News 17:00

BULLETIN 6 September 5 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Germany offers funding support for South Africa’s 390-billion-rand grid revamp
# China evacuates 400-thousand people ahead of super typhoon Yagi
# And, tennis: History is on the line in the men’s US Open semifinals

# Germany has expressed willingness to help fund South Africa’s 390-billion-rand grid revamp aimed at incorporating more solar and wind power. This support comes as part of the Just Energy Transition Partnership to accelerate South Africa’s shift from coal to renewable energy. Germany’s envoy, Rainer Baake, highlighted the need for grid investment and expressed readiness to provide more funding. The partnership has faced criticism for slow implementation, with concerns about South Africa meeting emissions targets by 2030.

# AfriForum says the government’s 17-billion-rand loan from the New Development Bank to improve water infrastructure will not solve South Africa’s water crisis. The civil rights organisation warns mismanagement and corruption at municipal level could waste the funds without meaningful improvements. AfriForum’s Marais de Vaal proposes improving local governance, training personnel, monitoring water quality, and enhancing cooperation between government and the private sector to tackle the crisis:  

# The DA warns that ongoing operational failures at Air Traffic and Navigation Services are jeopardising the tourism sector and economy. They urge Tourism minister Patricia de Lille and Transport minister Barbara Creecy to act urgently, saying outdated infrastructure and staff shortages are causing delays and risking airport closures. The DA’s Haseena Ismail says immediate reforms are needed to restore air safety and support economic recovery:  

# China has evacuated some 400-thousand people as one of the year’s most powerful storms is expected to make landfall at the popular tourist island of Hainan. Trains, boats and flights in the area have been suspended for a second day, while schools remain shut in parts of the region. Super typhoon Yagi is currently packing winds of up to 240 kilometres per hour. Meteorologists say Yagi may cause catastrophic damage in Hainan and neighbouring Guangdong. Chinese authorities believe Yagi will be the strongest typhoon to hit its southern coast in a decade.

# Tennis: The men’s game has reached the semifinal stage at the US Open, with a guarantee of an American in the final in New York for the first time in 18-years. Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe will face each other in their bid to become the first home men’s singles champion since Andy Roddick in 2003. World number one Jannik Sinner of Italy takes on Jack Draper, who is just the fourth British man to reach the tournament’s singles semifinals in the Open era.

# And, the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-69-cents and the euro at 19-rand-63-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-32-cents and Bitcoin trades at 56-thousand-837-dollars-76-cent. Gold sells at two-thousand-510-dollars-76-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-97-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….