NEWSFLASH NEWS AGENCY 18 January 2 pm

Good afternoon,

Here is your Good News:

# The Free State government and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme have taken hands in Bohlokong, Bethlehem, in pursuit of a brighter and prosperous future for the province. They say this envisaged future cannot be realised with a disempowered and uneducated youth defining it. The idea of the campaign is to ensure its motto, “Opening the doors of learning and leaving no child behind” becomes a reality at every level of education, including in institutions of higher learning.

# A family-owned urban farmer business in Cape Town unveiled their expanded facility which will bring further food provision and employment opportunities to Philippi and the greater Cape Town. The business started out in 2005 with a few kilograms of vegetables and 100 chickens. They now produce hundreds of kilograms of vegetables and produce an average of nine-thousand eggs every day. Mayoral committee member for Economic Growth, James Vos, believes urban farming is the way forward for food security:

Plays sound: ENG VosONUrbanFarms

Meanwhile, this year’s harvest of apples and pears in the Western Cape is in full swing and growers are looking forward to a good harvest. The spokesperson for Hortgro, Jacques du Preez, says much-needed rain and adequate chill units during last winter has ensured that growers have enough irrigation water. He says young orchards coming into production is one of the main factors contributing to the increase in the export crop estimate. Apple volumes are expected to increase by six-percent and pears by eight-percent.

# The world’s largest known cut diamond is expected to fetch around 77-million-rand when it goes on auction early next month. The Enigma, described as the largest fancy black natural colour diamond, went on public display in Dubai yesterday. It will also be shown in Los Angeles and London before Sotheby’s seven-day online auction starts at the beginning of February. The gem of 555-carat was cut into a 55-faceted jewel, with the shape inspired by the Middle-Eastern palm-shaped symbol of power and protection.

# And finally: The sea turtle rehabilitation team of the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation in Cape Town released 44 rehabilitated sea turtles approximately 30 nautical miles south of Hout Bay. A spokesperson, Renee Leeuwner, says the turtles were all rehabilitated at the Two Oceans Aquarium over the last couple of months after being found stranded on Western Cape beaches:

Play sound: ENG ReneeONTurtles

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