News 11:00

BULLETIN 18 March 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# President Ramaphosa says human rights for some are human rights for none
# Cosatu calls for a speedy adoption of all financial bills
# And countries condemn Russia’s elections as neither free nor fair

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says Human Rights Month is an opportunity to assess the progress made over the past three decades to advance the Bill of Rights and to reflect honestly on where the government has fallen short. Thursday marks Human Rights Day. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa says for millions of South Africans, lack of access to basic services, unemployment, and lack of opportunity affect the most fundamental of human rights, namely the right to dignity. He says government will continue to advance and protect the human rights of all citizens.

# Cosatu says it is critical that both the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill and the Two-Pot Reforms Bill are fast-tracked and adopted by the two Houses of Parliament before rising in April for the May elections. If needs be, Parliament should delay its adjournment. Cosatu’s acting spokesperson, Matthew Parks, says this is key to enabling the adjustment of tax systems and pension fund rules:

# The DA in Gauteng has welcomed the High Court in Johannesburg’s dismissal of the provincial Department of Social Development’s bid to block Gauteng non-profit organisations’ silent sit-in protest at its building from today. The court ruled the department cannot stop people exercising their constitutional right to picket. The DA’s Refiloe Nt’sekhe says the department has been slow in giving NPOs feedback on funding applications:

# The US says Russia’s elections were not free and fair, given how president Vladimir Putin imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him. Putin easily claimed another six-year term by getting 87-percent of the vote in an election where no credible opposition candidate was allowed to stand. Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Putin has become addicted to power, and this imitation of elections has no legitimacy. Germany’s Foreign Ministry calls it a pseudo-election, under an authoritarian ruler reliant on censorship, repression, and violence.

# Soccer: Manchester United kept their hopes of winning a trophy this season alive with a dramatic 4-3 extra-time victory in an FA Cup quarterfinal classic against Liverpool at Old Trafford. Twice in the match, Erik ten Hag’s team had to come back from behind, with substitute Amad Diallo scoring the winner. Defending champions Manchester City will face Chelsea in the semifinals at Wembley, while United will meet Coventry. Ten Hag was very pleased with his players:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-79-cents and the euro at 20-rand-47-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 68-thousand-290-dollars-96-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-148-dollars-21-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-68-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….