News 09:00

BULLETIN 22 April 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# About 23-million South Africans are living below the lower-bound poverty line
# Iran’s UN envoy says peace talks hinge on the US ending the blockade
# And swimming: Norway joins Poland in refusing to host athletes from Russia and Belarus

# About 23-million South Africans, or 37.9-percent of the population, are living below the lower-bound poverty line, a notable decline from 46.7-percent in 2015. This is according to Statistics South Africa’s latest poverty trends report. Poverty levels declined across all age categories between 2015 and 2023, while Limpopo, Eastern Cape, and Mpumalanga recorded the biggest drop. Gauteng recorded an increase from 26.3-percent in 2015 to 26.5-percent in 2023. StatsSA says stronger interventions to address inequality are needed.

# Deputy minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Nomalungelo Gina, says the department’s 2026/2027 annual performance is against the backdrop of a number of strategic challenges. These include a highly uncertain geopolitical and economic environment, a constrained national fiscal environment, a decline in expenditure on research and development, and the withdrawal of funding by the US of critical joint science projects. The department’s spokesperson, Veronica Mohapeloa, says the annual performance plan will help address the challenges:

# The Freedom Front Plus in Tshwane says it regards the EFF’s latest onslaught on the City Manager, Johann Mettler, and the metro’s head of Emergency Services, Moshema Mosia, as nothing more than political theatrics and opportunism. The EFF wants mayor Nasiphi Moya to take action against Mettler following the Public Protector’s report regarding alleged maladministration within Tshwane’s recruitment processes. It has also questioned Mosia’s appointment. The FF Plus’s Grandi Theunissen says the EFF wants to discredit the metro’s competent leadership:

# Iran’s United Nations envoy, Amir-Saeid Iravani, says the next round of negotiations will only happen once the US lifts the naval blockade on Iranian ports. This comes as US president Donald Trump has extended the ceasefire until Tehran submits a proposal to end the conflict permanently, though America will continue to blockade Iranian ports. Iravani has described the blockade as a ceasefire violation:

# Swimming: The Norwegian Swimming Federation says it will not host international championships as ​long as World Aquatics allows athletes from Russia and ‌Belarus to compete. The move follows a similar stance taken by ​Poland. World Aquatics lifted neutrality restrictions last week to allow swimmers from the two nations to compete under their flags for the first time since 2022. Norway is now seeking a broader regional boycott of hosting duties. World Aquatics says pools and open water ⁠must remain places ​where athletes from all nations can ​compete peacefully.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-48-cents and the euro at 19-rand-35-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-27-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-584-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-758-dollars-80-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 93-dollars-48-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….