News 12:00

BULLETIN 18 December 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The registration deadline for spaza shops is extended to February
# Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni warns that South Africa is seeing an increasing occurrence of cyberattacks
# And cricket: The Proteas women’s captain is reprimanded for showing dissent in the England Test

# Government has extended the registration deadline for spaza shops and food-handling outlets to the 28th of February to improve compliance with health and safety standards. Briefing the media, government ministers leading the interdisciplinary team on foodborne illnesses and illicit trade highlighted progress on the action plan, including the closure of over one-thousand non-compliant shops. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, urges businesses to register and meet health regulations to continue operating:

# Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni is warning that South Africa is seeing an increasing occurrence of cybercrime incidents and cyberattacks. These attacks affect all sectors of the economy including telecommunications, financial, and health. In a parliamentary question, Police minister Senzo Mchunu revealed that two-thousand-679 cybercrime cases were reported over two years, but only 83 of these cases were referred to the National Prosecuting Authority. Ntshavheni says in the past year, the most prevalent threat has been ransomware attacks in both the private and the public sector.

# A former coach of the Wallabies rugby team, radio show host, and speechwriter for former Australian prime minister Michael Fraser, denied 34 charges of aggravated indecent assault after his first appearance in a court in Sydney. Eighty-three-year-old Alan Jones, who coached the national team in the 1980s, was arrested last month. The charges involve ten boys and men, some as young as 17, and allegedly occurred between 2001 and 2019. Jones’s lawyer says they welcome a jury trial so he can clear his name.

# Cricket: Proteas Women’s captain, Laura Wolvaardt, has been reprimanded for breaching the International Cricket Council code of conduct during the Test against England in Bloemfontein. She was found guilty of showing disapproval after being given out leg before wicket in South Africa’s first innings. The ICC added one demerit point to her record after her first offence in 24 months. Wolvaardt admitted to the charge and accepted the sanction, avoiding a formal hearing.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-7-cents and the euro at 18-rand-95-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-91-cents and Bitcoin trades at 104-thousand-288-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-642-dollars-93-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-27-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Hollywood actor Tom Cruise has been awarded the US Navy’s highest civilian honour for his outstanding contributions to the Navy and the Marine Corps with Top Gun and other films. He was given the Distinguished Public Service Award by US Secretary of the Navy Carlos del Toro. The Navy says Cruise has increased public awareness and appreciation for its highly trained personnel and the sacrifices they make. The 62-year-old says he is proud to receive this extraordinary acknowledgement:

Stay tuned for more news………….