News 16:00

BULLETIN 18 December 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# eThekwini is on high alert following a level 5 weather warning
# Motorsport: Minister Gayton McKenzie pledges to bring Formula One to South Africa [SOUND]
# And cricket: Corbin Bosch gets a maiden call-up for the Test series against Pakistan

# The eThekwini metro’s Disaster Management Centre and other emergency services are on standby after the South African Weather Service issued a severe orange level 5 warning for KwaZulu-Natal. The metro’s spokesperson, Mduduzi Ncalane, says the model forcasts widespread showers and thundershowers across the province from today until 4am tomorrow:

Meanwhile, the United Nations is assessing the extensive damage caused by Cyclone Chido, which struck the northern parts of Mozambique. Thousands of people were displaced, including over 90-thousand children. The storm reportedly damaged 35-thousand homes, destroyed 186 classrooms, and impacted vital infrastructure, including health and water facilities. The UN’s Stephane Dujarric says additional funding is required to sustain humanitarian efforts:

# Motorsport: Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has pledged to bring Formula One racing to South Africa. Briefing the media, the minister expressed gratitude to seven-time F1 champion, Lewis Hamilton, for his tireless advocacy in pushing for an African Grand Prix. McKenzie says South Africa, with its large motorsport community and infrastructure, is well-positioned to host a race by 2027:

# Cricket: Titans seamer Corbin Bosch, son of the late South African bowler Tertius Bosch, has received a maiden call-up for the Test series against Pakistan. Uncapped Lions pacer Kwena Maphaka is retained in the squad of 16 players after he was also in the squad for the series against Sri Lanka. The first Test is at SuperSport Park in Centurion from 26 to 30 December and the second encounter will take place at Newlands in Cape Town from 3 to 7 January.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-4-cents and the euro at 18-rand-94-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-94-cents and Bitcoin trades at 105-thousand-135-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-646-dollars-98-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-44-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Stellenbosch University says an oral antibiotic, levofloxacin, taken once daily for six months, substantially reduced the risk of developing drug-resistant tuberculosis in children. Professor James Seddon says according to the university researchers report, levofloxacin reduced the risk of multidrug-resistant TB disease in children by 56-percent. He says the trial also showed the drug was safe and well tolerated.

Stay tuned for more news………….