News 07:00

BULLETIN 3 July 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Lamola is concerned about Zuma’s visit to India
# Zelensky vows to retaliate after Russia’s assault on Kyiv killed at least 27 people
# And cricket: England beat South Africa to make it through to the T20 Women’s World Cup final

# Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, says former president Jacob Zuma’s recent visit to India is concerning. The MK Party leader was photographed with fugitive Ajay Gupta and South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, at the Sidipeeth Shri Dakshin Kali temple in Haridwar. The minister has requested an investigation into Sooklal’s involvement in Zuma’s visit. Lamola says it is concerning that a former head of state can drive foreign policy parallel to that of the present government:

# Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana says African countries should adopt coordinated and forward-looking economic and policy responses to protect their economies against global shocks. He says this will require leveraging critical minerals to drive industrialisation, promoting food security, deepening intra-regional trade integration, and strengthening resilient infrastructure and supply chains. Godongwana has also warned that the changing global development finance landscape poses a significant risk to the region. He adds that this shifting landscape calls for a structural transformation in development finance across the Southern African Development Community region.

# South Africa’s last remaining manganese smelter, Transalloys, has stopped production because of high electricity costs and ongoing financial losses. The company says about 600 jobs and another seven-thousand livelihoods are at risk. Transalloys’ Konstantin Sadovnik says unless Eskom and the government agree to a sustainable electricity tariff by the end of this month, the company could be forced to close permanently:

# Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to retaliate for Russia’s strikes on Kyiv that killed at least 27 people and wounded 91, including two children. Moscow launched nearly 500 drones and more than 70 missiles toward Ukraine, damaging residential buildings and military bases. Russia’s military called the assault a retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on its own civilian infrastructure. Zelensky says if allies had followed through on agreements to provide Ukraine with air defence missiles, the damage would not have been so great:

# Cricket: Hosts England will face six-time champions Australia in the T20 Women’s World Cup final at Lord’s on Sunday, after a 40-run victory over South Africa at the Oval. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt top-scored with 75 off 47 balls and put on a 133-run fourth-wicket stand with Heather Knight, as England posted 169 for five in their 20 overs. In reply, despite a defiant 51 by Tazmin Brits, the Proteas Women were restricted to 129 for eight. Sunday’s final will pit the two unbeaten teams of the tournament.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-21-cents and the euro at 18-rand-54-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-65-cents and Bitcoin trades at 61-thousand-633-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-183-dollars-68-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-95-cents a barrel.

# And finally: CapeNature’s marine conservation work will be showcased in the new Afrikaans adventure series Hey Skipper, which premieres on kykNET on DStv on Saturday. The 13-episode series will feature the Western Cape’s marine protected areas and other nature reserves, highlighting efforts to protect marine life and coastal ecosystems. CapeNature says the programme will help raise awareness of conservation, promote sustainable tourism, and encourage people to appreciate and protect the province’s coastline.

Stay tuned for more news………….