News 12:00

BULLETIN 20 March 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A political analyst highlights the ramifications of a possible coalition government after the elections
# The Communications Workers Union’s SABC members threaten to strike over a salary dispute
# And tennis: Andy Murray kicks off his Miami Open campaign against Matteo Berrettini

# Political analyst Daniel Silke says since most polls now put the ANC’s support at below 50-percent, the ramifications from a possible coalition government will make or break the country. Today marks 70 days until the 29 May general elections. Silke says in a scenario where the ANC straddles the 40-percent mark and its choice of potential coalition partners becomes intolerably polarising, the salvation and restoration of the South African state take on a new urgency:

# The Communications Workers Union says its members of the SABC will meet today to start planning for industrial action. While the Broadcasting Electronic Media and Allied Workers’ Union accepted a six-percent salary increase offer, the CWU has been holding out for its initial nine-percent increase. The union’s bargaining coordinator, Nathan Bowers, says they have been willing to accept the SABC’s wage offer if it was backdated to the first of April last year, but the public broadcaster has remained silent:

# An American man will be sentenced in June after he was found guilty of the murder of a college student in 1980. Sixty-year-old Robert Plympton from Oregon was eventually linked to the death of 19-year-old Barbara Mae Tucker. She was kidnapped from the Mount Hood Communicity College, sexually assaulted and beaten to death. The case went cold for years until DNS analysis identified Plympton as a likely suspect. Police surveiled him and collected chewing gum he spit out, leading to him being positively identified as the murderer.

# Tennis: Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray of Scotland takes on Italian Matteo Berrettini in the first round of the Miami Open today. Berrettini reached his highest world ranking of sixth in January 2022, but a slew of injuries made him fall back to 125th. Murray, who was number one in 2016, is now in 61st position. Popular Japanese player Kei Nishikori makes his return to the tour after a seven-month injury break, taking on Sebastian Ofner of Austria in the round of 128.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-94-cents and the euro at 20-rand-57-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-7-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-995-dollars-83-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-156-dollars-40-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 86-dollars-74-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The world marks International Day of Happiness today, a global observance dedicated to promoting happiness and well-being for all. This day serves as a reminder of the significance of happiness in people’s lives. In 2015, the United Nations introduced the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to pave the way for a happier and more sustainable world. These, ranging from eradicating poverty to protecting the planet, underscore the interconnectedness of happiness and holistic well-being. This is through connecting with loved ones and nature, gratitude, self-care and spreading kindness.

Stay tuned for more news………….