News 08:00

BULLETIN 30 December 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Natjoints says the government remains steadfast in its efforts to address illegal mining activities
# ActionSA condemns the murder of a crime prevention warden in Eldorado Park
# And Cricket: Rabada’s batting heroics lead SA to a 2-wicket victory and into the World Test Championship

# The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure says government remains steadfast in its efforts to address illegal mining activities, which pose significant risks to both the individuals involved and the broader community. Natjoints’ Tebello Mosikili says operations such as “Vala Umgodi” are ongoing to rehabilitate abandoned mines and prevent further unlawful exploitation. She says government is also working to tackle the underlying socio-economic issues that contribute to illegal mining, including unemployment and lack of economic opportunities:

# ActionSA has condemned the murder of a female crime prevention warden in Gauteng. Chesnay Keppler was killed in Eldorado Park, allegedly by her boyfriend, police sergeant Mandla Buthelezi. ActionSA’s Dereleen James says it is alleged that Buthelezi, known to have been physically abusive in the past, forced Keppler into a state vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, assaulted her, and later shot her through the kitchen window of her home:

# Yesterday’s plane crash at a South Korean airport is described as the country’s worst domestic civil aviation disaster. Hundred-and-79 people were reportedly killed when the Jeju Air plane overshot the runway at landing from Bangkok in Thailand. It crashed into a wall and burst into flames. Two crew members were pulled out of the wreckage alive. Most of the 175 passengers and six crew were South Korean citizens. The crash is ascribed to a bird strike or failing landing gear.

# Cricket: Kagiso Rabada produced one of the best performances of his career, by hammering South Africa to an astonishing and tense two-wicket victory in the first test against Pakistan in Centurion on Sunday. He smashed an unbeaten 31 from just 26 balls during a match winning, unbroken ninth wicket stand of 51 with fellow fast bowler Marco Jansen. The victory ensured the Proteas’ place in the final of the World Test Championship which takes place at Lord’s in June next year. The second test begins at Newlands in Cape Town on 3 January.

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-65-cents and the euro at 19-rand-45-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-46-cents and Bitcoin trades at 93-thousand-411-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-622-dollars-53-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 73-dollars-75-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Scientists have built tiny VR goggles for mice so they can better study how animals behave in virtual reality. Researchers at Cornell University created the MouseGoggles using low-cost, off-the-shelf components such as smartwatch displays and tiny lenses. They then put the headsets on the mice, seeing how they responded to different stimuli. According to the university the miniature goggles could help reveal how the brain deals with spatial navigation and memory, which may help scientists understand diseases like Alzheimer’s and its potential treatments.

Stay tuned for more news………….