News 12:00

BULLETIN 6 July 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# FOSA demands full transparency on Jacob Zuma’s controversial trip to India
# Russia’s latest attacks on Kyiv leave at least ten killed and over 40 injured
# And soccer: Norway stuns Brazil as England knocks out co-hosts Mexico to reach the quarterfinals

# Forum for South Africa is concerned over former president Jacob Zuma’s recent trip to India. He was photographed with South Africa’s high commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, and alleged state capture architect Ajay Gupta. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation is now investigating the trip. FOSA leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, says it has raised serious questions about accountability and the abuse of former president’s privileges:

# Tax Justice South Africa is calling on the National Prosecuting Authority to explain why businessman Adriano Mazzotti has never been criminally prosecuted. This is despite him allegedly admitting to tobacco smuggling, tax evasion, and attempts to corrupt South African Revenue Service officials. The organisations’ founder, Yusuf Abramjee, says this reinforces long-standing concerns that organised crime may have enjoyed protection from within parts of the criminal justice system:

# Eskom says significant progress has been made in its Load Reduction Eradication Programme, with over one-million customers removed from load reduction schedules. This represents 65-percent of the 1.69 million customers targeted under the programme. Eskom spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, says originally established to address load reduction affecting 23.5-percent of the power utility’s 7.2 million customer base, the programme has reduced the proportion of customers affected by load reduction to approximately 8.3-percent:

Moving abroad:

# The death toll from Russia’s latest missile and drone strikes on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv stands at ten, with at least 46 people wounded. This morning’s strikes heavily damaged at least 15 apartment blocks and other buildings. The Russian Defence ‌Ministry claims it hit ​military and energy facilities in the city ⁠and its surroundings, as ​well ​as military airfields ​in several other regions. The ministry has repeatedly denied targeting residential buildings. The attack follows last week’s strikes in Kyiv which left 30 people dead.

# Soccer: Norway stunned five-time champions Brazil 2-1 in New Jersey to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time. Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scored two goals in the second half. Neymar pulled a goal back for Brazil with a late penalty, but it wasn’t enough for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Meanwhile, ten-man England defeated co-hosts Mexico 3-2 at the Azteca Stadium to book a quarterfinal clash with Norway. Jude Bellingham scored twice in 98 seconds, and captain Harry Kane converted a penalty to secure victory for England.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-21-cents and the euro at 18-rand-51-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-62-cents and Bitcoin trades at 62-thousand-975-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-156-dollars-28-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….