News 08:00

BULLETIN 16 September 8 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA seeks answers from minister De Lille over the Tourism Board
# Biden is relieved that Trump is unharmed
# And Tennis: The eight teams set to compete in the Davis Cup finals are confirmed

# The DA says Tourism minister Patricia de Lille needs to appear before Parliament to explain the removal of key board members at SA Tourism. The minister removed board chairperson Makhosazana Khanyile and her deputy, Lizelle Dominique Jordaan, due to inexplicable meetings at the cost of 900-thousand-rand in the first quarter of this year. The DA’s, Haseena Ismail, says they are urging the board and the minister to work collaboratively in restoring stability within the entity:

# The minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane will today officially open the National Student Financial Aid Scheme applications for the 2025 academic year. In a media briefing, she will outline improvements and guide students on how to apply. Nsfas confirmed that it has enhanced its application system for a smoother process. The scheme will also hold live activations at schools across all nine provinces, offering assistance to learners.

# Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane says his department will find solutions to ensure their educators do not lose their jobs, amid budget cuts. This is as the Western Cape Education Department has been criticised after confirming over two-thousand teaching posts would be cut next year, due to a 3.8-billion-rand budget shortfall over the next three years. Chiloane says his department is looking at cuts in certain programmes of up to 4.5-billion-rand in the medium term:

# US president Joe Biden says he is relieved that former president Donald Trump is unharmed, in what the FBI is investigating as a possible assassination attempt. A Secret Service agent spotted an AK-47-style weapon poking out of bushes on Trump’s Florida golf course, while the former president was playing, and engaged the suspect. The suspect has been identified as Ryan Wesley Routh. Biden says there is no place for political violence and has directed his team to ensure that the Secret Service has all the resources necessary to protect Trump.

# Tennis: Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime sealed 2022 champions Canada’s place in this year’s Davis Cup finals in Malaga in November. Shapovalov moved past Daniel Evans 6-0, 7-5, to give Canada a one-nil lead in its Group D tie. Auger-Aliassime beat US Open semifinalist Jack Draper, 7-6, 7-5. The British won the final doubles to make it two-one but it was not enough to guide them into the finals. Other countries that have made the finals are reigning champions Italy, Spain, USA, Netherlands, Germany, Australia, and Argentina.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-67-cents and the euro at 19-rand-62-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-26-cents and Bitcoin trades at 58-thousand-432-dollars-55-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-586-dollars-16-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 71-dollars-70-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….