News 09:00

BULLETIN 28 March 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ireland is going to intervene in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel
# A bond originator says there is no financial relief for South Africans
# And finally: The door that saved Rose’s life in Titanic sells for R13.5-million at auction

# Ireland says it will intervene in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in the Hague. In January the court ordered Israel to refrain from any acts that could fall under the Genocide Convention and to ensure its troops commit no genocidal acts against Palestinians. Israel described the allegation as baseless. Ireland’s Foreign minister Micheal Martin says what happened on October 7 last year in Israel, and what is happening now in Gaza, represents the blatant violation of international humanitarian law on a mass scale.

# BetterBond says homeowners will have to hold out a bit longer for some financial relief. The South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee unanimously decided to maintain the repo rate at 8.25-percent, while the prime lending rate will remain at 11.75-percent. BetterBond interim CEO, Bradd Bendall, says it was hoped that the drop in inflation expectations for the next two years would be enough to prompt a cut in interest rates this month:

# The DA in Gauteng says it is a disgrace that the provincial Department of Social Development has hired someone, who allegedly has historically faced allegations of sexual harassment. Vernon Naidoo has been hired as a member of the forensic audit team. MEC for Social Development, Mbali Hlophe, says it was not her responsibility to hire forensic auditors. The DA’s, Refiloe Nt’sekhe, says this is a concerning situation, as it may put the safety and well-being of employees at risk:

# Cricket: Sunrisers Hyderabad clinched a 31-run victory over the Mumbai Indians in a record-breaking Indian Premier League match in Hyderabad. South African Heinrich Klaasen scored an unbeaten 80 off 34 balls as the Sunrisers posted a 277 for three, the highest total in the IPL’s history. Sunrisers’ total was also the fourth highest in any men’s T20. In reply, Mumbai fell short, finishing on 246 for five. The match also finished with 38 sixes, setting a new record for the most hits in a T20 game.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-90-cents and the euro at 20-rand-46-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-88-cents and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-615-dollars-52-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-195-dollars-78-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-67-cents a barrel.

# And finally, the famous door that saved Rose’s life in the blockbuster movie Titanic sold at auction for 13.5-million-rand. Leading actress Kate Winslet clung to the door after the ship sank in the 1997 film, with her love interest, Jack, portrayed by Leonardo Di Caprio, slowly freezing to death in the icy waters. Many people have since said the door must have been big enough to save them both. BBC reports Titanic director James Cameron revealed he received dozens of emails daily calling Rose selfish and Jack an idiot.

Stay tuned for more news………….