News 14:00

BULLETIN 27 June 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Defence minister Angie Motshekga assures the Defence Force’s capability despite budget constraints
# India rejects the United Nations’ offer to help investigate the deadly plane crash
# And soccer: Vinicius Junior shows his class as Real Madrid reaches the last 16 at the Club World Cup

# Defence minister Angie Motshekga has reaffirmed the South African National Defence Force’s readiness to defend the country’s sovereignty, despite ongoing fiscal constraints and ageing equipment. She says the department is actively working with Treasury and the Presidency to stabilise and improve the Air Force’s capacity, including ongoing aircraft servicing and procurement efforts. Mothshekga says they have challenges but are not completely dysfunctional. She says they are working hard to stay afloat, stay in the air, and continue to confront challenges.

# Metalworkers’ union Numsa says it is unaware of possible retrenchments at aerospace conglomerate Denel as part of the state-owned entity’s turnaround strategy. Denel CEO Tshepo Monaheng told Parliament last week they remain burdened by significant debt and is considering retrenchments and the disposal of non-core assets to replenish its cash reserves. Numsa spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, says Denel must engage with affected parties before making any pronouncements about job cuts:

# India has declined a United Nations aviation investigator’s involvement in the investigations into the deadly Air India crash in Ahmedabad that killed 270 people. The International Civil Aviation Organisation had requested observer status for one of its experts, but Indian authorities refused. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is leading the inquiry with a multi-disciplinary team, including US National Transportation Safety Board representatives. Black box analysis is ongoing to determine the cause of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash on 12 June.

# Soccer: Vinicius Junior scored one goal and made another with a touch of class as Real Madrid sealed their place in the last 16 of the Club World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Salzburg. Gonzalo Garcia wrapped up the win late on with his second goal of the tournament, and the result means Xabi Alonso’s team ends the first round of FIFA’s new tournament unbeaten. They go through to the knockout stage as Group H winners on seven points, setting up a last-16 tie against Juventus in Miami on Tuesday.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-90-cents and the euro at 20-rand-95-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-58-cents and Bitcoin trades at 107-thousand-98-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-386-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-97-cents a barrel.

# And finally: A total of 92-percent of surveyed Johannesburg residents have expressed concern about air pollution, and 78-percent believe it negatively affects their health. This is according to new data from the metro’s Environment and Infrastructure Services Department, in collaboration with Breathe Cities and the Clean Air Fund. The metro’s spokesperson, Virgil James, says the survey confirmed fossil fuel combustion, vehicle emissions and waste burning as the primary contributors to poor air quality across all demographic groups:

Stay tuned for more news………….