News 14:00
BULLETIN 17 July 2 pm
Good afternoon. I am……..
In this bulletin:
# A decline in STEM education threatens South Africa’s ability to compete in a knowledge-driven economy
# Rugby: Tandy wants a physical edge from Wales in tomorrow’s Test against the Boks
# And the route between Cape Town and OR Tambo is named Africa’s busiest air route
# MANCOSA Academic says South Africa’s declining performance in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education has become a pressing concern. Global benchmarks consistently rank the nation poorly, highlighting systemic challenges that demand urgent attention. Spokesperson Precious Buthelezi says this threatens the country’s ability to compete in a knowledge-driven economy. She says many learners arrive at university burdened by unequal schooling, weak mathematics foundations, limited access to laboratories, language barriers, and inadequate career guidance:
Meanwhile, deputy minister of Basic Education Reginah Mhaule says coding and robotics will be introduced in all South African primary schools within the next two to three years. Speaking at the launch of a 1.9 million-rand artificial intelligence, coding and robotics centre in Gqeberha, Mhaule said government is partnering with the private sector to expand technology education. She calls on more businesses to support the programme, prioritising funding for rural schools:
Moving abroad:
# Iranian state media and a Syrian military source say Iran struck eastern Syria earlier today, in the first known attack by Tehran on Syrian territory since the Middle Eastern war erupted earlier this year. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say they had attacked a US special operations command centre in Syria in retaliation for the killing of Iranian soldiers in Iranshahr. A Syrian military source told Reuters Iran had carried out an attack near Tanf, but it had not hit the base itself.
# Rugby: Welsh coach Steve Tandy wants a real physical edge from his men in tomorrow’s Nations Championship encounter with the Springboks in Durban. He realises they are going up against probably the most physical team in the world, and says it’s a great opportunity to test themselves against the world champions. Tandy made six changes to his starting team that lost to Argentina last weekend, including bolstering his pack. Captain Dewey Lake passed a late fitness test and will lead the side.
# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-49-cents and the euro at 18-rand-85-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-15-cents and Bitcoin trades at 63-thousand-95-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-994-dollars-61-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 84-dollars-43-cents a barrel.
# And finally: The route between Cape Town International Airport and Gauteng’s OR Tambo International Airport was Africa’s busiest airport connection last year. According to the International Air Transport Association’s World Air Transport Statistics 2025 report, approximately 3.4 million passengers travelled between the two destinations. The report says the route outperformed all other airport pairs on the continent. Globally, Asia dominated the busiest air routes, while the United States remained the world’s largest passenger aviation market, followed by China and the United Kingdom.
Stay tuned for more news………….