Transcript

Hello, everyone! Welcome to ‘Just a Moment News’ with your host Erika, today on July 28, 2024. Let’s dive into some of today’s intriguing news stories.

Starting off with sports, the Blitzboks, South Africa’s rugby sevens team, have once again demonstrated their resilience and team spirit. After a challenging season and a rocky path through the repechage qualifiers, the team managed to secure a spot in the Paris Olympics. Despite earlier setbacks, including a loss to Kenya and a close scrape into the Olympic quarterfinals, the Blitzboks triumphed over Australia to win the bronze medal. This marks their second Olympic bronze medal, the first being at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The team’s defense was particularly notable during their quarterfinal against New Zealand, and a critical moment came during the bronze medal match when Australia’s Nick Malouf was sent off, which the Blitzboks capitalized on to secure their win.

In other news, a forensic report by Nexus Forensic Services has revealed significant fraud within South Africa’s National Skills Fund, which is part of the Department of Higher Education and Training. The report uncovered that funds meant to uplift poor communities were misused for personal luxuries, including the purchase of luxury cars and a farm. A specific case involved a rabbit-breeding project which was granted One hundred and twenty-three million Rand but resulted in only two hundred rabbits being bought instead of the planned ten thousand five hundred. This scandal has prompted recommendations for stricter internal controls and legal actions against those involved.

Switching gears to crime news, South Africa’s involvement in global drug trafficking has been highlighted following a two-billion Rand drug bust in Limpopo, where five individuals, including Mexican nationals, were arrested. This incident underscores South Africa’s role as a significant transit point for drugs coming from major drug-producing regions like Colombia and Brazil. Over the past year, more than thirty-three drug labs were shut down, and cocaine worth over one billion Rand was seized, reflecting ongoing efforts to combat this international issue.

In technology and media news, Elon Musk has stirred controversy by sharing a manipulated video of Vice President Kamala Harris on his social media platform, X. The video, which was edited to make it appear as if Harris was criticizing President Biden and herself, was not labeled as a parody or deceptive, which goes against X’s policies on misleading media. This incident brings to light the challenges and concerns surrounding deepfake technologies and their potential impact on politics and public opinion.

Over at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Marvel Studios has excited fans with announcements about their upcoming projects for Phase Five and beyond. Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, unveiled new films including “Captain America: Brave New World” and “Avengers: Doomsday.” The studio also provided updates on their Phase Six plans, which include films like “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.”

Lastly, an inspiring story from the sports world, Zhiying Zeng, a 58-year-old table tennis player from Chile, has qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Known affectionately as “Tia Tania,” Zeng’s journey to the Olympics is a remarkable tale of determination and passion. After retiring from professional table tennis in 1986, she made a comeback during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since re-established herself as a formidable competitor on the national team.

That wraps up our news for today on ‘Just a Moment News.’ Thank you for tuning in. I’m Erika, and I’ll catch you next time for more updates. Stay informed and take care!

Keywords - moment, daily, news