News 18:00

BULLETIN 23 February 6 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Sibanye-Stillwater reduces its platinum job cuts 
# Police destroys more than 18-thousand firearms
# And Rugby: Ireland continues its quest for a second consecutive Six Nations Grand Slam 

# Sibanye Stillwater has implemented a significant workforce reduction in its South African platinum group metal operations, cutting approximately two-thousand-133 jobs. This decision follows discussions with labour unions to restructure unprofitable operations. Initially over four-thousand jobs were at risk. The company expects to report a loss for the last year due to challenges in platinum-group metal prices and operational issues. As part of the restructuring, a non-producing platinum shaft will be closed, production reduced in two others, and a potential shutdown of a fourth, if monthly losses persist.

# Police have destroyed over 18-thousand firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng. The destruction targeted firearms used in crimes, including cash-in-transit robberies and gender-based violence cases. This marks the second destruction in the 2023/24 fiscal year, with Gauteng leading at three-thousand-389 firearms destroyed. Operation Shanela has seized four-thousand illegal firearms since May last year, leading to 10-thousand arrests.

# US president Joe Biden met the widow and daughter of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Yulia (Joelia) and Dasha Navalnaya, in California. Navalny died in an Arctic prison a week ago, with his wife accusing Russian president Vladimir Putin of ordering his death. The US announced sanctions against about 500 Russian people and companies earlier today. The White House released a picture of Biden hugging Yulia in a hotel room in San Francisco, and he told reporters she will continue her husband’s fight.

# Rugby: International action returns with the Six Nations this weekend. Defending champions Ireland will host Wales in Dublin tomorrow afternoon before Scotland welcomes old enemy England to Murrayfield in Edinburgh. The final game of the weekend will be between France and Italy in Lille on Sunday. Ireland completed the Grand Slam last season and is undefeated after two games, but coach Andy Farrel expects a fight from Wales:

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-34-cents and the euro at 20-rand-95-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-55-cents and Bitcoin trades at 51-thousand-262-dollars-59-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-25-dollars-18-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-4-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The mortal remains of Namibia’s late President Hage Geingob are being toured across the capital city, Windhoek, today. Deputy Chief of Staff and Joint Operations at the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Rehabiam Kalimba, anticipates thousands of local and international mourners to attend Geingob’s official memorial service at Independence Stadium tomorrow afternoon, followed by his interment at the national heroes’ shrine on Sunday:

Stay tuned for more news………….