News 09:00

BULLETIN 23 June 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The MK Party says an attempt to link Zuma to anti-immigration marches is political mischief
# Iran says it has not made any new commitments on nuclear inspections
# And soccer: Messi makes World Cup history

# The MK Party has condemned a TimesLive article, which it says seeks to drag party leader Jacob Zuma’s name into discussion around the July 2021 unrest, and by implication, attempting to associate him with next week’s anti-illegal immigration marches. It says the article does not rely on facts, but on anonymous claims allegedly from sources close to Zuma. The MK Party says attempts to link Zuma to unrest without evidence are a deliberate act of political mischief. It adds that Zuma has repeatedly called for peace and lawful political activism.

# The DA has expressed concern at National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza’s decision not to oppose the urgent interdict application by president Cyril Ramaphosa to halt the work of the Impeachment Committee. Parliament says the speaker had carefully considered legal advice and the respective roles of the National Assembly and the Impeachment Committee before deciding not to oppose the application. The DA’s George Michalakis argues that the committee itself does have the legal standing to represent Parliament:

# Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi says clear and practical measures are in place ahead of the June 30 demonstrations. Anti-illegal immigrant groups, including the March and March movement, have declared this date as the deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa. Lesufi says provincial authorities and law enforcement agencies have collaborated on a security plan to ensure all demonstrations remain lawful, with a zero-tolerance for violence, property damage, or vigilantism:

# Iran’s Foreign Ministry has refuted US vice president JD Vance’s claims that it has agreed to allow nuclear monitors into the country, following negotiations in Switzerland over the weekend. Tehran suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency in July last year, after Washington had launched strikes on the country’s nuclear enrichment facilities. The ministry says Iran did not negotiate the nuclear issue during 18 hours of discussions, adding that its cooperation with the IAEA will continue under the current procedures.

# Soccer: Thirty-eight-year-old Lionel Messi has made history by becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history. He scored two goals as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in Dallas to secure their place in the knockout stages. Messi now has 18 World Cup goals, two clear of France’s Kylian Mbappe and Germany’s Miroslav Klose. In Philadelphia, France secured their place in the last 32, following a 3-0 victory over Iraq. In New Jersey, a brace from Erling Haaland secured Norway’s place in the knockout stage with a 3-2 win over Senegal.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-41-cents and the euro at 18-rand-76-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-74-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-998-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-144-dollars-31-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-21-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….