News 12:00

BULLETIN 2 March 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Shipping companies divert their vessels around the Cape after the strikes on Iran
# Starmer allows the US to use UK military airbases for strikes on Iran
# And motorsport: South Afica’s Brad Binder is fairly satisfied with his performance in the MotoGP season opener

# Shipping companies Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM are rerouting vessels around Africa, away from the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, after US and Israeli strikes on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Danish container shipping group Maersk says due to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East region, the company has decided to pause future Trans-Suez sailings. German shipping group Hapag-Lloyd says it was rerouting its IMX container service that connects India and the Middle East with the Mediterranean around southern Africa.

Meanwhile, UK prime minister Keir Starmer says his country has accepted a request from the US to use British military bases for defensive strikes against Iran. The Air Force bases are Fairford in Gloucestershire and the hotly disputed Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands. Starmer has reiterated Britain was not involved in the joint US-Israeli air strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, on Saturday:

# Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen says the nationwide mass vaccination campaign against foot and mouth disease has begun, following the rapid arrival and distribution of vaccine consignments. The first major consignment of one million doses, sourced from Argentina, arrived in South Africa on the 21st of February. Steenhuisen says a further 1.5 million doses from Turkey-based manufacturer Dollvet arrived yesterday, with additional consignments from Argentina expected shortly:

# The National Union of Mineworkers’ Women’s Structure expressed serious concern over the University of the Free State’s research linking certain sanitary products to harmful chemicals. Spokesperson Nthabiseng Mashiteng calls for urgent accountability from manufacturers and tougher regulatory oversight to protect women’s health. She says many low-income women rely on affordable products and may be at risk. Mashiteng urges government to strengthen safety standards, enforce transparent labelling, and ensure thorough product testing.

# Motorsport: South Africa’s MotoGP star, Brad Binder, says he is fairly satisfied with how his season has started. The Red Bull KTM rider finished sixth in the Thailand Grand Prix sprint race on Saturday and seventh in Sunday’s main race. Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi won the season opener, while world champion Ducati rider Marc Marquez retired from the race with five laps remaining due to a damaged wheel. Binder says he could have done better:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-17-cents and the euro at 18-rand-93-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-57-cents and Bitcoin trades at 65-thousand-963-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-403-dollars-77-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 79-dollars-59-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….