News 12:00

BULLETIN 18 February 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Nuclear Energy Corporation’s six programmes aimed at reviving nuclear fuel production will cost 50-billion-rand
# SANCO in Gauteng is calling for Zanzou’s license to be revoked
# And tennis: Novak Djokovic criticises the inconsistencies in doping cases involving top players

# The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation says its six high-impact programmes which will revive nuclear fuel production and pilot small modular reactors, will cost an estimated 50-billion-rand. Since last year, Eskom has been working with Necsa to pilot a 100-megawatt small modular reactor project, as the power utility intends to repurpose coal power stations. Necsa CEO, Loyiso Tyabashe, says they are refocusing on their core mandate of nuclear research and innovation to support the nuclear industry:

# The South African National Civics Organisation in Gauteng is demanding the revocation of Pretoria’s Zanzou Bar and Lounge’s license. This follows the surfacing of videos showing a group of men being tortured and assaulted at the establishment. Three victims of the alleged assault have opened a case at the Brooklyn police station. SANCO’s Abram Mashishi is calling for swift arrests and accountability:

# Russia says as part of any lasting peace deal Ukraine needs to be a demilitarised, neutral state, and not a part of any blocs or alliances. Top US and Russian diplomats will meet in Saudi Arabia today for talks aimed at ending the Ukrainian war. Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, says European Union countries are incapable of reaching any agreement with Moscow, and cannot be part of future agreements about the war in Ukraine. He has accused the countries of being blinded by “Russophobia”.

# Tennis: Twenty-four-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic says the majority of players feel Jannik Sinner’s ban is strange and unfair, and believe there is favouritism for the bigger names in the sport. The Italian world number one accepted an immediate three-month ban after reaching a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency over his two positive drug tests last year. Djokovic says a system overhaul is needed to avoid lower-ranked players being treated differently:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-45-cents and the euro at 19-rand-30-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-27-cents and Bitcoin trades at 95-thousand-299-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-910-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 75-dollars-12-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Award-winning actor Matt Damon will play Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming star-studded film The Odyssey, set to be released in July next year. The film follows the Greek champion Odysseus on his tumultuous journey home after the Trojan War. Damon will star alongside Charlize Theron, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o and Anne Hathaway. This film for Nolan follows Oppenheimer, for which he won Best Picture and Best Director at the Academy Awards in March last year.

Stay tuned for more news………….