News 12:00

BULLETIN 26 July 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Department of Correctional Services is fighting a losing battle
# Saftu urges swift conviction for Transnet executives accused of fraud
# And, the 33rd Olympic Games will be launched at 20.24 tonight

# The Activists and Citizens Forum says without political will, cleaning up the Department of Correctional Services’ facilities will be a losing battle. On Wednesday night, hundreds of illegal items, cellphones, contraband and television sets, were seized during a raid at the Johannesburg Correctional Centre, popularly known as Sun City. The forum’s Dennis Bloem says overcrowding at prisons is a major issue:

# Union federation Saftu is demanding a swift trial and imprisonment for two former Transnet executives and others accused of defrauding Transnet’s Covid-19 budget. They allegedly inflated the price of breathalyser straws from 29-cents to 29-rand-99-cents, costing Transnet nearly 34-million-rand. Saftu spokesperson Trevor Shaku insists on long prison sentences to combat corruption:

# The Dube TradePort in KwaZulu-Natal has acquired over 200 hectares of land in the past five years to protect the environment near its developments, aiming to create a ten-thousand-hectare Durban Aerotropolis. The new land includes 80-percent wetlands, adding to the 854 hectares already under conservation. Environmental manager Zama Dlamini reports positive outcomes, including the breeding of the Grey Crowned Crane and the protection of the critically endangered Pickersgill’s reed frog. Ongoing assessments will monitor these species in collaboration with the Endangered Wildlife Trust and King Shaka International Airport.

# Olympic Games: The Paris Games will officially be launched at exactly 8.24 this evening – 20.24 on a 24-hour clock. The opening ceremony along the River Seine will start at 7.30, and will only end at 11pm. Local bars have been given permission to stay open all night for the historic occasion. Famous singers Celine Dion and Lady Gaga will perform a duet during the ceremony, while actress Salma Hayek and rapper Snoop Dogg will be among the final torch bearers.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-22-cents and the euro at 19-rand-77-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-45-cents and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-32-dollars-54-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-371-dollars-25-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-36-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Cyber scams are evolving with personalised messages aimed at increasing credibility, blending spear phishing elements into mass campaigns. Kaspersky notes traditional phishing’s typos are absent in these tailored attacks, often mimicking trusted sources. Recent incidents feature HR-themed emails with realistic sender names but lead to generic phishing forms. Hybrid phishing, rising from March to May, employs artificial intelligence for convincing content, error-free text, and improved design. Cybercriminals innovate with new methods, enhancing email personalisation and spoofing tactics.

Stay tuned for more news………….