Breakfast Edition: 8 March 2016
WATCH & LISTEN: Here is a recap of this morning's top news stories.
GAUTENG BUDGET TO BE DELIVERED AMID TOUGH ECONOMIC CLIMATE: In a tough financial climate, Finance MEC Barbara Creecy had her work cut out for her when she delivers the province's budget later on Tuesday morning. Creecy's budget came just a day after Global politics and economic risk consultants at Control Risk on released a report on the biggest risks facing South Africa in 2016 and said junk status was a reality. The MEC was set to deliver her speech from the provincial legislature in Johannesburg at 10am. Maryke Vermaak reports.
NO BUSES in TSWHANE: Both the Tshwane bus service and Are Yeng rapid bus service remained suspended on Tuesday morning. Commuters were urged to make alternative arrangements amid the ongoing unprotected strike. Drivers were striking over conditions of employment. Tshwane spokesperson Blessing Manale explains.
POACHING IN MOZAMBIQUE UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT: Villages in Mozambique that are known for sheltering poachers were being moved further from the South African border. South African media houses were taken on a tour to showcase anti-poaching strategies that were being implemented by the Kruger National Park. This included a strong partnership with neighbouring in Mozambique. Slindelo masikane reports.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY: International Women's Day celebrations on Tuesday will mobilise people around the world to call for a Planet with equal gender presentation by 2030, the United Nations (UN) said. UN Women is organising a series of diverse, high-profile events in more than 40 countries, where ordinary citizens, activists, musicians, athletes, students, security personnel, scholars and stock exchange officials will be among those who commit to "Stepping It Up for Gender Equality." At the UN Headquarters in New York, prominent speakers from governments, the UN, businesses and civil society, including youth groups, will convene to debate how to advance women's empowerment and overcome barriers to change. UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Pamela Falk of CBS News will moderate the session.
CHARLIE SHEEN & WHOOPI GOLDBERG TO STAR IN 911 MOVIE: Actors Charlie Sheen and Whoopi Goldberg are starring in a film about the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States that began filming Monday. The action-drama, titled simply "Nine Eleven," tells the story of five people trapped in one of the elevators of the World Trade Center. The WTC's Twin Towers collapsed after two planes crashed into them. Shooting for the film, taking place in the southern California city of Long Beach, is due to last the entire month of March, in time for release later this year. "It's a project eight years in the making. A miracle it's come together," Argentine director Martin Guigui, 50, told AFP.
RIHANNA STILL ON TOP: Beyonce sang that girls "run the world" but she is not alone in ruling Spotify, where Rihanna is giving her a strong challenge. The leading streaming service released a list of the most popular female artists for International Women's Day and found that Rihanna was the most listened to globally. The Barbados-born singer's 2012 hit "Diamonds" has been streamed nearly 240 million times and "FourFiveSeconds," her collaboration with Paul McCartney and Kanye West, has more than 282 million listens. But Spotify said that Beyonce was the most popular among listeners who identified as female. Beyonce also was number one among Spotify users in the United States. "Drunk in Love," Beyonce's ode to marital bliss with husband Jay Z, has been streamed more than 180 million times.
