News 12:00

BULLETIN 27 February 12 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The National Consumer Commission urges peanut butter manufacturers to test their products
# Tshwane’s proposed salary hike is on the condition it meets its revenue collection target 
# And Rugby: The Bulls are looking to break their losing streak against the Stormers

# The National Consumer Commission is calling on all manufacturers of peanut butter to start testing their products, to determine whether their products meet the acceptable levels of aflatoxin. Earlier this month, Pick n Pay recalled their No-Name and Eden All Natural peanut butter from its stores, for having elevated levels of aflatoxin which may cause harm to humans. Woolworths also recalled their peanut butter dairy product recently. Acting National Consumer Commissioner, Thezi Mabuza, says they are concerned by the high rate of recalls:

# Tshwane City manager Johann Mettler says if the metro fails to achieve its revenue collection target of 4.4-billion-rand for February until July, salary increases will not be implemented. He proposed to the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration a salary increase of 5.4-percent for the 2023/2024 financial year to labour unions. Mettler says if the metro fails to achieve its target, meaning no salary increases, parties will revert to the exemption review processes, currently pending before the Labour Court.

# US president Joe Biden says a new deal for a temporary ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is close, and hopefully this will be agreed to by next week Monday. The US, Egypt, and Qatar have been working to negotiate a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas that would pause fighting in Gaza for at least six weeks. Reportedly, the deal would see Hamas release more hostages, Israel releasing several Palestinian prisoners and hundreds of aid trucks entering Gaza safely.

# Rugby: The top two South African sides in the United Rugby Championship will meet on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld. Third-placed Bulls will look to break their losing streak against the sixth-placed Stormers after the Cape Town team won their previous five meetings. Bulls assistant coach Andries Bekker says they a looking for more consistency:

# Financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-23-cents and the euro at 20-rand-89-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-41-cents and Bitcoin trades at 56-thousand-416-dollars-23-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-38-dollars-49-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 82-dollars-77-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Today is International Polar Bear Day, a day founded to coincide with the period when polar bear moms and cubs are snug in their dens across the Arctic. The day aims to highlight the threat of climate change on polar bears and their habitat due to rising sea temperatures and the melting of the Arctic ice caps. Polar Bears International says this year’s focus is on raising funds to help protect moms and cubs, giving them the best possible chance of survival, while also supporting its other conservation efforts across the Arctic.

Stay tuned for more news………….