progressive Business Forum Presidential Golf Day in Cape Town, Ramaphosa emphasised the event’s focus on networking and strategic engagement. He noted a resurgence of business community interest, despite the ANC’s loss of a majority in the last general elections:

# Pope Francis has warned of the dangers of misinformation and its spread via social media and artificial intelligence. In his traditional New Year’s address to diplomats at the Vatican, Francis lamented the increasing polarisation of society, aggravated by the continuous creation and spread of fake news, which not only distorts facts but also perceptions. He said this phenomenon generates false images of reality, a climate of suspicion that foments hate, undermines people’s sense of security and compromises civil coexistence and the stability of entire nations.

# Cricket: The third edition of the SA20 gets underway today, with back-to-back reigning champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape taking on MI Cape Town at St George’s Park in Gqeberha. Sunrisers coach Adrian Birrell has managed to retain the core of his championship-winning team and bolstered it with the recruitment of England internationals Zak Crawley, Richard Gleeson, and Craig Overton. Meanwhile, MI Cape Town, who finished rock bottom in 2023 and 2024, is boosted by acquiring Proteas white-ball opener Reeza Hendricks for 4.3-million-rand.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-87-cents and the euro at 19-rand-44-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-21-cents and Bitcoin trades at 93-thousand-127-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-672-dollars-27-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-21-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A veterinarian with two hospitals in Los Angeles miles away from the ongoing blazes, has opened three locations for displaced dogs, cats and other pets. Annie Harvilicz told CNN it began as caring for her brother’s two pets, but she is now sheltering dozens of animals as their owners’ race to safety. Her staff are looking after the pets by feeding them, providing space for them to roam around, and offering medical care to the injured animals, some of whom suffered burns and lacerations. Volunteers are also assisting the staff.

Stay tuned for more news………….