News 13:00

NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 17 November 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Police statistics show fewer murders for July to September this year
# The Jewish Board is concerned over rising anti-Semitism 
# And Motorsport: McLaren’s Lando Norris believes the inaugural Las Vegas GP will present opportunities for everyone 

# There were 59 fewer murders in July to September this year in comparison to the same period last year. This was revealed in the latest crime statistics released by the police. Sexual offences were down by 1.5-percent, rape by 0.7-percent and sexual assault by 2.5-percent. Attempted murder cases increased by 12.3-percent and robberies at residential premises are also up by 3.8-percent.

# The South African Jewish Board of Deputies has expressed concern over rising anti-Semitism in the country amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. The board along with the South African Zionist Federation, met with the ANC to discuss the Jewish community’s worries. The ANC, historically supportive of Palestine, faced criticism for what the board deem an inadequate response to Hamas’s October attack, in which one-thousand-200 Israelis died. The board urged attention to the surge in anti-Semitism and addressed prospects for Middle East peace.

# The DA in Gauteng says premier Panyaza Lesufi’s decision to not grant any liquor licences will contribute to the unemployment rate in the province. The premier said halting the issuing of liquor licences is in an effort to help end the fight against drugs and the sale of illicit goods. The DA’s, Patrick Atkinson, says this decision will ensure that entrepreneurs will not be able to start any new businesses in the sector:

Play sound: ENG PatrickonLiqourLicences

# Namibia and Botswana have announced a landmark agreement to eliminate roaming charges between the two nations by April next year. The joint announcement was made during a media briefing by Botswana’s minister of Communication, Knowledge and Technology, Thulagano Segokgo, and Namibia’s minister of Information and Communication Technology, Peya Mushelenga. Namibia’s ministry of Information and Communication Technology spokesperson, Shoki Kandjimi, affirmed this will strengthen bilateral ties and says regulatory bodies will also direct operators to implement this strategic decision:

Play sound: ENG-KandjimiOnRoaming

# Motorsport: McLaren’s Lando Norris believes the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend will present opportunities for everyone. This comes as Formula One races on the new street track amid chilly evening temperatures for the first time. F1 drivers will hit the 6.1-kilometre track, which features a flat-out section down the world-famous Vegas Strip. Norris says the challenges of the circuit and the night-time temperatures in the low-mid teens, should not be underestimated. The Las Vegas Grand Prix returning after a hiatus since 1982.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-36-cents and the euro at 19-rand-94-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 36-thousand-293-dollars-2-cents. Gold sells at one-thousand-991-dollars-49-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 77-dollars-98-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….