News 09:00

BULLETIN 3 March 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Eskom avoided implementing load-shedding over the weekend
# The European leaders agree on a plan to help end the war in Ukraine
# And Anora wins the best picture at the Oscars

# Eskom says unit two of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station experienced an unplanned, non-technical trip while operating at full capacity on Sunday. This resulted in the unit being safely shut down, however, it is expected to be reconnected to the national grid within 48 hours. Eskom’s spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, says Koeberg unit two inadvertently tripped during the execution of work on unit one, which is currently offline for work to be conducted as part of its Long-Term Operation programme:

# COSATU has welcomed minister of Employment and Labour Makhosazana Meth’s plan to increase the number of labour inspectors tenfold from two-thousand to 20-thousand in the medium-term. Cosatu’s spokesperson, Znele Sabela says an advertisement calling for applications for the first ten-thousand has already been published. She says the federation intends to increase the number of joint workplace inspections in collaboration with the department:

# UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, says European leaders have agreed on a four-point plan to defend a deal in Ukraine and guarantee peace. The leaders held an emergency summit in London on Sunday, following a fiery exchange between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his US counterpart Donald Trump in the White House last Friday. Starmer says the plan includes keeping military aid flowing into Ukraine and maintaining increased economic pressure on Russia:

# Cricket: India defeated New Zealand by 44 runs to finish top of Group A in the Champions Trophy in Dubai, setting up a semifinal clash with Australia tomorrow. Shreyas Iyer shared a 98-run stand with Axar Patel as they led India to 249 for nine, with Matt Henry taking five wickets. In reply, Varun Chakravarthy’s five wickets helped India restrict the Blackcaps to 205 despite Kane Williamson’s 81. South Africa, winners of Group B, will face New Zealand in the other semifinal on Wednesday.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-62-cents and the euro at 19-rand-40-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-47-cents and Bitcoin trades at 92-thousand-800-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-864-dollars-3-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-11-cents a barrel.

# And finally, Anora, a film about a lap-dancer who impulsively marries a Russian playboy, won best picture at the 97th Academy Awards held in Los Angeles. The film won five awards in total, including best director for Sean Baker, original screenplay, and editing. Adrien Brody was named best actor for The Brutalist, while Mikey Madison won best actress for Anora. Kieran Culkin won the Oscar for best supporting actor for A Real Pain, with Zoe Saldaña named best supporting actress for her performance in Emilia Pérez. Best adapted screenplay went to Conclave.

Stay tuned for more news………….