News 13:00

BULLETIN 10 April 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# An increase is recorded in economic transactions in March
# The Green Connection calls on government to stop all new fossil fuel projects
# And tennis: Billie Jean King becomes the first sports star to receive a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame

# ​BankservAfrica’s Economic Transactions Index has recorded a slight increase last month, reaching 137.1 points. This is a 0.3-percent rise from February. This uptick suggests a favourable retail environment, supported by low headline inflation at 3.2-percent and a 75-basis point lower prime rate compared to the previous year. The data also indicates a growing weakness in South Africa’s economy, with the index reflecting the challenging economic environment.

# The Green Connection and Natural Justice have formally lodged objections against exploratory oil and gas surveys in Blocks 9 and 11B/12B, of the Outeniqua Basin in the Western Cape. The organisations argue that the exploration, development, and downstream use of oil and gas resources will result in unacceptable significant emissions of greenhouse gases. The Green Connection’s, Liz McDaid, says to combat climate change, government must stop all new fossil fuel projects:

# President Donald Trump’s administration has cancelled funding for the US Global Change Research Programme, an entity that produces the federal government’s climate change study. America’s Climate Assessment is published approximately every four years and is the country’s broadest assessment of current climate change impacts and climate science. According to experts, the assessment plays a key role in local and national decision-making about agriculture, energy production, and land and water use. The next assessment is due by 2027. 

# Tennis: Former American great Billie Jean King says she doesn’t want to be the last, after becoming the first to be given a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame’s new sports entertainment category. The 81-year-old was honoured on the famous sidewalk in Los Angeles, previously reserved for stars of cinema, television, radio, theatre and music. King won 39 singles and doubles Grand Slam titles and formed the Women’s Tennis Association for professional players. She is also an advocate for gender equality and social justice.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-47-cents and the euro at 21-rand-49-cents. One British pound costs 25-rand-6-cents and Bitcoin trades at 81-thousand-694-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-108-dollars-17-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 63-dollars-9-cents a barrel.

# And finally: It’s all systems go for the MK Party’s nationwide celebrations to mark the 83rd birthday of its founder, former president Jacob Zuma, on Saturday. The party says it has lined up political activities and programmes across all provinces to honour Zuma’s contribution to South Africa’s liberation struggle. MK Party spokesperson Nomahlubi Radebe says Zuma is set to speak in KwaZulu-Natal, while other senior party figures will lead events in Soweto in Gauteng, and Rustenburg in North West:

Stay tuned for more news………….