News 11:00

BULLETIN 14 August 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Government says the comments made by the chief of the Defence Force don’t reflect South Africa’s foreign policy
# Mass food poisoning results in over 100 learners being hospitalised in Mthatha
# And Greece battles wildfires as a heatwave rages across southern Europe

# The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says minister Ronald Lamola will meet with South African National Defence Force Chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, to seek clarity on comments he made in Iran. During a meeting in Tehran, Maphwanya and Iran’s army commander, Major-General Amir Hatami, reportedly commended their countries’ common goal of fighting global arrogance and aggressive colonial approaches. The department’s spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, says the implementation of South Africa’s foreign policy is a function of the Presidency:

# Metalworkers’ union Numsa has secured a two-year above-inflation increase for over ten-thousand workers in the pharmaceutical sector. In each of the two-years, workers will receive a 5.5-percent increase, which will rise to six-percent. The minimum wage of 11-thousand-398-rand-80-cents will be adjusted accordingly. Numsa’s spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, says during the negotiations they also fought for and won a substantial improvement in maternity leave:

# The Eastern Cape Department of Education has launched an investigation into an alleged food poisoning incident at Gobisizwe Agricultural School in Mthatha. This comes after 131 learners were rushed to hospital yesterday. The department’s spokesperson, Siyanda Manana, says no deaths were recorded, 128 learners have since been discharged, while three are still being monitored in hospital:

Moving abroad:

# Firefighters are battling several wildfires in Greece as a scorching heatwave wreaks havoc across southern Europe. In the past 3- hours alone, more than 152 new fires have broken out across Greece and thousands of people have been evacuated. Around four-thousand-850 firefighters are engaged in a multi-front battle to contain the flames. Temperatures surpassed 40 degrees Celsius in several locations earlier this week, with record temperatures hitting France and Slovenia. Scientists warn global warming is making Mediterranean summers hotter and drier, fuelling longer and more intense fire seasons.

# Cricket: Australia’s batting duo of Matt Short and Mitch Owen, and all-rounder Lance Morris have been ruled out of the upcoming three-match one-day home series against South Africa. Short and Morris are injured, while Owen picked up delayed concussion symptoms after being struck on the helmet by a Kagiso Rabada delivery during the second T20 on Tuesday. The three have been replaced in the squad by Matthew Kuhnemann, Aaron Hardie, and all-rounder Cooper Connolly. The first ODI will be played in Cairns on Tuesday.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-56-cents and the euro at 20-rand-53-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-86-cents and Bitcoin trades at 121-thousand-884-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-365-dollars-55-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 65-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….