News 15:00

BULLETIN 18 March 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA opens its applications for mayoral candidates in four metros for next year’s local government elections
# The GOOD Party urges action on the cannabis policy
# And soccer: Injured Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s next two World Cup qualifiers

# The DA has opened the first round of applications for candidates wishing to be considered to stand as mayoral candidates in next year’s local government elections. Applicants can apply as candidates for Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Tshwane and Mangaung, and should strive to get their applications in by the end of this month. After the first round, additional rounds of mayoral candidate applications will open for other metros and municipalities. The party says it is looking for the very best candidates to stand for these crucial leadership positions.

# The GOOD Party has called on president Cyril Ramaphosa to accelerate the National Cannabis Masterplan and halt the edibles ban. The party argues that policy uncertainty threatens nearly a million livelihoods, leaving traditional growers excluded while a few licensed businesses benefit. GOOD’s Brett Herron says banning cannabis edibles won’t ensure safety and urges regulation instead. He warns that inconsistent policies are stifling the industry’s growth:

# The World Bank has raised concerns over inadequate spending on critical water infrastructure worldwide. Speaking at the 14th International Water Association Conference in Cape Town, Water Global director, Saroj Kumar Jha, called for increased investment to ensure long-term water security. He warns that without sufficient funding, many nations could face severe water shortages, amid climate change and population growth, impacting economies and livelihoods:

# Soccer: Argentinian ace Lionel Messi is injured and will miss his country’s next two World Cup qualifiers. Thirty-seven-year-old Messi suffered a groin injury playing for Inter Miami against Atlanta this weekend. Argentina can qualify for next year’s World Cup if they beat Uruguay on Friday and Brazil next Tuesday. The defending champion has a five-point lead on top of South America’s ten-team qualifying group. The top six qualify directly for the tournament in Canada, the US and Mexico.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-5-cents and the euro at 19-rand-73-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-44-cents and Bitcoin trades at 82-thousand-697-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-and-24-dollars-25-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-54-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services, supported by the Bertha Centre, will launch a bail fund pilot to assist detainees unable to afford bail. Over two-thousand-600 awaiting-trial prisoners remain behind bars due to bail under one-thousand-rand. Judge Edwin Cameron told Newzroom Afrika the fund aims to address poverty-driven detention and overcrowding. He emphasises the initiative’s independence, focusing on low-risk offenders with minor offences:

Stay tuned for more news………….