News 15:00

BULLETIN 28 February 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Dean Macpherson secures investment interest following a Middle East visit
# Soccer: La Liga’s president accuses Manchester City of financial irregularities
# And the Vatican says Pope Francis’s health is improving

# Public Works and Infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson has wrapped up a seven-day visit to the Middle East, securing investment interest in South Africa’s infrastructure sector. Macpherson emphasised the visit’s role in attracting 100-billion-rand in private sector investment. The minister says he now aims to turn discussions into tangible results, strengthening ties and accelerating infrastructure development to drive economic growth and job creation:

Meanwhile, the Expropriation Act is expected to create opportunities for youth to participate in the economy. Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, announced government’s plan to tackle youth unemployment in five years. Speaking at the inaugural Empower Youth Indaba in Johannesburg, she said government will use its G20 Presidency to position young people for future jobs:

# The MK Party has terminated the membership of former Mpumalanga leader Mary Phadi. Reports say she received her termination letter on the red carpet of the state of the province address. The party cited misconduct, including taking the party to court without exhausting internal remedies. MK convener Busisiwe Mkhwebane says Phadi is barred from participating or identifying herself as a party member:

# Soccer: La Liga president, Javier Tebas, has revealed that the Spanish league filed a legal complaint against Manchester City to the European Commission in 2023, accusing the Premier League club of financial irregularities. He alleges that City received foreign subsidies from the United Arab Emirates, allowing the club to enhance its competitive position and causing significant distortions across various national and European Union markets. Tebas says the case is ongoing and is currently in an investigation phase. City has refuted the allegations.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-48-cents and the euro at 19-rand-21-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-27-cents and Bitcoin trades at 80-thousand-330-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-861-dollars-79-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-59-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Vatican says 88-year old Pope Francis spent a peaceful night in hospital, a day after it noted improvement in his clinical condition for a second straight day. After being admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on 14 February for breathing difficulties, the pontiff’s condition sparked widespread alarm as it deteriorated into pneumonia in both lungs. After a difficult weekend in which the Argentine, who has been pope since 2013, suffered a respiratory attack, the Vatican this week noted slight, incremental improvements in his condition.

Stay tuned for more news………….