News Bulletin of 9 March 2026, 12pm

SA Singer Katia Scores International Music Nomination
South African singer-songwriter Katia De Vallier has been nominated for an International Portuguese Music Award (IPMA) for her song *Do The Things* in the Rap/Hip-Hop/Dance Performance category.The independent artist, who began releasing music after recovering from a serious vocal health scare, now finds herself recognised alongside some of Portugal’s top performers.The awards celebrate artists of Portuguese descent worldwide and will take place in the United States on 25 April, where Katia will join fellow nominees from across the globe. Her nominated track encourages listeners to pursue their dreams and start now.

South Africa
Artist Turns Vision Loss Into Inspiring Art
Local artist Belinda van Dyk transformed a life-changing challenge into a powerful source of creativity after a retinal detachment in December 2018 left her right eye partially blind. Despite the emotional and physical challenges, van Dyk returned to painting as a way to process her experience and reclaim control. During her healing journey, a striking theme began to emerge in her work-eyes. Today, she uses her art and story to raise awareness about retinal blindness. Her participation at the Dis-Chem Ride for Sight last month at Boksburg Stadium highlighted her commitment to supporting others facing similar challenges.

Sandton and Gauteng
All Blacks Coach Excited for Springbok Rivalry Tour
New Zealand’s new head coach, Dave Rennie, says he is looking forward to the upcoming Greatest Rivalry Tour in South Africa later this year. The tour will see the Springboks take on the All Blacks in August and September, with four matches scheduled in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and for the first time ever, the United States. Rennie says he is excited for six weeks of thrilling rugby during the tour.

South Africa
Financial Indicators
Your financial indicators for this hour:

The Rand is trading at 16.55 to the US Dollar, 0.00 to the British Pound, and 0.00 to the Euro.

Gold is trading at 0.00 dollars a fine ounce, Brent Crude Oil is at Error per barrel, and a Bitcoin will set you back 67,993.00.
United Airlines Cracks Down on Loud Devices
American United Airlines has introduced a new rule requiring passengers to use headphones when playing audio or video on personal devices during flights. The airline quietly updated its Contract of Carriage in 2026, stating that passengers who play content out loud without headphones could be removed from the aircraft or even banned from flying with the airline. The rule aims to address a common in-flight irritation — travellers playing music, videos or social media clips loudly from their phones or tablets. According to United, the policy is intended to improve comfort in the cabin and reduce disruptive behaviour for other passengers.

Local: 96 words (37%), National: 166 words (63%), International: 0 words (0%)