News 09:00

BULLETIN 12 February 9 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# South Africa is elected to serve on the African Union Peace and Security Council
# A foot and mouth case is reported near Hartenbos in the Garden Route District
# And, Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek has died following his battle with cancer

# South Africa has been elected to serve a two-year term on the 15-member Peace and Security Council of the African Union. The council facilitates timely and efficient responses to conflict and crisis situations in Africa. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, says South Africa’s term on the PSC will be guided by its foreign policy, which prioritises the African continent’s peace, stability and development:

# United Africans Transformation says today’s state of the nation address must go beyond promises and deliver clear, time-bound actions. The party calls on president Cyril Ramaphosa to provide an honest account of government performance, outline concrete plans for economic growth, land reform, and education, and tackle crime and corruption decisively. Party leader Wonder Mahlatsi says success will be measured by delivery and outcomes, not rhetoric:

# The Garden Route District Municipality says the foot-and-mouth disease case investigated on a dairy farm near Mossel Bay has tested positive for the virus. The outbreak was detected on a farm outside Hartenbos. FMD affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, and causes painful sores in the mouth and around the hooves. The municipality’s spokesperson, Herman Pieters, says livestock on two farms adjacent to the dairy farm are showing lesions:

# Soccer: Manchester City have closed the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to three points following a 3-0 victory over Fulham. First-half goals from Antoine Semenyo, Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland extended City’s unbeaten home run to 12 games. Arsenal play Brentford this evening. Meanwhile, captain Virgil van Dijk’s header gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Sunderland, boosting their Champions League qualification hopes. An 86th-minute own goal from Jack Hinshelwood gave Aston Villa a 1-0 victory over Brighton and remain third in the Premier League table.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 15-rand-85-cents and the euro at 18-rand-83-cents. One British pound costs 21-rand-62-cents, and Bitcoin trades at 67-thousand-309-dollars. Gold sells at five-thousand-59-dollars-58-cents a fine ounce, and Brent crude oil is quoted at 69-dollars-24-cents a barrel.

# And finally, James Van Der Beek, well known for his leading role in the ’90s teen drama, Dawson’s Creek, has died at the age of 48. He was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023 and made his diagnosis public in 2024. Dawson’s Creek, which also starred Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Michelle Williams, aired for six seasons. Van Der Beek won an MTV Movie Award for the drama Varsity Blues. The father of six also guest-starred on shows including Criminal Minds and How I Met Your Mother.

Stay tuned for more news………….