News 15:00

BULLETIN 22 April 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa’s inflation edges up to 3.1-percent in March as the cost-of-living rises
# Athletics: Bolt urges Gout to get a strong support team
# And Amnesty International says predatory attacks on multilateralism and international law marked 2025

# Statistics South Africa says inflation edged up to 3.1-percent in March from three-percent in February, with prices rising by 0.6-percent month-on-month. The increase was driven by higher costs in several categories including education, transport, housing and accommodation services, with tuition fees jumping by 5.4-percent. Stats SA’s Patrick Kelly says transport inflation remained in deflation due to lower fuel prices, while food inflation eased for a second consecutive month, to 3.6-percent:

# Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, has called for an action-driven and adequately funded adaptation and mitigation agenda, to help developing economies tackle the climate crisis. He has been participating in the 17th Petersberg Climate Dialogue which ends in Berlin, Germany, today. Discussions centred around concrete steps to address the climate crisis and rebuild confidence in multilateral climate negotiations. Aucamp says promoting fair solutions tailored to the distinct challenges of developing countries and enhancing global cooperation is important.

# Chinese president Xi Jinping says Beijing is ready to help African countries navigate the economic turmoil from the US-Israeli war against Iran. African countries, which rely heavily on imports of fuel, food, and fertiliser, have been affected by the global economic shocks resulting from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Xi says China and Africa, together with other Global South countries, represent a just force in this turbulent and transforming world. From next month, China will roll out a zero-tariff scheme for all imports from 53 African countries.

# Athletics: The world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, has urged the Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout to surround himself with a strong support team in order to not be distracted by success. Eighteen-year-old Gout already earned comparisons with the Jamaican, who still holds the world records in the 100- and the 200-metres. Bolt says Gout hopefully has the right set of people to guide him and keep him focused on athletics. Gout is set to make his Diamond League debut in the 200-meter in Oslo on 10 June.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-44-cents and the euro at 19-rand-31-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-21-cents and Bitcoin trades at 78-thousand-285-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-756-dollars-76-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 94-dollars-94-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Amnesty International warns the world is on the brink of a perilous new era, driven by powerful states, corporations and anti-rights movements’ assaults on multilateralism, international law and human rights. In its annual report, The State of the World’s Human Rights, it documents abuses in 144 countries during 2025. Secretary general Agnès Callamard says humanity is under attack from transnational anti-rights movements and predatory governments like the US, Russia and Israel:

Stay tuned for more news………….