News 08:00

BULLETIN 3 June 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Paul Mashatile has secured commitments from Indian business leaders to expand investments
# Mmusi Maimane calls on the government of national unity to focus on deliberate action
# And, the US and Iran exchange fresh missile and drone strikes

# Deputy president Paul Mashatile has described his first leg of his working visit to India as highly productive, saying it has helped strengthen the long-standing strategic partnership between the two nations. He held high-level engagements with Indian president Droupadi Murmu and major companies operating in sectors including energy, water, infrastructure, and agriculture. Mashatile says they have managed to secure commitments from Indian business leaders to expand investments in key sectors of South Africa’s economy:

# Build One South Africa leader, Mmusi Maimane, says that with the economy struggling, high unemployment, and basic dignity having become unaffordable, the country requires a president singularly focused on leading government in fixing these crises. He says, unfortunately, president Cryil Ramaphosa finds himself consumed by the storm cloud of Phala Phala that hangs over his head. Speaking in the National Assembly yesterday, Maimane said that in moving away from the distractions, the government of national unity must focus on deliberate action:

# The National Prosecuting Authority says it plans to re-enrol the fraud case of former acting CEO of the Johannesburg Social Housing Company, Themba Mathibe. This comes after the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court struck the case off the roll on Tuesday. The case relates to the discovery of 321-thousand-rand at Mathibe’s residence during a search-and-seizure operation linked to an ongoing corruption investigation into his tenure at JOSHCO. The NPA’s spokesperson, Magaboke Mohlatlole, says they are engaging with police to expedite outstanding investigations in this matter:

# The US military says it conducted “self-defence” strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island, in response to attempted attacks by Tehran across the Middle East. It also disabled an unladen oil tanker heading toward an Iranian port, attempting to break through the American blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, in retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it fired missiles at the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and two air bases used by US forces in Kuwait. These latest exchanges have jeopardised efforts to secure a new ceasefire agreement.

# Tennis: 2024 finalist Alexander Zverev is through to the French Open semifinals, continuing his bid for a first Grand Slam title. The second-seeded German defeated 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar, 7-6, 6-1, 6-3. Zverev will face Czech Jakub Mensik, who beat Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6. In the women’s draw, Marta Kostyuk defeated compatriot Elina Svitolina, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, becoming the first Ukrainian woman in the Open era to reach the singles semifinals at Roland Garros. She will face Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva, who thumped Romanian Sorana Cirstea, 6-0, 6-3.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-25-cents and the euro at 18-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-87-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 66-thousand-150-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-483-dollars-70-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 96-dollars-1-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….