News 12:00

BULLETIN 28 January 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A manhunt is launched following the killing of three men at a Gordon’s Bay shopping centre
# Electric vehicle sales overtake petrol in the European Union for the first time
# And tennis: Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula are through to the Australian Open semifinals

# Western Cape police have launched a manhunt after three men were shot dead at Gordon’s Bay Mall last night. The incident is believed to be gang-related. Police spokesperson Novela Potelwa says a triple murder case has been registered for investigation at the local police station:

# RISE Mzansi warns justice delays are worsening in South Africa, with murder convictions now taking 175 days, up from 148, and rape convictions rising to 219 days from 197. The party’s Makashule Gana says assault and grievous bodily harm cases also take longer. The party blames heavy police workloads, a shortage of detectives and forensic backlogs, and calls for more resources, specialist staff, and a modernised criminal justice system:

# Thousands of South African actors, filmmakers, and crew are protesting outside Parliament in Cape Town, demanding urgent reform of the Film and TV Incentive Scheme of minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau. Protesters say with work opportunities down 60 percent and the sector halved since Covid-19, stalled approvals now threaten jobs and local productions. They are calling for faster incentives, interim funding, and government support to prevent a talent exodus.

Moving abroad:

# Sales of fully electric cars surpassed those of petrol vehicles in the European Union for ‌the first time last month. Battery-electric registrations also overtook those of petrol cars in the broader European market, which includes Britain and Norway. Car sales on the continent logged a sixth month of year-on-year growth. Experts expect electric vehicles to keep increasing their share of the European market. E-Mobility Europe‘s Secretary General Chris Heron says European brands have started ⁠to adapt by introducing new and affordable electric vehicles, while individual countries offer new incentive schemes.

# Tennis: 2023 runner-up Elena Rybakina is through to the Australian Open semifinals. The Kazakhstani fifth seed defeated world number two Iga Swiatek to deny the Polish player’s latest bid to win a career Grand Slam. Rybakina lost in three sets to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the 2023 final. She will face Jessica Pegula for a place in Saturday’s final after the American beat compatriot Amanda Anisimova to make her first semifinal in Melbourne. The other semifinal will see Sabalenka facing Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-82-cents and the euro at 18-rand-98-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-84-cents and Bitcoin trades at 88-thousand-972-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-292-dollars-53-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 66-dollars-47-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….