News 07:00

BULLETIN 15 January 7 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Minister Nzimande announces a new funding model to support the missing middle students
# Professor Lourens van Staden has been appointed as acting NSFAS chairperson
# And, 68% of Republicans and independents believe Donald Trump is the best candidate

# Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Blade Nzimande has unveiled a new funding model within the National Student Financial Aid Scheme for the missing middle students. The missing middle refers to students whose annual combined family income is between 350-thousand-rand and 600-thousand-rand, and do qualify to be funded by the scheme. Nzimande says the initial capitalisation fund totaling 3.8-billion-rand for this year, comprises 1.5-billion-rand from the NSFAS fund and 2.3-billion-rand from sector training and education authorities:

Meanwhile, former Tshwane University of Technology vice-chancellor, professor Lourens van Staden, has been appointed as the National Student Financial Aid Scheme acting chairperson with immediate effect. This comes as Ernest Khosa has taken a leave of absence following claims that he and Higher Education, Science, and Innovation minister Blade Nzimande received kickbacks from the scheme’s service providers. The minister says he has already had a briefing with Van Staden, emphasising the importance of NSFAS to prioritise readiness for the beginning of the academic year:

# The Northern Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed deep concern about the economic repercussions, as numerous businesses have been forced to close due to the ongoing water crisis in Kimberley. The Sol Plaatje Municipality has been implementing frequent water shutdowns as it continues to deal with persistent water supply challenges. The chamber’s president Dudley Dally says the municipality’s water shutdowns, lasting for extended periods, have left businesses inoperable, resulting in financial losses and job layoffs. The municipality plans to allocate 104-million-rand to address the water challenges.

# Sixty-eight percent of Republicans and the party’s leaning independents say former president Donald Trump is the candidate with the best chance of getting elected in November. This is according to a survey produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates. For Nikki Haley, it’s 12-percent and eleven-percent for Ron DeSantis. A total of 54-percent of those surveyed, say Trump is the candidate best qualified to serve as president, and 45-percent, pick him as the candidate who best represents their values. This is ahead of the Iowa caucuses today.

# Rugby: Cheetahs captain Victor Sekekete says ill-discipline and a loss of focus cost them the win against Pau in Amsterdam. The Bloemfontein side went down by 20-33 against the French side in their European Challenge Cup match yesterday. A win for the Cheetahs would have essentially sealed their passage into the playoffs. This victory for Pau has resurrected their hopes of qualifying for the round of 16. Sekekete says they now need to refocus for their next game against Oyonnax in France:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-62-cents and the euro at 20-rand-42-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-77-cents and Bitcoin trades at 42-thousand-298-dollars-62-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-54-dollars-17-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-51-cents a barrel.

# And finally, Menswear Paris Fashion Week kicks off this week with musician-turned-designer Pharrell Williams as the headline act. Pharrell is Louis Vuitton’s new creative director. Vuitton’s show this year will be among the fairground rides of the Jardin d’Acclimatation in western Paris, likely featuring the brand’s latest celebrity ambassador, basketballer LeBron James. Forty-two brands will be holding runway shows during the menswear week and another 32 organising presentations of their new collections. These include Givenchy, Gucci, Chloe, Alexander McQueen and Balmain.

Stay tuned for more news………….