News 09:00

BULLETIN 10 March 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa secures World Bank support in its drive to accelerate infrastructure development 
# Iran’s Foreign minister says the US and Israel have made the Middle East insecure
# And tennis: Two seeds are ousted while Djokovic survives a scare to advance to Indian Wells’ last 16

# The World Bank has approved the South Africa Blended Finance Platform for Resilient Infrastructure Programme, which will establish a credit guarantee vehicle designed to reduce investor risk and scale up funding for infrastructure projects. Over the next decade, the new credit guarantee vehicle, which will be a private non-life insurance company, is expected to mobilise about 160-billion-rand in capital. National Treasury will inject seed equity of two-billion-rand into the initiative. The World Bank says investment in infrastructure is central to South Africa’s efforts to restore growth and create employment.

# Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has welcomed South Africa’s appointment to serve in the Communications Working Group of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s and girls’ rights, documenting the reality of their lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality. Chikunga says this appointment reflects the country’s commitment to advancing gender equality:

# The Freedom Front Plus says in the 2024/2025 financial year, the City of Tshwane paid more than 37-million-rand in salaries to suspended officials, who are sitting at home awaiting their disciplinary hearings. According to a report by the metro’s Corporate and Shared Services Department, there are currently 27 employees on suspension, of whom 23 have been waiting for their hearings for longer than three months. The FF Plus’ Roche Grebe says these needless delays stem from poor internal administration:

# Iran’s Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed the possibility of negotiating with the US, citing the last round of nuclear talks last month. US and Israeli warplanes launched new waves of strikes on targets across Iran on Monday, as the conflict is now in its second week. In an interview with PBS News, Araghchi said the US and Israel have made the Middle East insecure and are responsible for disruptions in oil production and rising oil prices:

# Tennis: Five-time champion Novak Djokovic is through to the Indian Wells last 16 for the first time since 2017. The Serb, who is playing his first tournament since the Australian Open final, battled past American Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. Djokovic will next face defending champion Jack Draper after the Briton moved past Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo 6-1, 7-5. American Alex Michelsen earned the biggest win of his career, defeating seventh-seed compatriot Taylor Fritz, 6-4, 7-6, while Britain’s Cameron Norrie ousted eighth-ranked Australian Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-36-cents and the euro at 18-rand-99-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-95-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 69-thousand-661-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-162-dollars-66-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 91-dollars-22-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….