News 12:00

BULLETIN 26 March 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The ANC loses its bid to have the MK Party deregistered
# Minister Barbara Creecy highlights the importance of biodiversity conservation 
# And tennis: Andy Murray is out for an extended period due to an ankle injury

# The Electoral Court sitting in the High Court in Johannesburg has dismissed the ANC’s bid to have former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto we Sizwe Party deregistered. The ANC told the court the MK Party’s registration was unlawful because it submitted fraudulent signatures in its initial application to be registered as a political party. Judge Lebogang Modiba says if the ANC’s application is granted, it will be too late for the MK Party to register and to contest the upcoming elections:

# Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment minister Barbara Creecy says government has been working hard to provide policy certainty and a strong policy base for biodiversity conservation. Cabinet recently noted the review of the National Biodiversity Economy Strategy. Creecy was speaking at the inaugural Biodiversity Economy and Investment Indaba. She says the strategy is aimed at leveraging the biodiversity economy to promote conservation, as well as species and ecosystems management:

# New York Attorney General Letitia James says former US president Donald Trump is not off the hook as he will still be held accountable for his staggering fraud. This comes after a New York Appeals Court allowed him to post a reduced 3.3-billion-rand bond as he appeals the civil fraud judgment against him, his adult sons and his company. Trump says he will cover the bond using cash as collateral:

# Tennis: Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray says he will be sidelined for an extended period due to injury. He ruptured his ankle ligaments during his Miami Open loss to Tomas Machac on Sunday. The 36-year-old says he will see an ankle specialist to determine the next steps. Murray’s latest injury setback comes a little under two months out from the French Open, and about three months out from Wimbledon in July, where he is a two-time champion.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-90-cents and the euro at 20-rand-50-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 70-thousand-596-dollars-58-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-177-dollars-13-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-93-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Iranian Swedish-born singer Snoh Aalegra has been announced as the first international headliner for the 2024 edition of Rocking the Daisies near Darling in the Western Cape. She is best known for songs like I Want You Around and Do 4 Love. The Grammy-nominated artist has collaborated with the likes of Alicia Keys and Drake. Rocking the Daisies will take place from the third to the sixth of October at Cloof Wine Estate. The proudly African, Billboard-ranked music and lifestyle festival is celebrating 19 years this year.

Stay tuned for more news………….