News 15:00

BULLETIN 14 July 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The judicial commission investigating the police is urged to avoid Zondo-style delays and inaction
# No date is set yet for the resumption of nuclear talks between the US and Iran
# And tennis: Iga Swiatek improves to third in the world rankings after winning Wimbledon

# Business Leadership South Africa says the new commission into alleged political interference in police investigations must avoid the delays and inaction seen with previous inquiries like the Zondo commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture. The organisation welcomes the appointment of acting deputy chief justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga to lead the process but warns that strong support, proper resources, and swift action are needed. It states those undermining law enforcement must be suspended, and the commission’s findings must lead to real consequences.

# The DA is urging Trade minister Parks Tau to release the TSU International investigation report into alleged mismanagement and corruption at the South African Bureau of Standards. The report, triggered by last year’s whistleblower claims, was due lastg month already. The DA’s Toby Chance says the SABS remains unstable, with no permanent CEO since 2018. He calls for clear consequence management relating to the armed copper cable robbery at its national electrical test facility, as well as mismanagement and corruption:

# South Africa is hosting the second G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group meeting in the Kruger National Park from today to Friday. Over 250 delegates from G20 nations will tackle biodiversity, climate change, waste, and ocean issues. Environment minister Dion George will launch the Rhino Renaissance Campaign and lead a tree-planting ceremony. The event includes live rhino dehorning and promotes South Africa’s goal to plant ten-million trees under the National Greening Programme. George says promoting global cooperation for environmental sustainability is vital:

Moving abroad:

# Iran says it has no specific date for a meeting with the United States on Tehran’s nuclear programme, following a war with Israel that had derailed negotiations. Iran had been negotiating with the US before Israel began strikes on its nuclear facilities last month. America launched its own set of strikes against Iran’s nuclear programme, hitting the uranium enrichment facility at Fordo south of Tehran, as well as nuclear sites in Isfahan and Natanz. The extent of the damage from the strikes remains unknown.

 # Tennis: Iga Swiatek improved to third in the world rankings after clinching her first Wimbledon title on Saturday. This is the Pole’s sixth Grand Slam title. Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus is still first after losing to Amanda Anisimova in the semifinal, with the American shooting up five positions to seventh. American Coco Gauff is still second and compatriot Jessica Pegula fourth, followed by Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva and China’s Qinwen Zheng. American Madison Keys, Italian Jasmine Paolini and Spaniard Paula Badosa complete the top-ten.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-86-cents and the euro at 20-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-1-cent and Bitcoin trades at 121-thousand-523-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-369-dollars-78-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 70-dollars-58-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….