Latest news with #AndrewBarnes
MTV Lebanon
4 hours ago
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
18 Aug 2025 17:32 PM Army Chief broaches situation with Australian Ambassador
Lebanon's Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal, received at his Yarzeh office, the Australian Ambassador to Lebanon, Andrew Barnes, with an accompanying delegation. Discussions reportedly covered the general situation in Lebanon and the region.
The South African
a day ago
- Politics
- The South African
ANC spokesperson shamed for 'overeating' at National Dialogue
eNCA news anchor Andrew Barnes has issued a public apology to ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu after he shamed her for overeating at the National Dialogue. The convention – which is open to the public – kicked off on Friday, 15 August at the University of South Africa (UNISA)'s main campus in Pretoria. It will continue for several months and will facilitate direct communication between the government and the public. In a clip that has gone viral on social media, eNCA's Andrew Barnes commented on ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu's appearance at the National Dialogue. He said during a live segment: 'I hope the ANC spokeswoman is no longer hungry. She helped herself no less than twice to the crew's sandwiches'. He added, 'Love her'. The clip left many government officials outraged over the journalist's comments. Gauteng Premier Penyaza Lesufi posted on X: 'I hope eNCA will act decisively. He will never say this to Helen Zille or AfriForum'. The president's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, added, 'This is outside of free speech and totally uncalled for.' Mahlengi Bhengu responded to being fat-shamed at the National Dialogue, tweeting: 'Self-entitled condescension at its pitiful level. Embarrassed at such a lack of class. 'The ANC Communications has a great rapport with ENCA colleagues. The sandwich Marshall cannot fathom'. Bhengu also demanded a public apology. Following the backlash, eNCA's Andrew Barnes issued a public apology via his X account. He said, 'At the time, I thought I was being cheeky and clever, but I've since been made to understand just how very deep those comments cut, not just to the ANC national spokesperson but for women across the country. '[The National Dialogue] touched on the very issues we're talking about at the national convention: race, identity, and a lack of respect. But they also cut very personally, and I never go out to intentionally hurt anyone's feelings. But I'm sorry.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
eNCA
3 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Critics accuse government of not listening
People sit next to a sign reading National Dialogue 2025 during the first National Convention at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in Pretoria on August 15, 2025. PRETORIA - Day 2 of the National Convention has begun on Saturday, with the dust from a chaotic opening still settling. Technical glitches, a medical emergency, and tense scenes marked day one. Some delegates walked out after the keynote, accusing organisers of talking at them rather than listening. President Cyril Ramaphosa started the event, urging all South Africans to join the dialogue. He called for frank conversations on gender-based violence, poverty, inequality and service delivery failures. Today's focus is on finalising the rollout of the dialogues and securing contributions to support citizen-led discussions. eNCA anchor Andrew Barnes discussed the initiative with Mpumelelo Mseleku. The #NationalDialogue is a citizen-led platform to collectively carve a better future. Our presence represents the aspirations of millions of South Africans. The People Shall Govern! — ANC - African National Congress (@MYANC) August 16, 2025 The #NationalDialogue is not a single event; it is a long-term, participatory process that seeks to impact on and involve every part of our country, unleashing the energies and buy-in of every citizen and every sector. It, therefore, cannot be a 'talk-shop', as it aims to produce… — The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) August 15, 2025 Several grassroots civil society organisations and movements have issued a statement explaining why they are participating in the #NationalDialogue. 'The National Dialogue is flawed and may unrealistic… but it's a radical departure from past government-led engagements' — Mbekezeli (@MbekezeliMB) August 15, 2025 Day 2 of #ZANatDialogue, Unisa open doors for further engagement through the #NationalDialogue a platform to discuss, collaborate, and act on the issues that matter most to South Africa. Together, we will uphold our democratic values and meet the needs of our communities. Follow… — Unisa (@unisa) August 16, 2025
The Age
18-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
If it acts like a public utility, why the outsourcing?
To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@ Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. I'm not a critic of public transport but I was amused by the report ″ Metro gets millions to keep it in profit ″ (18/6) of Metro Trains being propped up by the government in response to lower passenger volumes. Obviously, operators of essential services need continuity and COVID was a massive disruption to their revenues. The work-from-home practice has also been a disruptor, but that's here to stay. Charts published in the report show that volumes have increased since COVID but not to pre-pandemic volumes. Contracts offered by government to Metro offer a ″revenue floor″ to ensure profitability – that's a safety net. I am a frequent rail user and I think the service they offer is pretty good, but it's obvious that this essential service cannot really be expected to operate as a genuine free-market concern. Metro will pocket the profits from the good times and put out the begging hand in the bad times. It just doesn't seem to be any different to a public utility, so why pretend? Does Victoria get a better result from outsourcing these services? Andrew Barnes, Ringwood Preventing fare evasion would be a start I read with astonishment in the article about Metro Trains that two words didn't get a mention: Fare evasion. As a regular user of public transport in Melbourne, I continue to notice low compliance with paying for travel. Since when was the CBD free zone extended to all modes of transport on the entire network? On buses I would be surprised that 20 per cent of passengers tap on. On trams (outside the free zone), even less. At some railway stations in the CBD, I struggle to understand why there is that one permanently open barrier gate that allows passengers to blatantly walk through without tapping off — unchallenged by nearby standing PTV employees. This is a problem specific to Melbourne (and possibly the entire state). I notice almost 100 per cent compliance with tapping on and off in all other capital cities. So might I suggest that before the state government hands over taxpayers' money to operators, like Metro Trains, for lower passenger revenue that they first acknowledge and address the apparent revenue leakage. Peter Myers, St Kilda Have there been any benefits of privatisation? Yet another win for privatisation of public assets. Can anyone identify any previously public enterprise that has benefited the public by being privatised? Just one would be nice. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha Government must be accountable The ongoing contractual payments to Metro Trains to cover lost revenue due to higher work-from-home rates show how misleading it is to argue governments can shift 'revenue risk' to the private sector by privatising public services. It is ultimately governments who remain accountable for the standard of public goods and services, whether the ultimate provider is a public or a private entity. That's why when one looks around the world it's more common for operators to receive a fixed price that reflects the benchmark cost of service provision, with incentives and penalties coming on top of this. Where a fee is charged to users, the revenue is retained by government to offset the cost of providing the service, rather than affecting the payment to the operator. To 'pay a private company its own profit' is exactly what we all do when we procure goods and services from private businesses. The businesses expect a margin and it doesn't come from anywhere else but the customer. The alternative is to do it all yourself, as of course governments did in the past and some still do today. Tony Morton, President, Public Transport Users Association, Melbourne THE FORUM Joy of buskers I have to disagree with your correspondent (Letters, 18/6) who said he had rarely come across a busker with any great talent. There are some great buskers in the city, especially outside the old GPO building on Bourke Street next to Myer. It's like a mini-outdoor concert there some days, with people sitting on the steps watching and clapping. I think the reason less people give buskers money is that we don't have cash on us all the time. Ioften wish I had cash to give them. Sometimes I take cash out of an ATM just to give the buskers. It's great to hear music floating through the air in contrast to the trams dinging their bells, sirens from police cars and fire engines and all the other city noises. Carol Evans, St Kilda They are not beggars I take issue with your correspondent stating that buskers are merely beggars. More than 40 years ago my jug band (three of us) busked in the Bourke Street mall on a Friday night and we earned quite the wage. More than $10 an hour each. It was quite the sum for 1983. We were most certainly not beggars and we poured our heart and soul into our performance. We prided ourselves on our professionalism and did not expect to get paid if we didn't earn it. We succeeded in getting regular pub gigs and corporate events from our efforts. Many a performer started successful careers from busking and should not be denigrated for their courage. Frank Flynn, Cape Paterson A dream of hope This week I was strolling with a friend in Clarendon Street, South Melbourne. At one point, about two shop fronts ahead of us was an apparently homeless woman. She was pushing a heavily laden shopping trolley full of her possessions. She wore many layers of clothes. It was a cold day. She wasn't asking for anything, just quietly making her way along the path, struggling a bit with her trolley. From two shop fronts back, the stench coming off her was unbelievable. People looked startled then horrified as they passed her. To my shame, I couldn't even pass her – I turned and went back the other way rather than get closer to the smell of her and confront the fact that I couldn't help her. Not nearly enough anyway. I wish there was something significant we could have done. I had a mad idea later about a help line that we could all have access to, like Lifeline. A number you could call and there would be a van in the vicinity with two or three well-trained social workers or psych nurses to help. The van would come, and the workers would have clean clothes to offer the woman, some food perhaps, and they would ask if she would like to have a shower and a sleep and a good meal in a safe place not too far away, and maybe they could look into getting her some accommodation. At least for a little while. To let her have a rest. She might need a psych assessment and a bit of time in a psych ward and medication. She might say no thanks, but she might appreciate some help. I know our sad world is a mess, that big and awful things are happening in too many places and it's all beyond us, but is it ridiculously idealistic of me to think that woman's situation in a Melbourne city is utterly unnecessary? A bit of everyday misery in my very rich and peaceful city. I'm more than happy to pay more tax if that will help. Karen Morris, Newport
AU Financial Review
09-06-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Billion-dollar tech founders turn investors with new $50m fund
A group of Australian technology entrepreneurs who have built billion-dollar start-ups have joined forces to invest in a new $50 million venture capital fund, to back the next wave of local founders. More than 15 founders of so-called 'unicorn' start-ups, including Go1 co-founder Andrew Barnes, A Cloud Guru co-founder Sam Kroonenburg and former Aconex chief executive Leigh Jasper, have invested in Glitch Capital.
