News Bulletin of 30 June 2025, 9am

The rehabilitation of the Emmarentia Upper Dam has finally been completed. This marks a major step forward in flood protection and public accessibility. The long-awaited upgrade concluded late last year, restoring one of the city’s cherished green spaces for residents and their four-legged companions. While the primary rehabilitation work has concluded, some efforts are still ongoing, especially in managing the water lilies that have taken over parts of the dam. According to clean up teams, workers have already spent five days clearing the lilies, however dense clusters on the opposite end of the dam remain. The removal work is vital to maintaining the dam’s water balance and ensuring its long-term sustainability.

A homegrown South African barrel racing team is heading to the United States in a major international rodeo tour this July. Barrel Racing South Africa has confirmed that its top riders trained at Farm Eikehof in Ermelo, Mpumalanga will compete in high-profile events. The events include the Webb Ranches Barrel Race, Fort Pierre Rodeo, and Hermosa Rodeo. The tour will culminate in the South Africa vs USA Barrel Race on 23 July 2025, where local riders will go head-to-head with top American talent. Founded with a passion for the Western riding style BRSA has transformed what was once a niche pursuit into a proudly local legacy.

Beijing hosted its first autonomous humanoid robot soccer match over the weekend. The 3-on-3 games are powered entirely by artificial intelligence. Four teams of robots competed without any human control, using AI-driven strategies and advanced visual sensors to track the ball and navigate the field. The event served as a preview for the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games, set to be held in the city.Though the robots could stand up after falls, some still needed to be carried off on stretchers, adding an unexpected layer of realism to the match. SOUND