News 08:00

BULLETIN 12 December 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Public Service Commission will probe the State Information Technology Agency
# South Africa marks Universal Health Coverage Day
# And soccer: Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 men’s World Cup

# Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, has formally requested the Public Service Commission to investigate a range of critical issues affecting the State Information Technology Agency. The agency faces mounting challenges, including governance concerns, irregular procurement practices, operational inefficiencies, and an alarming deterioration in service delivery. Malatsi says these issues if left unaddressed, pose a threat to the agency’s mission and its ability to deliver value to citizens:

# National Treasury says there is an urgent need to improve debt restructuring and to address liquidity challenges faced by developing economies. On the first of December, South Africa assumed the Presidency of the G20 group of countries, which comprises many of the world’s largest developing and developed economies. Speaking at the two-day G20 Joint Sherpa and Finance Track meeting in Johannesburg, Treasury’s director-general Duncan Pieterse says an urgent large-scale and sustainable investments push is needed:

# The Department of Health will join the global community today to commemorate Universal Health Coverage Day, celebrating progress toward health for all. Running under the theme Health: It’s on the Government, the event follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s signing of the National Health Insurance Bill in May. Key discussions will focus on government leadership in achieving universal health coverage, measurement strategies, and engaging civil societies. The Department will also unveil the Health Facility Progress Matrix, a World Health Organisation tool aiding policy decisions and evaluating health financing systems.

# South Korea’s president Yoon Suk Yeol has defended his decision to declare martial law, which was blocked, saying it was a measure to protect the country’s democracy. This comes as the ruling People Power Party has now thrown its support behind attempts to impeach the president. In a televised address, Yoon says he will not avoid legal and political responsibility regarding the declaration of martial law but has vowed to fight until the very last minute. The main opposition Democratic Party is preparing a new impeachment motion against Yoon.

# Soccer: FIFA has confirmed that the 2034 men’s World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia. The country has been criticised for its human rights violations, the criminalisation of homosexuality, free-speech restriction, and lack of women’s rights. Meanwhile, the 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Three matches in the 2030 tournament will also be held in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay to mark 100 years of the competition. Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, says in a divided world, the sport can unite:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-68-cents and the euro at 18-rand-56-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-57-cents and Bitcoin trades at 101-thousand-481-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-706-dollars-91-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-58-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….