News 14:00

BULLETIN 7 July 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# WhatsApp messages between Khan, Malema and Sayed are scrutinised at the Madlanga commission
# Soccer: Cristiano Ronaldo says he won’t make any rash decisions about his future with Portugal
# And UNICEF says children in Gaza have known nothing but war, displacement, and loss

# The Madlanga commission has examined alleged WhatsApp messages involving senior police officer Feroz Khan, EFF leader Julius Malema and businessman Mohamed Sayed. Evidence leader Michael Chaskalson says the messages suggest Sayed forwarded information to Khan at Malema’s request in June 2021. The messages have not been tested in evidence yet. Chaskalson says the exchanges included Operation Dudula’s anti-illegal immigration posters:

# The South African Energy Traders Association says electricity market reforms have reached a critical stage as the National Energy Regulator of South Africa finalises key regulations. The market code and trading rules will determine how electricity is bought and sold, and how private investment flows into the sector. The association warns delays could slow reform and impact energy security. It calls for clear and investable rules needed to unlock private generation, boost competition and support South Africa’s transition to a competitive electricity market.

# Turkish Airlines has announced an increase in flight frequencies on its Istanbul to Johannesburg and Istanbul to Cape Town routes from late October. The airline will add three extra weekly flights on each route to meet rising seasonal demand, bringing the total to 20 flights per week. The additional services will operate until late March next year. The expansion is expected to boost tourism, business travel and cargo links between South Africa and Turkey, while improving global connectivity through Istanbul’s international hub.

# Soccer: Forty-one-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo says he will need some time to think about his overall future with Portugal after his country exited the World Cup via a 1-0 last-16 defeat to Spain, marking his final match in the competition. The loss also saw Roberto Martinez stepping down from his role as Portugal’s manager. Ronaldo says he played in the national team for 23 years and won three titles, highlighting winning the European Championship in 2016 was like winning the World Cup.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-23-cents and the euro at 18-rand-55-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-72-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-317-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-136-dollars-17-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-77-cents a barrel.

# And finally: United Nations children’s fund UNICEF says children continue to pay the highest price in Israel’s war in Gaza that started over one-thousand days ago. The death toll has reached 73-thousand-and-98 since the war started in October 2023. Reports indicate more than 60-thousand children have been killed or injured. UNICEF spokesperson Louise Wateridge says children have been killed, displaced, and deprived of the essentials they need to survive, grow, and recover:

Stay tuned for more news………….