News 15:00

BULLETIN 17 January 3 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The DA submits a PAIA application to PRASA over its failed long-distance train service
# The Western Cape government extends a warm welcome to learners and teachers 
# And cricket: The Windies are bowled out on the first day of the Adelaide Test against Australia

# The DA has submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act application to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. The party is requesting a record of decision that informed the reinstatement of its long distance train service despite lingering concerns about PRASA’s technical state of readiness. The party says PRASA has quietly suspended its Johannesburg to Cape Town long-distance passenger service. Spokesperson Chris Hunsinger says in addition, the Durban to Johannesburg service has been scaled back and will now run monthly instead of weekly:

# The Western Cape government commenced the academic year with a warm welcome to learners and teachers at Westcott Primary School in Cape Town. Premier Alan Winde and Education MEC David Maynier celebrated the inauguration of seven new classrooms and two ablution blocks, a remarkable achievement in just four months to address the increasing demand for school places. Winde conveyed best wishes for the academic year, urging learners, especially grade 12s, to work hard while savouring their final year in school:

# Severe winter weather warnings prompted the cancellation of hundreds of flights at Germany’s busiest airport, Frankfurt, as the country braces for heavy snowfall and freezing rain. The airport has cut 570 of one-thousand and-47 flights from the schedule, while Munich airport had 250 of 650 scheduled flights cancelled. AFP reports low pressure system Gertrud is bearing down on southwestern and central German with expectations of up to 40 centimetres of snow and treacherously icy road conditions. National rail company Deutsche Bahn warns of delays and cancellations in its regional and long-distance network.

# Cricket: Debutant bowler Shamar Joseph gave the West Indies some hope after taking two top-order wickets during Australia’s reply to the visitors’ first innings total of 188 in the opening Test in Adelaide. Australia were 59 for two at stumps, with Usman Khawaja undefeated on 30 and Cameron Green on six. Australia is only 129 runs behind at the end of the first day’s play, but with key batters Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne back in the pavilion.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 19-rand-6-cents and the euro at 20-rand-73-cents. One British pound costs 24-rand-18-cents and Bitcoin trades at 42-thousand-739-dollars-56-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-and-25-dollars-98-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 76-dollars-93-cents a barrel.

# And finally: The Cape Town International Airport celebrated a historic milestone in December, hosting an unprecedented 317-thousand two-way international passengers. This marked a record-breaking achievement, surpassing the previous peak of 290-thousand in January 2020.The surge in foreign passengers is estimated to have injected nearly 1.9-billion-rand directly into the Western Cape economy. Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander acknowledged the Airports Company South Africa’s role in helping to maintain a world-class airport.

Stay tuned for more news………….