News 13:00

BULLETIN 10 March 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africans should brace themselves for record-breaking fuel price hikes
# The MK Party rejects Cyril Ramaphosa’s request for more time to answer the ad hoc committee’s questions
# And tennis: Alcaraz and Sinner are through to the round of 16 at Indian Wells

# South Africans are bracing for a financial blow as experts warn of record-breaking fuel price hikes. Projections suggest increases of up to five-rand per litre, driven by soaring global oil prices due to the Middle Eastern conflict, and a weakening rand. Stanlib Asset Management’s chief economist, Kevin Lings, says this will trigger a cost of living domino effect. He notes the magnitude of the spike is unprecedented, placing immense pressure on already strained households and threatening to derail South Africa’s fragile economic recovery.

# The MK Party has rejected a request by president Cyril Ramaphosa to extend the deadline for submitting written answers to Parliament’s ad hoc committee. Ramaphosa has been drawn into the spotlight because of links mentioned in testimonies, including around the political killings task team. MK Party member of Parliament, Sibonelo Nomvalo, says the president has had enough time and must respond immediately to allow committee members to ask follow-up questions:

# Airports Company South Africa will invest approximately 11.3-billion-rand to upgrade and expand the Cape Town International Airport. Spokesperson Ofentse Dijoe says the programme includes a new domestic arrivals terminal, expanded departures facilities and upgrades to the international terminal. Plans also include a new runway and additional aircraft stands to handle larger planes. The project aims to boost passenger capacity and support future travel growth after the airport recorded 11.1-million passengers last year.

Moving abroad: 

# Two suspects arrested for attempting to detonate two explosives outside Gracie Mansion where New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani lives, have been charged with federal terror offences. The explosives were deployed at an anti-Muslim protest led by far-right activist Jake Lang. The American city’s police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, says the suspects, 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, openly pledged allegiance to ISIS while in the presence of police:

# Tennis: World number one Carlos Alcaraz is through to the round of 16 of the Indian Wells Masters in the US. The Spaniard needed three sets to see off the challenge of 26th-seeded Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, and will next face Norway’s 13th-seeded Casper Ruud. World number two, Jannik Sinner of Italy, will play unseeded Joao Fonseca for a place in the quarterfinals after beating Canadian Denis Shapovalov. Local players Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul both lost in the round of 32 while compatriot Frances Tiafoe advanced.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-28-cents and the euro at 18-rand-98-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-92-cents and Bitcoin trades at 71-thousand-109-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-182-dollars-74-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 89-dollars-19-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….