News 18:00

BULLETIN NEWS AGENCY 12 August 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The Just energy transmission’s implementation plan is in progress
# Thousands of people living around Athens flee their homes as a wildfire creeps closer 
# And, cricket: Graham Thorpe’s family confirmed he had committed suicide

# Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, says the 2023 to ’27 Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan is in progress, with a focus on regulatory adjustments and resource allocation. Speaking to the media, the minister reiterated that 1.5-trillion-rand is needed to reach the goals of the just energy transition. He says the plan will address the link between greenhouse gas emissions and climate change:

# Build One South Africa has launched a nationwide petition calling for the national register of sexual offenders to be made public and easily accessible. The party argues that the current process for accessing the register, which involves a 150-rand fee and a six-week wait, obstructs transparency and accountability. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, BOSA deputy leader Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster believes that public access is vital for community safety and for deterring sexual offenders:

# Gauteng police have launched a search operation for 18-year-old matric learner, Reza Saloojee, presumed drowned in the Vaal Dam. Reza, who was fishing with relatives, attempted to retrieve belongings blown into the dam, but struggled against strong currents. The head boy of Greenside High School in Johannesburg was last seen trying to return to shore. A helicopter, police divers, and search dogs are involved in the search.

# Thousands of people living around Athens fled their homes today, including in the historic town of Marathon, as a huge wildfire front crept closer to the Greek capital. Authorities ordered at least five more communities and two hospitals northeast of Athens to leave after eight nearby villages, including Marathon, were told to evacuate yesterday. Marathon’s mayor, Stergios Tsirkas, says the town, which gave its name to the long-distance race that is the centrepiece of the Olympics, was facing a biblical catastrophe.

# Cricket: Former English batter Graham Thorpe’s family confirmed he took his own life. The 55-year-old died last week. He represented England in 100 Tests and 82 one-day internationals, scoring over nine-thousand runs. Thorpe’s wife, Amanda, says he battled depression and anxiety for years. He lost his job as England’s assistant coach in 2022 and was then appointed as Afghanistan’s head coach, but attempted to commit suicide and never took up the role. His oldest daughter, Kitty, says the family isn’t ashamed to talk about his struggles.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-20-cents and the euro at 19-rand-88-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-23-cents and Bitcoin trades at 59-thousand-399-dollars-61-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-448-dollars-48-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 80-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….