News 14:00

BULLETIN 31 December 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Johannesburg police enforce a 6 pm New Year’s eve closure for liquor outlets in the CBD
# Officials investigate over 100 Boeing aircraft models after the South Korean crash
# And cricket: Australia is sweating over the fitness of Mitchell Starc

# Johannesburg police have mandated liquor outlets and entertainment venues in the CDB to close by 6 pm tonight. Mayoral committee member for Safety and Security Mgcini Tshwaku cites public safety, crime reduction and avoidance of drinking and driving as priorities for the New Year celebrations. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Tshwaku urged South Africans to celebrate responsibly to ensure a safe transition into 2025:

Meanwhile, Cape Town’s enforcement departments have confiscated four-thousand-730 bottles of liquor at beaches, parks and other public places since the first of December. Mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says they have seen alcohol injected into fruit like watermelon and oranges and even hidden inside baby bottles. He says some have put their drinks inside municipal waste bins and then cover it with sand to keep it cool:

# Sunday’s catastrophic plane crash in South Korea has prompted officials to investigate over 100 similar Boeing aircraft models operating at airports around the country. Jeju Air Flight 2216 was landing at Muan International Airport when the plane went off the runway and crashed into a wall. The flight was carrying 179 people of which only two flight attendants – a man and a woman – survived. Officials are continuing to identify the victims, with the remains of four people being transported to their respective families for their funerals today.

# Cricket: Australian head coach Andrew McDonald has conceded that Mitchell Marsh has fallen short of expectations with the bat against India, but remains optimistic about Mitchell Starc’s availability for the pivotal fifth Test in Sydney, starting on Friday. Starc battled through sore ribs from day three of the Boxing Day Test, but still claimed the prized wicket of Virat Kohli on the final day. Should he be unavailable for the series decider at his home ground, McDonald is confident Jhye Richardson or Sean Abbott could fill the void.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-77-cents and the euro at 19-rand-53-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-54-cents and Bitcoin trades at 93-thousand-546-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-614-dollars-70-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 74-dollars-38-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The world’s number one chess player, Magnus Carlsen, has said he will return to a major competition after the sport’s governing body agreed to relax its dress code. Carlsen quit a competition in New York on Friday, where he was defending his title, when he was told he could not continue playing while wearing jeans. The International Chess Federation had previously said its dress code regulations were designed to ensure fairness and professionalism for all participants.

Stay tuned for more news………….