News 16:00

BULLETIN NEWS AGENCY 23 December 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The South African Air Force ends the Cuban training programme for cadets
# Cricket: SA-born Bevon Jacobs could make his debut for New Zealand in the T20 series against Sri Lanka
# And the crocodile from the hit film Crocodile Dundee dies peacefully

# The South African Air Force has terminated its flight training programme for cadets in Cuba, citing incompatibility with local standards. SAAF also confirmed its discontinuation due to operational challenges and financial constraints. In addition, it says promised promotions and wings were withheld, leaving cadets in limbo. Members trained in Cuba must now redo the Air Force’s flight training from the start. The programme faced criticism for using Russian aircraft and doctrines unsuitable for South African operations.

# The Referendum Party says the decision to fully implement the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act is extremely significant. RP leader Phil Craig says it confirms what the party already strongly suspected, that the government of national unity has become a rubber stamp for ANC policy. He says this has serious implications which extend well beyond just BELA. Craig says the ANC continues to implement its own economic policy, is proceeding full speed ahead with the National Health Insurance, and is extending race-based policy making:

 # Johannesburg mayor Dada Mororeo has announced the successful resolution of the recent contractual dispute with service provider Afrirent. The city’s spokesperson, Nthatisi Modingoane says this resolution will enable the resumption of crucial services provided by the Metropolice. He says the grounding of vehicles by Afrirent was not due to a failure to make payments, but rather the result of administrative inefficiencies:

# Cricket: South African-born batter Bevon Jacobs could make his debut for New Zealand after his maiden call-up for his adopted country’s three T20s at home against Sri Lanka. The 22-year-old, who started playing for Canterbury last year, will also represent Mumbai Indians in next year’s Indian Premier League. This followed Jacobs’s impressive Super Smash campaign in which he scored 134 runs in six innings. National selector Sam Wells says Jacobs is a promising, highly talented player who deserves exposure to the international game.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-42-cents and the euro at 19-rand-14-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-6-cents and Bitcoin trades at 96-thousand-95-dollars. Gold sells at two-thousand-617-dollars-26-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 72-dollars-43-cents a barrel.

# And, finally: The iconic crocodile Burt, which starred in the hit film Crocodile Dundee, has died. Crocosaurus Cove in Australia, where Burt had been kept since 2008, said he passed away peacefully. He was estimated to be over 90-years old, well over the usual life expectancy. Burt was captured for the first time in the 1980s, and appeared in the film alongside Paul Hogan just before Christmas in 1986. The aquarium says his death is a reminder of the vital role wildlife plays and the importance of preserving it for future generations.

Stay tuned for more news………….