News 12:00

BULLETIN 13 February 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Healthcare Access Coalition proposes mandatory medical scheme coverage for higher-income groups
# The minister of Forestry speeds up processes to approve renewable energy projects
# And cricket: The Proteas are looking to make some improvements heading into the Champions Trophy

# The Universal Healthcare Access Coalition has proposed mandatory medical scheme coverage for higher-income groups as part of its plan to reform the healthcare system. The coalition, which includes healthcare professionals and advocacy groups, says its proposal will improve affordability and accessibility while maintaining a competitive private sector. The coalition’s Alex van den Heever argues the National Health Insurance is unworkable and financially unsustainable:

# Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Dion George, says his department is prioritising renewable energy projects, including solar, wind, and hydropower. The minister has streamlined environmental authorisation processes to speed up project approvals, including the exclusion of solar and battery facilities from environmental authorisation in sensitive areas. Furthermore, eleven renewable energy zones and five transmission corridors for incentivised green energy projects have been identified. George says the Green Hydrogen Guideline will be launched next week, to support the country’s energy transition.

# A new partnership between the Western Cape government, Transnet Port Terminals, and industry stakeholders will enhance operations at the Cape Town container terminal. Two 500 kilovolt-ampere generators will be installed, to enable the terminal to increase capacity during the peak deciduous fruit export season. Western Cape MEC of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Ivan Meyer, says this initiative is a good example of the power of public sector partnership projects in driving economic growth and development.

# Seven European countries, including Britain, France, and Germany, insist that they must be part of any future peace negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. This comes after US president Donald Trump spoke to Russian president Vladimir Putin, and the pair agreed to immediately begin negotiating an end to the war. In a joint statement, the Foreign ministers of the seven countries say Ukraine should be provided with strong security guarantees. They add that a just and lasting peace in Ukraine is necessary for strong trans-Atlantic security.

# Cricket: Proteas captain Temba Bavuma says there are aspects of their game they need to improve on heading into the Champions Trophy. Pakistan defeated South Africa by six wickets in their Tri-Series match in Karachi yesterday, setting up a showdown with New Zealand in tomorrow’s final. The Proteas begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Afghanistan next Friday. Bavuma says they will need to put on an all-round performance in tough batting conditions in Pakistan:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-47-cents and the euro at 19-rand-25-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-8-cents and Bitcoin trades at 96-thousand-105-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-913-dollars-91-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-34-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….