News Bulletin of 1 October 2025, 6pm

ADvTECH Group has unveiled its R420 million Emeris mega-campus in Sandton, Johannesburg, set to open in January 2026.
The new campus brings together Varsity College, Vega School, and MSA under one brand and is expected to accommodate around 9 000 students.
Facilities include a double-storey library, student experience hub, indoor sports centre, IT labs, podcast studios, and interactive classrooms.
Emeris will offer flexible, skill-focused programmes in law, business, technology, arts, and three new engineering qualifications, making it the only private South African institution accredited by ECSA.
ADvTECH emphasises preparing students for future careers with real-world experience, critical thinking, and collaboration, signalling a shift toward tech-integrated, future-ready education.

A 3‑metre largetooth sawfish, previously believed extinct along the South African coast, was discovered at the Birha River mouth, about 90 km from East London.
The find proves that the species still exists in South African waters, offering hope for its survival and conservation.
Experts recovered the carcass, took samples for genetic studies, and noted signs of predation, which could provide insights into local ecosystems and predator interactions.
Sawfish are critically endangered and play an important role in estuaries and coastal ecosystems, making their presence a positive sign for biodiversity.
Researchers are calling on the public to share historical or recent sightings to update records and support protection efforts.

In mid-September, engineers finished digging the final meter of rock for the Brenner Base Tunnel, connecting Austria and Italy beneath the Alps.
The tunnel, the world’s longest for railroad track, will reduce travel times significantly, cutting the Munich-Verona rail commute by two-and-a-half hours.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker attended the milestone ceremony, highlighting its potential to shift freight from roads to rail and ease congestion in northern Italy.
Part of a broader EU effort to modernise rail travel, the Brenner Tunnel is expected to reduce truck traffic across the Alps, improve freight efficiency, and support faster passenger journeys across Europe.
Completion of related high-speed lines will further shorten travel times, including the Lyon-Milan route, projected to drop from seven to four-and-a-half hours.