News 13:00

BULLETIN 9 March 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# FOSA says the escalating conflict in the Middle East will have devastating consequences
# Rugby: England slips to sixth in the world rankings after their first-ever defeat to Italy
# And 40-percent of working South Africans are gambling to cover expenses

# Forum for South Africa says the situation in the Middle East threatens to spiral into a broader regional war, with devastating consequences for civilians, economic stability, and international peace. The death toll since the US-Israeli assault on Iran began last Saturday has reached over one-thousand. FOSA leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, says international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter must be respected by all nations:

# The Madlanga commission has rejected an application by North West businessman Suliman Carrim to testify in-camera after he claimed to have received death threats. Carrim will now testify in public today and tomorrow. He faces allegations of using political connections to help controversial businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala secure a 360-million-rand police tender, and receiving kickbacks. Chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga did not immediately provide reasons for the rejection:

# The South African Weather Service has issued a heatwave warning for parts of the Northern and the Western Cape this week. The hottest conditions are expected tomorrow and Wednesday. The heatwave conditions are due to the presence of a strong, slow-moving high-pressure system in the upper levels of the atmosphere. Forecaster Joey Malebana warns the prolonged hot weather could increase the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke:

# Rugby: England’s first-ever loss to Italy saw them slipping down to sixth in the world rankings. Italy, who recorded their first victory over England in 33 Tests, is still tenth. South Africa and New Zealand are still the top-two countries in the world, followed by Ireland, who beat Wales in this weekend’s Six Nations fixtures. France is still fourth despite losing to Scotland on Saturday, and Argentina is now fifth. Scotland is seventh, Australia eighth and Fiji ninth.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-83-cents and the euro at 19-rand-45-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-45-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-859-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-116-dollars-65-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 101-dollars-79-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Research by Old Mutual Corporate has revealed about 40-percent of working South Africans now gamble regularly, with many using betting to cover monthly financial shortfalls. This affects four in ten employed workers. Old Mutual’s head of Business Intelligence, Keri-Lee Edmond, says individuals are gambling to meet daily needs and expenses, pay off debt, or in an attempt to secure higher incomes, which is not a sustainable way to improve financial outcomes. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition is currently drafting new rules on gambling advertising.

Stay tuned for more news………….