News 17:00

BULLETIN 25 June 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA demands urgent clarity on the Defence minister’s three-month turnaround plan
# There is a rising threat of illegal gambling across Gauteng
# And soccer: Sundowns face Fluminense in a must-win Club World Cup clash

# The DA says Defence minister Angie Motshekga must urgently provide clarity on her three-month turnaround plan to rescue the collapsing South African National Defence Force. The party argues Motshekga appears out of touch with the SANDF’s crisis and continues to defend luxury spending while critical operations are underfunded. The DA’s Nicholas Gotsell says a recent report from Armscor shows major shortfalls in the Air Force and failing military hospitals:

# South Africa is hosting the third G20 sherpa meeting at Sun City in North West, chaired by International Relations director-general, Zane Dangor. Delegates from G20 nations are advancing negotiations ahead of the November summit. Dangor stressed the need for practical solutions and acknowledged the importance of addressing geopolitical tensions. He urged Sherpas to guide discussions rooted in UN principles while technical working groups focus on economic cooperation and sustainable development priorities:

# The Gauteng Gambling Board has warned against the rising threat of illegal gambling across the province. From unlicensed online betting sites to backdoor casinos and street gambling, these operations put players at risk of losing money or facing criminal charges. The board says only licensed casinos, online platforms, and betting venues are legal. It adds that unregulated venues break tax laws and pose significant risks like missing funds, underage participation, and unchecked at-risk behaviour.

# Soccer: Mamelodi Sundowns’ hopes of reaching the FIFA Club World Cup’s last 16 hang in the balance as they face Brazilian giants, Fluminense, in a crucial Group F decider in the US tonight. A victory will guarantee Sundowns progression, but a draw may not be enough if Dortmund beat Ulsan HD. Fluminense only need one point to advance. Its coach, Renato Gaucho, is content playing for a draw while Sundowns’ coach, Miguel Cardoso, says the focus is on winning.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-83-cents and the euro at 20-rand-68-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-26-cents and Bitcoin trades at 107-thousand-869-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-316-dollars-38-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-55-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Orcas in the North Pacific have been seen massaging each other by rubbing pieces of kelp between their bodies. Researchers used drones to film the animals and think the massages might have a health or hygiene function. They also believe they are a form of social bonding, while appearing to be an example of tool use in killer whales. Over 12 days of studying a population of orcas in the coastal waters off Washington State, the team recorded 30 bouts of kelp massage.

Stay tuned for more news………….